Well folks, here it is–the new 13-inch MacBook. Unfortunately, those of you who were expecting the $800 model will be disappointed. The price tag? $1,299. Still, take a good look at this baby and the specs. It might be worth it if you love Macs. The 15-inch MacBook Pro rings in at $1999.
I’m not a rabid Mac lover–hate the keyboard, among other things. Still this model is a beauty. If only it were a little less pricey…ahh, but it wasn’t to be!
I am a MacBook Pro owner. I also have a desktop PC running Windows XP and a laptop running Vista. I’m not what you’d call a Mac evangelist, but I have to say that the MacBook Pro’s reliability, lack of virus issues and overall ease of use makes it much preferable to these bloody Windows products I have; every ten seconds I’m being asked “Are you sure?”, and getting dire nagware popups at every turn. In the world of operating systems, Windows is like trying to write in a day care center full of children who are all screaming for ice cream, where the Mac is a nice afternoon in the Smithsonian.
Wired magazine has been dropping hints about MacBooks priced below $1000. I would LOVE to see this happen–it would be a huge boon to freelancers who want a dependable and portable machine at a reasonable price tag. I pay for the extra firepower of the MacBook Pro because I use it for video and audio editing as well as my freelance writing, but the average writing-only freelancer would be perfectly happy with an “ordinary” MacBook.
Wired dropped some conjecture on what it thinks might be happening with the new versions of its MacBook and MacBook Pro series, including suggestions that an $800 price point for the standard MacBook might be possible. If this is true, you’ll see me getting a bit more evangelistic about Macs in the future–my main bone of contention to date is that for many freelancers, the Mac is priced too high. Not so if these rumors are true. Here’s hoping…
Well, well….iPhone actually has a little bit of competition. The G1 Phone was announced today.
Created by Google, this phone is tied to T-Mobile service and has a host of super features that include an actual keyboard, and it comes loaded with Google Maps–which operates in what is called “Compass” mode. This essentially means that you can see a street in all directions, depending on which way you point the phone. G-mail is also built in. The cost is lower than iPhone at $179.
Overall it isn’t as sleek or sexy as iPhone, but it does have some cool features. If you want to check out some of the specs and read some reviews, go here and here. You’ll find more info on these 2 sites than on the T-Mobile site, and you can see for yourself if you like it or not.
Personally, unless I find some feature I just can’t live without on the G1, I’m still going to go iPhone…
The Dell XPS 1330 is a sweet machine and a great purchase. How do I know? I’m typing on mine right now. I looked at several computers before investing in this one. It was between a Mac and this, and it was no contest. The size is incredibly compact; at 13.3 inches, it has a super-thin profile and great mobility. I opted to pop for longer battery life by upping mine to the next option and I go for close to six hours. I will admit that I dislike Vista, but that has nothing to do with the XPS.
The laptop has a slot-load CD/DVD drive, 2 USB ports, built-in WiFi and an Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor. The weight comes in at just under 4 lbs, although I think mine may be a little bit higher because of the increased battery power. Tuck it under your arm and go. And as for looks–it is sleek and very sexy! I got mine in red, but there are other colors available. Check out the specs yourself, but know that this computer is sure to satisfy….I totally love it!
Gear, gear, everywhere! How to choose where to spend your hard-earned dollars? Why CNET of course! CNET does reviews on everything from MP3 players to GPS systems. You name it, they’ve probably done it. (Within reason of course….) This is considered a very reliable site, and if you want to weigh your options before making a buy–it can be a great idea to check out what is said here first.
I was browsing PoeWar.com and ran across an interesting article by Meryl K. Evans about making the most of the freelance writing game. Some of the advice is standard motivational and money management stuff, but one excellent point made in this piece makes this one shine–the portion titled, “Make marketing a regular part of your job”. A brilliant suggestion many of us–even established writers–sometimes neglect. This is a good read. Check it out here.
If you like the article, have a look at Meryl Evans’s site. She has plenty of articles and there’s a lot of info for those of you who are getting into content writing. Drop her a line and tell be sure to mention that Freelance-Zone.com sent you…
The external hard drive pictured here is the Lacie One Terrabyte Big Disk Extreme. It’s what’s known as a RAID drive, which means nothing to those who use their computers only for word processing and games; for those who edit images, audio and video it means a great deal. RAID drives are optimized for high-performance multimedia work, and freelancers who don’t limit themselves to the printed page should seriously consider switching to a RAID drive instead of simply using any old external drive.
Still scratching your head as to why you should spend $224.99 on one of these? Again, if you aren’t a multimedia freelancer you probably don’t need a RAID, but if you are tempted to move into audio, digital photography and video to enhance your paychecks, here are some compelling reasons:
1. Auto-backup. This particular RAID drive is configured to be redundant in case of data loss. For some freelancers, this is a good argument for investing the bucks even if you don’t do anything but write. If you write large volumes–such as a novel or textbook–the redundancy could save you in case the worst happens. (more…)
Sometimes the right kind of calling card or gimmicky merchandise is all you need to leave a lasting impression. Check out this great idea from Says-It.com. Go to Says-It and fill in the blanks at the Vinyl Record Generator and you’ll get your own custom vinyl album graphic for free. Choose between a full-length album, 45 single or even an old-fashioned 78! Best of all, you can buy merchandise with your custom image printed on it, including three inch stickers, coffee cups, travel mugs, keychains and more. It’s a cool idea sure to keep ‘em talking wherever you hand your personalized trinkets out…I wish I had thought of this one first.
I have been looking at a new digital SLR camera for some time now. Since 2004, I’ve been enhancing my freelance writing with the Nikon D70, a 6 megapixel SLR that has served me well. I’ve gotten my photo work in everything from The Pentagon Channel to Chicago-area art galleries using the D70, but it’s time to step up.
Basically the differences between the D70 and the D700 won’t mean anything to you unless you’re already a photographer, but I can say that the Nikon D700 being capable of 12 megapixels and being much more sensitive to existing light than the D70 make it an attractive investment regardless of your experience level. It also features 51-point autofocus, a great fallback solution when you just don’t trust your eyes in that little viewfinder.
All that aside, if you are a complete photo noob, consider buying a D70 (or another comparable brand/model) first and learning your chops before moving up to the roughly $3000 D700. One thing new photographers won’t like about the D700–the 3K asking price is for the camera body ONLY. The D70 comes with a factory lens, the D700 does not. If you are looking to increase your freelance potential with photographs, the Nikon D70 is an affordable way to do it, but be warned–the D70 isn’t as forgiving in low light and you might be better off with a comparable Canon product in the same price range (around $800).
I am definitely investing in the D700 for many reasons, thanks to some informed advice and my own experience with the D70. Spend your money wisely, don’t just take my word for it, do your homework on web forums for photogs such as the incredible DPreview.com. That website is worth its weight in photo gold.
I have to say, I own the red RAZR and it has not only been a great looking accessory, but it has also served me well. I know people who have had issues with RAZR phones, but mine has held up. Many an interview has been conducted on this phone without issue–and I love its sleek, sexy look as well. I find it hillarious that Joe has one too!
I’d buy it again, but I’m sorely tempted to go iPhone down the line here shortly….stay tuned….
Are you a newcomer to blogging wondering where you can find the right tools to make good images? I personally use two excellent pieces of software–three if you count Paint, which is standard equipment for Windows PCs and laptops. Paint is so basic that it’s almost not worth mentioning–with one notable exception needed for WP blogs that aren’t hacked to include an automatic white (or black if your theme design is dark) border around the right-hand edges of text.
You need that little white border to keep the text from butting right up against the image. Yes, we know we’re guilty of this in some cases-I’m working on it with some remedial training of my non-Paint usin’ collegues, heh.
All you have to do in Paint to add that little white border?
Another excellent tool you will need as a blogger is found in MS Office 2007 and above. (more…)
Gizmodo, one of my favorite gadget blogs, has accidentally come up with a brilliant marketing idea. Intended as a spot of harmless fun, the entry “Harass Your Neighbors With Your Wi-Fi Hotspot Name” advises people to rename their wi-fi networks all kinds of amusing, snarky things including “ISawYouNaked” and my favorite, “KeepThatNoiseDown”.
Funny thing is, this can also work well for marketing your writer’s blog or resume site. Do you have a short URL? FreelanceZoneDotCom might just fit, though I haven’t tried yet. How many people are within range of your wi-fi network? You might just discover a sympathetic neighbor, or even a fellow freelancer lurking in your ‘hood.
Of course, you can always resort to “YourDogWon’tShutUp” but isn’t a nice friendly chat with the offending neighbor a better way to go? Especially when you’ve got shameless self-promotion to consider.
Charles and Marie is one of my favorite net window-shopping destinations, but today I might just break down and actually make a purchase. The Sanctuary is an all-in-one universal battery charger and cable organizer compatible with more than 1500 electronic devices from most major brands. A handy USB port lets you power up cell phones, PDAs, Blackberry, iPods, MP3 players and bluetooth headsets in one convenient place.
I’m a huge fan of both space-saving devices and universal battery chargers, so this one’s a natural for me. Plus, all those gadgets look pretty sharp all gathered together like that at the end of the day.
The Sanctuary costs approximately $130 from Charles and Marie, and be sure to specify you want a USA-compatible power plug or the EU version. Busy travelers may do well to purchase both!
Hard to believe the 4th of July is nearly upon us. It’s a holiday tailor-made for pulling yourself away from the infernal machine (yes, I mean the laptop) and enjoying some lovely barbecue and the adult beverage of your choice. My vote for number one coolest BBQ gear this holiday goes to the Suck UK Fire Bucket portable barbecue grill. This little beauty is great for stashing in the trunk of your car or in the corner of the garage until it’s time for that impromptu beach party or backyard meat-fest. The only thing missing is an identical bucket, painted blue with thermal insulation that would hold the ice and beverages until it’s time to pour liberally.
My rule for such events is simple–NO LAPTOPS. Alas, rules were meant to be broken, especially by an unrepentant e-mail junkie and workaholic such as myself. Still, I am going to try very hard not to give in on this particular 4th of July.
This photo is **allegedly** the aftermath of a mattress having caught fire due to a very hot laptop. It’s been making the rounds in blogs and e-mail forwards, and while I find NOTHING more annoying than any email with the letter F and W placed side-by-side in the subject line, this did make me wonder if my laptop actually could get hot enough to ignite cloth.
If you’re on the slightly paranoid side when it comes to safety (like me), you’re probably giving the eye to gadgets like the Belkin laptop cooling stand pictured below. The center-mounted high-capacity cooling fan dissipates heat and if nothing else provides you with a much more comfortable experience during the hot months of summer. No more of that too-warm feeling when using the laptop as it was designed to be used (in your lap) on a park bench, in the airport or relaxing in your lawn chair with your favorite beverage and a full half inch of sunscreen. Best of all, there is no power cord or battery to buy as this cooling stand is USB-powered.
The price is certainly right–at $23.48, I can afford to indulge my safety paranoia just a little bit. Care to join me in cooler laptop Nirvana? Buy the Belkin laptop cooling stand at Amazon.com. And yes, every one of these which gets sold via clicking here is a bit of financial help for Freelance-Zone.com. Thanks much for your support!
