Are CD, DVD And Blu-ray Relevant for PCs Anymore?
Have you noticed that there are fewer computers to feature DVD drives than before? Lots of laptop computers are dropping the drives in order to reduce the size of the systems. But it isn't just laptops that don't have the drives. Even Apple has dropped the drive from its latest Mac Mini desktop. And it isn't just the size of the hardware that is driving this trend. Find out more about why the days of the optical storage media are numbered for the PC.
Best Tablet Computers
The tablet marketplace was fairly stagnant through the last past of 2011 and the early 2012. Now the marketplace is really starting to see some competition with pricing as well as features. The Android 4.0 operating system is now starting to ship in some tablets and is pushed for upgrades in some older models. Let's also not forget that Apple has introduced its retina display technology to the iPad that was previously only seen on the iPhone. So, with all of these new developments, it was time to update my list of Best Tablets. Find out which models I think are best for price, size and features.
Computer Deal Of The Week - Apple iMac 21.5"
Image Courtesy Apple
Desktop computers sales have been dropping for years but one segment is growing, the all-in-one. Apple is a dominant player in this segment ever since it first released the iMac. Of course, Apple is not known for their value pricing but it is possible to get a refurbished 21.5-inch iMac for just $999. This is their most recent revision of the all-in-one as well with the Intel Core i5 quad core processor for some solid performance. Storage is a bit limited with just a 500GB hard drive and a dual-layer DVD burner but it does feature a Thunderbolt port for use with high speed external storage. Even though it is a refurbished version, it carries the same 1-year warranty as a brand new unit plus it is possible to buy the Apple Care extended warranty.
Disclaimer: All deals are those advertised by the retailer in question and may have rebates or other conditions of purchase for the products. Please be sure to read all disclaimers from the seller before purchasing.
Guide To Laptop Displays And Graphics
Unlike most desktop computer systems where the display is purchased separately from the computer, a laptop PC has the display built into the computer. Because of this, it is important to understand how the size of a laptop might impact the size of the display on the computer. Other things such as resolution, aspect ratio and the graphics processor all impact how the laptop display will function. If you happen to be looking for a new portable computer, be sure to check out my guide to help explain how all these things fit together for selecting the proper laptop.
A More Affordable Quad Core Transformer Tablet
Image Courtesy ASUSTeK
The ASUS Transformer Prime was the first to offer the new quad core Tegra 3 processor in an extremely thin profile. With all its luxurious features, it certainly was a premium tablet but the $500 price tag may be a bit too high for some. Thankfully, ASUS has expanded their Transformer lineup with the new Transformer Pad that comes in at a more affordable $400. Of course, some of the luxury features had to be dropped to achieve this price. Did ASUS keep enough features to make it a worthy tablet at this price point? Find out in my review of the ASUS Transformer Pad tablet.
Samsung Support Profile
Samsung is best known for their consumer electronics including HDTVs and cell phones. They have also been a company involved in computers for some time. Beyond their printer and storage divisions, the company has also started selling laptop computers under their own name within the United States. With such a wide range of products, they must also have a large support organization, but what do they offer? Find out in my profile of the company's support offerings.
Included in the profile I list the various avenues that users have for support, tips and advice. In addition, I'm posting a survey below and in the profile asking users for their opinion of Samsung. If you have used their support and would like to let others know of their experiences for better or worse, please vote in the poll and feel free to share your experience.
How would you rate Samsung's support?
Acer's More Afforable 10-inch Tablet
Image Courtesy Acer
Acer is no stranger to the budget classification. They took this approach with the computer division to help expand its market presence. With the tablet market, they decided to do the same and produce a more affordable 10-inch tablet. What is more unique is that this tablet is also one of the first to receive an update to the new Android 4.0 operating system. With a list price of just $350, is this a tablet one should consider or is it worth it to spend a bit more? Find out in my review of the Acer Iconia Tab A200 tablet.
A 10-inch Media Tablet With Lots of Storage
Image Courtesy ARCHOS
One of many uses that people have for tablet PCs is watching video and listening to audio. The big problem is that the solid state storage used in tablets has very limited space in terms of storing lots of high definition video files. Archos is a company that specialized in media players and they moved into the tablet realm. Realizing that many people needed more storage space to take their media collections with them, they decided to make a tablet that includes a hard drive. Does the use of this older technology help or hinder this media tablet? Find out in my review of the Archos 101 G9 Turbo tablet.
ASUS' 2nd Generation Transformer Tablet
Image Courtesy ASUSTeK
The Eee Pad Transformer was a unique table thanks to its clamshell dock that expanded the capabilities of the standard 10-inch tablet to be more like a netbook. While this feature was definitely unique, the tablet itself didn't really set itself apart from the other models at that time. With the redesign of the tablet, ASUS definitely wanted to create something that could differentiate itself. It was the first to use the Tegra 3 quad core processor and became the thinnest 10-inch tablet at the time of launch. Is this new and improved tablet the best alternative to the dominant iPad? Find out in my review of the ASUS Transformer Prime tablet.
Acer's Quad Core Equipped Tablet
Image Courtesy Acer
Quad core processors have existed in desktop and laptops for some time now. With the NVIDIA Tegra 3, having four cores is now something that is available in the tablet market. Acer has decided to use this along with the Android 4.0 operating system for their updated 10-inch tablet platform. Can this new tablet overcome many of the issues with their previous flagship 10-inch tablet design? Find out in my review of the Acer Iconia Tab A510 tablet.