New Toys: HP Envy x2

I landed myself a new toy a few weeks ago, an HP Envy x2 laptop/tablet convertable. The screen is detachable so you can opt to just take the tablet portion with you.  I was considering a Microsoft Surface Pro, but I was facing some upcoming travel at the time and wanted to go with a device I could be sure would arrive before I left and I REALLY wanted a real keyboard.

The HP Envy x2 is has 2 gigs of RAM and 64 gigs of storage space, basic Windows 8 pre-installed with a 32-bit Atom processor.  This is NOT a workhorse machine.  I consider it more like RT-plus; able to install all sorts of Windows applications, but doesn't have any of the enterprise features. 
However, it makes a great "portal" to the Internet, any of your cloud storage and the battery life is pretty decent. I've taken it to several conferences and it's lasted all day connected to WiFi and performing the type of tasks you'd often do while attending a conference - taking notes, checking email, browsing the web, social media, etc.

The majority of the guts of the machine are behind the screen - battery and hard-drive, etc, otherwise it wouldn't work when disconnected from the keyboard base.  The keyboard contains another battery and it will use the keyboard battery first when connected to that, leaving you the most charge possible while you are in tablet mode.

Couple things that bug me:

1. The screen is top heavy compared to the base when it's connected.  It will sit fine on your desk, but tends to want to topple backwards if it's on your lap. Also, it will rock if you are tapping moderately hard on the touchscreen.
2. When the two parts are connected and folded closed, the machine is slim and slides in and out of a laptop bag easily. When the screen is disconnected the hinge where the screen snaps in is locked in it's open configuration, making it easy to snag on the edges of a bag and difficult to stow when you only need the tablet part. I find myself wishing for a little latch I could switch to swing it back into closed position.
3. The spacebar is really sensitive, often giving me an extra space when I'm not expecting it. That just takes a little getting used to. I'm not a big fan of the "island" or "chicklet" keyboard style - with all the keys evenly spaced in straight rows - but that's my own personal issue.

Good things:

1. The touch screen is bright and responsive.
2. The power cord isn't very bulky or huge. It has a proprietary connector that's flatter than most laptop connectors to allow for the cord to power the device in laptop or tablet mode.
3. It has a great all metal casing, so it feels sturdy. Of course, this means it can't be serviced by the user, or probably much at all. 
4. At least one of the USB ports is powered even when the device is off, so you can charge your phone. I discovered this when I was at a hotel where the available plugs were pretty far from the bed. I was able to use the longer computer power cord as an extension to bring the laptop closer to the bed and then charge my phone from the laptop, allowing me to keep the phone on the bedside table.  (A must when your phone is also your alarm!)

The bottom line, I'm pretty happy with the device overall.  It's pretty unique its design and meets my needs. 

To Trash or Archive? That is the Question...

I've spending most of the week here in chilly Bellevue, WA at the MVP Summit!  For this trip, I'm staying connected with my Windows Phone 7 and my new HP Envy X2 with Windows 8. I'm  accessing my Gmail account from both OSes and I noticed something interesting with the handling of mail within their individual apps.

On the Windows Phone, the mail application has a trash icon for deleting messages.  When I delete from the phone, the API call to Google is "archive" and that message is simply archived and moved out of my inbox.

On the Windows 8 native Mail application, the trash icon sends the API call for "delete" to Google, sending the message to the trash, which is removed after 30 days.

Perhaps the reason is because when you are on your phone, you probably aren't actively "managing" messages and archiving them allows you to remove them from your device, but not really delete them.  From your computer, you might be more actively sorting and addressing messages, where a true "delete" function is more desirable.  Or maybe I'm over thinking it.  Since the applications were developed by different Microsoft product groups, they simply selected different API functions. 

While it might be desirable to have the same experience across both of my Windows devices, I can use the difference to my advantage - making sure that my mail ends up where I want it, depending on where I delete it from.

AT&T: The Great Teacher

Ah, AT&T.  My favorite service provider.  My day just wouldn't be complete without them and they've taught me so much.  Let's recap:

1) When you have a problem dialing one number in your DID block, you can not open a ticket using the automated system - because a DID number is not a PRI circuit, nor is it an individual line and those are the only two choices available.  Also, it is remarkably difficult (near impossible) to open a ticket without using the automated system.

2) When you open a ticket for your PRI circuit, simply so you can then talk to technician to tell them it's not really your circuit you are having trouble with, they will immediately test your circuit.  Thus disconnecting you.

3) When you move from one PRI circuit to another, your DID numbers must be both ported to the switch and programmed to the circuit.  Both parts might not actually be done, even though they are both required for a functioning number.

4) It takes no less that 4 people (and 4 visits) to install a managed, fiber Internet circuit.

5) When they seamlessly cut your IP addresses over to that new circuit, the technician will not know that the DNS system will automatically suspend your reverse DNS zone.  No one will tell you this.

6) Not even the first DNS technician you talk to a day later after you discover some places won't accept your email because your reverse DNS records are missing.

7) But the 2nd guy you talk to will know this.  But it's something they discover accidentally as they do their job.  It's not written down anywhere.

Now if they would only tell me where to send the gear from our old managed Internet connection, I'd be golden.

Detail Levels in Outlook Calendar

In the monthly view on the Outlook 2010 calendar, you have the option of several "Detail Views" - Low, Medium and High. If you accidentally select anything other than the default of high, you might be in for a surprise - with any other view most of your calendar items don't appear.

• Show Low Detail - Only holidays appear on a blank calendar.
• Show Medium Detail - Holidays and color bars appear that indicate days on which you have calendar items.
• Show High Detail - Time and header information, including category colors for calendar items appear.

I'm not exactly sure when I'd have a use for any view other than high detail, but this is useful information in case appointments suddenly disappear for you or someone you support.

She's Geeky - Just Hack It

Last week, I enjoyed my 4th time at the She's Geeky Un-Conference.  If you are a woman, you really shouldn't miss out on a chance to network and share your geeky-ness with other like-minded women.  And maybe not even like-minded... I even learned about the science behind making balloon animals this year.  What a fun way to unwind!

One of the quotes tweeted around after one of the conference days was "Whatever you want different in life, you should hack it."

It was tweeted by a IT friend of mine in attendance and a noticed by another non-IT friend to whom I had recommended they work together on a project.  I received an email expressing concern that my IT friend was not "reputable" because she was endorsing HACKING. OMG.

Yeah. So here is my PSA.

Hacking isn't criminal by nature. That's just how the word is mostly in the common media. It's gotten a bad rap, but really it's about embracing discovery, learning and improvement. Like anything, you can apply it to more that just computers and technology and you can use it for good or for less than good. You can choose to make things worse for others, or you can choose to make things better for everyone.

So get out there and "hack" the things in your life that aren't the way you want.  Learn a new skill, figure out ways to change things that don't work well. Use something "off label". Order off the menu from time to time.

Need an example?

This particular post (Beth Scott, @scanlime) embodies that quote from above in a way I can't even describe (and the topic is generally NSFW) but you'll see what I mean when you take a look. I'm not that skilled in electronic circuits and I don't have that awesome 3D printer, but this takes hacking your life right to the, um, edge.

So, get out there and "hack" your life a bit.  You'll be better off for it.