As we enter into March 2023 - we wanted to start an update post where we catch up and provide details on the technology that we're currently using in our lives. This post is the first one - and hopefully we'll be able to continue to update a few times a year with updates.
Computers
Laptop
My daily computer - that I spend the most time using is a 2020 edition MacBook Air laptop. This particular model was recently updated (the latest version at the time of writing this is a 2022 version with a newer processor.) The MacBook Air was a recent addition- my previous working laptop was a 2017 MacBook Pro unit, which has served me well in the past five years, but was rapidly declining in its battery health. The MBA unit was picked up in November of 2022, and is their base model, with 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB HDD. It has a 13.3-inch screen (which was the same size as my previous Pro model.)
The first thing that I have to shout about on these - is the battery life. I can easily work for a full day on battery, working through all manner of standard web work - I'm sure more taxing issues like video editing or compiling code would impact that more - but for the average user, the battery life will stretch into 18-20 hours on a charge. My previous MBP would start to give me low-battery warnings about 90 minutes in, so as you can imagine, this is a welcome breath of fresh air. It is perfect for travel, being a lightweight frame - and the newer models use an even smaller charging brick, which is easier to tuck into a sling bag or carry on.
Desktop
I have several desktop units in the current setup - including the following:
Custom-built performance PC - using an AMD 5950x, Nvidia 3090, 32 GB RAM, 3TB NVME Storage, and a host of crazy peripherals. This machine was built last March, and is primarily used for software development, school (my master's program), and games.
Custom-built performance PC - this model that was replaced by the above was built a few years ago, and is now mainly used as an alternate/test machine - with some file storage functions.
Mac Mini - this desktop currently runs our Wi-FI controller software, and our Plex server for the house, which serves up some AV content and acts as a music server.
Mobile Devices
My current daily use phone is an iPhone 14 Pro Max. I am typically an upgrader every year - so this past release year (Fall 2022) was no exception. I can't say anything bad about the device - the camera takes amazing pictures, the phone itself looks beautiful, and I personally am a huge fan of the always-on technology that the new model provides. I tend to check my phone screen frequently, so the always-on screen has the clock and new notifications displayed, allowing me to get updates at a glance instead of opening and unlocking the phone.
I am currently using the developer beta for the phone's Operating System - which allows me to check into potential compatibility issues with client applications before the major updates are released for the clients to install.
I also frequently use an iMac Pro 10IN tablet, which I've owned since 2018. This is an extremely helpful device on job sites, where I can jot down notes, draw diagrams, and keep up to date on the work completed for each client.
Home Automation
I use a variety of products at home that are connected devices - some of which I'll feature here each time.
I am currently testing a new set of products from SofaBaton, which are smart/intelligent universal remote control devices. With Logictech purchasing and then shelving Harmony a few years later - they have left a void to fill in this area, and I have a few clients with Harmony devices that are starting to hit the end of their lives. The SofaBaton products arrived in pretty rudimentary packaging, and they look extremely basic in their technical documentation. (This comes across like a knock-off brand, as a first impression.) I plan to start creating product reviews for the items I work with - and will go into greater detail with that.
It is too early to tell yet - but the current thought is that these aren't going to be as user-friendly as the Harmony devices were (which isn't saying much, the Harmony App and setup process was an absolute PITA. ) Hopefully I can streamline some of the configuration and make this work - as I'm not aware of many other alternatives on the market yet.
