Hardware
Home Networking:
If you have more than one computer and want to share your cable or dsl connection with all of them, then you will need a router.
With the advancements in technology, we are now able to connect computers to internet connections through wireless connections.
My choice for home routers is the....Netgear 802.11g Wireless router.
This router will allow you to hookup up to 4 computers using both wired and wireless connections and comes with a very easy to use wizard that helps you setup your router and connections.
I've setup one for a friend and it works great and was very easy to setup.
BestBuy link: NETGEAR - 802.11g Wireless Router - WGR614
In addition to the router, you will need to make sure each computer has a ethernet (networking) connection.
Most computers nowadays have a built in networking connector but if you don't have one, here are my recommendations for networking cards.
Wired network card for desktop computers: Linksys 10/100 Desktop Adapter at StaplesŪ
Wireless network card for desktop computers: NETGEAR - 802.11g Wireless Desktop Card - WG311 at BestBuy
Wireless network card for notebook/laptop computers: NETGEAR - Super G Wireless Notebook Card - WG511T at BestBuy
Digital Cameras:
If your looking for a good basic camera for under $200, look at the ....
Canon PowerShot A570is....7.1 megapixels and 4x zoom
For a better and also easy to use compact digital cameras at a low price, I'd recommend getting either one of these....
Canon PowerShot A720is....8 megapixels and 6x zoom
Canon PowerShot A650is....12.1 megapixels and 6x zoom
Both cameras are easy to use and has a lot of great features.
If your more of an enthusiast or want a better performing camera, try one of these....
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3....8.1 megapixels and 10x zoom
Canon PowerShot SX100is....8 megapixels and 10x zoom
This camera has some really great features such 8.1 megapixals & 10x optical zoom.
Best of all is the price. You get so much more bang for your buck with this camera compared to many others.
Places to shop locally:
Places to shop online:
Hard Drives:
Hard Drive info
Monitors:
Flat Panel Monitor info
Well....It's tax refund time for most of us and as for myself, I received about $300 more than expected so I decided this year it's time to get a new monitor. I've been wanting to upgrade to a flat panel for some time, especially since the quality of them has gone up and the prices have gone down.
I have been using a Sony CPD-G400 19" crt monitor which I bought new from Sam's Club in 2001. This has been an excellent monitor with great color and clarity. This, being it's 6th year of use has started showing it's wear with a little degradation in picture quality, so the timing worked out perfect for buying a new monitor. It still works good but the picture quality isn't as good as it was when it was new.
So I read a few reviews to find the best flat panel monitor, quality being my #1 concern. I wasn't worried about price at all since all the flat panel monitors have good prices nowadays. I decided to stay with a 19" as the minimum screen size. Seems hard to go smaller after being used to a larger screen size...LOL.
The monitor I decided on is a NEC 90gx2. Here's a review of it....
PC World review (19")
PC World review (17" version) - NEC 70gx2
As you can see, it's ranked 2nd, but after buying and using it, I would rank it #1. I went to a Best Buy store where they had probably 20 different monitors on display. The NEC gx2 series (17" & 19") was by far the best I've seen. It has unparalleled picture quality due in part to it's Opticlear technology. It even has a better picture than my Sony G400 crt monitor. This also gives it a glossy screen like a crt monitor but was no problem because we are already use to the glossy screens from using crt monitors. The anti-glare screens used by all the other flat panels tends to degrade the picture quality compared to the NEC gx2 series. The NEC gx2 series stood out like a sore thumb in the side by side viewing comparison I did. I was amazed by how much more noticeable the difference was in picture quality.
With it's clarity, vibrant colors and 4ms response time....this monitor is excellent whether your using it for video, pictures or gaming.
So now I'm running two 19' monitors on my computer. Dual monitors is great.
In closing....
If your looking for a new monitor, get a NEC gx2 series...either the 17" or 19". You won't be disappointed. Go to a store and look at one next to others and you will see the difference. The NEC gx2 series will be a few dollars more than others but it's well worth it. I'm sure you will agree once you see it and compare it to others.
If you need further assistance or have questions or comments, e-mail me.
Mouse info:
Most of us are used to the new optical mouse that uses either an led or laser to make the mouse pointer move versus the old mouseball and wheels. If you're still using the old mouseball and wheel setup as pictured below...
You know that it can get dirty and then the mouse pointer wants to stop working or will work erratically. If you're still using this type of mouse, I recommend upgrading to a new mouse. They work much better and you don't have to worry about cleaning them darn wheels...LOL.
There are several types of mice:
Optical
Laser
Wired
Wireless
I prefer the wired type of either optical or laser because I don't have to worry about the batteries used in the wireless kind.
The 2 basic mice I recommend are
1. Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical
What's the difference between an optical and a laser mouse?
The difference between a regular optical mouse and a laser mouse is the light used to track movement. A regular optical mouse uses an LED light in the optical engine, while a laser mouse uses a laser to track movement. The more dots per inch (dpi) a mouse can track, the more sensitive and accurate it is. A typical optical mouse tracks between 400dpi and 800dpi, while laser mice can track from 1600 to more than 2,000dpi.
Neither is really better; it all depends on your needs and preferences. Unless you're a gamer or a graphic artist with a need for precise movement, you'll probably find a 2,000dpi laser mouse too sensitive. Many gaming mice, however, allow you to switch sensitivity levels so that you have precision when you need it but can revert to 400dpi or 800dpi for regular mousing.
Besides their tracking speeds, laser mice work on nearly every surface, whereas optical mice may experience trouble tracking on black or shiny surfaces
I have both....1 on each computer. if you need further assistance or have questions or comments, e-mail me.
NOTE: The information on this page is my opinion based on my years of computer experience, research, and yes, even some common sense. You may or may not agree or disagree with this information. It is merely my opinion and goal to help inform people on what I think is a better choice. I do NOT receive any compensation or discounts for any brands or stores that I may mention on this site.