Question: I'm replacing my computer. Do you recommend getting a desktop, laptop, or a netbook?
Answer: Great question. The answer really depends on what you expect to do with it. If you want a computer that gives you high power at a lower cost, with maximum expandability, you want a desktop, especially if you're not planning on taking it places. On the other hand, if you want a computer that will go wherever you go, you don't want a desktop. Instead, you want one of the other, more mobile options. A netbook makes a good second computer. They're powerful, their batteries last forever, you know, but that's partly because they're small and don't have a built-in optical drive. The regular notebook system can replace a desktop and go with you. Because of that, they are currently the hottest selling class of computer. So, which should you get? It's up to you really, but use those guidelines to help you decide.
Cool Site: Pizap: This week's cool website is Pizap.com. I can't pronounce it, but I can spell it. If you have Adobe Photoshop, you can do some really creative things with your photos. What if you don't? Well, there's pixlr, which we've looked at before, and several other sites, like Pizap. Pizap lets you upload your photos, then add stickers to them, change your hairstyle, put on a pair of glasses or some funky sunglasses, or any of a few dozen other things. One of the things that makes Pizap different is that it's designed to be used with social networking websites like Twitter, Facebook, Friendster, MySpace and several others. You can also download or email your creations. Even better, it's all free because the site is supported by advertisements.
Cool Gadget: Playstation Move: The Wii has been a real game-changer in the gaming world. Last week, we had the Xbox's Wii act-alike. This week, we have Sony's Playstation Move. The Move is a couple of different controllers that work with the Playstation Eye, which is a camera, to allow you to either navigate the Playstation 3's interface or play games. The navigation controller will be $30, while the gaming controller will run $50. There will be a charger base that charges two controllers for $30. When the devices become available in mid-September, they'll be supported by up to 20 games. Sony will be making some bundles available that include the controllers, chargers, and games. Check out the show notes for videos showing the Move in action.
It's All "Geek" To Me: Podcast: This week's geeky term is Podcast. Looking back at our previous show notes, I found that we have often used this term without really defining it. The term podcast comes from the combination of iPod and Broadcast, but don't feel left out if, like me, you don't have an iPod. A podcast is nothing more than an audio or increasingly, video file that's been placed on iTunes or a website for download. The audio or video files are generally, but not always, produced by amateurs. For instance, all or almost all previous Tech Tip Friday shows are available at daconsult.com as .MP3 files. Ideally, they should be episodes, and have a method for subscribing and automatically downloading new episodes. We'll look at that part next week.
