Well once again, today we are going to be looking at shopping for those ever-important Christmas gifts and gadgets. This is part two in a series of two posts covering everything from computers to televisions and even the latest in video gaming and high definition. To read last month’s guide, check out http://unleashyourgeek.blogspot.com. So below are the topics I will cover in this second half of the buying guide for Christmas
1. What is High Definition?
High Definition is a term referring to the resolution that a television or monitor puts out on the screen. Resolution simply means the number of colored dots that can fit on the screen. Therefore, the larger the number of colored dots that can fit, the better the image quality is. High Definition is often referred to as HD.
2. So what do you need to know about HD?
What is the Best Resolution? Resolution is typically listed with vertical resolution followed by a letter, for example 1080i or 1080p. The letter represents interlaced or progressive. Interlaced means that only half the picture shows, then the other half is flashed afterwards, while progressive means that everything is on the screen at once. Progressive is better than Interlaced. It also may be followed by a number, such as 60. This is the rate at which new pictures are displayed on the screen. If it is progressive, then that is the correct number. If it is interlaced, divide the number in half and that is the actual rate that a full picture is displayed on the screen. Buy the best. Below is a list from best to worst when buying HD:
a. 1080p (Best)
b. 720p
c. 1080i
d. 720i (Worst)
So what about HDTV? (high definition television). It is Provided by most cable and satellite providers and its broadcasts are in 1080i. Different packages offer different numbers of channels at different pricing. Check with your provider for details.
In order to play high definition video, you must have a playback device. (Much like a DVD player for DVDs). Blu-Ray is now the standard in high definition, as HD-DVD is no longer being produced. These players have dropped in price significantly in recent months. Philips is a good brand of player, although there are a number of other brands out there. The Playstation 3 also has a built in Blu-Ray player.Remeber that HD-DVD is no longer available and it is very difficult to find players for them. Avoid purchasing these units or HD-DVDs (typically in a brown packaging).
3. High Definition Television Tips
i. Look for a set that is 1080p
ii. You get what you pay for, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is
iii. Companies with lower prices typically use inferior parts, such as the backlight (which can dramatically change the picture quality)
iv. Brands such as Sony and Phillips are typically sound models as they use quality parts
v. Vizio, while cheaper, has noticeably poorer quality
4. Portable Gaming
a. There are not many new handheld gaming systems out at this time.
i. Sony PSP- Uses small discs in a plastic case for games
1. Very good graphics, can play mp3s
2. More adult-oriented games (much like the Playstation 3)
3. Wireless gaming (players within a certain distance of each other can play without having to attach units via a cord)
ii. Nintendo DS
1. DS stands for dual screen because it has two touch screens that the person can interact with
2. Games are more oriented towards young people
3. Not as good graphics as PSP, but still very good
4. Wireless gaming (players within a certain distance of each other can play without having to attach units via a cord)
5. MP3 Players
a. Apple
i. The most popular MP3 player
ii. Has a number of different variations which fall at different price points
iii. Newest is iPod touch which allows wireless downloading of music and applications
iv. Has itunes store which allows purchasing of music online at 99 cents a song
v. Not only are these the most popular, but due to your ability to use the itunes store, it makes further gifting even easier. They are typically the best bet for mp3 players
b. Others
i. Archos
1. Has a number of different mp3 players. Typically very solid products, but can be more difficult to operate, cannot use with iTunes.
ii. Zune
1. Made by Microsoft, most comparable to iPods as far as features, does not have as good a music selection online
iii. Sandisk
1. Sansa- Comes in a variety of sizes and features. Easy to operate, cannot use with iTunes
I hope this guide was helpful, please email me with further questions or concerns at bhollers@btcatholic.org.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Christmas Shopping Part 1
Hell once again, today we are going to be looking at shopping for those ever-important Christmas gifts and gadgets. This is part one in a series of two posting covering everything from computers to televisions and even the latest in video gaming and high definition.
1. Laptops
a. Name brand does mean something. Some of the better names in laptops are Toshiba, Sony, Apple, and Acer (HP is improving).
b. Shop for what you need. If you are doing home computing, and are not interested in playing games or doing graphically intense activities, then a simple Core 2 Duo processor with 2 GB of Ram should be sufficient for you.
c. Smaller and Smaller. Remember that you typically pay a premium for size, therefore, if you do not need an ultra-thin laptop, then don’t pay the premium for getting one.
d. Check the drives. Most laptops will include DVD and DVD R/RW drives. This should be expected with most laptops
e. DO NOT BUY USED. Ebay is not the place to look for laptops. Oftentimes, people will place ads for what seem like good deals, do not fall for these ads. Oftentimes, the laptops are missing major components or do not have batteries. Such items are costly and sometimes difficult to replace
f. Protect Yourself: BUY ANTIVIRUS (See http://unleashyourgeek.blogspot.com on how to choose which antivirus you want)
2. Desktops
a. Check the specs. As for laptops, only buy what you need. Standard home use requires a typically a Core 2 Duo processor with Approx. 2GB or RAM
b. See D-F in laptops as these steps are the same
c. Check the Monitor. Most Desktops come with an LCD monitor. Make sure you are getting a size that is right for you (most people are comfortable with a minimum of 19” in size)
d. Brand Smart: Once again, brands are somewhat important, however, many of the brands are somewhat equal in their abilities and technology
3. Game Consoles
a. These are always a big hit each year. There are three primary consoles which your child may be interested in, below are the pros and cons of each.
i. Nintendo Wii: An interactive console that uses two hand remotes that are wireless to interact with the games. Interaction comes through moving the controller around (such as emulating swinging a bat or rolling a bowling ball)
1. Pros: Very fun, has an increasing number of games available as well as a number of classic Nintendo games. Price is the lowest of the three consoles
2. Cons: not every game is as interactive as it could be. Also, most games for this console are geared more towards younger kids (think middle school and below). This does not mean that older kids and adults cannot have fun, as I have enjoyed playing a number of games on it. Also, graphics are not as good as other systems.
ii. Microsoft XBOX 360: The sequel system to the XBOX which has been out for over a year now
a. Pros: Very goods graphics, built-in hard drive to save games and music to (no need for memory cards). Wireless Remotes, tremendous selection of games. Backwards compatible (can play regular XBOX games). Price is lower than Playstation 3. Excellent online playing environment
b. Cons: Graphics not as good as Playstation 3, does not play high definition movies. Games geared more towards teens and adults. Popular games are typically rated M for Mature Audiences
iii. Sony Playstation 3: Third Gaming console in this long tradition of consoles. Released late last year.
a. Pros: Best graphics of all systems, built-in hard drive, wireless remotes, tremendous selection of games, backwards compatible with previous playstation games, has a built-in Blu-Ray player (a $400 value). Excellent mix of games for all ages.
b. Cons, Price is the highest of all three systems, however, the price has dropped recently.
b. It is also important to note that gamers are often very loyal to a particular system such as Playstation or XBOX. This should be taken into consideration when purchasing one system over the other.
Next Month I will have part 2 of our Christmas Buying Guide Where we will discuss:
1. What is High Definition
2. Televisions
3. Blu-Ray
4. Portable Gaming
5. MP3 Players
1. Laptops
a. Name brand does mean something. Some of the better names in laptops are Toshiba, Sony, Apple, and Acer (HP is improving).
b. Shop for what you need. If you are doing home computing, and are not interested in playing games or doing graphically intense activities, then a simple Core 2 Duo processor with 2 GB of Ram should be sufficient for you.
c. Smaller and Smaller. Remember that you typically pay a premium for size, therefore, if you do not need an ultra-thin laptop, then don’t pay the premium for getting one.
d. Check the drives. Most laptops will include DVD and DVD R/RW drives. This should be expected with most laptops
e. DO NOT BUY USED. Ebay is not the place to look for laptops. Oftentimes, people will place ads for what seem like good deals, do not fall for these ads. Oftentimes, the laptops are missing major components or do not have batteries. Such items are costly and sometimes difficult to replace
f. Protect Yourself: BUY ANTIVIRUS (See http://unleashyourgeek.blogspot.com on how to choose which antivirus you want)
2. Desktops
a. Check the specs. As for laptops, only buy what you need. Standard home use requires a typically a Core 2 Duo processor with Approx. 2GB or RAM
b. See D-F in laptops as these steps are the same
c. Check the Monitor. Most Desktops come with an LCD monitor. Make sure you are getting a size that is right for you (most people are comfortable with a minimum of 19” in size)
d. Brand Smart: Once again, brands are somewhat important, however, many of the brands are somewhat equal in their abilities and technology
3. Game Consoles
a. These are always a big hit each year. There are three primary consoles which your child may be interested in, below are the pros and cons of each.
i. Nintendo Wii: An interactive console that uses two hand remotes that are wireless to interact with the games. Interaction comes through moving the controller around (such as emulating swinging a bat or rolling a bowling ball)
1. Pros: Very fun, has an increasing number of games available as well as a number of classic Nintendo games. Price is the lowest of the three consoles
2. Cons: not every game is as interactive as it could be. Also, most games for this console are geared more towards younger kids (think middle school and below). This does not mean that older kids and adults cannot have fun, as I have enjoyed playing a number of games on it. Also, graphics are not as good as other systems.
ii. Microsoft XBOX 360: The sequel system to the XBOX which has been out for over a year now
a. Pros: Very goods graphics, built-in hard drive to save games and music to (no need for memory cards). Wireless Remotes, tremendous selection of games. Backwards compatible (can play regular XBOX games). Price is lower than Playstation 3. Excellent online playing environment
b. Cons: Graphics not as good as Playstation 3, does not play high definition movies. Games geared more towards teens and adults. Popular games are typically rated M for Mature Audiences
iii. Sony Playstation 3: Third Gaming console in this long tradition of consoles. Released late last year.
a. Pros: Best graphics of all systems, built-in hard drive, wireless remotes, tremendous selection of games, backwards compatible with previous playstation games, has a built-in Blu-Ray player (a $400 value). Excellent mix of games for all ages.
b. Cons, Price is the highest of all three systems, however, the price has dropped recently.
b. It is also important to note that gamers are often very loyal to a particular system such as Playstation or XBOX. This should be taken into consideration when purchasing one system over the other.
Next Month I will have part 2 of our Christmas Buying Guide Where we will discuss:
1. What is High Definition
2. Televisions
3. Blu-Ray
4. Portable Gaming
5. MP3 Players
Friday, September 26, 2008
Keeping Your Children Safe on the Net
One would think with Shaq roaming the cyber streets looking for predators that the Internet would be a safe haven for children, but the reality is that the Internet remains a place where children are increasingly exposed to harm. So how can you protect your child and allow them the ability to roam the net?
1. Filter the Internet
Filters have the express purpose of keeping things that we don’t want out. For example, an air filter keeps allergens, etc… out of the air. Internet filters work in the same way. They block both specific content which you as a parent can identify (such as websites you know you don’t want your child to open) as well as general content which allows you to set risk levels associated with websites in general (for example, a medium risk level would block most bad websites, but may let some through depending on the nature of the content). One of the best filters around is BSafe Online (www.bsafehome.com). I have personally used this filter at home and found it very easy to install and use. It allows you to customize the filter as described above. This is also a Christian-based company.
2. The Names have been changed to Protect the Innocent
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT allow your child to put their real name in any profile for any website. This is an easy way for predators to find a child. Emphasize with your child that they can use their first name only or a Pen Name that their friends know. This will keep them safe without hindering their communication capabilities.
3. Make a change of Location
Ever wanted to live in California? Well now is your child’s chance to live their virtually. It is best if they do not put their location (even just the state) in a profile, however, if they insist, have them choose a state a good distance away from where you live. NEVER put specific information such as a street address, phone number, or zip code
4. Not Photo friendly
One way in which predators are able to home in on a potential victim’s location is through pictures. Your child most likely enjoys sharing pictures of them hanging out with friends, on vacation, etc…with others. While there does not seem to be anything wrong with this, often times they will wear clothing which identifies where they are. Photos of your child that have a school name or logo should be avoided. Predators can simply search for the name of the school and now they know where your child is when you are not there. Also avoid pictures that have a date/time stamp on them or a photo that has a location tag. Many cameras today tag photos with these identifiers which could also lead a predator to your child.
5. Be Big Brother
As a parent, you do not want your child to be the one completely lacking a social life, however, you must make your child understand the dangers the Internet poses to them and what they need to do to protect themselves. Have them provide you an Instant Messaging, Facebook, My Space, or other account names. This will allow you to monitor their posts and the safety of the information they put on the Internet.
6. Knowledge is Power
Remember, the more aware your student is of the dangers our there, the better equipped they will be to defend themselves. Do not be afraid to ask them questions and get responses about their online social life. Do not allow them to go unprotected, educate them.
1. Filter the Internet
Filters have the express purpose of keeping things that we don’t want out. For example, an air filter keeps allergens, etc… out of the air. Internet filters work in the same way. They block both specific content which you as a parent can identify (such as websites you know you don’t want your child to open) as well as general content which allows you to set risk levels associated with websites in general (for example, a medium risk level would block most bad websites, but may let some through depending on the nature of the content). One of the best filters around is BSafe Online (www.bsafehome.com). I have personally used this filter at home and found it very easy to install and use. It allows you to customize the filter as described above. This is also a Christian-based company.
2. The Names have been changed to Protect the Innocent
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT allow your child to put their real name in any profile for any website. This is an easy way for predators to find a child. Emphasize with your child that they can use their first name only or a Pen Name that their friends know. This will keep them safe without hindering their communication capabilities.
3. Make a change of Location
Ever wanted to live in California? Well now is your child’s chance to live their virtually. It is best if they do not put their location (even just the state) in a profile, however, if they insist, have them choose a state a good distance away from where you live. NEVER put specific information such as a street address, phone number, or zip code
4. Not Photo friendly
One way in which predators are able to home in on a potential victim’s location is through pictures. Your child most likely enjoys sharing pictures of them hanging out with friends, on vacation, etc…with others. While there does not seem to be anything wrong with this, often times they will wear clothing which identifies where they are. Photos of your child that have a school name or logo should be avoided. Predators can simply search for the name of the school and now they know where your child is when you are not there. Also avoid pictures that have a date/time stamp on them or a photo that has a location tag. Many cameras today tag photos with these identifiers which could also lead a predator to your child.
5. Be Big Brother
As a parent, you do not want your child to be the one completely lacking a social life, however, you must make your child understand the dangers the Internet poses to them and what they need to do to protect themselves. Have them provide you an Instant Messaging, Facebook, My Space, or other account names. This will allow you to monitor their posts and the safety of the information they put on the Internet.
6. Knowledge is Power
Remember, the more aware your student is of the dangers our there, the better equipped they will be to defend themselves. Do not be afraid to ask them questions and get responses about their online social life. Do not allow them to go unprotected, educate them.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Keep Your Computer Safe!
We have all experienced purchasing a brand new computer, hooking it up and being pleasantly surprised at how well it performs, only later to see that performance decline. Why does this always seem to be the case? A computer that once was able to perform complex tasks quickly and efficiently seems bogged down by some unknown source. The perpetrator of this lagging effect is malware. Malware is simply a term which refers to software whose intent is to harm your computer. Malware can include spyware, viruses, worms, and the like. So the next question is how does my computer become infected with this malware and what can I do to defend against it? In this case, the best defense is a good offense. While your computer may have come with a free trial of McAfee or Norton, once that subscription is up, it is time to start shopping. There are a number of free as well as paid software suites which can provide adequate protection of your PC. My personal favorite is Spy Sweeper, produced by the company Webroot (www.webroot.com). I have run this software on three different computer with a variety of connections to the Internet, each system has run flawlessly once Spy Sweeper was installed. Another great feature of this software is that it comes with free tech support, is easy to install and use, and only costs 29.95 for a 1 year subscription (At the time of writing this article, Fry’s Electronics on Windward Parkway had the software on sale for $15). My favorite free software is Spyware Terminator, produced by Crawler (www.spywareterminator.com). This package provides real-time protection and many of the features of paid software for free. While this is great software for those of us on a budget, if you can muster up the cash, I highly recommend Spy Sweeper. Regardless of whether you pay for your protection or not, it is crucial that you leave no computer exposed. Remember that a computer that is connected to the Internet (whether you browse the Internet or not) can be infected within hours of being plugged in. So protect your asset and happy surfing!
Welcome!
Welcome to the Unleash Your Geek blog, My name is Brent Hollers and I teach high school Computer Systems at a local school. I have created this blog for the express purpose of educating individuals on computers, technology, and the internet. I hope this blog meets your needs. Please email me at coachhollers@gmail.com with ideas or suggestions. Thanks for checking out the blog!
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