One Snub Is Not Enough for RIM

The Ontario-based smartphone magnate may be no longer at the top of its game. Many people are switching to other gadgets because BlackBerrys are no longer the star of the smartphone industry. Many have decided to sell Blackberrys in the course of last year and this year too. The people shifted to other cooler brands like iPhones and Android phones. Some have considered Nokia, HTC and Motorola phones. One cannot blame the shift. Since people need more than just a smartphone, it seems that BlackBerry phones are stagnant and not responding to market needs. They are known to cater one specific market: The corporate and the government. However, even people in their market need more than just a BlackBerry.

RIM just received major blows from the US government since several agencies will no longer require their services. The security features are what make these phones a federal favorite. However, over the years, this has been changing:

The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement decided to swap their BlackBerry phones to Apple’s iPhones because the former can no “longer meet the mobile technology needs of the agency.” They released this decision in the month of October.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Credit Union Administration stopped BlackBerry handheld devices this year.

The Defense Department declared another decision about Ontario’s RIM. It announced last week that it has plans for buying a mobile device management system that supports Android and Apple smartphones but possibly will not support BlackBerrys.

That’s could be a reason why the government may want to sell used Blackberry phones. The shift does not exempt RIM’s most famous political client – Barack Obama. He is known to be a BlackBerry patron. However, recently, the President running for a second term is seen using an iPad.

Chief Information Officer for National Credit Union Administration Ronnie Levine says that “The user expectation has changed.” Employees in the agency have been carrying iPhones at all times. Chad Tucker, the administration’s chief for IT Operations, says that out of 1,200 employees, nearly 1,000 use Apple’s smartphone. They have decided to break their bonds with RIM even as the BlackBerry maker ensures their flagship smartphone and improved app release early next year. Tucker says “It was too little too late.”

Like other smartphone magnates, RIM does not disclose their federal market share. However, RIM claims to have one million government customers in North America alone; including the federal government. RIM’s Vice-President for Government Solutions Paul Lucier says that “We are going through a very major transition and we knew it would be challenging, and we are overcoming those [challenges].” Even though people chose to sell Blackberry phones online, more than 400,000 government customers chose to upgrade to newer BlackBerry units last fiscal year. “It’s great to see people upgrading those devices because oftentimes we have people comparing the latest devices in the market to a device that’s four [or] five years old,” Lucier says. The Ontario-based company is said to release a mobile device management solution that will allow agencies to regulate Apple, BlackBerry and Android smartphones.

I Didn’t Expect the iPad 4

“What? I was here for the iPad Mini! I did not know about this. What exactly happened? I should sell my Blackberry soon.” You may have heard this from many of the people who watched the press release of Apple on October 23. Everybody was waiting for the iPad Mini but they came up with something different. Invitations should now come with warnings. Everybody was very excited about the release of the talked-about iPad Mini. What does it look like? Would it be very “mini”? Will it perform well like any other iPad? The specs, are they as impressive as the other iPads? Wait. Any thoughts about the iPad 4? Apparently not.

If you want to get the best reactions, let the element of surprise work its magic. People speculated that the iPad Mini would be released in this last quarter. They even analyzed which date Apple would call the press, and their predictions came true. However, they didn’t anticipate the iPad 4. Well, no one did. The magic of the surprise was effective because of Apple’s discretion. First, the Cupertino-based company released the latest laptop models, the iMac in two different sizes. Both have the same features, with the size as the only exception. These laptops come with powerful RAMs, expanded memories, and an impressive Retina Display. All come in a laptop that is very light and thin at the same time. The supposed main star, the iPad Mini, stayed true to its promise. How could it not when many had decided to sell Blackberry and Lumia phones online? This mini giant comes with a 7.9-inch touchscreen display with a remarkable 1024 x 768-pixel resolution. The A5 processor is installed to give fast and easy use. Like any other iPad, the iPad Mini will surely hit high market demands.

The unexpected iPad 4 also impressed many spectators of the press release. Without any doubt, this device is meant to be praised and bought by the public and tech experts alike. Are you not content with the 7.9-inch tech goblin? Then this 9.7-inch monster is here to roar its prowess. All the normal iPads mostly have the same specs but the iPad 4 brings more than just your typical iPad magic. The iPad 4 almost has the same specs as the latest iPad 3. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi and 4G LTE. A one GB RAM is implanted in the gadget and its memory ranges from 16 GB to 64 GB. One of the differences between both gadgets is the front camera. Instead with a 0.3 MP camera in the previous iPad, the latest one has a 1.3 MP camera. Another difference is the chip processor. In the previous model, a 1 GHz dual core A5x chip is installed while the iPad 4 has a 1.3 GHz dual core A6x chip processor. I would sell my blackberry for this one.

Will it become a landmark in the tablet PC industry? Only time can tell. Only the people can decide. Only Apple can pull off something as grandiose and surprising as this. The iPad 4 is out but is it ready to woo you?

RIM Courts Gamers to BlackBerry 10

Courting is an exciting and sweet moment. You try to persuade the one you like, or even love, to go with you and share memories together. You become lovers, become close, and create a bond far stronger than what you usually have. Courting may also imply that you have to present what you are and what you can be for the love of your life. Courting may be both successful or a failure. Knowing that you tried makes you realize that you should not cry over spilled milk. However, the pain must be endured. In the smartphone industry, BlackBerry’s makers are taking a strong grip on the market. That’s why many have sold their Blackberry phones online. RIM is trying to court people. They are not courting executives or experts but game developers.

RIM’s BlackBerry Jam Americas Event in San Jose, California highlighted BlackBerry 10’s gaming capabilities of RIM’s future operating system. The BlackBerry demonstrated how good it is in terms of gaming and apps. It even presented usage of other operating systems’ apps. They say that these iOS and Android apps may be debuting in BlackBerry phones once the BlackBerry 10 is released. Why would RIM want to do this very drastic move? The makers of the well-loved phone want to show their flagship smartphone as a game-friendly and gaming smartphone, like the iPhone 5 and Samsung S3. This could mean that RIM is expanding their market and realizing which areas they lack. In order to make the gaming phones, they need developers to make games. There’s no point of making it for gaming when they are only a handful of gaming apps for the BlackBerry 10.

It is pretty hazy how game developers will react to RIM’s aggressive move. Game developers may have to decide what games they want to develop for the BlackBerry 10. RIM is very open to developers with the phone’s codes to create games for the flagship phone. Developers can now submit applications for BlackBerry’s App World within the month. Mr. Taylor has initiated the move. He says that these drastic changes will help make the future BlackBerry 10 gamer-friendly and will increase the phone’s potential in mobile gaming. That could explain why many people have sold old Blackberry phones.

BlackBerry phones were always known for their corporate-friendliness. The multi-tasking features and instant messaging are some of RIM’s highlight in their phones. This may be the reason why up until now BlackBerry phones still have sales, even though they are not on top of the game. Because of the rigid specifications and market they feed, RIM phones could not catch up with the dynamic of the entire smartphone industry. RIM was so focused on corporate phones that they didn’t realize that now most smartphone users include the general mass, the youth, and the tech savvy. To remedy this mistake, they have to make BlackBerry 10 that can address both the corporate market and the dynamicity of the smartphone industry. Even though many sell Blackberry phones because they have lost hope, RIM still remains firm and dedicated and hopeful to succeed with their BlackBerry 10 in the future.

Here's a full video of BLACKBERRY 10 Demo at BlackBerry Jam Americas Keynote last September 25, 2012 San Jose

One Step at a Time for BlackBerry 10

American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks sang “One Step At A Time.” The song became such a sensational hit that it became one of Spark’s remarkable songs. The song reached the Billboard top charts. Debuting during the season finale in the show’s seventh season, the song received positive criticism. Billboard’s Chuck Taylor says that the song was “a beautifully blended, soulful number percolating with optimism.” Entertainment Weekly considers the song a “sudden epiphany that Jordin Sparks has put out three good songs in a row.” However, RIM is not in the same position as that of the singer. After hardening itself from severe criticisms, the smartphone manufacturer has received another critique by analyst Peter Misek. You might want to say, “I want to sell my Blackberry” because of all this mess.

The song is allusive to RIM’s current situation. Interestingly, the song starts with the paragraph:

Hurry up and wait
So close, but so far away
Everything that you've always dreamed of
Close enough for you to taste
But you just can't touch

People have been waiting and vehemently waiting for BlackBerry 10’s release. The manufacturer has moved the release from 2012 to 2013. Now, Misek says that instead of January, BB 10 would be released in March because BB is not entirely ready for it. As the second paragraph says:

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

RIM has been trying to please big companies to make a good launch of their future flagship phone. They have been trying hard to get huge inventories from carriers to distribute their products and they are still looking for big companies to license their operating system. However much effort they exert, they are still shut down. They certainly feel frustrated. That’s why many sell used Blackberry phones. The chorus is an allegory of what RIM always says about their current state:

We live and we learn to take
One step at a time
There's no need to rush
It's like learning to fly
Or falling in love
It's gonna happen when it's
Supposed to happen and we
Find the reasons why
One step at a time

RIM’s Thorsten Heins says that climbing the mountain takes one step at a time. He is honest enough to confess that their company is not in its best shape but he is honest to say that the BlackBerry 10 will be their redeemer. They have learned from their experience of being insensitive to the market’s needs. The BlackBerry 10 was analyzed to be released in March. That means financial loss for RIM. They don’t have the financial resources to fuel the company and release the phone. In the end, the song concludes:

When you can't wait any longer
But there's no end in sight
when you need to find the strength
It's your faith that makes you stronger
The only way you get there
Is one step at a time

Even though many sell Blackberry phones, RIM should believe it will rise to the occasion.

Internet Is the New Market

Agora used to be the most commercially active place in the Western World. Etymologically speaking, it comes from the Greek word meaning “gathering place” or “assembly.” Ancient Greeks gathered at the agora to discuss relevant issues including art, politics, religion, and philosophy. The agora was where people argued and shared their thoughts with the public. They discovered who was wrong or correct, or the “more correct” in that matter. The agora was a dynamic place. However, times have changed. The internet is the new agora and the internet is truly dynamic. Like the agora, you can discuss current relevant issues like politics and love. The internet did not limit itself to just being a place of discussion but a place to sell BlackBerry phones and other gadgets.

The internet is similarly dynamic as human beings themselves. How the internet evolves is reflective on how human beings have changed in the past few years. Since convenience is done only with the use of the internet, people would have wanted to do things on the internet. You want to read the hottest news? You want to know how to get there? You wish to see Paris in seconds? You hope to earn money? You want to have a bachelor’s degree? The internet will positively answer all these types of questions. In these hard times, you really want to earn a lot of money. The internet can certainly help you. All you have to do is take a little leap of faith.

When you deal with money, you always hesitate. It is natural to be cautious but being aware and knowledgeable of the ins and outs of the internet is a big advantage especially to those who have no idea how to do things. The internet can provide you a spectrum of avenues to money making from transcribing to selling BlackBerrys. Here are some suggestions to earn money online:

Writing

Websites need articles. You do not see websites without text. From social networking sites to blogs, articles are needed. If you have the niche in writing and you need that extra cash, writing can be your avenue to earn cash and fulfill your passion for writing.

Data Entry

This job is very simple. You just have to input data in a program. This is probably a no-brainer job but be careful, this job is for those who are very particular to details. One mistake can equate to loss of your job. So, those who want a challenge in a non-challenging place will find this job fun.

Sell Gadgets

If you don’t want an online job, then selling is the best way to earn money. All you need is some functional, even broken and unused, cell phones and you just sell them online. Since many of us have old gadgets just sitting at home, you might as well use them to earn money. For example, when you have BlackBerry phones at home, you may want to sell them online on websites like Gazelle, CashforBerry.com, NextWorth, and BuyBackWorld. They just let you go through a process and you get cash fast. It’s pretty easy to sell BlackBerry phones online.

The Budget Desktop Replacement From Dell

When people think of desktop replacement laptops, usually expensive laptops come to mind. Almost all of them have powerful processors that are also paired up with powerful video cards, thus making them also gaming laptops.

How about the people who do not need those features? Well, Dell has an answer for that – the Inspiron 17R SE. For those looking for a big laptop without the need for extreme features, this will serve you well.

Design

The Inspiron 17R is a desktop replacement, but it doesn’t have the imposing frame its peers are known for. Rather, the 17R has a softer appeal, great for mainstream users who aren’t interested in playing games.

Being a 17 – inch laptop, you’re bound to have some weight to carry. Weighing at 7.27 pounds, that’s certainly a lot of weight, but better than most laptops of the same screen size.

Since this is a budget laptop, expect some compromises when it comes to the body. The bottom is made of plastic. Thankfully, the top lid is made of aluminum with a honeycomb pattern that looks nice. The aluminum design is also found in the palm rest.

Display

Featuring a wonderful 17.3 – inch screen, the 17R has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It’s great because it compliments all of your HD videos.

Aside from that, the laptop has more than enough brightness to fill up a dark room. You can watch a movie comfortably in the dark with this laptop. To help with glare, Dell even supplies this laptop with a matte screen.

Due to its purpose of being a multimedia laptop, the display has good viewing angles, allowing you to watch movies with a friend or two.

Hardware

In terms of hardware, the laptop actually impresses. 

The processor is a quad – core i7 Ivy Bridge processor, the 3610QM. It’s actually a great processor because many gaming laptops offer it as a default offering. It’s a very capable processor allowing you to do heavy duty tasks such as rendering videos without any problems.

For graphics, you are provided with the fastest budget NVIDIA graphics card, the GeForce GT 650M. It’s a graphics card that actually turns the laptop into a decent gaming machine. You’ll find it in ultraportable boutique laptops.

How does it perform? You can play some demanding games on it, such as Diablo III. It runs at a smooth 29 fps on ultra at 1080p. Even Starcraft II runs at a playable 41 fps at 1080p. Some other games though can’t be played. The ultra – demanding Dirt Showdown moves along at a slow 19 fps with everything maxed out. However, reducing the image settings to High allows you to play at 47 fps.

Memory is at 6 GB, which is normal for budget laptops. Since this you’ll mostly be using this laptop for simple tasks, it’s more than enough. Storage comes at a measly 1 TB HDD. That’s enough, but it doesn’t compare to an SSD.

For the adventurous though, you can always install an SSD yourself.

Conclusion

Dell has created a great budget laptop for just 1,160 dollars. It manages to impress thanks to its decent gaming abilities and quad – core processor.

Well, this is better than your old laptop, so if you have decided to sell your laptop be sure that you will only transact to legitimate companies like Cash4Laptops.com. 

Protecting Your Laptop Software

So you just bought a new laptop and sold old laptop. Congratulations! However, a computer is one of the most fragile things ever created, especially when it comes to software. Just mess up on little things and then everything goes down the drain. Examples include getting viruses, which are nasty occurrences.

With that in mind, you need to be aware of protecting your software at all times, because you never know when something could go wrong.

Keep in mind these things when you have a new laptop:

Antivirus Software

One of the first things you need to do when you turn on your new laptop is installing antivirus software. It is imperative you protectyour laptop from any viruses, because if you don’t you’ll notice a drop in performance.

If you bought a laptop, normally they come with trial versions of antivirus software. These are great, because they already work. To get the full features though, just pay a small fee.

Other times, free antivirus software works great too, such as Microsoft Security Essentials. Just make sure you scan your computer every week.

Updating the Software

If your laptop comes with preinstalled software, you better make sure they are updated. That’s because updated software allows better protection from viruses and hackers.

Programs like Google Chrome, Adobe Flash and other things like that all require regular updates. If you install them, don’t ignore the updates that come with them afterwards. They’ll definitely help you in the long run.

Create a System Restore

Eventually, you’ll want to branch out and experiment with your operating system. Sometimes, those experiments go haywire. That’s where a System Restore comes in.

A System Restore allows you to return to the last working condition of Windows, where all of the settings and everything else are restored to their normal condition, as if nothing happened.

It’s a great tool to have, especially for those who like to tinker with computers. You can set how often Windows will save restore points such as weekly or daily so you can pick the latest one.

Remove Bloatware

Other times, manufacturers ship laptops with plenty of software to sweeten the deal. Some are useful, while some are not. Useful software includes Adobe programs. You’ll definitely use them in the future.

Examples of useless programs include additional menus that look similar to Mac OS X, Other examples include webcam software, which a lot of people don’t really need, especially when they’re not into webcam sessions.

Create an Admin Account

If other people are going to use your computer, sooner or later someone is bound to mess it up. Prevent this from happening by creating an administrator account.

There, you’ll be able to control everything other people do, such as installing software. You can prevent them from installing anything by asking them to enter a password, which of course, they don’t know.

The benefit of this strategy is significant, especially for those who have internet cafes.

Conclusion

By following these simple tips, you’ll be able to preserve the life of Windows. You won’t have to reinstall the OS every 6 months or sell your laptop to have a new one.You can leave it longer if you like.

Key Tips for BlackBerry

Problems are common. If it doesn’t have any solution, then it may not be a problem after all. Many have tried to solve their problems, with or without support, like their love lives, selling BlackBerry, or the more simpler ones like opening a can or sending an email. You may also encounter these problems on BlackBerry smartphones. Having a hard time using BlackBerry’s keyboard? Well, if you are, don’t cry over that. BlackBerry smartphones have been designed for ergonomics and user convenience. Some users just don’t know how things work, especially the first time. Even if you read the manual, the specifics just don’t appear right away.

BlackBerry keys are important because they not only provide basic phone functions but also bring convenience. You can’t imagine a phone without keys. So, understanding how these keys work will be of great help. So, here are some tips that can help you:

·        Setting the Convenience button to open preferred app or feature

Setting the Convenience button may differ depending on what BlackBerry model unit you are using because it may have one or two keypads. For BlackBerry phones with two convenience keys, it may be identified as ‘left’ or ‘right’ buttons. Convenience keys may be customized to perform or open an app. If you wish to change these apps, do the following:

BlackBerry 6 and BlackBerry 7 OS

1.      Select ‘Options’ from a folder or from the Home screen.

2.      Select ‘Device,’ then the ‘Convenience Key.’

3.      Select an option to assign the app to the key next to ‘Convenience Key Opens.’

4.      Press the Menu key and select ‘Save’ to end the process.

·         Lock the Keypad to enter capital letters

YOU MAD? i need something bigger. YOU might HAVE a HARD time TYPING. Well, if that problem needs to be bigger or smaller, turning on caps lock mode on a Blackberry is as simple as selling BlackBerry. You just need to:

1.      Press Alt key and Right Shift Key together

2.      To unlock, either press the Alt key or one of the Shift keys.

·         Lock the keypad to enter numbers

If a friend texts you and asks for your number, doing it manually will burn calories and time. If you’re the gym buff, then by all means do it. But, if you need to send it fast, do these simple things to lock your keypad to enter numbers:

1.      While typing, press the Alt and Left Shift key together.

2.      To turn it off, press the Alt key or any of the Shift keys.

·         Media keys and dual functionality

BlackBerry phones can be music players. But, not everyone knows that the up and down volume buttons may be a good way to skip or go back a track. The mute button can even be your pause button.

·         To skip one track, press and hold the Up Volume button

·         To go back one track, press and hold the Down Volume button

·         To pause the current track, press and hold the Mute button

These are some basic tips that will help you use BlackBerry phones easier. It’s like when you trade in BlackBerry to online buyers. BlackBerry phones are ergonomic and user-friendly. So make good use of them now.

Facebook on Blackberry

Mark Zuckerberg is said to have painted Facebook blue because he is supposedly color-blind to non-blue colors. True or not, it certainly is more real to say that Facebook is a happy and hip place to be. Facebook has been an internet sensation following its initial success as being an innovative social networking site. Facebook then started Facesmash as a way for people to decide who is prettier over the other. You might even sell BlackBerry on Facebook. Now, it’s not just a place to smash other people faces but to connect and share posts in the most convenient ways. Facebook has infused everything in it and there certainly a place for BlackBerrys.

BlackBerry phones are a traveler’s best companion. They are well-rounded enough for people to check email, edit documents, and chat through BBM all day long. But, BlackBerry’s well-roundedness is only complete if Facebook comes into the picture. Thus, Facebook on BlackBerry is a hit. Since it is a website visited more often on computers, Facebook can’t import all of its awesome features to the BlackBerry. However, that didn’t stop both BlackBerry and Facebook from bringing out the best. BlackBerry offers basic functions on Facebook including the following:

Facebook Newsfeed

Most people want to be updated the easiest way they can. Everyone wants the latest news, especially if it’s from Facebook. You get to know where your friends are, or know what they have been doing recently. That’s a good icebreaker when all of your friends mingle.

Facebook Groups

Hello peer pressure! With your peers hanging out and posting it on your private group account, you can see what your peers are up to. You just don’t want to be left out at times. It takes a little time and effort to talk with them on Facebook even if you’re really busy and some friends decide to sell BlackBerry online.

Nearby Places

If you’re in a park alone and want to look for a friend nearby, this feature is best for you. Nearby Places lets you update where you are. Online Facebook friends may know where you are and might accompany you if he’s free. That’s instant meeting to the extreme.

Facebook Messages

You want to talk to your friend pronto? Well, when you’re both online, the Facebook Messenger is the best way to communicate. Aside from the usual chatter, you can also share posts and links with eachother. You can’t do that in actual conversations. It just got better.

Apparently, you can’t just put Facebook on your BlackBerry. There are specifications that need to be met in order for you to enjoy Facebook on BlackBerry. BlackBerry advises that your phone has the following specs to optimize Facebook use:

• ·         BlackBerry device Software v5.0 or later
• ·         A Facebook account (Obviously, yes!)
• ·         Wi-Fi connectivity
• ·         2.7 MB of available app memory
• ·         A wireless service data plan

That certainly will update your friends about the latest shenanigans in the town. Facebook takes communicating with your friends to a whole new level. Don’t be left out because others might try selling BlackBerry. You can update both your phone and your status anytime of the day.

image source: 

http://mashable.com/2012/09/13/blackberry-facebook-mobile-app/

http://n4bb.com/facebook-blackberry-3-2-0-12-available-app-world/

BlackBerry 10 APPvailable for more?

Smartphones would not be as smart as they are without certain apps. The Apple soars high with a thousand available apps for its users. You can just download them and play games like Temple Run and Bejeweled. The Android OS opens a market that provides unlimited apps from social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to battery-saving apps and more. You may have the urge to sell used Blackberry because of their small selection. Smartphone users may either pay for really good apps or download free ones and play harder. Smartphones are really smart because apps in the market today are limitless and downloadable. But, with Apple and Android providing most of the apps in the online world, can BlackBerry catch up with the ever-changing trend?

BlackBerry phone apps are known for their ingenuity. They have no messy patent infringements, like both Apple and Samsung, and have arguably one of the most durable smartphones in the market. But, what most BlackBerry users complain about is the BlackBerry World App does not provide as many apps compared to Apple and Android. It may flunk BlackBerry out of the grandiose picture of smartphones. With users basically wanting more apps, BlackBerry needs to address this simple yet important dilemma.

With recent events unfolding, the world is excited about the much-anticipated release of the BlackBerry 10. The BlackBerry 10 is seen to be RIM’s defining moment. RIM could not catch up. Apple and Samsung have been in the spotlight and RIM can’t seem to take a little peek. With BlackBerry users complaining that BlackBerry World App does not provide many apps for its users, RIM’s Vice President of Developer Relations and Ecosystem Development, Alec Saunders promises to address this complaint. He says the BlackBerry 10 will have approximately 7,000 apps for users to download. It ensures that Facebook and Twitter apps will be available. The BlackBerry Messenger will available as always. You may not have to sell BlackBerry after all.

The BlackBerry 10’s release would be in 2013 although no definite date is set. With a nearing deadline and pressure from excited customers, how can BlackBerry pull in as many as 7,000 apps? Well, good thing BlackBerry 10 partners with the Windows Marketplace. The Windows Marketplace promises 7,000 apps as OS for the Nokia Lumia 920.  Now, BlackBerry taps them to give them a pretty good head start with Apple and Android. It’s not surprising that Windows Marketplace agrees with BlackBerry. Microsoft wants to be at least the 3^rd biggest OS provider after Apple’s iOS and Android. So, Apple and Android should expect their numerous apps to be one tiny spec for the Windows Marketplace.

The BlackBerry 10 will be a giant leap for RIM. They took the risk of innovating new ways just to provide many apps for its future users. On the other hand, users should not just expect less from BlackBerry 10 because it detaches itself from RIM’s first-generation smartphones. It’s pretty obvious that it’s high time to sell your BlackBerry once the BlackBerry 10 is released.

The Young Alienware

When the Alienware M11x burst into the scene, it captured the attention of critics who thought that gamers couldn’t game on a portable system. It proved to be a hit, but sadly it was discontinued. Alienware said that customers wanted to focus on bigger systems.

However, the portable gaming crowd isn’t lost because Alienware recently updated their medium – sized laptop, the M14x to accommodate better hardware, but still be portable enough.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Design

The Alienware M14x is just like every other Alienware made, only smaller. The features are still the same. You get the same crazy colors on the grills, logos and keyboard, which you can change with a special program.

Despite being a medium – sized laptop, it manages to be bulky. It weighs 6.4 pounds, and is 1.5 inches thick. That being said, it actually manages to be the as thick and as heavy as 17 – inch laptops, so consider that if you’re buying this laptop.

Display

The M14x comes with a 14.0 inch display with a screen resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels. If you’re feeling cheap, you can lower the resolution to 1366 x 768 pixels.

Overall, the glossy display can be a bit of a hassle to use outdoors thanks to some crazy reflections. To make up for it though, the M14x has great viewing angles.

Hardware

This laptop isn’t afraid to put on some muscle. Featuring the latest hardware available, the M14x easily beats laptops of the same category.

It features an Intel Ivy Bridge 3720QM processor, one of the higher end i7 processors. The clock speed is at 2.6 GHz, but you can turn on Turbo Boost 2.0 for an amazing 3.6 GHz.

For graphics, you’re provided with the GeForce GT 650M, the top mid – level graphics card of NVIDIA.  Though it may not be the GTX series, it’s certainly no slouch.

Thanks to the lower resolution, games play smoothly. You can play Diablo III with 45 fps and the demanding Deus Ex Human Revolution at 30 fps. For racing fans, you’ll be happy to know that Dirt 3 can be played at ultra with 26 fps. By doing a couple of tweaks to the settings, you can get even faster frame rates.

When it comes to storage, you’re provided with a 64 GB solid state drive by Samsung. You’ll find it adequate, but due to the small space, you’ll have to put all of your games and files onto the 500 GB hard drive. The solid state drive is there to help decrease boot times, which it effectively does.

Memory is at 8 GB, which is a standard among enthusiast gamers. It’s also adequate for daily tasks.

Conclusion

You have 1 USB 2.0 port and two 3.0 ports. There’s also VGA, HDMI and DisplayPort for your multi – display needs.

All in all, this laptop features sturdy construction, great design and if you sell computer for cash for this Alienware, you will not regret it.It has  amazing performance for its price (2000 dollars) . At that price though, you might be turned away, because there are other alternatives. But since it’s Alienware, you get consistent performance and great support.

Purchasing an Ultrabook

These days, manufacturers seem to be shoving ultrabooks down everyone’s throats. To make matters worse, they all have their own designs! Why can’t they just keep things simple?

Having plenty of choices is an advantage though. In a way, you can stand out from the crowd because you were able to look for an ultrabook in the farthest reaches of the universe.

So now what? With a huge number of choices, it’s still going to be a hard picking the right one. Are you going to sell old laptop? 

Thankfully, you can just consult this guide to make it easier for you.

Design

The first thing you should look for in an ultrabook is the design. It is Intel’s intention to create a kind of laptop that is portable yet powerful at the same time. In this part, we’ll focus on the design.

Look for an ultrabook that feels really great and is made with quality materials. Most ultrabooks come with plastic bodies, while some are aluminum. Others have a combination of both.

You’ll want to purchase an ultrabook that feels very tough so it can last a long time, preferably one made with metal. A great example is the Zenbook series by Asus, which uses great materials.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Another thing to consider here are the things you’ll be touching the most – the keyboard and touchpad. You’ll want to look for a keyboard that allows you to type comfortably and allows few mistakes. Also, keep in mind the overall response.

The same goes for the touchpad. Look for a laptop with a great touchpad that allows you to do all the things it is supposed to do very smoothly. Scrolling, zooming and other things should be smooth. Try to stay away from touchpads that have separate mouse buttons. Look for more modern designs.

Hardware

Generally, ultrabooks have Ivy Bridge processors as a standard, so stick with that. If you can find a laptop that offers an Ivy Bridge i7 processor, then you should go for it because it offers better performance in terms of speed and processing.

Keep in mind that RAM also affects multitasking and overall speed. You can open more programs with bigger RAM.

In terms of storage, ultrabooks are supposed to come with solid state drives. If you find an ultrabook with a hard disk drive as the only option, stay away, because it indicates a lower – priced ultrabook.

Other ultrabooks come with a hybrid drive. This means that there’s a small portion that acts as a solid state drive where the OS is installed and the other one is for the storage that’s significantly larger. While these options are great, look for a laptop with a real solid state drive, as it offers significantly better speeds than hybrid or hard disk drives.

Display

Lastly, you’ll want to look at the display. Most ultrabooks come in 11, 13, 14 and even 15 inch versions. Since ultrabooks are intended to be portable, it’s best to stick with 11 or 13 inches.

Check for color projection and viewing angles, as this will dictate how much you will enjoy looking at your laptop. After all, you’ll be staring at it for the duration of its life.

Conclusion

Selling your old laptop for cash to have a new ultrabook won’t be so hard now with these things considered. Go out there and have fun shopping!