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Wanted: More Women into Computer Hardware

Rico Mossesgeld — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:00:52 +0000

Out of the 6000 plus fans of the Tom’s Hardware Facebook page, 94% are probably males (this according to the page’s admin, who I know personally). That’s no surprise, but I’d still like to see more women getting into computer hardware. This isn’t another drool-induced rant pleading for hotties to turn into geeks and spice up our socially-challenged online lives, mind you.

Nothing makes a community livelier than diversity, and geek circles desperately need a woman’s touch. So how do we get more women drooling over specs and components? Here’s my five-step plan.

Release a Gaming PC With a Twilight Paint Job

Like or not, the Twilight saga is here to stay. And when you have women—including those of substance—involuntarily swooning over Stephanie Meyer’s shallow yet infatuation-inducing prose, you’ve got to use that to your advantage.

Enter the Twilight PC. With a painted Jacob and Ella emblazoned on the side of this powerful yet understated ATX tower, appeal to women is all but ensured. However they acquire one (out of their own funds or that of a loved one’s), you can bet they’ll eventually become curious about what makes it tick, introducing them to the components inside.

Make the Next Sims a Really Demanding Game

Already as a joke, enthusiasts like wondering if that new video card can handle Crysis. To attract the legions of female Sims gamers, the next installment of the Sims series should surpass Crysis’s system requirements. All for the sake of creating the most realistic soap opera simulator of course.

This will force women to become more aware of specs, and the components needed to achieve them. Heck, it will probably force them to determine, on their limited budgets, what’s the best overclocking setup possible. And guess where they’ll turn for advice?

Showcase the Attention Women Geeks Already Enjoy

Make it clear to women that there’s an appreciative audience waiting for them. Show them how the novelty of being female and into gadgets is very intriguing for your (typically) male geek. Just ask Sarah Townsend and, more recently, Adrienne Curry. The pioneer America’s Top Model winner recently posted a picture of herself, apparently playing World of Warcraft in her birthday suit:

Yes, if my five-step plan works, women geeks will become a dime a dozen, no longer able to rely on their gender to stand out. Yet this will allow female enthusiasts to distinguish themselves through real achievements, such as pushing the i7 920 past 4GHz merely on air.

Highlight the Success of Geeks

Face it: free from the superficial pecking order of high school, geeks rule more than jocks. They make more, are happier, and actually change the world. Let’s highlight those realities, and show women everywhere that geekdom is where true success happens. Women today are still attracted to successful men, not necessarily because they want good providers, but simply company who know what they’re talking about and how to get things done.

Yes, we’ve all heard stories about a homeless man wasting away his life playing World of Warcraft while living on welfare checks. So let’s make it clear that those cases are exceptions rather than the rule.

Treat the Losers Like Pariahs

Yes, every community has them, the trolls who like picking fights, to sexually-repressed infantile idiots virtually drooling even at the hint that their new online contact is a girl (even if it hasn’t been conclusively proven yet).

So what do we do with them? Treat them like the losers that they are. Show them that their antics will never get them ahead, and they’ll probably leave for dirtier pastures suitable for their immature outlook. What remains are discussions where approaching women will feel confident that they’re in discussions featuring substance, where their opinions and insights are respected.

What do you think? If you’ve got your own ways to get more women into computer hardware, feel free to share below.

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Weekend Deals from Dell & HP

Rico Mossesgeld — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:30:02 +0000

No worries, in case you haven’t taken advantage of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday promos recently featured on The Gadget Blog. Those retailers still want to move stock, especially as Christmas nears, so check out what Dell and HP have made available.

Dell

Take note of Dell’s first two promos, which features percentage discounts on popular laptops like the Inspiron Mini 10 and the Studio XPS 13.

Promo	End Date	Coupon
Save 20% on all laptops and desktops on landing page, including the Mini 10 netbook with coupon code 5TK?LC9VJ5F$33	1/28/09 11:55 PM CDT	5TK?LC9VJ5F$33
Save 25% on all laptops and desktops on landing page with coupon code ?$QNC1?HSKNR9F	1/28/09 11:55 PM CDT	?$QNC1?HSKNR9F
Save 45% on 5dot Connect’s Deep Forest Backpack. Only $38.49 after discount.	12/17/09 5:55 AM CDT	None required
Dec 13 – 15: Dell Home Electronics Super Sale on items that will ship in time for the holidays!	12/15/09 6:59 AM CDT	None required
Stackable $129 off this Studio 15 laptop with Office Home & Student. Only $649 when you use coupon code VF$1LDWF7N9MMM at checkout.	1/1/10 5:55 AM CDT or after 2,000 redemptions	VF$1LDWF7N9MMM

HP Promos

The good thing with HP’s promos? As you customize the maker’s desktops or laptops before adding them to the cart and checking out for purchase, you save more money as you choose more powerful specs. Use the links below as your starting point to get more for less:

	Promo
	Save up to $605 instantly on the HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition Series Customizable Notebook PC!
	Save up to $585 instantly on the HP Pavilion Elite e9250t Series Customizable Desktop PC!
	Save up to $515 instantly on the HP Pavilion dv8t Quad Edition Series Customizable Notebook PC!
	Save up to $555 instantly on the HP Pavilion Elite e9280t Series Customizable Desktop PC!

All the above HP promos end this December 19, 2009. Good luck shopping!

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Weekend Deals, Dell, Alienware & HP Promos

Rico Mossesgeld — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:30:23 +0000

The promos intensify as the holidays near. For this weekend, you can check out the following discounts available from Dell, Alienware, and HP:

Promo	Ends	Coupon Code
Free 2 business day shipping on all Alienware laptop and desktop purchases with coupon code D9MF6D4X1C9BVH	12/18/09 11:59 PM CST or after 200 redemptions	D9MF6D4X1C9BVH
Save $149 on this Alienware Aurora desktop. Only $1499 after discount	12/12/09 5:55 AM CT	None required
Save over 45% on this Studio 15 laptop. Only $549 after instant discount! Hurry only 1000 units available at this price.	After 1000 redemptions	None required
This Inspiron 15 laptop only $399 after $100 instant discount and coupon code 40M?6?W03KFH93. Plus get free next business day shipping.	12/18/2009 11:55 PM CST or after 1830 redemptions	40M?6?W03KFH93
This Inspiron 15 laptop only $479 after $220 instant discount and coupon code 1R$ZL9Q7CFG69V. Plus get free next business day shipping.	12/18/2009 11:55 PM CST or after 1200 redemptions	1R$ZL9Q7CFG69V
Nov 19-Dec 4: Only $415 for the Inspiron 11z laptop + free next business day shipping! Use coupon code $9532Z?LL5DB9$.	1/2/2010 11:55 PM CST or after 400 redemptions	$9532Z?LL5DB9$
Save up to $605 instantly on the HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition Series Customizable Notebook PC!	12/6-12/12	None required
Save up to $515 instantly on the HP Pavilion dv8t Quad Edition Series Customizable Notebook PC!
Save up to $545 instantly on the HP Pavilion Elite e9250t Series Customizable Desktop PC!
Save up to $515 instantly on the HP Pavilion Elite e9280t Series Customizable Desktop PC!

Please note the validity periods, as some promos last until certain dates, while others end after a certain number of redemptions. If you’ve got your own holiday promos you’d like to share—and have something to do with gadgets—hit the comments below.

Post from: The Gadget Blog

How to Make $80k/Year Fixing PCs

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:28:42 +0000

According to The PC Guild, it’s possible to make $80,000 a year (or a bit over $6,600 a month) fixing PCs in your area—even if you charge for only 4 hours a day:

I bill for about 4 hours a day on average, and I charge $70 an hour. I mainly fix computer problems related to corrupt hard drives, RAM installation, CD/DVD ROM repair, internet connectivity issues, printer problems, audio problems, and the like.

I charge $20 just to take a look at your computer. If you decided that you want me to fix it, (after I tell you how long it will probably take) I apply that $20 to your “balance.” Most jobs take about an hour and I bill in 20 minute increments, rounding up. If I have to come to you, there is an additional $30 charge. After hours, holidays, and emergencies have an additional charge of $20 an hour.

In other words, if you want to make a living fixing PCs, you’ll need to take advantage of your potential customers’ limited time, and get paid good money to focus on their problems so they can worry about other things. Here are a few things to expect if you decide to become the neighborhood computer repair technician:

Expect to be riddled with calls and requests for fixing computers for the rest of your natural life.
You will get all types of customers… rich little old ladies who pay well… to [those] who will try… to squeeze the most out of you for the least possible amount of money.
You will get customers who blame you for the remotest computer problem they get even months after you repaired their machines.
90% of the problems you fix will be one of these: “My computer is too slow. Please clean it up”, “Help! I got viruses invading my PC!”, “I got blue screens or other funny error message. Fix it or please reinstall Windows.”

So much more useful information available from The PC Guild.

(image from Frank Braski’s Flickr)

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Dell and Alienware Holiday Promos

Rico Mossesgeld — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:00:52 +0000

The online retailer is at again, with a bunch of discounts lined-up for the holidays. All the following promos are for US buyers only, and run until this December 14, CDT (unless otherwise specified):

Dell Laptops

Select laptops starting at $449. Save up to 40% on Dell’s most popular laptops.

New Lower Price on Dell Netbooks! Now starting at only $279 + free standard shipping.

Save $404 on the Studio XPS 16 laptop! Only $1099 after discount

Dell Desktops

Inspiron 537s desktop starting at $499 after savings and includes a 20″ monitor.

Complete desktop package featuring the Studio XPS 8000 desktop and 20″ monitor for only $999 after $329 instant off.

Special 24-Hour Promo

For 24 hours only, Dell will hold a special “Performance PC” sale. This runs from 6:00 am today (December 3) until 6:00 am tomorrow. Highlights include:

Over 20% off a Studio XPS 8000
Save $320 on an Alienware Aurora Desktop
Get over $200 off the Studio 17″ Core i7
$275 in instant savings on the Alienware M15x laptop

Click on the link below once the sale starts to avail:

24 Hour Performance PC Sale!

Any other desktop and laptop holiday promos out there? Feel free to share below.

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Smoking Bad for Macs too, Voids AppleCare

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:00:02 +0000

Looks like Apple Computers is giving smokers another reason to kick the killer habit. According to The Consumerist, two customers found their AppleCare warranties voided, due to contamination from cigarette smoke! The fact that smoking is bad is common sense, but electronics failing because of secondhand smoke? Preposterous!

Well, maybe not. Apple may have good reason refusing warranty repairs to the computers of smokers, as proven by one of the customers who have his warranty money rendered useless: “[Steve] Jobs’ office did not help Derek, but he resolved some of the problems himself by disassembling his Macbook and cleaning it out with a can of compressed air.” Maybe it’s not the smoke, but the inevitable ash that flies around in a smoker’s environment.

Still, the least Apple could’ve done was state clearly within the AppleCare agreement that smoking may void the warranty. Apple’s protection program isn’t exactly cheap, and the company should at least make it even more clear what kind of activities will affect the warranty. Especially as it rolls out its own Black Friday promos.Source

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Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals from Dell

Rico Mossesgeld — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:00:13 +0000

Dell’s marketing is busy cranking out deals for the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday, perhaps inspired by the maker’s strong laptop reliability showing. So expect a constant stream of discounts and promos, starting today until November 30, 2009. American shoppers, take note of the following below, and their corresponding end dates! Discounts available during this period of the year are notoriously short-lived.

Promo	Starts	Ends	Highlights
Electronics Sales Event – Save up to $690 on select TVs and Electronics	Ongoing	11/26/09 11:59 PM CST	Sony BRAVIA 55″ KDL55V5100 120Hz 1080p LCD HDTV $1769.10 after $529.90 instant off Nokia N86 Unlocked Smartphone $369.99 after $130 off
Ultimate Value of the Season. Black Friday at Dell Home + Free 3-5 day shipping on all items on landing page	11/27/09 12:00 AM CST	11/27/09 11:59 PM CST	The new Inspiron Zino HD desktop for only $199 Mini netbook for only $249 42″ Sharp TV for only $599 (limited quantities available)
Entertainment Sale – The great offers continue at Dell Home!	11/28/09 12:01 AM CST	11/29/09 11:59 PM CST	Mini 10v netbook with TV tuner only $499 Xbox 360 Elite Holiday Bundle only $269.99 after $30 off
Great Cyber Monday Deals at Dell + Free 3-5 day shipping on all items on landing page	11/30/09 12:00 AM CST	11/30/09 11:59 PM CST	Inspiron 15 laptop for only $449 TomTom One 130 GPS only $79.99 Corel Photo & Video Bundle Software $69.99
Black Friday Alienware Special: Get $200 off when you purchase $200 or more in upgrades.	11/27/09 12:00 AM CST	11/30/09 11:59 PM CST	Upgrades are FREE if worth $200

CST stands for Central Standard Time. If you’re not familiar with this time zone, more information is available here (you can use the time zone converter here as well). As mentioned above, the promos only apply in the US. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are American institutions anyway.

Don’t forget, other “Black Friday” promos by Dell are still ongoing!

Post from: The Gadget Blog

Black Friday Deals from Dell

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:32 +0000

They say Black Friday was so named because Philadelphia city officials usually braced themselves for “massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks” as people take advantage of the day off to shop until they drop for the holidays. In any case, those problems are non-existent when you shop online, and Dell has a lot of Black Friday deals for shoppers looking for a computer for themselves or loved ones.

	Offer	End Date	Coupon Code
	Complete desktop package featuring the Studio XPS 8000 desktop and 20″ monitor for only $999 after $329 instant off.	11/23/09 5:55 AM CST	None Required
	Studio XPS 13 laptop only $999 after $369 instant savings!	11/23/09 5:55 AM CST
	Check out the new TOUCH Studio 17 laptop at Dell! Don’t miss our other great deals on touch screens!	“Ongoing”
Check out Dell’s most popular PCs with the all the options you want starting at less than $500 + free next business day shipping!		“Ongoing”
	This Inspiron 15 laptop only $399 after $100 instant discount and coupon code 40M?6?W03KFH93. Plus get free next business day shipping.	12/4/09 11:55 PM CST or after 500 redemptions (whichever comes first)	40M?6?W03KFH93
	This Inspiron 15 laptop only $479 after $220 instant discount and coupon code 1R$ZL9Q7CFG69V. Plus get free next business day shipping.		1R$ZL9Q7CFG69V
	Nov 19-Dec 4: Only $419 for the Inspiron 11z laptop + free next business day shipping! Use coupon code $9532Z?LL5DB9$.		$9532Z?LL5DB9$
Save up to 39% on Dell’s most popular laptops. Includes free standard shipping.		11/26/09 11:59 PM CDT	None Required
New Lower Price on Dell Netbooks! Now starting at only $279 + free standard shipping.		11/26/09 11:59 PM CDT	None Required

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Asus Tops Laptop Reliability Study

Rico Mossesgeld — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:30 +0000

According to research by warranty firm SquareTrade, you really get what you pay for, with premium-priced laptops lasting longer than their cheaper counterparts on average. Good news for those who’ve spent money for specs, bad for buyers trying to eke by on affordable netbooks; from the survey of 30,000 portables, netbooks have a 5.8% chance of failing within the first year.

Another notable trend becomes clear when comparing brands. Here’s the list of nine different brands, ranked from most reliable to least, in terms of malfunction rate:

Asus
Toshiba
Sony
Apple
Dell
Lenovo
Acer
Gateway
HP

Looks like Asus‘ marketing department have a new talking point to advertise, while Apple has another reason to stick its nose up at Dell. I’m also sure Sony would like to mention being second in reliability while pimping its stylish VAIO lines.

The most depressing trend noted, while somewhat obvious, is still a bit depressing: From an average of 7.2% after 12 months of ownership, the average rate of “total failure” rises to 19.7% after 24 months, and steadily rises to 31% by the third year.

Great info from Squaretrade, relevant to makers and consumers alike. What I’d like to see though is a survey on the reliability of desktops. In any case, do you own a laptop? How reliable (or not) has it proven to be?

Post from: The Gadget Blog

Dell Adamo XPS, “World’s Thinnest”, Now Out

Rico Mossesgeld — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:02:35 +0000

Yesterday saw Dell start shipping the Dell Adamo XPS, which they market as the world’s thinnest laptop. This ultra-thin gadget is 10.3mm thick at its heftiest point, and tapers down to 9.7mm. Average thickness is thus just under a centimeter at 9.99m. Aesthetically it stands out, thanks to its unique configuration, which sees the keyboard portion actually embedding itself into the display when the laptop is shut. The hinge placement unfortunately seems to make it hard to use the Adamo XPS on uneven surfaces, and definitely limits this laptop’s lap potential, though it does allow some natural cooling.

Complete spec list straight from Dell:

Storage	128GB Solid State Drive
Display	13.4″ WLED HD (720P) LCD Panel with 2.0MP Camera
Processor	Intel Core SU9400 (1.4GHz/800MHz FSB/3M L2 Cache)
Memory	4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 800MHz
Video Card	Intel GS45 Integrated Graphics with DVI Video Adapter Cable
WiFi	Intel 5300 WLAN 802.11n (3×3) Mini Card
Battery Options	20WHr (4 hours) or 40WHr (5 hours) batteries
Bluetooth	Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module (2.1 + EDR)
USB Ports	x 2 USB 2.0

What do you think? Personally the 1.4 GHz processor worries me, but I bet people will buy this for the aesthetics, rather than performance. The Dell Adamo XPS is available from Dell.com, for $1799.

Introducing The World’s Thinnest Laptop. The New Adamo XPS at 9.99mm Thin.

Post from: The Gadget Blog