PCMech » Uncategorized http://www.pcmech.com Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:57:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en ©PCMECH.COM drisley@pcmech.com (PCMECH.COM) drisley@pcmech.com(PCMECH.COM) 1440 PCMECH.COM's David Risley does short segments covering tech news, tips and commentary. Computers, Web 2.0, Social Media, Mobile. PCMECH.COM PCMECH.COM drisley@pcmech.com No no http://www.pcmech.com/design/pcmechradio_boxlogo_small.jpg PCMech http://www.pcmech.com 144 144 Creating Your Own Forum (Web Sites) http://www.pcmech.com/article/creating-your-own-forum-web-sites/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/creating-your-own-forum-web-sites/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:34:34 +0000 Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/?p=7696 So you want to create your own forum. You’ve seen others (maybe the PCMech forums?) and thought “Hey that’s a good idea, I could use one of those.” After doing some quick research you probably found out that setting one up is a huge pain in the rump.

Not to worry, here’s the 101 on how to get yourself a forum. Setting up a forum on your website is a great way to provide some interactivity to your site which keeps people coming back for more.

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]]> So you want to create your own forum. You’ve seen others (maybe the PCMech forums?) and thought “Hey that’s a good idea, I could use one of those.” After doing some quick research you probably found out that setting one up is a huge pain in the rump.

Not to worry, here’s the 101 on how to get yourself a forum. Setting up a forum on your website is a great way to provide some interactivity to your site which keeps people coming back for more.

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]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/creating-your-own-forum-web-sites/feed/ How To Get A Computer Job With No Experience http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-to-get-a-computer-job-with-no-experience/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-to-get-a-computer-job-with-no-experience/#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:54:21 +0000 Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/?p=7680 There’s the old catch-22 phrase “You need a job to get experience; you need experience to get a job.” Is it true you have to go thru years of college and certifications and internships just to get some work?

No.

In fact you can get decent work in computers armed with nothing but a high school diploma and the willingness to work.

If you think you’re good with computers and want a job now, follow the instructions below and you’ll be working fast.

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]]> There’s the old catch-22 phrase “You need a job to get experience; you need experience to get a job.” Is it true you have to go thru years of college and certifications and internships just to get some work?

No.

In fact you can get decent work in computers armed with nothing but a high school diploma and the willingness to work.

If you think you’re good with computers and want a job now, follow the instructions below and you’ll be working fast.

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/how-to-get-a-computer-job-with-no-experience/feed/ Behind The Scenes of PCMech LIVE http://www.pcmech.com/article/behind-the-scenes-of-pcmech-live/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/behind-the-scenes-of-pcmech-live/#comments Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:42:57 +0000 David Risley http://www.pcmech.com/?p=7570 [PREMIUM] - For our premium members, I have worked up what ended up being a 20 minute, behind the scenes look at how we put PCMech LIVE together. This video will show the hardware being used, how we have it all connected to each other, then the software used behind the scenes.

We get asked all the time when doing our live webcasts how we put them together. We get asked, especially, how we capture the IRC chatroom and show it on our webcast on Ustream. This video will show the entire thing.

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

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]]> [PREMIUM] - For our premium members, I have worked up what ended up being a 20 minute, behind the scenes look at how we put PCMech LIVE together. This video will show the hardware being used, how we have it all connected to each other, then the software used behind the scenes.

We get asked all the time when doing our live webcasts how we put them together. We get asked, especially, how we capture the IRC chatroom and show it on our webcast on Ustream. This video will show the entire thing.

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

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]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/behind-the-scenes-of-pcmech-live/feed/ Vastly Extend The Functionality Of IE7 http://www.pcmech.com/article/vastly-extend-the-functionality-of-ie7/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/vastly-extend-the-functionality-of-ie7/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:32:26 +0000 Jason Faulkner http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6889 If Internet Explorer 7 is your browser of choice, but you find it lacking the functionality Firefox has… don’t get jealous, get even with IE7Pro.

IE7Pro is a free add-on which adds loads of functionality. From their web site:

IE7Pro includes Tabbed Browsing Management, Spell Check, Inline Search, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher, Webpage Capturer, AD Blocker, Flash Block, Greasemonkey like User Scripts platform, User Plug-ins, MiniDM, Google sponsored search,IE Faster and many more power packed features.

Those familiar with Firefox’s functionality will probably recognize that this add-on nearly levels the playing field with ’standard’ functionality. Without a doubt, this is a no-brainer download for IE7 users.

]]> If Internet Explorer 7 is your browser of choice, but you find it lacking the functionality Firefox has… don’t get jealous, get even with IE7Pro.

IE7Pro is a free add-on which adds loads of functionality. From their web site:

IE7Pro includes Tabbed Browsing Management, Spell Check, Inline Search, Super Drag Drop, Crash Recovery, Proxy Switcher, Mouse Gesture, Tab History Browser, Web Accelerator, User Agent Switcher, Webpage Capturer, AD Blocker, Flash Block, Greasemonkey like User Scripts platform, User Plug-ins, MiniDM, Google sponsored search,IE Faster and many more power packed features.

Those familiar with Firefox’s functionality will probably recognize that this add-on nearly levels the playing field with ’standard’ functionality. Without a doubt, this is a no-brainer download for IE7 users.

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/vastly-extend-the-functionality-of-ie7/feed/ Installing Software, Part Two http://www.pcmech.com/article/installing-software-part-two/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/installing-software-part-two/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:24:09 +0000 Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/?p=7367 This chapter is a video presentation.

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]]> This chapter is a video presentation.

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

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]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/installing-software-part-two/feed/ Day 8: Buying and Selling Products Online http://www.pcmech.com/article/day-8-buying-and-selling-products-online/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/day-8-buying-and-selling-products-online/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:50:59 +0000 David Risley http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6693 Buying low and selling high. It has been a basic concept of business since the beginning of time. And the concept doesn’t change when moved to the Internet. Most of the sellers on Ebay are making their money doing exactly this. They buy a product at one price and then resell it on Ebay at a higher price. Their profit is the difference.

Buying and selling products online isn’t exactly the easiest way to make a buck online, but it is one of the easier ones to grasp for people not completely “jived in” with the Internet.

ecommerce The first step is to find a product to sell. This entails doing some research online to find a product people would be willing to buy. You might first start out with a product you produce yourself because this would give you the highest profit margin. But, if you do not have your own product, you would do that research to find your market. You can do this in a few different ways:

  1. Keyword research. Use a service like Wordtracker to see what people are searching for. If people are searching it, they’d probably buy it.
  2. Use Google Trends to track usage of particular keywords and see the trend of popularity. See a spike? It might be worth a look as a potential market.
  3. Tap into social media and see what problems people are having. A site like 43Things might provide you guidance into things people want to accomplish. Could be an idea for a product.

Once you’ve found a market, you either create a product to sell or you buy one. Creating the product is an entire body of knowledge on it’s own. Buying the product means you need to find a supplier.

If you have a specific product in mind, you might try going direct to the manufacturer and seeing if you can buy from them. Another option might be a site like Worldwide Brands which acts as a database for valid resellers and will help you sort through real suppliers and middle men. You don’t want to buy from middle men because all they are doing is jacking up the price you pay.

If you can drop-ship, I would recommend you do so. Drop-shipping means that you make the sale and the supplier will ship directly to your customer directly as if it is coming from you. This means you will not need to maintain inventory - a huge plus.

Lastly, you will need to decide whether to set up shop with your own ecommerce store, on Ebay, or a mix of both.

]]> Buying low and selling high. It has been a basic concept of business since the beginning of time. And the concept doesn’t change when moved to the Internet. Most of the sellers on Ebay are making their money doing exactly this. They buy a product at one price and then resell it on Ebay at a higher price. Their profit is the difference.

Buying and selling products online isn’t exactly the easiest way to make a buck online, but it is one of the easier ones to grasp for people not completely “jived in” with the Internet.

ecommerce The first step is to find a product to sell. This entails doing some research online to find a product people would be willing to buy. You might first start out with a product you produce yourself because this would give you the highest profit margin. But, if you do not have your own product, you would do that research to find your market. You can do this in a few different ways:

  1. Keyword research. Use a service like Wordtracker to see what people are searching for. If people are searching it, they’d probably buy it.
  2. Use Google Trends to track usage of particular keywords and see the trend of popularity. See a spike? It might be worth a look as a potential market.
  3. Tap into social media and see what problems people are having. A site like 43Things might provide you guidance into things people want to accomplish. Could be an idea for a product.

Once you’ve found a market, you either create a product to sell or you buy one. Creating the product is an entire body of knowledge on it’s own. Buying the product means you need to find a supplier.

If you have a specific product in mind, you might try going direct to the manufacturer and seeing if you can buy from them. Another option might be a site like Worldwide Brands which acts as a database for valid resellers and will help you sort through real suppliers and middle men. You don’t want to buy from middle men because all they are doing is jacking up the price you pay.

If you can drop-ship, I would recommend you do so. Drop-shipping means that you make the sale and the supplier will ship directly to your customer directly as if it is coming from you. This means you will not need to maintain inventory - a huge plus.

Lastly, you will need to decide whether to set up shop with your own ecommerce store, on Ebay, or a mix of both.

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/day-8-buying-and-selling-products-online/feed/ Networking Basics http://www.pcmech.com/article/introduction-to-computer-networking-networking-basics/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/introduction-to-computer-networking-networking-basics/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:39:00 +0000 Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6899 Networking has a reputation for being a complicated topic. Many people can work on their PCs all day long but throw their hands up in frustration when it comes to networking. This subject brings technical types to the point of calling their neighborhood geek to the house with the order “just make it work”. Many times, this frustration is born out of simply misunderstanding the basics of networking. So, in this section, I will explain the basics of networking in simple terms.

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]]> Networking has a reputation for being a complicated topic. Many people can work on their PCs all day long but throw their hands up in frustration when it comes to networking. This subject brings technical types to the point of calling their neighborhood geek to the house with the order “just make it work”. Many times, this frustration is born out of simply misunderstanding the basics of networking. So, in this section, I will explain the basics of networking in simple terms.

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/introduction-to-computer-networking-networking-basics/feed/ What is a Blog? http://www.pcmech.com/article/what-is-a-blog/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/what-is-a-blog/#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:15:45 +0000 David Risley http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6448 In this video (and the first part of our series), I will introduce the concept of a blog and why it matters.

Video length: 8:37

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

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]]> In this video (and the first part of our series), I will introduce the concept of a blog and why it matters.

Video length: 8:37

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

Please Login or Register to read the rest of this article. Premium Membership required.

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/what-is-a-blog/feed/ Links to Reviews For May 28-30 http://www.pcmech.com/article/links-to-reviews-for-may-28-30/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/links-to-reviews-for-may-28-30/#comments Fri, 30 May 2008 14:13:05 +0000 Sara http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6283 Hiper 880W Double Header Power Supply
“Recently, I took a look at the Hiper Type M 580W power supply, and gave it a less than stunning review. Well, it turns out that the 580W unit’s bigger brothers, the Type R II and Type M 880W models, took exception to that; asking me to pick on someone my own size: namely, them.”

Asus P5Q Deluxe motherboard
“…It’s raised the bar massively for what mainstream should be compared to the previous generation, yet in almost every area it’s still left us wanting more. Its hardware features are innovative and daring, but we find ourselves rhetorically questioning “would I actually use it though?” If yes, then jump on it like it was made of gold. Asus has proved that its P45 P5Q Deluxe is a step up from P35, and almost emulates X48 but for far less money: it has our vote for this reason alone.”
Pentax PocketJet 3 Plus Bluetooth
“The PocketJet 3 is pricey and prints only on special paper, but it’s more convenient than a portable inkjet if you need to print black text in out-of-the-way places. If you need a portable greyscale printer to carry on a business trip, or find yourself increasingly wanting to print documents face to face with customers (such as invoices, purchase orders and so on), the Pentax PocketJet 3 Plus may fit the bill. But with its £499 price tag and no paper feeder for letter-size sheets, you’re paying a premium for portability.”

]]> Hiper 880W Double Header Power Supply
“Recently, I took a look at the Hiper Type M 580W power supply, and gave it a less than stunning review. Well, it turns out that the 580W unit’s bigger brothers, the Type R II and Type M 880W models, took exception to that; asking me to pick on someone my own size: namely, them.”

Asus P5Q Deluxe motherboard
“…It’s raised the bar massively for what mainstream should be compared to the previous generation, yet in almost every area it’s still left us wanting more. Its hardware features are innovative and daring, but we find ourselves rhetorically questioning “would I actually use it though?” If yes, then jump on it like it was made of gold. Asus has proved that its P45 P5Q Deluxe is a step up from P35, and almost emulates X48 but for far less money: it has our vote for this reason alone.”
Pentax PocketJet 3 Plus Bluetooth
“The PocketJet 3 is pricey and prints only on special paper, but it’s more convenient than a portable inkjet if you need to print black text in out-of-the-way places. If you need a portable greyscale printer to carry on a business trip, or find yourself increasingly wanting to print documents face to face with customers (such as invoices, purchase orders and so on), the Pentax PocketJet 3 Plus may fit the bill. But with its £499 price tag and no paper feeder for letter-size sheets, you’re paying a premium for portability.”

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/links-to-reviews-for-may-28-30/feed/ Links to Reviews for May 21-23 http://www.pcmech.com/article/links-to-reviews-for-may-21-23/ http://www.pcmech.com/article/links-to-reviews-for-may-21-23/#comments Sat, 24 May 2008 21:45:44 +0000 Sara http://www.pcmech.com/?p=6238 Eagle Tech N and I Series HDD Enclosures
“You may have seen some Eagle Tech products while shopping the online e-tailers. They certainly offer some attractive prices, especially their power supplies. But Eagle has a fairly wide selection of gear, from chassis to speakers, power supplies to external storage. Today I have for review two of their hard drive enclosures, the latest N and I series USB attached storage.”

Desktop CPU Comparison Guide
“There are so many CPU models that it has become quite impossible to keep up with the different models or even remember their specifications.

Therefore, we decided to compile this guide to provide an easy reference for those who are interested in comparing the specifications of the various desktop CPUs in the market, as well as those already obsolescent or obsolete.

Currently covering 647 desktop CPUs, this comprehensive comparison will allow you to easily compare up to 18 different specifications for each and every CPU.”
XPSP2 vs XPSP3 Performance Comparison
” So for my own purposes I decided to run a bunch of tests to see if there was any real differences, after all Benchmark and testing software is designed to pick up very small imperceptible differences in things that we normally wouldn’t notice. We wouldn’t notice a few nanoseconds or milliseconds most likely but the software will as that’s what it’s for, to measure things like that. So I ran SiSoft Sandra, Cinebench, 3dmark06, SuperPi Mod 1.5 and TmpgeNC before and after the upgrade to SP3, I decided instead of just keeping it all to myself, why not share the results, and well there is a difference between SP2 and SP3 and it’s a mixed bag of results really, in some cases SP2 is better and in others SP3 is, but there is obviously something going on, something changed and I’m not sure if it was for the better…”

]]> Eagle Tech N and I Series HDD Enclosures
“You may have seen some Eagle Tech products while shopping the online e-tailers. They certainly offer some attractive prices, especially their power supplies. But Eagle has a fairly wide selection of gear, from chassis to speakers, power supplies to external storage. Today I have for review two of their hard drive enclosures, the latest N and I series USB attached storage.”

Desktop CPU Comparison Guide
“There are so many CPU models that it has become quite impossible to keep up with the different models or even remember their specifications.

Therefore, we decided to compile this guide to provide an easy reference for those who are interested in comparing the specifications of the various desktop CPUs in the market, as well as those already obsolescent or obsolete.

Currently covering 647 desktop CPUs, this comprehensive comparison will allow you to easily compare up to 18 different specifications for each and every CPU.”
XPSP2 vs XPSP3 Performance Comparison
” So for my own purposes I decided to run a bunch of tests to see if there was any real differences, after all Benchmark and testing software is designed to pick up very small imperceptible differences in things that we normally wouldn’t notice. We wouldn’t notice a few nanoseconds or milliseconds most likely but the software will as that’s what it’s for, to measure things like that. So I ran SiSoft Sandra, Cinebench, 3dmark06, SuperPi Mod 1.5 and TmpgeNC before and after the upgrade to SP3, I decided instead of just keeping it all to myself, why not share the results, and well there is a difference between SP2 and SP3 and it’s a mixed bag of results really, in some cases SP2 is better and in others SP3 is, but there is obviously something going on, something changed and I’m not sure if it was for the better…”

]]> http://www.pcmech.com/article/links-to-reviews-for-may-21-23/feed/