by Jules Older. Photo by Effin Older.
It’s time again for your SOHO — small office, home office — gear guide. But before you dig in, three things you might want to know:
- Whenever a company offers to send me a product to test, I always reply, “Let me Mirandize you. I try never to write about a product I haven't tested. When I like it, I say so. When I don't, I say so.”
- This time, with one exception, I've bought and paid for all the products.
- And this time, whenever I was able to try similar products, I've turned it into a competition — the fight is on!
Let’s start with …
Backup drives
My trusted backup died at the worst possible time, the day I was taking my aging MacBook Pro into Apple for a new battery. I needed a new backup device and, of course, hated to pay for it. I checked the Internet. A one-TB device from LaCie was not only half the price of competitors, it was half the size. And twice as rugged. And got great reviews.
I ordered it. And now, I heartily recommend it. The LaCie is fast and trouble-free. Works with Mac and PC. Sells on Amazon for $79.
Luggage scales
I tested two scales, the Samsonite Manual and the Travel Inspira. Both cost about the same, roughly ten bucks on Amazon. And both work fine; they're easy to use, reasonably compact and accurate enough for airline weight restrictions. But they're very different instruments. The Samsonite is old school; no battery, no extras, works on springs, not juice. The Inspira is the opposite. It’s digital, powered by lithium battery, tells the temperature as well as the luggage weight. It’s smaller and lighter than the Samsonite.
I have no strong preference. But, if based on their characteristics, you do, this should help you decide which one you want.
Sunglasses
This is the paid-for exception. Costa sent me a model to test. I bought a Foster Grant Fashion model at a drug store. Both came with scratch-and-impact-resistant lenses. Both claim 100% UVA-UVB lens protection.
For looks, it’s a matter of personal preference. I like the Foster Grant better, but then, I'm seriously old school. As for effectiveness, I'd rate them equal; they both kept harsh rays at bay.
That leaves staying power and price. Despite many months of hard use, the Costas are still just as they came out of the box. The Foster Grants lasted three (3) weeks.
The Costa cost about $350. The Foster Grant, around $20. You be the judge.
Socks
For my money, it’s Darn Tough socks vs the world. And it’s no contest. Darn Tough socks are guaranteed for life — that’s right, socks for life — and they're made in Vermont. Do they cost more than ordinary socks? Yep. Are they worth it? You bet. End of story. https://darntough.com
Cargo Shorts
Two reason cargo shorts are going to replace jeans as the basic pants item:
- It’s getting warmer out there.
- The ubiquity of cell phones means everybody needs more pockets.
This is the tale of one brand — Shallowlulu cargo shorts.
It’s hard to think of a worse name: Shallowlulu? Really? And hard to think of a more embarrassing way for me to find them.
We’re at an outdoor trivia quiz when my wife spots something at the next table. “See the shorts on that guy? They're way nicer than yours. He’s got zippers instead of those bulky flaps. Ask him about them.”
“Absolutely not!”
Five minutes later: “Hi. My name’s Jules. And I promise you, what I'm about to ask is at least as ridiculous sounding to me as it will be to you.”
Despite the name, despite the awkward question, these are about the best cargo shorts I've seen anywhere. They're quick drying, water repellent, breathable, have those zippered pockets(!), and they even come with a belt. About $33 on Amazon.
Google vs ECOSIA
Full credit to Google. When you want info and want it fast, Google’s been the place to go since 1998. It was founded by a pair of Stanford grad students. It’s among the most powerful and valuable companies in the world.
But.
But Google is also the defendant in the case of United States of America vs. Google LLC. The presiding judge found that “Google has unlawfully maintained its monopoly by excluding rivals from the general search engine market. This exclusionary conduct has stifled competition, raised prices for advertisers, and deprived consumers of potential higher-quality search alternatives.”
If only there was an alternative.
There is.
ECOSIA uses renewable energy to power its servers. It invests its profits in tree-planting projects, aiming to absorb more carbon dioxide than it emits. ECOSIA launched in 2009, so it’s not a fly-by-night.
How impactful is it? ECOSIA says that, since its inception, it has planted more than 200 million trees.
Like Google, it’s free, so why not give ECOSIA a try. https://www.ecosia.org
Jules Older’s latest kid’s book is Special Ed and the White Force.
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