TIP: You will find links to many of the matters referred to in the notes below.
Clicking on the link will take you away from this page, so if you want to be able to return easily, Right Click the link and select "Open in New Window."
9 O'Clock Hour
DVDs for the Cure
Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure increases public awareness about breast cancer as well as raising much needed funding to find the cure for this killer of so many young women.
Now MGM and Fox are joining Susan's worthy cause with the release of their most popular romantic comedies, inspirational adventures, and classic movies under a “DVDs for the Cure” banner that includes special packaging to indicate which titles are part of the promotion. For each $15.00 DVD title sold, a 50 Cent contribution will be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
More details on how to support this vital cause can be found by clicking here to go to Susan's website, or by calling (800) IM AWARE.
Please support this worthy cause and get a great DVD.
Guest: David Berger - The Show Notes Guy
Long time listener and occasional caller, David Berger volunteered to post the show notes for Marc's show.
The goal is to provide listeners with a site where they can find links to all the valuable topics in each show. The show notes are designed to supplement the excellent Yahoo! Group hosted by Robert Gismondi, where listeners can not only find tips and links, but also get answers to questions. If you haven't already joined the Yahoo! Group, do it now by clicking here, and get the best free advice on the net!
So, how are the Show Notes created? David uses Google Pages, one of Google's suite of Web 2.0 applications. It's basically a free website creator requiring no special software and no special skill.
Anyone with a Gmail account can create their own web presence in minutes. Best of all, it is very user friendly and produces (I hope!) quite professional looking results. Go to http://www.gmail.com to get a free Gmail account, and then go to http://www.googlepages.com and start your website.
Big unanswered question - are the Show Notes easier to read in White text on a Black background, or Black on White? Email David and let him know.
Feature: Jott.com
Jott.com is a free service for people on the go. It's an ideal way for remembering those "must do" tasks that otherwise get forgotten. Go to http://www.jott.com and register your cell phone number and your email address on their website.
You get a number to call which you should save in your address book. Next time you need to remind yourself of something, just call Jott and send a Jott to yourself. In moments, Jott sends an email to you with an audio file of your message. Better still, Jott's Voice Recognition software, actually transcribes your message into readable text in the email!
As you can see, there's lots more that Jott can do.
Try it. It's a free public beta and a real aid to organization.
Caller: Jim in Long Beach
When will the show be available as a Podcast? Mario is working on it and as soon as the CD quality archives of the show can be compressed to smaller file sizes suitable for Podcasting, look to see Marc's Computer and Technology Show on iTunes as a free podcast.
How do you transfer video from you VCR to your computer? You need a piece of hardware to convert the analogue or digital output from your VCR into a format that can be input to your computer. Marc likes products by Hauppauge called WinTV that use the USB port on your computer to input the video for transfer into a file that can be played back on your computer, or transfered to your video iPod or PSP for viewing.
Caller: Barbara in Santa Ana
Barbara lives in Costa Rica and just got DSL (or ADSL) installed. That's the good news. The bad news is that it works perfectly during the night, but not at all during the day. Is there a problem with her DSL Modem?
Marc thinks that the problem is with the DSL service provider as the service is fine at night. Barbara has tried contacting the DSL service provider and they blame the modem (she did not get the modem from them).
Perhaps on solution is to ask the DSL provider to supply a modem, and then if the problem persists, either complain again or switch to Hughes service, which is a satellite based system.
Caller: Chris
Has a 6 year-old desktop PC, and it's time for a new one. What should she get, and how can she transfer her files?
Marc is a big fan of Gateway's line of computers, as Dell still has "issues" with their tech support. Marc has had Gateways for over 3 years with no problems at all.
You can see Gateway computers at Best Buy, Circuit City and Costco, where you can try them out, or buy on-line direct from Gateway.
Sony's VAIO line is another option, however, Marc particularly likes the Gateway DX430 line.
Gateway are being bought by Acer which will make Acer the world's third biggest PC vendor.
Should Chris order her new computer with Windows XP (she's used to XP) or Vista? Marc says go with VIsta. It's a better operating system.
What about transferring files? It couldn't be easier with Vista. Vista has a program built into it that will transfer files (not programs) from the old PC to the new one.
The only thing you need is a cable to connect the new computer to the old one, and a program that you download (free from Microsoft) onto the old computer. Belkin makes an "Easy Transfer Cable for Windows Vista" that's ideal for the job.
Marc advises you not to try to transfer all your files at one time. It is better to do the transfer in logical stages, folder by folder.
10 O'Clock Hour
Guest: John Coaler from Sony
John, a Senior Marketing Manager for Sony PlayStation Portable ("PSP") talks about the new sleeker, lighter and faster PSP. The PSP has been out since 2005, and this is the first significant change in the product line. The changes are focused around the screen, which continues to be one of the most impressive features of the PSP, making it the best portable gaming system.
In redesigning the PSP, Sony has followed Apple's lead in making the PSP a really attractive piece of hardware. It's "Apple pretty" according to Marc!
Super Screen
But the PSP is more than just an excellent portable gaming system. It's screen is so good that it plays videos so well that it's really a portable entertainment system.
Business Use
John notes that he gets reports from business users who use the PSP to show PowerPoint presentations of their products on the road.
Video Out
One of the new features of the redesigned PSPs is the Video Out component, allowing you to output the PSP display to a full size monitor, or to smaller monitors in your car.
Battery Life
Another improvement is the battery life, which was already good, and is now better than before. Expect in excess of 5 hours on rechargeable batteries.
TiVO to Go
Programs recorded on TiVO can be transferred to the PSP for viewing.
Limited Edition PSPs
John says that in addition to the "regular" (or "core") PSP which is manufactured in shiny "Piano Black" with a RSP of $169.00, two limited edition PSPs priced at $199.00 will be offered:
An "Ice Silver" PSP with a Daxter entertainment pack goes on sale on September 10 and,
A "Ceramic White" PSP with Star Wars Battlefront entertainment pack will be on sale on October 9.
The Black PSP will be in the stores on September 7.
Games for the PSP (there are over 140!) sell from $19.99 to $29.99 and include Siphon Filter
an action packed shooter will make you feel like you've been in a scene from The Bourne Supremacy!
"There's no better portable gaming device" says Marc, who has become quite a Tennis ace!
Learn more about the new PSPs by clicking here.
Caller: John best RPGs for PCs?
RPGs? - not, Rocket Propelled Grenades, but Role Playing Games!
John wants to know what's available in RPGs for someone without internet access.
Marc likes Diablo, NeverWinner Nights, Oblivion, Quake and the StarWars series.
Buy Of The Week
It's a 500GB Seagate Barracuda internal Hard Drive from TigerDirect, and it's only $99.99!
Caller: Roger
Roger wants advice on a new desktop - is the Gateway 24-inch monitor is worth $300 more than their 22-inch monitor?
Marc has both! He has the 24-inch next to the 22-inch on his desktop and frankly, the 24-inch is beautiful, but the 22-inch looks very good too. It's really a question of desk space and budget. You will not be disappointed with either.
As for a Mini-Tower, anything with a Core 2 Duo processor and at least 1GM of RAM - Gateway has great computers and monitors.
What about Security? Panda Security's Titanium is one of Marc's preferred anti-virus packages, but there are others; Webroot has excellent Anti-Spyware protection.
Firewall? Don't rely on a software firewall, a hardware firewall is better - most routers provide a hardware firewall.
Caller: Linda in Chatsworth
Linda installed a software firewall and is worried about pop-up messages that she gets asking her whether she wants to allow or deny access to her computer from websites.
Again, Marc favors Harware Firewalls built in to a router. Linda has a router, but does not know if it has a firewall. Marc suggests that she check with the manufacturers website to see if there is a hardware firewall - most wireless routers have this.
Caller: Ken in Chatsworth
Ken built his own computer two years ago, and it started powering off all by itself. Ken changed the power supply, but now the computer does not even start up.
Marc thinks that the problem may be that the mother board has been damaged, or that the hard drive is defective. Either way, with the price of replacement parts compared to a new mini-tower from E-Machines, it's hard to justify spending money on an old computer.
Feature: Pelican Police Flashlight
Marc's having fun with the Los Angeles Police Department's new issue flashlight - a rechargeable LED flashlight. It's manufactured by Pelican Products for LAPD. Very cool...
And very expensive! Click here for pricing.
Feature: Mike Timpson Wins Video Competition
KABC Computer & Technology Show's producer/screener Mike Timpson was the winner of a competition to produce a video for WWE. The contest, "Are You WWE's Biggest Fan?" attracted over 2,000 entries, and our Mike came away with 1st prize for his one minute video, submitted through www.ziddio.com, where you should be able to view Mike's winning video by entering "Timpson" in the search window.
Or you can click here and see Mike's winning video. Look out for another KABC Computer & Technology Show staffer in Mike's video.
Well done Mike!
Caller: Joe in Santa Ana
Joe wants advice on buying a laptop. He wants to be able to trade stocks on line and on the go.
Marc says the speed of the laptop is not as important as the speed of the internet connection, so virtually any basic laptop will fulfill Joe's needs. Gateway, Acer and Sony's Viao notebook computer are all suitable for Joe's needs. Be sure to get an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and at least 1GM of RAM.
What about mobile internet connection? Sprint and Verizon offer EVDO cards that slot into most notebook computers and give acceptable connection speeds. Just make sure you're in their coverage area.
Because Joe is going to be connecting to the internet without a router, he will need a Software Firewall, and Panda Security's Titanium is a good solution.
Finale: Another Great Show!
And yes, there's still uncertainty as to what time next week's show will start, but it will be either at 9am or 10am, be sure to tune in.
