Saturday, April 4, 2009
USPTO EAST and WEST Search Tools
Mr. York has just completed patent research training on both the WEST (Web Based Examiner Search Tool) and EAST (Examiner Automated Search Tool) systems at the US Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA and have full access to the Patent Office Public Search Facility.
Netbook User Perspective: A View From the Clouds
I would consider myself to be a very typical laptop computer user. For business trips I would pack up my 15-inch latop, battery charger, and head for the airport.
However, I recently began researching the new ultra-portable "Netbook" computers, and immediately saw the potential advantages (and disadvantages) of the format. As a very "hands-on" person, I knew that the best way for me to fully evaluate how the netbooks would fit with my requirements was from a first-hand perspective. So after some additional research, I purchased a Samsung NC-10 Netbook, an external USB DVD drive, loaded my most-used applications on the netbook hard drive, and headed to the airport for a 9 hour roundtrip flight.
I selected the Samsung netbook based on how well the hardware specs seem to fit with my expected usage requirements. In order to be able to use my current Microsoft-based applications, I knew that I needed a Windows 98 operating software (not Linux-based Ubuntu) and a standard high capacity hard drive (not a smaller solid-state drive) . Since I don't pay for any mobile broadband services, depend upon free wireless network access or internet connectivity, and wanted to utilize the computer during flight time, the cloud-based computer applications would not be able to fit with all my requirements.
Now that I've returned from my trip, I can tell you without any hesitation that I am a BIG fan of the netbook. In more detail:
- The Samsung netbook provided the same applications useability (I used MS Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and Filemaker Pro) as my 15-inch laptop.
- Traveling was much easier in all respects. The light weight of the netbook made it a pleasure to carry. The small size fit easily into my "overnighter" suitcase and took only half of the available tray-top space in my Coach class seat.
- Battery life was amazing. I used the computer for four hours straight enroute and the battery indicator indicated there were two hours of use reamaing. After an overnight recharge, I used the netbook for over four hours on the return flight and found the same results.
For me, the Samsung NC-10 was a perfect replacement to my 15-inch laptop, and had definite travel and useability advatages. I must caution that it is absolutely necessary for anyone looking at purchasing a netbook to do your research to make sure you select the product that will fit with your typical mobile usage requirements. You will not obtain the same useability from a netbook equipped with a solid-state or flash drive, if you want to use the computer in-flight where you don't have internet access you will not want to have all of your applications based on the cloud-computing format, and if you have always lived in a Microsoft world, you will likely be dissapointed with the learning curve involved in transistioning to a Linux-based system.
For me, I'm sold on the netbook format, and my Samsung netbook will likely be accumulating many frequent flier miles in the future.
However, I recently began researching the new ultra-portable "Netbook" computers, and immediately saw the potential advantages (and disadvantages) of the format. As a very "hands-on" person, I knew that the best way for me to fully evaluate how the netbooks would fit with my requirements was from a first-hand perspective. So after some additional research, I purchased a Samsung NC-10 Netbook, an external USB DVD drive, loaded my most-used applications on the netbook hard drive, and headed to the airport for a 9 hour roundtrip flight.
I selected the Samsung netbook based on how well the hardware specs seem to fit with my expected usage requirements. In order to be able to use my current Microsoft-based applications, I knew that I needed a Windows 98 operating software (not Linux-based Ubuntu) and a standard high capacity hard drive (not a smaller solid-state drive) . Since I don't pay for any mobile broadband services, depend upon free wireless network access or internet connectivity, and wanted to utilize the computer during flight time, the cloud-based computer applications would not be able to fit with all my requirements.
Now that I've returned from my trip, I can tell you without any hesitation that I am a BIG fan of the netbook. In more detail:
- The Samsung netbook provided the same applications useability (I used MS Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and Filemaker Pro) as my 15-inch laptop.
- Traveling was much easier in all respects. The light weight of the netbook made it a pleasure to carry. The small size fit easily into my "overnighter" suitcase and took only half of the available tray-top space in my Coach class seat.
- Battery life was amazing. I used the computer for four hours straight enroute and the battery indicator indicated there were two hours of use reamaing. After an overnight recharge, I used the netbook for over four hours on the return flight and found the same results.
For me, the Samsung NC-10 was a perfect replacement to my 15-inch laptop, and had definite travel and useability advatages. I must caution that it is absolutely necessary for anyone looking at purchasing a netbook to do your research to make sure you select the product that will fit with your typical mobile usage requirements. You will not obtain the same useability from a netbook equipped with a solid-state or flash drive, if you want to use the computer in-flight where you don't have internet access you will not want to have all of your applications based on the cloud-computing format, and if you have always lived in a Microsoft world, you will likely be dissapointed with the learning curve involved in transistioning to a Linux-based system.
For me, I'm sold on the netbook format, and my Samsung netbook will likely be accumulating many frequent flier miles in the future.
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