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What Gadgets Do You Use, and Why?


I'm writing this post while enjoying the Fall colors in the North Woods of Wisconsin.

I brought my laptop computer with me for writing blog posts, and hopefully making headway on my work in progress, but haven't used the laptop as much for social networking. At home, I head to the desktop computer for almost all online communication and book creation.

Away from home, I click on my Samsung Galaxy S4 to check e-mails, upload pics to places like Facebook, and use Google to answer burning questions. I was tempted to get an iPhone 6 Plus when my current plan expires, but what stops me is its camera hasn't caught up to the one I have on my present phone.

I also own an 8.9" Kindle Fire, but hardly use it. It's heavier than I like as a tablet, and doesn't have as many capabilities as a laptop. It did come in handy, though, when the power went out in the house about a month ago, and I was able to read in the dark.

Also, it does have great speakers for listening to my small music collection. For normal reading, however, I prefer the Kindle Touch. It's easier to hold and easy to read from, even outside in sunlight.

On a side note, I keep all my gadgets charged enough to use them if needed, even the
not-as-favorite ones.

And now, I'm asking you: What gadgets do you use, and why?


Experience the diversity & versatility of Morgan Mandel. Romantic Comedies: Her Handyman & its sequel, A Perfect Angelor the standalone reality show romance: Girl of My DreamsThriller: Forever Young: Blessing or Curse. & its Collection Sequel: the Blessing or Curse CollectionRomantic suspense: Killer Career. Mystery: Two WrongsTwitter:@MorganMandel Websites: Morgan Mandel.Com Morgan Does Chick Lit.Com

Comments

  1. I have a fairly down-scale camera phone that I use mostly for calls, pictures, and weather, though I also read on it and do minimal social networking on it. I have a super-cheap touch tablet with a keyboard-case that I've tried and failed to use as a super-portable laptop -- that's now my ereader. My laptop is mostly for writing and traveling, and my desktop is my workhorse connected to the printer. Love 'em all, even the ones that don't work so well. :)

    Marian Allen, Author Lady
    Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes

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  2. I have a PC in my office, which is what I use primarily for writing and for social media. I also have an eeePC, which is like a miniature laptop, that I use for writing away from my home office. For e-reading I use a Kindle. Just a plain old Kindle. And I do have an iPad that I use for social media away from my computer, my Square for book sales at events, and some games. My cell phone, which I just recently acquired, is a inexpensive Verizon phone that I use for long distance calls and to have on hand when traveling for emergencies. The only reason I got that phone was because Verizon has the coverage out here where I live and other services don't work.

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    Replies
    1. oVerizon works best in the North Woods. Since we spend all our vacations in Wisconsin, I switched from AT & T, which doesn't have as many towers up North. So far, I've resisted an iPad, but would love to have one!

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  3. My iMac desktop carries the bulk of writing, editing and social networking and plays music from iTunes as I work. I have a small iPad, which I use to read Kindles and other ebooks and occasionally use for networking when away from home. My wife and I share an Acer laptop, which she uses in place of a desktop PC and we both tend to use for emails and networking when away from home. My Samsung phone I use only for calls, as I find the screen too small for useful browsing and messaging. My Fuji Finepix S camera is useful for taking those photos to remind me of a location and to design various posters etc. And my Sony voice recorder acts as a notebook when out walking.
    All useful tools in their own way. But I try to make sure that's what they are: I'm not a lover of gadgets for the same of it.

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    Replies
    1. I'm so used to a regular PC, when I needed to choose, I picked a Windows.8.1 destop. Still, the Mac was tempting. yes, my Samsung Galaxy S4 is smaller than a regular screen, but it works in a pinch, or when I'm in a hurry.

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  4. My PC handles probably 90% of my workload and 'playload'. I have a laptop downstairs, but I tend to use it for playing Solitaire while I watch television or our weekly movie (tells you what level of connection most television shows are able to create with me). I take the laptop when I travel, though, so I can keep up with email and maybe get some work done. I have a Nook Color and a Nook HD+ which I use for reading more than anything else. Cell phone reception up here sucks, so most of what I do with my phone is take pictures when I don't have my camera. It's a Windows phone, and the apps haven't caught up with the others yet, but it talks to my Windows PC, so I'll stick with it at least until my contract runs out. I tend to break anything technological, so I don't stray beyond most basic uses for any of these gadgets.

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  5. Two laptops, an iPhone and an iPad mini, a Kindle (older keyboard style) and more flash drives than I can count. I also have a Roku 3 for watching Netflix and some other channels. I <3 my gadgets. The iPad mini was so handy at RWA this summer when they introduced the RWA app and I could have my schedule right there and alter it as necessary.

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  6. Got an iPad Air a few months ago ... does everything except wash the dishes ... and my wife is becoming jealous over my relationship with Siri.

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  7. I'm a computer whiz but a gadget luddite. I have a high-powered terrabyte laptop to work on. Three printers. And a tower PC in the office that the rest of the household is allowed to play with. I recently got talked into a Windows 8 smart phone for the carb search capacity and I can take my diabetes Excel sheet with me to the doctor. I do love that the phone has Office on it, but I can't type on that tiny keyboard well enough to work on the phone. It has come in handy for checking email when on a trip and playing Solitaire if truly bored in a waiting room if I forgot a book. My husband has a Kindle Fire that has been replaced a time or two for locking up. He seems to enjoy it. Hubs and daughter have Windows 8 surface tablets. We are universally in agreement that Windows 8 is an unstable joke. It's fine if you want to check email or sports scores. No good if you actually need to work on it. They sit around charging a lot. I love the access to information, but resent the indentured servitude on some level. Not sure about the brave new world sometimes. Especially when I've been hacked.

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  8. I use my laptop most, followed by my digital camera, my husband's Chromebook, last and least, my semi-smartphone. I would probably text more with that if I could see the letters on the keyboard! As to W8, you heard W9 is coming out and will be free for W8 and W8.1 users? Fingers crossed they've reworked it to be more like W7.

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  9. I have my Macbook; 5 years old and still going strong. However, since it's ancient in tech terms I shall have to purchase a tablet of some sort so I can Skype with my family when I'm away. I also have a Kindle. I admit to app envy - which is another argument for the tablet. My cell phone is old. I don't care. It works and I don't use it much.

    I've just reread the foregoing. Wow. I AM old and cranky.

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  10. I am always on my laptop. I have a PC, but it's old, old, runs on XP. I used to use it only for creating my website, but when Microsoft discontinued all extensions, I uploaded Expressions 4 to my laptop and now don't use the PC at all. I don't have a fancy phone, but my son gave me an iPad Mini, which I use for pictures now instead of my camera. I'm not wired, so I have to be in a place that is connected to Wi-Fi. I rarely text because the phone doesn't have a normal keyboard, and it's a pain in the neck. Not very tech oriented, but I get done what I have to do. Love my laptop.

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  11. I would love to get an iPad. I Don' t really need one, but would like to have one!
    Rumor has it that Windows 10 might come out instead of 9. Whatever we get, I hope it' s easier to operate, and hope the apps work better on the gadgets.

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  12. I have an iPad and that's what I use when I'm out of town. My desk top is what I use at home--and of course my iPhone. That comes in handy for checking email and Facebook when I'm traveling too. (In the car when someone else is driving.) I've ordered the new Kindle because I'm not reading as much on the iPad as I did on my old Kindle--which I gave to one of my daughters.

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  13. I have a PC tower for the heavy duty stuff and a trusty laptop that goes with me while traveling. (Plus a small printer). I have an Android phone (which I hate) and a Kindle fire that I love. I have an Olympus digital camera that I prefer to the Android for photos. Not at all into all the other gadgets. Hubby has an IPad that I sneak peeks at occasionally.

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  14. I saw an ad for a new kindle fire at $99.
    Don' t know if it had better functionality than the others.

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  15. Not being a gadget person, I can't much here except that I did download Kindle to my pc and laptop. However, that can make for awkward reading, and I rarely use it.

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