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Show MONDAY* OCTOBER 23 • 2006 A8 Tech support The best of both worlds Jason Adkins Technology Writer Students in the market for a new computer may want to give the Mac a second look. Apple Computer announced in 2005 that they would switch the processor chips in their computers to Intel chips. This doesn't sound like a big deal at first, but an Intel chip potentiaily allows users to run Microsoft Windows XP on their computer. While Macs offer a substitute for most software on a Windows system, there are still some programs that do not have a Mac equivalent, including many popular games. Older Macs with PowerPC, processors could run Windows using a technique called emulation, which is generally slow and does not work well for games and other graphicsintensive applications. The Macs with Intel processors can use virtualization, which requires a second program that is faster and functions at a speed no different from Windows XP and Mac OS X. Or users can use Windows booted directly on the computer, with an Intel processor. The Mac computers that are capable of running windows are the MacBook Pro and MacBook Notebooks, iMac and Mac Mini with Intel processors, and the high-end MacPro tower. One gigabyte of RAM is needed to run Windows withoutencountering problems. There are two different ways to run Windows on a Mac. The easiest way is using a program that Apple released for free called "Boot Camp." Boot Camp provides the drivers necessary for Windows to use such devices as ethernet and wireless adapters. Boot Camp also partitions or reallocates hard drive space for Windows to reside in. After a successful installation of Boot Camp and Windows, users will have a choice between starting Mac OS X and Windows XP when booting up. Switching between the two operating systems requires rebooting. A second choice, which is a little more complicated to use and costs close to $80, is Parallels Desktop for Mac OS X. Parallels uses virtualization to be able to run Windows in program window on Mac OS X. The use of Windows in a full-screen mode is also available. For users who have an extensive knowledge of computers, Parallels can be the easiest method to run Windows. When using Parallels, repartitioning the hard drive is not required because Windows is stored on a "virtual" hard drive,which can be easily backed up. Parallels also supports running DOS, Linux, OS/2 and several different versions of Windows. One of the downsides to running Windows is that you have to plunk down $200300 for a full version of the program (depending on if you want to run Windows XP Home or Professional). Also, there is the issue of support; Parallels is relatively new, and bugs are still being worked out. Also, Boot Camp is offered without support from Apple. Legal movie downloading Jason Adkins Technology Writer Students have many options these days when it comes to downloading movies legally. Instead of relying on file-sharing services to get the movies they want, users ought to check out Apple's iTunes store, which offers movie downloads, limited to movies that are made by Miramax, Pixar, Touchstone and Walt Disney. What Apple has, despite its limited selection, is ease of use and the ability to transfer movies to the new iPod's that can play six hours of video on one charge. "It's downloaded in near DVD quality," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said during his announcement of Apple offering movie downloads for sale. "If you have modern broadband (five megabites/sec download speed)...you can download the movies in 30 minutes." Two other options that have been around for several years are CinemaNow and Movielink. Both of these services only work with Windows XP. Movielink is different in that the user must download . a separate program to download and watch movies. For those who are looking to save some dough, Movielink does have a college discount, of 25 percent off their normal prices. CinemaNow allows users to burn their own DVDs to watch movies on a regular TV instead of being tied to a computer. Movielink also plans to allow users to burn DVDs but have not announced a final date for when that capability will be available. CinemaNow and MovieLink have titles from most major film studios, so the selection is greater than the iTunes store. Amazon has also started offering users the ability to download movies and TV shows with their Unbox service. Like Movielink, users need to install software in order to download and watch the content they purchase. Guba is a new player to the movie download business, and their business model is different from the others. Guba allows its users to watch the movies they purchase directly from a web browser without having to run another program. The quality may not be as high, but it is convenient. Besides purchasing movies, Amazon, CinemaNow, Guba and Movielink also offer a rental option. "Renting" a movie online is almost the same as buying a movie, but users only have the right to watch it for a certain amount of time, usually 24 hours. The service knows when the clock starts; after the time is up, the movie is usually deleted or suspended automatically from your computer. This feature is pricey—rentals can cost as much as five bucks. Another option is Vongo. Vongo offers movies that are shown on the Starz networks for a flat $9.99 per month fee. Users can download all the movies they want in a month and watch to their hearts' content. The choice of movies changes weekly, but there is a wide selection of popular movies. Whatever options students choose, at least there are now some that legal. Now HiringTech Support Specialists Become © Certified with Teleperformance and Dell Teleperformance, a worldwide leader in Customer Contact & CRM Solutions, has recently launched a new Technical Support project for Deli, one of the foremost manufacturers of personal computers. If .•[% you have a preferred 1-3 years experience in the high-tech ;>X industry - including call center, help desk environment, \ v4 *• or hands-on hardware repair; Teleperformance X * would like to speak with you today. CALL NOW! > • $ 1 3 . 5 0 /Hour After Training •: -;. • Paid A+ Training & Certification I • Excellent Benefits Package I • Advancement Opportunities > ; •; '*'- 801-221-8299 380 W Technology Ct in Lindon teleperformanceusq.com/d £$[7e/ep erformance D^JL on the Windows desktop and selecting Properties, navigating to the cache from there. Another issue could be spy ware, programs that have been installed without the user's knowledge. Certain websites allow spyware to be installed, or spyware can be bundled with a program one is trying to install. Check for spyware programs in the Add/Remove Programs section on the Control Dear Jason, Panel. Spyware can also be It seems no matter which removed using a spyware. type of internet connection scanner. The three most I use my computer always common spyware scanners downloads really slow. How are Lavasoft's Ad-Aware can I get the most speed out ( found at http://www. of my internet? lavasoft.de/software/ Slow Surfer adaware), Spybpt Search and Destroy (found at hup:// Slow Surfer, www. safer-networking, There are a few reasons org), and Windows Defender why downloads can seem from Microsoft (found at slow, even though one has http://www.microsoft.com/ a fast internet connection athome/security/spyware/ connection. The most software/default.mspx). , common reason involves Each of these programs what is called your "cache" work a little differently. or "temporary internet Installing one will ensure files." that most spyware will \>e These are files that your detected and removed from computer stores when you your computer. Also, these visit a web site. These files three programs are free and can be graphics or computer work great. There are other code that makes up the spyware removal tools, but website, for instance. When they can cost money. Why one visits a website, the spend money when you get computer used will check if the same functionality with there are files in the cache a free product? that it can use so that it can The last suggestion I cut down on any information have would be to upgrade needed to be downloaded to the RAM in your machine. view end use the site. While Memory can be upgraded this feature was useful when rather inexpensively these dial-up was the norm, highspeed internet has rendered days, and the minimum it useless (even excessive). that users should have is Clearing the cache is 512 MB. Getting a new a quick fix. If you use computer that is the latest Internet Explorer as your and greatest also helps, and browser, click on the Tools I suggest getting a Mac, but menu and select Internet the steps above should help Options—from here, there is for now. >' a button Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files. For Technology One can also get to this Support, email Jason at screen by right-clicking on adkinsjm@yahoo.com the Internet Explorer icon Jason Adkins, College Times Tech writer and computer wiz answers all your tech questions. To have your questions answered send him an email adkinsjm@yahoo.com YouTube bought by Google Jason Adkins Technology Writer In a risky move for the largest search engine and advertising provider on the internet, Google has announced that they will purchase upstart YouTube for $1.65 billion in Google stock. For those who are unfamiliar with online video, YouTube and Google Video allow users to upload any video they want and allows the video to be played on almost any type of computer with a broadband connection. "We are going to stay committed to developing the most innovative service and tools and technologies so you can keep having fun on our site," YouTube CEO and Co-founder Chad Hurley said in a video uploaded to the site after the sale was announced. The purchase is a risky move for YouTube, but has potential to create an online video behemoth—YouTube shows 100 million videos daily, and Google Video has 11 percent of the online video market and the search and advertising technology that can show relevant ads with content. While both YouTube and Google Video are known more for lip-syncing videos or homemade films, there is an opportunity for online video to take off. Google Video also has a way for people to pay for videos, often CBS shows and music videos. Going forward, now having an owner with deep pockets YouTube will likely be hit with and be able to easier combat lawsuits involving copyright infringement. Users can easily find movies and TV shows on YouTube, even if measures have been introduced to combat copyright infringement. To YouTube's credit, before the deal with Google was struck, they announced deals with Warner Music and Sony BMG to allow their content to be on user-uploaded videos. YouTube will also attempt by year's end to include technology to stop users from uploading video that clearly infringes on an owner's copyright. The sale of YouTube is expected to close by the end of the year, but Google has promised to keep YouTube*s brand and management intact, which is important to users who like the YouTube the way it is and do not want to see any wholesale changes come to one of their favorite sites. netxiiews.net |