5 Things to Examine in a Wireless Internet Plan

High speed wireless internet is officially part of the culture now, whether you are ready for it or not. Looking over the considerable benefits of mobile broadband -- whether on a laptop or cell device -- you generally will only stand to benefit from this advance in technology. However, as quickly as the bandwidth is increasing, there are a number of internet providers getting on board and hoping to lead the pack in the niche. The consumer should be well prepared when making this decision, as choosing a mobile broadband package will be much like choosing a cell phone plan: Multiple years will probably be on the table, and the longer the contract the better the price will be. Look over these five factors before signing up for a plan.

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Desktop Computers Are Still Necessary

In the past few years laptops have started to make a very serious dent in replacing desktop computers. There are a lot of good reasons, convenience and mobility being the most common. Prices have dropped considerably and power and features have increased steadily. Being able to take it with is a big advantage.

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How to Auto Run an Application From a USB Flash Drive

More and more people are leaning more on the use of USB flash drive as their handy "filing cabinet". Aside from being the more convenient option to carrying a bulk of important files and documents in a pen like device, it is also very much customisable and flexible to its owner's data storage and security preferences. As it is small and lightweight, it can be fitted almost everywhere, compared to carrying stacks of CDs, carrying a pen-like storage device is the more appealing option to carrying data, media and other forms of digital files
. Even big companies are now promoting the wide use of USB flash drive among their employees. This goes to show that the use flash drives have gone far from being an accessory; it has become a necessity to all computer applications.

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Top 10 Super Photoshop Tips and Tricks

Adobe continually improves, upgrades and changes Photoshop and I'm no guru but I'm able to do a fair amount with Photoshop myself. My wife is what I would term a Photoshop guru or expert and the things she can get Photoshop to do continues to blow me away. My wife uses the newest version of Photoshop at her job as a Digital Designer, but I'm still on Photoshop 7, so please bare with me if my tips are old or outdated.

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How to Fix the Windows Explorer Error

Do you have the Windows Explorer error when you do? This problem is mainly due to 2 reasons. Or another program is not compatible with your current Windows Explorer program, or is there a file is missing. But how can you fix this? Speed Up Your PC
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The Changing Face Of Laptop Backpacks

Everything around us is changing and the changes are most prominent in the world of computer technologies. As the accessories are changing keeping pace with the taste and requirements of the people, it has become necessary for the manufacturers to change the face of laptop backpacks keeping pace with such changes.

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The 5 Best Computer Buys of 2009

I recently decided to buy my father a new computer (his was a dinosaur). Like most people in the market for a new computer, I wanted one that didn't cost a small fortune, but was still good. What I found was quite a bit of stress and a LOT of hype. Everyone claims to be the best for your money, so how do you know if it's true or not without being a computer genius? So I decided to write this article with the hopes of saving you some time and tears when searching for the perfect computer. It is a simple list of my pick for the top 5 best computer buys of 2009.

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Comparing Different Kinds of Laptop Based on Features and Functions

Choosing what laptop computer to buy is somehow a tough ordeal. In order to arrive at a decision, you must know your options. One way to be able to do that is to compare them according to their use. Knowing the different sorts of laptop computer and comparing their features, price, and functions will help you make up your mind which one you must get. It is important to make the right choice since some of the laptops around have same price but with different features. Doing so will let you determine where you should spend your money when buying your first or maybe next laptop unit. Here is a general comparison of different types of laptop computer based on their functions.

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5 Tips To Choose a Laser Printer

Laser printers are usually chosen to do a job quickly and with quality. Individuals and companies that print a large quantity of documents and the use of a word many programs that use laser printers. Your choice of a laser printer is based on your needs.

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Top 5 Tips to Buy Cheap Laptop Computers

Wondering how to find cheap laptops online? Then here are some great tips! In recent years laptop sale has gained immense boost. This is due to the fact that laptops are easy to carry and can be taken wherever and whenever one wants. It has now become almost an indispensable part of life. The market too is flooded with laptops from different companies and there are wide ranges of laptops you can choose from. But there are few basic things which you should keep in mind while buying the laptop so that you do not end up buying one that hardly serves your purpose. Here are then five tips which will surely tell you how to find cheap laptops online?

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Why Do You Need a Netbook?

Everyone has a netbook nowadays. It has been sold in millions of units and estimations have it that the sales will rise up to 50 million by the end of 2012. You`ve started to think of buying one yourself but you`re still not sure a netbook is what you really need. If you find the following arguments attractive, then you should hurry to the closest IT shop and get your own netbook.

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Recycling Your Computer After Using It

Computers contain many toxic heavy metals, chemicals, and carcinogens that cause severe damage to the environment. If computers are thrown in the landfill, these toxic substances can leech into the ground and have a serious impact on the water and soil. When disposing of your computer, it is important to do so safely. One method that more people are participating in is computer recycling.

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Tips in Buying a Refurbished Notebook and Antivirus Software

There are various varieties of refurbished notebooks and antivirus software you can buy at a computer store or online. Check on the specifications of the product before buying.

When buying a refurbished notebook and antivirus software, it is important to consider all the possible factors that can affect its quality. Of course, you do not want to buy something you will regret later on. Here are some useful tips in buying a refurbished notebook and antivirus software:

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Fix a Slow Computer and Speed up Computer Performance

Everyone who has to deal with a slow computer would give their right arm to know how to speed up PC performance. Whether it is your computer at home or the one you use at work, slow computer performance makes for a long day, and requires eons of patience; both of which many people don't have. The good news is that you do not have to deal with a slow computer if you have the right tools to fix it.

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How to Sell Used Computers

Many people sell their used computers for a variety of reasons. Some sell their used computer instead of throwing them as a trash get some money from them, while others sell their used computers to buy new computers with the latest features and technology. Not only individuals sell their used computers, but also large numbers of organizations or firms sell their used computers. They do so because the computer systems may require maintenance and repairs, after some time due to the decrease in performance seen in the computers after some years. Instead of spending more money on the maintenance and repairs they sell and gain money, as there is a great demand for used computers. Such companies easily sell their used computers online through auctions or exchange for new computers with less effort in no time.

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Tips On How To Use A Pen Drive

The days are long gone when floppy discs were the only way to store and carry data from one computer to another. Then along came CD-Rom and DVDs for transporting data but these were also cumbersome. People wanted something more compact and tiny which could be just slipped into their pockets and yet be capable of storing large amounts of data. The pen drive has emerged as the solution to this quest and accessing and transporting data has never been so easier.

Weighing a mere 21 grams, the pen drive looks like a small pen but boasts of massive data storage capacity which could range from 32 MB to 16 GB or more, which amounts to thousands times more than a 1.44 MB floppy disc. Its storage capacity is even more than that of the later CDs and DVDs.

Also referred to as a USB flash drive, the pen drive is dust-proof, shock-proof and does not require any batteries. It is compatible to both PCs and laptops and functions without the help of any cables or software just requiring a USB port on the computer. It simply has to be plugged into the port of the computer which detects it automatically. It can not only be read but written as well.

Data from the pen drive is transferred only a bit at a time so as to lessen the complexity of the mounted circuit within the pen drive and also to reduce the power consumed by the pen drive. The pen drive has an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) memory which is a flash memory.

The ease with which a pen drive can be used continues to astonish as it is a mere plug and play device and works independently of any software, enabling data, video or audio to be easily written and read. The USB port is faster in data transfer than the serial port as the operating system can detect the USB pen drive very swiftly and create a new drive in the computer automatically. This newly created drive can be seen on the computer.

To access the pen drive, all you have to do is to click on the `My Computer` section where an icon has been created and all sorts of data, music and videos can now be transferred either to or from the computer. After the transfer is over, the pen drive should be disconnected from the computer.

Pen drives have become so handy that one cannot imagine any other type of computer data transfer now. Personal data like pictures, files or videos can be stored and transferred with the help of a pen drive and even retrieving lost data or repairing the computer becomes less difficult with this tool.

Pen drives are used very commonly for data back-ups and anti-virus software or transfer recovery software. It is also capable of storing the host machine`s data in emergencies. It works as an application carrier which runs on the host computer without the hassle of being installed on the hard disc. So many varieties of software can be used to run the pen drive that it can turn its host computer and other nearby computers into a web-like environment.

Pen drives are being constantly updated and now come with many additional features like the MP3 playback, built-in camera and even the fingerprint biometric feature. Pen drives are also being used in the manufacture of digital audio players for sound output. Some even feature LCD display for audio input jack and for track browsing.

Advancing technology will only enhance the capacity of the pen drives and they will come equipped with newer features.

by Roberto Sedycias

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Microsoft Zune HD: Can it defeat Apple IPod touch ??

The Zune HD is much slimmer than the current Zune 120 because it will use flash memory rather than a hard drive. This means the expected storage capacity will be 16 GB with a possible more expense model at 32 GB or discount option at 8 GB. The price range will depend on storage capacity, however there is some expectation that the Zune HD Price will be $250 for the base model.

The outer casing is a matte finished aluminum to prevent fingerprints, it can come in black or silver with a hint of gold. Each Zune HD supports a full WiFi web browser which is a new feature for the Zune brand. Zune HD reviews will have to note the specific features that Zune apart from the iPod touch such as the HD radio reception and HD video output at 720p resolution.

Question:
With these features, will Microsoft Zune HD have a product comparable to the Apple iPod Touch ? are these cool features and comparable operation enough for Microsoft to take a bite of Apple and gain market share??

Analysis:
Quite frankly, NO...

While the Zune appears to function as well as or better then an iPod touch, there are items beyond the product itself that make iPods so popular. Looking at the history of the iPod, it is iTunes that has provided most of the growth for the product. Being a part of the CE industry during the rise of the iPod, I have used players that have sounded better, functioned better and provided more pleasure then iPods themselves. However, it you look at the ease of use of the iPod with iTunes as the means to load content, it has a benefit to any other player.

One down side to the Zune HD is that it will not play games or run apps (at least in the first release), this is something that is making the iPod touch and iPhone so popular. Consumers are not really buying it cause it sounds or looks good, the fact that you use it for everything is one of the most appealing factors.

Over the years Apple iTunes and iPod have become the known name for portable players and downloading music. These Apple brands are used like Band Aid and Kleenex to refer to downloading and playback. Because of the popularity, there is an entire industry based on the iPod. Everything that you could ever want from a new blingy cover to a dock so that you can listen on a big system are available, there are even TVs with docs so that video can be watched at home. AV product manufacturers have spent years developing products to support iPod and it will be a long time before they start developing for the Zune. Additionally, consumers have spent years building libraries in iTunes, and I bet that the Zune will not sync or play that content...

Microsoft has a counter measure for iTunes with ZunePass, this is a monthly fee service that allows for downloading of content to the Zune. While this is something that is needed, Microsoft would have been better to stay out of that game and partner with an established service such as Rhapsody. At this point in the game Rhapsody continues to grow as the alternative to iTunes, and while I am sure that purchased music from Rhapsody can be used on the Zune, having the subscription content would be better.

The bottom line is that while the Zune may have some advantages in performance, it lacks the support that the iPod has. The lower cost for the Zune HD may steer new users in Microsoft direction, it will not bring old iPod users over. However, only time will tell, as stranger things in Consumer Electronics have happened.

by Rushrush

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Mobile Social Networking and Used Cell Phones

Mobile social networking is a trend that is growing at an incredible rate; it could soon overtake the need to access a computer for all social networking activities. Social networking companies, like Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace, have partnered together with mobile phone carriers and mobile phone manufacturers to ensure that their communities not only featured prominently within the web start pages but that their mobile applications function correctly on all internet-ready mobile phones. This is allowing people to be in constant contact with their online social communities.

The growing popularity of social networking is reaching mobile phone users from all walks of life; students are taking advantage of mobile social networking to help them stay in touch with their peers, family, and even with their schoolwork. Many schools (universities especially) have permitted their teachers and other activity groups within the schools to form private groups on social networking sites. These groups allow students to connect with one another when not in the classroom, get help with their homework, and keep up with assignments. The groups are accessible via the mobile networking applications; so long as the mobile phone being utilized is capable of loading the full application onto it. Parents of teenagers may not be willing to spend a small fortune upgrading their mobile phones so that they can have better access to a social networking website; however, a used cell phone that is adequate for accessing the social networking sites can be purchased more affordably from a reputable third party cell phone seller.

In addition to the student population using mobile social networking, there is a rather large contingent of stay at home moms using the available social networking sites to keep in touch with other stay at home moms, friends, family, and even with support groups that have set up presences on social networking websites. For a busy mom that has little to no time to sit down at a computer, the ability to quickly post a message, respond to a message, or check out an invitation in the palm of their hand is an invaluable tool!

The social networking companies mentioned above do have fierce competition in companies that provide only mobile social networking; they have little to no web presence. With lower overhead and limited marketing budget, these companies rely on consumer word of mouth to ensure their communities grow.

As the technology grows and the available software improves, the communications on social networking sites will no longer be limited in nature; consumers will be able to perform all functions on a mobile phone that they would using a computer. In fact, with each passing day, mobile phones are becoming more and more like mobile computers - with functionality beyond web-interfacing like work processors, picture editors, and so on. Mobile phones that are technologically advanced will become more and more affordable for all consumers; however, for those who have a limited budget to spend and do not mind being one generation behind, a good refurbished used cell phone will be a great option.

by Jerry Atkins

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7 Tips on How to Select The Perfect Laptop

Tip 1: Know The Purpose Of Your Laptop. In other words, why are you buying a laptop? This is extremely important to know and admit to yourself because different purposes favor different aspects in a laptop. Are you a gamer? Then your going to want a great graphics card and a good amount of RAM (Random Access Memory). Are you a casual at-home user? Then you will want a great battery-life along with some Processor Speed (Ghz). It's very important to know what you need for your dream laptop.

Tip 2: Choose a Computer Look That fits your style. The best laptop for you is the one that is going to make you squirm by just looking at it. You should pick a color that you either love or a color that fits your personality. Professionals who use there computer for work and profit usually prefer white or gray. Experts who are serious and enjoy showing off their knowledge tend to go for black. More Unique users branch out and purchase red, green, or blue laptops. Also, are you after a laptop that is paper thin? Do you prefer a big screen? These are things you need to know before hand so you will know the perfect laptop the instant you see it. Check out my webpage (in the resource box) for way more information on this topic.

Tip 3: Know your price range. You can find the right computer for you much faster if you use advanced searches and enter in a price range. This will keep results off the page that you instantly disregard because they are either way out of your budget, or look way to cheap without good specs. How do you know your price range? Just ask yourself, "If I saw my dream laptop, with every attribute I wanted and more, would I pay $700 for it. What about $750. $800?" You get the point. Also, tell yourself your not going to jump on any deals that are WAY to good to be true. Obviously, your not going to get your dream laptop for $150. So don't aim for it. A really good way to get an awesome laptop for a much cheaper price is to build it yourself!

Tip 4: Aim For Decent Internal System Aspects. Like I said before, different purposes for a computer lead to different main aspects. But, overall you don't want anything to be horrible even if the rest is great. For example, you are getting 3 GB of RAM, a whopping 200 GB of Hard Disk Space, and for a great price, sounds great! But wait, the processor speed is only .5 Ghz, slow as a snail. Unfortunately, one major drawback like this can prevent us from being pleased with the laptop. Click Here for a great free table that shows you my personal opinions for good aspects.

Tip 5: Microsoft Windows or Apple MAC? This is a VERY big decision that you have to make. It all depends on your style and how you want your files organized. Windows gives you more of a decision on what security settings to use and where your files are placed. MAC can be very handy though because it organizes your files and folders for you. Which is for who? It depends on how much you know. If you know a lot about computers you will probably prefer Windows, where you can customize it to your style. If you don't know much and don't have a clue what your doing, then MAC is for you because its very hands off and keeps you from accessing your dangerous or program files. One more pro for MAC, Apple creates its own products for its products. What do I mean? Anything, and I mean anything, that is created by Apple for computers will work on your computer. Check out my website for way more free information on operating systems.

Tip 6: Get a Laptop that has that perfect "feel" to it. What am I talking about? Certain laptops may have something to them that will utterly annoy you forever. Examples:A screechy keyboard, USB ports in the back of the computer, an unresponsive mouse pad, etc. Look online to find information about other users of the laptop who had "annoyances," or, better yet, ask if you can try using the laptop for a test run before actually purchasing it. The goal is to find a laptop where everything is right where you want it, and the feel to everything is great!

Tip 7: Make sure you are getting everything you think you are getting. Buying a laptop off Ebay, Craigslist, or any other place that sells used or refurbished laptops? Then MAKE SURE to check contents of the package before purchasing. Some people will scam you and send you a laptop that has no power cord! Even some stores these days sell new laptops that have no wireless card (used for connecting to the internet wirelessly)! It is better safe than sorry, don't get cheated out of your money!

by Kyle

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