tek gadgets

grab-and-go gadgets

Simple, powerful and cost effective

Google Samsung Chromebook

Google Chromebooks are not available in this country, but I managed to arrange a loan through Google Canada, and I am glad I did: Chromebooks represent a useful alternative to traditional notebooks.

Chromebooks run Chrome OS, which is to say they are basically Web browsers with a notebook attached. Owners can surf the Web (YouTube, Facebook, online banking), check e-mail, and create documents, spreadsheets and presentations (through Google Drive, formerly called Docs), but they cannot run traditional programs such as Office, Photoshop or iTunes. This means a Chromebook will not be your primary computer. But Samsung’s model makes an excellent second computer: it is small (11.6-inch screen), light and it boots up fast; the battery easily lasts through an average day; the keyboard and trackpad are excellent (although the keyboard is not backlit); and, while not a premium notebook, the build quality is quite good. Most importantly, Chromebooks are almost immune to malware, they are always up-to-date (because they run Web-based software) and they will not slow down over time, a notorious Windows problem.

Hopefully, Google will decide to sell Chromebooks in Canada. The education market is an obvious fit, and Google is apparently investigating that in this country. Samsung’s model sells for US$249 in America, and at that price it is a fantastic value.

Kobo’s tablet is a contender

Kobo Arc

The Kobo Arc is a great 7-inch Android tablet that competes directly with Google’s Nexus 7. The specs, build quality and price are comparable; at $199, the 16GB Arc is $10 cheaper than the Nexus. So the choice comes down to interface.

The Nexus runs a pure version of the Android operating system; the Arc layers on Tapestries and the Discovery Ribbon. Tapestries are folders of related items (books, music, Web sites, etc.) and in the Discovery Ribbon the Arc suggests items that might interest you. When I created a Tapestry devoted to the War of 1812 and populated it with books and Web sites, other 1812 items popped up in the Ribbon. It’s a neat trick but it didn’t do a lot for me; if I want more info, I’ll search for it.

Other than that, the experiences are comparable. The Arc can access the full Android Marketplace, so you can indeed load Kindle software on it, and once I loaded the apps I like the two devices were very similar. If you’re shopping for a 7-inch tablet, choose the interface you prefer.

BlackBerry Z10

The Z10 is a hit. BlackBerry’s long-awaited phone is well built, deep black and sleek in a little-blackdress way. It has no buttons on the front, weighs only 135 grams, has a 4.2-inch display and boasts 356 pixels per inch to the iPhone 5’s 326ppi, sports an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front shooter, and offers Near Field Communications for applications like tap to pay. The Z10 is all touchscreen (no physical keyboard) and its onscreen keyboard is the best I’ve ever used.

The BB10 operating system is a fresh take on mobile interfaces, and as such there is a learning curve, albeit a short one. But BB10 is a slick and fluid interface. Useful features include the BlackBerry Hub, a single message stream for all your e-mail and social media accounts; Peek, which lets you look at notifications without necessarily interrupting what you’re doing; and Balance, walled gardens containing your phone’s personal and work content.

But even a hit has some misses, and the Z10’s biggest drawback is the new BlackBerry World app store. BlackBerry bragged about the 70,000 apps available at launch, but it didn’t mention that many of those are junk and that critical apps are missing, including Netflix, Kindle and Kobo, Evernote and HootSuite. (Read my longer piece on this: http://goo.gl/mzR9U.) Hopefully these holes will be filled in quickly.

But no product is perfect, and there is no doubt that BlackBerry has delivered a great smartphone. It—and the upcoming keyboardtoting Q10—have given BlackBerry back some much needed mojo. The Z10 will appeal to BlackBerry fans, corporate IT departments and to people who just want a fresh take on the mobile space. $149 on contract.

The bet-everything phone

Nokia Lumia 920

Nokia made a Hail Mary play in 2010: it decided to tie its fortunes to Windows Phone and produce only devices running Microsoft’s fledgling mobile platform. The October 2012 release of Windows Phone 8 provided an opportunity to launch refreshed hardware on a refreshed OS. The result was the Lumia 920, and it’s fair to say the mobile is critical to Nokia’s future. And so far, so good: in Q4 2012, Nokia sold about 4.4 million units worldwide, beating each of the previous quarters.

So how is the phone? It’s solid hardware, with premium build quality and feel. The camera is fantastic, especially in low light, and it comes with useful and fun photo software. Nokia Maps and Drive are also highlights: maps can be downloaded for almost anywhere and the turn-by-turn directions work well. The software experience is not as rosy. Phone 8 offers a fresh take on mobile interfaces, and the updated Live Tiles work well. But there are still gaps in Microsoft’s online store. Apps like Kobo, HootSuite and Temple Run are not there, and you can’t buy or rent movies or TV shows. Also, some of the basic things people do with smartphones are far too difficult. Podcasts, for example: I could find no way to easily subscribe to, download and listen to podcasts. If there’s a way to manage podcasts on the 920, I gave up before I found it.

Overall, then, the 920 is a divided experience: the hardware delivers while Windows 8 pulls down the experience. The 920, $100 on a Rogers contract, is a solid, if not stellar, package.

The bigger-is-better phone

Samsung Galaxy Note II

When you first pick up a Note II all you can think is “Wow, this is huge.” And at 5.5 inches, it’s the largest smartphone screen on the market. But you get over that quickly and start to value the extra real estate. For example, to watch Netflix I would sometimes reach for the Note instead of my Nexus 7, trading weight for screen size.

The other big Note advantage is its stylus. You can navigate with it, but it’s really meant for the included note and drawing apps. I rarely pulled the stylus but I know people who use it often.

There are many other specs and features, but it comes down to this: if you like Samsung’s flavour of Android, buy the Galaxy SIII or—if you want the bigger screen—the Note II. It’s a niche product because of its size, but if you’re in that niche you’ll love it. $200 on a carrier contract.