Anti-reflective filter for 11.6 Notebook Computer Screen

My  HP Pavilion DM1-4108AU notebook  computer works well now I have more RAM and Linux running on it. But the 11.6 inch screen is very shiny, making it hard to read in a room with overhead lights and almost impossible to use outdoors. There are anti-reflection add on filters: Fellows and 3M Flat Panel Privacy Filter. The smallest Fellows filter appears to be for a 12.1 inch screen (3m have a 11.6 inch unit), but it looks like the plastic sheet can be cut down to a smaller size. These appear to consist of a sheet of tinted plastic (3M describe theirs as "microlouver privacy technology"), shiny on one side and textured on the other. You place the filter on textured side up if you want to cut down reflections. The plastic also has the effect of blocking viewing from an angle (thus "privacy filter"), but it is not clear to me how that is achieved. These filters are relatively expensive (about $25 for the 11 to 12 inch units) and I have not seen them stocked in Australian stores, although Office Choice offered to order one in for me. There are also anti-glare screen protector which do not claim a privacy function and start at about $5.

Installing Linux on a HP Pavilion DM1-4108AU

The screen broke on my trusty Kogan Agora and it was not feasible to repair. So I looked around for a similar unit: a low cost laptop with a screen between 11 and 12 inches, which is suitable for running Linux. I chose the HP Pavilion DM1-4108AU from JB HI-FI for $368. This has only 2GB of RAM and a 320 GB hard disk, the disk is upgradable but the RAM is not (there is a HP Pavilion dm1-4210us with 4GM RAM and a 500 GB disk). It has Windows 7 and so was selling a bit cheaper than the newer Windows 8 models. Linux can be installed, with WiFi needing an extra driver and the laptop is good apart from the shiny screen.

The HP Pavilion DM1-4108AU looks a lot more expensive than it costs, with a black and silver case (the silver highlights look like aluminum, but are painted plastic). My Kogan Agora looks down-market in comparison with a lot of plastic and screws, but has survived a fall onto a stone floor and is much easier to upgrade the hardware due to all the screws.

The case over the LCD screen on the HP is a little too flexible for my liking but the biggest problem is the shiny LCD screen and surround, making it more subject to reflections than the Kogan (but most small laptops now seem to have this problem). The HP's keypad is very good and it has a good range of ports (three USB, HDMI and VGA video), which is one reason I did not buy a Chromebook.

After reviewing J.A. Watson's excellent article about installing Linux on a similar HP model ("HP Pavilion dm1-4310e: Swapping Windows 8 for Linux"), I decided to try Mint Linux. This worked well, apart from the problem with WiFi, which Watson had noted. I also tried OpenSuSe Linux, which was equally impressive. To remove Linux and install another version I found the video "How to Safely Uninstall Linux with Windows Dual Boot" by Britecto be useful.

Ubuntu, came with a proprietary driver for the Broadcom WFi hardware BCM43103. I had been avoiding Ubuntu as I don't like the Unity interface (but you can install Gnome in ubuntu). Unfortunately even with the driver I still could not get WiFi to work.

Then I tried Puppy Linux. This was because of a comment on the Puppy Linux Discussion Forum saying that WiFi was slow on the HP DM1-4108 au, but at least it worked ("Wireless hp dm1-4108au Slow"). Normally I would not try such an unusual Linux version, but I was getting desperate. Puppy Linux is designed for running on old hardware and has been criticised for lack of security and applications. It runs fast but the installation process is not as polished as Mint, Ubuntu and OpenSuse.

The "Precise" version of Puppy is designed to be compatible with Ubuntu packages, to address the application issue. The Puppy ISO file downloaded very slowly (70kbps) and was not available from a local mirror site as it is so new (17 December 2012). This reminded me of the old days of dial-up modems, where software downloads could take much of a day. Unfortunately the Precise version did not work and so I tried "Slacko Puppy 5.4 final".

One curious problem I had was that I could not get the usual utility to write the Puppy ISO file to a USB drive. So I ended up using "Linux Live" on Windows 7. The WiFi worked, but was so slow as to be unusable. This showed me the WiFi could work, if I could get a suitable driver, so I went back to Mint Linux, as looked at how to load the correct driver for the Broadcom. The posting " Possible fix for wireless: BCM4313 (14e4:4727) on hp dm1 laptop with Ubuntu 11.10" suggested the wl driver not "brcmsmac":

Then save the file. Reboot, and then go into Ubuntu Software Centre again - search "bcm" and reinstall bcmwl-kernel-source and then broadcom-sta-source and broadcom-sta-common. ...

I then had Mint Linux working with the WiFi. While all this involved downloading many Linux distribution files, it had to be kept in perspective. I did spend a lot of time waiting for various Linuxes to boot. But I spent even more time waiting for Windows 7 to download updates and install them.

The Mint Linux ISO installation file is about 1 GB compares to about 300 MB for most others. But Mint comes with many extra packages which you have to download separately with other Linux distributions. It is still not without problems. It is odd that I still have to search the web to find out how to make the text large enough to read on a small screen for Linux and various packages. Given that there will be more people with poor eyesight as the population gets older, this is something open source developers need to address. Here I am not talking about special magnifier applications, just one place I can set the font size larger and have each application adjust accordingly.

I doubled the Resolution Dots Per Inch  in Appearance > Fonts > Details (making the text twice as large). But this did not make the text large enough to read in received email in Thunderbird, or on web pages in Firefox.

One catch with the HP DM1 computers is that they come with one of two different processors: Intel or AMD. The DM1-4108AU has the AMD processor and according to the "HP Pavilion dm1 Entertainment PC: Maintenance and Service Guide" (page 2) and has two RAM slots, whereas the Intel has only one. See "How to upgrade a dm1-4108au memory to 4Gig?" along with the showing how to get the back off the computer to install more RAM.

Large Screen Netbooks Better for Students than Tablets

Samsung have released a range of  small low cost laptop computers running the Google Chrome operating system. The cheapest is But more practical looking is the $450 Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. This has a 12.1 inch screen and is the size of laptop I use and have found ideal for university study. It is small enough to fit in a bag alongside an A4 pad and has a big enough keyboard to be usable. There is no point in having a smaller tablet computer with a 10 inch screen, as by the time you a carry case and a keyboard, it is not much smaller than the laptop and costs more.

The Smasung computer runs Google's Chrome operating system, which has been an unpopular cousin to Google Android. The unit has a low performance processor and limited memory compared to a larger laptop, but comparable to tablet computers.

The  Kogan Agora Laptop I use has a full version of Linux and more storage, but still only cost about $400.

Kogan Agora Laptop at Sydney Linux User Group

The Sydney Linux User Group (SLUG) invited me to give a lightening talk at their meeting last Friday, 24 June 2011. SLUG meetings are always interesting and have the bonus of being held at Google's Sydney's office. Here is a summary of what I said (or wanted to say):

Kogan Ultra Portable Agora 12" Laptop

Three models:

1. Solid State Disk model: 30GB SATA Solid State Hard Drive, Google's Chromium OS, 1GB Ram, $349 + delivery
   
2. Standard model: 250GB Disk, Ubuntu 11.04 OS, 1GB Ra, $349 + delivery
3. PRO Model: 500GB Disk, Ubuntu 11.04 OS, 2GB Ram, $389 + delivery

Common features in all models:

1. Intel Pentium Processor (SU2700) - 2M Cache, 1.30 GHz, 800 MHz FSB
2. 11.6" WXGA Widescreen LED back-light LCD Display, 1366 x 768 (16:9), VGA and HDMI video out sockets,
   
3. 2 speakers, 1 Microphone, audio in and out sockets, and 1.3 Mpixel Webcam.
4. 802.11 B/G/N WiFi, Bluetooth (Not Compatible with Chromium OS, but Bluetooth works fine with Linux) .
5. SD/MMC/MS Pro Card Reader, 3 USB and 1 Ethernet socket
6. 4 Cell, 4600mAh Battery
7. Dimensions: W:29.0cm x D:19.5cm x H:2.56cm, Weight: 1.32kg

I purchased the "pro" model.

Features

• Value for money generic hardware: The hardware looks good in comparison with laptops costing hundreds of dollars more. The laptop has panels covering the hard disk and RAM on the back of the unit allowing easy upgrade.
  
• Bigger than a netbook, but smaller than a laptop: The unit is about the size of an A4 page and as thick of two pads of paper, so it will fit in a school bag. Even so, the 11.6 inch screen is significantly larger than a 10 inch netbook, as is the keyboard. This is a keyboard and screen which could be comfortably used all day.
  
• Comes with Open Source Applications: The unit comes with office productivity and other applications pre-installed and read to go.
• Good after sales service on hardware: The power supply of my previous Kogan netbook was replaced promptly, with no questions asked, when it failed.
  

Problems

• Unity User Interface: "Unity" attempts to provide an Apple iPad like interface on Linux, but fails to have the iPad's elegance and ease of use. In addition the interface has bugs making it hard to use and drains battery life. Selecting Ubuntu classic interface (no effects) from the login screen solves this problem, by reverting to a traditional GUI, which works fine on the Agora's relatively large screen.
  
• Limited Battery Life: Kogan claims approximately 3.5 hours battery life. The real world life is two hours with the Unity interface and 2.75 hours with the classic interface.
• Evolution email package: The "Evolution" email package attempts to provide calendar and email features in one integrated package, but is slow and unreliable. Replacing this with Mozilla Thunderbird email solved the problems.
• Limited Software Support: Kogan seem to have simply installed the generic Linux installation on the hardware without customization or tuning. The user is essentially reliant on a small number of fellow Agora users for DIY support. Kogan should sponsor a user group for its products, to make a virtue of a necessity.
  

Recommendation

For a low cost ultra-portable laptop consider purchasing the Kogan Agora Laptop Solid State Disk model and adding 1 GB RAM yourself. The solid state disk should extend the unit's battery life. Replace Google's Chromium OS with Linux yourself, if you need a full function operating system. Use the classic GUI (without effects) and Thunderbird email package in place of Unity and Evolution.

Kogan should consider offering the Solid State Disk model with 2GB RAM and a version of Linux with the "classic" interface switched on by default and Thunderbird as the default email package. Kogan should sponsor a user group for its products, to to encourage user support.

Kogan Agora Laptop Better with Classic Interface and Flash Disk

ABC TV's Q&A (apparently pronounced "QanDa") on 20 June 2011 featured on-line electronics retailer Ruslan Kogan. He did okay. But regardless what I think of his TV performance I do like his computers. On 10 June I took delivery of a Kogan Agora PRO 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer. The minimalist on-line store and the minimalist packaging impressed me almost as much as the modest design of the hardware. Kogan's business and the products have been pared down to give the customer what they want and no more. In this case a very plain cardboard box with a very generic looking black laptop, with a very generic version of Linux on it.

The lightweight laptop form provides a 11.6 inch screen and a good size keyboard, sufficient for a days work, but small enough to fit in a bag with a pad of A4 paper. The LED back-light screen is very readable. This would make a good laptop for a student, if a few battery and interface problems could be fixed.

My favorable impressions of the hardware changed when I discovered the battery only lasted about 2 hours, much less than the claimed 3.5 hours. However, more of a problem was the new "Unity" interface of the Ubuntu Linux software installed.

Unity attempts to provide an interface which makes maximum use of the limited space on a netbook screen. However, the Kogan has a relatively large 11.6 inch screen and so does not need a compact interface. Also the way the interface saves space is to strip off the borders around windows, the titles and menu bars from them. This has not been implemented consistently across the applications which make up Linux.

Even applications which are provided by default with Ubuntu had problems. The "Evolution" email package's setup menus did not work correctly: clicking on one icon actives the icon below it and attempting to click on a button instead causes the window to scroll.

I was ready to send the laptop back for a refund when one of my colleagues suggested switching back to the Ubuntu classic (no effects) user interface. This can be done from the login screen, without changing software. It transformed my experience of the laptop. The borders and menus reappeared around windows and the menu items I clicked on activated. The responsiveness of the machine improved noticeably. Also the battery life increased by 45 minutes, due to the interface not making intensive use of graphics, for effects such as translucent menus.

While the menus in "Evolution" now worked, it still did some strange things and I decided to switch to the simpler Mozilla Thunderbird email package.

The laptop still has limitations, the major one being the limited battery life (now 2 hours and 45 minutes and less than the claimed 3 hours and 30 minutes). I tried a number of other Linux power saving tips, but most of these seem to have already been incorporated into the newest versions of Linux.

One option left to consider is a flash Laptop Solid State Drive. The flash drive will save a little power when running, but more importantly would allow the laptop to be switched off more often, as it can be switched on more quickly.

Ironically, a cheaper model of the Agora is offered with a 30 GB solid state drive. But this has only 1 GB of RAM and comes with the Google Chromium OS. I did not want to have to install a different operating system and more RAM myself, but in retrospect, that would have been easier than the changes I have to make to get Ubuntu to work properly.

Devolved email improves Kogan Agora Laptop

After lowering power use on my Kogan Agora Laptop, by reverting to an older graphical user interface, I have now increased the performance of email by switching from the default "Evolution" email package to the less featured Mozilla Thunderbird.

Evolution has calendar functions which I did not want and so just added to the complexity of the interface. It also tended to spend a lot of time downloading copies of email over my slow wireless link. Thunderbird just does email, but does it much quicker. So far I have not worked out how to switch off the Evolution icon from the top of the screen. When I am confident Thunderbird is working properly, I will un-install Evolution, which hopefully will remove all trace of it.

Lowering Power use on the Kogan Agora Laptop

I changed the graphical user interface on my Kogan Agora Laptop and increased the battery time by 45 minutes. This is still a relatively short 2 hours and 45 minutes (much less than the claimed 3.5 hours). So I tried some some power reduction advice. The suggested CPU Frequency Scaling applet did not work, reporting that the CPU frequency was fixed. However, I was able to install the "powertop" application. Here are the suggestions it made:

1. Disable the unused bluetooth interface with the following command: hciconfig hci0 down ; rmmod hci_usb
2. enable HD audio powersave mode by executing the following command:
   echo 1 > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save
   or by passing power_save=1 as module parameter
3. Suggestion: Enable USB autosuspend for non-input devices by pressing the U key
4. Suggestion: Enable wireless power saving mode by executing the following command:
   iwconfig wlan0 power timeout 500ms
5. Suggestion: Enable SATA ALPM link power management via:
   echo min_power > /sys/class/scsi_host/host0/link_power_management_policy
   or press the S key.
6. Enable the CONFIG_INOTIFY kernel configuration option.
   

I tried all of these, except turning off Bluetooth, as I occasionally want to use a Bluetooth device and CONFIG_INOTIFY as apparently this is not needed for new versions of Linux. But even so, I found the Bluetooth light which was on the whole time previously is now off, unless I am actively using a Bluetooth device. The "enable HD audio powersave mode" appears this may only work under very limited conditions.

Powertop also reported:

1. The program 'firefox-bin' is writing to file 'ECRYPTFS_FNEK_ENCRYPTED.FXZX1as' on /dev/sda1.
   This prevents the disk from going to powersave mode.
2. The program 'rs:main Q:Reg' is writing to file 'syslog' on /dev/sda1.
   This prevents the disk from going to powersave mode.
3. The program 'upowerd' is writing to file 'history-rate-Kogan_Agora-38-SN0' on /d
   ev/sda1.
   This prevents the disk from going to powersave mode.
   

Top causes for wakeups:
33.2% (137.7) PS/2 keyboard/mouse/touchpad interrupt
31.9% (132.1) npviewer.bin
17.1% ( 70.9) [extra timer interrupt]
5.1% ( 21.1) firefox-bin

It was frustrating that these suggestions flashed on the screen for a few seconds and then disappeared.

However, there may be a fault in my Kogan's battery or charger, as after several hours the system reports it will still be another 50 minutes before the battery is fully charged.

Fixing Problems with Kogan Agora Laptop

Yesterday, the problems with my Kogan Agora Laptop had reached the point where I was considering sending it back. The battery lasts 2 hours, much less than the claimed 3.5 hours. The new "Unity" Ubuntu interface was proving very hard to use.

But just after I wrote that post, Srinivas Chemboli dropped in to ask how the Kogan was going. He pointed out that I could select the Unbuntu classic (no effects) interface at the logon screen. This restores the borders around windows and the pull down menus I had been missing. He also pointed out that the "no effects" version does not use transparency and other graphics effects (which I find annoying anyway) and so reduces the processing and therefore power consumption.

Switching to the classic interface eliminated my problems with the interface and also seemed to make the computer a little more responsive. This morning I tried using the laptop after a full charge, with WiFi, web browser and email. The system ran for 2 hours and 43 minutes, 45 minutes longer than before. This cannot all be attributed to the changed user interface as while I was at it, I removed start up tasks:

1. Bluetooth Manager: I rarely use Bluetooth. But I did noticed the Bluetooth light is still on and so this has not switched of the hardware.
   
2. Evolution alarm notify: I do not use such alarm functions and will probably switch from "Evolution" back to a pure email package.
   
3. Remote desktop: Not using GNOME remote desktop, and its sounds like a security risk anway.
4. Ubuntu One: Not using Unbuntu One cloud storage.
   
5. Visual assistance: Not using assistance technology
   
6. Zeitgeist Datahub: Something used by the Unity interface.
   
7. Personal File Sharing: Shares files over Bluetooth. Sounds like a security risk.

I am not happy with the user interface and the battery life, while still not up to the claimed rating is better. I will investigate other software changes I can make, before considering upgrading with a Laptop Solid State Drive, or sending the unit back. There is some power reduction advice to work from.

Problems with Kogan Agora 12" Laptop Computer

My initial impressions of the Kogan Agora PRO 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer" were favorable. But after spending a weekend with it, I am considering if I should send the unit back and get my money refunded. The major problem with the hardware is that the battery only lasts about 2 hours, much less than the claimed 3.5 hours. This is when undemanding applications, such as the web browsers and with energy saving features, such as shutting down the hard disk and dimming the back-light when the unit is idle. However, more of a problem is the new "Unity" Ubuntu interface.

Unity attempts to provide an interface which make maximum use of the limited space on a netbook screen. However, the Kogan has a relatively large 11.6 inch screen and so does not really need a compact interface. Also the way the interface saves space is to strip off the borders around windows, the titles and menu bars from them. This has not been implemented consistently across the separate applications which make up Linux. The result is I spent a lot of time looking at disembodied parts of a document floating in the middle of something else on the screen.

Some applications have not been properly implemented to use this interface, for example the "Evolution" email package's setup menus do not work correctly: clicking on one icon actives the icon below it and attempting to click on a button instead causes the window to scroll.

It would be understandable if these problems occurred with Linux applications I downloaded myself, but these problems are occurring with the basic set of applications provided with the computer by default. This is a surprise as the software of my previous Kogan 10" netbook worked well.

Kogan Agora 12" Laptop Computer: First Impressions

My "Kogan Agora PRO 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer" was due at the end of May, but arrived 10 June (Kogan warned me there was a delay). The unit arrived in a very simple but stury packaging: a brown cardboard box, about the size of a briefcase. This contained the laptop, the battery, a power supply, power cord and a note to say the manual was online.

The laptop looks very similar to the previous Kogan 10" Netbook, which I have. While the new unit has a screen 1.6 inches bigger than the old, the case is the same depth and only about 20mm wider. It fits in the neoprene sleeve I purchased for the previous unit and in a carry bag designed for A4 notebooks.

The unit has a flat black body, with a shiny overlay on the top and "Kogan" in silver. I would have preferred not to have the brand name prominently displayed, to reduce the risk of theft. There is no latch on the lid, but the hinge is firm and appears sturdy. There are panels on the bottom of the unit for easy access to the hard disk, WiFi and memory modules.

There is a flat keyboard with large keys in a good layout. There is a small track-pad under the keyboard, which is usable, but could be bigger. The mouse buttons are incorporated one chrome plated bar under the touch pad. I would prefer two separate buttons in black, but the bar is usable.

There is a chrome bar above the keyboard, with a row of small lights, plus buttons for WiFi, power (and third button with no apparent purpose).

The screen has a broad matt black surround, with a microphone and camera above the display. The screen has a matt anti-reflective coating and is very readable, with a bright LED backlight. There is a large chrome "kogan" brand below the display, which detracts from the overall look of quality of the unit.

Turning the unit on displays the usual BIOS start-up and a very much simplified Linux setup. I was promoted for a user-id and password and asked if I wanted to encrypt the home directory (which I did), then keyboard type, location and a few other items.

The new "Unity" Ubuntu interface will take some getting used to. The vertical column of buttons on the side of the screen are too small and blurry (I have found no way to increase their size or make them higher contrast). The absence of OpenOffice.org was a shock. I will try the provided LibreOffice derivative of OOO, but this seems to be a matter of politics, rather than good software design. Apart from that this it is just generic laptop hardware, running Linux, which is what I want.

Overall, so far I am very happy with the unit. While only a little bigger than a 10 inch netbook when closed, it seems to grown in size when open, with a very comfortable keyboard and screen. This should be a very good unit for students, who need a laptop they can carry around in a bag, but with a screen and keyboard big enough to use.

One issue may be battery life: at under three hours, this is a bit short. Unlike the 10" Kogan, there is no extended battery option. One alternative would be to purchase the slightly cheaper Kogan Google Chromium OS Laptop, which has a 30GB solid state flash drive, and so would use less power. But it has only 1 GB RAM and the Google Chromium OS, however a user installed hardware and software upgrade should not be too difficult.

Ordered a Kogan Agora 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer

I have ordered a "Kogan Agora PRO 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer" (which actually has a 11.6 Inch screen), due at the end of May. My current Kogan 10" Netbook has mostly worked well since mid 2009. The after sales service has been very good, with Kogan replacing the power supply, no questions asked. But the screen and keyboard are just a bit too small for day to day use.

For me the 11 to 12 inch laptops seem the idea size: large enough to have a reasonable size keyboard and screen, but still small enough to carry, with a unit about the size of an A4 pad of paper. I bought the netbook because my previous laptop failed and I needed something in a hurry. The netbook was going to be a stopgap, but turned out to work better than expected.

It looks like the new laptop will fit in the neoprene slip case and carry bag I bought for the netbook. The slip case would be easy enough to replace, but the leather carry bag I got from a bag maker's shop in a basement near the Acropolis in Athens (I wanted one which looked like a saddle bag for a donkey). That would be a long way to go back, just to buy another bag. ;-)

This looks a good size computer for education. My hope is that it will arrive by 27 May, in time for me to show it off at the "Using interactive whiteboards, iPads and other technologies for teaching" workshop at ANU. What is getting lost in the enthusiasm for tablet computers and the like is that university students will probable require an old fashioned desktop or laptop computer as well. It would be very difficult to write a multi thousand word assignment on a tablet computer with a ten inch screen and virtual keyboard. It would be just about possible on a laptop with an 11.6 inch screen and a real keyboard.

Agora 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer

Kogan have announced an "Agora PRO 12" Ultra Portable Laptop Computer" (which actually has a 11.6) for $389. This looks like a larger screen version of the 10 inch Linux netbook they sold previously (and was mostly good).

I have been using the smaller Kogan Netbook for a year and it has worked well. The power supply failed, but Kogan sent me a new one, no questions asked. The limitation with the Netbook was the small screen and keyboard, which the new model addresses, without making it too big to carry around.

Specifications
Model Number:	KALTP12PROAA
Processor:	Intel Celeron M ULV Processor (SU2300) - 1M Cache, 1.20 GHz, 800 MHz FSB
Memory:	2GB DDR2 Ram (support up to 4GB)
Operating System:	Ubuntu 11.04
Hard Drive:	500GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
Video Card:	Intel® GS40 integrated (Shared memory - 256MB)
Sound:	HD Audio, Built-In 2 speakers and 1 Microphone
Monitor:	11.6" WXGA Widescreen HD LED Display
Resolution:	1366 x 768 (16:9)
Webcam:	1.3M
Wireless Card:	802.11 B/G/N
Bluetooth:	Built in
Card Reader:	3-in-1 (SD/MMC/MS Pro)
Security:	Kensington® Lock
Keyboard:	78 keys with 19.05mm key pitch and 2.0±0.5mm key stroke
Inputs
USB:	3
LAN:	1
Microphone:	1
Outputs
Headphone:	1
VGA:	1
HDMI®:	1
Battery
Capacity:	4 Cell, 4600mAh
Type:	Polymer
Battery Life:	Approx 3.5 hours
AC:	AC 110~240V, DC 19V @ 65W AC Adapter
Weight & Dimensions
Dimensions of Laptop (approx):	W:29.0cm x D:19.5cm x H:2.56cm
Weight of Laptop - Net (approx):	1.32kg
Weight of Laptop - Gross (approx):	1.52kg
What's In The Box:
	Kogan Agora Laptop
	Power Cable
	Link to User Manual

Netbook for students

A friend recently asked me for advice on what portable computer to buy. They are doing postgraduate studies and need a computer they can use at home on the kitchen table and carry to the university. It has to run the usual office suite of applications and the SPSS statistical analysis package. This is now well within the range of just about any consumer level PC or laptop. I suggested the major criterion to decide on was screen and keyboard size.

The computer I use is a netbook with a wide format 10 inch screen (similar to those issued to NSW school students). This is very portable, but the screen can display only about half an A4 page. The keyboard is also cramped. At my university and home offices I have a large external monitor, keyboard and mouse, so only use the netbook's screen and keyboard when at a seminar.

The 10 inch screen netbook is too small to recommend to upper secondary school or adult students. At the other extreme I see people daily struggle with 15 inch laptops. These are good as replacements for desktop computers, but are not very portable. These will not fit in a reasonably sized satchel, so you have to have a second, special, large computer bag. This is something you will have to make a conscious effort to take with you. Also a 15 inch computer will not fit on a lecture theatre desk (or an economy airline seat tray table).

For my friend I suggested an 11.6 inch or 13.3 inch laptop. The 11.6 inch screen is large enough to display the contents of an A4 page (minus the 20 mm margin usually around a printed page) and the 13.3 inch screen a whole A4 page. With the larger screens you also get a full size QWERTY keyboard.

The 11.6 inch screen would be my preference, as this size computer will fit in a small shoulder bag designed for A4 size paperwork, with just a soft slip case to protect it. You can leave the notebook computer in your bag all the time and not have to remember to take it with you. Or you can take the computer with its slip case out and carry it on its own.

In terms of brand and model of computer, I suggested buying whatever friends and colleagues have. It does not matter how superior the computer you buy is, if everyone around you has something else you will have difficulties. If you have the same brand you can ask for help.

In buying a notebook the first issue is the operating system: Apple Mac person, Microsoft Windows or Linux? In theory it is possible to run Microsoft Windows on an Apple Mac computer, but if all around you are using Windows software, why make things difficult for yourself? In this case my friend's workplace used Windows computers, so that was the natural choice.

The next issue is the brand of computer. My advice was, as with operating system, buy what your friends and colleagues have. In this case the workplace had Dell computers and there was a discount scheme for staff to buy them. So I suggested a Dell, much like buying a standard fleet car: not exciting, but easy to live with.

Dell has an "Inspiron" range would do for a student:

1. Inspiron M101z Netbook: This has a 11.6 inch screen, which some might find a bit small (this is the size of the small Apple laptops). About $750. Review.
2. Inspiron M301z Netbook: Larger 13.3 inch screen. About $850. Review.

Neither of these have a DVD drive built in. The Dell external DVD drive is about $169, but you can get a third party one from your local computer store for under $100, if you need one. As an alternative Dell offer online backup storage. If set up properly, this could save a student a lot of trouble (I have seen a Professor in a panic when the draft of their new textbook was deleted).

Dell Inspiron Duo Tablet Netbook

The Dell Inspiron Duo is a Netbook computer with a flip over 10 inch screen, converting it to a touch screen tablet PC. Dell are taking orders for Christmas. No test units are avialable yet, so it is not clear how well the flip screen will work.

Reviews of the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t, which has a rotatable screen to turn it from a netbook to a tablet have not been favourable. While these units have the footprint of an Apple iPad, they are much thicker and heavier, due to them having a keyboard, hard disk and Atom processor (which in turn needs a bigger, heavier battery).

A better alternative for a convertible netbook/tablet might might be a unit with a thin membane (rubber) keyboard, which folds back 360 degrees, to the back the pad. The robber of the keyboard would be comfortable to hold.

Dell OptiPlex 160 Tiny Desktop

Dell are now offering the OptiPlex 160 "Tiny Desktop". This is more commonly known as a "Net Top" computer, being made by taking the low power Intel Atom processor used in a netbook computer and putting it in a desktop case.

These units intended for point of sale applications and users running one undemanding application at a time (for example just web browsing). While capable of running Microsoft Windows, they would be better suited to Linux. Even the customer reviews on Dell's web site warn that the unit is too slow for high resolution video display.

The University of Canberra Library uses the OptiPlex 160 for online catalogue access. This application suits the low power unit as it requires running just one web browser window. In this application the unit was very responsive and was able to display some Flash animations without problems (I was not able to test video).

There are perhaps better and cheaper Nettop computers available, such as the ASRock, but these lack the corporate brand name of Dell.

iPads at Moodle e-Learning Event

Greetings from the wrap-up session of the MoodlePosium at Australian National University in Canberra. Of the twelve people I can see around me in the audience, six have devices in front of them. Three have iPads, one an iPhone, one laptop and I have a netbook. Looking at how these devices fit on the small flip-up desk provided in the lecture theatre, the iPads are the least conspicuous. It would be difficult for the presenter to tell if the audience was using an iPad or a paper notebook, when the iPad is flat on the desk.

However, I found using the the iPad virtual keyboard clumsy and the screen reflections from overhead lights painful. One delegate had a very elegant blue-tooth keyboard and their iPad propped up as a portrait format screen. This was very elegant but very conspicuous.

The iPhone user is hand holding the device. The laptop user has the unit covering the full surface of the small desk with the screen hanging out into space.

A 10 inch netbook seems to fit very well in this environment, not covering the whole desk. An alternative would be the Kensington KeyFolio Case for iPad, which has a built in rubber Bluetooth keyboard. This turns the iPad into a netbook format device.

iPad Case with Keyboard

Accessory company PADACS are offering the PADACS Toccata Keyboard case for the Apple iPad. This is a cover for the iPad, with a built in stand to allow it to be propped up on a desk. That feature is provided with many iPad cases, but this one adds a Bluetooth keyboard, so the iPad then looks and works like a netbook. The keyboard can be charged via USB. Of course this makes me wonder why not just buy a netbook, some of which now come with multi-touch screens, for about half the price?

No Low Cost Indian Solar Powered iPad for Students

Vodafone launched the VF 247 solar powered mobile phone handset in India last month. In response, The Green ICT Review, claimed this was part of a trend to solar powered ICT in India. That may be overstating the case, as like anywhere,people in India will use solar power where it is cost effective and convenient to do so.

Apart from a solar panel on the back of the batter pack, the VF 247 is an ordinary 2G mobile phone. There have been after-market battery packs with solar panels built in before. They simply clip in place of the standard battery to make a solar powered phone. But these have not proved popular, as the phone must be left face down in the sun for about an hour a day to keep it charged. There would be few locations where there owner would be willing to leave their phone lying in the sun.

The Green ICT Review also reported the Indian government is pressing for mobile phone cell towers to be converted from diesel to solar power. Solar mobile cell towers make sense (Telstra has used solar cells for telecommunications in the Australian outback for decades). However, until recently this as too expensive for most applications. The cost of the cells are going down, the power needed for a cell tower is reducing and the price of diesel is increasing. But the towers will need large banks of batteries for cloudy days, which increases the capital and maintenance costs.

One application for ICT solar power not mentioned in the article is for business computer users. On a visit to India I noted large banks of lead acid batteries in the Internet cafes to provide for power outages (even a convent had battery backup). The people running these cafes are very aware of cost and technically proficient (as are the nuns). An obvious step is to use a solar panel to charge their backup batteries. As soon as it is cost effective to use solar cells, I am sure they will. However, it must be kep in mind that their are higher priorities than power for phones or computers: people would like reliable lighting for night time.

The Green ICT Review also points out that the Indian Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, announced plans for a Indian touchscreen tablet computer for higher education. This is described as an iPad-type device which could be solar powered. This is claimed to cost £23 when avialable in 2011. while there is discussion of co-development of the device, it is more likely that the minister has in mind to work with a company which will select an existing design from a manufacturer in China, as Kogan has done in Australia with its e-book reader.

There are numerous Linux based tablet computers now being released for around $AU200. A price of $AU40 sounds a little low, even allowing for mass production. I would expect a price of $AU100 to be more likely. As discussed in an interview ("Apple iPad to trigger tablet frenzy as Libretto, BlackPad and Android devices hit market", Byron Vale, The Sunday Mail (Qld),8 August 2010), I have doubts as to the value of a tablet device for students. A netbook with a keyboard, for the same cost, would be more useful.

India has experimented with low cost hand held tablet computers before. The Simputer PDA used open source hardware and Linux. The Mobilis, was essentially a Simputer PDA with a bigger screen and rubber keyboard. Neither was successful as a mass market product, but Encore Software Limited, who make the Mobilis offered the SATHI (Situation Awareness and Tactical Handheld Information): essentially a battlefield version of the Simputer.

Testing and Tagging at Conference

One of the more unusual requirements as presenter at Moodle Moot Au 2010 was to have my netbook tested for electrical safety. I was worried this would be a long and slow process, with my having to find an electrician in the basement of the conference centre. But there were three technicians from Jim’s Test & Tag Australia, each with test equipment, next to the conference registration desk.

The technician first examined the power supply, then attached two electrodes, pressed a button on the test unit, waited a few seconds and looked at a screen. They then pressed another button and a label was printed to be attached to the lead. As my power supply has a removable mains cable, this process had to be repeated for that cable and also for my 3G router, which has its own plug-pack. Even so the whole process only took a couple of minutes.

This all seems a little excessive, as laptops use double insulated external power supplies. These are designed to an international safety standard. Even if there was a failure in the unit, my laptop itself is encased in insulating plastic. About the worst which would happen is the computer would be destroyed by excessive voltage, without harming the operator. But better to be safe than sorry, and at international conferences there is an assortment of equipment brought along with electrical connections of uncertain origin. While I may feel safe from my laptop, I don't know about the one the person next to me brought along.

Hanvon eBook Reader with handwritten notes

The Hanvon WISEreader N526 eBook Reader allows for handwritten notes to be made on screen with a stylus. This includes scribbling over the text of an e-book. The unit also has a small QWERTY keyboard and looks much like an Amazon Kindle.

However the unit has only has a 5 inch screen, which would make note taking and typing difficult. Also at $398 from Officeworks, this costs more than a much more functional 10 inch screen netbook with a colour touch screen.