For convenience, there really hasn’t been much competition over the years for Apple’s Airplay combined with their hardware and software.  I remember searching for audio options that could send my audio files to any room in the house years ago.  At first, I tried Roku Soundbridge, but like so many other products along the way, it eventually got abandoned.   While Apple hasn’t updated their oldest Airport Express products, they still work with their current devices.   They have, of course, improved the entire hardware ecosystem and even updated to Airplay 2.    While I am still disappointed by their lack of a lossless music service (though, they support lossless CD quality files over Airplay), I still think the convenience factor is off the charts.  You can control Airplay from the HomePod, CarPlay, AppleWatch, iPhone, iPad, Macs, and AppleTVs and it is built into a plethora of third party products.  Therefore, the strength of their ecosystem, including Apple Music and iTunes, has to be recognized when it comes to music and no company has had a bigger impact on audio hardware and software than Apple in the last decade.  

This app was the answer to playing multi-zone audio throughout the house.  It initially worked with Airplay, but has expanded to work with Casting, Bluetooth, and most recently, Sonos.  It also has a great iOS/Android app for controlling the program running on a computer or even sending audio to the computer by essentially turning the computer into an AirPlay receiver.   The upside to this app is that it works with any audio app on the computer or iPhone. 

Note 1:  I should give a shout out to Sonos for their multi-room options, but I never bought into that ecosystem.  I was always worried about their longevity and didn’t want to spend a fortune on devices that could get bricked if they went under.  Also, for years, their speakers and boxes were too expensive compared to Airplay devices.  I just never saw it is a decent value.  I do think they have filled in many holes over the years and brought their speakers down in price, but if you compare it to Airplay which was already built into my 3 receivers from 3 different companies, adding the $250 Sonos Connect to the system for streaming which was already had built in, didn’t make good financial sense.  I will still give them credit for being ahead of the curve for multi-zone options.  Though, they didn’t make this list.

There probably hasn’t been a technology with faster growth than Bluetooth over the last decade.  While I prefer Airplay and DLNA when I am on wifi, Bluetooth is the best option for using a battery powered speaker by the beach or when you want ultra convenience...especially when you don't have wifi access.   The fact that it is used in autos, speakers, headphones, and devices like the Echo means it is here to stay.   It has become so popular that companies have started adding it to stand alone streamers and home theatre receivers.   

Note 3:  I should mention Casting in this article, so here it is.  The reason I don’t consider it top ten is because of the discontinuation of the Chromecast Audio device.  It was really the best way to get great sound from Casting and with it gone, this tech evaporated from my list.  Also, compared to Bluetooth and AirPlay, it is severely limited in the number of services and devices  supported.

The Jabra Elite 75t are the truly wireless earbuds that fit the gap in price between the Apple AirPods and the AIrpod Pros.   Depending on your needs, you may be in the market for one of these three earbuds.

For full disclosure, I received these for free to review for Amazon and I get paid if you click and buy from Amazon links. 

If how earbuds sound is a major requirement, these are going to be one of the best options at this price point.  Some are reporting that they are bass heavy out of the box, which I think is a requirement for most on the go earbuds.  They are what people typically want for working out, running, etc because those activities lend themselves to music that has more beat than midrange.  

That being said, the great thing about these buds is the fact that you can tweak the EQ settings and probably get a sound that fits your needs for whatever type of music you listen to.   

The thing I really like about these earbuds is that after you tweak the EQ, you are not only rewarded with sound that fits your taste, but the out of the head sound is about the best I have heard from any in-ear headphones.

Despite the small design of these earbuds, they pack a lot of battery power.  You typically get around 7.5 hours and up to 28 with the carrying case.  Compared to AirPods (~5 hours and 24 hours with case), this is quite the achievement.  In other words, the 75ts are smaller and can get you almost a full 8 hour day of use.   

I have never been a fan of that Q-Tip hanging from the ears look of the AirPods.   In my opinion, they are ugly to say the least.  Yes, I am getting more used to the look, but they don't have the sleek design of the 75ts.  

One advantage to the AirPods is how easy they are to pair.  They still have that advantage when you first pair them or jump from one device to another.  I have use AirPods and BeatsX that have the W1 chip and it is pretty nice.  

With the 75ts, you have to go into Bluetooth pairing mode the first time you use them, so you don't have that cool GIF of the box opening on the screen.  However, I tested them with my iPhone 7 Plus and once they were connected, they would automatically connect the next time when you put them in your ears.   I also tested connecting them to my Mac mini.  Since they can connect to two devices simultaneously, you can just pause the Mac's audio and hit play on the phone and they will jump over automatically.  Pause the audio on the phone and hit play on the Mac and they jump to the Mac automatically.   

They can pair to two devices simultaneously, but they can be setup on 8 devices for normal Bluetooth pairing.   All in all, they may not have the coolness factor of the W1/W2 chip, but they get the job done with very little effort.

I haven't tested the AirPods in a while, but I remember them being decent for phone calls.  The Jabra 75ts are fine, too.  I don't use them that way very often, but when I do, I haven't had any complaints on the other end.   If it was a critical call, I would probably go with a wired option anyway.

First off, you have control of everything from skipping songs to controlling volume (with the AirPods, you have to summon Siri to control volume):

Secondly, it works with Siri and Alexa.  You simply hit the right earbud control twice.  I was pleasantly surprised that this will even work with my Mac mini.   With Apple Music, I can just double click the bud and tell it want I want to hear.  Very nice feature for a third party product.  

If you need noise cancelling, these don't have the feature.  You may be better of with AirPods Pros.  That being said, they have something called hear through.   Since these fit in your ear canals rather than hanging outside your ears (they have different ear tips for those with large or small ear holes), they have a certain amount of outside noise blocking as it is.  However, the hear through settings will allow you to have a conversation while music is playing because it lets in more of the outside world.   It uses a small mic to pick up the sound, so for the best music sound quality, it is best to leave it off.  However, if you are hanging out with a friend with these on, you can hear them if they want to talk.   The interesting thing is that even though they don't have noise cancelling, the app has different "Soundscapes" you can play like Ocean Waves, that should be great for blocking out noisy environments.

While I didn't discuss much about fit, these fit me right out of the box.  I almost forget when they are in because they are so comfy.  However, fit is so individualistic, it is impossible to say how they will fit from one person to the next.  

Personally, I prefer the design, battery life, and sound quality of these over the AirPods.  If I had to come up with one thing I don't like about them, it would be the fact that if you just want to listen to one while the other is charging, you can't do that with the right earbud.  You can take the left out and charge it and the right will still play, but the left won't play if you don't have the right one in. 

Outside of that, these are just about perfect.

As an amateur photographer, I have tested a multitude of different storage options.   I have always been a fan of Lacie's rugged drives, even before SSDs became popular.  You could throw them in a bag and not worry about them.  

LaCie Rugged SSD 1TB Solid State Drive — USB-C USB 3.0, Drop Shock Dust Water Resistant, for Mac and PC Computer Desktop Laptop is very, very fast.  In fact, I have tested all kinds of external drives and this has the fastest speeds I have tested.  Using a Blackmagic Speed test, I consistency got up and down speeds of over 900MB/s.   That is VERY impressive.   The box included both USB-C and USB-A cable connectors so it will plug into pretty much any laptop on the market.  The cables are thick and give a nice tight connection.   I am using this drive with a 2016 MBP and it works without a hitch.  Just plug it in and you are up and running,

There is a slight trade off in size and weight for the rugged design.  Obviously, when you add a thick protective cover around something, it gets more bulky.  I have included a photo of it next to a spinning drive and a Samsung SSD.    Personally, I don't mind the trade off for the extra peace of mind.  This will be my travel drive for the foreseeable future.  With its terabyte of space, rugged durability and super fast speeds, it is my ideal travel drive.  

Note:  I receive items for free in exchange for my review and I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this site.  My reviews are solely based on my opinion.  That being said, I have never been asked to to provide only a positive review and I would not participate in any program with that condition.

Well, as I mention in a prior article, Amazon got in the lossless/hi res music streaming game.  In my opinion, it lacked a lot of features and those issues pretty much doomed the service for me as soon as I had a better, affordable option.  First I am going to discuss why I am leaving Amazon and then I will discuss why I am choosing Qobuz instead.

Bit Perfect Audio

For people that care about audio quality, having bit perfect audio is a necessity.   What this means is that the application need to be able to perform bit rate switching on the fly.   The issue with Amazon is that their apps don’t have this basic feature on the Mac, PC, or even iOS.

Lack of an iOS Remote

If you are willing to live with the issue above, the second major issue for me was the inability to control what was playing on a computer with an iOS remote app.  This means you have to fire up your display and use a mouse/keyboard to chose what you want to hear.   I do have a remote app (Rowmote Pro) that will work in place of a keyboard and mouse, but that is not ideal.


Streaming from computer to device at lower resolutions 

With the exception of Bluesound Node, which has some of its own interface issues if what I have read is true, you are stuck with mostly Airplay or Chromecast streaming.  Neither will stream at the max resolution of the service.   I even invested in a Firetv with the hopes that I could stream at higher resolutions and no such luck.  It is capped out at 48khz even on their own products!


The Price Drop

Thanks to Amazon getting into the market, Qobuz just dropped its hi res streaming package from $24.99 to $14.99 a month.  Not as cheap as Amazon Music HD with a Prime account, but close enough for my needs.  This price drop made me give this service a shot.   While I still don’t think it is right to make people pay more just to be able to play music in the format it is meant to be heard, it is close enough for me at this point.   I would have never paid $24.99 for the service!  That pricing is outrageous in my humble opinion.

Audirvana

When Amazon first got in the market, I frequented the websites of Roon and Audirvana to see if they would work with Amazon.   Both services indicated that they didn’t see it on the horizon.  However, Qobuz already works with both audio apps.   While these apps aren’t cheap, $75 for Audirvana and $119 per year for Roon, they add great sound quality, access to your own music library, and both have remote apps on iOS.  

Personally, I decided on Audirvana for two reasons:  Price and UPNP streaming.   I was already looking for a way to get my ALAC files out of iTunes and had even tested both services.  So, I just needed a little more incentive to invest in one of them.   Audirvana is cheaper, and while it doesn’t have the great metadata features you get with Roon, it does offer fantastic sound quality.   

Also, Roon does not work with UPNP.  What does this mean?  It means that streaming is done with their own protocol or with Airplay/Casting.  I have three receivers and a Yamaha WXC-50 that all support UPNP streaming.  This means I can stream to all of these devices at 24/192 quality rather than having to live with a lower resolution.  It isn’t the most important thing, but having that kind of flexibility for less money just seemed to make more sense for my specific uses.

Qobuz app

Without Audirvana, the native Qobuz app is still nice and has Airplay, Bluetooth, and Casting built into the interface.  It will be more than enough for most people, so it is worth trying out, even if you have no interest in Audirvana or Roon features.  Even without Audirvana, the app is capable of bit perfect audio on iOS, MacOS, and Windows.  Not sure about Android.  

What about Echo Devices and HomePod?

Yes, I have both Amazon Echo devices around the house and a HomePod.  Neither support Qobuz without getting another device involved via Airplay or Bluetooth.   I don’t really care because I am keeping my Apple Music subscription and it works with both products and is ideal for CarPlay.

$25 A Month for Music?

Yes, I am increasing my outlay for music.  I may buy a year long sub to Qobuz which will bring down the average monthly fee a bit more.   However, I can’t eat out once with my girlfriend for $25, so it isn’t like we are talking about a fortune to have convenience when I need it or the ultimate sound quality when I have time to really listen to music.   I am not saying it is for everyone.  Most people will be happy with the lossy files on Spotify or Apple Music.   However, I have a lot of money invested in audio equipment and speakers/headphones around the house and this allows me to use them at their max potential.   

Below is the Qobuz app - notice the casting symbol in the corner:

Below is a landscape pic from the Audirvana app:

Below is Audrivana in portrait mode on the iPad:

As in past years (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011), I am putting together a new list of my top tech.  The list contains my favorite things from the last year, even if they were available in prior years.  By "tech" I am basically including any new toys, apps, etc... that I find cool and/or useful.  

Note:  I receive items for free in exchange for my review and I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this site.  My reviews are solely based on my opinion.  I have never been asked to to provide only a positive review and I would not participate in any program with that condition.

Samsung 34-Inch CJ791 Ultrawide Curved Gaming Monitor -  After years of using a 27 inch iMac in my office, I decided to get a monitor that has more flexibility for my needs.  This fits the bill with USB-C inputs, HDMI input, etc.  It works with my Mac mini, Dell PC, and with everything plugged into my Onkyo receiver.  I can plug my MBP right into the USB-C and get a great image with power.  It is a substantial upgrade, for my needs, from the iMac.

Tamron 17-75mm lens- I mentioned my Sony camera in a prior top ten list, but this lens takes things to a new level and really makes for a nice compact setup for traveling when I want to get photos with something better than an iPhone.   The price for a fast f2.8 lens is really amazing.   

As a side note, Tamron now has a wide angle lens available and a 70-180mm on its way to market.  Don't be surprised if one or both of these lenses are on my top ten tech list next year.

2018 Mac Mini - This Mac Mini made it possible to get rid of my iMac and go with a more useful setup at my desk.  I love the size and versatility of this little fella.  I guess the one shortfall is the graphics card, but I may update that via an eGPU, if I find I need it down the road.  Right now, I am happy with it for doing everything from spreadsheet work to running photo apps like Lightroom and Photoshop. 

Vanguard  VEO2GO235CB Tripod - I can't even explain just how useful a tripod that is light and will fold up and fit in a messenger bag is.  However, this has taken my photography up a notch because I can take it anywhere.  I took the picture below while using the tripod with my Sony camera and a Canon 100-400mm lens mounted on this tripod.

Amazon Music HD -  While they are still ironing out the kinks in the service, it is just fantastic to finally have a lossless service that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Also, I hope that Amazon's adoption of this format puts pressure on Apple to also put out a lossless music streaming option.   With the speed of the internet services getting faster and faster, it is really stupid to continue giving listeners only a lossy option.  Don't get me wrong, I would like the option to adjust the bitrate down for cellular, but this is a huge statement from Amazon. 

Topping D10 DAC - With Amazon offering a lossless music service with a bunch of "UltraHD" songs, it has became a great time to upgrade my DAC.  For me, this was the best, most economical solution because it accomplished two things:  1. It gave me a path for Hi Res audio out of the USB output of my Mac Mini and 2.  It has its own digital out, so I fed that into my Cambridge DAC Magic.  This allows me to continue using the DAC Magic's other inputs and filters without spending a fortune on a total replacement.

Secura Electric Bottle 4A Battery Powered Wine Opener with Foil Cutter 4A Battery Powered Wine Opener with Foil Cutter - My kitchen is getting pretty full with all the tech stuff I have received over the years.  That being said, this was worth the counter space.  It makes opening wine bottles easy and fun.  

Anova Culinary AN500-US00 Anova Precision Cooker - ​Smaller and more useful than my old Bluetooth model.  Not that that model was bad, but this gives me more flexibility to drop something in the water in the morning, then set it to start cooking from work.

Automax 100M Auto Feed Shredder - When I got a chance to review this shredder, I questioned adding it because of it size.  However, it has been awesome!   I have been going through a bunch of old bills and documents and shredding them.  It is fast and does the job!

BISSELL Cleanview Rewind Pet Deluxe Upright Vacuum Cleaner - Seems like I always have some new vacuum cleaner on my list and this year is no exception.  This does a great job of cleaning, but the thing I really love about it is the retractable power cable.  My prior vacuum cleaners always had that cord that had to be wrapped around it from top to bottom.  You couldn’t use the wand without removing it, either.  This makes vacuuming just a little bit less of a chore.​

HyperDrive USB C Hub- I have a lot of adapters, like any good MacBook Pro owner, but this one is my favorite.  I mainly like it because it feels like part of the laptop.  The adapters that use cables hang off to the side and you never forget they are there.  

First Aid Kit Home Comprehensive 25 Items 131 Piece Soft Case Bag - Right after I got this bag, we had an accident at the house and the bandages came in handy.  I mainly got this to keep in my Jeep, but I will have to replenish it before we hit the road!

As with past years, there was plenty of great new tech that caught my eye, but I resisted a lot of it.  The hardest thing to resist was the new Apple Watch with its always on display (hopefully I can continue to resist it for another year!!) and the new iPhone Pro.  I have to admit that the 3 lens configuration would come in handy.  However, I am still using my 7 plus and I am happy with it.  I prefer it to the new iPhone 11 (non-pro) because I like having a telephoto lens over an ultra-wide.  I am very surprised that they felt people would prefer to go even wider versus having a normal length lens.  I know I prefer the look of humans in photos with an ordinary length lens.  

I also like the 12.9 inch iPads.  As I suspected, they marketed this product with Adobe Photoshop, but here we are almost a year later and the app still isn't available to the public.   It was definitely worth holding out.  I have had time to move most of my photos to Lightroom CC and make them available on my older iPad.   I am already using it to edit, but before I shell out that kind of money, I need Photoshop.   


Note:  I receive items for free in exchange for my review and I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this site.  My reviews are solely based on my opinion.  I have never been asked to to provide only a positive review and I would not participate in any program with that condition.

FINALLY!!!

I remember signing up for premium "streaming" with Rhapsody Music as soon as it was available.   If memory serves me, that was at least 15 years ago.  At the time, I remember wanting better quality.  Of course, data caps and streaming speeds made that a difficult, if not impossible, endeavor at the time.

A couple years, Tidal introduced us to lossless CD quality music.  The downside was they charged more than twice as much as every other service for the privilege.  I don't want to get into a discussion about human hearing, but most would say there are only, at most, small differences in sound quality between lossless and the compressed stuff from everyone else.  I personally gave Tidal a trial and thought it sounded cleaner, but it just wasn't enough of a difference to get me to pay double!

Tidal also introduced something called MQA that offered "high resolution" files.  MQA has caused a big riff in both the audio industry and the audiophile community.  I don't want to go to deep into the subject, but to get the most from MQA you have to have an MQA DAC or a streamer with an approved DAC.   

Qobuz was introduced to the USA in recent months.  They have multiple tiers, but if you want they best that they offer, you pay 24.99 per month.  This includes files up to 24 bit and 192 kHz.   Some audiophiles have decided to go this route to avoid MQA, but for the most part, these services are a niche.  Whether that is because of the lack of a desire for lossless and Hi Res or the ridiculous pricing is unknown.   I expect it is a combination of both.  

Enter Amazon with Hi Res formats, no MQA, and a price of $14.99 a month, or $12.99 for prime members.  That is $3 a month more than Spotify/Apple Music and all the other services offering compressed audio.   They also have a 3 month free trial!

That being said, there are still some downsides that mean a lot of audiophiles aren't going to budge from Tidal or Qobuz.  The biggest issue right now it that there is no bit rate switching on the fly.   What does that mean?  It means that when you set your computer settings, in my case a Mac, to be able to play 24/192 files, the system spits out everything in 24/192 whether the track is 24/192 or 16/44.1.  Amazon should be telling the computer to play in the native format and it currently isn't doing that.

Secondly, many audiophiles want more features.  As of right now, the streamers people bought to play their own files and Tidal aren't compatible with Amazon HD.  Computer programs that have integrated Tidal and/or Qobuz, like Roon, Audirvana, Plex, haven't implemented Amazon Music HD.  An app like Roon ($119 per year) gives you a much better interface and let you control what is playing on many different devices (including multiple computers) with a tablet of cellphone.  Amazon currently doesn't have a way to control what it playing from the computer with an iPad.  They need to figure that out if they aren't going to work with the many different streaming platforms.

Another issue is that Amazon only has one device with a digital output optical out that works with Amazon Music HD and it is priced at $199.   You can get a FireTV (4k for the living room and regular for the bedroom and some sort of HDMI to Optical/Coax adapter to feed a DAC, but that gets a bit cumbersome.  Personally, I have 2 systems that only use HDMI, so I am going to get a couple FireTV Sticks for them.  These will allow me to not only have easier control over the interface than using a computer, but also give me Alexa control.  I have a spare Echo Dot sitting next to the couch and the FireTV (#ad) comes with an Alexa button, so searches or playing music I know will be easier.  I still would rather have the service in apps like Roon and Audirvana, though.  

Right now, it is very early days of Amazon Music HD.   Since it is free for 3 months, I can see how it advances over that period before paying them anything.  I suspect that I will carry a membership to both Amazon Music HD and Apple Music until Apple adds lossless or gives Amazon access to Siri.  However, I will just see how things play out and enjoy the service for the next few months.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

I have been using a big, heavy tripod for the past several years.   It is very stable and does the job, but the fact is, I don’t use it very often.   I mainly get it out when I am recording video around the house.

I have thought about getting a carbon fiber tripod for travel, but when I have looked into it, the price was usually around $350, so I just put it off thinking that the price would eventually drop.   Anyway. right now the Vanguard  VEO2GO235CB is currently being priced at $219.99, so at least the price of this particular tripod is at a more affordable level.

The first thing I noticed about the VEO2GO235CB is just how compact it was coming out of its carrying bag.  The bag itself has a strap that you can sling over a shoulder, which is very convenient.   I was a little worried that this would be too small and fragile to work for my purposes.   That has been proven to be far from the case.

I tested this with my Sony A7 RIII body, with a Metabones adapter, and a Canon 100-400mm lens.  This is a fairly heavy combination and I didn’t have the tripod mount ring to make things more stable.  In other words, I simply connected the tripod adapter directly to the Sony body.  I extended the legs, with the exception of the last section, and took a bunch of pictures of birds and I never felt concerned about the heavy lens making things unsteady.  Of course, if it is a windy day, they have a little hook you can use with your camera bag to put more weight at the base of the tripod.  The tripod uses the twist on - twist off things to release and tightened each leg section.   I prefer the kind of tripods that have clips, but I am getting used to them. 

This tripod fits easily inside my travel bag (I have a video on my travel bag, with this tripod) that I never posted on my blog, so I will do that soon).   I just throw it in the bottom of one side of the the bag and use the rest of the bag for the camera and a few lenses, and other things.  This small size and weight means I can have the tripod with me all the time.  The ability of using it on a table or expanding it out to a pretty decent height means I have a lot of flexibility, as well.   It makes me a little bit sorry that I didn’t pony up that extra money years ago.  It really changes the way I shoot!

I have been seeing some new comparisons of the 2018 Mac Mini vs the 2019 iMac.   Many of the reviews are saying the iMac is the way to go.  However, for my own personal use, I have to disagree with this assessment.    Below are the 5 main reasons I prefer the Mac mini, in general, and for my own personal use.  

(NOTE:  The pic above shows the 2018 Mini on top of the 2010 Mini)

5.  Future Use -  While the iMac is nice while it is your main computer, it has limitations for secondary use.   I know because I have moved a 2010 Mac Mini and 2011 iMac from my desk in the last 8 months.   With the Mac Mini, I simply unplugged it and connected it to my main home theater system.  It is used as a server and for bit perfect audio.   It also added web browsing to the big screen.   The iMac, on the other hand, is difficult to move.  You can’t just pop it into an entertainment system, closet, or into an audio setup to reap the benefits.  It is too large.  For now, I cleared off some shelves in my office and will use it as a “standing desk” for when I just want to get off my butt and use it for browsing the web or something.   The fact is that I struggled to find a use for it and it isn’t worth selling.   We may eventually find a place near our kitchen to put it, but so far, we haven’t come up with any great ideas.

4.  Ports - The iMac has 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports.  The Mini has 4.  The only advantage to the iMac is the SD card slot, but it is slow and hard to reach.  I would rather have something I can access easier that plugs into the USB-C port.   Currently, I use an adapter that has a card reader and a bunch of USB ports.  

3.  Display Options - with the Mac Mini, I can use any monitor I want.  Yes,  If you like the 5k, 27 inch monitor on the iMac, maybe that is the route to go.  However, I wanted an ultra wide monitor and was tired of the 27 inch form factor.  It seems like we have seen pretty much the same form factor in the iMac forever.  Other than trimming some width (Big deal), there isn't much difference in the old and new versions.

2.  Entry Level Price - If you already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you can get into a Mac Mini for a lot less money.   I see the iMac as a great buy if you can live with the restraints related to the screen, but you can’t buy one for anywhere close to the entry price of the Mini.  The entry level price of the Mini is $799, the cheapest iMac is $1099 and that is with an archaic spinning hard drive and a small 21.5 inch, 1920x1080 screen.   Add SSD (no 128GB option) and it goes up another $200.  If you just want an entry level computer for running MacOS, the choice is obvious because I would rather buy a larger screen with the price differential.  Which is a better buy is a different question and it would depend on your needs.  


1.   iMac has a limited monitor - The main reason I personally dislike the iMac monitor isn’t just related to the form factor or the lack of size configurations.   It has more to do with the inputs.  It simply doesn’t have the input options.  Yes, you can use target display with another Mac, which is nice, but that’s it.   I want to use my main monitor to connect to a receiver for watching all my entertainment devices…AppleTV, Roku, Chromecast, Shield,Tivo, etc.  I also want an input for my Dell PC for gaming.  I know my situation isn’t the norm, but this is one of the most important factors for me.  I have a 32 inch 4k monitor I have been using on an arm alongside my iMac and I ended up using it more than the iMac display that was in the center of my desk.   


To be fair, the iMac is a great option for people that have never owned a computer before because it gives you a mouse, keyboard and monitor with the computer.  However, it isn’t ideal for my needs.  

The only thing I would like available in a Mini that the iMac has is a better GPU.  The one in the Mini is garbage.  Most of those differences can be minimized by adding an external GPU via the Thunderbolt 3 port, though.  I knew this going in, but I figured I could live with the onboard graphics until I had the money and need for an eGPU.  The great thing about adding it externally is you can add it later or upgrade as prices drop or as new cards are supported.  

I will probably add the Vega 54, which will be more than enough for my needs, when prices drop closer to Christmas, but that isn’t set in stone, so I will see how it goes.   I haven’t been shooting enough video lately to make the extra expenditure worth the money and it is solving a problem I currently don’t have.   The other upside is that if I want to use the eGPU with my MBP, I can just unplug the Mini and plug the eGPU into the MBP.  That may come in handy for when I start a Final Cut workflow on the road or on my couch and want to just wrap up the process in my office without having to move files.  That isn’t possible with an iMac unless you add an external GPU, which would be kind of unusual since it already comes with discreet graphics.  

As you can see, there are plenty of reason to still prefer the mini over Apple’s latest iMac.  Hopefully, it will continue to get spec bumps, but even without them, it is a very capable machine with tons of flexibility for people that favor those attributes.

So I was watching some "Everyday Carry Videos" and stumbled on GQ's ten essentials list.  This is where a "celebrity" talks about some of their essential items.  It isn't meant to be taken too seriously because obviously food, air and shelter would be on anyone's list.  However, these are the things that make your life better or easier.

As a result, I decided to replace my "Favs" page with a new "Essentials" page.  It is mainly some of my favorite items, but unlike the old "Favs" page, it will be easier to update as new "essentials" come along and gave me some space to discuss what I like about each thing.  Just a note, I did not include my dogs or friends on this list because those things are so much more important than a list of products.  As a result, I decided that it was better to leave them off.

As in past years (2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011), I am putting together a new list of my top tech.   The list will contain my favorite things from the last year, even if they were available in prior years.  By "tech" I am basically including any new toys, apps, etc... that I find cool and/or useful.  The prices I have in the article are the current prices, but I would expect them to fluctuate between now and the end of the year. 

Apple Watch Series 4 -  ($429) This wasn't an easy choice, as usual.   However, this Watch can literally be a life saver with features that will call for help if you fall and the EKG features that are forthcoming.   The 44mm is easier to read that the older models, you now have the ability to download audio files to listen to later with headphones, and it gets faster every year.  It still isn't perfect..they should allow you to listen to podcasts on its speaker and it should have some always on clock face options.  However, it is such a big step forward from prior generations that it belonged at the top of this year's list.  

I got the cellular version just in case I want to use it down the road, but in hindsight the regular version makes much more sense unless you know exactly what you want to use cellular for and are willing to pay for it with your cellular company.

Sony A7 RIII - ($2798) - This camera was a game changer with its small mirrorless design, adapters that make it work with many lenses, its 42.4 megapixels, and its fantastic 4k video capabilities.  My only complaint is the high price of Sony lenses and the fact that the LCD is not fully articulating.  Other than that, it is close to perfection. 

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

Breville BES880BSS1BUS1 Barista Touch Espresso Maker - ($1,124.77) - I have a review coming of this espresso machine.  However, it is amazing because it makes it easy to make perfect espresso, cappuccino, latte, etc. with its easy to access recipes on its LCD screen.  It will also let you customize and save your own recipes.   It is a beautiful machine that makes great tasting coffee with ease.

Unlike other years, I do want to mention 2 other competing devices that I tried this year that are excellent in their own right:

The Nespresso Expert by Breville and the Saeco Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine - The Nespresso uses small pods to make great espresso every single time.  I have one so I can get a variety of different flavored espresso drinks.   The Saeco is more traditional because it uses real coffee beans, but they have made the process so much easier for those that just want to hit a button and be served fantastic coffee.

LaCie DJI Copilot BOSS Computer-Free in-Field Direct Backup and Power Bank with SD Reader - ($349) This is the ideal hard drive for backing up your photos no matter where you are.   It works with SD cards, iPhones, iPads, computers, etc.   It is the perfect solution for the road warrior.

George Foreman GBR5750SCBQ Broil 7-in-1 Electric Indoor Grill, Broiler, Panini Press, and Waffle Maker - This is my second George Foreman grill and this one takes it to a new level.   It is one of the best ways to cook fish because it locks in the juices and flavor.  It is excellent for sandwiches, Panini, Waffles and so much more.   The best part is that it can stand up on one end, so it takes a lot less room on my counter than the last one I owned.

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.

HomePod - ($349) It is nearly impossible to get great sound from a speaker with such a small footprint.  However, somehow, Apple had done it.  They also added some smart features that enable you to tell Siri what you want it to play, turn on and off your Hue lights, etc.   They recently added Airplay 2 features which means you can just tell it to "Play Sinatra on AppleTV" and music will play from your main home theater system.   The one other thing that really sets it apart from the competition is the mics.  You don't have to scream at it over music.  It just hears the commands at a normal volume.

Echo Spot - ($89.99) I have one of these in my office and it accomplishes many tasks.  It can display my Arlo cameras, play music on the stereo in the room (via AUX), receive a Bluetooth signal from my iPhone, control my Simple Control app, perform calculations, add new items to my grocery list, etc. 

AppleTV 4K -  When I first set this up, I was shocked to see the movies I had in MoviesAnywhere were now available in 4k in Apple’s movie library.   The 4k resolution is amazing,   However, being able to tell the HomePod to “Play Prince in the Den” and music just comes from my main system via the AppleTV just takes everything to a new level.

NETGEAR Orbi Built-in-Modem Whole Home Mesh WiFi System - ($399) Orbi was my top rated product last year and they pushed everything to a new level. They now have a modem built in, so you can eliminate a separate modem from your setup.   Of course, their mesh system is reliable and first class which makes the system worth the investment if you are having drop outs.

Parrot Anafi Drone - ($549) - I hesitated to put this on my list because my experience with their customer service was awful.   That being said, the camera on this thing is great with HDR, 4k, lossless zoom, etc.  It isn't as easy to control as my DJ Mavic, but it costs half as much.  Also, one day, I had the drone with me and forgot the controller and was able to have it up in the air with just my iPhone in seconds.  It also charges by USB-C, so you can use a powerbank  to top it off between locations.

Razer BlackWidow Elite -  ($158) This is the ideal keyboard for most gamers.  It has mechanical keys (which means it is nice and clicky), has macro buttons you can assign, a media wheel, adjustable RGB lighting, and its app will even allow you to control hue lights.  Awesome! 

Eureka InstantClear NEA120 Air Purifier - ($150) - What is more important than breathing?  I can't think of anything, to be honest.  This True Hepa filter captures 99.7 percent of particles in the air.  The patented UV LED sterilizer is a bonus.  My favorite feature is the good looks and the almost silent low setting that makes it possible to run it all the time.

Lots of great tech and I did not get to it all.  Stuff I will review soon are theEufy 30C that takes Robotic vacuuming to a new level,truly wireless headphones, NVME case, and more.

There are also products that I decided not to buy or might buy later.  I decided not to update my phone for another year.  I am happy with my iPhone 7+ and at the current prices, I just don't see a favorable cost/benefit situation.   The iPad 12.7 is delicious, but I want to wait to see if Photoshop is backward compatible when it is released.   If it is, I will stick with my 9.7 inch iPad Pro.  I already plan on adding the Tamron 28-75mm camera to my gear list, but if it is decent, I will put it on my list next year.

As with last year, there wasn't a lot of inexpensive gear on this year's list, but I guess you have to pay up for most really nice tech.  

Note:  I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products in this post.