Please! Pick my Ride!!!

In this episode of 'Please!!! Pick My Ride', I receive an email from a man who was in the market for a surprise for his lovely wife. A brand new car! He wanted to know was the best, safe, small car bang for his buck... and he already had an idea of which cars he thought would be best.

I used MSN Auto and Edmunds.com in order to review all of his options (plus some) and created side by side comparisons using the Jetta as the base. I also used Consumer Reports to see which one of the below competitors they believed to be the 'best in class'. I also added the Mazda3 for comparison as it is a favorite among auto journalists as well as a downright hoot to drive. Also, I have actually driven 2 of the cars on his list recently which is a plus.

The 4 rides in question are:
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The 2009 Honda Civic

I was pleasantly surprised by the Civic. It handled well and was got great gas mileage which the reviewers agree with. However, acceleration is kind of slow (does his wife have a lead foot?) and the 2 tiered dashboard may take time to get used to. Otherwise, I recommend looking at the 2009 Honda Fit Sport as I've heard great things about it.
"The Civic has responsive handling and a steady, compliant ride. Road noise is pronounced. The 1.8-liter engine returned 28 mpg with the automatic and 31 mpg with the manual. The hybrid returned 37 mpg overall. Standard safety equipment includes ABS and curtain air bags, but ESC is available on the EX-L, Hybrid, and Si. Crash-test results are impressive." - Consumer Reports.org Retail MSRP: $15,305 Average: $23,455
Fuel Economy (City): 26 mpg. Average: 22.11 mpg
NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.46 star(s)
Rear Side Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.25 star(s)
Rear Headroom: 35.1 in. Average: 37.11 in.
NHTSA Front Side Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.43 star(s)

MSN Expert Rating: 8.6 out of 10
MSN Auto User Rating: 7.9 out of 10
Consumer Reports Test Score: 60

The 2009 Subaru Impreza Sport

According to the reviews, the Subie's downside (other than the radical face-lift) is the fuel economy which is caused by the standard AWD, which ironically however helps to make the Impreza the safest. Turns out that Mr. Nice Guy has long standing relationship as a Subaru customer, could he possibly use that as leverage and get a deal?
"The new 2008 Impreza uses a carryover four-cylinder and four-speed automatic. Standard AWD hurts performance and fuel economy, at just 23 mpg overall. The ride is compliant and handling remains agile. The cabin is roomier, particularly the rear seats. Materials are somewhat nicer than in the older car. ESC is standard and crash-test scores are impressive." - Consumer Reports.org

Retail MSRP: $17,495 Average: $23,455
Fuel Economy (City): 20 mpg. Average: 22.11 mpg
NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.46 star(s)
Rear Side Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.25 star(s)
Basic Warranty: 36 months/36,000 miles Average: 40 months/41,457 miles
NHTSA Rear Side Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.25 star(s)

MSN Expert Rating: 8.6 out of 10
MSN Auto User Rating: 9.7 out of 10
Consumer Reports Test Score: 89

The 2009 Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a very good value and has always been known to be very reliable.

"The rather bland redesigned Corolla is a good small sedan. The 1.8-liter engine is a carryover, and the 2.4-liter is found in the XRS trim. Electronic stability control is easier to find in this generation, and curtain air bags are standard. We got a very impressive 32 mpg overall in our test of the 1.8-liter, the best for a current nonhybrid or diesel four-door sedan." - Consumer Reports.org

Alternatively, the Yaris is a very cute and roomy alternative although while I believe it is worth a look honestly the reviews aren't as strong as the others in this group.

Retail MSRP: $15,530 Average: $23,455
Fuel Economy (City): 26 mpg. Average: 22.11 mpg
NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.46 star(s)
Rear Side Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.25 star(s)
NHTSA Passenger Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.47 star(s)
Power to Weight Ratio: 20 lb/hp (average: 17.31 lb/hp)

MSN Expert Rating: 8.7 out of 10
MSN Auto User Rating: 8.9 out of 10
Consumer Reports Test Score: 71

And the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta

The Jetta is a good car as well. It holds up well vs it's competitors here, although according to the CR Ratings the Impreza ranks higher. I rented one to drive up to Buffalo to visit my sister recently and I loved it although, I found it to be not as fun as it's sibling VW Rabbit. Also the Jetta is probably the largest of this bunch (more of a sedan than small car) and wouldn't be as nimble or tossable as let's say the Rabbit or the Mazda3.
"The Jetta has a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine and optional 2.0-liter turbo. We found the ride comfortable and handling agile. The interior is very roomy. IIHS crash-test results are impressive. Reliability of the 2.5-liter has improved to average. A new cleaner, more modern CRD (common rail diesel) diesel version returns for 2009 and is available in all 50 states." - Consumer Reports.org

Retail MSRP: $17,340 Average: $23,455
Fuel Economy (City): 21 mpg. Average: 22.11 mpg
NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.46 star(s)
Rear Side Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.25 star(s)
Front Legroom: 41.2 in. Average: 41.86 in.
NHTSA Passenger Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.47 star(s)
MSN Expert Rating: 7.9 out of 10
MSN Auto User Rating: 9.6 out of 10
Consumer Reports Test Score: 84

This is a tough choice. Especially considering all of the other great choices available to them such as:

The 2009 Mazda3

Retail MSRP: $14,690 Average: $20,895; Fuel Economy (City): 24 mpg. Average: 22.15 mpg; NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.5 star(s); Rear Side Crash Test: 3 star(s) Average: 4.51 star(s)

MSN Expert Rating: 7.5 out of 10; MSN Auto User Rating: 9.5 out of 10; Consumer Reports Test Score: 90

The 2009 VW Rabbit

Retail MSRP: $15,600 Average: $17,5795; Fuel Economy (City): 22 mpg. Average: 22.11 mpg; NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.5 star(s); Rear Side Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.51 star(s)

MSN Expert Rating: 8.0 out of 10; MSN Auto User Rating: 9.1 out of 10; Consumer Reports Test Score: 86And the 2009 Honda Fit

Retail MSRP: $14,750 Average: $18,960; Fuel Economy (City): 22 mpg. Average: 22.11 mpg; NHTSA Driver Front Crash Test: 4 star(s) Average: 4.5 star(s); Rear Side Crash Test: 5 star(s) Average: 4.51 star(s)

MSN Expert Rating: 9.0 out of 10; MSN Auto User Rating: 9.5 out of 10; Consumer Reports Test Score: N/AIn the end I advised the client to check out the Corolla and the Subie first to see how they like those 2 cars as I believe that they are designed from very different perspectives. Then move on to the Jetta and Civic if they feel the need to keep looking. Again 2 different perspectives.

The Winner?

Well to be honest the recession has placed my clients purchase decision on pause, however, in my opinion they are all great cars and the decision should come down to one of which ever one his wife is most passionate about about owning. Whichever ride connects her best to the road... and of course makes her look good.

I'm looking forward to seeing what they buy.

*(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

New Hotness: The Apple ModBook Pro.. Sort of.

Recently I helped a client purchase a Tablet PC. She has really wanted one since they hit the market a few years ago, but never seemed to find one she really liked until recently (I'll post on that one later).

Recently I found a solution for those who want a Tablet with an Apple OS. Markets solution hardware customizer Axiotron has modified the Apple MacBook Pro into Axiotron's award-winning tablet Mac® with system performance improvements and new features.

"It has been re-engineered to offer both pen and touch input, with Axiotron's Quicktouch interface enabling complete control over Mac OS X. Of course, it also packs all the tantalizing technology found in the normal MBP, including an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at up to 2.8 GHz, up to 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics, FireWire 800, Mini DisplayPort, and more."

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This thing is HOT!

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*Prices starting at $5000...

via Uncrate

Wednesday is Officially 'Whisky Tango Foxtrot!?!' Day

WTF?!

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Bras... That Double as Shopping Bags?!

"When the bra is being worn, the 'shopping bag' portions are folded away inside the bra cups, where they serve as extra padding. The bra quickly converts to a shopping bag by removing the bag portions from the cups and connecting the hooks on the bra?s underwire. The lace cups serve as decoration along with the shoulder straps, which are disconnected and tied to the top of the bag as ribbons."

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The company is doing this to promote the reduction of plastic bag consumption, which in Japan is equal to 30 billion bags, or two oil tankers worth of raw materials, 30% of which never gets recycled.
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I can think of a few jokes right now... But it's probably best I keep them to myself.

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What do you think Quagmire?

'Giggity?????'

via TechEBlog

Which Route should I take?

Well it looks like Mrs. 'ZOMG' needs some accessories to go with her brand new purchase. She contacted me and inquired if I could advise her about purchasing a wireless router to connect her new iMac and her 2 Windows laptops and as well as an external hard drive for backup storage.

This is what I had in mind for a router... As it works well with both Macs and PC's with good reviews all around.

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes

• Lightweight and compact, AirPort Express is built for mobility, so you can create an instant wireless network at your hotel, job site, or wherever you need one.
• 802.11n Wireless with easy-to-use AirPort Utility — Available for both Mac OS X and Windows. Ability to Print without wires, print documents, photos, and more from any room in the house to one central USB printer.
• Play the music from your computer's iTunes library through a set of speakers or stereo in just about any room in your home — wirelessly.

Some of the best storage back up systems I have read about to date are:

The Seagate FreeAgent

Inexpensive, great value for price (range of products and prices vary - The 320GB FreeAgent starts at $100.) The FreeAgent Go drive provides plenty of capacity for comfortably storing all your files. It’s formatted for Mac and is Time Machine-ready, so you can get up and running in a flash. It offers lightning-fast transfer of your digital content with FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 interfaces.

Plus, it’s the world’s first portable drive that includes a convenient desktop dock and travel case. Simply pop your drive into the FreeAgent dock whenever you want to access your files - no more fumbling for cables.

"Sleek design for easily carrying photos, music, and data everywhere. Lightning-fast data transfer with FireWire 800 and USB interfaces for convenient travel with durable carrying case and compact FireWire and USB cables. Quick installation and operation with Mac formatting and Time Machine-readiness. Energy savings by using one small drive for both mobile and desktop needs; also supports."

DroboSimple, easy to use, but pricey at $400 to $500.

One to four 3.5” SATA I or SATA II hard disk drives with FireWire 800 (FireWire 400 compatible) and USB 2.0.

• Dimensions: 6.0” width x 6.3” height x 10.7” length.
• Weight: 6 lbs. 11.3 ozs. (without power supply, hard drives or packaging).
• Includes: Drobo storage robot, external power supply (100v-240v) with U.S. 110v power cord, FireWire 800 cable.

"Drobo takes the pain and confusion out of data protection and lets you tailor and expand the drive according to your needs. This so-called storage robot works exactly as promised and is the most innovative storage device we've seen in a long time - Cnet."

SimpleTech Signature Mini 320GB


Good price. Compact. Is it a nice design? Meh.

SimpleTech's range of products and prices also vary. They have large capacities for a travel drive, are very compact and light; bus powered with good bundled backup software. They are also cool and quiet in operation. It comes with a three-year warranty and two free gigabytes of online storage.

• Portable, stylish 320 GB Hard Drive with USB 2.0 connection.
• Stylish design by Ferrari designer Pininfarina.
• Powered by USB bus; no AC adapter necessary.
• 320 GB capacity, USB 2.0 (4-pin B), 2.5 inch long form factor.
• Data transfer rate: 480 Mbs / Rotational speed: 5400 RPM.
• Dimensions: 3.0 x 0.625 x 5.0 inches (W x H x D).

My recommendation?

You all may bark at this, but I recommend the Apple Time Capsule.. A combo wireless router / back up storage device. I like convergence and although I usually worry about things like combo TV/DVD's... I like this idea.

Apple's Time Capsule

• The combination wireless router and external hard drive provides backup for Mac OS X Leopard automatic backup with Time Machine.
• Time Capsule's server-grade storage works automatically with Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard to create the the perfect no-hassle backup solution.
• There are no cables, so you can back up all the computers in your home to a central location.
• The massive 500GB or 1TB server-grade hard drive gives you all the capacity and safety you need for backing up all your Macs.
• Connect your DSL or cable modem to Time Capsule and quickly create a new wireless network — or extend an existing AirPort-based network — using the easy-to-use AirPort Utility for Mac and PC.
• Time Capsule uses next-generation 802.11n wireless technology to deliver up to five times the performance and up to twice the range of 802.11g wireless networks.
• Time Capsule also works great as a wireless hard drive whether you have a Mac or PC.
• It sets up in a snap, giving you a networked hard drive you can use for storing and sharing any kinds of files.
• Print without wires, Print documents, photos, and more from any room in the home or office to a central printer connected to Time Capsule via USB.
• Strong security and access control.
• Protect yourself with the built-in firewall and industry-standard encryption technologies including WPA/WPA2 and 128-bit WEP.
• Works with iPhone, Apple TV and more.
• Time Capsule works flawlessly with Apple TV, iPhone, iPod touch, and all your other Wi-Fi devices that use the 802.11a/b/g and 802.11n draft 2.0 wireless standards.
  
  "Apple's new Time Capsule incorporates both a wireless router and a hard drive into the same product. The Time Capsule, which comes in 500GB (for $299) and 1TB (for $499) varieties is the most advanced product on the market. Its price is also fair compared with a separate router and network-attached hard drive. Mac owners and the space or design conscious should consider the Time Capsule if they're in need of a router upgrade." - CNet
  
  It works with Windows and Macs and will automatically back up data from the Mac machine and works as a print & music server.

What more could you want or need?

Deal of the Week! The Dell Mini9 Netbook

*Refurbished!

I really like these things. I'm considering buying one for my Karen for Valentines Day...

(Shhhhhh!)

Right now, Dell is selling its refurbished Mini 9 Netbook for $178!

This netbook features a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 512MB of RAM, a 4GB solid-state hard drive, and Ubuntu Linux. It's available in Alpine White or Obsidian Black.

While it definitely can't do much (or any) power computing, it can be used as a great secondary email / web surfing device.

Check it out!

Via The Cheapskate

Which iMac should iBuy?

I received a call from an old colleague. She and her husband were finally ready to plunk down a chunk of change on a new personal computer. In the past when they have come to me regarding thoughts of a new purchase, they have always asked… Should we go Mac or PC?

I have been a fan of PC’s for a looong time, since my dad bought me my first. However, while in college the Apple Macintosh was the #1 favorite for getting our papers in on time. The IBM PC crowd tended to be used only by those whose majors required the use of business tools.

Since then, my required tool for my day job has always been a PC. I grew accustomed to their quirks. I pulled them apart in attempt to repair their physical issues,. I stayed up late often troubleshooting the dreaded blue screen of death.

Like most relationships, I grew used to their flaws and accepted them as members of my family while at the same time bemoaning Apple lovers as misguided fan boys. I even derided the much loved iPod until a little over a year ago when I first decided to cross the tracks to the ‘wrong side’ and seek out the enemy.

Since then, I’ve grown to love all things Apple. While I still appreciate a good PC. Apple PC’s still take the cake. As I’ve mentioned in an earlier post:

1)Apple computers actually have a much less incidence of picking up viruses and malware just because there aren't as many Macs as there are PC's on the market.

2)While a fully loaded Mac may cost more than a Windows (or Linux) computer, there's a lot of bang for your buck. Mac computers come loaded to the hilt.

3)Dispelling the myth, documents produced or created on a PC (i.e. Office documents, adobe acrobat files, music) WILL work on a Mac. (My friend's purchase would include Microsoft Office for Apple.)

4)Apple provides up to 3 years of support (and the advantage of on-site service and the accessibility of an Apple-authorized technician at an Apple store or other locations.

5)In store classes for tutorials.

6)No upgrade nightmares.

7)Macs can even run Windows now!

So when people ask? I tell them. If you can afford it, buy a Mac. If you can’t, but a PC.

So then my esteemed former colleague and her husband decided that the day had come to take my advice and made a call.

Her: “Okay. We want an Apple.”
Me: “Great! Macbook?”
Her: “No. An iMac”
Me: “Great! 24inch?”
Her: “Uhhhh.”

Basically the conundrum had then become, which iMac to buy. As there are 4 models to choose from:

…which where I come in.

As usual, I scoured the web for my research:

From MacWorld:

'The new 20-inch iMacs show strong color and contrast shifts when viewed at an angle instead of straight on.'

'The new low-end iMac, a 2.4GHz 20-inch model, had a Speedmark score that was 26 points higher (13 percent faster) than the previous low-end model, a 2GHz 20-inch iMac. Also, the new 2.4GHz 20-inch iMac scored 9 points lower than the older midrange iMac, a 2.4GHz 20-inch model. But as we pointed out in our earlier Macworld Lab benchmark report of the new iMacs, the older 2.4GHz 20-inch iMac that we tested had a larger hard drive and a better graphics card than the new entry-level model, which explains the speed difference.'

'There’s a considerable performance gap between the new $1,499, 2.66GHz 20-inch iMac and the new $1,199, 2.4GHz 20-inch model. The 2.66GHz model’s Speedmark score was 24 points higher than the 2.4GHz model, a 10 percent difference. If you spend the extra money for the 2.66GHz model, you not only get a speed boost, but also more RAM (2GB versus 1GB), a bigger hard drive (320GB versus 250GB), and a better video card (256MB Radeon HD 2600 PRO versus a 128MB Radeon HD 2400 XT). The extra $300 is worth it.'

'The 2.66GHz 20-inch iMac offers a nice blend of price and performance; it’s a better value than the 2.4GHz iMac. The 2.8GHz iMac, in all its 24-inch glory, is a stunning machine and is bound to make an impression in your home or office.'

Unfortunately, the one major thing we didn’t like about the first-generation aluminum iMac—the poor viewing angle on the 20-inch screen—hasn’t changed for the better.'

From LowendMac:

'Comparing the 2.66 GHz and 2.4 GHz Penryn iMacs, we estimate 11% more processing power, not enough to justify the 24% price premium even taking into account the bigger hard drive (320 GB vs. 250 GB) and an extra gigabyte of RAM (about $40 on the open market). Bang for the buck, the new entry-level iMac wins. Spend part of your savings on a 4 GB memory upgrade ($80-100), and buy a larger hard drive only if you need it.'

From PrimateLabs:

'If you’re looking for the best value in terms of raw processing power, the best iMac to get is the base model. Even after upgrading the RAM in the base model it’s still more cost-effective than the mid-range 20-inch iMac.'

That said, this analysis only takes processor and memory performance into account. It doesn’t take into account the extra features you get with each model, like larger hard drives and better video cards. Personally, I’d recommend the 2.66 GHz 20-inch iMac; the extra hard drive space and video memory offset the slight disadvantage it has against the 2.4 GHz 20-inch iMac in terms of value.

A number of folks have pointed out that this comparison doesn’t take into account the differences in screens between the 20-inch and 24-inch iMacs; not only is the 24-inch iMac larger, but it also comes with a better display capable of showing more colors. This was something I thought about when I was writing this post, and I came to the conclusion that if you want larger or better screen, you’re going to get it. You’re not going to even consider the 20-inch iMac.'

From Cnet:

'Apple's smaller-scale iMac remains our favorite all-in-one. And while its looks, its ease of use, and its performance are all selling points, Windows PCs are starting to catch up (at least with the latter). A few components could also stand an update, but in general you'll find the 20-inch iMac a remarkable computer for its price.'

Well, I didn't believe that they were in the market for a 24inch (although I LOVE the size), so the consensus was that the 2.66GHz 20 inch iMac was the better deal for them. If they spent the extra money for the 2.66GHz model, not only would they get a speed boost, but also more RAM (2GB versus 1GB), a bigger hard drive (320GB versus 250GB), and a better video card (256MB Radeon HD 2600 PRO versus a 128MB Radeon HD 2400 XT). The extra $300 is worth it.' However, if they could indulge, the The 2.8GHz iMac, in all its 24-inch machine is a stunner!

After I shared the above, they agreed to go for the 20inch iMac 2.66GHz model.

A week later, I received a phone text message. It seems they had a change of heart.

Her: “ZOMG! The 24inch is FANTASTIC!”
Me: “Wait, you bought the 24?!”
Her: “Yes, ZOMG we love it!”
Me: “ZOMG!”
Her: “ZOMG!”

Time Out!

I'm baaack!

Sorry all. The end of year is an unusually busy time for my 9 to 5 and it becomes difficult to find any additional free time. I promise never to let it happen again.

During my time out, I've offered advice on some new devices.. Xmas gifts and the like.. as well as provided some technical support for some new clients... A new sidegig? Could be.

In the meantime... Please, read on.

TGI...Black Friday

The NYTimes Gadgetwise has posted a Black Friday Shopping Survival Guide with some tips to make sure your thanking the big guy above for your deals and not cursing misfortune.

'First, you’ll need to know who has the best discounts. There is no shortage of Web sites offering previews of Black Friday sales, which are often obtained by scanning advertisements that will appear in newspapers today and tomorrow. These sites include Black Friday @GottaDeal.com, iBlackFriday.com, Black Friday Gear, Black Friday Ads, BlackFriday.info, and TheBlackFriday.com. My favorite among the preview sites is TGI Black Friday. It’s well-organized, easy to use, and comprehensive. '

Read on for more tips here.

And don't forget about CyberMonday!!!

via Gadgetwise