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Computer Gift Ideas for Kids

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:33 +0000

The holidays are approaching and many retailers are starting their sales early this year because of the economic climate. With all this rush for bargains, now is probably a good idea to start coming up with ideas of what to get. If you happen to be looking for some gift ideas for the kids this year, check out my list of gift ideas for kids who like computers. It offers a range of PC related ideas for the budding artist, scientist or just someone who needs a PC.

PC Gifts for Kids

Computer Gift Ideas for Kids originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 09:00:33.

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Gifts for Apple PC Users

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:05 +0000

Apple computer users have a very different view of the world from PC users. Sure, they use their computers for the same general applications as those in the Windows world but they want to be different. As such, the peripherals and items that they use with their computers are also a bit different. If you happen to know someone who is an Apple computer users, check out my list of computer related gift ideas for possible holiday shopping suggestions.

Gifts for Apple PC Users

Gifts for Apple PC Users originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 09:00:05.

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Computer Deal of the Week

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:14 +0000

Image Courtesy ASUSTeK

Netbooks have become extremely popular mainly because of their extremely low cost. Since their release over a year ago, prices have steadily risen such that there are netbooks now as or even more expensive than budget laptops with more features. This week, NewEgg is offering an ASUS Eee PC SeaShell 1005HA-EU1X-BK netbook for under $300. This price range has typically been reserved for older models but the SeaShell is fairly recent. It has the typical netbook features of 10.1-inch screen, Atom processor, 1GB DDR2 memory, 160GB hard drive and Windows XP. This model has the bonus of faster 802.11b/g/n wireless but only comes with a VGA webcam and a smaller 3-cell battery for roughly 4 hours of running time. For more information check out my review of the 6-cell ASUS 1005HA netbook.

Disclaimer: All deals are those advertised by the retailer in question and may have rebates or other conditions of purchase for the products. Please be sure to read all disclaimers from the seller before purchasing.

Computer Deal of the Week originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 08:00:14.

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Laptop Memory Buyer's Guide

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:07 +0000

Image Courtesy Mark Kyrnin

Memory for laptops has become a bit more confusing than it has in the past. While memory sizes have increased such that it is less of an issue for the operating system, the type of memory and the maximum support memory are things to consider. If you have a laptop or are looking to purchase one, be sure to check out my laptop memory article explaining what to consider for your laptop's RAM.

Laptop Memory Buyer's Guide

Laptop Memory Buyer's Guide originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 08:00:07.

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Updated: Best Netbooks

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:01 +0000

Image Courtesy HP Inc.

After much anticipation, netbooks based on the NVIDIA ION platform are finally making it to market. With Intel's pushback of the next Atom platform until next spring, this is a much needed addition to the netbook market. This is especially important for those looking to get a netbook with additional graphics capabilities. In the coming weeks, I plan to have more detailed reviews on several models but I felt it was important to adjust my Best Netbooks list to reflect the changes in the market for anyone considering purchasing one for the holidays.

Best Netbook Laptops

Updated: Best Netbooks originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 10:00:01.

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Best Thin and Light Laptops

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:21 +0000

The thin and light notebook segment is rapidly growing thanks to dropping prices and improving technology. Processors and memory are faster, memory amounts have increased and even the graphics are now able to support Direct X 10. No longer is it necessary to lug around a 17-inch notebook to really have a desktop replacement. These traits make them some of the most popular laptops for both consumers and corporations. So, if you are thinking of a new laptop with a display between 14 and 16 inches, check out which laptops I think are the best currently available.

Best Thin and Light Notebooks

Best Thin and Light Laptops originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 09:00:21.

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Falcon Northwest Support Profile

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:52 +0000

Falcon Northwest has been a big player in the prestige desktop systems designed for PC gaming. They tend to make some of the best systems available, but they cost a fair amount as well. One of the big things consumers buying these systems get is the support. Falcon makes a big deal that they don't outsource their support. So what exactly does one get with a Falcon Northwest PC?

Falcon Northwest Support Profile

Included in the profile I list the various avenues that users have for support, some published ratings of the their product support, tips and advice. In addition, I'm posting a survey below and in the profile asking users for their opinion of Falcon Northwest. If you have used their support, please vote in the survey and share your experience.

How would you rate Falcon Northwest's support?

View Results

Falcon Northwest Support Profile originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 08:00:52.

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Best 27-Inch To 30-Inch LCDs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:52 +0000

Image Courtesy Dell Inc.

With HDTVs becoming extremely popular in the home, many people are looking for larger higher resolution screens to use for their computers. These 27-inch and higher displays can provide incredible high definition images for gaming, video or graphics work. Of course, they are also some of the most expensive components for a computer. So, if you are curious as to what the best models available are, check out which ones I feel are the Best 27 to 30-inch LCDs for various tasks and prices.

Best 27 to 30-inch LCD Monitors

Best 27-Inch To 30-Inch LCDs originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 10:00:52.

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Apple's Updated MacBook Pro 15

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:19 +0000

Image Courtesy Apple

Apple's aluminum unibody design MacBook Pro took the computer industry by storm last year with its unique design and high level of performance. The company is never content with their designs and makes frequent tweaks to the internal components over time to keep them up to date. This past summer, Apple made a few more design decisions to the MacBook Pro 15 than they usually do. Were these changes for the better or did they sacrifice features that users might want? Find out in my review of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 update.

Apple MacBook Pro 15 Laptop Review

Apple's Updated MacBook Pro 15 originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 09:00:19.

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Best 26-inch LCD Monitors

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:00:11 +0000

Image Courtesy ASUSTek

24-inch LCD monitors provide a very reasonably priced large display. They offer higher resolutions than the 22-inch displays without much of a price increase. The next real step up in monitor resolutions come from the 30-inch displays, but they are priced much higher than the average consumer is willing to pay. Enter the 26-inch LCD monitors to fill the gap between these to sizes. They offer the same resolution as the 24-inch panels but with a larger display area at a slightly higher price. So, if you want a reasonably priced large display, check out which I think are the Best 26-inch LCD Monitors for a variety of different tasks and prices.

Best 26-inch LCD Monitors

Best 26-inch LCD Monitors originally appeared on About.com PC Hardware / Reviews on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 10:00:11.

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