MacBook or MacBook Pro. Which One is Right

MacBook or MacBook Pro: Durability

Both the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are very durable Mac laptops. The MacBook is made of a single piece of rugged polycarbonate while the MacBook Pro is created from a seamless enclosure carved from a single piece of aluminum. Both can easily withstand the rough and tumble of everyday life at school, at work, or while traveling, but if you are looking for the ultimate in durability you will want to go with the groundbreaking design of the MacBook Pro. The unibody design combined with the solid aluminum simply can't be beat.
Durability: Slight edge to the MacBook Pro.

MacBook or MacBook Pro: Design

While the MacBook and MacBook Pro both have a unibody design, as I mentioned above, they are constructed of two very different materials. If you want more of a (very) solid plastic look you will want to go with the MacBook and if a entirely aluminum unibody design is more your tastes the MacBook Pro is the laptop for you. Both are very solid but personally I prefer the sleek stainless steel look of the aluminum MacBook Pro. That is not to say the MacBook isn't a beautifully designed laptop; it most definitely is, and has come a long way in recent years. The reality is design is simply a personal preference and I would recommend making your choice based on other factors such as durability, features and price.
Design: Slight edge to the MacBook Pro.

MacBook or MacBook Pro: Features

The MacBook and 13" version of the MacBook Pro are very similar in specifications. Here are the specifications for the MacBook and 13" MacBook Pro, differences are bold and italicized.
13.3" MacBook

• Brilliant LED-Backlit Display
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M Graphics
• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
• 250GB Hard Drive (up to 500GB)
• Up to 10 Hours Per Battery Charge (up to1000 charges)
• Multi-Touch Trackpad
• MagSafe Power Adapter
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Technology
• Built-in SuperDrive
• Mini DisplayPort
• DisplayPort
• HDMI Port
• Gigabit Ethernet Port
• 2 USB 2.0 Ports
• Audio In/Out
• Kensington Lock Slot
• Built-in iSight Camera
• Mac OS X OS (Operating System)

13.3" MacBook Pro

• Brilliant LED-Backlit Display
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M Graphics
• 2.4GHz or 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
• 250GB Hard Drive (up to 500GB hard drive and solid state drive options)
• Up to 10 Hours Per Battery Charge (up to1000 charges)
• Multi-Touch Trackpad
• MagSafe Power Adapter
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR Technology
• Built-in SuperDrive
• Mini DisplayPort
• HDMI Port
• Gigabit Ethernet Port
• 2 USB 2.0 Ports
• One Firewire 800 Port
• SD Card Slot
• Audio In/Out
• Kensington Lock Slot
• Built-in iSight Camera
• Mac OS X OS (Operating System)

MacBook or MacBook Pro: Price

MacBook: $999
MacBook Pro 13": $1199
MacBook Pro 15": $1799
MacBook Pro 17": $2299

What it really comes down to when trying to decide whether to purchase a MacBook or a MacBook Pro is personal preference. Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro are top of the line laptops that you will not be disappointed with. My personal recommendation, if your budget allows, is to go with the 13" MacBook Pro over the MacBook. For $200 you get a little more solid laptop constructed out of aluminum, a firewire port and an SD card slot; you never know when these will come in handy.
Hopefully I have provided you with enough information to allow you to make an educated choice when it comes to the MacBook versus the MacBook Pro. Should you need more information or have personal experience with either of these laptops feel free to use the comments section below.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/96558.aspx#ixzz16MvNNHRd

the BlackBerry Curve 8980

Yet another Refresh model from RIM!. The BlackBerry Curve 8980 has been revealed by the FCC today. We saw the device a while back with China Mobile branding, but haven't heard much since then. The Curve 8980 resembles the Bold 9700 from head to toe with the exception of the Curve 8900 keyboard. It sports a 3.2MP camera, quad-band GSM antenna, Wifi b/g/n and looks to be running OS 5. The device has yet to pop up on the radar for any carriers as of yet and with no official announcement it is still unknown if it will land on any North American carriers at this point. What do you think? Would you pick up a non-3G 8980 if it was made available? Sound off in the comments!

Windows Phone 7 Gets Jailbroken

Windows Phone 7 is "finally" jailbroken! ChevronWP7, the unlocker tool, works with every WP7 phone and allows for the side loading of apps, the use of private APIs, and access to low level functionality. Basically, it unleashes your WP7 phone.

It's easy to jailbreak too: just download the tool, connect your phone, and run through the unlock tool. It's straightforward, very low-risk and completely reversible.

As of now, there's not much benefit in jailbreaking a Windows Phone 7 device, but with some time, hard work and the right developers, it'll eventually mature into something awesome like the iPhone dev community, Android root users and even webOS homebrewers. [

Which iPad Is Right For You?

What Size iPad Should I Buy?

So you want an iPad but you don't know which one to buy. If you have the budget needed, there a few options to consider in making your decision.

Let’s start with size. The iPad is available in 16gb, 32gb, and 64gb. Which one is right for you? This depends on how you plan on using your iPad.

Are you going to fill the iPad with as much music and/or videos as you can? What about photos? Are you going to use the iPad camera connector kit and constantly be downloading photos in the iPad from your camera? The answer to these questions will mean a lot in determining what size iPad you want.

If you plan on using the iPad like an iPod and keep a lot of music and videos on it then the 32gb or 64gb model is probably the way to go. Should you keep your iPad free of music and videos you will probably be fine with the 16gb model.

Using iPad Apps

The same thinking applies to photos. If you are planning on downloading photos to your iPad on a regular basis without the intention of transferring them to a desktop computer you will want the larger sized iPad for more storage space. Personally, I would be using the camera connector kit when I travel and immediately empty the iPad into my computer when I got home.

You might ask about iPad apps next. Generally, apps do not take up a large portion of space. With that said, if you are a gamer and like games you might want to go with the 32gb model. Games tend to take up more space, especially the big games like FIFA soccer, for example. If you want to load the iPad with games and other apps, in addition to music and videos and photos, go for what you can afford.

Should I Buy a 3G iPad or WIFI iPad?

You’ve decided on an iPad size, but what about 3G? Do you need the 3G model? Well, that depends on how you are going to use the Internet on your iPad. If you are always going to be using it in an area with wifi connections there is not need to spend money on the 3G model. However, if you think there will be times you want an Internet connection but will be out of a wifi area, you might want the 3G model.

For example, traveling is a great reason for the 3G model. If you go away and are staying someplace without wifi you can connect with your 3G iPad. The great thing about the 3G iPad is there is no contract. You can purchase one month of 3G service for the time you will be away and then cancel after that month.

If you have an iPhone or another device capable of 3G connections (like a MiFi) you might want to pass on the 3G iPad. Why pay for 3G service twice?

In the end picking the right iPad depends on you and how you use it. I suggest making a chart and figuring out your priorities and what you can afford. Maybe you want more space, but want 3G also. The 32gb + 3G might be the one for you.

For my needs the 16gb 3G is the right one. I don’t need much storage space, but I would like the ability to connect to the 3G network when I travel and don’t have internet.

Of course, if money is no object I would go for broke and get the 64GB with 3G.

So, have you made a decision? Post it in the comments below and let us know what iPad is the right one for you.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/68057.aspx#ixzz16MuoKu4u

Which is Better - Mac or PC?

Macs and PCs

To compare Mac and PC is not that difficult. If you haven't read part 1 of the series yet, be sure to do so. Part 1 features an overview of Mac vs. PC computers.
So, if you had to pick one, which would you choose? A Mac or a PC?
Below is a brief Mac vs. PC review and overview. I will list as many pros as possible about each one.

Why Macs are Better

- Macs give you the ability to run OS X and Windows both (legally).
- Macs work great with other Apple components such as the iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle, etc...
- Macs are very simple to use.
- Macs are less prown to computer viruses, although they can get viruses.
- Purchasing a Mac gives you Apple Store support.
- Apple uses quality parts to manufacture Macs.
- Macs are trendsetting, designed well, and visually appealing.
- Macs come with better software, out of the box (iLife).
- Macs give you out of the box access to the iTunes Store, if you are an iPod or iPhone user.
- Out of the box, Macs are not loaded with trials and additional software.
- Apple has top of the line phone support.

Why PCs are Better

- You can build a PC from the ground up, picking each individual component. PCs give you maximum customizability.
- PCs are generally cheaper in price. You can get the same processor, amount of RAM, and hard drive capacity for much cheaper with a PC.
- Branded PCs are a wide market. You have many options when it comes to choosing a PC: Dell, HP, Gateway, etc... There are really only 6 types of Mac computer: MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, iMac, and Mac Pro.
- PCs have better software compatibility. You can find practically any software for PC. Macs are more limited in selection.
- PCs generally have better backwards compatibility. You can run Windows 7 on a 5 year old PC. You cannot run Snow Leopard on a Power Mac G5.
- More people use PCs. Thus, PCs have a larger support community behind them.
- The majority of businesses use PCs.
- PCs are better for gaming.
- PCs have more compatible accessories than Macs.
- PCs are more upgradable.
- PCs are open source.

Conclusion

To compare Mac and PC... Which one is better? It's all personal preference. I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear, but that's the best answer. In the above review, you can see that both of them have some great advantages. Some people like Macs better, some people like PCs better. Thus, some people absolutely hate Macs, and some people absolutely hate PCs.
It's all an opinion, a preference.
I will however, give you my opinion. As for myself, I'm a Mac. That's just what I prefer. I like Macs because I believe that they are simpler to use, and I like the designs that Apple comes up with. I would rather use OS X than Windows. That may change in the future. But as of now, my opinion is that OS X is a better operating system than Windows.
I will say, I would not want to give up Windows though either. I use Windows with VMware Fusion just as much, if not more, than OS X. Windows 7 is a great OS.
Are you a Mac or a PC? Which operating system do you use? Why do you believe it's best?... Linux???

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/61641.aspx#ixzz16Mtn4fLH

MacBook vs. PC Laptop

Operating System

The strongest thing to consider in a comparison of the MacBook vs. PC laptop is the operating system. Chances are good that you have not used Mac OS X that much. However, you probably do have some experience using Windows. So, the first thing to consider is do you want to switch to a new operating system? Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Windows 7 have more differences than similarities. Thus, you will need to learn how to use the MacBook. Is the learning curve steep? Not at all. The majority of people who get Macs tend to pick up on how to use OS X rather quickly. Mac OS X is a good operating system that offers simplicity above all.
If you have Windows, and like it a lot, you may want to stick with Windows- why change a good thing? For some, learning new software is more of a hassle than an enjoyable experience. Windows 7 is another good operating system. There are more games that are available for Windows, more programs, and other utilities.
Macs can get viruses. However, they do not get viruses near as often as Windows PCs. This is simply because more people use Windows PCs. Viruses are distributed and targeted at the majority. The way OS X is designed does make it a bit safer to use. But Macs can get viruses.
Macs have the ability to run the Windows operating system easily and conveniently, as well as the native OS X. With a Mac, you could have Snow Leopard and Windows 7. From that perspective, you would not have to decide which to get, as you can have both.
PCs have the ability to run Windows. They are not supposed to run Mac OS X, and attempting to install OS X on a PC is not nearly as simple as most people would like it to be. However, it can be done.
For the most part, Macs are simple to use. PCs are a bit more complex, and offer more options.

Cost

Mac computers are expensive. However, they are not as expensive as most people make them out to be. Slightly overpriced would be a better description. For this specific article, the comparison of MacBook vs. PC Laptop, we will use the MacBook as a comparison. An Apple MacBook retails for $999.00.
A Dell Inspiron laptop configured with near identical specs retails for approximately $775.00. That's only 3/4 the price of the MacBook. So a PC can save you some cash.
Both the MacBook and Inspiron have received good overall customer reviews. However, if you were to ask the majority of people which laptop is better, or which one they would choose, they would probably say the MacBook. Most likely this is due to the MacBook's styling and design. The MacBook is a bit nicer looking than the Dell Inspiron. I believe that's a statement that most people would agree with. Apple MacBooks tend to last longer than Dell laptops. That's a statement that many people would back up. The Dell is a far better bargain, and you get more for your money. This is a fact.

Conclusion

Unbiased - Now, it's all up to you. The best advice is to go to an Apple store and check out the MacBooks. Alternatively, go to a Best Buy or other electronics store and check out the PCs. From there, just go with your gut instinct.
Biased - Get the MacBook if you can dig up the extra money. You will be happy with your purchase. You can run both Mac OS X and Windows with ease. The styling of the MacBook is artful and looks high-end. If the MacBook is still a bit beyond your price range, close the gap by getting a refurbished MacBook from Apple.com. They go for $850, have the same warranty as a new MacBook, and go through a very high quality refurbishment process. In most cases, the MacBook gets an entirely new outer casing, meaning that it looks brand new. It's just some internal parts that are previously used.
Enjoy this article? You may also be interested in:

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/67647.aspx#ixzz16MtVtf7h

Laptop Running Hot? - Reasons and Solutions to Heating Problems

Why Do Laptops Heat Up?

Before we give you the different ways by which you can lessen the heat emitted by your laptop, we will discuss the reason for this. Why do laptops really heat up ? There are several known reasons why this occurs, although there is no really clear cut study about this. The common reasons why laptops heat up include:
Clogged laptop vents - If your laptop is old, chances are it might have accumulated a lot of dust and/or lint that clog your laptops air vents. Heat emitted by the laptop parts inside can not escape out of your laptop's body. Hence, while using your laptop for any length of time, you'll soon feel the heat coming out from your laptop.
Room Temperature - If your laptop's vent is clear of any obstruction, but you still feel your laptop heating up, the problem may be caused by the temperature of the room where you are working. Hot room temperature contributes to the heating up of your laptop.
Improper Placement of Laptop - Related to the first reason we mentioned, another cause of too much heat emitted by your laptop might be the fact that you placed your laptop on a surface which may be stopping the airflow through your laptop's air vent.
Malfunctioning laptop internal fan - Our laptops are similar to a car's engine. If the cooling fan is not properly working, your car would experience overheating. The same is true with our laptops. A malfunctioning fan will cause the laptop to heat up, since nothing is cooling it down.
Over performing laptops - Another reason that might be causing your laptop to heat up is the fact that it is overpowered.

How to Lessen the Heat Emitted by Laptops

Now that you know some of the most common reasons why laptops heat up, what can you do to abate this heat? Take note, we said abate and not prevent or stop. That's because laptops are bound to heat up no matter how much manufacturers claim that their laptops don't. Somehow, the laptop's thin and small body makes it inevitable. The cramped space and electronics inside your laptop make it prone to heating up.
Here are some of the most common ways by which you could lessen the heat generated by your laptop:
Clean laptop vents - Make it a habit to regularly check your laptop's vent. This is the key reason why laptops heat up so it must be checked first. If you find your laptop's air vent clogged, use some portable pressurized air to blow out the dust and lint clogging it.
Work in a Cooler Room - As much as possible, work in a room where the temperature is cooler. It doesn't have to be in an air-conditioned room, but a room with good air circulation is enough to lessen the heat your laptop generates.
Check Your Laptop's Internal Fan - If you're not brave enough to open up your laptop to check its innards on your own, get a computer technician to do this for you.
Adjust Power Settings - Your laptop maybe emitting too much heat due to over-usage. But we're not going to say that you should stop using your laptop. Actually, you may use it all you want, but it would be wise to adjust the laptop's power settings to a level that won't overpower your laptop's capabilities. Laptops today have the option for various usage settings. Study the best settings for your laptop, specifically those that could lessen the heat generated by your laptop.
Laptop Cooling Pad - I don't know about you, but in the area where I am right now, generic laptop cooling pads are widely available at PC stores. And these cooling pads don't cost too much. You can get some cooling pads for $3. Since I bought my laptop cooling pad, I never use my laptop without putting it on top of the cooling pad.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/33251.aspx#ixzz16MtCODOp

Cool Mac Software

istat Pro

iStat Pro is a dashboard widget that allows you to monitor several aspects of your Mac computer. It's sort of like Activity Monitor, compressed into an easier to read interface that is accessible from the dashboard. With iStat Pro, you can monitor stuff like CPU usage, memory usage, hard drive space, computer temps, etc... Thank you, iSlayer.
Download iStat Pro

SuperDocker

The OS X dock is one of the coolest features of Macs. It is also something that you are constantly using. Why not customize it? SuperDocker is a dock styler with plenty of options to choose from. They even have a community where SuperDocker users have uploaded their own creations that you can download. Thank you, SuperDocker.com.
Download SuperDocker

Candy Bar

SuperDocker gives you an easy way to customize the dock. Candy Bar gives you an easy way to customize your icons. We actually have a tutorial on using Candy Bar, which you can read here.

OnyX

OnyX is a multi functional application that allows you to configure hidden parameters and system settings within OS X. By using OnyX, you can easily adjust settings that you would normally have to use a terminal for.
Download OnyX

AppCleaner

Sometimes there are some junk files left over after you delete a file from the trash bin. AppCleaner more thoroughly uninstalls programs and applications when you delete them. It has a very easy to use drag and drop interface.
Download AppCleaner

iAlertU

iAlertU is one of the coolest free mac softwares. By taking advantage of MacBook's built-in accelerometer, iAlertU allows you to set an alarm for your MacBook or MacBook Pro. Anytime your Apple notebook is moved or a key is pressed, an alarm will sound.You will need an Apple remote to use iAlertU.
Download iAlertU

Caffeine

Another of the coolest mac softwares. Caffeine is a simple application that allows you to disable display sleep and computer sleep with the click of the mouse. Great to use when downloading large files.
Download Caffeine

AppFresh

It's always a good idea to stay current with software updates and application updates. AppFresh simplifies the process by allowing you to manage all of your applications within a program.
Download AppFresh

Font Explorer X

An easy to use font manager application with advanced features. Allows you to preview all of your fonts within one window, easily import new fonts, etc...
Download Font Explorer X

Burn

Like the simplicity of OS X's built-in CD/DVD burning tool? You will love Burn. Burn keeps all the functionality of the standard burning tool, and stacks on several advanced features such as direct DVD burning.
Download Burn

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/61705.aspx#ixzz16MuGD1aj

The Best 14” Laptop Deals

14" Laptops - Cool and Compact

Traditionally, different laptop form factors had different functions and specifications, but as technology has improved over the past few years we’ve seen smaller laptops match the larger devices on hardware and power.
As such anyone looking for a 14” laptop as opposed to a 17” or 20” device will have the advantage of purchasing a relatively compact device and if they’re prepared to pay top dollar much of the same hardware and software options are included as well.
Our roundup of the best 14” laptop deals begins with three great cheap options before pointing you in the direction of the best mid-price and top of the range devices for the 14” form factor.

Best Mid-Price 14” Laptop

A popular mid-price 14” laptop meanwhile comes in the shape of the Toshiba Tecra M11, powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and equipped with 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard disk drive.
The dual core CPU can be “turbo speeded” up to 2.93 GHz thanks to on board overclocking and is capable of running Windows 7 64 bit versions. The included OS is Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, which also includes the XP Professional downgrade option available to anyone who wishes to run XP for another 10 years.
A model such as this can be purchased online from sites like Amazon for around $1130, or £850 in the UK.

Cheapest 14” Laptop Deals

With a compact screen size, you would expect to find a few low priced options in the 14” laptop market, and these deals offer some great devices for very low prices.
To start with, there is the Lenovo IdeaPad U450 2693 with 2Gb RAM and a 1.3 GHz CPU. Surprisingly this laptop runs Windows 7 Home Premium and is effectively a big netbook. Available from as little as £279 in the UK, this is a great option; a comparative model, the U460, can be purchased for around $700 in the USA.

A more powerful option is the MSI X-Slim Series X400-225UK. Powered by a Core 2 Solo 1.4 GHz (single core) processor these 14” laptops cost between £300 and £350 in the UK and feature 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard disk drive along with all of the usual wireless and Ethernet connectivity and a built in camera.
This version isn't available in the USA; here you will need the X340-218US which has a smaller 320GB HDD and is available from around $550.

The final cheap 14” laptop deal is the Acer AS4810T Timeline, again powered by a single core Intel Core 2 Solo 1.4GHz processor and equipped with 3GB of RAM and a 250GB HDD. This great budget laptop features a 6 in 1 card reader, Ethernet and wireless internet, integrated microphone and webcam and even a HDMI output.
An Acer Timeline AS4810T can be picked up in the USA for around $800; in the UK you should be able to but this 14" laptop for £300.

Top of the Range 14” Laptop

If your tastes are more expensive, then the HP EliteBook 8440p - Core i7 2.66 GHz 14” laptop may be the device for you. This is feature packed – beyond the dual core processor, 4GB of installed RAM and 500GB of storage, the EliteBook has wireless LAN, Bluetooth, embedded security in the shape of a fingerprint reader and SmartCard reader, flash card reader and an LED backlit 14” XVGA display. Graphics come in the shape of Intel HD Graphics and there’s a 2MP webcam, and if required cellular aerial compatible with 3G broadband.
This HP laptop can be purchased in the UK for somewhere in the range of £2000 from Amazon, and around $1500 in the USA.
As ever, when buying a laptop try and find a device to try out in your local showroom; this way you can get an idea of the actual performance and user experience of the device

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/96511.aspx#ixzz16MsLK1Kj

Kinect hacks let you control a web browser and Windows 7 using only The Force

Hacking the Xbox 360 Kinect is all about baby steps on the way to what could ultimately amount to some pretty useful homebrew. Here's a good example cooked up by some kids at the MIT Media Lab Fluid Interfaces Group attempting to redefine the human-machine interactive experience. DepthJS is a system that makes Javascript talk to Microsoft's Kinect in order to navigate web pages, among other things. Remember, it's not that making wild, arm-waving gestures is the best way to navigate a web site, it's just a demonstration that you can. Let's hope that the hacking communinity picks up the work and evolves it into a multitouch remote control plugin for our home theater PCs. Boxee, maybe you can lend a hand?

Update: If you're willing to step outside of the developer-friendly borders of open-source software then you'll want to check out Evoluce's gesture solution based on the company's Multitouch Input Management (MIM) driver for Kinect. The most impressive part is its support for simultaneous multitouch and multiuser control of applications (including those using Flash and Java) running on a Windows 7 PC. Evoluce promises to release sofware "soon" to bridge Kinect and Windows 7. Until then be sure to check both of the impressive videos after the break.

[Thanks, Leakcim13]












DepthJS from Fluid Interfaces on Vimeo.

Best Gaming Laptops - 2010

Best Gaming Laptops - 2010

Gaming laptops generally require a much more powerful hardware configuration than normal laptops. There are three very important hardware components in a gaming laptop: graphics processing chip, the processor and RAM. Even a good display with good picture quality, adequate brightness and contrast is recommended. A fast hard drive, preferably a 10000-RPM one, or a fast SSD would also be great.
It is necessary to have the best graphic card in gaming laptops, as well as a very fast processor and an ample amount of RAM in order to be able to play the latest games with ease. Most of the games launched recently have been very demanding when it comes to hardware. The laptops listed here offer the best options in laptop hardware and can handle any game you throw at it.
Also, do note that the hardware configurations listed for each laptop are the best available and can be quite expensive. However, most of these laptops can be customized with your own hardware choices, so you can do that in order to reduce the costs.
Following is a list of the best gaming laptops that money can buy.

Alienware M17X

Alienware M17X
Alienware M17X Review
Alienware has been the ultimate brand for gamers, be it for PCs or laptops. Dell acquired Alienware quite some time back, but to the relief of gaming enthusiasts worldwide, it hasn't diluted the brand or reduced its awesomeness in any way.
The Alienware M17X offers the best hardware options in a very stylish form factor and design. It is probably the best gaming laptop money can buy.
Here is the recommended hardware configuration for the Alienware M17X:

• Processor: Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6GHz (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode, 6 MB Cache)
• Graphic Card: Dual 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5870 in Crossfire X
• RAM: 8 GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 4 GB DDR3) RAM
• Hard Drive: 1 TB Raid 0 (2x 500 GB, 7,200 RPM HDDs)
• Display: 17-inch WideXGA+ LCD display, 1440 x 900 pixels
• Optical Drive: Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+/- RW, CD-RW)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit OS

These are the main options. Select what you want in the other options like wireless card, warranty, office software, security software, audio options, gaming controllers etc.
The total cost comes to $2974 without the additional components.
Notes:
You could also choose the Core i7 820QM or the Core i7 920XM processor but they increase the cost of the machine by a lot without a comparable increase in performance.
In the RAM option, you could get the 4 GB or 6 GB option to cut the cost by $350 and $150 respectively.
In the hard drive option, the 256 GB SSD would be the best option, but will increase the price by $420.

iBuyPower Battalion 101 X8100

iBuyPower Battalion 101 X8100
The iBuyPower Battalion 101 X8100 is another excellent option for a gaming laptop. Despite being a lesser-known brand, it does not disappoint when it comes to hardware. It offers good specifications that are even better than the Alienware M17X at a lesser price.
Here is the recommended configuration:

• Display: 18.4 inch Full HD Widescreen LCD TFT display, 1920 X 1080 pixels
• Processor: Intel Core i7-820QM Mobile Processor (4x 1.73GHz / 8 MB L3 Cache)
• RAM: 8 GB [4 GB x 2] 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
• Graphic card: 2 X Mobility DDR3 1GB NVIDIA GTX 285M PCI Express 3D Video in SLI
• Hard Drive: 500 GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA Super Slim Laptop Hard Drive
• Optical Drive: 8X Dual Format DVD ± R/ ± RW + 16x CD-R/RW Combo Drive
• OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate + Office Starter 2010

Keep all the other options like sound card, network card, gaming mice, warranty etc. at the default values.
The sum total comes to $2617 without the extra frills.
Notes:
You could also choose the 256 GB Kingston SSDNow V+ Series MLC SSD Single Drive as the hard drive option for an additional $669.
If you want a budget gaming laptop, try the iBuyPower Battalion 101 CZ-11 Ultra

Alienware M15X

Alienware M15X










This list includes another Alienware option because it is too compelling an option to ignore.
It is the smaller version of the Alienware M17X at the top and offers some good gaming grade hardware.
Here is the list of recommended components:

• Processor: Intel Core i7 840QM Quad Core Processor, 1.86GHz (3.20GHz Turbo Mode, 6M Cache)
• Graphic Card: 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
• RAM: 6 GB Memory (1x 2 GB, 1x 4 GB DDR3) RAM
• Display: 15.6-inch Wide FHD (1080p) WLED display, 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Hard Drive: 500 GB SATA 2, 7200 RPM
• Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit

Leave the other options to their default values. The final configuration with the selected values
comes to $2574.
Notes:
You could select the Intel Core i7 740 QM Quad Core Processor too to save $300.
Select the 8 GB DDR3 memory option for an extra $150 if you can.
Get the 128 GB SSD for $145 extra.

Dell Studio XPS 16

Dell Studio XPS 16










The Dell Studio XPS 16 is also a great gaming laptop, if configured correctly.
Here are the recommended components for the Dell Studio XPS 16:

•  Intel Core i7-840QM Quad Core Processor 1.86GHz (3.2 GHz Turbo Mode, 8MB Cache)
• RAM: 8 GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333 MHz
• Hard Drive: 500 GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
• Optical Drive: 8X Slot Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
• Display:  FHD Widescreen 15.6 inch WLED LCD (1920 x 1080 pixels) with 2.0 MP webcam
• Graphic Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 - 1GB
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate, 64 bit

Notes:
You could also get a 128 GB SSD as your primary hard drive for an extra $154
The Inspire T12 Stereo Speaker System for $49.99 is highly recommended, as well.

Toshiba Qosmio X505 Q890

Toshiba Qosmio X505 Q890











relatively affordable gaming option. It offers very nice hardware specifications and a stylish design in
a slim form factor.

Hardware Specifications

• Processor: Intel Core i7 740 QM processor
• Operating System:" Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Display: 18.4 inch widescreen FHD TruBrite TFT LCD Display, 1920 x 1080 pixel
• RAM: 6 GB DDR3 1066 MHz RAM
• Hard Drive: 564GB - 64 GB SSD (Serial ATA) + 500 GB (7200rpm, Serial ATA)
• Graphic Card: 1 GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTS 360M

It's a very capable machine which starts at $1899.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/80634.aspx?p=2#ixzz16MsvKrZm

The Best Mini Laptops with Windows 7

Netbooks with Windows 7

Mini laptops with Windows 7 Starter Edition are popular with students, teachers and other working employees that are always on the go. Netbooks are not only handy due to their lightweight and small size, but are also inexpensive. Bloggers also enjoy communicating or writing while outside using inexpensive mini laptops with Windows 7. Find out the best netbooks with Windows 7 on sale especially now that the holidays are a few weeks away. Give one as a gift to family or for yourself by taking advantage of amazing sale prices while enjoying the new operating system from Microsoft.
Note that Windows 7 Starter edition does not include Aero. To enjoy Windows Aero, you need to upgrade to Windows Home Premium. Some netbook vendors provide an option to upgrade to Home Premium using Windows Anytime Upgrade.

Mini Laptops with Windows 7 (Price Range of $300 to $400)

I find HP deals on mini laptop attractive. With the HP Mini 210 series, you'll get more than what Dell offers as an inexpensive laptop with Windows 7 system:

• Several choices of case color: Charcoal, Luminous rose, Crimson red, Lavender frost or Ocean drive.
• An option to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium for only $35.00 extra.
• 160GB 7200RPM Hard Drive and 1GB DDR3 SDRAM.
• No pre-installed security software - most end-users prefer to their own install antivirus or firewall software which HP understands and so the basic or default configuration in buying HP Mini 200 series is "no pre-installed security software", but there's option to buy Norton Internet Security 2011 for $19. Note that the Dell mini laptop includes 30-days trial of McAfee software.
• 10 hours battery life using 6-cell Lithium-Ion battery.
• 802.11b/g/n WLAN connectivity but Bluetooth is not included. You have to pay $25 to have Bluetooth connectivity.
• Shipped with reduced-functionality versions of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Built-in web camera with integrated microphone.

With the default configuration of the HP Mini 200, you will only pay $330. If you upgrade to Home Premium and add a Bluetooth module, you will have to pay $390.
The next thing to consider is the 10" netbook from AsusTeK - Eee PC 1005HA Seashell. Like the above netbooks with Windows 7 on sale, Eee PC 1005HA Seashell also includes Windows 7 Starter edition, LED Backlight, 1GB DDR2 RAM, a huge 250GB HDD, WLAN 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, 6-cell Lithium-ion battery and card reader. The netbook from AsusTeK also include a built-in camera with integrated mic but only uses 1.3 megapixels. The price ranges to $380 to $400 (depending on your location or online shop such as Best Buy or Amazon).
Best choice: HP Mini 210 series

Netbooks with Windows 7 (Price Range of $200 to $300)

The Samsung N210 mini laptop also includes the Windows 7 operating system. The netbook includes 1GB DDR2 memory, 250GB Hard Drive 5400RPM, 802.11 b/g/n Wireless LAN, 6-Cell Lithium Ion battery, 3-in-1 media reader, 3 USB ports, Integrated Camera and internal microphone and backlit LED screen. The Samsung N210 only costs $299.99 at Best Buy. This netbook by Samsung is pre-loaded with software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and YouCam by Cyberlink.
Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 comes in black includes a 160GB 5400RPM Hard-drive, a built-in web-cam and microphone, 4 to 6 hours battery life using 3-cell Lithium-Ion battery, two 2.0 USB ports, Truelife wide-screen, 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WLAN and Realtek PCIe FE Family-Controller. The neat stuffs in buying an Inspiron Mini 1018 is you have the option to upgrade from Windows 7 Starter edition to Home Premium edition using Windows Anytime Upgrade, for a small fee - $54.00, free 1 year Dell online backup with option to subscribe higher disk-space (5GB to 100GB) and 1 year limited hardware warranty.
If you buy the Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 without upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium, you'll only pay $300 but if you want to take advantage of the operating system upgrade, it will cost you $354.
Best choice: Samsung N210
Image credits: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Microsoft_Windows_7_wordmark.svg by Microsoft Corporation (This vector image was created with Inkscape.) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Dell Mini 1018 http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-mini1018/pd and HP Mini 210 http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/series/category/notebooks/mini210_series/3/computer_store

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/96508.aspx#ixzz16MKgSKwp

9 Hidden Internet Explorer 9 Features You Should Know About

ernet Explorer 9 Features - Missing Features?

Plenty of Internet Explorer 9 features exist that make it different from the previous versions of the browser. If you are using Internet Explorer 9, you know that there are many changes to the new browser from Microsoft, especially to the Interface. This article on Internet Explorer 9 features aims to cover the ones that are not easily traceable. While you may know some of these features of IE9, let us further discuss them to help you understand how you can benefit.
Menu Bar: The first among these hidden features of IE9 is the Menu bar. For people who just installed the Internet Explorer 9, it comes as a surprise that there is no menu bar in IE9. However, it is just an illusion. The IE team has hidden this feature to offer more canvass space for the websites you are browsing. To see the menu bar, just press the ALT key. Once you press ALT, you get the traditional menu bar that hides again when you press ALT or when you click anywhere in the browser.
Compatibility View Settings: One of the emails I received recently was about a user not being able to use Facebook on IE9. Each time he logged onto the site, he had to click the Compatibility button so that Facebook works properly. Though it helped, clicking on the Compatibility button would reload the website. Among the features of IE9 is the ability of displaying older websites in compatibility mode if you cannot view it properly. For older websites, IE9 will display the compatibility button next to the Address bar. It was easier in IE8 where you could add the websites to compatibility list so that they always opened in compatibility mode without you having to click on the compatibility button each time you visit the website. Did you know that you can do the same with IE9 too? Press ALT + T to open the Tools menu. You will find the Compatibility Settings option in the menu (see image). Just add the websites that you cannot view properly in IE9 to the Compatibility view settings so that you do not need to reload the website again by clicking on the Compatibility icon.

Features of IE9 - Tips on New Tab Page

Opening Recently Closed Tabs - Did you close an Internet Explorer tab accidently? You can always restore it using the new page window. IE9 keeps a log of recently closed pages so that you can re-open them without searching Temporary Internet Files folder. To re-open a recently closed webpage, open a new tab page and see if it exists in any of the thumbnails under Your Most Popular Sites. If it is not visible in the thumbnails, click on the triangle next to Reopen Closed Tabs. It presents you with a list of recently closed webpages. Click on the one you wish to re-open again. If the Recently Closed Tabs does not present you with the website you are looking for, press CTRL + H to open History so that you can find the webpage.

Removing Traces of Most Popular Websites on the New Tab Page - The new tab page shows you the top ten websites that you have been using. It also presents you with an activity indicator to show how frequently you use the listed websites. You may feel uncomfortable with the feature if you are on a shared computer. In such case, you can easily remove the thumbnails so that none can check out what websites you have been visiting. Open Internet Options and select Delete Browsing History on Exit. This option is available on the General tab of Internet Options. Once you enable the option, the new tab window will show blank thumbnails whenever you re-open IE9.

These were just four hidden features of Internet Explorer 9. Did you know that you can increase the number of popular websites list to 25? Please turn to the next page for more tips on using Internet Explorer 9 features to your benefit.

Internet Explorer 9 Features - Features You May Have Never Noticed

The previous page offered you four Internet Explorer 9 features that you may have come across but did not know how to make better use of them. This page continues with similar lesser known or hidden features of Internet Explorer 9.
Adding more Thumbnails to Most Popular Websites - By default, Internet Explorer presents you with ten thumbnails under Your Most Popular Websites in the new tab page. You can increase the number of thumbnails to 25 by tweaking the Windows registry. To ease the process, I've created a ready to use code for adding more thumbnails to the new tab page. Just download the file, change the file extension to .reg and double click it. When you re-open the browser, you will find that IE9 is now capable of showing up to 25 websites on the new tab page.
How to Pin a Particular Page Instead of Entire Website: Among the best Internet Explorer 9 features is the ability to pin websites to Start menu and to the Windows Taskbar. Click on the Tools icon to expand it. In the menu that appears, click on File and select Add Site to Start Menu. To add a website to Taskbar, drag the website Favicon to Taskbar. However, when you use these methods, the home page of the website opens when you click on the icon. To set IE9 to open only a particular page, drag and drop the tab instead of website Favicon. You can also drag the tab to Start button that automatically opens so that you can drop the webpage to the Start menu. You will however, need some practice to use this method. For more details, please read our article - Learn to Pin Tabs in IE9.
Manage Add-ons to Speed up IE9 - You must have encountered the Manage Add-ons window when you installed any add-on to Internet Explorer 9. One of the Internet Explorer 9 features is that a notification bar appears when you or any application adds any add-on to IE9. It asks if you wish to enable the add-on. It also offers a link to Manage Add-ons window. But did you know that you can use the window to retain (if not increase) the speed of IE9? Against each add-on in the Manage Add-ons window, you can see the time it takes to load. If you feel that your IE9 startup speed is low, you can use the Manage Add-ons window to disable the add-ons that take more time to load. You can access the Manage Add-ons window from Tools icon.

Adding Search Providers to IE9 - When you search from the Address bar in Internet Explorer 9, the browser employs Bing search engine. You can always change the default search provider using the Manage Add-ons window. If the search provider you want is not listed in Internet Explorer -> Manage Add-ons, you can always add it manually. Check our article - Adding Search Providers to IE9 - to know how to add search providers to IE9 and how to make it the default search provider in IE9.
Change Search Engine from Address Bar - Internet Explorer 9 features several search providers when you install the browser. They include Bing, Google, and Yahoo. You can add more search providers such as Wikipedia, eBay Search etc using Manage Add-ons window (see the linked article in above tip for details). However, you need not open the Add-ons window each time you wish to use a different search engine while searching from Address bar. One of the interesting features of Internet Explorer 9 is that you can type the keywords in Address bar and just click on the logo of the search provider to use the search engine you want.

These were 9 Internet Explorer 9 features that may enhance your browsing experience. If you too have anything to share, please feel free to use our comments section.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/96759.aspx?p=2#ixzz16MJxWOa2

Top 10 Gadgets For Windows 7

Windows 7 Gadgets Gallery

1. Language Translator Gadget
If you are like me who have to switch between different languages every so often, this desktop gadget will make your life much easier. Language Translator gadget is able to translate between 54 different languages and is very easy to use. The design is not very nice but that is a little matter.

2. MiniTV
There are many gadgets available and I’ve to say that this one is one of the best. This small TV gadget allows you to choose from a hundreds of TV and thousands of radio stations. You also have an option to watch the TV in small or full screen and to add more stations yourself.

3. Traffic by Bing Maps
Don’t be late for your appointment or get stuck in a bad gridlock. Bing Maps is a simple and quick way to get current traffic information in your area. It helps you stay up-to-date with traffic conditions so that you can easily decide when to leave home for shopping, etc. The gadget also lets you search for directions or view maps for any place in the world.

4. All CPU Meter
All CPU Meter is a system monitoring gadget. It keeps track of used and available memory, CPU usage (up to 8 cores) and temperatures. Most system monitoring gadgets provide less frequent updates but this one is great for a frequently updated look at system’s important resources.

5. Facebook Explorer Gadget
If you’re like one of those people addicted to Facebook, this cool gadget is for you. The Facebook Explorer Gadget keeps track of your friends’ activities, your messages, event notification and more. It’s a waste of time to open your browser, login to Facebook account from time to time and then finding out there was no update. If you use Facebook Explorer, you do not need to visit Facebook as you will be notified of all the updates on the gadget.

6. Adsensor Gadget
The Adsensor gadget brings you information from your Adsense account. It checks for updates every fifteen minutes and displays impressions, clicks and earnings for today, yesterday and month’s total stats. Many other gadgets for Adsense gadgets are broken, hard to use or update very infrequently. The Adsensor gadget shows you all the information at a glance so you do not have to open Adsense website from time to time.

7. iPhone battery
The iPhone battery gadget is one of the coolest gadgets for iPhone users. The battery indicator is a nice knockoff of the battery charge indicator on the iPhone. It looks great on Windows 7 Sidebar. If you are on a notebook or netbook, this gadget is really handy; it will help you keep a close eye on your phone’s available power.

8. Stocks for Windows 7
Are you trading stocks? The bad news is that Microsoft has removed the Stocks gadget from Windows 7. But the good news is that there are many third-party gadgets available for monitoring stocks. Stocks for Windows 7 is one of them. It is a nifty small gadget that allows you to follow stocks progress. Finding a stock inside of this gadget is fast and simple. The gadget uses a glowing green color to tell a stock has went up or a red color to tell that your stock has went down.

9. Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor Gadget
Xirrus Wi-Fi Monitor Gadget allows you to see available wireless networks in your area. The gadget packs a lot of information in a single place. Actually it is a bit heavy to have all the figures showing in a small display. But still, it is a powerful gadget for you will find it very useful. You can use this gadget to search for Wi-Fi networks, see signal strength and tweak your network for better signal.

10. Weather Bug
The best thing about the Weather Bug gadget is that it looks cool. Weather Bug gives up-to-date information about weather conditions in your city. It is very easy to setup. By just typing your zip code or city, you can see current weather conditions, live outside camera views and future forecasts. If you’re looking for the lows, highs, wind direction or speed, this gadget is for you.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/71764.aspx#ixzz16Mq3RxpI

How to Speed Up Vista's Boot Time

A Simple PC tweak to speed up Vista startup.

Here’s a useful yet very simple tip for readers running Windows Vista on their PCs. By default, Windows Vistawaits 30 seconds during the startup process before loading the operating system. You can safely decrease that time considerably, and thus speed up Vista boot time.

Here’s a quick procedure that help you speeding windows vista startup:

• Click the Windows Start button
• Right click Computer
• Click Properties
• Click Advanced System settings
• In the Advanced Tab, Start and Recovery, click Settings
• In the Time to display operating systems list setting, set a 5 second value instead of 30.
• Click Apply

Now, Reboot your PC. You’ll notice a boost in the performance of the startup process.