Acer Laptop Models

The company was founded by Stan Shih in 1976. Its original name was Multitech then it was renamed Acer. They offer quality and superior and complex electronics. Their products include desktops, notebooks, portable tablet PCs, servers, PDA, display monitors, hardware and software solution. It is the third largest computer manufacturer in the world.

The acer notebooks and display monitors are vary famous in review web sites. They are always up to the latest technology and are also trendy. Various series offered by Acer are Travel Mate series, Tablet PC series, Aspire series, Extensa series, and Ferrari series. The acer aspire series is most widely used series in the world. The new Gemstone variants are highly stylish and come with high Dolby digital surround systems.

Acer Aspire 5920 laptop - Intel Core 2 Duo (2 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 6.6 lbs, 15.4" TFT, Vista Ultimate.

Acer Aspire 5100 Laptop - 1.6 GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 , Windows Vista Home Premium 120 GB Hard Drive, 1 GB RAM, 15.4 in, ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 Graphics

Acer Aspire 5630-6288 laptop - 15.4" Wide screen, Intel Core 2 Duo T5500, 160GB hard drive, 2GB Ram

Acer Aspire 5100-5778 Laptop - 1.6 GHz AMD Turion 64 x2 TL-52

RAM: 2 GB - 160 GB HDD - 15.4 in - Windows Vista Home Premium

The ferrarie series launched by Acer is famous with computer users. Acer tied up with Ferrarie to give the high end products with exciting features. The notebooks are sporty in style and very slick. The models available are Ferrari 1000, 4000, and 5000. the price range is high and varies from $1800 to $4000. the models with specifications are given below.

Choosing Laptop Features

Toshiba's Qosmio line came first in August, 2004. Since then, it has been at the front in the laptop technology. Now its third generation, the Qosmio G35-AV600 has come in the market. The new model delivers not only the features of previous models but some additional features also. It gives the best multimedia properties as it includes components such as Intel's new core duo chip set.

The features such as one of the finest 17-inch wide-screen display, an integrated TV tuner, a double-layer DVD drive, rocking stereo speakers and a set of multimedia controls are there. Currently the price is $2,399- a bit costly for the normal users. You will get many of such features (in scaled-down manner) in other notebooks like the HP Pavillion dv8000z, the Dell Inspiron E1705, the Sony VAIO AX and the Fujitsu LifeBook N series at a lower price.

Though it is high-techie, it has a low end GPU and because of this, its gaming performance is badly affected. The laptop is very big with 16 inches width, 11.5 inches depth and 2 inches thick. The weight is around 10.2-11.5 pounds. The keys are large and no separate number pad is there. A/V controls, controls for display brightness, video in and out and Dolby home theatre connections are above the keyboard.

The combination of a Dolby Home Theater, 1-bit digital amplifier and Harman Pardon stereo speakers gives extremely loud and full sound. As the speakers are below the display, the sound becomes soft when the lid is closed.

Notebook Purchasing - A Few Tips

Everyone has a notebook or a laptop now. Before embarking on a notebook buying agenda, however, a few pointers will help you in the right direction. The first thing to decide is on the size of the screen. Generally speaking, notebooks which are thin and light will have 11`` to 13`` display screens. Sometimes they may be 14`` but that will come in the category of main laptops.

The usual notebooks do not have an optical drive as the drive takes up more space, carries more weight and consumes more power. Battery life for these notebooks is usually 5 to 8 hours. The larger screen notebooks have a 14`` to 15`` wide screen displays and some even have a 17`` display screen almost encroaching on the desktop replacement category. The thin and light ones weigh 5lbs or less while the heavier ones vary from 5lbs to 9lbs.

Most thin and light notebooks will have 1GB of memory but this renders the notebook just about functional. later on it is possible to upgrade it to 2GB later on your own. However, you have to make sure that the notebook has a 1 GB module already installed along with a free memory bay.

Sometimes to cut cost, these laptops will have two 512MB modules installed which would entail purchasing two 1GB modules and replacing the 512MB ones. This becomes quite expensive. The 512Mb modules are still available but they will make even the most tasks very slow. Also, you have to be technically able to open up your laptop to install the module. Therefore, it makes more sense to go in for a 2 GB one straightaway even tough it may cost a bit more.

Thin and light notebooks have dual core processors which are power-efficient. This means that they will not operate at the fastest rate possible to save power. A core2 duo T-series processor is there in most mainstream and desktop replacement laptops. This, though more expensive than the AMD Turion processor offers better value for money.

While choosing a notebook, there is no need to be picky about the hard drive but it should have enough space for your storage needs. Laptop hard drives usually max out at 200GB which is more than sufficient for most users but there are a few laptops having two hard drive bays accommodating up to 400GB storage.

As far as graphics are concerned, it really depends upon the user of the notebook. Some laptops offer integrated cards which are power-efficient. These are not too powerful and can barely function as DVD playback. The thin and light ones normally have this card. Some may be better for media playback and the occasional gaming but they are not suitable for long term gaming.

With the exception of a few laptops, most of the notebooks come equipped with an optical drive. The normal choice for such a drive is the DVDRW type which can burn discs and movies and create backups.

The operating system comes with Vista though XP is still being offered by some companies. If using XP, a 512 MB is absolutely imperative, if 1GB cannot be got. Regarding Vista, a 1GB is a must though a 2GB is naturally the preferred memory.

Notebooks are constantly being upgraded and there are laptops offering biometric security features which are especially useful for business travelers. Buying a notebook need not be a daunting job if the concepts are clear.

How to Extend Your Laptop's Battery Life?

So you bought your brand new laptop which is equipped with all the latest features like Bluetooth, Wi-if, etc. That's great! The configuration serves you more than what you need and above all the laptop looks so cute. The size of the laptop makes it so handy, the keypad comes in your favorite color and everything looks so nice. You started working on your laptop and Gosh! There is a power-cut. But your laptop keeps on working by automatically switching itself to the plugged-in battery resource. You are happy. However, you want to check whether the battery is full or not by pointing your cursor to the battery icon. It is showing 99%. Good! But what you need to do to keep your battery showing the same storage levels even after two years? Read further to know the solution.

Lithium-ion Battery

Most of the laptops now a day are equipped with Lithium-ion batteries. Though there are Nickel-cadmium, Nickel metal hydride, etc, after the invention of Lithium-ion battery, because of its efficiency most of the laptop manufacturers are selling it along with their respective laptops.

Why Lithium-ion battery? Because it provides high energy density, runtime, and is light in weight. To run a power-sucking laptop, a battery with high energy density is required. The runtime of a laptop battery is based on what sort of applications you run. If you run basic applications for writing, reading, copying, chatting, etc, then your laptop battery runtime will be high compared to running a complex application that has a huge number crunching requirement.

The Problem

The problem with the laptop battery arises when you start using your laptop as a Desktop Replacement. In other words, regularly using the laptop for extended hours (say 10/12 hours) on AC power along with the battery plugged-in. If you are using alternatively both the AC power and battery for long hours regularly, then there are so many chances that your battery life will go down. It is not because of your alternative usage with AC power, but by the heat that gets generated by your laptop during its operation. The life of a battery is more dependent on the temperature rather than its regular charging and discharging functions.

On an average, a laptop battery (genuine!) will provide service for 1-1.5 years even if you use it roughly without taking any precautionary measures. You can extend your battery's life by more than 2 years if you follow the following said measures.

Precautionary Measures

The only solution to extend your laptop battery's precious lifetime is to use it only when you are in need of it. Means, if you have AC power available for your power requirements and you are using laptop as your Desktop Replacement, then remove the battery from your laptop after charging it moderately (40%), wrap it in a plastic cover, and store it in a cool place. After every 3 weeks, religiously, plug-in your battery into your laptop and charge it for sometime before you switch from your AC power to your battery. For the next few hours, allow you laptop to suck power from your battery until it gets drained of all its stored power and shuts down you laptop. Then, plug-in the AC power into your laptop, start charging your battery up to a moderate level (say 40%), switch off your laptop to remove the battery and store it in a cool place after wrapping it in a plastic cover. You need to do this religiously for every 3 weeks in order to extend your laptop battery's life considerably by 2 more years.

Summary

In summary, a laptop battery is so costly and its life so precious that we cannot ignore the precautionary measures which makes it possible to extend its lifetime by 2 more years. That means, by following the above said measures, you can use your laptop battery for about 3 years on an average. Good Luck!

Wireless Connectivity Pocket PC

While all of these Pocket PC represent a great value to the user. And stands out in the field of wireless connectivity, offering both wireless connection and Blue tooth receivers, both of which can be active at the same time. They have the latest Windows operating system. And comes equipped with powerful features and is a superb tool for professionals who are always on the move. With most owners will agree that it is money well spent. Also comes with the standard LED buttons, orange for charging, blue for wireless, and green for alarms.

Today it still has the ability to organize your contacts and find a name quickly, but they are capable of much more as well. And can hold hundreds of addresses, as well as pictures, music files, spreadsheets, word processing documents and much more. The large collection of Palm and Pocket PC that one can find on eBay is a market that suits any budget limit. Not all people know how to treat them and they generally never think in advance that they will get to the point when they will want to sell it. You will find many sorts of used, leaving you with the only problem of choosing the most suitable item for you. No matter what types of software you run, you will find that the hand held device is a great accessory. You can spend a lot of money, or you can be easily fooled by a seller that just wants to get himself a better one! Back then what we know was mostly used for organizing lists of phone numbers, names and addresses.

For math and stuff I have a calculator on my Pocket PC, and a to do List in order to help me you accomplish the nagging tasks during a day at work. Blue tooth offer a really great way to explore the Internet, for example. As you can see, it is a very useful tool in today busy world. And are very useful when it comes to detailed planning of business operations, by including all the necessary information in a built in database program. It is a general purpose programmable computer, which usually has a small, full color, liquid crystal display for output and also a little typewriter like keyboard for input. You can find everything from the most recent games to the most useful spreadsheet and financial calculation software. Downloads can be a great compliment to the software that came with your hand held device. And are in fact the palm tops that use a pen rather than a keyboard for input! The addition of a global positioning system card and mapping software means it can easily replace your paper map on your next business trip or family vacation.

The growing popularity of Pocket PC shareware has mirrored the popularity. Before you download all that great shareware, however, there are a few basic safety and housekeeping steps that should take to make sure the personal information is well protected. The trapezoid shaped touch pad is formed from four programmable shortcut keys that are designed to make  simple to operate. It goes without saying that good strong protection from viruses and other malicious software is now a must, as well as the desktop or laptop owner. The memory capacity is much better than previous models, and increased memory means that more programs can run at the same time without degrading the performance. The amazingly beautiful and very detailed world is a true pearl of this Pocket PC game try not to forget about the actual quest when marveling at the picturesque views!

Using that review and some others, make a list that fit your criteria. Camera phones, phones with Internet capabilities, phones with features or for checking email and, surprise, phones that only allow you to make and receive calls are all available. Besides the manufacturers web site, there are many software distribution and download sites which contain lots of great software for the user. Again, the processor chips available for today are much better and much faster than those made just a few years ago. Whether you head to the brick and mortar stores or shop on the Internet, be sure to consult your checklist to make sure you choose has the features you are looking for. There are a great many interactive games you can download. Before we match a protective case to your life style, let take a short look at the protective cases that are available. Furthermore our clients are able to use their lovely You Tube videos on hand held computer [http://www.ebooks-mall.org/computer/] like i-Pod, cell phone, Pocket PC and other devices.

A Guide to Refurbished Laptops

Computing freedom, independence, and mobility don't have to come with a hefty price tag.

Manufacturers refurbish laptop computers that have been returned. The laptop might have a scratched screen or other minor blemish. In some cases, the laptop was an unwanted gift or its packaging was dented. The laptop is inspected by the manufacturer, tested for quality, and repackaged for sale at a much lower price.

While many new laptops can cost thousands of dollars, most refurbished laptop computers usually cost less than a couple of grand, and often less than $500. In most cases, they are as good as new and have a very low return rate. They even come with guarantees and warranties, just as you would expect with a new model.

A refurbished laptop can satisfy most people's basic computing needs, such as word processing, running software, reading e-mail, creating spreadsheets, playing CDs, surfing the Internet, and more. Laptops allow access to all these features from anywhere.

All laptop manufacturers offer refurbished laptops, including such popular brands as Dell, IBM, Toshiba, and HP.

Computer prices are affected by type of processor, operating system, modem, and network card; size of the hard drive and RAM (Random Access Memory); and whether there is a CD/DVD-ROM/RW, a video card, a sound card, and zip drive. Prices are also affected by screen size and type of chassis.

The price will be affected by all these specifications, along with how well preserved the chassis is, the name of the manufacturer, and whether you acquire the laptop form the factory or through a private dealer. Private dealers charge less, but beware: not all dealers are up to par with their refurbishing skills. Be sure to go to one that is reputable and experienced.

Refurbished Laptop Batteries

There are three refurbished laptop battery types, each named for its component materials:

Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries are hardly ever seen anymore. They have dismally low capacities (2000-3000 mAH) and contain heavy metals that harm the environment. Worst of all is the dreaded "memory effect". When you recharge a NiCad battery before it is completely drained, the longevity of the battery is compromised. That is the memory effect.

Nickel Metal Hybrid (NiMH) batteries have twice the capacity of NiCad batteries (4000-6000 mAH) and are half as susceptible to the memory effect. But these too are becoming rare.

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries are today's laptop battery standard. They have all the capacity of a NiMH battery, but zero memory effect and zero toxins. Bonus: Li-Ion batteries weigh half as much as NiMH batteries.

In purchasing a battery, the consumer has three options: used, refurbished, or new.

Used laptop batteries that are not refurbished will probably only last you 30 minutes to an hour before needing recharging.

Refurbished laptop batteries are available from most manufacturers and retailers of refurbished laptops. These batteries are renewed, recharged, and tested. They are much better than plain old used batteries, but not quite as good as new.

New laptop batteries last a good couple of years - 600-800 recharges - as long as they are properly cared for.

Extending Battery Power

Whenever you are using your laptop near a power source, use the A/C adaptor. However, sometimes you will be forced to use your laptop with no access to a wall outlet, and the battery will run low. Here are three things you can do to extend the remaining power in the battery:

First, if your laptop processor features a power-save mode, switch over to power-save mode. This will slow the laptop by up to 50%, doubling battery life for that time period.

Second, turn off extraneous energy-sucking elements. The major power vampires in your laptop are the hard drive, the CD and DVD drives, any networking devices, and any excessively bright screen settings.

Third, you can double overall battery capacity by installing a second battery. Your laptop must have a universal bay in order to do this. All you have to do is remove the CD-ROM or floppy drive and put a battery in its place.

A Review of Refurbished HP Laptops

HP refurbished laptops can be found on their website hpshopping.com. Just enter "refurbished laptop" into their search field and browse through the current selections. (Note that Hewlett-Packard also owns and distributes Compaq computers.) There you can purchase a quality refurbished laptop for up to 30% off the new retail price.

The HP lines are named Pavilion and Omnibook; the Compaq brand offers the Presario laptop at refurbished rates.

The Pavilion line is by far the most popular. They are most suited to replace your home desktop computer, or assist any student in creating the perfect reports and multimedia presentations. They are slim, sleek, and very mobile - usually under 5 pounds. In order of performance, the most common Pavilion notebooks are the ze4000, ze5000, and ze1200. They come as cheap as $1000 from the manufacturer.

The Omnibook line is more suited to the serious home user and businessperson. They feature powerful, long-lasting batteries, interchangeable media bays, and ultra slim design - usually less than 4 pounds. These can cost as little as $1200 refurbished. The 20-30% savings is immense. They come with Intel Pentium 3, 4, or M processors. The most common lines are the 6100, 6200, and 4100 models. Ask the manufacturer or private refurbished laptops dealer for details on which Omnibook would fit you.

The Compaq Presario line is perfect for the money-conscience laptop user. One Presario model utilizes an Intel Celeron M processor to power the amazing graphics capabilities. It features 512MB of RAM and a jaw-dropping 40GB of hard drive space. It includes a DVD/CD-RW, which allows you to both play and record any DVD or CD that you wish. You can get all of these features for only $800, making it not the least expensive of refurbished laptops, but certainly a great deal.

As with most other manufacturers who offer refurbished laptops, HP offers a 90-day warranty.

Buying Cheap Refurbished Laptops

When comparing refurbished laptop models, ask about these specifications:

Central Processing Unit: The CPU or processor is the heart of the computer. The more software you want in your refurbished laptop, the more powerful the processor has to be. A 32-bit processor is less powerful and less expensive than a 64-bit processor.

Operating System: The operating system, or OS, is the graphic interface between you and whatever programs you are running. Windows and Unix are the two main families of operating systems. Windows is the more common interface, and therefore less expensive.

Screen Size: Smaller does not necessarily mean cheaper; some smaller models are just as powerful as some larger models but more portable.

Hard Drive Size: The hard drive, or HD, is the permanent information storage disk inside the unit. HD capacity is measured in gigabytes. A GB is one billion bytes. A byte is a piece of information, such as text, sound, or picture. The larger the HD is, the more software it can handle and the more expensive the laptop will be.

Hard Drive Speed: HD speed is measured in revolutions per minute - usually 5000 to 15,000 RPM. The faster the HD, the better and more expensive the laptop will be.

Random Access Memory: The RAM is the temporary storage chip that continually updates information while you are using the computer. Today 64 megabytes is the entry level RAM size, suitable for running many programs simultaneously. The greater the storage capacity of the RAM, the more powerful and expensive it is.

Media Bay: The media bay contains the slots for playing and recording CDs and DVDs. Older laptops might only allow the playing of CDs, whereas newer laptops allow you to both play and record CDs and/or DVDs. The more features there are in the media bay, the more you can do with your laptop, and the more you will spend.

Modem: Modems can take the form of dial-up telephone modems, or fast cable or direct satellite linkup modems. The faster your type of modem is, the more easily you will be able to surf the web and the more costly your laptop will be.

The price will be affected by all these specifications, along with added features, how well preserved the chassis is, the name of the manufacturer, and whether you acquire the laptop form the factory or through a private dealer. Private dealers charge less, but beware: not all dealers are up to par with their refurbishing skills. Be sure to go to one that is reputable and experienced.

How to Choose The Right Laptop Accessories?

The notebook computer is coming of age. For the first

time in history, notebooks or laptops are out-selling

their bigger cousins, desktop computers.

The rise in popularity of the notebook computer can be

contributed to many factors: drop in prices, stiff

competition, aggressive marketing, but perhaps the

biggest factor -- increased performance.

With each new generation of notebooks, we are seeing some

novel breakthroughs: dual core notebooks, PCI Express,

Sonoma Chipset, increased storage, increased RAM,

faster CPUs, better battery life and better wireless

access including a Cellular Modem Connection. All these

new innovations are making for a more powerful

computer embodied in a sleeker smaller package that

consumers want.

However, as most notebook enthusiasts know, to get full

enjoyment from your laptop or notebook computer you must

have certain essential accessories. These laptop accessories

will greatly enhance your notebook experience and make

for a much more satisfying all-around 'complete laptop'.

Here's a wish list of laptop accessories you may want to

consider purchasing:

1. Carrying Bag or Backpack This is essential if

you will be doing a lot of traveling. You might even

want to consider a wheeled bag for those heavier laptops.

Try to purchase a laptop carrying bag that has plenty of

compartments for all those notebook peripherals. Always

check to see if your laptop or notebook will fit!

2. Extra Battery Since most batteries last less

than 5 hours you will need an extra battery or two. You

should also check out bringing along an external battery

for your laptop.

3. Port Replicator This is one essential you should

consider buying for your laptop or notebook computer. It's a

real hassle dealing with all those wires and connections on

your laptop, that's where your port replicator or docking

station solves your problem. Plug all your peripherals into

the docking station or port replicator -- connect and disconnect

your laptop with ease without having to deal with all those

wires and connections. A must have!

4. Auto and Airplane ac adapter Another essential

laptop accessory if you do a lot traveling, battery life on

most notebooks is not great so having a handy source of ac

power from your auto or from an airplane is a 'no-brainer'!

5. USB Hub Some older model notebooks come with only

one or two USB ports; if you need more -- try a handy USB hub.

It will give you more options.

6. Wireless Card Most laptops and notebooks now come

with a wireless card. Many top brands have 802.11a, 802.11b,

802.11g or all three! If your notebook doesn't have a wireless

card, you can get a rather inexpensive 802.11b Linksys PC Card

adapter for under $50.

You may also want to check out the new Sony VAIO VGN-T350P

-- it has the world's first 'Cellular Modem Built In'-- access

the Internet through your cell phone. It has an Integrated EDGE,

Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for the ultimate in wireless networking.

EDGE stands for 'Enhanced Data for Global Evolution' through

the Cingular Wireless national network.

7. Optional External Hard Drive Most notebooks or

laptops now come with a 40 to 100 gig hard drives, but still

if you download and save a lot of movies or songs you will take

up that storage space quicker than you ever thought possible.

If you need an extra hard drive for storage or back-up, try

an external hard drive.

8. Optional External DVD Burner Many laptops now come

with a built in DVD drive but in case you need this extra for

or DVD burning (movies, songs, videos, etc.) try an external

DVD burner for your notebook. For maximum compatibility, try

to get one that supports both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW formats.

9. Optional Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Might sound

strange suggesting this option since most laptops already come

with a keyboard! But depending on your notebook make and model,

the keyboards on most notebooks are not the greatest to type with.

It all has to do with the wrong angles and the shape of the

laptop, so if you want a wireless desktop style keyboard and

mouse, it is relatively cheap to buy.

10. Insurance! If you do a lot of traveling, you may

want to invest in some laptop insurance. Laptop theft is

still a big problem and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Acquiring any of these laptop accessories will greatly improve

your notebook computer, making for a hassle-free computing

experience that you will appreciate and enjoy much more. So

don't skimp, instead, bring your laptop enjoyment up to its

highest level by purchasing some of these much needed laptop

accessories.

You will thank yourself later!

Custom Gaming Laptops - Five Things You Must Consider When Building a Gaming Laptop

Gone are the days when you would have been laughed at if you walked into an all-night LAN party carrying your trusty laptop and expecting to hang with the giant computer towers standing at everyone's feet. The gaming laptop computers of today sport huge, crisp LCD screens, cutting-edge video cards and full-size keyboards. Not only can these gaming laptop computers hang with the standard clunky computer tower, but they can also be ordered fully custom to meet the exact specifications of any gamer.

Since there are so many customizable components in these laptops, a standard practice has been to create what some call a "system builder." This is the page where you get to add and subtract components through drop-down menus in order to create the best gaming laptop computer for your needs and your budget. This type of page can be overwhelming to someone just starting the gaming laptop shopping process, but it is very manageable if you take it just one component at a time.

The Gaming Laptop GPU

This is the heart of a gaming laptop computer. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is a component that will make or break your gaming experience. If your GPU isn't up to snuff, your games won't play.

Without getting into specific models since they change all the time, the key is that the graphics card not share resources with the computer. A gaming laptop video card must have its own memory on board. Generally speaking, standard off-the-shelf laptops will not have this feature. The two current makers of laptop video cards are nVIDIA and ATI.

Without the Screen, You Don't Have Much

What good is a gaming laptop without a screen that can actually render your games? Now certainly, you can connect an external monitor, but if you can't actually play on your gaming laptop without that external monitor, then your laptop isn't all that mobile.

While the technology and terminology for LCDs (liquid crystal displays) could take up an entire article in itself, there are a few key points to keep in mind when choosing from available LCD options for your new gaming laptop computer: native resolution, aspect ratio, rise and fall time, contrast, viewing angle, and size.

Native Resolution. The native resolution is simply the setting at which your screen will render the clearest images. Since games are constantly in motion, slightly soft edges may not bother most gamers, but keep in mind that while this is your gaming laptop, you will likely also use it for other things like surfing the Internet. If the resolution isn't comfortable, you aren't going to enjoy using it.

Aspect Ratio. As you probably know, a movie theater screen and a TV screen have different proportions. Likewise, there are widescreen format gaming laptops and there are laptops that have a standard aspect ratio -- like that of a TV. A widescreen format gaming laptop (a 16:10 ratio) has advantages and disadvantages. Many games today do not have a widescreen mode. This means that the game may stretch across the screen and become distorted or you may run it with black bars that fill in the sides. There are ways to get around this, but if you want an out of the box perfect experience, the widescreen format may not be for you.

That said, a widescreen LCD does offer plenty of screen real estate for web surfing and other type of computer activities, and a game played in a wide format setting offers an expansive field of view. For this reason, there are some very loyal widescreen-loving gamers out there.

Do your best to find a balance between current and future technology and what your computer habits are beyond gaming. Even with its limitations, the widescreen format is found on most of the best gaming laptop computers.

Rise and Fall. The phrase 'rise and fall time' is used to describe how fast the LCD can respond to changes. In the past, LCDs have been plagued with the inability to render images as fast as computer games can spit them out. This presents a major problem for laptop gamers because if they can't see the images properly, they can't play the game properly. This lag can mean the difference between playing to win and barely playing.

Fortunately, gaming laptop LCDs have come a long way and they are only getting better. While once it was impossible to game on a laptop screen, the gaming laptop LCDs of today offer 25 milliseconds or less rise and fall time while generally off-the-shelf laptops have 40 milliseconds or less rise and fall time.

Contrast. If a gaming laptop LCD has poor contrast, that means that the black areas aren't quite as black as they should be and the white areas aren't quite as white. This is important to a laptop gamer because you have to see the game properly -- as it was intended to be seen -- in order to compete effectively. Look for a contrast ratio of 400:1 or higher in a custom gaming laptop computer.

Viewing Angle. This is an often-overlooked LCD feature, but it must be considered if you are building a gaming laptop computer. Many high quality LCDs on the market are difficult to see clearly at any angle other than straight on and at the right height. This can be a big drawback to gaming on a LCD screen because a screen with poor viewing angles won't allow others to watch the screen as you play and also hurts your view when doing something as simple as adjusting your seating, which can require you to then adjust to position of your laptop screen to see it properly again.

But gaming on a laptop does not mean that you are doomed to have poor viewing angles. There are LCDs on the market that have amazing viewing angles -- up to 120 degrees. These screens not only allow gaming onlookers, but they also allow you to use that giant, crisp screen to do things like play movies and even make presentations.

Size. In a gaming laptop computer, size is everything. Most gaming laptops are large, robust pieces of electronics. Having a machine of this stature means you also get to have a large screen. The best gaming laptop computer LCD screens out there are at least 15 inches. A crowd favorite is a 17 inch widescreen (even with the challenges that widescreens present). Largr 19 inch laptop screens are just starting to be talked about with consumers expecting to see 19 inch or even large models on the market in the near future.

The best way to really get a feel for what laptop LCDs are all about is to take a trip to a local box store and play with the LCDs on the display laptops while keeping in mind what you have read here. While these laptops are not custom gaming laptops, you can see what the sizes really look like, what different resolutions look like, and what the viewing angles truly are so you can start to develop your own preferences.

The RAM - What Type and How Much?

The RAM (random access memory) found in laptops is called SODIMM (small outline dual inline memory module). The RAM is responsible for your processing power. If you are shopping for a custom gaming laptop, you will generally be offered DDR2 RAM with the choice of how much you want in your computer. Most high-end games being released today need 1GB of RAM for optimum, lag-free game play. Some people are going with 2GB to ensure that they can run multiple applications along with the game and not experience any slow down in response time. This is a large investment and you want to be able to use this gaming laptop for some time in the future. Most custom laptops are user upgradeable, but this should be left up to professionals.

The CPU - Not Just Mobile Technology

The CPUs (central processing units) found in many custom gaming laptops are identical to those found in desktops. These chips require a great deal of cooling power, which in turn can make your laptop louder than light weight, lower power ultra portables when the fans kick on and it can become somewhat warm to the touch. Don't be alarmed by this -- it is normal. And with these desktop processors comes screaming power! Don't waste your money on the latest CPU release that likely has an inflated price tag (and that price will likely come down before long). Stick with a current CPU speed that is offered by a reputable custom gaming laptop reseller, and you really can't go wrong.

The Gaming Laptop Hard Drive

This is the final component to consider when building a gaming laptop. Laptop hard drives come in a variety of speeds and capacities ranging from 4200 to 7200 RPMs and 40 to over 100 GBs. For the most part, this is user preference. Whenever possible, go for a 7200 RPM hard drive, but if you need a capacity not offered in this speed, it's okay to go for the 5400 RPM drive. Take a look at your current computer, and buy your capacity based on this. Also keep in mind that with many custom gaming laptop manufacturers, you have the ability to upgrade or add another hard drive at a later date.

At the end of the day, gaming laptop computers are all about power. Don't expect a twelve-pound notebook with a desktop processor, numerous fans, a giant heatsink, and independent video card to last on battery power all that long. But do make sure to enjoy the jawdrops that you'll get as you walk into your regular LAN party location with your new, screaming-fast gaming laptop computer. Crack that puppy open, fire it up, and stand clear of the drool as you take on your favorite game with fellow gamers gathered around to take in the action. Gaming is not just for desktops anymore!

Guidelines For Purchasing Business Laptops

Laptops or notebook computers can empower any business or company.

They can be a platform for a fully equipped workforce, one that

is well organized and ready to meet all of today's vast technological

challenges. A workforce that's cohesive, well connected and

totally prepared for the modern work place.

Laptops are state-of-the-art communication machines. These sophisticated

devices are ideal for many business applications such as record keeping,

wireless networking, presentations, instant communication... can your

company really compete in today's business world without this great

techno advantage?

Not completely!

Laptops should be a vital element in your company's overall business

strategy. They should be a priority on your company's acquisition list

for they just may be the competitive edge your company needs to

increase production and beat out the competition.

Purchasing any kind of high tech device can be a real challenge in

itself. Laptops are no exceptions. Notebook technology is constantly

changing, there's a new generation of notebook technology every two

years or so. Keeping abreast of recent advances is not an easy job.

Notebooks are getting smaller, faster and are almost matching the

performance level offered by their bigger cousin -- the desktop computer.

And for the first time in history, they are outselling their desktop

rivals.

Laptops are also becoming better connected, most high quality notebooks

come with Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) connections, many have a

tri-mode 802.11a/b/g wireless system. Some recent models, like the

Sony's New Ultra-Portable VAIO VGN-T350P, are raising the bar, it has

the world's first 'Built-in Cellular Modem'. You can use your cell

phone to connect to the Internet. This may be a great advantage

since finding a 'Hot Spot' in some parts of the world can still be

difficult.

One of the main features of a good business laptop is portability.

A great business laptop must be very portable. You should be able

to carry it around in your briefcase or under your arm with ease.

Its weight should not cause you any discomfort even if you have to

lug it around all day.

Most lightweight and small laptops can be found in the 'Thin and

Light' and 'Ultra-portable' categories of notebooks. Notebooks

in those classes are usually well under 5 pounds, around

10 by 14 inches in size and approximately an inch thick. Many

are a lot smaller.

But don't let the small size fool you, these laptops are very

powerful. They can do almost any business application you can

throw at it. However, you must make sure your company's laptop

is powerful enough to get the job done. It's usually agreed that

you need at least 256MB RAM for Windows XP and Mac OS X. You will

only need 128MB for other operating systems in Windows or Mac.

Storage space should not be a problem, most recent models come

with 60 to 100 GIG hard drives which should be sufficient space

for most companies. If your company deals in heavy graphics or

visual work more space can be obtained with an extra external

hard drive.

The main function of your laptops should be considered. For instance,

if you have workers that require a lot of note-taking (floor

managers/inspectors, real estate agents, medical personnel, etc.)

a slate or tablet PC would be a more appropriate choice for your

company. If your workers or employees do a lot of traveling then

you want the lightest and most portable laptop or notebook you

can find.

Battery life will also be very important for the traveling

business person. Must recent laptops now supply 5 or more hours

of power, if you want more you should considered buying an

extra battery or two. Also, remember when choosing your laptop

battery always pick the battery with the higher numbered

cells. More cells will give you longer battery life.

Security is another consideration for your company's laptop. You

must be careful to protect sensitive company records or documents --

some notebooks like those in the IBM/Sonoma ThinkPad series

include an integrated fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication

that uses an Embedded Security Subsystem and Password Manager.

This offers extra security.

Along with security, your company will need a laptop that's sturdy and

well built, especially if your workers do a lot of business traveling.

Many laptops are ruggerized and can take a decent pounding or two.

Some even offer some novel sturdiness features such as IBM's Active

Protection System which is designed to protect the hard drive from

falls and spills for those accident prone notebook users in your

company.

Perhaps, the most important tip and buying factor is price. Outfitting

your workforce with laptops doesn't come cheap. But you can save money

if you practice that old adage: 'It pays to shop around and bargain'!

Don't just buy your laptops off the rack -- always speak to the manager.

Even when buying laptops online, contact the sales staff and try for a

special price or bargain. Since you're buying in bulk or volume, many laptop

companies and manufacturers will give you a special unit price.

The more units you're ordering, the lower the price.

A little haggling will go a long way in lowering the overall cost of

your company's laptop purchase; saving your company money. And if you're

the person in charge of this purchase, making such a deal will reflect

well on you, so try to go out of your way to get a good deal!

But don't sacrifice quality for a special price, always make sure you're

buying laptops that can get the job done. Use the laptop tips above

to guide you on the right path. It should make your task just be a

little bit easier.

Give Your Old Laptop the High Def Monitor It's Always Wanted

There it sits: the shiny new high-definition monitor that you just picked up for a killer price. You pull out your laptop with dreams of sharp, hi-res graphics dancing through your head, only to realize that your laptop only has a VGA out port. You could always get a VGA to DVI adapter, but with only an analog signal, what do you do about the picture quality? The resolution? The definition? Without the digital, what's the point?

You're not alone. With the proliferation of high definition TVs, monitors, and projectors, laptop users looking to get a bigger viewing surface than the sometimes minuscule laptop screen now have the chance to see their desktop in sharp, clear, digital high-definition.

Until recently, most laptops have only had a VGA out jack. Even the nicest multimedia platforms have only had S-Video and RCA video out in addition to the ubiquitous VGA out. Unfortunately, all of these video options are analog, resulting in a loss of clarity and resolution. The loss isn't devastating, but those wishing to experience high-def in all its glory will want to go digital.

Happily, you can now add a DVI port to your analog laptop, letting you take full advantage of the luscious visual goodness that DVI offers. The VTBook DVI/VGA Dual Display Video PCMCIA Card (the best, and as far as I can tell, only option as far as a DVI expansion card is concerned) plugs neatly into a PCMCIA slot on the side of your laptop, giving you a DVI digital high-def signal your parents would be proud of.

So go ahead and buy that hi-def monitor you've been looking at, but don't forget the VTBook. You won't regret it.

Wireless Broadband Access - Making the Virtual Office Possible

Do you remember when home wireless networking burst into our lives? Suddenly we could work from any where in the house. Have you ever wanted to do the same when you are out on the road?

With WiMax, now you can!

WiMax is a wireless network access program that offers its subscribers citywide high-speed broadband access to the internet. You can be up to 31 miles from an antenna and still get online.

Although, the further you are from the antenna the slower your connection.

Here is how it works.

A broadband provider sets up several cells to support a certain geographical area. While the theoretical range of WiMax is 31 miles, most cells will only support an area from three to 10 miles.

Within this range, special cards based on the 802.16 wireless standards will allow mobile devices to surf the internet at high speed.

This cell system is similar to how digital cell phones work now.

Where this technology really shines is for mobile business computing. Imagine you are a busy sales executive. You just finished a presentation to a major client.

The presentation went well, but they asked for some revisions. Normally, you would have to rush back to the office and have the revisions made.

With WiMax, you could connect via your VPN. Mail the changes to your office, which would make the revisions and send them back. All in a matter of minutes.

Can you imagine the level of perceived customer service your clients will have? You just told them that they are important, so important you dropped everything to handle their requests.

In just minutes you emailed the changes to your boss, she reviewed and approved them and emailed the updated paperwork directly to you. Another three minutes to print them out on your portable printer and get the clients to sign! Contract closed!

How could they not be impressed!

Typical download speeds are in the range of 400 - 700 kilo bytes per second (kbps).

That is slightly faster than many cable companies allow for their cable modems. It is much faster than DSL connectivity.

Astonishingly, this technology is capable of speed bursts of up to 2 megabytes per second (mbps)!

How can you integrate WiMax into your current business? How about setting up a wireless mobile office that is always connected to your home office?

Start with getting a good laptop computer and add as much memory as it will hold. Purchase your WiMax wireless network card to get access to the broadband system.

Now, think about accessories. Will you need a portable printer to print presentations and contracts for your customers?

What about telephone service? Do you want to transfer your office phone to your cell? It could eat up your minutes, costing you extra money.

Have you thought about Voice-over-Internet Protocol or VoIP? Another name for VoIP is Internet Phone.

You could setup your office phone with a VoIP provider and take the module to the field with you. All it needs is an active internet connection to work.

Another option is to use your VoIP with a software phone program. This way you could use your laptop as a telephone.

There you have it, a complete mobile office. How great would it be to make plans with your clients in real time? Could your competitors even try to compete with you at this level?

Most likely, they could not!

In short, wireless broadband access may be the best key to increasing your competitiveness.

The freedom to engage customers, on their turf, while maintaining connectivity to your office will allow you to respond to rapidly changing situations.

Can you think of a better way to impress your clients than by being able respond immediately to their needs?

Laptop's Hard Drives- Speed Also Matters

Buying a laptop? Want to upgrade your old one with a new hard drive? Besides hard drive's space size for storing your applications, documents, music, movies and other data, you should also pay attention to its speed performance. If you want fast access to stored data on your laptop's hard disk, you should purchase hard disk with SATA interface, higher rotational speed and larger buffer cache size.

Buy Laptop with SATA Drive

Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives use less power, so they save your laptop's battery. But, they also enchase your laptop's speed performance. Most hard drives usually support ATA/66 (66 MB/sec), Ultra ATA/100 (100 MB/sec), or SATA (150 MB/sec) interfaces. The numbers refer to the maximum burst rate at which the drive can pass data to the system (66, 100, or 150 megabytes per second). SATA transmit data in a serially (in a single stream) as opposed to PATA or Parallel ATA which is commonly referred to as an IDE hard drive.

Check the Hard Drive Rotational Speed

Don't forget to check the hard drive rotational speed!

The hard drive rotational speed tells you how fast the drive spins its disks in revolutions per minute (rpm). A higher rpm means higher drive performance. A 7,200 rpm hard drive is faster than a 5,400 rpm or 4,200 rpm and gives better performance.

Larger Buffer Cache Size - Better Performance

Buffer Cache Size is a temporary data storage area used to enhance drive performance. When the computer requests data from the hard disk if that data is in the cache, there is a performance boost directly related to the speed of the cache. Larger buffer cache size usually results in better hard drive performance. Buffer cache size on the most of laptop's hard drives is usually 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB.

How to Make Sure to Save Money and Headaches on Your Next Used Laptop Purchase

Anyone who is in the retail sector of the computer business will recognize the following dilemna. Before buying, the consumer desires to know everything about the technical aspects of the laptops, rather than the practical aspects. It seems the customer will try and find out all of the technical differences between hard drive's... such as seek time, partitions available, physical dimensions.... All important stuff to be sure. But this information is sought out before the practical details such as "What am I going to do with this laptop is considered.

It is still amazing to hear people say they do not really know what they want to DO with a laptop, but they are sure they want a Dell. The concern is not with their desire for a Dell (a great brand, sure)... but why they didn't bother to think about what they were hoping to do with the laptop they were planning to buy in the first place. It would be like deciding what car you were going to buy before deciding what you needed your car to do or even thinking if you were going to drive in hot climates or do long road trips. In the same way the right car is defined by the needs of the driver... the right laptop is likewise connected to the right buyer on the basis of needed functionality.

The most sure way to spend a lot of extra cash on your next laptop is to just buy what's out there, rather than what you need from the beginning.

Here are some key things to consider when shopping for your next laptop (New or Used):

1) What applications are essential for you? Do all of your classmates/co-worker's use Word? Do you need to as well? Do you want to play games on the system? Do you want to make databases? Store pictures? With everything you want to accomplish, there will be a necessary application in order to accomplish that objective.

2) How far are you away from service technicians? Can your laptop be down for several days or is it absolutely necessary to run each and every day?

3) Do you have bad vision?

4) Bad wrists? Other physical limitations?

5) Are you going to use your laptop as a Jukebox? How many CD's do you plan on putting in the laptop?

6) Do you plan on using Wi-Fi? Plan on going online?

7) What's your price range?

8) How long does the battery have to work for?

9) Do you need a DVD player or a CD writer?

10) Do you know how to load programs? Delete them?

If you print out this list of questions, it will take you a long way in helping you to decide what laptop is best for you. It will also save you a lot of money as you get what you need and not a bunch of unnecessary items. You do not need to be a computer geek to save a bundle. You just need to be willing to ask some hard questions.

Finding a great deal isn't too hard if you ask the right questions. Have you taken the time to ask these questions? If you haven't please do yourself a favor and print these questions and answer them as thoroughly and as honestly as possible. Once you have decided on some of your applicational needs, find a reseller you trust and work with them to get the best possible deal.

How To Find The Best Laptop Deals

Finding a special laptop deal or price is within

every shopper's reach. It's mainly knowing where to

look!

Simple as that statement may sound, many people in

the market for a new or used laptop don't know where

to look for that special laptop or notebook deal. They

simply don't know how to proceed or what steps they

should take to find the laptop deals that do exist,

sometimes right in they very own neighborhood.

Simple shopping tips or advice that may take 100s off

the price of a new or used laptop. Most of these shopping

tips or guidelines fall within the realm of common sense.

Common procedures that will reduce the price tag on your

next laptop purchase.

Here's a short run down on some shopping tips you can try:

Use The Internet

Your neighborhood is the whole world. We are no longer

confined to a small shopping location or area. We have

the whole world at our disposal because of the Internet.

Use it!

Use the Internet to find online stores, information,

special deals or offers. Use Froogle! Its a great starting

point. Use online notebook guides to find the top rated

laptops, many of these sites will also have special deals

or links. These sites know their laptops -- use their knowledge

and expertise to find the right notebook computer for you.

Comparison Shop

Perhaps, one of the best ways to get a great bargain, is to

Comparison Shop to compare different products and prices.

Again, the Internet is ideally designed to give you mass

amounts of data and information. It makes comparison shopping

a real breeze. Use online sites like Pricerunner.com, PriceGrabber.com,

NextTag.com, Shopping.com and don't forget Google's Froogle.com!

These comparison shopping sites will list the best laptop

deals and prices for you. More importantly, they will also

rate the service and support given by each of these online

stores. Very important when you're buying online. Make sure

you check out the store's warranties, return policies, service

records and customer ratings.

Refurbished Laptops

The real special deals are reserved for refurbished laptops.

Many times you can get a great laptop at a very reduced

price by purchasing a refurbished laptop. Make sure you

get a warranty or buy extra warranty, even then the price

will still be worth your while. You can buy a refurbished

laptop for a fraction of its original price. Check online

for sites selling refurbished laptops or check your

local dealer.

Make sure the dealer is legitimate, and watch out for stolen

laptops. Be extra careful to get the needed warranties,

bill of sales, etc. when buying a refurbished laptop.

Close-out Sales, Liquidation

Keep your eyes peeled for close-out, fire, and liquidation

sales. Laptop technology is changing at a fast pace, many

lines are discontinued to make room for newer inventory with

the latest technology. Many of these close-out sales will

offer great laptops at reduced prices.

Don't Forget eBay

The shopping Mecca of the modern era; don't forget to check

out eBay. You may find some very special deals. Again, make

sure you check out the seller's past history.

Coupons

Mail-in rebates, coupons, online special deals -- all these

offer great savings to the observant shopper. Don't buy a

laptop until your have searched for coupons or discounts,

special deals and the like. Dell is famous for its coupons.

Don't buy a Dell Laptop without using one of these coupons.

You will save 100s off the price of your laptop.

Other notebook makers such as Toshiba, Apple, Sony... offer

great online deals and discounts... search for these before

you purchase your laptop.

Don't Forget To Haggle

If you're buying a laptop from your local dealer, don't always

take the sticker price as gospel. Ask for a special deal, you

may be pleasantly surprised at the savings. This works best with

independent dealers who can offer you a special deal. If you're

a regular customer, the better the deal you should demand!

In conclusion, just use some common sense before you buy your

laptop. Use the Internet to check out and comparison shop for

the best laptop deals. Use coupons and mail-in rebates whenever

possible. Watch out for great close-out, or liquidation sales and

don't forget to check out refurbished laptops. Last, but not

least, if you get the chance, don't forget to haggle. It's a

centuries old technique that still works. It may just get you

the best laptop deal.

How Do You Become a WiFi Hotspot?

WiFi is a very hot commodity worldwide...for both users & those wanting to cash in on the business potential. Below you'll find some things to consider if you're one of those interested in the business potential of WiFi. If you have more to add....please do.

I'll try to keep this as simple as possible.

Here's some simple ideas you should consider for becoming a WiFi Hotspot.

* To turn your business into a hotspot, you really only need 2 things:

- Hotspot Kit (which should include hardware, software, and remote monitoring)

- High Speed Internet (whatever is appropriate for your situation....DSL, T1, or DS3 connectivity)

* Before you order your hotspot kit, you need to first determine what type of service you will need:

- Single Access Point OR

- Multiple Access Point

The number of connection points you need is determined by the amount of area that you wish to make available for wireless internet access. For example....larger hotels will require one access point per every 20 rooms (on average) while a coffee shop can adequately service their clientele with just a single access point.

* The last decision you will need to make is whether or not to bill your clients for wireless internet access. Today, more and more enterprises are offering wireless internet access as a value-added service in an effort to attract more visitors to their hotels/shops. In today's competitive environment, offering complimentary hot zones can be the determining factor when customers weigh your offering against that of your competitors.

However, should you find that billing your customers is what you want to do, find a provider who can help you do that. Your hotspot kit should come with software that will enable you to take credit cards right over your gateway (the page the users 'see' when they try to access the web using your hotspot). You'll likely partner with that provider in that revenues would be shared by both you and "them". Thae provider you choose will make sure the hotspot is running efficiently. This allows you to focus on your key business and to receive a profit-share check each and every month your customers log on to the net in your hotspot.

The above is a simplistic description of what you'll need to think about before becoming a WiFi hotspot. Do your homework along these lines and you'll have a decent foundation to make a good business sense decision.

Wireless Connectivity and You

As computer connectivity continues to evolve, there is a definite push towards wireless. The idea of wireless connectivity is not new. IrDA, or infrared wireless communication has been around for a while. IrDA uses pulsed infrared light waves to provide wireless connectivity to printers, cell phones, PDAs, laptops and other devices. IrDA is fairly limited in its usage parameters, requiring close proximity and direct line of sight between IrDA ports. These limitations have led to the marginalization of the standard as a feasible method for wireless communication.

In recent years, however, we have seen an explosion of wireless technologies. One of the most prevalent wireless technologies has been the 802.11 standard for local area computer networks. This standard uses low-level radio waves to transmit data across the network at reasonably high speeds (up to 54 mbps). The popularity of this wireless standard is the fact that it isn't limited by line-of-sight rules. Internet and other network resources can be accessed through walls or other obstacles without the hassle of wires. This technology has found devoted followers among laptop users who dislike having to carry Ethernet cables to plug into networks wherever they travel.

Bluetooth is yet another wireless technology that has been created to cater to the desires of wire-haters everywhere. Bluetooth was created with the intention of giving computer and consumer electronics users a method of connecting peripherals and devices without the hassle of wires. The Bluetooth standard uses a secure wireless pairing protocol to establish a link between the two Bluetooth enabled devices, after which the two devices are allowed to converse freely via low-level radio waves. Bluetooth has been used in Macs (Apple was a primary advocate for the standard), wireless keyboards and mice, and more particularly in cell phones and hands-free headsets.

A fairly recent wireless technology allows VGA and PS/2 over radio waves. Wireless VGA essentially allows you to create a separate workstation up to 100 feet away from the source without having to run extension cables to the workstation. Other possible uses include running VGA signals to a ceiling-mounted projector or transmitting graphics to a wall mounted LCD or plasma advertising display. This wireless VGA technology is still in its infancy, however, and current implementation only allows for use in commercial, school, or government settings. Regardless of current limitations, this technology marks a major step towards eliminating cables from our everyday computer use. Imagine having a mainframe-type central computer in the home or office, with wireless screens and workstations spread throughout that could be relocated as easily as moving a picture on the wall or shifting a desk. Such are the possibilities.

Another developing and yet-to-be released technology that is looking to build upon the current push for wireless connectivity is the Wireless USB standard. Supported by companies like Intel, Microsoft, and NEC, this standard is intended to build upon the popularity of the current USB 2.0 standard, with a focus on ease and universality of connection using a completely wire-free platform. This technology is theoretically so flexible that it may find its way into ubiquitous use in the consumer electronics market. One particularly intriguing potential use is in the audio/visual sector. Wireless USB-enabled TVs, DVD players, stereo receivers and speakers could all be made to connect to each other wirelessly, giving you unrivalled flexibility in your audio/visual setup. This is a faster, more widespread and easier to use improvement on the wireless VGA technology. Obviously, wireless technology is still in its infant state, but as the technology continues to mature, the possibilities are endless.

Wired Network Working into Wireless Access Points

Let's dive into something a little more complex. What if you have a wired network already, and you're quite happy with the way it performs -- you see no point in dismantling it and making it wireless when it works fine as it is. You've got this laptop, though, that you'd really like to use wirelessly. Basically, what you want to do is make a wireless connection to a wired network. This is often referred to as a network bridge.

As luck would have it, there's a very easy way to do exactly what you want. It's called a wireless access point.

Partly Wireless

If you've got a lot of computers (on an office network, for example) and you can't switch them all over to wireless networking at once, installing a wireless router is a good way of doing it bit-by-bit. Once the router is part of the network, you could just remove one network wire per day or per week, replacing it with a wireless connection.

Hardware and Software Requirements

There are two kinds of wireless access points: software and hardware ones. Wireless access point software runs on one of the computers on the wired network, and lets wireless devices connect to the network through that computer (the computer must obviously be wireless-enabled).

You can get wireless access software easily -- doing a web search will give you plenty of choices. Look for one that's open source, as you will be able to download it straightaway for free without breaking any laws. Unfortunately, though, the wireless devices will only be connected to the network while the computer in question is turned on and connected itself.

Hardware access points, on the other hand, are standalone devices that can be plugged in anywhere on the network -- you can either buy a dedicated access point, or convert an old computer to act as one and do nothing else. They connect to the wired network just as a normal computer would, except that they offer access to the network to any wireless receivers within range.

You can leave hardware access points connected to your network and turned on all the time, if you want. An advantage of dedicated devices is that they generally have a greater range, letting you use your wireless devices further away from the access point than you could with a software access point. Dedicated devices can be expensive, though -- prices are roughly similar to wireless routers.

How Wireless Access Points Work

An access point sends requests for data on behalf of the wireless devices connected to it. In this way, it works a lot like a wireless router: basically, a wireless access point is to a wired LAN as a wireless router is to the Internet. The difference, though, is that the devices connected through an access point actually become part of the LAN -- other computers on the LAN won't distinguish between the wired computers and the wireless ones.

This is powerful, as it gives you the capability to dynamically extend your wired LAN, without wires. In theory, there shouldn't be anything you can currently do over your wired network that you won't be able to do over the wireless extension to it.

Configuring a Wireless Access Point

You can usually configure a wireless access point as easily as plugging it into a connection to your network, using the cable that should be included. Your network should see the access point and give it a networking (IP) address automatically. If you need to do any more configuration on your access point -- for example, turning on wireless encryption -- then you'll need to open your access point's settings.

You can do this by going to the router's IP address in your web browser. If you're not sure how to do this, refer to your access point's manual (you might have better luck reading the online version, which will be updated with the latest problems people are having). While you're playing with your access point's settings, you might find it worth disabling DHCP (dynamic network addressing) and giving your access point a static address instead. This helps to keep your wired network more stable.

Watching HDTV on Your Laptop

Do you have a small laptop with a beautiful LCD display?

Active matrix is now the standard for laptops and, as a result, the quality of images on most laptops is comparable to most desktops.

Why should you let your TV and your desktop have all of the fun with high-definition programming?

High-definition (HD) programming allows you to view movies and television as they were meant to be viewed. Almost all TV viewers who have the opportunity to view HD broadcasts say they strongly prefer them to standard digital and analog broadcasts. Many TV's now come with HD tuners standard and it is very easy to find HD tuners for PC's. Unfortunately these have only been available as PCI cards traditionally. PCI cards require you to open your computer and install the card on the motherboard - this is not an option for laptops.

Take advantage of USB 2.0 to watch HD programming

Now you can use your USB 2.0 port, which comes standard on virtually every laptop manufactured today, to watch HD programming. Note that USB 1.1 is much to slow to stream video without a lot of choppiness. This technology comes from Korea and has been available in Korea for about two years - now various manufacturers are embracing the technology and products are starting to appear on the American market which will allow you to stream HDTV to your laptop.

DVR-like attributes will be coming

Along with the ability to stream HDTV to your laptop comes the ability to record programming to be viewed at a later date. This technology, commonly referred to as digital video recording or simply Tivo-ing, offers you the ability to record HD programming for playback. The USB HDTV adapters available in the US right now do feature time-shift technology, but the ability to download the programming information will require you to find a third-party service. Fortunately these are popping up all over the place to fill the pending demand.

On Reconditioned or Refurbished Notebooks

What exactly is a reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer? Depending on where you are buying, it normally should be a used - or possibly a returned notebook - that has been factory rebuilt. A refurbished notebook computer is basically a cheap, used (maybe) and renovated computer that satisfies all your performance and portability needs and provides all the advantages you would get on buying a new notebook - such as warranty and technical support. This is critical - do not buy a so-called reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer if it does not have the same warranty or guarantee as a new machine.

I'm writing this article right now on a factory reconditioned notebook that I purchased well over two years ago at a very substantial savings over the same machine "new". It came with a full factory warranty and it has performed like a champ. Granted, I was nervous when I first bought it, but I'm now convinced that if you can find a reconditioned or refurbished notebook that has the features you're looking for, you'd be foolish to pay full price -- the discounts are incredible, and the products are functionally identical.

If you just need a computer that is portable, one that you can use to perform simple computing tasks, why spend a fortune in buying a new notebook from some well-known brand? Look for a refurbished notebook computer instead. You will get a notebook that will give you the required performance at a much lower price - and it will still be covered by a warranty.

There is normally a difference between "refurbished" and "reconditioned" (or factory reconditioned). Refurbished usually means that this is an older notebook that has been used and then reconditioned - often by a third party. Depending on the warranty being offered by the refurbisher, this could be an excellent deal. As always, it depends on whether the refurbished notebook meets your specifications. If so, and the price - and guarantee - are good, then you have nothing to lose.

Reconditioned machines, when you find them in a retail outlet, usually are returns that had some problem, went back to the manufacturer, were fixed and now are available at a very substantial discount but have the full 'new' machine factory/manufacturer guarantee. This can be a huge savings and an incredible deal. Often these reconditioned notebooks sell at a discount of 50% or more - and they may even be current models.

Maybe I've just been lucky, but my experience with factory reconditioned notebooks has convinced me that it's foolish to dump a bunch of dollars into a new machine if an equally capable refurbished notebook is available. After all, every reconditioned notebook was once a new notebook that had some kind of problem causing its return. If the factory did its job, then the reconditioned notebook is less likely to have a problem than a new model. And if it does have a problem, you will still have the warranty that new notebooks have.

Students, and of course their parents, who are on the look out for a low-priced notebook to meet school needs, should definitely consider buying a refurbished notebook computer. Education is expensive enough without throwing away money by paying top dollar for a notebook when an equivalent refurbished or reconditioned notebook would serve as well. Check out the computer shops in the local area - or even check online sites like Amazon.com that may showcase a good refurbished notebook computer on sale.

So before you spend - possibly waste - a lot of money buying a brand new notebook that might have features you will never need and accessories you never asked for, look into the possibilities of a suitable and low-priced reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer.

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

What Exactly is an Intel Centrino Mobile Notebook?

There has been a lot of confusion over the use of the term Intel Centrino and what it actually means. An Intel Centrino mobile notebook is actually a combination of Intel products, including what is marked as the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor, put together to create a wireless networking, high performance Intel Centrino mobile notebook.

When wireless networking became popular, Intel introduced the Intel Centrino mobile notebook concept to make it easier for people to get a wireless networking computer. Instead of fishing around for the right parts and the like, Intel effectively made a package that would give them these things they were looking for. The specifications for an Intel Centrino Mobile Notebook cover an Intel chipset, a Pentium M Processor (often referred to as an Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor) and Intel PRO/Wireless Network Connection. In fact, any Intel Centrino Mobile Notebook is basically an all Intel machine. Practically all of the internal parts will be Intel parts.

The Intel Centrino Mobile Laptop processor is an Intel Pentium M Processor. Confusion between the Pentium M processor and Centrino is common, but the Pentium M is part of the Centrino package. This processor is a variant on the Pentium processors from their desktop range, but with lots of different technologies and additions, making them quite different from the desktop versions. There are a number of Intel Centrino mobile laptop processors offered with the Sonoma revision of Intel Centrino mobile laptop technology. Intel Pentium M processors 780, 770, 760, 750, 740 and 730. They also offer Low voltage models in the 778 and 758 as well as two Ultra Low voltage models, the 753 and 733J. All of the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processors use 90nm manufacturing process, 2MB of L2 cache and various other technologies, including the Execute Disable Bit with the models that have a J at the end.

The Intel Centrino mobile laptop processors have some specific benefits which make them suitable for the mobile environment. One of the most obvious of the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor is the low volatage design. Low voltages allow Intel Centrino mobile notebooks to have lower power consumption, lengthening running time. As well as this there is technology to raise of drop the voltage of an Intel Centrino mobile notebook as necessary, further saving power.

Intel Centrino mobile notebooks also come with the Mobile Intel 915 Express Chipset. This chipset specifically designed for Intel Centrino mobile notebooks provides many new features that the older Intel Centrino mobile notebooks did not offer. Some of the most notable are the addition of SATA, PCI Express X16 for graphics, PCIe for the other cards internally and DDR2 400/533MHz. It is designed specifically with the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor in mind.

For Intel Centrino mobile laptops SATA provides an increase in the performance of hard drives and DVD drives. This technology allows for faster transfer of information which speeds up all applications. PCI Express X16 is a breath of fresh air for those who are looking to get better graphics from their system and in particular, those who would like to play 3D games, which using the more recent Intel Centrino mobile notebooks has become more feasible. The internal PCI Express should also allow for speed increases for parts, and helps to pass more strain away from the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor.

Most beneficial for the Intel Centrino mobile laptop is the addition of DDR2 400/533MHz memory. DDR2 not only offers speed increases over the older DDR, but most importantly for mobile technology is that it consumes less power, just like the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor. Power saving is an everpresent concern for laptop users who have to work with limited battery life.

Intel Centrino mobile notebooks also include technology for wireless networking. Although this is nothing new, the technology has been improved and updated, supporting the latest technologies. There is much increased security from the newer Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG and 2200BG which increase security, have higher performance, better ease-of-use and better power management, allowing power saving. In short it is a fully featured card that gives everything you could need. It is specifically aimed at meeting the stringent needs of the business user who chooses an Intel Centrino mobile notebook.

The benefits of the Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor and Intel Centrino mobile laptop technology are clear and although you can get the same things from other combinations of parts there is a certain comfort in the combination. It allows you to be fairly certain of what to expect from your laptop and how much it will perform. Intel Centrino mobile notebooks have been around for a while now and on the whole there is a good reason they are so popular. The Intel Centrino mobile laptop processor in an Intel Centrino mobile laptop has become almost synonymous with mobile networking for laptops.

How to Get a Notebook Computer at a Great Price

How do you get a notebook computer with the functions you need and a price you can afford? I have looked at computer stores and in the Sunday flyers in my local newspaper and while the prices have gone down considerable, notebook computers are still not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. A notebook computer can offer you the chance to work without being tied down to your desk or home office. To get one at a good price, though, takes some research and patience on your part.

First of all, you need to decide what you need in your notebook computer. Most are going to be equipped with office programs, internet access, and other basic computer functions. For most of us, that is plenty. If there is more you need, then you should consult with a professional to find out what exactly it is you need to have on the notebook computer when you go to look for it. With most being similarly equipped, though, you will probably want to find something affordable and reliable.

For affordability, you may want to consider a refurbished computer. Many electronics retailers and even online stores offer these computers. Refurbished notebook computers are one that have been used and are a little older, but have been erased and given fresh memory and programs so that they are basically as good as new. They are generally significantly cheaper than new laptops, but are usually still reliable. Some stores may even offer a limited warranty or guarantee on their refurbished notebook computers.

You can also, if it makes you more comfortable, get yourself a new notebook computer at a decent price by looking around a little bit. Check online first, as many retailers offer their computers online at a discounted price. By shipping it straight to you, rather than one of their physical stores, they are saving a little bit of money and might pass that savings on to you. They will also sometimes begin a closeout online before doing so in the stores. It is a way to get an early jump on removing outdated notebook computers from their national inventory.

Finding a good notebook computer is important to those who want to be able to work, surf the net, and email without being tethered to the office or desk at home. They are however, not a small or cheap purchase. Because of that, you should do some research before buying a notebook computer. Check out refurbished models at your local electronics shop or even online. If you are not comfortable with a used laptop, then consider shopping around online to find closeouts and pre-closeouts available at online retailers who may specialize in notebook computers. Either way, be patient and make sure you find the computer that works for you at a price you can afford and you will not regret your purchase.

How to Find Cheap Laptop Computers

Ah yes, I want a laptop but I am not going to spend a couple of thousand dollars for one. Well guess what you don't have to. Laptop prices have come down dramatically over the past year alone and they will continue to do so as technology advances. But the trick here is to find good quality laptops that fit your needs at the cheapest prices available today.

I would say that there probably is a store near you right now that has cheap laptop computers. In fact, many stores already have them. The reason being, like any other new product, laptops were once considered the cream of the crop in the computer world which made them very expensive. However, all that has changed now. Laptops are a dime a dozen! The hand held digital assistants, Bluetooth cell phones and tablet pads are the new rage making laptop computers cheap.

Now, don't get me wrong, this does not mean that they are cheaply made. Thanks to the wonders of the technological cycle, laptop computers are decreasing in price as their capabilities rise. Of course, there are the latest and greatest monsters out there that are made for gaming or high powered multimedia applications and these babies still cost a pretty penny.

But for the average user, you can find cheap laptop computers that provide all the power you need and then some. Every major manufacturer out there, like Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, and IBM have their lower end and intermediate models that come with more than enough speed and usability.

Now here is the key to finding the right cheap computer laptop for you, and that is to figure out exactly what you need it for.

Are you going to use it mainly for surfing the web or word processing? Do you need it to work from home or mainly to save your MP3s and digital pictures?

Ok, so now you have an idea of what you want to use your laptop for. Now lets go out shopping and compare. You can visit any of the top manufacturers websites or visit your local store and find their low end or intermediate models that may suit your needs. The three top components of a computer you want to look for is the hard drive size, memory, and processor speeds and take notes of each model you find on each component and model.

The hard drive, you can consider this the brain of your computer, this is where all your files, applications and folders are stored. If you plan on using your computer for MP3s and digital pictures your hard drive should be large since these files are usually very large. I personally would look at 80gb as minimum.

Next would be the memory, memory can be considered the thought processes of your computer. As a minimum I would look at 512mb but if you plan on using your laptop for gaming of course this should be much larger, in the area of 1 to 2gb. Now memory is used whenever a program or application is running. So the more memory you have the faster your computer can process the program.

And finally your processor, now your processor is just that it processes all the inner workings of how each program runs. The faster the processor is, the faster the program instructions are processed. Again if your looking for a laptop for gaming uses you want your processor with high speeds 2ghz or more. For other uses you can go less.

Other parts of the computer to also consider are the ports involved that can connect your computer to your digital camera or your mp3 player for example. You also want to check that your laptop has wireless and broadband connectivity. Many cheap computer laptops today already come with this but you want to make sure or you will have to pay additional, for example, a wireless card to install in your laptop to have this capability.

Is Your Mobile Device Secure?

Do you own a keychain USB jump-drive, a PDA, or an

all-in-one mobile communications device? If you do, what

type of information do you store on it? Many people would

say there is nothing important stored on their mobile

device. Many of our customers initially state there is

nothing on the computer network that hackers would want or a

virus could irreparably damage.

I want to start out this article with a couple real-life

stories about why it is so important to make sure your

mobile devices are secure.

Panic Over Lost Jump-Drive

About a year ago, a business acquaintance contacted me in a

panic. Apparently, he was onsite performing an internal

security audit for a rather large company, and had lost or

misplaced his keychain USB Jump-Drive. At first, I was not

sure of why he was in such a panic. That is, until he told

me the drive contained approximately 300Mb of security

information minded from a previous security audit he

performed. He was scared out of his wits that this

information would fall into the wrong hands, not to mention

the hands of his new client. What would his new client think

if they found he was walking around with this information on

a device that anyone4 could gain access too. Would he do the

same thing with their information? Lucky, after retracing

his steps in the building, he found on the floor of the

men's room. He apparently pulled out his keys and the

jump-drive came off the keychain. He no longer carries his

jump-drive around with him.

Confidential Client Information Lost In Snow Storm

On another occasion, someone quite close to me, dropped his

Toshiba PDA somewhere between his car and food store. Not to

big of a deal, except for the fact that there was about one

foot of snow on the ground. He spent the next three hours

drudging through the snow looking for the PDA. Besides the

fact that it was not an inexpensive PDA, it contained his

entire client list, personal online accounts with user-id's

and passwords, and several other categories of highly

confidential information.

In both the cases above, neither of these people had given

much thought to the loss of these devices. Why should they?

They were both experienced professionals in the information

technology business and very careful and conscious about

keeping information secure. The problem is, their both

human. And humans make mistakes an erroneous judgment

calls.

How To Secure Mobile Devices

Because there a so many types of mobile storage and

communications devices, there are many ways to secure them.

So, I will stick to what I do to secure the above mentioned

devices since I happen to use both types.

I use 1GB USB 2.0 Jump Drive to store and transfer many

types of information. Sometimes, this includes confidential

information. For instance, when I travel, I have a copy of

my account database on the device. However, the device

file-system itself is heavily encrypted, and the database

stored on the encrypted file-system, is encrypted. If I

happen to misplace this device, I am more than confident (at

least at this point time) that the data is protected and not

easily accessible. Now, nothing substitutes for not carrying

around this type of information to begin with, but it is

safer than carrying around a printout of the excel

spreadsheet you keep you passwords in.

As far mobile communications. I don't know what I would do

without my mobile phone. It has replaced my PDA, has

unlimited internet access, a VPN client so I can retrieve my

mail without having to use a separate service (more $), a

1GB storage card, camera and so on. The primary thing that

this device stores that is confidential, is my contact list.

There are other items I don't want just anyone to have

access too as well. Not to mention using my phone (more $).

So, the storage card is encrypted, and that is where my

important data is kept. The device itself is password

protected with and eight character key that meets or exceeds

standard complexity rules. And, the mail client itself

requires authentication in order to use it.

Conclusion

If you use mobile devices on a regular basis, I suggest you

sit down and think about exactly what you store on them. It

is sometimes easy to overlook these things or under estimate

exactly how private or confidential certain information is

or should be. Make sure you take reasonable steps to keep

the information stored on mobile devices secure and private.

It is definitely a balancing act between security and easy

of use.

And, what ever you do, don't leave your mobile device in the

men's room.

You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as

the bylines are included.

Original URL (The Web version of the article)

http://www.defendingthenet.com/newsletters/IsYourMobileDeviceSecure.htm

The Eternal Vigil For The Google Box

Amid rumors that just won't die, the eternal vigil

or wait for the Google Box rages on. Google protests

it is not building a Google Box. If you believe them,

your next question should be -- why the hell not?

Recent fury about a Google Box was again unleashed at

the latest CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas

this year when a rumor spread that Google would be

unveiling a Google Box. Causing its stock price to rise and

Google watchers' hearts to drop when there proved to be

no substance to the rumor.

For now Google seems content to 'piggy-back' on other

systems. It has announced it will be partnering with

Motorola to place the Google icon and search on certain

Motorola cell phones. So close, yet so far.

Google still insists it is not building a Google Box.

But does it really matter what Google wants... Internet

users want their Google Box and they will get it in one

form or another. It might not even come from Google.

Their lost!

If you haven't been following the Google Juggernaut, you

may be wondering what's all this buzz about a Google Box?

Simply put: it's a rumor/hope/dream that just won't die.

What are consumers, customers, Internet users (everyone

on the planet) all clamoring for?

They are clamoring for a newly minted integrated 'all-in-one'

portable handheld device, with a Google OS (operating system)

and an RSS powered Google Browser (via the Firefox model)

that's an Internet/Phone/Laptop/XM Radio/Ipod Video/TV/GPS/

and last but not least a Search Engine.

If such a device is built it would finally bring the

Internet (screaming and kicking) into our future wireless

universe. It would be our dream technotopia device. One that

would meet all our electronic/communication needs and place

them firmly in the palm of our hand.

It would place all the World's Information, Videos, TV shows,

Music, a Billion Web Sites, and Aunt Sally neatly in the palm

of your hand. It would deliver all this with the Google Brand

Name, quite frankly who else would you trust with your Aunt

Sally?

Not only should Google Build it, they should give it away

for Free or next to Free, make it affordable to the lowest

income demographic on the planet. It would simply be good

business. It would simply be a better return on its

shareholder's money.

Technically such a device or Google Box could be built right

now. The resources and expertise are available, just might

take a hefty down payment to give birth to this baby.

Is such a venture realistically feasible for Google to undertake?

As we see from their offer of providing free broadband Wi-Fi

services to the lucky residents of Mountain View, in the

heart of Silicon Valley, it is not that far-fetched. It is not

such a leap of faith that someone at Google may be musing at

the possibility of a world-wide wireless system delivered on

a Google Box.

Advertising is Google's Bread and Butter. Consider the

Google Box as just a virtual version of your morning

newspaper. It would be the perfect vehicle to carry all

that Google delivered advertising. Delivered to everyone

anywhere in the world. Advertisers would be lining up around

the world for a piece of that action.

Actually, if you really examine the implications of such

a delivery system. Google must build that Google Box or

lose out to others who will build such a delivery device...

it just won't have the Google name.

How far are we from such a delivery system? How long will we have

to wait for the eternal Google Box? Don't hold your breath

but have you heard any good rumors lately?