Digital Life Radio

Show Notes 10/12/08

Posted on 14. Oct, 2008 by Jordan in Show Notes

Episode 3  – 10/12/08

Hosted by Jordan Drake and Jake Brown

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In this episode:

Tech News:

• Apple is going to unveil a new laptop lineup this Tuesday. Apple laptops are the most popular entry level Mac computer, and Jordan has seen a lot of his clients purchase Apple laptops when switching from Windows. Why should you care about this upcoming announcement? New laptops will be faster – and possibly cheaper – some rumor sites suggest that the entry level Mac laptop could start as low as $800. Cheapskates rejoice! Along with cheaper pricing, Jake is hoping to see HDMI outputs and built in Blue-Ray. Source – Mac Rumors
• Could Circuit City go bankrupt? In a time when online shopping has never been more popular, Circuit City might join CompUSA in a line of big chain tech product retailers to bite the dust. Jordan and Jake talk about the pros and cons of in-store vs. online shopping. Along with things like pricing and selection, Jordan suggests that shoppers might be avoiding big retailers because of negative press. In the end however, no matter where you do your shopping, it’s important to do the backround check on any online retailer before you hand them your personal information. www.resellerratings.com lets you do a search for any web retailer – and then shows customer reviews of that website. Some of the highest rated, by both resellerratings and our hosts, are Amazon.com (books, gadgets, just about anything) Newegg.com (tech producst) Zappos.com (clothing and shoes). Source – The Consumerist

Listener Question – Playing Blue Ray on the computer?:

David asked via our website commenting system – How do I setup my computer to play Blue Ray discs? Our hosts start with a quick definition of Blue Ray and then go on to describe what you’ll need to start playing high definition discs on your computer.

• First, make sure your computer is capable of playing HD discs. If you purchased your computer within the past year, you have a good chance of being HD capable. However, you’ll want to check the exact specifics to see if you’ve got the right equipment. Digital-Digest.com has this great guide on making your PC HD ready and even lists software you can download that will scan your computer and remove all of the guess work.
• Once you know your computer can handle Blue Ray playback, you’ll need a Blue Ray disc drive and software to decode the video on the disc. Newegg.com has a selection that ranges from $95 and up.
• If you have the computer – and the drive – you’ll need the right software to play the disc. Power DVD Ultra and Win DVD 9 Plus are two options. Note: Although we didn’t mention it on the show for sake of time – you’ll also need the correct video card drivers – refer to the Digital-Digest.com article for more info
• Lastly, it’s important to mention that Blue Ray is really intended for your home theater, in which case, there are stand alone Blue Ray players starting at $250. Believe it or not, the best Blue Ray player on the market is arguably Sony’s PlayStation 3 game console which has a built in player!

Tech Tip – Building/Buying a Balanced PC:

What is the secret to building/buying a PC that performs well and runs all the applications you want? Jake and Jordan discuss their tips on building a balanced PC. Jake describes the selection process he used to build his computer and Jordan goes into some basic mistakes people make when buying a pre-built machine. Remember: don’t be swept away by the big sticker feature, look at the computer as a whole and make sure you’re getting a well rounded system. We recommend asking your computer repair person or consultant before buying, or even better, writing/calling us so we can help you select the right machine for you.

Tech Tip – PC Security:

Prompted by a listener question, our hosts talk about some basic security measures you need to take to keep yourself and your computer safe. Set your PC to automatically install system updates. Purchase and run anti-virus software (no more than one program though), we recommend ESET’s NOD 32 software. Avoid clicking links or downloading files in emails unless you are sure they were sent intentionally and be wary of sketchy websites, especially if they claim to be ebay or paypal etc.

Next week:

The hosts of the weekly podcast – The Cell Phone Junkie – will join us for the entire hour to talk about cell phones, smart phones, and more. A perfect time to call in with your mobile phone questions.

We air every Saturday at 3pm ET on AM 1200 WXIT – call in or email us – 828 264 8255 – contact@digitalliferadio.net

Tags: antivirus, apple, best buy, blue ray, compusa, curcuit city, ESET, laptops, macbook, NOD 32, PC Security, security, Tech Tip