Personal Challenge 2014

More Things Changed, Some Things Stayed The Same

We have come to the part of the year, other than birthdays, reunions, or anniversaries, where people look back on life and either reminisce, have regrets, or set new goals.

2013 was a challenging year for me. Honestly, I do not regret anything in life, however, I would say that in 2013, I had setbacks. These setbacks will take some effort to mitigate, but they are resolvable. I have also had triumphs, of course; but unfortunately the setbacks are weighing on me at the moment. Similar to most people, I have many challenges, but my biggest one is food. Because of food being my biggest vice, I challenge myself every year to give up one of my favorite foods. So far I have given up soda, ice cream, and deep fried foods.

2014 will be the year of no red meat. This will be hard, though, not as hard as ice cream, but hard nonetheless. I look forward to making healthy substitutions for red meat. My goal for these annual personal challenges is to break a habit and weave in a healthy habit into my eating lifestyle. My hope is that it will make it easier for my sons to emulate my eating habits- not to mention to enriching and lengthening my life.

There are many tools that can be used to track eating, exercise, and enrich quality of life. Below are a list of tools that I use.

MotoActv: This is my number one tool because it is so comprehensive with regards to tracking exercise, setting goals, creating workout plans, and challenging others in competitions.

Fitbit Flex: I am using this as a supplemental tool to my MotoActv. The great thing about the Fitbit Flex is that it includes a lot of the stuff I used to use myfitnesspal for. I can track my food, water, exercise, and have it sync with other tools that I use seamlessly.

Healthvault: Healthvault is an app that came pre-installed on my Surface Pro and I have to say that I love it. I have it synced with my Fitbit and soon I will have my other health info synced.

As I discover more tools throughout 2014 I will definitely update; but until then, Happy New Year and Godspeed!

-Ellison-
A.K.A Edmund Starbanks

The Human Community: We're All Teachers

Read Part I

I'm a teacher, you're a teacher, we're some teachers, wouldn't you like to be a teacher too! We've all heard the adage; "It takes a village to raise a child."; however, it also takes a lot of trust. The blessing and curse of the internet and technology is that information is readily available. I can easily find out how many sex offenders live within my or any neighborhood; complete with pictures of the offender along with the nature of their crimes. The downside to this, depending on your personality is that you lose a lot of faith in human beings and it can lead you to overprotecting your child and forcing them to live in a bubble. Though this information is valuable, it is also important to use common sense and instinct. We have become a society that has used technology as a crutch and escape from our surroundings rather than one that uses it as a tool to enhance our lives.

I am a self professed tech junkie. I read various technology websites and blogs so I am both aware and amazed of how far we have come technologically in a very short time span. Unlike my generation (I am 37) and ones before it, the current generation is not afforded a time buffer before a new technology or the enhancement of a current one is unleashed on the world. The beta phase (time in which a product is released to a select group of people to either test its viability or work out the kinks before public release) of tech products has been nullified. Either the beta window is too short or too long, relegating it to uselessness. Today, the internet has been ingratiated into our lives. Everything is connected, from TVs and cars, to refrigerators and even shoes. The ubiquity of the internet has changed social rules, social norms and sense of self. Texting, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and similar sites and technologies enable kids to invoke a false sense of independence and anonymity.

Because of these rapid changes, it is imperative that we establish a teaching community outside of the standard classroom. This may sound like common sense to my parents and their generation, but unfortunately, it is lost on a lot of people today. It seems that a lot of parents have adopted a Laissez a faire approach; minimal parental intervention and "letting the chips  fall where they may" mentality. In my view, this is dangerous, because I believe it is important to mitigate overly aggressive behavior as early as possible. I have a 5 yr old son, and like most children his age, he and his friends like to play wrestle and shadow box. I don't have a problem with that; however, I tell him that he is not allowed to hit anyone in the face or private area. Again, I believe it is important that I instill boundaries and circumvent behaviors that could potentially escalate; either now in the future. No child is 100% on good behavior 100% of the time, so obviously my son will exhibit behavior that he has been told not to; -he is a five yr old after all- however, he knows that there will be ramifications. My wife and I are firm believers in ensuring positive reinforcements outweigh negative reinforcements. We do not believe in corporal punishment and thankfully, time out and reduction in privileges work for us. In my view, setting this foundation of parental guidance will lead my son to making decisions that are more beneficial to him and his counterparts rather than ones that can impact him negatively or detrimentally. He knows that we do not tolerate bullying, making fun of people, or callously pointing out differences in people-obvious or otherwise. 

The reason I started this post with the "I'm a teacher" limerick is because I believe as a community, we are responsible for all of our children. Teachers are integral in the development of our children and despite their knowledge of their subject matter, most teachers are open to learning new things. They are open to new ways of engaging and enlightening our children. As parents, we must do the same thing. We do this by our actions and by helping each other out by correcting inappropriate behavior attitudes. If we notice negative behavior, we should be able to mindfully correct it immediately or reach out to the parent or parent collective to correct and limit the behavior. There are too many examples of bullying going too far; whether it's via social media or in person. We have become complacent and many parents have adopted an arms length approach. Their faces are buried in their mobile devices and they're oblivious to their children. The whole attitude is that the children should sort out all conflicts among themselves. Meanwhile, the children are developing behaviors that will be  detrimental in the future because they have no outlet other than their peers. This leads some children to a mindset of no reprisal and the ubiquity of social media and its supposed anonymity lends itself to cyber bullying. Why tear you down face to face when I can do it safely from my mobile phone? Parental complacency is dangerous and unacceptable. 

The new bubble is the cloud we have created with our mobile devices and other tech vices to separate ourselves from the world around us. This causes us to miss what is right in front of us. This complacency has contributed to the rise in social apathy and cyber bullying; because we as parents have refused to keep abreast of the changing times and rapid pace of technological advancements. As adults, it is our responsibility to be mindful of social trends, and change in technology so we can use this info to root out unacceptable actions and behaviors that have become much more explicit due to the ease of access and anonymity in the virtual world. 

Here is some perspective; Apple's iPhone debuted in 2007. Since it's debut, it has gone through 9 iterations in 6 years, Google debuted Android in 2008 only to have it take up virtually 84% of the global cell phone market, Blackberry has fallen from dominance, Facebook and Twitter have risen from virtual nascent social networks to publicly traded companies, no one knows what the heck a Pocket PC is, Palm doesn't exist anymore, HDTV and Blu-Ray is commonplace, 3D HDTV has come and gone, and now everyone is talking about Ultra HD or 4K resolution, and flexible/bendable mobile phones. We are the point now where 1 yr is an eternity in tech advances. It may seem overwhelming to stay up to date, but if you use technology and the internet to your advantage, kids won't be too many steps ahead of us; and we can limit a lot of the abusive behaviors that we've all turned a blind eye to.

-Ellison

A.K.A. Edmund Starbanks

Read Part I

links: Google+, Twitter, Facebook

Edmund's Technoblasts: Edmund's Holiday Gift Guide Part I

Gaming Consoles

photo courtesy of XBox.com

1. XBox One - $499.99 

Despite early backtracking over always on settings, Microsoft has a diamond in the rough with the Xbox One. Noted features as improved Kinect functionality, Blu-Ray (finally!) embedded Skype functionality, cable programming integration and arguably the best online gaming experience makes the XBox One a great buy; don't forget to download the Day 1 patch or you will not get to enjoy your shiny new XBox One.

photo courtesy of us.playstation.com

2. PlayStation 4 - $399.99

Sony has worked hard to not only address the missed moments with the PS3, but to also cast a differentiating shadow on MS’s XBox One. Gamepad touch controls, remote play (You can transfer game play from the PS4 to the PS Vita and even your mobile device), noted PlayStation Exclusives, access to Sony’s vast digital media library, and Blu-Ray make the PS4 a great alternative to the XBox One.

photo courtesy of nintendo.com

3. Nintendo Wii U - $299.99 

It's hard to imagine Nintendo in the catch up role; especially within an industry they are viewed as a pioneer. Yet, unlike the Wii, the Wii U was not as widely or quickly adopted. Despite a 2 year head start, HD graphics, and a redefined gaming experience, the Wii U's sales have been lackluster at best. Given those caveats, Nintendo may David the two Goliaths for a few key reasons. 1. Backward compatibility. Scoff if you like, but games are expensive, so being able to play your previous library on your new console is a benefit. 2. Discontinuing the Wii. This should have been a no brainer to Nintendo, but for whatever reason they allowed the Wii to cannibalize their Wii U sales. This move should rectify that. 3. Price. The Wii U is $200 less than the XBox One and $100 less than the PS4; regardless of what people may think, this will be a big factor in buying decisions this holiday season. 4. Availability. There are 2 consoles launching this holiday season, there will invariably be inventory shortages; either by design or demand. This will be a big opportunity for Nintendo because if you can't get the other two due to a 3-6 wk wait, some people may pick up the Wii U instead.

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Tablets

Full Size - 9.5" and Up

photo courtesy of Apple.com

1. iPad Air - $499 - $929 

Anyone who knows me, is aware of my chagrin towards Apple. My personal feelings aside, hype can only take you so far. Apple's tablet is not the top dog by sheer luck; and if people thought your product was terrible, they would not keep buying it...to some extent. 

Apple's biggest advantage is its app ecosystem and their synchronous approach to software and hardware development. This allows Apple to closely control every aspect of their product. The iPad Air has a 64 bit processor chip, a high resolution screen, dual cameras, and access to one of the best app stores with apps optimized for its form factor. All of this make the iPad Air one the best media consumption devices on the market. The benefit and caveat is that everything is under one umbrella, outside of accessories, there's very little you can do to personalize your iPad; however, when Apple updates their software, every single iPad Air customer gets the update regardless of version of iPad; and most versions with the exception of very early iterations can support iOS 7.

photo courtesy of play.google.com

2. Nexus 10 - $399-$499

Google's Nexus program is the best way to experience Android unfettered. A 10" HD screen, dual cameras, 2GB of RAM, and NFC are some of the features that make the Nexus 10 a great device. The best part of the Nexus' feature set however, has nothing to do with hardware. It's all about services; Google Services. Despite what you might feel about the search giant's reach, they're pretty good at offering up tools and services to meet your wants and needs. All of this is by virtue of Google Now. Compared to other companies; with Google Now, Google has managed to actually turn your mobile device into a personal assistant minus the half baked attempt of giving your mobile device a personality.

photo courtesy of samsung.com

3. Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) - $549-$599

Samsung has managed to become a juggernaut in the Android space. Many a blogger and technophile has opined negatively or positively about Samsung devices overall. Similar to Apple's dominance in the tablet space overall, Samsung wouldn't be top Android dog if the majority of them were subpar. They are proof that UX (user experience) plays just as important a role as hardware design. One of the biggest selling points for the Galaxy Note is its stylus. Samsung's partial ownership of Wacom gives them an advantage over any OEM who wishes to incorporate styli input along with natural handwriting recognition. 

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Tablets

Full Size - 7" - 8.9"

photo courtesy of play.google.com

1. Nexus 7 (2013 Edition) - $229-$349

The collaboration of Google and ASUS culminated in the Nexus 7. Perhaps the best small sized tablet on the market today. Android 4.4 (Kit Kat) the way Google intended-pure and simple along with Google Services, multiple profiles, parental controls, NFC, and dual cameras. All of those goodies plus the amazing price make the Nexus 7 both a great starter tablet and supplemental device for anyone in any age group.

photo courtesy of kindle.com

2. Kindle Fire HDX 7" - $229-$424

The fruits of Google's labor are Amazon's bountiful harvest. Amazon's Fire OS is basically highly customize Android skin. Nevertheless, Amazon has followed in Apple's footsteps with respect to hardware and services. Everything is under the Amazon umbrella. Similar to Apple, there are no OEMs. This allows Amazon to let Google do the heavy lifting in OS development, while they do what they're best known for; focused customer services. The Kindle Fire HDX has a high resolution screen and has been optimized for media consumption via the Amazon universe. With the HDX line, Amazon debuted the 'Mayday' button, 24/7 live customer service with remote assistance. Currently, no one offers this on their mobile products, so Amazon is safe in that space...for now. If you don't need any apps for productivity or your tablet to emulate a PC, then the Kindle Fire HDX is for you.

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Ultrabooks/Convertible Notebooks

photo courtesy of surface.com

1. Surface Pro 2 - $899-$1,799
Full disclosure; I own a first generation 128GB Surface Pro. I purchased it after my Galaxy Tab 10.1's screen was shattered. I haven't looked back since. You can read my full review here.

Microsoft is on their second iteration of the Surface line. The improvements made on the second coming are great ones; it shows that Redmond cares about their customers' input and that they are vested in the Surface. Windows 8.1, Improved battery life, a faster processor, and a better variety of accessories were needed and thankfully MS met that need. What separates the Surface Pro from other ultrabooks and convertible PCs is its exemplary pen input interface. The way Microsoft integrated the stylus and its input throughout Office and other core apps is genius. Personally, I feel One Note showcases the power of taking natural handwritten notes. These handwritten notes are searchable, easily converted to text and can be synced with any Office file. Previously on my Android tablet and iPod, I used Springpad and Evernote, but One Note has supplanted them. Above in my list of full screen tablets, I mentioned that the Galaxy Note 10.1 is a great starter tablet or supplemental device for students; the Surface Pro is the best device to replace the laptop any student is considering to purchase. You also can't beat the 200GB of free SkyDrive for two years.

Note: Do yourself a favor and bypass the 64GB version. The Windows 8.1 OS is large and will take up approximately 46% of your storage space.

photo courtesy of dell.com

2. Dell XPS 12 - $999-$1,399
Dell has been a very good OEM for Microsoft. They're usually the first to create products for anything new that Redmond releases from the pipeline. True to form, when Windows 8 hit the scene, Dell responded; one of their responses was the Dell XPS 12. The original XPS debuted prior Microsoft's Surface and it had a distinctive quirky feature; a 180° rotating display. By rotating the display and closing the laptop, it instantly converts from a  clamshell ultrabook to a tablet. This form factor along with the small dimensions of the XPS are perfect for the portability needs of a general college student.

photo courtesy of lenovo.com

3. Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro- $1,099-$1,599
Lenovo's Yoga line is an interesting take on form factors. Unlike the aforementioned Microsoft Surface or Dell XPS, the Yoga's monitor folds back 180°. Due to a quality hinge the Yoga has various ways you can position the monitor; though there are 4 official positions. Windows 8.1, up to 512 GB SSD, up to 8GB of RAM and BT 4.0 make the Yoga 2 Pro a powerhouse.

Stay tuned for Part II

-Edmund

My Device Graveyard - Part III

Edmund's TechnoBlasts

Blackberry Bold 9000

Below is my original review of the BB 9000. I loved this device. Blackberry was my original smartphone and I was hooked from the first device on. Based on my previous Blackberries, the Bold was a huge improvement. The scroll wheel was replaced by the trackball in a previous model and that carried on to the Bold. The trackball in the Bold was more stable than it's counterpart; making reviewing emails and SMS messages a breeze.

What made the Bold great...

Trackball: Improved over the 8820, which I owned prior to the Bold, the trackball was smooth and responsive. Unlike the 8820, it never stuck and did not need to be replaced. It was that reason that had me purchasing he Bold in the first place.

Blackberry Services:
Nothing beats Blackberry's push services. They are the industry standard. Despite past connection blackouts, their services remain the go to for businesses. It is probably the reason they are still around today given their unfortunate slide in the industry.

The Latest:

Unfortunately, Blackberry is on the market. The obvious choice for a buyout (Microsoft) has already purchased Nokia's hardware and services division. They have also committed to licensing patents from Nokia so a buyout of BB seems unlikely, though they are rumored to be keeping an interested eye on BB. Though I have an Android phone now, this is still a sad moment for me. My first pager was a RIM device. My first smartphone was a RIM device, so to see their demise will be a somber moment for me. Hopefully they transform themselves the way IBM did when they got out of the manufacturing business.

-Edmund

RIM Blackberry Bold 9000

I must say that I did not believe that RIM could top my 8820, but I have been pleasantly surprised. The Blackberry Bold has a lighter feel than it's predecessor, although its specs put it at .07 oz heavier (Click here for full specs:Full Blackberry Bold Specs). The standout on this device, however is its wonderful screen. Bright, amazing colors, video and pictures look amazing! The 2MP camera with its LED flash is functional and will give you very nice pictures for a phone. If you want amazing editorial pictures, buy a camera. Nothing worse than idiots complaining about the picture/video quality of a cell phone. The Bold comes with what has been standard for some time now (3G, World Phone capability, GPS, WiFi, removable storage-unless you have an iPhone-ha!) and RIM's push technology. Improved Office file viewing/editing gives added functionality and versatility. Although no phone/PDA is perfect, the Blackberry bold gets pretty close. Wonderful tools, plus the improvement to the RIM staples, coupled with the vibrant display makes this phone a must have.

My rating: 3.75/5.0

My Device Graveyard - Part II

Edmund's TechnoBlasts

Read Part I

Creative Zen Vision W

I absolutely loved my Creative Zen Vision. It had the best of multiple worlds. A hi-res widescreen for watching video and browsing photos, lots of storage that not only stored all of my media, but also served as a back up hard drive. If I had not lost it at an ASCAP Members' meeting in New York, I'd still have this amazing device today.

What made the Creative Zen Vision W great...

30/60 GB HDD: With a choice of either 30GB or 60GB HDD variants, Creative covered all grounds by giving you enough internal storage for your media and they did all of this plus include an external storage option via Compact Flash. It didn't hurt that Windows recognized the Creative Zen Vision W as an external hard drive; very nice bonus.

Removable Storage: Support for Compact Flash II made it easy for me to transfer my pictures from my Canon Powershot to my Zen without the need for USB while also giving me a valid external storage option.

Large LCD Screen: 4.3" widescreen in 2006 was colossal compared to Apple's iPod Video which had a 2.5" screen. The Zen Vision W's screen was bright, crisp and back-lit.

Multi-Codec Audio/Video Playback:  Playback support for video formats such as; AVI, WMV9, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4-SP, MJPEG, DivX4.x/ 5.x, and XviD-SP and audio formats such as; MP3, WMA, WAV, Audible, and Protected WMA made this a perfect 
companion device.

FM Tuner: Any device that came with a built-in radio antenna was a winner with me. Other devices required accessories that basically nullified the portability factor.

What needed improvement...

Menu Navigation: Menu navigation was too involved for my tastes. It took too many clicks to get necessary options. 

Bulk: Granted, at the time, the price point for manageable flash storage would have made this device beyond expensive; however, the size was still pretty big. Compared to the iPod and Creative's other offerings the Zen Vision W was massive and heavy. Considering it's size, it is interesting that I still managed to lose it at an ASCAP Membership Meeting.

Content Partnerships: I know that at the time the Zen Vision W debuted, content providers were not readily entering into agreements unless your name was Apple or Microsoft; however, it would have been nice to have access to content from big players like Universal or Sony.


Consensus:  I honestly loved this device. I used it on a regular basis for watching videos, listening to music, viewing pictures, and most importantly, backing up my files. I was literally walking around with a backup external HDD. Due to technological limitations of the time, the Zen Vision W was enormous and bulky; however a lot of its features made up for it. 

My rating, based on what was available at the time is a 3/5.  The menu navigation had too much drill down and the search functionality could have been better, but all in all, I would still recommend the Creative Zen Vision W now as much as I did when I originally had it.

-ES

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My Device Graveyard - Part I

iRiver iHP-120

   

I am a self professed gadget and tech junkie and similar to my fellow tech/gadget enthusiasts,  I almost always clamor for hot new gadgets when they debut. However, when the first iPod debuted, I was not one of the first people in line anxiously waiting to get my hands on one...due to one reason - price. Don't get me wrong, I desperately wanted an iPod, but unfortunately, I was forced to look for alternatives. After a lot of research, I came upon the iRiver iHP-120. I purchased the iRiver iHP-120 in 2003. At the time of its release it was a powerhouse that offered a viable alternative to Apple's iPod and noted entries from Creative's Zen series.

What made the iRiver great...

Multi-Codec Support: The iHP-120 supported Ogg Vorbis, WAV, ASF, WMA, and of course MP3. Future firmware updates included support for flac files as well.

FM Tuner/Remote: What we take for granted now was not a common feature in MP3 players of old. The remote featured a backlit LCD screen that not only let you adjust playback and volume, it also served as the antennae for the built in FM tuner.

Optical Line in/Line Out: As a producer, this was a big sell for me. I actually connected a Boss drum machine to it and sampled some tracks.

HDD: The fact that I could use this as a hard drive out of the box without any proprietary or third party software. It was truly plug and play.

20GB: This much storage for the price was not the norm when this product was introduced. Having this made it to where I could not only use this as a portable music player, but also as a multimedia external hard drive. Very good bang for your buck.

Built in mic and voice memo recording: They really covered a lot of bases with this device. The inclusion of voice recording was very useful to me as a recording artist. It allowed me to record song concepts and lyrics on the go in one device.

What needed improvement...

No USB charging: It was very annoying that I had to use two separate cords with the iHP-120. One to power/recharge the battery and another to connect to my PC for file transfer and syncing. The technology existed for USB charging, so the choice for different cords was cumbersome at best.

Menu Navigation: The menu navigation definitely needed some improvement. It took too many clicks just to get to a song in some cases.

Conclusion: Despite the lack of USB charging and menu navigation issues, the iHP-120 was a great device that packed a lot of features into a compact and durable form factor. I loved this device so much that I didn't feel the need to upgrade until I caught wind of the Creative Labs Zen Vision-which had a 5 inch screen for watching video. I will cover the Creative Labs Zen Vision in a future post.

My Rating: 4/5

Check out CNET's review of the iRiver iHP-120 here.

Take a look at the manual for the iRiver iHP-120 here.

Surface Pro (128 GB) Review

Photo taken by: E. Sarbeng

Edmund's Technoblasts: Surface Pro (128 GB) Review


There are many reviews of Microsoft's foray into the PC manufacture business; however, based on the majority of the reviews, there seems to be a bias against the Surface and an inaccurate comparison to Apple's iPad. The Surface RT can be compared to the iPad, but the Surface Pro cannot.

Similar to the iPad's initial debut, the Surface Pro is in a category all by itself. The Surface Pro aims to give you the performance and functionality of a full fledged PC, and the mobility and user experience of a tablet.

I am happy to say that the Surface Pro pretty much delivers on all fronts. Let's break down the benefits and caveats of Microsoft's new mobile PC. I will also address some of the complaints/issues that people have pointed out regarding this device.

Benefits/Features

Screen Size: Both variations of the Surface have a 10.6 in. screen. Many people (meaning tech bloggers with obvious biases) have complained about the size saying that it is too small and not conducive to an optimal user experience. I can tell you personally, I do not feel I am comprising anything; and I had a 15" lap top screen before moving to the Surface Pro as well as a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. In my personal opinion, I would say a screen size between 10.5"-13" is optimal. It gives you enough screen real estate without significantly compromising weight.

Screen Resolution: The screen resolution is 1920 x 1080 which means Full HD. The screen is bright and text is very clear and crisp. The screen also features a 10 point multitouch display. That means that the Surface Pro can recognize ten different touch points on the screen. Most screens on other PCs and tablets can only recognize 5.

TypeCover (Optional): Currently, there are two keyboard options that connect directly with the magnetic hinge on the Surface. They are the TouchCover and the TypeCover. I have used both and I have to say that my preference is the TypeCover. It has the familiar chiclet key setup and does not require the minimal  learning curve like the TouchCover. Also, it feels more solid. The TouchCover is polyurethane and comes in various colors as well as special edition cover prints.

Stylus/Wacom Digitizer: Personally, the included stylus was a game changer and made any other Windows 8 Pro based PC or Tablet a non-starter if it did not have a stylus. A lot of people balk at the importance of a stylus that feels as natural to use as a pen or pencil. They balk until they use something similar. Since getting the Surface Pro, I have no need to take paper notebooks to class or legal pads to meetings; because I can take notes in One Note and it syncs on all of my devices that I have One Note installed; just like Springpad, Evernote, and now Google Keep. The digitizer also features palm recognition; which means that when you are writing with the stylus, it will not interrupt your writing because of your palm resting on the screen. This is very advantageous because MS took into consideration the natural way people would write on the device.

Kickstand: Much like HTC's Evo 4G and subsequent variants, self professed tech bloggers mocked the Surface's kickstand. I don't agree with their assessment. What makes the kickstand great, is that it is the one feature that differentiates the Surface as both a tablet and PC. The naysayers whom claim that you cannot use the Surface on your lap are lying. I've done it on multiple occasions with no issues. In fact, my Surface Pro is on my lap right now as I am typing up this review; so their biased opinion holds no merit with me.

Wireless: The Surface Pro features integrated Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy and WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n radios, so you should have no problem connecting to a WiFi hotspots.

Cameras: There are two cameras on the Surface Pro. They are both 720p HD cameras and they output to 1080p video. I've taken pictures with both cameras. I'm not going to pretend like they're breathtaking pictures, but the pictures are clear and color representation is pretty good. When it comes to cameras on PCs and tablets, I don't expect much because to expect magazine quality pictures from them would be ridiculous.

Windows 8 Pro: Perhaps one of the best things about the Surface Pro is its operating system. Despite what a number of tech junkies and uber power users say, Microsoft got a great majority of it right. Nothing is perfect, which is why MS will be initiating Windows Blue to incrementally update Windows 8 and patch fixes. The number one thing that is great about this device, is the fact that any hardware that you have purchased for your previous desktops or laptops will work. There is no need to search an app store to look for applications or rudimentary third party equivalents to get your hardware to work with the Surface Pro. Plug and Play works the way it always has; and it is even improved. Another thing I like is that switching between Desktop Mode and what I like to call traditional Tablet Mode is seamless. Personally, I like the live tiles with the updates rather than static icons. It's refreshing and I find myself using it more than going to Desktop Mode.
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Caveats/Wishlist
No device is perfect; to expect anything made by humans to be perfect is to live in denial. I am going to list the caveats as well as what I hope to see in the next iteration of Surface (Pro or RT). Perhaps this will also address some of the gripes and complaints some reviewers have had about Surface.

No 3G/4G radios
Microsoft really needs to create a relationship with a wireless provider similar to how Amazon did to make it easier for road warriors to adopt the Surface. Integrating a wireless radio should be paramount in the next iteration of the Surface. I have no issue with not having one because I have a hotspot option integrated into my phone, so for me it's a non-issue, but that is not the case for a vast majority of users, so MS needs to address it.

Office 2013 and Office 365 not bundled in
This is primarily for the Surface Pro. It doesn't make sense that a full pro version of Office 2013 and Office 365 are not pre-installed. For an $899 starting price, MS could get a lot of people on-board with Surface Pro if they bundled Office in.

More Personalization
At the moment, the TouchCover comes in multiple colors and there are even special edition ones designed by up and coming artists. The TypeCover however is basic black. MS and other companies need to get away from the philosophy that you check your personality at the door when you go to work. Offering better options for customizing the Surface to represent You would be a boon in after market sales for MS.

Move the connection port for the Stylus
I love that the Surface Pro comes with a stylus. I love that it can magnetically connect to the Surface for safe keeping. I don't love that it connects to the same port as the power connector, thus leaving me to do the same thing I do with any other pen; looking for where the heck I misplaced it.

Google pulling their head from their backside
This is indirectly not Microsoft's fault. I use Google's product and services. I am thoroughly vested and entrenched in their web services and Android ecosystem. It does not make sense to me why Google refuses to create native Windows 8 apps. Frankly, it's idiotic. Where's the Blogger app? Where's Google+ and others. Right now, Google's Chrome Browser does not take advantage of the integrated 10 point multitouch display in the Surface Pro, so I find myself going back IE because it is offering a better browsing experience with regard to multitouch. For Google to ignore Windows 8, is a mistake. Hopefully, they wake up and realize that there is a treasure trove of revenue they can generate from Windows 8.

Virtual Keyboard
The virtual keyboard should pop up anytime I tap into any text entry field with the stylus. It is very annoying that I have to click on the virtual keyboard icon from the status bar. The Surface Pro should recognize when the physical keyboard is not connected so that the virtual keyboard is easier to access. Again, I hope this is fixed via the incremental updates MS is planning with Windows Blue.

Battery Life
The battery life on the Surface Pro is not great; however, it's not terrible either. Anyone who tries to claim that they don't walk around with chargers for any of their mobile devices is either in denial or a liar. Based on my usage, I generally get about 4-4.5 hrs on moderate usage. Hopefully this is addressed with updates from the Windows Blue road map. If MS could get 6-7 hrs of battery life, that would be optimal. Also, Intel chips are not known to be power sipping CPUs, so hopefully this can be addressed with software.

Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and other ubiquitous social apps
MS needs to instill developer confidence in Windows 8. The lack of a dedicated Facebook native app -a company they have a vested interest in- is ridiculous. Thankfully, Twitter is available; I believe this is due to Twitter's policy regarding third party apps, so that ended up as a benefit more or less. I digress; there are social apps that people use on a regular basis that should be available in the Windows Store; yet, unfortunately they are not. Hopefully, MS is diligently working with developers from these companies to get these apps available in a timely manner.

Better Xbox and Kinect Integration
I am willing to guess that this is something that Panos Panay is diligently working on. I cannot wait to see what they come up with. Xbox SmartGlass is a start and there is a ton of potential, so I am eager to see how they expand this functionality.

NFC 
The lack of NFC is not a deal breaker for me; however, it is curious that MS decided to forgo the inclusion of it in the Surface. Easy data transfer and possible secure connection protocols would be easy to do with NFC.

Consensus: I reiterate that nothing made by humans is going to be perfect. Given the caveats that I listed above, Microsoft's Surface Pro is an excellent machine. At this venture, it is the best full PC in a tablet form factor to date. No one has come close to offering what MS is giving you in the Surface Pro. A PC grade Intel Chip, USB 3.0, microSDXC slot, 1080p display, kickstand, HDMI output, a stylus that allows for natural handwriting, and out of the box compatibility with all of my previous Windows peripherals is what makes the Surface Pro a no brainer. Similar to the original Xbox, it is apparent that MS put a lot of thought into the product and the success of the Xbox 360 is proof positive that the next generation of the Surface will be vastly improved, as long as MS stays committed to the Surface. The Surface Pro is Microsoft's manifestation of what corporations preach in terms of work-life balance. I can get work done, zone out on websites and social networks, and unwind with games either from the Windows Store or from other PC vendors. The Surface Pro truly gives you an experience that you cannot get from any other hardware manufacturer at the moment. Based on a 10 point scale, I would give the first generation of the Surface Pro an 8. Please post questions, comments, and requests onto twitter or facebook via the links below.

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2013 Personal Challenge Part II

Read Part I

I have begun an annual tradition of challenging myself by giving up a vice. 2013 will be the third time that I am doing this. Year one was soda, year two was ice cream and year three will deep fried foods. Since french fries and fried sweet plantains are two of my favorite foods, this will definitely be hard for me.

Along with my annual vice fasting, I am also making the choice to change my life and live a healthier lifestyle. I'm changing the way I eat and I'm committed to getting to a healthy weight. I started the year at 245.5 lbs and on 1/9/2013 I weighed in at 242.2 lbs. I'm using a number of tools to help me along the way. Below is a list of my tools.

MotoActv: this watch and the accompanying website and app are two of my best tools. I can set personal workout goals, track my walking and overall physical activity.

myfitnesspal.com: this website is key for me. It allows me to track my food and water intake. The absolute best part is that it's free.

Godspeed on your 2013 journey, and your comments are welcome.

-Ellison a.k.a. Edmund Starbanks

Read Part I