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  • Top 3 Small Walk In Closet Designs

    Top 3 Small Walk In Closet Designs

    If you’re currently facing the small walk-in closet predicament, you’re in the right place to find solutions. Custom closet design can help maximize storage volume in even the most irregular and unfortunately-sized closets.

    A walk-in closet can be quite a luxury. Who doesn’t drool over those beautiful closets you see with miles of shelving and hanging space and even an island in the middle full of storage drawers?! But just because you have a closet that you can “walk” into, doesn’t mean that you have a huge closet. In fact, some “walk-in” closets can be quite small. One sided. Or even more of a step-in then really a “walk” in. And if you have a smaller walk-in closet, it can be even more complicated to organize then a large wall closet.

    Here are our top 3 small walk in closet designs.

    Layout #3: Rock an ‘L’ Shape
    The bare minimum size for a walk-in closet is understood to be 5×5’. Assuming the door swings outward, this means you only have room for a very particular arrangement of storage units. Rather than trying to stuff the closet full on all walls, working within an ‘L’ shape will help you keep everything far more organized and accessible. For these admittedly tiny walk-in closets, we recommend a truly custom combination of hanging rods and open shelving to effectively store your wardrobe essentials.

    One example: situate two hanging rods at waist height, one on the wall opposite the door and the other on one of the adjacent walls. Your hanging rods will, therefore, form an ‘L’ when viewed from above. Add three or four angled shoe shelves above these rods and fill the rest of the remaining vertical space with open adjustable shelving. This way you’ll maximize every last inch of wall space without sacrificing the area that usually hangs below your suits.

    Layout #2: Shelves vs. Rods
    If your walk-in closet managed to get away with only the minimum 3 feet of walking space and you’re stuck with only one wall that’s appropriate for hanging rods, this layout is for you. Of course, adding dual hanging rods to this wall will significantly increase your hanging storage, if that’s what you care most about. However, you might be surprised to discover that the opposite wall (which is usually left bare by developers) can still be used for valuable storage space. A custom designer can incorporate the slimmest of shelving units onto that previously-unused wall, usually at a depth of 12” or less, to help you gain more usable surfaces.

    Alternatively, this layout idea can be customized further by incorporating open shelving units (including angled shoe shelves) on both opposing walls, with as little hanging space as your wardrobe actually requires. Knits and denim actually wear better when stored flat, and you may find that folding clothes lets you fit even more into your minimally-sized closet. Include a single hanging rod section around 72” for any long garments you might need to hang, and you’ll be good to go.

    Layout #1: Duals and Drawers
    For a rectangular walk-in closet with minimal walking space, start your design by adding dual hanging rods on both longer walls. Usually placed around 40 and 80 inches, dual hanging rods essentially double your available hanging space without taking up any more valuable square inches. Add in a bank of soft-close drawers topped with open shelving on the short wall opposite the closet door, and you’ve instantly gained the luxurious feel your closet was lacking.

    This layout is perfect for partners sharing a closet, because you can easily store clothing separates (slacks, blouses, shirts, skirts, and pants) in cohesive areas organized by color, season, or occasion, and you won’t have to expand into each other’s limited territory.

    With These Layouts, No Walk-In Closet is Too Small.
    Armed with the layout ideas that most commonly succeed, you’ll be able to create a more stable plan for how to improve your clothes storage situation. Keep in mind that each of these ideas is merely a starting place, and that a custom design expert will be able to modify and combine these ideas as necessary to create a truly functional layout for your particular space. And, even better, with your storage space maximized, you might even have room to include custom accessories that take a closet from basic to beautiful.


  • BEST DEALS ON SUNGLASSES

    BEST DEALS ON SUNGLASSES

    Stay up on fashion trends while keeping your eyes in good health with a pair of high-quality sunglasses! In addition to being attractive and fashionable, sunglasses provide valuable protection for the long-term health of your eyes.

    It’s true that a good pair of sunglasses will help you look good no matter what you’re doing, but they also shield the eyes from harmful ultraviolet light. These rays not only damage skin, they can contribute to the development of cataracts, spots on the eyes, a condition called snow blindness, multiple types of eye cancers, and more.

    Fortunately, there are many places and ways to find sunglasses that will block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays that cause damage. Sunglasses are a stylish, affordable, and fun way to protect your eyes. Read on to find out what you need to know about the best places to buy sunglasses.

    In order to be sure that the sunglasses they buy are high-quality, shoppers need to purchase their glasses from reputable dealers. These brands produce sunglasses that are made from state of the art materials, which is especially important when it comes to lenses.

    When we put on sunglasses, our pupils enlarge so that more light can enter the eye. If the sunglasses we wear are poor quality, UV light can be allowed in and cause damage. Well-made sunglasses have layers of protection that shade the eyes and keep harmful rays out.

    Best Places for Sunglass Deals

    Traditional Retailers

    Places like Sunglasshut, Macys, Frames Direct, and Ottica have a wide range of brands at a variety of price points. Some of the most popular brands of sunglasses in a myriad of styles and materials include Ray Ban, Maui Jim, Coach, Burberry, Michael Kors, and Raen. These brands also have their own stores where they sell products made exclusively for them, including sunglasses. These stores also offer valuable information on what standards are required for sunglasses to be considered high-enough quality for these brands to sell. Shoppers can also try name brand sunglasses on in person while in the stores or can shop for glasses online.

    New Online Retailers

    While going into a popular, reputable store to buy sunglasses is the traditional way to buy shades, there are new brands to consider and more modern ways to buy sunglasses. Warby Parker offers shoppers a cool new way to buy sunglasses, in which the company sends fashionable, high-quality, scratch-resistant glasses in groups of 5 to try for free. Customers simply return what they don’t want and pay for what they keep. Zenni provides an interface where customers can upload a photo to “try on” the glasses virtually.

    Once bought, the customized sunglasses are sent to customers within two to three weeks. Diff ensures a good feeling for every pair of sunglasses sold, as they give a pair of reading glasses to people in need. Plus, they offer free shipping on orders of $50 or more. While ModCloth is known for their impeccable style choices in clothes, this is also true for sunglasses at a range of price points, from $20 on up. One of the most pricey and popular companies, Eyeconic provides all of the top designer sunglasses, along with a virtual try-on feature to ensure that every pair looks good before any money is spent. Plus, shipping and returns are free!


  • Top 5 AdWords Management Services

    Top 5 AdWords Management Services

    Well-crafted bids can be very lucrative, whereas misplaced investment on irrelevant keywords, or over-investment, can be disastrous. Many companies try to go it alone, and they grossly underperform in search engine conversion.

    As a result, countless businesses have popped up that are designed to help companies avoid making these mistakes and to leverage search engines into a powerful tool for generating new leads, sales and profits.

    Every agency will promise you stunning results, but, not surprisingly, not everyone will be able to deliver on these promises. Proper AdWords management can be a huge boost to your business, so to make sure you’re getting the right help to make full use of this opportunity, we’ve compiled a list of the five best AdWords management agencies you can find. Each one offers something a bit different, but Mutesix is the one we consider to offer a good balance of everything. Here are some details on each one of our choices:

    #5—Jumpfly

    Another major player that is good for those looking for an agency with lots of resources and experience is Jumpfly. They have over 400 clients, mostly in retail and consumer goods. However, despite being so big, they still only focus on AdWords and PPC.

    This is somewhat surprising, as agencies this big usually branch out into different areas of marketing. But it’s an indicator of success, as they’ve been able to build an impressive roster of clients while focusing on one aspect of online marketing and advertising.

    Jumpfly works to help you find the best Adwords for both Google and Bing, and what’s nice is that they also offer a money back guarantee when you first get started. If you aren’t satisfied with them for any reason, you’re under no obligation to stay with them, but chances are you’ll find yourself being very happy with the work Jumpfly does for your company.

    #4—CPC Strategy

    CPC Strategy is what we call a heavyweight agency. They have over 250 clients, and many of them are national brands that are forces within their respective markets. In general, they work almost exclusively with clients in retail, but they have also been known to work with other consumer goods companies. Some of their most well-known clients include Sears, WWF, Clarks and Omaha Steaks.

    You can expect the people at CPC Strategy to have a wide range of experience in many different types of marketing, but they have particular success in AdWords management. Additionally, because they are so big, they have lots of resources available to help you achieve your goals.

    But all this experience and all these resources come with an extra cost. If you are only looking for an AdWords manager, the folks at CPC can certainly do the job, but there may be other agencies with a more focused PPC approach

    Also, because of their size, CPC might not be able to offer you the same level of personalization as other boutique firms, but they are certainly more than capable of delivering a quality AdWords management strategy, and they have ways of complementing this to help bring your business to new levels.

    #3—Tower 33 Digital Marketing

    One of the most important things to know about marketing is that it requires a multi-leveled approach. When people come into contact with your product, they are all at different stages. Some are ready to make a purchase, some are just informing themselves of the different options and others are just curious consumers seeing what’s out there.

    As such, for marketing to be successful, it’s important to tailor messages to find and connect with people on all different levels. This is very similar to the “Customer Journey” approach used by Tower 33 Digital Marketing. They make use of AdWords, SEO, social media and other forms of digital marketing to reach people at all different parts of the sales funnel and direct them to your company. They have a proven track record of improving traffic and conversion numbers.

    #2—SINGLE GRAIN

    What’s nice about Single Grain is that it combines marketing and web development. When it comes to internet marketing, design and strategy are closely linked, although few too many people realize this. Single Grain offers custom web design, and they also offer a whole host of WordPress plugins to help make your site run more effectively, efficiently and profitably.

    Single Grain is a boutique firm that works to create a personalized marketing plan for your company. You won’t have to worry about being treated like a nobody, even if you are a small company. The people over at Single Grain will soon become your family, and doing business with them will seem easy.

    #1–Mutesix – Our #1 Pick for Adwords

    The secret behind the continued success of MuteSix brings an omnichannel approach to it’s paid search strategy. Google is moving away from content targeting and toward user targeting to remain competitive with FB ad platform. The Google Ads Department at MuteSix leverages its massive FB ads experience when it comes to audience targeting and creative and applies it on the Google Ads platform for successful campaigns in channels like Display network and YouTube that have been historically very challenging.

    Google Ads is an ever-changing landscape where the targeting is only getting better across Search, Shopping, Display, & YouTube. With that in mind, MuteSix is constantly leveraging the latest ad formats, audiences, & betas to stay ahead of the game. One of the distinguishing features of MuteSix’s Paid Search department is their creative output. They create branded videos and display ads for all of their clients. MuteSix’s specialiizes in servicing clients in the e-commerce space, serving 50+ clients across mutplie verticals with 2 official Google Case Studies.

    While Mutesix has a heavy focus on AdWords and PPC management, they also offer a range of other digital marketing services, such as social media marketing and Facebook marketing. This allows you to create a broad plan that can drive paid traffic to your site, improve conversion rates and increase profits.

    Lastly, Mutesix serves as a great resource. They keep an up-to-date and relevant blog that helps keep you apprised of the latest trends in the industry so that nothing takes you by surprise. It’s a nice added touch that helps set Mutesix apart from other agencies.

    Final thoughts

    The upsurge of eCommerce and digital marketing has made proper AdWords management essential for any business operating online. However, this world can be confusing, and as such, it can be expensive. Finding a quality agency that will work to understand your needs and to craft a strategy that will succeed is of utmost importance.

    It combines web development products with a range of digital marketing strategies, including AdWords management, to deliver a custom-made marketing strategy that will help make your business better.


  • Best CPAP Machines

    Best CPAP Machines

    Sleep apnea is a serious problem for those affected. Getting treatment for sleep apnea isn’t just about sleeping through the night — it’s about preventing serious health complications. Whether you suffer from it yourself or sleep near someone who does, it can be awful. If you’re affected, you may find it hard to sleep through the night and rarely wake up feeling rested.

    Sleep apnea may also put you at higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and anxiety. Fortunately there are ways for people to cope with this condition. The most common form of sleep apnea treatment is with a CPAP machine, which works by creating a continuous stream of air into your airway while you sleep to keep the airway clear and unobstructed.  In order to help, here’s our roundup of the 3 best CPAP machines.

    Best CPAP Machines

    Intellipap Standard Plus CPAP Machine

    The Intellipap Standard Plus CPAP Machine is the first on our list. Made by DeVilbiss Healthcare, this model features a number of technological functions to keep your airway clear and unobstructed. Flow Rounding technology and SmartFlex functions work in conjunction to help you sleep through the night and get well-rested.

    Other great features are a humidifier mask that keeps your mouth from drying out and a back-up battery. It also features remote reporting, so your doctor can monitor how you’re doing. It even sounds a warning if the mask slips off your face!

    ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset

    The second model on our list is the ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset. Notably, this unit is capable of adjusting its airflow to accommodate the breathing habits of users. It offers Bluetooth connectivity to allow for wireless control. If you like to travel, this is a great pick: it’s rated for use on airplanes! It’s also capable of using any wall outlet, even internationally.

    Like the Intellipap, this unit is capable of long-distance monitoring by your doctor. That means that, even if you’re traveling, your doctor can stay up-to-date on your status! That’s perfect for people with an active lifestyle!

    Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto

    The Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto is last but not least! This entry is the most compact of any of the machines listed here. If you have limited bedside space, this is the option you should go with. This unit is capable of recording any abnormal breathing during the night. It’s also capable of adjusting for abnormal breathing to keep you healthy and sleeping soundly.

    This unit also offers a facemask alert in case it comes loose, like the Intellipap. It also features a humidifier to keep your mouth and throat from drying out. Like the previous entries, this one also offers wireless reporting to your doctor regarding your breathing health.


  • The Best Solar Power Companies

    The Best Solar Power Companies

    Nowadays, many consumers have turned to solar energy for the sake of the environment and for their wallet.  This renewable energy source has globally proven to be cheaper than power from the grid, saving customers hundreds or thousands of dollars per year on their energy bill.

    Solar energy is known to require little maintenance and according to research, solar energy has the least negative impact on the environment compared to the other sources of energy.  Solar energy also has proven to be more reliable as well, since it can be deployed anywhere.

    Solar panels and solar contracts have an average lifespan of 20 years. To help you make the smartest, long-term decision, we’ve compiled top solar power companies and highlighted their respective benefits. Below, you can compare unique cost savings, equipment monitoring, tax breaks, and contracts that require little to no money down. Whichever company you choose, you’ll experience greater energy savings and the perks of environmentally-friendly living. Read on to learn about the best solar power companies that can help you!

    Best Solar Power Companies

    Sunrun

    Sunrun has been helping homeowners save on energy bills since 2007. This solar provider has often been named as both the best and largest solar company in the United States. Sunrun covers over 17 states in the US including South Carolina, Nevada, California and Colorado. You can also choose from flexible payment options that allow you to put as little as zero down. Sunrun provides for four payment plans; Brightsave monthly (which is a 20-year lease with monthly payments), BrightBuy (where you purchase the solar power in full), BrightAdvantage (which is a solar loan with zero down and is a great way to finance your solar panels) and Brightsave prepaid (where you pay for the entire solar lease in full right from the start).

    The great thing about Sunrun is that, regardless of the plan you choose, you are guaranteed backup storage, workmanship warranty as well as a 10-year roof warranty. With Sunrun you are also able to monitor your solar home’s productivity through a innovative app. If your solar panels generate more power than you use, Sunrun will return credits to you.

    When you decide to use Sunrun, it sends a representative to your home to evaluate your solar eligibility. Within three weeks, the company creates a design for you to approve, and after you give your consent, Sunrun begins applying for permits. Permit wait times depend on your local government. Once permits are approved, installation can begin.

    SolarCity

    Solarcity is a solar power company that is known for having the most affordable solar panel plans while still backing its work with guarantees and strong warranties. This solar company benefits greatly from the research and technology that is provided by Tesla – its sister company. Solarcity has services that are available for government planners, homeowners and businesses in about 21 states all across the United States.

    A lot of solar companies just offer solar panel installation but Solarcity additionally offers clients the ability to go off the grid through its back up power supply which ensures that your premise will always have power regardless of any blackouts. Powerwall – a backup power supply that allows you to always have power regardless of city blackouts. Unlike a portable generator Powerwall allows you to access clean power in emergencies. In addition to its Powerwall, Solarcity also offers a 10-year warranty that covers 10 years of necessary maintenance.

    Tesla recently revealed the new solar roof – a surprisingly affordable set of roof tiles with solar cells. To anyone looking at them from the street they will seem like a normal set of roofing tiles. The solar cells are only visible from above so they can use the sun to power your home. They even come in four different, chic-looking styles to help you match the look of your home. SolarCity is the only solar company that can install the solar roof. If you’re wondering about the dependability of these tiles, rest assured knowing that they are stronger than average roofing tiles.

    Vivint Solar

    Vivint Solar is also one of the best solar power companies. Vivint made its debut as a home security and home automation company in 1999 and has transitioned into a top solar company. Vivint Solar offers four payment plans in addition to warranties and solar panel performance monitoring. This solar contractor can help you save money on your utility bill while decreasing your impact on the environment. With operations in 16 states, it has the third largest coverage in the United States.

    In addition to solar panel installations, Vivint Solar does offer backup battery storage. This company’s solar power warranties include a 25-year performance warranty. The inverter is also covered by a 20-year workmanship warranty. Vivint will fix or pay for any damage it might cause to your property or belongings. This company offers four different payment plans: Solar Purchase, Solar Loan, Solar PPA, and Solar Lease. Regardless of which plan you choose, Vivint Solar will maintain and monitor your solar panels. These plans are also transferrable, should you decide to sell your home. Some of these plans also include product and power output warranties. Should the system fail to function or if it functions inefficiently Vivint Solar will take care of it.

    After you have set up a consultation with Vivint Solar, they will set up a time to meet with you. At this meeting Vivint will go over how solar works where you live and explain the benefits of using solar panels. After that comes an on-site survey, where they will look around your home for about an hour to evaluate your home’s solar eligibility. Designs will be drawn that best accommodate your house.


  • 3 Best Applicant Tracking Systems

    3 Best Applicant Tracking Systems

    An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs. An ATS can be implemented or accessed online on an enterprise or small business level, depending on the needs of the company and there is also free and open source ATS software available. 

    When you apply for a job online, your resume isn’t typically going directly to a recruiter or hiring manager. It’s first being processed by an ATS. Whether that human recruiter ever sees your resume could depend on how well your resume is optimized for ATS algorithms.

    Why employers use applicant tracking systems

    Top employers hire for several jobs at a time and receive hundreds of resumes for any given opening. Because applying for a job online is easier than ever, many of these applicants are unqualified and figured “it was worth a try.”

    Applicant tracking systems keep all these resumes in one place, helping recruiters and hiring managers stay organized as well as EEOC compliant. In theory, these systems also save time by automatically surfacing and highlighting top candidates. In reality, ATS do help hiring professionals narrow their applicant pool, but top candidates slip through the cracks.

    Most large corporations utilize applicant tracking systems. Jobscan research found that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS while a Kelly OCG survey estimated 66% of large companies and 35% of small organizations rely on recruitment software. If you’re applying to a large organization, chances are you’ll face an ATS. If you’re applying through any online form, you’re applying through an ATS. Even job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn have their own built in ATS.

    Viewing Applications

    Some recruiters still choose to glance at every job application that comes through their applicant tracking system. In this case, most take a quick glance at the applicant’s past highlights, job titles, and companies. They can make a determination about whether they want to learn more in about 6 seconds. It’s important to make sure your top skills and qualifications are easily identifiable.

    Automatic Rankings

    Some applicant tracking systems can automatically compare your resume to the job description. For example, Taleo calls this feature “Req Rank,” which ranks each applicant based on how well their resume scores based on the job description. A common way recruiters filter resumes in an applicant tracking system is by searching for key skills and titles. For example, if a recruiter is hiring for an Administrative Assistant position out of 400 resumes, their first step will probably be a search for “Administrative Assistant.” This will isolate candidates that have done the exact job before. Anyone that doesn’t have that exact term in their resume is out of luck. A search can contain multiple terms. For example, they might perform a complex search that contains a combination of titles and skills important for the job:

    Administrative Assistant AND data entry AND payroll …

    Candidates who can predict the correct resume keywords will have the greatest chance of being included in recruiter search results. The best way figure out which skills and keywords to include is by analyzing the job description. Jobs can automates this process by analyzing your resume against the job description to show the top skills and keywords missing from your resume.

    Our Top 3
    #3. Homebase

    Homebase makes hourly work easier for the whole team. With free online tools and mobile apps for managers and employees, Homebase eliminates the paperwork and headaches of scheduling, payroll, hiring and team communication. Start saving 4+ hours every week by visiting joinhomebase.com. Used by over 100,000 businesses of all sizes across the US.

    #2. BambooHR

    BambooHR offers easy, integrated applicant tracking (ATS) as part of our award-winning cloud-based HR platform. Onboarding tools, e-signatures, time-off tracking, performance management, plus easy reporting and a convenient mobile app set you free to do great work. Released from the data management spiral, HR professionals become more effective, more efficient, and more human. Visit bamboohr.com or give us a call to see a demo and start a free trial.

    #1. Breezy HR

    The most highly rated ATS on Capterra, Breezy streamlines your entire hiring process; giving you more time to connect with candidates by automating tasks like advertising on 40+ job boards, screening, interview scheduling & follow-ups. We include all the tools your team needs to hire more efficiently, from referrals & sourcing tools for LinkedIn and dozens of others to custom scorecards & interview guides. With Breezy, you’ll be making better, hiring decisions in less time. It’s GDPR compliant.

    If you own a business and found this article helpful, you might like our article about the top cloud services of 2018.


  • Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    If you rely on Medicare for your health care, you might have found that Medicare doesn’t cover everything. For those on a fixed income, it can be extremely difficult to afford medication or any additional health care costs not covered by Medicare.

    If you are in a difficult situation where the health care bills are piling up, consider Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Medicare Supplemental Insurance is insurance that can help cover what Medicare doesn’t. We analyzed several plans with our experts and today we are breaking down the Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance!

    Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

    Information About Supplemental Insurance

    An important note: in order to get supplemental insurance, you must have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A covers inpatient, and Part B covers outpatient care. Anoter factor to consider is Supplemental insurance only covers one person. Additionally, as long as you’re paying your premiums, Medicare supplemental  insurance can’t drop you, no matter what medical issues you may begin to suffer from.

    Supplemental insurance won’t always cover everything Medicare doesn’t.  Supplemental insurance is not going to cover all expenses. Things like vision, dental, prescriptions, long term care and private nursing are also not typically covered. Finally,  supplemental insurance must be acquired within the first sixth months of you turning 65 and you must already be on Medicare to qualify.

    United Healthcare Insurance Company

    The United Healthcare Insurance Company is endorsed by the AARP, and for good reason. This company offers a great deal of benefits for those on Medicare. They have a 94 percent user satisfaction, which is stellar. They also offer coverage that can be combined with a Medicare Part D plan. Those with this policy can visit any doctor that accepts Medicare! United Healthcare allows you to choose from a wide variety of plans, coverage, deductibles and benefits so you have coverage to fit your health needs and your financial situation.

    State Farm

    State Farm is another option for supplemental insurance. State Farm Medicare Supplement Insurance is designed to cover the gaps in Medicare, helping to pay deductibles, coinsurance and copayment amounts not covered by Medicare. State Farm also provides you the flexibility to choose between different plans to meet your individual needs and budget. They are a well-respected agency and are renowned for their high customer satisfaction ratings “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There” tagline is very true. State Farm insurance might be able to cover hospital or medical services your Medicare won’t pay for as well.

    Humana

    Humana offers Medicare supplemental insurance that covers Medicare Part A and B. Humana’s policy covers coinsurance for medical expenses, co pays, hospice care and hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care, and blood work. Additionally, the Humana plan also covers copayments for outpatient services. Remember, this is in addition to your Medicare coverage, so getting this extra coverage could save you a lot of money when you have expensive outpatient services. Particularly if you have frequent doctor’s visits, you may find yourself saving a ton with this supplementary policy.


  • 2018’s Best Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptops (So Far)

    2018’s Best Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptops (So Far)

    There has been a huge increase the in number of 2-in-1 laptops that feature touchscreen controls for tablet mode. Love it or hate it, touchscreens are here to stay, and they will likely continue to be evolved into mainstream computing.

    Here are some of our favorite touchscreen laptops available right now.

    HP Spectre x360

    This lightweight, slim bezel 2-in-1 is a great option for the most mobile users among us. The battery life is amazing, and the keyboard is also a pleasure to use. You won’t find a better balance between tablet and laptop than this system.

    Microsoft Surface Pro

    The Microsoft Surface Pro has positioned itself to be the touchscreen laptop to beat. It is designed from the ground up to work around a touch interface and the Surface Pen. Going beyond simple touchscreen controls and note taking, the Surface Pro also aims to be a digital artist’s tool. Unfortunately, the newer version of the Surface Pro no longer includes the Surface Pen, so expect an accessory purchase right off the bat.

    Lenovo Yoga 920

    If screen real estate is your priority, then the Lenovo Yoga 920 should be where you begin looking. The general 13.9-inch display is larger than many 2-in-1 systems. With a fully metal build and an interesting take on laptop hinges, the
    Yoga makes a classy statement. It also features the same level of touchscreen sensitivity as the Surface Pro despite the larger screen.

    Samsung Chromebook Pro

    What would happen if you took a Samsung Note 8 and blew it up into a 2-in-1 computer? You’d get the Samsung Chromebook Pro. If Chrome OS is your jam but you find typical Chromebook offerings a little short on power, then the Chromebook Pro is well worth looking into. The Google Play store alone means that you will have more than enough apps for both your productive and procrastinating sides.


  • Which Cloud Storage Service is Right for You?

    Which Cloud Storage Service is Right for You?

    There a ton of great options when it comes to cloud storage! Many of them are free, but some offer some interesting paid features. If you have a lot of storage needs, whether it be for business or personal use, consider these great options for cloud storage!

     

    Google Drive: Google Drive is part of Google’s office suite, and it’s surprisingly competitive with Microsoft’s offerings. For having a Google account, you get 15GB of storage for free. For documents and pictures, 15GB is a good bit of storage! Google also offers a few packages for higher amounts of storage. For 100GB, 1TB and 10TB, you pay $2, $10 or $100 per month, respectively. Given the free Google Office suite that comes welded to this service, many offices are opting to use it.  

    Google Drive has Android, iPhone and Windows apps, too! This makes it easy to sync files across multiple devices. Google Drive is ideal if you have a Chromebook, but it’s a great choice for eveeryday use too. You can’t go wrong with this one! 

    Amazon Drive: Amazon Drive is a great service if you already have Amazon Prime. Annual pricing is pretty reasonable for the cloud storage, but Prime members get unlimited photo storage as part of their membership! Those who just want to store stuff get 5GB for free and can upgrade to 100GB for $12 per year. If you really need more than that, they also offer 1TB of storage for $60 per year. If you need to store every film ever released, a 30TB option is available for $1,800 per year.  

    Amazon Drive uses a “delta sync,” like DropBox. This means, when you upload a file and then upload a changed version of the same file, it only saves the changes. This means it just makes alterations to the file rather than redownloading the whole thing. This saves time and bandwidth! You can also elect to throttle upload speed if you need to balance what’s using bandwidth. Bottom line, if you’re already using Amazon Prime, this is a great choice. Otherwise, there are better options. 

    NextCloud: If you don’t like the idea of Google or Microsoft or someone having access to your files, try NextCloud. You set up your own cloud storage through NextCloud, using your own server. While this might sound daunting to some, for tech-savvy users this is a great option. If you really want to exert total control over your cloud storage and backups, this is the way to go. The code is all open-source, so savvy users can run it all themseves. The service also offers private web messaging and conferences through NextCloud Talk and NextCloud Groupware. If you want to run a business and control everything from your own servers, this is the way to do it! 

    OneDrive: Microsoft’s answer to cloud storage is a great platform. Windows users have access to it as just another computer directory! It’s quite easy to access and offers 5GB of storage free to anyone. Just like Google Drive works closely with Google Office Suite, OneDrive works with Microsoft Office. If you commonly use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and the like, OneDrive is a great option for you.  

    If you have an Office 365 subscription, you get an extra terabyte of storage for OneDrive too! For businesses, there’s also OneDrive for Business that grants access to both storage and Microsoft Office. It’s just under $9 per person per month, which is actually a pretty good rate!  If you already use a lot of Microsoft’s Office Suite, OneDrive is for you! 

    Most Generally Useful Cloud Storage: DropBox

    DropBox is a very well-known cloud storage platform for good reason. It can be accessed from pretty much any platform and is quite easy to use. You get 2GB of free storage, as well as a few extra GB for syncing your phone to your DropBox. By recommending friends you can get extra storage, too. You can spend $10 per month for an extra TB of storage, or you can get it for $100 per year.  

    The bottom line is that DropBox is easy and system-agnostic. It’s not married to any particular operating system or company. If you need a solid, dependable cloud storage platform that works on every device, DropBox is for you. 


  • 2018’s Best Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptops (So Far)

    2018’s Best Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptops (So Far)

    There has been a huge increase the in number of 2-in-1 laptops that feature touchscreen controls for tablet mode. Love it or hate it, touchscreens are here to stay, and they will likely continue to be evolved into mainstream computing.

    Here are some of our favorite touchscreen laptops available right now.

    HP Spectre x360

    This lightweight, slim bezel 2-in-1 is a great option for the most mobile users among us. The battery life is amazing, and the keyboard is also a pleasure to use. You won’t find a better balance between tablet and laptop than this system.

    Microsoft Surface Pro

    The Microsoft Surface Pro has positioned itself to be the touchscreen laptop to beat. It is designed from the ground up to work around a touch interface and the Surface Pen. Going beyond simple touchscreen controls and note taking, the Surface Pro also aims to be a digital artist’s tool. Unfortunately, the newer version of the Surface Pro no longer includes the Surface Pen, so expect an accessory purchase right off the bat.

    Lenovo Yoga 920

    If screen real estate is your priority, then the Lenovo Yoga 920 should be where you begin looking. The general 13.9-inch display is larger than many 2-in-1 systems. With a fully metal build and an interesting take on laptop hinges, the
    Yoga makes a classy statement. It also features the same level of touchscreen sensitivity as the Surface Pro despite the larger screen.

    Samsung Chromebook Pro

    What would happen if you took a Samsung Note 8 and blew it up into a 2-in-1 computer? You’d get the Samsung Chromebook Pro. If Chrome OS is your jam but you find typical Chromebook offerings a little short on power, then the Chromebook Pro is well worth looking into. The Google Play store alone means that you will have more than enough apps for both your productive and procrastinating sides.