Memory

Memory is the key to an MP3 player. Therefore, the greater the memory, the better it is. You can store that many more songs and so on. There’s nothing like it!

Audio/Video Formats

If your player supports a number of audio and video formats, it’s a great value add, because you don’t have to bother looking for a software program that converts it to a compatible format. The audio formats include MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis and WAV, while the video formats include MPEG-1, MPEG-4, DivX, XviD and WMV. Also, remember, if the player has many audio equalizers and bands, the better acoustics it can offer. If it has a manual dial, that’s even better as well.

Functionality

Examine the number of features the MP3 player boasts of and then see if they match your needs. Often times, we end up buying something because it has everything we want, even though we tend not to use most of them. Some key functions that should help you make a decision are a text viewer, picture viewer, video player, FM radio and voice recorder.

Battery

Lithium ion batteries are better than AA Alkaline cells for a longer life. It’s always best to opt for a long battery life, because you don’t want your player to die down in the middle of an emotionally rousing number.

Value Adds

It’s the extra features that go a long way in helping you make your choice. Some of them include a systematic and user friendly playlist management feature that allows you to create a personalized playlist, as opposed to playing songs in a sequential or random order. The other important feature is the ability of the player to directly record from external sources using an audio or video line-in feature. Direct encoding allows you to record in MP3 format as well. And what’s more, some players allow you to read the saved lyrics on the display screen.

Listening Pleasure

Listen to fast and slow numbers and determine the sound quality. A bad experience here could mean a definite no! And while you’re at it, check the headphone quality as well. If you can hear all the musical instruments in the song, you are on to a good thing. But, if several musical elements sound muffled, it’s not only a bad headphone, but the MP3 player isn’t in good shape either.

Look and Feel

Every gadget is also a style statement. So, look for stylistic players that not only score on looks, but are also hardy and scratch resistant. The smaller and lighter they are, the better they will look.

Browsing Interface

Player interface is as important as the player itself. That means, jog dials and touch screens that facilitate easier browsing score over the others that are too cumbersome to handle. The best player for browsing is of course, Apple’s version.

Guaranteed Tenure

Some players carry a warranty of one year and some have three years. It’s better to go for a player that offers more security.

Get Your Money’s Worth

You have a certain budget and you want a few important things for your player. It could be stylish with a basic musical capability. It could be a great music player, even if you aren’t unduly concerned about the looks, etc. What you need to do is take a look at all the features offered by the player and combine those with its performance. Based on this, you should calculate whether or not the price justifies the features it offers.

Flash Drive vs. Hard Drive

Some players have flash based memory, while the others are hard drive based. The only difference is that while flash based players can only store a maximum of 8 GB worth of memory, the hard drive ones can store up to 80 GB. But, of course, they are a lot more bulkier than the flash based players. Importantly, look for a player that allows you to directly transfer files from USB devices, like digital cameras and flash drives. But, if you’re not the type to hook a player up to your computer very often, stay away from flash memory MP3 players. Otherwise, you’ll end up listening to the same tunes over and over again. MP3 CD players are the only portable audio players that don’t need to be connected to your computer in order to load songs to the memory.

And Finally…

Some of the good models available in the market include Cowon iAudio U3, Iriver E10, Iriver S10 M, Creative Zen Vision M, Cowon A2 and of course, the Apple iPod. Choose the player that makes you happy as you listen to your tunes. Fancy features, unknown buttons and dancing icons on the screen make for fun bells and whistles, but if the player is too complicated to figure out, you might not love it as much as you should. Choose for yourself. Your happiness is all that matters!

Tip 1: Go Easy on a Paper Jam

In case of a paper jam, never force the paper out. This can not only damage the printer, but also leave bits of torn paper inside, which could cause harm later on. To get the paper out smoothly, most printers have a hatch attached at the back that can be easily removed. Once this hatch is removed, you will gain access to the paper wheels and you should be able to see the jammed paper to get it out.

Tip 2: Avoid Shutting Down the Printer in an Improper Manner

Turn off your printer when not in use. This can prevent drying of ink and it also helps to keep the printer functioning at an optimum level. Remember to use the printer’s power button and then remove the plug if need be. Don’t turn the power off if you are in the middle of something.

Tip 3: Avoid Cheap Toner/Ink Cartridges

Often times, we are tempted to use either compatible, refilled or remanufactured ink/toner cartridges, which is something we all should avoid. That is like buying a compatible spare part for a car instead of buying the original parts. It may somewhat perform the same function as the original, but it would not last as long and it could affect the performance of the vehicle itself. In addition, we need to look at how such companies manufacture their products. In the case of remanufacturing cartridges, what actually happens is this: the manufacturer would first purchase empty toner cartridges from end users. They would then strip the toner cartridge to its bare minimum and they would then reassemble them after a little bit of cleaning. The area of specific concern here is the toner drum. There is a set lifespan for this item and no amount of cleaning would extend it.

Lifespan of Cartridges

The lifespan of an ink cartridge varies, depending on how often and how much you print. Light users might replace their ink two or three times a year, while heavier users may go through cartridges every few months (cartridges left sitting for a year or more may dry out as well). If you want a more concrete answer on how many pages you’ll get out of a cartridge, consult the manufacturer for the rating on a specific model printer and cartridge. A typical answer will be something along the lines of 350 pages at a five percent coverage. That means a cartridge can print 350 pages with an average of a five percent surface area inked on each page.
The lifespan of a toner cartridge varies greatly, depending on the type of laser printer you have. Cheaper toner cartridges cost under $100 and output 2,500 to 5,000 pages. More expensive toner cartridges are meant for printers that do a lot of printing (a very common reason to have a laser printer in the first place) and will yield tens of thousands of pages. Some of the most expensive, heavy duty cartridges will even yield hundreds of thousands of pages. It just depends on what you buy!

And finally

The lifespan of a printer depends on the sturdiness of the machine, how much you use it and how well you maintain it. Printers will eventually fail, but some will last nearly forever. Take good care of your printer and it will take care of you, for a much longer time. And one more thing: to ensure your printer has a long lifespan, you should not base your purchase solely on its speed or its price. The monthly duty cycle indicates the maximum number of pages the printer is designed to produce. Buying a printer that has a duty cycle that is two to three times your expected print volume will help ensure its longevity as well.
Happy printing!

1. Power points

When purchasing a UPS, make sure the power rating is right for your equipment. If you buy one that is rated too low, you might run out of juice before you can power down. Most UPS devices are designed to provide 10 minutes of power. When selecting a UPS, you need to look at the VA rating — or amps multiplied by voltage (120v). The amp rating should be listed on your computer. Add up the VA ratings of everything you will connect to the UPS, then purchase a UPS with a VA rating 20-25% higher. If you are a home PC user, look for a UPS with a 500-700 VA rating.

2. Backup time

Don’t expect your UPS to keep your PC running all day. Most UPSes are engineered to provide you a backup time of around 10 to 20 minutes. What they essentially do is save your work when there is a power outage and avoid an abrupt shutdown that could mess up your computer settings. Choose the UPS that meets your backup time demands.

3. Other features of a UPS

When you are buying a UPS, ask the vendor about more features than just power. This will help you in finding the UPS which has that one additional option that will help you in your buying decision. Of course, the best feature is Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) which isolates your PC from voltage fluctuations that lead to computer disturbances. A UPS with AVR conditions the incoming power before being fed to the PC’s Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS). Most UPSes also automatically initiate a scheduled shutdown sequence when the power is lost, after saving your work, to prevent damage to the computer hardware.

4. Warranty

Obtain a guarantee before buying a UPS. Undue delays in replacements can affect business. Some vendors offer onsite warranties, where they replace the batteries at your place. If you are planning to use the UPS at work, go for a longer warranty term.

5. Don’t compare SMPS and UPS rating

Even if the SMPS carries a high rating, your UPS needn’t be competitive. A 600 VA rating on a UPS should be fine for most systems. So don’t go on a VA shopping frenzy. Relax.

6. Battery replacement

The general rule is three years. But if you are experiencing low backup times more frequently, you could get the battery replaced immediately if it’s under warranty. If you are facing no problems, expect your battery to work for three years. Its advisable to buy replacement battery cartridges while you are buying the UPS. These cartridges will breathe new life into UPS systems suffering from expired or weak internal batteries. They cost about $30.

7. Power up

Contrary to the myth, its perfectly fine to leave the main switch on even when you are no longer working and the computer is shut down. However, its best to pair your UPS with a voltage stabilizer for additional safety.

8. Software reports

The software provided with the UPS is not always accurate with its reports. So don’t listen to it when it says your battery needs to be replaced even though you’ve never experienced low backup times. These faulty reports shouldn’t worry you because they may be trying to get you to purchase the company’s product more frequently (a common problem with print cartridges.) The software is good at its essential function of shutting down the PC properly and saving your work, but you may be the best option to determine whether its time to change the battery.

9. Usage tips and tricks

Do not overload the UPS by, for example, connecting external devices like the printer, scanner and the fax machine. NEVER plug a printer into the battery backup system. To optimize the charge of your batteries, you should discharge them completely at least once a month. And lastly, make sure the UPS is properly grounded all the time to prevent any electrical disasters.

10. Compare the prices

Standby UPSs are available in the range of 300VA to 500VA for office use, and up to 2KVA to 3KVA for workstations and large servers. Inexpensive standby UPSs ranging in price from $50 to $125 are used by millions of users of personal computers all over the world. Some of them include brands like Belkin, American Power Conversion (APC), Cyber Power, Data Shield, EFI, NCR, SAFE, Pacific Power, Sola and UP Sonic.

Conclusion

Remember, there are two kinds of UPS systems. The Standby Power System (SPS) and Online UPS System. If you are a home user, go for the relatively cheaper SPS. The price of an online UPS is three to five times that of a standby UPS with the same power rating. For servers, buy an online UPS (online means outgoing power is always drawn from the battery). Expect to pay between $150 and $1,000 for an online UPS. The higher the VA rating, the more you’ll pay. You might also want to consider buying one with advanced-battery features. These features include intelligent-battery management, battery-replacement indicator, and hot-swappable user-replaceable batteries.
UPS is the easiest way to protect your hardware and data. Many people think a surge protector suffices (an electrical device which includes a fuse which does not allow a power surge to harm sensitive devices such as computers), but actually they only offer limited protection against power spikes. For a better and more thorough protection, you need a UPS. It isn’t intended to power you through a blackout though. For that, you would need a generator. Rather, a UPS will let you save your work and power down safely.

This free service for files under 100MB is quite simple to use and is accessible right from the homepage with no need to register in order send a file under 20 MB. If you register and opt for a free Lite Account, you could send files up to 100 MB with a 1 GB monthly download limit. Here are the basic steps:

1. To send a file, enter the recipient email addresses and an optional message.
2. Attach your file and click “Send It”.
3. Your recipients receive an email that lets them immediately click and download the file.

If you want to send multiple files up to 2GB each take advantage of several other features such as ad-free usage, there are several pay-per-use accounts available.

Windows offers a simple solution. Go to “Start” and click on “Run” and type “winmsd” to access a program. This gives you basic information regarding the processor type, BIOS version and boot device. It also displays the IRQs and the possible I/O conflicts and Internet Settings. This way, many computer-related problems can be taken care of with just the click of a mouse.

Note: This tip is intended for you “tweakers” out there. If you are not comfortable making hardware changes, don’t if everything is working.

Most of the time, noise occurs when the audio output of your DVD is connected directly to the line-in of the sound card. It could be that the sound port connection is interfering with the default coupling through the IDE cable. This leads to feedback of the audio signal at the sound card output. To avoid this interference of the audio signal, simply remove the audio connector inside the case (the one between the burner and the sound card). This will take care of the noise and you can resume your work without a bother.

With the omniscient Internet around, you don’t have to worry about getting entertained and informed at the same time. There are several websites that offer a lot for the discerning reader. Here are a few culled from the world wide web that could provide enough fodder for some good natured fun and for killing time in style.
PS: Just one statutory warning. What’s cool to us maybe uncool to you. Enough babble, now pillage forth.
Happy surfing!
http://www.dumblaws.com/
Dumb, dumber, dumbest. You will have a good time figuring that out here for sure. Which his exactly what this website stands for. Many of the laws on this site have been verified, but many have been copied from sources which do not include law citations. The laws have been taken from newsgroups, websites, city governments, and visitors to the site. We wouldn’t recommend using these laws as evidence in court, unless you’d like the judge to laugh you into jail.
If you’d like to send in a law (remember: what you say may be published for the entertainment of others!), e-mail the guys at dumblaws.com, now in design revision 6.0.
It’s tough to believe this site has been around since 1998, but they are still alive and laughing. You could choose to see your company’s banners across the top or down the side of Dumb Laws or you could help them with information. The website promoters are always looking for explanations behind the laws they have posted. If you happen to know why a law in your area exists, be sure to tell them. Like in Provo, why throwing snowballs prompt the authorities to slap you a $50 fine or why women are not allowed to swear in Logan.
The laws only get weirder. Here’s how.

• No one may walk down the street carrying a paper bag containing a violin – Salt Lake County
• It is illegal not to drink milk – Utah 
• Not only is it illegal to have sex with the lights on, one may not have sex in any position other than missionary – Virginia 
• Any marriage where either of the parties is an idiot or lunatic is null and void – Rhode Island 
• A man is not allowed to run around with a shaved chest – Omaha 
• Kisses may last for no more than five minutes – Iowa 
• Within the city limits, a man may not wink at any woman he does not know – Ottumwa 
• Women may go topless in public, providing it is not being used as a business – New York 
• It is illegal for a woman to be on the street wearing body-hugging clothing – New York 
• It is illegal for a liquor store to sell cold soft drinks – Indiana
• If someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your commode, you must let them enter – UK

Not because it’s another social networking group that allows me to show off my photographs and say ‘hi’ to all the beautiful strangers roaming around the web, but because it’s better than all the other social networking groups that I have been a member of (Ryze, Orkut, Linkedin, Hi5). Importantly, Facebook takes networking to the next level: it allows for any third party to make an application for Facebook. This way, the user is more than benefitted. There are newer applications every other day… from checking your astro compatibility with a fellow user to naming your Top Friends on your profile to plugging your latest blog posts and showing off your virtual book shelf.

The list is endless and that is what is so good about Facebook. You are forever discovering newer ways and therefore compelled to keep coming back to it every hour, on the hour. It can only get more frequent than that if you are working online like I do.

So here are the reasons why I think you should migrate to Facebook.

Making contacts is easier

Unlike its more notorious sister, Orkut, this site has none of the controversies associated with it. One reason being there is no scrapbook that can be misused by the malcontents crowding the web. And unlike Linkedin where you really need to know the person before you initiate a contact, over here, you can send a message along with your ‘friend request’ and make new friends.

Mature crowd

Unlike Hi5, Facebook has more mature users. By mature, I don’t mean 30-plus people but people who are responsible and real. Ofcourse, there are a few who still use pictures of celebrities as their profile photos in much the similar way as Orkut, you can separate the wheat from the chaff if you are really in the know. For example, why will Abhishek Bachchan be in the friend’s list that is only full of other non-celebs? Why will Sameera Reddy be friends with school kids in the US when she’s more at home with businessmen, models and actors?

Easy interactivity

Because of its relatively ‘respectful’ platform, you can be friends with just about everybody, your colleagues, your superiors, your buddies, your friends’ friends and so on. What’s more, you can even use Facebook to just say ‘Hi’ to a person you’ve not spoken to or met in a long time. Just that ‘Hi’ keeps you in the social circuit. And that is what is good about Facebook, particularly if you have all your contacts out here. In fact, the first rule I would set for anyone joining Facebook is to get all their trusted contacts on to this site, so you can have a seamless interaction with them instead of hopping on multiple platforms.

Aesthetics

One look at its blue and white front-end and you will be bowled. The layout is neat, uncluttered, spacey, easy on the eye, reader-friendly and very addictive. You will want to keep staring at your page, your photos, your posts, your gyaan…

Convergence

The best part of Facebook is its idea of convergence. If anyone visits me, I can direct them to my photo album on Flickr, my blog on Sulekha, my friend’s blog on WordPress and many more. Agreed, the other sites also offer you to post your links, but over here, you can show a preview of your links to get the readers hooked. And how? As soon as you post a new jotting on your blog, the new headline appears 24 hours later on Facebook. You can also set the number of blog posts you want displayed on your profile.

Vicarious pleasure

The ‘news feed’ is the best part of Facebook. It keeps a tab on all that your friends and friends of friends are doing on the site. From X sending a beer to Y to W feeling happy about X and so on. What’s even better is how you can even read the messages and applications that are being downloaded and used by your friends. This not only makes you aware of so many applications on Facebook but also makes you take pride in knowing that you know all that is happening out here. If someone changes things on her profile, you will know. If someone uploads new pictures, you will know. If someone writes on the other’s public wall, you will not only know that but can also read it in your ‘news feed’. From the way it’s functioning, it should be renamed ‘The scoop’. Before you think it’s violating someone’s privacy, well it’s not. Because your private messages aren’t read, only the public messages.

The other advantages of Facebook:

1. Great to contact people for free unlike Ryze and Linkedin that charge you a fee
2. Best way to kill time – beats all sites hollow with its interactive elements. Beware.
3. Great way to find long lost friends from around the globe

And finally…

Should we all migrate to Facebook? A resounding yes to that. But what about other sites, you ask? Well, keep your primary communication confined to this site, but no need to delete your profiles on the others. The more area coverage, the better is the communication. Treat social networking sites as your ears. The more ears you have, the better connected you will be.

Happy networking!

Statutory warning: People can spy on you if you don’t set privacy. This is the first thing you should do when you sign up.

1. Go to Start > Run > regedit. Click Ok.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCALMACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\AboutURLs.
3. Select Edit > New > String Value.
4. Change the name to what you want your shortcut to be. Try “tips” for example.
5. Double click on the new entry name.
6. Enter a URL for the value. Try “http://www.pcdailytips.com“.
7. Now open IE and enter “about:” + your shortcut name. Try: “about:tips”.

Now you can create your own shorthand shortcuts.

While digital camera writes are normal operations, there are a few things you can do to keep the number of write operations performed on you flash cards down:

• Try to use flash memory cards only for storing data, but never modifying it. For example, if you edit pictures or music files, copy the file to your hard disk, do your changes and then write it back to your memory card.
• Delete the data on the flash card only if the storage medium is filled up and cannot store new data anymore. This ensures write operations are performed on different sectors and not the same sectors over and over again.

While it is not essential to follow the above tips (flash memory is pretty cheap), it is just something to keep in mind to help preserve the life of your memory card.