The iPod U2 Special Edition Is Collectable and Exciting!

A1-Computers.net


This Apple U2 special addition iPod can be used with Mac or Windows. It is collectable for many reasons; first, it is the only black iPod available. And of course it has the engraved signatures on its backside of U2's Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton, and The Edge. Also featured on the back is a U2 logo and the phrase iPod Special Edition. The U2 is the only Special Edition iPod. It has 20GB memory (that means up to 5000 songs!), a red Apple click wheel instead of the usual gray, and the signature white iPod ear buds.

The fourth generation iPod U2 Edition has a four gray scale screen rather than a color one. The U2 iPod is the thinnest full-sized body so far. It comes with a U2 poster and a $50. coupon towards U2s newest box set: iTunes Digital Box Set titled The Complete U2 with over 400 tracks, every album they have made. Plus rare and previously unreleased songs!

More features included with this iPod U2 Edition are:

Keep up to 5000 songs in your pocket
Use it with Mac OS X or Windows 2000/XP
Take it everywhere — it’s only 5.6 ounces
Find songs fast with the Apple Click Wheel
Listen longer with up to 12 hours battery life
Shuffle songs in the main menu
Play MP3, AAC and Apple Lossless
Jog without fear — 25 minutes of skip protection
Save multiple On-the-Go Playlists
Adjust speed for Audiobooks
Enjoy seamless integration with iTunes
Sync and charge via included FireWire or USB 2.0 cables
Use as a portable hard drive — take your files with you
Remind yourself with Text Notes
Play games on-the-go
Keep appointments using the Alarm Clock and Sleep Timer
Stay organized with contacts, calendars and to-do lists

Now you know that its practical, its fun, and its exciting...
Get Your iPod U2 Special Edition While You Still Can!

iPod U2 Special Edition

Remanufactured Toner Cartridges vs. OEM (original manufacturer) Cartridges

I have worked in the toner industry for over six years, and in that time have seen a good deal of change within the industry. The remanufacturing industry began as a drill and fill operation. Components were not changed; the cartridge was cleaned and refilled with toner. This led to poor print quality, defects, and cartridges that leaked toner into machines. Some companies continue with these practices today, but most have made a legitimate effort at selling a quality product.

Quality remanufactured toner cartridges are now available. Remanufactured toner cartridges can actually exceed OEM quality and yield. Extensive testing and R&D have enabled this industry to produce cartridges that will not only save the customer money, but also provide a better product.

As the customer, what should you ask potential vendors about their remanufactured cartridges?

1. What yield and density did the cartridges achieve in testing?
The yield is the amount of pages the cartridge produces before running out of toner. Make sure that the testing is performed at 5% page coverage. This is the industry standard. You can ask if they used a toner head, this is the best way to achieve 5% page coverage. Be careful with companies that just give you the OEM yield, they may not have actually done any testing.

The density measures how dark the text is. The density is usually between 1.3 and 1.6. Ask how many cartridges they test to achieve their numbers. Testing one cartridge does not give an accurate measurement. Also, ask how often they test their toner/drum combinations. Suppliers change toner qualities and continued testing is important to ensure quality.

2. Does the company change any components?
Ask if the company changes the drum, wiper blade and mag roller. These components are all very important to print quality. Some lower yield cartridges do not need to have their drums changed if they are properly tested, but anything over 4,000 pages should, at least, receive a new drum.

3. Does the company use a universal toner for all printers within a manufacturer?
Some suppliers try to save money by using one toner per printer model, i.e. one toner for all HP cartridges. This may not effect print quality, but it will effect yield. Each model of printer has different characteristics, which means different toners. An example of differing characteristics is the fusing temperature of the printers.

4. Are all of the companies cartridges post tested?
Some suppliers do not want to invest in all the printers, or do not do enough volume to make this affordable. This is the most important step. These cartridges have to be rebuilt by hand, which introduces human error. Forgetting one step can cause failures that can only be picked up in post-testing.

5. Does the company replace the label on the cartridge?
Some companies leave the OEM label on their cartridges; this is a copyright infringement. Other companies do not have any labels on their cartridges. This is legal, but can be confusing if you have different model printers. See if the company replaces the label with a new descriptive label, which should have the machine that the cartridge goes to on it.

Be careful of any company that will not provide you with this information. Many companies still do not have proper testing methods because of the cost. Also, beware of inexpensive cartridges. In the long run these will probably cost more, due to failures and poor print quality. Being informed is the best way to insure that you are getting the most for your money. Companies that supply a quality product will not hesitate to answer any questions you have. Companies that refuse to answer or give someone the proverbial run round probably do not have the answers. Good luck and I hope that this article can help answer your questions and save you some money.

Donald Broda
Senior Production Specialist
www.brtoner.com
donald@brtoner.com


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About the author:

Donald Broda has worked in the laser printer industry since 1999. In that time he has been involved in remanufacturing toner cartridges, quality control, and service of Hewlett Packard Laser Printers. Please do not reprint any articles without author’s permission. Donald can be reached at donald@brtoner.com and you can visit his company website at www.brtoner.com



Remanufactured Toner Cartridges

A1-Computers

4 Computer Money-saving Tips

Here are four tips that’ll save you money when buying your next computer.

Tip 1 -- Rebates: A rebate is not always a bargain. Computers with rebates are often close to being discontinued. You may pick up a good deal or purchase technology that's about to become yesterday’s news. What's more, stores will often package computers with a bunch of free items to make it look like you're getting more value. Chances are the extras are either poor quality or items you're unlikely to use. Also, they’re counting on you to not redeem your rebate, a very common occurrence.

Tip 2 -- Extended Service Warrantees: Buyer Beware! They're a gamble, but not always a bad idea. If you're purchasing a laptop and you plan to travel a lot, an extended warranty that covers replacement of the monitor/display can be a good gamble. Replacing a display can cost $400-$600, making the warranty worthwhile. On the other hand, if you plan on buying the warranty for routine maintenance; save your money. Oftentimes it can take weeks for the store to send your PC out for service. Also, remember the store where you purchased your computer does not always do warranty work during the first year, instead you may have to ship it directly to the manufacturer. In general, extended warranties cover electronics [things you can't see]. They don't usually cover physical damage. Most extended warranties have large gray areas, leaving the warranty provider a lot of room to reject claims.

Tip 3 -- Monitors: Don’t throw away your monitor if it's still working properly. Instead, keep it and save a chunk of money by just replacing your old CPU [computer tower]. Monitors last much longer than CPUs and the technology is usually compatible between your old monitor and the new CPU. However, if you’re dissatisfied, then monitors, keyboards and mouses are the three tools to spend extra money on, since you use them every day!

Tip 4 -- Networking: How are you connecting to the Internet? If you're using a high speed Internet connection, such as cable broadband or DSL, you'll want to make sure you have a network card built into your system. If you have a wireless network at home or at the office, save money and installation time by buying the wireless card built right into the computer.


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About the author:

Sharron Senter is co-founder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com- an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks’ technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.SharronSenter.com

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I hope you enjoyed the first article I have posted by another author

B Archer
A1-Computers

Protecting Your Computer(s) From Power Surges, Data Loss, Viruses, and Spyware

Your computer can be a very expensive investment; that is why you should protect it from a power surge. If a sudden rush of electricity hits, a surge protector will blow the fuse or trip the breaker, this is what saves your computer. You should be sure to use a surge protector with a phone jack to keep the phone line from being a way for the electricity to travel to your computer. You should know that a surge protector cannot safeguard you form a direct lightning strike. If you completely unplug your computer and modem during a thunderstorm, this is the only sure way to protect your computer against lightning strikes.

You Should Protect Your Computer Data?

If your hard disk crashes it can't take all of your important saved information and software with it if you have backed it up. To protect your computer data everything should be 'backed up' by saving it to a floppy disk or compact disc, this is your best safeguard against data loss. So, periodically you should make copies of the information on your hard disk.

Protect Your Computer From VIRUSES and SPYWARE

You must also protect your computer, data, privacy, and information from viruses and spyware; every time you install a new program, copy files, and download from the Internet you are susceptible. These days it is a must to have a good, reliable virus protection program. Be sure to get one that will review each new file and check it for viruses. Also, you should be able to get regular updates via the Internet because there are always new viruses that you will need protection from on an ongoing basis.



Thanks For Reading - See You In A Few Days

Bonnie Archer
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Site Index II

We have added many more information pages to our site and so we have created Site Index II. This will help you to easily navigate all of our helpful articles.

More Articles and Tips

Remanufactured Toner Cartridges vs. OEM (original manufacturer) Cartridges Quality remanufactured toner cartridges are now available. Remanufactured toner cartridges can actually exceed OEM quality and yield. Extensive testing and R&D have enabled this industry to produce cartridges that will not only save the customer money, but also provide a better product.

Here are four tips that will save you money when buying your next computer.Four Computer Money-Saving Tips - Tip 1 --Rebates: A rebate is not always a bargain. Computers with rebates are often close to being discontinued...

The New iPod The fourth generation iPod is on the market. The new iPod operates much more efficiently, has more features and costs less!

Meet The iPod Shuffle
Time to mix things up with the unpredictable new iPod shuffle. Can it read your mind? What will it play next? Can it read your moods? Load it up - put it on. See where it will take you. Choose from pocket size 512MB or 1G models that start at $99. - Surprise yourself!

Inkjet Printers: How Much Do They Really Cost?
There are inkjet printers for every budget. At the low end, you can pay less than $50. At the high-end, you can pay several hundred dollars. However, the purchase price of an inkjet printer is not the best way to determine
how good of a bargain you are getting.

Buying The Perfect Computer The FIRST Time. Searching for that Perfect Computer can be about as much fun as...

How To Take Care Of Your Laptop Computer. As the proud owner of a laptop computer, you will want to keep your machine in the best
possible condition.

Top 9 Ways To "Speed Up" Your Surfing & Computing It seems like fast never quite rates fast enough. No matter how quickly something moves, especially on the Internet, it could always move faster.

10 CD Burning Tips For The Computer-Savvy There is more to burning CDs than just burning them. The following article shows you how to ensure your CD burning success.

5 Ways to Speed Up Your PC: No matter how fast your processor and regardless of how much ram you carry, there comes a time when you realize your computer just doesn't run as fast as it did when you bought it.

Protecting Your Computer

Protecting Your Computer From: Power Surges, Data Loss, Viruses, And Spyware.


Your computer is a very expensive investment; you should protect it from a power surge. If a sudden rush of electricity hits, a surge protector will blow the fuse or trip the breaker, this is what saves your computer. You should be sure to use a surge protector with a phone jack to keep the phone line from being a way for the electricity to travel to your computer. A surge protector cannot safeguard you form a direct lightning strike. If you completely unplug your computer and modem during a thunderstorm, this is the only sure way to protect your computer against lightning strikes.


Protect Your Computer Data?

If your hard disk crashes it can't take all of your important saved information and software with it if you have backed it up. To protect your computer data everything should be 'backed up' by saving it to a floppy disk or compact disc, this is your best safeguard against data loss. So, periodically you should make copies of the information on your hard disk.


You must also protect your computer, data, privacy, and information from viruses and spyware;

Protect Your Computer From Viruses and Spyware

VIRUS Protection


You must also protect your computer, data, privacy, and information from viruses and spyware; every time you install a new program, copy files, and download from the Internet you are susceptible. These days it is a must to have a good, reliable virus protection program. Be sure to get one that will review each new file and check it for viruses. Also, you should be able to get regular updates via the Internet because there are always new viruses that you will need protection from on an ongoing basis.

Author: Bonnie Archer is a successful author and publisher of http://www.A1-computers.net. A great source of information about computers and computer accessories.

Questions To Answer Before Buying That New Computer Monitor

Thinking of Buying a Refurbished Computer?

Never Used A Computer Mouse Before?

A lesson for beginning computer mouse users.

How to hold the computer mouse:
Hold the sides of the mouse with your thumb on one side and ring finger or pinkie, which ever feels more comfortable to you, on the other side. Your index finger goes on the left button and your middle finger on the right button. (Some computer mice only have one button, some have several, some have a wheel which you can use your middle finger to depress the wheel then turn it up or down to scroll pages very quickly or slow depending on how quickly you turn the wheel. Personally I love the wheel and would not have a mouse without it!) When you are told to 'click' use the button under your index finger(or the left button).

How To Move the computer mouse:
Slowly slide the mouse around on the mouse pad. See what happens to the arrow on the screen as you slide it around.

Mouse pad:

You should have a mouse pad under your computer mouse, (although the new optic mice do not require one). You will have an array of choices when purchasing a mouse pad; find the one that is comfortable for you. Rest you hand on the mouse pad or desk and move it slowly there is no need to lift the mouse off the mouse pad unless you run out of room, then you just lift it up and reposition where needed. You don't need to move the mouse to the left or right, simply slide it left or right with the buttons still facing away from you.

Clicking:

Clicking sends a command to the computer. To click, gently press and release the left computer mouse button. Be careful not to move the mouse while you are clicking, if you accidentally do simply slide the mouse back to where you want to click and try again. Try to keep you hand relaxed on the mouse as you press and release without lifting your finger completely off the button.

Done, that is all you need to know to start using your computer and that computer mouse. Keep working on it and before you know it, it will feel like second nature to you and you will not even have to think about what you are doing, you will just do it.


Note:
Most libraries have free computer classes for the beginner, if you feel you need hands on help this would be the perfect place to start!



Bonnie Archer

Never Used A Computer Mouse Before?

A1-Computers.net

Meet the iPod Shuffle!

Time to mix things up, the unpredictable new iPod. Can it read your mind? What will it play next? Can it read your moods? Load it up - put it on. See where it will take you.

Choose from pocket size 512MB or 1G models that start at $99. - Surprise yourself!

Random is the order of this iPod
The iPod Shuffle Songs setting takes you on a unique journey through your music collection. You’ll never know what is around the next tune. Welcome to a life less orderly--iPod shuffle shuns routine by serving up your favorite songs in a new order every time you listen.

You can just plug iPod shuffle into your computer's USB port and let iTunes auto fill it with up to 240 songs and get a different experience with each connection.

The trail you run daily looks and sounds different with an iPod shuffle. That daily traffic jam even seems enjoyable when you are listening and not knowing what song will come on next.

Love it - Lose control - Have FUN!

A1-Computers Accessories

Four Computer Money-Saving Tips
Here are four tips that will save you money when buying your next computer.

How To Make Music CD's Using Your MP3 Files

Its great to play your downloaded MP3 files or WMA music on your home stereo or your portable CD player? With Music Match Jukebox it’s fairly easy. (You can get a free version) So get together your MP3 and WMA music files that you would like to put on CD and lets get started!

First, download to your computer a copy of Music Match Jukebox at Music Match.com The free version is great for most purposes, but if you are really into this, the plus version has more features and will burn the CD's much quicker.

Now close any programs you may have running including your email and any browsers.

Next, open Music Match and see if the files you want to copy to CD are listed in the library. If not simply click on the button labeled 'add to library' and wait as it searches your hard drive for all music files, including MP3 files.

If the play list is not empty simply click on the button labeled clear. Now drag the MP3 files you want to burn from the Library to the play list window, which is in the upper right hand corner. Just drag each item up or down to rearrange the track order.

After you have chosen all the tracks you would liked burned on this CD simply insert a blank, recordable CD in to your CD recorder.

Click Burn

Music Match automatically calculates the total usable space on your blank CD and if you have too many tracks it will let you know so you can take some off.

If you did not have too many tracks your CD should now be burning. This can take 2-20 minutes depending on your recorder speed. Try not to use your computer until the CD is completed to keep it from having corrupt songs.

Your MP3 files should now be in there new format and ready to use in your home stereo or portable CD player. Enjoy you new CD! Congratulate yourself on leaning something new today!!


Extra Tips
1) If your computer has been running for a long time it would be a best to restart it before burning a CD.

2) Music Match has a volume leveling feature which will correct some files from being louder than others. To use it simply click, Options-Recorder-settings and then check the box labeled 'prepare tracks for volume leveling'.

3) Be sure to only use CD-R blanks because most music CD players can't read CD-RW disks.

A1-Computers