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In-Home Audio, Video and Computer SETUP and TROUBLESHOOTING
AUDIO / VIDEO
Television, VCR, DVD, CD, Receiver, Remote, Satellite, Optical Audio, AC3 Digital Audio, Analog Audio, Dolby SURROUND, THX, High Definition Video, Super Video, Composite Video and Home Theatre Systems SETUP and TROUBLESHOOTING.
COMPUTER
Internet, Email, Printer, Scanner, CD/DVD Burner, Musical Instrument Digital Interface, Sequence and Digital Audio, MP3 Player, Digital Video Camera, Universal Serial Bus applications, Internal computer conflicts, Peripheral conflicts, Software and Firware SETUP and TROUBLESHOOTING.
COMPUTERS
Buying a computer is like buying a car - there are countless brands and styles, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Which one best suits you depends on your needs, preferences, and of course, how much you want to spend. And when you go to buy a car, you don't just show up at the lot without having researched your choices and become familiar with all the available options. Without this research, you may buy accessories you'll never use, or forget to include features essential to your computing needs. Planning in the beginning can save time - and money - in the future.
Power for Today and Growth for Tomorrow
Computing power is what allows you to run the latest programs smoothly whether you are browsing the Internet, managing your finances, or playing intense 3D games. This power to perform is drawn from your computer's processor speed and RAM. Over time, you will want to add more to your computer - personal data, new software, and new hardware. To do so, you need to make sure you purchase a computer that will let you do what you want today and in the future. Features such as faster processor speeds, more memory, available expansion slots, rewritable DVD drives, and more powerful video enhance your system so that today's computer can handle tomorrow's applications. Here are some of the ways in which you'll use your PC:
Connections:
Through the Internet, email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and web telecommunications, you can get connected and stay connected with family, friends and people of similar interests throughout the world.
Entertainment:
Through DVD movies, video gaming, digital music, web radio, online gaming, and even watching TV or recording video to your hard drive, the PC is driving new digital entertainment, bringing it all together for you.
Creativity:
Through digital imaging, audio mixing, and video editing, PCs accommodate permanent digital memories in professional looking packages that could not have been imagined less than five years ago.
Productivity:
Always a mainstay of the home computer, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases are being supplemented today by the Internet and other services to track finances and home budgeting, enhancing the education opportunities of kids and adults, and letting you get work done from home with the family rather than at the office.
Just Getting Started?
Here are Some Helpful Pointers
Software is the term for the programs your computer runs - programs that let you play games, surf the Internet or complete a tax return.
Because different software does different things, the type of computer you want depends on what type of software you will be using. Software packaging always lists the minimum hardware requirements on the box. Many programs also have two sets of requirements: the minimum requirements, and the suggested hardware. Always make sure you have at least the suggested hardware.
Graphics and image editing software helps you view and create graphics and video. Digital images are often extremely large files, and require a very fast processor and lots of RAM memory to display and edit them.
Multimedia is the combination of graphics, text, sound, and video. The more the program makes use of multimedia features, the more powerful a processor you'll need, along with more memory.
Productivity software helps you organize your finances, write letters and reports, and track important information. Productivity software includes programs such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works, and Quicken.
With a few clicks of a mouse, the Internet brings news, information, and entertainment from around the world. You can conduct business, do research, be entertained, and communicate using the Internet and World Wide Web. Internet software includes programs such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and America Online.
PRINTERS
What You Need To Know About Printers
You just finished that presentation for the Board of Directors. It's going to get you promoted for sure! Now you want to print out copies of the presentation in color to give out. Hopefully, you have a good printer. If not, read on and we'll give you some advice.
For home use, there are three main printer choices: Inkjet, Photo, and Multifunction. What you need a printer to do will help you determine which type of printer is best for you.
Inkjet Printers
Inkjet printers are the most popular by far. They're inexpensive, quiet, and they do color! Inkjets start out at under $100 for entry-level models and go up to several hundred dollars, and speed and print quality are the primary differences.
Basic inkjets will print black-and-white pages at around 4ppm (pages per minute), but usually half that speed in color. A fast printer will print at 8 to 10ppm in black, and 5ppm in color. Is speed that important? When you're printing a multiple-page document or multiple copies, that time really adds up. You'd be amazed at how slow some printers seem when you're late for work and waiting for the last two pages to print. Remember also that the listed speed is under ideal conditions; actual speed depends on document content and size, as well as your PCs configuration.
Print quality (resolution) is primarily measured in dpi (dots per inch). Other things determine the quality as well: Resolution Enhancement technology (found in laser printers also), quality of paper used, quality of ink, size and placement of the ink dots, to name just a few. A 720dpi printer isn't necessarily better than a 600dpi printer. However, a 600 x 600dpi inkjet is the bare minimum if you want to print photographs. The best of the current inkjets can print at 1440dpi--the results are amazing.
Another significant factor in print quality is the number of ink cartridges in a printer. Some use a single cartridge design, meaning if you print in black only, you put in a black cartridge; and if you want color, you put in a 3-color cartridge. This system then mixes the 3 colors anywhere black is needed on the page, which produces a washed-out looking black. It also uses a lot more ink, slows the printing process and soaks the paper. We recommend a dual-cartridge printer, which prints faster, provides superior output, and saves money on ink.
Inkjets can use ordinary copy paper, but if you're printing resumes or something that needs to look its very best, spend the money and buy the expensive high-quality glossy inkjet paper.
Photo Printers
Photo printers do exactly what you think they do: print photos. In fact, many are specifically designed to print pictures right from your digital camera. Especially if you take and develop a lot of pictures, photo printers can save you a lot of time and money.
Not only do digital cameras not need film, but the pictures also don't need to be processed--you can actually print them out on a good quality photo printer (using photo-quality paper) with great results. Maybe the best thing about being your own "Photo Lab Technician" is that you get to choose which pictures to print . . . and which ones should never see the light of day. Think back to the last time you got some picture developed. How many of those were really good? When you print your own pictures, you can choose to print just the ones that prove you're as good-looking as you are smart.
Maybe the best thing about photo printers is that many of them don't even have to be hooked up to a computer, so they're incredibly easy to use. These "PC-Free" printers have built-in memory card slots that can take the pictures right off your memory cards and print them out. It's like having your own mini photo lab!
Multifunction Printers
Multifunction printers can print, fax, and copy, and many can even scan. These multi-taskers usually have inkjet printers inside them, and they're ideal for a small office with limited space and budget. But like many jacks of all trades, they're often masters of none. The drawbacks are speed and print quality; they're comparable to lower-quality inkjets. The scanning quality is usually comparable to a lower quality scanner. Lastly, if it should happen to break down, you're without both your printer and your fax until it's fixed.
Cables
Interface cables aren't included with printers because the manufacturer doesn't know what interface you'll need or what length. Most of today's printers use a USB connector, though some offer parallel ports, while still others offer both. We recommend getting a 10' cable, even if the printer is right next to the PC; you never know how you might rearrange furniture.
One more recommendation: Stock up on paper and have extra ink cartridges! You'll go through your paper supply much faster than you think, and you never know when you're going to run out of ink. In either case, there's nothing worse than running out at midnight, after all the stores are closed.