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	<title>Build Your Own Computer: Blog</title>
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	<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog</link>
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	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:19:48 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>What has Windows 8 Consumer Preview Changed?</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/28/what-has-windows-8-consumer-preview-changed/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/28/what-has-windows-8-consumer-preview-changed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:14:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Electronics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[menu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[metro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[start]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Windows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows 7]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows 8]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows phone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows phone 7]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[xbox]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=606</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Windows 8 is a radical new version of Windows which has just been released into a free to download consumer preview version. You may remember my previous article about the developer preview where I said that Windows 8 needs a lot of work to get it optimised for regular PCs as well as touch screen devices. After [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/18/windows-8-developer-preview-what-i-dont-like/' rel='bookmark' title='Windows 8 Developer Preview: What I Don&#8217;t Like'>Windows 8 Developer Preview: What I Don&#8217;t Like</a> <small>By now we've all had a chance to play around...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/15/windows-8-developer-build-slideshow/' rel='bookmark' title='Windows 8 Developer Preview Pictures'>Windows 8 Developer Preview Pictures</a> <small>So the new developer build of Windows looks pretty cool....</small></li>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/15/windows-developer-build-apps/' rel='bookmark' title='Windows Developer Preview Apps'>Windows Developer Preview Apps</a> <small>Here is a quick overview of some of the apps...</small></li>
</ol>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.logodesignlove.com/images/evolution/windows-8-logo.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="358" /></p>
<p>Windows 8 is a radical new version of Windows which has just been released into a <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download">free to download</a> consumer preview version. You may remember<a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/18/windows-8-developer-preview-what-i-dont-like/"> my previous article about the developer preview</a> where I said that Windows 8 needs a lot of work to get it optimised for regular PCs as well as touch screen devices. After a bit of time playing around with the new version, I think that Microsoft has almost achieved this goal although there are a few minor problems which make some processes a lot slower than they should be.</p>
<p>The idea behind Windows 8 is to unify all of Microsoft's products - PCs, tablets, mobile phones and XBox. They will share an OS which is more or less the same between devices and all of your settings should be synced between the devices meaning you can move from one to the other and continue where you left off. In theory this idea sounds pretty cool but in practice you realise that this basically means that the OS has to be optimised for use with many different input methods and be just as easy to use no matter what device you choose.<span id="more-606"></span></p>
<p>One of my biggest complaints in <a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/18/windows-8-developer-preview-what-i-dont-like/">my previous article</a> was that the Metro interface removes easy multitasking and makes keyboard and mouse input much more difficult. In order to rectify this, there are a few new things which have been added to the metro interface. By hovering over the top right hand corner with your mouse, a bar comes down which shows you all of your open applications. This includes both Metro apps and those you have on the desktop view:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: left;">This not only makes multitasking easy like the traditional Windows on desktop but also makes the desktop view more incorporated into metro to prevent them seeming like two different worlds. As well as this, tablet users will get super easy multitasking which is not that common on a mobile OS. Another new feature is charms. By hovering over the top left corner a menu pops up which has quick access things like search, settings, devices and other things you may need. This is a lot better incorporated than the previous "start menu" on the developer preview. Accessing the control panel is now really easy, changing volume and brightness is also made a lot easier.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Windows-8-Multitask.png"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-629" title="Windows 8 Multitask" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Windows-8-Multitask-379x1024.png" alt="" width="265" height="717" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">These new gestures are simple, yet quite powerful and they feel natural using both your finger and the mouse which is something very important for Microsoft's concept. Of course, not everything is as good as it should be in this consumer preview. Multi-monitor support is still a bit weird. When extending the display across 2 monitors, one shows the desktop and the other shows Metro. There is no option to stretch Metro across two monitors. On top of this, by opening an app on the desktop mode, instead of it opening on the monitor with desktop mode, it will minimise your metro app and open it on the wrong monitor. This is really counter-intuitive when trying to do multiple things at once and it basically takes a lot longer than it should to set up apps running across both interfaces so you can view them both.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Another new feature is the evolution of Aero Snap where you can put two Metro apps running side-by-side albeit one app runs semi minimised on the side while the other takes up most of the screen. This allows you to run Metro and desktop apps side-by-side on one monitor. This feature seems like it would be useful on multiple monitors but again, you can't seem to do this easily.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The idea behind Windows 8 seems pretty cool when you think about it but there are a few shortcomings right now which will hopefully be fixed before the full version comes out.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/28/what-has-windows-8-consumer-preview-changed/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/18/windows-8-developer-preview-what-i-dont-like/' rel='bookmark' title='Windows 8 Developer Preview: What I Don&#8217;t Like'>Windows 8 Developer Preview: What I Don&#8217;t Like</a> <small>By now we've all had a chance to play around...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/15/windows-8-developer-build-slideshow/' rel='bookmark' title='Windows 8 Developer Preview Pictures'>Windows 8 Developer Preview Pictures</a> <small>So the new developer build of Windows looks pretty cool....</small></li>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/09/15/windows-developer-build-apps/' rel='bookmark' title='Windows Developer Preview Apps'>Windows Developer Preview Apps</a> <small>Here is a quick overview of some of the apps...</small></li>
</ol></p>
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		<title>10 Awesome Websites You Have to Visit! Part 2</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/26/10-awesome-websites-you-have-to-visit-part-2/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/26/10-awesome-websites-you-have-to-visit-part-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:47:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=611</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[9. online bingo @ OnlineBingo.com Its been a while since I last posted in this series but I decided to continue it after finding this. I started this series for those times on a lazy Sunday afternoon when you're browsing the internet and you find there is nothing to do. These 10 websites are a good [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bingo_balls.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-624" title="bingo_balls" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bingo_balls.jpg" alt="" width="690" height="240" /></a></p>
<p><strong>9. online bingo <a href="http://www.onlinebingo.com/">@ OnlineBingo.com</a></strong></p>
<p>Its been a while since I last posted in this series but I decided to continue it after finding this. I started this series for those times on a lazy Sunday afternoon when you're browsing the internet and you find there is nothing to do. These 10 websites are a good place to start off exploring sites which you've probably never been to before. This is a pretty cool website you can visit when you're bored.  the basic idea is you play the normal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_bingo">bingo</a> you know and love online and instead of the regular balls which bingo uses, this one uses a random number generator. Don't worry though, the concept is still exactly the same as before so it should be pretty easy to get started. There's also heaps of other games to play and a couple of free ones for practice. Like the website on the <a href="http://wp.me/p1Op3r-68">last part</a> it usually does cost a small amount of money but there is an offer to get US$10 for free when you sign up. This is one of those websites you visit when you think you have 'run out' of things to do on the internet - seems impossible but it does happen!</p>
<p>Websites like these have been increasing in popularity for ages and the awesome thing is that its free to start off, plus there's the potential to win prizes. I did manage to find a coupon code to give you another free $5 which should work. Just enter <strong>BONUS5 </strong>at the checkout page. So this is an awesome way to get started in a couple of online games which give you a chance to win money.</p>
<p>These sort of games not your piece of cake? Check out the next part where I'll show you another awesome flash game website which doesn't cost anything.</p>
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		<title>Top 5 Innovations from the Printing Industry in 2012</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/24/top-5-innovations-from-the-printing-industry-in-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/04/24/top-5-innovations-from-the-printing-industry-in-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:06:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Electronics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3d]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[amazon]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[flexaplex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inkpal]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kindle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[print]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unprinting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year there is endless excitement about new Macbooks, smartphones, Kindles and iPads. Not many people get excited about printers. Ever since the desktop printer became ubiquitous, it seems like printers have changed very little, and printing technology is nothing to get excited about. You may not know that the printing industry is actually changing [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Innovation_printing1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-617" title="Printing machine details" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Innovation_printing1.jpg" alt="" width="747" height="411" /></a></p>
<p>Every year there is endless excitement about <a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/25/macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it-macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it/">new Macbooks</a>, smartphones, Kindles and iPads. Not many people get excited about printers. Ever since the desktop printer became ubiquitous, it seems like printers have changed very little, and printing technology is nothing to get excited about. You may not know that the printing industry is actually changing very rapidly and several innovations are destined to touch your life in significant ways. Here are five that made significant progress in 2012.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Flexapex
<p></strong>While this innovation didn’t make any new headlines, Apex patented and released a new technology for industrial printing. Mostly applicable to large-scale manufacturing, most of us won’t even notice the difference it makes. Over time, however, you will begin to see higher quality images on packaging and products you buy. Hopefully, Flexapex will bring cheaper prices to manufacturing as well.</li>
<li><strong>Unprinting</strong>
<p>Ever needed to print a large document, only to be finished with it a few hours later? A few companies are now exploring “unprinting” – the ability to erase type from a page afterwords and make recycling much easier. With a machine smaller than most copiers, your office could eliminate the need for shredding and save yourself huge costs on paper.</li>
<li><strong>Canon offers a new option to printer cartridges in India</strong>
<p>Printer cartridges are typically very expensive, and need to be replaced regularly.  Manufacturers sell printers at or below cost on the assumption that they can charge high premiums on cartridges for the life of the printer. Meanwhile, they do their best to promote their quality over the remanufactured or recycled options offered by company’s like <a href="http://www.inkpal.com/">inkpal</a> – until now. Epson just released a new brain child with an integrated tank system! Designed for use in India, the system could make color copies less than half a penny each, and black and white less than a quarter of a penny. If the right competition takes hold, maybe you will finally get some relief on your printing costs. Until then, there are <a href="http://www.inkpal.com/toner-cartridges.html">toner cartridges</a> out there that perform well, and cost much less than their OEM counterparts.</li>
<li><strong>Printing in 3D</strong>
<p>The obvious candidate and the one that got the most media attention in 2012 was 3D printing. This isn’t because 3D printing was invented in 2012. It has existed in some form for over 20 years, but only recently has it gained enough traction to become practical. There are now 3D printers available for as little as $1,000 and the prices are dropping quickly. Once the cost falls a few hundred dollars more, a significant revolution will happen. You could soon find yourself printing small objects or devices in your living room rather than ordering them online. If constructing 3D models was never in your comfort zone, you can always take pictures of the object you want and let the <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57381975-76/point-and-shoot-then-print-in-3d-video/">computer create a model</a> for you.</li>
<li><strong>E-ink and the rise of e-readers</strong>
<p>The biggest news in 2012 was a carryover from the year before. E-ink, used in the screen of a Kindle or a Nook, is becoming much cheaper and better. Here, the highest credit goes the Nook, which has added faster refresh times and solved one of the biggest limitations of e-ink – how to read in the dark. Building LEDs around the edges of the display keeps the reading ease of e-ink while also making it possible to read at night. As e-readers and e-ink become more ubiquitous, expect this innovation to blend more with traditional printing until you see both technologies incorporated into the same documents.</li>
</ol>
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		<title>Macbooks: Tempting but is it worth it?</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/25/macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it-macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/25/macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it-macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:30:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=598</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The iPhone is one of the most popular phones available, they created an entirely new category of products which people didn't really need and it became wildly successful and then they have the Macs. Macs are some of the best looking computers you can buy and for many people in the market for a new computer, purchasing one has definitely crossed their mind.
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" title="Macbook Pro" src="http://images.apple.com/macbookpro/images/overview_gallery1_20110720.png#gallery2" alt="" width="686" height="375" /></p>
<p>Apple has now earned the title of the worlds most valuable company and by looking at the demand for their products you can see why. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005SSB0YO/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=buiyouownc033-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B005SSB0YO">iPhone</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buiyouownc033-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B005SSB0YO" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> is one of the most popular phones available, they created an entirely new category of products which people didn't really need and it became wildly successful and then they have the Macs. Macs are some of the best looking computers you can buy and for many people in the market for a new computer, purchasing one has definitely crossed their mind.</p>
<p>Some of the reasons why Macs were not a serious option in the past was because their OS was foreign (i.e. not Windows), they were comparatively underpowered and very expensive when compared to competitors. Fast forward a few years and OS X, although not the most popular OS, is very well known and owns about 10% of the market. The appeal is growing with each subsequent release sharing features with iOS (e.g. OS X Mountian Lion comes with a new Notification Centre) which is good for those who know how to use an iPhone (the vast majority of people in developed countries).</p>
<p><span id="more-598"></span></p>
<p>In terms of hardware, Macs have definitely caught up with their Windows counterparts. They are no longer a generation behind other PC makers and their computers have the latest components inside.  Graphics cards are top notch on the higher end models making them quite decent gaming machine (always an argument against buying a Mac previously). As well as this the build quality of Apple products is undeniably good. Parts used are of good quality, especially the display and keyboard. Although some features which Windows users have come to expect can still not be found on a Mac such as a BD drive, USB 3.0 or eSATA ports although the addition of a Thunderbolt port is supposed to make up for the last two (despite the lack of devices).</p>
<p>One area which Apple hasn't really improved is their pricing. Comparing builds with similar specs really makes it obvious that Apple seem to charge extra money because they can. For example when upgrading to 8GB of DDR3-1333 RAM from 4GB on an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054Y5WVO/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=buiyouownc033-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0054Y5WVO">Alienware M14X</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buiyouownc033-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0054Y5WVO" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> the cost is $120. To do exactly the same thing on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWJ1DI/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=buiyouownc033-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B005CWJ1DI">MacBook Pro 15.4-Inch</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buiyouownc033-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B005CWJ1DI" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />the cost is $200. There seems to be little justification for the extra $80. One way to justify the price is the amount of software which is already loaded on the Mac when you buy it. The iLife suite is complimentary which has some very useful programs, some of which would cost quite a bit of money on a Windows computer.</p>
<p>So what makes the Mac so tempting over Windows computers despite the price? I think that it is the little details which do it. One thing I found absolutely amazing was how Apple thought to make the display hinge loose enough so that you can open the lid with one hand (without the bottom of the computer lifting up as well) but tight enough that the screen doesn't flop around. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002TLTIS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=buiyouownc033-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002TLTIS8">MagSafe power adapter</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buiyouownc033-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B002TLTIS8" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><br />
is also very well thought out to prevent people form tripping over the cable and throwing your computer to the floor. The other thing is the option of an anti glare screen. Most laptop manufacturers do not have this option on the vast majority of their products as anti glare screens aren't what the majority want. Clearly Apple don't care about this as they still have the anti glare option despite the relatively low demand for it. These little options really make people feel that Apple cares about the needs of the end user and is probably what makes Apple products so tempting. This is why Apple's market share in the PC world is growing at a fairly fast rate despite not being able to compete directly with other companies on price.</p>
<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/25/macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it-macbooks-tempting-but-is-it-worth-it/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>No related posts.</p>
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		<title>What is the Best Value Computer You Can Buy?: Part 5</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/21/what-is-the-best-value-computer-you-can-buy-part-5/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/21/what-is-the-best-value-computer-you-can-buy-part-5/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:16:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3.0]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[amazon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[asrock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bios]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ddr3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ivy bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motherboard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pcie express]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ram]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sandy bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sata3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[uefi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[usb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[usb 3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[value]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[x16]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=591</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Winner: ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 1066 Intel - LGA 1155 Motherboard Buying a motherboard is a subtle balance between going overboard and buying something which simply doesn't have everything you need it to. You can buy boards ranging from $50 to $500 but whether or not you will need everything that [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/21/what-is-the-best-value-computer-you-can-buy-part-4/' rel='bookmark' title='What Is The Best Value Computer You Can Buy?: Part 4'>What Is The Best Value Computer You Can Buy?: Part 4</a> <small>Continuing with the series of posts of the best value...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/01/upcoming-technology-in-computers-cpu/' rel='bookmark' title='Upcoming technology in computers : CPU'>Upcoming technology in computers : CPU</a> <small>In the fast moving world of technology, it can become...</small></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Untitled-picture.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-592" title="ASRock Pro3 Gen3 Z68" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Untitled-picture.png" alt="" width="600" height="364" /></a></p>
<p>Winner: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005N5Q2MW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=buiyouownc033-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B005N5Q2MW">ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 1066 Intel - LGA 1155 Motherboard</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buiyouownc033-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B005N5Q2MW" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p>
<p>Buying a motherboard is a subtle balance between going overboard and buying something which simply doesn't have everything you need it to. You can buy boards ranging from $50 to $500 but whether or not you will need everything that an expensive board has to offer is another question. In this article I aim to find the board which is the cheapest and fulfils all the needs of the majority of people.</p>
<p>First thing to look at is the processor - AMD or Intel? So far Intel has the better range although AMD processors are often cheaper. In terms of a price-performance ratio, Intel is still the way to go due to the raw power you get out of the CPU when compared to similar AMD processors. With new Intel Ivy Bridge processors on the horizon, you will probably want a motherboard which gives you the option of later upgrading to the new generation of processors in order to future proof your purchase.</p>
<p>As well as this, since most of the new Intel processors support integrated graphics (which are quite decent for normal use) a motherboard which uses the Z68 chipset to support these graphics will be advantageous as it can save you money in case you do not want to buy a dedicated graphics card immediately. This chipset also has integrated support for SATA3 so an extra chip is not needed (as it was on older motherboards).</p>
<p><span id="more-591"></span></p>
<p>Support for PCI-e x16 is necessary as this will give you the option of later upgrading to a dedicated graphics card. If the motherboard has support for two graphics cards, this is also useful but not essential as the majority of people will not buy a second video card ( a single one is good enough for most). Other extra PCI slots are good as they give the option of later expansion</p>
<p>RAM support isn't too much of a concern. Many more expensive motherboards claim to support faster RAM however as I have mentioned in the <a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/21/what-is-the-best-value-computer-you-can-buy-part-4/"> previous part</a> the stock 1333MHz DDR3 is fine for anyone. Faster RAM is useful for overclocking but the average user doesn't do this and so faster RAM is essentially useless. Any motherboard which supports DDR3 is fine.</p>
<p>USB3 and SATA3 support as well as PCI-e 3.0 (needs Ivy Bridge to work) support is quite a handy feature to have even if it isn't useful now. This should help to prolong the life of your computer, allowing it to keep up with the latest technology and allow the possibility of upgrading in the future. UEFI is a new technology which replaces the BIOS and on top of offering support for booting Windows from 3TB and greater hard drives, it also allows you to interact with it using the mouse instead of just a keyboard. This is an essential feature for future proofing as storage needs are ever increasing so upgrading the hard drive will be a lot easier with this feature</p>
<p>One motherboard which has all the features listed here plus a few more and has the added benefit of being a lot cheaper than comparable boards is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005N5Q2MW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=buiyouownc033-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B005N5Q2MW">ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 Intel Z68 ATX DDR3 1066 Intel - LGA 1155 Motherboard</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=buiyouownc033-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B005N5Q2MW" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" />. This board is perfect even for more advanced users and for the features it has, it is extremely cheap. At the moment it is the best value motherboard available.</p>
<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/21/what-is-the-best-value-computer-you-can-buy-part-5/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/21/what-is-the-best-value-computer-you-can-buy-part-4/' rel='bookmark' title='What Is The Best Value Computer You Can Buy?: Part 4'>What Is The Best Value Computer You Can Buy?: Part 4</a> <small>Continuing with the series of posts of the best value...</small></li>
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		<title>How to choose a laptop: 5 top tips</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/20/how-to-choose-a-laptop-5-top-tips/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/20/how-to-choose-a-laptop-5-top-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:30:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[battery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buyers guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compromise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[desktop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frustrating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gaming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[laptop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lenovo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[machine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[netbook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[notebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[portable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sony]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thinnest laptop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ultrabook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=581</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With laptops outselling desktops for the last 4 years, it is becoming more and more likely that your next computer purchase will be a laptop. One of the biggest problems with this is the massive range of products available. It is often overwhelming how many choices there are. So here are a few tips to [...]
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<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/01/upcoming-technology-in-computers-cpu/' rel='bookmark' title='Upcoming technology in computers : CPU'>Upcoming technology in computers : CPU</a> <small>In the fast moving world of technology, it can become...</small></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/stock_laptop_NOTMINE.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-582" title="stock_laptop_NOTMINE" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/stock_laptop_NOTMINE-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="330" height="440" /></a></p>
<p>With laptops outselling desktops for the last 4 years, it is becoming more and more likely that your next computer purchase will be a laptop. One of the biggest problems with this is the massive range of products available. It is often overwhelming how many choices there are. So here are a few tips to help you on your way to selecting a laptop.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">1. Portability and Battery Life</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">One of the advantages of a laptop is that you can carry it around. Obviously, how powerful it is can affect how long you can carry it around for. More powerful components will also make a laptop heavier due to the need for extra cooling and higher voltages as well as a bigger battery. So when you buy your laptop, make sure you see whether it is light enough for your needs and look at the quoted battery life to see whether it fulfils your demands. Some laptops contain graphics switching to switch between a dedicated and integrated graphics card in order to provide a longer battery life when needed. This is another option however these laptops are often a bit more expensive than those without the feature. Netbooks also have a decent battery life and are highly portable but most people will find them horribly slow for everyday use</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;"><span id="more-581"></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">2. The Keyboard and Trackpad</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">This is one of the first things you should try out when you go to the computer shop. Test to see if the keyboard is roomy enough, whether all the buttons are present and in the right place (some laptops have very dodgy placement for arrow keys) and if you find it comfortable enough to type on. Another thing you might want is a number pad on the side (only found in larger laptops) or backlit keys. The trackpad is also one of those things you have to live with on a laptop. Making sure you can use it and it doesn't feel too uncomfortable to use is important. Also try pressing the mouse buttons to check that they aren't difficult to press or too mashy.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">3.  What screen size and resolution?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The combination of screen size and resolution is very important. The standard resolution for a laptop nowadays is 1366x768 which is a fairly good resolution. However many people are looking for a laptop which has a higher resolution screen without increasing screen size. Manufacturers are starting to realise this and many offer much higher resolutions than standard in some models of their laptops. Manufacturers like Sony, Apple, Dell and Lenovo all have an optional high resolution option to choose when configuring selected models which gives you a lot more screen real estate as well as giving a crisper display.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">If you want a super portable laptop with a 11 or 13 inch screen, looking at the resolution is a good idea. Often some high resolution ones can have font sizes difficult for some people to read. Other times, the resolution might be too low for your needs making it difficult to achieve some tasks which are crucial for you.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">4. Do you want a dedicated graphics card?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Most laptops come with more than enough processing power for your everyday needs but one thing that not all laptops come with is a dedicated graphics card. Finding a laptop which has dedicated graphics is getting a bit more difficult after Intel and AMD have significantly improved their integrated graphics card offerings. Especially since laptops are becoming thinner, manufacturers are starting to lean more towards the integrated solution. This is true for the new ultrabooks (very thin, light laptops which run Windows) and the Macbook Air where it is difficult to have a dedicated graphics card and cool it properly without sacrificing a large amount of battery life. Larger, more expensive laptops come with dedicated graphics but this is at the cost of portability and battery life.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">So, if you want a dedicated graphics card, your choice has been made for you on what type of laptop to get. If you want integrated graphics, there are still a lot of choices.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">5. Be willing to make compromises</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">There is no laptop in the world which will fit all of your needs so what I suggest is to make a list of all the features you are looking for in order of importance. Then find the laptop that has as many of the features you wanted as possible. This way you will know that you are getting everything you absolutely need in the computer rather than coming home and finding that it is missing a crucial feature. This is one of the biggest things which make finding a laptop so difficult since people will always be searching for the perfect machine.</p>
<p>By following these simple tips, you can go to the store, check out the computer and make sure it fits all of your needs before you take it home. Try out all of the features in the store and make sure it is what you want. This will help you choose the right laptop for you.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">6. BONUS TIP: Read the reviews</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Everyone who is reading this blog probably has a smartphone. When you're in the store, write down the model number and search for reviews on it. Make sure there are no horrible issues which stand out on the computer. Make sure that everything works the way it should, there are no known bugs etc. User reviews can be especially helpful when it comes to this. Some forums will also have topics <a href="http://forum.notebookreview.com/">dedicated to your laptop</a> so any major issues should be known to you before your purchase. This way you can avoid getting a dud.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/20/how-to-choose-a-laptop-5-top-tips/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>Related posts:<ol>
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		<title>How To: Move Photos from a Computer to an iPad without iTunes</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/19/how-to-move-photos-from-a-computer-to-an-ipad-without-itunes/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/19/how-to-move-photos-from-a-computer-to-an-ipad-without-itunes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:30:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Electronics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[camera]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[camera connector]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[connector]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copy photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copy photos to ipad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[file rename]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flash drive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ipad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[itunes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[no itunes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sync]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[usb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[without itunes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the biggest dilemmas for those who have Apple products is the fact that you don't seem to be able to do everything you want to do with it. For example, with the iPad you have a camera connector accessory which allows you to connect your camera to the iPad via USB and copy [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the biggest dilemmas for those who have Apple products is the fact that you don't seem to be able to do everything you want to do with it. For example, with the iPad you have a camera connector accessory which allows you to connect your camera to the iPad via USB and copy photos across reasonably easily. So you think to yourself, this should work if I plug a USB stick directly into it and copy photos from my computer across to the iPad. But it isn't as easy as you first think, there is a process which you have to follow before this can be done which I will show you in this article.</p>
<p>The iPad can recognise USB flash drives through the camera connector but can <strong>only import photos and videos</strong> through it. In order to achieve this you need to trick the iPad into thinking that you have connected a camera directly so as to import the photos.</p>
<p>What you need:</p>
<ul>
<li>An iPad</li>
<li>A USB Camera Connector kit for iPad</li>
<li>A USB Flash Drive</li>
<li>A Computer - preferably with Windows (not essential)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Download.php">Bulk File Rename Utility</a></li>
</ul>
<p>What to Do:</p>
<p>1. First, get everything you need together</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG00001.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-564" title="Everything you need" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG00001-1024x768.jpg" alt="iPad plus Camera Connector" width="440" height="330" /></a></p>
<p>2. Now find the photos you want to copy over on your computer and put them in one folder. The iPad will only recognise the photos if the file name is <strong>exactly 8 characters</strong> which should be fine if the photos are copied from your camera and haven't been renamed. If you have renamed your files to something different, don't panic! A <a href="http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Download.php">simple utility</a> exists which can rename your files easily. If you open Bulk Rename Utility and navigate to the folder where you kept your photos, you get a screen like this:</p>
<p><span id="more-563"></span></p>
<div id="attachment_565" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 478px"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Bulk_Rename_Example.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-565" title="Bulk_Rename_Example" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Bulk_Rename_Example.jpg" alt="Bulk Renamer Utility" width="468" height="321" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Click for Full Size</p></div>
<p>3. Although the screen look complex, its pretty easy if you make sense of it. First highlight the photos you want to rename, go to the Remove box and change the value of "<strong>First n</strong>" until the original file name is removed ( a live preview is shown next to the original file name). On the <strong>Add</strong> and <strong>Numbering</strong> box, make the values the same as shown in the above picture (click it to make it bigger). This will give you a file name that is 8 characters long.</p>
<p>4. The point of this exercise is to trick the iPad into thinking that the USB stick you have plugged in is a camera so the next step is to plug your USB stick into the computer and create a new folder called <strong>DCIM</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DCIM-Folder.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-566" title="DCIM Folder" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DCIM-Folder.jpg" alt="" width="528" height="57" /></a></p>
<p>5. Now create a sub folder <strong>inside the DCIM</strong> folder and call it <strong>PANA_100</strong> (this is what my camera usually calls the sub folder in the memory card)</p>
<p>6. Now copy the files you just renamed into the sub folder</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Copy_Images.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-567" title="Copy_Images" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Copy_Images.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="154" /></a></p>
<p>7. Finally, the last step is to remove the USB stick containing the photos and connect it to your iPad like so:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/P1020324.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-568" title="iPad connected to USB stick" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/P1020324-1024x768.jpg" alt="USB connector with iPad" width="440" height="330" /></a></p>
<p>  The iPad should open the Photos app and show you the pictures on the USB stick under <strong>Camera</strong>. If this does not show up, try turning the iPad off and then back on again. You should eventually get a screen like this:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/photo.png"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-569" title="photo" src="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/photo.png" alt="" width="461" height="614" /></a></p>
<p>Now it's a simple matter of importing the photos and you're done!</p>
<p>It's a process which is way more complicated than it needs to be but it can be done. This will save you the hassle of using iTunes to sync the photos (which takes forever if you have over 1000 photos) and make it so much easier to use the digital photo frame feature of the iPad and share photos with your friends.</p>
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		<title>Where to get Technology for Less</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/18/where-to-get-tech-for-less/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/18/where-to-get-tech-for-less/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:30:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Electronics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[australian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bargain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dollar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[exchange rate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gst]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[internet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shipping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[websites]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=530</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all know that when it comes to prices of technology in Australia, they can often be unreasonable, especially now that the Australian dollar is above parity with the US dollar. So what can you do about these ridiculous prices? There are several websites which allow you to buy things from overseas at a much [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/01/upcoming-technology-in-computers-cpu/' rel='bookmark' title='Upcoming technology in computers : CPU'>Upcoming technology in computers : CPU</a> <small>In the fast moving world of technology, it can become...</small></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We all know that when it comes to prices of technology in Australia, they can often be unreasonable, especially now that the Australian dollar is above parity with the US dollar. So what can you do about these ridiculous prices?</p>
<p>There are several websites which allow you to buy things from overseas at a much lower price than you can get them for here, even after shipping is accounted for. Here is a list of some of my favourite websites to buy anything to do with technology. Just be aware that anything you buy worth more than AU$1000 is subject to a 10% GST charge so some more expensive items such as TVs might not become worth it after accounting for this. There are also some local websites which sell grey import products at very reasonable prices. Some of these may be sourced from overseas and you could be liable to pay tax. For example, JB Hi-Fi has launched their <a href="http://www.jbhifi.com.au/direct-import/">direct import</a> website with grey market SLRs and Lenses however they do mention that the product is shipped from overseas and you are liable for paying GST on purchases over $1000.</p>
<p><span id="more-530"></span></p>
<p>1. <a title="BH Photo Video" href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/">B &amp; H<br />
</a>    This website has basically everything you could need. Computers, cameras, lenses, tablets, MP3 players along with lots of other things. However, shipping can get quite expensive (but it is fast) and this might diminish the savings you get from buying overseas. Just make sure you do the maths and you are in fact saving money.</p>
<p>2. <a title="Playasia" href="http://www.play-asia.com/">Playasia</a></p>
<p>I discovered this website a while back but have never been bothered to order from them. You can buy games for all consoles as well as the consoles themselves at pretty decent prices. Its useful for buying games which are sold only in certain areas such as Japan and not released worldwide. They also offer all popular games at amazing prices. Be aware that some things may be a little bit more expensive than you get them here, especially consoles from other regions. For buying DVDs, BDs and games, make sure your player is not region locked or the game you are buying is for the correct region. If you go for the cheapest shipping option, it takes about 3 weeks to get here but for the amount you are saving (about $30-40 per game) it is worth waiting. I suggest that you buy things in bulk from them so you can justify paying $20 or so for FedEx or UPS and the package should arrive faster</p>
<p>3. <a href="http://www.staticice.com.au">Staticice</a></p>
<p>I have mentioned this website before on the shopping section of my website but it is an extremely useful search engine. If you are looking for computer parts at the cheapest prices, this is the first place to go. Of course, you cannot trust all of the stores on it as some of them do have dodgy service. The best thing to do is, if you find a good price, google the name of the store to see if there are many complaints about their services or products. Look for people who might have purchased from them before (forums are a good place to look) and see if they have a brick and mortar store so you might be able to pay them a visit. Often, just ringing them up helps. The awesome thing about this website is that all of the shops are in Australia, so you get very competitively priced computer parts locally so you don't have to pay any more tax for your purchase. Shipping is also much faster than if you order from overseas.</p>
<p>4. <a href="http://www.priceusa.com.au/">PriceUSA</a></p>
<p>This Australian based website unlocks a whole new world of shopping for you. Any product you want from the USA can be bought through these guys whether they ship to Australia or not. How it works is you tell them what you want and where you want it from and using some of their agents, the product is bought on your behalf and shipped to you for a minimum shipping fee and a small commission on the price of the product. You can even buy things from online stores through these guys, so you can order computer parts via <a href="http://www.newegg.com/">Newegg.com</a> for example or try out some other online stores which sell cheap products but don't ship here.</p>
<p>5. <a href="http://www.computermarkets.com/cm/">Computer Markets</a></p>
<p>Computer markets are an amazing place to go when you are looking for components for your new computer, looking to replace parts on your old computer or just to compare prices. These guys get their stock from overseas places such as Taiwan and for this reason they can sell things to you at a much lower price than what you get it for in a normal store. I have compared their prices to many other stores, even located overseas, and the markets often turn out to be cheaper. If you have a free weekend, its a really good place to have a look and if you're lucky you can pick up a bargain.</p>
<p>These are just a few places you can try to save some money on your next gadget purchase. There are of course many other places to try out but this is a good list to get you started. Often you can buy products for half the price you would get them for from a retail outlet in Australia so the savings add up very quickly.</p>
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<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/18/where-to-get-tech-for-less/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/01/upcoming-technology-in-computers-cpu/' rel='bookmark' title='Upcoming technology in computers : CPU'>Upcoming technology in computers : CPU</a> <small>In the fast moving world of technology, it can become...</small></li>
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		<title>The Importance Of Small Business IT Support, London</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/17/the-importance-of-small-business-it-support-london/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/17/the-importance-of-small-business-it-support-london/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:48:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[back up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[it]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[it support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[london]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[support-it]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[uk]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=555</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In today’s fast-moving business environment, it is nearly impossible to find any small business that does not rely on IT in its operations. From the sales department to the front office department, companies are finding IT a necessary inclusion in their businesses to not only increase efficiency, but also reduce costs of doing business. Any businesses that has more than 10 employees who use IT equipment will need the services of a small business IT support London company.
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In today’s fast-moving business environment, it is nearly impossible to find any small business that does not rely on IT in its operations. From the sales department to the front office department, companies are finding IT a necessary inclusion in their businesses to not only increase efficiency, but also reduce costs of doing business. Any businesses that has more than 10 employees who use IT equipment will need the services of a small business IT support London company.</p>
<p>If your small business company wants to invest in a computer network, you will have to think of a good enterprise IT support. This is to ensure that your business operations will work smoothly and have fewer downtimes. If your business relies on an e-commerce site for its revenues, there are many things that can go wrong, which will in turn mean lost revenues and will put the reputation of your company at stake. While customers usually see a simple shopping and checkout interface, at the backend, your team has to keep at par with the inventory, payment processing, packing and shipping, taxes, among other things. If any of these process is disrupted, the results can be a financial catastrophe.</p>
<p>A small business <a href="http://www.storm-it.com/">IT Support London</a> company can help to you protect your business proactively and solve any problems that arise. The company can help to deter malicious attacks from third parties, provide support for software and hardware and recommend infrastructure that will streamline your business’s operations and increase efficiency. Apart from these, the company can also offer after sales support whenever you need machines upgraded or repaired after breaking down,</p>
<p>A good IT support company will help you back up your data to ensure you can quickly resume operations should any disasters happen at your office. The secondary backup should be stored in an off-site location or online. Data losses can amount to huge business losses. Imagine losing the database of all your customers, prospects, suppliers and the like. This can mean the end of your business.</p>
<p>Most enterprise small business <a href="http://www.storm-it.com/service/IT-Support-in-North-London-Barnet">IT Support North London</a> companies charge for their services based on the number of computers you have and the type of service they have to carry out. It is recommended that you look for an experienced company which charges fairly for its services. As a small business, you want to keep your costs low but also protect your operations from disruptions. Choosing an IT support company should be approached after careful comparison and research.</p>
<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/17/the-importance-of-small-business-it-support-london/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>No related posts.</p>
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		<title>Upcoming Technology in Computers: Video Cards</title>
		<link>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/16/upcoming-technology-in-computers-video-cards/</link>
		<comments>http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/16/upcoming-technology-in-computers-video-cards/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:57:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>khanbm</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/?p=551</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Besides the CPU, the most exciting part of the computer is the video card, right? Well, today I've decided to talk about the latest developments in the world of video cards and which companies are releasing what. You can already see in the article on my website that I have talked about how the roles of [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2011/12/01/upcoming-technology-in-computers-cpu/' rel='bookmark' title='Upcoming technology in computers : CPU'>Upcoming technology in computers : CPU</a> <small>In the fast moving world of technology, it can become...</small></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" title="AMD HD7970" src="http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2011/12/amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-review/rad2l.jpg" alt="AMD HD7970" width="538" height="430" /></p>
<p>Besides the CPU, the most exciting part of the computer is the video card, right? Well, today I've decided to talk about the latest developments in the world of video cards and which companies are releasing what.</p>
<p>You can already see in the article <a href="http://www.buildyourown-computer.com/Video_Card.html">on my website</a> that I have talked about how the roles of the CPU and GPU are slowly fusing together, at least that's how big companies like AMD see it. This essentially means you will see an increasing trend of built-in graphics becoming more powerful and more common in everyday computers. Rather than being reserved for those on a tight budget, integrated graphics are slowly becoming more mainstream as you can see with Intel's HD 3000 graphics which are present in many of the latest laptops including Apple's Macbooks.</p>
<p>For those of us who have a need for even more power, dedicated graphics cards have not been forgotten. Dedicated graphics cards remain popular in the desktop world and it is only fitting that AMD and NVidia have been pumping out ever more powerful cards. This is especially useful since many applications such as Adobe's Creative Suite are making more and more use of the graphics card to take over complex tasks like 3D manipulation so as to reduce the load on the CPU. The justification for this being that the graphics card often sits unused in a computer until the user decides to play a game so a large amount of processing power is just sitting idle while the CPU is working at 100%.</p>
<p>So anyway, on to the exciting products. AMD has very recently unveiled the HD7970 aka the fastest single chip graphics card on the planet. NVidia on the other hand is working on the GTX780 which it claims will be even faster than the AMD card. Both the cards are absolute beasts and claim to be around twice as fast as the previous generation's flagship cards.</p>
<p>The new cards are manufactured using a <a href="http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2009/10/11/what-do-different-fabrication-processes-mean/">28nm process</a> instead of the 40nm the previous generation was built on which means the chips will run faster with little difference in temperature to the previous generation and they will support DirectX 11.1 built to optimise the features of DirectX 11 for more speed. These changes of course won't be reserved for the $1000 video cards and will eventually trickle down into the mid range cards for those of us who aren't rich. Essentially, the next generation of video cards should give you a card which runs almost twice as fast and maybe even cooler than the equivalent card in the previous generation so it is definitely worth the wait. The new cards should arrive in stores around April of this year.</p>
<fb:like href='http://buildyourown-computer.com/blog/2012/02/16/upcoming-technology-in-computers-video-cards/' send='true' layout='standard' show_faces='true' width='450' height='65' action='like' colorscheme='light' font='lucida+grande'></fb:like><p>Related posts:<ol>
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