I was lucky enough to be working in the wireless industry at the dawn of the Smart Phone.  Many people credit Apple and Google for the Smart Phone but it actually goes back much further.  BlackBerry delivered the first "always on" email device back in the early 2000s.  It was the basis for what we … Continue reading Smart Phone Addiction: Is it real? →

Let's get the tricky one out of way first. 5.  Video Card-  In a PC the video card produces all of the images you see on screen.  In the early days of the PC the video card determined if you had colour graphics or Monochrome.  In the modern era of PCs the video card has … Continue reading Building a PC 101 — Part 3: Parts List continued →

Once you decide what you're building the machine for you'll need to put together a Parts List. In general you'll need to purchase the following pieces: Motherboard-  The main component of the PC.  All of the parts attached to the PC require a connection to the Motherboard in order to work.  There are many Motherboard … Continue reading Building a PC 101 — Part 2: Parts List →

In the early 90's I was working in a small "Mom and Pop" computer shop.  It was there I learned the business of building and repairing PC's.  I can't recall how many PC's I built in that time but it was a lot. Since then desktop style PC's have fallen out of favor.  Laptops, Smartphones … Continue reading Building a PC 101 — Part 1: Baby Steps →

What is Qi? Qi is the wireless charging standard used in many mobile devices today.  It's been around for about 6 years now.  Initial adoption rates have been slow but visibility is steadily improving. Apple added Qi wireless charging to the iPhone starting with the iPhone 8 and later. The majority of higher end Android … Continue reading How Qi wireless charging works, and doesn’t. →

"When you help someone, you help everyone."  -Marvel's Spider-man The holidays are a time for family and friends.  Full of gift giving, sharing memories and looking forward to what a new year brings. It can also be very difficult time for someone dealing with a mental health issue.  So many suffer in silence afraid of … Continue reading Sometimes the Needs of the One… →

Ok you've got some Christmas money left.  Should you pick up a PS4 now? Let's talk. If you are following the console business at all you are probably aware that this generation of game consoles is near the end of its life.  Both Sony and Microsoft are dropping hints that the next generation of hardware … Continue reading Is Now the Time to Pickup a PS4? →

This stroll down memory lane has been a joy to write. It got me thinking about so many different "What ifs?" It also made me wish that I'd left my wallet at home on an occasion or two. I thought I'd close with just a few reflections on my gaming life. First which systems have … Continue reading Confessions of a 45 Year Old … Gamer Final Part →

In November 2001 Microsoft entered the gaming industry with the Xbox.  It was designed to be competition for the Sega Dreamcast and Playstation 2. By the time the Xbox launched Dreamcast production had ceased. The Xbox had a number of things going for it. It was built largely from PC components. This made production of … Continue reading Confessions of a 45 Year Old … Gamer Pt 4 →