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Lenovo B50-30 23.8 inch All-in-one -- beautiful, powerful and affordable [Review]

Publié: mars 8, 2015, 8:18pm CET par Brian Fagioli
As a system builder, and lover of desktop add-on cards, I am usually adverse to all-in-one computers. Why? I prefer having my computer and monitor separate -- if one breaks, the other can still function. With that said, I recognize the value and space-savings potential of these machines.

For me to be interested in an all-in-one unit, it has to be exceptional. In other words, it has to be well-specced, as many upgrades will not be possible. Today, I am reviewing the Lenovo B50-30 23.8 inch All-in-one computer, and boy oh boy, are the specifications nice! It has an Intel Core i7 processor, 12GB of RAM and a discrete 2GB Nvidia gaming card. Is it enough to make me an all-in-one proponent?

Specs (as reviewed)
- Processor: 4th Gen Intel Core i7-4785T (2.20GHz 1600MHz 8MB)
- Operating System: Windows 8.1 64bit
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 840A 2GB and Intel HD Graphics 4600
- Display: 23.8 inch FHD (1920x1080) 10-point multitouch display with IPS technology
- Integrated Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/c, Bluetooth 4.0
- Dimensions (H x D x W): 22.9 x 8.1 x 178.5 (inches)
- Memory: 12GB PC3-12800 DDR3L 1600 MHz
- Sound: JBL stereo speakers with Dolby Home Theater
- Weight: 19.8 lbs
- Connectors: 3 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI-out, HDMI-in, mic, headphone, gigabit LAN
- Hard Disk Drive: 1TB 7200 RPM + 8GB SSHD (hybrid)
Impressions:

Taking the computer out of the box, I was presented with two pieces; the actual computer and the stand to hold it up. Luckily, connecting the stand was surprisingly simple and definitely doable as a on-man job. Lenovo wisely put notches in such a way that it cannot be attached in the wrong way. Also great? The manufacturer utilizes toolless-screws, so if you stupidly realize midway that you don't have tools (like I did), you will be fine. Just screw it in tightly and you are off to the races.

Also in the box are wireless peripherals; a mouse and keyboard. Both are passable, and absolutely fine for the average home user, but certainly not high-quality. The mouse comes with a connection dongle, which is stored in the battery compartment. It is powered by a single AA battery, so it is suggested to keep some on hand for when it runs out.

Sadly, ergonomics and features are secondary here; it is designed to be ambidextrous, meaning it doesn't fit comfortably in either a right or left hand. The big disappointment, however, is the lack of thumb buttons. I don't know about you, but my brain is wired for having those buttons for navigating back and forward in my browser.

The keyboard is actually nice, featuring chiclet-styled keys that are all the rage nowadays. Like Lenovo's laptops, the keys are founded on the bottom, which people seem to love or hate; I am the former. The keyboard is thin, yet not flimsy. It is a winner.

With peripherals connected, I booted the machine up and was very happy with the speed. This uses a Seagate hybrid SSHD storage drive, meaning it is a HDD and SSD together. This is a great way to get some of the SSD speed benefits at a fraction of the cost. Enthusiasts may prefer a traditional SSD, but for the average home or business user, I agree with the hybrid solution.

Overall performance of opening files, starting programs and uncompressing files was fast and fluid. This should be of no surprise however, as the Core i7 and 12GB of RAM are an impressive combo.

One of the big selling points of the Lenovo B50-30 is the discrete Nvidia graphics with dedicated 2GB of memory. What does this mean? The 12GB of system storage is not decreased for use with the graphics card; Windows reports a full 12GB of RAM available.

Such a card will make gaming on the machine very possible, including modern games, albeit not always on the highest settings. Having 2GB of video RAM in such a machine is very impressive.

The 1080p screen is big and beautiful too, making playing games or watching media a dream. Not all is roses with the display, however, as there is a blue tint on the right and left edges when viewing white or light-gray backgrounds. Is it annoying? A bit, but hardly a deal-breaker. When gaming, or watching a movie, it is is not an issue. You will probably only notice it when on bare webpages like Google.com or when editing a document in Word.

Blue-tint aside, the display is very glossy, which I like, but it does show reflections very easily. On a positive, however, fingerprint smudges aren't overly apparent after utilizing the touchscreen. Speaking of which, despite reports that a touchscreen on a desktop is stupid, I must disagree. True, I use the mouse the vast majority of the time, but having the ability to reach out and touch sometimes definitely has value. The Lenovo B50-30 has a great range of movement too, making positioning for touch a solid experience.

One place where the all-in-one really shines is audio. Equipped with JBL speakers featuring Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater, both movies and music are a wonderful experience. Bass is a bit lacking, but then again, there is no subwoofer; the row of speakers on the bottom of the display are impressive for what they are. As a desktop system-builder, it is nice not to have another set of speakers plugged into the wall and taking up room.

Connectivity is a huge plus here, specifically with HDMI. Not only does it have HDMI out for connecting a second display, but HDMI in for using the all-in-one as a display itself.

The HDMI output is great for productivity, as you can set up a second-screen experience if needed. In the business world, this is a huge boost to productivity. For a home user, there are many uses, such as setting up a dedicated Spotify or Twitter monitor.

The HDMI input is what I use mostly, as I can connect my Raspberry Pi 2 to the Lenovo B50-30, which can also power it by USB. By hitting a button, I can switch between Windows or my Pi 2. The uses here are endless. It can even serve as a TV when coupled with a cable box. I can see a college student using this as both a TV and computer to save space in a dorm.

Other connectivity options are 3 USB 2.0 ports and 2 USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, MS and MS PRO) and a gigabit Ethernet port.

While 5 USB ports are plenty, I am a bit dismayed by the location of the 3.0 ports. Rather than be on the rear with the 2.0 ports, they are instead on the edge of the left side of the monitor. I understand Lenovo's thinking here, as it can be more convenient for connecting USB 3.0 flash drives. Unfortunately, in my case, I wanted to connect a USB 3.0 hard drive, which will almost always be connected. This means the connected wire is visible and not hidden on the back. It's not terrible, but I would prefer to see one on the rear and maybe one on the front.

On the right side of the computer is a DVD burner and reader, but it is not capable of reading or writing Blu-ray. This is not terrible, however, as I don't see many consumers embracing this medium nowadays, opting instead for streaming video and cloud-backup. Still, if you need one, an external variant can be connected.

On the top of the computer is a webcam, which is passable, but not of the greatest quality. Yes, people can see me clearly in video chat, but there is a lot of noise in the image. Like a Blu-ray burner, you can always add a better webcam by USB.

Believe it or not, it has NFC support, for tapping an Android smartphone with a special Lenovo app. The manufacturer describes the app as "designed for near-field data transfer and share of picture, video and music files between mobile phone and PC based on the NFC technology. User is able to download the picture, video and music files on the phone via PC". In other words, you cannot unlock your machine with it, but only transfer files. It is a bit gimmicky, as a USB connection would be faster and not require the NFC software to constantly run.

My only major complaint, however, is an internal fan. While it is normally quiet, sometimes it gets unbalanced, causing a rattling noise. To solve it, I just smack the computer and it goes away. With that said, that is unacceptable for a user. Keep in mind, however, that this may not be your experience, and is likely a one-off.

This fan issue highlights a big problem with all-in-one computers; a lack of upgradeability. Yes, I can probably open it up and try to locate the faulty fan, but it will not be easy and will likely void the warranty. Truth be told, I tried to access the part of the chassis that is designed to be opened (to access the SSHD and RAM), but gave up when I thought I might crack the plastic. With a traditional desktop, you could easily remove a side panel and replace the fan.

Conclusion

So, do I recommend this Lenovo B50-30 23.8 inch All-in-one? Absolutely. I don't expect the fan issue to be widespread; it is something that can happen to any machine from any manufacturer.

With the specifications as tested, the computer is crazy fast and very capable. For the most part, it can handle anything a home user throws at it. I particularly like this for a college student who uses it for double duty as as a TV, but is recommended for any user.

It is currently available at Best Buy (with the same specs as reviewed) for a very affordable $899. You can check it out here.
Mom's Nokia Lumia Icon is gone -- she has a vintage Moto X now

Publié: mars 8, 2015, 7:58pm CET par Joe Wilcox
I can attest firsthand to the rising health-care costs everyone talks about. My mom went to hospital on January 30th for outpatient surgery. Still woozy from anesthesia, she left her Nokia Lumia Icon Windows Phone in the bed's blankets. The hospital ships the linens to Canada for cleaning, and, well—cue the violins—that handset is gone to cellphone heaven or into someone's greedy, grubby hands. Wouldn't you know, Medicare won't cover the cost of replacing the phone.

Neither will Asurion pay up. The nerve. When reporting the phone lost, Verizon suggested adding insurance to the phone line and later filing a claim. The Lumia could be replaced for $99 deductible. I must admit to a little apprehension, but, hey, cost was just 10 bucks. Damn, three attempts to file a claim all failed, with Asurion insisting that the phone was lost before insurance was applied. Either these insurers are smartypants, or this is a popular scam. Whichever, mom's hospital visit was an unexpected, health-care cost.

Yeah, I'm being facetious. It helps mellow my frustration buying her a replacement mobile. Mom is done with Windows Phone and must satisfy with an older Android. This post explains why, and how during a big week of new smartphone announcements she gets a—cough, cough—2013 model.

Better Red Than Dead?

About a year ago, I grudgingly moved the family from T-Mobile to Verizon. GSM service sucks in my neighborhood, regardless of carrier, while Verizon delivers reliable coverage. Magenta, or is that Pink, is good enough for me. But my father-in-law is 93, and steady service is necessary for him and our communication with the gent. He still lives independently, and we moved to California nearly 8 years ago to enable him to stay that way. Red costs considerably more than Pink, which is the major downside.

Phone choice is another area of complaint. There are many more GSM options available, at better prices, unlocked and contract-free. The replacement phone needed to be both.

Mom, who is 73, willingly waited for the Lumia's possible recovery. One month! All the while, I looked for a satisfactory phone that wouldn't destroy the budget, impose Android skin like TouchWiz UI, or subject her to Verizon's notoriously slow approach to updates. Windows Phone wasn't an option, off-contract, for Red. Whereas, GSM models unlocked and contract-free are available for less than $100.

Before the Lumia, mom used Galaxy Nexus. Android is more familiar to her than Windows Phone. Besides, sometime soon I will replace her Surface RT—purchased refurbished for $200 last year from Microsoft store—and put her back on Chromebook. With RT essentially dead when Windows 10 releases, the tablet has no future and will be increasingly difficult to manage across country (she lives in Vermont). She knows Chromebook, and we both will benefit from her being on a single, familiar platform.

She's Not a Developer, But...

Tight budget narrowed my choices, particularly because of Verizon and my desire not to burden mom (or myself) with yet another end-of-life device. If we were still on T-Mobile, Moto G would have been one option—or Moto X Pure Edition, for about $350 with a coupon. Among my top priorities, to repeat: An unlocked phone that would stay current with updates.

Verizon did offer to sell me older, previously owned iPhones—the 8GB 4 for $199 or 16GB 4S for $249. Mom has never used an Apple handset, and I didn't see any sense to starting her out on a four or five year-old device that already is performance-strained running the current iOS.

I spent $250 for Moto X Developer Edition for Verizon, through Amazon from Mango Wireless. I don't know why there is such a thing. But, hey, who am I to complain. With 32GB storage, Moto controlling updates, speedy operation, long battery life, and touchless control, DE meets most of my purchasing criteria, and more—that despite vintage: 1st-generation X, released about 18 months ago.

Had mom lost her Lumia sooner, I could have bought the Developer Edition for much less, even. The $250 got her a new, rather than used, phone shipped directly to her. I did scour Craigslist locally, but, again, pickings were slim to none for Verizon.

Weighing the Trade-Offs

I had bought mom the Icon for several reasons:
- Microsoft Store pricing with 2-year contract
- Superb camera, and it's the only one she has
- Uniformity: She had recently started using Surface RT
- Longevity: The high-end phone would satisfy her for years
In replacing the lost Lumia, my first choice would have been another like it. But $500 off-contract is more than the Wilcox household could spend right now. Also: I am dissatisfied with how long Verizon has taken to roll out Windows Phone 8.1, raising concerns about future updates.

Based on features, the Icon outclasses Moto X Developer Edition: Larger display (5 inches vs 4.7 inches); greater resolution (1080p vs 720p); superior camera; and better video capture (particularly audio), for example. Battery life is excellent for both devices, which have the same storage capacity. Call quality is comparably outstanding as well. (Hint: I have used both devices.)

Mom loses big benefit with the camera, while the screen differences don't matter much. Where she gains: Touchless control, for starters. She is in a wheelchair, and voice activation and querying will be useful to her. Another: Apps. Mom mostly uses her mobile for phone calls and entertainment but has complained about the latter. The apps she wants, many from Google, aren't there. Now she has them and better game choices, too.

Mom doesn't need the fastest, fanciest thing—and there were many tantalizing new models revealed this past week at Mobile World Congress, such as the Huawei MediaPad X2, HTC One M9, Lenovo VIBE Shot, or Samsung Galaxy S6, and S6 Edge, Maybe, but the best smartphone you can buy is the one you can afford.
Google hit with sexual harassment complaint from ex-employee

Publié: mars 8, 2015, 3:56pm CET par Mark Wilson

A former Google engineer revealed on Twitter this weekend that she suffered sexual harassment whilst working at the company. In a series of tweets, Kelly Ellis said that not only had she been sexually harassed by a male colleague, but that her promotion through the company had been effectively curtailed because she would have been in a position that meant reporting to her harasser.

There is more than a hint of irony at the timing of the revelation. Google would much prefer to be seen encouraging women into technology but Ellis -- who worked on the Google+ team -- dismisses this as nothing more than "PR bullshit". She also says that she was let down by co-workers who failed to back her up.

Ellis spent a good deal of time on Saturday tweeting a series of snippets about her time at Google where she worked from 2010 to 2014. The tweets started with a very blunt statement: "At Google I was sexually harassed by someone who was later promoted to director". Dozens of tweets then followed giving more details about what had happened.

Now working as a software engineer at Medium, Ellis says that the harassment was the main reason she left the company back in July. She says "I don't care if people believe me or not", but, we have to refer to what she says as allegations. She says that Roderick Chavez, another Google engineer, harassed her:

Rod Chavez is an engineering director at Google, he sexually harassed me, Google did nothing about it. Reprimanded me instead of him

— Kelly Ellis (@justkelly_ok) March 7, 2015

Ellis says that she reacted badly to something he said and ended up pouring a drink over his head. Rather than focusing on the harassment that led her to react in such a way, Ellis says that Google's HR department instead concentrated on the humiliation caused to Chavez by being soaked.

"It's taking all of my self control not to grab your ass right now." VERBATIM quote from someone currently an engineering director at Goog

— Kelly Ellis (@justkelly_ok) March 7, 2015

It seems that this is not an isolated incident, and Ellis refers to a male-dominated environment at Google in which she not only felt uncomfortable, but was subjected to inappropriate comments. She took to Google+ to ask former colleagues why they had not helped her out or spoken out. She says she felt trapped and unsupported, and ultimately had to leave Google:

My choices were: speak up loudly, lose my job, burn bridges (which is what I've now done), leave quietly (which is what I did later after realizing it wasn't changing), or not say anything (which is what I initially did).

She also poses the question:

I wonder how many other women don't report or discuss their harassment, for their careers' sake

— Kelly Ellis (@justkelly_ok) January 22, 2015

Kelly Ellis has indicated that she does not intend to speak to the press about the events she has written about, and Google is yet to respond to the allegations. We have reached out to the company for comment, but we're yet to hear back.

Photo credit: Ai825 / Shutterstock
Google celebrates women in tech for International Women’s Day

Publié: mars 8, 2015, 3:18pm CET par Mark Wilson

Today is International Women’s Day and in recognition of this Google is celebrating the role women have played, and continue to play, in the world of tech. It's a well-known fact that many technology companies are dominated by men -- as is the case in many industries -- but Google is keen to highlight its own Women Techmakers program.

Set up last year, the program is designed to not only encourage women to enter the male dominated technology sector, but also to promote the visibility of those who are already in place. This month saw the (very quiet) launch of the second Women Techmakers Global Event Series, but today Google wants to speak to the female technology workers of the future.

Google itself has fared fairly well in diversity reports, but there is still a long way to go for the workplace to have a better balance of the sexes. There are undeniable obstacles standing in the way of women climbing the ladder in any industry -- discrimination, inequality, and so on -- but jobs in technology are often seen as being especially dominated by men. Even if companies have an open door policy, there can still be a perception that, as a woman, just getting on the first rung of the ladder is going to be impossible.

This is what Google trying to address today. There's a slightly awkward, patronizing tone to the blog post by Vice President of Engineering Pavni Diwanji, but the overall sentiment is to be welcomed. The idea is that women who have become established in their chosen career send a message out to girls and women who are looking to following their footsteps. The company is encouraging women to submit a video to YouTube using the hashtag #DearMe.

For many young girls, the path to finding themselves is filled with uncertainty. It’s hard to figure out what you want to do or who you want to be when you’re dealing with gossip, self-doubt and pressure from all sides. As part of our International Women’s Day celebration, we’re encouraging you to think back on the advice you wish you’d gotten when you were a young, and to share those words of wisdom with today’s teenage girls. Submit a video letter on YouTube tagged with #DearMe telling your younger self what you wish someone had told you. We’re looking forward to what you have to say.

The idea is to share words of wisdom to one's younger self, but in light of a recent sexual harassment complaint against Google, the choice of hashtag may backfire (more to follow, but #DearMe, indeed).

A number of videos have already been submitted and Google has collected some of them together in a showreel:
Amazon releases new games at PAX East conference

Publié: mars 8, 2015, 1:47am CET par Alan Buckingham

Gaming has become a major function of today's mobile devices, allowing for hours of wasted productivity time. In fact, it's so popular that today's set-top box makers are building the feature right into their hardware, Amazon going as far as offering an Xbox One-like controller for customers to purchase separately.

Now the retail giant is in attendance at PAX East, a gaming conference being held in Boston. The show kicked off March 6th and runs through the 8th. Amazon is there to show off several new titles it has. These are more than just for Fire devices, as the company is making them available for iPhone and iPad as well.

First up is Lost Within, a game Amazon describes as "set in an abandoned asylum that holds a horrific secret". This one is perhaps not for children, and maybe not for some adults. Player must sneak through dark halls trying to uncover the secrets of the building, which seem likely to be a bit on the macabre side.

Next up is Til Morning's Light which may not be much more kid friendly than the previous title. "The game tells the story of Erica, a teenager who must escape a haunted mansion filled with ghosts and strange creatures by solving puzzles, defeating monsters and exploring the depths of the mansion", Amazon describes. This one comes with a special bonus available through Audible and titled "The Private Blog of Erica Page".

Finally, there's Tales from Deep Space. This one seems to be a bit more for everyone, as it is described as "comedic". You'll need to solve puzzles as you roam around a space station.

Other games are also on the way, but these cover the real highlights that Amazon revealed. Availability and pricing wasn't included in the annoucement, so we'll see when each hits the market.