WAJIB DIBACA SEMUA ORANG TERMASUK YANG BELUM PUNYA ANAK-ANAK !
Setelah melemparkan buku-bukunya di sofa, dia mengambil camilan dan mulai online. Dia log-on dengan nama ByAngel213. Dia memeriksa daftar sambungan yang masuk, ada yang bernama GoTo123 juga sedang online. Dia mengirimkan pesan :
ByAngel213:
Hi. Aku senang kamu online! Aku pikir ada seseorang yang mengikutiku pulang dari sekolah hari ini. Itu mengerikan!
GoTo123:
LOL (Laugh Out Loud = Ketawa Ngakak). Kamu kebanyakan nonton TV. Kenapa orang mengikuti kamu? Bukankah kamu tinggal di perumahan yang aman?
ByAngel213:
Tentu saja. LOL (Ketawa Ngakak). Aku rasa itu hanya pikiranku saja, karena aku tidak lihat seorang pun.
GoTo123:
Kecuali kamu menuliskan namamu saat online. Kamu tidak lakukan itu khan?
ByAngel213:
Tentu saja tidak. Aku tidak sebodoh itu, tahu.
GoTo123:
Apa kamu bermain softball sehabis sekolah hari ini?
ByAngel213:
Ya, dan teamku menang !!
GoTo123:
Itu hebat! Team siapa yang kamu mainkan?
ByAngel213:
Kita mainkan team Hornets. LOL (Ketawa Ngakak). Seragamnya keren banget! Mereka seperti lebah. LOL
GoTo123:
Apa nama teammu?
ByAngel213:
Canton Cats (Kucing2 Canton ). Ada gambar cakar harimau di seragam kita. Pokoknya keren.
GoTo1 23:
Kamu pelempar bola?
ByAngel213:
Tidak, aku jaga di base kedua. Aku harus pergi. Ada PR yang harus kukerjakan sebelum orang tuaku pulang. Dah!
GoTo123:
Sampai ketemu lagi. Dah
Sementara itu, GoTo123 mulai melacak menu "keanggotaan" dan mulai mencari profil sebenarnya dari ByAngel213. Ketika ditemukan, dia langsung menandai dan mencetaknya. Dia mengambil pena dan mulai menuliskan apa yang telah diketahuinya tentang ByAngel213.
Namanya: Shannon (perempuan)
Lahir: 3 Januari 1985
Umur: 13 tahun
Tempat tinggal: Carolina Utara
Hobi: softball, koor, skating dan pergi ke mall.
Selain informasi ini, dia tahu Shannon tinggal di Canton karena baru saja memberitahu. Dia tahu Shannon sendirian di rumah sampai jam 06:30 sore sampai kedua orang tuanya pulang kerja. Dia tahu Shannon bermain softball tiap hari Kamis sore dalam team sekolah yang bernama Canton Cats. Nomer favoritnya 7, seperti yang tercetak di kaosnya. Dia tahu Shannon kelas delapan (satu SMP) di SMP Canton . Semua informasi itu dia peroleh dari Shannon waktu mereka online. Dia sekarang sudah memperoleh informasi yang cukup untuk bisa menemukan Shannon .
* * * * *
Shannon tidak bercerita pada orang tuanya mengenai kejadian dalam perjalanan pulang dari lapangan taman kemarin. Dia tidak ingin orang tuanya ribut dan melarang dia jalan kaki saat pulang dari bermain softball. Orang tuanya selalu berlebihan dan berpikir yang buruk. Itu membuatnya berharap seandainya dia bukan anak tunggal. Mungkin jika dia punya saudara laki-laki atau perempuan, orang tuanya tidak menjadi over protektif lagi.
Pada hari Kamis, Shannon sudah lupa dengan langkah kaki yang mengikutinya.
Permainan softballnya sangat asyik, sampai tiba-tiba dia merasa ada seseorang yag memperhatikannya. Saat itu ingatannya muncul kembali. Dia melirik dari posisinya berdiri di base kedua, ada seorang laki-laki sedang mengamatinya dengan seksama.
Laki-laki itu bersandar di pagar di belakang base pertama dan dia tersenyum saat melihatnya. Dia tidak terlihat menakutkan dan Shannon langsung membuang perasaan ketakutan yang dirasakan.
Setelah permainan selesai, Shannon duduk di bangku sambil berbicara dengan pelatih. Dia memperhatikan laki-laki itu tersenyum lagi saat dia melewatinya. Dia mengangguk dan Shannon membalas tersenyum. Laki-laki itu melihat nama Shannon tercetak di belakang kaosnya seragamnya. Dia tahu sudah menemukan semua identitas Shannon .
Diam-diam, dia berjalan menjauh dalam jarak yang aman. Rumah Shannon hanya beberapa blok dari lapangan itu, dan begitu dia melihat tempat tinggalnya, laki-laki itu segera kembali ke tempat parkir dan mengambil mobilnya.
Sekarang dia menunggu. Dia memutuskan untuk makan sedikit sebelum pergi ke rumah Shannon .. Dia mengendarai mobil ke sebuah restoran cepat saji dan duduk di sana menunggu waktu untuk bergerak.
* * * * *
Shannon sedang berada di kamarnya saat dia mendengar suara panggilan dari ruang tamu.
" Shannon , cepat kemari," panggil ayahnya. Suaranya kedengaran marah tapi dia tidak tahu mengapa. Dia berjalan menuju ruang tamu dan melihat laki-laki yang yang ditemui di taman sedang duduk di sofa.
"Duduk," ayahnya memulai pembicaraan, "Bapak ini baru saja bercerita banyak hal yang menarik tentang kamu."
Shannon terhenyak ke belakang. Bagaimana mungkin laki-laki itu bisa bercerita segala macam pada orang tuanya? Dia tidak pernah bertemu dengannya sebelum hari ini !
"Kamu tahu saya siapa, Shannon ?" laki-laki itu bertanya.
"Tidak," jawab Shannon
"Saya adalah perwira polisi dan teman online-mu, GoTo123."
Shannon terkejut luar biasa, "Itu tidak mungkin! GoTo123 adalah anak seumuranku. Umurnya 14 tahun. Dan dia tinggal di Michigan !"
Laki-laki itu tersenyum, "Saya memang sudah menceritakan semuanya, tapi itu tidak benar. Kamu lihat Shannon , ada orang-orang di online yang berpura-pura menjadi seorang anak; dan saya salah satunya. Tapi saat yang lain melakukan itu untuk menyakiti dan berbuat jahat pada anak-anak, saya termasuk kelompok dari orang tua yang melakukannya untuk melindungi anak-anak dari orang jahat. Saya datang kemari untuk bertemu denganmu dan mengajarimu bahayanya berkomunikasi dengan orang yang tidak kamu kenal secara online. Kamu telah menceritakan semua hal yang cukup untuk saya pakai untuk menemukan kamu. Kamu menyebutkan nama sekolahmu, nama team softballmu dan posisi dimana kamu bermain. Bahkan kamu menyebutkan nomer kaos seragammu yang membuat saya menemukanmu dengan mudah."
Sekali lagi Shannin tertegun, "Bukankan anda tinggal di Michigan ?"
Laki-laki itu tertawa. "Tidak, saya tinggal di Releigh, dekat sini. Itu saya buat supaya kamu merasa aman karena berpikir bahwa saya tinggal di tempat yang jauh, bukan?"
Shannon mengangguk.
"Saya punya seorang teman yang memiliki anak perempuan seperti kamu. Hanya dia tidak beruntung. Laki-laki yang menemukannya membunuhnya saat dia sendirian di rumah. Anak-anak diajarkan untuk tidak mengatakan pada siapa pun bahwa mereka sedang sendirian di rumah, dimana sepanjang waktu itu mereka gunakan untuk online. Orang jahat akan menjebak kalian untuk memberikan informasi sedikit tentang ini dan tentang itu saat online. Sebelum kamu mengetahuinya, kamu telah mengatakan banyak hal sehingga mereka mudah menemukanmu bahkan sebelum kamu menyadari telah melakukannya. Saya harap kamu belajar dari kejadian ini dan tidak mengulanginya lagi. Beritahu teman-temanmu juga supaya mereka bisa aman."
"Saya berjanji!"
Malam itu Shannon, ayah dan ibunya mengucapkan terima kasih pada Tuhan karena sudah melindungi Shannon dari kejadian yang bisa menjadi peristiwa tragis.
****sekarang* ***
Kirimkan pesan ini bahkan pada orang-orang yang belum punya anak supaya mereka bisa mengirimkannya ke teman-temannya yang memiliki anak, saudara perempuan atau cucu.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Deciding Laptop
Are you confused?
Which laptop should you choose?
Student? Business? Multimedia?
Money problem?
Don't worry... In this page of blog, I would like to help you to find out the spec. for your "coming" laptop.
Prioritize Laptop Price, Performance, & Portability
Before looking at system specs, decide whether features or portability matter more to you. Many students and frequent travelers consider portability a deciding factor when buying a laptop. On the other hand, lighter and smaller laptops are generally less powerful than their heavier counterparts.
More expensive laptops either offer more features or greater portability than lower-priced models. For example, "desktop replacements" have all the features you'd want from a full-sized desktop PC, but they weigh a lot, and you wouldn't want to carry one around for long. Similarly, thin-and-light notebooks and bargain notebooks have a lot of the same features, but the thin-and-light models weigh less and often cost more. If your priority is budget and features, more than portability, consider buying a bargain notebook. If you'd rather have less weight to carry, it might make sense to step up to a thin-and-light or ultraportable.
When deciding how much laptop you can carry, consider the laptop's weight as well as the additional weight of a carrying case, an extra battery, any swappable drives you feel like bringing with you, a power cord, and networking cables.
Find a Laptop to Fit Your Lifestyle
Consider how you plan to use your laptop before you start shopping. It should meet your personal needs as well as the system requirements set by your Internet service provider.
Laptops for home Users
You want a second computer for the house that you can take with you from room to room. You want to email, surf the Internet, and do some basic photo editing. Look for a bargain laptop or desktop replacement with at least 800 MHz processor and 256MB RAM. If you have a wireless home network, make sure it includes built-in Wi-Fi.
Laptops for students
You want a lightweight computer that you can carry from the classroom to the library. As a starting point, find out which platform your school prefers and supports. Some universities don't care what kind of computer you have while others will provide you with a very specific list of system requirements. If your school doesn't have specific recommendations, look for an ultraportable or thin-and-light laptop with a processor in the Pentium-M family, with built-in Wi-Fi, at least 256MB RAM, a burner (either a CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD+RW/-RW drive), and a productivity software package such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works.
Laptops for frequent travelers
You want a lightweight computer to use at the airport and in meetings. Look at thin-and-light or ultraportable laptops with processors in the Pentium-M family, built-in Wi-Fi, at least 256MB RAM, and a suite of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works.
Laptops for business users
You need to travel, create presentations and spreadsheets, and hook up to a network. Depending on your need for portability, look at thin-and-light and desktop replacement laptops with the productivity software such as Microsoft Office, Wi-Fi (or an included Wi-Fi card), an Ethernet card, at least 256MB RAM, and at least 40GB hard drive space. Frequent business travelers will probably prefer thin-and-lights to desktop replacements. But, if you spend most of your time at a desk, the desktop replacement's superior power and features may be the way to go.
Laptops for multimedia enthusiasts
You want to edit video, audio, or photos with processor-intensive applications such as Photoshop. Look for a desktop replacement with at least 512MB RAM, a 2GHz or faster processor, and at least 80GB hard drive space.
A FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) or USB 2.0 port can also come in handy to transfer data from devices such as your video camera, digital camera, and MP3 player. If you want to burn DVD movies, buy a DVD+R/RW drive. You can also purchase these components separately in the Laptop Parts & Accessories category.
Laptops for gamers
Gamers want speed and amazing graphics. Gaming laptops have fast processors, high-end graphics cards, and slick displays, but you'll usually pay a premium for all the latest goodies. Look for a desktop replacement with a Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor in the 2.8 to 3.4 GHz range (or AMD equivalent), at least 1GB RAM, and a 256MB 3D graphics card.
Pick a Laptop Processor
AMD and Intel make several processors typically found in laptops. Some optimize laptop battery life while others concentrate on performance. Mobile processors, marked by the word "Mobile" or just "M," need less power and generate less heat than processors designed for desktops. Unless you need a powerful desktop replacement, get a mobile processor to extend battery life and prevent overheating. Most people should start with a 2.0GHz Pentium 4-M, 1.7 GHz Celeron-M, or 2200+ Athlon XP Mobile and work their way up.
- Celeron: Intel's budget-oriented chip with speeds up to 2.5GHz. They run slightly slower than Pentiums.
- Celeron-M: This low-cost processor has speeds up to 1.5GHz and slower speeds than Pentium-M. People looking to email, surf the Internet, and use word processing applications will be fine with the Celeron-M. It replaced the Pentium III-M in the low-end laptop processor arena.
- Pentium-M: Buy a battery-efficient Pentium-M, available in speeds up to 2.1GHz. The processor is part of Intel's Centrino Mobile Technology with built-in Wi-Fi.
- Pentium 4: Designed for desktops, Intel's Pentium 4 will appeal to multimedia enthusiasts. With speeds up to 3.33GHz, they tend to get hot and eat up battery life. If you intend to stay plugged in, they offer great performance.
- AMD Athlon 64: Always a favorite of gamers, the Athlon 64 supports 64-bit computing and is usually found in desktop replacements.
- Mobile AMD Athlon 64: Comparable to Pentium-M chips, the Mobile Athlon 64 is compatible with 802.11g wireless networking technology.
Select Standard Laptop Features
Once you've decided on a laptop weight class and processor, look at other components.
- Hard Drive: A computer's hard drive stores all your programs and files. A drive with a higher storage capacity (measured in GB) lets you save more data than a drive with a lower storage capacity. You only need 20GB to 40GB of hard drive space if you only plan to store your operating system, programs, documents, and a few photos. You'll want at least 80GB if you plan to save a lot of large files such as high-resolution images, movies, or your entire music collection. Additional external hard drives also work well for data backup purposes and for storing large files.
- Memory (RAM): Programs, including operating systems, need a certain amount of memory (RAM) to run, with more RAM providing better performance. For example, Windows XP requires at least 128MB RAM to run according to Microsoft. Most people find the number closer to 256MB and see even better performance with 512MB RAM, 1GB RAM, or more.
- CD and DVD Drives: When you buy any computer you want a way to back up your work. Some laptops come with fixed internal drives while others have a hot-swap bay where you can insert and remove a CD drive, DVD drive, or combo drive. Combo drives can read or write to two media formats. They may also include a read-only media format such as CD-ROM (to read CDs) or DVD-ROM (to play DVD movies and read CD-RWs). With hot-swap bays you can always upgrade to a different drive (for example, from a CD burner to a DVD burner) later and you can sometimes use an extra battery with the bay.
- Ports: Make sure you have the ability to connect all the peripherals and gadgets you want. Besides a parallel or USB port for your printer, you'll want USB 2.0 or FireWire to connect your MP3 player, digital camera, or camcorder. Many devices also work with USB 1.1.
- Screens: While most folks will love a 14.1-inch display, some people may want to sacrifice size to drop some laptop weight. If you work with a lot of multimedia or play 3D games, go with a larger display.
- Networking and Wi-Fi: If you want to connect to the Internet from more than one location in your home or office, find out if the laptop has built-in Ethernet support, a PCMCIA network interface card, or Wi-Fi (802.11b or 802.11g) support. For more information on wired and wireless networking, visit eBay's Networking Buying Guide.
- Graphics Card: A graphics card processes video, freeing up memory (RAM) for other system tasks.
Laptop Upgrades
Although a laptop's small size makes it a bit trickier to upgrade than a desktop, even new computer users will feel comfortable:
Adding memory. Laptop memory upgrades don't cost a lot of money and most people can replace a RAM stick in a couple minutes. In order to run Windows XP Home, Microsoft recommends you have 128MB RAM. However, Windows seems a lot happier with 256MB RAM, 512MB RAM, or more.
Inserting a new hot swap drive (if your laptop supports them).
Installing a new PCMCIA card. Some laptops have an Ethernet or modem card in the PCMCIA slot, but if you have an open card slot, you can quickly add USB 2.0, FireWire, an Ethernet port, or Wi-Fi.
Get Essential Laptop Accessories
Don't be too quick to rule out a listing based on price alone. You can save money by buying a "bundle" that includes all the accessories you need. If you find a deal on a laptop that meets all your needs on eBay, you can also shop for accessories a la carte in the Laptop Parts & Accessories category.
- Mousing options: Laptops don't have a traditional mouse. Find out if the laptop includes a touchpad, nub, or both. You may even get lucky if a seller throws in a mouse.
- Bluetooth: Some laptops support a short-range wireless networking technology called Bluetooth. If you have a Bluetooth-enabled PDA or cell phone, you may want a laptop that can talk and exchange data wirelessly with your other electronics.
- Extra Battery: If you plan to plug in to a power source most of the time, battery life won't concern you too much. If you depend on your battery to keep your laptop up and running for long periods of time, ask your seller how long the manufacturer expects the battery to last. You may want to invest in a second battery to keep with you in the classroom or on the road.
- Docking Station: A docking station allows you to connect your laptop to a standard keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer. It stays plugged in and powers your laptop so you conserve battery power.
- Carrying case: If you plan to take your laptop out and about, you'll need a laptop carrying case.
- Cable lock: Most laptops have a security slot, but not all of them come with a lock. If you want a lock, look for listings that include them. You can also buy cable locks separately.
Buy Laptop with Confidence
Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.
Know your purchase
Carefully read the details in item listings.
Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.
Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.
Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Know your seller
Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.
What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer protection
In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.
Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.
eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.
That's all folks! Tips How to Decide A Laptop!
I hope those infos are good enough for you, who would like to buy a new laptop.
Motion Ape, Out!!!
Source : eBay
Which laptop should you choose?
Student? Business? Multimedia?
Money problem?
Don't worry... In this page of blog, I would like to help you to find out the spec. for your "coming" laptop.
Prioritize Laptop Price, Performance, & Portability
Before looking at system specs, decide whether features or portability matter more to you. Many students and frequent travelers consider portability a deciding factor when buying a laptop. On the other hand, lighter and smaller laptops are generally less powerful than their heavier counterparts.
More expensive laptops either offer more features or greater portability than lower-priced models. For example, "desktop replacements" have all the features you'd want from a full-sized desktop PC, but they weigh a lot, and you wouldn't want to carry one around for long. Similarly, thin-and-light notebooks and bargain notebooks have a lot of the same features, but the thin-and-light models weigh less and often cost more. If your priority is budget and features, more than portability, consider buying a bargain notebook. If you'd rather have less weight to carry, it might make sense to step up to a thin-and-light or ultraportable.
When deciding how much laptop you can carry, consider the laptop's weight as well as the additional weight of a carrying case, an extra battery, any swappable drives you feel like bringing with you, a power cord, and networking cables.
Ultraportable | Thin-and-Light | Bargain | Desktop Replacement | |
Weight: | Less than 4 lbs | 4-6 lbs | 6-8 lbs | More than 7 lbs |
Thickness: | Less than .5 inch | Less than 1 inch | More than an inch | More than an inch |
Display Size: | 12-inch | 12 to 14.1-inch | 14.1-inch | 15-17-inch |
Find a Laptop to Fit Your Lifestyle
Consider how you plan to use your laptop before you start shopping. It should meet your personal needs as well as the system requirements set by your Internet service provider.
Laptops for home Users
You want a second computer for the house that you can take with you from room to room. You want to email, surf the Internet, and do some basic photo editing. Look for a bargain laptop or desktop replacement with at least 800 MHz processor and 256MB RAM. If you have a wireless home network, make sure it includes built-in Wi-Fi.
Laptops for students
You want a lightweight computer that you can carry from the classroom to the library. As a starting point, find out which platform your school prefers and supports. Some universities don't care what kind of computer you have while others will provide you with a very specific list of system requirements. If your school doesn't have specific recommendations, look for an ultraportable or thin-and-light laptop with a processor in the Pentium-M family, with built-in Wi-Fi, at least 256MB RAM, a burner (either a CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD+RW/-RW drive), and a productivity software package such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works.
Laptops for frequent travelers
You want a lightweight computer to use at the airport and in meetings. Look at thin-and-light or ultraportable laptops with processors in the Pentium-M family, built-in Wi-Fi, at least 256MB RAM, and a suite of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft Works.
Laptops for business users
You need to travel, create presentations and spreadsheets, and hook up to a network. Depending on your need for portability, look at thin-and-light and desktop replacement laptops with the productivity software such as Microsoft Office, Wi-Fi (or an included Wi-Fi card), an Ethernet card, at least 256MB RAM, and at least 40GB hard drive space. Frequent business travelers will probably prefer thin-and-lights to desktop replacements. But, if you spend most of your time at a desk, the desktop replacement's superior power and features may be the way to go.
Laptops for multimedia enthusiasts
You want to edit video, audio, or photos with processor-intensive applications such as Photoshop. Look for a desktop replacement with at least 512MB RAM, a 2GHz or faster processor, and at least 80GB hard drive space.
A FireWire (also called IEEE 1394) or USB 2.0 port can also come in handy to transfer data from devices such as your video camera, digital camera, and MP3 player. If you want to burn DVD movies, buy a DVD+R/RW drive. You can also purchase these components separately in the Laptop Parts & Accessories category.
Laptops for gamers
Gamers want speed and amazing graphics. Gaming laptops have fast processors, high-end graphics cards, and slick displays, but you'll usually pay a premium for all the latest goodies. Look for a desktop replacement with a Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 processor in the 2.8 to 3.4 GHz range (or AMD equivalent), at least 1GB RAM, and a 256MB 3D graphics card.
Pick a Laptop Processor
AMD and Intel make several processors typically found in laptops. Some optimize laptop battery life while others concentrate on performance. Mobile processors, marked by the word "Mobile" or just "M," need less power and generate less heat than processors designed for desktops. Unless you need a powerful desktop replacement, get a mobile processor to extend battery life and prevent overheating. Most people should start with a 2.0GHz Pentium 4-M, 1.7 GHz Celeron-M, or 2200+ Athlon XP Mobile and work their way up.
- Celeron: Intel's budget-oriented chip with speeds up to 2.5GHz. They run slightly slower than Pentiums.
- Celeron-M: This low-cost processor has speeds up to 1.5GHz and slower speeds than Pentium-M. People looking to email, surf the Internet, and use word processing applications will be fine with the Celeron-M. It replaced the Pentium III-M in the low-end laptop processor arena.
- Pentium-M: Buy a battery-efficient Pentium-M, available in speeds up to 2.1GHz. The processor is part of Intel's Centrino Mobile Technology with built-in Wi-Fi.
- Pentium 4: Designed for desktops, Intel's Pentium 4 will appeal to multimedia enthusiasts. With speeds up to 3.33GHz, they tend to get hot and eat up battery life. If you intend to stay plugged in, they offer great performance.
- AMD Athlon 64: Always a favorite of gamers, the Athlon 64 supports 64-bit computing and is usually found in desktop replacements.
- Mobile AMD Athlon 64: Comparable to Pentium-M chips, the Mobile Athlon 64 is compatible with 802.11g wireless networking technology.
Select Standard Laptop Features
Once you've decided on a laptop weight class and processor, look at other components.
- Hard Drive: A computer's hard drive stores all your programs and files. A drive with a higher storage capacity (measured in GB) lets you save more data than a drive with a lower storage capacity. You only need 20GB to 40GB of hard drive space if you only plan to store your operating system, programs, documents, and a few photos. You'll want at least 80GB if you plan to save a lot of large files such as high-resolution images, movies, or your entire music collection. Additional external hard drives also work well for data backup purposes and for storing large files.
- Memory (RAM): Programs, including operating systems, need a certain amount of memory (RAM) to run, with more RAM providing better performance. For example, Windows XP requires at least 128MB RAM to run according to Microsoft. Most people find the number closer to 256MB and see even better performance with 512MB RAM, 1GB RAM, or more.
- CD and DVD Drives: When you buy any computer you want a way to back up your work. Some laptops come with fixed internal drives while others have a hot-swap bay where you can insert and remove a CD drive, DVD drive, or combo drive. Combo drives can read or write to two media formats. They may also include a read-only media format such as CD-ROM (to read CDs) or DVD-ROM (to play DVD movies and read CD-RWs). With hot-swap bays you can always upgrade to a different drive (for example, from a CD burner to a DVD burner) later and you can sometimes use an extra battery with the bay.
- Ports: Make sure you have the ability to connect all the peripherals and gadgets you want. Besides a parallel or USB port for your printer, you'll want USB 2.0 or FireWire to connect your MP3 player, digital camera, or camcorder. Many devices also work with USB 1.1.
- Screens: While most folks will love a 14.1-inch display, some people may want to sacrifice size to drop some laptop weight. If you work with a lot of multimedia or play 3D games, go with a larger display.
- Networking and Wi-Fi: If you want to connect to the Internet from more than one location in your home or office, find out if the laptop has built-in Ethernet support, a PCMCIA network interface card, or Wi-Fi (802.11b or 802.11g) support. For more information on wired and wireless networking, visit eBay's Networking Buying Guide.
- Graphics Card: A graphics card processes video, freeing up memory (RAM) for other system tasks.
Laptop Upgrades
Although a laptop's small size makes it a bit trickier to upgrade than a desktop, even new computer users will feel comfortable:
Adding memory. Laptop memory upgrades don't cost a lot of money and most people can replace a RAM stick in a couple minutes. In order to run Windows XP Home, Microsoft recommends you have 128MB RAM. However, Windows seems a lot happier with 256MB RAM, 512MB RAM, or more.
Inserting a new hot swap drive (if your laptop supports them).
Installing a new PCMCIA card. Some laptops have an Ethernet or modem card in the PCMCIA slot, but if you have an open card slot, you can quickly add USB 2.0, FireWire, an Ethernet port, or Wi-Fi.
Get Essential Laptop Accessories
Don't be too quick to rule out a listing based on price alone. You can save money by buying a "bundle" that includes all the accessories you need. If you find a deal on a laptop that meets all your needs on eBay, you can also shop for accessories a la carte in the Laptop Parts & Accessories category.
- Mousing options: Laptops don't have a traditional mouse. Find out if the laptop includes a touchpad, nub, or both. You may even get lucky if a seller throws in a mouse.
- Bluetooth: Some laptops support a short-range wireless networking technology called Bluetooth. If you have a Bluetooth-enabled PDA or cell phone, you may want a laptop that can talk and exchange data wirelessly with your other electronics.
- Extra Battery: If you plan to plug in to a power source most of the time, battery life won't concern you too much. If you depend on your battery to keep your laptop up and running for long periods of time, ask your seller how long the manufacturer expects the battery to last. You may want to invest in a second battery to keep with you in the classroom or on the road.
- Docking Station: A docking station allows you to connect your laptop to a standard keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer. It stays plugged in and powers your laptop so you conserve battery power.
- Carrying case: If you plan to take your laptop out and about, you'll need a laptop carrying case.
- Cable lock: Most laptops have a security slot, but not all of them come with a lock. If you want a lock, look for listings that include them. You can also buy cable locks separately.
Buy Laptop with Confidence
Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.
Know your purchase
Carefully read the details in item listings.
Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.
Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.
Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Know your seller
Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.
What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer protection
In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.
Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.
eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.
That's all folks! Tips How to Decide A Laptop!
I hope those infos are good enough for you, who would like to buy a new laptop.
Motion Ape, Out!!!
Source : eBay
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Human Reaction Algorithm
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