Earlier in the year, we posted about the Benq GP1, an ultraportable LED projector which came out in the market this June. I actually have this projector (thanks to Benq), and I must say I’ve found it very useful when going to clients’ offices for presentations. It’s lightweight, quite bright, and simple enough to use. It’s also a great addition to my home theater system.

Benq has recently tipped Forever Geek that it has lowered the price of the normally $499 Benq GP1 to $399. You can purchase the projector from the Benq online store. Use promo code earlyblkfriday to avail of the discount.

The Benq GP1 features a 100 ANSI Lumens, built-in USB reader (for movies and music), and an optional iPod dock accessory. Remember that this is a LED projector, which means 100 ANSI Lumens is very bright!

Full review to come soon …

Growth in netbook sales has fast overtaken that of full-fledged notebooks and desktop computers. After all, they’re inexpensive, really portable and they’re usually considered cool. But recent research cited by NY Times and Computerworld indicates that some netbook users are unsatisfied with their purchases.

The disappointment with netbooks — NPD analyst Stephen Baker preferred that term rather than “dissatisfaction” — stemmed from expectations that a netbook was the same, more or less, as a laptop. Six out of every 10 netbook buyers, said Baker, thought that the two were equivalent, and figured that their new netbook would have the same functionality as a laptop.

I have been a netbook user for more than a year now. Since the first Eee PCs were shipped by Asus, I bought myself one. Since then, I’ve been trying different models from different brands. So far, I’ve been satisfied with performance.

It all boils down to expectations. And it depends on perspective, too. Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas is nearing and most of us gadget geeks are likely to be eyeing a new gadget to gift ourselves (or someone near our hearts). But this year end is also a time to look back at what the current year has given us–in terms of gadgets.

This year, I was able to buy a laptop, two netbooks, a Nokia E series phone, a printer/scanner/copier, a pre-owned Mac Mini, an LCD screen, two Canon EF lenses, a Canon speedlite, and a host of other smaller gadgets. Non-computer acquisitions include a front-load washer that has made our lives 100% easier in terms of household chores and an air conditioning unit for my home office (at last!). And lucky me–Sony Ericsson gave me a free Xperia X1 for review just recently. I hope I didn’t miss anything.

What about you? How was 2008 for you? Was it a gadget rich year? What was your favorite gadget of 2008? What was the most interesting gadget acquisition you had for this year?

Tell me, and get the chance to win a prize!

Leave a comment. Include pictures to make it more interesting. I’ll select one comment-poster at random and I’ll send five packs of Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries (4 cells per pack). That’s a lot of juice for your digicam, Wii controller, speedlite, or just about anything that needs AA battery juice. Contest will end 11:59 p.m. December 21st (GMT). Be sure you input your email address on the comment form, so I can get in touch with you.

The Asus EeePC is a thing of wonder. I got myself the first version the week it came out. It was an EeePC 701, with a paltry 4GB of storage, 512MB RAM and a seven-inch screen. But it was small, and it could fit my camera bag, and thus I could do work virtually anywhere without having to kill my back carrying a full-sized laptop.

The original EeePC also came shipped with Linux (Xandros, in the case of Asus), and that added to the novelty of it. Linux enthusiasts were banking on the popularity of Linux-based netbooks, which could supposedly bring Linux closer to the common user (a.k.a. the 90+ percent of us who use Windows).

A lot of things had happened since then. A ton of other manufacturers have come out with their own netbooks. Most of these other brands ship their units with Linux pre-installed. Acer Aspire one has Linpus lite. The HP mini note had SUSE. Dell has an Ubuntu variant. And so forth. However, how big really is the effect of the netbook on the desktop (meaning non-server) market share of Linux? Has Linux gained a foothold on the mainstream market with the popularity of netbooks?

The netbook market was thought to make Linux an attractive option, given the limited resources and lower price. And because users buy netbooks mostly for light tasks that run on web browsers, it was thought that the choice of OS would not be a big issue. However, recent news says that this may not exactly be the case. According to MSI (as featured on LaptopMag), WIND netbooks preloaded with Linux had been returned four times more than those that came with Windows.

Our internal research has shown that the return of netbooks is higher than regular notebooks, but the main cause of that is Linux. People would love to pay $299 or $399 but they don’t know what they get until they open the box. They start playing around with Linux and start realizing that it’s not what they are used to. They don’t want to spend time to learn it so they bring it back to the store. The return rate is at least four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP netbooks.

LaptopMag went on to interview folks from Canonical (which publishes Ubuntu) and Canonical confirms this.

Well, when we touched base today with Gerry Carr, marketing manager at Canonical (the creator of the Ubuntu operating system) we learned that MSI’s research extends beyond its own products. See his comments below, but it seems Linux’ future on the netbook is bleaker than we thought.

“We don’t know what the XP return rates are. But I will say that the return rate is above normal for netbooks that offer open-source operating systems,” Carr echoed. Carr highlighted a few reasons why Ubuntu-running netbooks are returned more often. “Unclear selling is happening, typically online. The customer will get their netbook sent to their home and they imagine to find something like a Microsoft desktop, but they see a brown Ubuntu version. They are unwilling to learn it and they were expecting to have Windows.”

Has Microsoft gained the upper hand in this game? Windows XP was supposed to have been rendered obsolete last June, but Microsoft changed its mind, and decided to continue selling and supporting XP, but only bundled with low-cost and low-powered PCs, which is essentially the netbook market.

That definition includes a screen that’s less than 10.2 inches, 1GB of RAM or less, a hard drive with 80GB or less, and no touchscreen devices. You’ll also need a 1GHz or slower processor, although Via’s C7-M processors which run up to 1.6GHz are allowed, as will be Intel’s new Atom processor.

As for me, since my 701, I’ve bought two netbooks–the EeePC 900 and an HP mini note, both of which were Windows variants. The 900 came bundled with XP, and the mini note with Vista Business (since downgraded to XP). I do consider myself an advanced user, and I’m very much a multi-platform individual (running OS X, Windows and Linux on my various computers). But on my netbooks, I find it easier to maintain the same OS, and all my work tools run fine on Windows on these netbooks, too.

From what I’ve been reading in forums (such as the Eeeuser forums, which is a really great resource for Eee enthusiasts), some users buy Linux-preloaded netbooks and install Windows XP anyway.

Force of habit, maybe? Or really just out of convenience, perhaps (no Evernote or Nokia PC suite on Linux!)?

What could really help Linux gain a stronger foothold on the consumer market, then?

NCSoft, the creator of popular MMORPGs like the Lineage series and Guild Wars has consolidated its studios outside of native South Korea, and has formed into a Seattle-based subsidiary NC West.

The existing subsidiaries, such as NC Interactiev, NC Europe, ArenaNet, and NC Austin, will be under the NC West banner. There are however unconfirmed reports that we’re looking at layoffs for these companies, with the studio in Brighton, UK, said to be losing as many as 50, possibly up to 70, employees. No official word on this yet though.

The step to consolidate its forces is a natural one for NCsoft, with Richard Garriott’s hyped MMO “Tabula Rasa” not being the success the company had hoped. While NCsoft have some strong titles in its portfolio, such as “Lineage”, “City of Heroes/Villains”, and “Guild Wars”, these MMO franchises needs to be updated to really compete with “World of Warcraft”.

While NCSoft is optimistic that future releases would have widespread acclaim in the Korean gaming community, the company is hopeful that new iterations of its Guild Wars franchise would also be warmly welcomed by wester gamers.

[Hat tip to Thord]

I can consider myself a bag geek. While I don’t have dozens and dozens of bags in my collection (yet!), I’m always on the lookout for cases and bags where I can fit my gadgets into. I usually carry around a digital SLR, an ultraportable (the Asus Eee), and when space permits, a few extra lenses (one prime 50mm and another superzoom 75-300mm), and a speedlite.

I’ve been sent a few samples of the Grabit Pack for review, and I thought to myself this would be an excellent tool for the (wannabe?) photographer in me. You see, lugging along a camera backpack or shoulder bag for extra lenses or flashes sometimes gets cumbersome. My LowePro Micro Trekker 200 is great for long walks, but having to open a backpack to gain access to a lens or flash can be quite cumbersome. Shoulder bags provide easier access, but can be straining on the back.

And yes, you can fit a Canon EF 75-300mm USM III and a 430EX speedlite (perhaps even a 540EX) comfortably on the Grabit Pack’s big compartment.

So I was excited to field test the Grabit Pack. Previously, I’ve been using it to hold my wallet and two mobile phones when I drive the kids to school, as my walking shorts don’t have enough pocket space for my bulky wallet. I recently went out on a food tour for bloggers, where we sampled and critiqued offerings from 24 restaurants around one mall. I thought this would be the perfect time to leave the big bag behind and just use the Grabit Pack to hold one extra accessory of choice, for easy access to a lens or speedlite for attacment.

The Grabit Pack looks like those holsters that SWAT operatives use for their pistols. And this, I think is both its main advantage and disadvantage.

The Grabit Pack was designed to be worn around the waist and around one thigh. That way, the weight of its contents are focused on your hips, rather than your back or arms. The thigh strap is there to prevent the pack from swinging around when you walk.

This design makes it stable. So you can carry a heavy superzoom lens or speedlite and it won’t get swung around violently when you walk or even when you run.

The disadvantage here, though, is that the pack tends to crease your pants. And especially if you’re fond of wearing loose pants, it might be difficult to get that perfect adjustment (for a good balance of stability and wrinkle-free neatness).

Also, the Grabit Pack does look too much like a pistol holster. I could imagine security personnel eyeing me–they must be thinking I was packing! Lastly, I’ve had some difficulty when going to the restroom. Okay, that should be the same case with any belt bag or fanny pack, anyway!

Gripes aside, I had a wonderful time using the Grabit Pack during the half-day blogger food tour I attended. My Canon Rebel XTi tends to strain the neck and back when carried on the neck strap with speedlite attached. So I simply stuck the flash attachment inside the Grabit Pack whenever we moved to a different establishment. I almost don’t notice the weight of the speedlite! How’s that for giving your back a break?

In all, I’d say the Grabit Pack is a useful accessory for anyone who needs easy access to gadgets or tools, and who needs to take a load off their backs. I believe it’s also useful for hiking, fishing, paintball/airsoft, carpentry and just about any activity where you need easy access to tools or accessories. The Grabit Pack comes in left-worn and right-worn models, and costs $23 via the Grabit Pack online store.

According to the recently-published 2008 Digital Entertainment Study (PDF file) by Entertainment Media Research, the lack of choices and alternatives contributes more to piracy than than the fact that bootlegged wares come free or cheap.

At least 70% of respondents in the UK study says that legal sites don’t offer as much downloads than their illegal (or doubtfully legal) counterparts. One-third of the respondents have admitted to have knowingly downloaded software and media illegally one time or another. As cited by TorrentFreak:

This claim, published in the 2008 Digital Entertainment Survey (pdf), is only reiterating what has been said many times before – that trying to promote the artificial scarcity is what is fueling piracy.

In total, 70% of those who admitted to piracy agreed that “legal sites just don’t have the range of illegal ones” (try looking for Beatles tracks) whilst almost as many said they would pay for downloads, if what they wanted was available. This is probably also one of the main reasons why half of the BitTorrent downloads are TV-shows.

For most of the respondents, it didn’t matter if a piece of software or media is free or paid-for, but they will choose according to ease of download and availability. In simpler terms, people opt to download copyrighted material via Torrent or through warez sites because these are more easily available there than through the legal channels.

But why are some software and media unavailable through the legit sites? This may be for varying reasons. For instance, the above-mentioned case of difficulty in finding legal Beatles downloads could be brought about by the fact that the Beatles are not listed in Apple Co.’s (the computer/media company) iTunes store because of long-standing legal issues with Apple Corps (the music label).

In some cases, geographic restrictions prevent users from accessing or purchasing from legal online retailers. Where I come from, I cannot make iTunes store purchases without some hack or tweak that makes iTunes think I’m from the US (or any other place with access).

Or it can simply be a case of timing. Not all TV shows have online releases that are close to the actual air date. Popular TV series, for one, are usually released via DVD a few months after the end of a season. If one misses an episode, then should he/she have to wait for a rerun or a legal DVD after a year? Most popular shows are uploaded on YouTube or seeded via BitTorrent as soon as the actual airing is recorded.

So perhaps this could be a message to producers of media. Much of the Internet-using generation comprises individuals who what their stuff right here, right now. So whether it’s free, or whether it would cost a nominal amount (as long as it’s not highway robbery), they will choose to pass the path of least resistance.

Traveling during the holiday seasons can be hectic, especially if practically everyone else thinks it’s a great idea to go on a vacation or visit home (if you live or work far away). Airports and terminals are busy, and sometimes things get screwed up. Here’s a not from a friend of mine, Sacha, who’s taking a vacation from grad school and coming home this Christmas.

It’s always hard travelling, especially on flights going home. Looking around at the airport lobby and guessing who’s scraped and saved to earn enough for a ticket home, who hasn’t been home in a year or two–or a decade or two. Hearing them speak, argue, plead. Watching the airline agents, seeing exasperation flash across their faces until they school their expressions into at least curtness.

I’m thankful I won’t have to contend with the stress of going through terminals, catching flights, and hours upon hours of sitting on an airplane seat. But if you’re going off traveling, here are a few things to add to your geek checklist (if you haven’t already done so).

• Charge your batteries: laptop, mobile phone, PDA, Digital camera iPod (or other digital media player).
• Be sure to pack your chargers and power cables after.
• Bring extra battery packs or AA cells. You may not be able to use your phone or laptop on the plane, but you might find these useful in keeping boredom at bay during long waits (the AA batteries are for your digital camera, if these are supported).
• Be sure to pack your sync cables.
• Pack your OS and software installers–you never know when Windows can screw up and you need a re-install.
• If you have any bootlegged software or media (on CDs or DVDs, for instance), better leave them–they’ll probably be confiscated. Or worse, you might just end up doing jail time if you get caught!
• If you plan to use your mobile phone for roaming, call your operator at least a week ahead so you’ll know the requirements, and you can be sure the service is activated by the time you’re en route. For instance, not all countries support the same cellular standards or frequencies, so you might need to rent a phone for this purpose (some operators lend loaners). Your operator might also give special instructions for use once you get to your destination.
• If you’re leaving your house, apartment or room unattended, be sure to turn off all the lights and unplug all appliances before leaving.

I’m sure many of these apply to commonsense. However, things are easily forgotten when you’re in a rush.

Ever wish your phone had a built-in lie detector so you’d know if the person on the other end is telling the truth? Well, Panasonic has recently released a mood phone, the P702iD “Mood Tank.” The phone displays different colors onscreen depending on the perceived mood of the person on the other end. This is detected through voice patterns (such as pitch changes, speed, etc.). It’s kind of like the mood rings we used to play with as kids, only more high-tech.

Imagine canceling dinner plans with your girlfriend to go out with your drinking buddies. If these were done over the phone, the new Panasonic P702iD “Mood Tank” would detect your voice patterns and display an appropriate color indicating that you’re lying.

This would be the ultimate tool for boyfriends or girlfriends checking out their significant others. I sure hope this phone doesn’t bring big trouble to anyone. Imagine if you were calling in sick and your boss discovers you’re lying!

Yes, the new iPod shuffle is small, and you can clip it to just about anywhere. But if you’re up for making a fashion statement with your digital music player, I think BenQ has just what you need. BenQ has recently introduced the MusiQ, which i think has more character than the 2G Shuffle. The design is inspired by military dog tags, and you even get a decorative dog tag with your unit!

Etched with two different designs (”steel wings” for guys and something called “magic bean” for girls), the 512MB/1GB player has a built-in microSD card slot and comes with a decorative dog tag and metal earphone chain. BenQ is really pulling out all the stops with this one, as they’ve already put up a dedicated battle-themed MusiQ microsite (in Chinese).

The 512MB version is priced at about $88, but as of this time, no online ordering facility is up yet. BenQ says it will also include limited edition accessories as gifts,at random and on a first come, first-served basis (huh?)–these may include metal bracelets and carrying cases. A 1GB model has already been announced, but there is no pricing information yet.

Here’s another note from Joel Spolsky on the relationship between simplicity and usability. We wrote before that simplicity, in terms of software or services, does not mean you should slash off features and functionality, but still keeping in mind not to give end-users headaches because of too many choices. One additional factor to note is elegance.

People, for the most part, are not playing with their software because they want to. They’re using the software as a tool to accomplish something else that they would like to do. Maybe they are using a chat program to try and seem witty, in hopes that the person they are chatting with will want to spend time with them, so that, ultimately, they have a better chance of getting laid, so that, ultimately, their selfish DNA will get to replicate itself. Maybe they are using a spreadsheet to try and figure out if they can afford a bigger apartment, so that, ultimately, dates will be more impressed when they come over, increasing their chance of getting laid, again, benefitting the DNA. Maybe they’re working on a PowerPoint for the boss so that they will get a promotion so that they’ll have more money which they can use to rent a larger apartment that would attract mates, thus increasing their chance of getting laid, (getting the idea yet?) so the selfish DNA can replicate.

A product (or website, service, or just about anything) can be simple, but that does not mean it should be devoid of features or functionalities. In the case of software and web apps, people use these as a means to achieve an end. And yes, sometimes that means getting laid (helping the DNA replicate itself). Joel argues that the end is more important than the means, and that the means should not be a hindrance to a person’s reaching his goal. Therefore, a piece of software, if too complicated and difficult to use, would be a hindrance from making its user happy.

However, one added argument is that a piece of software should not be void of functionalities that a user expects in order for him to reach his goals in the first place. What’s important is that while features are there to take advantage of, the user doesn’t have to fumble with the interface. Or at the very least, the user shouldn’t have to feel that he’s using such a complicated tool. So power should be matched with simplicity in how a user can harness this power.

If you’re using the term simplicity to mean “grace and economy” or “elegance,” that’s terrific. A great example of this is the difference between the way you search for music on Rhapsody and the way you search for music on iTunes. Rhapsody makes you decide if you want to search for albums, tracks, or artists. iTunes doesn’t give you any choice: it just searches all fields, which works just as well and is easier. Economy means power, in this case, and it’s a feature.

And that, folks, is how the selfish DNA replicates.

Here’s something interesting I found via our sister site, the Apple Gazette. In a recent bloggers’ convention within Microsoft’s headquarters, Bill Gates discussed digital rights management (DRM) and gave his opinion on its current state and the future. It seems Gates is sympathizing with the end-user, particularly with the notion that DRM can be too restrictive and could cause headaches when legitimate users are unable to use their legitimately purchased music as desired.

His advice for the short term?

People should just buy a cd and rip it. You are legal then.

That’s a pretty interesting quote, especially coming from someone whose company advocates DRM as a means for protecting copyright. But I do think that’s sound advice, too.

However, I would say there may still be issues with regard to just ripping music off CDs and loading them onto iPods, Zunes and other digital media players. For instance, the recording industry would perhaps still frown upon the practice. Also, some territories still view ripping as illegal (such as in the UK)–yes, even for private purposes!

As for me, since getting a fifth-gen iPod (video) a couple of weeks back, I had been ripping old CDs left and right. I even go to the extent of borrowing CDs from friends and relatives so I can rip choice tracks into iTunes. And I can see where the problem lies, with regard to the legality behind ripping.

When someone buys a CD, does it mean he already owns rights to that particular copy of a song, or just rights to play that particular copy of the song. And does it mean that song can be played on that particular medium only (i.e., the CD), or in other forms. Further, what if I bought a CD, ripped it into iTunes, and sold the CD to another person? Should I delete my digital copy then because I no longer have rights to the original copy?

Ripping CDs may not exactly be as simple as we think, too, in terms of the legal implications. But for all intents and purposes, I think one should legally be entitled to transfer into other media any content that was legitimately acquired in the first place.

I’m with Bill on this!

If you think the price of the PlayStation3 is too prohibitive, you can always resort to options. Here’s the cheapest PS3 we’ve seen, so far.

Simply get a PS2 and a Playstation 1. Add ‘em up together, and what do you get?

[via Byteburn]

If you think uploading videos on YouTube is too much of a hassle, better check out the latest from the most popular video sharing site around: Quick Capture. This new feature lets you record videos directly off your webcam or any camera connected to your computer (this includes Apple iSights and just about any other camera that your computer can directly use to record).

Me, right after arriving home from a long drive (and right before a much needed shower and rest)

It’s pretty straightforward enough. The system uses Flash to interface with your webcam, and the file is actually saved in .FLV format. As with usual YouTube uploads, it would take a while, though, for your video to be viewable online. One other gripe I have is that recorded videos are automatically saved for “public viewing”–there is no option to keep videos private in the recording interface; you have to manually edit your video properties afterward, and specify the appropriate privacy level.

I’d say this is a very useful addition to YouTube’s set of features. Some good uses would include: recording a quick video message for sending to online contacts (you should set access to “private” though), capturing videos straight off your PVR or TV tuner (potential copyright issues, of course), and the like.

What are the most common elements in the universe? Of course, it’s hydrogen and stupidity! Seriously, we’re being too dependent on fossil fuels, and now that I’ve started driving again, I can feel the pressure of having to deal with rising gas prices.

Sure, electric and hybrid cars can help you save up on fuel, but sometimes the performance is just not there. And having to plug in to recharge your car can be quite a drag–and it adds to the electric bill, too! I think it’s a better alternative is to use a more readily-available resource, instead. BMW has one such cool–literally cool!–car in the hydrogen powered BMW 7-series.

The company’s engineers heard that hydrogen will be the fuel of the future, so they took a 7-series sedan and converted it … The Hydrogen7 uses a completely different approach than a fuel-cell vehicle. BMW Vice President Dr. Timm Kehler told us that electric motors could [not? -ed] provide the performance that BMW demands, so the company worked out how to use hydrogen in an internal-combustion engine. The Hydrogen7 has hydrogen and gas tanks, and can switch between them, just in case you can’t find any hydrogen refueling stations.

What’s great, in my opinion, is that the hydrogen fuel works with the internal-combustion engine. It’s currently using a V6, but an inline 4-cylinder version is being developed. So this means this technology can potentially be adopted for use in other automobiles as well.

I just hope the development efforts for alternative fuel sources comes up with something marketable and widely-available in the near future. It’s even better if they can use something that’s as abundant in the universe, but not as difficult to acquire and store: stupidity!

People whose jobs or businesses involve being online most of the time (which includes probloggers like us) have to rely on power to get things done. But acts of nature can potentially hamper our productivity by pulling the plug just when we need to publish that blog post, send that proposal by email, or seal that deal via videoconferencing.

I remember the last time a super typhoon hit our archipelago, my city had no power for five days. We also lost phone (and DSL) service, so even if I could run on laptop batteries, I could still not connect to the Internet. I had to rely on generator- and WiFi-enabled cafés just to communicate with my colleagues and clients, and post blog entries. I also had to charge my laptops and cellphones in cafés and restaurants, which a lot of other people also did, so the establishments that allowed plugging in were jampacked.

Now that another super storm is coming, I should be better prepared than the last time.

Another super typhoon coming! Image from wunderground.com

Yugatech has some tips on how to be tech-ready for such disasters. First priority is getting all your battery-operated gadgets juiced up, and this includes laptops, iPods, cellphones, and even your UPS if you have one. Buying spare batteries for devices that take off-the-shelf cells also helps.

And then when the actual loss of electricity comes, it makes sense to conserve power. If you must turn on your laptop, do plan ahead on what to do before booting up, so you can save some time while actually powered up. I can say Mac laptops are better than PC ones in this regard, because sleep consumes very little power, and waking up only take a couple of seconds; in contrast, Windows takes an awful lot of time to sleep and wake up. It’s also best to minimize consumption (like dimming your screen) and to stay away from potentially power-draining uses of your devices that are unnecessary, such as playing videos and the like.

If you have a car, you can also get power inverter so you can plug in your 110V or 220V gadgets. Just be sure the wattage is enough to match your device (most laptops consume less than 90 Watts).

Of course, you can always just enjoy the offline time and treat it as a vacation. Here’s where a good book (and not an e-book!) can come in handy.

Whether you call it a hurricane, typhoon, storm, or whatever, it pays to be prepared when you anticipate natural disasters to occur in the near future. I’m thankful that I have enough time to prepare.