I love my Blackberry for emails and other work-related tasks, but when you compare the Safari browser on the iPhone to the Blackberry Browser, the Blackberry plain sucks. Luckily there are alternatives. I have done some comparison tests to find out which browsers are the best.

I am using my Blackberry 8900 using T-Mobile’s EDGE network. Since it is running on EDGE instead of 3G, it is even more important that the browser be as efficient as possible. I tested loading two image heavy sites, Lifehacker and Engadget. I also tested the time it takes for the applications to load.

Here’s what I found:

#1 Pick: Opera Mini 5 Beta 2

Pros: Interface, usability, graphics, smooth scroll, tabbed browsing, password saving feature, formatting of images and text is true to original site,can zoom in/out, speed dial, overall feature set.

Cons: Can sometimes feel a bit sluggish and less responsive compared to the Blackberry Browser. Possibly more resource intensive.

Conclusion: Best overall browser for everyday use. It isn’t as fast as Blackberry Browser to start up or the Bolt on Wi-Fi (when Bolt’s proxy servers are working properly), but the features and overall usability make this the best browser for the Blackberry.

#2 Runner Up: Bolt Browser 1.62

Pros: Very fast on Wi-Fi, use keys to navigate around the page quickly, good page rendering, remembers passwords.

Cons: Proxy server was not consistent. Can be Extremely fast at times, slow at others. Sometimes gets stuck at 20 percent trying to connect to their proxy servers. Font is a bit small. Not as good at rendering fonts compared to the other 2 browsers. Less robust feature set than Opera.
Conclusion: A good browser when you are browsing using a Wi-Fi connection and plan on using surfing for longer than 2 minutes.

#3 Last Place: Blackberry Browser

Pros: Built into OS, program is well integrated into system. Loads the fastest.

Cons: Painfully slow to load pages, no tabbed browsing, minimal feature set.

Conclusion: Unfortunately the default browser. Opera and Bolt are taking steps to allow for the option to open links with their browsers instead.

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What is the cost of fixing a computer? Well, it depends. The factors involve the type of repair needed, the cost of parts required and of course, the rate the technician charges.

Most technicians will diagnose the problem first then give an estimate.

For this post, let’s pretend your computer won’t boot because of a failing hard drive. The services required are as follows: recovery and transfer of important data, installation of a new hard drive, installation of an operating system, and migration of the previously transferred data.

Regardless of which company you get to service your computer, the services required are the same. A good computer repair company will also recommend a backup to prevent future frustration.

The part, the replacement hard drive, should not be much higher than what your local electronics store would charge. Most companies will charge 10 to 20 percent over cost. The convenience of having the part right away is worth the extra cost.

Then there’s the service charge, the cost of labor and expertise. Some technicians charge an hourly rate and some charge per service. An hourly rate is good if you have a good idea of how long a repair will take. The rate a technician charges varies widely, but you can be sure that an experienced technician knows his worth and will charge more to get things done right. A lower price doesn’t necessarily mean that the technician is inexperienced, but it could be a hint that their business model is based on volume. That might also mean that they will cut corners.

Companies that charge per service are good when you are looking for a solution but aren’t sure how long the service will take. A 2 hour service and a 5 hour service at $100 per hour is a big difference. When you pay per service, you know how much you will spend up front. They will give you an estimate after the diagnosis. The final invoice should be very close to the initial estimate. Any changes in cost should be agreed upon before moving forward.

Always look for a company who guarantees their work. The last thing you want is to pay for a service that doesn’t fix your problem. Usually companies that charge per hour do not refund you for hours worked. It’s more likely that you will get a problem-solved guarantee from a company that charges per service.

Another thing to keep in mind is that cheaper is not always better, nor do you always get what you pay for. The key is to do your research first. Read client testimonials. Are they believable? If the company has no reviews, you can assume that they either have very few clientele or they don’t want you to know what clients have to say about them. A little time invested in researching a company can save you a lot in terms of money and headache.

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Your new laptop may be at risk, and you have to protect it against the many dangers out there that may cut its lifespan short: soda or coffee spills, moisture building up inside the casing, and impact from being dropped, among others. The portability that makes your computer so convenient is also what puts it at risk from all these.

Now, just because your comp is portable, that doesn’t mean it’s made to withstand a lot of abuse from being moved around and used in different conditions. It still has parts that experience not only wear and tear from continuous use, but from threats that you can avoid to keep them in running condition.

First off, avoid using your laptop near liquids, especially very hot or very cold ones. High temperature liquids may be steaming, and some of that steam may find its way into your comp’s casing. It’s the same deal with very cold beverages: it may cause condensation. Be especially wary of sodas: these drinks are pretty toxic to your portable if you manage to get any on it. Sodas are especially destructive: they’re acidic, which may corrode connections, and even when they dry, they leave a sticky residue, which attracts dust.

While we’re talking about condensation, the weather is another factor that can affect the lifespan of your laptop. In regions with high humidity, like Florida or Los Angeles, moisture is especially hard to keep out of your laptop. Take precautionary measures by ising a moisture-proof case and wiping down your comp if you see “sweat” on its surface. If you take it from a very cold area (like your office) to a very hot and high-humidity one, it may fog up with condensation. Wait for your comp to dry before using it to avoid a shorted circuit.

The hard drive of your laptop can also be damaged from wear and tear- when it’s turned on, it spins up. Moving it around while it’s on can cause your hard drive to crash- if you can’t turn off your comp before putting it away and moving it around, at least put it in sleep mode, or even better, in hibernate. In these modes, the hard drive is powered down, and is safe from damage from excessive motion.

Finally, don’t use your laptop in bed and then leave it there. The bed and the pillows and sheets can prevent heat from being vented out of the sides and bottom. This increased temperature can cause permanent damage to the silicon chips in your computer.

A laptop might not be as durable as you think. While they were designed to be used in most places, they still have some components that are sensitive to things like liquid and moisture, and humidity in places like Los Angeles or Florida. Also, improper handling of the computer without shutting it down and overheating it can cause serious reductions in its lifespan.

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How We Fix Your Computer Problems

It was a Busy Day!

Mondays are usually our busiest day and today was no exception.  I had 4 PC’s to fix by the end of the day.  I started with the Sony VAIO, it had the “blue screen of death” problem.  Lucky for me, I had seen this error code before and knew it was the wireless NIC card.  I replaced the card with an external usb device and no more “blue screen of death”.

The second computer I got to was a dell desktop.  It would not power on.  We had a spare power supply lying around so I hooked it up to the PC.  It worked perfectly so I had to remove the old one and mounted the new one.

Third PC was an Acer laptop. It was having problem with it’s built-in wireless card. I hooked a wire to the ethernet port to see if it was a firewall on the laptop. The wire tested fine and I also did a virus scan. The virus scan was negative so I disabled the internal wireless card and connect a PC card. After several minutes of streaming audio test, the new card was the cure.

Fourth PC was also a laptop but this time it was from Gateway. The power would not turn on whether it was plugged or on battery. Checking the power cord, we quickly found the problem. A segment of the wire was stripped thus no power was going through it.

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Hard Drive Maintenance in Glendale

I arrived at a referred customer’s house in Glendale to look at an older computer that could not start up Windows XP properly.  After running a hard drive diagnostic program and fixing the problem, or so I thought, we were able to trace the problem to a video card error.  The family was ecstatic that they can surf the internet and email their friends and family again.  They were so happy at our service that they trusted us to fix their Power Mac Pro, a $4000 computer.  I explained that a Mac system is a lot more complicated that a PC and would require us to work on it back at the shop.

After several hours of taking everything apart and testing the components, we concluded that it was a faulty power supply.  Since the power supply was proprietary, we had to special or the unit.  It took the unit over a week to arrive.  We installed it, tested, and brought it back to the client’s house.  Once again, they were happy with the service and gave us another task.

This new task was to install and network router in their home so they can share the internet connection between the PC, XBox, and Mac.  Luckily I had an extra router in my car and was able to set it up for them without having to make another trip.

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This is the unboxing of the Blackberry Curve 8900 (Javelin) for T-Mobile. You can see a comparison between the 8900, the old 8700 and the old Blackberry Curve.

The official release date for the 8900 is February 11, 2009, but we received them early by calling T-Mobile and asking very nicely. These are only supposed to be release early to business accounts, but the option IS available on their upgrade screen. So FYI, they can do it it they want to, all they have to do is press the button. Some of the people you will talk to will not do it, some will.

I’ve been using my phone for a few days and I really like it. It is definitely an upgrade from my old 8700. My favorite features are the camera (very good quality), sound quality, speakerphone quality, screen resolution (very sharp, very bright), the keyboard is solid, the GPS is useful, can upgrade the memory to 16GB for music, pictures, movies, lots of apps to download. I’m getting used to the trackball. Just something about the old trackwheel/scrollwheel that was also very satisfying. The wifi is still too slow for my taste.

You can also watch the video of the unboxing in HD by double-clicking on the video, it will take you to YouTube, then choose “High Quality.”

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