My budget would be £300 and i’m looking for a standard 14-15 inch screen

probably about 2Gb RAM and 160 Gb hard drive and i want it at least 1.9Ghz

anyways can you just give me a list of good stores across the UK please?

Currys - Dixons - Comets - All the same croup. PC world - Carphone Warehouse (yes they sell them) - Argos (limited choice)

That should get you sorted.

I need a bag thats reliable and will protect my laptop but won’t fall apart on me anytime soon but it also has to be cheap, somthing in the $30 range perferablly, but has space so that I can fit Text books in it for classes…. any suggestions?

"Cheap", and "Good Quality" are two parameters that do not intercede, cannot process request.

I’m thinking of buying a plasma tv but I also want to connect my laptop via HDMI to it. I currently have a 32" LCD as pc monitor.

Will the plasma get screen burn/retention?

Also plasma pixels are wider? as they’re 1024×768, which is 4:3 ratio but the actual screen is widescreen. So will that cause havoc on a desktop?

Lastly would text be easy to read?

Thanks

First-don’t do it. Your desktop has many stationary objects which will burn-in to your screen. The newer plasmas are better at preventing burn-in than the old, but they won’t stand-up to use as a monitor. Even if they have a "white wash" mode to clear the burn-in, every time you use it, you are reducing the life of your panel.
Plasma pixels are not wider than LCDs.
The standard pixel counts are the same as for LCDs, except for some weird ones that have oddball counts and do have non-square pixels-avoid them.
1024X768 is NOT a standard HDTV pixel arrangement.
I don’t know what you’re looking at, but it’s not a standard TV.
If your PC can connect to the TV via an HD capable cable, then your desktop will look great-provided you’re not asking it to display teeny tiny stuff that only looks good on small monitors with higher resolutions than 1080P.
Usable cables for HD are VGA, RGB, component, HDMI and DVI.

PC is better, here is why…
(Also, Mac users who say Mac is easier are saying so since they like Mac, depending on what you are used to will decide what is easier for you. Most people are used to Windows by default and it’s best to learn windows especially for the business world)

PC=Variety of specs, options, quality, prices, vendors, support
Mac=One vendor, limited options, still more expensive. Look below for more information..

Contrary to belief, Macs are not better quality. Apple also has been changing suppliers to try to "lower the price" and thus lowering quality. Even with the lower prices, Macs still cost more, they spend a higher percent of budget trying to make it look pretty, and marketing.

Today, Macs use the same hardware as PCs. Why spend extra to get the same CPU chips, graphics cards and OS X isn’t as secure as you think.. Look below.

WINDOWS ADVANTAGES:

Aprox 90% of the market is Windows. Most PCs include windows already pre-installed.
1) A number of websites still require Internet Explorer to view and IE for Mac Stinks (it is really ies4osx which is the Windows IE version running really buggy on OS X and illegal if you don’t have a legitimate copy of Windows, too many problems with it).
2) More supported peripherals (printers and other things you hook into the computer) on Windows.
3) Many more games
4) Like the Dock on OS X (Mac)? google/yahoo rocketdock, objectdoc.

Install at least Free Versions of Avira AntiVir, Avast, Comodo Firewall on the Vista.

LINUX ADVANTAGES:

1) Install Linux, and then get tons of software for free.Update software easily and automatically. (Checking a checkbox in either two ways to install (Add/Remove or Synaptic Package Manager), search for something you want, check a box and click apply)
2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION. It can do just about any cool effect a Mac can do and more…
3) Like the Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Cairo Dock, avant window navigator.
4) It is faster/MORE SECURE. Surf the internet and even run some windows programs with Wnehq/Crossover..

LINUX OS
If you are worried about viruses, spyware, security, Try Linux (it is free), I have included some information about Linux and links so you are not lost if you decide to try it.

Easily turn your system into a Dual booting computer with Linux, fast, safe and secure, easy to use (contrary to belief). You then get the best of both worlds (Windows with all of its supported products, freely go online without the worry)

Installing Linux in general is very simple and much more secure than OS X(Macintosh) and free.
Also, most Linux distributions have a LiveCD which means you can try without installing…
UBUNTU, KUBUNTU, FREESPIRE, PCLINUXOS, etc.. all have live CDS.
All you have to do is..
A) to download .iso file off the internet from the Linux website
B) burn the .iso file to a CD or DVD (Make sure your burning software can burn an ISO or get InfraRecorder http://infrarecorder.org/ )
C) restart the computer with the CD in the drive
D) As computer is restarting, press on F12 Key a bunch of times to get a boot menu
E) Select the option to boot from CD or DVD.

Click on this link and follow instructions up to the point of "Once the system has started up…", (the rest is how to backup windows) for an easy picture guide for steps A-E above http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
For easy instructions on setting up Dual Boot http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm

ANOTHER QUICK NOTE: People have been able to run OS X on a PC since the PC and Mac use the same hardware. This is not legal and I would not recommend it for security and legal reasons, the purpose is to show that there is nothing special about the MAC.

A)Price…
A similar equipped PC is much cheaper to purchase than Mac. Lets use Dell (but you can compare with another PC Brand if you like)

*****************(LAPTOP)
Dell Inspiron Laptop $849 dropped to $799
15" Screen
CPU: (upgrade to) 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Memory: 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive: 320GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Optical Drive: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) - WRITES DVDS,CDS, READS Blue-Ray Disks

Macbook $1349 just dropped to $1224
13" Screen (SMALLER)
CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (SAME)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (SAME)
Memory: (upgrade to) 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (LESS RAM)
Hard Drive (upgrade to) 250GBSerial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm (SMALLER HARD DRIVE)
Optical Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) - (Writes CDs, DVDs, cannot read Blue-Ray) (WORSE AND 1/2 SPEED)

****************(DESKTOP)

PLEASE NOTE: I’m comparing Apple Mac’s vs Dells best deal. If you decide that you must have an all-in one. The Dell all-in-one has more ram, wireless keyboard and mouse and equivalent to $400 for free making the Imac still more expensive when you upgrade the Imac to try to match. Personally I don’t think the All-in-Ones are a good choice, and consider them overpriced, lack expandability and repairs both more expensive and require the entire computer.

PS: Apple knows that they must make Macintosh look different than PC so all Macs except the Mac Pro will not have a tower option. Apple’s low end lacks expandability but it makes the Mac "look different", if Mac had a tower for low-end, more people would realize the similarities between the two.

Dell: (Right Now) Specs Below costs $809
CPU: 2.4 GHZ Dell Inspiron QUAD (4 Processor) CORE
SCREEN: 20inch Screen
MEMORY: 3GB Ram
HARD DRIVE: 500 GB hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE: 16x DVD/CD Read/Writer
GRAPHICS: (upgrade to ) ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB

The Best Deal Mac is not the Mac Mini since it has no monitor, keyboard, mouse, very skimpy on options and setup… IMac is better price than the Mac Mini.

IMac ($1400)
CPU: 2.4 GHZ DUAL (2 Processor) CORE (SLOWER CPU)
SCREEN: 20inch Screen
MEMORY: (upgrade to) 2GB Ram (LESS RAM)
HARD DRIVE: (upgrade to ) 500 GB hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE: 8x DVD Reader/Writer (1/2 speed)
GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB

************************END OF DESKTOP

B) SECURITY:

Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 under 30 minutes, and hacked within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008. Linux and Vista were not able to be hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered.
All macs are standardized with Cameras, if your system gets hacked, the hacker would more likely be able to turn on your camera.
Please Note: All OS’s have vulnerabilities.

C) VIRUSES

The argument that OS X has less viruses is true, but that is against XP, BUT Mac OS X has viruses, a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think "they are safe".

Google/Yahoo Mac Viruses

D) WINDOWS LICENSE is discounted with PCs

You do not pay the full price, for instance Dell -> you pay $50 or less for Vista Home Premium If you buy a Mac and want Vista, you pay full price.

D) EXPANDABILITY & REPAIR…

Repairs are more expensive than PCs since the IMac, Mac Mini are compact units, and Apple charges a premium for their services. Some repairs can be done by another repair service but the compact design of the computer causes problems.
With an IMac, if the problem is with the monitor, the whole computer would have to be brought in.
IMac and Mac mini lack expansion.

E) PROBLEMS

Sample of problems: Overheating Macbooks, OS X- not responding to keyboard, some units with 16bit screens, etc. Apple statistics are misleading since Mac users with problem machines are more likely to go out and buy a new computer than PC users. Apple is lowering prices which means you can expect lower quality than in the past. Apple had switched the manufacturers producing parts. OS X also has problems slowing down.

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/01/apples-quality-dwindling-my-macbook-pro-sob-story/
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10020263-17.html
http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://www.freespire.org/
http://www.pclinuxos.com/
http://distrowatch.com/
http://polishlinux.org/
http://www.desktoplinux.com/
http://xwinman.org/gnome.php
http://xwinman.org/kde.php
http://www.linuxalt.com/
http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows
Google/Yahoo OS X on PC

i plan on getting a 8gb ipod touch, however, i’ve looked at it on the apple store and a 8gb refurbished ipod touch is about 190$ a 8gb normal one is around 250$, what’s the diffrence between the two? And how do i tell the diffrence between first gen and second gen?

refurbished means it was returned by a person or it had a minor problem but got it fixed

so just go with 190 not much diffeerence wit used and new really as long as it workds

I have 2 PCs connected to the internet on the same router, how can I access my 2nd PC using my 1st PC? For file transfers, etc. I know you could easily do this with an FTP program, but I thought there might be some software out there that would allow you to transfer files and more.

I think you will be happy to know there are lots of simple ways that are already there in windows without having to install additional software. It sounds like from what you are wanting that you should share folders on your computers.

-Right click on the folder on one computer that you would like to share
The details of how to share the folder from there are different depending on your user settings and which OS you are using but the basic idea is that you create a share, give full access permissions to the "Everyone" group.

Once the share has been created you will want to:
-Go to the other computer
-Click on Start > Run
-type \\ComputerName\ShareName
ie. if the computer name is DELL and you shared a folder called SHARE you would type \\DELL\SHARE

Im really confused on how to do this. All of the computers are connected to the internet wirelessly(one of the desktops is plugged right into the router) is there i way i can network all the computers wireless because they are all two far away to be connected with a wire

Absolutely, Microsoft calls this a workgroup. If all of your computers are connected to the internet and you only own one router you want to put each computer on the same workgroup.

#1 Right-click on "My Computer" and select properties.
#2 Left-click on ‘Computer Name" tab
#3 click the "Change" button
#4 select the Workgroup option box
#5 Name your new workgroup (all computers need to have the same workgroup name)
#6 Click OK.

Once this is setup on all of your computers, you should be able to see each machine in the "My Network Places" window.
It’s been a long time since i’ve done this so I’m not sure if this only shows shared content or gives you full access to the machine.

Hope this helps, GoodLuck!

I have a Vaio notebook with a biometric fingerprint scanner which allows me to "save" usernames and passwords and then access the accounts I have "saved" by swiping one of my fingers. I was wondering if this information is safe, or is it possible for someone to acquire my "saved" login info if they steal my notebook? Basically, I want to know exactly how secure my info is, whether or not this info can be obtained through hacking, and if so, how difficut is it to obtain my info?

nothing is safe from an experianced hacker.and if they have the lap top at there place then they have all the time in the world to get it.it is safer than with out it but they can get into it .dont know if this is what you were hoping to hear.but the truth is always a little hard to take.

I got a new monitor and hooked it up to my laptop. It’s absolutely awesome. The only thing that I want now is to be able to, for example, surf the web on my laptop while I watch innanet videos on the external monitor. How would I go about doing this?

You have to go to your video setting and selected that monitor, and click the box that says extend desktop onto this monitor. Right now it’s probably just copying the image.

I have ran into a jam and need to make 18 laptops identical to one I have setup just like I want it. Does anyone know of software or an external hard drive that will do this for me? I am using maxtor onetouch 4 plus to put images on it and then run a safety boot cd to transfer the image over to another pc, but I have ran into some models not working with this and that’s where I am now. I can’t afford to use norton ghost $$ is tight.

Here are some free solutions, but I have used symantec ghost (enterprise) and it is really easy. I cannot speak for these

http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml