Slim...Sexy...All-In-One Computer...and no its not an iMac
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Thursday, 27 September 07 - 11:27 AM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Gateway All-In-One PC
A few days ago i've posted an ad comparing the new iMac with a traditional desktop pc and the visual result is clear, Apple is the winner when it comes to the design category. The problem with most desktop computers are the plethora of cables at the back of the unit and when i saw the new Gateway One Computer, the desktop pc design finally caught up with Apple. As you can see at the picture below, the Gateway One is very sleek and well design all-in-one computer system with a high gloss look and clean design ( no cable clutter!).
The i/o power bar is the most revolutionary aspect about the system since most of the interface connections are built-in to the unit ( very ingenious Gateway). So no more cable clutter above the desk instead they will be hidden below where they should be in the first place. For the first time, i'm actually excited to see an all-in-one computer design that actually looks good for a change and adds new features like the i/o powerbar that will surely be copied by other pc manufacturers.
credit: Gizmodo
Features:
- Intel® Core(TM) 2 Duo processor
- Advance graphic options ( ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 2600 XT graphics, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 )
- Smooth polish front finish
- side mounted DVD burner
- 5 in 1 card reader
- high fidelity audio via NXT SoundVu patented exciters
- Media Center remote-control
- Wireless keyboard and mouse
- i/o power bar ( hides cable clutter): optical audio S/PDIF output jack , coaxial audio output jack, four USB ports, gigabit ethernet port, AV ports, IR Blaster jack
- three USB ports, Firewire port, audio output
- Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N technology
- Bluetooth
- Expandable via the tool-less chassis
Gateway plans to ship two retail version of this unit in late October and a single on-line model. Also, if you happen to be in New York City this week, the Gateway One is on display at the Digital Life Exhibit ( September 27 - 30 at the Javits Center).
via: Gizmodo
link: Gateway One teaser site
link: Gateway One Unboxed via Gizmodo
related link: Digital Life Exhibit in New York
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Black...Sleek...Sexy...Too Bad its only a concept.
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Thursday, 30 August 07 - 03:48 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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HP is pretty well known for their printers and computers but their basic design especially the desktops are pretty bland and boxy. So when i saw a leak shots of the HP system dubbed the Virtus from the engadget site, i got really excited ( for a moment) of the prospect that finally one of the big computer companies are finally designing a system suitable to be displayed along side with our high end electronic components. However, my excitement was short lived since this is just a concept design according to the Crave website. Hopefully HP will apply this design to their future desktop and laptop systems.
credit: engadget
via: engadget
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This is one of the best "freeware" utility program to download!
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Tuesday, 03 July 07 - 12:40 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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AutoRuns shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login. This is a nice utility to remove those start-up programs that you don't need to load during boot-up. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Services, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. The interface is very userfriendly, just highlight or click on the box of the applications you want to disable during bootup and let autoruns do its magic.
AutoRuns for Windows V8.61
License: Freeware
Publisher: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/Autoruns.mspx
Windows: Autoruns works on all versions of Windows including Windows XP 64-bit Edition (x64) and Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition (x64).
link: download autoruns for windows
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Never touch or press on your LCD screen with your fingers!
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Tuesday, 03 July 07 - 09:45 AM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Tips for cleaning your LCD screen.
Flat panel liquid crystal display monitors are the preferred choice for most computer users because of the space saving design and glare free images. Since this is a new technology, most people don't know how to clean and maintain their LCD screen so they end up using chemical cleaners that can damage the sensitive surface of this product. Most consumers don't realize that an LCD screen is not a glass and the surface of this monitor is very sensitive and prone to scratches, smudging, and discolorization cause by improper cleaning.
Below are just some basic tips for cleaning your LCD (liquid crystal display) screen and always read the manual from the manufacturer for the recommended method.
Do's and Don'ts on how to clean your LCD screen:
Do's:
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Turn-off and un-plugged the product before cleaning.
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Use a cotton cloth or lint free non-abrasive cloth for a dusty screen.
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Use a special electrostatic cloth ( like the ones to clean eyeglasses) for dust, finger prints and smudges.
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Use a commercial product design specifically for LCD screens ( sprays or wipes)..
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Always apply gentle pressure when cleaning the screen.
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Always remove excess moisture on the screen.
Don'ts:
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Don't use Windex or any glass cleaners (These cleaners might cause .permanent damage to the LCD due to a chemical reaction.).
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Don't use any alcohol/ammonia based cleaners ( same reason as above).
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Don't touch the screen or press directly with your fingers! ( this action can damage the screen).
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Don't use ordinary tap water which might include chemicals like chloride that can leave a residue on the screen.
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Don't use paper towels
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Don't spray any cleaners directly to the screen!
How to protect your LCD monitor:
- Don't attach any post-it notes on the screen.
- Set the monitor on a surface that is flat and stable.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
- Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.
- Avoid dust build-up by cleaning your screen regularly.
- Keep small children away from your LCD montior or your laptop.
How to clean using a commercial product.
To clean the LCD screen, apply the cleaner to a lint free non abrasive cloth ( or microfiber cloth) and wipe it across the display from left to right. Start at the top of the display and move down to the bottom. Remember, not to press too hard on the screen for this might damage the surface area. After you finished cleaning the screen, always let the LCD monitor dry before turning it back on.
LCD screen cleaners:
Monster ScreenClean Display Cleaning Kit (New alcohol free formula) (TV CLNKIT)
IKLEAR SCREEN DELUXE CLEANING KIT - MERIDREW ENTERPRISES (ACCESSORY)
Digital Innovations 60104 Screen Cleaner Pro
ScreenKleen™ Alcohol-Free Screen Wet/Dry Wipes, 40 Twin Packs Per Box (REARR1391)
Note: You should always check your owner's manual
for the recommended cleaning method for your LCD TV or Laptop
Screen.
Now that you're LCD screen is clean below is a video on how to tweak the display.
LCD Monitor Hidden Tricks! - The funniest bloopers are right here
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A clean mouse is a happy mouse........
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Monday, 25 June 07 - 11:01 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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IOGEAR Germ Free wireless mouse
If you are a germaphobic and don't feel comfortable from other people touching your mouse then Iogear has a device for you...a wireless laser mouse with nano coating technology. The special coating on the surface features two mechanism to deactivate enzymes and proteins of bacteria from surviving. This germ free mouse has a 6 foot wireless range with a high-resolution 1600 dpi for accurate tracking. So throw away those alchohol wipes and start using the Iogear Laser mouse with nano technology.
link: Iogear GME227RW6 Germ-Free Wireless Laser Mouse
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Juice up your notebook or gadgets on the road with.....
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Tuesday, 19 June 07 - 12:36 AM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Tekkeon My Power All MP3400
Laptop batteries have come a long way and even with 4 hours battery life, the available time for most computer users are never enough. The simple solution to add more computing time is to purchase a similar or a higher capacity battery which is dedicated to one device and heavy to carry. Another solution is to get a Tekkeon My Power All MP3400 ( provides upto 19v) external power source which will extend the operation time of your notebook computer but it will also power and charge a portable dvd player, camcorder, mp3 player, and a digital camera.
The MP3400 is so versatile that it will charge and power most portable gadgets without the need to look for a power outlet. Laptop users will appreciate the extra computing time since most models require re-charging after 2 to 4 hours of use so no more downtime but more productive time. The best feature of the My power All is the ability to reset to the lowest voltage setting after a device is connected so over charging is the thing of the past.
The benefits of using the Tekkeon My Power All MP3400 ( provides upto 19v):
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Power and re-charge your laptop (with round power plug)
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Power and re-charge your portable dvd player, digital camera, camcorder, and mp3 player
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Power and re-charge most mobile phones
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includes eight adapters, enabling connection to over 300 devices
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Nice quality construction
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light weight
Other models:
link: My Power All tech specs
link: tekkeon
Tekkeon myPower ALL MP3300 - Battery pack Li-pol
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First Itunes...Now Safari for Windows...more...more
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Tuesday, 12 June 07 - 01:58 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Steve Jobs announced Safari for Windows at the WWDC conference the other day which is an exciting news for a lot of internet users. I have been using Internet Explorer since day one and i'm really interested in using an alternative browser besides Firefox ( had problems with it) for my web browsing activities. Steve Jobs indicated that the Safari window browser will have all the features and innovations as the Apple version and it will be release for the XP version and Vista version ( hoooray!!!!!).
As far as speed is concern, the Safari windows version will be faster than IE and Firefox according to Steve Jobs. At the WWDC conference, he showed several comparison slides showcasing the performance advantages of the Safari browser using the ibench performance suite. The result below indicated that Safari is twice as fast as Internet Explorer and slightly faster than Firefox.
If the Safari delivers everything that Steve Jobs showed at the conference then i will use it as my main browser. Firefox manages only to snag a small percentage of the market and we will see if Apple can penetrate a good portion of the windows market. Distribution will also be a key for the success of Safari and using the iTunes platform is the right step in global expansion.
HTML Performance on Windows XP
Internet Explorer ====================================== 4.6 seconds
Firefox ============================= 3.7 seconds
Safari ================ 2.2 seconds
ibench results shown at the WWDC conference
Other results shown at the conference:
Java Script Performance ( using ibench)
IE : 2.4 seconds
Firefox : 1.6 seconds
Safari : 0.9 seconds
Safari Features:
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Most Innovative Browser
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Fastest Browser
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Twice as fast as IE7
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1.6 Times Faster than Firefox 2
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Google built-in
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Yahoo built-in
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Same as Safari Leopard
link: story
link: download the beta now
link: WWDC Conference 2007
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Tech Bargain Find of the Day!
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Sunday, 03 June 07 - 08:49 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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If you are contemplating of purchasing a flat panel computer monitor to replace your old "crt" dinosaur screen then check-out this 19" widescreen from Acer.
The lcd monitor prices have plummeted to a level that everyone can now afford to replace their old and obselete computer screen. Not only you will save desk space on this flat panel monitor but they are more energy efficient than the old technology.
If you have a laptop which they are also more affordable these days, you can buy an lcd monitor as an add on for your desktop viewing. Infact, i use my laptop more than my desktop computer but when i have it on my computer cart, i connect it to my 19" lcd monitor for a larger screen.
For the tech geeks out there, multiple lcd monitors are becoming popular and you can even buy a dual monitor mount stand for a high-tech look. Manufacturers like Zen View offers "Triple Lcd Screens" from 17" screen all the way to the mammoth 30" screen ( start saving!).
Acer 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor
model: X192Wbd
color: black
Deal site: New Egg - Acer 19" Widescreen monitor
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 19" |
| Widescreen | Yes |
| Display Type | WXGA+ |
| Maximum Resolution | 1440 x 900 |
| Recommended Resolution | 1440 x 900 |
| Viewing Angle | 160°(H) / 160°(V) |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.284mm |
| Display Colors | 16.7 Million |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Response Time | 5ms |
| Connectivity | |
| Input Video Compatibility | Analog RGB, Digital |
| Connectors | D-Sub, DVI |
| D-Sub | 1 |
| DVI | 1 |
| HDMI | No |
link: Acer
link: New Egg
link: get paid to surf the web link: join the digital revolution!
link: The Secret - "Law of Attraction" link: business opportunity
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Apple TV + YouTube = It's about Time!
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Thursday, 31 May 07 - 12:44 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Apple TV owners will finally be able to view thousands of videos from their device thanks to Steve Jobs partnership with YouTube ( Apple should have done this at the product launch). No longer will the Apple TV users be limited to movies and music purchased from the ITunes store but now there will be a huge selection of contents that are available for viewing by just selecting YouTube on the device menu.
Since the Apple TV uses the H.264 standard, it will take some time before all those YouTube videos are converted to this format. I think Apple is on the right track making the Apple TV more attractive to the average internet consumers. Another big plus is the announcement of a larger capacity Apple TV which will feature a 160 GB hard drive for $399.
What makes Steve Jobs a marketing genius is he knows what the Apple users wants and at the same time attracting non-Apple users by adding new features. With the Apple ipod as the dominant mp3 device, the Apple TV could set the standard as the entertainment box for our living room.
Other Apple announcements:
Apple will start selling non-copy protected songs on the new ITunes Plus store. Read story.
Check out the video below: Great interview of Steve Jobs and the demonstration of YouTube on the Apple TV.
link: related article
stock symbol: aapl
gallery photo: interview of Steve Jobs
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Why is a laser printer more cost effective and better for most jobs.
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Thursday, 17 May 07 - 10:12 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Laser printers have been around for a long time but most consumers still prefer the cheaper (not really) ink jet color printers. If you look at your Sunday page ads, most of the printers that are on sale or bundled with a computer system are color ink jet printers.
Infact, some of these printers are almost free with the combination of the rebate offer from the manufacturer. Last September, i went to Bestbuy and purchased a laptop and also a color printer because with the instant rebate the final cost was $44 ( about the cost of a cartridge). Now don't get me wrong, this was a good deal, the fact i got a printer with both the color and black cartridge was simply fantastik.
Since i'm using this printer along with my two daughters for their school work and projects, the cost to replace these cartridges are simply expensive. The amount of money i've spent so far on these cartridges, i could have bought several more ink jet printers.
Then i remember a few years ago from an article i've read from one of those computer magazines, the cost per page for a laser jet is a lot less than ink jet. Eventhough, the combine cost of the black and color cartridge are less than a laser jet toner, the latter last a lot longer.
As a matter-of-fact, the bulk of the print jobs that my whole family process are basically black and white print-outs. From time to time, we might print color photos from the digital cameras or school projects that required color output. Since the school year is almost over, i will hold off until September to purchase a laser jet printer.
But if you are thinking of buying a second printer for your home, go for the laser jet as the main unit for the daily print jobs. Not only you will be saving a lot of money with the toner compared to those expensive color cartridges but you will also get a superior black and white output ( more professional).
Lastly, don't be tempted to buy a generic toner for your laser jet because of the low price. Most major manufacturer design their printers to work only with their products so installing off brand toner might not give you a good result or not work at all.
Tips on buying a Laser Jet printer:
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Check the print quality ( higher dpi means sharper output)
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Speed of the printer ( for business applications choose a heavy duty model)
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Network capabilities ( usually more expensive)
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Toner cost and output per month
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Type of papers it can handle ( letter or legal)
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Price of the unit
Some good models to choose from:
HP LaserJet 1020 Q5911A 15 ppm Laser
Brother HL-2040 Monochrome Laser Printer
related story: ink jet vs laser jet
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The verdict: 40 million Vista copies sold!
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Tuesday, 15 May 07 - 01:10 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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I think Bill Gates will be getting a few more dollars in his piggy bank this year. The hoopla behind the release of the long awaited successor to Windows XP is finally on track. After all the delays, bugs, and mix reviews of the Windows Vista, the momentum is finally moving in the right direction.
Gates stated at the WIndow Hardware Engineering Conference that Microsoft sold 40 million copies of Vista as of last week. I think part of the reason for this was the long delay ( years) of the Vista cause consumers to adopt earlier than expected.
In addition, i'm not really suprise that Microsoft is selling a lot of copies because at the end of the day, people wants the latest and greatest for their computer system. Since the beginning of the windows revolution, computer users are able to tolerate the instability of the operating system, especially the first version. They know that in time with the future update releases, the operating system eventually stabilize.
Below is an excerp from ZDNet
Microsoft: 40 million copies of Vista sold by ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley -- As of last week, Microsoft had sold 40 million copies of Windows Vista, according to company Chairman Bill Gates. Gates said Vista is still selling at two times the rate of Windows XP.
link: WinHec 2007
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Back up...Back up...Back up!- Don't lose your digital assets!
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Monday, 14 May 07 - 05:47 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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If you're like me, i take a lot of digital photos especially during the holiday season and summer vacations. Infact, my wife and my two daughters have their own digital camera since they want to shoot their own pictures ( pictures that they don't want to show daddy...lol) . The amount of photos we accumulated during the past few years are taking a lot of hard drive space since most of the cameras we own are the high resolution models which means bigger file size.
These cameras are also capable of shooting videos which make it convenient to use when a video camera is not available. These videos are recorded in the "avi" format which is a huge file size so it takes up a lot of space. For example, using my Canon elph and shooting a 30 second video in a 640 x 480 resolution, the file will be 22.1 mb ( and that's only a 30 second segment!). Using a digital camcorder however, will even yield more large file size because each minute of video takes an incredible 200 megs of space on your hard drive.
Therefore, the combination of these high resolution photos and videos will certainly occupy a large chunk of the hard drive space. The best way to back-up these digital assets is to purchase a dvd recorder or an external hard drive. Each has its own positive and negative merits so you can decide which solution is best. Infact, using both applications will insure a better back-up system.
Back-up by dvd: 
The cheapest and quickest solution is to back-up your digital media using a dvd re-writer. Most computers today,especially the newer models have a dvd re-writer built-in. But if your system is a couple of years old, the solution is to purchase either an external unit ( usb/firewire) or internal drive ( if you are comfortable installing computer components). The blank dvd's are widely available and they are very cheap compared a few years ago. Make sure to check which dvd format ( either +/-) is compatible with the dvd re-writer. The newer models are also capable of recording in the new DL format which is dual layer. This new format is double the capacity of the standard blank dvd (DL dvd's are more expensive).
For a non-techie person, an external dvd re-writer is the easiest solution for connecting in the computer. Just choose a model with either a usb or firewire connection and the installation is just a matter of installing the software and plugging the device.
click here: dvd re-writer comparison shopping site
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X( internal) PHILIPS 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW( external)
SONY Black 16X DVD+R 8X ( internal) LG 2-Tone 16X DVD+R 8XDVD+RW(external)
Back-up by external hard drive: 
The more expensive solution is to purchase an external hardrive. Over, the last 6-12 months, the price of these peripheral has plummeted to the point that its actually affordable to the average consumer. Industry leaders such as Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital, and LG offers a wide variety of models and design. The only important decision you need to make is the connection type ( usb or firewire) and capacity.
click here : external hard drive comparison shopping site
Western Digital My Book Essential WDG1U2500N 250GB 7200 RPM USB 2.0
Fantom Titanium-II TFD500U16 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache USB 2.0
Tips on organizing and backing up your digital photos, videos, mp3's, and documents.
Seperate each format from one another by placing all digital photos, videos, music and documents with their own folders.
Create sub-folders from each format and label them by subject and date.
Everytime you have a new batch of pictures for example a birthday party, immediately create a folder then label and date it. This will save you a lot of time and energy searching for a particular photo.
Once you organized your digital assets just copy them to either a dvd or external hard drive.
other link: get paid to surf the web other link: join the digital revolution!
other link: business opportunity other link: the secret to everything
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Time to upgrade!
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Wednesday, 02 May 07 - 03:05 PM (GMT -05:00) By Dennis Landayan in Computers |
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Wow! I just bought my laptop a few months ago with a core duo processors from Gateway and i thought that was fast enough and its the latest model so i won't have to upgrade for atleast a couple of years( yeah right). Today "Quad Core" pc's from Gateway hit the retail shelves with an estimated retail price of $2100 ( FX8020) and $2300 ( FX8030) proving that chipmakers like Intel and Amd are not just concentrating on the ghz speed but also on the architectural design of the cpu. With the release of Windows Vista from Microsoft ( with over 500 bugs...lol), the new computer systems coming out this year will not have any trouble running the operating system.
If you have a system that is a couple of years old ( depending on the cpu), one should invest in upgrading the memory to atleast 1 gig to run Vista. If you are happy with Windows XP, i suggest wait another year to make the upgrade since the operating system is still buggy ( especially installing it to older systems).
System Spec: ( model FX8030)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4 GHz)
Memory installed: 2 GB DDR II SDRAM
Hard drive: 500 GB Standard
OS installed: Vista Home Premium
Both models are available right now at Best Buy and CircuitCity.
... More items are available in my News Archive
