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You are here: Home / 2012 / Archives for June 2012

Archives for June 2012

Scansnap S1300

2012/06/08 By staze

Few months back, I got a chance to borrow a ScanSnap S1500M from work, as well as an S1100 from a coworker. I did some basic scanning at home, and found that I really enjoyed being able to quickly scan receipts and other documents for easy archiving digitally. After a bit of pre-purchase buyers remorse, I bit the bullet and purchased a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 off Amazon, and since then, I haven’t looked back.

The difference between the S1300 and S1500 is rather dramatic when it comes to pages per minute (or maybe it should be inches per minute), as well as size. The S1500 SEEMS about 2-3x as fast when scanning ((According to Fujitsu’s site, the S1500 does 20PPM, where the S1300 is 8PPM)), and it seems to show that speed in physical size (it’s about 2-3x as big as the S1300). The S1500 also uses CCFL lights for illuminating the document being scanned, which means it uses much more power than the S1300 which uses a series of LEDs (the S1300 can, in fact, be powered over USB), in case I wanted to travel somewhere and help someone else digitize their documents, or if I ever manage to get back into genealogy, may be nice to travel and scan paper records.

While I haven’t got as nearly paperless as I’d like (nor have I had a chance to digitize everything in the file cabinet), I have been using it routinely as new documents make their way into my home that I feel like I should keep. The scanner software isn’t great, but it does allow easy scanning with the button on the scanner, and saves directly to my dropbox account “inbox” where I can go and rename the file and digitally file it away.

The process works extremely well, and the scanner scans pretty darn fast when you consider having to manually scan a document one side at a time (oh yeah, hopefully it was obvious the Scansnap scans double-sided).

All and all, a great purchase. They can be had on Amazon for a decent price, and if you sign up for an Amazon Visa card at the same time (like I did), you get $50 off! =)

[xrr rating=4.75/5]

UPDATE: Fujitsu, today (6/22/2012), announced the S1300i which is largely the same device, only 50% faster (12PPM vs. 8PPM). All the other “bells and whistles” about scanning to Dropbox, or Google Docs/Drive, are things updated in software, which is free to any Scansnap owner.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Fujitsu, Paperless, Scansnap

Alite Monarch Chair

2012/06/06 By staze

Since I’ve been spending a lot of time playing console games, I’ve had an ongoing issue with a lack of good seating in the room my consoles live in (the guest room). There’s the guest bed, but it’s uncomfortable to sit in for long periods.

I’ve looked at gaming chairs, but they all suffer from complaints about them being built for kids/teens, or uncomfortable, etc. Then my wife mentioned a camping chair that a friend had purchased. The Monarch Chair by Alite. While a bit spendy, I did have an REI gift card, and the gaming chairs I was looking at were all at least $70. A quick drop by REI, and I came home with the chair. Basically, it’s like an L shaped hammock that uses sturdy tent pole type framing to hold it together. It’s really meant for camping/backpacking, but the comfort wonderful. And if you put it right infront of our guest bed, you can basically lean back into it. You also get the same basic rocking action that gaming chairs have.

While I haven’t done any marathon sessions in it, I can say it is MUCH better than sitting on the bed, and may even rival the comfort of my Aeron at work. I will post back after I give it a good 4+ hour session, but in initial testing, it’s very comfortable. Plus, I can take it camping/backpacking. =) Alite may have a whole new market on their hands. =D

[xrr rating=4.75/5]

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Alite Monarch, REI

iPhone/Aux audio adapter

2012/06/01 By staze

I play some online multiplayer computer games with a friend (Portal 2, Starcraft, Diablo, etc) while talking over the phone with him. It’s generally easier than Skype/Teamspeak/etc since the cell call is free (same carrier), and doesn’t slow down either machine. After a year or so of playing while wearing my iPhone earbuds/headset, then over-the-ear headphones over the top of them, I realized what I needed was a dual input headset (like this), and that I could probably make something like this with some clever adapter use.

After buying what I thought would work (a 4 pin splitter, a combiner, and a mic), and finding out it did not, I decided to MAKE what it would take.

My first design, which I guess I would consider “version 1” is shown below (note: it seems this is improper, and should have some resistance inserted (see link below)). The parts were pretty simple. I salvaged the two cables needed, but if you wanted to buy all the parts, here’s a list:

  • 1 x Project box
  • 2 x 3.5mm Stereo jacks (female)
  • 1 x 3 pin TRS jack (male)
  • 1 x 4 pin TRRS jack (male)
  • Some wire

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Miscellany

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