debcook

Laptops have replaced desktops in huge numbers and as a result more slumping is going on. Leaning forward to reach the laptop’s keyboard is not ergonomic and will eventually cause pain and discomfort. Neck and shoulder pain results from looking down to see the laptop screen. A couple of hours now and then are alright but long days of computing on a laptop require a few adjustments.

We often sacrifice our comfort in the name of efficiency. Wish your laptop could set a bit higher on your desk so that your neck could recover? Would you rather use a mouse and external keyboard instead of the laptop’s keyboard?
The mStand by Rain Design can put a boost into your day. Your laptop will be elevated approximately 6 inches. The keyboard will be slanted towards you and the screen can be adjusted to eye level. A wireless keyboard and mouse can easily adjust your posture.

The mStand is sleek in its design and sturdy in its function. It is one solid piece of aluminum that matches Macbook Pro laptops but is works perfectly well with PC laptops as well. But, do you worry that your laptop may slip off and crash to the desk surface or even worse – the floor?
A bump will not send your laptop flying. The mStand weighs about four pounds so it does not bounce around easily. A lip at the front of the mStand holds a laptop secure so that it will not slip forward.

Aluminum absorbs heat so the mStand helps to dissipated heat from the laptop and releases it back into the air. I notice that my laptop funnels heat towards me if there is anything on the desk that blocks the airflow from the side vents. The mStand sets your laptop high enough that the heat should be released without that funneling effect.

The mStand solves ergonomic issues for laptop users. It can either make working at a desk more comfortable or it can raise a laptop high enough on a counter top to stand up if need be. The footprint is small and the graceful curve allows for storage of a wireless keyboard and mouse.

The mStand looks good and is functional to boot.

If there is one thing that drives me crazy is trying to find lost keys and other small items in my purse. A purse organizer is one way that I have found sanity.

After researching several different purse organizers I decided on the PurseN Organizer Insert. It is more than a series of pockets that circle the inside of a bag. The PurseN is more like a purse inside of a purse.

It is easily adjustable so that it fits multiple bags. Even those designer bags that are great on the outside but lacking on the inside. Zippers on each side can make it narrow when zipped and wide when unzipped. There are six pockets large enough for a digital camera or similar sized items located on the inside with a middle open space for larger items such as your wallet. There are also two sloted pockets – one on each side as well as a key strap.

The PurseN looks good. It would be hard for anyone else to notice that you have a PurseN Organier in your purse. Mine is black on the outside and animal print on the inside. It looks much like the lining of my purse at a glance.

The PurseN Organizer Insert saves space in any purse or bag. There is no need for individual cases for electronics. My digital camera, my Zip drives and cell phone fits neatly into the pockets. The walls of the PurseN are firm but not ridgid. They give when needed yet support when needed as well. It sits upright even when there is space surrounding it.

Changing purses or bags is super easy with the PurseN Organizer. Simply grasp it from the top – pull it out and place it into the other purse or bag. Once you have it organized – every bag will be organized.

A place for everything and everything in its place is a true statement for me. I have to say that my purse is much less stressful now than it was before.

Organize your technology in an effort to increase its efficiency. Whether it is a desktop or laptop computer, an inkjet printer or that mass of tangled cables strung across the room – you will eventually have to deal with them. The problem is typically caused by their haphazard arrangement. Instead of purchasing a desk designed for the purpose we usually choose the old table buried in the corner of the garage.

Table versus Computer Desk

In an odd way that table may be better than most computer desks. Let me clarify that a bit. If the table fits well into the space it could be just as functional as a specially designed computer desk. I am sure you know those that I speak of. The ones that hide the CPU come to mind. Inevitably you will need to move it someday. On that day you will curse your decision that seemed so right at the time.

How to Choose a Computer Desk

Overall, the best choice depends on your needs. If you need a lot of space a large table is best. If you do not need a lot of space one of the smaller computer desks can save a lot of floor space. Often there is a special shelf built to accommodate a computer CPU with ample space to reach the cables without difficulty. Some even add a small rack to hold the printer. Again, the cables are easily reached and if there is a paper jam you can actually reach the printer to get the rogue paper out.

I like the contemporary style of the Nova Contemporary Computer Desk. It is on wheels for easy rearranging and the clean glass shelves give the illusion of more space in the room. Devices such as the computer monitor, the printer and the computer CPU have a dedicated space off the desktop. Wide open space allows access to cables and the devices themselves.

If space is truly an issue a laptop is more space economical than a desktop computer. The Nova Contemporary Computer Desk works well as a laptop desk as well.

All calculators are not created equal. Some are Solar powered, some plug into the wall and there are even some that are powered by ordinary tap water.

Are you aware that some calculators can talk? How many times have you entered a number wrong on a calculator without knowing it? What If your calculator could alert you to a mistake?

Talking calculators are available at a very low price point for the features that they offer. Many sell for less than thirty dollars. Some speak all numbers such as a 4, a 5 and a 6. Some will also speak four hundred and fifty six. Some calculators have headphone jacks so that the sound will not disturb others in the room. There are calculators that have alarms and those that will wake you up to the sound of music. Who knew?

If you like even a more novel approach to adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing there are talking calculators that measure the same a sheet of printer paper. Their keys are large and the LCD is large enough to see easily. Then there is the talking calculator that tells jokes.

The Mousepad Calculator with Talking Clock and Temperature does double duty. It is a Mousepad for your computer and tells time and the room temperature.

The Talking Calculator and Talking Alarm Clock with Earphones tells you the numbers and talks you through setting the alarm.

The Jumbo Talking Calculator talks and is as large as a sheet of printer paper.

The 2000 Talking Calculator with Alarm Clock for the Visually Impaired speaks and offers an extra large LCD screen.

The Designer Talking Calculator Clock and Music Box talks, wakes you up and plays music.

The Excalibur JK01 Jackie’s Talking Comedy Calculator tells jokes.

This is a short list of calculators that talk. I am amazed at the selection and the prices. What a great gift for those that already have everything!

The ClickFree DVD Transformer is a great little gadget that makes burning important files to a CD or DVD super easy. The only software needed is the ClickFree software that is preloaded on a small flash drive type device. Simply insert the USB end of the DVD Transformer into a computer and the software installs itself.

Once the software is installed you will be given the option to backup all files or just some files. Up to 400 different file formats is recognized by the ClickFree software so it is possible to backup each and every file on your computer. If you have more than one computer – no problem – the same ClickFree DVD Transformer can be used on multiple computers.
Burning the files to a CD or DVD is as simple as clicking OK. No other software is needed other than the ClickFree software. The DVD Transformer will search all of the drives on your computer – sort the files into folders – and will give you the choice of what you want to do with them.

After the files are burned to a CD or DVD it is easy to restore them to the same computer they came from or to any other computer that is running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. Mac users are in luck as well with the Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Most backed up files cannot be viewed until they are restored. Not the case with the ClickFree DVD Transformer. The files are separated into folders that can be opened and the files inside can be viewed as well.

Winter is arriving all across the country so brrrrr is the word of the day. Instead of being bummed by the chilly weather be inspired to have a little fun. Polar bears in the front yard might just do the trick. While shopping on Amazon.com I came across these cute lighted polar bears.

Each bear has its own UL approved 60 foot electrical cord so they can be arranged close together or if you prefer – further apart. The bare bone metal conctruction shows just a little underneath the polar bear fur. The weather proof tinsel fabric has tiny glass like beads that sparkle like snow flakes. Clear mini lights light up the bears and accentuate their red caps and scarfs.
These friendly polar bears do require some assembly. Once assembled the mother bear measures approximetlely 26 inches tall by 14 inch wide and 32 inches long. The baby bear is smaller and measures approximately 19 inches tall by 9.5 inches wide and 19 inches long.

I like the polar bears since they can visit all winter long. During holiday seasons they add to the décor and between holidays they look great by just reminding us that the winter season is upon us.

Passing through a security check point may be an issue with the 2GB 50 Caliber Flash Drive. Once the image of this flash drive appears on the screen it will undoubtedly be noticed. Not surprising since the outer case of the 50 Caliber Flash Drive is a real brass 50 Caliber Shell.

Water is no issue for the 50 Caliber Flash Drive since it is 100 percent water proof. The upper portion of the bullet fits over the flash drive that is built into the bottom part of the bullet. When capped dirt, dust and most anything else is kept at bay.

Although unique in looks the 50 Caliber Flash Drive operates like any other flash drive. It is plug-n-play while being USB 2.0 compliant. It can be used with Vista, XP, 2000, ME, Linux 2.4 and MAC OS X or above. No drivers are required unless you are using Win 98 – drivers are available by special request.
The 50 Caliber Flash Drive is guaranteed to be a conversation starter.

All computer mice are not the same. Some are large, some are small, some are wireless while others tether you to the computer. Who is to say which one is the best one? It is no wonder that hours and hours are spent trying to make a decision.

Small notebook computers appeal to most everyone. They are cute, small enough to carry in purse and provide the means to communicate with people around the world from a table at a favorite coffee shop.

However, many complain of small keyboards, slow processors and as with the Vaio Lifestyle PC – that awful little tracking pointer mouse. There are specialty travel mice but the selection is not overwhelming.

My previous post introduced you to the Z-Nano Optical Mouse. It is a very small computer mouse and may not be right for many users. Today I want to introduce you to the MoGo Wireless (Bluetooth) Mouse. It is larger but it is every bit as odd looking.

The MoGo Wireless Mouse resembles a PCMICA card. In fact the MoGo can be stored and charged inside of a PC Slot of a laptop computer. Although the Mogo is flat there is a small “kick stand” that folds out from the underside. There are two buttons and a scroll function that operate like any other computer mouse. In fact, the MoGo Wireless Mouse offers 800 DPI.

For laptops without a PC slot there is the MoGo Media X54 Wireless Mouse or MoGo Presenter X54 Wireless Mouse which slips easily into an Express/54 slot.

The MoGo Wireless Mice are specifically designed to charge inside either a PC slot or an Express/54 slot. There are no external chargers available. I charge my personal MoGo Wireless Mouse inside the Express/54 slot of my Vaio SR Series laptop and I use it with my Vaio Lifestyle PC while on the go. As long as the laptop has Bluetooth capability the MoGo Mouse will work.

How tiny can a computer mouse get? How about one approximately the size of your thumb? The Z-Nano Optical Laser Mouse has been dubbed the “World’s Smallest Computer Optical Mouse” and is operated by a single finger.