It's been a busy summer thus far - I've traveled about 50,000 miles for speaking gigs this year. I've got a lot of good tips for all of you, but they're currently between my ears - so over the next few weeks, look for some posts to discuss things I've learned recently which you might find interesting.
New Tools on my test and production systems:
- HP Projector
- Targus Docking Station
- Logitech io digital pen
- Kensington Bluetooth Mouse
- Novatel Merlin S620 Air Card with Service by Sprint PCS
- Kyocera KR1 Router for Air Card
- Logitech Quickcam for Notebooks Pro (with earbud that works with Skype)
- SnagIt and Camtasia Studio
- Peachtree Quantum 2007 and Peachtree Complete 2007
- Betas of Office 2007 and Windows Vista (yes, my laptop will run the Aero setup)
Probably my favorite two tools this far are the Logitech io digital pen and the Novatel Merlin S620 aircard. The combination of these has made it much easier on the road. I'll have detailed discussion on these over the next week or so, but they're doing a great job of making my life easier. Summaries are as follows:
io Digital Pen: Great tool, paper costs too much. I'm using this to take notes and transfer them to MS OneNote. While I'd like to have a tablet long term (I hear HP has a killer new tablet - and would love to test one on the road this summer and fall and write about it), the io digital pen seems to be a nice stopgap measure. The nice thing about the digital pen is that it lets you take notes and fill out forms with someone without the technology becoming the conversation instead of enabling it.
Sprint PCS Novatel Merlin S620 Air Card: Internet. Anywhere. This is an EVDO internet access card provided by K2 for me to use when on the road. I get good coverage in most cities. Here's my summary of coverage thus far this year (by city)
NYC: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up (3 Park Ave, 31st St @ 6th Ave, Penn Station, Jamaica, Newark airport, JFK airport, and LGA airport)
Long Island: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up (Worked in room at LI Marriott, Hicksville train station, on LIRR to NYC, and the only place I really had trouble was in tunnels.
Chicago: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up - Worked well in Oak Brook Terrace area as well as in Deerfield. (on a personal note, I got to see the Cubs on August 1st - while I would have liked to see Harry Caray sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" drunk, I was able to go on '70s night. There were some people with absolutely unbelievable fros and getups - lots of lambchops, Elvis lookalikes, etc. Good game - Cubs won).
Syracuse: Not Good - dialup speeds.
Knoxville/Farragut: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
Denver (Tech Center Area): Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
CVG Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
ATL Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
DEN Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
TYS Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
Nashville (Brentwood/Franklin): Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
Sevierville, TN: Good - 60Kb both ways. Not EVDO, but good for a new subdivision, and great for a non-EVDO area.
