HOUR 3:
Tech News & Commentary
“Into
Gaming Update” Weekly Feature with Mark
Lautenschlager
Group Discussion: Initial Thoughts on iPad 2
Rob waited in line for 6 hours in front an Apple Store to get his hands on the iPad 2 on launch date on March 11th. You can watch his video reports from the iPad 2 line at MyITTV.com
Jim in Elkhorn, Iowa listening on 99.1 KMA asked:
“I work for a non-profit and am looking to get an editing setup so I
can post the presentations we do on YouTube. I’m looking at either a
27-inch Mac or a high-end PC with dual screen setup. Wondering which
one you’d recommend.”
Your choice between a Mac and
a PC will determine, amongst other things what video editing software is availabile to you. For
example, new Macs come with Apple’s Life software suite, which includes
iMovie for editing video and they are the makers of Final Cut , an
industry standard for digital video editing.
Another popular program is AVID, which is available for Mac and
PC. Other PC program include Adobe Premiere. Another key difference
between PC- and Mac-based video editing is the hardware, Apple
computers generally feature a matching design scheme and use Intel
processors, while PCs may include chips from Intel, AMD or other
manufacturers. PC hardware also gives users more options, with many
different companies producing the high-end computers and drives needed
to manipulate and store digital video files.
You can try the Dell Inspiron 580, it comes with i5 or i3
intel processor. One of the best thing is that Dell Inspiron comes with
1TB Hard Drive and up to 8 GB of memory, This system is frequently used
gaming and video editing. The Dell Inspiron 580 is available for $748.
You can add a 19-inch Dual Display Widescreen for about $428.
The iMac 27 inch comes with i3 Intel processor, 1TB Hard Drive, up to 4 of memory and is available for $1,699.
One thing you might want to consider is what system any friends
you have who are involved in the same sort of work use. Peer support is
vastly underrated by most people buying new technology, but it’s worth
a lot to have a friend who will show you the ropes.
In general, however, you’ll find that you can get much faster
hardware for the same amount of money by choosing PC over Mac, and you
can get a much smoother software environment by choosing Mac over PC.
Either platform will get you where you want to go.
Tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast for more details.
Bruce in North Hollywood, California listens online
and asked:
“I’m building a new computer and want to go with Windows 7
Professional, 64 bit. I’m buying the software version online but the
only ones I’m finding are OEM versions for system builders. There’s no
Microsoft support, which may not be a terrible thing. Is there a way to
get a version that is not an OEM version for less than $450? And is an
OEM version legal for me to put on there?”
The OEM (short for Original Equipment Manufacturer) Edition of
Windows is absolutely no different from any other version, except that
(as you noted) it does not come with any support from Microsoft. But
when was the last time that John Q. Public actually called for support
on Windows? You tinker with it, you ask your friends, you read the
online forums, and if you still can’t find the answer, you call-in to
our show or re-format and reinstall it. It’s called the Circle of Life
in WindowsWorld.
The OEM version is perfectly legal to purchase. You’re just
acknowledging that, like Dell or HP customers, you won’t come to
Microsoft if something breaks. Mark highly recommends purchasing this
version, as it can save you significant dollars. The activation process
is the same as the retail version, works automatically online.
To our knowledge, there is no less expensive way to get Windows 7
Professional, unless you have an older version of Windows to install on
the machine first, and you want to order an Upgrade edition instead of
a full installation.
Tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast for more details.
Guest in this hour:
Jonathan Cluts, Microsoft’s director of consumer prototyping and strategy –Microsoft
Our next guest is with a company who says their very mission is to
help people and businesses around the world realize their full
potential.
Daniel in Millbrook, Alabama asked: “I have a
Toshiba Satellite computer that was given to me. The techs tell me that
the motherboard has gone out and the motherboard is almost as much as
another laptop. Is there an aftermarket motherboard I can put in this
Satellite computer?”
We don’t know… for sure.
You can find plenty of used motherboards online for prices ranging from
$9 or $10 to a few hundred, the problem is that Toshiba has been
manufacturing the “Satellite” line for many years and they have made
countless Satellite models, so whether or not you can find a
replacement motherboard depends on what particular computer you were
given.
Since you have the computer already, try to find out what particular
motherboard you need and have a look online. If you find anything on
eBay it will, at least, be cheaper than a brand new laptop.
Keep in mind, however, that if you buy a replacement motherboard for
your notebook computer, you’ll be facing a daunting task of
installation. Unlike desktop cases that make it relatively easy to
install a motherboard, notebooks weren’t designed with upgradability in
mind. Opening the case will be, in a word, difficult.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out!
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
If you have any questions about any of this week’s show info,
please email us here.
Into Tomorrow Product Spotlight with Rob Almanza
Current Hottest Gadgets!
Some of the hottest products unveiled or shown at the
2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas are beginning to hit store
shelves. This week Rob Almanza is joined by Jim Barry and show you what
are some of the hottest gadgets currently.
– By Rob Almanza, “Into Tomorrow” Correspondent
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Improv
Electronics: Several Boogie Board Paperless LCD Writing
Tablets in a variety of colors and accessories including sleeves with
stylus holders & magnet kits.
Intuit:
TurboTax Deluxe Online – Several Pre-Paid Codes
SmartShopper
Electronics: Several SmartShoppers — Electronic Grocery List
Organizer