Which is Better for Mobile Blogger ? Netbooks vs. Laptops

As a busy WebBlogger, your life constantly involves darting from place to place at break-neck speed, whilst trying to juggle your various streams of freelance work.

To accompany this mad mobile lifestyle (that only the bravest of people choose) you need a tool that can keep up the pace and never drag you down.

So, you go to the computer section of your favorite electronics outlet and you begin to wonder what equipment to purchase. What will best meet your needs?

You wonder, should I get a netbook, should I get a laptop, or something else?

In this post, we’ll discuss the pros and cons for selecting a laptop and a netbook.

About Netbooks

Netbooks–also known as ‘mini-laptops’–are small, lightweight and ultra-portable computers which have been growing in popularity. However, these useful modifications to the laptop do come at a cost. Let’s look at the pros and cons of selecting a netbook.

Netbook Pros

Here are some benefits to selecting a netbook:

They are small and lightweight. This is brilliant for those on the move constantly. Being able to whip it out anywhen and anywhere to type up those final notes or jot out a life plan, is essential for a freelancer of any type. Also, with the ability to shove it into a bag without anyone knowing it is there, you are protected from potential computer-thieves.

Long battery life. The average netbook has a longer battery life, ranging from anywhere between four to over ten hours. When constantly moving in an ever increasingly hectic freelancing lifestyle, knowing that you have the battery life to sustain you on the longest of train journeys, lectures and meetings gives you peace of mind. The irritating beep-beep of a dying battery will seldom be heard.

Money, money, money. Netbooks are noticeably cheaper than regular laptops. So, whilst you are out freelancing your backside off, you can be safe in the knowledge that you still have a chunk of change leftover, compared to your mate who bought a £2500, bright-light, whizz-machine.

Now that we’ve examined the benefits of selecting a netbook, it’s time to look at some of the disadvantages.

Netbook Cons

Here are some disadvantages to selecting a netbook:

Power. With a netbook you do not have a bright-light, whizz-machine. Netbooks are not as powerful as laptops. They can only handle so much information before their little internal processor screams bye-bye. Sure they cope with MS Office and browse the web pretty effectively, but if you’re a freelancer gamer, a netbook will not cope with this kind of information and should be avoided.

Small keyboard buttons. It is a known fact that people have been getting taller throughout the ages. With great height comes great big hands. Due to their size, netbooks have tiny little buttons that big fingered guys and gals just won’t be able to type on. There would be a fair few documents written with a ‘dfdshjcvmbvl vkjdfds’ nature. However, major netbook companies are countering this by trying to incorporate full size keys into their newer machines.

No Disk Drive. There is no disk drive in netbooks. If someone at a freelance networking event has something to show you on CD/DVD and you all confess to owning netbooks, the colleague’s little video or song will have to remain un-witnessed. Also, the ability to be in a meeting whilst watching a Buster Keaton film on DVD, is taken away.

Now that we’ve discussed the pros and cons of netbooks it’s time to look at laptops.

About Laptops

And now we come to the laptop; the bigger brother of the little netbook. These machines have been around for near on 30 years with its ancestor rooted in the IBM 5100 – arguably the first commercial portable computer. Is there still a place for these machines in this day and age?

Laptop Pros

Here are some of the advantages of choosing a laptop:

Larger screen. For those of you with small eyes who need those extra few million pixels to read articles and watch YouTube videos, a laptop is a must-have. With a larger screen you can have multiple files opened up simultaneously, and spread out across the screen, without the need to squint at what you are doing. Also, when people inevitably look over your shoulder to see what you’re up to, they don’t have to lean in so close and freak you out.

Power. Laptops are far more powerful and can work with extremely complex programming that netbooks would whimper in a corner at. If you’re a freelancer in the field of multi-media, film, music etcetera, having that extra processing power allows you to work on projects that would be impossible on a netbook. There are also some office programs that are far too complex for netbooks to carry out.

Larger hard-drives. Netbooks do have pretty decent hard-drive sizes, ranging from 60-160GB. However, laptops have huge mammoths containing more information than your own brain. Once more, a larger hard-drive will be dependent on the type of work you are conducting. If you edit HD music videos for a living whilst out and about, get a laptop: if you write little articles on Microsoft Works for a living, consider going elsewhere.

Now that we’ve examined the advantages of laptops, it’s time to look at some of the disadvantages.

Laptop Cons

Here are some of the disadvantages of choosing a laptop:

Size. Obvious one first: they are huge. Dragging a laptop around with you for hours on end, causes severe sores to the shoulders and back. If you are a constant mover-and-shaker in your line of work, then having the small netbook would be ideal. Then again if you are trying to get a work-out whilst darting from place to place, consider the laptop.

Battery Life. The battery life is dire compared to a netbook. Imagine a Fiat 500 and a GT 40 heading towards London from Edinburgh; sure the GT 40 is the massive all powerful force cruising along, but it’ll be stopping every half hour for a fill up, whilst the little Fiat put-puts along happily. Another concern is that if you are in a meeting/lecture etcetera and your battery goes down to 3%, who’s the clown trying to find a power source whilst their laptop is screaming beep…beep…beep: you are.

Money, Money, Money (again). Laptops are generally more expensive that netbooks. All the power comes at a price – like a GT  40 – and if you do not genuinely need the power, then a laptop just isn’t necessary. In this age of austerity in governments and individuals alike, aiming for that pricier option just sometimes isn’t the way.

Conclusion

The laptop versus netbook debate is completely dependent on the line of work you are engaging in. If you are a freelance writer, constantly out and about, picking up stories, writing articles and sending them out on the web, then get the Net.

But, if you are freelance rocket scientist (they might exist) then you might want a machine that can handle programs with greater magnitude. 

In an ideal world, the best recommendation would be a netbook for the bulk of your work and a laptop for your super-happy fun-times. Then again, in an ideal world, you’d be a millionaire without the need to run round like a crazy person, picking up work left right and centre.  

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Best Antivirus Programs for Mac Computers

Macs are more secure - or less insecure at least - than their Windows brethren for two reasons. On the technical side, OS X is a Unix-based operating system. As a Unix-based operating system OS X is sandboxed. It's like having a series of fire doors - even if malware gains access to your Mac, it is unable to spread to the heart of the machine. Macs are not unhackable, but they are more difficult to exploit than Windows PCs.

Which is the second reason. Not only are there far fewer Macs than  there are Windows PCs, but they are harder to hack. Is it any wonder, then, that cybercriminals focus on the Windows world? All malware these days exists to make money, and the criminals who create and share such filth are not doing so because they want to work hard. They pick off the lowest hanging fruit, and that is unprotected Windows PCs.

There are active malware in the Mac world, however. And one of the biggest threats is your own behaviour. So it is definitely worth investing in Mac antivirus.

Best Antivirus for Mac Computers

iAntivirus for MAC

If you are a Mac user, then you would be aware of the name iAntivirus. It is one of the popular antivirus programs for Mac OS. And yes, this is also a free antivirus program. iAntivirus has been designed such that it does not allow malicious programs to attack your Mac OS.

Its real-time protection and solid detection system enhances all the security parameters of Mac OS for free. You can also keep updating this antivirus program to keep your computer safe from all the latest cyber threats.

McAfee Virus Scan

McAfee is not at all an unknown name for Windows users. And this  popularity inspired them to design antivirus programs compatible on Mac OS. Like a typical McAfee computer security program, it allows you to keep your Mac OS free from old and new viruses, Trojans and other malicious programs.

This McAfee antivirus program for Mac features McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator which allows you to keep an eye on all the computers connected on the network. Its user friendly interface and availability of updates makes it a rough and tough antivirus program for Macintosh OS.

Norton Antivirus

Norton (Symantec) is a huge name in the arena of computer security experts. Even big companies trust their products capability. This undoubted fact makes it a popular and a favorite antivirus program for Macintosh operating system.

Its conventional detection and deletion feature with updated database makes it an ideal computer protection system. Regardless you are on Internet or not, its features will always make you feel safer from cyber threats like viruses, Trojans, and Rootkits.

Although Apple’s Mac OS provides some of the best security features like sandboxing, Library Randomization and Execute Disable, adding an extra layer of protection will never harm you. Choose your favorite antivirus program and get ready for a safer ride on Apple Macintosh OS.

Agax Antivirus

(Not for Mac OS X) Antivirus program by Agax is popular for its powerful and robust protection on a Mac computer. Apart from conventional features like detection and deletion of viral threats, it integrates your Mac OS with potent background protection which makes way for hassle free experience on computer.

Agax antivirus program features a shielding force namely, “Defender”. This adds to the overall protective features of this sound antivirus program. Agax antivirus program is also a free program.

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ClamCour Antivirus

(Not for Mac OS X) Since Internet is the primary source of most of the cyber attacks on your computer, ClamCour provides a robust protection while you are on Internet. This antivirus program mainly  concentrates on the protection from cyber threats.

ClamCour offers an amazing feature called “Courier Filter” which scans all the mails coming into your inbox and does not allow you to download them, incase they are infected. It enhances your Internet browsing experience. Moreover, this antivirus program will not hurt your wallet as it a freeware.

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Online File Storage Sites

List of the best free online file storage sites. More than just external hardrives, many of these sites are collaboration platforms that you can use to share documents with friends.

1. Box: gives you 5 GB of storage for free and lets you organize your files into folders in the cloud, just like you would on your desktop. You can share links or entire file folders with others and see when they’ve been viewed.

2. Bitcasa: stores up to 10 GB worth of free files, photos, playlists, videos and docs that can be accessed from any device (and reportedly goes up to infinity for paying customers).

3. Dropbox: is a secure place to keep photos, documents, and videos that you can access from your computer, smartphone, or tablet. You can share the files with your social networks as well. It comes with 2 GB of free storage (or up to 18 GB if you refer a friend).

4. Evernote: saves all of your notes, web clips, files, scanned documents, and images. You can search for the documents by keyword, access them from any device, and share them with friends. The storage process here is a little different: free users can store up to 100,000 notes (up to 25 mb each), 250 synchronized notebooks, 10,000 tags, and 100 saved searches.

5. Google Drive: syncs documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and videos from your computer and mobile devices. It connects to Google+ and Gmail for collaboration and sharing. It has a free storage limit of up to 5 GB that’s shared between Google Drive and Google+ Photos.

6. iCloud: is just for iOS devices, but it syncs all your music, photos, apps, calendars, documents, and other files and makes them sharable with friends. It comes with 5 GB of free cloud storage. Bonus: the photos in your Photo Stream and whatever music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books you buy from iTunes don’t count against your storage limit.

7. Mega: Internet outlaw Kim Dotcom released this service one year after the U.S. government shut down its predecessor, MegaUpload, for facilitating copyright infringement. The new tool promises “state of the art, browser-based encryption technology” and a whopping 50 GB of free cloud storage.

8. SkyDrive: offers 7 GB of free cloud storage for photos, documents, and other files and works on any device. Windows 8 users can log in with their Microsoft accounts to view photos and files, edit and share Office documents, and share the files with friends.

If you still need extra storage space, these companies will be more than happy to sell it to you. But unless you’re the Library of Congress, this should be enough to get you started.

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Best Free Email Client Software for Windows.

If you are looking for an alternative to Windows Mail or Outlook, or if you just bought Windows 7 and are now sans email management software, there are a plethora of email client options available for free.

An email client is, quite simply, a software program that enables you to effectively manage your email. Effective email management means you can improve and automate your lead management. This is especially important for people who have multiple email accounts or want multiple user access.

The email client doesn't replace your current email software, but it does help you to manage your emails and save them in ways that make them easy to access and search. You may need to try a few of these to find one that matches your requirements and provides the day to day lead management functionality you need.

Also Read: Why do we use the '@' symbol in email addresses?

Mozilla Thunderbird

This is a powerful email client tool for managing email and content. It allows you to work both online and offline so that lead management doesn’t have to stop when you don’t have internet access.

One of the best Mozilla Thunderbird features is its speed. It loads quickly even when contending with multiple RSS feeds and folders. Mozilla Thunderbird has excellent HTML support, junk mail filters and virus protection. Additional features include:

• Tabbed e-mail
• New search tools and indexing
• Smart folders
• Support for Firefox’s Personas
• Simplified setup wizard

You can rest assured your email is secure with the S/MIME, message encryption, digital signing and phishing filters. Speed is also a positive Thunderbird feature and the comprehensive search tool is able to sync with results on desktop searches. Lead management is improved with the fast and powerful search tool. Find a list of features here.

Opera

Still a leading contender, although not as innovative as it once was, Opera is a solid email client with exceptional functionality.  Opera has an excellent search function with a customizable search bar, tab browsing and advanced bookmarking tools so you can remember all your favorite sites.

Opera integrates easily with chat and email and installation will only take a couple of minutes. Emails are stored on your hard drive, so you can continue with lead management tasks even when you are not online.

Get a full list of the Opera features here.

DreamMail

DreamMail is specifically designed for the user who has multiple email accounts which they need to access simultaneously. DreamMail supports POP3, eSMTP, Yahoo, Google SMTP, and even RSS feeds. You can customize your email templates and utilize the email signature management function. Advanced spam and message filtering helps you to manage your email effectively.

Additional features include:

• Multiple users
• Auto detection of server settings
• Messages filtering
• Filtering, sorting and searching

DreamMail has some drawbacks; it doesn’t support Thunderbird or IMAP which makes it unsuitable for many users who want to utilize it for effective lead management. 
Find a full list of features here.

Postbox Express

This is a feature-limited free version of Postbox’s emailing software. Postbox Express has the unique ability to import settings from any other mail client you currently employ. This makes setup a breeze as Postbox Express will sync with your current email seamlessly.

One of Postbox Express’ most handsome features is the search function; the speedy search engine will help you find what you are looking for in record time. It also organizes folders and messages in  tabs (much like a web browser) which makes for a far more efficient workspace.

Postbox Express has extended social media functionality which adds a new dimension to your CRM. You can easily post things to your social media platforms, import profile photos and address books or update your status directly to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Use add-ons to extend the functionality or make use of the community-translated language packs. Postbox Express is a functional, customizable email client that is definitely on the first-class mail client list. 
Have a look at a comprehensive list of all the Postbox Express features here.

Windows Live Mail

Compact and functional, Windows Live Mail offers users some nifty features. Installation takes some time and effort and you will have to enter your account server names, details and ports manually and importing your account details and emails from your other email programs may take a little fancy footwork. Once it’s up and running though, Windows Live Mail is impressive and easy to use. Some additional features include:

• POP3 and IMAP support
• Excellent junk mail filter
• Accessible interface
• Support for RSS feeds
• Calendar
• News groups
• Excellent integration with other Microsoft programs

Get a full list of Windows Live Mail features here.

eM Client

The best thing about eM Client is its extensive features list. The free version gives users access to these fantastic features, but does limit you to 2 accounts. This makes it unsuitable for effective lead management of multiple accounts, but the free version is a good way to sample the goods.  Take eM Client for a test drive and, if you don’t have a ton of email accounts, you will really be able to take advantage of the extensive features list. You can import all your files from just about everywhere (including Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Windows Mail etc.) Other attractive features include:

• Import contacts from Facebook, Google or even CSV and vCard files
• Support got S/MIME, SMTP, IMAP, POP3, SSL/TLS
• Import messages from .eml files
• Customize signatures
• Templates
• Calendar
• Customizable contacts database
• Skype integration
• Google maps for address location

Get a full list of the extensive features here.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the email client programs available for free use. However, it is a comprehensive collection of the most notable players and the ones that have the best functionality and widest range of features. You can utilize the free software for personal mail and to try out each email client until you find your perfect fit.

Most of the programs offer widgets and add-ons that you can choose to pay for to improve lead management functionality.

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Useful Tips and Tricks for iPad Users

The iPad is a great tool for both entertainment and productivity. To get the most out of it, however, you have to know its secrets, and here are  of the best ones:

1: Using the sidebar

According to Time, the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro sport a cool new feature: the ability to open apps up in a special sidebar without leaving your existing app. All you have to do is swipe a finger from the right to bring up a list of all apps compatible with this feature. Click your desired app and begin multitasking right away!

2: Use your iPad as a virtual card table

Many people don’t realize the amount of traditional tabletop games that the iPad can replace – including a deck of cards! According to Business Insider, the Card Table app allows users to view their hand of cards on their compatible smartphones and use the iPad as a virtual table. Just like that, you’ve got the fun of 52 cards without the worry of picking them up!

3: Hands-free messaging

According to Apple’s own website, one of the simplest iPad tricks is to let Siri handle your messaging. She interacts with your contact list and allows you to send messages by referencing a person’s name, such as telling the iPad “Tell Brad that dinner is at 6:00.” This is great when your hands are occupied by those same dinner preparations.

4: Never stop watching video

From cute cat videos to insightful instructions, we live in a world where video dominates everything. It’s annoying to stop what you are watching to accomplish more mundane tasks like responding to emails. According to Time, the iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro let you do both at the same time. Simply press the home button when you are watching videos or using Facetime and the video minimizes to the bottom right corner of the screen while you use other apps.

5: Instant exposure adjustment

One of the greatest abilities of the iPad is to take photos and immediately edit them. With iOS , adjusting exposure is easier than ever. According to Apple, you simply tap where you want to establish the automatic exposure and focus. Then, all you have to do is slide your fingers up and down to adjust the picture’s exposure.

6: Create a second monitor

According to Business Insider, you can use apps such as Air Display 2 to create a second monitor. This is great for those who want extra productivity or just want to double their onscreen fun, all for a fraction of the price of an actual new monitor.

7: Browse all of your files anywhere, anytime

The Apple website notes that the iCloud drive app allows you to browse and open all of your files via compatible applications on your iPad. This helps save time and space in not having to keep the files you want on your iPad at all times.

8: Use virtual buttons

No one likes to imagine their shiny new iPad getting damaged. After all, a broken button can feel like a death sentence for electronics. However, Business Insider notes you can enable Assistive Touch and begin creating virtual buttons for things like the home button, volume buttons, and screen lock buttons. This ensures your device can live long past its outer shell!

9: Sketch on your iPad

Whether it’s killing time in a classroom or laying the conceptual foundation for your next work of art, sketching is a time-honored pencil and paper tradition. As the Apple website notes, you can keep this tradition alive on your iPad as well by using the drawing tools in the Notepad app. This lets you use your finger to doodle. Mess up your sketch? The eraser is just a touch away!

10: Read more easily at night

It doesn't take long for iPad users to see that reading at night can be downright painful as read black letters against a blinding background. Business Insider notes you can go to your Accessibility settings and invert colors. Now, the background is black and the letters are white, making night reading a breeze!

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Best iPhone Tricks for run !Phone easy

Charge your phone faster with a single button press.

Tired of waiting for your phone to recharge? Well, there is a way to speed up the re-juicing process, and it's surprisingly simple — just engage Airplane mode. By knocking out all your phone's Wi-Fi-searching, data-draining communication skills, it takes the strain off your battery while it's being powered up. Not hugely, true — but if you're pressed for time and looking to eke out every bit of juice, that extra 4% you'll add in 30 minutes connected to the mains could make all the difference.

Shave seconds off of your searches. 

When it comes to finding out the latest league standings or proving a point, getting where you need to go on the internet is all about speed and precision — something missing when you're forced to knock out type-heavy web addresses. So save time by holding down the period icon while typing out an address to bring up a short-cut series of URL suffixes. From the classic (.com) to the less used (.edu, .ie), there are quick hit shortcuts for all.

Discover exactly what your phone knows about you. 

Slightly sinisterly, your iPhone is always gathering data on you in the background — be it the apps you're using the most, how much data you're churning through... or even, most creepily, where you are. To see what we mean, head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations. Here you can see not just where you've been, but how long you've spent in each place.

Replace a toolbox essential. 

You've probably filed away the Compass app alongside the Stocks and Find Friends apps in a folder entitled 'Crap I can't delete'. You should pull it back out, though — it's got a secret second function that will help with your DIY duties. No: not using your iPhone to hammer in nails (although it can — briefly — do that too). Instead, swiping left in the Compass app brings up a very useful level — a digital bubble gauge than can check if that shelf really is level. 

Lock your camera's focal point. 

We all know that tapping the screen while taking a photo will set the camera's point of focus, right? Good. Annoyingly though, every time you move the camera after picking a focal point, it disappears. Well, no more. Instead of just tapping the screen, press for a second or two until an 'AF Locked' box pops up. Now you can twist, turn and swing the thing around without losing focus.

Create custom vibrations. 

Ever wished you could tell who's calling just by how your phone feels buzzing against your leg? Now you can: In Contacts, select your person of choice and hit Edit. Here you'll see a Vibration option. Selecting this will give you plenty of options, including the Create New Vibration tool. Making your bespoke buzz is as simple as tapping the screen to the beat of your choice.

Correct Siri's pronunciation. 

Siri's a bit of a smug know-it-all — so  there's nothing better than calling it on its mistakes. Like when it mispronounces peoples' names like an ignorant American abroad. So if Siri says something wrong, just tell it. Following up a mistake by saying "That's not how you pronounce…" will see Siri ask for the correct pronunciation then let you check it's got things right. Because we all know it's Levi-O-sa, not Levi-o-SAR.

Close three apps at once. 

It's not just pictures and web pages that support multi-finger gestures. You can throw additional digits into clearing up your iPhone clutter too. If you need to shut multiple applications in a hurry — for totally innocent, not hiding anything, honest reasons — you can drag three fingers up on the multitasking menu to cull the clutter quicker. Which means your phone should be faster in even less time.

Set your music on a timer. 

Enjoy listening to a little soothing background music as you drift off to the Land of Nod? Then you're probably all too familiar with waking up at 3am to some unwanted tunes. Unless, of course, you set your music to turn off on a timer. In the Clock app, slide along to the Timer options. Here under the 'When Time Ends' tag, you can switch out the alarm option for a 'Stop Playing' tag. This will turn off the tunes, be it through Apple Music or Spotify, when the timer hits zero.

Take a photo without touching your phone. 

An oldie but a goodie iPhone hack is using your volume control buttons to capture a picture — thus saving  your meaty paw blocking the screen as you attempt to hit the touchscreen controls. But if you prefer to be even further removed from your photo-capturing shutter controls? Hitting the volume button on a pair of compatible, connected headphones will have the same effect.

Save your data allowance by limiting app access. 

You're just a third of the way through the month, and your 2GB data allowance is already starting to look a little stretched. You don't have to cut back on your on-the-go Netflix viewing though. Instead, select which apps get demoted to the Wi-Fi-only B-list. Go to Settings > Mobile Data where you can make the big decisions one app at a time.

Improve your battery life. 

Spotlight, Apple's connected quick-access for key data and services, is great for offering instant access to the latest breaking news, sports scores and social updates. But that much stuff going on in the background can eat your battery life whole. Unless you turn off Spotlight features for certain apps to eke out more life per charge, that is. "How?" we hear you cry? Just go Settings > General > Spotlight Search and limit what's pulling in data behind your back.

Improve your signal by knowing where to look for it. 

No need to hang out of a first floor window trying to discover where your iPhone's connection is best. Type *3001#12345#* into your iPhone's dialler and hit call to launch the hidden Field Mode tool. This sub-surface menu turns your bar chart-based signal indicator into a far more straightforward numerical-based signal signifier. Got a score of -50? Then you'll be enjoying HD video streams on the move. Down around -120, though, and you'll struggle to send a text. Just follow the numbers to better signals.

Find out exactly how long you've been waiting for a reply. 

We've all been there: endlessly rechecking our phones for a text reply, wondering how long it's been since we sent our message of love/ ransom demand. There's an easy way to find out, though - simply swipe in from the right-hand side of the screen when in a messaging thread, to show precise delivery times for every message sent and received. True: it's not as morale-beating as WhatsApp's blue ticks, but it will still give you a complex over why it's taking over 42 minutes for your other half to reply. Do affairs really take that long?

Share your family tree with Siri. 

Does referring to your parents by their given name make you feel awkward? Then teach Siri to know who you're chatting about. Ask Siri to call your dad and the digital PA should ask who your father is. Once a contact has been assigned to the parental moniker, every time you ask for pops moving forward, you'll be backed up by simple, fuss-free calling.

Swipe right to retreat. 

For iPhone-owning Android converts, living without a dedicated back button can be a difficult adjustment to make. While the iPhone might not have an ever-present command to put things in reverse, there is a simple way to head in the wrong direction. Within a number of apps — from Safari to Mail, via Messages — swiping from left to right on the screen will send you back to the previous page or menu. 

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