Ribbon Worthy

by David English on January 21st, 2007

I had read about the new ribbon interface in Microsoft Office 2007, but didn’t have a chance to try it until my meeting with Microsoft at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

At first glance, I felt lost. Like a complete novice, I had to ask how to load a saved file because the traditional pull-down menus have disappeared (hint: the file options are tucked under the oversized Office button on the far left).

Why take away the familiar interface we’ve come to love (and hate) over the years? We tend to think and work visually, so having functions grouped intuitively with visual cues encourages us to explore the hidden capabilities of the software.

Using the context-sensitive tabs, I experimented with features that were new to me, but have probably been available since Office XP or Office 2003. At this point, Word and Excel have essentially all the features you’ll ever need, so it makes sense that Microsoft would concentrate on making those features more easily accessible (think Microsoft Bob on steroids).

The biggest benefits will come to users who are new to Office. The rest of us will have to relearn and adapt, while wondering why it took Microsoft so long to break free from the confines of a one-size-fits-all interface.

Creature Comforts

by David English on January 20th, 2007

You know you’re getting older when the high-end gadget that inspires your techno-lust at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a massage chair rather than a large screen TV or cutting-edge audio system.

The Inada chairs aren’t ordinary massage chairs. They first scan your body with optical sensors in order to find your Shiatsu pressure points. Then they use a combination of rollers and airbags to intelligently tap, scoop, and knead your aching body.

I was able to test-ride the Inada ROBO Chair ($5,999 list price) on the last day of CES, and it provided some welcome relief. This particular model features a newly introduced “3D roller mechanism” and is configured to message your feet, calves, ankles, legs, back, buttocks, neck, arms, and hands.

Once you get over the notion that this powerful machine has you trapped in its grip, you’ll find it surprisingly similar to a professional massage therapist. It was amazing how the chair was able to hone in on the knots in my back and apply just the right amount of pressure.

The downside — apart from the lofty purchase price — could be your ability to have it repaired for a reasonable fee once the limited five-year warranty lapses. It could also be so addicting, you might never want to leave your house.

Update: Want to try out an Inada ROBO Chair? Here’s a list of dealers and showrooms throughout the U.S.

Ear Full

by David English on January 20th, 2007

I’m a big fan of Shure’s E500 earphones. They’re the best in-ear audio solution I’ve experienced so far. To be fair, they won’t sound as good as a similar priced set of traditional headphones (such as the Sennheiser HD 600), but who wants to lug a bulky set of headphones around the airport when you can have roughly 70 to 80 percent of the same audio quality using a one-ounce set of earphones?

Some people don’t like having ear pieces inside their ears, so you should try a set of earphones before you purchase them. Earphones also require careful positioning in order to hear the lower frequencies.

I stopped by the Shure booth at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and learned the company is expanding its consumer earphone line based on the success of the E500. The E500 will be relaunched as the SE530 ($449.99). The “3″ in the model number indicates that each ear piece has three distinct audio drivers that function much like a three-way speaker system (Shure refers to them as Triple TruAcoustic MicroSpeakers).

One notch down is the SE420 ($349.99), where the “2″ indicates that each ear piece has two distinct audio drivers. Being familiar with the E500′s exceptionally clear and smooth audio, I was impressed by how close the SE420 sounded to the E500.

Rounding out the product line, the SE310 ($249.99) and SE210 ($149.99) have just a single audio driver, with the SE310 featuring a Tuned BassPort for improved bass response. Sampling all four, I found each offers excellent sound for its particular price point.

Keep in mind that it may be worth spending some extra money for whatever kind of earphones, ear buds, or headphones you buy. The less expensive ones can tire you more quickly, especially when you’re traveling. There’s no point bringing your favorite music or movies along for a flight, only to have the audio become irritating after just a half hour.

Pinstripe Skype

by David English on January 19th, 2007

Lost among all the cool new gadgets at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was a nifty Skype-compatible accessory from Polycom.

You might wonder why Polycom would be releasing a consumer product. The company is best known for its business-oriented teleconferencing equipment, especially its tri-cornered phones that let a room full of people participate without the usual audio feedback problems. Polycom has taken that same conference-room expertise and applied it to the Polycom Communicator ($129 list price), which brings conference-phone capabilities to your Skype-equipped notebook or desktop computer.

It plugs into any USB port with a lightweight cable that folds back into the unit when you’re done. The front-mounted buttons adjust the volume up and down, mute the microphone, run the Skype program on your computer, and hang up the phone. It has a stereo headphone jack for private conversations, as well as a slim carry case for easy portability. Given Skype’s rock-bottom prices for domestic and overseas phone calls, this would be an excellent way to add phone service to your WiFi or cellular-modem equipped laptop.

I found the audio quality to be very good on my end, though someone on the other end of a call mentioned the audio sounded a bit tinny. That was probably a result of the Skype Internet connection, not the fault of the Communicator, as the built-in speaker and dual microphones seemed fine when I used them for other computer-based functions.