MSI's mid-range S30 laptop is coming to Europe for 699 euro, we go hands-on (video)

When we first heard MSI was showing off a device at CeBIT called the S30, we assumed it was the successor to the S20, the company's first Windows 8 Ultrabook. Alas, though, it's not quite an Ultrabook, and it's certainly not as well-specced a system as the S20. What we have instead is a 13-inch thin-and-light, one that's headed to Europe for €699 and up. To start with a quick rundown of the specs, it comes either a Core i3 or i5 processor, along with 4GB of RAM and a variety of storage options, with the best one being a 500GB / 64GB SSD combo.

Oddly, that 1,366 x 768 display doesn't support touch -- a surprise given the price, and given that other machines in its class do include that feature. At least the touchpad seems to do a capable job of handling all the various Windows 8 gestures. Finishing up our tour, that 23mm-thick chassis (a bit too thick by Ultrabook standards) is wide enough to accommodate an Ethernet jack, along with HDMI-out and a VGA socket. Only one USB 3.0 port (plus one 2.0 connection) seems a bit stingy, though. In any case, enjoy our hands-on video, and maybe even stay tuned for a closer look at that S20 Slider.

Gallery: MSI S30 hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/BbZ6_ld4j4o/

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Google Chromebook Pixel (64GB, LTE)

Google is a company that will never let you forget that it's built upon experimentation. In that regard, the company has released the Google Chromebook Pixel (64GB, LTE) to a world of believers and doubters. In a nutshell, the Chrombook Pixel is essentially a thin client notebook with a brilliant screen. Like all thin clients, it works well when connected to the Internet, where it can take advantage of the massive infrastructure that Google has built up over the past fifteen years. Away from the Internet, the Chromebook Pixel is somewhat diminished. Take it at face value?as a halo product for a category that Google wants to flesh out over the next few years?and you'll be okay. In early 2013, the Chromebook Pixel is a luxurious experiment that shows potential, but is definitely first-generation hardware that is dependent on omnipresent Internet access.

Design and Display
The Chromebook Pixel feels as solidly built as a bank vault door. It measures about 0.64 by 12 by 9 inches (HWD) and weighs about 3.36 pounds, so it's squarely in the ultraportable and ultrabook chassis category. The dark-silver-colored anodized aluminum case is sharply rectangular, evoking the image of high-end laptops from the early-mid 2000s rather than the tapered and rounded shapes you see today. If you were presented this in a design meeting, you'd think of it as squarely retro, with no visible screws and that vaunted piano hinge with the Chrome name etched in a Sans Serif font on it. Those 3.36 pounds make the Chromebook Pixel feel heavy for its size, even though it is balanced well. This gives you that solid feeling of quality that Steve Jobs used to crow about when talking about the first all-metal Apple PowerBooks in the early 2000s.

The 12.85-inch IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen is the thing that gives the Chromebook Pixel its name. It has a 3:2 aspect ratio, which a throwback to the mid-2000s when everything wasn't 16:9 widescreen yet. A 3:2 aspect ratio is taller overall compared widescreen a 16:9 widescreen, which makes the Chromebook Pixel well suited to the Web apps that it is designed to run. The screen resolution is 2,560 by 1,700 at 239 pixels per inch (ppi), which is imperceptibly denser than the 220 ppi on the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Retina Display) and the 227 ppi on the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Retina Display). On all three screens, video and photos look amazing, with the ability to zoom in and view multi megapixel images clearly without any distortion or blockiness. Streaming videos from HBO Go, Max Go, Amazon Instant Video, and Netflix looked spectacular on the Pixel's display, as did the pre-loaded demo video. HBO Go in particular looked like a movie theater screen when viewed at a two-foot distance. Older SD videos were a little blockier, but still looked nice on the Pixel's screen. The screen has a wide viewing angle, so you can share videos with a few close friends.

Touch-Screen Functionality
The Chromebook Pixel comes with a backlit chiclet style keyboard, which was moderately comfortable to use. The keys are a bit slick, but the key feel was similar to other keyboards like the one on the MacBook Pros, the HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook 15-4010nr, and the Editors' Choice for high-end ultrabooks, the Asus Zenbook Prime Touch UX31A-BHI5T. The Chromebook Pixel's multi-touch glass trackpad is very responsive, so much so that you're likely to use that instead of the system's built-in touch screen.

The touch screen is responsive, but the system doesn't come with pinch-to-zoom active by default. You have to go into some hidden settings (Google them) to enable pinch-to-zoom in the Chrome environment. There's also the fact that the Google Chrome OS interface uses traditional UI elements like the launch bar at the bottom of the screen and menu bars at the top of browser windows, so for most users, the trackpad is the way to go.

Speaking of the Chrome browser, Chrome is really the main interface for using this laptop. We've seen it before on Chrome OS systems like the Samsung Chromebook Series 3 (XE303C12) and Acer C7 Chromebook (C710-2847). After you log into any Chromebook, it brings you a screen where the options are to launch the Chrome browser or Web apps that run in the Chrome browser. It's really useful if you have bought into Google's suite of services (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Maps, etc.). If you want to run Web apps in Chrome, there's a link to the Chrome Web Store with thousands of games and apps that work fine, or at least as well or better than those on Windows RT, Android, and iOS devices. All of these apps and websites load very quickly and run well on the system's Intel Core i5-3427U processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000. Wake and boot times were measured in seconds, and Web apps loaded just as quickly on our corporate Internet connection.

One plus for the Chrome OS model is that it is self-updating. As long as Google stays on the game, it will be a very secure haven against malware and viruses. Chrome OS won't be affected by the majority of Windows or Mac OS malware, though you will still have to guard against identity theft and phishing attacks. Since you're mainly working in the cloud with Google Drive, your documents, emails, and other work are saved automatically and are accessible from other PCs and Macs.

Basically, the Chromebook Pixel is a thin client, and while thin clients work great in corporate environments where network access is assured, network access cannot be guaranteed for consumer products. The real issue is that, at this point in time, Internet access outside of the home or work doesn't support a product like this. WWAN, whether tethered, using the built in 4G LTE modem, or on a mobile hotspot, is still too expensive to use all the time. Wi-Fi on trains, planes, and automobiles is spotty at best. Those who live where satellite Internet is the norm or in counties where the Internet runs at DSL speeds are likely to have a poor experience with cloud computing. Early adopter users will forgive spotty Internet access in a $200 laptop. On a $1,450 laptop? Not so much.

Fast and Hot
Most of the time the system is quiet, but when there is a lot of processing happening in the Web browser, like when playing back videos or when you're loading multiple tabs with lots of Flash or HTML5, the fans make themselves heard. Essentially the fans will spool up on the same sorts of sites that spin up the fans on your PC or Mac laptop. The problem is that on a Mac or PC, you can switch to local apps that let the processor cool and let the fans spool down. On the Chromebook Pixel, you're using Flash and HTML5 all the time; thus, active Web apps and rich websites will make the fan run loud more often. When the system is working hard, the keyboard deck near the ESC key starts to get quite warm. It's not an area that most touch typists rest fingers on, but it's worth noting.

Speakers
Other noise concerns involve the internal speakers. They're mounted under the keyboard so that there aren't any unsightly external openings, but that also means that the keys reverberate when you listen to videos and music at high volume levels. Playing test tracks like The Knife's Silent Shout and Daft Punk's Tron Legacy soundtrack made the keyboard buzz with the beat at high volume levels. On the one hand, the Chromebook Pixel pumps out enough sound that you won't need external speakers. On the other, they're not good sounds when the volume is turned up all the way. Audio using the headset jack was fine.

Connectivity
We looked at the LTE-equipped Chromebook Pixel, which is a good model for connectivity. The Chromebook Pixel comes with two USB 2.0 ports for connecting modems, mice, and more. It's a shame that the ports aren't USB 3.0, which would be faster for local storage on USB sticks and hard drives. The Core i5 processor in the Chromebook Pixel will certainly interface fine with USB 3.0. There's also a SD card slot for additional storage, and a mini-DisplayPort for external monitors. The built-in 4G LTE WWAN module on our configuration works on Verizon's network and comes with 100MB per month free (like other Chromebooks with WWAN). However, you're going to burn through that in a short session, so consider upgrading to one of Verizon's larger data plans if you want to use the Chromebook Pixel away from home, the office, or coffee shop hotspots. Because of the limited data plan, you'll likely use the system primarily on Wi-Fi, and it can connect via both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n. Bluetooth 3.0 is included so you can tether to your phone if you have service for that. Google includes 12 free sessions on GoGo Inflight Internet, but make sure you're on short flights or reserve a seat with a power plug: the Chromebook Pixel with its 59 WHr battery only lasted 4 hour, 11 minutes on our rundown test. This is several hours less than systems like the MacBook Pro 13-inch (74WHr, 7:10 battery life) and the Asus Zenbook Prime Touch UX31A (50 WHr, 6:38 battery life). You'll need to keep the Chromebook Pixel near a power plug if you want to continuously use it all day.

Storage
The Chromebook Pixel comes with 64GB of storage, which seems small compared with the 128GB in the MacBook Pro 13-inch and other portables like the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro, but the Chromebook Pixel comes with 1TB of Google Drive service free for three years. Professionals and Chrome users alike have pointed out that 1TB of Google Drive cloud storage service alone would cost $1,800 over three years, and that you can use Google Drive on your other PCs and Macs. However, there is a 10GB file size limit on Google Drive, and it's less useful to you if you're away from stable Internet service. You can use the SD card reader or external USB drives to supplement the 64GB internal SSD. We were able to copy an MP4 video file to the onboard storage and play it without a connection to the Internet, but other files like spreadsheets are read-only without Google Docs on an Internet connection. Sure, you can set up Google Docs to work offline, but it's not set up that way by default. And even if you set it up, you can only edit word documents and presentations, other documents like spreadsheets and drawings can't be edited offline.

A premium product like the Chromebook Pixel really should be set up to use all of the basic functions like Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive offline by default. That initial setup should automatically be part of the extra services you're paying for. You'll also need to manually download and install your Chrome browser apps that are capable of being used offline. We realize that most of the time you will be connected to Wi-Fi or WWAN, but if you regularly find yourself travelling where your Internet access is spotty or slow (like on a safari, plane, train, ship, or automobile), then you better have a backup like a 4G portable hotspot, tethered phone, or satellite Internet device.

So with all that, what's the verdict? The Chromebook Pixel (64GB, LTE) is appealing in the same way that $150 chopsticks made of carbon fiber are appealing. Yes, they will do all the things that chopsticks are expected do, like lift sushi off of a plate, and they have the luster and feel of expensive material. The question is, why would you get one, when $5 lacquered wood chopsticks will do the same thing for pocket change?

The problem is, aside from the perceived status, screen, and the added extra services, there really aren't a lot of reasons to recommend the Chromebook Pixel over, say, the 13-inch MacBook Pro (with or without Retina Display) or the Asus Zenbook Prime Touch UX31A-BHI5T. If wireless Internet were cheap, fast, unlimited, everywhere, and reliable, then the Chromebook Pixel with its included Google Drive subscription would be a decent buy at $1,450. However, since wireless Internet is not cheap and everywhere, and since the Chromebook Pixel's battery isn't all day capable, we can't recommend it over any Mac or Windows-based laptop in its price range.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Google Chromebook Pixel (64GB, LTE) with several other laptops side by side.

More laptop reviews:
??? Google Chromebook Pixel (64GB, LTE)
??? HP Pavilion Sleekbook 15z-b000
??? HP Spectre XT TouchSmart Ultrabook 15-4010nr
??? Sony VAIO T15 Touch (SVT15112CXS)
??? Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro 700T (XE700T1C-A01US)
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/s-EbSZTFTuA/0,2817,2416245,00.asp

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Why Popularity of Concrete Patio Pavers | ArticlesMagic Plus!

Without a doubt, the construction industry is one of those sectors in the global economy that is growing and changing all the time. That trend has been the case for the last few years. As a result, other areas within the construction industry have benefited from it. One of these is the increase in demand for concrete patio pavers.

If you are planning to construct a patio, make sure that the concrete paver is of high quality. Natural pavers are from stone, shaped into the desired shape and size. Manmade pavers in this case are from concrete. Concrete is a hard mixture made of cement, sand, stones and water.

A patio is an outdoor recreational area. You will use it for a variety of activities. On hot sunny days, it is the dining room. It can be also the perfect place to sit and chat with family and friends. Due to its popularity, people are going out of their way to make them more comfortable and appealing.

Cover the patio floor with the concrete paver. If the patio has a wall, then the paver will be there also. It can be plain, colored or patterned. The paver also comes in different shapes. Therefore, the patio floor ends up being aesthetically appealing. To make it safe to walk on, the pavers are also slip resistant. It is also possible to have the pavers according to a client?s specification. This particular feature is immensely popular as it enables one to have a floor unique to them only.

Around the patio, you will find the pavers creating a pathway connecting the main house to the patio. The main concern in this case is to make sure that the pavers are weatherproof. This means that they are useable and will not change irrespective of the weather. This is why they are also frost proof to take care of those very cold and snowy days.

The beauty about constructing this patio with the best concrete patio paver is that they do not require an expert to lay them. They are easy to put together and one can still achieve that professional look if they simply follow the guidelines.

Maintenance issues of this specific paver are minimal. The major maintenance concerns are grass and weeds. These can grow in between the paves. Pouring of sand between the joints is necessary to prevent the weeds from sprouting. This is somes as an advantage to those who do not enjoy cleaning up.

The concrete patio paver need a stable foundation. To achieve this, ground on which the patio will stand has to be well prepared. Information concerning the recommended depth varies according to the size of the patio. The bigger the patio the deeper the ground will be and vice versa.

It does seem that patios are here to stay. Fortunately, we do have the materials that enable us to not only put them up without burning our pockets. With the help of the best concrete patio paver, this project will be time well spent.

Matt Green is the author of this article on Concrete Patio Pavers. Find more information, about Concrete Patio Paver here

Source: http://articles-plus.com/why-popularity-of-concrete-patio-pavers.html

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Beyond the Samsung Galaxy S4

Waiting is never easy. And in the fast-paced smartphone market, it feels like you can wait forever before buying a new phone, because there's always a better one around the corner.

For the smartphone consumer, it's a delicate balance in deciding when to pull the trigger on the next smartphone purchase. While the upgrade cycle of devices seems nearly constant, I've noticed that the spring and summer have become the sweet spot for the introduction of most of the year's hottest devices.

In this Ask Maggie, a reader is already content to wait for the Samsung Galaxy 4, which should be announced next week. And I offer some advice about waiting a little bit longer to see what other devices are likely to come to market in the next few months.

I also offer some insight to a reader, who has found a sweet deal on a new Samsung Galaxy Note 2 from Verizon's retail partners. He wants to know if there is a catch to Amazon's and Best Buy's aggressive pricing.

Waiting for my next smartphone

Dear Maggie,
I really appreciate your practical, no nonsense, reviews; especially in the mobile phone arena. For me, the race is coming to a head March 14. Will it be the HTC One or the Galaxy S4? Both are terrific phones. I'm not one to switch phones every year. I've had my HTC Hero for more than three years, and it has served me well. Family members have the Galaxy S3, and they are very satisfied. Which one of the new phones actually noses out the other?

Also, since my HTC Hero is still working fine, I don't really need to buy a new device right away. Are there other smartphones on the horizon that I should wait to consider?

Thanks,
Larry

Dear Larry,
If you are in the market for a new smartphone and you love new technology, the next six months should be a very exciting time for you as there will be several new, high-end devices hitting market.

First, let me start by answering your initial question: Which is better the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4?

Samsung Galaxy S4

As you know the Samsung Galaxy S4 hasn't yet been announced. Samsung is planning a special event in New York City on March 14, where it will release all the details about the new phone. So I can't realistically compare it with the HTC One, which has already been announced.

That said, I can tell you that the rumor mill has been churning. And in general what's expected from the new Samsung is a faster processor (probably a quad-core processor, previous rumors of an eight-core processor may not be true), an improved camera (some rumors say around 13 megapixels), a crystal clear screen (likely Super AMOLED) and the latest version of Google's software (probably Jellybean 4.2).

The latest rumors also indicate that Samsung has really focused on improving the software on this phone. And the New York Times reported that Samsung will use a new technology that will track a user's eyes and automatically scroll the screen when you are reading longer text.

Unlike the iPhone and the HTC One, Samsung isn't expected to make this phone out of metal, which could give it more of a quality feel. Instead, some experts believe it will share a similar design and materials to existing Galaxy devices, which means plastic.

HTC One
HTC has also been busy updating its flagship device. And this time, it's going for gold by introducing just a single device to take on Samsung and Apple.

The HTC One X (AT&T) should see Sense 5 UI in the coming months.

(Credit: CBS Interactive)

The HTC One was announced last month. It's an all-aluminum smartphone that CNET Reviews editor Jessica Dolcourt described in one of her posts as a "gorgeous" smartphone. The phone comes with the almost-up-to-date Android software Jelly Bean 4.1, dual audio speakers, a new Beats Audio feature in BoomSound, and a rebooted version of the HTC Sense interface that includes a new element called Blink.

It sports a 1.7GHz quad core processor, 4.7-inch LCD screen, and a 4-megapixel camera, which the company claims is still superior to other cameras because of its UltraPixel technology. UltraPixel is a marketing term for a new light sensor the company uses. HTC decided that for this camera the current standard of 8 megapixels is overkill for a camera phone, and so it is sticking with a 4 megapixel camera. But HTC has enhanced the camera with the updated ImageSense system, new ImageChip 2 hardware, and the revamped light sensor. The result is a camera that HTC claims can capture 300 percent more light than competing camera phones.

The phone is expected to hit the market in March on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. It'll cost $199.99 for the 32GB version and $299.99 for the 64GB version with two year contracts.

Other options
The HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, when it's announced, are likely to be fantastic choices for your next smartphone. But the truth is that there will soon be a lot more options to choose from as other manufacturers also roll out their latest devices. And if you're going to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S4, then it might make sense to wait just a bit longer to see what other smartphones will soon be available.

Here are a few more devices you should keep in mind. Some of these smartphones have already been announced. And some are merely expected to be in the pipeline and may be a little further out. But they are all worth considering.

BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10: These phones were announced in late January and are the first devices to use the new BlackBerry 10 OS. The BlackBerry Z10 is a 4.2-inch touch-screen device. It is expected to go on sale in the U.S. this month and it will be offered by Verizon Wireless on its 4G LTE network for $199.99 with a two-year contract; T-Mobile and AT&T also confirmed plans to carry the smartphone. But it doesn't look like Sprint will get the phone.

This BlackBerry Z10

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

The BlackBerry Q10 has a 3.1-inch screen and a full Qwerty keyboard, which should appeal to die-hard BlackBerry fans. No launch date has been released for this phone, but it's expected to start selling globally in April and will likely come to the U.S. a few weeks later. Pricing will be announced at a later date. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless have each announced they will carry the phone. T-Mobile has only said it will offer the Z10.

BlackBerry's Q10 smartphone.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

I wouldn't say that either of the new BlackBerry phones is likely to be any better than the HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4. But for people who really like BlackBerry, these devices are a reason to wait. After months of delays, BlackBerry finally has some products to show off using its new software. And it will be interesting to see if the company can keep or even reclaim some of its former Blackberry customers.

Sony Xperia Z or (Sony Xperia ZL in the U.S.): Sony took the wraps off the Xperia Z at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and showed it off again at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. CNET Reviews editor Brian Bennett has called it an impressive phone with a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software. It also has a 13-megapixel camera with a backside illuminated sensor. The phone is supposed to work well under low-light conditions. The camera also comes with additional features, such as burst mode, panorama, plus a bevy of special filters and effects.

Sony Xperia Z

The phone is made for the global market, so it will work on GSM carriers in the U.S., such as AT&T and T-Mobile. The U.S. version, the Xperia ZL, includes 4G LTE, which means it will likely work on AT&T's 4G LTE network. But Sony has not announced a U.S. carrier partnership for this device. So it's likely that it will be sold unlocked and without a subsidy on Sony's Web site. It's not yet available for sale in the U.S., but execs say it's coming soon. Pricing is also not available yet, but the price tag is rumored to be more than $700. You can check out Sony's Web site to be notified of when it will be available.

Motorola X Phone: Finally, Motorola is expected to make a splash this spring and summer with the announcement of the new Motorola X Phone. This is rumored to be a phone designed from the collaboration between Google and Motorola. (Motorola is now owned by Google.) The phone is expected to debut at Google I/O in May. While some are saying it may not offer much "wow" factor compared with other devices on the market, it is still likely to be a solid device that should meet or exceed the specs of some of the other devices on this list. And while Motorola has had a rough go of it in past years, there are some customers who are loyal to Motorola because they consider the hardware to be better quality than other Android devices. Plus it's expected to be the first smartphone to sport the new Google Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie software.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: I know it feels like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 just came on the market. But people are already talking about the next version of the super large smartphone. And why wouldn't they? The Galaxy Note franchise is a hit. Samsung reported that it sold more than 5 million Galaxy Note 2 devices worldwide in the first two months the product was on the market. Apparently, some people really like oversize phones.

Rumor has it that the next version of the "phablet" will be available this summer. In terms of specs, the third generation of this device is rumored to have a 6.3-inch Full HD screen display, 8-core Exynos 5 Octa processor, a stylus and finger hovering feature, and a 16-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus plus LED flash. And it will run Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. The rumors also suggest it will come in three memory sizes: 32, 64, and 128 GB internal memory.

iPhone 5S/ iPhone 6: Rumors about the next iteration of the iPhone start bubbling up shortly after the latest iPhone is released. And since the latest version, the iPhone 5, came out in September, nearly six months ago, we are right on track for iPhone rumors to really heat up again.

As with any speculation about a new iPhone, people want to know when it will come out and what new features will be added. The truth is, nobody knows when or what we'll get until Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals it on stage later this year. But my CNET Reviews colleague Scott Stein has made some educated guesses about what is likely.

He says the odds are strong that the immediate successor to the iPhone 5 will debut in the summer to autumn time frame, which means anywhere between June and October. And the release will likely coincide with the release of Apple's next version of software iOS 7. If Apple follows tradition, as it's done the past several cycles, the new version of the device will look a lot like the iPhone 5, but with some tweaks to the hardware and software on the inside.

Scott also says other things that might be upgraded include the resolution on the cameras and perhaps memory. Now that there is a 128GB iPad, Scott thinks there is a chance Apple will offer a 128GB iPhone, too.

Other than that, it's really hard to say what else is likely coming when it comes to the iPhone. But one thing you can be sure of is that a new one is coming. It's just a matter of when.

Don't forget about the software upgrade cycle
Another thing to keep in mind is that the two phones you are currently considering are Google Android devices. And they will each hit the market before Google introduces its next big software update, which many expect to happen in May at the Google I/O developer conference.

What this means is that either of these phones may be considered "out-of-date" in terms of software, once Google announces Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. While Samsung has already said that the Galaxy S4 will be on a path for whatever upgrades Google announces, those upgrades will likely take a while to go through the manufacturer and carrier testing process. For example, some versions of the Samsung Galaxy S3 are only now just getting Google's Jelly Bean update, which was first introduced last June.

Apple is also expected to release a new version of its iOS software this summer. While the software tends to be immediately upgradeable to some previous versions of the iPhone, it could still turn out to be an important update and could offer some iPhone users a reason to wait before upgrading. So keep an eye out for that.

The bottom line
So what should you do? It's a dilemma that every smartphone consumer has every time he is ready for an upgrade. Do you buy what's available now, or do you wait a little longer for something better? What I tell people is that if you absolutely need a phone right now, then just buy what's available today. That said, because we are so close to the launch of some really good phones, if it's at all possible, if you can duct tape your ailing device or keep it together with some gum and string, you probably should.

If your existing phone is working perfectly fine and you aren't in a hurry to buy a new phone, and if you plan to keep your next phone for a long time, then definitely wait. In just a few months, we'll have a better idea of how the market will shake out. In the end, you might still end up with either the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4. But maybe you will be wowed by the upcoming Motorola phone, or you may finally be lured into Apple's ecosystem with the new iPhone and updated iOS.

The bottomline is that you are going to have a whole slew of products to choose from in a relatively short time frame. So it makes sense to wait just a little longer.

I hope this advice was helpful. And good luck!

Does it matter where I buy my smartphone?

Dear Maggie,
I'm in the market for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 from Verizon Wireless. I have been a Verizon customer for many years and have always purchased my phones directly from Verizon. However, both Amazon and Best Buy are offering the same phone priced $100 cheaper than Verizon. As of this writing, Verizon says that they do not match prices. Someone told me that Best Buy and Amazon are able to offer these lower prices probably because they buy in larger quantities. That surprised me. So, this time I am seriously considering not getting the phone from Verizon. But I still want to keep my Verizon service. Are there any "gotchas" of which I should be aware before buying the phone from a reseller instead of directly from Verizon?

Thank you,
Ed

Dear Ed,
As far as I know there are no "gotchas" when you buy a device from a retailer, such as Best Buy or Amazon. You are still expected to pay the monthly service fee set by the carrier. And you are still expected to adhere to the carrier's contract terms.

Honestly, if you can find the device $100 cheaper from one of these retailers, then go for it. You have got yourself a bargain and I don't see any drawbacks to going this route. Just to be sure, double checked with Verizon to see if it had any warnings for customers about buying from one of their resellers. Here is what a Verizon representative told me in an e-mail:

All of our agents are independent businesses and while there are parameters on how they represent Verizon Wireless products and services, they create and implement their own marketing and sales strategies. The customer gets the same Verizon Wireless network service and is treated as any other Verizon Wireless customer when it comes to service pricing. The phones these agents sell are approved for the Verizon Wireless network but how they choose to price those devices is well within the scope of managing their businesses to meet their strategic goals.

She added that she was also not aware of any "gotchas." She suggested checking with the individual retailers to see if there is any fine print to the deals they are offering. But as far as Verizon is concerned, she said that the company works with its retail partners to protect the Verizon Wireless brand.

"We want our customers to have a quality experience regardless of where they purchase the service, which is why you see the leaders in the retail industry (selling our phones and service.)"

My advice is take the discount. A $100 saved is a $100 earned!

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Ask Maggie's advice. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from you. Please send me an e-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Ask Maggie" in the subject header. You can also follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/JhqR/~3/fjiEu5mKyUM/

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A rare glimpse inside most dangerous place on Earth

The tribal area of Pakistan's North Waziristan, along the border of Afghanistan, has been strictly forbidden for foreigners, until now. NBC's Amna Nawaz gets an exclusive look into ground zero of Pakistan's fight against terror.

By Amna Nawaz and Waj S. Khan, NBC News

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan ? It's been called the most dangerous place in the most dangerous region on the planet.

A rugged swath of tribal territory nestled between Pakistan and Afghanistan,?Waziristan is ground zero for some of the region's most notorious militant groups and warlords, including the Pakistani Taliban and?Haqqani network.

North and South Waziristan are hit by more U.S. drone attacks than anywhere else in the world.

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NBC News obtained rare access to South Waziristan and last week became the first foreign team of journalists to report from North Waziristan.

Long-ignored by the rest of the country, Waziristan is one of the least developed and least educated sections of Pakistan. Literacy rates for women in some areas are in the single digits. With little infrastructure, funding, or investment, many make their living by engaging in criminal activity, cross-border smuggling, or signing up to join militant groups.

The Taliban is believed to pay 10,000 - 12,000 Pakistan rupees a month (roughly $100 - $120) to foot soldiers, with bonuses for carrying out ambushes, killing a soldier, or even members of military families.

Confronting the violence, the Pakistan military is diversifying its campaign in the "war on terror," no longer just fighting in the region, but also beginning to rebuild it.

"There are only less than half a percent of people who are fighting as terrorists. What about the more than 99.5 percent of people?" asks Maj. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, who commanded the army division in South Waziristan in 2010 before becoming official military spokesman.

Pakistani Army Maj. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa discusses the impact the "war on terror" has had on Waziristan. "The motto we adopted was 'build better than before,'" he told NBC News.

In the wake of a major operation in 2009, the Pakistan Army has largely succeeded in pushing back the militant threat from South Waziristan. The area is now considered secure and tribal communities that fled the fighting?are starting?to return.

Bajwa?realized that if the tribal communities weren't given something to replace their previous way of life, they might again become willing to help or harbor terrorists.

"Looking at it in a larger security context, you can't really separate development from security," said Bajwa. "So we're doing this to serve the larger purpose as well. "

Public floggings
In the village of Chagh Malai, the army constructed a?marketplace, complete?with dozens of individual shops carrying everything from cloth to medicine to household supplies. Tribal communities here previously maintained individual shops in their homes or in roadside stalls.?The marketplace, army commanders said, gives them a sense of community and a central commercial gathering place.?They have plans to build 30 complexes like it across the area.

Tribal elder Akhlas Khan excitedly toured the market last week, introducing store owners and showing off inventory.

Pakistani troops say they want to rebuild Waziristan, a corner of Pakistan that has become a hotbed of military activity, with financial help from the U.S. and others. But in order to do that, they insist U.S. drone strikes on the area must end. NBC's Amna Nawaz was granted exclusive access to the region that had previously been off-limits to foreigners.

"Previously, I'd have to travel four or five hours to get these," he?said, gesturing to a small shop carrying electrical goods. "Now, I only need to come here!"

In Sararogha, South Waziristan, an 88-shop market complex now stands at the same site the Taliban ? once headquartered here ? used to use for public floggings and executions.

"These communities, the vast majority of them, have seen the worst kind of atrocities known to the human race," said Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mahmood Hayat, commander of the Pakistan Army's 40th Division in South Waziristan.

"They've been subjected to coercion ? mental and physical -- by the terrorists in order to acquiesce them to support," he added. "They've seen their loved ones being butchered in front of their own eyes. So that is the kind of trauma this society has seen. And therefore the greater the challenge to bring back the confidence of these people into the state machinery."

Trading routes and schools
At the heart of the army's plans to rebuild the area is a 370-mile road ? funded in large part by USAID money. The road, half of which is complete, will connect the isolated and insular tribal communities to each other, as well as the rest of mainstream Pakistan and to trading routes across the border in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Army commanders on the frontlines of the battle for Waziristan talk about the challenges they face and how important it is to develop this isolated part of the world. NBC News' Amna Nawaz reports.

When finished, the roadway will offer a third link from Pakistan to Afghanistan, and the army hopes, will encourage business development along its path through Waziristan.

In addition to the road project, the army has taken on development projects far outside its traditional roles.?

Along with the markets, two military schools, known here as Cadet Colleges, were built in South Waziristan to offer young men a rigorous education and boarding-school environment, unlike any educational opportunity available in the region before.

Col. Zahid Naseem Akbar, principal of the?Cadet College, Spinkai, said he hopes the school will gives boys in the area the same opportunities as those elsewhere in the country.

"They have the same potential as any other citizen of this country has," Akbar said. "And I think we owe it to them that we provide them the opportunity to join the mainstream."

Waj S. Khan / NBC News

A tribesman waits in line at a 'Distribution Camp' set up on the side the newly constructed Tank-Makeen road in South Waziristan. Radios and mattresses are the items of choice popular among locals, who belong to one of the most impoverished communities in Pakistan.

The army?is overseeing the rebuilding to schools demolished by the Taliban and building schools for the first time in some areas, including for girls. The military established the Waziristan Institute for Technical Education -- a vocational school to train young men who missed their early education during Taliban rule.?

And the army?is?restoring water supplies and electrical systems and funding what they call "livelihood projects," training and empowering local small businesses in everything from honey bee farming and fruit orchards, to auto repair and transport services.

"The strategy that the Pakistan army has adopted is a people-centric strategy," Hayat said. "So the more areas you've able to clear, the more infrastructure you're able to build, the more people you are able to bring back and sustain. Provide them economic opportunities. That is the measure of success." ??

Ideal habitat for Taliban
Frontline commanders all say the battle for Waziristan will not be won with hearts and minds alone. Security operations continue, gradually increasing what they call their "elbow space" in the region.

Both North and South Waziristan feature snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, hidden caverns, and daunting mountain ranges which provide natural cover. It's the ideal habitat for the Taliban and other groups seeking refuge and covert routes for travel between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Atop a 6,000-foot high post in South Waziristan, Brig. Hassan Azhar Hayat said despite securing the area, the struggle to hold it against "pockets of resistance" is constant. His troops, he says, still carry out targeted operations on an almost daily basis.

"That's why the military's presence is so important here right now in this area, that we keep increasing our perimeter of security," Hayat said. "This is guerrilla warfare. It cannot happen that you're able to eliminate the complete Taliban in any form. So it is different warfare altogether."

North Waziristan remains the only one of the seven tribal agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in which the Pakistan military has not launched a significant military operation.

Despite public pressure from the U.S. to act, Pakistani commanders there cite the complexity of the region, the politicized nature of the debate, as well as the increasing stakes of the approaching 2014 drawdown of troops across the border as critical to their operation's timeline.

Mohsin Raza / Reuters

Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.

Maj. Gen. Ali Abbas, the commanding officer of the 7th Infantry Division of the Pakistan Army, currently stationed in North Waziristan, said?his region must be considered separately because of the number of influences at play. However,?40,000 troops are stationed in North Waziristan, which shares a 113-mile border with Afghanistan,?

"North Waziristan is not like any other agency in Pakistan," Abbas said. "It's very different. It's very complex."

Despite the territory won and economic investments made, there is concern within the local community about a backslide to the time of Taliban rule. Khan, the tribal elder, doesn't want the army to leave until the entire area has been won and a civilian administration has taken over control. Army commanders say their commitment is clear.

"The army will stay here as long as the army is desired by the local people to stay here, and mandated by the government of Pakistan to stay here," Hayat said. "We're here for the long haul. This is our backyard. We cannot ignore it."

Communities in South Waziristan have been slow to return to the region after the end of military operations. In some sections, crumbling homes and untended stretches of land dot the landscape. Small clusters of mud-walled homes sit empty. Army commanders hope as word of their development efforts spreads, more of those who fled the fighting will return. They are taking, they say, a very long view.

"If we really want to change this area, the approach is to do it over one generation," Bajwa added. "Look at the next 10 years. If we put a child in the school now, and 10 years on, we bring him out of the school, we put him into a college, I think we have done our job."

Related:

From alcohol to kites: An A to Z guide to the Islamic republic of 'Banistan'

In Pakistan's largest city, 'Old Glory' is flammable and profitable

'Zero Dark Thirty' unofficially banned in Pakistan

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This story was originally published on Mon Mar 4, 2013 5:00 AM EST

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/04/17177391-a-rare-glimpse-inside-pakistans-ground-zero-for-terrorists?lite

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White House cancels tours, citing sequester

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By Shawna Thomas and Kristen Welker, NBC News

The White House is canceling tours of the president's famous abode starting next week, saying the budget cuts that went into effect last week are to blame.?

A phone recording on the call line for White House visitors informs callers that White House tours will be canceled, starting this weekend.?

"Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House tours will be canceled effective Saturday March 9th, 2013 until further notice," the recording says. "Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours. ?We very much regret having to take this action particularly during the popular spring touring season."?

The reason for the cancellations, an official with the Secret Service told NBC News, is?because?the Uniformed Division Officers normally tasked with securing the tours will be reassigned to other security posts at the White House. The move will reduce overtime costs and may reduce the number of furloughs the Secret Service could potentially face, according to the official.?

It is unclear how many Uniform Division Officers will be impacted by the sequester. The Office of Management and Budget calculated that the Secret Service may need to cut as much as $84 million from its budget due to the cuts.

Though the White House made the ultimate decision to suspend tours, their conclusion was based on staffing decisions the Secret Service?has been?forced to make, according to a White House official.

The move, which Republicans paint as a publicity stunt, prompted at least one proposed legislative fix from a GOP congressman Tuesday.?

In an amendment to a GOP stopgap budget bill headed to the floor later this week, Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, suggested that no funds from the bill be used "to transport the President to or from a golf course until public tours of the White House resume."

House Administration Committee Chair Candice Miller, R-Mich., said in a statement that the canceled tours are "wrong" and invited tourists to Washington D.C. to tour the Capitol instead.?

"I believe closing the doors of the White House to the American people is wrong," she wrote. "I want to let those Americans planning a trip to Washington, D.C. know that the Capitol will remain open and encourage those wishing to visit to contact their member of Congress or the Capitol Visitors Center to schedule a tour."

As required by law, President Barack Obama ordered the automatic cuts into effect last Friday night. The broad budget reductions came after Congress and the administration failed to reach an agreement to avert the sequester.?

NBC's Carrie Dann contributed?

This story was originally published on Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:25 PM EST

Source: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/05/17197602-white-house-cancels-tours-citing-sequester?lite

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Buffett not worried sequester will hurt recovery

Alex Crippen, Executive Producer , CNBC ? ? ? 10 hrs.

Warren Buffett still sees "good value" in stocks, even as the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaches an all-time high.

On CNBC's Squawk Box, Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway is still buying stocks, even though prices have increased.

"Anything I bought at $80 I don't like as well at $100. But if you're asking me if stocks are cheaper than other forms of investment, in my view the answer is yes. We're buying stocks now. But not because we expect them to go up. We're buying them because we think we're getting good value for them."

Buffett isn't too worried that the automatic government spending cuts known as the sequester will slow down the U.S. economy too much.

"We're continuing to see a slow recovery," he said. "It hasn't taken off, but it hasn't stopped either."

Buffett said that while the sequester will reduce the government's stimulus of the economy by cutting back on the deficit the remaining spending is still providing the economy a lot of "juice."

"It's not galloping at all, but we are making progress bit by bit. Everybody would love to see it faster. But it's not going into reverse and I do not think the sequester will cause it to go into reverse."

Buffett said the sequester could go on "for quite a while." He thinks, however, that once the American people see the results of its "meat ax" approach, there will be an opportunity to make more considered spending cuts.

Buffett remains confident, however, that Washington's red ink will be reduced. "We're going to bring down spending. We're going to bring up revenues. We may get there in fits and starts. And everybody may scream each time we do it. But the deficit is going to come down. It needs to come down."

More from CNBC: Berkshire Hathaway's 15 biggest stock holdings

Buffett has "enormous respect" for Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, but thinks it will be interesting to see what happens when the Fed begins to unwind its efforts to keep interest rates very low. He said that rates near zero have pushed stocks higher than they would have gone otherwise and the global markets are on a "hair trigger," looking for any sign the central bank may start raising rates.

"I think the Fed will try to give little signals here and all of that. But in the end, there are an awful lot of people who want to get out of a lot of assets if they think the Fed is going to tighten a lot."

The results of higher rates, he said, "will be very noticeable" in the markets.

Will the Fed's action affect Berkshire's decisions? No, said Buffett, pointing out that in all the years he's worked with partner Charlie Munger, they've never had a conversation about macroeconomics when deciding whether or not to buy a company.

"In terms of whether to buy Oriental Trading today or pass, whether to buy Heinz today or see, we do not get into macroeconomic discussions at all. Everybody thinks we do."

For him, price is the main consideration because it "takes care of the future."

Buffett joked that while he got a business he likes, and a partner he likes (3G Capital), in the $23 billion acquisition of H.J. Heinz, he "barely liked" the price and wouldn't have made the deal if 3G founder Jorge Paulo Lemann wasn't involved. "We get terrific management," he said, with 3G running Heinz. It's a long-term deal, said Buffett. "We hope to own Heinz 100 years from now."

Buffett said unusual options activity the day before the Heinz deal was announced was "clearly insider trading" and he's confident the SEC will "nail that guy." He noted that while Berkshire works very hard to keep upcoming deals secret, there were several investment banks and others involved in the negotiations, making a leak more likely.

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/buffett-not-overly-worried-sequester-will-drag-economy-down-1C8670338

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