Michael asks…
Where do I get good cheap video and sound cards?
I bought a computer but it doesnt have a sound or video card so I cant play my favourite games or listen to music or anything!!
I need a 3d graphix card and just a sound card to listen to my itunes!! wheres the best place to get the cheapest ones and how much will they be??
also are they easy to install??
Nagesh answers:
That sounds very odd. How old is this computer you bought? Almost all current machine have video & sound built into the motherboard- it’s not the highest quality, but it should work for basic tasks like that. Did you just buy a barebones box?
NewEgg.com has the best online prices, but you need to know what you’re buying. A sound card you can probably find at any computer store (like the ones in mini malls) for $15-20.
CompUSA has good selection for a walk-in store, although their prices aren’t that great unless you find rebate deals.
Video cards- yikes. Good ones are NOT cheap! You can get something minimal like a GeForce FX 5200 or ATI Radeon 9200SE for around $50- those are much better than onboard video and will handle watching movie clips, basic graphics etc.
But cards like that aren’t going to handle high-end gaming. Decent cards like a GeForce 7300 start around $100, better cards run $200 and up.
I recommend you have a PC technician examine your system and confirm it doesn’t have these items before you spend money on something you might not need- maybe downloading the proper drivers will get your current hardware working properly. In any event, they could easily install the new components for you (and make sure you get the correct ones for your system)
Daniel asks…
How much currently is the Xbox 360 Arcade system?
Since the Xbox S or Slim came out, I’ve noticed the Elite price go down at stores like Target, Walmart, and Best buy, how much is the Arcade? Whenever I go to target.com it says out of stock and doesn’t tell me the actual price, what is the actual price?
Sorry to add this extra detail but i went to the store yesterday and it said 200 dollars at samsclub and 150 dollars at target.
Nagesh answers:
Xbox 360 4GB Slim Console(2010 Model)
http://7thingsdigital.com/?p=84
Quick Info: The new Xbox 360® 4GB Console. Here today, ready for tomorrow with a brand new, leaner machine. Wi-Fi is built-in for easier connection to the world of entertainment on Xbox LIVE, where HD movies and TV stream in an instant. It’s ready for the controller-free experiences of Kinect – you don’t just play the game, you are the game. Xbox 360 is more games, entertainment and fun.
Review: New features at a great price!
The xbox 360 slim with 4 GB. Is what the original arcade version should have been, and is definitely worth its $200 price tag.
10 new features of this model are:
1. New Valhalla chip – hopefully improved design to prevent RRoD issue, but tech. Reviews noted that the Jasper chip in the older Elite model runs cooler
2. WiFi N – this is the newest wifi standard that is 12X faster (up to 600 Mbits/ sec) than wifi G; you’ll need a Wifi N router to get the max. Speed
3. Digital optical audio port (if your sound system is separate from your TV, then you’ll need this to get full 5.1 surround sound)
4. 4 GB of flash memory (although 1.1 GB is used by the game system)
5. 5 USB ports (2 in front & 3 in back)
6. Slimmer design with side vents (to prevent overheating)
7. Dedicated Kinect port (just a convenience feature)
8. Only 1 year of warranty (the only negative; older Elite models had 3 yrs.)
9. USB flash drive support (this was a xbox software update released in April 2010)
10. ESPN video streaming (will be included if you are a Gold member, $40/ yr.; should be available about Dec. 2010)
Slim 4 GB vs. 250 GB hard drive:
I bought the 4 GB system over the model with 250 GB hard drive because the xbox now supports game saves/ installs/ downloads and pic/ audio/ video downloads to USB flash drives. It supports 1-2 USB flash drives with 1-16 GB memory (using a 16 GB drive, 1.6 GB is used for formatting). Saving games and media to the USB drives is recommended since loading games and media will be much faster (reading memory is faster than reading hard drive) and more reliable (flash memory rarely fails, unlike hard drives); even the xbox live director recommended using USB drives for storage. If you have such a huge appetite for videos downloads and game demos that 32 GB can not accomodate, then you can always upgrade later with the 250 GB hard drive that will be sold in November; note that the older xbox hard drives are NOT compatible with the slim models. Installing xbox 360 games and game demos on the flash drives is no problem; xbox will ask you which drive to install the game. However, I can not verify if you can install older xbox games like Halo on the flash drive. The only xbox game I have is Halo 2, which does not install on flash. This problem may be specific to Halo 2 because even xbox live does not have Halo 2 for sale, which means Halo 2 is not supported without a xbox hard drive. I’m suspecting that any older games listed on xbox live is enabled for flash installation, but if they’re not listed then you’ll need a xbox hard drive. This is annoying but not a big issue since there are only a few older xbox games that you may want to play.
XBOX vs. PS3:
I am originally a PS3 and Wii gamer, but finally bought the xbox when the slim 4 GB model was released. To be competitive with the PS3, the xbox had to have the built-in wifi, optical audio port, and USB flash drive support. I was deciding whether to buy another PS3 for $300 since many games require 2 consoles for coop and multiplayer gaming, regardless of what system you choose. However, with this xbox priced at $200, I decided to choose the xbox since it has better coop games, more online gaming, and their video library blows away the PS3 online videos. Xbox music and music videos library needs to expand to the size of their TV and movies selection to be comparable with iTunes. The PS3 has better graphics though not significantly better (expected since PS3 has a better processor), but the XBOX has better coop and multiplayer games. The PS3 controller is better designed, better constructed, and has a rechargeable battery. Also, the PS3 has a Blue-Ray player, but is $100 more than the xbox slim 4 GB model. The xbox Kinect has more features and better specs. Than the PS3 Move. With my Wii collecting dust, I decided to wait to see if games for the Kinect are a flop, similar to how many games for the Wii flopped. Anyways by summer 2011, Kinect games should be 1/2 price with better selection.
If you’re new to xbox, here are my recommended Top 10 coop games: Halo 1,3; Gears of War 1,2; Fable 2,3; HAWX 1,2; Halo Wars & Halo Reach (note: Halo 2 is not supported wo. A hard drive). Happy Gaming!
James asks…
How much do you think it will cost to “rent download” online from Blockbuster?
Starting soon (April 3, 2009), blockbuster is going to allow renting movies via download. Under the information they only say “cost will vary by title”.
Anyone know or have a guess as to how much it will be to rent online? More or less than renting from the store?
Thanks for all the help so far, i think i might go with netflix instead, so if you want, look for my new question in the movie section!
Nagesh answers:
Its prob 4 for old titles and 6-8 for new..suckyyyy i know
Richard asks…
Which type of linux would you recommend on a old HP Compaq NC6000?
I will be using it for internet, watching movies online as well as using any media player, reading pdfs, office and Skype. I want to install it on my other partition and want to keep other OS also.
thnx
Nagesh answers:
I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 LXDE which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 and uses the lightweight LXDE Desktop Environment. Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled
Linux Mint 9 LXDE Download
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=60
Linux Mint 9 LXDE Release notes/User Guide
http://linuxmint.com/rel_isadora_lxde.php
You download the ISO. Image of Linux Mint 9 LXDE then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation
Linux Mint 9 LXDE can also be run direct from the LiveCD from Booting up without touching your Hard Drive
Also worth considering :
Linux Mint 8 XFCE
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=50
http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_helena_xfce.php
LUg.
Sandy asks…
Poll: How often do you use specific technologies/gadgets and what for?
How often do you watch television live?
How often do you record shows?
How often do you watch television shows online? Do you use a computer, notebook, cell phone, TV, or tablet?
How often do you watch YouTube? Do you use a computer, notebook, cell phone, TV, or tablet?
Do you have a Netflix account? Do you have a Netflix app? Do you only live stream?
Do you use illegal streaming sites to watch movies and shows? If so, how do you prevent viruses?
Do you use AdBlock?
Which browser do you use?
Which search engine do you use?
How many email accounts do you have? What do you use each for?
What social networking and bookmarking sites do you use? What do you use each for?
What question-answer sites do you use? What do you use each for?
Do you blog?
Do you keep calender events in your cell phone or computer? Do you sync?
Do you have a smartphone? What kind? What service? What app store do you use? What are your favorite apps (navigation, sms, weather, etc.)?
Do you download music, stream internet radio, or both?
Do you connect your cell phone to your car speakers?
How often do you video call? Do you use a computer, notebook, cell phone, TV, or tablet?
Do you research exclusively online?
Ever attended online school or college?
How often do you play video games? What game console do you use?
Do you play computer games?
Do you print photos on your printer? Can you print from a camera or cell phone?
Do you have a portable wifi device?
Do you read electronically? If so, what device do you use?
Nagesh answers:
I watch live TV daily, mostly because I don’t have an HD-DVR from my provider, or other other means to record form them in HD, and only record in SD on my TiVo if I have to, or for channels/content that are SD only.
I record with the TiVo (from my provider) almost daily, and from ATSC (using tuner in my PC) a couple times a week.
I don’t watch current shows I can get from my provider online, except as a last resource.
I do watch older stuff, often BBC stuff, from Youtube. In any case, online TV watching is most often through a PC on my TV screen.
I don’t have Netflix or any other pay online service. I do not use illegal streaming sites. Just Youtube, and official network sites.
No adblock or anything like that.
I use Chrome and Google mostly. I use IE/Bing to use Bing maps and their aerial feature.
I have two email services. One web, one ISP, the ISP used when I have to for services that do not accept web based Email.
I use just Facebook, just to keep in touch with family and social contacts.
I don’t blog
I don’t calendar electronically.
I have no cell phone even.
I mostly listen to old fashioned broadcast radio, but have a collection of MP3 files ripped from CD or analog music sources.
I do connect my MP3 player to larger sound systems, which may or may not include car audio, home radios/stereos, or PA systems.
I don’t video call, or college, or do heavy gaming, or much gaming at all really.
I do work/hobby related research online or if I have the books, there.
I don’t do much photo printing. I can print from the camera to the photo printer.
Portable WiFi hotspot device, no. I have a netbook computer, but due to battry issues may not be considered portable.
I read PDFs and websites on my computers. I have no tablet or ebook reader, at this time.
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