Rydges Melbourne Delux Queen hotel roomI am using this page as a reference page on how you can get the most out of portable computers like laptops and tablets that you use as part of travel or lifestyle activities.

General Articles

Your laptop or notebook computer

Audio-Video connectivity

In-room AV connection panel

In-room AV connection panel at Rydges Hotel Melbourne

  • Using Bluetooth audio devices with your laptop computer – How you can use Bluetooth audio devices like Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth speakers or Bluetooth-enabled sound systems to gain better and fuller sound out of that laptop computer.
    Updated to reflect extra functionality offered by Bluetooth headsets, speakers and sound systems.
  • The AV connection panels in hotel rooms – a very useful amenity for the connected user – How you can use those “media hub”, “jack pack” or similar connection panels in your hotel room to get the most out of your laptop, smartphone or tablet when on the road.
  • Managing multiple sound devices in Windows – This article encompasses the connection situations described in the preceding two articles in order to explain how to manage the multiple different sound devices that you will connect to your Windows-based laptop or notebook computer. It underscores the concept of the “Default Device” and “Default Communications Device” that is an essential part of managing sound output and input in Windows.
  • Showing photos on the large screen in your dual-screen setup – How you can quickly preview those photos you downloaded on to your laptop through your hotel-room TV without needing to create a PowerPoint presentation for that purpose.

Your smartphone and tablet Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphone

Internet access on the road

Keeping your equipment in good order

Your lifestyle at home

Buyer’s Guides

Product Reviews

Wireless Speakers

Wi-Fi-based wireless speakers (AirPlay / DLNA MediaRenderer functionality)

  • Pure Jongo T6 wireless speaker

    Pure Jongo T6 Wi-Fi / Bluetooth wireless speaker

    Boston Acoustics MC-200 Air wireless speaker – A basic but high-quality wireless speaker that can complement your smartphone, tablet or laptop computer.

  • Marantz Audio Consolette speaker dock – More of a “stay-at-home, keep-on-the-sideboard” speaker, this is a high-quality speaker dock that works as a wireless speaker and Internet radio, after all being driven by three amplifiers per channel.
  • Pure Jongo S3 wireless speaker – A small battery-powered upward-firing portable Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speaker that gives your smartphone, tablet or Ultrabook a fair bit of mileage.
  • Pure Jongo T6 wireless speaker – A large Wi-Fi / Bluetooth speaker that can work well either at home or on the road because of its Bluetooth compatibility.
  • Sony SA-NS410 Wireless Speaker – A network-enabled wireless speaker that can work as an Internet radio.
  • Sony SA-NS510 Portable Wireless Speaker – A portable network-enabled wireless speaker that works as an Internet radio. Also suitable for use beside the swimming-pool or spa area for that pool or spa party due to it being able to work on internal batteries.

Bluetooth-based wireless speakers (Bluetooth A2DP / AVRCP / Handsfree Profiles)

Audio Adaptors and Sound Modules

These devices work as a bridge between your computer, tablet or smartphone and a sound system, TV or active speakers to provide better sound than the computer’s or mobile device’s speakers.

Headphones and Earphones

  • Bang & Olufsen Form 2 headphones – A premium pair of headphones that is fit for use with a premium laptop or worth considering simply for the sound quality
    (Supre-aural open-back traditional headphones)
  • Creative Labs MA930 in-ear mobile-phone headset – A lightweight in-ear “earphone” headset that you can use with your mobile phone or laptop
    (Intra-aural earphones with inline microphone)
  • Dell AE2 Performance USB Headset – A USB headset designed by SteelSeries that, although optimised for games effects and chatter, can earn its keep as an office-use or commuting-use computer headset that answers most tasks
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone)
    (USB Audio input / output device – headphones)
  • Denon MusicManiac AH-D600 audiophile stereo headphones – An audiophile-grade pair of stereo headphones that delivers the goods on sound but also can be used as a communications headset with your mobile phone.
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headphones that has a headset cord with inline micrphone)
  • Denon UrbanRaver AH-D320 stereo headset – A durable affordable “all-round” circum-aural stereo headset that does justice to most popular music that emanates from that smartphone or media player.
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone)
  • Denon UrbanRaver AH-C100 in-ear stereo headset – A pair of highly-portable in-ear “earphones” with a microphone that is optimised for punchy bass whether you are jogging along or riding that motorcycle.
    (Intra-aural earphones with inline microphone)
  • JBL Synchros E30 Stereo Headset – A pair of over-ear headphones with a detachable headset cord that still gives a tight clear sound and can serve well as an “all-round” set of headphones for most portable devices.
    (Supra-aural closed-back traditional headset with in-line microphone)
  • JBL E45 Bluetooth Stereo Headset – A stereo Bluetooth wireless headset that can serve as an all-round Bluetooth headset for most applications like commuting, private videocalls or private listenership for your laptop.
    (Supra-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone (Bluetooth mode) or in-line microphone (wired mode))
    (Bluetooth A2DP Audio Device, Bluetooth Hands Free Profile Audio Device)
  • Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset – A wired stereo headset that is pitched for game-playing use but can serve as an adequate stereo headset for music listening or video viewing. Definitely has some kick in the sound.
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with detachable microphone boom)
  • Plantronics BackBeat Pro Bluetooth noise-cancelling headset – A durable Bluetooth stereo headset with active noise cancelling for use when travelling. Has that clear sound along wiht that punchy bass.
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with integrated microphone)
    (Bluetooth A2DP Audio Device, Bluetooth HandsFree Profile Audio Device, Active Noise Cancelling)
  • Sony MDR-10RC Stereo Headphones – A pair of high-quality stereo headphons set up for new recording techniques and able to work as a multi-purpose stereo headphones setup.
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headphones with a headset cord with inline microphone)
  • Voyetra Turtle Beach M3 gaming headset – A popularly-priced gaming headset that is good for games, video content or listening to popular music that has the bass.
    (Circum-aural closed-back traditional headset with inline microphone)

Mobile Printers and Scanners

Input Devices

  • ZCan Plus scanner mouse – A regular USB mouse that doubles as a scanner for all those small documents that you accrue on the road.
    (USB, Colour Scan)
  • Logitech MX Anywhere 3 Bluetooth mouse – A Bluetooth mouse that doesn’t need a dongle to work with Bluetooth-equipped computers like most laptops, while using Logitech Darkfield technology so it can work on glass-topped tables and desks. As well, it works on built-in rechargeable batteries so you don’t need to keep that pack of AA or AAA batteries with you to keep the mouse going.
    (Bluetooth, USB receiver dongle)

Mobile Network-Attached Storage

  • WD MyPassport Wireless – A mobile network-attached storage that works as a “home and away” media server and also acts as a “quick-transfer” device for photos that exist on you digital camera’s memory card.

Computing Equipment that blends in with your lifestyle

At home

Computers

  • Sony VAIO Tap 20 – A 20″ tablet computer that equally works well on the coffee table or kitchen bench as it does at a regular desktop or dining table used as a temporary workspace

Printers

  • HP Photosmart 7510 – A standard desktop multifunction printer that is able to blend in with one’s living area yet be able to do what most regular printers can do.
  • HP Envy 120 – A slimline multifunction printer that can exist well in the main living areas, especially as a secondary or light-duty printer

Label Printers

  • Brother VC-500W – A ZINK-based colour label printer that comes in to its own for creating custom colour labels for your preserving or similar needs.

On The Road

Computers

  • Dell Inspiron 13 2-in-1 (Windows 10) – A 2-in-1 convertible laptop that becomes a tablet, and can be used equally at home or on the road for content creation or consumption.
  • Dell Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1 (Windows 10) – What Dell has offered for a 14″ right-sized 2-in-1 convertible laptop that becomes a tablet and can work well on the road or in the living room whether to create or enjoy content.
  • Dell XPS 13 Kaby Lake (Windows 10) – Dell’s latest take on an ultraportable design that they had perfected especially when it came to value for money along with providing the essential features. Give any of the subsequent XPS 13 series computers whether as a clamshell form or a 2-in-1 convertible form a consideration.
  • HP Envy x2 detachable tablet (Windows 8) – A computer that can become a tablet one moment yet clips on to a keyboard to become a fully-fledged laptop.Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro convertible notebook at Rydges Hotel Melbourne
  • HP Envy4 Touchsmart Ultrabook (Windows 8) – A 14″ notebook computer that implements touch-enabled computing as Windows 8 is meant to be used.
  • Lenovo Yoga2Pro convertible notebook (Windows 8) – A 13″ convertible Ultrabook that folds over to become a tablet and has that full-width keyboard.
  • Lenovo Yoga3 Pro convertible notebook (Windows 8) – The premium 13″ successor to the Lenovo Yoga2 Pro as a convertible that folds over to become a tablet or laptop.
  • Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 (Android 4.2 / Android 4.4) – An Android-based iPad competitor that has an integrated kickstand.
  • Sony VAIO Duo 11 slider convertible (Windows 8) – An 11″ slider-convertible computer that can become a tablet or a notebook computer just by you sliding it in or out.
  • Sony VAIO Fit 13a convertible (Windows 8) – A 13″ convertible Ultrabook computer that has the full-width keyboard yet becomes a tablet.