Saturday, September 26, 2009

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Windows 7 PCs to go on sale early: Windows 7, which is scheduled to launch on October 22, will be available nine days early via PC purchases from system builders, also called small custom PC makers.

DVI to HDMI Adapter 2-Pack for $4 + free shipping
eForCity.com again offers this DVI Male to HDMI Female Adapter 2-Pack for $12.99. Add coupon code "DEALNEWS9222" to your cart to slice it to $4.49. With free shipping, that's $2.25 each and still the total price we've seen for this type of adapter. Deal ends September 28

Dell Vostro 420 Core 2 Quad 2.5GHz PC w/ XP Pro, 19" LCD for $487 + $35 s&h
Dell Small Business offers the Dell Vostro 420 Intel Core 2 Quad 2.5GHz Desktop PC bundled with the Dell E1910H 18.5" LCD Monitor for $487 plus $35 for shipping. Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 2.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive, DVD-ROM drive, ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB video card, and Windows Vista Business with Windows XP Professional downgrade installed.

Dell PowerEdge T105 AMD Dual Core 2.3GHz Server for $249 + $25 s&h
Dell Small Business offers the Dell PowerEdge T105 Athlon 64 X2 2.3GHz Server for $249. With $25 for shipping, that's up $10 since our mention last week, but it's still the second-lowest price we've seen for this system. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4450B 2.3GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, two 160GB hard drives (320GB total), Serial ATA DVD-ROM drive, and Gigabit Ethernet. An operating system is not included.

Hannspree 22" Widescreen LCD Display for $135 + free shipping JR.com offers the Hannspree 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor in Black, model no. Hi-221DPB, for $134.99 with free shipping.. The Hi-221DPB features built-in speakers, a native resolution of 1680x1050, 300 cd/m² brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, and DVI-D and VGA inputs. Deal ends September 30. Of note


OCZ Vendetta CPU Cooler for $8 after rebate + free shipping
ZipZoomfly.com offers the OCZ Vendetta CPU Cooler, model no. OCZTVEND, for $22.99. This $15 mail-in rebate (via a Visa prepaid card) drops it to $7.99. With free shipping, CPU cooler is designed for use with Intel Socket 775 and AMD 754, 755, 939, and AM2 processors and features up to 2800 rpm fan speeds. Rebate expires October 11


One-Year Subscription to Microsoft TechNet Plus for $262
Microsoft offers a one-year subscription to its TechNet Plus Direct service for $349. Add coupon code "TMSAM01" to cut it to $261.75. That's a savings of $112 Microsoft TechNet Plus gives you full-version copies of Microsoft operating systems and Office software, among others, for evaluation.


HP Pavilion a6712f 2.5 GHz, 6GB, Desktop PC $350 at
Buy.com Click Here Buy.com has the HP Pavilion a6712f 2.5 GHz, 6GB, Desktop PC for $350 with free shipping. 6GB, 500GB, DVD+/-R/RW Memory card reader, Keyboard and mouse, Windows Vista Home





HP 16GB V125w USB Drive $29.99, Sep. 27 8 AM


Staples has the HP 16GB V125w USB Drive for $29.99. Free Shipping on items over $50. Tax in most states.


General Electric 25942GE2 5.8GHZ Dual Handset Cordless = $25

AT&T calls for FCC action on Google

AT&T, the largest US telecommunications group, called on federal regulators to force Google, the internet search and advertising giant, to “play by the same rules as its competitors” and ensure that its Google Voice application does not block calls to some rural areas. - Earl

Friday, September 25, 2009

You Deleted Your Cookies? Think Again

This "super cookie" thing and hidden cookies as well as cookie regenerators are an irritating privacy invasion. There is an Open Source program called BleachBit for removing many of them includig Flash Cookies. http://bleachbit.sourceforge.net/
How Online Tracking Companies Know Most of What You Do Online (and What Social Networks Are Doing to Help Them)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Windows 7 (32 & 64-bit) - Review

"This October Microsoft will release Windows 7 world-wide, the successor to Windows Vista and Windows XP (again), a major upgrade that promises to further improve the user experience on different PC form factors such as the popular Netbook. For the past couple of weeks the ActiveWin.com Team spent some time testing the Windows 7 (RTM) Release to Manufacturing build, which is the final build that will be available in stores and new PC’s around the world (that goes for Intel Macs too)."

Windows 7 delivers three key attractions: improved performance, better compatibility and it’s even easier to use.

This looks like an interesting review of Windows 7, it is a bit long, about 70 pages.

I sure like it.

AlaskaJoe

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Upgrading to Windows 7 the Easy Way - OS, Software & Networking by ExtremeTech

"Microsoft Windows 7 is designed to upgrade from older iterations of the operating system, but if you're at all like me, you've been installing and uninstalling apps and utilities, rolling back your system installation after crashes, hacking software packages and DLLs, or even adding and changing registry entries. Sure, you can upgrade your current computer to the new operating system, but it might pay to create a fresh installation and due away with the gunk of years of computing."

I always do a clean install when I go to a new OS. When you upgrade it brings a lot of other things with it that could make the new OS not run the way it was designed. Also if your upgrading because your computer isn't running right, you could have the same problems after you upgrade. This article tells you how and what you need to make your computer ready for a "Clean Installation" of Windows 7.

I for one are looking forward to Windows 7 it is (I think) the best OS Microsoft has built to date. As I have said before I make a living fixing Windows XP.

Try Windows 7 you'll like it!

AlaskaJoe

Monday, September 21, 2009

PC Demand Takes off Ahead of Windows 7

Demand for PCs improved in July and August, which is "something special"

AMD Athlon II X4 620: Quad Core For The Masses At $100 : Phenom II Without L3 Cache = Athlon II

$100 for an AMD quad core chip. Maybe you should put this in your new server Joe ...

Microsoft to release free security software soon | Beyond Binary - CNET News

"'The final version of Microsoft Security Essentials will be released to the public in the coming weeks,' Microsoft said in the note."

Does this mean other Anti-Virus companies will not be needed anymore? Somehow I don't think so.

Are you going to trust Microsoft to protect your computer?

AlaskaJoe

Sunday, September 20, 2009

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 09-20-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 09-20-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) Opening link for the week kind of illustrates another of those trends leading to a more sustainable world. One of the major problems for a long time now has been the overfishing of the world’s oceans, and lakes. We are approaching a milestone in that area, that being over ½ of the fish, and shell fish we consume will be farm raised. The oceans are moving to farms, and the farms are moving into the lab. http://www.washingtonpost.com
2) I ran across another of those, T.V. on the computer sites at Daily Rotation the other day this one is a little different in that it is live T.V. and not a download, so it is in real time. This solves a problem that I was having with the news; it is a global site, so you can catch T.V. from anywhere which is cool. Watch the English news stations in India, China, or Europe. The world is defiantly getting smaller. http://www.tvunetworks.com/ Here is a link to some of the tech stuff http://www.majorgeeks.com
3) This could be an opening green site, but I am using it here, a needed technology brought around by Dean Karman the inventor of the Segway. A major breakthrough in water purification, powered by a Sterling engine that can also provide extra power and it runs on animal dung. http://www.cnn.com

4) NASA has competition, at least when it comes to trouble on the launching pad. This is an article about one of those contests outsourcing research and development costs to the private sector. I think this is a great idea; the x-prize concept seems to be a way to keep costs down and fast-track technology. http://www.space.com

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals


Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard for PC w/ Headset for $30 after rebate + $7 s&h TigerDirect.com offers Nuance's Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard for Windows with Headset for $49.99. This $20 mail-in rebate cuts it to $29.99. With $6.99 for shipping, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 enables you to control your computer using spoken words. It contains functionality for word processing, email, instant messaging, and more. Rebate ends September 30.

Dell Vostro A860 Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 2.06GHz 15.6in Laptop (2GB/250GB) $399,
if (showPics()!=0)
document.write('')

Dell Small Business has the Dell Vostro A860 Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 15" Notebook Computer for a low $399.00. Shipping $25. Tax in most. 5.4lbs; 15.6" 1366x768; Intel Core 2 Duo T5870 @ 2.06GHz; 2GB RAM; 250GB HDD; DVD burner; 802.11b/g + bluetooth; Vista Home Basic; 6-cell battery; 1yr warranty

Geeks.com is selling the black Xbox 360 Elite with 120GB hard drive, HDMI out, headset, and wireless controller for $199 when you use promo code ELITE at checkout. This is a refurbished system with a 90-day warranty and the deal is good until October 15th Go to Oncomputers.info and click on the Geeks.com ad at the right side. Use promo code ELITE at checkout.

Winegard Outdoor HDTV Antenna for $30 + free shipping
Buy.com offers the
Winegard HD-1080 Outdoor HDTV Antenna for $31.99. With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find by $8, although it was a buck less in July. This bow-tie antenna receives local HDTV broadcasts. Update: It's now sold through SolidSignal.com via Buy.com for $29.99 with free shipping.


AA / AAA Battery Charger for $2 + free shipping
Meritline.com offers this
AA / AAA A/C Battery Charger for $5.99. Use coupon code "MLC400499091167A" to chop it to $1.99. With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we've seen for an A/C charger that can handle two AAs and two AAAs at the same time.


Samsung 500GB SATA 3Gbps Internal Hard Drive for $40 after rebate + free shipping ZipZoomfly.com offers the Samsung EcoGreen F2 500GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. HD502HI, for $49.99. This $10 mail-in rebate cuts it to $39.99. With free shipping, . It runs at 5400 rpm and has a 16MB cache. Deal ends September 20.

Vostro 220 Mini Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz 3GB 250GB...
[>>]18.5" Flat Panel (dell_business) $399 $716 $35 shipping


Compaq Presario CQ60-420US 3GB, 15.6" Laptop $350 at Staples Click Here Staples has the Compaq Presario CQ60-420US 3GB, 15.6" Laptop for $380 - $30 rebate = $350 with free shipping. Intel Pentium Processor T4200, 3GB, 250GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti Drive Intel GMA 4500M, 802.11b/g WLAN, Windows Vista Home Premium, 6-Cell




Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 32MB Cache HDD $83 at ZipZoomFly Click Here ZipZoomFly has the Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive for $98 - $15 rebate [Exp 10/15] = $83 with free 2nd day shipping. Covered by a 5-year warranty
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008824