A Review of the Mobile Edge Laptop Messenger Bag

bag9237498

I recently purchased a new laptop messenger bag for my 15.6″ Toshiba. My old neoprene bag had seen better days, and the broken zipper was no longer keeping out rain and snow. After shopping around for quite some time, I chose the “Notebook Messenger.” I like it because it’s not the typical long, briefcase-type shape, but it’s narrow and tall. These are much easier to hoist around, full of stuff. Because of the unique shape and multiple pockets, this is the best laptop bag I’ve ever owned.

It comes at a pretty penny, however. Mobile Edge sells it retail for $59.99. I paid less than that at a discount store. But even with the discount, it was still rather expensive.

mobileedge1

I like the roomy section under the front flap. It’s a great place to hide all the computer accesories and my peppermints. :) The bag is constructed of ballistic nylon, comes in a very classy red color, and has reflective strips along the seams.

mobileedge2

The laptop compartment has two slots divided by a non-removable soft pad. I wish the pad was removable, because then the bag could serve as a backpack-type bag, too. The straps are well done, with solid seams and a comfortable molded plastic handle. The bag is extremely roomy and has pockets for everything.

The description of the size of the bag is muddled, though. The Mobile Edge website says it fits “most laptops up to 16″ and MacBooks up to 17.” The tag on the bag says it “fits up to 15.4″ widescreen” laptops. And the discount website I purchased from said it fit up to 17″ laptops. That’s a HUGE margin, and the inaccuracy is inexcusable. The consumer MUST know what size laptop the bag is for! I took a chance, and my 15.6″ Toshiba (widescreen) just BARELY fits. BARELY. I can zip it up and that’s it. The top of the laptop is not protected by any padding, so I must be careful when I haul it around.

Pros:
Very roomy interior.
Durable nylon material.
Narrow, tall shape makes it easy to carry heavy stuff.
Good straps.
Attractive.
Lifetime warranty.

Cons:
Mislabeled laptop sizes.
Non-removable pad in laptop compartment.
Bag often flops forward; won’t stand upright unless laptop compartment is filled.
Expensive.

This is the best messenger bag I’ve had, despite the cons. Is it worth shelling out $60 for? No. Maybe half that, if you can find it. It’s a very, very nice bag, though.

Note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. I’m just reviewing it because I love to review things and I thought my readers would like to know about this product. :)

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
Posted in computers. Tags: , , . Comments Off »

Do Your Homework When Looking for Web Hosting

I’ve had my share of web hosts, some good and some not so good. Before leaping into the world of self-hosting your own websites, you really need to evaluate your needs (which might grow over time). Most bloggers choose shared hosting, which is your website hosted on a server along with a number of other people’s websites on the same server. Then there is dedicated hosting, which is your own dedicated server, or partition on a server; or a middle-ground kind of hosting called vps hosting. Dedicated hosting is usually much, much more stable and reliable, but it is also extremely expensive. VPS hosting is more affordable and offers many of the perks that dedicated hosting offers; shared hosting is the least expensive and the least reliable.

It’s this kind of stuff that you need to know before taking the leap. I didn’t know a lot of stuff, so I wandered around, wasting a lot of time, energy, and effort. I did learn a lot in the process, but I would have rather avoided some of the snarls of ignorance.

Here’s a good site to get your feet wet with web hosting: WebHostingGeeks.com. This site has been up and running since 2004, providing the Internet with excellent and readable articles, tips, and reviews of web hosting terms, concepts, and providers. The Web Hosting 101 series is excellent; I go there sometimes to keep up with latest developments and news, and read reviews of some newer hosting companies. WebHostingGeeks also has tips on SEO and SEM strategies, informative articles on domain names (and ICANN has recently internationalized the Internet, so the structure of domain names will soon be changing), and more. It’s a good site to check from time to time, looking at news and reviews. I like the consumer reviews of the various web hosts, too. WebHostingGeeks breaks them down into “Best Dedicated Hosting,” “Best UNIX Hosting,” Best Email Hosting,” “Best Budget Hosting,” and more.

Before taking the plunge to have your websites hosted, be sure to learn a little of the trade. You will avoid a lot of headaches, and you’ll also get the most for your money. Be sure to take a look at WebHostingGeeks.com. It’s totally free to peruse, and you will learn a lot!

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]

Need a Web Host Rating Guide?

Finding a web host can be confusing. There seem to be more and more of them, and who knows how they rate in quality and price?! I have tried my hand with quite a few number of web hosts before I finally landed with the best so far, Hostgator. Back when I was just starting out hosting my own websites, I had no idea about ratings and if there were any websites with simple charts, revies, and breakdowns of costs and services. Now, there’s WebHostingRating.com. It’s a greta site to visit for information on various website hosting. The main page has a table of the top ten web hosting providers for 2009, independently rated. The chart includes prices, space, traffic, and a review of the company– it’s a great read if you’re looking into your own web hosting, or are looking for something better (or less expensive). It’s a terrific breakdown of stats at a glance.

Also, you’ll find some good articles on various web hosting topics, including b2evolution and Joomla web hosting (stuff I’ve been very interested in tinkering with) reviews. I like that WebHostingRating.com also features “hosting awards” with special acclaim going to particular companies that score high. Cool site! Check it out: WebHostingRating.com.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
Posted in blogs, web hosting. Tags: , . Comments Off »

A Review of Verizon Internet Service

I’ve had Verizon Internet Service for three years now (times flies!). I recently upgraded from the Basic Plan to the Premium Plan, and thought I’d share a little bit of my experience, for those of you still on dialup or may be looking for another ISP.

When I first ordered DSL with Verizon, I knew NOTHING about DSL. I bought a modem from Verizon, and those weird-looking phone jack filters, but I realized I had to buy my own ethernet cables (they have ends that look like the telephone jacks but are larger). I spent many hours (make that days) reading forums, tutorials, and advice on how to get the DSL set up on computers and how to secure the netwerk. It was a process– a long process– or trial and error for me. I learned a lot along the way. I just hope I never have to do that again.

Verizon tech support was awful, deplorable. It was obvious that the support people read from a list of “things to do” when someone needed help. Things like “use only Internet Explorer” was not good advice. I also HATED the “Remote Assistance” that the support reps kept pressing me to use. I did it a few times, and after I saw my mouse cursor magically move and start to do things with my files that I did not want done, I refused RA every time. These people had NO idea what they were doing. It’s sad when you know more than tech support.

Verizon now offers “upgraded” tech support for a fee every month. No thanks. I believe good tech support should be available right from the start. And I’ve been through so much now that I think (hope) I can handle things from now on. Thank God for the Internet, and for people who post their problems and answers in online forums! Kim Komando at Komando.com also has some very good tutorials about how to secure your network by altering settings and using passwords.

About the speed: I live very close to a Verizon sub-station, so I believe this is the reason for my good speeds. The speeds are not enough to shatter my chandeliers, but they are very good and they consistently maintain speeds close to the rates I pay for. I had the Basic Plan for 2 years, which guaranteed me a rate of “up to” (very important words) 768 kilobytes per second on downloads (receiving information), and.. I can’t remember what it was for uploads but it was pitifully small. It took me one minute to upload one megabyte of video to YouTube. Ugh.

When we first got the Basic Plan, the speed was a pleasant change. We’d had dialup which only gave us 46-56 kilobytes per second, so you can imagine what something in the 700s felt like. But after two years, we’ve added a bunch of computers for the kids, and they watch videos and surf the Net and download stuff, too. This was cutting in to the total speed for the network. My personal speed for my computer had slowed to 300kbps when the other computers were going. (I work from my computer, so it is important that I have good speed). Some nights the network was so congested that I drove to my local library to work from their wireless cable connection.

The Premium Plan is speeds up to 3 megabytes per second. This is almost 4 times faster than the Basic Plan, for only $10 more a month. It’s not cable-fast (what are cable speeds, like 40mbps?) but it was better than 700kbps! We decided to go for it. I’ve been testing it out all week.

I really like it. Verizon has proven itself consistent with service, even if their tech support is a big fat negative. My speeds are very close to the full 3mbps here. So I am a satisfied customer.

Mrs. Mecomber’s final opinion? If you’re looking for some reliable speed, Verizon does the job for a good price. However, if you need tech support, be prepared to spend more money or search out your solutions yourself.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
Posted in networking, technology. Tags: , , , . Comments Off »

Security Systems Becoming More Popular

I went to my local library for a few hours today, and finally got a chance to look around the place. They remodeled it and added a whole new wing over the summer. I was rather stunned to see a bastion of security cameras and a TV monitoring station behind the front desk. High-tech wireless security camera systems are becoming more and more popular, even with smaller organizations like my local library, which supports a rather small clientele. Wireless are the most convenient systems, and are becoming the most pervasive. I think to a certain extent, wireless camera systems do deter theft. The presence of cameras in large cities (New York City is the best example in my area) has had an effect. And of course, with a camera aimed at a crime scene, thieves are caught in the act! I’ve often considered getting wireless cameras mounted around the house, as the crime rate appears to be rising. Even dummy cameras would do the trick, I suppose.

One good online resource for security hardware is ITPlanet.com. I have browsed the selection; they have very comparable prices on security cameras, security systems, and other electronics like touchscreens for POS, barcode scanners, and more. They offer great information as well as sell equipment. For the budget-minded business or individual, they offer a lowest-price guarantee and free shipping; but they don’t scrimp on customer service– call 866-468-6044to speak with a customer representative, or visit their website, itplanet.com.

[Slashdot] [Digg] [Reddit] [del.icio.us] [Facebook] [Technorati] [Google] [StumbleUpon]
Posted in security programs, surveillance, technology. Tags: , . Comments Off »