Tech — MomStart

Check Out These PBS Educational Apps

May 23, 2012 By Momstart 11 Comments

PBS KIDS’ fun, educational apps, based off of several of their popular series, are a great way to help curb the “Summer Slide” and keep kids learning all summer long on convenient mobile devices.

Your kids want to have fun, and you want them to learn…PBS has the best of both worlds with PBS KIDS apps! Here are some of their top apps for kids this summer.

Science fanatic? Try Sid’s Science Fair ($2.99 – iPhone & iPod Touch), the app encourages kids 3 to 6 to explore and experience science.

Augmented reality makes FETCH! Lunch Rush (Free – iPhone & iPod Touch) super cool. Based off of the web-series Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, it teaches kids ages 6 to 8 math skills while blending a virtual world right on top of the real one.

Healthy eating can be fun too! Everyone’s favorite aardvark ARTHUR helps kids ages 4 – 6 learn healthy eating habits on the go with D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure ($1.99 – iPhone & iPod Touch)

Dinosaurs? Trains? It doesn’t get better than that! Dinosaur Train Camera Catch! ($1.99 – iPhone) is the latest PBS KIDS app to utilize virtual reality. Kids “catch” the dinosaurs with their phone’s camera function in a designated pattern, building patterning skills. Dinosaur photos will be stored in a child’s private gallery.

Continue the Jurassic fun on the iPad with All Aboard the Dinosaur Train! ($1.99 – iPad) The Dinosaur Train is getting ready to leave and needs passengers! Players need to match the passengers with the right train cars, challenging them to problem-solve by estimating dinosaur sizes and comparing them with the train cars’ capacity.

You can find these and all of PBS KIDS’ apps here: http://pbskids.org/mobile/

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: children's educational apps, PBS, tech

The Space Saving Entertainment Computer Asus ET2700 All In One PC

May 17, 2012 By Momstart 24 Comments

The new Windows PC from Asus, the Asus ET2700 All In One PC fits nicely on the end of our kitchen table, on the counter top in the kitchen and in our little built in area for the computer in our loft. I can put this machine in any room in the house and all it needs is the counter space. The place in the loft is really made for an all-in-one because there is no hole for cables, now with an all in one there is only one cable, the power cord. I love no clutter, I LOVE the Asus AIO.

Computer Shopper said “The Asus ET2700 is more than an all-in-one PC; it’s an entertainment center that delivers a huge display, booming audio, Blu-ray, and an HDMI-in port” I have to say that I was surprised when I was pulling it out of the box and there was this triangular device that sits on the table attaching to the computer and to find out that it was a subwoofer was exciting. I’ve never had a computer with a subwoofer. The subwoofer is a 10-watt external subwoofer that brings a complete theater-like audio experience. So you can watch Blu-Ray movies with the built in Blu-Ray player and listen to the thunderous sound of your media powered by SonicMaster premium sound and DTS Surround Sound UltraPC Technology along with the sub.

Of course I can just list out the Key Features:

• 27” Full HD WLED-backlit frameless MVA panel with 178° wide viewing angle and 1920 x 1080 resolution for a seamless design and a vivid HD visual experience.
• 2^nd gen Intel Core i7 processor featuring with integrated memory controller and discrete graphic support.
• Discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M delivers movies and games in Full HD.
• HDMI-in and VGA-in extends your display from compatible tablets, netbooks, or devices to the All-in-One PC display.
• USB 3.0
• External subwoofer
• ASUS SonicMaster Technology and ASUS DTS Surround Sound UltraPC employs the best codecs and delivers the most pure audio reproduction.
• ASUS Energy Intelligent technology delivers unprecedented levels of speed and performance, with up to 15% of performance boost.
• Wall Mount capability allows users to mount ASUS AIO on the wall as a kiosk or digital signage.

But wouldn’t you rather know what I loved like the programs it came with and how easy it was to use the built in video camera. The ASUS All-in-One PC ET2700INKS combines powerful internal engineering with a clean, streamlined, modern design and the vibrant brilliance of a true 27” HD WLED-backlit frameless display. So yeah, I loved the screen.

I used the video capabilities in this review: A Fantastic Kohl’s Clothing Haul: Kohl’s Hauls of Fame and I used it to create a few videos for the kids. One of them I was an alien and in another video I was a talking dog. The kids just loved it and I had fun playing with it too. The computer was fast and reliable and I trusted the kids while they used it. You may be thinking all-in-one that’s great an all but with if I want to change out memory and upgrade it. You can upgrade it, it’s not as easy as a desktop with a case, but laptops aren’t that easy to upgrade either.

This All-in-One PC is bundled with a remote control, wireless keyboard, and a wireless mouse. The center for your entertainment, the ASUS All-in-One PC ET2700INKS is your ultimate home PC. It’s perfect for me because it’s so fast and handles all my programs running at one time well and it’s great for the kids because they can play with Microsoft Paint among many other programs.

The ASUS All-in-One PC ET2700INKS features NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, 2TB SATA Hard Drive, high-speed wireless N-802.11 b/g/n, 2.0 Megapixel webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium.

It has special power saving with ASUS Energy Intelligent

•Simple power management
•Monitor energy consumption and calculate costs
•Track energy usage for selected time period

The ASUS all in one really makes me want to go out and buy a new computer for the family to use.

I was able to review the Asus all-in-one as part of the Microsoft Windows Champion program.

Filed Under: review, Tech Tagged With: ASUS AIO, asus all in one, ASUS All-in-One PC ET2700INKS, computer review, The Asus ET2700

Summer Travel Trends From Microsoft

May 5, 2012 By Momstart 24 Comments

I’m going on a road trip thanks to Microsoft in June and I’m starting to think about what all I need to take with me. Of course on my list is my laptop, my Windows Phone for GPS and some electronic toys for the kids. Sometimes I wish my children had their own laptops already. They always want to play on mine. While I’m sorting out my list I’ll be sure to share the results with you soon, for now I wanted to share these stats with you from Microsoft.

Men are nearly two times more likely to spend five or more hours on their laptop than females or 22% of travelers list unanswered emails as one of their top 5 stresses when returning home from vacation.

57% admit to looking at someone else’s laptop on a plane, so make sure you’ve got the best looking PC in your row. If your curious which PCs are the best for traveling, consider one of the following models:

Lenovo U300: For those of you who are stylish but still want a powerful PC with exquisite design and smart innovations this model is a great option and its simple to purchase online at the MicrosoftStore.com for $1199

Samsung Second Generation Series 9: Remember the Samsung 9 we talked about months ago? Now, its 20% thinner than before with brighter HD display screen, up to 7 hours of battery life and a 15 second boot time. For sale online for $1499

Asus Zenbook UX31: Elegant, mobile and ultra-fast and with razor-thin edges, the Asus UX31 has a curved center section and new rose gold color which provide beauty and strength in complete balance and harmony. Find this online at the MicrosoftStore.com for $1499.

Arc Touch Mouse: The Arc Touch Mouse is the first mouse designed to flatten for portability and pop up for comfort, making it ideal for anyone on the go. Scrolling is faster and easier with a touch scroll strip, where the flick of a finger starts hyper-fast scrolling and a simple tap brings it to a stop. Price: $59.95

If you are a traveler on a dime, but still want something to keep you connected on the road, check out these budget friendly PCs:

Dell Inspiron 14z: Get more from your busy life with the thin, sleek and fun Inspiron 14z. Its compact, thin aluminum design packs impressive productivity and entertainment features you want at the right price. Price: Starting at $599

Acer Aspire One 722: The 11.6" Aspire One 722 is sensationally designed to deliver amazing HD visual experiences wherever you go. Anytime, anywhere connectivity on Windows 7, plus an eco-friendly platform, round out this netbook and make it ideal for your highly mobile digital lifestyle. Price: Starting at $369

36% of those surveyed have lost vacation photos in the past. While on the road, make sure you are backing up your photos to SkyDrive so they’ll be there when you get home.

Save your photos in the cloud while you are on vacation to ensure your memories are safe and sound. With Windows Live SkyDrive, you can store or share media privately and securely, meaning that whether you’re in New York or Tokyo, you get the same great experience at your convenience. Start by setting up your account here, Hotmail users are already set up. From there, click “add files” and then your photos there with one click. So easy!

This was brought to you by Microsoft and I’m a Windows Champion.

Filed Under: Tech, travel Tagged With: Microsoft, tech, travel, windows champion

Simply Stylish Tech Gifts for the Superhero Mom

April 21, 2012 By Momstart 20 Comments

Being the huge fan of Marvel’s The Avengers movie that is coming out May 4th right before my birthday that I am, I had to share this list of tech savvy gifts for the superhero mom that Microsoft sent to me. So if you’re looking for a mother’s day present for the superhero in your life than look no further for we have a great list of computers and accessories to fit her lifestyle right here.

Sony Vaio E: Whether open or closed, the VAIO® E Series laptop is irresistibly tempting to touch. Go right ahead; the diamond-shaped pattern embossed on the lid and matching palm rests is not only alluring, it’s fingerprint-free. Offered in two sizes—14" and 15.5"—and four distinctive colors, the E Series draws you in with its sweet aesthetics, but holds your attention with a luxe feature set and the smarts to tackle any task. Purchase this PC online for $459

HP Omni 27: Simply powerful and incredibly big—the HP Omni 27 has HP’s biggest and best screen yet. The all new deisgn of this distinctive all-in-one PC features a simple profile and a beautiful edge-to-edlge glasss monitor. Purchase this PC online for $1199.99

Lenovo U300: Style and Responsivness: Combine your impeccable sense of style and your need for substance with a laptop that showcases exquisite design and smart innovations. Purchase online at the MicrosoftStore.com for $1199

Explorer Touch Mouse Limited Edition: The sleek and chic Explorer Touch Mouse is the perfect gift for the multi-tasking Mom. It’s wireless so she has room to move without worrying about tangled wires and speeds up everyday tasks with a Touch Strip optimized for quick vertical and horizontal scrolling, letting you easily navigate spreadsheets, long documents and web pages. Better yet, it has 5 customizable buttons that let her pick the programs and files she uses most often so they’re literally at her fingertips right when she needs them. Price: $49.95

I’m a Windows Champion and sharing this information with you because I wanted to.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Explorer Touch Mouse Limited Edition, gift ideas, HP Omni 27, Lenovo U300, Microsoft, mother's day tech gift ideas, Sony Vaio E, Windows, windows champion

Make Your TV a Smart TV with Sony’s Streaming Media Player

April 7, 2012 By Momstart 17 Comments

I was asked to review Sony’s Streaming Media Player and I can’t quite figure out the use of it or if I would use it. In my house we don’t watch TV through the cable we already have our computer hooked up to it and control it that way. Our computer already connected uses Windows 7 and of course it already has internet connectivity. But not everyone has their TV set up with a computer and want their TV to connect to the internet. It seems that what the Sony Streaming Media Player not only connects your TV to the internet and media on your computer it also is make it easier to protect your children from websites you don’t want them to go to.

Smart and Internet-connected TVs can open a lot of exciting doors in terms of content consumption and entertainment options. Unfortunately, they can also leave children vulnerable and exposed to inappropriate material. And, try as parents might, they can’t supervise their children’s viewing 100% of the time.

Making the Sony Streaming Media Player an easy way to connect the internet to your TV and protect your children.

Enter Sony’s Streaming Media Player. This compact black box ($69.99) connects easily to any TV, and instantly adds Internet-connectivity and a slew of content options from the web. It also gives parents the ability to control their children’s entertainment experience. Download the free Media Remote app to your iPhone, iPod, or Android phone, and you’ve got a versatile remote that’ll allow you to control what your kids are viewing from anywhere in the home. Pause a movie, fast forward through a scene, or block content altogether without ever having to get up.

Parental control highlights include:

Block the playback of unrated Internet videos
Limit playback of some Internet videos according to age of users
Block scenes or replace select clips with different scenes
Restrict internet video playback with a password

So what do you think? Is this an item you need or would find useful in keeping your internet capable TV safe for your children.

Since I mentioned Windows I need to remind you that I’m a Windows Blog Ambassador.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Media Player, Media Remote app, Sony, Sony Streaming Media Player, Sony’s Streaming Media Player, tech

Spring Clean and Organize Your Tech with Microsoft

February 22, 2012 By Momstart 6 Comments

I did a poll on twitter and asked if it’s soon enough to write about Spring cleaning and most people said yes it’s too soon, but they still wanted tips for winter cleaning. So if you’re still organizing for the New Year or ready to clean out for Spring, don’t forget to consider your tech and be green about cleaning out your tech.

Remember when Summer gave us some green tips on how to deal with your technology a year and a half ago. She gave us some really great tips and Microsoft has a few of their own versions of these great tips but just to remind you, here are Summer’s tips. Dispose of Batteries Properly. Know Local Places to donate used toys, electronics, and other items. Donate used items to charity. Find places to Sell Used Electronics Find, and ways to properly dispose of electronics and make some money doing so at Microsoft among other places. Remember you can Recycle Cell Phones through Operation Gratitude, and Turn off Vampire Appliances to save energy. Microsoft recently sent me some other great ideas and ways to clean up your tech at the Microsoft Store. Here are their tips:

Out with the Old, In with the New (In Store): Already have your new PC and need to get rid of your old one? Just bring your computer, phone or other device into the nearest Microsoft Store and they will happily recycle it for you. Even better, if they determine your computer still has value, we’ll give you a Microsoft store gift card for that amount. Just like Summer said, make some money off your old appliances. We’ve been doing that with some of our old stuff.

PC Tune-Up (In Store): Let trained technicians at a Microsoft Store closest to you help improve the speed, performance, and security of your PC. I’ve been really bad about this, I usually just deem my machine to be out of date and in need of replacement. It’s a good idea if you’re not ready to upgrade to just get some help with the one you have. Plus it’s greener to use your machine as long as possible.

Sign up for a Personal Trainer (The Tech Kind): With Microsoft’s One-Hour Personal Training sessions at $49.99, you can learn at your own pace, the way you want to. Get the most out of your PC experience with a one-on-one training session with a Microsoft Answer Tech. You can customize your hour to concentrate on the topics you want to learn about most, like creating documents or newsletters, organizing your email inbox, creating photos and videos with Windows Live Essentials, and much more.

Get dedicated one-on-one time with an expert – ask the questions you want and learn the way that works best for you
Learn from the comfort of your own home or office – you’ll receive your training remotely via chat and phone
Training covers the latest Microsoft software, from the company that designed Windows 7 and Office 2010
You’re learning experience is tailored to the topics you want to focus on

· Manage the family calendar online: With Windows Hotmail Calendar, you can keep track of everyone’s schedules all at once. Don’t worry about trying to remember what time to pick up the kids from soccer practice and make it to your dentist appointment on time; it’s all in your calendar and easily accessible online or on your mobile phone.

I’m a Microsoft Windows Champion and this information was provided to me by them.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: organize your tech, phone, Recycle electronics, reuse, spring clean, tech tips

Peripherals for Windows and Looking Forward to Windows 8 with Dan Laycock

February 6, 2012 By Momstart 3 Comments

Our last meeting with the Windows Champion team was so informational. I first shared with you ways to remember and think about Data Privacy on-line. The biggest key is to remember that when it’s on-line it’s hard to keep it secret so just be careful what you post on-line. Now I’m happy to share with you a sneak peek into Windows 8 and how peripherals work in the Windows ecosystem already.

Dan Laycock took us in depth with peripherals. Dan is the device guy for the Microsoft Ecosystem team You may be asking what does that mean, it means he makes sure your devices work with a Windows computer. You know printers cameras and TVs. We’re happy he does this because our TV has been hooked up to our computer for five years I think, maybe even longer. Dan’s job is to make sure the Microsoft partners create devices that enhance the Windows 7 experience. And he’s already looking forward to Windows 8.

Key Points to Consider:

Microsoft spends a lot of time working with partners to figure out how to make the PC experience great. By Finding the Windows logo on a product ensures you that it’s a legitimate MS product for hardware. The companies that put products in markets with the compatible with Windows 7 have been tested to ensure a great integrated experience for users. This ensures that the device you are buying will do all the things that it’s supposed to do.

It’s important to note that many products don’t have the Windows logo on their box even though they’ve earned it (companies are able to decide whether they want to include the logo or not). This is important for things like TVs because you don’t always see the box or think about it as something you will connect to a PC

You should also remember to use the Windows 7 Compatibility Center: The Windows 7 Compatibility site stores information on products that have earned the compatibility logo.

Now the exciting part, with Windows 8, there you will see more gadgets compatible with your PC. And I can’t wait for Windows 8 to come out.

The partners and Ecosystems will store apps in the market for easy access to users and to make installing easier. No need to add a CD.

There will be very little work on the your part as the consumer and I’ve noticed over the years that Windows has gotten a lot easier for us anyways. They are always making improvements.

And if you keep up with the Windows Champions during the #Win7Tech chat you will see new devices and more sneak peeks into Windows 8.

Dan’s favorite device: Logitech harmony remote. Dan tweets at: @DanielLaycock find him on #Win7Tech Tuesdays at noon PST.

I’m a member of the Windows Champion Program with Microsoft, this information was provided to me.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Dan Laycock, Microsoft, winchamp, Windows 7 Compatiblity Center, windows champion

IE, Tracking Protection Lists, and Data Privacy with Anurag Pandit

January 31, 2012 By Momstart 2 Comments

Last week I had the opportunity to listen to a chat with Anurag Pandit. Anurag is a Product Manager with the Internet Explorer (IE) team, he looks after the security of the browsers to make sure online users are safe online. He explained what a Tracking Protection List is. I’ve actually never heard of the term before now. I’m sure my husband has mine set up for me and it’s set to not share at all.

“Tracking Protection Lists are like “Do Not Call” lists for third-party content on a website. By adding a “Tracking Protection List,” you can control whether your information is sent to third parties listed on the Tracking Protection List.”

A question was raised should we care who receives this kind of information? I mean do I really care who is watching my browser history. I don’t really care one way or the other really, but I do want to know why that site wants that information. So maybe I do care a little bit.

This WSJ article shows how online tracking is used to collect information and how it can be used by those collecting it
IE’s Tracking Protection Lists help prevent the websites you go to from automatically sending details about your visit to other content providers.
When you have a Tracking Protection List or Personalized Tracking Protection enabled, Internet Explorer 9 will send a Do Not Track preference or signal to the websites you visit. It will also send a Do Not Track preference to the third party websites that provides content on the websites you visit if those third party sites have not been blocked by your Tracking Protection List. Websites may continue to engage in activities you might view as tracking even though you have expressed this preference, depending on the website’s privacy practices.
Regarding Security: Internet Explorer has industry leading security enhancements built into it that can go a long way to help protect users. For example, SmartScreen protection can help block socially engineered malware – the types of malware that use social engineering techniques to trick users and infect computers. A study by NSS labs showed that Internet Explorer 9 was six times more effective against these types of attacks than the next browser.

For more information on how to set up Tracking Protection Lists visit: www.iegallery.com

I participate as a Windows Champion and have opportunities to listen to the experts and love sharing that information with you.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: Data Privacy, IE, IE 9, Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Tracking Protection Lists, Windows

The Epson Stylus NX430 Small In One

January 30, 2012 By Momstart 4 Comments

The Epson NX430 Small in One is very much like the Epson Artisan 730 Printer in appearance that I reviewed back in November. It’s just much smaller with fewer ink cartridges. It only has four ink cartridges. The Epson Small in One much like many other Epson printers is super easy to hook up to the internet it’s push enabled. At least that’s what I like to call it. You push a button and it connect to your wifi and you can print to it from anywhere in the house, which is a huge time saver in my opinion.

Set up was a breeze

The printer quality is as expected and when it comes to Epson I have high expectations. The Epson Stylus NX430 is designed for simplicity and comes complete with a 2.5" color LCD and built-in memory card slots for PC-free printing. In addition, the new Small-in-One offers hassle-free printing on-the-go with Epson Connect, a new portfolio of cloud and mobile services enabling users to print web pages, photos, documents, and e-mail attachments directly from tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices directly to their Epson printers.

I love to read reviews and see what other people are saying about technology and one reviewer wrote that the Epson Small in One isn’t really that small and having reviewed a few printers over the years, I have to disagree. The Epson small in one is much smaller than most all in one printers. Compared to the Epson Artisan 730 Printer, I would say it’s half the size. The paper tray is in the back instead of on the bottom. It uses fewer ink cartridges as I mentioned earlier. I suppose compared to the very first printer I owned it’s about the same size, no I take that back it’s still smaller. My college printer that only printed was taller and the same width so I’m pretty impressed with the size and quality ratio! It’s good on both accounts.

Scanning is really easy and making modifications are really easy. I love the options of scanning to card or to computer, but it seems just as easy to scan to card and walk over to my computer. One other thing I really love is that the printer is very quite.

the Stylus NX430 Small-in-Oneis designed to meet busy families’ home printing, scanning and copying needs. Featuring superior all-in-one performance in an unprecedented space-saving design, the affordable Epson Stylus NX430 packs outstanding print quality and ease-of-use into the smallest footprint available for the feature set.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES/BENEFITS

Wireless printing and scanning — share one small-in-one at home, now with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n²
Easy Epson Wireless — connect to your wireless network in seconds
Save time — make multiple copies (1 – 99) with one touch
Replace only the color you need — individual ink cartridges, available in different sizes*
Quality and speed in one machine — fast printing, copying and scanning, thanks to innovative technology from Epson
Better image automatically — red-eye removal, photo restoration, and correction of over/underexposed images
Truly touchable photos and documents — instant-dry ink for smudge, fade and water resistant prints; even highlighter friendly
Epson Connect — get instant, wireless printing of photos and attachments right from smartphones, iPads, tablets and popular mobile devices¹
Quick, high-quality scanning up to 2400 dpi — scan important papers, recipes, bills, report cards and photos and save them as JPEGs or PDFs, with or without a PC
Product protection you can count on — One-year limited warranty, Quick product exchange
Packaging Specifications (W x D x H) — Dimensions: Printing 15.4" x 20.8" x 11.0", Storage 15.4" x 11.8" x 5.7" and Weight 8.8 lb.

We received a sample for review.

Filed Under: review, Tech Tagged With: epson, Epson Stylus, Epson Stylus NX430 Small In One, Espon NX430, Printer Review, review, small-in-one

A Compact PC: The Sony VAIO Y Computer Review

December 12, 2011 By Momstart 11 Comments

By: Ashley

For the past few months my current laptop has been in a gradual decline. Things have slowed down, it has to be restarted more often, programs have “errors”… all those lovely signs that signify the end of days for a laptop. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do next though. Since I’m starting to do a little more traveling, and often take my computer to meetings, out to coffee, etc. I was really looking into a mini-laptop. I just wasn’t sure how I would handle the smaller keyboard and screen. Well, thanks to Sony, I’ve been able to test out a Sony Vaio Y Series laptop. Now, keep in mind that I am NOT a techy person. This review will be as tech-knowledgeable as I can make it, but forgive any obvious mistakes in lingo.

From the moment I opened it up, I was in love. Yes, I know this will sound pretty lame, but the cute pink cover was one of the first things I loved. It just adds a nice personal touch to something as everyday as a computer.

Anyway, the Sony Vaio Y Series has a TON of amazing features. Here are the super techy features!

Sony VAIO Y Specifications:

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Camera: Built-in MOTION EYE® camera and microphone
AMD® Dual-Core Processor E-350
Speed: 1.60GHz
Dual Core Technology
Installed: 4GB (2GB x 2)Memory
Type/Speed: DDR3-1066MHz
Max. Memory: 4GB
Sound System: Intel® High Definition Audio
11.6" Screen
Resolution: 1366 x 768
Back Light Technology: LED
Graphics Processor: AMD Mobility
Radeon™ HD 6310 Graphics
Weight: 3.23 lbs. (with Standard Capacity Battery)
Measurements: 11.42” (W) x 0.99” – 1.25” (H) x 7.99” (D)

I do know that this laptop is super lightweight and portable. It’s small in size and weight. I can also say that I absolutely LOVE the battery life on the computer. I have never had it run out on me while working. As far as the size of the keyboard and screen goes, it does take a little getting used to, but I’ve adjusted pretty quickly and now prefer using the tiny compact version as opposed to my normal 15” laptop.

If you’re computer shopping and trying to decide what’s best for you, the Sony Vaio Y Series is a great option for Moms (or anyone) on the go!

More Technical Specs:

It’s powered by a dual-core AMD E-450 accelerated processor (APU), which combines a CPU and a graphics processing unit (GPU) on a single chip, helping to accelerate daily applications while also delivering lower power consumption. The APU can quickly offload demanding tasks and applications from your CPU to the GPU, enabling you to do more with your computer in less time.

You can connect this VAIO to a compatible HDTV via the HDMI port to display your creations to a larger audience via a single cable. It also includes Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11n), which offers ultra-fast speeds, wider range, and compatibility with 802.11b/g networks as well. And the integrated camera with face-tracking technology and microphone makes it easy to video chat with family, friends, and co-workers.

The 11.6-inch LED backlit widescreen display Sony Vaio laptop offers lower power consumption for improved battery life while providing incredibly high brightness levels that amplify colors and deliver clear, crisp picture quality to bring your movies and pictures to life–even spreadsheets will look amazing. It’s only 3.23 pounds.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and President of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Ashley, review, Tech Tagged With: computer review, Sony Vaio Y, Sony VAIO Y Specifications