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Have you ever felt that your “desktop” space on your computer was too small? Have you ever wanted a larger monitor but did not want to pay the high costs for one large LCD monitor and the hassle of getting rid of your old monitor? A dual monitor setup may be the solution to your problem. Imagine doubling your computer workspace and having the freedom to keep multiple windows maximized and in view. These are just a few benefits of a dual monitor setup.

Many software developers and others in the Technology industry have known the positive effects that a dual monitor setup provides. Now, the lower price points of LCD monitors and better operating system support has allowed consumers to easily add an extra monitor (or two!) to their existing computer setup.

Whether you are a student, home user, or a business owner, a dual monitor setup benefits every type of computer user. For students, they will be able to have their word processor maximized and open on one monitor to write a paper while having a web browser open with research topics open on the other. This allows the student to save time and become more efficient by eliminating the need to switch between windows and possibly lose track of where they were in either document. This scenario holds true for other users as well, keeping email clients, web browsers, and other frequently used applications open AND visible at the same time, allowing you to quickly switch between them.

A dual monitor setup is available if you work on a laptop or desktop. An additional monitor can be added to anyone’s current setup. A 19- or 20-inch flat-screen LCD monitor is available for less than $200 at your local electronics store.

Call E-Geniuses today to setup an appointment to maximize your computer efficiency and install a dual monitor setup. For more information regarding this or any other computer related issue, feel free to contact an E-Geniuses Technician at (877) My-Genius or email info@e-geniuses.com.

This is a short writeup about certain hardware upgrades and how they benefit you. Many users do not understand the difference between memory and hard drive space. They don’t know what a faster CPU will do for them; they think the higher the MHz the better (which is true to a certain extent). What mix of memory, hard drive space, processing power, and graphics processing power will suit your needs best. Let’s find out.

Memory is added to the computer, look like computer chips, and are called RAM, Random Access Memory. The more memory installed on the computer, the more concurrent tasks your computer can run simultaneously without slowing down too much. In order to future-proof this article, I will not state specific amounts of RAM, but it is safe to say that this is one of the most cost-effective ways to make the computer respond faster. If your computer is fast when you first start it up, but slows down after you start opening up programs, you probably need more ram. I will explain why more memory/RAM will make the computer snappier, it has to do with the next section on hard drives.

Hard drive “space” or “disk space” is often confused with memory. It can be confusing because they are both measured in terms of bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes etc. The difference is that hard drives are made of disks that spin (think record player, cd player,) at an extremely fast rate. Although they can access data quickly, they are slow in comparison to the access speed of RAM which have no moving parts. When a computer does not have enough RAM, the computer resort to using the hard drive as “virtual RAM”. This slows down the computer because it is no longer using RAM, but instead the mechanical hard drive. This may even cause the computer to lock up. Hard drives are made for permanent storage, not temporary storage. If you plan on storing lots of music, movies, pictures and documents, you want to get more hard drive storage space.

The CPU, is the central processing unit. When computers say “Intel Inside” or AMD, it’s referring to the maker of the CPU. It is no longer true that the higher the Megahertz/Gigahertz the better because some processors are more effective even when it has a lower clock speed. Multiple core CPU’s actually have a few processors on the same chip. The question is which one is right for you? Typically, you will need a more powerful processor when you are using your computer for intensive applications such as video editing, music editing, photo editing and gaming. If you plan on just using your computer for basic computing, then you don’t need the extra power. Just keep in mind that what might be the top of the line now might be the budget line in a few years and what might be budget line now might be obsolete then. I think it is a good idea to invest in a higher end computer now if you plan on keeping it for a few years. I can only recommend the lower end computers to those with really tight budgets.

As far as graphics cards, it used to be true that you only needed a powerful card if you were gaming. Now operating systems are requiring more graphics processing power to process the system’s transparent windows and motion effects. Also, if you’re interested in playing HD content, you will need a better graphics card. Again, if you’re a hardcore gamer, you will want to get the best video card you can afford; for basic computing, just get what operating system requires.

If you’ve ever wanted to stream your music collection and online radio stations through your home stereo system or have had the urge to find some new music but didn’t know where to start, E-Geniuses has some suggestions.

Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. Easily create custom web radio stations, and listen to full songs for free and without commercial interruptions.

For starters, just visit www.pandora.com and fill in an artist and/or song that you enjoy listening to. Pandora will analyze aspects of the song (up to 400 attributes!) and play songs that consist of similar musical qualities. To customize your radio station further, Pandora allows you to assign a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" which it will take into account for future music selections, thus creating a truly custom radio station for you.

Now imagine streaming your custom radio stations in addition to the music library you already have all throughout your home. E-Geniuses can configure your home stereo and wireless network with Logitech’s Squeezebox player to stream the music through your speakers. With the Squeezebox, internet music streaming services are even available when your computer is turned off.

I predict that 2008 will be the year of the ultraportable computer. In the last newsletter we featured the Asus EEE PC, a 2lb., 7" ultraportable laptop. This month’s feature is the latest ultraportable from Apple… the Macbook Air. The price of the Macbook Air is $1799 while the Asus is $349. Here are some features that justify the price difference.

Apple claims to have made the world’s thinnest notebook at only .76 inches at its thickest point. It weighs in at around 3 lbs. and features a 13.3" screen and a full-sized backlit keyboard. The oversized touchpad shares most of the multi-touch functions with the iPhone. With its built-in battery, Apple claims a battery life of 5 hrs. There is one USB port, a headphone jack and a micro-DVI slot for connecting to an external monitor. It has a 1.6-1.8Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2GB of RAM and an 80Gb hard drive. It also sports a built-in iSight camera. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which comes in handy since it does not have an ethernet port. The Macbook Air utilizes wireless technology to connect to other computers when a CD/DVD drive is necessary due to its lack of a built-in drive.

This would be well suited to anyone seeking a lightweight yet fully featured laptop. If you are looking for an ultraportable laptop suited for more casual use to supplement your full-sized laptop or desktop, I would recommend purchasing an Asus EEE for $1400 less. You could even use the money you’ve saved on the more powerful Macbook (not Air) and still have about $300 left over.

For more information regarding this or any other computer related issue, feel free to contact an E-Geniuses Technician at (877) My-Genius.

Happy Holidays!
Everyone at E-Geniuses hopes that you and your loved ones have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

ULTRALIGHT, ULTRAPORTABLE, ULTRA-AFFORDABLE
There are many characteristics that stand out about this new notebook from Asus but there are three in particular that create the most waves. The first thing that most people will notice is the form factor, which is much smaller than most laptops. When closed, it weighs 2lbs and is roughly the same size as a small novel. Next is the very unconventional name: “Eee PC”. The name Eee comes from "the three Es"; an abbreviation of their advertising slogan for the device: "Easy to learn, Easy to work Easy to play". The third aspect that captures most people’s attention? The price. This ultraportable and full featured laptop is only $399.

This notebook comes equipped with a full suite of preinstalled software that allows you the same capabilities of your home computer but on-the-go. You can browse the web using FireFox, use Skype with the built-in web cam and microphone, open Word and Excel docs and edit them, view photos, listen to music files, use AOL IM, MSN messenger or just about any other major chat client. Although pre-installed with Linux, it is also capable of running Windows XP. The Asus Eee PC can be found online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com and Costco.com.

For more information regarding this or any other computer related issue, feel free to contact an E-Geniuses Technician at (877) My-Genius

Most of our computers, modems, routers and countless other gadgets are connected through surge protectors in our home. They are essential in protecting our computers and other electronics from power spikes or surges.

Surge protectors provide the most basic protection. If a power slump or dip (brownout) or blackout occurs, you will need an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to protect your data. A UPS includes a battery that keeps components running for a brief time (approximately 30 minutes) in case the electrical power goes out. This protects from momentary power flickers and allows you to save your data and shut down the computer properly in the case of a power outage. Every computer or electronic device is susceptible to power spikes and other power hazards. A sudden shutdown or power surge can damage not only the PCs power supply but can also kill hard drives, corrupt data, and cause hidden problems that might not immediately present themselves.

 
E-Geniuses will purchase an Uninterruptible Power Supply for your home or business system for $100. For a limited time, Cost of installation for Monthly Maintenance Clients is only $49.50 plus $30 for the Initial Travel and Diagnosis.

Once in a while you may hear the term Digital Convergence. In simple terms, this is the merging of two devices, the computer and the TV. This could also refer to the merging of two distribution models; the mainstream media, specifically TV, and the Internet. If you’re paying attention, you will notice that many networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX and others are beginning to stream their shows on their website. The main difference between traditional mainstream media and the web is that people can communicate and exchange ideas with one another whereas television broadcast is a one way communication. The TV is meant to deliver content from the source to the masses. The viewer cannot respond back nor can they discuss their opinions with others in real time like they can on the Internet. Producers of TV shows rely on focus groups to let them know what the people want to see, but they are not always effective in accurately depicting reality nor delivering the facts.

What effect will the ability for "viewers" to communicate with one another have on people’s opinions of TV programming? The fact that the viewer can offer their opinions and receive feedback from other viewers means that they play a much larger role in determining what the networks choose to air. When the audience in sitcoms do not respond to the punchlines, a laugh-track replaces the silence. This will not be as easily accomplished on the Internet since the "audience" will demand to be heard; they know others are listening. The Internet and the people using it can make more informed decisions when others post their opinions, insights and thought processes. A thumbs up or thumbs down response may be sufficient for some, but others prefer a comment to go along with the vote.

Another thing to consider is whether the content that the mainstream media has to offer is actually "better" than the user submitted content available online. They may find that users submitting content to YouTube are now their competition. They are on the same playing field. When I say better, I mean better in the sense that people find it more entertaining and are willing to spend their time and attention on. It is going to be difficult for an individual to make a better production that a major studio, but it is not impossible. Already, there are music artists who are recording their own records and doing the distribution themselves. Take note of how many Tower Records are closing down and you’ll understand the effects of this phenomenon.

It is much easier for the individual to be in touch with his audience. He can change much faster than the large corporations. If the media conglomerates want to compete with the individual, they are going to have to find a way to be more in touch with their audience and be able to respond accordingly. The alternative is to do what they do best, make large, high quality productions, and leave the other genres and "narrow casting" to the individuals.

What do you think?

We have gotten used to the idea that the television brings us
information in one direction, from the corporate mainstream media
and into our perception. The Internet has turned that idea on its
head. The Internet allows us to use the TV as a means for two-way
communication. From our living rooms, we can share ideas with the
world. In the videos below, you will find out how to:
• Combine the viewing experience of watching TV with the
satisfaction of choosing from a vast variety of specific content
only available on the Internet.
• Listen to the music you’ve downloaded on your computer in
your living room (or other common area).
• Use your TV to play a slideshow of your favorite pictures.

Digital Convergence (Part 1 of 2)

Digital Convergence (Part 2 of 2)

Convergence of TV, Computer and the Internet

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Happy New Year!
We wish you a prosperous new year filled with great joy and success.
IN THIS ISSUE:
• INTRODUCING THE APPLE IPHONE
• THE UPCOMING RELEASE OF WINDOWS VISTA

APPLE’S NEWEST GADGET: THE IPHONE
A new “all-in-one” electronic device was announced early last week
from the same creators of the iPod, the world’s most popular MP3 device.
It combines a mobile phone, widescreen iPod and a revolutionary
Internet communications device all wrapped up into a thin, lightweight
and fully touch-screen body. For more information watch the iPhone
introduction video here.
WINDOWS VISTA RELEASE
Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows Vista, will be released
on January 30, 2007. If you have any questions regarding Vista, about
upgrading or buying a new computer feel free to email or give us a call.