Computers

Internal Goodness

I am quite an anime fan and I tend to rack up a few too many anime series without even realizing it. Unfortunately, one single series can take up to 10GB and my 80GB hard drive is simply inadequate. So how does a money-tight college student like me deal with such a predicament? Laptop upgrades can be rather painful and simply purchasing a bigger hard drive and replacing my old one seems to waste the original 80GB (not to mention all the annoying installation processes). My answer came in the form of an external hard drive. A quick browse through Newegg and I saw that a typical 200GB external hard drive goes for $160. A good deal? Maybe to the common eye. What s a better option? Building an external hard-drive yourself! Now this is not as intimidating as it sounds. A 160GB external Western Digital hard drive will cost you $129.99 not including taxes and shipping whereas a 250GB Western Digital internal hard drive will only cost you $89.99 with free shipping! Fork over ...
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Itty-bitty USB drive

I need to buy a new USB drive since I lost my old one a few weeks ago in the process of moving to my new apartment. When I discovered a new style of Sony s Microvault when checking out StyleHive today, I was torn with the appeal of having a really, really tiny USB drive and the reality that I had too much trouble remembering where I put my old, larger USB drive. Oh, and these drives hold from 256 MB to 2 GB, a welcome increase of storage space compared to my four year old flash drive which held an obscenely tiny (by today s standards) 64 MB. Mercedes
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No memory no cry

Computer speed (or lack thereof) is a common complaint. A slow computer can lead to hand pains (from punching the slow machine out of frustration), back pains (from the many attempts to throw the computer out the window), headaches (from banging one s head against the computer in hopes of it becoming faster), to losing your house (lawsuits for when one throws the computer out the window and end up hitting an innocent victim walking on the street). My brother s computer is currently running on a mere 128MB of RAM and I have no idea how on earth he withstands its snail-like speed. It is bad to the point where if he runs IE for more than about 2 hours, it will lock up. He's not much of a computer person and thus buying a brand new computer seems rather unreasonable since he doesn t really need all the new features. A better option is simply to install more memory. PNY offers a great guide in helping you figure out what your memory specs are. Simply input the model of your ...
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I heart you, desk fan.

Mark Morford at SFGate has an interesting column about the soulfulness of gadgets. Perhaps, he says, it's worth our time to every so often appreciate the help that these things give us. Their sacrifices, even. Does your phone have a soul? Most of your major tax-exempt religions would say no, but it's certainly spent a lot of time listening to you. Probably more than your mother, even. (Perhaps exactly as much as the NSA, but that's a post for another blog.) Morford writes, I have, on my desk right now, a Salton mug warmer. I paid, I believe, about $9.95 for it, back in 1997. It has performed perfectly, every single day, for nearly nine years. It has successfully kept warm an estimated 2,500 mugs of coffee. It has been through three girlfriends and five roommates and over a million words. It has never failed me, not even once. When it finally breaks down, when the little Chinese-made heating element fries itself out and I have to toss it and get a new one, I shall probably ...
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The Newest Innovation Saving You Money

This country has an addiction. Refill after refill and the prices keep going up and up. There are efficient solutions out there, but big industry doesn't want us to have them... Printer ink. You thought I was talking about gasoline for a second, didn't you? Haha! I did that on purpose to trick you and you fell for it oh man what a sucker. Anyway, did you ever notice how cheap those photo printers seem to be getting? Well, the catch is the whole "$40 for a tablespoon of magenta every 13 documents" ink cartridge replacement model. The costs to keep ink pouring onto my angry letters to SF parking enforcement or onto incriminating photos of parking enforcement officials is really depressing. Considering how many tickets I get a year, I'm going to have to sell my car to afford all the ink cartridge replacements. Until now! These inkjet cartridge refill kits look to me like the wave of the future. You basically just buy the ink in bulk and refill your empty ...
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“Laptop on lap. Kaboom. Manhood gone” – Jill

Laptops are a wonderful invention if only they weren t so darn dangerous. First of all, they are a threat to your unborn children. Secondly, merely being in the same airplane as a laptop can cause your potential death. And if that s not enough, they can randomly combust without warning! Dell laptops have exploded in meetings and offices. What a pretty little hole eh? Imagine what would happen if that laptop had exploded on your lap. Be warned, do not put laptops on your lap for your own fertility's sake. I m a little worried myself since I have a Dell laptop as well. However, since they are not recalling batteries from my model, I am hoping that means I m safe. If you have a Dell laptop, check to see if you possess a battery that they are recalling. For the sake for your future children, fellow coworkers and fellow airplane passengers, CHECK. Melissa UPDATE: Apparently an Apple laptop blew up as well. No, it's not just Dells that are the main trouble makers. Good ...
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Write here, right now (Yeesh, sorry)

So you're buying a new computer, and Word just seems like overkill. You just need to write some papers for class; you don't need to write a fully-annotated, cross-referenced, chart-filled, fish-smelling* thesis. And you sure don't want to pay for it--that's money that could be going to Top Ramen and beer (or baseball cards and soda pop, or clothes that are too big for you and mopey music--for college, grade school and high school students, respectively.) You could give Open Office a try--it's pretty good, and extremely free. But there's a new kind of word processor that offers a level of convenience that conventional software can't touch: online word processors. These new applications offer the most commonly-used features of regular word processors, but you can use them from anywhere you can get to a browser and an Internet connection. You don't need to concern yourself with what software a given computer will have, or carry your files around on a thumb drive, or try to keep ...
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Check your PowerBook battery--again

As a responsible laptop owner who would prefer that the fire in my loins remain figurative, I of course checked my PowerBook battery's serial number when the recall was announced about a month ago. Word is that Apple has been adding serial numbers to the recall without really mentioning it, so you might want to check again. Strange how it was disappointing to NOT see my battery on there. In addition to wanting a new battery because I figured it would improve my battery life, I felt like I had failed to win a lottery or a raffle or something. My brain really needs to adjust the priority filters on its reward system. Booyah, Infinite Loop. Aram P.S. This entry has been nominated for a Bloggie Award for Worst MS Paint Illustration Of All Time Ever
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Exterior laptop screen? Do we need this?

No, seriously, do we? CNET UK's Crave previews the Asus W5Fe, a laptop with an exterior screen and small control pad, which can supposedly be used with minimal battery consumption even while the laptop is hibernating. Of course, it's a feature dependent on Windows Vista, so I'll believe it when I see it. But let's assume that Vista actually ships, doesn't cause everything it touches to leak oil, and that this feature works. They claim it will let you "access flight departure information, movie show times, alerts, play games, movies, images and MP3s" for hundreds of hours without draining your notebook battery. Yeah-right factor on the battery life aside, is this useful? The use of an exterior screen on a flip phone is obvious: see who's calling without opening the phone. But does it have an equally compelling use on a laptop? Will we not be able to imagine one-screened laptops four years from now? I'm not so sure about this, but then again, I also thought camera phones ...
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Digital Storm Online: The New Alienware

There are two things that are universally true about every PC gamer in the world. First, they don't trust Windows Vista. Second, (and the point of this article) their gaming rig (aka computer) is one of the most important pieces of equipment in their lives. So when it comes time to replace our old friend it is important to us that we choose a company that can deliver power without all the junk of the big brands (Dell, Compaq, etc).This is not an easy task. Often gamers choose to build their rigs themselves (much like a Jedi's lightsaber). Only the true elite geeks can pull this off without years of frustration and BIOS errors. Many find one of the few companies out there that specialize in building powerful gaming rigs. Companies such as Falcon Northwest and Voodoo PC offer amazingly powerful machines at a very high price. A few years ago, Alienware computers led the pack of quality machines built for reasonable prices. Since that time Alienware has gone to the Dark Side ...
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Stumble Upon

One of the newest features that I've discovered for your internet browser, which I personally love, is Stumble Upon. Stumble Upon is an application you can download for either Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer that fits nicely in your tool bar. The basic premise of this feature is that it helps you discover and share really cool websites that you would otherwise generally miss. When you click the 'Stumble' button on you browser, you are directed to a website matched on your personal preferences. The pages you are shown are recommended from your 'stumble friends' and the other million users who have similar interests. Once you are on a page you can rate it as a page you like or do not like and thus will influence which sites you discover and share with your friends. I really enjoy the fact that your are only shown websites that are affiliated with your interests. Stumble Upon gives you a long list of topics and categories to choose from which is nice ...
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Hello, I'm a complete idiot. What can I help you with?

So today's post is more of venting session for me. A little something to help get all my stress and frustrations off my chest. Let me fill you in on the story... I recently moved to a new place in San Jose, so I called a certain Internet Provider, that will remain nameless, to transfer service to my new place; a simple problem that should have an easy solution. But of course, I could have accomplished more by talking to a rock. Here's a copy of the transcript I had with tech support Alex Red: Hi, Brent Callister. I understand that you want to setup your DSL connection for your new location. Is that correct? Brent Callister: yes Alex Red: I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you. Please allow me to guide you through the proper resolution for your issue. Alex Red: May I please have your DSL Telephone number? Brent Callister: i don't know the new one Brent Callister: i believe the old one was 408-261-**** Alex Red: Okay, thank you! Alex Red: I am going ...
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Back to College

It s almost time for the new school year. When I was in college, my freshman year I went to class with a trusty notebook. Now a notebook can be very useful, a hundred or more blank pages to fill with your ideas, but I soon saw that I was outclassed in taking notes. Other students brought shining silver laptops and busily typed away whenever the professor was speaking, while I struggled to take down the important points. And when the professor began asking questions, each student with a laptop would immediately log on to the internet (assuming they had a wireless network card) and look up the answer on Wikipedia. They had the answer, and I looked like a chump. Sophomore year, I decided to take advantage of the great back to school deals offered on laptops to get myself a Dell. It worked well for me in college, and it still works well for me today. My laptop is sturdy and in the four years I ve had it, it s only frozen up on me a couple of times. The only downside is ...
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Laptop Docking Station

It is an exciting time to own a laptop. In 2009 Intel has forecast that laptops will begin outselling desktops as a form of Personal Computer. Laptops are great if you want to surf the web in a coffee shop or make some progress on that novel you been working on in the park. But if you have a laptop and you want to plug in your printer and other peripherals at the same time, it is very handy to have a docking station. With a docking station you can have all your computer accessories set up ahead of time so you don't have to plug and unplug a dozen cables each time you want to hook your laptop up at home or take it with you on the road. Check out this handy Gateway laptop docking station Whether you are looking for a port replicator or a breakout dock, Become has what you're looking for! Will
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Video Game Console Evolution

I love video games, and one of the most popular games out right now is Grand Theft Auto IV. The latest incarnation of the long running Grand Theft Auto series, the game has amazing graphics and an immersive storyline. Although I play mine on an Xbox 360, the game is also available for the Playstation 3 and even on your desktop PC. What is exciting to me is that on the Xbox 360 they are releasing a new expansion pack for the game called The Lost and the Damned. There's no disk to buy for this, you simply order it online (exclusively) through your Xbox 360. Now you don't have to drive out to a store to buy it or worry if the local gaming franchise might run out of copies, you can download this game from the comfort of your living room. This could be the future of games, and it reminds me of fairly similar way to buy things... Become! Will
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Tax software to solve your tax woes

Ugh, are you really putting off doing your taxes? I realize that you may have a million things to do, but filing late and risking a tax audit is both scary and stupid. So do yourself a favor and dedicate an hour or two to getting your finance in order. With the fairly recent introduction of tax software, you are now able to itemize your deductions and e-file your federal and state taxes from the comfort of your own home! Check out our Tax Preparation Solutions page for tips on how to make filing easier for any situation. Become's Resource Center provides tips and hints on various subjects. Be sure to check it out! Once you get into it, it's really not that hard. This is only the second time I've ever filed my income taxes and, although I did put it off for a bit, I am still surprised at how easy tax software is. A week after I filed, my coworkers were still looking up deductions and filling out worksheets the old fashioned way. Granted they did save themselves a few ...
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Notebooks vs Netbooks

What's the difference between a notebook and a netbook? If you're not sure what the answer to that question is, then you're in good company. A recent study showed that 60% of consumers don't know what the difference between the two devices is, and as a result, a lot of people end up getting the wrong machine, that doesn't do what they want it to. To help you avoid falling into the same trap, this is a quick guide that will explain what the differences are between the two machines, and help you decide which machine is right for you, depending on your needs. What is a Notebook? In order to begin comparing the two devices, it's important to first understand a little terminology. A notebook is just another name for a laptop computer. Notebooks are portable versions of their desktop cousins, and generally range in size from 12 inches to 20 inches in size. It used to be the case that notebooks were less powerful versions of regular computers, but these days ...
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Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Netbook

Although they look very similar, there are a lot of differences between a netbook and a notebook. Netbooks are smaller, less powerful, and less expensive versions of traditional notebooks (for a full account of the differences, see my post: Notebooks vs Netbooks). It can be hard to decide if a netbook is the right computer to get, so here are 10 questions that will help you through the decision process: What do you want to do with your computer? This is perhaps the most important question to ask yourself before buying any computer. There are many different types of computers to choose from these days, from desktops and laptops to ultraportables, tablets, and even cellphones. A computer purchase is a big decision, so it's important to choose one that will fit your needs. How much are you willing to pay? One of the biggest benefits of netbooks is that they're extremely affordable. Most netbooks sell for less than $500, and some sell for as low as $100-200 ...
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Acer Notebooks

As the economy starts to recover, a lot of people are getting that new laptop they have been putting off. Fortuitously, a lot of major companies have been timing their products to come out around now. Apple has released the new 13 inch Macbook Pro, with a base hard drive of 160 GB and an optional upgrade to 250 GB. If you're on a budget and you want a laptop that can play lots of games, the Lenovo Thinkpad Laptop is a great line business friendly line that has some of the highest reliability of any brand. A big factor to consider is the fact that Windows 7 will be coming out in the fall. That doesn't preclude you from buying a laptop now, which will usually come with Windows Vista, because Mircosoft is letting people upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 at a deep discount. But you may want to avoid the whole issue of upgrading operating systems. Then I recommend an Acer Notebook. Certain Acer lines like the Acer Netbook already run off of Linux, and Acer is pushing ...
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HP desktop computer – the answer to all your needs.

Before buying a desktop computer, it s very important to carry out thorough research on your needs. If you intend to buy a desktop computer for professional needs, you should put more emphasis on the stability and service support of your future computer. On the other hand, if you wish to buy a desktop computer for home usage, you may choose a brand which can handle more multimedia applications and has a good processor for web surfing. The answer to both your personal and professional needs comes from a brand which has been trusted for years, for its great products and instant customer support services; HP. HP or Hewlett Packard is a trusted name in the computer industry. It has long maintained its top 10 position in the computer peripherals industry. It is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. After this history, let s discuss the factors to look into while buying an HP desktop computer. These factors are: Budget: You have to ensure that you get the best deal for your ...
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Office 2007 Home & Student Edition

It's getting near that time again, when students all over the world are forced to pack up their pencils and notebooks, and head back to school. One of the tools that has become indispensable in recent years in Microsoft Office 2007. Office 2007 is the latest version of Microsoft's ubiquitous suite of software applications, and it is a key tool that's used in both offices and schools. The only problem with Office is that the software is rather pricey, which is why Microsoft has created Office 2007 Home & Student edition, which is tailor made for students and consumers. Featuring many of the same great applications as the business edition of Office, Office 2007 Home & Student is available for just a fraction of the price, so that it's affordable to cash strapped students. Another great thing about Office 2007 Home & Student is that it comes with 3 licenses. What's a license? Typically, a computer program includes a license, or an agreement which states for many ...
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Old Windows For Your New PC

If you have the misfortune of being stuck using a PC at home, you've probably heard that Windows Vista is a dud. Ever since it launched, there have been major bugs in the operating system, with many devices and drivers not working with it, and the interface was changed significantly enough to make doing even familiar tasks confusing and frustrating. Many people have held off from upgrading to Vista for these reasons, but unfortunately, many new PCs come with Windows Vista already installed on them. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to consider purchasing Windows XP Home with SP3 OEM to downgrade your operating system to the older version. So why downgrade to Windows XP? As I mentioned before, the user interface of Vista was significantly revamped, so that navigating the computer is a different experience than it was in XP. While some of these changes are arguably better, many of them can just be confusing, and it can take a significant investment of ...
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Adobe CS4 Design Premium Suite

If you've done any kind of graphic editing on the computer before, you've no doubt heard about Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop is the most popular and powerful image editing program out there, and millions of people use it every year to retouch photos, design graphics, and even create art. If you're a professional graphic artist, however, Photoshop is probably not going to be the only tool in your toolbox. That's where CS4 Design Premium comes in. CS4 Design Premium is a suite of programs from Adobe that provides all the software tools that a graphic artist could ever hope for. Adobe CS4 Premium is made up of 7 key programs, as well as an assortment of helper programs, that combine to create a set of programs that professionals rely on. The first of these, that we already talked a little about is Adobe Photoshop, a raster based image editing program that is second to none. Photoshop utilizes an innovative layered graphic layout system, that allows artists and designers ...
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Computer Software and Hardware Discounts for College Students

A new school year is almost here. Is your computer ready for more school work? Whether you are taking business classes, history classes or art classes, a computer is a very valuable tool for any student. Before you shell out your summer savings to buy new computer software or hardware, you might want to check out your college bookstore prices first. Software: Windows XP Home with SP3 OEM Office 2007 Home & Student CS4 Design Premium Computers: Macbook Dell laptop Colleges usually set up distributor partnerships with Adobe, Microsoft, Apple and Dell so that students can use their student id to get discounts on widely used programs like Windows XP Home, Office 2007 Student, and CS4 Design Premium.  I checked with my college bookstore and found that the CS4 Design Premium is selling at a 57% discount from the suggested retail price! So check with your college bookstore for prices and let that be your gauge for finding the best price for computer software and ...
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Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional

Over the past few years, the PDF (portable document format) has become the defacto standard for rich media documents. Developed by software giant Adobe, PDFs are a convenient way to store and share documents electronically, and their program Acrobat 9 Professional is one of the most powerful ways of creating PDFs. So how does Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional work? In terms of layout, the program shares a few similarities with Microsoft Word, another ubiquitous document format. However, unlike Word, Adobe Acrobat has much better support for rich media content such as images, and has more robust graphical layout features. Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional also has support for vector graphics, which you can use to scale PDFs to any size without losing image quality, and Acrobat ties in nicely with the other programs of the CS4 Design Premium Suite to create a tightly integrated graphical design workflow for graphics professionals. Another benefit of Acrobat 9 Professional ...
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Dell XPS One (PRODUCT) RED 24 Desktop

With the current state of our economy, everyone can sure use discounts and deals to save money. Whether you save a couple cents or a couple hundred dollars, in the long run, the savings quickly add up and can prove to be beneficial. For consumers looking to score on the latest Dell desktops and Dell laptops we've got Dell Deals to assist you in your savings. Whether you're a student who needs a laptop to amuse yourself in the classroom or a professional that needs a faster desktop to meet deadlines, our Dell Deals page has got you covered. Today, Tuesday, October 13, 2009, you will have the opportunity to save 20% on the Dell XPS One (PRODUCT) RED 24 desktop. This Dell desktop also comes with a 24-inch widescreen monitor for a truly remarkable viewing experience. Features include an integrated WIFI and TV tuner, Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor, a wireless keyboard and mouse, 4GB of RAM, and other spectacular features and specs. Be on the lookout for more Dell ...
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Dell Inspiron 537s Desktop with 18.5″ Monitor

If you can't wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to start your shopping savings, Dell Deals is just what you need to save big on Dell desktops, Dell laptops, and other Dell electronics and gadgets. On Thursday, October 15, 2009, you can get 20% off on the Dell Inspiron 537s desktop with 18.5 monitor. The Dell Inspiron 537s comes in several different colors like piano black, plum purple, and tangerine orange. These array of colors are a good way of giving you the customization options to best select the system that represents you. Its tech specs include 2GB of RAM, a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive, an Intel Pentium dual-core E5300 (2MB L2, 2.6GHz, 800FSB) processor, and many other valuable features and specs that can always be upgraded through Dell. The offer is valid until November 12, 2009, and coupon code 5TK?LC9VJ5F$33 must be applied. Don't wait nervously for this Thanksgiving's 2009 Black Friday ad when you can save today with our Dell Deals page. -John
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Ultra-thin Dell Adamo Laptop

A laptop is a device that is built for convenience and portability. It's a substitute to a desktop PC and helps professionals and students stay connected and remain productive when they're not home or in the office. Nobody wants to carry around a heavy laptop that takes up a significant amount of space, so selecting a laptop that is lightweight is vital for your convenience during travel. A device like the Dell Adamo laptop is an ideal selection to achieve convenience and save yourself space in your laptop bag. The Adamo weighs in at roughly 4 lbs and has a height of 0.65-inches to rival Apple's Macbook Air as the thinnest laptop in the world. For those who enjoy staying connected and doing work in a coffee shop or library, the Dell Adamo laptop should be seriously considered. It's sleek, features an aluminum body with a 13-inch screen, offers a minimal design, and comes in black and white options. In addition to its impressive outer features, its tech specs include a 1.2GHz ...
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