Why I Bought My Surface 4 Intel Core i7 - 32GB Memory - 1TB SSD

Buying My New Laptop Microsoft Surface 4

I have been using my current laptop, an ASUS ZenBook Flip S UX370UA, for over 4 years. It still works and runs perfectly, but got notoriously slow for video editing. After researching a few other brands, I decided to go with Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 4.

Other brands that came close on my list are Lenovo and Dell, but I found it hard to pick one that offered 32 Gig RAM with an i7 processor and 1 TB space. Lenovo had one that came very close, but it was bulky and the price was not reasonable.

I was thinking of bumping up my RAM power to 32GB RAM from my old Asus Zenbook’s 16GB RAM. I chose 32GB RAM and a 15-inch screen, so it's slightly bigger than my Asus Zenbook’s 13.5 inch.

32GB of RAM costs $2849.99 (SALE saves CAD $300) before taxes. 16GB of RAM costs $2149.99 (SALE saves CAD $200) before taxes. These are Intel Core i7 processors. So, I paid $700 more just to get higher RAM and in the world of video editing this can make a big difference.

So far, everything has been going smooth with my new Surface 4. This is a sleek, skinny laptop that shows it is high end and performance-wise I can feel the difference in extra RAM power. I converted to Windows 11 from Windows 10 and it runs even better now.

My expectation is that my Surface 4 will serve me at least 5 years and anything beyond that is a bonus. What I have noticed is that these days computer and phone manufacturers make products in such a way that they don’t break but get so slow that it’s no longer usable – forcing consumers to buy new ones.

I am sharing my Surface 4 experience on my YouTube Channel here:

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 | Tips, Tricks, & The Basics

Two Best Brain Training Apps

Brain Game Apps

First Published Date: August 3, 2015

Today, I am not here to argue for or against brain training games – whether they are effective or not. The Stanford University Center on Longevity and the Berlin Max Planck Institute for Human Development released a statement in the past signed by 70 scientists mentioning there is no proof that brain games improve cognitive performance or prevent cognitive slowing and brain disease. You can read a lengthy article here on this. On the other hand, if you visit brain training app websites, they have various reports by scientists showing that brain games work. So, I wouldn’t worry or argue about who is right or who is wrong. The reason I play these games is because of the challenges they present and I find it a good way to entertain myself.

Today, I will talk about 2 games I find very exhilarating and they are the best two apps I came across.

Peak: Peak games focus on improving language skills, mental agility, problem solving, focus and memory. You can let the app know your profession and it will show you how you are doing compared to others in the same line of work. Peak is designed by neuroscientists and cognitive scientists from Yale, Princeton, and U. of Cambridge. Peak is a highly engaging game with great sound and eye-catching aesthetics. What I like about Peak is that anyone who has the basic knowledge of how to read can play this game. This game comes in both a free and a paid version and I play the free version sometimes.

Elevate: Apple selected Elevate as app of the year for 2014 and I can see why. Elevate takes a different approach than other brain games focusing on reading comprehension, grammatical errors, vocabulary, mathematics, and so on. What I noticed about Peak is that this is not a game for someone with basic reading knowledge, as it is highly engaging in grammar, mathematics, reading, writing and listening comprehension, etc. This games comes in both a free and a paid version and I have the paid version and try to play it regularly, as each daily session is short and I can finish them very fast.

There are so many other brain training apps out there. You can install a few of them and try it for a few days to see which ones you like most.

Mobilicity Customers: Time to Run From Rogers

Mobilicity – Now That’s Not Smart

First Published Date: June 29, 2015

Although the government keeps praising the recent Rogers-Mobilicity deal as a big WIN for Canadians, most of the Mobilicity customers would view it otherwise. There is a lot of talk about the “Spectrum” swap to make Wind Mobile nation’s fourth carrier to compete with the big three brothers. But for those 150,000 Mobilicity customers it’s a deal to gobble them up by the same giant they wanted to get rid of in the first place.

The drive behind Rogers buying Mobilicity is not because Rogers’ interest in Mobilicity’s existing clients, but because of the spectrum it can gets hands on. Regardless what the government says, it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that this deal means more control in Rogers’ hand and less competition.

If you need an example of what happens to those great monthly affordable plans after a big company buying a small competitor, you don’t need to look further than Telus buying Public Mobile. The affordable plans Public Mobile used to offer are all gone since the takeover and the same thing is bound to happen with Mobilicity very shortly.

When Mobilicity customers signed up with this small player offering affordable plans (although with a terrible signal), their main intention was to escape from a big brother and save some money. Some of the customers could not even afford to have a plan with a big brother and they had some relief subscribing to a new company which is not a part of the big brothers that have been monopolizing and terrorizing Canadian mobile markets ever since.

So what now? These unfortunate and stranded 150,000 subscribers are back to where they started and will be eaten alive by the same giant they were running away from. The only option that seems to remain open now is to run – again.

D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual-Band Router Review

D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual-Band Router Review

First Published Date: December 17, 2013 ADawnJournal.com

D-Link Router Review

The last router I bought was probably ten years ago and so much has changed since then. What routers can do these days were unthinkable 10 years ago. So it was about time to upgrade my router.

When I hit Staples to check what kinds of routers are available, I was surprised to see so many different versions and different bands. For example, I did not know that computer maker Asus makes routers these days as well. After going through a myriad of choices, I picked the D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual-Band Router.

Some of the Features

– Next generation 802.11 AC technology. It offers 3x speed than 802.11N.

– Dual band capability. You will have two different wireless Internet from the same router on two different bands at Up to 300Mbps (2.4GHz) + and 867Mbps (5GHz) speeds.

– There are apps to video monitor, control home network, stream digital files, and setup your router from your phone or tablet.

What I Like

– Initial setup is very simple and easy. If you install the smart phone app (QRS Mobile) and follow instructions, it takes about 3 minutes.

– Dual band comes very handy for different sets of tasks. For example, I use one for regular Internet use and the other band for streaming (to watch Netflix, TV, etc.).

What I Don’t Like

– All other smart phone apps (except QRS Mobile) are very user unfriendly and do not work properly.

– You need to go through a complicated registration process to use mydlink Lite app and most people will give up after going through half way.

Last Word

Although AC1200 Dual-Band Router is a pricey one, it’s worth its price. It provides a very powerful WiFi signal and you should not need to buy another router in at least 10 years.

$3.30 Per Month Home Phone Plan?

VOIP Home Phone Offers Incredible Savings

Published Date : August 14, 2013

Is it possible to have a home phone service from $3.30 to $4.95 per month in Canada? If you think of a home phone literally connected by wire to the phone companies such Bell or Rogers, it is impossible to have a phone service that cheap. Actually, a basic home phone service from Bell or Rogers with almost no features will cost you around $30 to $40 per month. However, if you consider VOIP home phone just like a regular home phone, then yes, it is possible to have a home phone service with lots of features at the price I mentioned above.

VOIP home phone uses your existing Internet connection to offer you cheap home phone with the same voice quality and much more features than a traditional home phone at a fraction of the cost. There are many VOIP home phone service providers in Canada these days. However, these three providers are worth considering in terms of value, quality, and abundant features.

Nettalk – Basic plan costs only $3.30 per month with many features and 3000 minutes per month. First year is free with purchase of the VOIP device, also known as the adaptor.

Ooma – Basic plan costs only $3.98 per month and comes with 21 features and 5000 minutes. Want 44 features that you never thought even existed? It will cost you $9.99 per month.

Fongo – Unlimited minutes and 11 premium features cost $4.95 per month.

For any VOIP home phone services, initially you need to purchase an adaptor that would cost somewhere between $50 to $150 depending on the provider. And also, you need to have Internet service at home. Nowadays, I have seen many homes without a home phone, but I haven’t any homes without Internet. It is time to get more out of your Internet by having a VOIP home phone and stop paying unnecessarily for a traditional home phone.