The Ask anything about computers thread

[AMC]

My mother is thinking of getting a Dell Studio 15 with an i7 processor and asked me what I think about but I'm not sure because I'm not exactly an expert on laptops. I overpaid for my own laptop to be sure I'd get something good, but that's not how everyone else shops.

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/noteb...o-new-15_anav4~~

[ny]

iTunes question here.

I've had to reformat my HD again since I got virtumonde.prx and it's just easier to do that than it is to remove it.

Last time I did this, I took all my music from an external HD and dragged it back in to the iTunes library. The problem was, every time I went to use a song, it would ask me to manually point to the path where the song was.

Is there a way to import the songs back into the library to avoid this?

If you're getting a error message for that its probably the explanation point error just google if it is as it's a easy fix.

[Sillycon]

My mother is thinking of getting a Dell Studio 15 with an i7 processor and asked me what I think about but I'm not sure because I'm not exactly an expert on laptops. I overpaid for my own laptop to be sure I'd get something good, but that's not how everyone else shops.

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/laptop-studio-1555/pd.aspx?refid=laptop-studio-1555&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~laptop-studio-new-15_anav4~~

What does your mom plan to do with her computer? I'd imagine an i7 based laptop is way overkill for her... You can get core 2 duo based laptops for around $500.

[ojo]

i ordered a macbook pro 2.4 GHz, i5 processor with 128 GB SSD...huge HD wasn't that important since i have a 2 TB NAS on my home network...

i got the hi res, matte finish option...

ok, gimme my work of art already. should be here next week sometime...

[RhodyYanksFan]

If I download a TV season off itunes and save it to my external HD, can I then watch the shows through my TV that has a USB port and/or through my PS3?

[Casey at the Bat]

I'm pretty sure you have to use iTunes to play back any video that you bought through iTunes. You would have to hook a computer up to your TV somehow, or use Appletv to do watch it on your TV

[yankee82093]

If I download a TV season off itunes and save it to my external HD, can I then watch the shows through my TV that has a USB port and/or through my PS3?

I'm pretty sure itunes has DRM (digital rights managament) on their videos, so it's probably quicktime format and I doubt you would be able to convert it because of the DRM. You wouldn't be able to go directly through your tv anyway. I doubt PS3 can read anything bought from the itunes store, assuming it is quicktime.

If your computer is a laptop, and if your computer and tv are new enough, you can use your tv as a monitor for your laptop.

They are probably ways to remove DRM from itunes videos but they're probably sketchy.

[RhodyYanksFan]

I'm pretty sure itunes has DRM (digital rights managament) on their videos, so it's probably quicktime format and I doubt you would be able to convert it because of the DRM. You wouldn't be able to go directly through your tv anyway. I doubt PS3 can read anything bought from the itunes store, assuming it is quicktime.

If your computer is a laptop, and if your computer and tv are new enough, you can use your tv as a monitor for your laptop.

They are probably ways to remove DRM from itunes videos but they're probably sketchy.

Lame. My laptop does have an HDMI port so if I just connect it to the TV I can use that as a monitor right? Then I can buy the show in HD too.

[yankee82093]

Lame. My laptop does have an HDMI port so if I just connect it to the TV I can use that as a monitor right? Then I can buy the show in HD too.

You can if your TV has an hdmi port and if you have an hdmi to hdmi cable.

[Steve Dalkowski]

So I'm reading this article, Fastest Net Service in U.S. Coming to Chattanooga. Speaking of 1-gigabit per second internet service, it says: “Imagine … downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes.”

What am I missing? If an HD movie is in the range of 1-2GB, wouldn’t you be able to download that movie in less than five seconds, not minutes? Is the article poorly written, or do I not understand how broadband is measured?

[Mr Coffee]

So I'm reading this article, Fastest Net Service in U.S. Coming to Chattanooga. Speaking of 1-gigabit per second internet service, it says: “Imagine … downloading a high-definition, full-length feature film in less than five minutes.”

What am I missing? If an HD movie is in the range of 1-2GB, wouldn’t you be able to download that movie in less than five seconds, not minutes? Is the article poorly written, or do I not understand how broadband is measured?

For whatever reason, you never download as fast as the maximum rate.

And a full-length 1080p movie is usually around 10-20 GB.

[Steve Dalkowski]

For whatever reason, you never download as fast as the maximum rate.

And a full-length 1080p movie is usually around 10-20 GB.

Now that I think of it, I guess the only HD files I've downloaded are television shows, so a movie would be a much larger file.

Thanks - makes sense.

[Steve Dalkowski]

Stupid question: So I am selling my old laptop to someone I don't really know and I don't want to leave any sensitive/personal info on it when I hand it over. If I remove the hard drive (he said he's going to replace it with a larger one anyway), does that solve the problem entirely?

[Mr Coffee]

Stupid question: So I am selling my old laptop to someone I don't really know and I don't want to leave any sensitive/personal info on it when I hand it over. If I remove the hard drive (he said he's going to replace it with a larger one anyway), does that solve the problem entirely?

Yes..

[THEBOSS84]

I bought a Macbook last December - it's in perfect condition. I only use it for the internet really (as my home computer). Considering I only use it for the internet, I realized I should just sell it and buy an iPad. Will the iPad be a good replacement for the Macbook considering how I use my Macbook?

[NYYDragoon]

I bought a Macbook last December - it's in perfect condition. I only use it for the internet really (as my home computer). Considering I only use it for the internet, I realized I should just sell it and buy an iPad. Will the iPad be a good replacement for the Macbook considering how I use my Macbook?

Don't forget that an iPad isn't a full-fledged computer (Like how it doesn't have Flash, which despite how people feel about it is still used by many common websites.)

[THEBOSS84]

Don't forget that an iPad isn't a full-fledged computer (Like how it doesn't have Flash, which despite how people feel about it is still used by many common websites.)

So in other words, watching movies or porn is not definitely going to work, depending on which sites I use?

[NYYDragoon]

So in other words, watching movies or porn is not definitely going to work, depending on which sites I use?

Correct.

[4bronxbombers]

I need (apparently) a cooling pad for my latptop. I went to Staples and had no idea what to get...prices ranged all over the place. The guy there was clueless. Anyone have an idea of what type of cooling pad I should get? I have a Toshiba laptop.

[Steve Dalkowski]

Yes..

Many thanks. This thread rules.

[theDurk]

I need (apparently) a cooling pad for my latptop. I went to Staples and had no idea what to get...prices ranged all over the place. The guy there was clueless. Anyone have an idea of what type of cooling pad I should get? I have a Toshiba laptop.

Just go to http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ing+pad&Page=1 and pick the one that has the best and most reviews at 4 eggs or better in your price range. Newegg reviews are VERY informative.

You did clean your fan out, right? I have a few Toshibas in the family and that needs to be done every once in a while. Especially for the daughter that uses it in bed on top of her blanket.

[4bronxbombers]

Just go to http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ing+pad&Page=1 and pick the one that has the best and most reviews at 4 eggs or better in your price range. Newegg reviews are VERY informative.

You did clean your fan out, right? I have a few Toshibas in the family and that needs to be done every once in a while. Especially for the daughter that uses it in bed on top of her blanket.

I was going to but it involved taking out the mother board and it looked way too complicated so i bagged that idea. I will check out Newegg. thx

My daughter has her own laptop. I guess at one point we must have shared one. It's all a blur.

[krystl]

Vick, I have used $30 cooling pads and $5 cooling pads and they all work the same, IMO.

[theDurk]

I was going to but it involved taking out the mother board and it looked way too complicated so i bagged that idea.

Some are worse than others. You can try a double-team external attack: Put a can of compressed air to one vent and a vacuum to the other and then reverse. Rinse and repeat. You might get lucky and get them bunnies out of there.

[yankee82093]

I bought a Macbook last December - it's in perfect condition. I only use it for the internet really (as my home computer). Considering I only use it for the internet, I realized I should just sell it and buy an iPad. Will the iPad be a good replacement for the Macbook considering how I use my Macbook?

Maybe you could get an android tablet that will have flash? Or a netbook which has the entire internet?

You can get a decent netbook for cheaper than the ipad anyway