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New Year's Predictions for 2011

Posted By Rick Saletta on 09/30/2011 at 06:46AM

I'll make this one short.

2011 Prediction #1: 1Q2011 & 2Q2011 will record breaking numbers for AAPL. I've put my money where my mouth is and loaded up on Apple stock (even though Apple's failure to fix any significant MacOS bugs in 2010 is quite irksome).

2011 Prediction #2 is actually 2012 Prediction #1: But, as an independent, I feel compelled to call the shot now. In 2012, its Obama in a landslide. With his current strategic position, only Team Obama can defeat the incumbent President.


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Holiday Tips for Dog Owners

Posted By Rick Saletta on 09/30/2011 at 06:46AM

Holiday Tips for Dog Owners is a short article just published in the Menlo Park Almanac. See http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7983


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NFLWeather on Chicago's Bear Claws Radio

Posted By Rick Saletta on 09/30/2011 at 06:45AM

Join co-hosts Papa Bear Jeff and Bryan for their unique take on the Chicago Bears. The guys break down the Lions contest and preview the New England game. This week's guests include Brandon Pertner from Phil Steele Publications, and Rick Saletta from NFLWeather.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bearsclaws 


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Easy on the Eyes: 23"- 24" Monitor Round-Up

Posted By Rick Saletta on 09/30/2011 at 06:44AM

There are hundreds of inexpensive, virtually commoditized, computer monitors on sale this year from a couple to a few hundred bucks. But, only a handful have anti-glare screens and ergonomic stands. An anti-glare screen is "Easy on The Eyes", buying the viewer some extra time before the eyes fatigue. And if you are prone to migranes, an anti-glare screen simply enables you. An ergonomic (height adjustable and tilting) stand minimizes eye and neck strain and allows the viewer to periodically change seat positions to reduce repetitive stress such problems as carpel tunnel syndrome.

Other nice to have features include an LED screen for reduced energy consumption, a digital TV tuner and buttons (remember buttons?). As the laptop driving this monitor will be closed in its dock, I was hoping to find an anti-glare monitor with manual brightness and volume controls, not too much to ask. I'd also like to see a nice pair of integrated speakers to reduce cable clutter on the desk.

As it turned out, there are only a half dozen monitors on the market in the 23" - 24" category that can be considered "Easy on the Eyes" (blame the iPhone). Even worse, only a couple vendors still list the anti-glare screen under the specs on their websites .

Apple was known for best of breed monitors, and still is, if you can stand looking into the Steve Jobs vanity mirror. Apple has standardized on glossy screens (again, blame the iPhone). I bought my grandmother a two generation old imac to avoid the infinite number of reflections between her reading glasses and the display.

Below, I've listed what I consider to be the best monitors in their category. All can be considered high resolution with at least 1920x1080 resolution. None of these vendors have a dominant feature set. I wish I could tell you that I've viewed all of these monitors but retail outlets rarely carry the price-performers anymore so I can't compare the image quality without buying them all online. The irony is that you need to have a high resolution monitor already to read the manufacturer's flash-based websites. Its best if you can see one before you buy as this is a visual purchase and the department store lights will convince you to avoid the glossy screens. Ultimately, the difference is in what you see.

23"- 24" Pro-sumer Monitor Conference Standings

  1. NEC EX231W-BK 4 - 2 - 0
  2. Samsung FX2490HD 4 - 2 - 1
  3. HP ZR24w 3 - 2 - 1
  4. Dell U2410 2 - 4 - 0
  5. Viewsonic VX2450wm 2 - 5 -1



Dell Ultrasharp U2410 24" IPS

  • PRO: 2 port Integrated USB Hub.
  • PRO: Optional USB Speaker Bar w/manual volume control
  • CON: Monitor stand will tilt but is not height adjustable.
  • CON: Menu-driven, manual brightness controls on the display.
  • CON: No digital TV tuner.
  • CON: Not an LED energy saving display.

Hewlett-Packard ZR24w S-IPS 24"

  • PRO: 4 port Integrated USB Hub (but you'll need 1 for the optional speaker)
  • PRO: Ergonomic stand.
  • PRO: Optional USB Speaker Bar w/manual volume control #NQ576AT
  • Has a manual brightness control but with only a minimal control range.
  • CON: No digital TV tuner.
  • CON: Not an LED energy saving display.

NEC Multisync EX231W-BK 23"

  • PRO: 2 port Integrated USB Hub.
  • PRO: Ergonomic stand.
  • PRO: Manual brightness controls on the display.
  • PRO: LED energy saving display display.
  • CON: No integrated speakers.
  • CON: No digital TV tuner.

Samsung Syncmaster FX2490HD HDTV 24"

  • PRO: 5W integrated speakers
  • PRO: Ergonomic stand.
  • PRO: Digital TV tuner & remote.
  • PRO: LED energy saving display.
  • 1 Integrated USB Port
  • CON: Multi-step, manual brightness control is "challenging".
  • CON: Distracting,High Gloss, brown cabinet.

Viewsonic VX2450wm

  • PRO: 2.5W speakers.
  • PRO: LED energy saving display display.
  • CON: No height adjustable stand (but it does tilt).
  • CON: Tricky, multi-step, manual brightness controls.
  • CON: No integrated USB Hub.
  • CON: Distracting High Gloss cabinet.
  • CON: No digital TV tuner.

 


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2010 Black Friday Digital Camera Round-Up

Posted By Rick Saletta on 09/30/2011 at 06:42AM

This post is rated "Red Chile".

 

Black Friday is here and, like many, I'm in the market for a compact digital camera. But, as Vladimir Ivanoff (aka Robin WIlliams in Moscow on The Hudson) overwhelmingly stated, "Choices, Choices, Choices!"

 

If you have some unique prosumer requirements such as removable lenses, then you may already have a specific camera in mind. But, if you just want to be able to take great pictures of your vacation or your family this holiday season, there are just a few things that the obsessive/compulsive comparison shopper will want to know. As CNet appears to rave about almost every camera every shipped, below is a short list of purchasing criteria and cameras from which to choose.

 

1. Mega-pixels matter!

Vendors who have the highest resolution cameras will tout their high megapixel count, usually 14MP to 18MP. Vendors that are stuck on 10MP to 12MP, will tout their wide image sensor. The bottom line is that you want both in a best of breed digital camera. The more megapixels that your camera has, the larger the size of the print you can make. This is becoming even important as the price of LCD monitors continues to plummet. You may take great photos on vacation in Hawaii this year and  choose to use one or more as a desktop image or as a screen saver. But, upon enlargement of the image, you may also realize that the fat guy in the beach chair holding a Bud Light made it into the corner of your photo where your thumb usually is. You will want to crop out that guy and/or your thumb, effectively reducing the resolution of your photo -2MP to -4MP. Computer monitors, flat screen televisions and digital picture frames will continue to increase in size as prices fall. Thus, plan for the future and buy as many megapixels as you can. Higher is better. At this time, 14MP-18MP is best.

 

2. Image Sensors matter!

In short, using a camera a larger, higher quality image sensor is the best way for amateurs to improve their photos. Higher quality image sensors (a.k.a. CCDs or electric light sensors) are necessary for photographing sports and fast moving children. Larger image sensors also require less light before defaulting to the flash cube. (Remember those?) The challenge is that camera manufacturers, unlike computer manufacturers, are often vague about their speeds in feeds. The best we can do is try to compare them online. Larger is usually better.

 

3. Video matters!

All of these cameras now have some form of video recording capabilities. Top vendors are attempting to offer high resolution HD1080p video while the "me too" vendors have simply included video capability as a low-resolution, line item check box. For a couple dollars more, you might as well get good video. 1080p is better than 720p.

 
 
 

4. Usability matters!

Not all cameras fit all hands, and I swear, some of the buttons were designed by pygmies for even smaller people and then exported to the USA as a sarcastic joke. If you keep hitting the wrong button, don't buy the camera. The same is true for lenses. A larger focal length is also better, if, it can fit in your pocket or purse. 98% of our photos are point and shoot while on the go. Thus, less is more; ease of use and portability trump speeds and feeds. That said, they are all a little too complex.

 

5. Price really doesn't matter.  

Most of the compact cameras are already in the same price bracket. You will look back on your photos and say, "I'm glad I took these great pics" or " I wish I had spent the fifty bucks and purchased a better camera". Pick the camera that best suits you and then go find the best price.

 

Cameras with new features such as GPS, integrated cameras, wifi cameras, ruggedized or waterproof cameras are cool but require you to trade off other features. While many companies focus on design, Canon, Leica, Panasonic and Sony are at the leading edge of functionality for compact digital cameras.

 

Finally, be both selective and nostalgic about your compact digital camera purchase for it may be your last camera as next year you will pay less attention to the camera application and specifications and more attention to the communication applications when selecting your next cell phone / pocket computer.

 
 
 

The 2010 Short List 

(green is good, red is not so good)

 
 

CANON

 

  1. SX210 IS: 14MP 1/2.3" CCD, HD720p video, 14X optical zoom, 28mm wide angle zoom, f3.1-f5.9, SDXC memory cards, 215g

  2. SD990 IS: 14MP, only 640x480 video, SDHC memory cards. (my current camera from 2009).

 
 

CASIO 

 

  1. Exilim H20G: 14MP, GPS, 720p video, ~$350.

 
 

FUJI

 

  1. Fujifilm Finepix 3D, only 10MP. (just not a contender)

 
 

LEICA

 

  1. M9: 18MP 1/2.3"CCD, 1080p video, 10X zoom, SDHC, 585g, with Leica Lens System for more moola. (If James Bond carried a non-lethal camera digital, this classic look Leica would be the one.)

 
 

NIKON

 

  1. Coolpix S8100, only 12MP 1/2.3", HD720p, 15x zoom, SDXC memory card.

 
 

OLYMPUS

 

  1. Stylus Touch-8010:  14MP, 1/2.3", 720p, SDHC, Waterproof

 
 

PANASONIC

 

  1. Lumix DMC-FX700K: 14MP 1/2.33"CCD, Superbright F2.2- F5.9 Leica lens, 5X zoom, 24mm wide angle, 1920x1080 AVCHD 1080P, SDXC memory card slot. (I wish it had GPS but this Panasonic is Rick's Pick for this season)

  2. Lumix TS10: 14MP, 4X zoom, waterproof, 720p, $250.

  3. Lumix FZ100: 14MP, 24X zoom, $500 MSRP (Larger, hybrid DLSR design)

  4. Lumix GF2: Only 12MP , it is the world's smallest  four thirds camera with swappable lenses, a mini-DSLR if you will.

 
 

PENTAX

 

  1. RZ10: 14MP 1/2.3", 720p HD, 

 
 

SAMSUNG

 

  1. NX100: 14MP, 720p, mirror-less, 20-50mm lens,  

  2. CL80: 14MP, 7X zoom, 5.6-39.2mm lens, 720p HD, 31mm wide angle, wifi, bluetooth, $399 MSRP

 
 

SANYO

 

  1. VPC-CA102: 14MP C-MOS 1/2.33" sensor, 1080p HD, 12x zoom, SDXC. waterproof $349 MSRP , F3.5-3. lens.

 
 

SONY

 

  1. Nex-5K/S: 14MP, HD1080 60i (1920x1080), APS-C size HD image sensor, 18-55mm lens, 287g.

  2. DSC-HX5V: only 10MP, AVCHD(1920x1080 60i) video, GPS, wifi (This model could have been a contender)

 
 

As an after thought, just think of what Google Earth will look like once we all have GPS enabled cameras. Talk about positioning for the shot...... 


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