Monster Technology

With its mass appeal, cellphone accessories have spawned a sizeable and growing number of mobile phone users. The text generation as they call themselves is a subculture of cellphone toting people who always get updated with the latest fads and crazes with the latest cellphone models. There are many accessories to choose from. Cellular phone cases, blings, wallpapers and even logos can make your mobile phone more attractive and lucrative. You can actually add decorative charms, cool screensavers, interactive games and latest songs set as your caller tones, which are commonly known as ringback tones.

There is an array of systems and methodology where you can personally choose or download your favorite ringtones or your preferred ones. You can also set a specific tone for the day; you can also purchase the most popular song of the day by just asking the service provider or browsing the web. There are some cellphone models that contain a stored program that allows the user to get into the menu directly. The user can choose what types of songs are available and the prices of these items. There is also a program that allows the user to directly download the chosen ringtones.

There are two types of ringtones that users can choose from. We have the polyphonic type of ringtones and real time music.

Polyphonic

These are the incorporated digital encoded tracks in cell phones which are recreations of songs. Unlike real time ringtones, polyphonic tones are just the derivatives, best suited for old models of cellular phones which do not have the ability to play real time music or mp3 formatted audio.

Real Time

These are the quality ringtones which are the actual recordings of music or compacted songs in mp3 format. This type of ringtone can be heard over the radio and on CD players. Lyrics with live musical presentation and live performances are also considered as real time type of ringtones.

You want to make your own Ringtones?

Well, this is not impossible for cellular phone users. All you have to do is just look for computer based software or device compatible with your mobile phone model. This will allow you to make your own personalized ringtones. Additionally, it depends on your choice of music or song preferences. You can also cut the music you selected, whether the introduction, the chorus or the ending. These are things that are now possible. Now, you can be into the latest fad for cellular phone users.

Download ringtones here

Ding, ding… Round One: With the Blackberry 8820 coming soon to a store near you, all over the country Business people are facing the eternal business question… Should I switch to the trendy new iPhone or take the plunge and upgrade to the sexy new “Crackberry”Well if these two juggernauts are really going to go at it in the business arena, then best place to start is definitely Business Email. Right, BlackBerry is set up with Microsoft Exchange Server and sports the new fangled intelligent push email – the iPhone does not. Take that! So what does this mean to you? Well when email is sent to a BlackBerry, then your new phone message is downloaded instantly – then and an LED on the phone flashes to notify you that you have a new message. It’s all instantaneous and you don’t have to do a thing.

Meanwhile, the iPhone, on the other hand, recognizes new messages at very best only every 15 minutes (what!!!) and you also have to check to see if anything has arrived. Obviously the Blackberry wins here especially as the act of having to actively check for email means wasted battery usage as you have to open the iPhone’s email program every single time you wish to check to see if you have a new email…Kapow! Round one to Blackberry.

Round Two: Goes to the Blackberry as well… why because the the iPhone fails to synchronize as well. If a BlackBerry user chooses to change something such as a calendar event on your desktop computer in Exchange, well then the change will instantly appear on the BlackBerry phone. Obviously this just makes it a breeze to keep track of basic business information. So no more worries about outdated data or manually updating one’s handheld anymore – not thatnks to the Blackberry Syncing. Round Three: It’a knowck out…. Here’s a list of reasons to prefer the BlackBerry over the iPhone:

The iPhone doesn’t have the good old cut and paste capabilities, something we find unbelievable.

The BlackBerry’s phone quality is simply much, much… better than the iPhone’s

The BlackBerry possesses a contacts application that simply makes contacting people by any given method (eg: such as SMS, Email or to Call) heaps more convenient

The BlackBerry has GPS which definitely makes Google Maps a hell of a lot more useful.

Despite Apple’s long standing reputation for friendly user interface, the new BlackBerry possesses fantastic keyboard shortcuts that make navigation around and between applications truly a breeze

The Blackberry battery simply last longer. You see, the battery runs out much faster on the iPhone. This definitely makes it less reliable.

We almost forgot the price differential. The iPhone is a much more expensive device. At the end of the day it will simply cost you a lot more money…. And in these times that the final blow

 

I have got a Blackberry Storm as my birthday present and I was deeply in love with the gorgeous screen. I can’t wait to fill the 8gb card with videos to show off to all my friends. Before that I have tried watching a movie on my blackberry that I had already ripped with iPhone/iPod touch settings, The video works but the file size is unnecessarily large and the audio didn’t match up with the video well when playing on the Blackberry. I collect information here and there and at last get the problem solves. So below is the details shared here.

Output video format: mp4
Output audio format: mp3

Video:
Video Size/resolution: 480×320
Video Bitrate: 1200kbps

Audio:
Audio Bitrate: 64kbps
Channels: 2 channels

Now if you have no idea what to do with that, then here are some simple instructions for you.

First you need a third-part software. I use Nidesoft program, probably the best Blackberry converter available. I download from its official website: Nidesoft.
Note: the program you downloaded on nidesoft is free trial version, you are limited to creating video files that are a maximum of 2 minutes long.
In order to convert videos longer than that, you will need to purchase the software with 25 dollars, or download the full version somewhere on google.com

Then if you convert videos from DVD, you should use Nidesoft DVD to Blackberry Converter and follow the step-by-step ways.
Step 1: Launch the program; Insert the DVD disc into the DVD Drive. Click the “Open DVD” button, browse your computer, find the DVD folder of the movie, open it, select some titles and chapters you want or you may select the whole video to convert.

Step 2: make settings: click “profile” drop-down list to select “BlackBerry MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4)” format, click “Settings” to set video size and bitrate. If you want to combine two or several titles into one, you may select titles and click blank box before “Merge into one file” to merge them together.

Step 3: click “convert” button to convert videos. Then it will be completed in few minutes.

However, if you convert from other videos, you should use Nidesoft Blackberry video converter with the following ways.
Step 1: Launch the program and Click “Add” button to load source video files to be converted:

Step 2: make settings: click “format” drop list to select “Blackberry MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4)” as output video format. Set your video size and quality under the preview window.

Step 3:  Click “Convert” button to start to convert video format.
After the file is converted, just transfer the file to the videos folder on your BlackBerry through the Desktop Manager and enjoy your newly created video. By the way, the file converted can not only used on Blackberry Storm, but also other Blackberry phones such as Blackberry Pearl, Bold, curve.

Ok, until now you have got the whole idea of how to do with it. But you may encounter some other problems when doing it. Below are my problems and solutions I have collected after long time practice, list here to share with you.

I think there’s a virus in this Program!!??
There’s no virus in Nidesoft. One person reported being infected by Backdoor.Graybird, but if you got it from the site I linked to in my post it did not come with the download. If you downloaded it from somewhere else on the web then I am not sure. Probably malware/spamers have uploaded it to phishing sites to snag people. Always make sure you download things from their original website, or from a trusted location like download.com, and always run antivirus and scan stuff you are installing.

The higher the resolution, the better the video quality?
Not necessarily at all. If you’re converting a video that is 640×480 and convert it to the same 640×480 resolution then all you’re leaving is more work for your phone. I understand the login behind it, the pixels get compressed and shop up more clear and sharper. But if you compress these pixels in the conversion process wouldn’t the same thing happen? So why not just convert straight to a 480×320 and save your Storm the trouble?

The higher the bitrate, the better the quality?
Yes, that is true. However, the higher the bitrate, the larger your video files. So it is not necessary to raise your bitrate very high when you feel your video quality is fine. I have spent hours working different settings and the best results have hovered around 1200 kbps.

Where do I find the files?                                                                                            You may change the output directory by press “browse” button, or the destination will be set automatically at C:\temp, you may press “open” to find the files.

Can I get ringtones into my Blackberry with the above idea?
Yes, you can. You may get ringtones in that way both from DVD and video. But you need to make a little different settings. As Blackberry audio support .mp3 format, you need to select “Blackberry MP3 Music (*.mp3)” as the output file format. Then drag the converted file into ringtones folder in your memory card.

I’m trying to convert a movie purchased from itunes but the Nidesoft software gives me an error. When I view the details of the error it tells me not enough space on my drive. I have plenty of space. Now when I tried it with a movie (same extension .m4v) that was ripped in the past, it works. Any suggestions??
Meet DRM.
Itunes store video files are encoded with fairplay digital rights management that means they will only play on Itunes, Ipod, or AppleTV. I have found another thread to solve this problem, go to: http://forums.crackberry.com/f135/howto-put-drm-protected-files-your-storm-pics-118585/

Why are there black bars on my video?
Even though it looks “widescreen” the storm is native 4:3 not 16:9. So unless you want to stretch everybody and make them tall and skinny you will still have the black bars.

Is there a way to make it fullscreen without the black bars?
Yes, you can crop the file when you do the transcode, but I haven’t done it with Nidesoft Blackberry video converter yet. I’ll post it when I figure it out.

Ok, that is my details and I would keep updating my thread when got more solutions.

 

 

Sleek, elegant in appearance and made with the highest quality materials the new BlackBerry 9000 provides the latest in functional use for the business world and at the same time offering features for the geeks in us all.

The new BlackBerry 9000 supports the latest in communication technologies such as HSDPA high-speed networks. It of course supports WI-Fi as would be expected and boasts built in GPS capabilities and several multimedia features. The BlackBerry 9000 bespeaks professionalism and style with its satin chrome finished frame, sleek black casing and leather-look backplate. A newly designed full keyboard makes the new BlackBerry Bold smartphone easier than ever to use.

The BlackBerry 9000 in particular is better than ever before. The HSDPA support and 802.11 a/b/g Wi-fi capabilities mean one thing for streaming video, loading web pages and downloading email attachments: speed. With a processor of 624MHz, two times that of the cousin curve, it outperforms any other handheld device on the market. It also features 128MB flash memory and 1GB onboard memory. A microSD/SDHC slot allows the user to add even more memory if desired. All of the applications you’ve come to expect from BlackBerry are present too – phone, email, web browser, organizer and messaging capabilities.

Some are calling the BlackBerry 9000s display panel the best ever seen on a mobile device: 480×320 half VGA resolution! This is a color LCD which is actually fused to the lens, meaning unparalleled image quality. Pictures are sharp and lifelike, videos play just as smoothly as on your PC and documents, messages and webpages are sharp and readable.

This incredible display quality combined with the latest generation of browser, the BlackBerry 9000 is made for the web. The trackball fills the functionality of a mouse, allows zooming on portions of web pages and the BlackBerry 9000 also allows users to decide whether they see the full website content or mobile version of a page, if available. The updated browser now supports downloading attachments and streaming video using RTSP standards.

Not only for the business professional, the BlackBerry 9000 can perform numerous entertainment duties as well. The 2 megapixel built in camera has the ability to record video and features 5x zoom and flash. The new media player on this model easily displays photos and slideshows, plays movies in full screen mode and can handle a music collection to boot! The headsets speakers provide a surprisingly rich, full sound and the BlackBerry 9000 even has equalization software for when it is plugged into external speakers or headphones. With 11 presets for different styles of music you get just the right sound.

The Roxio media manager, included in the BlackBerry Desktop Manager suite makes managing the users music and video files child’s play. Also included is Roxio Photosuite 9 LE, allowing the user to create photo albums, even enhance photos instantly. You can sync your iTunes collection with the new BlackBerry Media Sync application.0 support means you can transfer files form your PC to your BlackBerry Bold smartphone in a flash.

Another great feature is the integrated GPS, which can be used even while making a call. The BlackBerry Bold can tell you exactly where you are and with the BlackBerry Maps application, can tell you how to get where you’re going too.

State of the art acoustic design has gone into the BlackBerry 9000, giving the receiver a larger audio “sweet spot”; this means greater clarity for your calls. Voice Activated Dialing is also included, as is Bluetoth 2.0 support which makes for truly hands off operation.

A host of convenient extras are includes, such as a travel charger, carrying case, stereo headset and USB interface cable. Backplates are available in a variety of colors, allowing BlackBerry Bold smartphone users to personalize their phones. With a rechargeable 1500 mAhr battery you get 5 hours of talk time and 13 days of standby.

Desktop computers are high on features, which give benefit for the personal as well as for the business purpose. Motherboard is the main part or component of the desktop computer, which is connected to the other computer accessories. The desktop computer accessories are the keyboard, display screen, speaker, mouse, printer, DVD-ROM etc. Desktop computers are more durable, which increases their utility and capacity to perform variable duties. The Desktop computers are mainly divided into three categories. These categories are Desktop Computers, Gaming PC’s and Workstations. The normal Desktop computers are usually used at home or in the corporate field. Workstations are connected to the local area network(LAN) and tend to integrate multiple computers. The gaming computer is the electronic gaming device, which is meant to play computer games. There are lots of latest desktop computers available in the market, which attract consumers attention. Some latest desktop computers are Dell XPS 400, Gateway DX310 Series, Apple iMac, HP Pavilion Series, Compaq Presario Series, Sony Vaio RB60, emachines D5039, Alienware Area 51 Series, Fujitsu Esprimo C, Lenovo 3000 J series and many more. Among all these desktop computers one of the best computers is the Apple desktop computer. The Apple desktop computers are speedily gaining steam in the market. The Apple desktop computers are first in the desktop computer race with a good reason. This device comes with an excellent music and video capabilities. The latest Apple desktop computer is the Apple iMac with Mac OS X. This system is loaded with amazing features. Users can easily reboot the system even when the computer is locked. This computer device is the fist choice of consumers at affordable price. The Apple Desktop Computers also comes out with Macworld to its collection. The iMac G5 is the outstanding and ultimate Apple’s computer. This computer is compatible with flat-panel screen, fast processor speed, wireless networking, DVD writer and 160 GB of hard drive space. It is also integrated with editing option, which includes photo manager, editing option, video editing capabilities and DVDs using editor. The Apple desktop computers are the advanced computers, which include Xserve, Xsan, and Mac OS X Server.

As we head into a brand new year, let’s take a look at two touchscreen mobile phones that have come into this year with us, and ask the question: which is best, the Blackberry Storm or the HTC Touch HD?

Blackberry Storm – the first ever touch-based Blackberry

Everyone knew it would happen eventually, after the iPhone was released, but this was the email giant’s response: the totally new, and totally innovative Blackberry Storm, RIM’s first ever touchscreen mobile phone. Oh, and I do mean innovative, because the Blackberry Storm has a whole new type of touchscreen, one that no other mobile phones have. You see, the Blackberry Storm has the world’s first ever ‘clickable’ touchscreen, and if you’re wondering what that means, well, basically it means that when you press the screen on the Blackberry Storm, it moves. It only moves a bit into the phone, but it does physically move, meaning that the whole screen on the Blackberry Storm acts as one giant button. So, when going through menus, you can tap the screen all you want, but it only selects something when you press the screen. So, that means no more accidentally starting programs you didn’t mean to, and when you’re typing on the onscreen keypad, the Blackberry Storm makes it feel like your typing on a real keypad! That’s rather useful, especially as the Blackberry Storm, needless to say, comes with the famous Blackberry email service. That’s not all you get, though, as it comes with a 3 megapixel camera, HSDPA and GPS, along with Blackberry Maps, music player and tons of multimedia options. In other words, the Blackberry Storm is the very definition of the word smartphone.

HTC Touch HD – Windows Mobile gets a sexy new vessel

The HTC Touch HD was a mobile phone that surprised us all, since it virtually came out of nowhere. We’d seen the Diamond and the Touch Pro, so I don’t think anyone was expecting was about to get leaked next. But when it was, blimey did it grab us by the throat and not let go! There was one big (emphasis on the big) factor that caught everyone’s attention more than anything else: the HTC Touch HD comes with a massive 3.8 inch screen. not only is that bigger than the screens on any other phone, it’s bigger than most mobile phones! Combine that huge size with a resolution of 800×480 pixels, and the brilliant TouchFLO 3D interface, and you get the HTC Touch HD, a phone that’s going to give you the most satisfying touch-based phone experience you’ve ever come across. Put it this way, the HTC Touch HD is the first keyboard-less mobile phone that I can honestly say doesn’t need a keyboard. The massive screen makes touch commands so much easier than previous touchscreen mobile phones (and yes, that includes the iPhone). Features-wise, you get a 5 megapixel camera (alas, lacking a flash), HSDPA for super fast internet (and super-smooth, since you get Opera Mobile), WiFi, and GPS. In other words, the HTC Touch HD is simply stunning.

Blackberry Storm vs HTC Touch HD – Which should you buy?

So, if it comes down to a choice, which should you buy? Which is better, the innovative clicky screen of the Blackberry Storm, or the frighteningly HUGE screen of the HTC Touch HD? Well, on paper, the Blackberry Storm, but in the real world, there are a few issues. the biggest, and most worrying is that its innovation and biggest selling point is also its biggest flaw. You have to press the screen to select things, but the problem is that the screen takes that much force to press that when typing anything, it’s going to kill your thumbs very quickly, and start hurting. That’s a big black mark against the Blackberry Storm, that, having an email device that hurts you when you type and email. On top of that, the new operating system on the Blackberry Storm is rumoured to be a bit buggy, again letting it down. No such problems with the HTC Touch HD, however, because it has the already-proven TouchFLO interface, which is simply one of the best no the market. Not only that, but it hammers the Blackberry Storm in every way, from camera to web browser, from the onscreen keyboard to music, everything (well, in truth, the HTC Touch HD hammers just about all other mobile phones you can name). That’s why, if I had choose, I’d go for the HTC Touch HD any day. However, you should note, neither of them are as good as the Sony Ericsson X1…

Let’s see if you are familiar with these scenarios. Scenario 1: You start your computer then wait and wait and wait for so many minutes until you see the welcoming image of the Microsoft Windows logo.

How about scenario 2? You click to open a computer program, let’s say Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop. You then experience the same situation as scenario one. You wait for like an eternity before the program fully loads and opens. I bet you can stand up, walk towards your kitchen, grab the garbage bag, go out of your house, throw the garbage bag into the garbage gan, walk back in, wash your hands at the sink then sit back in front of your computer and your computer program is still not yet finished opening.

It is these types of situations when you would normally yearn for the best slow computer fix. But rest assured that you are not alone. There are thousands or even millions of computer users all around the globe who are experiencing the same thing. They are also clamoring to get the best slow computer fix, and at often times, for free. It’s a great thing that there are a few things that you can try by yourself to help you fix this computer problem.

First things first. When was the last time that you defragged your computer? If you answer more than six months, then defragging your computer would be the first logical thing to do. For most people, just defragging their computer would serve as the best slow computer fix for them. This is especially true if you are a heavy computer user, that is, you use your computer day in and day out, almost 24 hours a week. If you don’t defrag, your files willl not be properly saved or categorized and it will take your computer a longer time just to find the right files to open.

Another thing that you should do is to run a disk error check. It is actually one of the best slow computer fix because it can find errors and bad sectors in your hard disk that might be the cause of your computer’s slowing down.

Also, you might want to use an anti virus software. Viruses are very common and always pose grave threats to our computers. They are also easily spread especially if you are constantly connected to the Internet. This is another possible type of best slow computer fix because some viruses are known to slow down the performance of computers as well as completely crashing them.

Lastly, there are various computer software that you can download from the Internet that will help you diagnose your computer, find its problems then fix it. Should a certain software cannot fix the problem, it can provide a suggestion on what is the best course to take to fix your computer. You can simply make a search for the ‘best slow computer fix’ or of the specific computer problem you are experiencing and you are sure to find the right tools that you will need.

Buying a new computer can sometimes be quite time consuming, especially if you are trekking round computer stores looking for the best computers for sale. To make sure that you are getting the best deal when you are looking at computer for sale you need to compare prices. One of the best ways of doing this is to check out the different computers for sale online, as many of the biggest computer brands can be found at great prices.
Before you begin your search on the best computers for sale you will need to decide what you want your computer for. If you plan on using it for work or for school, you will want to get a computer that has the latest word processing applications and spreadsheet programs. The people who are into downloading music and films, you will be looking at the computers for sale that have a large hard drive storage, that way you will be able to store more music and films. Fans of online gaming will be looking for a computer that has a high end graphics card, a powerful CPU and plenty of memory, to ensure that they will get the best computer gaming experience. Today, the majority of computers are Internet ready, which means that as long as you have an Internet connection at home you will be able to plug straight in and surf the net.
To begin your search for the best computers for sale online you will want to check out online computer stores. That way you will get a good idea as to the sort of price that you will expect to pay for your new computer. As many of the computers for sale online are usually subject to quite large discounts, you will probably be able to buy an excellent quality computer for a lot less money than you would expect to pay in store. Due to this, people who look for computers the sale online generally get a really good deal on a new computer. You might even want to buy some extra software for your computer, and this too can be found at an online computer store, and usually at much cheaper price than you would expect to find in the majority of computer stores.
As looking for computers for sale online is so popular right now the delivery times your new computer should be reasonably fast, many of the stores will even offer delivery to your home address in just a few days – faster even than some of the computer stores in your hometown can offer you. So if you are looking for the best computers to sale, which are cheaper and can even come with some extras you should look online. You will probably be surprised at the sheer number of computers for sale that are advertised in the different online computer stores. Before you make any choice, do check out the massive variety and make sure that you buy a computer that meets your needs and also meets your price plan.

Our growing need for cellphones negates the notion that they are nothing but a form of luxury. Cellular phones have become a necessity for most people and have become an essential gadget to help people in their daily living. This includes parents who would like to monitor their kids’ whereabouts on a regular basis as well as business entrepreneurs who need to be in touch with their clients, suppliers and staff.

In the early days of cellphones, these gadgets were seen as merely status symbols indicating that one has enough money to indulge in this luxury. Currently, this notion is already eliminated because of the people’s growing need for communication when away from each other or during emergencies. Therefore, cellphone companies have released different models and designs to suit their consumer’s needs, literally flooded the market.

The growing need for cellphones make this industry a great source of income for many manufacturers and companies. The fact that everyone worldwide is in constant need for a mobile phone has been taken advantage by many entrepreneurs. Added to this is the fact that people would usually go for a phone that has better features. This naturally drives up the price for newer models while pushing the older models to the bottom ring of the price ladder.

If you are a wise consumer or would like to try your hand as an entrepreneur, you might want to take advantage of wholesale cellphones. Cellphones in wholesale are usually cheaper than when you purchase single ones. There are even vendors who sell high-end phones in volume in an effort to get stocks moving fast.

Another way to save on costs is to take advantage of cellphone sale where you can actually find cheap cellphones as an alternative. The good thing about this sale is that these phones are still brand new and oftentimes still carry a warranty. However, they usually are not the latest in the market.

However, it would be best for small business entrepreneur to scout wholesale cellphones if they want to succeed in this growing market. It should be easy finding one since the world is teeming with markets and big scale businesses that may provide exactly what you need.

The correct term should be what is the best laptop for the needs of the user, as there is a whole multitude of laptop makes – models with different specifications there really is no best laptop. To find the laptop that’s right for you we first need to ascertain the basics that just about every laptop should have – Wired and wireless networking capabilities – at least 2gb of ram and the hard drive should be a minimum of 80gb as just about every later version of operating systems, applications and games are larger than previous versions requiring more disk space, and today a 40gb hard drive is simply not large enough.

What else needs to be considered? Size / Portability – Processor or CPU – Operating system – Graphics – USB Ports – CD/DVD drive – Screen Size – Aesthetics – Laptop Role – Saving Money.

Size / Portability – the most common laptop screen sizes are between 13-15 inches, due to this it generally means the lowest prices, which is great if you are out to save some money, but if you travel around a lot then a heavy laptop could work out to be more in Osteopath fees than the total cost of the laptop, so if you travel a lot a small laptop is a real blessing, after all even if the laptop itself is not too heavy, by the time we add the mains adapter, a padded case, plus anything else you need to carry, it can start to get pretty heavy specially if carried around for a while. The same cannot really be said for 17” laptops, if your looking for something with a larger screen that is fine, but if you need to travel at all why not invest in a small laptop and put the extra money towards getting a 19” external screen which is bigger and can also be used in conjunction with the laptop screen, in effect giving two screens.

Processor or CPU – Processors have changed a lot over the past few years and now it seems many companies appear to be bolting on more and more processor cores. So at present a laptop needs to have a dual core processor or above. Dual core is the present standard with Intel’s Core 2 Duo and AMD’s Turion 64 x2, both are very good processors, but my personal opinion is AMD has the edge due to its cheaper price. If you don’t mind waiting and have the money, checkout some of the Quad core laptops coming onto the market.

The Operating system – If you want a laptop with Windows XP and you have found you can only purchase with Windows Vista (which is more common now) do not just presume that you can simply wipe away Vista and replace with XP, a lot of new pc hardware may not have XP drivers developed for it, this can create real headaches when trying to change over to XP.

Graphics Cards – it is generally not possible to replace or upgrade the video capabilities on a laptop computer, usually whatever video card is installed thats what your laptops stuck with, If you are into gaming or need other high end graphic performance the laptop will need a graphics card with dedicated memory, otherwise graphic performance of your application will suffer if it involves in depth graphics or high end gaming.

USB ports – You can never have enough, the average amount of USB ports on a laptop is 4 this may sound like plenty, but once you plug in peripherals such as a keyboard –printer– mouse – pen drive it wont seem so many, of course you could always purchase an external hub, as they are very cheap, but best option is to buy a laptop with more ports in the first place. Another point worth checking; Every laptop should have USB type 2 ports, but its worth checking this to confirm as USB 1 is around 10 times slower.

DVD & CD drive – A lot of the information given in regards to CD/DVD drives can be a little confusing terms such as Single and Dual layer – CD/RW DVD/Rom. Just about all new laptops now should have a Dual layer DVD writer drive this will do just about everything such as reading and writing to CD’s and DVD’s and reading and playing them too.

Screen size – this really covers the portability of the laptop again, the bigger the screen the heavier its going to be, there are also some nice screen technologies around such as tru brite which give the screen a glossy brighter look.

Aesthetics – what would you prefer a slow laptop that looks superb or a faster machine that looks like a brick? When looking for a laptop there is a wide choice available so you should not have to compromise on either, but as a general rule if you have to, compromise on the looks a little but not on the spec.

Laptop role – what will the laptop be used for, general Internet browsing – word documents, pretty much any laptop could do this standing on its head, so the world of laptops is your Oyster. Business applications – large spreadsheets etc, then mid power will be fine, do not need to worry too much about the graphic abilities and a shared memory type should be fine. Gaming or high end graphics require the most powerful processors and graphics cards, be prepared to dig deep if you want to play the latest games with all the extra effects switched on.

Saving Money – If you want a good laptop for a cheaper price you have a number of choices, the first of these is a second user computer, you can save a lot of money this way, but you need to know what your looking at or you could purchase a problem machine or one that is not all what it seems, plus unless it still has warranty left you simply take the risk.
Refurbished computers can offer good value for money, plus you get a warranty too.
Bargain basements – many large computer stores frequently have special offers which can be great value, check on websites for models that have been replaced by a newer model there are some good bargains to be had this way, but be quick as they sell very quickly. checkout more of our other articles at www.computer-adviser.com