Category Archives: Gaming Laptops
New High School Is First In Arizona Schools To Have No Textbooks
New High School Is First In Arizona Schools To Have No Textbooks
Empire High School in Vail, located on the edge of Tucson, is the first in the Arizona schools to be all-electronic. Instead of textbooks, the 350 students use wireless, Apple laptop computers to research, organize their data, write and graph assignments, and create class presentations.
The Arizona schools Empire High is a new school with a blank slate. Arizona schools officials could hire new teachers committed to technology-based teaching and purchase computers instead of textbooks. The Arizona schools officials wanted to move teachers away from habitual teaching from textbooks, cover-to-cover, and gave area students the choice to attend Empire or another school.
Having researched schools in other states prior to the all-electronic decision, Arizona schools officials found students who were clearly more engaged in their studies and unusually enthusiastic about school. One reason was that they took a more active part in the lesson process, rather than everything being “fed” to them. Another advantage to laptops over textbooks is that groundbreaking information takes five to six years to get into textbooks, especially in the science fields. Of the few all-electronic schools across the nation, many are doing well from the perspective of both the students and the educators. The Arizona schools officials clearly felt they could enhance their students’ educational experience with technology over textbooks.
Replacing textbooks with laptops for other Arizona schools would prove expensive at 0 each. For Empire, they took the usual 0 to 0 cost per student for a complete set of textbooks for four years, as well as the cost of a computer lab, and used this money to purchase the laptops and added technology needs.
Some new challenges had to be faced by the Arizona schools’ new Empire High and research was done to address them. They had 350 students, who needed to be continuously and reliably connected to the Internet at high speed. All the laptops had to be configured to best suit the needs of the students for learning. The needed educational material had to be located on the Internet and integrated into lesson plans. A method for students to submit assignments across the Web was needed. These were problems they knew had to be resolved before the school year began.
What the Arizona schools officials had not planned on was a different sort of technological problem. It seems that many students who used home computers for gaming, surfing the Internet, and X-Box, had a difficult time translating these skills to those needed in school, such as using word processing software, saving documents to specific locations, and being able to retrieve the files later. Skills training had to be added to the lesson plans.
For other schools that are interested in setting up an all-electronic school, the Arizona schools officials advise that it must be a public choice. You cannot force such drastic learning changes. Include the parents and teachers in the planning at the ground floor.
After a year, the system is working well overall. The Arizona schools plan to increase enrollment at Empire High to 750 students in the near future.
Used Laptops and Accessories
Used Laptops and Accessories
Today’s technology is moving at lightning speed and it’s an expensive prospect to keep up and keep all of your own personal technology up to par. For instance, you may love taking digital photos with your camera, but do you have a computer or laptop that is compatible? Do you have a digital camcorder and you want to play around with digital video editing or that you’d like to hook up to your TV at home? Maybe you love your webcam, but your computer doesn’t have sufficient memory to keep up?
If you plan to buy, or have bought an inexpensive refurbished laptop, what do you need to power all of these nifty features? Once you have everything ready, how do you actually use everything together?
Here is a quick guide to using various components and accessories with your refurbished or used laptop computer!
Using Your Camcorder with Your Used Laptop
You can if you have an S-Video connector. S-Video-In allows you to connect laptops to a television or camcorder or VCR to transmit their signal and be able to view them on the laptop’s display. S-Video inputs use a four-pin jack to receive video signals from camcorders, gaming consoles, TV, or any device that has an S-Video out port. The S in S-Video stands for separate: S-Video connections transmit the chrominance (color) and luminance (brightness) portions of a video signal along different paths, allowing them to be processed separately. This is a common way to display content from a digital camcorder or any device that has an S-Video Out port.
S-Video Out: Connects a plasma or newer TV to your notebook to display video content streaming from the notebook. The most common way to connect a TV to a notebook, S-Video Out uses a four-pin jack to send signals from your notebook to your TV or anything that accepts S-Video In.
This feature is not standard to all laptops, so you need to check the feature list to make sure it is included if this is something you whish to do.
Using Your Used Laptop and a Web Cam
If you want to use your laptop and a webcam to talk to relatives or friends across the country it is best to have the same camera on both sides of the connection to be able use all the features of the cameras.
You can talk by using cell phones or telephones or can use instant messaging or even send e-mails back and forth. Using the webcam will allow you to see each other to add another dimension to the phone call.
You will need the following:
· A computer.
· An Internet connection (the faster the better).
· A connection from the laptop to the webcam (most common is the USB, others include Serial, Parallel, etc).
· Two cameras.
· Software (from the webcam vendor or from others, like Microsoft).
If you already own the webcam then check the systems requirements to determine what you need in the way of a laptop, should you not already own one. If you aren’t sure about which webcam to purchase then check out the reviews at ZDNet to get a better idea. Logitech (a market leader) has a low priced webcam the QuickCam® Communicate™ for .95 (on their website). It requires Win 98 or later OS, P3-700 MHz with 64MB RAM if you use their VideoCall software for broadband. It costs less than per month if you sign up for their one year plan.
Free software you can use for video chatting with friends includes: Microsoft’s NetMeeting. It includes video in multiple directions, chat, and audio. The systems requirements of NetMeeting are minimal as it will work with a Pentium 90 and Win 95 or later and a 56K modem. EyeballChat is another option. It lets you chat live, share messages, music and photos and communicate securely. Its systems requirements are a Pentium II 400 MHz with at least 64 MB RAM. Another option is a web based conferencing tool for per month like MegaMeeting Personal
So now you know how to use a refurbished laptop and how to buy a refurbished laptop that can help you use exciting accessories like your WebCam or your camcorder! The possibilities are endless and so are the savings!
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A Smart And Safer Way To Carry Your Laptop In Tow
A Smart And Safer Way To Carry Your Laptop In Tow
Laptops are a great investment. They provide an easier way to work and to have fun. Keeping that laptop in tiptop shape should be of importance to you as well. Here’s what you should look for in choosing a great laptop bag or case.
Laptops were made for convenience. With the advent of this technology, people have been able to work anytime and anywhere they feel like it, thanks to the invention of laptops.
Laptops can come in different designs and sizes. Some laptops are small and light fit for those working on the go. While other laptops are more conventional, slightly larger, and heavier, which work perfectly well for those who want to file and save as much work as possible and still be able to enjoy other activities like gaming in the same device.
People used to settle for the ordinary laptop bags this gadget typically comes along with. Others have even made use of their ordinary backpacks and ordinary totes to carry their laptops along with their other belongings. This is the time to stop this habit.
Carrying your laptop in inappropriate containers can be damaging to your laptop, not to mention the clutter it makes of your bag. In order to get the most out of your laptop in terms of function and warranty, you should start choosing the appropriate laptop bag that meets your varied needs.
There are various factors one should look for in a great laptop bag. This laptop bag should be able to keep you laptop safe, this is the first and most crucial factor. If your bag does not have the capability of protecting your laptop, it’s as if you just throw away the money you invested. Keep your laptop for as long as you want by keeping it safe and protected! A great laptop bag should always have a secure strap to keep that laptop in place. A second factor that a great laptop bag should have is enough storage space. By storage space, it means space for all your other belongings aside from your laptop, of course.
An ordinary bag won’t do much of a good work in achieving this, although your everyday bag may contain enough storage space, it does not have the different compartments specific to different gadgets that can only be found in laptop bags and cases. Who said you could only carry your laptop in your laptop bag? Laptop bags and cases are specially designed to properly store all your other gadgets as well as your personal belongings in the proper places without compromising the safety of its main component – the laptop.
A third factor that is specific to laptop bags and cases is the durability of the material used. Your laptop contains most, if not all, the important files you have ever accumulated in your life, be it personally or professionally. It is only understandable that you should keep this in a bag that is durable and can withstand whatever terrain, whatever weather.
An example of this type of durable material is a new style of laptop bag that is waterproof, perfect for those rainy moments that you come unprepared for. The durability of the material used for laptop bags should also encompass its capability to properly separate one gadget from another. There is no use in storing your different stuff in one laptop bag if the material cannot prevent factors such as friction that could ruin not only the laptop but all the other gadgets you might be carrying. A laptop bag that has thick interior padding could help you achieve this.
The material of the laptop bag or case should be as lightweight as possible. You have enough burden of carrying all your stuff, a good laptop bag should not add to the weight you might be carrying. If your laptop bag has shoulder straps, these should be adjustable and afford a hefty amount of padding to protect your shoulders from the weight you are carrying. Finally, the greatest laptop bags and cases in the market are both stylish and functional! Not only is it good to look at but good to make use of, too!
Since there are different laptop bags and cases to choose from, you should be able to know what available designs there are and which of them are suitable to your personality and work. The most common style is the brief bag laptop bag. This type of bag offer a semi-formal means of carrying your laptop if you do not want to look too casual or too professional. Another style is the top loading laptop bag. This bag gives you an easier access to your laptop and to all your other gears inside, especially useful if you constantly have to go through security on your way to work and back home.
The casual types of laptop bag are the backpack laptop bag and the messenger style laptop bag. This is absolutely an inconspicuous way of carrying your laptop. If you don’t want others to know those highly important gadgets you might be carrying inside, then these types of bag are the way to go. Rolling laptop bags are a great option especially if you are constantly on the go and you keep on being jostled around in a crowd along with your gadgets in tow. The rolling laptop bag keeps your gear safe and protected inside despite the circumstances going on outside.
For more gender specific types of laptop bags you can choose from ladies laptop bags or men’s laptop bags. If you are a woman and don’t want your femininity being compromised by all those extra baggage, a ladies laptop bag is perfect for you. If you are a man, on the other hand, and want to maintain your masculinity and professionalism, then men’s laptop bags are appropriate for you. Laptop bags also come in different sizes. It is important to know that you should never fit your laptop in a bag too small. This does not provide the proper ventilation for your laptop or you just can’t fit the laptop in it in the first place.
It’s not just fun to choose a laptop, choosing the right bag is just as enjoyable and should be invested in, too.
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Playstation 3, Your All-In-One Media and Gaming Center
Playstation 3, Your All-In-One Media and Gaming Center
Most people who buy gaming consoles today are really just looking for one thing, playing games. Sure we know that consoles have done plenty of stuff besides playing games for a long time (DVDs, music, etc…) but when it comes down to it, you don’t really think of the other things a console can do when you’re shopping around. This is where the PS3 stands out when you compare it to other consoles, it’s a great gaming platform and it has tons of features beyond what you might expect from your average game console. The PS3 is literally an entire media and entertainment center on top of being a gaming console. Here, let me give you an idea of what it has to offer:
The Playstation 3 has hands down the highest quality video capabilities out of any of today’s consoles. It has a built in Blu-Ray/DVD player and that’s just for physical video discs. The Playstation 3 also has a massive internal hard drive with 20 GB on the low end of earlier models and up to a whopping 320GB (upgradeable, mind you) which means you’ve got plenty of space for digital downloads of movies, music videos, game trailers, and any other video content you can think of. Add to that the ability to stream online media through Netflix and sites like YouTube and you’ve got a one stop shop for all your movie needs.
Another great function the PS3 has in its arsenal is its connectivity with other devices. Your PS3 can connect to any PC or laptop on the same network which means you can stream any digital media you have on your computer’s hard drive through the PS3 onto your TV. Music, movies, photos, you name it. If you have a computer (or multiple computers) with media on it on the same network then you can stream it straight through to your TV. The PS3’s media playing and streaming capabilities pretty much replaces the need for any other media devices, leaving you with more space in your living room and more money in your pocket.
Besides having tons of non-gaming media, the Playstation 3 is at its core, obviously, a gaming system. However there’s a lot more to the games the Playstation 3 can play besides its standard Playstation 3 software. Through the Playstation Network, you get access to literally hundreds of digital titles available for download and a library of games that is expanding every day. Sony has released information that they will be expanding into the territory of indie games, giving PS3 owners a chance to try the all kinds of new and upcoming games from a wide variety of independent publishers and companies. If you’re a classic Playstation fan then you’re also in luck due to the PS3’s backwards compatibility to PS1 games. So if you’re looking for a console that does it all and then some, then your best bet is the Playstation 3’s wide array of features and its comprehensive gaming experience.
Read This Before You Buy A Laptop.
Read This Before You Buy A Laptop.
Looking to buy a laptop? Congratulations! So, do you want a thin-and-light notebook, a mainstream notebook, an ultra portable notebook, or a business notebook? And do you want that in a Dell, a Gateway, an IBM, a Sony, or a Toshiba, to name just a few of your options?
Confused yet? It really can be overwhelming. But buying a laptop doesn’t have to mean learning a whole new language. It just means that you have to know what your needs are and what kinds of equipment is best suited to meeting those needs. Ask yourself the following two questions:
1. How am I going to use this machine?
The demands you anticipate placing on a machine will dictate how much memory you need, processor speed, display size, and the size of your hard drive. It also matters how much wear and tear you think you’re going to put on your laptop. For example, are you going to be schlepping it from college room to coffee shop, or are you mostly going to be using it at home, as a replacement for a desktop machine? Are you going to be storing lots of digital music files or photos or other multimedia that will eat up huge amounts of hard drive space? Do you need wireless capability and lots of peripherals, like CD-RW drives or DVD drives? Are you going to be doing graphics work or watching a lot of video on your laptop, such that a powerful, rapid processor and a large and high-resolution screen are important to you?
2. How do I find the laptop that will do what I want?
Thinner is not always better; but then, less is sometimes more. In the laptop jungle, searching out the perfect machine can be a challenge. It might help to look at the different models of laptop and see what features each one has to offer.
* Ultraportables
These machines are thin, small, and light—typically not more than four pounds. What they don’t have going for them is a lot of processing power or the bells and whistles of bigger systems: they don’t have internal CD or DVD drives, they have smallish hard drives, and they have displays of 12 inches or smaller. A good choice for someone on the go a lot who doesn’t demand a lot of their system, but performance lags behind other laptop models.
* Thin-and-lights
Perfect for business travelers, these laptops have powerful internal processors, 14-inch displays, and wireless networking capability, plus a combo CD-RW/DVD drive. They have lots of memory and roomy hard drives. Trade-off: they weigh a bit more (four to six pounds) and they cost quite a bit more.
* Mainstream notebooks
Basically, these laptops are desktop computers that can do a little travel. At six to eight pounds, they come with a 14-inch or larger display and more than enough basic power, in terms of processing speed, memory, and hard drive space.
* Desktop replacements
The name says it all: these laptops think they’re desktops. They have 15-inch to 17-inch monitors, more than big enough for gaming or creating home movies. They have the fastest processors, the largest hard drives, and the most memory of any other laptop available. And they weigh at least seven pounds.
Knowing at least some of the terminology should help you carry on intelligent conversations with laptop salespeople. And remember: because technology changes so fast, you’ll never have to be stuck with a dud laptop for more than two years!