Internet PC

Are you thinking of buying a new computer? Are you confused by all the different types (laptop, server, desktop, etc.)? There is one more option that is just becoming popular that could clear up things for many computer users, the Internet PC. Many of the large companies, such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Compaq have released a new line of Internet PC computers that are revolutionary to the home computer market.

The computers average about two feet tall by about a foot long, which is very small compared to a normal desktop computer. The specifications are also astounding; most contain at least 20 gig hard drives with 64 Megs of memory. They also have built in Ethernet cards with added keyboard buttons that hotlink directly to your email, the Internet, and your favorite websites. They even sport around a 600-megahertz processor. All in a package about the size of a shoe box. So you are probably thinking wonderful and it probably costs three thousand dollars, not so. Many of these units can be purchased with a monitor for only eight hundred dollars. If you already have a monitor, you can pick one of these up for around five hundred dollars.

So what's the catch? With these computers you do give up some things common to the normal desktop. First the computers almost exclusively use USB ports. These ports have been around for a while but has only recently became popular and are being implemented into almost all the new hardware. The ports allow users to plug in anything from a printer to a mouse and unplug the device while the computer is on (hot swappable). Some come with serial ports but the amount of these serial ports are limited. The good news is that many of the older devices can still be run on these computers if you purchase the new USB cable. And since USB ports are small these Internet computers are loaded with them, most have five ports. You might be thinking I have more than five devices plugged in to the back of my computer. But the real question is how many of those devices do you use at once? Remember USB ports are hot swappable. Done with the digital camera and want to play a game? Unplug the camera and plug in the joystick. Some of the computer companies are still working out the problems with their hot swappable ports, so consult your users manual before you actually try this.

Another disadvantage or advantage, depending on your personal computer needs, to the Internet PCs. Many do not have a 3.5-inch floppy drive. You may be sitting there and shock, but then think back, when was the last time you used a 3.5 floppy drive. You can still use a floppy drive with these computers, but you have to plug it in the USB port. On the other hand, the Compaq model, called Ipaq, comes with a DVD drive, CDROM drive, and a super floppy drive, which along with specific floppy disks, lets you save 120 megs to a floppy! There is only space for one drive in the computer at a time and they are traded much like they are on a laptop computer. Pop one drive out and put a new one in.

These new Internet computers are great! At the very least keep them in mind when you are shopping for a new computer. If you love having 2000 devices plugged into your computer at once, or if your devices are more than a year or two old, Internet PCs might not be for you. But for the rest of us, these PCs are great! For more information Dells Internet PCs are called WebPCs (www.dell.com). Compaq as stated before released the Ipaq (www.compaq.com) and Hewlett Packard released the eVectra (www.hp.com). For all you Mac fans out there, Apple has released New Power Mac G5, which is a cross between the Internet PCs and a desktop. It is a lot more expensive than the other Internet PCs ($3,499) but is a great machine www.apple.com.

Contributed by:The Boom! Magazine For more technology articles please visit The Boom! Magazine at www.theboom.ws 2000 The Boom! Magazine Email: president@theboom.wsWebsite: The Boom! Magazine

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Enjoy Low Cost Mobile Computing

by: David Busick

The Internet is a common source of information and with increased business and personal travel it is almost a necessity to have a laptop computer with wireless Internet access for easy mobile computing.

New laptops that are built for WiFi and the WiFi Hub service providers are excellent but the cost can be a burden to those who have a budget and do not have a high priority need to justify that cost.

Also, the effort of finding a WiFi Hub location limits the freedom of truly mobile Internet access.

The solution is very simple for those who enjoy hunting for bargains.

You can shop for one of the many high quality used laptop computers. These can have CPUs from 500 Mgz to 800 Mgz, they are very functional have can be found for very low prices.

Then get a basic Cell Phone service plan from any of the major companies.

Buy a Cell Phone Kit that provides software and a cable to connect the cell phone to the laptop for Internet access. There are several brands now available.

This is a wonderful low cost way of enjoying the Internet anytime and anywhere. It is not as fast as a broadband provider but it is very functional and can be used where ever a cell phone call can be made.

About The Author
David Busick www.1st-Software.net An Excellent source for PDA Accessories, MPEG Movies, Custom Business Software, Educational Software and Discount Computers.
admin@1st-software.net

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Buying The Right Laptop Computer

by: John San Filippo

It is so easy to be intimidated by all the laptop models on the market today. There are literally dozens and dozens in every price range.

The key factor to finding the right one is to step back and consider exactly how you plan to use your laptop. When you define what you need before you go shopping, buying the right machine becomes much easier.

5 basic factors to be considered when buying the right laptop:

1. SIZE
In the world of mobile computing, size definitely matters. The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability and display size.

If you're always on the go and will be using your computer only in short bursts, a so-called ultralight will save you some shoulder strain.

On the other hand, if you're going to spend hours in front of your laptop, a larger display may be in order.

Today, some laptop displays exceed 17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop systems. The down side is that these monsters can easily weigh three times as much as an ultralight.

2. HARD DRIVE
Speaking of size, what about the size of the hard drive? One way to approach this issue is to ask yourself the following question:

Will this be my primary computer, or will it supplement my desktop system? If the former, you should look for a bigger hard drive - 60 GB or more. If the latter, you may be able to make it with a 20-30 GB hard drive. But even this isn't absolute. If, for example, you plan to copy a huge MP3 library from your desktop system to your laptop to make your music library portable, you'd be well advised to err on the side of too big.

In determining the right amount of system memory, or RAM, take a look at the ways in which you intend to use your laptop:

If your needs are somewhat mundane - email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. - 256 MB of RAM should be plenty. This is a common configuration for many laptops, so it means you probably won't need to spend extra for more RAM.

3. MEMORY
On the flip side, if you're an aspiring mobile digital photographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptop with as much RAM as it can hold.

In fact, exactly how much RAM your laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase decision. Applications for editing and manipulating multimedia content are notorious resource hogs.

4. NETWORK CONNECTIONS
Thanks in no small part to the Internet, computing in the 21st century relies heavily on being connected:

Connected to the Internet, connected to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network, connected to a home network, connected to an online service.

Your life will be easier if you buy a laptop that includes built-in means to connect to them all.

5. PRICE
If you're considering a laptop, you're probably wondering how much money you'll need to spend.

A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find one for under $2,000. Today, there are plenty of laptops to be had for under $1,000.

What's more, most of the major manufacturers offer a variety of financing options.
Laptop prices have come down, to be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly major purchase for most people.

If you take the time to search for a laptop that meets your specific needs, you should get many years of use and enjoyment from this important investment.

About The Author
The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop computer. It's an easy read and explains everything you need to know. Check out ==> http://howtobuyalaptop.com/


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Inkjet Printers

How Much Do They Really Cost?

There are inkjet printers for any budget. At the lower end, you can pay less than $50. And 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.

To be honest, printer ink is not cheap. An inkjet cartridge for your $50 printer can cost you $30. That means that the cost of two inkjet cartridges will be more than the cost of your purchase price.

A better way to determine if you are getting a bargain on your inkjet printer is to try to figure out what it will cost you over the period of one year. That means you have to add the cost of your inkjet cartridges to the purchase price of your printer. To give you an idea of your cost, here?s a simple way to estimate your cost.

Firstly, look at how many pages you inkjet cartridge will print. Then, make a rough estimate of how many pages of print you print each week. Multiply your weekly estimate by 52 to get the total pages for the year. Finally, divide the total number of pages per year by the number of cartridges your printer is rated to print. This will tell you how many inkjet cartridges you will need to purchase in a year.

For example, if your ink cartridge prints 200 pages and you estimate you print 20 pages per week. That means you?d print 1040 pages in one year. If you divide 1040 pages by 200 pages, you?d have to buy 6 cartridges to cover your printing for one year.

Now, how much does each cartridge cost? Multiply that by the number of cartridges you'll need for one year and you have your answer. This simple exercise may surprise you. If an ink cartridge cost $30 each, you?ll spend $180 in one year on ink. If you only paid $50 for the printer, that?s over three times the cost of the printer.

If it cost you $180 to print 1040 pages and the printer costs $50, you?ll pay $230 for your one-year printer cost. That comes to 22.1 cents per page. Now do the same thing for a different printer and compare. You just might be surprised.

One more thing - go online and look at some reputable printer companies. There are several recommended on this site. Check out the cost of their discount inkjet cartridges. These are brand new ink cartridges that are guaranteed to be as good as the original ink cartridge. They just don?t have the ?brand name? on the box. You?ll probably be able to cut your printing cost in half. Now, you can make an informed decision on your next inkjet printer. You?ll at least have an idea on how much it really costs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the author:
Larry Andrew is an educational consultant, author and publisher of www.ez-printer-ink.com Purchasing printer ink, toner and inkjet cartridges on line should be fast, convenient and cost-effective.
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Learn How To Save Big Bucks On A Laptop Computer

by: John San Filippo

Are you a bargain shopper looking to get the most bang for your buck? You will find no shortage of deals on the Internet. And that's particularly true in the fast-changing world of laptop computers, where you'll find three bargain sources right at your fingertips:

How you can save big bucks on a laptop:

1. Clearance Sales

Just as many brick-and-mortar retail stores, many computer manufacturer websites have clearance sections. On these web pages, you can find great deals on last year's leftovers.

These are all new products (unless otherwise stated) and carry their original warranties. The only difference is that the price has been reduced.

But the manufacturers aren't the only ones with clearance merchandise. Major electronics and office supply retailers also include clearance sections on their websites, where you may be able to find the laptop bargain of your dreams.

2. Refurbished Laptops

Factory refurbs represent another great bargain opportunity. It works something like this:

Say Joe Blow buys a new laptop, but decides a week later he doesn't like the color. He takes it back to the store within the store's stated return period, so the store is stuck with it. Since they can't sell the laptop as new, the store sends it back to the manufacturer to be "refurbished."

The factory will inspect that laptop to make sure everything works right, and then ships it out to a retailer that deals in refurbs. The refurb retailer then sells it to you at a great discount off the original price. Buying a refurb can literally save you hundreds.

3. Online Auctions

You can also logon to an auction website and find a great deal on a used laptop. However, beware!

Buying anything used will carry some risk with it. Buying a used laptop carries more risk than most people should be willing to take.

When you buy a used laptop from a private party, you don't get any sort of warranty beyond DOA.

DOA stands for "dead on arrival", a common auction term that means the seller guarantees the item will work when it arrives at your house. But what happens if your laptop dies two weeks after it arrives? You're out of luck, that's what.

There are plenty of bargains available on warrantied laptops that all but the most meager budgets should be able to avoid buying used.

You should stick to clearance and refurb machines and you'll save yourself hundreds on your next laptop computer.


Copyright (c) 2004 HowToBuyALaptop.com

About The Author

The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide to help you navigate through the laptop jungle. Visit the site today and find out everything you need to know about laptops before you buy. Check out: http://HowToBuyALaptop.com/

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Definitons Of Refurbished Computers

Here is a list of words you may run into when shoping or researching refurbished computers:

Factory Sealed: Factory Sealed products are new, in original manufacturer packaging and carry manufacturer warranty.

Open Box: Open Box products are retested, quality assured, fully functional and complete. The customer can expect original manufacturer packaging.


Resealed OEM: Missing Documents Resealed products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original OEM packaging. Some or all documentation associated with the products may be missing.


Repackaged: Repackaged products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment.


Repackaged Missing Documents: Repackaged products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Some or all documentation associated with the products may be missing.


Resealed OEM, Missing Accessories: Resealed products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original OEM packaging. Accessories that are not necessary to the functionality of the product may be missing.


Factory Refurbished: Factory Refurbished products have been returned to an authorized factory service center and restored to meet manufacturer quality standards.


Open Box With Minor Cosmetic Blemishes: Open Box products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original manufacturer packaging. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect the product's functionality.

Resealed OEM, Missing Documents, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Resealed products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original OEM packaging. Some or all documentation associated with the products may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect functionality. Repackaged, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Repackaged products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect the product's functionality.


Repackaged, Missing Documents, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Repackaged products :are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Some or all documentation associated with the products may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect functionality. Resealed OEM, Missing Accessories, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Resealed products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original OEM packaging. Accessories that are not necessary to the functionality of the product may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect functionality.


Resealed OEM, Missing Documents, Missing Accessories, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes: Resealed products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original OEM packaging. Some or all documentation associated with the products may be missing. Accessories that are not necessary to the functionality of the product may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect functionality.


Repackaged, Missing Accessories, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes: Repackaged products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Accessories that are not necessary to the functionality of the product may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect functionality.


Repackaged, Missing Documents, Missing Accessories, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Repackaged products are evaluated, quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Some or all documentation associated with the products may be missing. Accessories that are not necessary to the functionality of the product may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect functionality.


Repackaged, Missing Non-Essentials Repackaged products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Some or all of the non-essentials associated with the products may be missing. Non-essentials are defined as documents, ancillary accessories and ancillary software.


Repackaged, Missing Non-Essentials Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Repackaged products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and repackaged for shipment. Some or all of the non-essentials associated with the products may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect the product's functionality. Non-essentials are defined as documents, ancillary accessories and ancillary software.


Open Box, Missing Non-Essentials Open Box products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original manufacturer packaging. Some or all of the non-essentials associated with the products may be missing. Non-essentials are defined as documents, ancillary accessories and ancillary software.


Open Box, Missing Non-Essentials, Minor Cosmetic Blemishes Open Box products are tested and quality assured, fully functional and shipped in original manufacturer packaging. Some or all of the non-essentials associated with the products may be missing. Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes such as scratches, dents, etc., which do not affect the product's functionality. Non-essentials are defined as documents, ancillary accessories and ancillary software.


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

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Refurbished Computers

Refurbished Computer Definitions

Taking Care Of Your Laptop Computer

By Joe Chianese

As the proud owner of a new or old laptop computer, you will want to keep your machine in the best possible condition.

Besides cleaning your screen and dusting the keyboard, however, you will need to take a few extra steps to maintain your laptop's health:

Always play it cool:

A laptop computer can generate a lot of heat, particularly when
running the latest high-powered software. Too much heat and
you risk damaging the internal circuitry.

Try to always keep your laptop in a well-ventilated, cool
environment. And be sure you never block the fan grills on
the sides, back, or bottom of the machine at any time.

Handle the screen carefully:
You should always avoid touching or playing with your LCD screen.


It may be fun to watch the waves generated by your
finger against the screen, but LCD displays are fragile
devices that must be cared for.

Take care when cleaning the screen also, and use only approved cleaning materials.
You will not want to pay the money for screen repairs or, even worse - a new machine entirely.

Don't drop it:

Whatever you do, never drop your laptop computer! To be sure keep it safe inside of a carrying case when moving around and traveling.

Of course don't leave it on the edge of a table or on an unstable support of some kind. One ill fated drop to the floor could spell death for your mobile office.

All ways make sure the rubber feet underneath are in good condition and are still attached. Because this will prevent the device from sliding around accidentally.

Be careful with those drinks...

If you need to have a drink while working or playing, be careful not to spill it. Your laptop computer could suffer the consequences from just a few drops of liquid poured in the right (or wrong) places.

While you probably do eat and drink around it regardless, you will want to occasionally wipe down the edges, the keyboard, the touchpad, and maybe even wipe down the screen to keep any dirt from accumulating.

Just say no to viruses:


For your security, make sure you obtain an anti-virus program.
Secondly, keep it updated!

Buying an anti-virus one month and not updating it for the next six really negates it purpose. Your laptop computer could be exposed to hundreds and thousands of new viruses every month if you don't update your virus definitions.

Most anti-virus programs have automatic update methods,
eliminating the need for you to have to remember to do it
manually. It will update while you are online all by itself.

Avoid Popups:

Pop-ups are particularly annoying on a laptop computer.
Trying to close a bunch of windows without a regular mouse
can be a nuisance.

You'll want a pop-up blocker, such as the Google Toolbar
(located at http://tools.google.com), to prevent these pop-
up ads.

Many intrusive forms of advertising, and even some viruses,
can install software on your machine by using various forms
of pop-ups. It is best to get yourself a blocker and avoid
the situation entirely.

Use a firewall:

Always utilize a firewall on your Internet or network-
enabled laptop computer. Even if you use Windows XP's built-
in firewall (or purchase one from such companies as Norton),
your security will greatly benefit from it.

Blocking out all the unnecessary ports and closing all the
loopholes will prevent a hacker or virus from freely
entering your hard drive.

So there you go. Combine all of the above tactics and help
your laptop enjoy a happier and healthier lifestyle!

------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Chianese is a technical writer and frequent contributor
to HowToBuyALaptop.com. For advice on how to find the right
laptop computer for you, visit: http://HowToBuyALaptop.com
------------------------------------------------------------

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iPod users - get the picture with iPod Photo!

This latest generation of hi tech gadget users are watching the different media they use start to converge as Apple launches its latest grab for the market with iPod Photo. Not only can you listen to all your music on the go, or organize your business and social life, but now your entire photo collection can be viewed at hand too. With the latest color screens iPod users can turn the favorite toy into a slideshow, which is set to music. Watch this with friends hanging out at the beach or connect it to your TV and away you go.

Now you can put your holiday photos to your own sound track and being able to view it wherever you want, well this is now possible to do, and with the 60GB version you can hold up to 25,000 photos. Of course, if you want to mix these up with music the storage would be shared but still with the longer lasting battery in the new generation of iPod you can get up to 5 hours of slideshow or 15 hours of music according to Apple.

This is all possible with your Apple Mac or PC using Autosync to make the synchronization of your music and pictures automatic. Visitors to http://www.auctions-andmore.com/articles2/3 are informed of many of the features of the latest iPods and the best deals around for purchasing these items. From their website you can access hundreds of online deals for the whole range of iPod products.

The latest iPods are set to rock the market once again with their latest visual addition. The only question is?.where will all this convergence end up? Soon these multi function devices may move into the area of telecommunications with the prospect of watching digital TV or videos. Perhaps our mobile phone will become our MP3, video and still camera with 5 mega-pixel definition. Who knows? But for the time being Apple have once again moved ahead in the hard-drive, hand-held multi-media gadget race.

iPod is produced by Apple which can be found at: Apple Store

About The Author
David Llennac is working in the field of Education and is the owner of the website http://www.auctions-andmore.com.

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What Is A Mouse? Who Invented The Mouse?

The mouse is a device that controls the movement of the cursor/pointer on a computer screen; it is a small object that you can roll along on a hard or flat surface. It's name came from its shape that looks similar to a mouse, the connecting wire similar to a tail. Also, as you roll it around it is like a scurry along the surface.

When you move the mouse, the pointer on the computer screen will move in the same direction. The computer mouse has at least one button and up to three. They all have different functions; depending on which program you are running. It may also have a scroll wheel, which makes it quick to scroll through long documents.

Who Invented The Mouse?

Douglas Engelbart of Stanford Research Center invented the mouse in 1963 . Xerox pioneered the mouse in the 1970's; it is one of the greatest breakthroughs incomplete ergonomic, because it frees the user up to a big extent from having to use the keyboard. With the mouse you can simply point to options or objects and click one of the mouse buttons: point and click programs. The mouse is great for designers and graphic programs that allow you to use the mouse like a pen, pencil, or paintbrush to draw.


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Classification Of Computers

By: John Gibb

There are computers available in different shapes, sizes and weights, due to these different shapes and sizes they perform different sorts of jobs from one another. So here is a classification of computers for you to understand the difference.

Computers can also be classified in different ways like classification of computers by size. All the computers are designed by the qualified computer architectures that design these machines as their requirements. A home computer differs in size and shape from the computer being used in a hospital. Computers act as a server in large buildings, while the computer also differs in size and shape performing its job as a weather forecaster.

For instance, a student carrying a laptop with him to his college is different in shape and size from all the computers mentioned above. Here we are going to introduce different classifications of computers one by one. We will discuss what are in classifications and what job they perform.

Super computer:
The biggest in size, the most expensive in price than any other is classified and known as super computer. It can process trillions of instructions in seconds. This computer is not used as a PC in a home neither by a student in a college. Governments specially use this type of computer for their different calculations and heavy jobs. Different industries also use this huge computer for designing their products. In most of the Hollywoods movies it is used for animation purposes. This kind of computer is also helpful for forecasting weather reports worldwide.

Mainframes:
Another giant in computers after the super computer is Mainframe, which can also process millions of instructions per second and is capable of accessing billions of data. This computer is commonly used in big hospitals, air line reservation companies, and many other huge companies prefer mainframe because of its capability of retrieving data on a huge basis.

This is normally to expensive and out of reach from a salary-based person who wants a computer for his home. This kind of computer can cost thousands of dollars.

Minicomputer:
This computer is next in line but offers less than mainframe in work and performance. These are the computers which are mostly preferred by the small type of business personals, colleges, etc.

Personal computers:
Almost all the computer users are familiar with the personal computers. They normally know what the personal computer is and what are its functions. This is the computer mostly preferred by the home users. These computers are lesser in cost than the computers given above and also, small in size; they are also called PCs in short for Personal computers.

This computer is small in size and you can easily arrange it to fit in your single bedroom with its all accommodation. Today this is thought to be the most popular computer in all.

Notebook computers:
Having a small size and low weight the notebook is easy to carry to anywhere. A student can take it with him/her to his/her school in his/her bag with his/her book. This is easy to carry around and preferred by students and business people to meet their assignments and other necessary tasks.

The approach of this computer is also the same as the Personal computer. It can store the same amount of data and having a memory of the same size as that of a personal computer. One can say that it is the replacement of personal desktop computer.

This is one of the unique articles posted weekly on http://www.computer-and-printer-reviews.com.

About The AuthorJohn Gibb is currently the webmaster of several guide websites. http://www.computer-and-printer-reviews.com is his latest addition.

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Enter The Laptop - Notebook Computer

By: Laptopical

It's a fact. Notebook computers have leapt into the global sales arena with the force and flexibility of Bruce Lee, effortlessly dispatching their desktop competitors with nothing more than a dynamic one-inch sonoma punch.

With wi-fi technology growing around us, the demand for laptops can only increase. The ability to play games, or casually surf the Internet in wireless coffee shops and airports, will ensure that notebook computers remain incredibly popular. Laptop - notebook computers, though, aren't just utilized for leisure. Mobile technology is also beginning to dictate what happens in the classroom. This is especially true as notebooks are entering the educational arena in ever-increasing numbers. Indeed, schools such as Framingham State College, and the Myron B. Thompson Academy have both decided to use laptops as teaching tools in class.

Because of the adaptability and portability of laptop computers, retailers enjoyed a bountiful sales year in 2004. Consequently, everyone's using notebooks these days, from sprightly seventh graders to zimmer-wielding septegenarians.

Can this popularity and the incredible global sales figures be sustained? Yes they can. Once you couldn't find a notebook for under a thousand dollars, but now there is entry level selling for seven hundred dollars, and even lower with coupons and rebates. Recently, Wal-Mart began to offer laptops with Linux operating systems, and 30GB hard drives for fewer than 500 dollars.

Just how low can laptop prices go?

How about only a hundred dollars?

If Nicholas Negroponte, founder of MIT's Media Lab gets his wish, wireless laptops for third world countries will soon be available for around 100 dollars.

2005 - The Year of the Rooster?

Think again. This is most definitely the Year of the Laptop/notebook.

About The Author

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Related Articles

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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 bestpossible condition.

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Newly released - the long awaited Mac OS X Tiger

By: Bonnie Archer

The new operating system from Apple has been much speculated, but the first reviews are a thumbs up! The OS X Tiger is an upgrade to the current OS X with a lot of new features. (Just like windows updates) Frank Casonova, the senior director of Mac OS X Tiger audio/video said "It will change the way you use your computer".

Apple Introduces Mac OS X Tiger, the world’s most advanced operating system

This update has over 200 new features all designed to make the interface as user friendly as possible. The feature that has been causing the most excitement is called The Spotlight. It works much like the Goggle Desktop Search but it is integrated directly into the operating system. But where it is different is that when you start typing in letter Spotlight instantly starts to search, instead of waiting until you are done typing and hit enter. Also new to search, Spotlight comprehensively searches files, folders, e-mail, PDF document, address books and calendar entries for the character typed into the box.

Even better is that any searched performed regularly can be saved as a smart folder an auto updated folder that holds files with certain criteria attached. For example you could easily set up a smart folder when performing a Spotlight search for say, all movies, you than add them to the special folders. Anytime another movie enters the system, if it has been burnt from a disk, gotten in e-mail or downloaded from the Internet it will be copied to that smart folder automatically, pretty cool. With this you always have a snapshot of just what you are looking for.

"Once you start using it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it" Casanova said, referring to the new Tiger Dashboard. The new Dashboard is a completely new feature, with a single keystroke a translucent screen appears or disappears over the desktop. It has what Apple calls 'widgets' all over it, they are graphic heavy applications that allow users to have easy access to a calculator, notepad, weather report stock quotes, flight information, currency converter, etc. There are fourteen widgets that ship with the OS and Apple is encouraging third party developers to create and sell their own. Dashboard is based on standard Web technologies, so Apple expects it will be easy for developers to create new widgets.

Also a new significant feature called the Automator, it allows the user to take repeated tasks and turn them into a mechanized process.

There is also a range of smaller changes too. Like the enhanced version of the current Mac messaging program, Apple iChat AAV. The new iChat allows up to ten people to chat at the same time and up to four can use the video chat all for free on the Internet. (Something you can't do in any of the standard IM clients on Windows.)

Also there is an updated font-management utility; a new way of synchronizing bookmarks, contacts, and the like across multiple computers.

Some analysts seem to be taking a positive tone when the conversation turns to Tiger. It is a big step forward and will change how you work with a personal computer, to date this is the best OS.

Tiger is now be included on all new Mac computers. Need to upgrade? The new OS will cost $129 for a single user and $199 for the 'family pack' that can be used on up to five computers.
The recent yearly upgrades have put Apple in a situation of being able to highlight more operating system changes frequently. With Tiger, Spotlight is the biggest of these changes. Apple is delivering the search features that Microsoft is still only talking about. What a great advantage for Mac users.

For more information about computers and computer accessories or to purchase them please click below.
Mac OS X Tiger

Discover how Mac OS X Tiger will transform the way you use a computer
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I hoped you enjoyed todays installment!
Bonnie Archer - Happy computing
http://www.a1-computers.net

What You Should Look For When Buying A Printer

By Bonnie Archer

There are so many printer types and models on the market these days. So before going to your local store or online retailer (by the way online stores have many bargains that you can only get if you buy online--) you should give some serious consideration to what your new printer will be primarily used for. For example; some printers are better at printing photos, and some are better for text documents, the newest printers do it all in one. Hewlett Packard has an all in one that scans, copies, and prints. Others have faxes onboard, so check out all of your options, give some serious thought and decide what you will actually use. This way you will be prepared ahead of time and you will not make an impulse buy or let them pushy salespeople talk you into a printer with features you don't need. You will know what to look for when buying a printer.

A Home Printer Buying Guide

Once you decide how you are going to use your new printer you should spend some time researching printers online. There are lots of websites that have compiled hundreds of printer reviews. (PCworld.com) With our computer accessories page you can find links for different printer sites. Look around and check out the different specs and get a feel for what is available in your price range and with the options you want.
You might want to check the speed of the printer (pages per minute). A good average is around 20+ pages per minute in black and white. More importantly in my opinion is the resolution. Especially if you plan to print photos you need high resolution. Most of todays inkjet printers print pictures at a quality to match getting your photos done at the store if you use good quality (10mil or better) photo paper.

The best advise? Read everything you can find that other consumers had to say about their printers. Amazon, Epinions, and are great sites to check out as they collect user feedback on many printers. This way you will gain great insight into problems others have had with all different printers. You will want to stay away from printers that use excessive ink, have frequent paper jams, or the ink refils just cost too much.

Also, you should always check out the price of the ink refills before deciding on which new printer to buy. Most people replace their ink cartridges around every 3-4 months, depending on usage of course. I would say $20. per refill is a good average price, but be careful because they go much higher. Some even cost more than the printer itself, not good. It is really good when the first ink cartridges are included with the printer.
I hope you enjoyed todays read!
Bonnie Archer

For more information about computers and computer accessories or to purchase them please click below.

What To Look For When Buying A Printer
Computer Accessories

Related Articles

Should I use recycled ink cartridges? In my opinion everyone should be using recycled ink cartridges! Why not? The quality is the same and you can get savings of upto fifty percent off.

The Truth About Printer Paper: Contrary to popular belief, the quality of your printer paper can have aserious impact on the quality of your printer output. You can buy thebest printer in the word ? feed it lousy paper, and you?ll get lousy results.

Today's Digital Camera Batteries

by: Jakob Jelling

Every electronic device needs a driving force to operate it, just as every living thing needs a heart to keep it alive! Basically electric power does this job for any kind of devices nowadays. Similarly for any digital camera too, a good battery is a necessity in order to ensure an excellent performance as long as possible.

A crucial task, as if searching for a good heart for a human being, perhaps the most tedious thing about digital cameras is the quest for their battery consumption and thereby finding a suitable one for any particular one. A basic overview regarding this is so important a component of the digital camera makes the ventures of the users somewhat less complicated and makes life easier with a proper selection of the digital camera batteries!

Apart from the ever power thirsty LCD screens and flashes, the digital cameras themselves exhaust batteries much faster than film cameras, due to their state of the art electronic designs and intricate circuitry. Many digital cameras run from AA cells, around 4, and can even drain a set of alkaline cells in less than 1 hour of working! For example, the Kodak DC120 draws about 210mA during start or switch ON, but progresses to around 1.3A with the association of the LCD fully working and can go ahead to about 2.1A while picture taking and after it too.

With all these nightmares regarding the batteries of the digital cameras, it is worthwhile to analyze and reveal some of the available batteries for the digital cameras in an effort to explore area of power consumption in this fantastic device.

The first one of these; like its great name suggests, it is the Li-ion (Lithium Ion). It is one of the latest cell types available to digital camera users. This has many advantages to its credit. It is light in weight and currently available for many commercial uses and thus being so the Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery type is becoming quite popular. This has an added advantage of being able to endow with more power than any of the other main cell types available. It is also free from the problems of memory effect, that some battery types do have, and maintenance is least in this type of battery. These are but real goodies about this Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery. Yet it has one major disadvantage, that is, the price is usually significantly higher than conventional batteries, due to its sophisticated design and technology.

Next, the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride). This is a battery that is perhaps the most frequently under use for not only digital cameras, but also for other sophisticated devices like laptop computers! This has the advantage of being cheap in price due to the fact that it incurs cheap manufacturing costs, and thus a choice for many users! But this does have the problems of memory effect, and much more maintenance and care is required while handling this kind of battery.

Last is the NiCAD (Nickel Cadmium) Battery. This is perhaps belonging to one of the older cell types generally available for older laptops and electronic devices. These batteries or cells have an aptitude for handling high power loads, and therefore is more frequently found in handy power tools and devices that require more amounts power to work efficiently and perfectly. Yet again, these batteries too have the problems of memory effect, and much more maintenance and care is required while handling this kind of battery.

Aside from the different batteries themselves, the selection should be based upon the charging techniques and the different charges available for all these digital camera batteries. Latest batteries come handy with charging free techniques too! So care needs to be taken in this area also, depending upon the requirements of the user.

With all this vivid conversation regarding the hearts of the digital cameras, their batteries, it is expected for every person going through the lines to have grabbed a significant amount of information in dealing with the intricacies of the purchase, and thereby also augment the ability of the person in using such a sophisticated device as a digital camera with a proper battery!
For more information about computers and computer accessories or to purchase them please click below.
Digital Cameras

About The Author:
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.

Thanx for reading today!
Bonnie Archer

Related Articles

Digital Cameras Are A Fun And Convenient Computer AccessoryDigital cameras are one of the most fun computer accessories - wouldn't you like to send pictures to friends and family by e-mail? A digital camera is the easiest way to do that.

The Difference Between Digital Cameras and Conventional CamerasWe have digital cameras because the past twenty years have brought major technological breakthroughs for consumer electronics. These breakthroughs have been part of one large breakthrough.

The Truth About Printer Paper:Contrary to popular belief, the quality of your printer paper can have aserious impact on the quality of your printer output. You can buy thebest printer in the word ? feed it lousy paper, and you?ll get lousy results.

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.

A1-Computers
http://www.a1-computers.net

Your Guide to Buying a Digital Camera

Are you are one of those people who have never owned a digital camera in their life? You should go to a corner and cry for ten minutes. Then get back to this guide to buying a digital camera before hopping into your car to purchase one.

Decide out what you want to use it for. Walking into a camera store can be quite overwhelming - hundreds of cameras ranging from the size of a credit card to as wide as a computer manual. It may be cute to carry around a sleek little red digicam, but you will have to consider what you are actually going to use it for.

Will you need a compact one to store in your handbag? Are you planning to take professional photos for work? Does the number of features matter to you? Do you want a camera with manual functions? You don?t want to bring home a camera that does not satisfy your needs, or purchase one with so many features that you won?t be able to use it.

Y0u should be familiar with camera specs. So many fancy words on the box might make it look like your wallet sized camera will turn you into a professional shutterbug. Mega Pixel is the maximum resolution per photo--the higher the MP, the bigger the prints you can get without it looking blurry. If you are only planning to exchange photos on the internet, then a 2MP camera is fine. Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom are two different things - most pros snub Digital Zoom, since this is actually a software function that crops the image, which makes it lose its quality.

Your Budget. We won't lie to you: digital cameras do not exactly come cheap. When budgeting on which camera to take home, consider the features, its size, its Mega Pixel count, and the brand.

Many photographers swear by one brand over the other - if you are particularly loyal to just one brand, then you can shun the others and bask in just one aisle. But if you are a little bit more open-minded, then you have got a bigger playground to frolic in.

Also, you will need to see what kind of memory card (which is sort of like the 'film' of the camera) the camera needs, and what kind of digital camera batteries fuel it. Most digital cameras use AA batteries, so investing in a bunch of rechargeable ones is key.

Try the camera out. Many people make the mistake of reading the box, swiping their credit card, and coming home to find out that they are not comfortable with their latest purchase. While in the store, try taking a bunch of photos. Make sure it fits well in your hand, and it is easy to use. The most user-friendly cameras out there are Canon, Casio, and Kodak - but you might want to try out others. Take your time in familiarizing yourself with the possible units you will be taking pictures with.

Thats all for our Digital Camera Buying Guide--Good Luck!

About the author:
For comments and inquiries about this article visit http://www.ucreative.com

For more information about computers and computer accessories or to purchase them please click below.

Digital Cameras


Related Articles
Digital Cameras Are A Fun And Convenient Computer Accessory
Digital cameras are one of the most fun computer accessories - wouldn't you like to send pictures to friends and family by e-mail? A digital camera is the easiest way to do that.

The Difference Between Digital Cameras and Conventional Cameras
We have digital cameras because the past twenty years have brought major technological breakthroughs for consumer electronics. These breakthroughs have been part of one large breakthrough.

The Truth About Printer Paper:
Contrary to popular belief, the quality of your printer paper can have aserious impact on the quality of your printer output. You can buy thebest printer in the word ? feed it lousy paper, and you?ll get lousy results.

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.

One-Year Cost of Inkjet Printing

You can now purchase an inkjet printer for as little as $39. With rebates, it may even be less. Not many people would argue about the good deal they got when they purchased their printer. However, the purchase price of an inkjet printer really does not tell you much about your cost of printing. After all, you do need paper and inkjet cartridges to keep your printer printing.

You go to a car lot and look at the sticker price of a car, you will see some of the following items: the base price of the car, the cost for each additional feature or package, the number of miles per gallon for both city and road, and the cost of gasoline for one year under normal driving conditions. What if you got this same type of information for your printer? Would you still buy the same inkjet printer? How would you feel if you knew you would pay more for gas and oil, in the first year you owned your car, than you paid for the car?

Fact is, unless you do very little printing, you will pay more for your paper and inkjet cartridges in the first year than you will pay for your inkjet printer. This is especially true for the low cost inkjet printers. In some cases, the cost of one inkjet cartridge is more than the entire purchase price of an inkjet printer.

Now, if you look at an inkjet printer advertisement, you would learn about some of the following items: the number of pages printed per minute in text and color, the time to print a certain size photo in black and white or color, the number of inkjet cartridges or tanks the printer holds, the near perfect quality of the photo reproduction, the outstanding resolution you will get from (so many) inkjet nozzles and a packaging list of items that come in the box when you purchase it.

However, in most inkjet printer advertisements, you will not see the cost of the premium paper needed to achieve that outstanding photo reproduction. The replacement cost for a black or color inkjet cartridge is nowhere to be found. About the only thing you will see with a dollar sign is the low purchase price of the printer and possibly the rebate. (They also do not tell you all the steps you have to follow to get your rebate and how it may prevent you from returning the printer to the store if something unexpected happened? but that is another story.)

If you look at some of the most popular inkjet printers, here is what you will find about their inkjet cartridges. On the average, a black inkjet cartridge costs between $22 and $30 to replace. A color printer cartridge normally runs between $35 and $60, depending on size.

To get your inkjet printer to print out those outstanding photos that will last for years, you will need to purchase some premium quality paper. Depending on the size, weight and quantity of the premium paper, you can expect to pay from 60 cents to a dollar per page.

Consumers need to know that the major printer manufacturers are selling their inkjet printers at or below cost. They have adopted the marketing practice used in other industries, like the cell phone or razor blade. That is, they sell their initial product at cost or below and expect to make their real profits on the high mark up of their consumable supplies or services.

Don't get me wrong. The quality of the inkjet printer photo reproductions is approaching that of traditional photo processing. The speed of the inkjet printer is constantly rising. The crisp and clear text from the inkjet printer is nearly equal to the quality of laser print. All these are wonderful and welcomed features.

The point I want to make is this: The real cost of printing is not the purchase price of the inkjet printer. You, the consumer, should be informed of the on-going or real cost of printing. Then, you can decide how much you really want to pay for your printing needs.

If the major printer manufacturers were to charge a reasonable price (with profit) for their inkjet printer and reduce the cost of their inkjet cartridges and premium paper, you would realize a substantial savings.

A well-informed consumer is a wiser consumer. If you had a way to estimate the one year cost of printing, depending upon your needs, you would be able to make a much better informed decision on what inkjet printer would best meet your needs.

Until the major manufacturers decide to change their marketing practices, you can do something about the high cost of printing. There are many reputable online merchants that provide compatible inkjet cartridges and inkjet refill kits that can save you up to 85% on the cost of printing. Five minutes of your time reviewing some of these companies could save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars. That would definitely help you reduce your one-year cost of printing. I thought you needed to know.

About the author:Larry Andrew is an educational consultant, author and publisher of http://www.ez-printer-ink.com/ Purchasing printer ink, toner and inkjet cartridges on line should be fast, convenient and cost-effective.

For more information about computers and computer accessories or to purchase them please click below.

http://www.a1-computers.net/cost_of_inkjet_printing.html

Computer Accessories
Computer Equipment

Why Should I use recycled ink cartridges?

My opinion is that everyone should be using recycled ink cartridges! Why? The quality is the same and you can get savings of up to fifty percent off. But most important is our environment! There are millions of ink cartridges bought every year and only 10-15 percent are currently recycled. Each time you finish a inkjet cartridge you can drop it at an office supply store or obtain an envelope to recycle it. Even Best Buy has a bin you can drop them into to be recycled. I use hp and with each new cartridge you get an envelope to mail your used cartridge back to be recycled, I like that, it is even pre-paid postage! So the use of recycled ink cartridges is a win win!

Is the print quality of a recycled ink cartridge be the same as a new ink cartridge?

Many manufacturers only use high quality inks, which are specifically for inkjet cartridges. They should guarantee the print quality, check the policy before purchasing.

Am I going to get the same number of print pages with a remanufactured cartridge?

All recycled inkcartridges have a specific amount of ink to begin their lifespan and that determines the printing capacity. Each cartridge is weighed for the correct amount of ink during processing and re-checked during quality control.

Have A Great Day and Happy Printing For Less $$!
Bonnie Archer

Should I use recycled ink cartridges?

Computer Equipment

How Laptops are Different than Desktops

Laptops mainly differ from desktops in the following features:

Power supply: As desktops can be plugged in an outlet in the wall (AC Power) so can laptops with an AC adapter. But how a laptop is different from a desktop is that it is portable because batteries can also power laptops. The batteries are rechargeable; lithium, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride.

Display: Also like desktops, laptops have some type of LCD display screen. Modern Laptops have 800 x 600 pixel resolution. This gives it a very clear screen and anything less should be avoided.

Input Devices: On a desktop computer you usually use a mouse and keyboard to enter data and navigate. With laptops keyboards are built in but since they are portable so they don't have a mouse. Instead they have one of three input devices in place of the mouse. A trackball, rotating the ball allows you to move the cursor. A trackpoint allows you to push your finger over the point to move the cursor. Lastly, a laptop may have a touchpad that you move your finger across to move the cursor.

Docking Connections: Many laptops come with a docking connection to make it more comfortable to use at a desk. You just plug your laptop in and use it as a desktop. The docking station comes with many peripheral devices: full size computer monitor, full size keyboard and mouse, disk drives and printer.

Thanks for reading
B. Archer
A successful author and publisher of http://www.A1-computers.net. A great source of information about computers and computer accessories.

Laptop Computers

Meet The New iPod

What’s new?

The click wheel
More efficient menus
New features
Longer play
Lower price
Color...well...

Apple's new color iPod. Color display. 15 hrs battery life. Get free shipping & free engraving.
iPod shuffle


The fourth generation iPod is on the market. The new iPod operates much more efficiently, has more features and costs less! It also looks a bit different; it has gotten slimmer, and more sleek. This one is about a millimeter thinner.

The control buttons that used to be under the display screen have been eliminated. Now they have a click wheel and the controls are placed on the compass points on the circular touch pad so you can scroll through the menus. The idea actually came from the Mini iPod. On the mini there just wasn’t enough room for the buttons. "But the minute we experienced it we just thought My God, why didn't we think of this sooner?" says Steve Jobs.

This new iPod is more efficient: there is less thumbing to find your favorite music. The first level entry is music, and now one click starts the popular method of shuffling your library to playback.

Included in the new features is multiple on the go play lists and you can delete songs from ad hoc mixes. Also, the audio books are not only easier to find but you can also listen to them at normal speed, slower speed, or twenty-five percent faster and it doesn’t sound like you are in chipmunk land.

Because of a new conservation of power that Apple has created you can now listen to twelve hours of music before needing to re-charge your batteries. That is a fifty percent boost in battery lasting power.

All this extra stuff you get for a lower price! The 10,000 songs or 40 gigs runs for $399. And the 5,000 songs or 20 gigs now cost $299. That is a savings of $100. for each model since the last release. The 15 gigs are no longer available.

Get iTunes Music


iPod U2 Special Edition Is Collectable and Exciting!
This Apple U2 special addition iPod is for Mac and Windows. It is very
collectable because it is the only black iPod available. And of course it
has the engraved signatures on its backside of U2's Bono, Larry Mullen...

A1-Computers

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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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Meet The iPod Shuffle
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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

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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