It can be hard to decide if a netbook is the right computer to get, so here are 10 questions that will help you through the decision process:

1. What do you want to do with your computer?

   This is perhaps the most important question to ask yourself before buying any computer. There are many different types of computers to choose from these days, from desktops and laptops to ultraportables, tablets, and even cellphones. A computer purchase is a big decision, so it’s important to choose one that will fit your needs.

2. How much are you willing to pay?
   

   One of the biggest benefits of netbooks is that they’re extremely affordable. Most netbooks sell for less than $500, and some sell for as low as $100-200. However, netbooks have fewer features than regular questions. So the question becomes, how much are you willing to spend?

   If you only have a few hundred bucks, and just need a small laptop to surf the web and check your e-mail, the netbook is for you. If, however, you have a little more money to spend, and want a computer that can do a lot more, you may want to look into a notebook or a desktop.

3. Do you want to play games on your computer?

   This is a big one for a lot of people, and an important question to ask because the processing power and graphics cards of netbooks is inferior to those of other computers. This makes them useless for playing the latest 3D games, like the ever popular World of Warcraft. If you don’t mind playing simple games like solitaire and mine sweeper, and maybe a few older titles, the netbook can work. Otherwise, you’ll want a computer with more processing power.

4. Do you want to watch DVDs?
   

   Most netbooks don’t come with optical drives, so you won’t be able to watch your favorite DVDs while traveling with a netbook. If you’re looking for a portable computer that also plays DVDs, you may want to look into getting an ultraportable laptop, rather than a netbook.

   Of course, even with a netbook you can still watch YouTube videos and digital video from sources like iTunes that are stored on the computer itself, so if you don’t mind watching video on a tiny 12 inch screen, the netbook may be right for you.

5. Do you mind using a smaller keyboard?

   In addition to having a smaller screen than typical laptops, netbooks also have smaller keyboards than normal computers. This means that typing on a netbook can be uncomfortable, especially if you have bigger hands. If plan on doing any significant amount of work on your computer, be sure to actually get your hands on a netbook and test it to see whether the smaller keyboard is something that you can deal with.

6. Do you need the portability?
   

   One of the questions that a lot of computer buyers forget to ask themselves is whether they really need the portability of a laptop. If you’re just looking for a computer that you and the family can use at home, and don’t plan on doing any traveling with your computer, desktop computers are often comparable in price to higher end netbooks, and offer a lot more features and processing power.

   If you already own a desktop, and are looking for a super-small computer that you can easily carry around with you to surf the web and manage your documents and presentations, then the netbook is for you.

7. Are you a power user?

   Netbooks are made mostly to handle simple tasks like browsing the internet, checking your e-mail, and doing simple word processing. If that’s all you need out of a computer, then a netbook might be what you’re looking for.

   However, if you are a “power user” that likes to have tons of windows and programs open at once, and dozens of tabs open on your web browser, then doing even the simple tasks listed above will slow down the performance of your netbook. The bottom line is that the netbook is a slower computer, so if you’re looking for zippy performance, look elsewhere.

8. Do you want edit videos?
   

   Sharing and editing videos is becoming an extremely popular activity, thanks to the ubiquity of video cameras in digital cameras and cellphones, like the brand new iPhone. If you want to do video editing with a netbook, though, you can forget it because the computers are way too slow to do anything that complicated. If you want to edit movies, you’ll want a more powerful machine.

9. Do you want to organize your photos?

   One of the most popular things to do on a computer are organizing and sharing photos. Because netbooks have very small hard drives, they may not be the best choice for organizing your photos. If you still decide to go with a netbook, make sure you go with one with an actual hard drive, rather than a smaller, solid state drive, or you will quickly run out of space. Or you can consider storing your photos on an external hard drive.

   If you actually plan on editing your photos with programs like Adobe’s Photoshop, then the netbook is probably out of the equation. Consider getting a laptop with a faster processor and better graphics card.

10. What operating system do you want?
    

    If you do decide to go with a netbook, it’s important to decide what kind of operating system you want. The operating system is what manages all of you computer’s folders and files, and determines the look of your computer. Some examples of operating systems include Microsoft Windows and Apple’s Mac operating systems.

    Most netbooks come with Windows installed on them, but many come installed with Linux instead, which is a free, open source operating system. Although both operating systems work fine, using Linux may take getting used to if you’re more familiar with Windows. If you don’t mind learning how to use a new OS, netbooks with Linux installed are often more cheaper than one’s with Windows. If you’re not willing to go through the learning curve, then you’ll have to shell out a little extra for Windows.

If you can answer each of the above 10 questions above, then you should have a solid idea of what kind of computer you want to get. Deciding whether or not to get a netbook doesn’t have to be a hard decision, as long as you know exactly what you want out of your computer.

-Takeshi, shopping blogger and computer questionnaire writer

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What’s the difference between a notebook and a netbook? If you’re not sure what the answer to that question is, then you’re in good company. A recent study showed that 60% of consumers don’t know what the difference between the two devices is, and as a result, a lot of people end up getting the wrong machine, that doesn’t do what they want it to.

To help you avoid falling into the same trap, this is a quick guide that will explain what the differences are between the two machines, and help you decide which machine is right for you, depending on your needs.

What is a Notebook?

In order to begin comparing the two devices, it’s important to first understand a little terminology. A notebook is just another name for a laptop computer. Notebooks are portable versions of their desktop cousins, and generally range in size from 12 inches to 20 inches in size.

It used to be the case that notebooks were less powerful versions of regular computers, but these days, that’s no longer true. With advances in technology, notebooks these days have all the features of a desktop, in a compact, portable package. Apple’s new line of MacBook Pros, for example, feature 500 GB hard drives, 2.8 GHz processors, and come built-in with a video camera and microphone.

Really, the only difference between desktops and laptops is the portability and the price– notebooks tend to be more expensive than desktops because they make use of smaller and more advanced components.

What is a Netbook?

Now that we know what a notebook is, what exactly is a netbook? Netbooks are a relatively recent development in computers. Netbooks, like notebooks are portable computers, but tend to be a lot smaller– netbooks are usually 12 inches or less, which puts them into the ultra-portable category.

The main difference between netbooks and notebooks, however, is their performance. Netbooks have much less computing power than traditional notebooks. Take for example the HP 1110nr Netbook, which only has a 1.6 GHz processor and just 8GB of storage space– that’s less capacity than an iPod Nano. This means that these mini-computers have just enough power to browse the ‘Net (hence the name) and maybe do some word processing, but not much else.

The upshot of this is that netbooks are a lot cheaper than notebooks, with most netbooks falling below the $500 price range, with some as low as $100-200. A tricked out Apple notebook, on the other hand, will set you back more than $2000.

Notebook or Netbook?

As we saw above, notebooks are full-fledged computers, and are a lot more powerful than netbooks, but are also more expensive. Netbooks, for their part, are extremely portable and cheap, but don’t have a lot of computing power. So which to choose?

It all depends on what you’re looking for in a computer. If you have only basic uses for a computer, like checking your e-mail, surfing the web, and typing up an occasional letter, and don’t mind a tiny screen, then the netbook would make a great computer for you. Also, if you already own a computer, and are looking for an ultra-portable device that let’s you work while traveling, then the netbook is the perfect solution.

If, on the other hand, you want to organize your photos, run complex graphics programs like Photoshop, or any kind of 3D program, then the more powerful notebook is the one you want to go with. Notebooks will allow you to do pretty much anything you can think of with a computer, from video editing to video conferencing and the latest video games.

Summary

To sum things up, if you’re looking for a super portable computer with only the most basic needs, then a netbook is the right computer for you, but if you need to do anything more intensive the word processing, a notebook is the better choice.

Technology is quickly advancing to the point where it won’t matter what kind of computer to get. Notebooks are getting smaller and cheaper, and netbooks are getting faster and more powerful. Eventually, they’ll converge on a single device that’s portable, powerful, and cheap. Heck, that device could even be your cellphone.

For the time being, though, you’ll need to pick a portable computer that meets your specific needs. Even though a notebook and a netbook sound very similar, they are worlds apart when it comes to performance and price.

-Takeshi, shopping blogger and net/notebook examiner

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1. Wind pants: These are a great item for any form of exercise because they are comfortable,  lightweight, and breathable. Adidas wind pants are especially favorable because of their use of ClimaProof technology that will help protect your legs from mother nature and give you the most out of your workout.
   
2. Stopwatch: A stopwatch is a good item to carry around to keep time of your workout and take note of your progress. Also, if you’re lucky, your stopwatch, like the Polar RS100, already includes a heart rate monitor built into it so you can check how your body is holding up against your workout.
3. Shoes: The right shoes for any activity is vital to your performance and well-being. These may be the most important accessory when exercising because it plays a significant role in your psyche. Consider Asics shoes if you want a sneaker that is lightweight and includes the appropriate technology to ensure your success.
   
4. Compression clothing: Whether you are a male or female, wearing compression clothing, such as shorts, long-sleeves, or tanks, is a good way to keep your muscles warm.
5. Water bottle: Keeping yourself hydrated is an exercise concept that is tried-and-true. Depending on where you exercise, water may not be near or sanitary, so having your own water bottle will save a lot of trouble.
6. Mp3 player: Music is extremely important when it comes to motivation because workouts can become pretty dull without music. Apple boasts the wold’s smallest music player with the Ipod Shuffle, which would be efficient to any activity.
   
7. Gym bag: No matter what sport you plan on participating in, a gym bag is a useful item to keep all your belongings together.
8. Wristband: Nobody wants to lug around a heavy towel when they’re running 3 miles, so keep a wristband in hand to keep yourself comfortable and dry.
9. Lanyard: A lanyard is a good item to have so you do not misplace your keys or identification cards.
10. Sunglasses: These are always a great accessory to carry around even if you are not exercising. Sunglasses help protect your eyes during those morning workouts and mountain runs.

So whether your workouts are casual or extremely competitive, you can’t go wrong with any of these 10 items to help you in your journey for a healthier lifestyle.

-John

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And for all the iPhone haters out there, or the less fortunate, go pick up some pretty good iPhone alternatives.

iPhoneless,
Joe The Intern

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New releases will be available 30 days after they are released on DVD and can be viewed on your computer, iPod, iPhone, or on a television with the Apple TV device. The charge for new releases will be $3.99 while older films are $2.99. Once you purchase the rental, you will have 30 days to begin watching your movie. Once you begin to view the movie, you will have 24 hours to view the movie as much as you’d like. After 24 hours the movie will erase from your iTunes. As of now about 1,000 films are available. They will also be featuring movies in HD with a starting price of $4.99.

I really like the idea of this service and think it will be very useful to many people. Being able to rent a movie instantaneously is obviously the best feature of their service. However, I feel that their might be a few flaws with Apple’s service. First of all, the price for renting movies wasn’t too appealing for me. I guess $2.99 for a standard quality movie isn’t bad, but I didn’t like the price for the HD movies. At 5 bucks a pop, renting movies could become a little pricey. If you look at netflix, you can rent an unlimited amount of movies per month for only $4.99. Depending on how avid of a movie fan you are, this might be a problem. Secondly, having only 24 hours to watch the movie is a terrible idea. Many times people will pause a movie and not be able to get back to it until the next day. This is something I believe Apple will need to change immediately. If they give you 30 days to hold onto the movie, why not a longer time to view it? So those are my thoughts on this. I believe this will be a very popular service and will continue to grow, but Apple needs to tweak some of the minor details. Looks like Apple is on their way to conquering the world.

Brent

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Today was just another normal day where Apple introduces a product that changes the world. Steve Jobs and the Apple team have done it again by introducing the iPod Touch, along with major upgrades on the iPod shuffle, iPod Nano, and the classic iPod.

The iPod Touch, which was officially introduced to the public at 10:30 am this morning, looks like an identical replica of the iPhone that was introduced in January. Basically it is the iPhone, but without the phone. The screen is the exact same size as the iPhone, but the Touch is 8mm slimmer and also offers the multi-touch interface. Obviously the main inspiration behind the iPod Touch is music, but this new devise has a lot more to offer than just that.

The most exciting technology on the iPod Touch is the build-in WIFI, which allows you to browse the Internet thanks to the addition of the safari browser. And for all you youtube addicts out there, the WIFI browser allows you to view millions of free streaming videos. Go ahead and take you time watching all of these videos, because the iPod Touch has a life; 22 hours audio, 5 hours video playback.

Now that I’ve reviewed some of the features of the iPod Touch, you might be asking yourself if you’ll have to take out a second mortgage of you house just to afford one. The iPod touch comes in at a resonable price of $299 for the 8GB and $399 for the 16GB. I’m guessing the prices are so reasonable because of the size of the hard drives, but now I’m just being greedy. The next generation of these iPod Touch’s will most definitely come out with more memory.

Now if you thought that was all the new Touch had to offer, then you my friend are sorely mistaken. Along with the WIFI, the iPod Touch has an iTunes WIFI music store. This feature acts exactly like the iTunes store on your desktop, but now you can download and purchase music from your iPod whenever you’d like. And after you do that, the music with automatically sync to you iTunes.

So, I’m not sure about anyone else, but personally, I’m stoked. Besides the minimal hard drive space, this device seems to have anything I could ever want. And when my current iPod has its inevitable hard drive crash, I will be sure to look into the new iPod Touch. The iPod’s should be available for purchase in the next few weeks.

Oh, and as a little side note, which shouldn’t be overlooked by the introduction of the iPod Touch, The Office Season 3 came out on DVD yesterday. Even though I have already downloaded all the episodes through iTunes, this is one of those shows where you HAVE to purchase the box set. For those of you who have not caught on with this show, you should also check out seasons 1 and 2. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Brent

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