Category Archives: Products

Logitech MX MASTER 3S mouse review

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You don’t know what a product can do till you find time to have a good play with it. This is exactly what happened when I reviewed the Logitech Master 3S mouse. I had been reviewing the MX mechanical keyboard and learnt about its extra features. This prompted me to dig into the features of the 3S mouse, and I am very pleased with the outcome.

The Logitech MX Master 3S is a high-quality precision mouse enabling additional functionality with customisable buttons and the use of your thumb.

What makes MX Master 3S mouse different?

This mouse has 7 buttons (including the centre scroll wheel button) and 2 scroll wheels. A standard mouse has 2 buttons and possibly 1 scroll wheel. The two traditional mouse buttons are where you expect them to be. The five additional buttons all come with a default function. Still, by launching the Logi Options+ app, you can customise each switch to perform a task. There are 45 options to choose from, some of which can be seen in the diagram below. Your thumb plays a big role in accessing the extra buttons and scroll wheel.

Further customisation of functions is available by applications such as your browser, excel or adobe application.

The MX Master 3S is great for creative and engineering work where fine detail is important. The mouse optical sensor can be set up to 8,00DPI, allowing precise movement. This mouse will work on a glass table which a normal mouse cannot.

The mouse allows usage on up to three devices by pressing a button on the underside to switch between devices. Further, If you also have an MX keyboard and Logi software. You can control different devices simply by moving your mouse between screens even though they are other Windows and Mac PCs. The keyboard will respond to the device your mouse pointer is on.

What’s in the box

At an RRP of $169.95, this keyboard is certainly at the top end.

Opening the box, you will find the mouse, a Bluetooth dongle (in case your PC does not have Bluetooth built-in) and a USB-C charging cable (USB-A to USB-C). This cable’s quality is excellent and has a Velcro strap for cable management.

The mouse is available in colours of graphite or white.

What I liked about the MX Master 3S mouse.

I previously reviewed the Logitech vertical mouse but found its ergonomic design did not suit me. The 3S, however, does suit me. I find it comfortable to use and extremely responsive, and the extra buttons are easy to reach. The mouse’s height is higher than I was using, making it a bit tight in my desk. I have a separate keyboard shelf that must be fully extended to use the mouse properly.

The game-changer for me has been to customise the buttons. I do a lot of copying and pasting as well as screen sniping and back button, so no surprise these have all been reprogramed. This saves me time and makes the functions so easy to access.

The scroll and buttons are very quiet, and scrolling can be done quickly, which is useful on a web page. The side scroll is also brilliant on spreadsheets.

Setup

The MX mouse uses a low-energy Bluetooth wireless connection. My PC is six years old and runs Windows 10. I charged the mouse to full and turned on the power switch to set up the mouse. With no software being downloaded, my PC immediately produced a popup box asking if I wanted to connect the mouse. I said yes, and it was operational in seconds.

Logitech has a PC application Logi Options+ from which firmware can be upgraded, mouse buttons can be customised, and scroll speeds changed. A handy feature is the customised settings can be backed up to the Logi cloud.

The battery percentage indicator is shown in the app and the windows Bluetooth page. A 1-minute charge will give you 3 hours of use, and a fully charged battery is quoted as providing 70 days of use.

Should you upgrade your mouse to a Logitech MX Master 3S

The Logitech MX Master 3S mouse is an investment in your productivity and comfort. If you are still using the mouse that came with your PC or a cheap one, you will immediately question why you did not get a better mouse sooner.

Whether a professional wanting better accuracy with the mouse or simply a user that a few extra custom keys will increase your productivity, this product will likely pay for itself.

Its design is super comfortable, and the buttons respond with a satisfying click. This mouse allows your thumb to come into play, adding a whole new world for extra functionality.

Logitech MX Mechanical keyboard review

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For 10 years, I have used a keyboard that came with a PC from a major brand. The letters are painted on, and you can no longer see some of the keys. A and S, to be specific. I liked the mechanical feel of it, and the other keyboards did not feel quite right. Then a week ago, I received a Logitech MX mechanical keyboard. Suddenly my old keyboard did not feel right.

The Logitech MX mechanical keyboard is wireless, battery powered and has illuminated keys. It has a sturdy design and each keystroke has a reassuring feel and sound.

Be sure to read Small Business Answers buying guide to keyboards.

What is a mechanical keyboard?

You are probably using a chiclet keyboard. A chicklet keyboard is a soft touch keyboard where the buttons are part of a membrane of switches.

A mechanical keyboard is one where each key is a physical button, and each time you press a key, there is a distinctive typing sound. When typing on a mechanical keyboard, the amount of play or the depth the key recedes is greater than on other types of keyboards. This gives a very responsive feel to typing. Mechanical keyboards also make the familiar click noise.

What’s in the box?

At an RRP of $269.95, this keyboard is certainly at the top end. A Mechanical mini is also available for $229.95, removing the number pad.

Opening the box, you will find the keyboard, a Bluetooth dongle (in case your PC does not have Bluetooth built-in) and a USB-C charging cable (USB-A to USB-C).

You can customise your experience by feel and sound when ordering this keyboard. You can choose between three customised switch types that each have a distinct feel and sound, and your choices are tactile quiet, linear or clicky. See the website before you make your purchase to understand the differences.

Why should you buy the Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard?

When you remove the keyboard from the box, it seems very heavy. This translates to what appears to be a very sturdy construction, but more importantly, it sits solidly on your desk and does not move around. This gives you a very solid platform to type from. Not being a touch typer, I find the illuminated keyboard a welcome addition. I have this on my notebook keyboard, and as it gets dark at night, I forget to turn the light on as I do not need it.

The keyboard has many shortcut keys which boost productivity. Microphones can be muted, PC locked, video fast-forwarded or snip instantly activated. If the 24 predetermined keys don’t suit, you can customise the keys to perform other shortcut tasks.

The biggest advantage this keyboard has is my typing speed increased. Not because I did some courses but purely based on the tactile interaction. $270 seems a lot, but if my productivity increases, this cost will be covered in less than a month.

Other features of MX Mechanical

If you have more than one computer or a TV or tablet, you would like to connect this keyboard. You can have up to 3 separate devices and seamlessly switch between the three with a simple press of one of three buttons. The keyboard will also suit a Windows or Mac environment with familiar keys symbols for both. If you also have an MX mouse and Logi software. You can control different devices simply by moving your mouse between screens even though they are other PCs. The keyboard will respond to the device your mouse pointer is on.

A handy feature when you forget to regularly charge is that a 15-minute charge will power the keyboard for a full day of use. However, you’re probably sitting at a fixed desk anyway, so you could run the supplied cable permanently if you wanted

The keyboard is made from almost 50% of recyclable materials.

Setup

The MX mechanical uses a low-energy Bluetooth wireless connection. My PC is six years old and runs Windows 10. To set up the keyboard, I charged the keyboard to full and turned on the power switch. With no software being downloaded, my PC immediately produced a popup box asking if I wanted to connect the keyboard. I said yes, and it was operational in seconds.

Logitech has a PC application Logi Options+ from which firmware can be upgraded, keyboard shortcuts can be customised, backlight turned on/off, and battery saving mode toggled. A handy feature is the customised settings can be backed up to the Logi cloud.

Customisable keys can also be application-specific which is extremely useful to those in creative or engineering type fields.

The battery percentage indicator is shown in the app and the windows Bluetooth page. My Battery usage so far has been around 2% a day.

Logi quotes up to 15 days of usage with the backlight setting or 10 months with the backlight off between charges.

Should you upgrade your keyboard to a Logitech MX mechanical

If you could be more productive by typing and activating functions faster, would that be worth spending $270? The Logitech MX mechanical keyboard was a surprise as I did not believe it would have such an impact on my productivity.

The backlit keyboard and shortcut keys enhance its capability. Its sturdy construction and weight ensure its stability as you type. Keys are responsive and give a reassuring tactile feel and noise.

The setup is seamless, and within minutes you could also have customisable keys to suit specific application functions.

Note if you want a silent keyboard, this is not the one for you.

Save power with smart lighting

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As the cost of electricity in Australia is expected to increase significantly, your cost of doing business will increase. This guide will look at how you can save power with smart lighting and understand what smart lighting can do for your business.

A smart light can follow a schedule and be controlled remotely. A smart light contains software and can communicate with an App on a smart phone or a smart assistant like Google assisteant or Siri.

WHY should you care about lighting power usage?

 Let us compare light bulb technology. The following lighting technologies each generate the same amount of light. Let us assume lights are on 60 hours a week. The energy rate used is $0.27/Kwh

TechnologyPower consumptionAnnual cost to runLife
Traditional Bulb60watt$50.541000 hrs
Halogen downlight50 watt$42.122000 hrs
Fluorescent Bulb12 watt$10.1115,000 hrs
LED Bulb9 watt$7.5825,000 hrs

Thus, you could save up to $43 a year for every light bulb. If you had 25 traditional bulbs, you could save $1000 a year by going to LED.

A LED light also has a lifespan of around 25,000hrs, meaning you will buy and change a lot fewer light bulbs.

WHAT can I do with a smart light?

The last one out, turn the lights off. How many times have the lights been left on overnight? Perhaps you have a window display that you want to be left on for a certain time.

A benefit of smart lights is that they can be scheduled to turn off and on at certain times. Thus your office lights could be programmed to turn on Monday to Friday at 8am and off at 6pm. Lights can be grouped together so they all act the same, and separate groups can be made to enable certain lights to run at a different schedule. Such as a display window.

Smart lights will also allow you to change the brightness of the light, and some also allow the colour to be changed. The Nanoleaf smart bulb we tested allowed 16 million possible colours. Practical uses of this include being able to set moods within displays or even adjust the colour temperature throughout the day

HOW do you set up smart lighting?

If you purchase a smart light bulb and place it into a standard socket, it will perform just like a regular bulb with the main switch turning it off and on. However, if you download the suggested app onto your smartphone, the various smart light features mentioned above become an option. The light switch must be left on for the smart functions to work, and the globe will switch off as per its schedule.

Set up of the app is pretty simple after it is downloaded by establishing an account and then following the on-screen instructions. Once the bulb is visible on the app, it can be grouped with others, and the various settings can be applied.

HINTS

Small Business Answers tested the Naoleaf essential range of light bulbs to help write this story. A 3-pack of smart lights can be bought for $79.99 from their website.

Not all smart bulbs work the same, and different brands will use a separate app to manage the bulbs. Check if there is an App for your smartphone’s operating system. Once you commit to a brand, it is best to stay with it so you have control over a single app. The connection with the lights might be with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. A Bluetooth will consume less power running the globe on standby but can only be controlled if the smartphone with the app is in range.

Some smart lights will also work with smart assistants so you can ask Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa to turn the light on etc.

SUMMARY – Buying a smart light

Introducing smart lighting into your business will save you money compared to conventional lighting and ensure the lights are only on during office hours.

Businesses wanting more creativity with displays can use them to change colours and brightness to make your business stand out.

Depending on your existing light fittings, evolving to LED smart lighting will pay for itself in the first year.

Western Digital WD Red SN700 NVMe SSD review

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This product solves a specific problem in the small business environment. Still, you will need to be IT savvy to take advantage of it. We look at the WD Red SN700 to understand what it is and how a small business may benefit.

The WD Red SN700 is a solid-state storage drive designed to be used in a NAS devise to speed up access and saving of files delivering a time saving to users.

What does NVMe SSD mean?

SSD stands for Solid State Disk. An SSD is a storage technology that replaces the traditional hard drive with spinning platters. The SSD is a hard drive storing the data on memory chips, and these chips retain this data when the power is switched off. An SSD is a much faster solution to load and save files to and from and saves a lot of time with the modern computer, especially when booting up a PC.

NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Host Controller. To keep things simple, it essentially refers to how this storage disk connects to a computer. That is the type of connecting socket.

WD Red

Western Digital (WD) is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of storage drives, memory cards and computer memory. The WD range of Red products is hard drives and SSD drives specifically designed to go into a NAS. NAS stands for Network-Attached Storage. It is a separate device that allows files to be stored centrally and used by multiple users in a business or home environment. See Small Business Answers guide to a NAS here. These Red storage products are specifically designed to suit high usage and reliability for this critical file sharing function.

Synology DS920+

Small Business answers use this product to backup all files, store photos and share files with multiple users. A feature of this product is the ability to add 1 or 2 NVMe SSD drives which will act as a cache to improve data access times from the NAS by up to 20 times. Essentially the most commonly accessed files are held in the cache, ready for a user to access it rather than that data having to be found on a spinning hard disk. Thus, the speed increase.

The DS920 will allow read-only cache if you use one SN700 stick and read and write if you use 2 sticks. Note if you are using the cache for writing, data could be lost if you had a power outage at the wrong time. This could be solved by using a UPS or Uninterrupted Power Supply (Back up power from a battery)

The Synology DS920 has a system tool to calculate what size SSD you would require based on your workloads.

The SN700 was very easy to install and was operational after a few simple clicks in the Synology Dashboard.

WD Red SN700

The WD Red SN700 NVMe SSD is available in various sizes 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB.

It will support the toughest workloads, including collaboration, editing, virtualisation and busy databases.

Although we tested the product with a Synology NAS, the SN700 will work with most of the popular NAS systems available from multiple vendors.

The product comes with a 5-year warranty and can read at speeds up to 3400MB/s and write at speeds up to 2900MB/s.

Prices for the SN700 were seen online, starting from $99.

To get the most out of this solution, your network should be capable of 1Gbps between devices.

What benefits Small Business experience from using the SN700

Time is money, and this product is designed to speed up the accessibility of shared files within your workplace. If there is lots of collaboration of files, you will see the most benefit. If there is little sharing and the NAS is used mainly for backup, this product may not reap any benefits.

In summary, users who access lots of documents or images via a NAS will benefit from adding this Western Digital NVMe SSD to their NAS.

Jabra Talk 65 review

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Small Business answers have tested a lot of headset solutions for small businesses in the last year. We have tested over-ear, on-ear. earbuds, and all of these have their positives; however, today, we will Talk about the Jabra Talk 65 Bluetooth mono earpiece/headset. We like these so much that they are planning to become the daily drive, so to speak.

Situation

In our Small Business Answers guide to a headset for business, we look at the various factors you should consider before buying a headset.

Depending on the features and the style, some headsets are better than others. Different models suit different scenarios, Like:

  • constantly removing your headset
  • comfort if you leave it on all-day
  • hearing in noisy environments
  • being heard in loud environments
  • Other factors that come into play include using the headset away from your desk, whether within the office, on the street or in a car.

The Jabra Talk 65 is a headset for the mobile worker on the go who is unlikely to compete with many other people on the phone.

As a Work from Home small business person, I don’t have background noise, and I don’t have that many calls. However, I make calls whilst I am out walking and almost always whilst in the car.

The Talk 65 appears to be the reinvention of a Blueparrott product that Jabra purchased. Blueparrott is known for solutions targeting professional drivers in North America.

Comfort & Range

I have been trialling the Jabra Talk65 now for a few weeks. The earpiece wraps comfortably around either of your ears and has a quoted range of up to 100m from your smartphone or PC.

This model will also suit people who do not want anything messing up their hair.

This morning I was one story below and on the opposite side of my house to my phone. I cursed, realising I was expecting a call. I then remembered I was still wearing the Talk 65. It is so comfortable I forgot I had it on. Even with my most comfortable stereo on-ear headsets, I still feel I am wearing them. Better still, I can walk halfway up my back garden before I lose Bluetooth connection with my phone. Thus, I can still make a call and leave my phone behind. If you go out of range, the earpiece chirps to let you know, then tells you once you are reconnected with a pre-recorded voice.

The unit is so light (20 grams) and comfortable. My wife has asked me why I am still wearing a headset at the end of the day? You simply forget it is there.

Background noise

Like all good sons, I phone my mother every Tuesday morning, and I always combine this with a walk. Each new headset gets subjected to this, and my mother tells me or, more correctly, complains when a lawn mower or truck is heard. This headset uses dual noise-cancelling microphones to cut a claimed 80% of background noise. I also tested this in the car with excellent results, to which all up, I claim the Talk 65 to be the best noise-cancelling device I have used so far.

Note that there is no noise cancelling in the speaker. This would be pointless anyway, as you still hear everything with your other ear.

The headset is charged by a provided USB-C cable and will give you up to 14 hours of talk time and has up to 17 days standby which will get most people 2 to 3 days between charging. The headset can be paired to up to 8 devices at once, with 2 connected simultaneously. E.g., like a smartphone and a tablet at once.

Other features

The initial connection is simple via NFC or Bluetooth discovery and supports Bluetooth 5.1. So far, I have found it reliably connects every time. You will also find 2 additional sets of ear gels in the box, which cater for different size ears.

Once connected to your phone, when not on a call, you will hear any navigation prompts, podcasts, music etc. In addition, a tap of the main side button will activate Siri or Google assist.

Other buttons on the headset allow the unit to be switched on or off and adjust the volume.

The Talk 65 has an IP54 rating which means that it is resistant to water and dust. The unit appears pretty durable but should still be treated carefully.

The Jabra Talk 65 is available now from leading retailers at a suggested price of $149.

In summary

I love this product for my personal needs, and it allows me to have clear communication on the go or at my desk. I have the freedom to leave my phone on my desk and still be able to take calls, and whilst on that call, background noise is expertly removed.

The unit is so comfortable and light you forget you are wearing it, and it does not look out of place as you walk down the street.

If you want a hands free experience working from home or walk and talk for $150, this product is a no brainer. Those working with lots of background noise, this may not be the product for you.

Vertical Ergonomic Mouse – Logitech LIFT review

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In the mouse buying guide, we previously looked at what was important to consider in buying a mouse. One thing we did not look at was a vertical ergonomic mouse. I used my first mouse for a PC in 1984, and almost 40 years later, I tried using it on its side. This article will take the Logitech LIFT vertical ergonomic mouse for a spin and give you our impressions.

What is a Vertical Ergonomic Mouse?

This mouse is designed to have a more natural position for your arm and wrist by turning the mouse buttons to a 57-degree angle or more simply on its side. According to Logi’s head of its ergo series of products Olessia Hageman, “Ergonomics and comfort play a vital role in overall workspace wellbeing. Building on our philosophy of when we feel better, we do better, we have created Lift to help people work in comfort for hours and feel better at the end of a long day at the desk.”

Reading the side of the box, leading American ergonomic institutions also think so.

What’s in the LIFT Box?

The mouse comes with a preinstalled AA battery and an internally housed USB receiver (so you know where it is when you need it). It has an RRP of $129.95 and is available in 3 colours Graphite, Off white, and Rose. The product is recommended for those with small to medium hands.

Connection to your PC, Mac, or Google device is by Bluetooth® Low Energy or the secure Logi Bolt USB Receiver. The included disposable battery is quoted at up to 2 years before replacement is required.

Setup is a breeze by pulling the disposable plastic battery isolator that allows the mouse to power on. My PC immediately saw the mouse and asked if I wanted to install it. Thus one click with my old mouse, and I was away.

The LIFT mouse also supports up to 3 multi-OS computers connected to it. Control is swapped by a button under the mouse.

Customisation

Not a word you really think about with a mouse beyond switching the buttons around. The LIFT allows the smart magnetic wheel to scroll quickly or slowly by pressing a button below the wheel.

By downloading the Logi Options+ app, you can further customise the various buttons on the mouse by multiple applications, including Microsoft, Adobe and collaboration applications (like Zoom). This allows you to create shortcuts to your most-used features. A handy button remapping option we liked was the ability to use a mouse button to mute your Mic.

Impressions

We like that the mouse is partly made of recycled plastic.

From a usability perspective, a mouse-like this is so much better than the cheap mouse that ships standard with a PC. The LIFT is comfortable to grip with a reassuring clicking mechanism when the key two buttons are pressed. The shift wheel is very responsive, and the ability to quickly change its speed is handy. However, you probably won’t change speeds once you are happy with either the fast or slow. Designers may, however, find this feature very useful. The ability to customise the mouse is great but will most people go to the trouble? You should as it will save a lot of time.

My verdict on the vertical ergonomic mouse that is the mouse turned on its side. Note this is a very personal experience. After almost 40 years of mouse usage, I did not like the orientation change, and I found it unnatural. However, my wife loved it from the minute I asked her to trial it. Another friend has a vertical mouse and said she loves it but took a while to get used to it.

It’s unlikely you can try one before you buy. Chances are, this mouse will be far better than the one you are using today and may even be good for your health.

Further information can be found on the Logitech website.

Poly Voyager 4320 review

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Upfront, I must confess that my daily drive for a headset is Poly Focus 2. You can see our review in wired vs Bluetooth headsets. Those in the market for a headset should also read our buyers’ guide to headsets. Poly reached out to me to review their more cost-effective headset, the Poly Voyager 4320 UC model.

In this hybrid world, we now live in the addition of a headset to your home or work environment has almost become critical, given the vast majority of communication now being done online. A headset gives you the freedom of hands-free and provides a level of privacy from whatever is going on around you.

Poly Voyager 4320 UC overview

The 4320 is a Bluetooth headset enabling you to venture up to 50 meters from your smartphone or computer. Thankfully the battery life allows up to 24 hours of talk time, and failing that, it can be charged via USB whilst in a conversation.

From a comfort perspective, they happily sat on my head for some hours sometimes because I simply forgot to take them off between calls.

The unit ships with a USB dongle which can be used as an alternative to Bluetooth pairing, and a 1.5m USB A to USB C cable. A nylon bag is also provided to store your headset when commuting.

Whilst on a call, Poly’s “acoustic fence technology”, which is a form of noise cancellation, will reduce background noise from being picked up by the microphone. An easily accessible mute button is located on the microphone boom. The boom is also adjustable in multiple directions to suit your face or being swung out of the way.

The Voyager 4320 will also pair with two devices, and this worked well with both my smartphone and my PC connected at the same time. Whilst on a call, a light on the earphone will allow others to know you are on a call.

Volume can be controlled by buttons on the headphone, as well as the ability to answer and hang up a call. When not on call, this same centre button can start or stop a podcast and also access a smart assistant with a long press.

Supporting the latest Bluetooth 5.2 version, this headset has superior range and battery life over the Focus 2.

Customisation and firmware upgrades can be done via the Poly Lens app.

For those wanting a desk stand, this can be bought separately.

Would we buy a Poly Voyager 4320 UC?

When I started reviewing this product, I was excited to test a defeatured headset. I thought it would be perfect for the hybrid worker who was not a call centre operator or in a particularly noisy environment. The more expensive Focus 2 model does a much better job in those circumstances with a few extra cool features thrown in. However, although we might want the additional features of the Focus 2, the 4320 should offer a cheaper alternative whilst still doing everything that a hybrid worker would need.

But when we researched the street price in Australia, we discovered:
Poly Voyager 4320 $209-287
Poly Voyager Focus 2 $249 -$441

Thus, potentially only a $40 difference to buy the more expensive model. If you can get the Focus 2 for $40 more, you should just buy the more expensive model. The Focus 2 has a better headband and superior noise cancellation for both the microphone and earphones. It will automatically answer a call by putting the headphones on and hanging up by removing them. The boom microphone will also mute if in the upright position, as well as having a mute button.

Computer Monitor for small business

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Are you staring at a laptop screen trying to work on a large spreadsheet? An attached monitor may be just the tool you need to increase your productivity. But which one? A good basic monitor sells for around $400, but some the same size might be $1000 more. Why? This guide will explain what you need to know about a computer monitor and help you understand the key features you should consider when making your buying decision.

A computer monitor, screen or display is a piece of hardware that displays the video and graphics information generated by a connected computer. Monitors are like TVs but usually display information at a much higher resolution, showing more detail and making them easier to read.

WHY should I buy a better computer display?

If you have a desktop, then you need one. If you buy a laptop, it is a handy addition (for more information on choosing a desktop or laptop, see our PC guide).

Most laptops and desktop computers can run more than one display, and the display can be spanned across several external monitors. Additionally, a laptop display can be mirrored or “cloned” to appear on an external monitor.

Having one or several monitors expands the workspace for a variety of tasks. An external monitor can deliver improved image quality and much more screen real estate if you have a small laptop.

Getting a new monitor is a bit like getting a new TV. It will look better than the old one with a sharper picture and better colours. Generally speaking, the more you pay for a monitor, the better-quality image you will get.

WHAT do I need to know about computer screens?

The size of a monitor is measured in inches from one corner of the screen to the other, not including the outer casing.

The monitor will require its own power supply and will need a connection cable to connect to a computer.

The connection options include:
  • HDMI – preferred method, same modern standard as a TV. Both a modern PC and monitor should have one. It will carry video and audio and support up to 4K video.
  • DVI – older standard for HD video
  • VGA – old standard using those blue plugs with pins
  • Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) – high-speed cable with a very small connector that will carry data, ethernet, power, video, and audio. Sometimes the only video connection port on a smaller laptop. 
  • USB – USB 3.0 is the modern standard, and although it can carry video, it generally does not.
  • Wireless – normally referred to as screen sharing or Miracast.  It uses a direct Wi-Fi connection to stream your PC image normally to a TV.

A monitor may not run to its best ability if you do not load the drivers on your PC for that monitor. Look for some instructions in the box.

You can adjust the settings of the monitor display, although most don’t. If you work with graphics, photos or video, you should explore these adjustments.

Some monitor brands provide software that will turn one monitor into many. When using a very big screen, you can trick the PC into thinking it is looking at different screens even though they are on one screen. Useful when you need to keep certain apps open all the time, and you don’t want to be resizing windows.

HOW do I choose a computer monitor?

Computer monitors can be bought online, at Officeworks and the likes of JB-HiFi and Harvey Norman. Not knowing your particular needs, it is hard to recommend a monitor beyond suggesting a 27-inch monitor with Full HD resolution.

When choosing, you should consider:
  • Size – measured in inches. The screen becomes a much longer rectangle the larger the size. It allows you to do more on one screen. As an alternative, some people may buy two screens to get the same effect.
  • Resolution – The more pixels, the better the picture. 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels is Full HD (1K) or FHD, double that is QHD (2K) and four times is 4K
  • Response times – (preferred by gamers) is the time it takes to change a pixel colour. Shorter is better, and it reduces the blur effect when watching fast action like sport on the screen.
  • Colour reproduction – Panel and processor quality will affect colour reproduction. Better is more expensive but simply look at quality instore before buying. It is important for those working with images that consider a monitor certified as colour accurate.
  • Base Mount – is the base adjustable, and how will that work with the way you will look at it.
  • Thunderbolt 3 laptop power – Some monitors support powering your laptop from the monitor. This same cable will carry the video and USB traffic (keyboard, mouse, USB drive etc.) Thus, only one cable is required for everything simplifying laptop power and connection to all your other devices.
  • Touchscreen – If the monitor supports this feature, you can control actions with your fingers on the screen.
  • Inbuilt speakers – allows sound to be projected from inbuilt speakers in the monitor.
  • Microphone and Camera – If installed it helps with video calling.

HINTS

Visit the Gadgetguy website to see reviews and recommendations on various monitors.

If you need to connect an older cable to a newer port (such as HDMI to VGA), there are adapters for this purpose.

Watch out for specials. As this is such a competitive market they are always around and will save you some money.

SUMMARY – best computer monitor for your small business

Having a good computer monitor will help you be more productive and enable you to see more clearly. When buying, you should have some sort of budget in mind then see the size you can get for the quality and resolution of the picture you need for your job. Ensure you have the right cables and that the display stand will work with your needs.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro review

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At Small Business Answers, just like everyone else, we have work time and personal time where headsets/earphones become useful. The work time, we have lots of phone calls and video conferences, and the personal time I try to walk or ride a bike every day. Some of these walks will be on the phone to family or listening to podcasts/music. Thus I get plenty of opportunities to review headsets. Even if it does look pretty funny seeing me walk down the street wearing a full-blown over-ear headset. Then Jabra sent me a set of Elite 7 pro wireless earbuds to review.

On opening the package, you notice how small the earbuds are. Jabra quotes them as 16% smaller than a previous model and weighing only 5.4 grams. My experience is they fit comfortably in the ear. They don’t stick out like other earbuds I have, so they don’t make you look as dorky. I have tried to shake them out of my ears, and so far, they have stayed in, so you have a level of confidence that you will not lose one at an inappropriate time. Another benefit is when using them for video calls they do not interfere with your hair and participants may not even realise you are using earphones.

The package comes with three earbud sizes to ensure you get the right fit for your ear canal. Next, you download an APP and pair your earbuds with your Android or IOS devise. The APP has a nifty setup procedure that appears to tune the earbuds to your hearing ability using tones you must respond to.

These are top-end earbuds, so you expect the audio quality to be excellent, and it is for an earbud. Sound is one element but interacting with the sound in the buds and the sound around you is equally important. What I like is you can use one earbud or two. Thus, when I use them on a bike, I only use one to always hear surrounding noise. Wind noise is eliminated in the bud if you go into ANC mode or noise cancellation. You can switch out of this to a mode called hear through. Hear through, I found, slightly amplifies the surrounding noise, so great to listen to what people are saying without taking an earbud out. Taking an earbud out whilst listening to music or a podcast automatically pauses what you are listening to. Back to the bike, if I had 2 earbuds in with ANC activated, I would hear no wind but no surrounding noise. If I switch hear through on, I hear the surrounding sounds and the wind, as does the other participant if you are on a call. Thus a bit of a catch 22 but with a workaround.

The noise cancellation quality is excellent (ANC), although untested by me on a plane at this stage. The Elite 7 pro have a large press button on each earpiece which gives a great reassurance it has registered. When you push, you can action ANC on or off, answering a call, playing or pausing music, increasing volume or activating Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. When compared to other models, I have tested. I found the real button control to work every time, allowing me to ignore my handset for complete remote control.

The Jabra’s allow Bluetooth multipoint, which means you can seamlessly connect to your computer one minute for a video call then to your mobile the next. The buds feel durable and come with a two-year warranty for peace of mind, including failure from dust and water once you have registered your product. Note these buds are splashproof, not waterproof, so don’t intentionally get them wet.

The Elite 7 pro come with a USB C to USB A charging cable and small magnetic docking and closure case. Jabra quotes up to 8 hours of continuous use, expanding to 30 hours using the charging ability of the case (dock). I really like that a 5-minute charge in the dock will allow 1 hour of listening time. The operating range of the Bluetooth is quoted at 10m, but my experience was greater than this.

You pay for quality at $299. A pair that you can use for personal and business use works out reasonable compared to having two separate solutions. The earbuds can be bought directly from Jabra or from most Australian retailers.

To learn more about choosing a headset solution, see Small Business Answers guide here.

Video Conferencing for beginners

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Not so long-ago video conferencing was for gamers or technical people who never left the house. Now the world has changed, and a video conference is simple to do and has become the norm for most people. This guide will look at the benefits of video conferencing, what you need to know and how to set yourself up.

WHY should you consider video conferencing?

Benefits of video conferencing include:
  • Video is more engaging than an audio call or text and improves communication
  • No travel time or travel cost
  • As teams become more geographically separated, it keeps teams connected with regular meetings
  • Productivity increases with a video call using screen share will enable the quick resolution of a question
  • Attendance improves with faster meetings being facilitated with meetings more likely to start and finish on time
  • Video calls allow people to work from home, thus providing a better work-life balance and potentially increasing employee retention
Disadvantages of video conferencing:
  • Lacks that personal touch of face-to-face meetings where people get to know one another better and small physical reactions are picked up on, which is all part of communication
  • Technical setup and occasional issues can be too much for some people
  • There is a cost to buy and enable the equipment required. Video transmission also requires excellent broadband connections, which may be troublesome in some locations and come at an extra cost.

WHAT do I need to know about video collaboration?

A video conference can be done via 3 primary methods. Via mobile device like your smartphone, sitting or standing at a computer or in a meeting room with the appropriate equipment.

A video conference can be a simple 1:1 meeting between two people, a small group meeting all interacting up to hundreds of people. The ability to mute your microphone becomes necessary when the group gets larger to minimise background noise and disruption.

Whilst in a video conference, depending on the video conferencing platform you are using. You will be able to share your screen to show others what you are looking at, record the conference for later review or share with someone absent, and have private or public text chats within the meeting. Some applications also let you remotely control another user’s computer with your mouse and keyboard.

You will see more advanced users using fancy computer-generated backgrounds like a beach scene behind them. This is handy to hide the mess you don’t want the camera to pick up in the factual background.

HOW do I video conference?

There are three parts to video conferencing the equipment to record, see and hear, the application or software to make it work and an internet connection to carry the signals.

Hardware for video conferencing

Almost every smartphone and laptop computer these days have a built-in camera, microphone and speaker, all of which are required for video conference.

If you are using a desktop or want to improve the quality of the picture or the sound, you will need some accessories. See our guide to buying a webcam here. Note the webcam quality is usually very poor in a laptop computer.

Once more than 2 people want to join a video conference, hosting a call on a PC, laptop or smartphone becomes problematic. Not everyone will be in view, and you may struggle to hear and be heard. This is where a high-quality video conferencing solution comes into its own. You can purchase a stand-alone solution for around the cost of a good PC that can operate independently (no PC required). Look for a camera feature that enables a group of people to be seen but automatically zoom in on an individual speaker. The sound is also designed to work in a meeting room. Thus these easy-to-use all-in-one solutions allow collaboration within a meeting space and connect those remotely.

Irrespective of your hardware type, these are some of the features you should consider when choosing a video conferencing (software) solution:

Camera resolution – 4k is fast becoming the norm. Still, you will find most pictures are only displayed in Standard definition SD or HD definition. 4K is 4 x better than HD, which is 4x times better than SD.

Noise cancellation – This can work for earphones if you use them but is particularly good when incorporated into the microphone technology. It helps to reduce unwanted background noise when speaking.

Cameras that pan or move. This can be a physical movement or maybe software generated and will track a person’s movement or different people speaking so the speaker is always in frame.

Privacy switches are physical switches or covers that can switch off or block video or microphone.

Video conferencing software considerations:

Assuming you have the right hardware, no call can be made without software. Software platforms include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google meet Cisco WebEx; you could even use Messenger. All these packages are easy to install, and most have a no-fee option. All parties must be running the same software solution, and invites sent in conjunction with the various platforms will allow other parties to download the required software and connect to the right meeting.

Security of video conferencing has been an issue in the past. Current packages have been beefed up to overcome any concerns.

Some hardware solutions will have a button automatically launching the software application. This is most prevalent in the Microsoft teams solution.

Easy setup.  Not everyone is a technology guru, and device uptake is governed by how easily the average person can get a solution working.

What internet speed do I need for Videoconferencing?

A stable NBN internet connection will be best with at least a 20Mbps upload and download speed. Note this speed assumes no one else is also using the same connection simultaneously.

HINTS

Common problems during a video conference are:

  • People forget to unmute themselves when talking
  • Ensuring you select the right microphone, speaker or camera, assuming you have more than one.  This is often the cause of people not hearing you when you join a call.
  • Ensuring you don’t have something in the background, you don’t want people to see a partner walking by in their underwear.
  • Having bright lights or the sun coming from behind the user will make you look dark.

Most software and hardware solutions will also offer you several setting changes that allow you to adjust various factors to improve the video/call quality.

Whilst researching for this story, Small Business Answers trailed an EPOS (EPOS is a high quality European audio solutions brand) EXPAND VISION 3T. This unit is designed especially for small meeting rooms and is an all in one solution for Microsoft Teams. You can join meetings with a single button press providing you up to a 4K image with a great voice pick up and noise cancellation.  This means that those at the other end can clearly hear what is said from the meeting room. We found the unit extremely easy to set up and use. We really liked the voice mute and camera mute button on the top to reassure you were not being watched or listened to. The onboard camera can zoom and pan, which means the person speaking in the room will be tracked and heard even if they are walking around the room.

The EPOS camera is also bundled with an SP30T, a high-performance speakerphone. This device is designed to sit on the table with the participants ensuring you can clearly hear the conversation and other participants can listen to you. The EPOS SP30T can also be used independently as a Bluetooth speakerphone for a PC or smartphone. This product is also certified for use with Microsoft teams (means it works better)  and recommended for up to 8 people in the meeting room. Small Business answers have been so impressed we have been using it to make calls from our smartphone.

SUMMARY – Video Conferencing for beginners

Video conferencing has become the norm in many businesses. It allows you to meet face to face without the travel and gives you back some time in your day. Unlike a voice call, it will enable you to be more connected to people’s body language and easily share documents, images, and presentations as part of the video conference.

You will need either a camera, microphone and speaker built into your device or separate accessories. In a meeting room, a dedicated solution will give better results.  Note video conferencing does require a decent internet speed to function well.

You may be by yourself in a room but remember others can see you and everything in the view of the camera.

A specialist electric retailer or computer store can advise you on what combinations of solutions will best suit your needs.