Why Cody Ross is Making Scot Hariston a Jerk

Look at that face. How can you say 'you're not worth $10 million' to that face?

Scot Hariston has a very solid year for a team that desperately needed the right handed power.

G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS

134

398

377

52

99

25

3

20

57

8

2

19

83

.263

.299

.504

.803

By playing 134 games and compiling 20 home runs with an average of .263, there is strong evidence for a salary upgrade. With the Mets, his contract was $1.1 million the past two years. Before that, most he made was $2.5 million with the Padres in 2010.  I think he deserves at least that, but NOT the salary of a comparable player, Cody Ross, whose numbers for 2012 are as follows:

G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS

130

528

476

70

127

34

1

22

81

2

3

42

129

.267

.326

.481

.807

The numbers are similar, expect for one odd inconsistency that inflated Ross's stats.  Ross play 4 less games than Hariston, but managed over 100 more plate appearances and at-bats.

The Diamondbacks decided to screw over the Mets by giving Cody Ross $25 million over the next three years with a club option for 2016 that could bring the contract up to $34.5 million.  Is he worth that much? Not quite. Does it affect the value of Hariston? It shouldn't, but it will.

Look at me! I got the BIG money!

From 2006 (the first year playing a substantial number of games) to 2012, Ross has averaged:
136 games, 26 doubles, 17 home runs, 64 RBIs, .266 BA, and a .330 OBP.  Those are solid numbers. Now let's look at Hariston from 2004 and then 2007-2012. (he barely played in 2005-2006)

Hariston averaged 107 games, 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 40 RBIs, .245 BA, and a .303 OBP.

AND HE WANTS A COMPARABLE CONTRACT??????

Where's MY money!

I'm sorry, but the numbers speak for themselves. He has historically been inferior to Ross every way you slice the cake. Can he be expected to reproduce those numbers? Well first off, those numbers were not as good as they appear.  He had more than 70 at-bats in a month only twice in 2012 (David Wright, by comparison, had more than 70 at-bats every month).  In July with 74 at-bats Hariston his .297, but in September with 73 at-bats Hariston hit .192.  Yes, everyday players have ups and downs over the course of a season, but for someone who has never been an everyday player (and at 32 is in his prime looking downward), the risk is too great to offer almost $7-$10 million a year.

But thanks to those rattlesnakes, Hariston believes he deserves $$$$$ because Cody Ross got $$$$$.

The Mets NEED to re-sign Hariston to prevent themselves from being laughable next year, but they shouldn't (and frankly couldn't) pay more than a few million for 1 or 2 years.  If he can show himself as an everyday player, then he deserves more moola....Not yet.

Is Surface with Windows 8 Pro worth the $$$ ?

Microsoft is not off to a very good start with its push into the tablet market (at least, according to every blogger on Earth).  But with the introduction of a Surface tablet with a full version of the Windows 8 operating system, things could get a little more interesting.  A tablet that is also a fully functional laptop may be the future of personal computing, but can this new Surface stand up to the most popular and respect ultrabook available, the Macbook Air?

Here are the comparative specs for the baseline models of each:

-Macbook Air versus Surface Pro
Operating System
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core - 3rd Gen Intel Core i5 (that's all it says online)
RAM 
4GB, 4GB
Storage 
64GB, 64GB
Display
11.6" high-resolution LEDbacklit, 16:9 (widescreen) versus 10.6" ClearType Full HD Display, 16:9 (widescreen)
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768 pixels versus 1920x1080 pixels
Dimensions
Height: 0.11-0.68in/Length: 11.8in/Width: 7.56in versus Height: 0.53in/Length: 10.81in/Width: 6.81in
Weight
2.38 lbs versus 2 lbs
Price
$999 versus $899


There are not many differences between the devices when you look at the raw specs and the Surface Pro has a much better screen resolution.  BUT you need to consider two important details that, in my opinion, give the edge to the MacBook Air.

First, the $900 price tag for the Surface Pro does not include a keyboard.  That will cost you $120 more for the Touch Cover and $139 for the Type Cover.  Also note that the keyboard will provide no support for the device whatsoever, so typing on anything but a table is out of the question.  And typing at night? Forget it, only the MacBook Air has a back lit keyboard of the two.  Why make such a big deal about the keyboard? Because the type of person who would spend this kind of money for the Surface Pro will be doing laptop-like work, which necessitates a good keyboard. And the Microsoft keyboard are pretty good.  I've tried them first hand. I just wouldn't spend $120 for one.

Secondly, the apps.  The app selection on the Microsoft Store is to Microsoft what Apple Maps is to Apple....and topic of endless ridicule by the technology world.  But it is also a crucial difference.  Apple has far better and much more software for tablets than Microsoft.  Even though the Surface Pro will be running a robust OS, they still expect you to look to their empty online store shelves for software.

But what exactly are we getting with the OS? On the Microsoft website, it specifically says a full "Office" experience for Word, Excel, etc. not a full "OS" experience, although it also mentions that Surface Pro can run all your applications from previous versions of Windows.  Until I see this in action, I'll remain skeptical that I'm getting a full Windows experience.

So for the price, the internal storage, the processing power and portability, the Macbook Air still reigns supreme.  If you really want a tablet for work and you really need Microsoft Office, then yes, get the Surface Pro. But if you're a normal person, wait to see what the future holds.

The Mets are All Wright

Finally, the Mets signed their home grown super star to a long term/life ending contract.  At 8 years and $138 million, this is the largest contract ever given to anyone by the New York Mets. It even trumps the mega-deal for Johan Santana in 2008, by $0.5 million, although that was only a 6 year deal.  Many baseball writers are claiming this is exactly what the Mets needed to move forward after years of fallout from Bernie Madoff and his personal vendetta against the world.  But now, we have our savior!

This is one good looking dude...

I only hope he decides to 1) stay healthy from now on and 2) go 30-100 when he's healthy for a full year (ahem....2012).  That's the part that really bothers me.  No one seems to be expressing concern of his stats from last season, namely 21 home runs and 93 RBIs in 156 games....that's not good enough for a franchise player making more than $16 million a year.  And don't argue that his stats were down because he had bad players around him. Remember 2010? Just as bad a team, but with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs from Wright. When you add the fact that David was hitting .350 for much of the first half and those final numbers become that much more worrisome.

AND he has only hit more than 30 home runs ONCE in his career. I know home runs as a statistic is completely outdated and apparently useless if you talk to WAR followers (much too confusing for my taste), but still... It almost feels like the Mets were saying "David Wright had some really good years when we just gave up (2006-2008).  Now that he's turning thirty with two prior major injuries, should we give him big money?  We kinda have to, we have no one else to give big money to and we can't have a franchise player without paying more than he's worth when his bones begin to disintegrate at age 38 and if we don't have a franchise player....we look silly." 

Who in this picture deserves the big money???

But in the end, I am glad they were able to keep David long term. He was always a better overall value than Reyes because of his offense power.  But this doesn't mean we're ready to start Spring Training. Not by a long shot.  When the Winter Meetings start this coming Monday, much could happen to shake things up, particularly if Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton sign as a result of some GM wheeling and dealing.

But the Mets could also be a big player in the Winter Meetings if they decide to part ways with their Cy Young Award Champion R.A. Dickey.  I just don't know what to think about this guy.  Hoe much value will other teams put on a 38 year old knuckleballer, with a knuckle ball no one has ever thrown, who didn't get good until he was 36 and then became the best pitcher in the National League two years later?

Dickey ANGRY!!!!

In my opinion, sign him for 2 years (after next season) for under $10 million each year.  If he is leading a pitching staff of Jon Neise, Mat Harvey, Dillon Gee and Zack Wheeler by 2014, then by God, we have a shot at this.  Winning a World Series requires pitching, pitching, pitching (and a little bit of offense, just to spice things up).  If Dickey won the Cy Young at 38, there's no reason he can't be a stellar pitcher, or at least really good, in a year or two.  Don't trade him for prospects and uncertainty. Let him  be a part of a winning ball club in the near future.

I just hope the Mets don't screw this up because of a little thing like 'money.'

Expanding Storage on Your Ultrabook

The way I see it, Solid State Drives (SSD) are the future, but we're paying a lot in the present.  Most ultra-thin laptops today are equipped with 128 GB of SSD at the starting price, which is not enough for even causal laptop users over the course of a few years. But upgrading to 256 GB costs $300 on average. That's too much.

However, there are several cheaper alternatives to expanding your storage without expanding your debt. The  'fashionable' option is #3.

1) External Hard Drive: Seagate, Toshiba, Western Digital

• Look on amazon.com and you will find 1 TB external hard drives for $89. That's pretty ridiculous but great for photo/video collector.  There are some drawbacks to consider however.  Firstly, external hard drives are an extra piece of tech to carry around. While their only slightly larger than a cell phone these days, it can still be a pain to download and upload on the go or in a hurry. Luckily, with many externals equipped with USB 3.0 connections, you will spend less time dragging and dropping and more time enjoying your media.  Still, there is something to be said for having everything in one place.  
• Also be weary of durability.  External hard drives suffer from the same problem as any basic hard drive, spinning disks.  Be careful where you place your external when it's plugged in an working. Eventually, the device will break down, but it can break down much quicker because of the moving parts.

2) Flash (Thumb) Drives: Kingston, SanDisk

• Flash drives offer less storage, but are much more portable, can be plugged in on the go, and work on flash memory, so there are no moving parts to worry about.  They are also more expensive in terms of storage capacity.  A 32 GB flash drive goes for $40-50 and a 64 GB flash drive goes for $70-80. Those prices can be cheaper if you don't need a USB 3.0 flash drive, which only work with computers that have USB 3.0 ports.

3) Micro SD card with Nifty Mini Drive

• http://theniftyminidrive.com/
• This is by far the most portable and fashionable option to expanding your laptop's storage, specifically Macbook storage.  Many companies offer adapters for plugging in a Micro SD card into a full SD card slot.  But the Nifty Mini Drive, a Kickstarter program, is an adapter that fits perfectly snug into the SD slot, at least for Macbook Pros and Airs. Any other adapter would stick out from the side about 1 cm. That's not much, but it is SO much sexier to have smooth edges and it allows your Micro SD card to truly be a storage expansion device that never has to be removed from the laptop.  

• The Nifty Mini Drive costs $35 and the actually Micro SD card is sold separately,  but you can get that from anywhere.  Amazon once again comes to the rescue with SanDisk 64 GB Micro SD cards for about $60-70.  That means you can double to storage on your Macbook Air by purchasing 2 64 GB Micro SD cars and the Adapter for almost half the price of upgrading the internal SSD from 128 GB to 256 GB (~$170 versus $300).  
• You can even set the micro SD card to automatically back up files regularly so you know important information is safe, even if the laptop is dropped in the ocean (only for 24 hours)!

One Task the iPad Mini (and any touchscreen) is Not Optimized For...Gaming

Yes, I just had a post highlighting my favorite iPhone games. This is a different argument.

More and more, arguments for purchasing a smartphone or tablet have included some form of the phrase "and this device is ideal for gaming."  This is true, but only to a certain extent.

I have purchased and played some graphic intensive games on my iPad.  The animation is beautiful and the depth of gaming is impressive, but no game from the App Store can compare to a true gaming platforms like Playstation Vita or Nintendo DS.

And it's not just about the details or the number of levels, its about the physical form factor.  Hard core gamers need a joystick and buttons. A touchscreen is only good for simple games or games that are built from the ground up for touchscreens.  There is no denying the success of 'Angry Birds' and 'Temple Run, ' but life long PS3 and XBox gamers sometimes need more.

I own 'Mass Effect Infiltrator,' described as one of the best iPad action/first person shooter games.  It is a lot of fun, but I will never be fully comfortable with the touchscreen joystick and tapping to fire my rifle.  It does not feel natural.  I still really enjoy the game and I believe the Apple App Store has many such high-end games available, but they can only temporarily stave off the urge to sit on the couch and play Halo for 12 hours straight.

Is there an XBox 360 in there?

It is unclear if the Playstation Vita can survive in a climate of simple, inexpensive and addicting touchscreen games...but in my opinion, it should survive. I still really appreciate my Playstation Portable and my Nintendo DS, although both are several generations old now.  They are better for gaming because they are only for gaming.  And no matter what anyone says, touchscreen gaming will not, and should not, overpower the Playstation or XBox. Those 2 platforms are untouchable.

iPhone 5 Must Have Games!

The iPhone 5 is one of the top smartphones available, on the same tier as the Samsung Galaxy S3 or the Driod Razr Max HD.  There is no denying its sexy design, incredible power, beautiful screen and plethora of applications (I should really work for Apple).  Here are some of the best and most popular games for your fabulous 'jewel' of a device (quoting Apple's explanation from the keynote).

Games
There are more and more games available for the iPhone seemingly everyday. Some are lousy, but many are extremely fun or educational and they all look gorgeous on the iPhone 5's Retina Display.  My favorites include:

Angry Birds Start Wars - This was JUST released and I can honestly say it was worth $0.99.  The game play is fun, of course, but what I really appreciate (and why I bought the game) is the Star Wars connection.  This game does a superb job of bringing in elements from the fan-fiction favorite into the Angry Birds universe. The music is great, there are birds for Obi Wan, Luke, Han, Chewbacca, etc. and they all have cool powers, like light-saber slashes, Force push or blaster shots.  The cut away scene are hilarious because the creators perfectly transformed iconic characters from the movies into Angry Birds equivalents.  A 'must buy.'

Temple Run - In the realm of free games, this has to be near the top of any list.  It's fast-paced, looks beautiful, provides a challenge and kills A LOT of time. What more can you ask? The game is so simple, just swipe left or right to follow the path or swipe up or down to jump over or slide under obstacles and go as far as you possibly can before dying.  

Mega Run - Another free game that looks great on the iPhone 5 and is extremely simple to play.  Just tap the screen to make the little red monster thingy jump and get him to the end of the obstacle course, collecting coins, power-ups and special gems on the way.  Addicting.

Words with Friends - If you want a social game that lets you brag to your friends about your intelligence, here's your game.  It's addicting and free, if you don't mind ads after playing every word.  And you can play your turn whenever you want, so there's no pressure and if you can't find a word to place on the rip-off Scrabble board, you can come back to it later. 

Extinction Squad - A free game designed by Adult Swim, the late night Cartoon Network programming.  I was skeptical at first, but after playing for a few hours, I fell in love.  You drag you finger back and forth across the screen to catch animals in your trampoline as they fall to their death. The story goes that the Dodo was released back into the wild after it's rediscovery, but it's scent was unfamiliar to the other animals, causing them to go crazy and jump off cliffs.  Oh, and you have to avoid bombs that fall from the sky.  (This is clearly a very logical game.)  Some animals require several bounces to land in the Jeep, others fall straight down or at odd angles.  And if you miss too many animals, the ground gets slippery with their blood and you loose. Slightly graphic, but very enjoyable. I also like the feature that let's you spin a wheel for more coins/upgrades where a Dodo is the arrow that stops the wheel.

Plague Inc. - If you want a strategy game that feels real, I mean frighteningly real, then get Plague Inc.  The basic idea is to kill every human being on the planet. You play a micro-organism such as bacteria, a virus, a parasite, nanobots, fungus, etc.  Each method of mass extermination has different strengths and weaknesses for infecting humans and as your disease spreads, you can add power-ups to make it spread quick, kill easier or survive better.  The key to victory is to infect everyone before the disease starts killing off large numbers of people, otherwise the world will unite around cure research and stop you micro-killer in its tracks.  You also have to be careful of geography. Some places are harder to infect than others because of extreme temperatures or lack of transportation (the disease spreads by airplanes, boats, and land).  A somewhat creepy, but extremely entertaining and thought-provoking game.

A note about Reading (random, I know, just go with it)
I'm not saying reading books is optimal on the iPhone 5. I am saying it's good enough to pass some time while traveling or at work.  I prefer iBooks to Kindle, but they are essential the same in every way EXCEPT that you cannot search or download books directly from you Kindle app. You have to buy them through your computer. iBooks allows you to search and buy books instantly to your phone from your phone.  It's an overall pleasant experience. I found myself reading several chapters of 'Songs of Ice and Fire' Book 4 on my iPhone and finishing the book accidentally. On to Book 5!!!!!!!!!!

The Best 7 inch Tablet Screen is.....

WHAT?!?!?!?!

Well, if you consider pixel resolution and pixels-per-inch, then yes, the Nook HD has the best screen.  Here are the facts:

Nook HD: 1440 x 900, 243 ppi

                  $199 for 8gb, $229 for 16gb

                  315g, 7.65" x 5" x 0.43"

                  HDMI compatible and MicroSD slot

                  No cameras

iPad Mini: 1024 x 768, 163 ppi

                 $329 for 16gb, $429 for 32gb, $529 for 64gb

                 308g, 7.87" x 5.3" x 0.28"

                 Adaptor needed for HDMI, No MicroSD slot

                 Back 5MP, 1080p HD video camera; 

                 Front Facing 1.2MP, 720p HD video camera

Kindle Fire HD: 1280 x 800, 216 ppi

                          $199 for 16gb, $249 for 32gb

                          394g, 7.6" x 5.4" x 0.4"

                          MicroUSB and Micor HDMI, No MicroSD

                          Front Facing HD camera

                          

Google Nexus 7: 1280 x 800, 216 ppi

                           $199 for 16gb, $249 for 32gb

                           340g, 7.81" x 4.72" x 0.41" 

                           MicroUSB, No MicroSd, No HDMI

                           Front Facing 1.2 MP camera
                           

What does all this information boil down to?

• Barnes 'n Noble is trying to make the argument that the Nook HD is the lightest 7 inch tablet, and that appears to be true (the iPad Mini is NOT a 7 inch tablet), but it is certainly not the thinnest.  Both the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7 are thinner, albeit by 0.1 or 0.2 grams, but those add up pretty fast.  Still, at 315g, I definitely want to play around with this device and see just how comfortable and light it feels in the hand. 
• Barnes 'n Noble was also sneaky.  They left out any camera, which is not a bad move for a company trying to keep their heads above water facing stiff competition.  Also, they pulled a "Google" and started the pricing at$199 for the 8gb model.  But with a microSD card slot, the 8gb model is still useful. Plus, the Nook Cloud stores all your purchases. 
• I am REALLY intrigued by the display quality.  The Nook HD is technically better than the Kindle Fire HD, but I need to see them both up close to make any final judgments.  The differences in color saturation or screen brightness or screen manufacturing could tip this battle in either tablet's favor. 

If you want a media consumption tablet, the Nook HD is just as good as the Kindle Fire (and a lot lighter 394g versus 315g).  But if you already have an Amazon Prime account, then there is no reason not the get the Kindle Fire HD. Free Instant video streaming and free digital library books is just too good to pass up (plus you get a front facing camera).  

However, if you want a small all-purpose tablet, your best choice is either the Nexus 7 or the iPad Mini.  Both are excellent devices and I will compare them face-to-face in a future blog.  Granted, you can browse the web and check email on the Nook and Kindle, but there are not nearly as many applications or capabilities when compared to Apple and Google devices.  For example the Nook or Kindle would not be ideal for document writing, document editing, photo editing, video recording, graphic intense games, or social networking (Facebook and Twitter). And although they both have web browsing abilities, the A5 processor of the iPad Mini and the NVIDIA Quad Core processor of the Nexus 7 both offer superior speed and fluidity when opening and using web pages.   

While the Nook HD is actually a really good device that can 'duke it out' with the big boys, there is only a small market for Barnes 'n Noble die-hards who do not shop on Amazon.  

                 

MLB Update: Astros, Angels, Off-season

I should be writing about my favorite team, the New York Mets, but as expected, they are having a quiet off-season after picking up the options on David Wright and R.A. Dickey (a 5 year old would have realized this was a 'must').  But a couple of other teams are putting the off-season hot stove on the front burner (not sure the metaphor makes sense).

Look at those handsome devils

First of all, the Houston Astros new uniforms. This is just the Miami Marlins all over again, and with the same orange uniform color. The only difference is the Astros are absolutely terrible and will be buried alive in the AL West with the juggernaut Rangers, holy Angels and spunky Athletics.  That's all the teams in the West, right?

But seriously, look at the facts.  The Astros had the 3rd lowest team salary in the big leagues last year at $60,652,000 and the worst record at 55-107.  What really freaks me out is that the Athletics had the lowest team salary at $49,137,500 AND THEY WENT ALL THE WAY TO GAME 5 IN THE ALDS.

Yeah, Bartolo Colon is back. Now there's no way the A's won't win the World Series

And let's look at the team itself from 2012....there's not much to see.  However, there are a few bright spots worth noting.  Justin Maxwell (18/59/.229), Lucas Harrell (11-11/3.76/140 Ks) and Jed Lowry (16/44/.244).  That's about it.   There is potential in Bret Wallace, J.D. Martinez and Brandon Lyles, among others, but they have yet to show there is any substantial hope for the club.

Enough about losers, how about......losers! The 'Anaheim Angels of Anaheim of Disney in California' just witnessed the Giants win the World Series on absolutely superb pitching for the second year in three.  So they allowed two, and possibly 3, starting pitchers to walk away. That makes sense, right?

Bye bye Danny!  You pitched great but we don't believe in starting pitching anymore

I can understand the need to lower payroll after investing A LOT of money in Albert Pujols.  But to trade Ervin Santana for Bradon Sisk of the Royals (who?) and letting Dan Harn walk by declining his $15.5 million option AND letting Zack Greinke also test the free agent waters, the Angels are hoping for a miracle.  Yes, they have Jered Weaver, who showed the world that inept pitching is not hereditary, and C.J. Wilson.  But that's about it right now.  

The Angels will argue firstly, that Santana had become incredibly inconsistent and injury prone for his price tag and secondly, that Haren was getting old and beginning the downside of his career in 2012.  That would some valid points.  

Elsewhere, if they are unable to secure Greinke's services, it will be (partially, at least) because of Vernon Wells.  His salary was $24,642,857 in 2012. That is completely ridiculous.  Albert Pujols only made $12,000,000 this year.  I will never understand a) how the Blue Jays managed to create this obscene 'crime against humanity' contract and b)  how the Angels could take it!  Why would you trade Mike Napoli (when power hitting catchers are worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox) and Juan Rivera for this guy!  He has had some good years in the recent past, but he is not $24 million 'good.'  And this past year was a disaster.  

Anyway, the Angels are also letting Torii Hunter test free agency, which makes sense considering he was the second highest paid Angel last year at $18,500,000.  The Angels need that money to go to re-acquiring Greinke.  I know Hunter is a great presence in the clubhouse, a clutch hitter and a superb defender, but that didn't stop the Angels from utterly failing at life this year.  

Invest in pitching. That's how you win Championships. You already have Pujols, Trumbo and Trout.  Now it's time to shed your bad contracts and dominate AL teams, like you new neighbors, the Houston Astros!!!!

iPad Mini First Impressions

A LOT of people have been blogging about the iPad Mini. It was released in stores yesterday and as a true Apple fan, I went to check it out.  Before stepping into the store, I already knew a good deal about this device (I really want to work for Apple).

First, the screen is NOT Retina.  That means letters and words are somewhat hazy and undefined compared to the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 and 4.  But we're comparing razor sharp displays to a very good display, a display everyone was fine with for the first 2 years of the old iPad's existence.  If you have not had long term exposure to a new iPad/iPhone, the screen on the iPad Mini will look really good because it is a condensed version of the iPad 2.  It's only in comparison that you ask yourself, "why would I spend $330 on this display?"

Second, I knew the form factor was perfect.  It fits in one hand fairly comfortably (tough to tell with my massive paws) but where the iPad Mini shines is the weight.  It is truly lighter than almost any book and as thin as a pencil.   

Yeah, I took a picture of myself with the iPad Mini on my iPhone 5. What of it?

This truly is a remarkable device that you should consider if you want something smaller than a full size tablet that is simple to use with the amazing Apple ecosystem.

*However, there are some caveats.  

• Apple designed this product with the A5 processor, the chip used in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4 (both now two generations old).  There are instances where you can definitely notice the slower loading times and downloads speeds when compared to the iPad 3 and 4 (I still can't believe my iPad is last gen after 6 months).  The most obvious times would be when playing high graphic intensive games, but I noticed some lag in using Apple Maps and opening the camera.  This 'lag' however, would be almost non-existent to the casual user, but I am anything but casual.  
• Now that Apple has broken the unspoken vow of updating products only once a year, and considering this is Apple's first foray into the 7 inch tablet market, I would not be surprised if the iPad Mini 2 is unveiled this summer, if not sooner.  If you can wait to invest $329, I suggest holding off or buying a Google Nexus 7 (as I am about to do).  
• Finally, if you already own an iPad 3, like myself, I do not recommend trading in for the iPad Mini or even purchasing one to compliment your iPad.  The differences in speed and display quality will become far too apparent if you are able to hold both devices in your hands.  I can not bring myself to downgrading spec-wise for a better form factor.  And the iPad Mini is a better form factor, maybe the best designed device Apple has ever created (and I am not the only one saying that).  

On the day the iPad Mini gains the A6 processor and a Retina Display, I will throw my iPad 3 out the window and run 5 miles to my nearest Apple Store to wait in line for 6 hours. But for now, I will be content with my older iPad and wait for the perfect iPad Mini.  

Temple Run ran great...in one hand!

Windows 8. Why I'm Excited.

Helloooooooooooo! I've been missing in action because of this Hurricane Sandy business, but in my exile, I have discover the Holy Grail....options.  I have found other options to the Macbook Air that I so desperately desire, thanks to Microsoft.

Microsoft just put all its chips on the table with the launching of Windows 8. There had been a lot buzz about this radical, and possibly dangerous, upgrade.  Microsoft is attempting to fuse a tablet/smartphone operating system with a full personal computer operating system...and I think it's great!

Here are my reasons for being excited about the beginning of a new era with Windows.

1)    It's different and exactly the same

Much of the confusion about Windows 8 involves the new 'Start' screen, which involves a series of square shaped applications.  Where is the traditional desktop? Why, it's an app, of course.  So you get a familiar Windows 7 experience and a bunch of cool apps to boot.

2)  It's cheap

If you have Windows 7, you can upgrade to Windows 8 for just $40.  That's really, really, cheap.  And with most versions of Windows, all your files will be instantly transferred over when you install Windows 8 - no need to reinstall.  Why the heck not?

3)  It can make an old computer feel new

Having Windows 8 installed promises more efficient battery usage and an overall speed boost to any compatible computer.  

4) I've tried the new Windows 8 laptops and I am impressed!

When I spent a few hours in the Microsoft Store in Boston, I fell in love with two laptops that were showcased for Windows 8.  As a preamble, I want to make the point that creating laptops with touch screens is EXACTLY what Apple didn't want to do when they had the chance a few years ago.  John Ive, now the new Steve Jobs after his recent promotion, explicitly said in an official Apple online video that the user experience of a touch screen laptop was not natural. So instead, when the MacBook Air came into being, they enlarged the trackpad to create gestures there. 

Now Microsoft, known throughout the world as one of the best software companies (and truly the best before the rise of Apple), is diving head first into the hardware industry by siding with Sony, Acer, Dell and Asus to create fully functional touch screen laptops that are just as powerful as the MacBook...with a touch screen!

The two best Windows 8 laptops I have personally tested are :

Acer Aspire S7. This is a direct competitor of the MacBook Air, even though it doesn't appear to be getting a lot of hype. Here are the specs compared:

Acer Aspire S7	MacBook Air
Intel Core i5, 1.70 GHz(up to 2.6)	Intel Core i5, 1.8 GHz(up to 2.8)
2.99 lbs	2.96 lbs
Intel Graphics 4000, 4GB RAM	Same
Touch screen HD display	Neither
$1,299	$1,199

 In the end, you are paying $100 extra for a touch screen when compared to the Macbook Air.  The other technical specifications are almost exactly the same and the Acer computer is even just a little bit thinner than the Air (see photo above).

I do admit the Macbook Air has a slightly stronger overall build, but that should not be a deal breaker.  Also note that the keyboard design is better on the Air.  There was just something about the Acer keyboard that didn't feel quite as comfortable. There is also a lot of empty space around the keyboard with the Acer computer compared to Apple's design.


Sony VAIO T. This is a powerful ultrabook that only barely fits the category, but at 3.5 pounds and 7.1 inches thick, yeah, that's thin.  But the MacBook Air and the Acer Aspire S7 are thinner you say? True, but do they have a 500 GB hard-drive with 32 GB solid state storage and 6 GB of RAM?  And do they have touch screens and cost $800!

No, no they do not.

I have been debating what to do about internal storage for quite some time. On one hand, I have more media and files than the 128 GB standard ultrabook storage size. On the other hand, solid state storage is the way of the future, and with no spinning hard-drive, it's more durable and faster to load files.  So why can't I just use my external hard drive to store files I use infrequently? For the same reason I need an iPhone and not a cheap phone with an iPod Touch. I want everything in one place. I don't want to make tough choices over which photo albums I erase from my computer.  I already do that with my 16 GB iPhone 5.

I probably wouldn't take my laptop traveling. That's why I have an iPhone and an iPad.  So if the computer is going to be relatively stationary, and I had no problems with my 4 year old Dell laptop that went to Santiago Chile and back, maybe I should save almost $400 and get the Sony VAIO T.

I explain my situation because I believe many consumers are uncertain and cautious about which laptop is right for them.  Overall, a Macbook Air or an Acer Aspire S7 will be enough for the casual user, but what if today's casual user is tomorrow's....someone who needs more power, speed and storage?

If you want to have peace of mind that your computer will be fast and powerful for the foreseeable future, go with a Sony VAIO T or a Macbook Pro.  And the Sony laptop is such a bang for your buck because you get plenty of storage and plenty of power (Intel i5) AND plenty of portability AND a great price. There are many other options out there as well, but these are my two favorite at the moment.

Apple versus the World (of Windows), let the battle commence!