Discount Computers

Music
Software

There is plenty of free and trial version (shareware) audio
software available for download these days.  You can
convert, encode, rip, edit, burn, and even record audio off LPs
or in some cases, you can record any sound you can hear using
these software products.  Below is a list of some popular
trial version and free audio software and their respective
attributes. 

Blaze Media Pro

The most powerful of these products is Blaze Media Pro, an
all-in-one audio/video converter (CD, MP3, WAV, WMA,
OGG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVI, WMV, etc); editor; recorder; CD
ripper; audio, video (VCD/SVCD/DVD), data CD/DVD burner; and
much more in one fast and easy-to-use product. The software
offers an easy to use, fast, and feature-rich MPEG
encoder in the video converter feature, which also provides
an option to encode a video of up to four hours so that it will
fit on a single DVD disc. Of course, the software supports all
the features you\’d expect in such a high-powered product, such
as CDDB/FreeDB/CDDB2 support, MP3 tagging, audio recognition,
audio and video joining, extracting audio or images from video
files, creating new video files from images and audio, and a
seemingly endless amount of other useful features. The software
is priced at $50, but is well worth the cost with all the
features packed inside, taking the place of many other products
in a single application. The file size is 11767 KB.

EasyISO

EasyISO is simple, standalone (no install) CD Burning software with
support for CDR/CDRW, DVD+RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW.  It
provides on-the-fly burning without creating any temporary
files.  EasyISO supports Joliet as well as Multi-session,
Disc Caching and Burn Proof.  You can also create bootable
CDs and test write before burning.  It uses the standard or
any other ASPI-driver.  The file size is 282 KB. 

DVD Decrypter

Ripping in DVD Decrypter 3.5.4.0 (last freeware version) is
easy.  By default, the program will automatically select
the source (i.e. the DVD drive) and the destination folder, by
finding the drive with the most free disk space.  The
“Main Movie” files will have already been selected
for you, so you only have to click to begin ripping. In about 10
- 30 minutes (depending on the speed of your computer / DVD
drive) it will finish and you will have quality DeCSS\’d VOB
files on your hard disk.  From there you can choose to
watch them with the likes of PowerDVD and WinDVD or you can
re-encode them to MPEG1 (VCD) or DivX.  The file size is
858 KB.

dBpowerAmp Music Converter

Using dBpowerAmp Music
Converter 10.0 (last freeware version) dMC, you can
digitally rip sound from audio CDs to a multitude of formats and
convert from one format to another while preserving ID
tags.  Nearly every audio type is supported, including MP3,
MP4, Windows Media Audio (WMA), OGG Vorbis, AAC, Monkey\’s Audio,
and FLAC (with optional installs from Codec Central).  For
Windows Explorer integration, right-click “Convert
To” and pop up useful information on audio files (such as
bit rate and length).  You can also record from LPs with
Auxiliary Input.  The file size is 1391 KB. 

My MP3 Recorder

With My MP3 recorder, you can record internet radio, save to MP3
or WAV.  This software is 100% Spyware/Adware free. 
Record
streaming audio from the internet, microphone or any other
source for that matter, works directly with your system sound
card.  If you can hear it, you can record it. This program
is meant to be extremely intuitive to use, with enough features
to get the job done quickly and easily.  Use the scan tool
to list all MP3s and WAV, AIF, SAW or Sun AU audio files on your
entire computer.  You can play and record portions of any
of these files.  It has customizable colors, timer, on top
mode and skinning.  The file size is 4571 KB.

Deep Ripper

DeepRipper is a freeware that will convert your audio CD tracks
to a first-grade MP3, OGG, or WAV files.  There is a number
of presets for less experienced users and full set of manual
settings for experts.  It allows you to take a full control
over CD ripping, do it quickly, easily and in a flexible
way.  Extracting digital music files from CDs becomes
simple, quick, and painless with DeepRipper.  You have full
control over constant or variable bitrate encoding, ID3 tags
management, MPEG version selection- all for first-grade
ripping.  The file size 769 KB.

Free CD to MP3 Converter

Free CD to MP3 Converter is an easy to use CD ripper that allows
you to extract audio files from a CD and convert them to MP3
format.  It can automatically retrieve title information
from the CDDB database or rename the CD tracks title and
remember them, normalize the output files and supports
additional LAME options.  You can also use the software to
record to MP3 with your microphone, or to convert WAV files to
MP3 format.  It has easy to use interface that allows you
to rip tracks of your Audio CD just by several clicks.  It
also can clear the play list of RealOne Player and Windows Media
Player.  The file size is 845 KB.

Softdiv CD Ripper

Softdiv CD Ripper makes direct digital copies from audio CDs and
saves them as MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, RAW, VOX, G.723, and
G.726.  Softdiv CD Ripper also supports CDDB (Internet
Compact Disc Database) where you can retrieve disc information
from the Internet.  Softdiv CD Ripper also includes an
ID3v2 editor to read and edit the audio files.  File size
is 3.97 MB.

CDBurnerXP Pro

CDBurnerXP Pro is a freeware CD
burner solution with many features.  It can burn
Data-CDs/DVDs, Audio-CDs, and ISOs.  Since version 2.2.5,
it can also create ISO
files.  It also has a simple cover printing function,
rip audio-CDs with freedb.org support, a small audio editor, MP3
tag editor, and a converter for WAV and MP3.  There are a
lot of settings to customize CDBXPP.  Burnproof-technology
to prevent buffer underrun errors is also supported.  File
size is 15 MB. 

Freecorder

Freecorder does exactly as it sounds.  It is an easy-to-use
free software program that lets you record any sound you can
hear on your PC.  Recordings are saved as MP3 files.
Freecorder is a great way to get started with capturing audio on
your PC.  File size is 910 KB. 

Audiograbber

Audiograbber is a beautiful piece of software that grabs digital
audio from CDs.  It copies the audio digitally, not through
the sound card, which enables you to make perfect copies of the
originals.  It can even perform a test to see that the
copies really are perfect. Audiograbber can also automatically
normalize the music, delete silence from the start and/or end of
tracks, and send them to a variety or external MP3 encoders,
such as Fraunhofer\’s L3enc, or even use some MP3/WMA encoders
internally for automatic creation of MP3\’s.  Audiograbber
can download and upload disc info from freedb, an Internet
compact disc database.  You can even record your vinyl LPs
or cassette tapes with Audiograbber and make WAV or MP3 files
from them.  There are a number of other features also
present in the software, making it an attractive option. File
size is 1.6 MB. 

DVD Rip N’ Burn

With this program, you are able to copy DVD to AVI, DIVX, MPEG,
VCD, SVCD, and more. DVD Rip N’ Burn is a powerful DVD
Ripper and DVD
Burner with multi-language support is an affordable way to
backup your DVD movie library. Backup your DVD\’s to your hard
drive or CD\’s.  You can rip your library to AVI compressed
pick DivX or another codec to encode to.  You can rip to
VCD for burning a
VCD to play in your home DVD player.  You can also rip
to SVCD for burning to play in your home DVD player.  File
size is 4851 KB.

About the author:
None

Not too well versed with the hardware jargon but need a
computer? For starters, read Ask these 3 questions before you
buy a computer.

Once you are sure what you need one for, get cracking. Here is a
basic guide to get you started.

Do note: while all potential buyers will benefit from this
piece, it is mainly targeted at individuals opting for an
assembled PC. Embedded:
http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-3.htm
l

An indicative price list at the end will help you budget
accordingly.

Motherboard

The large circuit board into which the Central Processing Unit,
memory boards and peripheral cards are plugged is referred to as
the motherboard.

It is the most vital part of any computer as it holds and
connects all your peripherals and add-ons to give you upgrade
options and support for future technologies.

What you must know:

Check whether it comes with all the necessary options, support
for upgradeability and extra slots for memory and other add-on
cards. Processor

Processor chips are primarily available in two brands — INTEL
and AMD.

The Intel chips range from the very basic Celeron chip to the
Pentium series to the advanced Centrino processor. Print and
Fax:
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AMD has a chip called Athlon, which is slightly cheaper than the
higher end Intel chips.

Most users prefer Intel Pentium chips to Athlon as the latter
heats up soon and isn\’t as efficient as a Pentium 4 chip. Also,
the Athlon chip based systems need extra fans to cool the
system.

The most preferred chip is the Pentium 4 2.4 GHz.

You might want to consider the Athlon chip with the motherboard
would cost you about Rs 3,000 less than its INTEL counterpart.
Movie Maker:
http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-5.htm
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What you must know:

Though the processor speed plays a crucial role, you need not
have the latest and fastest one available. If a processor with a
slightly lesser core speed can do just as well for your demands,
go for it. Make sure the chips are box packed with a serial
number to ensure they are original. Random Access Memory

RAM is the amount of memory available for use by programmes on a
computer.

The RAM chip comes in capacities of 128, 256, 512 MB, even 1 GB.
Most computers function efficiently with 256 MB RAM, though a
512 MB RAM does offer you an edge.

As a thumb rule, always go in for a minimum of 256 MB RAM.

The latest memory technologies in use are DDR RAM, RD RAM and
the latest release of the DDR2 RAM.

What you must know:

Since it ensures the smooth running of your system, the more the
better. Make sure the memory capacity is upgradeable. Games:
http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-6.htm
l Make sure the RAM is original and opt for the DDR range of
RAMs. Duplicate RAMs will not function on Windows XP operating
systems. The RAM comes with a year\’s warranty. Hard Disk Drive

HDD capacity counts for a great deal.

A 40 GB hard disk is sufficient disk space but you may choose an
80 GB variant.

The brand SEAGATE is a very reliable brand for hard disks and is
preferred by most computer manufacturers and assemblers.

What you must know:

The hard disk comes with a three-year warranty. Monitor

Monitors are computer screens available in varied sizes, the
most popular being the 15\” and 17\”. Windows Update:
http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-13.ht
ml

You can choose between a flat panel plasma screen and a regular
desktop monitor.

The Dynaflat type monitor is preferred to the conventional CRT
type, which is technically referred to as the Cathode Ray Tube.

The various brands for monitors are Samsung, Mercury and LG, to
name a few. Samsung is the preferred alternative for monitors
and is also the leading peripheral components dealer.

What you must know:

Monitors usually come with a three-year warranty.

Peripherals

These include the keyboard, mouse, web cam, printer, scanner,
joystick, etc.

Samsung and Microsoft are the preferred brands.

Choose an optical mouse over the usual one. The price difference
is marginal. The same applies for the Internet keyboard.

Don\’t opt for a wireless mouse or a keyboard as the sensors get
spoilt with time. Besides, you have to charge the batteries
every week.

For printers and scanners, Hewlett Packard is the market leader.

What you must know:

Don\’t choose the cheapest printer in sight. You will spend the
money you save in less than a year on cartridges. Don\’t go for
the ones cheap ones as they have poor resolution. Voltage
stabilisers and Spike guards Photos:
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If your locality has frequent power failures or severe voltage
fluctuations, opt for a voltage stabiliser. This will prevent
any damage that could reduce the life of your machine.

Regardless of the locality and the power supply, opt for a spike
guard. It will provide four power plug points for your computer
and peripherals.

About the author:
Adam Fletcher is the webmaster of Hardware Software Articles
http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com .

You are working at your computer and trying to print out
important documents and all at once you find you are out of ink.
Years ago that would have presented a big problem. Printers used
ribbons or daisy wheels to print on paper. Let\’s take a look at
the evolution of printer ink cartridges.

In 1984 ink jet printers and printer cartridges were introduced.
Printing documents was now easier and so was changing printer
cartridges. After years of changing ribbons, adding toner ink to
reservoirs within the computer.

The dot matrix method used a ribbon. The industry found new ways
to make printing easier and more convenient. There is the drop
on demand method where the ink squirts onto the paper through
tiny nozzles. The amount of ink dropped the page is controlled
by the software driver that controls which nozzle fires and when.

By 1990 ink jet print cartridges was widely accepted. Printer
cartridges can now print in color as well as in black and white
for document. Inkjet printer cartridges can print on just about
any sized paper, on fabric and on film. Ink jet printers are
used in a variety of settings worldwide and is a popular choice
for printing.

Each brand of printer uses a specific type of cartridge. Ink jet
cartridges are given an identification number and the models
that can use this particular cartridge, is listed. There are a
wide variety of cartridges available and you should check your
printer\’s manual to see exactly what cartridges are available to
you.

If you are trying to save money, you can purchase refill kits
that allow you to fill the cartridges yourself. Not everyone is
a fan of these kits however, the quality of the printing isn\’t
as good, and in some cases the cartridges when re-installed can
fail to operate.

You can get reconditioned and refilled cartridges from some
retailers and sometimes from the manufacturer. Compatible
cartridges are cartridges that are made according to the exact
specs of the original manufacturer. The drawback here is that
not every cartridge has a compatible one.

In choosing a printer check the type of cartridge it will use.
You will need to determine if the cartridge is appropriate for
the type of printing and the volume of printing you will be
doing. You will have to do some research and you can find much
of this information on the internet, through the manufacturer or
through stores that deal in the particular printer you are
looking at.

Discount ink cartridges are available online. All you have to do
is type ink cartridges or printer cartridges into your search
engine. Some sites offer amazing discounts. Again you are going
to have to search for the deal that is best for you. Pay
attention to the cartridge top when purchasing them. Check the
sides of the box for a list of models the cartridge will work
in.

There is a time line below that has some really interesting
facts. This would make a great list of answers for a trivia
game. I cannot imagine the hard work that created the ink jet
printer cartridge, as we know it. It is easy to understand why
cartridges are expensive.

1452 – Gutenberg used oil-based ink, moveable type, and an old
winepress to make the first printing press. Martin Luther began
the Protestant reformation making extensive use of the printing
press. 1714 – The typewriter was born. Schematics that were done
by Mills were discovered however, there is no proof that any
typewriters were actually made. 1874 – Christopher Sholes,
Samuel Soule, and Carlos Glidden made a keyboard that became
known as the “qwerty” because of the first five keys on the top
row of the keyboard. 1894 – Franz Wagner developed a typewriter
that is very similar to the ones made today. He created a design
that let the typists watch as they were typing. Previously,
paper would go through a roller as you typed and you could not
see what you typed until you were done. 1897 – Underwood (by
John Underwood) was the prototypical typewriter of its day. 1939
- Charles Carlson developed electrography, which is the first
dry writing technique developed in the United States. 1949 -
Haloid Company began to commercially developed electrography for
the first time. 1959 – Xerox 914 hit the market and forced other
businesses to update their communication systems. 1969 – Xerox
first introduced dry printing (laser printing) by Gary
Starkweather. 1078 – Xerox put out the world\’s first business
laser printer the Xerox 9700. It copied documents at the speed
of 120 ppm (pages per minute) 1979 – The IBM 3800 could print
out 20,000 lines per minute. 1980\’s – The use of toner
cartridges became obsolete. 1984 – Hewlett-Packard released the
first home-based desktop laser printer.

About the author:
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice
for consumers on purchasing a variety of Printer ink cartridges
which includes Cheap ink cartridge.If you have time checkout his
site for tips http://www.best-price-printer-cartridges.com