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 So it has been a couple of days since I picked up my new iPad and I wanted to give you some initial thoughts and impressions. This may not be comprehensive review, but I can tell you what I think so far.
Out of the Box:
When I pulled my shinny new iPad out of the box my first thought was that it felt like one giant piece of glass. The iPad was heavier than expected, which I know makes me sound like a weakling considering it’s only 1.5 pounds.
The iPad felt very solid and a sturdy build quality. The giant glass screen worries me in the event of a drop, although the iPhone has taken a fair share of drops and survived. The back plate of the iPad is beautiful, like the top of my MacBook Pro lid, but I worry that it could be prone to scratches when you set it on a surface, especially considering the curved back. But the iPad was very comfortable to hold with two hands.
The packaging is well done in typical Apple fashion and includes the obligatory Apple stickers, USB cable AC adapter. It’s important to know the iPad has higher than usual charging needs so you’ll need to use the included adapter, or expect the iPad to charge slowly, or only when asleep when plugged into lower powered adapters or USB hubs. Apple says the fastest and best way to charge the iPad is with the included adapter.
The iPad comes out of the box setup for only about 1/2 brightness and I’ve never found the need to turn it up any brighter. The screen is absolutely gorgeous although it is very pone to fingerprints and smudges. It’s easy to wipe off with a cloth and not noticeable while the device is in use, but turn the iPad off and you’ll be shocked at the number of smudges.
Click to continue reading: Katie’s iPad Review
 After a long hiatus, Quicken has finally released a new personal finance product for the Mac. Initial reviews of the product have been very mixed. Some people love the new user interface and usability, but others hate that the product because it is missing many key features from prior releases. I’ve been using the product for several weeks and although I have some gripes, my overall impression has been positive.
Before this review can be of any use to you, I must explain how I manage my finances on the Mac. The reason this is important is because I am not a personal finance “power user.” Quicken Essentials is just that, the bare essentials. So while this product works for me, it will be a disaster for others. It’s important that you judge your own needs and expectations of this product to see if it’s the right fit.
Click to continue reading: Review: Quicken Essentials for Mac
 In my last post, I looked at pay as you go broadband options and decided that for my needs, the Virgin Mobile Broadband to go solution was the best value. I wanted to give you an update on my experiences and why I ultimately decided to return the device. Click to continue reading: Review: Virgin Mobile Broadband To Go
Note: The following text was dictated using MacSpeech Dictate version 1.2. This is intend to be a “first glimpse” of the product and not a comprehensive review. The following was dictated in my first use of the program with less than 10 minutes of training. Please keep this in mind when reading the following review:
 When I went to MacWorld 2008, the talk of the show was MacSpeech Dictate. As I’ve discussed on the show in the past, I tend to have some problems with carpal tunnel syndrome and have tried dictation programs in the past. Granted, I haven’t tried dictation program in the last several years, but I’ve always been disappointed with the results. When MacSpeech was released, I had high hopes that it might finally be the solution I was looking for. However, as someone who can type upwards of 80 words a minute, I was skeptical. In most cases, I could type a lot faster, and with a lot less frustration, then these dictation programs. That is why was so excited to have an opportunity to demo MacSpeech.
This review that you are reading was created with MacSpeech after no more than 10 minutes of training. As such, this is intended to be a preliminary review. Expect a much more comprehensive review in the coming weeks. However, for this culinary review, I have intentionally not corrected any mistakes made by the MacSpeech Dictate software. Though as you can see so far, it is surprisingly accurate.
The retail boxed version of MacSpeech includes a USB headset, quick start guide, an application disk, and a data disk. Installation took less than 20 minutes, and with another 10 minutes of training, I was able to dictate the short review.
I was also able to use the program to perform simple tasks. This includes opening Microsoft Word, and using commands such as select all copy, and paste.
In the less than 30 minutes and I’ve been playing with MacSpeech Dictate, I’m already finding it light years ahead of other programs I’ve used in the past. I have no doubt, the more that I use the program, and become familiar with all of its features, but I will find even more accurate and useful. Of course, as is usual, I have not read the instruction manual. Although, with the program as complex as MacSpeech Dictate, I’m sure that would probably be a good idea.
This includes mine “mini review” of MacSpeech Dictate. Again, this review was written entirely with MacSpeech Dictate after approximately only 10 minutes of training. I have not made any edits or corrections to the Texan MacSpeech transcribed. Which probably explains why the word “Texan” Was Used Instead of Text Just Now. I Look Forward to Working More with MacSpeech Dictate in the Future, And Look Forward to Providing You with More Comprehensive Review Soon.
Price As Reviewed $69.96
I love my 3G iPhone, but by far my biggest complaint is the lack of battery life. You see, I rarely actually use my iPhone just to make phone calls. Normally I’m surfing the web, checking my email, updating twitter, or any number of other tasks. Unfortunately, all this web surfing, email checking and music playing eats battery life. In an attempt to resolve this issue, I’ve ended up buying a slew of iPhone chargers over the last few months. I’ve got one in my bedroom, one in my home office, one downstairs in my living room, one on my desk at work and one in my car. I’ve probably spent a small fortune on iPhone chargers and somehow I still seem to constantly be running out of juice when a charger is nowhere to be found. A portable battery pack for the iPhone seemed to be my only solution.
The Richard Solo 1800 is a rectangular battery pack slightly smaller and lighter than the iPhone. It uses the standard Apple 30-pin dock connector to connect to the bottom of the iPhone. At first I was skeptical about the shape and design and how I would use my iPhone with the Richard Solo attached. However, after a few weeks of use I find that I very seldom am actually using my iPhone with the battery attached and when I do it’s not as cumbersome as I initially thought it would be. Plus, if your iPhone is dead and you NEED to make a call or if you’re watching a movie on an airplane, you really don’t care that there’s a battery sticking out of the bottom.
My favorite feature of the Richard Solo is that unlike many other battery packs, it charges the iPhone’s internal battery rather than simply powering the iPhone. This means you can connect the Richard Solo to your iPhone and disconnect it once you have the desired level of charge. While some people may prefer the “slide-in charger” design, I personally find the flexibility of the Richard Solo to be a greater asset. In addition to charging both the original and 3G iPhones, the Richard Solo will also charge just about any iPod. The form factor is fairly small in that it will unobtrusively fit in your pocket or can easily be stored in your purse, laptop bag, or glove compartment.
The Richard Solo has an 1800mAh polymerized lithium-ion battery which will completely recharge a drained iPhone to full capacity and still with charge to spare. Your actual usage time will vary depending on your activity but you should be able to more than double your iPhone battery life when used with the Richard Solo. In my real-world use I find that it’s more than adequate for a day out with moderate to heavy iPhone use. The battery itself will typically charge in about 5 hours or you can “dual charge” both the battery and the iPhone at the same time although this will take longer. Either way, if you plug in your Richard Solo and your iPhone at night, you should be able to fully charge both units and be ready to go by morning.
At $69.99 the Richard Solo 1800 is a great value because not only do you get the battery, you also get an AC wall charger, retractable USB cable and dual port car USB car charger. As someone who has bought a bunch of iPhone chargers I know how expensive they can be and the fact that the Richard Solo offers all these items in one package means you have less chargers to carry when on the road. In fact, I recently traveled home to spend a week with my family at Christmas and was horrified to find out that I forgot to pack my iPhone charger and was already contemplating either stealing my little brother’s iPod charger or running down to Best Buy to get a replacement. I remembered I had the Richard Solo in my travel bag and my problem was solved as I was able to keep both the Richard Solo and my iPhone charged.
The Richard Solo 1800 also includes an LED flashlight and laser pointer. My first impression was that these were gimmicky add-ons and that I would have rather used the space for either more battery capacity or to make the Richard Solo smaller. But, I admit I have used both the laser pointer and the flashlight a time or two while searching for lost keys in my laptop bag or giving a presentation.
All in all, the Richard Solo 1800 has been a great addition to my iPhone and has managed to keep me fully charged no matter where I am. The battery backup is less expensive than many of the alternatives and the wall and car chargers that will also charge your iPhone and other devices adds a lot of value to the package.
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