Buying Microsoft Office 365 with a product key or subscription

A few years ago, most of the people I knew who were using Microsoft Office products extensively saw the writing on the wall. Microsoft was going towards a subscription model and not a software purchase package. Well, that happened last year with the introduction of Office 365. Now you can buy the software with a subscription of $99 or a product key of $79. There are different offerings for prices and packages, based on what you need and how many devices. The good thing about this is that it eliminates that annoying authorization screen that sometimes popped up. But now users have to subscribe or purchase the product key yearly. And for people like me who are always ready for the next incarnation of a software product, it saves some money. With that money I am able to download Microsoft Office onto up to 5 devices. And, if I have a crash or need to re-install, I can do so online. This saves me having to look for the CD (which was always somewhere inconvenient) and/or the installation key (that I tried to write on the CD in permanent marker but didn't always). And if you remember how much Microsoft Office products cost in the past, it was a pretty penny. My school computer had it installed when I got it but I have other devices I wanted to use Office on. There is always a version for students and teachers but it does not include everything that I want and it is still around $100 for just one machine. The subscription program (and product key) includes all undates and SkyDive (Microsoft's version of the Cloud storage) for up to 20GB. So this new system is actually cheaper in the long run for me. But you need to look at the different variations of Microsoft Office 365 that you might use, what programs and how many devices. One size does not fit all. There is also the free alternative of using OpenOffice (found at OpenOffice.org). It is a free version that you can download from the Internet. It is a really good program for the price (again, free) and it is compatible with MS Office. I have found it to be glitchy at times though. I appreciate that it is open source software that anyone can use and tweak, if they want. But I am a dyed-in-the-wool Microsoft person. (Yes, yes. Apple people I hear you saying that iWork is great and people who have Apple think that the sun rises and sets with Keynote and it IS pretty good.) But the world out there is based on Microsoft Office (for now) and until than changes, I am going to give the new subscription program a 4 out of 5 for downloadability and multi-device use.

Jabra Solemate Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is great for small groups

I have several different portable speakers that I use for my laptop or my cellphone when I am listening to music or audio books. My favorite is the Jabra Solemate. It is a bluetooth so it doesn't need those pesky audio cables. It comes with a nice carry bag and is small enough to stuff in your computer bag. It also has a plastic box that you can use to store the speaker and it USB charger cable when the speaker is not in use. It has a serrated rubber base to allow the full range of sound to escape the speaker while preventing the speaker from sliding around on a slick surface. It is solidly made but is heavier than other speakers I have seen that are comparable. This speaker can be used with any bluetooth device. The sound is rich and clear, surprisingly so for a single speaker. But it will not get very loud. If you want to use it in a classroom don't use it with a group of more than 15 in a room because the extra bodies will absorb the sound and make it harder to hear. Another problem is that the speaker may not always connect with the bluetooth and you may have to turn off the speaker and turn it on again to reconnect. My favorite part of this speaker is the simplicity of buttons. When I want to connect, I simply hold the center button on top of the speaker down for a second or two and the speaker will turn on with a booming, male voice. The same voice will also help you set up to a bluetooth device. If you are on the go and want a nice speaker that is perfect for small group presentations or want something a little louder at the beach, this is a great speaker. It is not a replacement for a good set of speakers that would be loud enough for a classroom filled with students. I have not found a bluetooth set of speakers that are adequate for that purpose yet. But I am still looking.

Hey, Apple! How about a Windows and Android compatible version of Facetime?

If you have an Apple iPad you have FaceTime on your device. It is a great app and much improved over the more widely used Skype or the less well-known Oovoo. All are applications allow the user to chat with someone else face to face. The resolution of FaceTime is clearer and there is less of a time lag than experienced on Skype. I sometimes feel like I am watching one of those martial arts movies that is poorly dubbed into English. Skype works on any platform and is fine for what it does and I have used it many times with my students at night for review sessions. Oovoo is along the same lines. But, once you try FaceTime you will see it is a better product. Here is the problem...FaceTime only works on Apple devices. So if you want to talk to someone on another type of device you are out in the cold. So my plea is to Apple to start thinking about the Android and Windows users out there who could use and enjoy FaceTime. I know that Apple's policy is to be stingy with its hardware and software but it has made exceptions in the past, iTunes is downloadable onto almost any device and any platform. Maybe Apple has not done this with FaceTime because the Apple big guns don't see the opportunity to make any money. But, hey Apple, it would be a great PR move and I am sure there is some way you could figure out how to squeeze some money out of the project. Give us an alternative to Skype that is easy to use and a clear improvement.

Why I love Amazon.com

I know that Amazon is having a slight problem with several publishers who want people to buy from their sites and won't allow Amazon to lower their prices for the Kindle edition. I side with Amazon! First of all, Kindle books are great! They are cheaper (sometimes a little and sometimes a lot) and you can use the Kindle app on just about anything. Some of their older Kindle books are even free. I understand that publishers need to make money but Amazon is so widely available and used that why would you want to use anything else, especially a site is trying to provide cheaper books for people? So many people have stopped really reading anything other than Twitter or their text messages that using Kindles and ereaders are a good thing. I have also been an Amazon fan going back years now. I can find and buy almost anything for almost always the lowest price. It's hard get the latest and greatest tech on a teacher's salary so I scour the Internet for deals. I almost always come back to Amazon. I also love the fact that I can view all my purchases going back years. In fact, if I am looking at an item, Amazon will even let me know when I purchased that item. One last reason that I stand behind Amazon is their customer service. They have always responded to my emails within a 24 hour period with a courteous and helpful response. I have seldom had any problems returning items and when I have, usually third-party vendors, Amazon has always made it right. So I am sorry publishers and authors who are being hurt by this price war but I have to stick with a proven and reliable "friend." I know, I know, competition is a good thing. But, ultimately, it is what is best for the customer that counts. As teachers, we have to encourage anything that makes people read more and cheaper Kindle books do that.

Review of the Asus Transformer TF300

I use tablets a lot. It's all about the weight. I have full-size computers but they get heavy when I have to carry them around during school for meetings or after school going from place to place, even the smaller laptops. Tablets are much lighter and so easy to use with your finger (I can never find a stylus when I want to use one and even then they are not all that much better, in my opinion.) I have an iPad that I love (the newest version with the high res display) but I sometimes need an Android for certain apps that I use. So I looked for an inexpensive Droid tablet and settled on the Asus Transformer TF300. It is around $300 (or under in some places) for a 32GB machine. I also got a package deal so that the detachable keyboard came with it for a total price of a little over $300. The keyboard separately is about $120 and comes in several colors so I saved a little money by bundling. If you are used to a laptop, the Asus Transformer will be a little slower. But, if you are used to an Android phone it will be easy to adjust to the tablet. It comes with several nice programs that most Android tablets have such as Polaris (I never liked this program and always go with another program called Office 2012 that I purchased through the Google Play app) that is a scaled down word processor, presentation program and a basic spreadsheet program. The settings are easy to get to in the app folder and most of the other software you will recognize from your Android phone. The apps that you have on your phone will work nicely on the Asus tablet. The tablet easily clicks into the keyboard and there is a sliding button on the keyboard to detach. The keyboard feels great to use and the best thing is that you can charge from the tablet separately from a bottom port on the tablet or you can charge while the keyboard is connected from a port on the side of the keyboard (the tablet port is covered when connected to the keyboard). There is also a mini-USB port on the Asus Transformer so that you can purchase an adapter and use the Asus with a projector. When I connected mine to a projector, it showed up on the screen right away. The adapter will run around $20. I have tried several other tablets (refer to my earlier review of the Google Chromebooks and the new Surface Pro 3) but this is a really good tablet for the money and the keyboard is first-class. You get the versatility of using it as a laptop or a tablet. I think it is a 4 out of 5.

Kensington wireless remote for presentations in class

It's a typical day in class. You are showing a presentation using your computer to begin a topic with students. Or maybe your students are doing the presentations. Either way, without some type of remote you are stuck by the computer to change the slides. But, as a teacher, you need to move around the classroom to be aware of what is going on and to make students aware that you know what is going on. You need a remote for the computer and it needs to be durable and reliable. Enter the Kensington Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer. I have been using mine for several months now and it has stood the test of time. The kids also like to use it. The dongle connects to a USB port and Windows already has the software driver so it only takes a few seconds for the computer to recognize it. It has only 4 buttons - forward, backward, stop and one for the laser pointer. It's simple, easy to hold because of the shape and it is sturdy. I have dropped mine several times and there is not even a mark. I am not recommending you play hockey with it but, it should stand up to normal wear and tear. The USB dongle stores conveniently in the body of the presenter. My only complaint is that the laser pointer is not as bright as others I have tried. But it can be seen on the screen and a whiteboard would show it even brighter. The pointer uses AAA batteries so you don't have to worry about recharging it or throwing it away if the rechargeable battery goes bad. I find it a good idea to always have a supply of AA and AAA batteries in my desk. (But don't make it public knowledge because everyone will be coming to you for batteries.) The price for the Kensington is at the lower end of the field for presenters. Some can go as high $80 and others are as low as $10. The Kensington Wireless Presenter is $24. It is a good price for what you get and the more expensive presenter tools don't seem to me to be worth the additional money, at least on a teacher's salary.

Logitech Tablet Speaker is great for laptops too.

Let's face it. Most laptops don't have the best speaker system, especially the more budget oriented items. I think that computer manufacturers assume that you will be using headphones anyway most of the time. I don't find earphones all that comfortable and prefer to use the speaker system but some laptops have mediocre speakers and need something with more volume and/or quality sound. You might want a speaker for a smaller room or a small group presentation. You don't want to pull the big guns out with all the wires and such. So here is a great speaker for you to use that is really reasonable in price. It is the Logitech Tablet Speaker that is around $25 to $30. It is so convenient because of it's size and shape and it's small so it easily can fit in a travel bag (dimensions are around 6"x9"x2"). When in use it clips to the back of a laptop or tablet so it is out of the way. The sound is clear and full-ranging (for a speaker that size). The older model required a USB port so it couldn't be used in an iPad. The newer model has just an audio cable to plug into the headphone port on the tablet or laptop and a chargeable battery. Since it so easily connects to the source, there is no need to have a bluetooth connection. And, because it is not bluetooth, it is cheaper. Bottom line is it is cheap, great for use in smaller groups or by yourself.

Why are teachers still using TV's in the classroom?

As I was writing my post from yesterday on Roku boxes, it occurred to me that there are teachers still showing movies and such on televisions. TV's had their place long ago. But even with the larger screen televisions that are out there today (and most are not built to meet the demands of a classroom-just look at your flat screen at home) I don't understand why teachers are still using them if a computer and projector are available. A typical classroom has anywhere from 25 to 32 students in it. Unless you are using a 60" screen, the kids are not going to be able to see it. And, let's face it, most sound systems on televisions leave a lot to be desired. Why do you think there are so many sound systems for television viewing out there. So you have 30 kids in a room watching a TV of questionable size, straining to hear what is being said. Let's maximize the viewing experience for the students. You will need 5 things. 1) a big screen for your room. Go with one that is 100" by 100". Sounds big, I know. And it will be when you get it installed. They won't be much more expensive than smaller screens. Do you have a whiteboard or smartboard in your room? Then use that if it's big enough. 2) a computer that you can stream the videos from the Internet. 3) a projector that you can connect to your computer using an VGA cable (you should have received one with your projector). 4) some really good computer speakers that have a nice base sound and can project sounds well all over your room. 5) an audio cable to plug into your computer and your speakers (some speakers already have one connected to them so you don't need to buy). If you want to be able to use your projector to watch DVD's and VCR tapes from a machine, you can also get an adapter/splitter to go onto audio cables on your DVD/VCR in order to plug the single audio cable into the back of the two audio plugs on your DVD/VCR. The best place to go for cheap cables (again, in my experience only) is Cyberguys.com. They have lots of cables and the prices are reasonable. Make sure you get the right adapter, either an female or male connector. Check your DVD/VCR machine and the audio cables you have before buying. There is one drawback to this. Many of the projectors that are in classrooms right now do not have high definition and the lumens (strength of the light) are not very bright. So you will have to close those drapes and block out most exterior light because the picture will fade out. You can turn the brightness all the way up but that may or may not help. As teachers we know that we have so much to compete with to get kids' attention. This is one more weapon that we might be able to make use of.

Roku and save money!

Are you still paying high prices for cable or satellite? The wave of the future is TV and movies when the viewer wants, not when they are scheduled. You can easily pay up to $100 and more for the usual channels plus HBO, Showtime, etc. I have a friend who could take 10 minutes just to go through all the channels on their TV. I love to watch TV as much as anyone but I gave up trying to get home when I wanted to watch a certain show. And I don't want to pay for the extra fee to use a DVR or get high def TV. No, I don't get high definition TV. I don't think there is anything worth the bother on TV right now to warrant it. High def doesn't make the shows any better, most of them are still crap. But, I digress. But you have an Internet connection. So use it, while you can (the talk about extra fees and graduated pricing will be the topic of another post sometime)and get a box to stream video to your TV. All you need is a TV with an HDMI connection. Get a cheap HDMI cable (the higher priced ones are no better than the cheaper ones) and buy a box such as Roku or Apple TV. Then get your basic program package through your cable/satellite company and you can use your Internet connection to watch shows when you want. You can also use pay services through your cable/satellite to watch recently released movies. You can buy movies in standard definition or high definition, if so inclined. God knows, I couldn't tell the difference when I bought high def from the standard. The price is usually $1 more for high def. Get a subscription to Hulu, Hulu Plus (for a fee), get an iTunes or Amazon.com account and go to town. You can watch when you get home from work or save up for the weekend. There are plenty of additional channels you can watch and subscribe to...and the price will never add up to your old cable/satellite bill. There are several ways to do all of this out there. The most common right now are the Roku boxes that cost anywhere from $50 to $80. They are easy to connect and give you a variety of channels to choose from. However, iTunes users will be left out in the cold. For Apple people, there is Apple TV at around $100. There is also a Google Chromecast dongle that you can plug into a USB port for the same purpose at $35 but the selections are slightly more limited, from what I have seen. (I haven't really played around with one much so take what I said about the Chromecast with a grain of salt.) There are other various devices available. Do your research before you consider which one to buy. (Good advice for any purchase.) The benefit for teachers is that, once you have these programs available on the Internet you can use them in your classroom and they don't cost anything. Of course, that will depend on how fast an Internet connection you have in your classroom. And you will want to check with your IT people. But you can use your computer and a projector to show those shows and movies in your classroom, with the addition of some good speakers. The future of TV is flexibility of programming based on consumer schedules, not the other way around. A Roku or Apple TV device can make that happen at a very inexpensive price.

Tablets are NOT a replacement for a full-scale computer!

Tablets are NOT a replacement for laptops or desktop computers. So many of my students and others are talking about getting this tablet or that tablet or some type of netbook device like the Chromebooks. Those devices are great and have their place. But you, as a buyer, need to know what you will be using the device for and buy appropriately. I always have to warn my students who are graduating and going on to college that they need to be thinking of a device that will fulfill all their needs in school. If all you plan to do is surf, type papers and email - great! Get a tablet or Chromebook, by all means. However, there are many uses students do not foresee themselves doing. Watching videos, making videos, Skyping, doing multi-media presentations...Can you do them on tablets and netbooks? Yes. Will you go crazy trying to do them on tablets and netbooks? Probably. When you are looking for an all-purpose device that will do not only what you want to do now, but will be able to expand with your needs and skills---get a full computer! Otherwise, you will rue (love that word) the day that you chose something less. And these days, most computers are just a cheap, if not cheaper, than the fancy-shmancy tablets. Do you want a device to last you as long as possible? Here is my advice that I share with anyone who will listen... Get the most memory you can (RAM) for that device. If it only has 4GB of RAM, maybe you can purchase additional RAM from Crucial.com or someplace else for much cheaper than adding it through the place you are buying the device (if you are comfortable doing that kind of thing). But get as much as you can, max that baby out in RAM. And, as for storage, get a much as you can. I know, I know. You can plug in a flash drive, an external hard drive, upload to the cloud, etc. But, let's say you are somewhere with no Internet (God, forbid!) or it is a really slow connection. You can't access your files unless you have your external drive. But, worse yet, if you want to run a program you need to load that program (most of them anyway) into the operating system to work. You can't run most programs from a flash drive or external drive. Get as much internal storage on your hard drive as possible. I know a lot of tech people love the solid state drives because there are no moving parts like the old hard drives and the solid states are faster. But I need storage space. I always want to have enough so that I don't get to a point where I can't run something. Also, keep in mind, that programmers are always writing software that demands more storage, more memory and more power from your computer (yes, computer, not tablet). So you want a computer that will last because it can keep up with the demands of the newer software. Plan for what has not even been thought of yet. Get as much RAM and hard drive storage as you can. But, back to my original point...A tablet is NOT a computer. So, if you don't have the money to burn on both a computer and a tablet type device, get a computer with enough RAM (my opinion, 6GB minimum, no less) and at least 750GB of hard drive. Again, this is my opinion only. There is one exception to this tablet/computer thing. I bought the original Surface Pro. I loved it and can't wait to see the new Pro 3 with a bigger screen, better resolution, etc. A Surface Pro really is a computer. I can do most things I want to with it but still turn to my ASUS 17" at home for the heavy duty stuff. (Don't let anyone tell you a 17" laptop is a portable, I have the bad back to prove it.) So, make your choice wisely. The iPad and Samsung Galaxy tablets, etc. are great. You can see my earlier post about the Chromebooks. But tablets are NOT computers and cannot be expected to replace computers. Email, surf, play Angry Birds, whatever. But get yourself a durable, all-purpose computer. At least, that's what I think and that's what I tell my students.

Review of Chrome netbook

I have a couple of students who are using Chromebooks. In fact, one of them tried to use it for her final exam essay. So I tried one out to see how it stacked up. So... First is construction. It's not as solid as most other comparable netbooks and tablets. I have heard the same complaint about the iPad Air but I have not worked with one yet. The case for the Chromebook that my students have are flimsy and the one I worked with was also the same thing. I know, I know. What do you want for $200-250. But after investing that much in a gadget, the consumer should be able to feel the money was well spent. What about software? The Chromebook comes with a word processor, presentation program and a spreadsheet program. They are simple enough but very basic. You can use Microsoft Word online or download the Word app but, if you are used to using more complex commands, you will be disappointed. I didn't like the word processor. The presenter and spreadsheet programs were okay but I use a lot of the formatting tools in Word so I really felt the lack. As far as other software - not much else on the device out of the box. But this is a netbook that is pretty simple to use and, if you have used an Android device, you will have little problems adjusting. My biggest problem is with the lack of printing options. You have to go through Google on the Internet to print. Trying to connect a "classic printer," as it is called in the Chromebook, is a cycle of frustration and confusion. I never was able to do it. My printer in the classroom is not on the Internet. (Who wants everybody else in the building connecting to and using my printer?)So I could not print in my classroom. I finally gave up and used another computer to print. I have a relatively fast connection in my home (up to 50 mbps)and it is pretty fast during the peak hours of use. In the early morning and late evening, it is blazing. In my school we have a two T1 connections. So the speed is good, even with all the students on their laptops. The biggest problem is for people who don't always have access to the Internet. This netbook needs the Internet to work. I know many, if not most people, have Internet in their home or place of work. But not everyone. So that is a big factor to keep in mind. The Chromebook I used was not mine, fortunately. My school let me try one out. I would never consider buying one for several reasons. First, poor construction. Second, the software is too basic for my use. Third, this is a netbook, which means it is for light computer users - email and surfing the Web and some basic software use. I am on the computer a lot and this type of device is not for power users. It is a scaled-down tablet. I have a Galaxy Tab 3 7" and would probably use it for anything I might consider a Chromebook for. Lastly, this is NOT a computer replacement. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can get this for a student and it will fulfill all their needs. It won't. A Chromebook has very limited use. I give the Chromebook a 2 out of 5 for limited use and construction as well as the printing issue. I like the idea that is behind the Chromebook but the execution is lacking.

Reviewing the Martian G2G Smartwatch

REVIEW OF MARTIAN G2G SMARTWATCH I just got the Martian G2G smartwatch last week. I had tried the Sony Smartwatch SW2 and didn't like it. I felt that the idea was good but the apps to support it were lagging behind. Also, it had no speaker to answer and make calls from the watch. So, after a few months of looking and thinking, I tried the Martian G2G. The company has other three styles of watches with different colors. The G2G has a rubber band and an aluminum body. There are four tiny screws to open the plastic back. The more expensive models from the company are steel cases and have leather bands. So the G2g was about $40-50 less than the other models. It also comes in several bright pastel colors. I got the bright green and, since the band size is a standard 22mm, I ordered a white leather band to put on it. I don't know a lot about the company. I know it started on Kickstarter but that is all. I like the styling and the fact that the watch itself is not a digital display. I don't have to push a button to see the time. So it is the best of old and new. There is a great feature that lets the watch read your text messages to you. I don't have my watch alert me to email. I get too many and my watch would be vibrating all the time, driving me nuts. Yes, the watch does have a speaker and the volume is pretty good. My dad is hard of hearing and I often have to talk loudly to make him here me with my phone. Interestingly, it is slightly better when I speak into the watch microphone. I have to put the speaker next to my ear to hear really well but I would not want it too loud anyway. The great thing for me, as a teacher, is that my phone will not go off when it is connected through Bluetooth to the Martian G2G. My watch will vibrate and I can push a button to accept the call or push another to dismiss the call. So, you will not have your phone interrupt classes and you won't have to worry about turning your phone to mute or vibrate. (I have a Samsung Android phone, if you are wondering.)If you don't have a hands-free phone in your car, the one push button is also handy and you can keep driving and not worry about looking for the phone. The watch is comfortable and, even though it is kind of big, it is not too big for a woman's wrist. It is also fashionable enough not to look like a woman is wearing a man's watch. The band that comes with the watch has plenty of holes to adjust to a person's wrist from larger to really small wrists. Another nice thing is the "leash" feature. Your phone will vibrate when you get about 10 to 15 feet away from your phone. (This depends on the material separating you and your phone, like concrete walls.) The LED screen will scroll a message letting you know it has lost connection with your phone. It will then vibrate to let you know that the connection has been re-established. Ever lose your phone? I will sometimes forget where I put it when I need to make a call. This watch lets you push a button to "find phone." The phone will make a series of musical tones until you locate it. Of course, you need to be in range to do this. I reverse, you can use the Martian app (download from the Google store)and you can use your phone to find your watch. The battery has to be charged every couple of days, depending on your use. It uses a standard mini-USB connection to plug into the side of the phone. So this is not a big deal for me. I have the same connector for my phone so I have plenty of them on hand. The Martian does come with a USB cable and an AC adapter. The Martian G2G is in the middle range of smartwatch prices. The Sony SW2 is around $150. The Martian G2G is $250 and the more expensive Martian models are $299. So it is a little more money but I think it is worth the styling, the added features and the ease of use. Overall, I like the watch and am happy with it. I do sometimes have to play with reconnecting the watch when I turn it on in the morning since I don't want it to go off in the night. Most of the time it connects easily. So I give this Martian G2G a 4 out of 5 for it's flexibility, style, ease of use and practicality.