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What You Need To Know About Touchpads Before Buying Your Next Laptop [Technology Explained]

Posted on 02 June 2011. Tags: about, Before, Buying, explained, Know, Laptop, Need, Next, Technology, Touchpads

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/touchpadthumb.jpg" alt="" />If you walk into a retail store and ask a sales rep to explain a laptop to you, chances are you’ll receive a long list of hardware information focusing on what’s inside. You’ll be told what the processor is, you’ll be told the size of the hard drive, and you’ll be told the RAM installed.

This is information you’ll want to know, but in today’s world of speedy processors and cheap RAM, many users will rarely ask about all their laptop has to give. As a result, the difference between a good laptop and a great one comes down to the little things, like the touchpad. Yet the touchpad itself is a mysterious item. It’s there, it works, and it has for years. Not all touchpads are built the same however.

The Basics Of Touchpad Technology

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/touchpad.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" />

The first class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-disable-the-touchpad-while-you-are-typing/">touchpads made their debut in the early 1990s, and were one of several responses to the problem of providing an portable input solution with a portable computer (trackpointers and trackballs were also common). The first laptop to have a touchpad –or trackpad, as it was officially called at the time – was the Apple PowerBook 500.

Modern touchpads use a technology called capacitive touch. This is the same tech used by most modern class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/touch-test-touch-screen-test-app/">touchscreens, and it works by detecting the electrical current of a human finger as it comes into contact with the touchpad surface. This allows for smooth, easy navigation that doesn’t rely on physical pressure.

However, capacitive touch does have one minor disadvantage, and that’s the inability to detect inanimate objects or gloved human hands. Special touchpads, like the tablets from class="vt-p" href="http://www.wacom.com/">Wacom, are required for use with a class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/answers/tag/stylus/">stylus. Fortunately, only artists and Eskimos routinely bump into this problem.

The Differences Between Touchpads

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While virtually all touchpads use the same basic technology to detect input, there are a wide variety of ways to use this technology, and a wide variety of touchpad sizes and textures.

The most important feature to look for in a touchpad is multitouch gesture support. Although this has become a common extra, it’s not ubiquitous. For example, I recently tested a MSI GT680R gaming laptop, priced at about $1,500, which did not have multitouch. Determining if a laptop supports this feature is easy if you can use it hands-on. Just try scrolling down a webpage with your middle and index fingers.

If a laptop doesn’t have multi-touch, it should at least have scroll space available. This is a small vertical area, usually on the right side of the touchpad, that’s exclusively designed to translate finger movement into an up/down scrolling motion.

Material quality, although low-tech, is critical. Most inexpensive laptops will simply construct the touchpad out of the same plastic as the surrounding laptop, and that works alright, but it doesn’t result in the smoothest feel. More expensive laptops, like the MacBooks, use a glass surface because it provides less resistance to finger movement. You’ll occasionally find other materials used, as well. The class="vt-p" href="http://event.asus.com/notebook/bamboo/index2.html">ASUS Bamboo series, for example, crafts the touchpad out of the same bamboo you’ll find on the rest of the laptop.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/touchpad6.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="411" />

Finally, the touchpad buttons are important. The best option is a touchpad that offers two separate physical mouse buttons, but many touchpads use what is called a rocker-style button. This means there is one individual with a rocker in the middle, which means the button operates like a seesaw. Rocker-style buttons look sexy, but they can be annoying to use because pressing the button near the rocker requires more force than pressing the button at the edge.

The perfect touchpad should offer multitouch support, a smooth surface, and two individual buttons with great tactile response. Finding all of these features together is difficult, particularly in inexpensive laptops, but it’s not impossible.

The Importance Of Software Support

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Although your touchpad’s hardware is important, the software being used also has an impact on how your touchpad performs.

For example, Windows did not even support multitouch until Windows 7 ( class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/easily-activate-finger-scroll-windows-laptops/">although there are ways to hack it), even if the hardware was capable of it. Although much has been made about the inclusion of multitouch as it relates to tablets, its impact on laptops has been more immediate and obvious. Navigating Windows with a touchpad is much easier than before.

With that said however, there are still clear differences between Windows 7 and Mac OS X, which offers incredible multitouch support. Much of the difference between navigating Windows and Mac OS X on a laptop comes down not to the hardware (although the MacBook’s glass touchpad is nice) but to the software support. Ubuntu also offers full multitouch support as of version 10.10.

Conclusion

It’s easy to forget about the touchpad when a sales rep is gushing to you about the great hardware packed inside the new laptop you have your eye on. Don’t let that distract you. The touchpad is something you’ll be using a lot, and it cannot be replaced or upgraded, so you need to be sure to buy a laptop with a touchpad you like. />
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6 Things To Look For When Buying A Laptop In 2011

Posted on 28 April 2011. Tags: 2011, Buying, Laptop, Look, Things

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/intro8.jpg" alt="buying a laptop computer" />Are you familiar with dying laptop syndrome? Is your mobile workstation showing signs of wear, tear, age and abuse? I know you’re both probably very attached to one another, but it might be time to let go…

href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/buying-tips/">Buying a new laptop computer can be both frustrating and expensive. Brand loyalty will only get you so far, and before long you’ll find yourself carefully studying specifications, href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/choosing-a-laptop-9-great-review-sites/">reading countless reviews and examining every online shop you can find for the best price. Even if you’ve only got a modest budget in mind, you’re going to have to spend a lot of time with your new machine – so it pays to make the right decision in the long run.

Sandy Bridge

Intel’s second generation of Core-i “Sandy Bridge” processors landed in March, albeit a couple of months late thanks to a recall. The evidence of this is clear all over the web, manufacturers like Dell, Asus, Acer and Apple already have models sporting the speedier, more href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ways-to-reduce-the-power-consumption-of-your-computer/">energy efficient chips.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sandybridge.jpg" alt="buying a laptop computer" width="580" height="344" />

You’ll also probably notice many of the first generation Core-i processors floating around in numerous deals, as retailers try to shift “old” stock. The last generation aren’t bad processors by any stretch of the imagination, though if you’re really looking to future-proof yourself then the newer chips are by far the better choice.

Sandy Bridge processors run on average 5-10% faster than the previous generation, operate at cooler temperatures, are more energy efficient and the href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/apu-technology-explained/">on-board graphical processors (GPU) provide impressive performance for an integrated, non-dedicated solution.

USB 3.0

In 1996 USB 1.0 was standardised with a maximum transfer rate of 12 Megabits per second. By April 2000 USB 2.0 set the bar higher with maximum theoretical speeds of 480 Megabits per second (in real terms 60MB per second), and now href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/usb-30-technology-explained">USB 3.0 is here to change the game again.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/usb.png" alt="what to look for when buying a new laptop" width="580" height="303" />

With realistic transfer speeds of 3.2 Gigabits per second (that’s a mighty 400MB of data every second) why wouldn’t you want USB 3.0 on your next laptop? Notebooks often require additional, external storage (especially for href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/backup/">backup purposes) so buying into speedier technology early is bound to pay off once you’ve invested in some USB 3.0 devices.

Good Screen Resolution & Colour Reproduction

One thing that repeatedly lets down well-equipped laptops is a poor screen. If you intend on doing more than just word processing and web surfing; fancy playing games, watching videos or editing photos on your laptop then don’t forget a decent display.

Despite promising “HD resolution”, many notebooks still only carry a 720p compliant screen. For some serious visual real-estate, invest in a full HD model (1080p or better). If you’re concerned about accurate colour representation then look out for RGB LED backlighting (possibly as an upgrade, for example Dell’s latest XPS machines).

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Unlike “white” LEDs which are blue with a coating of yellow phosphor to appear white, RGB LED backlighting provides a purer white and richer colours especially in the green and blue spectrums.

Chiclet Keyboard

style="text-align: left;">Vaguely resembling Scrabble tiles, chiclet keyboards are (among some manufacturers, at least) all the rage at the moment. The keys certainly make for a refreshing look, but also offer the benefit of not having gaps between the keys.

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This means your keyboard should gather far less dust, fluff, crumbs and other desk-related paraphernalia over time. Reviews suggest that some of these keyboards are excellent, offering superior action and a much more href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-free-apps-to-help-you-start-touch-typing/">comfortable typing experience over traditional keyboards.

For real wow-factor look for a backlit model and as always, read your reviews and if possible try it out before you buy – every manufacturer and model can differ.

Housing & Build Quality

As a Linux and occasionally Windows user even I’m aware that Apple have produced some wonderful laptops over the years. I’m not referring to the operating system, and I’m not referring to the hardware either – it’s the chassis that always impressed me.

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Finally, it seems, that “normal” laptop manufacturers have started to do the same. HP’s original Envy line took a well-executed metal leaf out of Apple’s (Mac)book, featuring a sleek aluminium chassis, flush screen and huge touchpad. It was the first laptop to dare try on an Apple dress in the Windows market, it looked great and it was built like a tank.

Build quality can make all the difference, especially if you’re prone to breaking things or expecting your purchase to last a while. It doesn’t have to be metal to be well-built (Toshiba’s business laptops are proof of that) but you’ll want to make sure you know what you’re in for before buying.

Solid State Storage

Traditional hard drives are electromechanical (keep strong magnets well away) and contain spinning disks to store an arm to access data. They are fairly susceptible to shock, have a tendency to die when you least expect and are on the way out in favour of solid state storage.

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Okay, so traditional hard drives are here to stay for a while yet (especially considering the constant reduction in price) but SSDs offer some great benefits, if you’ve got the spare cash. Not only are they faster, with no spin-up time and lower latency but also hardier (with absolutely no moving parts) and silent. We’ve recently published a guide here at MakeUseOf all about SSDs, so make sure you href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-hard-drive-future-guide-solid-state-drives/">give it a read if you’re interested.

Conclusion

You’re probably not going to opt for a laptop that has all of the above, and if you do be prepared to pay top dollar. Always do your research before buying a laptop computer, either by reading reviews or asking owners. Users of forums like href="http://www.notebookforums.com/">NotebookForums or href="http://forum.notebookreview.com/">NotebookReview can offer valuable insight into potential purchases such as href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/linux/">Linux performance and heat output. Good luck in your quest for the perfect laptop!

Have you recently bought a new laptop? Are you considering one? Any killer selling points? Let us know in the comments below.

Image Credits: rel="nofollow" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?lang=en&search_source=search_form&version=llv1&anyorall=all&safesearch=1&searchterm=laptop+isolated&search_group=&orient=&search_cat=&searchtermx=&photographer_name=&people_gender=&people_age=&people_ethnicity=&people_number=&commercial_ok=&color=&show_color_wheel=1#id=75193636&src=50a251b9f101f2602a459628b107178b-1-135">Shutterstock, Chiclet Keyboard: rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephen_bolen/5515082415/in/photostream/">Stephen Bolen, RGB LED: rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/flakepardigm/3538195638/">flakeparadigm />
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5 Things To Consider Before Buying A Tablet PC

Posted on 18 February 2011. Tags: Before, Buying, Consider, Tablet, Things

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/intro1.jpg" alt="tablet pc consideration" width="200" height="108" />Back in January I wrote href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-buying-netbook/">an article about 5 things you might want to consider before href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/netbooks-buy-today-gadget-corner/">buying a netbook. The option of buying a shiny new tablet PC made it onto my list, although these devices come with their own list of advantages, compromises and considerations.

So in order to restore a bit of balance, here’s a brief shortlist of tablet PC considerations to consider before you take the plunge and break the bank. I’ve found myself pondering these five points for a good few months now…

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Which One?

You may or may not already have a model in mind. Maybe you’ve been to the Apple store and fallen in love with iOS. Maybe you’re firmly set up in camp Google and have your heart set on an Android whim?

Then again there’s Windows, probably the least favourable href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/operating-system/">operating system for use with touch controls. But don’t forget Bill’s OS will give you unparalleled software compatibility and Flash support out of the box. But if you’re leaning towards Windows wouldn’t a href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-killer-apps-to-maximize-your-netbooks-potential/">netbook be better?

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/galaxytab1.jpg" alt="tablet pc consideration" width="500" height="244" />

Android and Windows devices can vary greatly, so do your research and read as many reviews as possible before reaching for your wallet. I can’t speak for every Android or Windows tablet, but I know that Apple’s href="http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/tag/ipad/">iPad doesn’t support a user-replaceable battery and Apple charges $99 to replace the lithium polymer cell once it dies.

The only way to really tell if you and a new piece of kit are made for each other is by trying it out. Go to a shop and play with everything they have for a good half hour. If it suits, go home, go on the Internet and buy it cheaper (if you’re that way inclined).

Are They Too Touchy?

Generally speaking, tablet devices require a touch input to function. Granted, you might get one or two buttons on the front, maybe a volume rocker on the side but that’s about it.

“Gorilla arm” is the rather humorous name for the act of obscuring the screen you’re using with your arm, primarily due to the layout and touch nature of the device. This is always going to be an issue with touch input, so you’re going to have to live with it.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/brokenipad.jpg" alt="buying a tablet pc" width="500" height="265" />

On another note; if you’re particularly heavy handed or have a habit of breaking things then you’ll either want to reconsider or take out accidental damage cover when you buy. Once that lovely capacitive touch screen dies it’s pretty much game over.

Are You A Consumer?

By consumer in this instance I mean do you waste enough time on the Internet or is your online time usually put to better use?

As this latest generation of tablet devices has slowly matured, it has become fairly evident that tablet PCs are devices aimed more at consumption than production. The lack of a physical keyboard is fairly indicative of this.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ipadgame.jpg" alt="buying a tablet pc" width="500" height="375" />

Instead you’re more likely to find this generation’s average tablet user href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/streaming-video/">streaming video, playing games, reading RSS feeds or eBooks – that sort of thing. Sure, Twitter and email won’t cause a sweat but I’d rather not have to produce a lengthy document using an onscreen keyboard – would you?

Do You Really Need One?

So you’ve got your iPhone to keep your thumbs in shape, your netbook for computing-on-the-go and your home PC answers to the call of duty when you finally get home at night. Where would a tablet fit into your digital lifestyle?

If you don’t already own one then maybe a netbook would be a wiser purchase. You’ll get more bang for your buck, a proper operating system and the reassuring touch of a physical keyboard. You can also easily href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/basic-parts-computer-upgrade-technology-explained/">upgrade RAM and replace a dud battery in a netbook, and you won’t need an external keyboard or iPad keyboard dock to get some work done.

Then again maybe you’ve recently been pining for the perfect couch-potato device and find yourself demanding a big touch screen to do some serious browsing….

Should I Wait?

Often a burning question when it comes to any serious hardware purchase – what will the next generation hold? Dual-core Android devices are href="http://www.theandroidphone.com/dual-core-android-phones-in-2011-95851/">just landing resulting in faster, more capable (and pricier) tablets being produced.

style="text-align: center;"> class="alignnone size-full wp-image-65313" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/ASUS_EeePadSlider_2.jpg" alt="tablet pc consideration" width="500" height="345" />

One of those dual-core devices is the Asus Eee Pad Slider (above) which runs Android, has a hidden keyboard, promises 1080px video and proper Flash support.

It’s also not in Apple’s style to let the competition run away with the show, and timely releases are vital in order to keep up with competitors. At the moment of writing, rumours are circulating the Internet of the iPad 2 having already gone into production – time to decide whether you want a shiny new Apple product or the shiniest new Apple product when it finally surfaces.

Conclusion

Tablet PCs didn’t really work first time round. Very few consumers found a need for laptop-cum-tablet hybrids with big swivelling resistive touch screens. This time round tablets are back with vastly improved innards, capacitive touch technology and a distinct lack of keyboard.

This time round there’s still an unclear target market, partly due to the fact that you’re probably not going to get a whole lot of work done on a tablet. Instead they’re aimed at reading, watching, playing and browsing; making the tablet PC a very passive device indeed.

Would you buy a tablet? Do you own one? Is a netbook a better purchase? Have your say in the comments below.

Image Credits: rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/3bilder/5113921668/">Samsung Galaxy Tab, rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualities/4645426651/in/photostream/">Broken iPad, rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gorekun/4624210662/in/photostream/">iPad Game, rel="nofollow" href="http://ces2011.asus.com/photos/eee/eee-pad-slider/">Asus Eee Pad Slider, rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frostwire/5034231193/in/photostream/">Android Phone />
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Three Reasons You Should Consider Buying A Mechanical Keyboard

Posted on 29 December 2010. Tags: Buying, Consider, Keyboard, Mechanical, Reasons, Should, three

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mechkeythumb1.jpg" alt="mechanical keyboard vs standard" width="250" height="238" />It’s easy to take your keyboard for granted. They don’t seem to do anything besides sit on your desk, resisting the punishment of your fingertips. Upon closer examination, however, the keyboard becomes very important. It is, along with your mouse, one of two ways that you interact with your computer. And if you’re like me, and you use your computer for eight hours a day or more, the quality of the keyboard becomes very important.

Most keyboards use rubber domes to resist the user’s keystrokes, but some keyboards make use of mechanical switches. They’re much more expensive, and as a result the keyboards that use them are often $100 or more. That’s a lot – but let me make a case as to why the price is justified.

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Better Key Feel

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mechkey1.jpg" alt="mechanical keyboard vs standard" width="330" height="300" />

Some users, once they’ve tried a mechanical class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/remap-keyboard-free-tools-windows/">keyboard, swear never to go back to the typical rubber-dome model. Why? It comes down to key feel.

Key feel is a vague term, and always will be, but it generally refers to characteristics such as the speed with which a key returns to its normal position and the resistance a key provides your fingers. Rubber-dome keyboards often feel “mushy” because resistance isn’t linear and/or because the individual keys wobble on the rubber domes below them. Mechanical keys also usually return to their positions more quickly than do rubber-dome keys. This is due to the increased resistance that a mechanical mechanism provides when compared to a rubber dome design.

Of course, the audible feedback given by a mechanical keyboard should be mentioned as well. Mechanical keyboards are louder than rubber-dome keyboards because of the mechanical action. While this can be a troublesome trait if you’re trying to use a computer quietly, this additional feedback makes typing more pleasurable.

Outstanding Durability

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The long life of mechanical keyboards, compared with all other keyboard technologies, has long been citied as an advantage. Perhaps the most famous example of this is the class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/answers/program-simulates-ibm-model-keyboard/">IBM Model M keyboard, which was released in 1984 and continues to be produced today. Many made in the 80′s are still around, and fully functional. In fact, they’re one of the cheapest options for users looking to buy a mechanical keyboard, as used IBM Model M keyboards can be found on eBay and Craiglist frequently.

The durability of mechanical keyboards comes down to the design. The switches are made entirely of metal, and most use a metal-on-metal contact (the portion of the key’s design that lets the computer know a key has been pressed). As a result, mechanical keyboards can stand up to 50 million key presses or more – the typical rubber-dome keyboard is good for 10 million at most. In addition, the rubber in a rubber-dome keyboard often degrades over time, resulting in sticky keys, collapsed domes, and other issues.

Easy Maintenance

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mechkey3.jpg" alt="mechanical keyboard vs standard" width="500" height="259" />

Many rubber-dome keyboards are a real pain to maintain. The rubber itself tends to attract dirt, particularly if it ages and becomes somewhat sticky, which can be a problem with some rubber. In addtion, many rubber-dome keyboards are constructed by laying down a single bit of layer across the entire width of the keyboard, with domes placed in the appropriate places. This can make removal of the rubber for cleaning very difficult or impossible.

In addition to this, rubber-dome keyboards often use key attachment methods that are not maintenance friendly. Technically, the keys themselves merely need to rest in the proper place, so a small piece of metal is used to keep the key attached. This metal can be thin, however, and difficult to reattach.

Most mechanical keyboards, by contrast, let you remove each individual key. The switches are self-contained, and the area between them is merely flat plastic. This makes cleaning easy, and keys can be re-attached with firm pressure.

Conclusion

Mechanical keyboards typically aren’t cheap. The least expensive new models are from Unicomp, the company that continues production of the old Model M keyboard. The class="vt-p" href="http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html">Customizer 101 model sells for $69. More modern keyboards, such as the SteelSeries 7G and Das Keyboard, run for between $120 and $150.

Not everyone will appreciate a mechanical keyboard. If you only spend an hour or two on your PC per day, they’re probably not for you. Those who spend a lot of time on your PCs daily, however, should seriously consider the points outlined above.

Image Credit : class="vt-p" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.trustedreviews.com/peripherals/review/2010/01/08/SteelSeries-7G-Gaming-Keyboard/p3">TrustedReviews />
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The Things You Need To Know When Buying A New Hard Drive

Posted on 09 November 2010. Tags: Buying, Drive, Hard, Know, Need, Things

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/harddrives1.jpg" alt="buy hard drive" width="252" height="252" />Your computer’s hard drive is its only form of long-term storage. Music, photos, documents, games – it all goes on your hard drive. There isn’t a lot you can do to increase the capacity of your hard drive, either.

You can always try to compress files, but that’s not much fun, and this often just delays the inevitable. If you’re running out of hard drive space it’s only a matter of time before you need to buy a new drive. But what should you buy?

id="more-57693">

Inside or Out?

First things first – before anything else, you need to decide what type of hard drive you’re looking for. External or internal?

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These drives are very different. External drives loiter outside your system and connect to your computer via class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/usb/">USB, eSATA or FireWire connection. These hard drives are portable and incredibly simple to use – most are plug and play.

However, external drives are generally more expensive per gigabyte of storage than internal drives. They also take up space on your desk, which may not be ideal. Finally, external drives usually don’t perform as well as internal drives, so you may notice that copying files to and from the external drive takes a long time.

External drives connected via class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/usb-30-technology-explained/">USB 3.0 are an exception to this – but remember, connecting an external hard drive via USB 3.0 requires that both your computer’s motherboard and your external drive support the standard. If your motherboard doesn’t support USB 3.0 you’ll need to buy an expansion card and install it inside your computer.

Internal drives are better value overall, but an external drive is fine if you’re not comfortable mucking about inside your PC.

External Concerns

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/harddrive4.jpg" alt="choose replacement hard drive" width="342" height="320" />

Let’s assume you decided on an external drive. If you went internal, skip to the next section.

There are two general types of external drives. On the one hand you have small drives based off 2.5” mechanical hard drives. These usually connect via USB and are powered via USB. They’re often small enough to carry in a pocket. Seagate offers a 1.5 TB drive in this category – all other options max out at 1 TB.

On the other hand you have large external drives based off 3.5” mechanical hard drives. These drives sometimes require power from a wall socket. They’re heavier and not fun to lug around without a bag, but they’re available in capacities of up to (and beyond) 3TB. They’re usually better value, too. The choice here is simply one of portability vs. storage capacity and value.

You should also pay attention to how a drive connects to your computer. The quickest connections are USB 3.0 and eSATA, but these are also the least common on desktops and laptops, so check to make sure you have the proper connection before buying. USB 2.0 and FireWire connections are more common, but not as quick.

The spindle speed of an external hard drive should also be considered – higher is better. The fastest external drives available max out at 7200 RPM.

Internal Affairs

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If you’re comfortable installing a hard drive you’re probably best off going internal. Doing so opens up a world of options.

You don’t have to worry about the portability of internal drives, so picking an internal drive is a straight compromise between performance, storage capacity and price. You do have to worry about size, however, because laptops and desktops use different drive sizes. Laptops use 2.5” drives, while desktops generally use 3.5” drives. Be careful, though – some of today’s slim systems and all-in-one PCs do use 2.5” drives.

Performance is determined by the spindle speed and cache available on a hard drive. The maximum spindle speed on consumer drives is 10,000 RPM (enterprise hard drives are quicker still, but forget about them – they’re outrageously expensive). Cache is usually between 16 and 64 MB.

Storage capacity is incredibly various. The smallest internal drives offer about 80 GB of space, while the largest external drives tops out at 3TB.

Prices rise with performance and capacity. For example, Western Digital sells its low-end “green” 1TB 3.5” internal drive for $60. Upgrading to the high-performance “black” version requires that you hand over an extra $30.

Connection type isn’t really an issue with internal drives. Almost all internal drives use SATA. You only need to worry if you have a computer older than 5 years, as it may use a legacy connection instead of SATA. You can add SATA support by installing an SATA expansion card.

A Note About Solid State Drives

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Everything I’ve said so far applies to mechanical hard drives. These are still the most popular by far, but the performance a class="vt-p" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/why-trim-important-to-solid-state-hard-drives/">solid state drive can offer is hard to ignore.

If you are considering a SSD, keep in mind that they’re virtually always 2.5” drives. They can be installed in a desktop, but you may need an adapter to secure the drive. Also, be sure to read the reviews. Spindle speed and cache size give a good impression of a mechanical drive’s performance, but there is no easy way to guess the performance of an SSD without reading a review.

External SSDs are basically just thumb drives. They’re very expensive, but extremely portable. As with internal 2.5” drives there is no easy way to guess performance without researching first.

Conclusion

Almost everyone runs out of hard drive storage eventually, but this is nothing to worry about. It’s easy to buy a new hard drive, and most drives with less than 1TB of storage can be had for under $100.

Just be sure to do your homework – otherwise you may end up with a drive that is slower than you hoped, or a drive that doesn’t work with and/or fit in your computer.

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7 Important Things To Know When Buying An LCD Monitor

Posted on 12 October 2010. Tags: Buying, Important, Know, Monitor, Things

class="align-left" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 5px; float: right;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/LCD01.png" border="0" alt="lcd computer monitors" width="300" height="195" />Are you tired of your old computer monitor and in dire need of a new one? Maybe you should make yourself familiar with LCD computer monitors. LCD stands for style="text-decoration: underline;">liquid style="text-decoration: underline;">crystal style="text-decoration: underline;">display and are also known as flatscreens.

LCDs have been used for a while, for example in digital clocks and laptops. In recent years they have become a standard for desktop monitors. During the same time, LCDs have also conquered the TV market.

Flatscreen monitors are much thinner and lighter than CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. They also require less energy, emit no electromagnetic radiation, and the technology enables clearer images, higher resolutions, and a flicker-free display, which is easier on the eyes.

id="more-53413"> /> These are only a few key arguments to finally replace the old CRT monitor. This article explains the various features of monitors in general and flatscreens in specific. It will help you understand what you should watch out for when buying a new LCD computer monitor.

Screen Size

The screen size is measured in inches, diagonally from the bottom left to the upper right corner of the display. Available sizes range from 15″ to 30″. The most common size for a desktop monitor today is 19″ to 22″, but it is not uncommon to buy larger sizes.

Bigger sizes usually means you will have more room on your desktop. You might finally be able to view multiple open windows in parallel. However, bigger monitors also take up more space on your desk and they tend to be more expensive.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/LCD04.png" border="0" alt="lcd computer monitors" width="580" height="245" />

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio describes the relative number of horizontal to vertical pixels in a display. Standard CRT monitors were almost square with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Today, you will find widescreen monitors that have aspect ratios like movie theater screens, i.e. 16:9 or 16:10. 16:9 is also called HD (high definition).

If you’re watching DVDs on your computer, you can avoid the black bars across your screen with a widescreen display. Wide ratios are also the most convenient solution for viewing multiple windows in parallel. The only reasons to go with 4:3 is that you either prefer it for some reason or you don’t have sufficient space on your desk for a wider monitor.

Resolution

Resolution is the number of pixels displayed horizontally and vertically. Due to the nature of LCD technology, flatscreens have only one optimized or native resolution. Hence, their native resolution describes the absolute number of pixels present horizontally and vertically.

Unlike CRT monitors, using a lower than native resolution on a flatscreen, leads to fuzzy images. Hence it is important to choose the right native resolution from the start as you can not change it, unless you accept a loss of image quality.

Higher resolutions mean sharper images, higher clarity, and more desktop space. This is perfect if you multitask or enjoy to watch movies on your computer. On the other hand, text become much smaller and harder to read. Thus a high resolution is to be avoided if your eyesight is less than perfect.

Crunch Gear has produced a great comparison chart of aspect ratios and available resolutions. Click the respective links for the class="vt-p" title="Cruch Gear Article" href="http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/12/09/handy-chart-for-understanding-aspect-ratio-and-resolution/">article or the class="vt-p" title="Aspect Ratio and Resolution Chart" href="http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/799px-aspect_ratios_and_resolutionssvg.png">full size image.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/LCD02.png" border="0" alt="lcd monitor" width="580" height="437" />

Contrast Ratio

Contrast ratio describes the difference between the brightest white and the darkest black the LCD computer monitor can display. Higher contrast ratios equal whiter whites and blacker blacks, as well as a greater degree of gray values in between. The best contrast ratio you can get is 1,000 : 1.

Contrast ratio is a difficult topic. You cannot really compare the values between different manufacturers. Also, sometimes you will find the term dynamic contrast, which is not the same as contrast ratio and can be deceiving.

Brightness

LCD monitors are illuminated by several backlights. Brightness is measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m2). A higher rating of at least 300 cd/m2, i.e. higher brightness, is to be desired if you want to watch movies or play games on your computer. For office work and browsing a lower rating of 200 – 250 cd/m2 is fine.

Viewing Angle

The higher the viewing angle, the better people who look at the monitor from the side will be able to see its display. Compared to CRTs, LCDs have a limited viewing angle. However, this feature is only interesting if you expect yourself or guests to look at your monitor with an angle. You can ignore it if you’re always going to sit straight in front of your monitor.

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/LCD05.png" border="0" alt="lcd monitor" width="580" height="181" />

Ports

All this time I’ve only been talking about the display and the LCD technology. But a monitor is more than just a display. It needs to be connected to a computer and possibly other devices. Hence, you need to know what type of port you will need and then make sure the monitor has it. Most importantly, check which connector your video card supports.

Here is a brief overview of the most common ones:

DisplayPort /> The latest digital display interface, produced since 2008.
HDMI /> style="text-decoration: underline;">High- style="text-decoration: underline;">Definition style="text-decoration: underline;">Multimedia style="text-decoration: underline;">Interface, a digital audio/video interface produced since 2003.
DVI /> style="text-decoration: underline;">Digital style="text-decoration: underline;">Video style="text-decoration: underline;">Interface, the first digital video interface. Produced to replace VGA since 1999.
VGA /> style="text-decoration: underline;">Video style="text-decoration: underline;">Graphics style="text-decoration: underline;">Array, the old analog connector, first produced in 1987.

The image below shows the ports mentioned above. From left to right: DisplayPort (blue), HDMI (black), VGA (white), and DVI (white).

style="text-align: center;"> class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/LCD03.png" border="0" alt="lcd computer monitors" />

In addition to these you may find component video, S-video, and composite video connectors.

I didn’t go into class="vt-p" title="LCD Monitor Response Time" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Response_time_%28technology%29">response time, which can be neglected, and class="vt-p" title="LCD Panel Technology" href="http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/lcd-panel-types.php">panel technology, which basically doesn’t matter if you make up your mind about the above features.

To summarize, you should first pick a desired size, aspect ratio, and resolution. These characteristics should meet your needs. In the next step you can compare all available models for further features, most importantly contrast ratio, brightness, and available ports. Finally, the price will decide which model you can afford.

What is the most important factor for you when buying an LCD computer monitor?

Image Credits: class="vt-p" title="retro screen" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/988277">miamiamia, class="vt-p" title="monitor" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/440069">hugama, class="vt-p" title="Crunch Gear" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/12/09/handy-chart-for-understanding-aspect-ratio-and-resolution/">Crunch Gear, class="vt-p" title="bridge" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1257044">somadjinn />
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Know Your POS Systems, Hardware and Software Befor Buying

Posted on 27 August 2010. Tags: Befor, Buying, Hardware, Know, Software, Systems

The basic POS systems you may see on a typical retail establishment consists of a cash register (with or without a built in cash drawer), monitor, receipt printers, and an input device. It can also be a touch screen monitors, programmable keyboards, or scanners and handheld devices for inputting data into the POS system.

Touch Screens: Many restaurants find touch screen monitors as more intuitive to use than keyboards, as it can reduce mistypes and can easily cancel orders within a second, and because it provides flexible user interfaces and programming. Touch screens also uses less electricity and much easier to position on the counter table, but they are more prone to breakdowns.

Handheld devices: Restaurant POS equipment like PDAs, which are commonly wireless devices that transmits data back to its base station and into the POS system. You can use the newer version, which is the write-on handhelds that allows you to write detail such as the orders and sends them directly to the kitchen! These types of handheld devices are perfect for your staff who interacts with your customers, when up-selling desserts and drinks roaming around table per table.

POS keyboards: Most grocery stores prefer to use this type of POS systems, since they can program individual keys for specific item codes and prices. The standard POS keyboard is a 101-key, like what you will find with any computer. Others are small and flat, which we commonly see in fast food chains. POS keyboards often has a built-in magnetic stripe readers for processing credit cards.

Scanners: A very useful piece of electronic device that reads bar codes, convert it and inputs its details to a POS system computer. Generally, it fastens a sales transaction as well as accurately inputs product or service payment of a customer. POS scanners connects through Y-connectors called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard.

Volume of customers: When it comes to serving different volumes of customers, using this restaruant hardware could be very useful. If your counter line holds several customers, your staff can easily use a CCD scanner or entry-level laser scanner. If the line is loaded with customers, then an autosensing laser scanners would be better. This type of scanner turns on when an item is placed in front of it, scans its code, and then turn off again. But if the counter line is overflowing with customers, you could sure use the help of an omnidirectional scanner, where it can scan a bar code from any angle with its 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously!

Additional POS hardware to consider

Cash drawers: Where you store cash, credit card slips, gift certificates, and other imporatant things. When looking to buy for a POS cash register, look for sturdy construction of at least 18-gauge steel. And since the usable life of a cash drawer is measured, make sure you can replace rollers, bearings, and other parts, because most cash drawers opens when a signal is released from the receipt printer.

POS printers: An addition to your restaurant POS system is a receipt printer, every retail business needs one to complete a sales transaction. A POS printer is needed in order to print a receipt and create credit card slips. There are two types of POS printers, the dot matrix printer and the thermal printer. The dot matrix printer uses ribbons and regular paper to print. On the other hand, Thermal printers are slighly expensive than the dot matrix printers because they are more realiable, they have less moving parts, faster and quieter when printing.

Customer displays: Also called the pole display. This restaurant hardware lets your customer view their item and its price, and sometimes used to support advertising. When buying a customer display, make sure that you check for the right height and width, which will perfectly fit your counter table, and its compatibility with your POS software.

Check readers: If you don’t have one, I suggest getting one now. This device helps you be preventing check fraud by verifying essential account information, saving you tons of profit.

Magnetic stripe readers: This piece of hardware is used to read credit cards. You can also purchase keyboards and touch screens has a built-in magnetic strip readers for convenience.

Fingerprint readers: If you want to limit which POS terminal can a staff use, then this type of restaurant hardware can be handy. You can also use this for employee logins thus preventing any of your employees from logging in inplace of somebody.

Always rememeber when purchasing a restaurant POS system, hardawre or software, you have to make sure that you review their details first. It doesn’t matter how expensive or cheap a POS equipment is, consider the environment where you’re going to use it. Regular cleaning keeps your keyboards and touch screens in top shape, vacuuming dust and lubing your receipt printer can extend its life and maintaining an over all clean workstation can help protect your POS terminal from dust and spills. You can always request for a FREE POS system quote online where local suppliers will provide you competitive price lists on any type of POS terminal your business needs.

Posted in UtilitiesComments (0)

POS Hardware You Need To Evaluate Before Buying

Posted on 26 August 2010. Tags: Before, Buying, Evaluate, Hardware, Need

The basic POS systems you may see on restaurants and fast food chains are touch screen monitors, programmable keyboards, or scanners and handheld devices. Cash registers (with or without a built-in cash drawer), printers can be dot matrix or thermal, programmable keyboards can have covers for spill protection and scanners can be a CCD scanner or an autosending laser scanner.

Touch Screens: With its flexible user interfaces and programming, many restaurants prefer to use touch screens. With this type of restaurant hardware, a staff can easily set orders and cancel an order within a second. It can also reduce mistypes and fasten ordering. Aside from that, touch screens are easier to position in any counter and even uses less electricity, although, they can be more prone to breakdowns.

Handheld devices: Restaurant PDAs are handheld devices, commonly wireless, that transmits data back to its base station. You can use the newer version, which is the write-on handhelds that allows you to write information such as the orders and directly sends the oder to the kitchen! These types of handheld devices are perfect for your staff who interacts with your customers, when up-selling desserts and drinks roaming around table per table.

POS keyboards: Most grocery and convenient stores prefer to use this type of POS hardware because it allows them to program individual keys for specific item codes and prices. The standard POS keyboard is a 101-key, like what you will find with any computer. Other have built-in magnetic stripe readers for processing credit cards, others are small and flat, like what we usually see in fast food outlets.

Scanners: This restaurant hardware reads bar codes and converts it before inputting it’s data to the POS computer. Generally, it fastens a sales transaction and accurately inputs product or service payment of a customer. It typically connects through Y-connectors called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard.

Volume of customers: For diffent types of volume of customers, using a scanner can be very helpful. If the line has several customers, your staff can easily use a CCD scanner or entry-level laser scanner. If the line is loaded with customers, then an autosensing laser scanners would be better. This type of scanner turns on when an item is placed in front of it, scans its code, and then turn off again. But if the counter line is overflowing with customers, then you’re staff could really use the help of an omnidirectional scanner, where it can scan a bar code from any angle with its 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously!

Other Restaurant Hardware To Consider

Cash drawers: Used to store cash, credit card slips, gift certificates and other important papers. When looking to buy a cash drawer, look for a sturdy construction of at least 18-gauge steel, don’t just buy one because your local POS supplier tells you that it’s the latest or simply because it looks fancy. Go for the most reliable cash drawer since the usable life of cash drawers are measured, you also have to make surer that you can replace rollers, bearings, and other parts. A typical cash drawer opens only when it is signaled by the POS printer.

POS printers: An addition to your restaurant POS system is a receipt printer, every retail business needs one to complete a sales transaction. POS printers are used for printing customer receipts and create credit card slips. The dot matrix printers, also known as impact printers, are inexpensive and uses ink ribbon to print on regular paper. While thermal printers use heat and special heat-sensitive paper to generate receipts. It is slightly expensive than a dot matrix printer but faster and quieter when using. They are also more reliable because they have less moving parts.

Customer displays: A customer display or pole display lets your customers know the price of the item they’re purchasing and some support advertising. You also have to make sure that your customer display is of the right height and shape to fit in to your counter table, as well as it’s compatibility with your POS software.

Check readers: Advisable for restaurants, fast food chains, hotels, casinos, and convenient stores. The check reader prevents fraud by verifying essential account information. By this, you are assure that every check in your cash drawer is authentic.

Magnetic stripe readers: A simple piece of restaurant hardware that is used to read credit cards. For added convenience, look for POS keyboards and touch screens that has a built-in magnetic strip reader, so you don’t have to buy a separate one.

Fingerprint ID readers: Mostly this type of hardware is used for employee login. But it is very helpful to limit which staff can access a POS terminal and prevent other staff from logging in for somebody as a favor.

Always rememeber when purchasing a restaurant POS system, hardawre or software, you have to make sure that you review their details first. It doesn’t matter how expensive or cheap a POS equipment is, consider the environment where you’re going to use it. Regular cleaning keeps your keyboards and touch screens in top shape, vacuuming dust and lubing your receipt printer can extend its life and maintaining an over all clean workstation can help protect your POS terminal from dust and spills. You can always request for a FREE POS system quote online where local vendors will provide you competitive price lists on any type of POS terminal your business needs.

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Kitchen And Bath Hardware Buying Guide

Posted on 20 August 2010. Tags: Bath, Buying, Guide, Hardware, Kitchen

Kitchen and bath hardware requires careful selection in order to be in long-lasting use. One of the hardest-working fixtures in your house is the sink. While shopping for sinks, you will want to find ones that are durable and easy to clean, as well as pleasing to the eye. Sinks are composed of a variety of materials and are available in a vast selection of colors and shades, textures and patterns at a great price range. Appropriate choice of faucets is equally essential. It is worth scanning the options for sinks and faucets that perfectly fit your lifestyle and your design scheme.

Bathroom sinks selection has expanded along with the number and type of bathrooms in the average home. They range from tiny wall-hung versions for the smallest of powder rooms to elaborate dual-basin models for luxurious master baths.

Traditional baths are made of enameled cast iron or vitreous china, more contemporary styles use metal, glass, crystal, stone or solid-surface resins. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to make a design statement or prefer durability of less sophisticated materials.

Deck-mounted models, which can be set into or on top of a vanity or a freestanding frame, allow for storage, unlike pedestal or wall-mounted sink styles. Console sinks offer an expanded deck space for sundries. Some bathroom sinks come with predrilled faucet holes.

Kitchen sinks are the most heavily used every day; therefore the material a sink is made of is essential. Stainless steel is very practical (the heavier the gauge, the better); enameled cast iron is elegant, easy to clean and available in a variety of colors. The most durable of the choices is quartz composite; some prefer old-fashioned soapstone, some – new-style concrete.

Self-rimming sinks sit on the countertop, they are easy to install but can also collect dirt at the seams. Under mount sinks attached to the underside of the counter, stay cleaner but are more difficult to seat. Kitchen sinks generally come with four holes used for mounting faucets and sprayers, plus dispensers for liquid soap, hot water, and purified water.

Faucets are one more important piece of kitchen and bathroom hardware. You turn faucets on and off repeatedly, day after day, for many years. So, obviously you need one that not only looks great, but is convenient and safe and will provide durable service for a long time.

The right type depends upon your sink a lot. Before you buy a certain faucet you have to know the sink or countertop’s hole configuration unless you are able to drill the countertop to suit a particular faucet. Kitchen sinks are usually designed for single-handle faucets (these are centersets where hot and cold are controlled by one lever or knob that’s often part of the spout). Bathroom vanity and pedestal sinks are designed for widespread faucets (with separately mounted hot- and cold-water valves and spout), single-lever and centersets (single-handle or double-handle types). Single-control faucets are probably more handy both for bathroom and kitchen.

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Mp3 Player Buying Advice

Posted on 04 August 2010. Tags: Advice, Buying, Player

Music is one of the best sources of entertainment. It is music that can work wonders at times. Even medical science believes in the miracle of music, and incidents are not very rare where the so-called `music therapy` has cured diseases that medical therapy has failed to do. Hence, the popular propensity towards music has improved considerably.

However, this interest for music has increased in an unprecedented fashion ever since the market was flooded with gadgets like MP3/MP4 players and iPods. These gadgets are widely popular due to their portability. But, portability is not the only deciding factor that you should consider while buying an MP3 player. There are several other elements that have to be taken into consideration before buying an MP3 player.

1. What do you want an MP3 player for? Choose according to your needs, listening to music in your bedroom is different from doing so in the kitchen or living room. In such cases, go for an MP3 player with an optional stereo dock. If you want to listen to tunes during work-out, then opting for a flash-based MP3 player is a wonderful idea.

2. It is always a good idea to spend some time with the MP3 player in person instead of assuming that it would be as good as it is shown in the ads. Incase, you want to buy it online, visit an electronics store to physically handle it and see if it is suitable in all circumstances of your day-to-day activities.

3. Always make a research before by an MP3 player. You can read magazines such as CE Lifestyles or take the opinions of your friends, colleagues, acquaintances and relatives who may have used it before. It will save you a great deal of time and after-buy regret.

4. It always pays off if you carry a small notebook to compare different shops before buying an MP3 player. Note down the standard features of each edition or brand and take the decision on the basis of that.

5. Though buying an MP3 player online has its own advantages such discount, but when it comes to possibility of return and exchange, it is actually difficult doing so online. On the other hand, if you buy the same from an actual electronics store then you are most likely to get the exact model you want.

6. Check out the earphones to find if they are really compatible with your need or if you are feeling comfortable using them. Check the battery back-up capacity and other features as well. Besides, it is worth spending some time playing the MP3 player to get used to the functions and applications of player to prevent any possible future damage due to mishandling.

Tip 1 – Know your music files.

MP3 players can play music of different formats. Some popular digital formats are WMA, ATRAC3, OGG and AAC. However, not all MP3 players can play all formats. For example, if you buy songs from an iTunes store, they are in AAC file and your MP3 won`t play them unless its software favors these formats. Hence, knowing about this will avoid future tense and disappointments.

Tip 2 – Keep your music organized with ID3 tags:

ID3 tags enable you to store data along with your MP3 files such as title, artist, album, and track number. It also allows you to edit your PM3 ID3 tags using Windows XP or any other music software such as iTunes or Musicmatch Jukebox. ID3 tags are the best way to keep your music organized.

Tip 3 – Back up your digital music:

Be on the safer side by having a back-up of your purchased tunes against any unforeseen computer crash. Most online music store including iTunes do not allow redownload facilities to the purchased files.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author’s name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

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MP3 Player Speakers Buying Guide

Posted on 02 August 2010. Tags: Buying, Guide, Player, speakers

MP3 players are great for taking your music wherever you go for private listening. But sometimes you might want to share your music outloud with others. This is where MP3 Player Speakers come in. Whether you’re at home or at the basketball courts, you can listen to your music straight from your MP3 player outloud.

As with most technology, it can be hard to find the right speakers for your personal situation. In an effort to help assist you in finding the right docking station for your mp3 player, a list of things our product specialists recommend our customers to think about before buying MP3 Player Speakers has been compiled below.

Compatibility: First and foremost, you need to make sure that the speakers are compatible with your MP3 player. Some MP3 Speakers are designed specifically for certain types of MP3 Players, such as the iPod. On the other hand, many speakers are created to connect to almost any MP3 player with a 3.5mm jack. If your MP3 player has a 3.5mm jack (which is the standard jack for headphones), and you’re not too sure if your compatible, then you should get a universal type of MP3 player speakers just incase.

Size: Depending on what you plan to use the speakers for, the size of the system may be of importance. If you plan on taking it around, make sure that the system is small and lightweight making it portable. If you plan on just keeping it at home, then your only limited to the size of the table you plan to place it on.

Amplified Speakers: If you want louder and better sounding music, then getting a pair of speakers that feature a built-in amplifier would be a good choice. Otherwise, you should be just fine with a pair of normal speakers.

Controls: Take a look at how the control configuration is. Will it be easy for you to use the system? There’s no point in getting speakers that frustrate you to a point where you don’t want to use them.

Battery Life: What good are speakers that run out of battery after you play just a few songs? You should consider the battery life of the speakers. If you get a great deal on a pair of speakers but they have a low battery life, you may just end up paying more in additional batteries. Note that some MP3 Player Speakers can connect directly to your wall socket, so if you plan to use the speakers primarily when a wall socket is available, battery life will not be as an important a factor when determining what speakers are best for you.

Included Accessories: Check to see if the speakers come with all the necessary accessories. These can include things such as a 3.5mm male-to-male cable (in order to connect to your MP3 player to the speakers), Batteries, an AC adapter, Travel Case, Remote, etc.

Definitions:

Docking Station: An MP3 docking station has speakers built into it, which allows you to play songs off your MP3 player to be heard throughout the room.

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A Card Scan Software – Read Before Buying A Scanning Package!

Posted on 20 July 2010. Tags: Before, Buying, Card, Package, Read, Scan, Scanning, Software

If it happens that you’re currently looking into getting a card scan software and you could use some advice on which one to buy, join the club! fortunately, there is a way of determining what you need which will help you to find a scanner that will serve all your needs. Choosing to use a mobile scanner can greatly enhance your daily and weekly data-handling routine, including when the safeguarding of valuable documentation is of the utmost importance. Prior to buying one scanner over another, we suggest that you hear what the experts have to say.

As is true of every current and sophisticated hardware device, transportable scanners have been developed to be less complex and simpler to use. Portable scanners are designed for most of your day-to-day scanning requirements, like business cards and receipts that have accumulated, miscellaneous documents… whatever you want. You won’t believe the speed, and portable scanners offer impressively sharp images in your choice of format. In most cases nowadays, the price of a card scan software is certainly worth the expense for the business person as well as the hobbyist.

One of the most unique advantages of transportable scanners such as these is their portability so that you can use them no matter what the circumstances. Installed on the scanners is the latest software which makes it easy to scan printed documents and pictures alike and save the image or data in a number of different ways. For example, id cards scanning systems can extract the different elements of the card (photo, signature, text) as well as the full image of the card and set it all up in convenient text fields, into an external file, clipboard or third party software.

Before purchasing a card scan software here are several factors you need to keep in mind: (1) define your scanning needs; (2) search the internet for scanners you think might fit your needs; (3) take a close look at the scanners’ capabilities; (4) check the company behind the product and check out feedback from past scanner customers; (5) establish freight charges and procedures for returns.

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Sounds Confusing? Mp3 and Mp4 Player Buying Guide

Posted on 02 July 2010. Tags: Buying, Confusing, Guide, Player, sounds

If you are planning to buy an MP3 or MP4 player, you should take into account its memory capacity, supported formats, accessories and battery. Apple, Sony, Microsoft, Samsung, Philips and several other brands are available. Need help choosing the right product? This guide can assist you in picking the best player suited to your needs.

What are MP3 and MP4 players?

MP3 and MP4 players are digital devices that let you take your music and videos with you, wherever you go. You can transfer files from your computer to the player and enjoy them anywhere using headphones or portable speakers and the built-in screen. Use MP3 players to play music and MP4 players to view photos and play videos. These players are convenient to own and easy to use. They provide entertainment for hours on end.

What are the different types of MP3 and MP4 players available for sale?

You can buy various types of MP3 players like flash memory players and hard disk drive players. You have a large selection of MP4 players to choose from as well, including basic models, MP4 players with digital cameras, HDD media players, DivX MP4 players and TV MP4 players.

How many songs and images can a player store?

The number of songs you can store on a player depends upon the memory space available. The memory capacity of an MP3 player ranges from 256 MB to 160 GB. MP4 players have a much higher memory capacity with ranges of 20 GB to 100 GB and above. A 1 GB player can store more than 350 songs and 300 images. Since MP4 players playback video, they have more memory, as videos consume much more space. MP4 players use hard disks for better storage capacity. If you have to store hours of video, opt for an MP4 player with 20 GB of storage, as a minimum. Memory card slots allow you to expand the memory space available in MP3 and MP4 players, so check for them before making your final selection.

What formats do these players support?

Before buying an MP3 or an MP4 player, make sure that it plays the formats you want. An MP3 player supports other formats like AAC (the default format used by iPods), WMA (Microsofts technology), and Atrac (Sonys audio compression technology). MP4 players can play more file formats than MP3 players. The basic MP4 player can support MP4, MP2, MP1, DivX, AVI and WMV video files. They also support audio formats like MP3, WMA and Ogg Vorbis.

What features do MP4 and MP3 players have?

MP4 players come with built-in screens and recording features. Theses players usually include an MP4 conversion software and instructions on how to best encode video content. High-end MP4 players can record audio directly to the memory from an in-built FM radio tuner, line-input or microphone. For added convenience, some players feature an in-built microphone. You can also record TV shows directly from your television and output your saved data to your TV.

Many MP3 players feature backlit screens for better viewing, radios and Wi-Fi capabilities. Wi-Fi enabled MP3 and MP4 players let you download songs and videos from the Internet. Most current models support high-speed USB 2.0 transfer and a few models support FireWire.

Which player is best for you?

If you will use your player only for short durations, then choose a small, compact and lightweight one. Looking for a player to store your entire music collection? Go for players with 30 GB of memory or more. If you intend to use your player on long trips, select among models with lengthy playback times. If you are looking for an MP3 player for sports or working out, you will need an ultra-compact player like the iPod Shuffle or a small flash memory player that clips onto your clothes. Get a compact flash-based player with a pair of noise-canceling headphones if you travel by bus or train.

What accessories are available for MP3 and MP4 players?

There are many accessories available for MP3 and MP4 players. Here is a look at some in detail.

Headphones:

Most Portable Audio or MP3 and MP4 players come with earphones. If you listen to music at work, clip on or wrap around headphones might be more comfortable. Noise-cancellation headphones provide clear sound when your travel. Buy a headphone splitter to share music with a friend.

External Speakers and Docking Stations:

There is a wide range of external speakers available for MP3 and MP4 players. Most of these speakers include docking stations that will recharge your player.

Travel Speakers:

Carry travel speakers with you when you picnic or hit the beach with your friends and family. These speakers use rechargeable batteries.

FM Transmitters:

FM transmitters allow you to transmit songs stored on your player through any radio.

Batteries:

Almost all MP3 and MP4 music devices use a rechargeable battery. You can recharge a player by connecting it to your computer.

AC Adapters:

Many MP3 and MP4 players come with a standard AC adapter to quickly recharge your music device.

Cases and Skins:

Protect your music player from scratches with cases and skins. They come in many different designs and colors, so choose your favorites to personalize your player.

Cradles:

Cradles hold MP3/MP4 players in your vehicle while you drive.

Armbands:

Strap your music player on your arm with an armband. Get one if you plan on exercising with your player often.

Cassette Adapters:

Cassette adapters allow you to play MP3 songs from your portable music player in your vehicles cassette deck.

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MP3 Player Buying Guide

Posted on 01 July 2010. Tags: Buying, Guide, Player

With so many MP3 Players available on the market, it is quite a challenge on deciding which one is right for you. Apple’s iPod models are currently the most popular MP3 players today, though there are many other options that are giving the iPod fierce competition.

Below you will find a few things that our product specialists recommend our customers to consider before purchasing an MP3 Player.

Memory Capacity: It’s important that you think about how many songs you plan to have on your MP3 player before making a purchasing decision. If you want to have your whole music collection with you everywhere you go, then it makes sense for you to get an MP3 Player with more than 20 gigabytes of storage space. On the other hand if you only plan to have your favorites on the player, than you should be fine with less than 10 gigabytes.

On average, you should be able to fit about 250 songs in the MP3 format for every gigabyte. So for a 10 gigabyte MP3 Player, you will be able to store about 2500 songs. This figure is just an average; actual results may be more or less depending on the length of the individual songs you store.

Size: If you plan on using your MP3 player for entertainment while you exercise, you might want to consider the much smaller MP3 player models available. The drawback is that usually the smaller the player, the less music it can hold. Though as technology has advanced, sometimes even the smallest MP3 players can hold hundreds if not thousands of songs.

Format Compatibility: The phrase MP3 Player is commonly used to describe any type of digital audio player. Though almost all of these players are compatible with the MP3 file format, they can usually play many other types of file formats as well. When it comes down to format compatibility, it truly depends on where you will be getting your music. If you plan to “rip” your music straight from your CD’s then you should be fine with just about any type of MP3 player, as you will usually have the option to “rip” the files in the MP3 format. If you plan on downloading your songs from iTunes, then your files will most likely be in the AAC format. Unfortunately, this file format is usually only compatible with iPods. Be sure to check an MP3 player is compatible with the file format the site you plan to download from currently offers before you make a purchasing decision.

Photos and Videos: If you will be relying on your MP3 Player to keep you entertained while away from home consider one that can display photos and videos. Many sites on the Internet are offering movies, shows, and other videos for consumers to view on their MP3 players. If you plan on only using your MP3 Player for listening to music, for example while you worked out, then an MP3 player without the photo and video capabilities will be just fine for you. Keep in mind that watching videos on an MP3 Player drains the battery out much faster than only listening to music.

Radio Tuners: Many MP3 Players on the market have FM tuners, which allow you to listen to the radio. This is perfect when you’re tired of listening to your own songs and want to hear something new. Some players even have an FM Recording function, so you can record a song you like straight off the radio.

Games: If you plan on using your MP3 Player to keep you entertained while on the go, than you might want a player that has games that you can play. This added feature can make a difference in the level of entertainment you get from your digital audio player.

Voice Recording: You can find a lot of MP3 Players that have a voice-recording function. These players have a built-in microphone, which can be perfect for students who want to record lectures in the classroom.

Battery Life: Check to see how long the battery life of a particular MP3 Player is. If the battery life isn’t as long as you plan to use it on a single charge, than it is best you look for something else. There’s no point to having an MP3 player that requires you to constantly charge it for it to work.

Definitions:

AAC Format: A file format developed by the MPEG group and similar in nature to mp3, though not as widely used. The AAC format is the format used by Apple’s iTunes music download service.

Gigabytes: A unit of storage measurement consisting of one billion bytes (one thousand megabytes).

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Buying Mp3 Players Online

Posted on 29 June 2010. Tags: Buying, Online, Players

Mp3 players function the same way as DVD or CD players and radios, only that they differ in terms of size and memory. Gadget manufacturers have focused on reducing the size of technological gadgets and mp3 players do not escape this phenomenon. Mp3 players are practically small, no bigger than the size of a palm. When it comes to memory, mp3 players can store hundreds of songs depending on its memory size. Since mp3 players are small and can contain hundreds of songs, listening to music is very convenient compared to the earlier days of DVD or CD players and radios. And not only is listening to and carrying an mp3 player convenient, buying it is convenient as well. Mpr3 players can be bought online.

Buy Mp3 Players Online, Earn Great Benefits

When you buy mp3 players online, you benefit great rewards compared to buying at typical brick and mortar stores. Online stores do not usually incur expenses related to maintaining a typical brick and mortar store. As a result, they offer lower prices so they can attract more customers. Mpr3 players are often sold online at a regular low price or at a discount. You also save on postage and packaging when you buy mp3 players online. Most of the time, postage and packaging costs are shouldered by online stores.

Ever since online shopping started, a whole new meaning to shopping was formulated. Online shopping can be done at the convenience of one’s own time and home. You won’t have to follow store hours since websites are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Much is basically the same when you buy mp3 players online. Also, you get to read reviews and technical descriptions when you buy mp3 players online. There are a lot of mp3 players available in different architectural shapes and designs, and colors. These outside appearances can easily waylay you to the most important thing to consider in mp3 players-its memory. Fortunately, websites offer reviews and technical descriptions to guide you when you buy mp3 players online.

Secure Your Online Mp3 Player Purchase

Buying mp3 players online definitely spells convenience and savings. With online shopping, a great music experience is just a click away. However, there are certain things to consider when you buy mp3 players online.

1. Online store’s reputation. While the internet has been a good place for business, a lot of individuals have used it for fraudulent activities. Some websites promise to deliver products and services yet when delivery time comes; no product or service is actually delivered. So the first thing to consider when you buy mp3 players online or wholesale video card is the store’s reputation. Do they deliver paid products as promised? You may check the store’s reputation by reading online forums and checking internet scam lists.

2. Return Policies. Since you do not get to check mp3 players for defects when you buy them online, ensure that the online store you buy from have return/replace policies. These policies are usually covered by warranties but when products have warranties, they usually cost more. Manufacturing defects are naturally unavoidable, so paying for a small price for warranty will definitely be worth it.

3. Payment Schemes. Nowadays, the internet is full of hackers who have nothing better to do than execute fraudulent activities on unsuspecting internet users. They steal almost anything: files, identity information and even money, during unsecured internet transactions. So when you buy mp3 players online ensure that payment schemes are secured. If you use a card to pay, your card must have a payout verification feature.

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Wise Tips In Buying Portable MP3 Players

Posted on 29 June 2010. Tags: Buying, Players, Portable, Tips, Wise

We are living in an era called modern age. Gone are the days that we walk for thousands of kilometers before we reach our destination. Gone are the days that we need to wait for hundreds of days before our letters reach the persons we’re sending. Lots of gadgets abound. One of these gadgets are portable MP3 players. Mp3 players are classified into three: best portable mp3 player, cheap mp3 portable player, and cheapest portable mp3 player. Whatever classification is your choice, one thing holds true, mp3 players continue to develop from a simple audio player to complex multimedia device. This gadget is capable of showing digital photos, playing moviesand music and a lot more.

Whenever you go to malls or visit shops displaying portable MP3 players, you can’t help but be tempted to own one because of the luxury it brings to your life. When you are there, you will be confronted with the question: Which of the mp3 portable players will you choose. Make sure that when you buy, you pick the right one.

Here are wise tips for you to follow in buying mp3 portable players:

Tip # 1. Know your budget

Do not be an impulsive buyer. I’m pretty sure; you would not like to buy something which you will just regret in the future. “Live within your means.” After all, you will not die if you can’t have a mp3 player. If the best mp3 portable player is too expensive for you, settle with cheap mp3 players, or even with the cheapest portable mp3 player. If you really want the former, wait until your money is enough for you to have it.

Tip # 2. Look for the features that you would often use

Do not buy because a friend of yours has one. Your reason for buying this gadget should be that you can make use of it. Each added feature adds the price that you have to pay. Common mp3 portable players’ features include the ability to play music, video and show photos. There are those which can be used to surf the Internet, check email and play games.

Tip # 3. Examine the software and other removable parts

This must come with the mp3 player that you will purchase. The software must be able to convert your CDs into an audio playback format the player can handle. This is also essential when there is a need for you to reformat your mp3 player in the near future. Removable parts included in the package are Universal Serial bus (USB) connector, charger, and headphones.

Tip # 4. Test before you buy.

Ask an assistance of the salesperson to test his/her product. Ask for instructions as to how to operate the mp3 player you have chosen. Most importantly, ask if there is any warranty. Then, ask for an official receipt.

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