Zagg Slim Book Case for iPad Pro 12.9

I've enjoyed using my iPad Pro especially since I have a physical keyboard for the majority of my typing duties. The keyboard I'm using is the Apple Smart Keyboard and it works well. Today, I began using the Zagg Slim Book Case and Keyboard and it is really good too. For one, it makes the tablet more laptop like and is easier to use on your lap. The device has a backlit keyboard with function keys for more tasks than Apples keyboard. You can jump to the Home screen with one key press, pull up the app switcher with a single key press, call up the Search function and more. Plus the Zagg can be paired with up to 3 separate devices including non-iOS devices. Battery life is touted to be up to 2 years between charges with approximately 1 hour of usage per day. Of course your mileage may vary depending on the amount of time you spend using the device. Which keyboard is best? It depends, I'll probably end up using both.

Linux Rules ... and the price is Right!

I know the title "Linux Rules!" may cause you to either smile or smirk but before you pass judgement, hear me out :) Personal computer operating systems vary in features, reliability, ease-of-use and hardware platforms they run on.  And of course they differ in cost to acquire and use.
If flexibility and power for minimum cost is on the top of your list of what you want, then Linux is very hard to beat. But Linux is difficult to learn you might be saying, well that depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Linux distributions today are much easier to install and use then in previous years. Linux variations can run on pretty much any hardware, whether it's the latest high-end PC or an old clunker from years ago. The OS can be found on servers in some of the world's biggest Fortune 500 companies, to the smallest gadgets that are available today. Once such miniature device that's currently available is the PocketCHIP.  I know what you're thinking, what the heck is a PocketCHIP? The PocketCHIP is a "Super Handy Fun Computer" that contains a removable microcomputer, a 480px by 272px LED backlit display with a superclicky qwerty keyboard all encased in an enclosure you can put in a pocket!  And it's running a version of the Linux operating system. The device can be used as a retro handheld game console or a portable linux computer for your personal or professional use. Since it's running a version of Debian Linux, you have access to thousands of apps to choose from at no cost. In fact the OS is free too. You only pay for the PocketCHIP hardware which is currently available for only $49.  If you're a tinkerer, a hobbyist or you've used a Raspberry Pi, then I'm sure the gears in your head are beginning to spin faster and faster. This little device can be your ticket to a world of fun, learning and productivity.

https://getchip.com/pages/pocketchip

Apple's iPhone SE

Apple has a long history of innovation. The Macintosh, iPod and iPad are great examples of its beautifully designed products that have changed the way we think about and use technology. But the biggest game changing device out of Cupertino has to be the iPhone. Throughout it's existence, the device has changed and improved, but in my opinion the iPhone 5/5s was its most iconic design. That brings me to the latest iteration, the iPhone SE which is also based on the 5/5s design language. Though it looks like an iPhone 5 physically, the internals have been upgraded to the same level as Apple's current flagship 6s. That decision not only saves Apple manufacturing and development costs but also allows the starting price to be lower than any previous new iPhone. If you are comfortable with a 4 inch display and are looking to be a part of the Apple iOS eco-system, there's no
better time to take the plunge.