大咖福利影院

聽 聽 I wanted a toy to play with.
I wanted a bigger screen than my phones, but smaller than my big tablets, and cheap enough not to care if it got pinched from a hotel room.
I went for the Samsung Tab A9. I use it for watching content - also transferring a film form my hard drive and watching it on the tab. It gets used to listen to BBC Radio 4 every morning.

聽 聽 -@Fred

Update

This was a great buy

I still use it for Radio 4 and other entertainment, but the addition of a small, thin, Bluetooth keyboard and a very nice little BT mouse has made it into a very capable office tool.

It's especially handy for reading PDF files and things like news sites.

The screen is perfect, especially when you use the 'eye comfort shield' option in the quick menu.

It's small and light enough to carry with ease, and powerful enough to do quite a lot of office tasks using Google's office apps.

Definitely a good buy

I found an Asus Chromebook tablet in a shop a few months ago.

I didn't really need another device but temptation banged on my brain with a wet carrot until I bought one.

Talk about a seriously handy piece of kit - and more so when I use it with a portable second monitor.

The whole setup fits into a very small bag, but I have a fully portable twin screen productivity tool I can use anywhere.

It has all the advantages of a Chromebook, but the portability of an Android tablet.

I'm very pleased with the buy.

Fred,

What would you recommend to replace my six year old iPad that just died?

Thanks.

Alan

聽 聽 Fred,
What would you recommend to replace my six year old iPad that just died?

Thanks.

Alan
聽 聽

聽 聽 -@alan279

People tend to buy cars to suit their needs. They don't buy a minibus to pull chicks, nor do the buy a sports car for a family runabout.

When it comes to tech, they buy whatever the advertising says they should. My wife just informed me she intends to buy an ipad to run her Microsoft office suite on. That's clearly silly and, me being subtle, communicated that opinion.

She's talking to me again this morning

Examine your needs, then buy what fits them.

I really like Google's sheets, docs, and slides, so I buy Android tablets and Chromebooks.

Because my office Internet is rubbish, I deliver my presentations locally stored on an S21. That means I must have a Windows PC. I bought it to suit portability and my need for simple apps - PowerPoint and Chrome - Why would I need a massive processor and shiploads of RAM? It's wasted money.

The answer to your question is decide what you're going to use it for, then see what fits your needs.

New toy time.

This time it's a 14.5 inch monitor for my setup at work.

I usually use two screens, but I often need three. This new one will be screen 2, with a 10 inch unit as screen 3.

The picture is crystal clear and it can be fed from USB C or HDMI.

This is a pure productivity tool.

Microsoft is silly.

I聽 keep a hotmail account just to sign in to Microsoft stuff I still can't get rid of, and as a junk email when I have聽 to sign up to pages that demand I do so before I聽 can read their content.

I rarely to never check it as it's just a dumping ground, but I get loads of requests for one time verification as hackers try to get in.

I decided to log in as my skype is under that account - I can't because it's been locked聽 out due to too many requests.

I look forward to the day Microsoft go bust.

Samsung's top end phones have something called DeX (Desktop experience). It always worked on their tablets but it was lacking in a big way on their phones.

The idea is, you plug your phone into a screen or TV, get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and you have a computer.

I have started using my phone again, and it's improved by a million miles.

I can operate in desktop mode as if I'm using a PC or Chromebook - It's great.

This is going to be my holiday setup. I dislike leaving computing power in a hotel room, even if it has a safe, so I will just take my favourite bluetooth keyboard and mouse along with a super-thin portable screen.

@Fred

My Galaxy A55 5G is in that case obviously NOT a "top end phone".

Must admit it sounds like a very good idea though. Wonder how much that would set me back?

@Fred
My Galaxy A55 5G is in that case obviously NOT a "top end phone".
Must admit it sounds like a very good idea though. Wonder how much that would set me back? - @El_Jost

Only the S series has DeX.

I use it more and more as the phone is always on so I just have to plug in one USB C and I'm on.

DeX is very much like a computer as you can open a number of wi down at once and resize as you wish.

As an example, when using my transmitters, I can have qrz.com in one window, and a spreadsheet with my log in another.

@Fred

As an example, when using my transmitters, I can have qrz.com in one window, and a spreadsheet with my log in another.

Do you have a callsign on QRZ? Indonesian orari? Can you do 40m HF? Sorry to temporarily switch topics.

@FredAs an example, when using my transmitters, I can have qrz.com in one window, and a spreadsheet with my log in another.Do you have a callsign on QRZ? Indonesian orari? Can you do 40m HF? Sorry to temporarily switch topics. - @danfinn

It's electronic toys, thus very much on topic.

I have a UK A class and an Indonesian YD. I also have a RAPI callsign but I don't use it much.

I operate on 2 and 70 as well as 10 and 40. However, my aerial for 40 is terrible. I'm looking for options as the wire dipole I use at the moment is mounted far too low and is doglegged. I can get all over Indonesia and have heard India on 40, but only in excellent conditions. In normal or flat conditions, I can hardly get out of Jakarta.

@FredAs an example, when using my transmitters, I can have qrz.com in one window, and a spreadsheet with my log in another.Do you have a callsign on QRZ? Indonesian orari? Can you do 40m HF? Sorry to temporarily switch topics. - @danfinn
It's electronic toys, thus very much on topic.
I have a UK A class and an Indonesian YD. I also have a RAPI callsign but I don't use it much.
I operate on 2 and 70 as well as 10 and 40. However, my aerial for 40 is terrible. I'm looking for options as the wire dipole I use at the moment is mounted far too low and is doglegged. I can get all over Indonesia and have heard India on 40, but only in excellent conditions. In normal or flat conditions, I can hardly get out of Jakarta. - @Fred

Got it. Here I have a USA extra class and Philippines DU extra class. Here we hear Indonesia YB on 40m when conditions are right and sometimes they check in as guests on the daily Philippines AM and PM PARA nets on 7095 KHz. I am mostly SSB and CW HF. For VHF we have a local club and repeater that I support. I聽 convinced NTC to give me聽 2 station licenses for one individual amateur license, one in Siquijor and one in Negros Oriental. My antennas are both multi band wire G5RV which I find sufficient in the Phils. With it I can contact USA west coast on 40m at night on 100 watts.

My big problem is that I live in an estate that is populated with garden less聽 boxes instead of houses and HAO style rules.

I used a very nice mobile antenna for 2/70 on a 2m tall pole that nobody has objected to - That covers a surprisingly nice radius and is easily good enough for me.

I mounted a 1/2 wave dipole for 10 that's hidden on the back in a way nobody can see - That works very nicely, even on QRP.

My problem is 40. I can't get the height I would like and the house area is too small. The thing's feed point is far too low and its legs are 90 degrees to each other. Add that one leg has to drop down and fix to the balcony, and it's pretty useless.

I bought a bottom loaded with a telescopic whip. It's a POTA SOTA type thing I ziptied to my balcony and, even in that position, it's easily as good as the dipole. However, the telescopic isn't going to survive winds so an alternative whip would be required for roof mounting. I tried wires on fishing rods but they weren't even close to as good as the supplied whip.

I will try a HWEF. It will be bent all over the place, but it might work.

@Fred

I think if you are just going for 40 and even 20 meters you do not need a low radiation angle. The near vertical radiation from a lower-to-the-ground, bent wire EFHW would be fine just for single hop contacts in Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia etc.. I think your bent EFHW idea might work quite well. In the USA, I had strict HOA rules but my attic was large enough to contain a full size G5RV that was bent in a spiral pattern at 90 degree angles and it worked fine. The roof was wood with asphalt tiles and transparent to HF.聽 I even ran 1KW at times and it worked on all bands. As far as 1KW was concerned, I did the RF safety study and I was OK at 40 meters. At 10m it violated RF safety but 10m does not work well for G5RV anyway so I didn't use it.聽 In Negros Oriental and Siquijor I hear many Indonesian groups on the lower part of 40m at night plus dx-ing to US and Canada usually around 7135-7155 at night. On Saturday nights I sometimes check into a USA-Philippine net on 7178.

I think you might well be right. I have a 49:1 unun and enough wire to put it together. If I start at the balcony, work up to the VHF aerial pole, then over to the back where the pole for the 10 dipole is, that will get me most of the way. The best option for the rest might be going vertical on one of those fishing rods.

I have a few eggs kicking around so insulation from the poles is moot.

The counterpoise is easy.

Hi my husband is ***and is listed on ** he suggests where space is an issue to try Moonraker MD7400 slider mobile or portable HF whip for 40m -6m. There is a youtube on Watersstanton channel, look for ''slider'', it seems to do what you need.

Good luck

Hi my husband is ...... and is listed on qrz.com he suggests where space is an issue to try Moonraker MD7400 slider mobile or portable HF whip for 40m -6m. There is a youtube on Watersstanton channel, look for ''slider'', it seems to do what you need.Good luck - @M Hun

That looks like a very well-built aerial but I'm unsure about it's performance considering it's only 2 + meters long.

I have a mobile whip that is pretuned on all the HF bands. It's very slightly shorter and isn't that great.

I'm going to start with the HWEF and take it from there.

I will get some free time at work next week so I will take my 818 and a selection of aerials up to the roof.

Added. I forgot to comment on the channel.

The chap is very clearly well informed, but he's a bit slow in getting the information out so I get bored.

Gemini now refers to me as, Your highness.

I have no idea how .uch use it will be, if any, but it's been good for a flash of childish humour.

Tech has tossed a couple of issues my way over this last few days.

I have a legal copy of PowerPoint on my computer and the same as an Android app. The computer has no issues, but the app no longer plays videos as part of a slide. It plays them full screen and adds an advert for 360.

I'm looking at options. My preference is Google slides but that won't allow audio and video offline - A bit of a thing when you have dodgy internet.

The next is Samsung.

I had two family phones in need of minor repairs. The first is my daughter's old A series. It only has to last another six months or so as I will buy her a new one when she goes to uni. She needs features like NFC that the 4 year olf phone is short of.

The very minor issue is that the screen came loose. It works perfectly, so a little bit of glue is all it needs.

Samsung told me they can't glue it in, but they can replace the screen and glue that in, but it would be take three days. Not quite middle finger time, but it was pretty crap. I took it to a small repair shop tht did it in about five minutes for less than 3 quid.

The second was my wife's S21. The glue that holds the back on had weakened so the panel was loose. A nothing repair, but not according to Samsung's repair shop. They claimed the battery has blown and that was forcing the back off, but the charge/use cycle hasn't changed at all, there is no overheating, and no sign of the battery expanding. Add that the case goes back into place with the slightest pressure, and I call profit grabbing BS.

Tha one was repaired for just over a quid and it took a couple of minutes.

I see it this way, if Samsung are happy to rip off their customers on repairs, one has to wonder if it's worth buying any more Samsung phones.

As I mentioned, my daughter will need a new phone when she enters uni, so we are looking at options.

Indonesia has limited options for a variety of reasons, but there are some attractive possibilities from Chinese brands.

They still use Android and have full access to playstore, so they are potential replacements for lower end to mid range phones and tablets, but I can't find one that has something like Samsung DeX at the moment.

However, the marriage between Android and Chrome OS into a desktop for Android might cure that, as long as it's coupled with video out on USB C so I can use a second monitor.

My concerns about Samsung started some couple of months ago when I decided my watch was ready for replacing. I looked very seriously at their top end unit, but I rejected it because I would have had to buy a new phone to go with it. Seriously, apps that work perfectly well are blocked for new downloads聽 on the same phones, but work on new models. I have the powerpoint control app working perfectly, but it's no longer available unless you buy a new phone.

I didn't buy their watch, and Huawei got a customer for a new watch and a very nice set of bluetooth earphones.

I won't buy their phones because US sanctions don't allow then to use Android, but their watch is far better than Samsung's, and I have yet to charge the battery - it's lasted a month so far and looks like it's going to be a few more days before I need to charge it.

Suck on that, Samsung.

My problem will come when I have to replace one of my S series phones. Both need the video out for work use, and the S22's DeX function saves me carrying a computer or tablet as it will easily work for the vast majority of my day to day work tasks. I will have to see what happens when Android and Chrome have their baby.

Like many people, I have had little luck with inkjet printers. The things are cheap but never seem to last very long, or the ink runs out quickly and is expensive to replace.

My last one died a death, yet again, so I decided to hang on before buying something new.

I saw a cheap thermal printer so I thought I'd buy one to play with.

Frankly, it isn't great but, if you just want simple sheets of black and white printing on the go, it will do the job. I'm using it for simple print jobs for my kid's Indonesian lessons, and it works a treat for that sort of stuff.

It has a rol of paper inside that comes out flat when you print, or you can use sheets, but it only works with thermal paper - the sort shop recipts are on, but A4.

It's battery powered with USB C charging , and works on bluetooth for your phone, or USB with a driver for Windows.

I gather there are far better quality units that have pretty good greyscale available, so perhaps I'll play with one when the chance comes up.

Like many people, I have had little luck with inkjet printers. The things are cheap but never seem to last very long, or the ink runs out quickly and is expensive to replace.
My last one died a death, yet again, so I decided to hang on before buying something new.
I saw a cheap thermal printer so I thought I'd buy one to play with.
Frankly, it isn't great but, if you just want simple sheets of black and white printing on the go, it will do the job. I'm using it for simple print jobs for my kid's Indonesian lessons, and it works a treat for that sort of stuff.
It has a rol of paper inside that comes out flat when you print, or you can use sheets, but it only works with thermal paper - the sort shop recipts are on, but A4.
It's battery powered with USB C charging , and works on bluetooth for your phone, or USB with a driver for Windows.
I gather there are far better quality units that have pretty good greyscale available, so perhaps I'll play with one when the chance comes up. - @Fred

That makes sense. These days, many people have moved away from traditional inkjet printers & switched to ink tank (refill/infusion) printers. Inkjets can be quite troublesome if they鈥檙e not used regularly. You can work around some issues, but it really depends on the age & condition of the cartridges.

Having a personal printer definitely has its advantages, but if you鈥檙e not keen on routine cleaning, it can quickly become frustrating.

From my experience handling retail project, thermal printers are actually very reliable for basic tasks. The 鈥渋nk鈥� is in the paper itself & in practice I鈥檝e mostly seen black & blue thermal paper used. Regular cleaning of the thermal head is important, there are specific cleaning pens for that. Also watch out for paper dust, as it can affect the sensor or thermal head over time.

One more thing I鈥檝e noticed in retail environments is that heat & sunlight can cause thermal prints to fade, so they鈥檙e best for short term use like receipts, worksheets, or simple learning materials rather than long term note.

For quick, simple black & white prints, especially for kids鈥� lessons, it sounds like a pretty practical solution 馃槉

Yep to the above.

I can't remember how many inkjet printers I've owned over the years but not a one has been worth the money. Cartridges are silly money and the ink tank types have flow issues unless you use them a lot.

My last canon died of an error that nobody could work out so I binned it.

I stll have a very nice portable document scanner that I bought many years ago, and the thermal is (so far) doing what I need for my kid's worksheets. They will fade over time, but they only have to last two days so that isn't even a thought.

The great beauty of the thing is I can print from my phone using bluetooth.

I will see how it goes, but it was very cheap so I'll be happy if I get a couple of years out of it.

Tech has tossed a couple of issues my way over this last few days.
I have a legal copy of PowerPoint on my computer and the same as an Android app. The computer has no issues, but the app no longer plays videos as part of a slide. It plays them full screen and adds an advert for 360.
I'm looking at options. My preference is Google slides but that won't allow audio and video offline - A bit of a thing when you have dodgy internet.
The next is Samsung.
I had two family phones in need of minor repairs. The first is my daughter's old A series. It only has to last another six months or so as I will buy her a new one when she goes to uni. She needs features like NFC that the 4 year olf phone is short of.
The very minor issue is that the screen came loose. It works perfectly, so a little bit of glue is all it needs.
Samsung told me they can't glue it in, but they can replace the screen and glue that in, but it would be take three days. Not quite middle finger time, but it was pretty crap. I took it to a small repair shop tht did it in about five minutes for less than 3 quid.

The second was my wife's S21. The glue that holds the back on had weakened so the panel was loose. A nothing repair, but not according to Samsung's repair shop. They claimed the battery has blown and that was forcing the back off, but the charge/use cycle hasn't changed at all, there is no overheating, and no sign of the battery expanding. Add that the case goes back into place with the slightest pressure, and I call profit grabbing BS.
Tha one was repaired for just over a quid and it took a couple of minutes.

I see it this way, if Samsung are happy to rip off their customers on repairs, one has to wonder if it's worth buying any more Samsung phones.
As I mentioned, my daughter will need a new phone when she enters uni, so we are looking at options.
Indonesia has limited options for a variety of reasons, but there are some attractive possibilities from Chinese brands.
They still use Android and have full access to playstore, so they are potential replacements for lower end to mid range phones and tablets, but I can't find one that has something like Samsung DeX at the moment.
However, the marriage between Android and Chrome OS into a desktop for Android might cure that, as long as it's coupled with video out on USB C so I can use a second monitor.

My concerns about Samsung started some couple of months ago when I decided my watch was ready for replacing. I looked very seriously at their top end unit, but I rejected it because I would have had to buy a new phone to go with it. Seriously, apps that work perfectly well are blocked for new downloads on the same phones, but work on new models. I have the powerpoint control app working perfectly, but it's no longer available unless you buy a new phone.
I didn't buy their watch, and Huawei got a customer for a new watch and a very nice set of bluetooth earphones.
I won't buy their phones because US sanctions don't allow then to use Android, but their watch is far better than Samsung's, and I have yet to charge the battery - it's lasted a month so far and looks like it's going to be a few more days before I need to charge it.
Suck on that, Samsung.
My problem will come when I have to replace one of my S series phones. Both need the video out for work use, and the S22's DeX function saves me carrying a computer or tablet as it will easily work for the vast majority of my day to day work tasks. I will have to see what happens when Android and Chrome have their baby. - @Fred

Honestly, I think a big part of the issue is how fast technology moves these days. Sometimes perfectly usable devices suddenly feel obsolete for no real reason.

There are still some workarounds though. On the software side, for example, you can sometimes get by just fine using an older APK. I once kept a Samsung Tab 4 alive by downgrading WhatsApp to an older version & it worked surprisingly well.

But yeah鈥� that鈥檚 kind of today鈥檚 business model. If people could keep using their phones for a long time, the smartphone industry would probably slow down 馃槃

It鈥檚 very different from something like motorcycle repair shops, where selling spare parts is actually a good thing. Phone brands seem way more interested in selling new devices instead, even if it means creating more e-waste 馃槄

The world really is changing fast.

When I started my career in IT, most hardware components were still outboard or modular. Repairs & upgrades were much easier back then. Nowadays almost everything is onboard. That鈥檚 one of the downsides when you want to upgrade hardware to keep up with new tech, especially with security requirements getting stricter every year.

In the end, maintenance remains important, but hardware design today naturally limits how far upgrades & repairs can go.

Yep to the above.
I can't remember how many inkjet printers I've owned over the years but not a one has been worth the money. Cartridges are silly money and the ink tank types have flow issues unless you use them a lot.
My last canon died of an error that nobody could work out so I binned it.
I stll have a very nice portable document scanner that I bought many years ago, and the thermal is (so far) doing what I need for my kid's worksheets. They will fade over time, but they only have to last two days so that isn't even a thought.
The great beauty of the thing is I can print from my phone using bluetooth.
I will see how it goes, but it was very cheap so I'll be happy if I get a couple of years out of it. - @Fred

That reminds me of my college days 馃槃 I used to make a bit of extra cash doing cartridge refills & small printer repairs, enough for transport.

About your Canon, printers like that rarely just die for no reason. Usually there鈥檚 a hidden cause, unless the mainboard got some dirt, corrosion, or a short.

Thermal printers are great for quick stuff like kids鈥� worksheets. Printing straight from your phone over Bluetooth is super convenient & for a cheap printer that just needs to last a couple of years, that sounds like a solid deal 馃憤

Honestly, I think a big part of the issue is how fast technology moves these days. Sometimes perfectly usable devices suddenly feel obsolete for no real reason. - @Ryan_chaniago

Whilst I can happily agree that tech is moving fast, the two repairs I mentioned aren't that.

Samsung replied to my 1 star review to inform me that the screen can't be glued because the glue is only available if you buy a new screen with the glue on it.

That's very clearly a deliberate case of trying to make repairs beyond what might be economic. However, small shops will still simply glue on the screen for you.

The second was a plain and simple lie. There was no battery fault outside their false statement.

No charging or use issues, no heat, and no bulging. The phone is back in use after letting the glue dry, and it's working perfectly.

I would put it down to an error by the Samsung repair shop but they stuck to their guns and claimed it was the battery pushing the back off even when I pointed out it was impossible. That has to be an outright lie for cash.

I'm quite a Samsung fan, especially their S series phones and tabs with DeX, but the ripoff attempt is making me question the wisdom of buying more of their products.

There is a interestig video in youtube about "Planned obsolescence"

There is a interestig video in youtube about "Planned obsolescence" - @marlo2013

I've seen quite a few on various subjects from cars to printers, and a lot more.

Yep to the above.
I can't remember how many inkjet printers I've owned over the years but not a one has been worth the money. Cartridges are silly money and the ink tank types have flow issues unless you use them a lot.
My last canon died of an error that nobody could work out so I binned it.
I stll have a very nice portable document scanner that I bought many years ago, and the thermal is (so far) doing what I need for my kid's worksheets. They will fade over time, but they only have to last two days so that isn't even a thought.
The great beauty of the thing is I can print from my phone using bluetooth.
I will see how it goes, but it was very cheap so I'll be happy if I get a couple of years out of it. - @Fred

That canon ink tank error may have been due to saturated waste ink sponges. A very poor design decision. You can order replacement waste ink sponges fron China (canon will not sell them, they expect you to bin the printer when you get the error). But after you replace the waste ink sponges (or clean and dry them), you still have to clear the error which is somewhat complicated. There are youtube videos claiming to clear the error, however I never got that far because I unwittingly destroyed a mechanical item trying to clear a paper jam. All for a $200.00 printer. Now canon has a model with a user replaceable waste ink sponge cartridge which I would buy next time. I suggest nobody buy a canon ink tank model unless the waste ink sponges are in a user replaceable cartridge.

@Fred

Brother do some "tank" printers where you refill with bottles of ink. They're a bit pricier to buy, but unlike most inkjets, these work out pretty inexpensive to keep printing.

@FredBrother do some "tank" printers where you refill with bottles of ink. They're a bit pricier to buy, but unlike most inkjets, these work out pretty inexpensive to keep printing. - @gwynj

I have never tried Brother but I'm sick of inkjets so I probably won't. If I need better quality it's likely to be a LaserJet. The toner isn't cheap, but the greyscale is great

@Fred

From cars to printers to humans, ya forget that one Fred!