JimUBC

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  JimUBC 12:12 am on April 30, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

  Microsoft Surface Pro 2 Comparison to Surface Pro 

  

  I got the Surface Pro as soon as it was available in February 2013. It seemed almost premature to get the Surface Pro 2 when it came out in October 2013 but I got it anyway. The main reason: For many of my presentations I like to have two screens up as I’m speaking. Until now I had been using the Surface RT as my second screen, but my must-have applications (Mouse Without Borders, Sketchbook Pro, MindManager) do not run on that machine. When the Surface Pro 2 came out – I was ready to make the jump. The intent was not to replace the original Surface Pro, but to get another full-function tablet to use with it. In short – it’s exactly what I needed. I want to add that if you have a Surface Pro, I wouldn’t be looking to replace it with a Surface Pro 2. There are advantages to the new unit but the original Surface Pro is still a wonderful machine and by no means obsolete.

  The biggest advantages of the Surface Pro 2 over the original Surface Pro:

  • Battery life. For my typical applications: Surface Pro runs 3.5 hours. The Surface Pro 2 runs 5.5 hours. This difference matters when I need to spend extended time away from AC power but when I’m teaching the Surface Pro lasts long enough.
  • Kick Stand angle It’s a small thing but the Surface Pro 2 has a two step kick stand that allows it to sit tilted both at the original angle of the Surface Pro, and also a second position – tilted a little farther back. If I have the Surface Pro 2 on a desktop, lectern, or hand-held, this does not matter at all. The only time I use the new second position is when I have the Surface Pro 2 on a flat surface that is low, but not low enough to lay it flat.
  • Processor Speed In all the reviews that I’ve read much has been made of the faster processor in the Surface Pro 2. For what I do when I’m presenting and day to day computing, I don’t notice the difference when I have the machines side-by-side.

  Enjoy your Surface Pro if you have one, but if you don’t take a really good look at the Surface Pro 2. It’s a wonderful machine.

  References:

  • Surface Pro 2
  • Mouse Without Borders
  • Sketchbook Pro
  • MindManager
   

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  JimUBC 12:09 am on April 30, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

  Outlook: Out of the Inbox 

  

  Next session is Tuesday May 6th. Seats still available

  If you are familiar with previous versions of Microsoft Outlook then sending and receiving email with Outlook 2013/2010 is very simple. For many people making the transition, that is where they stop exploring. In this course we uncover the mysteries of the new fluent user interface (the Ribbon) to help you to do what you have always done like emailing, scheduling and responding to appointments, categorizing your mail and calendar events. We also explore new ways to be productive with flags, rules, automatic formatting, quick art, smart parts and more.

  Duration: 6 hours (Morning and afternoon session on the same day)

  Register for this course: Outlook^® – Out of the Inbox
  
  May 6 One session  9:00am-4:00pm UBC Robson Square

   

  Theoretical Objectives Understand why the Inbox gets out of control and identify specific issues arising from the way you use Outlook now. Understand the key actions that can arise from an email and learn Outlook shortcuts to accomplish these quickly. Identify some best practices that are supported by Outlook, which can be applied to your individual situation. Choose specific features or Outlook that you can use immediately. Create a plan for you will start using those features.

  Practical Objectives Use the Fluent User Interface Ribbon Backstage View Quick Access Toolbar Navigation Pane Folders Buttons To-Do Bar Date Navigator Appointments Task List Categories Tasks Folders Search Folders Quick Parts Key Tips (old name – keyboard shortcuts) Optional topics Archiving / Backup Journal

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  Lab Equipment and Devices

  The sessions are conducted in a computer lab and you will have a lab computer for you to use.

  You are welcome to bring your own computer to the lab sessions if you prefer to use that. Wireless access is available in the lab.

  At times you will be doing a fair bit of typing and you will want to have a large enough screen and separate physical keyboard so that you can view content and type at the same time.

  Lab exercises are based on using the lab computers.
  If it appears that you are having challenges with your own device, we will ask you to use the lab computer.

  Instructional Methods

  • Hands-on labs
  • Discussion
  • Online collaboration
  • Lecture

  Course Materials

  • Web site
  • Course notes
  • Printed copies of on-screen lecture notes available on request during lectures

  No Recording or Pictures in the Lab

  Please note: Taking pictures or video during the course sessions is not permitted. All the course materials and lecture notes are available in physical form and on the web.

   
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  JimUBC 12:07 am on April 30, 2014 Permalink | Reply  

  Programming Mechanics and Mindset 

  The next session of this course starts next Wednesday night 6:30-9:30 pm at Robson Square (Lab C460). Seats still available: Register here: Programming Mechanics and Mindset

  Overview

  This course can be applied to the Award of Achievement HTML5 Academy

  Introduction

  With modern tools you can create a web page, or even an entire web site without knowing anything about programming – but – to get beyond simply adding content to pre-made templates you do need to know what is going on below the surface: You need to know about programming. Even if you don’t intend to write programs, an understanding of the fundamentals will demystify many of the technologies you will encounter in web development.

  Course Description

  We explore a big picture view of the Internet and identify centres of technology. It is in these centres of technology that various kinds of programming take place. We then look at high level programming concepts: variables, scope, control structures, sub procedures and functions and discuss scripting, compiled and hybrid languages and concepts related to object oriented programming.

  Duration: 18 hours (6 evening sessions)

  Register for this course: Programming Mechanics and Mindset

  Theoretical Objectives You will learn concepts and terminology related to programming, and understand where these are used in web development. Some of the high level concepts covered in this course: Programming in General Scripting in Contrast High/Low level languages Abstraction Sequence Branching Iteration Variables Procedures/Functions Parameters Return Values State and Statelessness on the web Object Oriented Programming

  Practical Objectives You will learn how to read programming/scripting code in several environments and recognize the application of the concepts shown in the Theoretical Objectives. (left panel on this page). You will learn the general layout of a integrated software development environment tool and create a simple website.

   

  Lab Equipment and Devices

  The sessions are conducted in a computer lab and you will have a lab computer for you to use.

  You are welcome to bring your own computer to the lab sessions if you prefer to use that. Wireless access is available in the lab.

  At times you will be doing a fair bit of typing and you will want to have a large enough screen and separate physical keyboard so that you can view content and type at the same time.

  Lab exercises are based on using the lab computers.
  If it appears that you are having challenges with your own device, we will ask you to use the lab computer.

  Please plan to use your own cloud based storage (SkyDrive, DropBox, iCloud or similar) or a USB storage key.

   

  Instructional Methods

  • Hands-on labs
  • Discussion
  • Online collaboration
  • Lecture
  • Homework assignments submitted online

  Course Materials

  • Web site
  • Course notes
  • Printed copies of on-screen lecture notes available on request during lectures

  No Recording or Pictures in the Lab

  Please note: Taking pictures or video during the course sessions is not permitted. All the course materials and lecture notes are available in physical form and on the web.