Below is a list of some 2011 hardware I like, listed from most to least expensive. (Prices listed are/were current as of Saturday, December 31, 2011.)
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air ($1,299 to $1,778)
My initial and continuing impression of the first and second generation MacBook Air, which was released in January 2008, was that it was an over-priced piece of crap. Sure it was thin and light weight but it was underpowered, lacked enough or properly positioned USB ports and was bested by the then generation of Windows netbooks.
Apple’s continuing improvements to the MacBook Air line over the years have changed my opinion. The third and fourth generation models were a leap forward in notebook design. I now believe it is the best general purpose notebook computer. The addition of a second USB port and moving the USB ports to the side of the case make it much more connectable. The solid state drive (SSD) makes it faster than many high-powered desktops or laptops that use spinning hard drives. It is still thin and light weight. It is still expensive. It runs Windows 7 better than most Windows computers. Battery life is good. The current models are the best yet. In 2011, Apple restored the backlit keyboard that they took out along the way and added a Thunderbolt multipurpose data and display port. If the price is not a deterrent, this is the notebook to own.
Apple iPad 2 ($499 to $829)
The iPad 2 is simply the best tablet computer. I use this device more and more nine months in. I own the lowest cost model: $499, WiFi only, 16GB model, in black.
The hardware is well thought out. The screen is easy to read. The device, although weighty, is not too heavy to hold and handle for extended periods. Battery life is superb.
The iTunes app ecosystem is great, although far from perfect. I wish we could test apps before buying them. Alternatively, it would be nice if Apple allowed us to return/rescind an app purchase within an hour or two of buying them. Most apps are good to wonderful, but there is the occasional clunker.
I bought the Snugg iPad 2 Case Cover and Flip Stand for my iPad 2, $29.99. It is superior in functionality and appearance to the more expensive and less useful Apple iPad Smart Cover, which costs $39 – $69. The 427 customer reviews on Amazon, giving the case a 4.5 star rating is an indication that this case is a winner. Apple’s Smart Cover garners a 3 star rating on Amazon and at the Apple Store.
Crucial RealSSD ($120 to $485)
A solid state drive (SSD) runs rings around a spinning hard drive in speed of data reads and writes. That performance boost comes at a price: SSDs cost more than rotational hard drives, while rotational drives have much larger maximum capacities, as much as 4TB. The largest SSDs, 960GB models, cost over $2,400 and some cost over $3,000. A 3TB rotational drive costs between $330 and $400 today.
I put a 256GB Crucial RealSSD in my main Windows 7 desktop computer, in early 2011, replacing a 1TB rotational drive. I have not regretted that decision. In fact, I wish I had done it earlier. I have lots of programs, a very large digital music collection and do lots of video production, which consumes large amounts of storage. I could not fit all my stuff on a 1TB drive much less an SSD a quarter of that size. I use 3 2TB rotational drives for data and new program installations. My machine is much faster. Fast is good.
Amazon Kindle Fire ($199)
The Fire was released in November 2011. It is a small form factor (7” diagonal), combination ebook reader and touchscreen tablet computer. If you had to pick between the iPad 2 and the Fire, pick the iPad. If you want an inexpensive, portable, color screen tablet that does double duty as a media consumption device and general purpose computer, get a Kindle Fire.
Amazon ties the Kindle to their very large and rapidly expanding digital products ecosystem, which is especially convenient and economical if you are an Amazon Prime customer. Anything you buy from the Kindle book store, any music you buy from Amazon’s MP3 store, and any videos you rent or buy from the Amazon Video store can be read, listened to, or watched on your Fire. The screen is very good. Watching video on the device is a surprisingly positive experience. (You should get a stand if you do this regularly.) Battery life is good, but not as good as the iPad.
It is WiFi only, so if you are traveling, I advise loading books, video and music onto your Kindle Fire before you leave. Storage space on the Kindle is not as robust as I would like. You are limited to about 5.4GB for media: books, music and video. There is an additional 1.2GB of storage available for apps. Amazon has a free app each day, which you can buy, download and install. One niggling hardware issue is that the power button is placed in a spot where it is easy to inadvertently turn off the Kindle when just holding it.
Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station ($179)
It’s a dual band 802.11n network router and Internet gateway device. That’s not the most exciting device in our electronics kit today. There are comparable routers from other companies that cost less and do the same or more! I know because I frequently install and configure or fix routers for my customers. The AirPort Extreme has only 3 LAN Ethernet ports, while all the others have 4. It requires special software to configure and manage. Its competitors can be configured from any standard computer attached to the router through a browser window, no special software required.
So why do I like it? In high traffic environments, like mine, it is the most dependable consumer-grade router I know. Other consumer-grade routers suffer from over-heating issues in high traffic environments. This causes them to malfunction. The AirPort Extreme Base Station is rock solid. Interestingly, the Apple AirPort Express (the Extreme’s little sister) is not as solid. It too suffers from overheating problems due to high traffic.
Logitech Wireless Illuminated Keyboard K800 (Windows) ($69.99)
I work on many computers, mine and my customers, desktops and laptops. I use a lot of different keyboards in a standard workday. So I sample many different keyboards, from many different manufacturers, such as Dell, HP, Microsoft, Logitech, and Apple. I write quite a bit so my personal keyboards matter a lot to me.
This Logitech wireless keyboard for Microsoft Windows computers has a no-nonsense design. It features a relatively small footprint, nice and responsive keys, backlit keys, great rechargeable battery life, and a switch to turn it on and off. It comes with a USB recharging cable as well. I like it much better than the older Logitech wireless keyboard that it replaced.
Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 for Mac ($59.95) (Black or Silver)
I am not a fan of Apple keyboards. They are too flat. I don’t find typing on them anything other than tortuous on a good day. I like number pads on my desktop computer keyboard, but Apple doesn’t sell a wireless full-size keyboard.
Fortunately, Logitech has come to my rescue with an innovative light-powered, wireless full-size keyboard designed specifically for Macs. It is not perfect but much better for me than Apple’s hardware. It has Apple-style chicklet keys but the finger rests are indented and rounded rather than aping apple’s flat keys. It runs off the ambient light in my office, day or night. It never needs to charge its batteries or have them replaced since it converts light into energy. It also has a handy on/off switch, which lets you turn off the keyboard when not in use.
The retractable legs are not as sturdy as I would like. I haven’t broken them yet but it feels like it wouldn’t take much to do that.
Logitech Wireless Anywhere Mouse MX ($47.99)
Most people use whatever pointing device came with the computer. If it’s a desktop Windows computer they use a cheap, limited function mouse.
If the computer is a desktop Mac, an iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro they are probably using either the Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse. With the Magic Mouse, Apple continues its unbroken tradition of never making a usable mouse . It incorporates features of both a mouse and a trackpad to the user’s disadvantage. Their Magic Trackpad is much better but I find it awkward compared to a good mouse like the Anywhere Mouse MX.
The Anywhere Mouse is a wireless mouse that communicates with your Mac or Windows computer via a tiny USB radio receiver that plugs in to the computer. I’ve had an Anywhere Mouse MX for several years that I use on my Windows desktop. I bought an additional one this year to use with my 27” iMac.
It works on pretty much any surface, without need of a mouse pad. It even works on a transparent glass surface! (I am tempted to test if it works in butter like a TV-advertised ballpoint pen of my youth. I never understood why anyone would want to do that.) It has a built-in clutch on the scroll wheel that lets you shift from frictionless hyper-fast scrolling to line-by-line navigation with a simple finger press. It lasts a long time on two AA batteries. You can use rechargeable ones if you want.
It has a convenient storage slot in the battery compartment for the USB receiver if you want to travel with the mouse. The bottom cover comes off and can be put back on with little effort. It also has a simple slide button on the bottom that lets you effortlessly turn the mouse off and on. This lets you conserve your batteries when the mouse is not in use. It has other features too, such as buttons on the side for moving forwards and backwards in a browser window. It truly is a great mouse. Over 500 people on Amazon who reviewed the Anywhere Mouse MX agree, giving it 4 and 5 star ratings.
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