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BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry PlayBook, RIM’s foray into the tablet world. They have announced it, they have shown it running Adobe’s Flash and they have revealed 3 different models however, they have yet to give their much anticipated device a concrete release date other than to say it will be out sometime in early 2011. RIM needs to get back into the game in a major way, BlackBerry 6 and the Torch don’t count, and the PlayBook very well could be the device to bring them back to relevance.

PlayStation Phone by Sony

Sony, the leader of innovative technologies is ready to launch playstation phone code named “Zeus” in early 2011. Zeus would have Andriod 3.0 Gingerbread operating system. It also contains SD slot card having 8GB of memory with 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor. It comes up with 3.8 display and graphics processing unit of Adreno 205. This superb phone also contains 1GB ROM and 512 MB RAM. 3.8″ touch screen and its touch pad is just like gaming console of PSP. Through PlayStation Phone you can also download different games. So for those who love games, it is going to be a best product.

How to Export Your Outlook Calendar

Follow the instructions below...
1: Open outlook, and click on the calendar folder.
2: This will open up the calendar section of MSOutlook
3: Now that the calendar is open go to the File menu at the top left. Once on the file menu select the option for Import/Export
4: The next screen will ask you what you want to do.
5: Select the choice for export to a file.
6: Click Next
7: Choose the type of file in this case since we will be going to outlook at home you want to select the  "Personal   File Folder" Option the ".pst" file
8: Click Next
9: The next screen will have your folder list, on this screen if you have subfolders under contacts the lower left hand corner allows to include subfolders of your Calendar. Leave the calendar option highlighted and click Next.
10: It will now ask you for the location of the file, click on Browse to the right and click to save the file to your desktop for easy access later.
11: Click Next the file will now be created on your desktop, and you can email it to yourself at home, once it is at home, save the file to your desktop and import the calendar folder into Outlook, and now have the same event settings in both locations.

iPhone 4 review and Specification

"iPhone 4 is the biggest leap since the original iPhone," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "FaceTime video calling sets a new standard for mobile communication, and our new Retina display is the highest resolution display ever in a phone, with text looking like it does on a fine printed page. We have been dreaming about both of these breakthroughs for decades."

The much-anticipated feature FaceTime allows video conferencing from iPhone to iPhone over a wi-fi network.

The iPhone 4 features a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, a faster processor, a 3-axis gyro, and up to 40 percent longer talk time, Apple claims.

The unit itself is redesigned inside and out -- the case is made of glass and stainless steel, which acts as an antenna.

The 3.5-inch display features a resolution of 960 by 640 pixels -- that's four times as many pixels as the iPhone 3GS. Many reviews say the display is incredibly bright and sharp.

The iPhone 4 comes in black or white, although Apple says that the white model won't be available until late July because of challenges in manufacture.
       iphone 4 Specification
  
          Size and weight
  • Height:
                4.5 inches (115.2 mm)
  • Width:
                2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
  • Depth:
                 0.37 inch (9.3 mm)
  • Weight:
                4.8 ounces (137 grams) 

       Capacity

  • 16GB or 32GB flash drive

     

    Display

  • Retina display
  • 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
  • 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
  • 800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
  • 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical)
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back
  • Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

     

    TV and video

  • Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
  • Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)       

       

        Camera, photos, and video

  • Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
  • 5-megapixel still camera
  • VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second with the front camera
  • Tap to focus video or still images
  • LED flash
  • Photo and video geotagging

         Sensors
  • Three-axis gyro
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor

          Headphones
  • Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
  • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • Impedance: 32 ohms

         Power and battery
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
  • Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter

  • Talk time:
    Up to 7 hours on 3G
    Up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM model only)



  • Standby time: Up to 300 hours




  • Internet use:
    Up to 6 hours on 3G
    Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi



  • Video playback: Up to 10 hours



  • Audio playback: Up to 40 hours













Difference between ipad and apad

  The iPed, or Apad as it is also known is available to buy over in Shenzhen, China and also on a few Chinese websites. The device is quite different in terms of specs to Apple’s iPad, but the design is exactly the same style as you’d expect with the iPad.
  The biggest difference between the two, is that the iPed runs Android 1.5 OS, rather than Apple’s iPhone OS. As you should know by now though, Android is no lightweight and the device packs some handy specs.
It features a 7-inch touchscreen display with 800×430 resolution, a 600 MHz RockChip 2808A processor with 1GB of Memory, MicroSD support, 802.11b/g WiFi, HD video playback, 3.5mm jack and one-click access to YouTube. Since it is running Android, you’ll also get a collection of Google apps, such as the Chrome browser, Google Maps and Google Talk.

  Apad is just a clone ipad from china, and Apad usually refers to the Rockchip RK2808 powered device a.k.a Moonse E-7001 which is a 7 inches tablet running Android 1.5. It as a 600 Mhz Processor with a 550Mhz DSP therefore it can render 720p Video. However there are devices that uses a similar form factor equipped with Telechip TCC8902 chipset which support Android 2.1 and 1080p Video playback. China Apad also have similar functions of ipad,and it has a stable hardware and software combination. The Rockchip Apad does support external USB 3G modem so provide even more portability.All in all ,apad is  a device that much cheaper than ipad but also useful.

Compaq Presario F700 Driver for Windows XP

Chipset Driver
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Nvidia Graphics Driver

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Wireless Driver

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Winpad 9.7" Tablet PC Intel CPU Z530 1.6Ghz DDR2 1GB NAND Flash 16GB with Camera

Winpad 9.7" Tablet PC Specs:
Display LCD 9.7" LED Multi-Touch Resistive Panel
CPU Intel ATOM Processor Z530 (1.6GHz)
Memory DDR2: 1GB
HDD: 16GB SSD
Display/Screen Size:LED 9.7", 1024X768
Graphic Integrator: GMA 500
WIFI: 802.11a/b/g
Port: external dongle for 3*USB
Apple iPAD size look alike
Web Camera on Front Panel: 1.3M
Bluetooth
Audio 2 Stereo Speakers, Built-in MIC

I/O Ports
1* Headphone out
1*DC-in
Battery 3800mah battery life 4-5 hours
G Sensor for Orientation Detect and Screen rotation
Full Aluminum Alloy
Windows 7 or XP OS pre-installed

XPERIA ARC SPECIFICATIONS

Android touch phone with super-screen
View pics and video in vivid colours with your Android touch phone. Crisp and clear on the 4.2” Reality display with Sony Mobile BRAVIA® Engine

The sleek, super-slim Xperia™ arc
Start with premium materials. Stir in some beautiful curvature. Squeeze down to 8.7 mm. And there it is, a perfect palm fit: the slim, lightweight and strong Xperia™ arc.

HD phone with 8.1 megapixel camera
"Your HD phone has an Exmor R™ sensor that lets you capture high-quality movies and stills in low light. So go ahe

BlackBerry Curve Apollo smartphone specifications

Review

There is rumor if Research In Motion will be release the next generation BlackBerry Curve namely BlackBerry Curve Apollo smartphone. The Curve Apollo has a similar form factor with BlackBerry 9300 Curve 3G like Curve keyboard, an optical pad but it has a much more rounded bottom, have glossy black finish and likely RIM plan the device for replace the 9300 Curve 3G.

BlackBerry Curve Apollo is is powered by an 800MHz Marvell Tavor MG-1 processor, 512MB RAM, 512MB of eMMC, 5 megapixel camera with flash, 1050 mAh battery and works on Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone with tri-band HSPA 7.2Mbps support. The BlackBerry Apollo is running on BlackBerry OS 6.1 and has low-resolution screen with HVGA 480 x 360 display.

The BlackBerry Curve Apollo smartphone also equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, GPS, supports Near Field Communication (NFC) and measuring in  11mm thick.

BlackBerry Curve Apollo Specifications

* Processor Tavor MG-1 800MHz CPU
* 512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
* 5-megapixel camera with flash
* HVGA 480 x 360 display
* Bluetooth 2.1
* Wi-Fi b/g/n
* GPS
* supports Near Field Communication (NFC)
* Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
* Tri-band UMTS/HSPA 7.2Mbps
* 1050 mAh battery
* BlackBerry OS 6.1
* measuring in  11mm thick

Verizon iPhone 4 CDMA specs, price and more details

Apple and Verizon just introduce the new version of Apple iPhone 4 namely the iPhone 4 CDMA. Verizon iPhone 4 CDMA having a frequency band of CDMA 800 / 1900 / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Mhz and will be available for pre-order on February 3, 2011. Verizon iPhone 4 will come with Black or White olors and has price at $199 for 16GB version and iPhone 4 CDMA 32GB version will has price tag at $299.

Verizon CDMA iPhone 4 has similiar specs as the iPhone 4, but the CDMA version have an updated antenna design and Verizon’s Personal Hotspot feature for share its 3G connection with up to five other Wi-Fi capable devices. iPhone 4 CDMA is sports 3.5 inch LED-backlit IPS TFT touch  with 640 x 960 pixels resolution, 5.0 Mega Pixels with resolution of 2592 x 1944 Pixels that features of 5x digital zoom , flash, autofocus, FaceTime support and HD Video Recording capabilities and runs Apple iOS 4.2.5.

Verizon iPhone 4 CDMA is powered by 1 GHz Apple A4 processor, 512 MB RAM, 16/32 GB storage, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, USB v2.0, 3G up to 3.1 Mbps, 3.5 mm headset jack, and Standard battery Li-Po 1420mAh for Up to 7 hours on 3G and Up to 14 hours on 2G. Dimensions of iPhone 4 CDMA are 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm  with weight only 137 g. The Verizon iPhone 4 CDMA also offers Scratch-resistant glass back panel, Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic, TV-out, Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, Proximity sensor for auto turn-off, Digital compass, and Three-axis gyro sensor.

Samsung Galaxy Tablet - Application

EMail 
The core of the email app looks like those on the Galaxy S phones, but when you flip the display into landscape mode you get a Microsoft Outlook-like pane that displays your Inbox on the left and the messages on the right. We preferred managing and responding to mail in this app over the Gmail app, which is just the smartphone version.

Calendar
The calendar app is equally as attractive. In landscape mode you can adjust it so your calendar takes up the entire screen or with a similar two pane view that shows a listing of upcoming events.

Messaging, Contacts
These are pretty self-explanatory. Even though the Tab isn't technically a phone since all the US carriers have restricted its calling ability, you can use the messaging app to send SMS or MMS messages or e-mails to other contacts. Like the others, you've got a two pane view in landscape mode -- you can look at your contacts on the left side and message from the right.

Media Hub
This one has started to pop up on some Galaxy S phones as well, but the Tab is perhaps the best suited to take advantage of Samsung's new movie and TV store / player. At this point there's over 1,000 videos from MTV, Universal and Paramount, and while there is a decent selection of current titles -- we downloaded the Jersey Shore episode of South Park for $1.99 -- you'll come up empty when you start searching for older flicks. Nope,  E.T nor Terminator, just to name a few, aren't available. Of course, everything here is DRM-protected so we had zero luck trying to drag it to our desktop. However, you will be able to log into your Media Hub account on up to five other Samsung devices to watch any previously purchased content. Media Hub isn't a bad over-the-air alternative, but at this point we'd recommend buying content through Amazon's Unbox and sideloading it for use on multiple devices.

Note: Samsung also has a Readers Hub app, which contains access to Kobo's e-book store and other reading content, but Sprint's decided not to preload it.

Browsing and Flash
For the most part, the browsing experience on the Tab is rock solid -- pages loaded quickly over WiFi and scrolling / zooming on most pages was snappy. When loading a few sites -- like this very technology site -- we did notice the scrolling to be a bit jittery and not as smooth as on the iPad. However, we do like that there's the ability to change the brightness within the browser. But, obviously, the Tab differs from that other tablet with its full Flash support. So, is it everything you've been waiting for? Thanks to its 1GHz processor, the experience isn't as slow as we've seen on other Android 2.2 devices, but we can't really say we took advantage of the feature all that much -- in fact we decided to disable it eventually to speed up browsing.

While it's nice to be able to load videos within sites and not have to battle that blue lego block, we were repeatedly given the "this video is not optimized for mobile" message when we hit play. Overall, videos played just fine, but Flash definitely slowed down the rest of the browsing experience. What about other Flash heavy sites? Well, as you can see above, Hulu is a dead end -- we got the same error message even when we logged into our Hulu plus account in the browser.(Hulu, please release a Plus app for Android ASAP!) On that same vein, we had no issues loading a Flash game site like Canabalt, but because it was built for mouse and keyboard environments we couldn't figure out how to jump and avoid death by bricks. What does it all mean? The Tab's Flash capability is a nice fallback, but if you've been thinking it's the killer tablet app you should think again. Not to sound like Steve Jobs or anything, but scaled-up smartphone apps and Flash compatibility alone don't create a well-rounded tablet platform it's going to take native apps for the Tab to be truly competitive.

Camera(s)
The Tab's dual cameras are a big differentiator against the iPad, and we do have to say they both came in pretty handy over the last few days. We warn you: people will look at you oddly when you pull it out and take shots with its giant viewfinder! The 3 megapixel cam with LED flash on the back aren't going to replace your point and shoot, but it did take some decent still shots. There's a few samples in the gallery below: the flash was helpful when nabbing some stills on a darkly lit street and the outdoor pics are quite sharp. The camera interface consists of the standard Android controls, and per usual it handled auto-focus and white balance. Oddly, there's no macro mode, but the panoramic mode was great for taking wide-angle shots -- just make sure to hold it extremely steady to avoid blur. There is also a continuous mode, which will take a sequence of nine shots -- it took us a while to figure out that you've got to hold down the camera button to get it snapping. We should note that the panoramic and continuous modes are limited to taking 800 x 600-resolution photos.

It's a bit of a bummer that there's no HD video recording -- the Tab shoots at 720x480 -- but motion capture is quite smooth, and there were no stuttering issues like we've seen on Galaxy S phones. We should mention here that the Galaxy Tab requires you have a micro SD card inserted to use the camera, so it's a good thing Sprint tosses in a 16GB card. Oddly, we couldn't save anything to the 2GB of internal memory or access it when mounted to our Mac or PC. (If you're interested in the European version, our UK review unit has 16GB of internal storage, which is accessible when mounted.)

The 1.3-megapixel front facing cam obviously doesn't take as crisp or detailed shots, but it's perfectly fine for video chatting, awkwardly posing with a friend, or checking your teeth for leftover lettuce. As you can see from the picture above, we were able to get a video call going using Qik over WiFi, although there was quite a lot of delay and in some cases a serious amount of pixelation. We did attempt to use Fring, but the app hasn't been optimized for the tablet yet, and we couldn't get two-way video calling working. Fring's audio was much better, however.

Samsung Galaxy Tablet - Hardware

   It's getting increasingly hard for manufacturers to differentiate the look of these all-screen gadgets, but Samsung's done a commendable job distinguishing the Tab from the others with its contrasting front and back surfaces. The back of the rounded-off device is coated in white shiny plastic (whether it will remain ghost white over time remains to be seen), while the front consists of a familiar flush black bezel and glass screen. (Note: we were sent the Sprint version of the Tab and there may be slight aesthetic differences amongst the carrier versions.) The screen and bezel do appear less glossy than the iPad -- you'll still want to keep the Windex (or Brasso gadget polish) and chamois close by, though. Speaking of clean, that's exactly how we'd describe the rest of the design -- there are four touch buttons on the front side, a headphone jack on the top edge and a volume rocker, microSD card slot and power button on the right edge. However, we don't see why Samsung couldn't have made room for a micro-USB port -- you have to charge it and sideload content using Samsung's proprietary charging cable.

   To be honest, our real appreciation for the device's design comes more in terms of its form factor. Unsurprisingly, 7-inch tablets are much better for one-handed use than larger-screened ones (i.e. the 9.7-inch iPad or 11.6-inch ExoPC), and the 7.4 x 4.7-inch Galaxy Tab is no different. Steve Jobs may not think the size is optimal, but we loved being able to wrap our smaller hand around the 0.83-pound / 0.47-inch thick Tab when reading a book or hold it like a phone and use our thumbs to type on the on-screen keyboard. Sure, it's not as light or thin as the 0.53-pound / 0.33-inch Kindle or 0.48-pound / 0.4-inch Dell Streak, but it's still light enough to hold up in bed without fearing that you'll drop it on your face.

The overall build of the device is top-notch, and though it may appear to some like an enlarged Captivate or Fascinate, it feels more solid than those plasticy phones. We're not saying it's a rugged device by any standard -- although it does have a Corning Gorilla Glass screen -- but it does feel incredibly durable, and we didn't worry too much when it mistakenly fell off the couch. By the way, the Tab's smooth back causes it to slide off things every so often -- so we'd suggest keeping this little guy in a case or nabbing a stand for it. We do wish the Tab had a built-in kickstand like the Evo 4G and Archos 7. Think about it, Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7 inch, 512 Ram, 3 MP Camera up to 32GB Storage

Galaxy tablet Overview   

The story of the Galaxy Tab has been quite a saga, to say the least. In fact, it was actually back in May that we first heard rumblings of Samsung's plans to unleash a 7-inch Android tablet much like its Galaxy S phones, but it was only after months of painful teasing -- including a cruel look at just its packaging on the Engadget Show -- that Sammy finally unveiled the Galaxy Tab to the world at IFA. The Tab certainly packed the specs -- a 1GHz processor, full Flash support thanks to Android 2.2, dual cameras, support for up to 32GB of storage and WiFi / 3G connectivity -- to put other Android tablets to shame, and our initial hands-on with it only had us yearning for more. Without pricing and availability, however, the story was at a cliffhanger. Of course, those details trickled out over the next few months, and here in the US, Samsung finally announced that all four major US carriers would be getting Tabs to call their own. Verizon then finally took the lead in announcing pricing, and revealed that its Tab would hit contract-free for $600 -- Sprint followed with the same no-contract pricing along with a $400 two-year contract option.
Indeed, it's been quite a long journey, but even after all of that, some of the major questions are still left unanswered. Does the Tab provide a more complete and polished experience than all the other Android tablets out there? How are Samsung's specially tailored apps? And ultimately, has a tablet finally hit the market that can rival Apple's iPad? We think it's about time we answer those questions and finally open what might be the most important chapter of the Galaxy Tab story -- the official Engadget review. We knew you'd agree, so join us after the break.

Creating Recovery Disc for Vista or Windows 7

Some computer vendors add the Recovery Disc software to your hard drive, and it appears as an option on the boot menu when you restart your machine. But what if your machine won't boot from the hard drive at all?
Then you need a removable, bootable Recovery Disc. If you did not receive one with your computer, you could contact the manufacturer of your system and buy a Recovery Disc. Yes, you should have received one with your new computer. But some vendors do sell them separately.
Getting one from the vendor is the easy but expensive method. But there is a way to create a recovery disk for free, if you have a computer that is able to burn a CD. (Sorry I didn't mean for that to rhyme...)
Microsoft has made available Recovery Disc image files for Vista and Windows 7, which are hosted online by NeoSmart Technologies. It boggles my mind that Microsoft doesn't host these files on their own server; instead leaving you to wonder if Neosmart is a trustworthy source for creating a CD that will be used to boot your computer.
But never mind that. You will find many Web pages offering "Vista recovery disk downloads" that actually link to the NeoSmart page above. Don't waste any time looking for something different, better or easier. Neosmart is apparently the one and only trusted place to get your recovery disk images.
Your goal is to download the recovery disk image file in ISO format, and burn it to a CD. Yes, if your hard drive is not working then you will have to download and burn the image file using another computer.
Note that the recovery disk cannot be used to (re)install Windows. It's just a stripped down bootable Windows interface that can be used for recovery tasks such as Startup Repair, System Restore, System Image Recovery and a command prompt for the brave of heart.

Inserting Drawings, Consider the BASE

When inserting blocks (or entire drawings) from a seperate DWG file, it may not come in 'attached' to the cursor, or in the right place. When preparing a drawing and its geometry to become 'insertable' into another drawing, you must consider its coordinates and then optionally the BASE variable. The preferred method for blocks is to move the geometry from the desired 'anchor' to coordinates of 0,0,0. If you don't want to do that, you should issue the BASE command and pick a point at the anchor.
Another problem scenario to watch out for is when the geometry has been moved to 0,0 and the current drawing had a base other than 0,0. In this case simply issue the BASE command and type in 0,0,0.

Importing Block Definitions



If you want to bring in only the definition of a block (such as a symbol on disk), you can use this little known trick.  After issuing the insert command and selecting the file, press the ESC key at the first (insertion point) prompt.  You will have the definition in the current drawing for latter use.

Add Descriptions to Blocks

Later versions of AutoCAD have the ability to add descriptions to the block definitions in the drawing.
  1. Issue the BLOCK command.
  2. Select the block from the list at top.
  3. Click in the lower 'Description' section and enter the description.
  4. Choose OK to redefine the block with the new description.

How do I control the prompt order for attributes?


When building the block definition, the selection order is the key.  If you simply window off the geometry there is a good possibility the prompt order will not be as desired.  When selecting objects for a block definition, first individually pick the attribute definitions individually in the order you want to be prompted, then select the rest of the geometry.

Building a block with fields (2006+) from Autocad


This procedure will explain how to create a coordinate label block that updates as you move or copy it.
  1. Issue the BEDIT (block edit) command.
  2. Enter the desired name, like COORDBLOCK and chose OK.
  3. Draw the desired point identifying geometry, such as a circle at 0,0 with a radius of 0.25.
  4. Issue the ATTDEF command.
  5. Turn on the Preset toggle in the upper left, this makes for faster inserts as AutoCAD won't prompt for the attribute values (which is automatic anyway).
  6. Enter NORTHING for the tag and prompt fields.
  7. To the right of the Value field, click the 'Insert Field' button.
  8. In the Field Names list on the left, click 'BlockPlaceholder', this is a special area only available during block building.
  9. In the middle column, choose the 'Position' property.
  10. In the right column, format your output as desired. In this example turn off the X & Z fields and 'Current Units' is the recommended value. While you can lock the precision to a fixed number of places, it's not easy to modify a field based attribute later.
  11. Choose OK after completing the field formatting.
  12. Change 'Text Options' as desired. For this example we are only changing the height to 1.0.
  13. Most likely you will want to turn off the 'Lock Position' toggle so you can move the attribute after the insert.
  14. Choose OK to complete the first attribute. When prompted for the insertion point, pick a location or enter coordinates such as 1.0,1.2 for this example.
  15. Repeat at step 5 for the EASTING & ELEVATION field attributes, the only other difference being that the 'Align below previous' toggle should be turned on to make positioning easier.
  16. Issue the BCLOSE command or choose the 'Close Block Editor' button at the top.
  17. Choose Yes to save the changes.
At this point the COORDBLOCK is defined and ready to insert. As you insert them into the drawing the coordinates are filled in automatically. After moving an insert issue the REGEN command to update the values.  To make the block available for inserting into other drawings, it will need to be WBLOCKED to a separate DWG file.
  1. Issue the WBLOCK command.
  2. Choose the Block button and select COORDBLOCK in the list.
  3. Click the [...] in lower right to specify a filename.
  4. Changing the Insert Units to 'Unitless' is recommended.

Windows 7 XP Mode

   Windows 7 will have an available feature called XP Mode, which will allow users to run a virtualized Windows XP, either in a separate window, or on the Win7 desktop. XP Mode is aimed primarily at business users who have programs that run on Windows XP, but will not work properly on Vista or Windows 7, due to the new system architecture and improved security measures.

   If you'll pardon a little geekiness, the problem results from programmers bending the rules of writing Windows code. Instead of using the documented, official programming interfaces (API), some programs have hooks directly into the operating system, or they rely on certain undocumented side effects of using the API calls on Windows XP systems. One specific example is programs that write temp files in restricted folders, instead of to the designated folder for temp files. These shortcuts and sloppy techniques worked fine on XP, but they will cause some programs to work improperly or fail on Windows 7.
Windows XP Mode gives users with "XP-only" programs a way to run those older application on the Windows 7 desktop, without making modifications to the source code.

Which Programs Will Require XP Mode?
   Keep in mind that most of the software currently running on Windows XP systems will work fine on a Windows 7 machine. But there are some exceptions to the rule. Here are a few of the "bad boys" that will not work on Windows 7:

    * Internet Explorer 6 - Yes, IE6 is still used in some business environments where later versions of IE cause a conflict with existing enterprise software.
    * Adobe Acrobat 7 - It's old but it still works fine. And because it costs a couple hundred bucks per license, many businesses are sticking with it rather than paying for upgrades.
    * Some enterprise software - As mentioned before, some programs developed using undocumented XP features will not work under Windows 7. It's difficult to say which applications are affected, without detailed knowledge of the innards of the programs.
    * Certain hardware drivers - There are plenty of printers, scanners and other peripherals that work on XP, but not Vista. And that means they won't work on Win7, either. That's because the manufacturers have decided not to provide driver software for these older devices. Instead of spending money to replace all that hardware, consumers and businesses can use XP Mode to keep them chugging along under Windows 7.

   This is not an exhaustive list, by any means. Although the problem will mostly affect business users, I've read that some consumer-level software such as games and personal information managers may also have problems on Windows 7. In some cases, the only way to know for sure will be to try running the program on a Windows 7 system. But even then, there may be subtle problems that can go unnoticed. So when in doubt, run your older mission-critical software in XP Mode.
How Does XP Mode Work?
    XP Mode will not ship with Windows 7, but it will be available as a free download. To start, you'll need to to download and install two things: a preconfigured Windows XP SP3 environment, and a special version of Windows Virtual PC. It's the Virtual PC software that works the real magic, by emulating the XP hardware/software environment, and enabling you to run XP programs seamlessly on Windows 7.

   But there's a hitch. XP Mode will be available only to customers who have the Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate version of Windows 7. Most home users will have the Home Premium version, because it will be pre-loaded on PC solds to the consumer market. If you run a small business, or you have older peripherals that you can't part with, be forewarned and buy one of the Windows 7 editions that supports XP Mode.
XP Mode Hardware Requirements and Alternatives
   Actually, there might be another hitch. You can't run XP Mode on just any PC, even if you have the right version of Windows 7. XP Mode requires at least 2GB of memory and a special feature called "chip-level virtualization" on the CPU. If your PC is Intel-based, you need a processor with "Intel VT" to play the XP Mode game. AMD machines need a processor with "AMD-V" support. Older PCs with Celeron or Pentium processors will not cut it. And even on newer machines that DO have the chip-level virtualization feature, it might well be turned off by deafult. Check your BIOS to see if chip-level virtualization is supported and enabled.

  Virtualization tools such as VMWare and Parallels will allow users to run a virtual XP environment, in a window on the Windows 7 desktop. It won't be quite as slick or tightly integrated, but it will work, even for those with Windows 7 Home Edition. And if you're looking for adventure, you can even run XP on Linux or put Windows on your Mac using the same virtualization tools.

How to Repair Vista or Windows 7

If your Vista or Windows 7 system isn't working properly, there are some tools built into the operating system that you can use to attempt repairs. If your computer can boot up into the Windows desktop, I suggest that you first try the System Restore tool. This will roll back the state of your Windows system to an earlier point in time. The problem may be some change you've made recently, such as a new program that did not install properly. To run System Restore,

    * Click on the Start button
    * Click All Programs
    * Click Accessories
    * Click Systems Tools
    * Click System Restore

In the System Restore screen, click on "Choose a different restore point" to display a list of restore points that have been created in the past. Click on a recent restore point to select it. You will lose recently installed programs, but not your documents or data files, during a System Restore. Before executing the system restore you can see a list of what programs will be affected; just click on the button labeled "Show affected programs and drivers."

Click Next, then Finish. After the restoration process ends, click Finish to restart the system.

The Startup Repair Option
If System Restore does not solve your problems, or you cannot boot up normally, try the Startup Repair procedure. Startup Repair is an option in the Vista and Windows 7 System Recovery Options menu. Startup Repair will scan your computer for things that might prevent Windows from starting correctly, such as missing or damaged system files. If it finds a problem, it will try to fix or replace the affected files so your computer can start normally.

Startup Repair should be used only after trying System Restore, because it will wipe out many custom settings, drivers, and other operating system files. You will have to reconfigure Windows to your taste and reinstall third-party drivers.

Below are instructions on how to run Startup Repair. I suggest you read and print them before beginning, because you'll have to restart your computer in order to continue.

The System Recovery Options menu may be pre-installed on your Vista or Win7 system. If that's the case, you can access System Recovery Options by restarting your computer and holding down the F8 key. When the Advanced Boot Options screen appears, choose the "Repair your computer" option, press Enter, and then select "Startup Repair."

If the "Repair your computer" option isn't there, you'll have to access it from the Windows installation disk as follows:

    * Insert the Vista or Windows 7 installation disc in the drive, and restart your computer.
    * If you're prompted to do so, press a key to start Windows from the installation disc, instead of the hard drive.
    * Choose your language and/or keyboard settings, then click Next.
    * Click on Repair your computer
    * Select the Windows installation you want to repair, then click Next. If you have only one Windows installation on your computer, you may be able to skip this step.
    * When the System Recovery Options menu appears, click Startup Repair

Startup Repair will begin to scan your system for errors, and may ask you some questions during the repair process. Your computer may also restart several times during the process. If repairs are successful, you'll reboot normally into your Windows desktop. If not, Startup Repair will display a list of the problems it found, along with instructions on how to get further support.

Disable CD/DVD Autoplay

Disable Autoplay in Windows XP  
To disable Autoplay in Windows XP: from start menu click Run-> Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. This leads to the group policy window. Go to Computer configurations -> Administrative Templates -> on the right-hand side search for the "Turn off Autoplay" and double click it. Turn off Autoplay properties will pop up. From the drop down window, select all drives or the drive you would want to disable.

Disable AutoRun in Windows 7

First, you have to log into your machine as an administrator. Type Gpedit.msc in the search box and hit enter. Navigate to computer configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows components -> on the right side area click Autoplay policy -> double-click turn off Autoplay. From here, you should be able to choose between turning off all drives or only removable drives such as USB, CD ROM and so on.

Next, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. If you are interested in disabling Autoplay for CD/DVD drive ONLY then you need to click on Control panel -> Classic View-> Autoplay -> deselect Use Autoplay for all media and devices and click save.

How to Upgrade Bios

The Basic Input-Output System or BIOS of a computer is a program located in the ROM memory of the motherboard. One of the functions of the computer BIOS is to provide information that enables the computer to work with hardware. It contains programming that boots the computer. The BIOS is not physically serviceable. However, you can 'flash' your BIOS if you deem it necessary. Flashing of the BIOS is also known as 'upgrading the BIOS' in some instances.

Updating the BIOS of your computer can be risky if you're not careful. A couple of seconds of power outage can corrupt the computer BIOS. If this happens to your computer, the only remedy is to replace your motherboard or BIOS chips. As you prepare to upgrade your system BIOS, we recommend that you look into getting a good UPS that can power your computer for more than 10 minutes as a precautionary measure.

1. Some of the most common reasons people update their BIOS is to get Windows XP to work with a newly acquired adware or to fix a system problem. No doubt, a BIOS upgrade can increase computer performance and may enable you to use some computer hardware. Nonetheless, it doesn't guarantee a solution to all of your system problems.

2. Where to find the correct BIOS update for your system should be the next thing you should consider. For desktops or laptops with known manufacturers like HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, Lenovo and others, you can get the latest version of system BIOS from their official websites. In addition, if you're using a system built by yourself or someone else, then you have to visit the website of the motherboard manufacturer to download the latest system BIOS.

3. Look for your computer model number or write down the model number of your motherboard. The model number of your motherboard can be found on the display when you run a computer memory test. You need this information to search for a BIOS update.

4. Download the upgrade onto a floppy disk or bootable CD. Unzip and follow README file instructions for the upgrade to see if it differs from step 5 below. A BIOS download usually comes with three files: the flash utility file, the upgrade data file and a README file. Back up your Old BIOS onto a storage device and study the README file carefully.

5. BIOS manufacturers have different upgrading instructions. The most common one is to start by booting the computer with the boot floppy disk. Insert your flashed floppy disk. Write down the name of the flash upgrade file. After installation, remove your boot disc and reboot again. At this point, you can go ahead and clear the old system BIOS. Recent default systems BIOS don't require any settings changes.

Extend Laptop Battery Life

How to make your laptop battery last longer
The computer world is yet to see laptop batteries that can last for more than 24hours, unaided, on a single charge. The exact time it takes a laptop battery to fully discharge differs from one PC manufacturer to another depending on many factors. Laptops are very useful, especially on trips. However, it's frustrating when you are on the move and your laptop battery ran out of energy just when you needed it the most.

An average laptop battery is supposed to last anywhere from 1.5hrs to 2hrs give or take. This figure is subject to debate as laptop manufacturers are not forthcoming as to what exactly is the average battery life. Nonetheless, if you intend to use a laptop faraway from an external power source, for more than 24 hours; then you may want to check out Apple's external laptop charger (If you have a MAC). This laptop charger provides external power and charge up capability for Mac book for more than 32 hours.

Airline operators are trying to provide electricity outlets for computer connections as well. The Scandinavian Airline, SAS, were the first to provide this service on close to 85% of seats on business class. Another way to enjoy the service of your laptop, if you have a car at your disposal, is by using a car charger. A car charger lets you charge your laptop battery off of your car's power. It is extremely useful for people traveling long distance in cars or spending a holiday in a recreational vehicle.

To give you the best tips for longer battery life, we had to tweak the tricks around MobileMark 2007 test. In the test, it is assumed no web pages are running, no video games, Wi-Fi is turned off, no music or movies of any sort, and brightness turned down to a awful 20%. Our golden tip to you is to use the aforementioned features one at a time for greater battery time. For example, if you are just listening to music, you can turn off wi-fi and turn down the screen brightness.

To extend the life of your laptop battery, the following tips will be useful:

    * Always remove the battery when connected to AC power –don't keep the battery on 24/7 charge.
    * Only run programs that you need in the background.
    * Use your laptop in a well-ventilated environment if possible. A cool environment replaces the function of the laptop fan.
    * Unplug external tools like USB flash drives, web cams, and so forth.
    * Defragment regularly.
    * Remove and store the battery when not in use for a long time. Ideally, the best way to store your Li-ion battery for a long time is get it up to 45% charge. Put it in a waterproof bag and store in a fridge.
    * Clean up the laptop regularly to prevent dusty particles from sealing up the air vents.
    * Do not use screen savers.
    * Minimize power consumption using the power options built into your laptop software.
    * It is advisable to completely discharge and recharge the battery every once in a while.

Windows 7 Error Codes


Windows 7 is by far better than any other version of Windows operating system. This is not to say, it does not have it's own problems. Windows 7 error codes are caused by both software and hardware issues. While software issue causes applications to crash and makes operating system unstable, a hardware issue leads to blue screens and unintended rebooting of a computer. Let's take a quick look at some of the known Windows 7 error codes.

Internet Explorer Error Codes - The Internet Explorer error codes can be cause by unsafe Web sites and problem from the Internet Explorer itself. A virus could be another reason for an Internet Explorer error code. If you see this, you should scan for spyware and viruses along with testing your connection on known, safe websites.

Compatibility Error Codes - Not all programs can run on Windows 7. However, a program that can run on Windows Vista should be compatible with Windows 7. Should you have a compatibility problem running a program on Windows 7, you can resolve this problem by running your Windows 7 on compatibility mode.

Email Error Codes - This often happens when you try to install an email client on your Windows operating system. Make sure that you have the email client configured correctly and that the software is compatible with Windows 7.

Internet Connection Error Codes - This is caused by a weak connection signal (i.e., Wi-Fi) or a conflicting IP address. If it is a weak signal issue, try to move your router or wireless adapter to get a better signal. If it is a conflicting IP address, you can try repairing your connection. If this doesn't work, make sure that your adapter and router settings are set up to allow your computer to choose any IP address.

Sleep and Hibernate Error Codes - The sleep and hibernate modes help reduce electricity bills. They let you get back to work in a matter of second(s) after a break. Nevertheless, when you find these error codes to be the case, then you may not be able to put your computer in sleep or in hibernation mode.

Speed up Windows 7


How to Speed up Windows 7
Windows 7 is slicker and glitzier than any previous version of Windows. But some people don't want slick; they want raw speed. Dazzling visual effects come at a performance cost. Here is how to tone down the glitz in Windows 7 and get more of your computing power back.

I'm glad you mentioned my article on how to Make Windows XP Run Faster, because the most of the tips listed there apply equally well to Vista or Windows 7 as well. I suggest you try each of the performance boosting ideas there first, then come back here for some tips that are more specific to Windows 7.

Back already? Okay, our first Windows 7 performance tip has to do with tweaking your visual effects. To begin, click Start, type "SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe" and hit Enter to open the System Properties Performance control console. On the "Visual Effects" tab, uncheck the box next to "Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing." That will save a lot of CPU cycles when switching from one window to another. Also, experiment with disabling the other visual effects to see which ones you can live without. Each effect disabled will gain you a bit of speed. To turn off the snazzy Aero interface completely, right-click the Desktop and select Personalize from the popup. Then scroll down and select the Basic theme.
 
Eliminating Unnecessary Windows 7 Services
Like every version of Windows before it, Windows 7 installs by default with numerous services active in memory. These services consume RAM and CPU cycles, and many of them are unnecessary for home and small business users. They just slow down your system. There are a number of services you can turn off safely if you do not use them. Here's how:

Click Start and in the search box type "services.msc" and then hit Enter. (Note: you should not use the Microsoft System Configuration Utility ("msconfig.exe") for this process; it only enables/disables the starting of a service at logon. Services.msc gives you more control over how a service behaves.) Going down the lengthy list of services, here are many that the average home or small business user does not need:

    * Application Experience
    * Error Reporting Service
    * Desktop Window Manager Session Manager (only needed with Aero)
    * Diagnostic Policy Service
    * IP Helper
    * Offline Files
    * Portable Device Enumerator Service
    * Distributed Link Tracking Client
    * Protected Storage
    * Secondary Logon
    * Server (If your computer does not connect with any network)
    * Tablet PC Input Service
    * Themes
    * TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
    * Windows Media Center Service Launcher
    * Windows Search
    * Remote Registry
    * Windows Time
    * Windows firewall (most high-speed routers have a firewall built in)

Disable a service by un-checking the box to its left. If you want more details about what any of these services are for, check out the BlackViper Windows 7 Service Configurations page. When in doubt, leave a service on. Reboot after clicking OK to save your changes. If Windows tells you it needs a service in order to complete a task, just run the services.msc program and enable the service again.

Upgrade Vista to Windows 7

You can upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 and still keep all of your files, settings, and programs. However, this depends on what version of Windows Vista you have on your computer system. Nevertheless, before you upgrade, it is best to download and run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor. This program detects to see if your computer system meets the minimum requirements for Windows 7. It also detects other things that may prevent Windows 7 from installing such as device, hardware, and program errors. If your version of Windows Vista is not upgradable to the version of Windows 7 you would want to install, you can still use the custom installation option. However, this option will NOT save your files, settings, and programs.

Windows Vista Home Basic is upgradable to Windows 7 home premium and ultimate only. In the same way, Windows Vista Ultimate is upgradable to Windows 7 ultimate only. You can only upgrade Windows Vista Business to Windows 7 professional and ultimate. Last, but not the least, Windows Vista home premium is upgradable to Windows 7 home premium and Windows 7 ultimate.

It is also important to note that some systems do not support the 64-bit version of the operating system. If the Windows Vista you want to upgrade from is 32-bit, you must upgrade to only 32-bit Windows 7. However, if your OS was 32-bit and you want 64-bit windows 7 OS, then you must go for the custom installation. For custom installation, you need to back up your files and then restore them after the installation completes. You will also be required to reinstall all of your programs again from their installation disc.

If you are considering the upgrade to Windows 7, you can check out our Windows 7 Review for more information about the new version of Windows.

Microsoft Word Shortcut Key

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Word. See the computer shortcut page if you are looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description
Ctrl + 0 Adds or removes 6pts of spacing before a paragraph.
Ctrl + A Select all contents of the page.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + C Copy selected text.
Ctrl + E Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen.
Ctrl + F Open find box.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + J Aligns the selected text or line to justify the screen.
Ctrl + K Insert link.
Ctrl + L Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen.
Ctrl + M Indent the paragraph.
Ctrl + P Open the print window.
Ctrl + R Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen.
Ctrl + T Create a hanging indent.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + V Paste.
Ctrl + X Cut selected text.
Ctrl + Y Redo the last action performed.
Ctrl + Z Undo last action.
Ctrl + Shift + F Change the font.
Ctrl + Shift + > Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then increases font +2pts.
Ctrl + ] Increase selected font +1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + < Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above 12 decreases font by +2pt.
Ctrl + [ Decrease selected font -1pts.
Ctrl + / + c Insert a cent sign (¢).
Ctrl + Shift + * View or hide non printing characters.
Ctrl + Moves one word to the left.
Ctrl + Moves one word to the right.
Ctrl + Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Ctrl + Moves to the end of the paragraph.
Ctrl + Del Deletes word to right of cursor.
Ctrl + Backspace Deletes word to left of cursor.
Ctrl + End Moves the cursor to the end of the document.
Ctrl + Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document.
Ctrl + Spacebar Reset highlighted text to the default font.
Ctrl + 1 Single-space lines.
Ctrl + 2 Double-space lines.
Ctrl + 5 1.5-line spacing.
Ctrl + Alt + 1 Changes text to heading 1.
Ctrl + Alt + 2 Changes text to heading 2.
Ctrl + Alt + 3 Changes text to heading 3.
Alt + Ctrl + F2 Open new document.
Ctrl + F1 Open the Task Pane.
Ctrl + F2 Display the print preview.
Ctrl + Shift + > Increases the highlighted text size by one.
Ctrl + Shift + < Decreases the highlighted text size by one.
Ctrl + Shift + F6 Opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
Ctrl + Shift + F12 Prints the document.
F1 Open Help.
F4 Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
F5 Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
F7 Spellcheck and grammar check selected text and/or document.
F12 Save as.
Shift + F3 Change the text in Microsoft Word from uppercase to lowercase or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.
Shift + F7 Runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
Shift + F12 Save.
Shift + Enter Create a soft break instead of a new paragraph.
Shift + Insert Paste.
Shift + Alt + D Insert the current date.
Shift + Alt + T Insert the current time.

In addition to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a method of quickly do something commonly performed. Below some are examples of mouse shortcuts.

Mouse shortcuts Description
Click, hold, and drag Selects text from where you click and hold to the point you drag and let go.
Double-click If double-click a word, selects the complete word.
Double-click Double-clicking on the left, center, or right of a blank line will make the alignment of the text left, center, or right aligned.
Double-click Double-clicking anywhere after text on a line will set a tab stop.
Triple-click Selects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse triple-clicked.
Ctrl + Mouse wheel Zooms in and out of document.

Computer Buying Tips and Tricks

If you just want a computer to check your emails, then you can go and buy any old computer to do the job. If you want to do a bit more with a desktop computer, like saving files, browsing the internet, or using large applications, you will need a computer to suit those needs.

Now days the sky’s the limit when it comes to the size, speed, and capacity of the new computers. However my desktop computer buying tips are for the average person, not the rev head geek with a 350chev computer. These tips are aimed at a person buying a full computer system that is already put together.
What kind of computer case suits you?

There are some very fancy looking computer systems that might look appealing in the shop, but might not look so good after a year or so. There are red monsters with flashing lights, with opening doors, and hidden buttons. I prefer the black, relatively plain computer case, but still nice looking. This will last the test of time and fashion. It won’t turn out to be some piece of unfashionable junk.
How fast should a computer be for 2011?

Having quality components inside your computer will obviously make it run faster.

Dual core or more…The minimum processor you will need should be dual core. You can get a dual core 3.2ghz which runs very fast. This is what I have in my computer and it runs 20-30 tasks at the same time. That is a bit extreme, however we are thinking of the future. We do not want your computer to be outdated and slow in a years’ time. I also usually prefer an Intel processor, however AMD and Athlon are very good also.

If you choose to go for a quad core I will be seriously jealous, as this computer would perform any task and do hundreds at the same time. But don’t forget that every great processor needs a decent amount of ram (memory) to function to its full potential.
How much memory do I need?

Having 4Gb of memory would be just great! I would say that you would defiantly need this if you are using the Windows Vista operating system. However if you have Windows Seven, which runs fantastic even on old computers, then don’t worry if you have less.

Windows Seven is a better operating system and uses less computer resources. I have an old 3ghz computer (not even a dual core), 1 GB ram, with Windows Seven on it. I must admit that I am only using this computer as a media player that is connected to my TV. It is not storing hardly any files. Still great though!
How much hard drive space do I need when buying a computer in 2011?

You are probably thinking that you do not need much hard drive storage space, but let me explain. In the good old days, photos were printed at a photo shop, however now we store all of our photos digitally. This means we will naturally need more storage space. We also extract video footage from video camera’s which takes up a lot of room, and new games really take up room. The point is, if you are buying this computer for the future, then you should be equipped.

I recommend having at least a 250GB hard drive for the main hard drive where the operating system will be installed. Then it would be great to have a second hard drive installed where you can store your files (installing a second hard drive takes about 5 mins). After that I would suggest buying a 500GB external hard drive to backup onto.

This might sound extreme to you, but who would have ever thought we would be storing our photos on the computer and printing them from there. Soon everything might be stored digitally.

Motherboard? When buying a ready made desktop people usually overlook the motherboard which is the main system board of the computer. You can check to see if the motherboard includes enough plugs

Do I need a DVD Drive?

Yes you do need a DVD drive. This will play music cd’s, games, DVD movies, and more. You should have at least one DVD burner drive installed. When you are buying a new computer the minimum you should have installed is a 20 speed DVD writer. Now days you can buy a DVD burner from Ebay, brand new, for around $30 so why not have one?

Do I need an extra graphics and sound card installed?

If you plan to watch movies, look at fancy graphics on the internet, or play games on your computer then you need a graphics  card. Having a graphics card will make your computer run faster. If you do not have a graphics card, when graphics appear on your screen it will be using the computers memory to display it. This will slow your computer down, or in some cases, even stop it dead.

A sound card is a different story though. Do you want to turn your computer into a monster stereo or do you just want to hear sound? I have onboard 6 channel sound with sub woofer speakers and can still blast my office with sound. I personally do not need a sound card, and the average user shouldn’t either.

Standard items that come with every computer system:

Your computer should come with a computer keyboard, mouse, LCD flat screen monitor, and all the cords needed to connect the computer. It should also come with all the necessary CD’s needed to restore the computer to its original state.

How much does the average new desktop computer cost in 2011?

If you were to get all of these features I have mentioned above, and you did shop around, there is no doubt you could get this for around $1,000. If you wanted to add more warranty, that would be extra. Of course you can go for a bigger and better computer and spend more money, but if you do not need it, why do it?

If you are game enough to build your own I suggest you make a list of the parts you need, price them on Ebay, then compare those prices to your local computer store.  I have always found that Ebay wins hands down for price as long as you can pick up the parts. Always make sure the parts are compatible with each other. If you are not sure, ask the sales person to guarantee that the parts are compatible.

Laptop computer buying tips & tricks for 2011

When choosing a new laptop to buy, you should be careful because there is a lot of cheap junk out there on the market. Follow these tips for buying a new laptop computer that should last at least two years or more.

   1. Make sure the laptop is an intel Core 2 Dou at the minimum.
   2. 2-4GB of ram (memory) minimum.
   3. A minimum of 250GB hard drive. (And an external hard drive for backup).
   4. Inbuilt wireless adapter, and a Ethernet port.
   5. Make sure it has enough USB ports. Everything plugs in through USB now days.
   6. I would be ideal to get a spare battery and an ac adapter. These are the parts that go first on a laptop.
   7. Inbuilt DVD burner.
   8. Firewire port to connect a video camera if necessary.
   9. A laptop carry bag for protection and to hold all the accessories.
  10. A wireless mini mouse.
  11. A year or more warranty.
  12. MAKE SURE the laptop is not display stock as they leave the power adapters plugged in and running 24-7.

Choosing the right desktop or laptop computer to buy can be a daunting task if you don’t know what you are talking about. What does all that computer jargon mean anyway? Hard drive, processor, ram, memory, hardware, software. Here is a definition of the most common computer terms. It is best to arm yourself with a bit of research and knowledge about the product before you commit to buy.

Notes:

    * Transferring digital video .If you want to edit digital video you will need a firewire card to transfer your digital video to your computer. However if you have a newer type video camera it could possibly connect through a USB port on your computer, therefore you wouldn’t need a firewire. To edit video’s you will also need a decent graphics card to handle the work.
    * Gaming machine You will need a good graphics card to be able to play big games without any hiccups. Especially if you want to play something like The Sims 3.
    * Building Webpage’s and uploading files. You will need a fast broadband connection and webpage building software.

Difference between a virus, malware, adware, and spyware

Now days the average computer user must be aware of the potential threats their computer faces each time you connect to the world wide web. It is a dangerous place for a computer and the security threats are growing everyday. It all so confusing, viruses, spyware, malware, and adware, just to name a few. Why are they all so different?

In the old days we used to call everything a virus, however now days we have more precise names to further categorize them. Below I will show you the difference between a virus, spyware, malware, and adware.
What is Malware?

Malware is a software program that has bad intentions. It can either be installed by the computer user accidentally or it can sneak into your computer through various avenues. Its not the same as a piece of software that by chance causes harm to your computer, malware is software that has been developed with the intent of causing problems with your computer.
What is Spyware?

Spyware is a type of malware program that invades your computer and basically spies on you. There are different types of spyware that collect different information. A common spyware type is a keylogger which records keystrokes typed on your keyboard. This is how people lose their bank account details. Other spyware will record your actions and browsing habits on the internet. Any information collected by spyware is usually with the intent to sell.
What is Adware?

Adware is another form of malware and is exactly as the name suggests, software with advertising. Adware can be downloaded and sometimes included in free programs. For example Windows Live messenger and Yahoo messenger contain adware. Although some programs give the option not to install the extra adware, others seem to sneak it in without permission.
What is Virus?

A virus is a small program designed to infect your computer and cause errors, computer crashes, and even destroy your computer hardware. Unlike spyware, a virus can grow and replicate itself. It can also travel from one computer to another via an internet connection. Of course you can get viruses from discs with virus infested files stored on them, however the internet is the most common entry point. Some common symptoms of a virus are emails being sent to all contacts when you didn’t send them, being taken to webpage’s that you didn’t choose, or being told you have a virus and to download a program to fix it.

Apple Shortcut Key

Open Apple + Down  Opens the selected icon.
Shift + Click Select the icon and add it to the set of those selected.
Tab Highlight the next icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order.
Shift + Tab Highlight the previous icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order.
Left arrow Used when viewing by icon to select the icon to the left of the one highlighted.
Right arrow Used when viewing by icon to select icon to the right of the one highlighted.
Up arrow Used to select the icon above the one currently highlighted.
Down arrow Used to select the icon below the one currently highlighted.
Open Apple + ? Mac help
Open Apple + E Eject
Open Apple + Shift + Up Arrow  Used to direct the input focus to the desktop level.
Open Apple + M Minimize window
Open Apple + N New finder window
Open Apple + Shift + N New folder
Open Apple + W Close the current window.
Open Apple + C Copy the elected item to the clipboard.
Open Apple + X  Cut the selected item.
Open Apple + V Paste item from the clipboard
Open Apple + L Make alias
Open Apple + R Show original item
Open Apple + T Add to favorites
Open Apple + O Open the selected icon.
Open Apple + F Display the find dialog box.
Open Apple + G Repeat the last find operation.
Open Apple + Shift + G Takes a snapshot of the screen and saves it to a PICT file.

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