BROWSERS - Surfin’ With Style

There’s a lot you can do on your netbook, but chances are most people will rely on it heavily for Web browsing. Your choice of browser plays a major role in determining the load on your netbook and its overall functionality.

Ideally, you want a light browser that does not tax your RAM a whole lot. Also pick a browser that has a simple user interface that uses limited screen space, allowing you to view more of the website on the netbook’s small screen. Have a look at the browsers listed below to find which would be the best for you.





INTERNET EXPLORER
Internet Explorer is the default browser on any Windows-based system. The latest version (Internet Explorer 8) comes with tabbed browsing and a fairly wide range of plug-ins and add-ons, making it good for basic usage. The main window does occupy a good amount of your display, but it is capable of full-screen display and has efficient ad and popup blockers. The biggest issue though is that it is memory-intensive and has been known to freeze or crash no matter what version you are using.  For details and to download Internet Explorer 8, visit ‘ http://www.microsoft.com/india/windows/ie/IE8.aspx ’





MOZILLA FIREFOX

Firefox was the fi rst browser to introduce tabbed browsing. Being an open-source application, anyone with programming knowledge can develop add-ons and extensions for Firefox. Functions such as ad-blocking, java-blocking, video stream downloading and themes are available as free downloads. The address bar and bookmarks bar do occupy a fair bit of space, but it does offer fullscreen browsing to get the most out of your small screen. On the other hand, Firefox is fairly memory- hungry and takes a long time to launch, which means it’s not the best for low-powered netbooks. For details and to download Firefox, visit ‘www. mozilla.com/en-US/fi refox/fi refox.html’





GOOGLE CHROME


Like every other Google offering, Chrome is simple and designed to maximize output. It is very quick to start-up and allots a different process for each tabbed window, which means if one website crashes, the whole browser does not crash and you do not lose the rest of the tabs. The latest version also supports extensions, which aren’t as plentiful as those for Firefox, but Chrome’s convenience means more will be developed very soon. The interface is also quite compact and, apart from the address bar, it does not occupy much of the screen.
        The only drawback with Chrome is that each tab requires a new process, which means if you open
ten tabs, you’re technically running ten different applications, which can take up a fair amount of memory. For details and to download Chrome, visit ‘www.google.com/chrome’



OPERA


Opera is one of the fastest Web browsers available for your netbook. It is compatible with most operating systems and has a convenient, minimalist design. Its main advantage is its speed, being able to browse sites at almost four times the speed of any other browser. This is down to the fact that Opera uses a unique compression technology by which you can significantly improve browsing speeds over limited-bandwidth connections; for example, when you use a Wi-Fi connection at a crowded cafe. Another positive for Opera is that it has a built-in Bit-torrent downloader and e-mail client, so you can do almost anything from just one window. Opera has been known to have website compatibility issues with certain websites, which is its only drawback. For details visit ‘www.opera.com’






SAFARI 5



Apple’s default browser – Safari, leaves a very small memory footprint. It is fast, but the address bar and bookmark bar eat up a lot of the screen space in full-screen mode; it gives you just about as much page viewing as Chrome. The biggest drawback, however, is that it comes with a standard Mac
OS interface, which is very different from other browser, which leaves it as the browser of choice only for Mac users. For details and to download, visit ‘www.apple.com/safari/download’ 






While the most popular, these aren’t the only Web browsers available. Other less popular browsers include K-Meleon, Camino and Rockmelt.



ROCKMELT


With the growing trends in social networking, developers are looking at integrating popular social network sites with browsers for easy access to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and MySpace. One such browser launched recently is Rockmelt. Already a viral web hit thanks to its Facebook-authenticated invitation scheme, Rockmelt focuses on friends, feeds and search results. An integrated Facebook rail allows you to check status updates and notifications from friends and chat with friends that are currently online. A configurable feeds rail allows you to organize all your news feeds and streams from your favorite sites. It even notifies you when new content has been added. The search box is designed to give you the top ten search results in a drop-down side column. You can also configure which search engine you would like to use. All this along with the ability to browse the Web on a light browser similar Chrome means Rockmelt can service all your needs before you've even typed in a Web address. Currently Rockmelt can be downloaded on an invite-only basis sent out via Facebook, but to register your interest, visit ‘www.rockmelt.com’.

Picking The Best Computing Device

If you can’t figure out how viable it would be to jump from your current computing device to a netbook, here is a little food for thought.

PCS VERSUS NETBOOKS

Although these two devices fall into two a very similar category, the transition from PC to netbook isn't always a smooth one. While hardware components do get obsolete quite quickly, they can be upgraded very easily. Moreover, PCs do suffer from power surges too, for which some users may need a UPS. A netbook, however, can be charged easily anywhere and used wirelessly for 2-3 hours at a stretch, depending on the nature of usage. Each of these devices has their own strengths when pitted against each other.

WHERE PCS SCORE:

The biggest advantage of using a desktop computer is that it is completely flexible. You can append any devices as and when required or feasible, based on the configuration and make of your motherboard. You can convert your PC into a data center, a gaming machine, or a server by mere tweaks in your system setup.

Moreover, most of the software applications are compatible with a desktop. Office productivity apps, games, choice of operating systems, utility applications; all of them can be used with a desktop with ease.

WHERE THE NETBOOKS SCORE:

The greatest advantage that the netbook brings is that they are the most easiest and convenient to carry around. Even if you decide to attach a lot of peripherals to your netbook, they are mostly powered by USB ports, which make most of them quite portable in nature. Since they come with built-in Wi-Fi, it becomes easier to connect to the Internet, using either a Wi-Fi router, a plug-and-play Internet connector or a broadband service, depending on the ports that are available on your netbook.

LAPTOPS VERSUS NETBOOKS

Though these two devices resemble each other the closest, they are still different in many ways. It is not quite appropriate to consider price because a laptop can cost as little as Rs 20,000, and a netbook can cost as much as Rs 80,000, depending on its brand and system configuration. While netbooks are often revered as low-end notebooks, the configuration and ease in usage become more relevant when you decide to pick a netbook over a notebook or a laptop.

WHERE LAPTOPS SCORE:

While laptops, just like netbooks offer portability, they are ergonomically better to use as compared to a netbook. Since you end up using the same applications on a netbook and a laptop, it is more comfortable to use a laptop. Moreover it offers usage of games just like a PC, unlike a netbook. While most components of  the hardware of a laptop are not really upgradable, you can get a really well stacked up system on initial  purchase. A laptop is capable of handling devices just like a PC, although you need to ensure that they don’t drain a lot of your power quickly.

WHERE THE NETBOOKS SCORE:

Although not too ergonomic, the netbook set up does make way for peripherals to bring it up to the

mark. Also, they are way lighter that laptops, and therefore easier to carry around. Netbooks offer much better battery life compared to standard laptops. This is because they use lighter equipment. The best feature of the netbook as compared to the laptop is the removable and changeable lithium- ion battery pack. This helps you maintain your system better.

TABLET PCS VERSUS NETBOOKS

Although these two devices fall into two very different genres of technology, it’s the size and portability that compels most people to draw parallels. The launch of the iPad in early 2010 created a sever dent in the netbook sales for the year. With speculation rife about which of these devices has actually moved ahead in the race, here’s a look at the advantages of each.

WHERE TABLET PCS SCORE:

Tablet PCs are essentially for people who travel frequent and enjoy reading e-books in a comfortable screen size and format, listen to music or play games on the go. The dimensions of your tablet are the same as your screen making them comfortable to use. Since they are touch-sensitive, they don’t need too many peripherals.Also, there is a huge market for apps specifically designed for tablet PCs.

WHERE THE NETBOOKS SCORE:

Some netbook models support RAM, hard disk, and battery upgrades, which are options you don’t find in tablet PCs yet. It is more convenient to feed data into your netbook because of its keyboard and fl ip-close design. You can also plug in a varied range of peripherals, which includes storage devices like external hard-disks, USB fl ash drives, pen drives and DVD drives.

SMARTPHONES VERSUS NETBOOKS

While it is quite unfair to pit these two devices against each other, smartphones have become a useful and comfortable device for basic computing during daily travels. Although they are functionally very different, the tasks they can perform are quite similar in nature.

WHERE SMARTPHONES SCORE:

Smartphones are great for listening to music or playing games on the go. There is a huge market for apps specifically designed for smartphones. Coupled with the QWERTY keypad or a touch interface, working while traveling becomes very easy. Moreover, since they are designed to fit in the palm of your hand, you can handle it with ease, using just your thumbs too.

WHERE THE NETBOOKS SCORE:

You can add peripherals to your nebook and also upgrade RAM and battery packs on your netbook

to make it work with increased efficiency. Although there are not too many netbookspecific applications as of now, it is a lot more convenient to type on the full keyboard as compared to the tiny QWERTY keypad on your phone using merely your thumbs.

Loading up your netbook

Maximize the utility you get from your netbook by installing applications that service your needs. From anti-virus suites to games and media players, a plethora of applications are at your disposal to make the most of your netbook.



Your netbook is only as good as the things it can do. You will generally find a few basic applications bundled with your operating system, but there is a range of applications out there to help you improve your netbook’s performance and its entertainment quotient. Netbooks do not generally come with any kind of commercial software, which is what keeps the cost as low as possible. There are certain programs that are almost essential, and until you have used them, their value and importance may not be obvious to you.








ANTIVIRUS

Without protection software installed, your netbook is highly vulnerable to attacks from the moment you begin browsing. There is no guarantee that your netbook will have an anti-virus bundled with your OS, and if it does then it is likely to be a trial version. The safety measures applied to your netbook could prevent you from being a victim of identity fraud, viral infection and malware.


AVG ANTI-VIRUS FREE EDITION 2011

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 is a light weight, free application and is effective in blocking and removing malicious software, cookies and trojans. It’s fairly simple to configure and you can set a schedule to run scans periodically, taking the guesswork out of your netbook’s security. To pick up a free version of AVG from your netbook, you can visit‘free.avg.com/us-en/download- free-antivirus’.


MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS

Another free security tool is Microsoft Security Essentials. It is light on memory and runs effi - ciently in the background without interruptions or disturbance. The only drawback is that it is compatible only with Windows, so if you’re running any other OS, you will not be able to use it. To download, go to www.microsoft.com/security_ essentials

ESSENTIAL TOOLS

There are several mainstream products that tend to overshadow the competition. Products like Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader and Adobe Photoshop run on almost every PC, but while they’re popular for their convenience and user friendliness, they are expensive and they do tend to hog RAM space. However, there are a few substitutes, which can serve the same purpose using far less memory and cost less too.


OPENOFFICE.ORG

If you’ve bought a netbook with Windows, you’re sure to have Microsoft Office bundled with it. Depending on what version of MS Office you are using and what your uses are, MS Office could have a large memory and storage requirement. OpenOffice.org gives you the perfect substitute, with a suite of office applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases. It is free and compatible with different operating systems and a variety of extensions are available.


GIMP
For the graphics enthusiasts, Adobe Photoshop is the one stop shop for all their needs, but what if you don’t want to spend a whole lot? Photoshop’s most popular competitor, GIMP, has its own portable version. Being an open source image editing tool, GIMP can serve as the perfect replacement for Photo- shop on your netbook to carry out simple image editing tasks.


FOXIT READER

Adobe also provides the Adobe PDF Reader, which is the default choice for viewing PDF files, but it
does occupy a great deal of space on your hard drive. FoxIT Reader is an alternative PDF viewer, which is lightweight, smaller, and faster. You can download it from 
‘www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/ reader/reader43.html’


DOWNLOADS

Internet marketing of movies and music is on the rise, with albums released on iTunes, movie trailers
and teasers and even public access movies. Downloading such media can be expedited and simplified with download management applications.


μTORRENT

The Internet is a great medium to share videos and music, and it is also a great source for media. Torrent
files are safer and a faster mode of downloading compared to conventional means as they rely on p2p networks. One of the most popular torrent clients is μTorrent. It is simple, lightweight and fast, making it ideal for netbooks. You can download μTorrent from ‘www.utorrent.com’.


DAP

DAP (Download Accelerator Plus) is a download manager for Windows and OS X. It uses multi-part
downloading to increase speeds, creating multiple connections of different file segments to speed up downloads, which is useful for defeating file-server download speed limiting. The best part is you can set DAP as your default downloading application and it will enhance downloads even from your browser. To download DAP, visit ‘www.speedbit.com’.


GAMES

Netbooks were not built for hardcore gamers so do not expect the latest games to run smoothly or run at all on your netbook. However it is possible to play great, high-quality games from a few years ago. It’s not hard to find games that don’t require a massive amount of GPU and CPU power to play, and it might surprise you that older versions of some of your favourite games may still run on your netbook.


GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY
Vice City still lives on in the memory of most gamers, thanks to its memorable characters and original game play. Best of all, it runs perfectly fine on any average netbook. Get yourself a USB-powered mouse and you’ll be hooked for several hours.


DIABLO II

When Diablo fi rst came into the market back in 1997, it was an instant classic. Diablo II managed to better its predecessor and was one of the most popular games of 2000. Both versions of the game will run smoothly on a Windows or Mac OS-based machine, but Diablo II, of course, is a much better looking game.


COMMAND & CONQUER

For real-time strategy gamers, Command & Conquer is the way to go. All of the C&C releases up to and including Tiberian Sun will work fine on your netbook. These games are starting to show some age, but are still great, trendsetting RTS games.


MAME

If you want to go way, way back to the good ol’ days of arcade gaming, you can get yourself an emulator
like MAME. Emulators are applications that emulate the hardware of arcade game systems or old gaming consoles and come packed with old classic games. You could relive the past with games  like Mario Bros, Contra and Tetris all on your newnetbook.


ENTERTAINMENT

If you are a Windows user then you are surely aware of Windows Media Player, and for the Apple enthusiasts, there is iTunes. Both these applications are effective, but replacing them with lighter alternatives could help free up system resources.


WINAMP

Winamp is one of the most popular free alternatives to Windows Media Player. It is an open source application that has been around for a long time, with tons of available extensions, skins and themes.
Winamp can be used to sync your computer with your iPod so you can say goodbye to iTunes as well. Visit ‘www.winamp.com’ for details.


VLC PLAYER

VLC Player is the Winamp equivalent for playing videos. It has a simple, compact interface that relies more on functionality than looks. It is capable of playing VCDs, DVDs, Audio CDs and almost any video format. Add to that features like aspect ratio adjustment, equalizer and screenshots, and you’ve got a flawless, powerhouse of a media player for your netbook.


UTILITIES


DAEMON TOOLS

Since netbooks lack optical drives, you are forced to purchase an external CD or DVD drive to install new software. DAEMON Tools lets you ditch the external drives and mount images of discs onto virtual drives instead. When you mount a disc image, you can access the software just as if the disc was inserted in your computer. Another advantage of using mounted discs is that the access speed is much faster than an optical drive. Visit ‘www.daemon-tools.cc’.


TOUCHFREEZE

Every laptop user will tell you how annoying it is when you start typing and your cursor goes haywire due to your wrist grazing the touchpad. Imagine how frequently that will occur when you’re using an even smaller keyboard and touchpad. Touchfreeze is an open source application that disables the touchpad as soon as you start typing and enables it once you stop. It is currently compatible only with Windows-based systems.


ROCKETDOCK

If you’ve used an Apple computer, you will be aware of the dock a simple bar that sits on the bottom of your screen and allows easy access to all your applications and current windows. It boosts functionality on a small screen and would be great for a netbook. Rocketdock gives the same for non- Mac machines. It is fully configurable and can be docked on any side of the screen.



XMARKS
If you’ve used one computer to setup an account and consequently forgotten the password when you try to login from a different computer, then Xmarks is for you. It keeps browser bookmarks and site passwords in sync across multiple computers. Now you can sync your browsers on your netbook, notebook and office computer and the best part is that Xmarks works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

DOS AND DON’TS WHEN USING A NETBOOK

Reading Between the Lines
Planning to buy yourself a netbook? Here are some of the things you need to check when you buy one for yourself.

If you have finally decided that you need to add a netbook to your gadget collection, you must keep certain things in mind. Here are some dos and don’ts that you need to consider before buying a netbook.


DOS

• Check t he keyboard. Some of keypads can be

stiff and uncomfortable to use for some users.
Always ask for a working demo piece so that
you can use the keyboard hands-on.

•  Familiarize yourself with the track pad on the

demo piece. You must know if your track pad
mouse has a decent response speed, considering
that you might take the netbook outdoors
and may not enjoy the comfort of carrying a
mouse around.

•  Pick an operating system which will fit your

needs. If you are using a Windows OS and
want to work with Microsoft Offi ce, you might
have to shell out more. While Windows offers
familiarity and better compatibility with most
peripherals, Linux uses fewer resources to
run, is lighter on the system and comes with
bundled utilities.

• While netbooks are shrinking in size, a 10-inch

screen is ideal to work with. There are netbooks
with smaller screens too, but they might get a
bit diffi cult to work with considering if you use
applications similar to those used on a laptop.
Since a netbook offers the bare minimum in
terms of features, you may need to buy a few
peripherals. Check the number of USB ports,
external VGA ports, and Ethernet jacks.

DON’TS

• Avoid processors like Celeron that cannot keep

up with heavy processes. If you pick a Windowsbased
system, the Atom processors work well.

• Don’t go for a 512 MB RAM; you might fi nd it a

bit diffi cult to upgrade it later. Opt for 1 GB or 2
GB RAM instead and a fairly spacious hard disk.

• Don’t buy a netbook if you need to work with

heavy applications like Adobe Photoshop. You
can use a netbook as an interim measure, but
don’t buy it as a replacement for your laptop or
desktop PC.

• Don’t settle for Wi-Fi connectivity lower than

802.11 b/g. The norms are shifting and its time
to move with the times.

• If you do plan to use the netbook outdoors a lot,

and don’t have a charging port handy, invest
in an extended-range six-cell battery, so that it
can last longer.

Netbooks for Different Needs

Netbooks are the new standard in low-cost personal computing. Developed with specifications to suit the bare essential uses of the more traditional computer, netbooks are quickly turning into a must-have as far as affordable, useful gadgets are concerned.


The name netbook is appropriate, yet rather deceptive when it comes to defi ning its complete range of applications. As the name suggests, its primary purpose is Internet connectivity. However, netbooks are capable of much more. Their ability to perform simple tasks on the go, something that the comparatively bulkier notebooks are too cumbersome for, makes them popular amongst people in various spheres of life.
A netbook is your standard desktop PC or notebook minus the excess baggage. Designed as a low cost, low weight laptop, the net-book boasts increased portability while missing a few peripherals, has a smaller screen and keyboard, and is equipped with reduced specifications and computing power as compared to a notebook. In other words, if your PC is a Mercedes Benz, then the netbook is a Tata Nano.
The average netbook weighs around 1 kg and generally has a display screen ranging from 8 to 12 inches. The compactness and portability is attributed to the absence of an optical disc drive, which contributes to the weight and power usage of conventional laptops. The absence of these accessories is why some netbook batteries can last up to 8 hours, while most notebook batteries last only
up to 2 or 3 hours. The hardware specifi cations however, are still adequate for performing most, if not all, basic tasks that a conventional PC is used for, such as word processing, Web browsing, downloads, online streaming, audio and video playback and, to an extent, gaming. Be sure to take a careful look at the specif- cations of a netbook before you buy one, especially the processor, because no matter how much RAM it has or how spacious the hard drive, processors made for netbooks cannot handle heavy load or multiple applications at the same time.
A common misconception regarding netbooks, usually among the not-so-tech-savvy, is that it is a cheap substitute for a notebook. The original idea of the netbook was for it to fi t between a mobile
phone and a laptop. Unlike a mobile phone, a netbook has a better screen, full keyboard, Internet access and can handle applications like the Microsoft Office suite. While the compact size of a netbook is one of its USPs, it is one of its major drawbacks too. Identifying where and for how long you will most use your netbook is essential before you purchase one, because the wrong keyboard layout or screen size could turn out to be an ergonomic nightmare. Spend too much time hunched over your netbook and the tiny keyboard attached to the tiny screen will give you a sore neck or back. Buy the wrong netbook and you could end up spending more time in the chiropractor’s waiting room than at home. There is a quick fi x to this issue though, a range of accessories are available to make your netbook experience less painful. You can fi nd out more in
our Goodies for your Netbooks article in this issue. In an age reliant on computer technology, where computers have progressed from being a luxury to a necessity, netbooks have the capability to service almost every need. From traveling enthusiasts to businessmen on the move, kindergarteners to endearing grandparents and industrious students to unoccupied housewives, the netbook has something for everyone.

NETBOOKS FOR THE FAMILY

Log onto your favourite social networking site and have a look at your friends’ friend list. It is quite possible that most of them have their siblings, one or both of their parents and, in some cases, one or more of their grandparents on their lists. Such is the influence of the Internet and computers in our age. A netbook is the perfect buy for a modern family that already has a PC and can be used for various activities in and around the house.

MUSIC
Netbooks generally have fairly limited disk space so you probably won’t sync your entire music library
with your netbook. Its Wi-Fi connectivity, however, will enable you to setup a home network or stream
music from the Internet and instantly turn your netbook into a portable music player. Walk around the house, enjoy a drink in the balcony, unwind in the bathtub or run on the treadmill, wherever you go, you can take your music with you.

SECONDARY COMPUTER
If you are heavily reliant on your PC, be it for work or for recreation, and are constantly squabbling
with your family to use the computer, a netbook is all you need. You can easily make multiple profiles on your netbook to make sure nobody is messing with your data and divert your family’s attention away from your primary machine. They can check their e-mail, browse the Web, stream videos and music, and a lot more while you still keep your peace of mind and are free of distraction.

TV
Most netbooks are compatible with USB TV tuners; a variety of tuners and applications for most netbook operating systems are available for a reasonable price. This allows you to connect your netbook to your cable system and watch or record your favorite shows. Newer netbooks also come with an HDMI output, which you can connect to a spare TV or monitor and voila; no more fighting for the remote control! WI-FI ROUTER If you’re fairly tech-savvy and have more than one computer in the home, a netbook can be set-up

to act as a wireless router. A quick Google search for the procedure will give you access to links and free applications that are compatible with netbook operating systems. Using your netbook as an access point for the rest of your devices means you can connect to the network using your mobile phone, laptop and desktop without going through the trouble of changing broadband cables or having multiple Internet connections.

NETBOOKS FOR THE LEARNERS

The two biggest factors that work in favor of netbooks as far as students are concerned are their portability and low cost. Desktops are a one location computer, and notebooks are still significantly heavy and bulky. Sure, you can carry your notebook around in a carry case for a few hours, but you can’t really lug them around for extended periods of time. Netbooks are the best solution for students, be it in the classroom, dorms or your favorite café.

NOTEPAD
Schools and colleges are slowly embracing technology and realizing its worth to students, allowing them to carry cell phones and notebooks to class, use them for presentations and some institutions even have their own wireless networks. With their ease of use and extended battery life, netbooks are perfect for students to take down notes in lengthy lectures, completing assignments and setting up presentations. Buy a portable printer and scanner and you can copy, distribute and edit your notes on-the-go too.

ORGANIZER
Depending on the operating system of your netbook, it is likely that it will be equipped with Microsoft Offi ce or similar applications. A student can use these and many other applications to organize his/her study schedule, class timetable, homework, reminders, assignments and a lot more.

READER
Search Google Scholar for your text book or a research paper; browse Google Books for your favorite novels; or simply download your book of choice and use a viewer like Adobe PDF reader for studies and recreational reading on your netbook. You can even follow your friends’ blogs and catch up on current affairs on popular newspaper websites. The sky is the limit!

NETBOOKS FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE

Businessmen on the go are heavily reliant on their smart phones and PDAs for organizing their day, checking their e-mails and, of course, for their calls and messages. The most recent and most popular smart phones fi t into a price range between Rs 20,000 and Rs 35,000. Now, think about the functions the latest smart phones have to offer compared to a netbook and you’ll realize that a netbook for around Rs 18,000-20,000 is a steal. Small enough to fi t into your briefcase and of negligible weight, the netbook is a businessman’s best friend.

SYNCING
Convincing a businessperson to part with his/her smartphone is near impossible, but that doesn't mean he/she has no use for a netbook. Netbooks can come in very handy when traveling on a business trips or out for a meeting. Simply sync your phone with your netbook and transfer data from you netbook to your PC and back. Now you can conveniently transfer, backup and edit your phone data like e-mail, messages and contacts on your netbook.

E-MEETINGS
You can make a video call to China or make an ISD call to your colleague out of town from your smartphone, but the drawback is the toll it takes on your phone bill. Now imagine being able to have a video
conference online using a program like Skype free of cost while you’re on your way home from work or waiting at the airport for your delayed flight. Netbooks come equipped with a fairly basic VGA camera or
you can get yourself a higher quality external camera. Then connect to a wireless network or plug in your USB modem and you are ready to take your meetings with you, anywhere, anytime.

WORKING LATE
People usually work late because they can’t take their office computer home. With a netbook, you can carry all your data, make backups and take your work home, and if you’re really effi cient, you could get the work done while you’re on your way home in the backseat of your car. Word documents, excel sheets, presentations and e-mail can be taken care of without having to stay at work late at night.

NETBOOKS FOR WANDERERS

Who wouldn’t like to go on holiday with the satisfaction and security of knowing that they can have
backups of all their photos, read their favourite blogs and stay up-to-date with e-mail? Whether you’re traveling for work or for play, your netbook will be a permanent fi xture in your luggage.

PHOTO LIBRARY
Every traveler has to have a camera. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a social clicker, a camera is essential for any trip, and the biggest problem with cameras is memory. Usually 1 or 2 GB memory cards are not enough for a long trip , and you may not want to take the time out to delete some photos to clear up space on the card. Some netbooks come with card readers and if yours doesn’t, you can simply get yourself a multicard reader that plugs into your USB port. Backing up and transferring photos with ease means now you can take more photos of your favorite spots.

BLOGGING
If you’re the modern traveler who loves to travel light and write about his/her adventures, forget about your pen and diary; the netbook is the tool for you. Write your blog while you’re sightseeing or enjoying the scenery, or read your favorite blogs while traveling on the train, in fl ight, or by road. You can fi nd a Wi-Fi hotspot while on your travels or pick up a USB wireless modem and have unlimited access to
the Internet.

I Spy: Hidden Cameras

If you visit any IT market, you will find different kinds of spy products jostling for spacealongside other computer accessories, and they are equally popular amongst the buyers.Here’s what all the hype is about.

From a person in a black trench coat, a hat, and dark goggles hovering around furtively while smoking a pipe, to a well built, larger than life persona driving fast cars a la James Bond, the way spies have been portrayed has undergone many changes over time, as have the gadgets used by them; from magnifying glasses, binoculars, and invisible ink to futuristic gadgets that seem to achieve the impossible. There has always been a craze for such spy products; some buy them out of sheer curiosity, while others do so for practical purposes. While selling these products is not illegal, it’s up to the person buying them to decide which side of the law he or she wishes to be on. We came across a company named Globex Computer Services that has been dealing in spy products under the Krish brand name for the past five years. “We have more than 150 products in the market and they cater to various needs of the customers. These products are popular amongst people from all walks of life, be it corporates, students, detectives, security personnel, enthusiasts, etc. While we sell the products within the legal parameters, ultimately it is the responsibility of the end users to use them sensibly and not indulge in illegal activities,” says Neeta, the CEO. They import these products from China and off er a warranty ranging from six months to a year. Here we take a look at some of the popular spy products:

PEN

First up is the legendary pen camera. It boasts of a 2 megapixel sensor, and you can use it

for video recording or as a digital camera for still images. With two hours of charging, it can record video for 90 minutes at a stretch. It can also be used as a webcam. It has 4 GB of

built-in memory allowing you to also use it as a fl ash drive.

PRICE: Rs 2,350

MP3 PLAYER

The MP3 player spy camera is a rather strange combination. It functions as a normal MP3 player and when you want to, you can use it as a spy camera too. The 1.3 megapixel camera situated next to the controls can be used for recording 90 minutes worth of video at a stretch. Its 8 GB built-in memory can store plenty of music as well as your recordings, and can be transferred to your PC using the USB cable. The battery allows for up to four hours of music playback.

PRICE: Rs 2,550

TIE

Spy cameras camoufl aged in clothing are also very popular. The spy camera weaved into a tie is particularly hard to spot. The camera is a tiny speck on the surface, while its machinery is on the inside. Its 1.3 megapixel camera is ideal for video recording for up to 90 minutes. It has 4 GB of built-in memory and the data can be transferred to your PC with the help of a USB cable. You can operate the camera with the help of a tiny remote that can be kept inside your pocket.

CAP & BUTTON

Besides ties, you also get cameras that can be places in a cap or a button. The cap spy camera is again well camoufl aged and has 4 GB of built-in memory on which it stores the recorded video. The camera can be controlled with the help of the remote control and also with the help of buttons on the inside of the cap. The only downside is that you will feel the camera vibrate every time you switch it on.

PRICE: Rs 4,000

The button spy camera, on the other hand, is a neat little device that can be fi xed in the button hole of your shirt. It doesn’t come with a remote, so operating it can take some practice. This camera has a microSD card slot, allowing you to record up to 8 GB worth of video via its 2 megapixel sensor. The camera functions as both a video recorder and for still images.

PRICE: Rs 2,350

WATCH MOBILE

Lastly, there’s the three-in-one device, which incorporates a mobile phone, a spy camera and a watch. Called the Mobile Watch Phone, this cool device is a fully functional mobile phone that features a touch screen and a stylus. It comes with a 4 GB memory card that can be expanded up to 8 GB, a 1.2 megapixel camera, FM Radio, 3G capability, MEPG 4 compatible, and much more. You will have to use the speakers during phone calls, so it may not be the best idea to use it in public. It is quite cheap in comparison to similar devices from other brands.

PRICE: Rs 9,000

REAR VIEW GLASSES

Another interesting product we came across were the Rear View Glares. They look like your ordinary sunglasses, but when you wear them and look through the edges, you can actually see behind you. It’s a simple mirror coating that has been used, but it works eff ectively.
PRICE: Rs 700

E-Readers: Turning a Digital Page

While the purist may frown upon the idea of reading digital books, digital reading does have many advantages and e-book readers are now slowly gaining popularity.

Flipping through the pages, the smell of ink, the feel of the paper, the fonts, the style, layout, the colors, and the cover all add to the reading experience. However, these days instead of pouring over big tomes, you will find people peering over their e-book readers or smartphones. In the digital age, laying your hands on the latest bestseller will take a whole new meaning. It would mean simply downloading the book from Amazon or another digital distribution service, rather than going to the bookstore to get your copy. Digitized books have revolutionalised the way we read. However, this is not a recent phenomenon. The journey of digitized books or e-books began in 1971 with the launch of Project Gutenberg, which was an eff ort to digitize and archive cultural works. It’s the oldest digital library and has well over 34,000 titles available for free. The fi rst e-book reader was launched in 1998. The intelligent reading system, SoftBook, was developed by SoftBook Press Inc in the US. Even though the e-book readers have been around for a long time, they gained popularity only recently with the launch of Amazon’s Kindle. Prior to that, e-book readers were limited to a niche and did not gain much popularity mainly due to lack of content. Another factor that has fueled the popularity is the growing number of smartphones. These phones come equipped with PDF readers, which is also a popular format for e-books. This has resulted in an increase in the number books, newspapers, and magazines being adapted for e-book readers and smartphones. E-readers take reading to a whole new level by allowing you to customize font size, brightness, contrast, etc. for ease of reading. You can even look up meanings of words, search for text throughout the book, highlight text, add notes, and much more. Some e-readers also have a text to speech feature, which can be an added advantage. Additionally, most e-readers are Wi-Fi enabled so you can even browse the Internet, watch videos, and play music on them.

E-Ink or LCD Screen?

There are two categories of e-readers available in the market; one uses e-ink technology, while the other uses an LCD display. An e-reader that makes use of e-ink or electronic ink technology, which gives the impression of a real paper thanks to its 16-level grayscale. Also referred to as electronic paper display, it consumes far lesser power compared to an LCD display. Another advantage is the fact that it doesn't have a backlight and so it doesn't emit a glare. As a result, you can comfortably read outdoors even in bright sunlight. However, the fact that it does not have a backlight makes it a bit diffi cult to read in low light, but this can be resolved by using a clip-on light. The biggest disadvantage of e-ink is that it is only available in grayscale. This works fi ne for novels, but when it comes to newspapers, magazines or even books for children, it could spoil the fun. The makers of e-ink have launched its e-ink color screen Triton, but it remains to be seen how soon it will be adapted. On the other hand, devices like the Apple iPad or the Nook Color from Barnes & Noble use the LCD technology to provide a color display, but the LCD screen gives out a lot of glare. They use refl ective screens, almost turning the surface into a mirror and making it impossible to read outdoors. Available Content Internationally, almost all major newspapers and magazines are already available for e-readers on a subscription basis. Recently Richard Branson of the Virgin Group launched a fi rst-of-its-kind iPad-only magazine, Project. If reports are to be believed, media magnate Rupert Murdoch is also set to launch an iPad newspaper called The Daily. Further fueling this fi re is the announcement from search giant Google that it will

introduce Google Editions by year-end, which will allow users to buy e-books, store them online and then read them from any computing device with an Internet connection. Finding content for your e-reader shouldn’t be a problem. For Kindle, you can source content from Amazon’s extensive collection. You can easily order

e-books from around the world through Amazon’s Wishpernet. You can even read the e-books purchased from Amazon on your iPad with the help of the Kindle app. These e-readers support the PDF format so you can even directly upload PDF’s that you have downloaded online from various sources. From the Indian perspective, there is still a long way to go when it comes to local content in digital form. As of now, publications like Tehelka, Seminar, India Today, Business Today and newspapers like Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Mint, and The Financial Express are available for e-readers. Apart from that, Indian manufacturers who have launched e-readers have strategic tieups with major publishers and off er good discounts on newly published novels. Another major plus point is that they even support local Indian languages. Wink, one such Indian e-reader from EC Media, currently supports as many as fi ve local languages. “We plan to have 15 languages. As of now, Wink supports Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Marathi. Our content spans various subjects and genres and from all leading publishers, Indian as well as international. The content is being constantly updated by signing up with publishers, and we propose to add

about 5,000 books a quarter starting January 2011,” says Sirisha Voruganti, Vice President of Operations, EC Media International. On the other hand, the Pi e-reader from Infi beam came up with interesting features like self-publishing tools. Vishal Mehta, Founder and CEO of Infi beam. com says, “Infi beam.com has a selection of more than 5 lakh e-books from major publishers and authors, which can be read directly on our e-book reader Infi beam Pi. In addition, there is a selection of more than 1 crore e-books that can be read directly on Infi beam Pi for free since their copyrights have expired. Finally, we have our own digital publishing platform Indigi, where authors and publishers can provide digital versions of their books to be rights managed directly on any device, including Infi beam Pi, PCs and mobile phones. We have more than 2,000 authors and publishers in India who have submitted digital copies of their books, where physical versions are not available in any stores. These are exclusively available on Infi beam.com.”

Future of e-readers 

The trend of e-readers has been slow to catch on. People are slowly getting used to reading books and even newspapers online or on a smartphone, so buying a dedicated device for it isn’t too farfetched.

Bibliophiles may detest the idea e-readers as, for one, they don’t provide you with a sense of ownership. It’s not like owning an actual book, which you cherish and can go back to reading when you feel like. Still, e-readers are slowly gaining popularity, especially amongst the newer generation that is adept at handling gadgets. With parents agonizing over the fact that the younger generation shies away from reading books, an

e-reader can be the perfect solution. “The future looks good”, says Sirisha Voruganti, adding, “We believe e-reading will pickup. I see corporations, including IT companies, schools and colleges, as well as the hospitality and airline industries keen on this for e-reading and e-learning. Also, the publishing industry incurs huge costs in preserving older books. E-reading overcomes all this. In addition, it also has a very strong ‘go green’ message.” According to Infi beam’s Vishal Mehta, it’s a win-win situation for all. “For customers, e-books are very convenient as one can download and start reading the book, newspaper or magazine instantaneously. With the e-ink screen, which is available on Infi beam Pi, one can get a reading experience similar to paper. For publishers, it is a superb solution as books never go out of stock. E-books provide superior value for customers, authors, publishers and retailers, so it is here to stay.”

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