Reviewing the Acer Chromebook C710-2856

The New and Old!

As you know my Acer Aspire with Windows 7 was falling apart and I had to figure out a way to keep blogging without breaking the bank.   I happen to fin this nice little system for under 250$ and with the amount of positive reports from people around the globe about this laptop.  I figured I have to try it out myself.  As you know I simply love to buy products from Acer because I believe in them so much.   Every time I buy something from them, they just seem to last and thus I couldn’t resist trying this little Chromebook out.   I also thought this might be something that could be given as a gift to other people since Christmas time is almost upon us.   I just didn’t realize what I was getting myself into with this laptop.   

Specifications

Let’s start off by detailing to you what the specifications are for this Chromebook:

Chromebook With Chome OS:

• Screen Size: 11.6”
• Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768
• Processor Type: Intel
• Processor Model: Celeron 847
• Processor Speed: 1.1GHz (Dual core)

Display:

• Screen Size 11.6’
• Screen Mode HD
• Screen Resolution 1366 x 768

Network:

• IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n (With Fast Ethernet Technology)

USB:

• 3 USB 2.0

Comes with no optical drives, so no DVD’s or CD can be played with this device.   I am sure someone was going to ask this so I figured it was time to point that out!  Now I can tell you every detail about the specifications but it really doesn’t need to be discussed.  

Pros and Con’s

I am sure some of you are think there isn’t really anything positive that I could say about this laptop but you’d be wrong.   I started using this laptop last month for 3 weeks now and thought it was high time we at least do a review of this and try to talk about my experience.   

Now let’s get to the juicy parts of this article.   Would I recommend this to everyone, I would say NO.  If your doing photo editing or something that requires high processing editing then you might as well go look somewhere else.   The good part of this Acer Laptop is quite obvious but can be oblivious to others.  You can Stream movies and Shows and watch them on the laptop.   Google did a good job of this.   Just like Chromecast, you can stream them from your laptop to the big screen if you want.   

Processing Speed

The speed of the laptop when used with the Chrome OS is very different compared to my old laptop but then again, I am sure it was getting sluggish and probably needed a good clean refresh of the system.  I wasn’t how well I would like this system but I am not disappointed at all with what I expected to be doing with it.   I wasn’t going to be doing much other than blogging, surfing the net, and streaming movies and shows using HULU, CBS, and Netflix.  Let’s not forget about Pandora, which also worked perfectly for my needs.  It works perfectly on this Acer Chromebook.   I had no problems watching shows and movies from all those providers and many more.   

Hard Drive

If your planning on putting a lot of music files and documents on this laptop, think again.   You can however use USB drives to increase it to what ever size you may need but that will impact your time of the laptop if you don’t have it plugged in then you are are going to be using batter power to power the USB HDD.   It comes with a 16 gb Solid State Drive and it is really quite.   You can increase the space to 48 Gb’s by adding a 32 Gb SD card which is helpful for some.  

Screen

Most videos I streamed worked flawlessly and were quite nice to watch on the 11.6’ display.   They say it is High Definition and I believe it is.  I have had no problem surfing the web and checking out other web sites to see if there would be any problem with viewing them on a smaller screen and it was nice and no problems.

Battery

The battery power in this was quite amazing.   It at times has lasted me more than 5 hours on one charge an that has been a record for me.   The size and power alone is something that is definitely big plus to me because I don’t always need to keep it plugged in.   Very portable and can be taken to McDonald’s or any Wifi Hotspot.   I will be discussing this in detail later, and how to setup a VPN on a Chromebook! :)  So stay tuned!

Keyboard and Touchpad

Now to tell you I had a learning curve for the touch pad would be understand statement.   You have to understand that it has different gestures for double clicking and right and left clicking.   So when you first start using this laptop you will need to be prepared to go to the Chrome Book Help section to help you out and figure out all those new gestures.  The keyboard is like most other laptops and does a superb job at letting me type.  It all worked out in the end with me because it worked just well for all my needs.

If I haven’t changed your mind and you would like to try this laptop out for yourself you have a few options available to you and here they are:

• Acer 11.6” Laptop 2GB 16GB | C710-2856 Price : 199$
• Google Play Store  Price : 199$
• Walmart 199$  
• Newegg
• And many other places

Most of the time almost everyone has this version of Chromebook because it is the cheapest there is.   It is quite responsive and I have no qualms with this laptop.   I even like the size more easier to carry around and not be so bulky.   

*Those nasty disclaimers* Some of the links in the site are for use to help keep my website going and thus any Amazon links are undoubtedly affiliated with my site.

Reviewing the ZTE Awe from Virgin Mobile!

The Virgin Mobile ZTE AWE comes with a 1.2 ghz processor and the screen is really nice. I did switch from the Kyocera Rise to this because of a flaw that would just make the screws come off and break apart. I have had over a week to play around with the ZTE phone and I am quite impressed with the service. I thought it would be good to at least talk about some of the obstacles you will need to overcome to switching and that way you could be ready when the time comes!

Click to read more ...

The End to all Games : Ender's Game Review!

Ender’s Game

I was all set to go see the movie Ender’s Game!  I even talked about it in May that I wanted to go see this movie but I will say I wasn’t expecting this to blow me away!   I will say this before I get to far into this and spoil it for anyone.   If you haven’t seen the movie and you hate spoilers, please move on and do not read anymore.   I doubt I will be able to not spoil it the plot.   If you haven’t read the book, Ender’s Game and you have an Android, then you should read the book either before or after the movie.   It will help explain some of the things that was not touched on in the movie.   Some of the common questions that I had were quite obvious:

Did Petra Arkanian (Hailee Steinfeld) fall in love with Ender Wiggins(Asa Butterfield)?

The Backstory about Valentine (Abigail Breslin) and Peter (Jimmy ‘Jax’ Pinchak)?

As you can see this is answered in the books more or less, but I will not spoil some of these questions by answering them to my readers.    

“In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him.”  —Orson Scott Card

As we start off the movie, that is the quote you see on the screen.   This quote is monumental to the book and movie, because you will see the conclusion of that quote from beginning to the end and understand just how hard it was for Ender to do what he did and see his agony when he discovers a very fatal secret that was kept from him and his team until the very end.   That I will not spoil because it is a key story plot that must be read or watched to fully understand the outcome of the full book or movie.   

Character Development

I couldn’t blog about this without at least touching on the characters a little and talking about them.  In the movie the development of Ender Wiggins and how he got where he got to was constantly changing and increasing in difficulty due to the need for him to be a leader.   This was about him and this battle with the bugs as some would say but it was also something that in the movie was never forced upon you and it kept my attention.   The details they used on the big screen were in essence almost exactly the same in the book.   I doubt I was the only one but I saw each chapter on the screen as it was playing and it was like a WOW moment when I realized that.   They created the movie almost like the book, chapter by chapter and I am impressed.

We had some big name actors Harrison Ford from Star Wars, Abigal Breslin from various films like “Definately, Maybe” and “Nim’s Island” and ofcourse Ben Kingsley who played in Iron Man 3.   Each one of them brought a unique presence to the movie and helped draw you into the story line.   I must say I was impressed with their abilities and how they made you believe they were who they said they were.

Graphics of Movie!

I must say they didn’t over do any of the CGI and I am quite curious how they actually did the Zero Gravity, and all that.   I cant’ wait to see the behind story of all that because it fascinates me and makes me wonder if it was some CGI and some actual weightlessness that they did to makes you believe they were actually in Zero Gravity and not on earth.   I won’t go any farther than that to try to not spoil it for anyone but it was very well done with the Graphics and the battle scenes were actually believable.   

Conclusion

I have talked about this as thoroughly as I could without giving any major plots away and it is rated PG-13 with minor violence and VERY little language.  So it is up to you who you will allow to go see this movie but I have to say if you read the book you won’t be surprised at anything that you see in the movie.   I do think this movie is a MUST “Go See” and the idea of boycotting this movie because of the Anti-Gay ideas of the Author is simply ridiculous because every writer who ever wrote anything has some view or idea that you may not like and it is hypocritical to think you can change who he was just by boycotting a good movie.   

Reviewing VPN4ALL and why you should care!

They the people at VPN4ALL, gave me a trial service and I must say “I have been nothing but happy with the service for about the last few weeks”.  Some of the things I love about this is they actually have an app for your to use on your Android device.  So you don’t have to know any code, which goes back to to their slogan “VPN made easy”.  You know I’ve talked in the past about other VPNS, and securing your device.  It isn’t always that simple with free Wifi Hotspots.   I should know, I visit them almost constantly and that is because I am constantly on the move.  I have tried the free VPN’s and I must say this service is even better than you could get with any Free service.

Mobility!

This is the key reason I decided to use this service because I am constantly going place and using other free wifi hotspots and I know it is always going to be insecure because of connections.  I will say I always worry about who might see my password or see my personal information and try to take  my identity.  I will say with the ease of use with the VPN4ALL mobile app, I can connect to a VPN in minutes and not need to know any technical data.  You will need to buy an Mobile VPN4ALL Account to use this(minimum 5$ a month).  Great value for your buck and you don’t have to worry about all those people watching you.

Reliable Service

Speed and reliability are always going top of the security tree.  I will always need to have a service where there is no interruption and this seems to fit the bill quite nicely.  I can connect to any server I want and see if it is faster or slower.  I can also set it up to switch IP(internet Protocols) every Minute to hours, if I so desire.  Could give people headaches if they were trying to watch me!

Discounts:

If you are like me and looking to save money, use my coupon code “paulstechtalk15” at VPN4ALL to save 15% on either or both Mobile and regular VPN service.  See what else I have said about this service on my other post, If you want to keep your privacy, look no further!  Give this service a try and you won’t regret it!

Reviewing Wilson cellular signal booster For Phone and Mifi!

Product Features

• Installs easily In any vehicle
• Significantly improves both transmitted and received signal levels
• Reduces dropped calls and extends range
• Universal cradle holds any cellular phone securely
• For antenna upgrade, use the Wilson Electronics 301125 Magnet Mount Antenna
• Built-in port for battery charging; adjustable arms to fit most any phone
• Extends the calling range and signal strength of any phone on any North American cell service provider (except Nextel/iDEN)
• External vehicular antenna increases any phone’s output power to cell towers
• Reduces dropped calls, extends signal range, and increases data rates
• What’s in the Box: amplifier/charger cradle, mini magnet-mount antenna for outside vehicle, in-car power adapter, dash mount, installation guide

Dimensions

• Size (LWH): 7.75 inches, 6.12 inches, 2.25 inches

As you can see this come with a lot of stuff, but what you might not realize is that it can increase signal strength for Verizon Mobile, Virgin Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Straight Talk and Cricket Wireless Cell Phones and Modems.   I say that pretty much covers anyone who has a 3g Connection, you have the option of buying the 4G Signal Booster but most will only need the 3G booster.   I am sure I have left out a few mobile providers but in any case most, if not all, will work with this booster.

So I got mine for 89$ but Amazon seems to be running a special on them right  now.  I would recommend buying the bigger Antenna for it.  The  Antenna that comes with it is really a small antenna and thus you will not get as much service without the bigger version of Antenna.   I have ordered my bigger Antenna but it didn’t not make it to this review.   I must say that I am living in a area that doesn’t get much signals and this booster did help out with all my needs.

Pro’s

• Mobility — if you are looking for the car, then this is defiantly one of those that can be a great asset to traveling.  The antenna stays on the roof with no problem, the magnet is strong and sturdy. 
• More Coverage — After installing this booster in my home, I have found that I am getting at least 1 bar with my Virgin Mobile Mifi Modem.   Which in itself is very good thing.  I can’t get internet any other way.
• Home Kits — Wilson sells some great home kits to make it more home friendly, so at least if you need it for the home it can easily be used for the home.
• Money — You only have to buy this once and you are all set to use it for any phone you might buy!

Con’s

• Heat — If you the booster has to work a lot it will be producing more heat.   Although this isn’t the end of the world it can slow or prevent some cell phones from working properly.   So you must be mindful of that.
• Antenna — Like I said you can buy a bigger Antenna but that will up the cost of the booster by 20 to 30% but it is worth it.  It should be a kit already being sold with the bigger antenna, but I am sure someone has thought of that somewhere.
• Phones — This is one of those really obvious ones but not all phones will be able to use this booster because of the location of the battery and the internal antenna.   It sometimes is a hit or miss when it comes to cell phone boosters.

All in all I am really happy with this little Cellular Booster that actually does increase my data and phone speeds a lot and let’s me have more steady connections.   It is a must for anyone who lives in a rural area that needs to be connected to friends and family.   I am really happy with this little device and you should go check it out yourself!

What a Secret is really worth and why! My Secret to you!

A Secret!

When you mention you have a secret you probably get bombarded with “What is it?”.   I posted that I’ve got a secret on my Facebook page,  although I have gotten some people to like the post.   Other’s have actually come out to me and asked what my secret is. A few friends but what really surprised me was everyone of my family members, asked what it was.   Even my mother who doesn’t do Facebook was asking what my secret was.

The Secret Goes Viral!

If you have ever done something like this and gotten it to go viral.   You’d bee amazed at how many want to know your little secret.   I even had a few emails but I won’t say much about those.   It was such an amazing experience and just how much people want people to know the secret.

My Secret revealed!

So I am going to share with you my secret.  I gotten a chance to review a good little USB portable battery backup for your Cell phones and tablets.   It’s called RAVPower® Dynamo-On-the-Go backup battery pack and I will be doing a full review of this product in the coming months but I am so far really impressed.  They given me one for free to do a full test out on and see how well this worked with all my devices.   So you will see this probably next week or so and you might even be surprised.

A lot of Sound from a Small device, a review of the Jam Wireless Speaker!

Simply Amazing!

I’m really impressed with this little device.   The Homedics Jam Wireless Portable Speaker is simply the best possible alternative for people on the go or needs to keep it small!

Specs of t his Speaker:

• Incredible sound quality in a small footprint
• Connects wirelessly up to 30 feet away
• Works with all Blue tooth-enabled devices: smart phones, tablets and more..
• Rechargeable for up to 4 hours of wireless play
• Cost anywhere from 35$ to 45$ depends on where you look!

Colors: 

• Red (Strawberry) 
• Blue (Blueberry) 
• Gold (Apricot) 
• Purple (Grape) 
• Grey (Blackberry) 
• Green (Apple) 

So let’s get the break down on this little device.   I’ve had it over a day and I’m still quite impressed with the sound volume and quality.   I have been able to connect it to Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger, using a Micro USB Connector to keep it charged while playing music or other stuff from it.   You can also connect it to a Auxiliary Input and us it as a wired connect.   I simply love the Blue tooth capability of this device.  It can’t do bass if your looking for something that produces bass really a lot but it can be heard in a medium size room well enough to be easily listened to.  I’ve been able to connect this device to both my HTC inspire and the Acer A200 Tablet.

What next!

So you thought this would be a good device.   I’ve not found anything that I didn’t expect from this device.   It is cheaper than I’d thought but it does a really good job on volume and sound when you need a lot of volume and covers a medium room quite nice.  It also connects to almost all devices that you might have and thus can be used in multiple ways.   You can keep it plugged in and use it with your Tablet or Cell Phone.   Even using it with Netflix or something along that lines can be done because I’ve done it with my Tablet and it works extremely well!  All in all, For the price it a good quality device that does the job of others.   You won’t go wrong if you buy this device today!

Paul Sylvester

Reviewing the Acer Aspire 5739G

System Specs:

• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit


• Core 2 Duo T6600 / 2.2 GHz (Bus Speed : 800)


• RAM 4 GB


• HDD 320 GB


• DVD+RW (R DL) / DVD-RAM


• WLAN : 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft)


• GF GT 130M


• Gigabit Ethernet


• Fingerprint reader


• Virtual Surround Sound

Ports:

• SATA Port


• HDMI Video Port


• SVGA Video Port


• 3 USB Ports


• Fax/Modem

This is absolutely the best laptop that I have bought in a couple years. It was a deal at $649.99 from Newegg. I do what to talk about this laptop a little for those who would like to know my opinions on it!!

When I got the laptop, I expected to have the GT 130M video card but after getting the laptop up and running. I found that it was a GT 240M instead. This is a better video card and it actually runs the graphics very well. I have tried demos of the really video intensive games and it has run those game flawlessly. The Games that I have run or tried on this laptop are:

• The Sims 2: Double Deluxe


• The Sims 3


• Half Life 2


• Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War Game of the Year The Demo version thanks to Steam.


• Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Terriitory


• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter FULL version!


• War Rock


• BioShock Demo Version thanks to Steam!

See the Games you can play with this laptop.

Acer Aspire 5739G-6959 15.6-Inch Widescreen (Crystal)

Price: $949.60

Price: Unknown

Now I could tell you every game that I tried but that would just be long list and I don’t want to make you not want to read what I have to say. So after a week or two of just checking out Windows 7 and seeing how it handles 32 bit programs, I am quite impressed with it. The system handles flawlessly with the 4 gigabytes of memory and 320 gigabytes of drive space but you only really get 289 gigabytes due to system restore partition and system protected partitions. The Screen is crisp and any video I have played in HD, makes me wish I had a High Definition Television Set. The touch pad for the laptop comes with gesture controls which can be good and bad in the same process, you have to learn how to use the gestures to fine tune the screen. The Finger Printer reader isn’t really useless but not all that well designed. It would from time to time without me even touching show that I had placed my finger on the scanner. The Outside of the case is a finger print magnet and after a couple times of touch the glossy surface you will see fingerprints.

Although if you buy laptop skins this might be a way around seeing fingerprints over the glossy surface. I haven’t decided if I will do that but I use Premoistened Antistatic Cleaning Wipes for Electronics to clean the finger prints off the case and keyboard from time to time. I do use the MX mousewith keyboard at home to help prevent some of these things from happening. This is a good Gaming laptop and I got a great deal for this. The laptop can be used for a lot of graphic intensive operations and should be good for graphics editing. I like the portability of the laptop and being able to game with friends by having the laptop with me. The laptop hasn’t gotten hot yet and I am really loving this laptop. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a cheaper version of Alienware that will run most games. If you think I am joking about the laptop you can check out the comments from Newegg from very happy customers.

I hope you enjoyed this review and encourage you to tell your friends and family to check this out. I want to say Thank you for reading this review and hope you subscribe to my blog and come back often.