Budget Computing

Game Deals on eBay

2005-11-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

I just scored a brand new copy of the much-ballyhood PC game F.E.A.R. for $34 shipped. That's about $10 less than the best price I could find from online merchants. My source? eBay, of course. If you're a price-conscious game shopper, eBay should always be your first stop. I always save at least a few bucks by going the auction route, even when I use Buy It Now.

Best...Firefox Extension...Ever

2005-11-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I use TinyURL quite a bit. In case you're not familiar with it, this handy Web-based tool turns those long, unwieldy, impossible-to-type URLs into, well, tiny ones. Here's an example: http://tinyurl.com/68b33. The only downside is that you have to manually copy the URL in question, visit the TinyURL Web site, paste in the address, and click "Make TinyURL." That's FOUR steps!

Enter TinyURL Creator, a Firefox extension that adds a TinyURL-creation button right to your toolbar. All it takes is two clicks to copy the current URL to the clipboard, and you never have to leave the site you're viewing. Awesome. Just one more reason I'll be sticking with Firefox over the long haul, regardless of what goodies Microsoft manages to pack into Internet Explorer 7.

Linux: See What All the Fuss is About

2005-10-19T08:38:00.000-05:00

Sure, you've heard of Linux -- the "open-source" (read: free) operating system that promises much better stability and security than Windows -- but you've probably never laid eyes on it, let alone played with it.

Now you can. Knoppix is a bootable, CD-resident version of the Linux OS. Drop it in your computer's CD drive, reboot, and presto: In a few minutes you'll have a fully usable Linux PC, complete with software, hard-drive access, the works. Best of all, Knoppix doesn't make any changes to your computer; once you take the CD out and reboot again, you'll be back to Windows, safe and sound.

The Knoppix download is actually an ISO file; you need to know how to burn that file to a CD and make it bootable. If you have a program like Nero, it can do the job. If not, try something like Magic ISO Maker. Either way, it's well worth the effort. Knoppix is a really cool way to see what Linux is all about, and it doesn't cost a penny.

Replace Your iPod Battery on the Cheap

2005-09-13T07:43:00.000-05:00

It's a well-known fact that iPod batteries tend to wear out (either failing completely or losing much of their capacity) at around the 18-month mark. Sure, you can always upgrade to the latest and greatest model (iPod nano, anyone?), or ship your iPod to Apple and pay them $59 for a battery replacement.

But did you know there are also inexpensive do-it-yourself options? At Laptops for Less, for instance, you'll find battery-replacement kits--complete with installation instructions and the tiny screwdriver you'll need to pry open your iPod's case--selling for $29. Troll eBay and you'll find similar kits selling for as low as $10 (though often without instructions; visit the aforementioned Laptops for Less site and nab their online manual).

We replaced the dead battery in a first-gen iPod with one of these $10 eBay deals; it worked like a charm. The only scary part was prying open that beautiful case...but in the end it was worth the trauma.

Cool Tricks with Your Cell Phone

2005-08-09T18:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a ZIP code worth remembering: 46645. Except it's not really a ZIP code, it's the numbers on your cell phone's dial pad that spell out GOOGL. Send a text message to that number and you can get a boatload of information in return. For instance, if you want to get movie showtimes for your area, text "Movies 48390" (or whatever ZIP code you're in). It also works with city and state. You can use a similar method to get local business listings, stock quotes, word definitions, and other handy info. Best of all, the service doesn't cost a dime (except for airtime and whatever ridiculous sum your carrier charges for text messages). Visit Google's SMS page for more information.

Extend Your VoIP Service to Every Phone Jack in the House

2005-08-01T09:34:00.000-05:00

So you've signed up for SunRocket, Vonage, or some other spiffy new VoIP service, and now you're wondering what to do with the hodge-podge of phones in your house. Answer: Keep them! With a screwdriver, a splitter, a cable modem (sorry, DSL users) and about five minutes to spare, you can create a whole-house VoIP network. In other words, you'll be able to plug any phone into any phone jack and use it for VoIP calls.

WARNING AND DISCLAIMER: If you don't do this properly, or your phone/VoIP configuration differs from what's described here, you could end up with fried equipment, fried wiring, or some other expensive-to-repair catastrophe. Proceed at your own risk.

Step 1: Make sure absolutely everything is working properly with your VoIP service. If you're having your phone number(s) transferred, wait until the process has been completed and you've verified that inbound and outbound calls are status quo.

Step 2: (Once again, this is for cable modem users only. DSL users, stop right here!) Go outside your house and find the junction box where the telco's lines come into your house. Usually there's a "residential access" panel you can open with a screwdriver. Once inside, disconnect any plugs or wires you find there. This effectively severs the connection between the local telco and your house. The result is a "closed network" for the wiring inside your house. (Tip: You may want to cover the outside jacks with electrical tape so no one inadvertently reconnects the lines. At the same time, put in a small note reading: "Lines disconnected intentionally -- do not reconnect!")

Step 3: Plug a two-port splitter (available at any Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc. for about three bucks) into the "phone" jack on the back of your VoIP box. Reconnect whatever phone you originally had plugged into the box. Now run an ordinary phone cord from the second port on the splitter to the nearest wall jack. Presto: Every other jack in the house should give you a dial tone.

One more disclaimer: I have tried this with my SunRocket setup and it works perfectly. And I've seen plenty of reports of similar successes among Vonage users. But your mileage may vary! Rick Broida and Budget Computing are not responsible for any problems you may encounter. Good luck!

Quick Poll: "Windows Vista," Good Name or Bad?

2005-07-25T11:12:00.000-05:00

The next version of Windows is Longhorn no more. Last week, Microsoft revealed its new, final name: Windows Vista. Just curious to know what you think of the name--good, bad, or otherwise. Click the "comments" link below and share your insights with other Budget Computing readers!

And if you feel like it, caption this crazy picture! Here's mine:

"And sitting right over there is Enos, the crazy idiot who came up with the name."

Watch TV on Your PDA or Smartphone

2005-07-25T09:19:00.000-05:00

The best $20 I've spent lately was on MyTV ToGo, a must-have utility for owners of Windows XP Media Center Edition PCs and Pocket PC PDAs and smartphones.

The software converts recorded TV shows to Windows Media Player Mobile format and copies them to your PDA. Actually, it can copy directly to a memory card, which is both convenient and time-saving. What's particularly cool is that MyTV ToGo runs from within MCE, meaning you can operate it with your remote without ever getting off the couch (the ultimate goal of all media-center owners). Plus, it supports HDTV content and VGA PDA screens.

Great, great piece of software. Highly recommended.

Create Your Own PDFs - Free!

2005-07-19T08:46:00.000-05:00

You've probably encountered at least one PDF file in your life, if not dozens or hundreds. Adobe's Portable Document Format is used to electronically distribute newsletters, brochures, instruction manuals (you know, the kind that used to be printed, but now come on a CD with just about every computer product you buy), and other heavily formatted documents.

As you probably know, you need Adobe's free Reader program to view PDFS on your PC, Macintosh, or PDA. But what if you want to actually create your own PDF? Surely that'll cost you.

Not necessarily. Although Adobe and several third-party developers sell PDF-creation software, there's a perfectly good free alternative: CutePDF Writer. Just download and install the program (make sure you also download and install the accompanying converter), then fire up any program that's capable of printing (Word, PageMaker, etc.). Load your document, then head to the print menu and select CutePDF Writer from the list of available printers. Click print, supply a filename as requested, and presto! Your document just became a PDF. Woo!

60-Second Review: Yahoo Music Unlimited

2005-07-15T09:29:00.000-05:00

What It Is: Yahoo Music Unlimited, a subscription service that grants you complete access to its million-plus song library.

What You Can Do with It: Stream or download any song or album.

What Else You Can Do: Copy downloaded songs to any compatible MP3 player. Only about a dozen are supported right now, but the list is growing.

What You Can't Do: Burn songs to CD--unless you buy them first. But subscribers get special pricing: 79 cents per song.

What's the Catch? You're effectively renting the music, and if you cancel your subscription, any songs you've downloaded will no longer play.

What Does Rick Think? Love it, love it, love it. It's like someone giving you the keys to Tower Records and saying, "Go on in, take whatever you want." And the accompanying Yahoo Music Engine program is a surprisingly polished and well-rounded music manager. Even in beta it's less buggy and more user-friendly than Musicmatch.

Okay, How Much? If you pay for a year in advance, it costs a mere $4.99/month. Pay monthly and it's $6.99. Both options represent huge savings over Napster's similar service, which costs $14.99/month.

UPDATE: Okay, a bit of dew came off the lily. I purchased the soundtrack to In Good Company (fair movie, great soundtrack) but only got four of the 14 songs. There's no phone support available for Yahoo Music Unlimited, and just finding the right place to contact customer service is a challenge. Will have to see if I even get a response to this frustrating glitch.

How to Make Bulletproof Backups

2005-07-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

Making backups is one of life's annoying little chores, like flossing and reading Budget Computing. But it's absolutely essential, because you never know when your hard drive is going to flatline. (BTW, a clicking sound means death is imminent. Abandon ship!)

Problem is, most backup solutions are slow, cumbersome, and ineffective. Not mine. I've figured out how to make fast, automated backups of my entire hard drive. If it ever tanks, I should be back in business in a matter of minutes.

Here's what you need:

• A hard drive that's at least as large as the one currently in your PC. You can score a 160GB drive from Best Buy for a mere $39.99 after two rebates.

• "Image" software, which can make an exact copy of your hard drive without compression. I'm extremely fond of Casper XP, an easy-to-use utility that runs in the background. No messy, system-occupying DOS interface like with other imaging programs.

Install the second hard drive (which will effectively become the clone) in your PC, then install and run Casper XP. Set it to copy your main drive on a weekly (or even daily) basis. If the drive drive ever tanks, all you have to do is switch over to the clone and you're back in business.

"I Think I Have a Virus!" No, You Don't!

2005-07-10T15:18:00.000-05:00

Browser acting funny? Pop-up windows littering your desktop? Computer running dog-slow all of a sudden? Many people attribute these behaviors to viruses, when in fact they're the result of spyware. Although viruses remain a real and persistent problem, and your computer may indeed have one, spyware tends to be a lot more widespread. And once it sneaks inside your PC, getting rid of it can be a nightmare.

So before you go running to the computer store in search of anti-virus software you should have been running anyway (and which won't do a thing to clean out the spyware), try downloading one or more of the many available freeware and shareware anti-spyware utilities. Visit Download.com to find plenty of choices.

New Lows for Laser Printers: $49.95 Shipped!

2005-07-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

Raise your hand if you spent more than 50 bucks on your last laser printer. Sucker! Ah, just kidding. It's hard not to gloat after scoring a Samsung ML-1740 monochrome laser printer for the impossibly low price of $49.95 (after a pair of mail-in rebates) shipped to your door.

Ready for the funny/sad part? Replacement toner cartridges sell for $69.99. This is it, people--we've entered the regrettable age of the disposable laser printer. Somewhere, standing next to an overflowing landfill, a Native American is crying.

Should You Take the VoIP Plunge?

2005-07-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

Voice over IP, also known as Making Phone Calls on the Internet, is all the rage right now. And why not? It's significantly cheaper than even the most basic landline service. I should know: I've crunched the numbers. I stand to save more than $300 per year by switching to SunRocket, an upstart VoIP service that's almost too good to be true.

Let me summarize thusly: I expected to hate VoIP, figuring it would be a major pain to set up and sound like a couple of tin cans tied to a string. But having tried SunRocket (and Vonage, the current market leader), I feel quite comfortable about dumping my landline forever. Should you do the same? Consider:

Pros

Cheap, cheap, cheap
Comes with a gazillion services I'm usually too cheap to pay for, like voice mail, Caller ID, Call Forwarding, etc.
Flat rate includes unlimited local and long-distance calling (in the U.S. and Canada). International rates are...wait for it...cheap.
Yes, you can dial 911. In fact, SunRocket supports E911, so the operator knows your location (helpful if you're choking on a walnut).
Damn fine sound quality. A few echos now and then, but I get that on my landline.
No contract, cancellation fee, or any other such nonsense.

Cons

Doesn't work with TiVos, fax machines, and other devices that need a dial tone.
Your sound-quality mileage may vary.

I hear this question a lot: "What if my cable modem goes out?" Well, what if the guys working up the street cut your phone line? That's been known to happen (in my neighborhood, anyway). If you have a problem, reach for your cell phone. For my money, rolling the dice on a few potential hassles is worth keeping more of my money.

Zoto Dishes Up 2GB of Photo Storage - Free!

2005-06-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

No such thing as a free lunch? Tell that to Zoto, a photo hosting/sharing/blogging service that gives you a mammoth helping of storage space (2GB, to be exact) and unlimited bandwidth, absolutely free. For the past few days I've been reviewing the service, which is still in beta, and while it's definitely a bit rough around the edges, you can't argue with 2GB of free storage!

By the way, I used Zoto to publish this blog entry, complete with the photo that I uploaded to my account. Not too shabby!

Score a "Free" TiVo! For Real!

2005-06-29T08:52:00.000-05:00

One thing that has always bugged me about TiVo is the ridiculously disproportionate subscription fee. After scrounging together a couple hundred bucks for the box, you then have to cough up another $299 for lifetime service? (I know, you can pay $12.95/month instead, but that's even worse. TV is expensive enough already.) Personally, I've always wished they would just build the damn subscription fee into the box and be done with it.

Ah, but what if they just gave you the hardware? You've got two weeks (until July 15, that is) to score just such a deal: a 40-hour TiVo Series2 box, absolutely free when you sign up for service.

In this case, "service" means the usual $299 lifetime rate or a 12-month prepaid subscription for $155.40. Heck, they'll even throw in the shipping. Not at all a bad deal for what most people regard as the best DVR ever. (Personally, I'm still happy with my five-year-old (!) Replay, but I won't argue with TiVo's clear victory.)

Don't think you can get by with just 40 hours of recording time? There are myriad ways to upgrade a TiVo with inexpensive, high-capacity hard drives. Here's one example. So if you've been waiting to take the TiVo plunge, this could be the ideal time. It's hard to do better than free.

B.C. Q&A: What Else Can DVD Burners Burn?

2005-06-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

A lot of people seem to get confused when shopping for DVD burners (or looking at new PCs that come with them). It's easy to fall under the misconception that these drives burn DVDs and only DVDs. That's why they call them DVD burners, right? Surprise! They can also burn plain ol' CDs, just like your old CD-RW drive. So, yes, you can still churn out those fabulous music mixes, or just copy big batches of files to cheap CDs for easy transport, backup, etc.

Best Price on Coldplay's "X & Y"

2005-06-13T14:30:00.000-05:00

I'm not what you would call a Coldplay fanatic, but I do like a lot of their tunes, and I'm planning to buy their spankin'-new album, "X & Y." Of course, I don't plan to spend one penny more than necessary, so I did a little online shoppin' for the absolute cheapest price:

• BuyMusic - $10.69 (download)
• iTunes - $11.99 (download)
• MSN - $10.89 (download)
• Musicmatch - Unknown (uninstalled 4-ever)
• Napster - $11.95 (download)
• Wal-Mart - $9.44 (download)
• Wal-Mart - $9.72 (CD)
• Yahoo! Music - Not Available

And the winner is...Wal-Mart! Hard to believe the CD version costs just 28 cents more than the download. Think I'll go that route so I can rip the tunes at whatever bit rate I want and not have to contend with Draconian DRM nonsense...

Don't Buy an LCD Without DVI

2005-06-09T13:41:00.000-05:00

Flat-panel monitor deals are coming fast and furious these days. I've seen more than a few name-brand 19-inch LCDs selling for below $300—some as low as $250. However, most of these bargain-basement screens lack one important feature: a DVI interface. (Yes, I know DVI stands for Digital Video Interface, meaning I just said "Digital Video Interface interface." I also say "ATM machine." Sue me.)

Why should you insist on DVI over a traditional analog-VGA connection? Simple: the digital interface eliminates the "ghosting," softness, and other image-crappening effects common to analog LCDs. You'll usually pay a premium—upwards of $50, I've found—for a monitor with a DVI interface, but it's well worth it.

Oh, make sure your video card has a DVI connector, too. Most of them do nowadays, but you'll want to check...

1GB SD Card: $49

2005-06-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

It wasn't very long ago that a 1GB SD card would set you back at least $200. Now you can get a Lexar 1GB card for a mere $49 (after a $25 mail-in rebate) from eCost. Shipping is a mere $1.99. Considering that the same outlet has other 1GB SD cards selling for upwards of $90, this deal is hard to pass up. Now, who do I talk to about grossly overpaying for memory cards last year?

GPS on the Cheap

2005-06-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

Sure, you could spend big bucks on one of those self-contained GPS systems, like the $900 TomTom Go. Or you could do what I do: pair a Bluetooth-enabled PDA with an inexpensive Bluetooth GPS receiver. Here's a great setup that you can score for as low as $275:

• HP iPAQ RX3115 A full-featured Windows Mobile PDA with a roomy screen and built-in Bluetooth (and Wi-Fi!). You can pick up a new one on eBay for around $175; used, they're selling for as low as $125.

• Bluetooth GPS receiver There are several outfits on eBay selling these for $80-90.

• Mapping software The deal to beat is Delorme's Street Atlas USA 2005 Handheld, which retails for $39.95. It offers real-time door-to-door navigation, voice prompts, and all that other good stuff.

• Car mount Safety first! When you're using any GPS, it should be mounted as close to eye level as possible. That means you'll need a car mount for your PDA. Check out the Arkon Universal PDA Windshield Mount, which will set you back $30.

Did I mention you're also getting a pretty rockin' PDA out of the deal? Let's see that big ol' TomTom fit in your pocket!

Photo Prints Down to 12 Cents

2005-05-27T08:24:00.000-05:00

Last week I wrote about finding the best deals on photo prints. Well, Snapfish just blew everybody out of the water by dropping their price to 12 cents/print. They also have a neat option to store (and then print, share, etc.) the photos you snap on your cell phone. You just send them to a specific e-mail address and they'll be waiting for you the next time you sign on.

Is this the first volley in the Great Photo-Print Price War of '05? Time will tell, but in the meantime...12-cent prints! Woo!

Aurora and Nail: Kill This Spyware Dead

2005-05-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

For a few weeks now I've been battling the worst spyware epidemic I've ever seen. Aurora, Nail.exe, BetterInternet...my anti-spyware programs keep finding and (supposedly) removing these and other infections, but minutes later, bam!, there they are again.

Believe it or not, the companies behind these advertising-oriented nasties have actually owned up to them. Now, this is a family Web site, so I can't properly express my rage. Needless to say, there's a special place in hell for ABI Network, DirectRevenue, and ABetterInternet (ha! There's an ironic choice of names).

Although it's plenty natural to be suspicious of MyPCTuneUp, the adware uninstaller provided by these companies, I can attest that it works. In fact, it's just about the only thing that works; I've tried pretty much everything else.

One word of advice: the program says to disable your firewall, but I left mine running (I'm not that gullible), and it still worked. Good luck!

What-Is-It Wednesday: Routers

2005-05-25T08:53:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to call it "Novice Wednesday," but that's not as alluringly alliterative. A router, in case you're new to the term (and scratching your head after yesterday's print-server post), is essentially a splitter for your cable or DSL modem. Instead of plugging the modem directly into your computer's Ethernet port, you plug it into the router. Most consumer routers have four ports, meaning you can plug in up to four computers.

Of course, in most home environments, the computers are spread out. That's where wireless routers come in. These not only split your broadband Internet connection among wired PCs, they make it available to wireless PCs as well.

What constitutes a "wireless PC"? Pretty much any system (notebook, desktop, PDA, etc.) with a built-in or add-on 802.11 (a.k.a. Wi-Fi) adapter.

You can buy an 802.11b Wi-Fi router for around $20 these days—$40 if you opt for an 802.11g model (which I highly recommend, as the "g" variant gives you better range and faster performance).

Tip Tuesday: Share Your Printer

2005-05-24T13:29:00.000-05:00

Raise your hand if you've got multiple PCs in the house and only one printer. That's the scene in the Budget Computing skyrise, and let me tell you, it's downright inconvenient. Although printer sharing is fairly easy to set up in Windows, it requires your primary PC to stay on 24/7.

What you need is a print server, a little box that enables your printer to operate independently of your PC--meaning any computer on the network can use it. (You do have a home network, right? They're practically giving routers away, people!)

Print servers tend to be a little pricey, but Overstock.com has the NetGear PS101 Mini Network Print Server for a mere $25.95 (plus $2 for shipping if you order this month). Just plug the little gizmo into your printer, then connect the cable to your router, and presto: instant print server!