In the last couple of years, the idea of cloud computing has begun to show itself. Cloud computing is the idea of using the Internet as a hub to access applications and personal files instead of relying on local hard drives, etc. Advances in wireless network accessibility, “web technologies” like AJAX, and laptop performance (and popularity) all can be attributed to the rise in popularity of cloud computing.

More and more, people are relying on web-based applications instead of desktop apps. Map applications are popular for getting directions, sites like expensr and mint and helping individuals with financial matters, and Google Docs and Spreadsheets is gaining ground on the Microsoft Office suite. The popularity and availability of these web apps means people can get more accomplished in a variety of settings.

Earlier this month, Apple announced the MacBook Air. This ultra-compact laptop was designed with the wireless lifestyle in mind. It ranges from 0.16 to 0.76 inches thick, which is incredibly small for a computer of any size. It features a 13.3″ 1280 x 800 pixel widescreen display, full keyboard, Core2 Duo processor, 80 GB hard drive and 2 GB of RAM. It even has the option to replace the hard drive with a (pricey) 64 GB solid state drive. All in all, it is a great notebook and at only 3 pounds can be taken just about anywhere.

However, the MacBook Air is quite pricey compared to other ultra-portable laptops and wireless devices. The Asus eee PC retails for $300-400 and, with a 7″ screen and a total weight of just over 2 pounds, is even more portable. The Nokia N810 features a 4.3″ touch screen, slide out QWERTY keyboard and a Linux-based OS with a Mozilla-based browser for $399. Even the iPhone/iPod Touch is a good alternative, with a 3.5″ multi-touch screen, Safari and Mail and 8-16 GB of storage space. The point is that there are other devices that are much, much cheaper but still have the necessary functionality and large enough screens to be efficient.

I think cloud computing will be very popular in the future. However, I think Apple was premature in releasing such a high-end wireless device that has trouble operating as a traditional laptop (only 1 USB port, no ethernet, etc) and is many times more expensive than its competitors. What is your opinion on the MacBook Air?

For Christmas, I received a digital camera. It was no surprise; I had spent a long time researching which camera I wanted. I knew I wanted something really compact to carry around campus and outings but still delivered decent performance. My family previously owned a Canon PowerShot A95 and I own a Canon GL2 camcorder, so I am a big fan of Canon’s performance and reliability. After weighing pros and cons, I settled on the Canon PowerShot SD1000.

Overview

The SD1000 is a 7.1 megapixel point-and-shoot camera with 3x optical zoom. It has a 2.5 inch LCD screen, which I find plenty big enough, given the size of the camera. It also features automatic face detection and red-eye correction.

The SD1000 has a tiny form factor for a digital camera. It is an ultra-compact that measures 3.4 x 2.1 x 0.8 inches and weighs only 4.3 ounces. In fact, I can only think coming across only one camera that is significantly thinner in its class (it was a Sony, I believe). The size makes the camera very easy to put anywhere, even in a baggy jean pocket.

The Good

Menus/UI: The biggest problem I had with my old A95 was the confusing controls. The menus weren’t very intuitive and it was hard to figure out how to do much without consulting the manual. However, the user interface for the SD1000 is much improved. I was able to access all of the different shooting modes, change the shutter speed, etc. without reading the manual. The UI also has cool-looking transparent menus and nice transitions. Very aesthetically pleasing.

The Bad

Low Light Shooting: The SD1000 fairs poorly in low-light conditions where a flash can’t be used. The picture becomes grainy and blurry, even with image stabilization on. However, this is a common problem with most point-and-shoot cameras. I made the picture look a great deal better by turning the ISO speed way up.
Small buttons: The SD1000 might not be for everyone simply because it is a very small camera. I think someone with big hands would have trouble operating the minuscule controls.
Low Battery Indicator: The camera doesn’t give you any indication of remaining battery power until it is very low. It would be nice if there was an on-screen indicator so the user had a better idea of how much life was left.

The Verdict

Overall, I think the Canon PowerShot SD1000 is an excellent camera. It was designed to be portable and take reasonably good pictures. Given the right lighting conditions and settings, the SD1000 takes awesome pictures. I am very happy with mine and definitely recommend it. Just make sure to buy 2 batteries if you plan on using it frequently.