Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Alienware Laptops - The ones to beat

By Joe Wilson

Unless you've been under a rock for the past ten years or simply just don't know top of the line computers, AlienWare laptops and desktops are THE top of the line personal computers that you can buy. Alienware was the first computer company to focus on high performance workstations and gaming computers. From the beginning they have always featured the fastest processors, huge amounts of memory, and of course extremely high end graphics processors.

Alienware started out with a gamers philosophy of only having the best of everything in one machine. A small computer company in a sea of business "clone" computer companies, Alienware easily rose above their competition. With the gamer community behind them, word spread quickly as the world began to embrace these radical machines and Alienware was able to establish themselves as a solid high performance computer manufacturer. With cases that were pitch black and an unheard of glowing alien logo, these computers garnered the attention of every young computer geek in America.

Laptops Unleashed

But the success of the company didn't really take off until the release of their line of laptops. By keeping focused on making the fastest laptops available, only now in a notebook form, Alienware was able again to make the best laptop money could buy.

Today Alienware maintains it's innovative lead in laptop design and performance. Sleek black cases, glowing multi-color back lit keyboards, 950GB Hard Drives, dual SLI video cards for intense graphics, and the famous alien head logo. If you are in market for a new laptop, don't settle for anything less. Get an Alienware!

Hanger18 Home Media Center

Taking computing to the next level, Alienware has introduced Hanger18, their HD Entertainment center. Part streaming media Center, Part DVR, this high definition system is the extreme in high performance home entertainment and the finishing touch to any room in your home. With built in Bluray and an unbelievable 2 terabytes of media storage, the future of home entertainment is here.

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Friday, July 25, 2008

Bose Soundock Portable Reviewed

By Rob Reger

Most people agree that when it comes to your iPod the Bose sound dock is the best set of speakers you can find. The only downside of the first iPod soundock is that it has an enormous power supply and A/C cord that limits its use as portable speakers. The new sound dock portable from Bose solves this problem. Its portable speaker system has all of the power and sound quality you'd expect from Bose and it's portable. This great portable sound and the Bose name comes at a high price...if you pay retail for the speakers you'll have to fork over $399.

The soundock portable is available in both glossy white and black. It has a very compact design and measures just 12 inches by six inches by 5 inches. The speakers weigh just over five pounds and very closely resemble the original sound dock. There is one distinguishing feature in that the dock your iPod plugs into swivels and can rotate into the unit's body when traveling.

The portable model has a simple design just like the original sound dock and lacks physical controls aside from the two volume controls. The infrared remote include has eight rubber buttons that control volume, playback, play lists, and power. The included remote control is small and simple, but it's rubber buttons are easy to operate. The remote control works by infrared light; however it works well enough to control your iPod from nearly any angle in a large room.

There are two connectors on the back of the unit; one analog input and a plug for the power charger. There are no USB ports or video outputs. The speakers are powered by a lithium ion battery pack that holds a charge for up to eight hours of normal usage. At its loudest volume settings the soundock operates for about three hours. The battery holds its charge for a very long time for considering the speakers power and the amount of bass it produces.

The only thing I don't like about the sound dock's design are the built-in volume controls. They are clumsy and not very sensitive to the touch. When your iPod is plugged into the dock the batteries are charged at the expense of play time if your charger is not plugged in. The carrying handle also serves as the speaker's Bass port which Bose cleverly calls the wave guide exit.

The Bose soundock portable has an LED light behind the speaker grill that lights up when using the remote control and flashes when the battery is depleted. One problem with the portable unit is that if you leave it unplugged for fourteen days you can only turn your speakers on by plugging the charger in. There are no iPod dock inserts included with the speakers so you'll have to use the one's that came with your iPod; however, replacement inserts are available from the Apple store. The power cord has a built in cable winder that makes it easy to travel with; however the plug is large and takes up a lot of room. With a $399 retail price tag it is well worth your while to comparison shop online for sites with the lowest prices and free shipping. There is an optional carrying case but you'll have to shell out $60 more for that.

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Upgrading Your Toshiba Notebook Parts

A Guide For Upgrading Toshiba Notebook Parts

Everything mechanical, or electronic, breaks down and nearly every computer made is expandable. This is also true of your Toshiba notebook but to be honest, as far as notebook technology has progressed, it is still not a great idea for you to go poking around in your notebook unless you really know what you are doing. But there are some upgrades you can do yourself and there are some repairs that can easily done for you by a technician using either generic replacement parts or Toshiba notebook parts. Then there are the things that look like they cannot be fixed but can be fixed using only Toshiba notebook parts.Then there is the fatal stuff.

Lets examine some circumstances to determine if your laptop is completely gone or if you can use Toshiba notebook parts to fix it.

Common Laptop Upgrades

Generally speaking any notebook computer can be upgraded. Look at your owners manual or go online to determine what parts can be replaced. Normally you can upgrade your hard drive and memory but unless you know how to do this you should take it to a professional.

When it comes to memory you are probably better off using genuine Toshiba notebook parts on that but hard drives are made by other manufacturers and you need to check your manual for compatibility.

Notebook screens are not upgradeable. You would need a whole new notebook for that which, for some reason, is really difficult to get some people to understand. Trust me, you cannot upgrade your screen to a 17" screen in your existing notebook.

Dead Laptop

Notebooks have come a long way from the days when just the slightest movement could damage the hard drive but they are still very fragile. Dropping a notebook that is not in a protective case will probably cause serious damage to the circuits. Even a protective case is not a guarantee of the notebook surviving and there isn't any amount of Toshiba notebook parts in the world that will save a drowned notebook that wasn't meant to swim.

Stuff That Can Be Fixed

People are always surprised to hear this but you can fix a defective notebook screen by using Toshiba notebook parts. I am not sure why this always surprises people but a dead screen can be fixed. A bad power supply can also be fixed using Toshiba notebook parts as well as a bad battery.

Any of the peripheral drives like CD-Rom or DVD drive can also be replaced using Toshiba notebook parts. If you see smoke pouring out of the back of your notebook then don't freak out. Get it to a repair shop because replacing some of the Toshiba notebook parts might save your notebook even after a puff of smoke.

Get the latest information on laptops visit Cheapest Laptop Computer as well as Toshiba Notebook Parts

Taking Advantage with Lexmark Ink Cartridges

By Alan Wilson

When it comes to quality and compatibility with different Lexmark inkjet printers, Lexmark ink cartridges are absolutely the way to go. Different inkjet cartridges are designed for different models. Depending on the customer's preferences, the proper accessory must be obtained and utilized for that particular printer model. Different factors like print quantity, quality, speed, additional features, paper types, and printer size dictate the difference in printer accessories depending on the purposes of either business or home use. Lexmark ink cartridges is designed to be integratable with all Lexmark printers for all kinds of printing jobs.

Coming a long way since the early 90's

Lexmark is one of the principal developers, manufacturer and suppliers of printing and various imaging solutions for diverse customer needs in more than 150 countries. It offers printers and other printing products -- such as inkjet cartridges and copiers -- for home users, small scale businesses and large firms. The company originally started as IBM's print subdivision in 1991. In 1995, it went public removing all IBM insignias on its primary products, which included laser, inkjet and dot matrix printers.

Lexmark was the first company to offer a printer for less than $100 and was also the first to come up with a printing of 4800x1200 and 3600x1200 dpi resolution. It also was the first to make a photo printer that could work on its own as a stand-alone model.

Authentic Lexmark ink cartridges are of the utmost quality standards, unlike others that are sold at lower prices by less-than-trustworthy suppliers under a name of either their own or even of a famous brand as they are usually fake and of low quality. They do save you some cash, but they're mostly counterfeit ink cartridges of low quality that clog up when you least expect it and need it the most, going as far as damaging your printer head or even the whole printer. It is mostly due to bad quality ink, which can cause damage to the printer. Original inkjet cartridges are most recommended for use due to its great quality and compatibility.

Bear in mind that, for the most part, an ink cartridge influences the functional life of your inkjet printer. It is always recommended that the customers replace their worn-out inkjet cartridges with a compatible model from a brand with a reliable reputation. Coming from a long way since their birth in the early nineties, Lexmark remains as one of the leading printer companies in the world. Lexmark ink cartridges are guaranteed to deliver top performance level for your various printing needs.

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Tuesday, July 22, 2008

DVD Duplication Equipment

By Media Guy

Many different types of industries use industrial DVD duplication systems on a daily basis. Whether it's for producing duplicated discs for a client, or creating your own marketing disc, desktop production duplication is becoming increasingly popular among established businesses as well as start ups.

Industrial DVD duplicators are geared towards the mass production of discs and not like the standard burner you find in a desktop PC. A production duplicator can have up 12 or more burners on the system and can be run by a robotic arm that will extract duplicated discs and load blanks to be duplicated. Manual production systems are usually in a tower configuration and will have up to 12 burners that an operator will need to manually load and unload.

Automated is the preferred choice because you can load a spindle of discs and leave while the system duplicates your media. Automated systems use robotic arms to pick up and place the disc into the drive bays, and once duplicated removes them from the drive bays and places them on spindles. Good quality automated systems will remove bad media and place them on reject spindles.

Manual Duplicator systems are much more labor intensive. An operator needs be at the systems side at all times so that they can remove and load the media as it is duplicated.

Mediatechnics has been in the duplication industry since 1988 and manufactures quality automated and manual duplication systems. They have systems in use by many top fortune 500 companies. With many years of duplication industry experience under their belt, they are able to produce a quality system that is affordable for small or large businesses looking to mass produce duplicated media.

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What Makes A Toshiba Laptop Computer The Preferred Choice

By Ray Lam

Toshiba laptops are very sturdily built. If you drop one, it won't usually break, nor will they break through normal wear and tear like cheap Dells can - Toshibas don't get cracked cases and have keys fall off the keyboard, and if they ever did then Toshiba would fix it very quickly. This high build quality is important to people who will have their laptop for a long time, as well as people who travel around a lot with their laptops and so need to take them as luggage on planes.

First of all, a laptop is a very personal purchase. People have different needs, and what is good for some will not be good for others. I have seen in more than one Toshiba laptop review mentioning that one laptop is the 'best' of the range/series/brand. Such claims are false and cannot ever be substantiated. A few years ago I bought a three thousand dollar laptop with all the bells and whistlers, yet after two months I realized it wasn't what I wanted - way to big, battery life was way too short, and I just couldn't be bothered using it for its intended purpose so I bought a new one for half the price. It was so much better, not because of its specs on paper, and not because of what some reviewer had wrote about it, but because it was what I needed. So instead of listening to what is said in a Toshiba Laptop review, listen to yourself for once!

Following the A60, are the Satellite MX30 laptops. The MX30s come with a Centrino processor. Those laptops allow you to access wireless networks without having to plug in any extra hardware. Additionally, the Centrino processor consumes less energy and thus, your laptops battery duration is extended. If you have some extra money to spend then the MX30 provides many modification possibilities too. All in all, if you are continuously on the move then this is a very good laptop for you.

Are you seeking for a brutally powerful laptop? Is a wide display a must for you when you are watching DVDs? Do you need high computational power in order to fulfill your computing needs? If so, then the Satellite A70 laptops are definitely something you should have a look at. Those laptops are really powerful and will give you a great experience if you are running a heavy application such as a video game or a graphics design program. The only drawback is that the battery life becomes really short if you push the laptop to its limits; but then again, everything comes at a cost.

Those P30 laptops feature a 17" display which can provide a really great experience whatever you might be doing. Furthermore, P30s can come with a 100GB+ hard disc and they are equipped with graphic cards that can carry out brutal graphics processing tasks. The only drawback can be the relatively big size & weight as well as the price. Now that you hopefully have an idea of what Toshiba makes available on the market you will hopefully be able to do the correct choice for yourself and not only!

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Saturday, July 19, 2008

Printer Ink News

By Printer Wizard

Printer ink is one of the most expensive things in the world in terms of when you break down how much it costs per millilitre. Printer ink is the most expensive of all printer equipments. A survey by Kodak has revealed that almost half the people in the UK think the cost of printer ink is a rip off. As much as 60 percent of the ink contained in a typical inkjet cartridge is wasted, when printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges, according to research commissioned by Epson. I also despise the games inkjet manufacturers play to get you to replace cartridges that may still have ink inside. Some customers and industry analysts charge that inkjet companies are using their influence to unfairly distort the price of replacement ink cartridges and shut out off-brand competitors.

Cartridges contain electronics to communicate with the printer and the printer driver (the software that enables your computer and printer to communicate). Cartridges use a sponge to hold ink, by overfilling you wet the upper portion of the sponge causing the ink to want to flow upwards, away from the print nozzles. Cartridges made by (or for) the printer manufacturers are expensive.

Printer manufacturers have become very aggressive in attempting to maintain their grip on the aftermarket for printer cartridges. Most manufacturers are using their "green" credentials with their return of used cartridge policies to stop empty ink cartridges getting into the hands of remanufacturers. By doing this they are able to maintain the high prices they charge without the fear of low cost competition.

You can save ink by selecting a lower-quality mode for printouts that are for 'internal' use only. When determining quality and value you must align your expectations accordingly.

According to Wilhelm Imaging Research and other reviewers, if you are primarily printing photos, select the OEM cartridge. In cases where photo quality matched OEM ink photo quality, editors say that the store-brand inks produce inferior text quality. In tests using dedicated photo printers, aftermarket inks were less competitive. However, in nearly all cases, using the manufacturer's ink and paper will ensure the best, longest lasting photo prints.

You can save ink by selecting a lower-quality mode for printouts that are for 'internal' use only. When determining quality and value you must align your expectations accordingly. It is easy to see that there is a terrific cost savings to buying remanufactured printer ink, that being said, you must balance quality expectations with the price.

If you print mainly text pages, aftermarket printer ink is fine. Everyone knows that printer ink is a swindle: they sell you the printer cheaply (or not so cheaply for higher-end professional models),then sell the colors - unremarkable commodities, let us not forget - at prices that would make a perfumer blush.

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How does an ink cartridge work ?

By Andrew James

Ink cartridges are replaceable components found in inkjet printers, containing the ink used for printing. Sometimes, the ink cartridges can contain the printer's print head. An ink cartridge contains one or more partitioned ink reservoirs and, additionally, electronic contacts and a chip to communicate with the printer (only some producers insert these in the cartridge).

Whenever you try to print something, make sure that your ink level is not to low. If it is low, the ink begins to dry on the print head and printing can be hindered. A smooth flow of ink means a high quality print. If dry ink is found on the cartridge print head, gently rubbing with isopropyl alcohol on a swab or paper towel is enough to fix the problem.

Most of the time ink cartridges tend to be quite expensive, so customers started to use "compatible" ink cartridges. These cartridges are produced by companies other than the printer manufacturers. Compatible ink cartridges can come at the same quality as the original ones, depending on the manufacturing company. However, all compatible ink cartridges are cheaper than original ones. Many people use modified printers that allow the use of continuous ink systems. These printers use ink from external ink tanks. People can also use aftermarket inks to refill their cartridges, or take them to local refillers.

The costs of replacing ink cartridges, compared to the price of a brand new printer, amaze many of the customers. Leading printer manufacturers like Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Dell, Canon, Epson and Brother often loose money by selling cheap printers. They must recover these losses and make a profit by selling very expensive cartridges over the life span of the printer. Because companies producing aftermarket ink cartridges take away a part of their profit, major printer manufacturers have taken action against them. Some manufacturers even took legal action.

Many printer owners choose to refill their cartridges or buy remanufactured cartridges from third parties over buying new cartridges. This saves them a lot of money (they only have to buy the ink and a few other small raw materials) and gets them almost the same quality. A whole industry has grown up around ink cartridge refilling. Customers can find several qualities and types of refilling. However, some are safe and successful while other types can destroy the printer or produce low quality prints. Some of the options are to take the empty cartridges to refillers or remanufacturers, or buy store branded ink.

There is one more thing the consumer can do: refill their own cartridges. Most cartridges have instructions on how to use and refill on the Internet. Bulk ink sellers can also be found on the Internet. They offer pints, quarts, and even gallons of ink. One single pint (473 ml) can refill between 15 and 17 large cartridges (of 27 ml capacity).

Generally speaking, Brother, Canon, Dell, HP, and Lexmark cartridges are not difficult to refill (sometimes a syringe and ink are enough), while Epson cartridges usually require the additional purchase of a chip resetter to reset the counter chip inherent in the Epson cartridges. However, since it involves handling ink, the refill process can be inherently messy until some experience has been acquired.

Laser/toner cartridges sold as "compatible" are usually re-filled cartridges, although many third-party newly manufactured cartridges exist. Inkjet cartridges sold as "compatible" are newly manufactured cartridges. Inkjet cartridges sold as "remanufactured" are cartridges that have been used at least once by a consumer and then refilled by a third party. Note that used cartridges might not work as expected.

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Friday, July 18, 2008

Making Use of Children's Computer Software

Educating your children can be made fun and entertaining with all the creative computer software available for children. Even a preschooler can learn how to use a computer, learn reading, spelling and math skills through computer software for children.


Parents should oversee their child's choices when it comes to computer software. A child can learn how to access the internet and travel into dangerous territory. Just like any other aspect of teaching your child to make good decisions, computer software is another important area.


Children learn at different speeds and have different interests. Computer software is also available to satisfy their various needs for learning, fun and skill levels. With the many computer software designers out there how do you know which one is best?


The first step is to assess your child's needs. Does your child need something to improve their math skills or possibly their reasoning skills? Are they having trouble with reading or spelling? Some software may appear to be just a game to a child but it is actually honing their deductive reasoning skills teaching them to read and do simple math at the same time.


To keep your child interested you need to consider their likes and dislikes. Are they a sports enthusiast? Maybe they enjoy mysteries and adventure games. Finding age appropriate software as well as software that they enjoy is key.


Include your child in the decision making process. You can steer and guide them in the right direction but they will enjoy it a lot more if they feel they picked the game out themselves.


The whole family can enjoy computer time with the right software. It is ideal for your child to learn how to win and lose first at home and then go out into the world and be equipped to handle winning and losing. So many important lessons can be taught with the right computer software.


By doing some online research you can find sites that will inform you about good and bad aspects of the software you are interested in as well as what age and skill level it is geared towards. You want software that reinforces good choices and positive learning skills.


After you have done the research you will be able to make an informed choice in children's computer software. By making learning fun you and your child will both be benefitting.


Get the current info on laptops visit Cheapest Laptop as well as Computer Laptop Rental

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Ink cartridges: How do they work ?

By Andrew James

Ink cartridges are replaceable components found in inkjet printers, containing the ink used for printing. Sometimes, the ink cartridges can contain the printer's print head. An ink cartridge contains one or more partitioned ink reservoirs and, additionally, electronic contacts and a chip to communicate with the printer (only some producers insert these in the cartridge).

Whenever you try to print something, make sure that your ink level is not to low. If it is low, the ink begins to dry on the print head and printing can be hindered. A smooth flow of ink means a high quality print. If dry ink is found on the cartridge print head, gently rubbing with isopropyl alcohol on a swab or paper towel is enough to fix the problem.

In most cases, ink cartridges are very expensive. Many people prefer to use compatible ink cartridges, made by a company other than the printer manufacturer. These cartridges can sometimes match the quality, but with possible savings. Another alternative involves some modifications to allow the use of continuous ink systems that use external ink tanks. Some people even choose to use aftermarket inks. They can refill their own ink cartridge, buy aftermarket remanufactured brands, or even take them to a local refiller to refill them.

Customers are often amazed of how much it costs to replace their printer cartridges compared with the price of a brand new printer. Major printer manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Dell, Canon, Epson and Brother often loose money selling cheap printers. To recover the losses and make a profit, they sell very expensive cartridges over the life span of the printer. Because many printer manufacturers rely on selling ink and toner cartridges, some of these companies have taken action against aftermarket cartridges. Some of them even took legal action against companies manufacturing aftermarket cartridges.

Many printer owners choose to refill their cartridges or buy remanufactured cartridges from third parties over buying new cartridges. This saves them a lot of money (they only have to buy the ink and a few other small raw materials) and gets them almost the same quality. A whole industry has grown up around ink cartridge refilling. Customers can find several qualities and types of refilling. However, some are safe and successful while other types can destroy the printer or produce low quality prints. Some of the options are to take the empty cartridges to refillers or remanufacturers, or buy store branded ink.

The cheapest way to get a filled cartridge is to refill it yourself. Almost all cartridges have instructions on how to use and refill them available on the Internet. The Internet can also provide a list of bulk ink sellers that offer pints, quarts, and even gallons of ink. A pint (473 ml) can fill up to 17 large ink cartridges of 27 ml capacity.

Generally speaking, Brother, Canon, Dell, HP, and Lexmark cartridges are not difficult to refill (sometimes a syringe and ink are enough), while Epson cartridges usually require the additional purchase of a chip resetter to reset the counter chip inherent in the Epson cartridges. However, since it involves handling ink, the refill process can be inherently messy until some experience has been acquired.

Laser/toner cartridges sold as "compatible" are usually re-filled cartridges, although many third-party newly manufactured cartridges exist. Inkjet cartridges sold as "compatible" are newly manufactured cartridges. Inkjet cartridges sold as "remanufactured" are cartridges that have been used at least once by a consumer and then refilled by a third party. Note that used cartridges might not work as expected.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Printer Ink

By Printer Wizard

Printer ink is one of the most expensive things that you'll run into when you set up your home office. Printer ink is more expensive than oil or vintage champagne. Printer Ink is made up of mixture of pigments and condensed surfactants, biocide along with fungicide, buffering agent, humectants & resin, de-ionized stream of water (May vary depending on the type of Ink).

Inkjet printer ink is manufactured both by printer vendors and third-party vendors. The inkjet cartridge is a combination of speed and precision. Inkjet manufacturers have never lowered their prices or engaged in a price wars. Inkjet cartridge refills are one option that may save you money, although they can be messy to use. An easier alternative is to purchase compatible or remanufactured ink cartridges.

Some customers and industry analysts charge that inkjet companies are using their influence to unfairly distort the price of replacement ink cartridges and shut out off-brand competitors. Despite the calls that the inkjet market stifles competition, there are still many alternatives available.

You can save ink by selecting a lower-quality mode for printouts that are for 'internal' use only. When determining quality and value you must align your expectations accordingly.

Especially in the case of photos, the combination of a manufacturer's printer, ink and paper most often results in photos that look the best and last the longest without fading. Durability is an important consideration for printed photos. However, if you're not printing photos and aren't concerned about longevity, third-party printer ink is often just fine

Quality Comparison I have personally tested thousands of both brand new printer ink cartridges and refilled or remanufactured printer ink cartridges and without a doubt the originals, produced by the printer manufacturer, are better in print quality. However, printing at the maximum quality more than doubles the cost per print.

If you print mainly text pages, aftermarket printer ink is fine. Everyone knows that printer ink is a swindle: they sell you the printer cheaply (or not so cheaply for higher-end professional models),then sell the colors - unremarkable commodities, let us not forget - at prices that would make a perfumer blush.

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Sunday, July 13, 2008

Ink cartridges and how we use them

By Andrew James


An ink cartridge is a changeable component of an ink jet printer. It contains the ink that is spread on paper during printing and sometimes the print-head itself. Each ink cartridge contains one or more partitioned ink reservoirs and certain manufacturers also add electronic contacts and a chip that communicates with the printer.


Before printing anything, the ink level must be checked. If it is too low, ink may dry on the print head and lead to low quality prints. The ink must have a smooth flow in order to produce high quality prints. To clean the dried ink from the print head, it is strongly advised to gently rub the head with isopropyl alcohol on a swab or paper towel.


In most cases, ink cartridges are very expensive. Many people prefer to use compatible ink cartridges, made by a company other than the printer manufacturer. These cartridges can sometimes match the quality, but with possible savings. Another alternative involves some modifications to allow the use of continuous ink systems that use external ink tanks. Some people even choose to use aftermarket inks. They can refill their own ink cartridge, buy aftermarket remanufactured brands, or even take them to a local refiller to refill them.


The costs of replacing ink cartridges, compared to the price of a brand new printer, amaze many of the customers. Leading printer manufacturers like Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Dell, Canon, Epson and Brother often loose money by selling cheap printers. They must recover these losses and make a profit by selling very expensive cartridges over the life span of the printer. Because companies producing aftermarket ink cartridges take away a part of their profit, major printer manufacturers have taken action against them. Some manufacturers even took legal action.


Recently, many printer owners prefer to refill their used cartridges or even buy remanufactured cartridges from third parties rather than buying expensive new cartridges. Since they only need to buy the ink and a few other small raw materials, it is much cheaper and quality is almost the same. Customers can find different qualities and types of refilling. However, some of them can damage the printer and lead to low quality prints. People take their empty cartridges to refillers or remanufacturers, or simply buy store branded ink.


There is one more thing the consumer can do: refill their own cartridges. Most cartridges have instructions on how to use and refill on the Internet. Bulk ink sellers can also be found on the Internet. They offer pints, quarts, and even gallons of ink. One single pint (473 ml) can refill between 15 and 17 large cartridges (of 27 ml capacity).


If you consider refilling your cartridge you should know that Brother, Canon, Dell, HP, and Lexmark cartridges are quite easy to refill. Some of the cartridges can even be refilled with a simple syringe. However, Epson cartridges are usually harder to refill as these cartridges need a chip resetter. This resetter resets the counter chip embedded in the cartridge. Because it requires you to handle ink directly, the refill process can be tricky and you will need some experience until you will do it clean.


Laser/toner cartridges labeled as "compatible" are often refilled cartridges. Many third parties offer newly manufactured cartridges. Ink cartridges labeled as "compatible" are all newly produced. "Remanufactured" inkjet cartridges have been used previously and refilled by a third party so caution is advised when buying them. These cartridges may not work like new ones.

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Saturday, July 12, 2008

The expense of Printer Ink

By Printer Wizard

Printer ink is one of the most expensive things in the world in terms of when you break down how much it costs per millilitre. Printer ink is the most expensive of all printer equipments. A survey by Kodak has revealed that almost half the people in the UK think the cost of printer ink is a rip off. As much as 60 percent of the ink contained in a typical inkjet cartridge is wasted, when printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges, according to research commissioned by Epson. I also despise the games inkjet manufacturers play to get you to replace cartridges that may still have ink inside. Some customers and industry analysts charge that inkjet companies are using their influence to unfairly distort the price of replacement ink cartridges and shut out off-brand competitors.

The printer makers have been waging an all-out war against third-party vendors that sell replacement cartridges at a fraction of the price. According to a recent lawsuit, HP allegedly paid Staples $100 million to refrain from selling inexpensive third-party ink cartridges, although the suit doesn't make it clear how plaintiff Ranjit Bedi arrived at that figure. The companies have also turned to using the ink equivalent of DRM, the use of microchips embedded in ink cartridges that work with a corresponding technical mechanism in the printer that blocks the use of unauthorized third-party ink.

Printer manufacturers have become very aggressive in attempting to maintain their grip on the aftermarket for printer cartridges. Most manufacturers are using their "green" credentials with their return of used cartridge policies to stop empty ink cartridges getting into the hands of remanufacturers. By doing this they are able to maintain the high prices they charge without the fear of low cost competition.

You can save ink by selecting a lower-quality mode for printouts that are for 'internal' use only. When determining quality and value you must align your expectations accordingly.

Especially in the case of photos, the combination of a manufacturer's printer, ink and paper most often results in photos that look the best and last the longest without fading. Durability is an important consideration for printed photos. However, if you're not printing photos and aren't concerned about longevity, third-party printer ink is often just fine

You can save ink by selecting a lower-quality mode for printouts that are for 'internal' use only. When determining quality and value you must align your expectations accordingly. It is easy to see that there is a terrific cost savings to buying remanufactured printer ink, that being said, you must balance quality expectations with the price.

If you print mainly text pages, aftermarket printer ink is fine. Everyone knows that printer ink is a swindle: they sell you the printer cheaply (or not so cheaply for higher-end professional models),then sell the colors - unremarkable commodities, let us not forget - at prices that would make a perfumer blush.

About the Author:

Friday, July 11, 2008

Fixing Xbox 360 Red Ring Of Death - Ways To Do So

By Arthur Sim

Is your xbox plagued with the red ring of death? And no matter what you try, it still shows up?

Getting the red ring of death on my xbox was very annoying as all I wanted was to get back into my game and start playing. On checking with Microsoft, I found that the repair cost would be over $140 just to get my xbox for playing again.

Whilst finding for ways to repair my xbox 360, I found out there were a couple of other ways in which I could repair my xbox 360:-

I had found out there were many unorthodox fixes for the xbox 360 on youtube. Some of them even included wrapping the xbox 360 in towels. However, trying out the towel trick fix on my own xbox 360 was out of the question as chances of overheating and getting my xbox destroyed was high. Repairing my xbox 360 in this way was totally out of the question.

I went to a repair shop near my area to repair my xbox 360 and found out that it costs over $90 for repairing my xbox 360 and takes over a week. A sweeter deal than Microsoft as it costs $140 and takes them 2 weeks to repair.

There was an even more foolproof method of repair, as I had found out, that I could repair my xbox 360 for under $40 within 2 hours! Moreover, there was an additional upgrade for the xbox for HDMI graphics!

All these repairs even had a two month guarantee on all of them and this was very valuable. Repairs with Microsoft did not have any guarantee and the local shop that I went to only had a one week guarantee for the repairs that they made.

This offer was worth it and I bought on it immediately. Not only was it risk free, it was also one of the fastest repair and cheapest of all of them.

Many features were included into these repairs and there are also other very similar repairs that I used to get me back into playing with my xbox immediately.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

Xbox 360 Red Ring Of Death - Methods to Solve It

By Arthur Sim

Is your xbox plagued with the red ring of death? And no matter what you try, it still shows up?

My xbox 360 had gotten the dreaded red ring of death and it caused a lot of annoyances for me as I just wanted to play with my game. Checking with Microsoft, I discovered that I would have to pay over $140 just to get my xbox back to normal playing condition.

Through the course of repairing my xbox 360, I had discovered there were many many other ways in which my xbox 360 could be repair:-

I had found out there were many unorthodox fixes for the xbox 360 on youtube. Some of them even included wrapping the xbox 360 in towels. However, trying out the towel trick fix on my own xbox 360 was out of the question as chances of overheating and getting my xbox destroyed was high. Repairing my xbox 360 in this way was totally out of the question.

I turned to my local repair shop instead to repair my xbox 360 and found that they wanted a repair fee of over $90 for repairing the xbox 360 plus over a week. A much better deal than sending to Microsoft for $$140 for 2 weeks.

I had found out even more foolproof methods of repairing my xbox and I could repair my xbox 360 for $40 within 2 hours! And there were also additional upgrades that I could use for my xbox to have HDMI graphics!

All these repairs even had a two month guarantee on all of them and this was very valuable. Repairs with Microsoft did not have any guarantee and the local shop that I went to only had a one week guarantee for the repairs that they made.

This offer was worth it and I bought on it immediately. Not only was it risk free, it was also one of the fastest repair and cheapest of all of them.

Many features were included into these repairs and there are also other very similar repairs that I used to get me back into playing with my xbox immediately.

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Printer Ink News

By Printer Wizard

Printer ink is one of the most expensive things in the world in terms of when you break down how much it costs per millilitre. Printer ink is the most expensive of all printer equipments. A survey by Kodak has revealed that almost half the people in the UK think the cost of printer ink is a rip off. As much as 60 percent of the ink contained in a typical inkjet cartridge is wasted, when printers ask users to throw away half-full cartridges, according to research commissioned by Epson. I also despise the games inkjet manufacturers play to get you to replace cartridges that may still have ink inside. Some customers and industry analysts charge that inkjet companies are using their influence to unfairly distort the price of replacement ink cartridges and shut out off-brand competitors.

Inkjet printer ink is manufactured both by printer vendors and third-party vendors. The inkjet cartridge is a combination of speed and precision. Inkjet manufacturers have never lowered their prices or engaged in a price wars. Inkjet cartridge refills are one option that may save you money, although they can be messy to use. An easier alternative is to purchase compatible or remanufactured ink cartridges.

Printer manufacturers have become very aggressive in attempting to maintain their grip on the aftermarket for printer cartridges. Most manufacturers are using their "green" credentials with their return of used cartridge policies to stop empty ink cartridges getting into the hands of remanufacturers. By doing this they are able to maintain the high prices they charge without the fear of low cost competition.

You can save ink by selecting a lower-quality mode for printouts that are for 'internal' use only. When determining quality and value you must align your expectations accordingly.

According to Wilhelm Imaging Research and other reviewers, if you are primarily printing photos, select the OEM cartridge. In cases where photo quality matched OEM ink photo quality, editors say that the store-brand inks produce inferior text quality. In tests using dedicated photo printers, aftermarket inks were less competitive. However, in nearly all cases, using the manufacturer's ink and paper will ensure the best, longest lasting photo prints.

Quality Comparison I have personally tested thousands of both brand new printer ink cartridges and refilled or remanufactured printer ink cartridges and without a doubt the originals, produced by the printer manufacturer, are better in print quality. However, printing at the maximum quality more than doubles the cost per print.

We wish there was some complicated reason like it costs a lot of money to produce or something like that, but the truth is that printer ink is so expensive because manufacturers can make it that expensive. "Official" printer ink is more expensive than heroin, but instead of competitive pricing, they go hand in hand with RIAA's marketing folks (read: more competition equals pricier products). A solution to the rising cost of printer ink is to buy "generic" brands of ink instead of the original brand of your printer

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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

What Makes A Toshiba Laptop Computer The Preferred Choice

By Ray Lam

There are many Toshiba laptop reviews on the internet today, however, none of them address the all encompassing question of how exactly do you choose a Toshiba Laptop? The problem with any Toshiba laptop review is that it is looking at a particular Toshiba laptop such as the Toshiba satellite out of context of the rest of the models. As such, many Toshiba laptops reviews have looked at a laptop in it's own merits without ever having the opportunity to try other models in the range which may be better.

Toshiba laptops are very light. Again, this is important to travellers, but it is also important to people who are just using their laptop normally, carrying it from home to their office or simply perching it on their lap at home. Heavy laptops can be a real pain, making it feel like an effort to pick up the computer and quickly check or alter something, while light ones are far more practical.

Just remember this, laptops are different than desktops. For most people they have been told for years whenever you are buying a new computer, get the best so it is "future proof". I don't believe this is the case and so differ from most Toshiba laptop reviews. It is not about how good it is on paper, it is what it does for you.

The laptops, manufactured by Toshiba which was founded in 1875 in Japan, are indeed a technological wonder when it comes to the amount of power that has been crammed into this mini size super machine. The machines are not only powerful and strongly efficient in performance but are also cute looking and are aesthetically pleasing. The company manufactures Laptops in varies models right from ultra portable Libretto to the multimedia Qosmio. It wont come as big surprise to know that even the Desktop computers produced by the Toshiba company are extremely with the American consumer.

The choice of processor, RAM, drives, Memory, Battery Life, Screen size and resolution, ports and accessories can leave one totally confused. You might as well be tempted to go for the slimmest piece in the market or may just prefer to wait for the latest model to roll out for you. The Toshiba Laptops have the best performance and optimum output even in the most hostile environments and are continuously being improved upon by the relentless Research and Development team which is always on a lookout for a better and more efficient model for the choosy and class customer, just like you.

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Monday, July 7, 2008

Some Advantages of a Solid State Hard Drive

By David Green

A solid state drive is a computer storage medium which uses solid state memory to store data, a conventional hard drive which is based on a revolving magnetic disk.This article will discuss the tpe of solid state hard drive which is based flash memory.

At the moment, the majority of computers don't use solid state hard drives, but more computers are gradually coming onto the market which use these types of drive (also called SSD's).

They are typically used in laptops which are intended for use in various extreme environments, but now are also starting to be used in some mainstream computers.

Conventional drives are based on a rotating disc, which, due to it's mechanical nature, might be more susceptible to damage than an SSD, with subsequent loss of data.

Why Go With A Solid State Hard Drives?

* Less Noisy - Due to not having moving parts, there is nothing to make noise, as there is with physical hard drives.This is ideal for someone who is easily sidetracked by noise, when struggling to work.

* More protection from vibration - When computers or laptops are moved a lot, the hard drive can more easily become damaged due to shock and vibration. Solid state hard drives are less sensitive to vibrations and don't require extra protection.

* Speed - For random memory access operations, SSD's are much faster than their mechanical counterparts because there is no moving head which has to move to the correct position. However, when large amounts of data are read sequentially, the two are more on a par with each other. Generally, computers with solid state drives can boot faster and load applications faster than their mechanical counterparts.

* Less sensitive to temperature extremes - Most computers work best when they are in areas that meet very specific temperature requirements. When the temperature is too hot, computers can overheat and stop working, for example. Solid state hard drives are not as sensitive so they can keep working well even in more extreme temperatures.

* Lighter - For smaller capacity SSD's, the weight is less than for mechanical hard drives so the computer doesn't weigh as much either. That makes it simpler to walk around carrying such computers. Additionally, the time between battery recharges is typically longer.

Prior to purchasing a computer with a solid state hard drive, keep in mind that they are usually somewhat more costly at the moment. But as the technology keeps getting better, the price of these devices will probably continue to go down.

One more thing to consider is the limited life of SSD's. Even if they are not vulnerable to the type of deterioration that can wear down a standard hard drive, they cannot be written to forever. As a result, just as hard drives with moving parts, they can finally wear out.

In many cases, a laptop based on a solid state hard drive is an excellent option, because the prices are getting more attractive, and their memory sizes are constantly becoming larger.

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Bose Soundock Portable Reviewed

By Rob Reger

Most audio enthusiasts agree that the original Bose soundock is the best set of iPod speakers you can buy. The only problem I had with the first generation model is that it isn't portable because you have to lug around the boxy power supply and power cord. This is no longer the casethe new Bose soundock portable is very similar to the first generation model in power and sound quality with a twist. It's the best sounding and most powerful speakers available for your iPod and it's portable. This comes with a premium price tag; with a retail price tag of $399 you're paying not only for quality but the Bose brand name.

You have a choice of two colors with the sound dock portable: black and glossy white. The portable unit is small enough to travel with easily and measures 12 by 6 by 5 inches. It weighs just over five pounds and looks very similar to its cousin the original sound dock except for its swiveling iPod dock that protects the dock when traveling with the unit.

The portable soundock has the same simplistic design as the first sound dock. There are no physical controls aside from volume up and down. There is a small remote control included that operates the volume, playlists, playback control, and power on and off. This remote is small but has rubber buttons that make it easy to use and operate as long as you don't misplace it. The remote works well enough and I was able to control my iPod from nearly any angle in the room.

There are two connectors on the back of the unit; one analog input and a plug for the power charger. There are no USB ports or video outputs. The speakers are powered by a lithium ion battery pack that holds a charge for up to eight hours of normal usage. At its loudest volume settings the soundock operates for about three hours. The battery holds its charge for a very long time for considering the speakers power and the amount of bass it produces.

The only downside of the sound dock's design are the clumsy volume controls. You can easily overcome this limitation with the included remote control. The speakers charge your iPod whenever it's plugged in; however, this will deplete the lithium battery faster if not plugged into the charger. The speaker's bass port also serves as a carrying handle which is one of the features that makes it portable. Bose refers to the Bass Port as the speaker's Wave Guide Exit.

The Bose soundock portable has an LED light behind the speaker grill that lights up when using the remote control and flashes when the battery is depleted. One problem with the portable unit is that if you leave it unplugged for fourteen days you can only turn your speakers on by plugging the charger in. There are no iPod dock inserts included with the speakers so you'll have to use the one's that came with your iPod; however, replacement inserts are available from the Apple store. The power cord has a built in cable winder that makes it easy to travel with; however the plug is large and takes up a lot of room. With a $399 retail price tag it is well worth your while to comparison shop online for sites with the lowest prices and free shipping. There is an optional carrying case but you'll have to shell out $60 more for that.

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Sunday, July 6, 2008

Fixing Xbox 360 Red Ring Of Death - Ways To Do So

By Arthur Sim

Is your xbox plagued with the red ring of death? And no matter what you try, it still shows up?

Getting the red ring of death on my xbox was very annoying as all I wanted was to get back into my game and start playing. On checking with Microsoft, I found that the repair cost would be over $140 just to get my xbox for playing again.

Whilst finding for ways to repair my xbox 360, I found out there were a couple of other ways in which I could repair my xbox 360:-

There were many videos on Youtube which taught xbox 360 repairs that uses towels. I didn't try out that fix as many famous bloggers had blogged on that the xbox 360 may catch on fire and overheat and be destroyed due to the towels. Although I could simply use it and try it on my xbox, wracking my xbox 360 was totally out of the question.

I went to a repair shop near my area to repair my xbox 360 and found out that it costs over $90 for repairing my xbox 360 and takes over a week. A sweeter deal than Microsoft as it costs $140 and takes them 2 weeks to repair.

I discovered that there were more foolproof methods in which I could repair my xbox 360 for under $40 and under 2 hours! In addition, there was a free upgrade that I could use to upgrade my xbox for HDMI graphics!

What was even more interesting was that there was a two month guarantee that all these repairs had. Microsoft did not offer any guarantee for repairs and my local shop had only offered a one week guarantee that my xbox would not break down.

This deal was extremely worth it and I picked up on it immediately, as it was risk free and one of the fastest repair and cheapest of all.

I had found that there were even more features of such repairs and many many other equivalent repairs that was usable immediately to get me back into my game.

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Saturday, July 5, 2008

Some Advantages of a Solid State Hard Drive

By David Green

A solid state drive is a computer storage medium which uses solid state memory to store data, a conventional hard drive which is based on a revolving magnetic disk.This article will discuss the tpe of solid state hard drive which is based flash memory.

At the time of this writing, most computers don't have solid state hard drives (also known as SSD's), but they are becoming more popular.

They are typically used in laptops which are intended for use in various extreme environments, but now are also starting to be used in some mainstream computers.

Most hard drives have a spinning platter with a read/write head that has to be positioned correctly for each read/write of data, and these moving parts can be more easily damaged than an SSD, and the data lost.

Why Go With A Solid State Hard Drives?

* Quieter - Because there is no spinning platter, solid state hard drives don't make noise as regular hard drives do. This is great for anyone who is easily distracted by noise, while trying to work.

* More resistance to vibration and shock - When notebook computers are jolted and moved a great deal, this presents a danger for standard hard drives. Solid state hard drives are less susceptible to this danger.

* Speed - For accessing memory randomly, solid state drives are commonly speedier than standard hard drives owing to not having a moving head which has to move to a specific position. Conversely, when big amounts of data are read sequentially, the two types are more closely matched. Commonly, computers with SSD's can load programs more rapidly and boot more quickly than standard hard drives.

* Less susceptible to wide temperature variations - Computers commonly function best when they are in places that fall within precise temperature bounds. If it becomes too hot, computers can become inoperable. SSD's are able to function well even in conditions of more extreme temperatures.

* Lighter - Computers using solid state hard drives generally weigh less than computers with standard hard drives, and are thus less burdensome to carry around. This means the computer will run longer before the battery runs down.

Before you decide on a solid state hard drive, you should keep in mind that they are usually more expensive. The price difference per unit of memory is usually quite significant. However, as the technology improves, the cost of these devices is likely to keep dropping significantly.

Another issue is the limited life of these drives. Even though they won't be susceptible to the wear and tear that might affect a normal hard drive, they cannot be written to indefinitely. Therefore, like mechanical hard drives, they can in the end wear out.

In many cases, a laptop based on a solid state hard drive is an excellent option, because the prices are getting more attractive, and their memory sizes are constantly becoming larger.

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Thursday, July 3, 2008

Desktop Computer Package

Buying a Desktop Computer Package

One of the best desktop computer deals is going with a package, which commonly includes the tower, the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. With this, the buyer gets everything needed but often for a much better price than if he or she were to buy each thing individually. A desktop computer package is quite popular and therefore, more and more manufacturers are coming up with great bargains.

If you are a first time buyer making the right computer choice can be daunting. A desktop computer package can eliminate some of the fear. We have listed a few key items to consider before purchase:

Computer Choices

It is important to find the right desktop computer bundle for your specific needs. Windows and the Mac offer great deals. Macintosh seems to be less susceptible to viruses but Windows is more compatible with the most commonly used software currently on the market.

The Tower

The CPU inside the tower is one the most critical choices you will have to make when putting together your desktop computer bundle. The Central Processing Unit will determine the speed with which your computer will process commands.

RAM

Then, the desktop computer package will offer RAM, which is the system's memory. With this, programs are able to run and information can be moved between the hard drive and functions of the program. For the best choice, buyers want to match RAM speed with the CPU speed.

Hard Drive Capacity

The rpm speed and access times affect the hard drive performance. A starting configuration would be approximately 160gb. If you are planning to store a lot of media files a larger hard drive would be a better choice.

The Computer Screen

Computer monitors come with the best desktop computer deals. Typically, working with a lot of graphics would need a CRT type of monitor. However, most of the desktop computer bundle deals come with LCD monitors. The advantage here is that the monitor does not consume as much energy, have wider screen images, and work better for smaller spaces.

Best Keyboard and Mouse

Most computer bundles will allow you to upgrade the keyboard and mouse. You can visit a local office supply store and try out different keyboards as well as a mouse. Testing the comfort and ease of use prior to ordering online will help insure your satisfaction.

The Best Laptops You Can Get -Alienware

By Joe Wilson

Unless you've been under a rock for the past ten years or simply just don't know top of the line computers, AlienWare laptops and desktops are THE top of the line personal computers that you can buy. Alienware was the first computer company to focus on high performance workstations and gaming computers. From the beginning they have always featured the fastest processors, huge amounts of memory, and of course extremely high end graphics processors.

Alienware started out with a gamers philosophy of only having the best of everything in one machine. A small computer company in a sea of business "clone" computer companies, Alienware easily rose above their competition. With the gamer community behind them, word spread quickly as the world began to embrace these radical machines and Alienware was able to establish themselves as a solid high performance computer manufacturer. With cases that were pitch black and an unheard of glowing alien logo, these computers garnered the attention of every young computer geek in America.

Laptops Unleashed

But it wasn't until Alienware released a line of laptops did the success of the company really take off. Keeping to their strict standard of creating the fastest machines available, only now in a mobile platform, Alienware Laptops was the product to beat. They were and still are the standard for high performance computer platforms.

Today Alienware produces laptops and desktops that are best of bread. Still featuring unique cases, spooky back lit keyboards, 950GB Hard drives, and now dual SLI graphics cards for life like graphics at the highest resolutions. Oh and of course lets not forget the now famous Alien head logo standard on every Alienware Laptop. If you can afford one of these beautiful machines, you should get it, you wont regret it.

High Definition Computing

Taking computing to the next level, Alienware has introduced Hanger18, their HD Entertainment center. Part streaming media Center, Part DVR, this high definition system is the extreme in high performance home entertainment and the finishing touch to any room in your home. With built in Bluray and an unbelievable 2 terabytes of media storage, the future of home entertainment is here.

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