PC Gaming: Mechanical Keyboards
A guest post by: Tyler Goering
Nothing is hotter right now than PC gaming than mechanical keyboards. These high tech peripherals used to be reserved for the über nerds and pro gamers but are now are much more affordable and readily available. Mechanical keyboards differ from most keyboards found on the market by the method which the individual keys are pressed down. Most keyboards use small rubber domes to hold up the keys. When you press the key down these domes collapse and the electrical signal for the individual keystroke is made. These have a number of disadvantages, specifically the quality of the domes is not very high and the pressure required to push the key down is inconsistent. This leads to imperfect keystrokes and a lack of longevity in the keyboards.
Mechanical keyboards use precise switches to add consistency and longevity to your keyboard. There are many types of mechanical keyboards of varying quality and price as well as a few personal preferences built in. For example, some mechanical keyboards use switches that have a “clicky” feel to them. This creates an audible and tactile keystroke that many users associate with mechanical switches. Others have “silent” switches that have the same precise keystrokes of a mechanical keyboard without the loud noise.
Many brands of mechanical keyboards such as Das or Filco also come with special features such as unlabeled keys or custom key caps. Also, because almost all mechanical keyboards use Cherry MX switches of some type, the key caps they use are almost all interchangeable. This makes buying custom caps cheaper and easier.
The tactile feel of a mechanical keyboard is a matter of taste but the longevity of the keyboards is a fact. If you spend any significant amount of time at a computer it is definitely something to try.
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Remove Facebook Right Column, ads, and people you may know
This is a slightly modified version of the original script that works on Facebook (HTTPS). Requires Firefox and grease monkey.
// ==UserScript==
// @name Remove Facebook Right-Column
// @version 0.2
// @author Vaibhav Kanwal
// @namespace http://programmingkid.com.com/
// @description Increase Screen Estate by removing right column on Facebook.
// @include http://facebook.com/*
// @include http://*.facebook.com/*
// @include https://*.facebook.com/*
// @include https://facebook.com/*
// ==/UserScript==
(function() {
var css = "#rightCol{display: none;};";
if (typeof GM_addStyle != "undefined") {
GM_addStyle(css);
} else if (typeof PRO_addStyle != "undefined") {
PRO_addStyle(css);
} else if (typeof addStyle != "undefined") {
addStyle(css);
} else {
var heads = document.getElementsByTagName("head");
if (heads.length > 0) {
var node = document.createElement("style");
node.type = "text/css";
node.appendChild(document.createTextNode(css));
heads[0].appendChild(node);
}
}
})();
Buying a Refurbished HP Printer – A Dealer’s Perspective
This is a guest post by: Douglass M. Doggett, Sr.
As an authorized dealer for HP and Lenovo, I still have to pay for the equipment that we use in the home and office. Even though I get dealer pricing (it’s really not much lower than non-dealer pricing), I still have to shop for the best deal and look for the very best way to spend our limited resources. Even though I’d been in the business for a while, I had never personally experienced buying a refurbished HP printer until a couple of years ago. My experience began with the box arriving at the office with the help of the FedEx lady. My expectations began to get higher and higher as I examined the neat, clean, and nicely appointed box itself. It was clearly marked as an HP refurbished printer and the factory seal had not been broken; so, I knew it hadn’t been opened by anyone else. When we opened the box, we were pleasantly surprised to find all the parts and components inside and neatly packaged…just like a new printer!
I had a lot of reservations about buying a used computer products. At the time I considered a refurbished and used printer as about the same thing. Little did I realize that the refurbished HP products were real close to new…real close! Most of these refurbished products are just like new and if you didn’t know better, you’d swear they were new.
I now like to describe the refurbished HP printers as new printers that are priced like used HP printers. I must make it clear that these are technically used printers because they were purchased, opened, and later returned for a variety of reasons. Maybe there was a mechanical problem; maybe an order was cancelled; maybe the packaging was marred; or, maybe it didn’t fit in a certain space too well. Whatever the issue, the unit had to be sent back to HP because it could no longer be sold as new. Once returned to HP, these printers are thoroughly tested and if they fail testing, HP determines the cause and replaces any failed components. If a model contains a component with a known failure rate, the component is automatically discarded. At this point, the printers are put through a series of stress tests and given a final inspection, cleaning and repackaging.
Because of the extra attention these HP refurbished printers get, the defect rate is actually lower than the new printers. So, now you see why I’m such a believer and why I’ve chosen to specialize in the market for refurbished HP printers and used computer products. These are products that help our clients stretch their technology dollar and get high-level protection from the HP factory warranty or the distributor’s limited warranty ( in the case of used or off-lease products). As you consider these products, make certain that you work with a manufacturer authorized dealer who has experience in sourcing and delivering refurbished and off-lease products.
Author Box:
Feel free to contact us at www.mantecho.com for guidance, questions, or to get a great deal. Douglass M. Doggett, Sr.
Intel vs. AMD Processors
The war between Intel vs. AMD has been going on for centuries. OK, maybe not centuries but, for as long as I can remember Intel and AMD have been rivals. Not everybody is tech savvy, that's why when the choice comes up, often times people don't know which is better Intel or AMD? Today, we'll be breaking it down from price, to performance. Long ago the line was clear that AMD was a big competitor in terms of speed when they released their Athlon 64 line, showing Intel that GigaHertz wasn't the whole story.
Since then Intel has learned from its mistakes however. Over the years they've gained our trust back, processor by processor. Now Intel's Core i7 line comes with 4 cores and 4 threads (virtual cores). This may seem like nothing compared to AMD's new FX series 8xxx which offers up to 8 actual cores. However looking at some benchmarks we see flaws in AMDs coding. We notice that in brand name games such as Far Cry 2 and Crysis 2 the Phenom and FX series have a 20-30 FPS difference between the Core i7 series. 20 FPS is too much of a big margin to ignore.
The problem I see here is that AMD didn't spend enough time optimizing it's CPU for gamers' needs. It choose to go with synthetic benchmarks, and real world applications. However, this isn't that bad. AMD's performance in servers, and multi-threaded applications is very much up to par with Intel's Core i7. This is a big shock due to the fact that Intel's i7 can cost up to $900 while the FX series only cost up to around $250. Scaling this up in a server environment, or a work environment can mean big improvements and big savings! We can clearly see here who AMD's new target audience was, mid-range gamers and server applications.
So going back to the main question, which is better Intel or AMD? The question has become somewhat meaningless as we see that the companies have branched off so much now that a battle isn't very comparable. In terms of straight performance we can clearly say the i7 series is superior, however are you, the consumer really going to spend up to $900 for a cpu that will probably be outdated in a year? Or would you rather choose a $250 equivalent that you probably won't notice the difference on?
This was a guest post by TechStat.Net. Click here for more information on the best graphic card for the money.
Transformers 3 Review
The Transformers 3 is going to entertain you, and that is what a good movie is supposed to do. It will imprint itself on your mind, and you will recall scenes and portions of this movie for a long time. Going by the full name; Transformers 3: Dark Of the Moon, this is an epic thriller that tries to show the damnation that the world faces as good and evil clash in the search for control over the world.
Transformers 3 review of the plot
The plot is both simple and complex. If you wait just a little for the movie to get under way, then the plot will be easy to understand and you can enjoy the film better. Simply put, the plot is about good against bad, just as what happens in the real world. The Autobots are the good and they join the US war against terror and against the Decepticons who are the bad.
50 years ago on the moon, a very important piece of cybertronian technology (space ship) was lost, and the Decepticons now want to get their hands on it first. After you start getting the feel of the story, from there onwards, the movie is a perfect unfolding of one sizzling action after another. For a sensational 120 minutes running time for the Transformer 3, your eyes will be glued to the screen. Unlike other movies that run for just 90 minutes, which is enough but still leaves much wanting, this one has an extra 30 minutes of thrilling time.
The characters
They are an amazing lot and you must have met most of them before in other pictures but they play their roles well enough. If you are looking for a movie that has the geopolitics of the cold war in it, even in its characterization, then this is just what you really want. Ken Jeong, Frances McDormand, John Turturro, John Malkovich are among the members of the Transformers 3 cast. It is directed by Michael Bay. Expect a lot of action and excitement from the Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon.
The Best Free MMORPG Games
When you want good games, but do not want to pay a monthly fee, there are dozens of options online that can offer you adventure and adrenaline, without having to pay monthly fees. One of the best free MMORPG games is "Rappelz", produced by Gala Lab. You can choose your character from three factions, and the hero is able to fight monsters that populate the world with the help of pets that can be tamed: The rarer the more coveted titles of pride and become respected by older players.
"Perfect World" is another known MMORPG, which convince you to lose some time trying the various options in the game. You are into a world of fantasy based on Chinese mythology, with an impressive graphics and brilliant special effects.
"Maple Story", produced by Wizet is another game that takes place in a fantasy world. Although is one of the most popular games of this type, the 2D platform might disappoint some gamers.
"Prius Online", produced by CJ E&M Corp., has a three-character system, impeccable graphics and entertaining story. The character is accompanied by Anima and Gigas, and battles allow you to use special abilities from each character.
"Shaiya" is another MMORPG that offers 3D graphics and special effects as interesting the ones above.
For fans of science fiction, "Battlestar Galactica" offers an interesting alternative: it is a game similar to EVE Online, but no monthly fee. You own a spaceship and you can ally with people or robots in a fight for life and death.
This is a guest post by Costea, a writer on Next iPhone News. Visit his website for the latest iPhone 5 news, rumors and tips!
Ps3 Games : Leads To Adrenaline Rushes In Players.
With the vacation season respiring down their necks the large 3 producers of computer game consoles are revving up for a battle. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are doing battle for control of the computer game industry with their Xbox 360, Playstation three and Nintendo Wii products, and the contest hasn't ever been fiercer than it is today. They're fighting for the hearts and minds of the people that play computer games, and the winner will be set by yearly sales numbers of their Nintendo game consoles. At the end of Aug, it was Nintendo Wii that folk were purchasing the most when they selected a Playstation game console. Wii has been selling more than the other 2 mixed every month for the last ten months according to the NDP Group, the top company for providing info regarding the sales and trends of industries globally. Step 5 : What are the unusual features of each console? Each computer game console has it's own exceptional features that make allowances for different sorts of Playstation game experiences. Similar Blu-ray players cost one or two hundred bucks. Here are 2 the noticeable differences between the three consoles : one. The game system was such a hot item that stores could not keep them on the shelves and folk queued for hours to be in a position to put this present under the tree for their children.
The system sold virtually 100,000 units inside twenty-four hours of being released. Currently , there are 5 versions of this favored game available on the market. Each system is sometimes refereed to by its internal drive size and are referred to as the '20, ' the '40, ' the '60, ' the '80, ' and the '160. ' Each system includes a few standard accessories like the game controllers, a twin shock controller, USB controller, a video / Television connecting wire, an Ethernet rope and a power twine. In fact it was actually the first of its type to put such an inexpensive Blu-Ray disk player on the mass market. *Focus attacks If successful, you can drop your competitor to the ground by using this potent attack. New Characters Beside old characters like Ken, and Ryu, Capcom has added some new playable characters : -Crimson Snake the secret agent.
*Ultra combos If your rage meter ( found close to the life bar ) is full, you can loose an exceedingly dynamic combo that can be lethal to your competitor in a second. So, having a mint condition game could be a financially good thing to have around in days to come. You never know. It even copies software games too. Hence how do you go about making these backup copies? The sole surefire path I know of is to get Copy That Game, which shows you how it is possible to get yourself set-up and prepared to replicate any of your PlayStation, XBox 360, or Wii disks. Everything is described for you in the instructions that go with the software.
Ps3 Games : PS3 Game Review.
There are numerous gaming fans out there that are stuck between which of the new games system to buy - Playstation three vs. Xbox 360. Though there is no question that they're both great systems, the Playstation three is easily the most suitable option. A crucial issue that you may not always think about is the guaranty of the products. Naturally, they'd also need the games to go with it. The Playstation three offers a full only year guarantee while the Xbox 360 offers only a ninety day guaranty. Hence having a mint condition game could be a financially good thing to have around in days to come. The sole guaranteed way I know of is to get Copy That Game, which shows you how it is possible to get yourself set-up and prepared to replicate any of your PlayStation, XBox 360, or Wii disks.
You never can say. It even copies software games too. A primary reason that Nintendo Wii is selling more Playstation game consoles than Xbox 360 and Playstation three is really because it is highly regarded in nations apart from the U. S. like Japan.
Xbox 360 and Playstation three sales aren't superb in Japan. Nintendo Wii is much less expensive, and the price difference could be an important factor for the average conscientious voter. While Nintendo Wii has been winning since its release virtually a year back selling more than the other 2 rivals mixed each month, it is preparing to encounter a revamped competition. There also are optical accessories that are accessible with the games system that take the system beyond any other video console on the market. It actually is an one-stop-shop for all of your child's multi-media wishes. With the addition of certain accessories you can turn the Playstation gaming system into a file storage system, a Television tuner or a DVR. And naturally, there's a good variety of games available on the market including those meant for infants and preschoolers. Its multi-use capability will be certain to satisfy everyone in the family. Accessories include controllers, earphones, and any other products that will go with a game console to make the playing experience more pleasurable. Step five : What are the unprecedented features of each console? Here are a small number of the conspicuous differences between the 3 consoles : one. Blu-ray Player - Playstation three contains the feature that permits you to play Blu-ray flicks. Similar Blu-ray players cost one or two hundred greenbacks.
Using enhanced xbox 360 game controlers
With the ever burning desire for enhanced game play tech savy gamers have found yet another way to take their game play to new heights. Why would someone do this? Ever have trouble hitting the trigger button in a FPS to slow in the midst of an intense battle. Most gamers would answer that question with a YES. Thanks to modified controllers you can actually tweak them so that either the physical design is difference or make various hardware/software alterations allowing you to shoot faster or more in a more precise manner. This can be useful not only in FPS games but, racing games and a variety of other genres.
By having this cutting edge you will undoubtedly be able to crush your foes in multi-player online challenges with ease.rollers to aesthetically pleasing ones with a custom mod.
So what kind of modded controlers are available to gamers?
You have your rapid fire mods, tilt mods, and I'm sure many other custom builds. The sky's the limit for creative individuals destined to win.
The tilt mod is of particular interest because it allows you to move through the game with enhanced motion and accuracy excellent for turning tight corners in racing games.
If you like to think of yourself as a fashionable gamer well, then you're also in luck because modded controllers can be used for looks to. Light yours up with LED, custom skins, or special layouts. A simple google search will yield many merchants which offer these various modding services / products.
Using gamefly to get more bang for your buck
With Gamefly there are several ways for users to get started. You can start out with a free trial which will allow you to have 2 games out for a period of 10 days without any commitment. Obviously this is probably the best way to test the service. The one catch is that this offer only applies for new members. The nice thing with Gamefly is that is price wise it's much better to pay $15.95 for one game out a month then the usual new game price tag of $30-$60 depending on the game. Now if you like some variety there are upgradable options such as the 2 games out a month for $22.95. Better yet is Gamefly's inventory of over 7,000 games which, I'm sure we can all agree is more than your local game stop or best buy has on the shelves.
So I'm sure the next burning question you have is how fast do they ship? Usually it takes 2-4 days and each game comes in a pre paid envelope so it's easy to return. So long as you don't lose the envelope 
. Now, once you've conquered the last zombie or beat the last race of the game and want to play a new game simply put your game in the mailbox and they will ship you out the next one in your list.
If you decided to go the free trial route a few things to keep in mind are:
- a valid credit card is required
- only for new users
- one free trial per household
... and that's about all there is to it.
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