Archive for June, 2007

How to Rip & Shrink a FULL DVD movie, Backup a DVD, DVD Shrink,

Saturday, June 30th, 2007

DVD Decrypter, Tutorial

How to Rip & Shrink a FULL DVD movie, Backup a DVD, DVD
Shrink, DVD Decrypter, Tutorial

What does more than 4.7GB in size mean?

GB is a measure of capacity. 1 GB means 1 Gigabyte, which is
also equal to 1,024 MB (Megabyte). Most of the recent DVD Movies
are more than 4.7GB in size, old movies are usually smaller than
4.7GB. Reason being is that most of them now have special
features, specials, multiple languages and more that take a lot
more space. Most of the ripping programs refer the capacity of
the DVD Movie using Megabytes. Lets start.

Hardware Needed:

* DVD Burner

* DVD-ROM (Optional – for ripping only)

2 FREE Programs (discontinued) are Needed:

* DVD Shrink – (download here: DVD Shrink Download)

* DVD Decrypter – (download here: DVD Decrypter Download)

[~] Here are the steps to backup a whole dvd (i.e. movie,
movies, including special features) that is more than 4.7GB in
size, else go to dvd\’s less than or equal to 4.7GB Tutorial

I – Ripping with DVD Shrink

1. Open DVD Shrink [Screenshot]

2. Click \”Open Disk\” [Screenshot]

3. Select your DVD-ROM/Burner where your movie is located, this
will load the movie and have DVD Shrink take a couple minutes to
analyze. [Screenshot]

4. Under \”Full Disk Backup\” select \”Menu\”, then under \”Video\”\’s
drop down menu, selecet \”Custom Ratio\” [Screenshot]

5. Move the slider all the way to the left to shrink it.
[Screenshot]

6. Select the \”Extras\” and do the same thing as step 4 & 5, do
this for ever single \”Extras\” [Screenshot]

7. If there are any \”Unreferenced Material\”, do the same thing
as step 4 & 5 [Screenshot]

8. Click \”Full Disc\” square button, at the \”Back Up\” DVD
Screen, select \”ISO Image\”, the \”select target image file\” is
the location and the iso name. Click OK.[Screenshot]

9. \”Encoding\” will start, which typically can take up
considerable time, depending on your computer hardware.
[Screenshot]

10. \”Back Up Complete\” when its done creating the ISO,
reminding of you where the location of the ISO file is located.
[Screenshot]

II – Burning the ISO with DVD Decrypter

1. Start DVD Decrypter and let it load

2. Select Mode > ISO > Write [Screenshot]

3. Select your DVD Burner in the \”Destination\” [Screenshot]

4. Under \”Source\”, select the ISO file created by DVD Shrink in
step I [Screenshot]

5. Click on the big Write Button that has the picture of the
\”hard drive, green arrow, and dvd\” under the \”Destination\” box
[Screenshot]

6. This will start the burning [Screenshot]

7. That\’s it!

Note: For higher compatibility, use DVD+R Media and Booktype or
Bitset the DVD+R Media to DVD-ROM while burning.

For bargain, high quality media go here: Shop4tech or
http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000009358653

Article by Mike Ly for K-probe.com

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take our content Free of Charge if you agree to leave everything
intact included this message. full article:
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http://www.mike-ly.com

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Gaming Laptops – The Five Essential Features To Consider When

Friday, June 29th, 2007

Buying A Gaming Laptop

Gone are the days when you would have been laughed at if you
walked into an all-night LAN party carrying your trusty laptop
and expecting to hang with the giant computer towers standing at
everyone\’s feet. The gaming laptop computers of today sport
huge, crisp LCD screens, cutting-edge video cards and full-size
keyboards. Not only can these gaming laptop computers hang with
the standard clunky computer tower, but they can also be ordered
fully custom to meet the exact specifications of any gamer.

Since there are so many customizable components in these
laptops, a standard practice has been to create what some call a
\”system builder.\” This is the page where you get to add and
subtract components through drop-down menus in order to create
the best gaming laptop computer for your needs and your budget.
This type of page can be overwhelming to someone just starting
the gaming laptop shopping process, but it is very manageable if
you take it just one component at a time.

The Gaming Laptop GPU

This is the heart of a gaming laptop computer. The GPU -
graphics processing unit – is a component that will make or
break your gaming experience. If your GPU isn\’t up to snuff,
your games won\’t play.

Without getting into specific models since they change all the
time, the key is that the graphics card not share resources with
the computer. A gaming laptop video card must have its own
memory on board. Generally speaking, standard off-the-shelf
laptops will not have this feature. The two current makers of
laptop video cards are nVIDIA and ATI.

Without the Screen, You Don\’t Have Much

What good is a gaming laptop without a screen that can actually
render your games? Now certainly, you can connect an external
monitor, but if you can\’t actually play on your gaming laptop
without that external monitor, then your laptop isn\’t all that
mobile.

While the technology and terminology for LCDs (liquid crystal
displays) could take up an entire article in itself, there are a
few key points to keep in mind when choosing from available LCD
options for your new gaming laptop computer: native resolution,
aspect ratio, rise and fall time, contrast, viewing angle, and
size.

Native Resolution. The native resolution is simply the setting
at which your screen will render the clearest images. Since
games are constantly in motion, slightly soft edges may not
bother most gamers, but keep in mind that while this is your
gaming laptop, you will likely also use it for other things like
surfing the Internet. If the resolution isn\’t comfortable, you
aren\’t going to enjoy using it.

Aspect Ratio. As you probably know, a movie theater screen and a
TV screen have different proportions. Likewise, there are
widescreen format gaming laptops and there are laptops that have
a standard aspect ratio – like that of a TV. A widescreen format
gaming laptop has advantages and disadvantages. Many games today
do not have a widescreen mode. This means that the game may
stretch across the screen and become distorted or you may run it
with black bars that fill in the sides. There are ways to get
around this, but if you want an out of the box perfect
experience, the widescreen format may not be for you.

That said, a widescreen LCD does offer plenty of screen real
estate for web surfing and other type of computer activities,
and a game played in a wide format setting offers an expansive
field of view. For this reason, there are some very loyal
widescreen-loving gamers out there.

Do your best to find a balance between current and future
technology and what your computer habits are beyond gaming. Even
with its limitations, the widescreen format is found on most of
the best gaming laptop computers.

Rise and Fall. The phrase \’rise and fall time\’ is used to
describe how fast the LCD can respond to changes. In the past,
LCDs have been plagued with the inability to render images as
fast as computer games can spit them out. This presents a major
problem for laptop gamers because if they can\’t see the images
properly, they can\’t play the game properly. This lag can mean
the difference between playing to win and barely playing.

Fortunately, gaming laptop LCDs have come a long way and they
are only getting better. While once it was impossible to game on
a laptop screen, the gaming laptop LCDs of today offer 25
milliseconds or less rise and fall time while generally
off-the-shelf laptops have 40 milliseconds or less rise and fall
time.

Contrast. If a gaming laptop LCD has poor contrast, that means
that the black areas aren\’t quite as black as they should be and
the white areas aren\’t quite as white. This is important to a
laptop gamer because you have to see the game properly – as it
was intended to be seen – in order to compete effectively. Look
for a contrast ratio of 400:1 or higher in a custom gaming
laptop computer.

Viewing Angle. This is an often-overlooked LCD feature, but it
must be considered if you are building a gaming laptop computer.
Many high quality LCDs on the market are difficult to see
clearly at any angle other than straight on and at the right
height. This can be a big drawback to gaming on a LCD screen
because a screen with poor viewing angles won\’t allow others to
watch the screen as you play and also hurts your view when doing
something as simple as adjusting your seating, which can require
you to then adjust to position of your laptop screen to see it
properly again.

But gaming on a laptop does not mean that you are doomed to have
poor viewing angles. There are LCDs on the market that have
amazing viewing angles – up to 120 degrees. These screens not
only allow gaming onlookers, but they also allow you to use that
giant, crisp screen to do things like play movies and even make
presentations.

Size. In a gaming laptop computer, size is everything. Most
gaming laptops are large, robust pieces of electronics. Having a
machine of this stature means you also get to have a large
screen. The best gaming laptop computer LCD screens out there
are at least 15 inches. A crowd favorite is a 17 inch widescreen
(even with the challenges that widescreens present). Largr 19
inch laptop screens are just starting to be talked about with
consumers expecting to see 19 inch or even large models on the
market in the near future.

The best way to really get a feel for what laptop LCDs are all
about is to take a trip to a local box store and play with the
LCDs on the display laptops while keeping in mind what you have
read here. While these laptops are not custom gaming laptops,
you can see what the sizes really look like, what different
resolutions look like, and what the viewing angles truly are so
you can start to develop your own preferences.

The RAM – What Type and How Much?

The RAM (random access memory) found in laptops is called SODIMM
(small outline dual inline memory module). The RAM is
responsible for your processing power. If you are shopping for a
custom gaming laptop, you will generally be offered DDR2 RAM
with the choice of how much you want in your computer. Most
high-end games being released today need 1GB of RAM for optimum,
lag-free game play. Some people are going with 2GB to ensure
that they can run multiple applications along with the game and
not experience any slow down in response time. This is a large
investment and you want to be able to use this gaming laptop for
some time in the future. Most custom laptops are user
upgradeable, but this should be left up to professionals.

The CPU – Not Just Mobile Technology

The CPUs (central processing units) found in many custom gaming
laptops are identical to those found in desktops. These chips
require a great deal of cooling power, which in turn can make
your laptop louder than light weight, lower power ultra
portables when the fans kick on and it can become somewhat warm
to the touch. Don\’t be alarmed by this – it is normal. And with
these desktop processors comes screaming power! Don\’t waste your
money on the latest CPU release that likely has an inflated
price tag (and that price will likely come down before long).
Stick with a current CPU speed that is offered by a reputable
custom gaming laptop reseller, and you really can\’t go wrong.

The Gaming Laptop Hard Drive

This is the final component to consider when building a gaming
laptop. Laptop hard drives come in a variety of speeds and
capacities ranging from 4200 to 7200 RPMs and 40 to over 100
GBs. For the most part, this is user preference. Whenever
possible, go for a 7200 RPM hard drive, but if you need a
capacity not offered in this speed, it\’s okay to go for the 5400
RPM drive. Take a look at your current computer, and buy your
capacity based on this. Also keep in mind that with many custom
gaming laptop manufacturers, you have the ability to upgrade or
add another hard drive at a later date.

At the end of the day, gaming laptop computers are all about
power. Don\’t expect a twelve-pound notebook with a desktop
processor, numerous fans, a giant heatsink, and independent
video card to last on battery power all that long. But do make
sure to enjoy the jawdrops that you\’ll get as you walk into your
regular LAN party location with your new, screaming-fast gaming
laptop computer. Crack that puppy open, fire it up, and stand
clear of the drool as you take on your favorite game with fellow
gamers gathered around to take in the action. Gaming is not just
for desktops anymore!

About the author:
PC Torque Ltd is a leading authority on laptop gaming news and
technology. For more information on how to to build the best
gaming laptop, or to check out the latest offerings in the
custom gaming laptop industry, visit http://www.pctorque.com.

Playing creative games for fun: a great way to relax

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Play is a state of mind that is safe, inquisitive and exists in
the moment. It is also a bodily state of relaxation and an
uplifting and engaged emotional state. Some say play is a
spiritual state of profound connection and joy. Play can be
something we do by ourselves or with others, but it is also
something we can watch others do. Play is often described as a
time when we feel most alive, yet we often take it for granted
and may completely forget about it. Play can be entirely
positive, or have a negative.

Most people believe that play is unproductive, and therefore
inferior to \”productive\” activities. Perhaps this is because we
equate play with feeling -happy joyous feeling -that
traditionally is seen as less important than thinking. Many of
us have lists, at home and at the office, prioritizing tasks by
how productive they are. When we run out of time, we cut the fun
stuff and do the \”productive\” stuff because we may feel guilty
or bad if we play hooky or goof off by playing a game of golf or
chess, taking a hike in the woods or daydreaming for an hour.
New research on the brain contradicts this cultural dismissal of
play, by emphasizing the importance of feelings and the
necessity of feeling safe and relaxed in order to think clearly
and productively. Play teaches us how to manage and transform
our \”negative\” emotions and experiences; it supercharges
learning, and is a foundational factor in good mental and
physical health. And, it can make work more pleasurable.

How can play trigger the flow state?

Psychiatrist and writer Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (pronounced
\”chicks send me high\”) studied play in Sidney, Australia and
described it as a flow state that requires just the right
balance of challenge and opportunity. If the game is too hard or
too easy, it loses its sense of pleasure and fun. Maintaining a
flow state in games with others requires all participants,
regardless of age or ability, to feel challenged, but not
overwhelmed. Csikszentmihalyi\’s research has been undertaken and
confirmed in several countries, and now reaches 250,000 surveys.
In the flow state we feel:

Why is play an important part of our lives?

Humans are designed by nature to play, and have played
throughout evolution. Playfulness is an inborn ability that is
hardwired into our genetic code. Play is part of how humans have
adapted and survived everywhere on Earth, from the tropics to
the great deserts to the Arctic Circle. We want to play because
it is instinctive and fundamental to our existence; it is one of
the evolutionary mechanisms that enabled us to develop as a
species. Playing helps us survive by connecting us to other
human beings and to sources of energy and excitement within
ourselves. Play is simultaneously a source of calmness and
relaxation, as well as a source of stimulation for the brain and
body.

Play will be important to our future. Some futurists have said
that we\’ll need to be more inventive, creative, and flexible to
handle the tasks, flow and rhythm of life in this century and
beyond. A sure (and fun) way to develop these abilities is to
play – with your children and grandchildren, your officemates
and friends.

Why is it important to play at work?

When researchers follow pre-teen children\’s attitude about play,
they discovered that some children called almost everything they
did \”play\” while others called almost everything they did
\”work\”. Reconnecting with the children at the end of
adolescence, the children who thought of everything as play were
more successful and happier in school and were more content
socially than the people who saw everything as \”work\”.

Success at work does not depend on the amount of time you work.
It depends upon the quality of work, and the quality of work
depends on the level of well-being of the workers. The level of
well-being depends significantly on the how often they replenish
themselves through play in any of its forms. Work is where we
spend much of our time. That is why it is especially important
for us to play during work. Without some recreation, our work
suffers. Most of us have been working faster, harder, and
smarter, and with diminishing free time. We first thought that
working faster, harder, and smarter would handle our increased
workload, but that is not the case. We still got behind and
became chronically overwhelmed. When the project you\’re working
on hits a serious glitch (as they frequently do), heading out to
the basketball court with your colleagues to shoot some hoops
and have a few laughs does a lot more than take your mind off
the problem. If basketball isn\’t your cup of tea, having a model
airplane contest, telling stories, or flying kites in the
parking lot will also allow your relationship to the problem to
shift and enable you to approach it from a new perspective.
Interjecting play into the work cycle:

keeps you sane and functional during times of stress; refreshes
your mind and body; renews hope; triggers creativity; and
increases energy. Playing non-violent computer games can be a
great way to relax and combat stress, at home and at work, by
children and adults. There are many sites on the Internet with
free or resonable priced non-violent computer games, such as: Fun Games Plaza , Kids
Games
, Addic
ting Games
or Amic
Games
.

About the author:
Alexandru Marias is an IT student mentaining software sites:
www.amicutilities.com , www.downloadsplaza.com