Tips Notebook, Computers Information, Tips and Tricks

HP Compaq 8710w User Review

2008-06-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

The HP Compaq 8710w is HP's top of the line premium mobile workstation featuring some of the highest specifications currently available in the market, including options for a full-HD screen, Penryn processors and the most powerful professional graphics card solution for notebooks.

Reasons for Buying

After owning an 8510w, I realized that a 15.4" notebook, while striking a good balance, isn't exactly a true desktop replacement. I wanted a true desktop replacement machine that has excellent graphics capability, a large and beautiful screen, fast processor and comfortable keyboard. I seriously considered Dell's XPS M1730, which is a popular option, but I decided that I value an understated, professional look as well as docking station support more than the SLI graphics capabilities and dual drive configuration that the XPS offers. It is also a much lighter and portable notebook than the XPS and I like being able to take the notebook with me on the occasional trip. The Precision M6300 was not an option for me as for approximately the same price, it offered less features and has an arguably less desirable design carried over from the previous generation Inspiron notebooks.

Specifications

The 8710w is configurable with a host of processors, hard disk, RAM, optical drives (DVD/BluRay) and graphics card (Quadro FX 1600M/3600M). A BluRay drive is an additional $500 option and the Quadro FX 3600M graphics card adds approximately $600 to the configuration depending on the region. In Asia-Pacific markets, the T9500 option costs an additional $400.

I try to strike a balance by selecting a configuration that best optimizes the price-performance ratio, resulting in the following specifications:

* Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 Processor (Penryn)
* Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Business (Office 07 Ready)
* 17" WUXGA Wide-Viewing Angle Display (1920x1200)
* 512MB Dedicated Nvidia Quadro FX 3600M GPU
* 2GB DDR2 667MHz RAM (+2GB self upgrade)
* 200GB Hitachi 7K200 Hard Disk
* DVD+/-RW LightScribe Optical Drive
* Intel 802.11a/b/g/n Wifi Module
* Intel Gigabit PRO 1000 NIC
* Bluetooth 2.0+ Module
* Dual pointing Devices Keyboard
* Fingerprint Reader Module
* 8-cell Battery
* 135W Hardware Kit
* 3-Year Global Next Business Day Parts and Labor OnSite Warranty (3/3/3)

Vista Shortcut Keys

2008-06-12T03:50:00.000-07:00

This article contains Keyboard shortcuts specific to Windows Vista, which are used to speed up otherwise cumbersome tasks:

Opening Programs

WINDOWS KEY + E - Open Windows Explorer
WINDOWS KEY + F - Open Search
WINDOWS KEY + U - Open the Ease of Access Center
WINDOWS KEY + R - Open the Run Window
WINDOWS KEY + (1-9) - Run the nth program on your Quick Launch bar
WINDOWS KEY + Pause - Open System Properties
CTRL + SHIFT + ESC - Open Windows Task Manager

Managing Windows

ALT + F4 - Close the Active Window
ALT + TAB - Switch to Previous Active Window
WINDOWS KEY + TAB - Flip 3D
CTRL + WINDOWS KEY + Tab - Persistent Flip 3D
ALT + ESC - Cycle Through all Open Windows
WINDOWS KEY + T - Cycle through Taskbar Applications
WINDOWS KEY + M - Minimize all Open Windows
WINDOWS KEY + Shift + M - Undo all Window Minimization
WINDOWS KEY + D - Toggle Desktop Focus
WINDOWS KEY + B - Shift focus to the System Tray
WINDOWS KEY + Space - Shift focus to Sidebar

DOS in Vista

2008-06-12T03:47:00.000-07:00

If you have an older application or game that you want to run in Windows Vista, you may well need to get access to MS DOS. If you require some other DOS functions you may need to run a 3rd party emulator.

To get a DOS box, run cmd from the run box (press WINDOWS KEY + R to access this):

Once you click OK the familar MS DOS box should pop up:

If you find this is unable to run a particular game or application it might be worth trying a DOS emulator such as DOSBox. This can be downloaded from http://www.dosbox.com/ and runs well under Windows Vista.

Switch Between Windows

2008-06-12T03:43:00.000-07:00

Switching between windows in Vista is easier than ever before, especially if you have an Aero capable graphics card.

You can get a simple graphical preview of all of the windows open, and switch between them by holding the ALT key and pressing TAB on your keyboard. Each further time you press tab, a new window will be highlighted. Simply release both keys to switch to that window.

If you want to get a better preview of each window (and assuming you have a good graphics card) you can do the same with the WINDOWS + TAB keys. Flip3D lets you cycle through each window, making it much easier to see what each thumbnail contains.

Both of these options provide easy ways to quickly jump between any windows that you have open, and is a great way to save time. Previous versions of windows could not show thumbnails of each application, however both methods in Vista allow this.

Apple : Burning Multiple Times to the Same CD

2008-06-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

Generally, when you burn files to a CD once, you’re done — you can’t burn to that CD again. Unless you use this little trick: First create a new folder and give it a descriptive name (something like “burn baby burn!” Kidding). Now put the files you want to burn into that folder, then go to the Applications folder and open the Utilities folder. Double-click on Disk Utility. When it comes up, go under the File menu, under New, and choose Disk Image from Folder, and then when the Open dialog appears, find that folder with the stuff you want to burn and click the image button. A Save dialog appears in which you can leave the name as is or choose a new name (leave the other controls alone), and then click Save. In a few moments, a disk image of your folder’s contents will appear in the list on the left side of the Disk Utility dialog. Click on that icon, and then click the burn button at the top left of the Disk Utility dialog.

When you click the Burn button, a dialog will appear asking to insert a disc. Do so, and then click once the blue downward-facing triangle on the right side of this dialog to show more options. Click on the checkbox for Leave disc appendable, then click the Burn button. Your data will now be written to that CD. To add more files later, just insert that same CD and then you’ll use this same process all over again, but when you get to that final burn dialog, the button won’t say “Burn” this time, instead it will say “Append” because you’re adding these files to the same disc. By the way, don’t forget to remove the files you already burned to this disc from your “burn baby burn!” folder (and the DMG file it creates) before you make your next disc image.

Asus M70S Review

2008-06-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

Notebooks have always lagged behind desktops in speed, screen size, and until recently storage space. Asus released two new laptops, being the M70S and M50S, both of which hold the claim as being the world's first laptops with 1TB of storage space. To get this large capacity, the notebooks are equipped with two 500GB drives that can run in RAID 0 or 1, or as separate drives. Obviously this is a nice trend for notebooks, as people start storing more movies and games and want more scratch space for whatever comes their way.

For this review we are covering the M70Sa configuration notebook, which has the following specifications:

* Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHz, 6MB L2, 800MHz FSB)
* 17" diagonal widescreen TFT LCD display at 1920x1200 (WUXGA, Glossy)
* ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 with 1GB DDR2 video memory
* Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
* 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (maximum capacity 4GB)
* 1TB Storage, 2 x 500GB Serial ATA hard disk drive (Hitachi 5400RPM)
* DVD-Burner with 2x Blu-Ray reading capabilities
* TV Tuner
* 1.3 megapixel webcam
* Fingerprint reader
* Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear): 16.2" x 11.8" x 1.7"
* Weight: 8 lbs 13.1oz with nine-cell battery
* 90W (19V x 4.74A) 100-240V AC Adapter
* 9-cell (14.8V, 5200mAh) Lithium Ion battery
* 2-Year Limited Global Warranty
* MSRP: $2,399.99

Build and Design

The design of the notebook is very basic, with a high gloss plastic surface, meshed with chrome and gloss black accents. This gives the notebook a very clean look without standing out too much. The notebook surface is similar to the Toshiba Fusion finish or the HP Imprint finish in that it holds up well to minor scratches to keep the glossy finish looking clean long past the first day out of the box.

Build quality on the Asus M70S is average; with most of the plastic feeling very solid overall. One area that does stand as needing some improvement is the screen lift point, which is weakened by the webcam pivoting area.

When you open the lid, this area tends to flex upward quite a bit working against the stiff screen hinges. Beyond that the notebook feels pretty sturdy, with little flex when you lift the notebook up by the corner and carrying it around. The extra LED lighting on the interior surface of the notebook is more subtle than what we see on most consumer notebooks. The power button and indicator lights are the only other light sources that might distract you when watching movies in a dark room.

Toshiba Satellite M305 Review

2008-06-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

We've put several of Toshiba's latest mid-level, high-gloss Satellite notebooks through their paces around here in the past few months, and the 14.1-inch Toshiba Satellite M305 is the latest model in this familiar lineup of devices to come up for review. Dishing out sizeable helpings of memory and processing prowess in the configuration we received, the M305 is a consumer-focused laptop that potentially has the power to keep power users happy.

Wrapped in a love-it-or-hate-it glossy exterior, the M305 targets general users as well as those looking for a mobile multimedia device, with an upgraded audio system and a chic multimedia surface control arrangement. At once style-conscious and budget-conscious, the latest Satellite appears to do a lot of things right - if you can get past all that shiny plastic.

For this review, we tested an M305-S4826 with the following specs:

Screen: 14.1-inch TruBrite TFT LCD, WXGA (1280x800) native resolution
Processor: 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (800 MHz FSB, 3MB L2 cache)
Hard Drive: 250GB SATA, 5400 RPM
Memory: 3GB RAM (DDR2 SDRAM)
Optical Drive: DVD SuperMulti with Labelflash
Ports and Slots: Three USB 2.0, one IEEE 1394, one ExpressCard 34, VGA, multi-format (SD/SDHC/MS/xD) card reader, 10/100 Ethernet, modem, microphone in, headphone out
Wireless: Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g)
Graphics: Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, 128-358MB shared memory
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Dimensions: 13.2 x 9.53 x 1.29 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 5.2 pounds
MSRP: $999.99

Styling and Design

Although the rest of the NotebookReview crew was pretty high on previous Toshiba laptops with the high-gloss Fusion Finish, I was admittedly skeptical about the M305's shiny keys and super-reflective lid. If the finish is allegedly durable, in some ways it really doesn't look it.

After a few weeks with the Satellite, however, I'm feeling the need to retract this hasty pronouncement. While it's almost impossible to keep flat surfaces on the notebook free from smudges, the general consensus seems to be correct: durability definitely isn't a problem with these computers. Even an accidental run-in with a bag zipper - the kind of scraping contact that would put a deep scratch on the surface of most notebooks - didn't faze the M305's finish.

If you like the high-tech, high-profile look that it imparts, the Fusion look is svelte, modern, and very appealing. The standard array of function indicators, the M305's multimedia touch panel, and even the Satellite wordmark and touchpad surround are all illuminated with a soft glow that looks great under normal ambient light (though it can be a little bright and harsh on the eyes when working in a dark room). A shallow-inset keyboard and touchpad buttons have an equally classy, well thought-out look. A well matched grey and black striped lid just like we've seen on other recent Toshiba Satellite models rounds out the package.

Asus Eee PC 900 Review

2008-06-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Asus Eee PC 900 is the new update to the original Eee PC ... the affordable mini notebook that shook up the notebook market in 2007. Is this $550 mobile companion the best choice for your next travel laptop? We took an in-depth look at the Eee PC 900 to find out if this latest addition to the Eee PC family offers enough performance and features to get you excited.

First, let's review the system specs for the all new Eee PC 900:

Intel Celeron M ULV 900MHz processor
Integrated Intel GMA 900 GPU
12GB of Flash-based storage (4GB onboard SSD and 8GB PCI-E mini card SSD)
1GB of DDR2 RAM (667MHz)
Windows XP operating system
8.9-inch screen with 1024 x 600 resolution
Ports: 3 USB 2.0, 1 VGA monitor out, headphone jack, microphone input, SD card reader (SDHC compatible), Kensington lock slot, Ethernet 10/100
Webcam (1.3 MP)
Battery: 4-cell 5800 mAh 7.2V Li-Ion (rated at 3.5 hours)
Wireless: 802.11b/g Atheros
Input: Keyboard and Multi-touch touchpad
Dimensions: 22.5cm(W) x 17cm(D) x 2cm~3.4cm(H)
Weight: approximately 2.2 lbs with battery, 2.8 lbs travel weight with AC adapter.
One-year warranty

Build and Design

Like the original Eee PC, the designers at Asus had no easy task creating an attractive ultraportable notebook while also making it cheap to produce. Customers also indicated that they wanted a larger screen and a larger touchpad, so both of these features had to be incorporated into a very small footprint.

The chassis seams match up with reasonably tight tolerances, plastics feel thick (though the pearl-like white plastics look cheap) and the display hinges are molded into body with the battery. Overall, the Eee PC 900 is almost identical to the original Eee PC. The only obvious differences are the larger screen and the slightly deeper dimension (front to back) in order to accommodate the larger touchpad.

Lifting the display cover you find the same amazingly small keyboard surface found on the original Eee PC. In short, the build quality is quite high despite the low cost.

The design of the original Eee PC was something truly unique in the market. Weighing in at just two pounds and delivering a performance level similar to a full-featured budget notebook, the only notebook that came close to "directly" competing with the Eee PC in 2007 was the Fujitsu LifeBook U810 tablet PC ... which retailed for more than $1,000 last year. After the success of the original Eee PC, other manufacturers have started to flood the market with low cost mini notebooks. The Eee PC isn't the only kid on the block anymore, which is why Asus is trying to raise the bar with the Eee PC 900.

Lenovo IdeaPad U110 Review

2008-06-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is the latest addition to the IdeaPad family and has recently been garnering a lot of attention. Lenovo might be famous for the ThinkPad line of notebooks, but most average consumers don't find the traditional styling of the ThinkPad line to be very attractive. Our First Look Review IdeaPad U110 showed you how gorgeous this compact notebook is. How did the U110 ultimately perform in our final review? Take a look and see whether this diva is a super model or destined for the D-list.

Our IdeaPad U110 has the following specifications:

Processor: 1.60GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 (800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
Graphics: Intel X3100
Screen: 11.1-inch WXGA (1366 x 768, 370 nit) display
Memory: 2GB (up to 3GB configurable)
Storage: 120GB Parallel ATA HDD (4200rpm)
Optical Drive: None internal (external Dual layer CD/DVD recordable drive)
Wireless and Communications: Intel 4965AGN (802.11 a/b/g/n wi-fi), BlueTooth 2.0 EDR
Battery: 4-cell Li-Ion and 7-cell extended life Li-Ion batteries included
Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports, IEEE 1394 Firewire, 5-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard/34, VGA monitor out port, AC adapter, headphone/line-out, microphone/line-in, Gigabit Ethernet
Dimensions: 10.8" x 7.7" x 0.72" - 0.88"
Weight: from 2.42lbs with 4-cell battery and 2.92lbs with 7-cell battery
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Other Features: Integrated web camera with VeriFace application
Warranty: 1-year

The pricing on the U110 starts at around $1,899, and that is the configuration we are reviewing. Needless to say, this isn't something the average consumer will be dropping their money on in place of an $800 Dell. Still, if having a stylish, compact notebook is important for you then the U110 makes an attractive choice.

The IdeaPad U110 is surprisingly solid in terms of build quality. The aluminum etch display cover and magnesium aluminum chassis provide both strength and light weight. You can press as hard as you want anywhere on the body of the notebook and it simply will not flex. Like the ThinkPad line, the IdeaPad U110 is designed for (accidental) abuse and drops, and we're guessing the U110 might be the most rugged laptop in the IdeaPad lineup. Unlike with the ThinkPads, you don't get a double latch mechanism with button release to make sure the screen is held down when it is closed and being carried. Instead, the U110 uses hinge tension to hold the screen in place.

The etched aluminum display cover (available in both black and red) is probably the most interesting design element on the U110. Lenovo calls this their "Tendril texture" and it looks like an intricate floral and vine pattern. The IdeaPad designers even went the extra mile with the design by extending the "Tendril" pattern onto the bottom of the notebook and the touch-sensitive media buttons. Even the heat exhaust vents feature an extra touch of class. This certainly isn't a boring ThinkPad.

Apple: Create a Custom Desktop Slideshow

2008-06-04T00:36:00.000-07:00

Changing your Desktop picture is easy: Just click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences. Select Desktop & Screen Saver and click the Desktop tab. Then select Choose Folder and navigate to the folder containing the picture you desire.

You can also create a custom desktop slideshow by putting the images you’d like to use inside a new folder, navigating to it as described above, and selecting one of the images. Before you close the Desktop & Screen Saver window, select the Change Picture checkbox. Using the pull-down menu, specify how quickly you’d like the images to change and whether you’d like the images to cycle in random order.

To keep things tidy, you may want to store your new custom picture folder in the same location as your default Mac OS X desktops. They reside in your root-level Library folder, in the folder called Desktop Pictures.

Apple: Giving Your Photos Keywords

2008-06-04T00:33:00.000-07:00

If you’re using Preview to sort your digital camera images, here’s another helpful feature — the ability to add keywords to your photos. These keywords will even show up in Spotlight, so if you want to search your hard disk for images using keywords, you can.

Here’s how it works: When you have an image onscreen that you want to rate, just go under Preview’s Tools menu and choose Get info. Click on the Keywords tab, then click the Add button to add a field. Enter your keyword in the highlighted field, click in the white space to finalize your keyword, and you’re done.

Drag-and-Drop Desktop Printing

2008-06-04T00:26:00.000-07:00

Want the ability to print a document right from your desktop (without opening the application first)? Go under the Apple menu, under System Preferences, and choose Print & Fax. When the preference pane appears, click on the Printer Setup button, and when the Printer Info dialog appears, press Command-L to show the Printer List dialog.

Your printer will appear in this dialog. Click on it, then go up under the Printers menu (in the menu bar) and choose Create Desktop Printer. A standard Open/Save dialog will appear asking you where you want to save it (I save mine on the desktop). Click Save and an icon for your printer will appear on the desktop. To print a document, just drag-and-drop it on this icon. Some documents, such as TextEdit files and PDFs, will go straight to the printer. Other files will launch their default application and open the Print dialog.

Saving Documents and Web Pages as PDFs

2008-05-30T03:37:00.000-07:00

Adobe’s PDF format offers a great way to save and send electronic documents, from formatted business letters to product brochures. PDF documents appear identically on all computers, so you don’t have to worry about things like whether the recipient has access to the same fonts as you or if your company logo and other graphics will display properly.

PDFs are also an excellent way to quickly save “snapshots” of web pages for future reference. Since some web pages change frequently, PDFs are a useful way to capture or archive content that might be hard to find again later.

To save a document or web page as a PDF, open it and press Command Promt, just as though you’re going to print the page. But instead of clicking Print or pressing the Return key, click the PDF button in the lower left corner of the Print dialog. Choose Save as PDF at the top of the menu, navigate to the location you’d like to save to, and click Save.

The PDF button also contains other useful options. Mail PDF opens a new message in Apple’s Mail program, with the PDF already attached. Encrypt PDF lets you protect your file with a password. And Compress PDF creates a more compressed version of the file — great for emailing large, multi-page PDFs.

New Launches from ASUS

2008-05-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

ASUS today announced availability of the long-anticipated U2E, the perfect companion for road warriors. The 11-inch all-in-one leather crafted notebook is designed to deliver the highest level of versatile performance while conveying an individual’s sense of style.

Rich, Varied Connectivity
The U2E is the lightest notebook with a built-in DVD-RW. To deliver the ultimate mobile experience on Windows Vista, the ASUS U2E comes equipped with 3GB high-speed DDR2 memory. With an energy saving back-lit LED panel, micro-DVI, VGA out, an 8-in-1 card reader, and three USB 2.0 ports, the U2E enables road warriors to excel without compromise.

Multiple Drive Options
The ASUS U2E is available with two hard drive options. The U2E-A1B is equipped with a 32 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) and a 160 GB external hard drive (MSRP $2699). The U2E-A2B comes with a single 120 GB hard drive (MSRP $1,999).

Availability
The ASUS U2E will be available at MicroCenter and the following websites.
• Newegg.com
• Amazon.com
• Costco.com

ASUS Launches the World's Fastest Graphics Solution: The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G

2008-05-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

ASUS®, worldwide leader in component and notebook design and manufacturing, today released the ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G SLI-ready graphics cards. Sporting dual GeForce 9800 GPUs (graphics processing units), the EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G offers true-to-life extreme HD gaming and picture-perfect HD movie playback. Delivering speeds up to 50% faster than the GeForce 8800 Ultra, the new EN9800GX2 is the fastest graphics card available. Designed with the PC enthusiasts in mind, the integrated SmartDoctor feature allows users to overclock the Shader Clock for even better graphical performance. Each ASUS EN9800GX2 will bundle with a full-version DirectX 10 game, Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts.

The World's Fastest Graphics Solution
The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G features a 1GB frame buffer, and performs 30 to 50% faster across all games than leading GeForce 8800 Ultra-based graphic cards. The EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G is designed to take advantage of the new PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture, offering the highest data transfer speeds for the most bandwidth-hungry games and 3D applications. New PCI Express 2.0 bus architecture also maintains backwards compatibility with existing PCI Express motherboards.

High Definition PC Gaming and Multimedia Entertainment
The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G enables smooth game-play at high resolutions (up to 2560*1600) with all available in-game settings set to the highest settings. An integrated HDMI connector also allows users to send both high-definition video and audio signals to HDTVs via a single cable, eliminating the clutter of multiple cables.

Overclock the Shader Clock with New SmartDoctor
ASUS’ world exclusive technology provides users with the ability to tweak the Shader Clock on GPUs with the new SmartDoctor. With this overclocking utility, users will be able to overclock the Shader Clock and Engine Clock independently for astonishing performance boosts without the hassle of rebooting or re-flashing BIOS.

Hottest DX10 Game Bundle: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the latest chapter in this highly-rated strategy game and it delivers an unprecedented level of realism. With superb lighting effects, mission persistence, improved vehicle and soldier AI, enhanced physics and a dynamic weather system, this game sets new standards in visual realism for the RTS genre. With the powerful performance of the ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G, gamers will be able to enjoy this game in all of its graphical splendor.

The ASUS EN9800GX2/G/2DI/1G is currently available through ASUS North American dealers. The introductory MSRP is $599 USD. For more information on the graphics card, go to http://usa.asus.com/.

Apple: Editing Word Files — Without Word

2008-05-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

It’s easy to work with Microsoft Word files on your Mac, even if you don’t have Microsoft Word installed on your computer.

TextEdit, your Mac’s built-in word processing program, can open MS Word files (which are often distinguished by a “.doc” or “.docx” suffix). Simply double-click the document icon. It will automatically open in TextEdit if that’s the only word-processing program on your computer. If you have several, you can specify which program to use by Control-clicking on the file icon (or right-clicking if you have a two-button mouse) and selecting your desired program.

Now you can edit file just like any other document. However, if you want to share your file with MS Word users, be sure to save your work in Word format. Here’s how.

From the File menu, choose Save As… or type Command-Shift-s. Click-hold on the File Format tab and choose one of the Word formats. Press Save.

If you own iWork ’08, you can use similar techniques in Pages, Apple’s advanced word processor. But instead of using the Save As… command, select Export from the File menu. Choose the Word option and press Next.

Finally, navigate to the destination where you’d like to save the document, and press Export.

Browse in Privacy with Safari

2008-05-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Under normal circumstances, Safari retains records of your web browsing activity. It remembers the pages you visit, the data you download, and your web searches. It may also store your personal data in order to automatically complete online forms.

While these features can save time and help you retrace your online steps, there are occasions when you might prefer to leave no footprints — for example, when browsing on a public computer.

The solution is simple: Before you begin browsing, go to the Safari menu and select Private Browsing. When the warning box appears, click OK. Now Safari stores none of the aforementioned info.

What if you decide you need privacy after you’ve been browsing? You have several options: You can remove individual pages from Safari’s page-view history, erase the entire history, or clear all traces of your activity, including any cookies and cache files you may have accumulated.

To review the pages you’ve visited and delete them as desired, go to the History menu and select Show All History. Here you can select pages and clear them with the Delete key. To wipe the entire Safari history, select Clear History from the History menu. For a completely clean slate, go to the Safari menu and select Reset Safari.

Note that the Private Browsing option does not prevent Safari from collecting cookies (the preference files automatically generated by many websites). The Reset Safari option clears all cookies. If you want to delete only certain ones, choose Preferences from the Safari menu, click the Security tab, and then click Show Cookies. You can select and delete individual cookies from the list that appears. Careful, though — if you’re a frequent web user, this list can be very, very long.

Apple: Creating Live Links in Documents

2008-05-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it’s useful to create a hypertext link within your documents. You might, for example, make a link that automatically opens a Safari web page when clicked, or one that generates a pre-addressed email message.

Here’s how to create a link in TextEdit, your Mac’s word processing program: First, select the text you’d like to use as your link. Next, go to the Format menu and select Text, then Link. In the pop-up that appears, type the URL you’d like to link to. (Your linking text needn’t be a URL itself. For example, you could link to the same location either by typing: “Get more info at www.apple.com,” or “Get more Apple info here.” Press OK, and you’ve got your link.

You can generate an email just as easily. In the Link destination field, type “mailto:” followed by the email address, with no spaces, like so: mailto:info@apple.com.

TextEdit boasts a new feature in Leopard: Smart Links, which automatically creates links from email addresses and URLs as soon as you type them. To activate it, select Preferences from the TextEdit menu, make sure the New Document tab is selected, and check the Smart Links box in the lower right corner. Now Leopard will automatically generate a link in TextEdit each time you type a URL or email address. (You may need to restart TextEdit to enable this change.)

Leopard also lets you create live links in Mail. First, highlight your linking text. From the Edit menu, select Link, then Add… and enter the desired web address in the popup.

In Pages, the advanced word processing program included in the iWork ’08 package, there’s an extra layer of sophistication: You can forge links by selecting Hyperlink from the Insert menu, or create them via the Inspector window. You can also create bookmarks that link to other locations within a multi-page document, or generate email with the subject field already filled in.

Middle Range PC

2008-05-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

Asked dozens of times what specs to look for in buying a new computer. It really depends on what you need the PC to do. If you are an avid gamer, you will need a highly-loaded system with lots of memory to take care of video, sound, etc. If you’re planning on using it for business, then you will need a middle range computer with a DVD-RW or CD-RW drive for backup purposes. The list can go on forever because there are so many different things a computer could be used for nowadays.

What most people ask us is what’s the best you can get for a midrange PC - one that would be good and not too pricey. This is what we recommend to most everyone that asks us that question:

Middle Range PC

AMD or Intel running about 2 GHz or more
512 MB Memory
40 or higher GB hard drive
DVD or CD-RW USB slots
Ethernet No Floppy! Instead, use a USB thumb drive

Which Pc is right for you

2008-05-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

The ideal computer does not exist. It all boils down quite simple to balancing costs against the features you get. Obviously, the more you pay the more features you get, but are these features the ones that you need? Hopefully, this page, together with our deciding what you want page, will help you figure out what exactly you need in your computer.

There is no easy way around it. You will have to familiarise yourself with some computer basics. You will need to be acquainted with terms like RAM, hard disk and video cards. Knowledge is what differentiates the novice who walks into Dixons and lets a trainee salesman sell him the highest margin computer, from the savvy buyer who knows exactly what he wants and is therefore in a superior position to shop around and get the best deals.

For the purpose of this page we'll assume that you are not necessarily looking at a new computer. This presumption will let us cover facts relating to both new and second user PCs.

Don't buy a PC older than a 486 (like a 386 or a 286). As you can get 486's from as little as 2000/- it doesn't make sense to go for anything cheaper.

Ensure that your computer has at least 32 MB of RAM if you want to run Windows 95 or Windows 98.

Some cautions to observe:

Check the computer thoroughly. Play an audio CD, dial out using the modem, try the monitor on different resolutions and different colour and refresh rate settings, try reading and writing from the floppy drive, shut down and start up the computer a few times, run a text and a graphics file through the printer, run a full surface scan on the hard disk if time permits, go into the bios and run an autodetect on IDE devices to ensure that the hard disk is the size you think it is, check that all passwords have been erased (use delete on booting up to go into Setup),

Make sure you get all driver disks with the computer. If any of these devices are in your computer you will need drivers for them: Soundcard, CD drive, graphics (every computer has this), modem, SCSI card, other cards, and external devices like printers and scanners. Make sure also that you have not just DOS drivers but drivers for the Windows 95 or Windows 98 that you intend running on that computer.

Ensure that you have a clean hard disk. You want to erase any software or user files that the previous owner had on it.

Get a copy of every piece of software sold you with the computer. Programs installed on the machine will be of no use to you if you have to re-format the hard disk and start from scratch (this does happen with PCs). Make sure you are given the CD or floppy disks with the programs on them, including the operating system (Windows 3.x, 95 or 98).

If you can format the hard disk and re-load the operating system, do it. Or get a friend to do it for you.

Ask to see the original purchase receipts and get a copy if possible. Get the warranty transferred if the computer is still under warranty. (Call the manufacturers and they'll usually be able to confirm if it is still under warranty). Ask them if the warranty can be transferred to your name. Check that the warranty seals on the computer are intact.

Get the original packing if it is available. You may need it later.

For Notebooks/laptops: Ensure you have the charger, test any additional batteries offered with the machine, test the PCMCIA slots.

General cleaning tips

2008-05-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Below is a listing of general tips that should be taken when cleaning any of the components or peripherals of a computer as well as tips to help keep a computer clean.

Never spray or squirt any type of liquid onto any computer component. If a spray is needed spray the liquid onto a cloth and then use that cloth to rub down the component.

Users can use a vacuum to suck up dirt, dust, or hair around their computer on the outside case and on their keyboards. However, do not use a vacuum for the inside of your computer as it generates a lot of static electricity that can damage the internal components of your computer. If you need to use a vacuum to clean the inside of your computer use a portable battery powered vacuum designed to do this job.

When cleaning a component and/or the computer turn it off before cleaning.

Never get any component inside the computer or any other circuit board damp or wet

Be cautions when using any type of cleaning solvents, some individuals may have allergic reactions to chemicals in cleaning solvents and some solvents can even damage the case. Try to always use water or a highly diluted solvent.

When cleaning be careful not to accidentally adjust any knobs or controls. In addition when cleaning the back of the computer if anything is plugged in make sure not to disconnect any of the plugs.

Never eat or drink around the computer

Limit smoking around the computer

Computer Maintenance Tips

2008-05-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Santa may have brought you a new computer or peripheral for Christmas, but he didn't tell you how to take care of it. Now is a good time to get some good computer maintenance habits developed before you get yourself into trouble.

Ten tips to keep your computer running smoothly:

1. Never, never, turn your computer off with the power switch until Windows has shut down.

The one exception to this rule is when your computer locks up and your hard drive is not running (hard drive light is not blinking). In this situation, you can turn the power off without harmful effects to the hard drive. As cutting the power can also result in lost data or Windows files, you should only do this when you have to.

Following this rule will prevent permanent hard drive defects caused by the hard drive heads contacting the surface of the drive disc, and it will prevent a host of Windows problems.
Whenever possible, recover from crashes by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys at the same time. Press them again to reboot your computer.

2. I highly recommend that you purchase an UPS (uninteruptable power supply) for your computer. This will keep your computer from crashing during power outages, and will protect your computer from low and high voltage occurrences.
An UPS is far superior to a surge protector and will save your computer from almost any power type of disaster. (See #1 above for what happens when your computer crashes.)

3. Backup, backup, backup, any data you cannot afford to lose to at least two separate physical drives. So backup data to floppies, Zip disks, CD-RWs etc.
The time to backup is when you create something you can't afford to lose. Don't wait until tomorrow.

4. Run Scandisk and Defragment at least once a month. This will keep your hard drive healthy and prevent crashes. Alternatively, purchase Norton Utilities and use it to keep your hard drive healthy.

5. Never unplug peripherals from the computer when it is powered up. Unplugging with the power on can short out the connector socket or the motherboard.

The only exception to this rule is if you know a peripheral is "hot pluggable". If you do not know what "hot pluggable" means then ignore this exception.

6. Do keep at least 100 MBs of your C: drive free for Windows to use. If you use Windows Me or Windows XP then you should have 200 MBs of free space on your C: drive.
If you do not have enough free space you will choke Windows and it will start dumping data to your hard drive, or it will just get really, really, slow.
Use the ADD/Delete tool in the Windows Control Panel to delete unneeded programs from your drive.
You can also use Cleansweep included in Norton Utilities to clean up your drive. If you do use Cleansweep or another hard drive cleaner, do not delete shared files unless you back them up. The cleaners do a rotten job of knowing if another program uses shared files.

7. Do not let a lot of programs load up when you start your computer. They use valuable memory and Windows Resources (Windows internal workspace).
All programs in your Windows System Tray (in the lower left of your screen) are running on your computer. Close them if you don't need them or run them and configure them not to load when you boot up.
Other programs running in the background can be found by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time.

8. Do use a virus checker regularly. Everyone should use a virus checker. The best type of protection is continuous monitoring from a dedicated anti-virus program like Norton Antivirus.
The second best thing is to use is the free online virus checker Housecall provided by Trend Micro.

9. If you have a high speed Internet connection you need a firewall program. A firewall program keeps those who want to hijack your computer from gaining access to your system. You really do not want someone else running your computer.
I suggest you purchase and run Norton's Personal Firewall program. Your firewall should boot up with your computer to protect it from invasion. A free personal firewall program is available from Tiny Software.

Case in point: When I run Windows Me for 10 hours or more with my DSL connection, my computer is usually attacked by a hacker at least once.
Do not think you are safe from hackers!! Hackers use search programs to seek out computers at random. Get a firewall program and use it.

10. Keep track of the software disks you receive with your computer and new peripherals. These disks contain valuable software drivers and programs for Windows and are needed when Windows must be reloaded. Keep these disks and your Windows software disks in a safe, dry, place -- you never know when you will need them.

Hopefully these computer maintenance tips will keep you out of trouble.

Backup4all can save your data

2008-05-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

You can’t be too careful when it comes to protecting your data. If you don’t already have a favorite backup program, consider Backup4All Professional, Getting started is easy: Using a wizard, you give the backup a name, choose which files to back up (you can select individual files or entire folders), tell it where the files should be stored, and run. That’s the simple view. Backup4All can handle more complicated backup requirements.

For example, Backup4All is flexible in the destinations you can pick from: a locally-connected drive (your hard drive, CD/DVD drive, or a USB drive, for example), a LAN drive, or via FTP to a remote location. If you choose a CD/DVD destination, you can choose to erase the disk before beginning the backup, and use a built-in driver (you pick the write speed) or the UDF file system.

You also select the type of backup: full, incremental (just what’s changed since any backup, including the last incremental backup), differential (what’s changed since the last full backup), or "mirror,” which is the same as a full backup but without the compression into ZIP files and without password protection of a regular backup. (A mirror is a good choice when you need an exact copy of the source -- as when you duplicate all files on a disk to a second disk.) Note: A good discussion of the difference between incremental and differential backups can be found on the company’s Web site: http://backup4all.com/incremental-backup.php.

A backup catalog keeps a copy of your configuration options (filters, destination, etc.) as well as a list of the files and folders that have been added to the backup. You can choose the ZIP settings (compression level, for example) and you can specify the maximum size for a ZIP file (to enable splitting the backup into multiple files).

The wizard also asks if you want to back up all files or select (filter) the files you want to back up, so you can choose to only back up only .DOC/.DOCX files, for example. You can also specify an "exclude” filter (to back up everything except .PPT files, for instance). You can filter using wildcards or by file attributes (read-only, archived, etc.). The program offers some sophisticated logic to your file selection; for instance, you can choose to backup only files where the date modified is between two dates (you specify the date range).

You can tell Backup4All whether the program should compare the backup copies to the original, have the program delete all source files or delete empty directories after the backup is complete. You can define what program(s) you want to run either before or after the backup, what sounds to make in the event of success, errors, or warnings, and what e-mail to send a report to (you can attach the backup log if you wish).

Last but not least, you can schedule the job to run on a regular basis, using Windows’ scheduler or its own built-in schedule system.

Once the backup goes to work, Backup4All displays a progress indicator. Because you can set the priority of the backup itself, the program shouldn’t interfere with your current work -- and Backup4All can even back up open files so there’s no need to shut everything down and take a break while the backup runs.

When you find you need to recover a file, the Restore option lets you place the archived file to the original or to a new location and choose which files are recovered. It’s simple and efficient. The help system clearly spells out what each option does; I referred to it frequently to understand the more complex options. My first few backups were executed using the default options -- backing up all files in the selected directories, for example. As with most software, the more I worked with the program, the more I understood what options I wanted to use and which I could safely ignore.

There are other bells and whistles; for example, backup definitions can be grouped, so you can have a set of "daily” backups stored in one group and weekly or monthly backups stored in another group. Using an Outlook-like interface, you can click on a group name and see the different backups for that group.

We did have problems on one machine using rewriteable DVD media. When we tried to put two backups on the same disk, the first backup worked fine but the second caused the system to hang. Backing up to hard drives gave us no such problems.

You can’t be too careful about your data, and Backup4All does a good job using a well-designed interface, with plenty of bells and whistles for more experienced users. A "standard” version ($40, $29.95 for a limited time) may be all you need if you don’t want e-mail notification or AES 128, 192, and 256-bit encryption. A full comparison chart is available at http://backup4all.com/feature-matrix.php.

Quick Take: Analogue Vista Clock

2008-05-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

Despite its name, Analogue Vista Clock isn’t for Vista users. It’s a neat little alarm clock utility for Windows XP and Windows 2000 only (a Vista is in the works) that sits on your desktop. It’s oblivious to mouse clicks and keyboard input, so it doesn’t get in the way of any of your work, misinterpreting mouse clicks of buttons “underneath” it.

I placed the clock in the upper-right corner of my desktop (you can set the precise pixel position), set the transparency level to a “light” setting so I could see through the clock to buttons and menus underneath it, and I was all set.

Yes, I know, you can get the system time by looking at the display in the system tray, and I’ve tried many programs that place the clock in the title bar of the open window. Neither is satisfactory. The system tray’s clock doesn’t have an alarm, and the title bar clocks sometimes interfere with the display -- causing windows to blink or flash annoyingly.

A system tray icon calls up the settings window, where, in addition to setting the transparency, you can change the size, change the face (you can choose from two skins or download more after you register), add or remove a second hand, and optionally set an on-the-hour chime.

Granted, you can only set one alarm, though you can choose which days of the week the alarm sounds and pick from one of five sounds (or choose a random sound file from the folder you select). The alarm can even be set to wake up your system.

Analogue Vista Clock sells for $14.95. A trial version is available for free download at http://www.4neurons.com/Clock/

Toshiba Satellite A305 Review

2008-05-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Toshiba Satellite A305 is a redesign of the older Toshiba A205, vastly improving the look and feel of the notebook, as well as adding the incredibly durable Fusion finish. While some of the lower body looks similar to the older notebook, everything from the waistline up has changed to a sleeker, softer, and glossier feel. Read on to see how well this notebook stacks up against its older brother, and find out if this notebook is worthy of a spot on your lap.

Our review unit of the Toshiba Satellite A305 features the following specs:

Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit)
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.10GHz, 3MB L2, 800MHz FSB)
15.4" diagonal widescreen TruBrite TFT LCD display at 1280x800 (WXGA)
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 with 512MB video memory
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)
3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (maximum capacity 4GB)
200GB Serial ATA hard disk drive (5400RPM) Primary
200GB Serial ATA hard disk drive (4200RPM) Secondary
DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) drive with Labelflash
1.3 megapixel webcam
Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers
Fingerprint reader
Dimensions (WxDxH Front/H Rear): 14.25" x 10.5" x 1.4" /2.25"
Weight: 6 lbs 13.5oz with nine-cell battery
120W (19V x 6.32A) 100-240V AC Adapter (6.0" x 2.55" x 1.45" and weighs 1.56 lb)
9-cell (6000mAh) Lithium Ion battery
1-Year Standard Limited Warranty
Price as configured: $1,249.99

Build and Design

The first thing you will notice is every part of this notebook is glossy, from the screen cover to the palm rest, and even the keyboard keys. Toshiba is really showing off their new durable Fusion finish on every part of the notebook that they can, and in some ways it is a very good thing. Durability is a big thing with notebook finishes, as many glossy finishes will dull and scratch over time. The new Toshiba Fusion finish on this notebook is incredibly durable, and has yet to actually scratch throughout my testing. With multiple trips in my backpack, I can't find any visible scuffs on the cover, where other notebooks would show fine scratches almost out of the wrapper.

So what does this Fusion finish mean to you? Your keys will not go from matte to glossy over time as they wear down (they are already glossy). Every part of the notebook will get full of smudges and fingerprints, but you can always wipe it down in a couple of minutes to make it look brand new. On other notebooks you get all the smudges, but it would take some hard work with some plastic polish before you ever got it looking new again.

Build quality is excellent in most areas, giving the notebook a very solid feel. Squeaks and creaks are not present, and panel flex is at a minimum. The only areas that stand out as needing some improvement are the wobbly battery, and rough edges around the screen frame where the two plastic pieces meet.