If You're Going To Buy A New Car

10 Things Every Car Buyer Must Know

Buying a car is not just investment, some amount of thought should go into the purchase. The market is overflowing with choices and temptations. Buyers need to think, what kind of car and can I afford it?

Think, what do I need transportation for right now and what will I need two years from now? Do I want a car as a status symbol or as something that makes my life easier? Will the car be a commuter vehicle, or to transport children? Would a van with cargo space and high clearance be more suitable for a growing family? Should the car be a two-wheel or four-wheel drive? What kind of terrain will I be driving in most of the time? Go through auto magazines as well as consumer reports to get a clear picture of the world of cars.

1.    Work on your finances and determine what you need to spend each month on transportation. A car should not cost more than 10% of your net pay per month. If it is more, then consider leasing a car instead of buying one.

2.    Before you finalize anything, find out what the target price is. Four figure discounts are available with almost every make.

3.    Never sign an arbitration clause or blank financial forms. Try and get the financing from a separate source, a bank or financial institution.

4.    Haggling will get you a good deal apart from shopping around for finance. The market is competitive so be sure to check dealer financing, high street, internet lenders, as well as other options.

5.    Try to make a larger down payment thereby reducing the loan to be paid and the monthly payment amount. Work out your finances and choice of car such that the term of loan is for the shortest period.

6.    Find out what buying incentives are offered. These vary from audio systems to cash back offers, and 0% financing. Ask what extras and add-ons will cost in addition to the price of the car. 

7.    Be sure to evaluate your old car independently if you are considering a trade in. Pay attention to the "cost to change", the difference between what the new car costs and what the old one is worth.

8.    Find out about warranties, taxes, and insurance. These can eat into your budget.

9.    Vet the contract well. Read the fine print. Make sure that paying off the loan before time will not carry any penalty. 

10.  Check out at least 3-4 dealers to gauge what the best offer is.

Test drive the vehicle before you finalize the deal and go through the car booklet page by page to understand all that the manufacturer needs to tell you. Be clear what is under warranty and what is not.

Never choose vehicle based on a picture or dream.  It is not how you look in the car that’s important but how well the car will fulfill your needs. Be practical and sensible; do not buy a model because the dealership is offering a holiday for two or a low interest scheme. Identify a vehicle that suits your needs before subjecting yourself to an onslaught of marketing.

The Weasel

The Weasel

 

Corporate America has weaseled it's way into every aspect of our lives. Almost everything we do directly or indirectly profits corporate America. Here are a few examples: To get "both" good programming and a good high definition image on your television, you have to pay a Fortune 500 company be it cable, DSL, satellite or the dish. Look in your refrigerator, there are at least 20 - 30 corporations that supply those items (milk, bread, butter, eggs, etc...) and they all have their logos. To go from point A to point B, you're paying some billion dollar oil company if you're not walking. If you are a smoker, chances are you use a BIC lighter (the same corporation that makes the ink pens to write articles with, "TOOT TOOT") to light your cigarettes. We talk on cellular phones more than we talk face to face, some high end cellular phones cost $500 and up, not to mention the monthly bill. When you go to the bathroom, the soap and toilet paper are both made by corporations. When you think about it, there's hundreds of billions of dollars being spent on a lot of things and conveniences that should or could cost next to nothing or be absolutely free. To complete the picture, most of these products and services are used or needed continuously. That makes for recurring payments, month after month after month. Those payments are steadily increasing, and the paychecks from work aren't keeping up. If this continues, the average American family will have to put in 24 work hours a day just to do ordinary things like eat, go to the bathroom and watch TV. Everybody in the household would need the equivalent income of 2 full time jobs in order for the family to get by.

Compare and contrast the life of the original (Native) American to the modern day (so called) American. When the Indian needed travel he'd go catch a Mustang horse. A little hay and grass and you were good to go. Today it's the horse power in a "Ford" Mustang, and it drinks gasoline. A lot of corporations under one name there. To eat they grew their own vegetables and hunted for their meats and fish. Today it's a big icebox made by the Kenmore corporation filled with dozens of corporate logos and labels. For entertainment they told amazing stories. Today we have flat screen entertainment systems by Sony along with cable or Dish subscriptions. To clothe themselves they used skins and pelts of animals. Nike, Levi, Arrow and Haines are but a few of the corporations that clothe us today. There were no big corporations adding pressure for the common working man to compete with the common working man. Truth is that today's technology is advanced enough to eliminate at least 60% - 80% of the jobs we have today. However, if that technology is used, there would be no need to pay so many  people, and therefore not many to make those recurring payments to the corporations. There was no huge elaborate government. The government is/acts just like a corporation in disguise. Today's government does nothing more than play ball with the corporations to maintain the status quo. If a community leader convinced 40 or 50 people to skip a payment on their cell phone bills and buy seed to plant gardens on their properties, it wouldn't be long before the government steps in to end it. Supermarkets (corporations) would lose money and would go to their their political cronies to enact new laws or use current laws to make it illegal to plant those gardens if they became too widespread. The government is building new prisons to help enforce these laws and many others that seem to give corporate profits value above citizens rights. We already imprison more of our citizens than any other industrialized country on the planet.

America ... The land of the free. Seems to be a bit lofty when we are all slaves to corporate debt and we can barely speak without it costing something ... one way or another. If I had written this document as a scathing expose of a corporate CEO or government official/department and unknowing to me some of the things written were not true ... I would not be free for long.

The "PREPARED" Internet Marketer

Internet marketing is a very fascinating field. Additionally, given a good plan and consistent application of it, the result can be quite rewarding. There are quite a few that have actually become so successful through internet marketing, that they were able to quit their regular jobs because the income they've earned was substantial enough for them to do so. I digress however, a good plan is nothing without the proper tools to implement it and make things happen. You can have a plan to build the world's most beautiful commercial office building. If you do not have the caterpillar, crane, bulldozer, dump truck, etc... You may have a very difficult time getting it built. If you are considering becoming an internet marketer there is a simple formula that dramatically increases your odds of success.

1) Education: Learn everything that you possibly can about the industry. There's no other way for you to determine and understand the challenges that you'll have to meet in order to be successful in the industry. It makes no sense to pursue something that you do not like, do not fully understand or do not have a passion for. Most people who are very successful, love and have a passion for what they do. When they are speaking about it, you can actually hear that passion in their voice if you listen carefully. Be mindful of what you "need" to know. Thinking that you "need" to know "everything" will put you in a perpetual state of learning, causing information overload. You'll be stuck learning and never doing anything. There has to come a point where you are satisfied that you know enough to get started. In the process of taking action the second stage of learning takes place. It is one of the most important stages of learning, known as experience.

2) Simplification: After you've gotten all of this information from the articles, books, videos, and gurus who like to toot their own horns and make you think they are so smart ... You have to simplify it so it is easy to digest and implement. Sometimes this can be done by simply applying those newly learned techniques and processes to current campaigns and or marketing endeavors. This is why the first step (education) is so important and necessary. You have to know how things are used and under what circumstances or conditions do they work best. Additionally, not many have ever become tremendously successful all alone, they have had colleagues, associates, affiliates, followers, and assistants. Simplification allows you to transfer ideas, plans, processes, procedures, techniques, methods, etc... with ease. What value does an assistant or colleague have if they are clueless to what you are talking about.

3) Plan: Not just a plan, "YOUR" plan. The only thing you will ever achieve by following another person's plan, is being two steps behind them. Following someone is not a bad thing. Eventually however, you will have to become independent and go off on your own. You have to develop "YOUR" own plan customized to meet "YOUR" specific expectations, goals, and desired achievements. In doing this you become a leader. As a leader, "YOU DON'T" do what others do, "YOU LEARN" from what others do ... And then apply it to your plan, system, campaign, etc...  People will follow you, ask your advice, seek your ideas and techniques thereby putting yourself two steps ahead of "THEM".

To most, this will sound easy, makes perfect sense, understandable ... UNTIL ... you get to number 3. How do you develop "YOUR" own customized plan? Easy ... Be prepared. In educating yourself you should also be learning about the tools that are required to get things done. You should save these tools. As these tools accumulate, and you understand their uses and applications, you will have acquired an arsenal that puts you at the epitome of readiness. In learning about a particular process or method, you "WILL" say to yourself, "Hey, I can use my auto-responder for this." -or- "Wow, I know I can use my website blaster for that." This is the spark that ignites the flame to developing a plan. I know this because it is exactly what I do and what happens to me. So ... Where and how, specifically, do you acquire this arsenal? EVERYWHERE !!! You just have to keep your eyes and ears open. Right here is a good place to start. I have found a site that literally gives you a few thousand dollars worth of marketing tools and materials absolutely FREE. I've downloaded them all and am providing them to you via my Dropbox (see Dropbox post). Included is a word document that not only has a link to the site but also has all of the links if you choose to only download the files of interest to you. The site is basically a page of links and descriptions. The downloads contain more information regarding the use of the programs etc... You will find auto-responders, article submitters, website blaster, landing page and capture page makers, and a host of other useful programs ebooks, scripts, and graphics that are useful to any internet marketer. The important thing to understand is that the materials are meant to be more like an archive of reference. They're not something that you have to be 100% familiar with in the collective. In other words, you don't have to know every page of every book cover to cover, just the basic functions of the tools. Unfortunately, the word document has a few of the downloads blocked out, don't know why, so you'll have to go to the site to get those. Check it out ... Download "001 The Ultimate Internet Marketers Tool Box" in the downloads section. Enjoy!

Turn Your Computer Into Your Personal ATM Machine

Do you think that ATM’s are only available at banks and credit unions?  Think again.  Your computer can become your own personal ATM machine.  How can you turn your computer into a money making machine you ask?  The best way to do it is to jump into the world of internet marketing.  An Internet marketing business is not only profitable, but can be started quickly without reeking havoc on your budget. 

What should you do first to help you start an Internet marketing business?  You need to create a website that reaches millions of potential customers all over the globe.  There are hundreds of software programs, companies, and offerings out there.  If you are not familiar with Internet infrastructure then you may have a difficult time trying to find the right company to host your website.  I have taken the confusion out of this situation for you by providing a couple of references for software tools to help get you started.

First, you will need a domain name.  Domain names are the text that users will type into the Internet to access you website.  Think carefully about your domain name so that it is relevant to your product or service.  Once you have a domain name in mind, you need to make sure that it is not taken.  You can type it into your Internet browser and see if anything comes up.  However, it is good to check this through one of  the domain providers I recommend which are www.hostgator.com or www.hostmonster.com.

Which ever hosting service provider you choose make sure that you only purchase the domain name and none of the extra services. Most of the additional services are recurring expenses and can add up rather quickly. Besides, there will be plenty of time in the future to decide whether you may need these additional services or not. Most providers have a tendency to jack up the prices on these additional services when you can find them a lot cheaper at places like www.frontierpowerhosting.com.

Make sure your web hosting Service Company is top notch whereby you will receive your OWN IP address and not one that is shared by many.  It is critical to have your own IP address so that your emails are never blocked due to an email spammer that has the same IP address.  Make sure that there is also excellent customer service phone support. This option is important to those who do not trust the automated world of the web. In addition, there should be an “Email Tracker” feature which enables you to track your emails and provide you with information regarding the deliverability rate of emails you send to help keep your customer list clean. This information will help you tailor and streamline your marketing efforts.

Next you will need to setup a “Smart Autoresponder”.  A smart autoresponder is one that automatically sends emails or forms to users in order to capture their personal information.  Make sure that your autoresponder captures the following information:  first name, last name, email address, time and date stamp. There are many free autoresponders out there, some even perform all of these tasks excellently.

THE TRUTH ... THE WHOLE TRUTH ... AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH !!! 

Some of you out there may read an article like this and either wish or assume that making money on the internet is as simple as pressing a dozen or two buttons , and viola ... You're on your way to becoming rich ... HA! Nothing can be farther from the truth. Making "Real $$$" on the internet involves advance planning, the acquisition of good marketing tools and applications, organizational skills, patience, perseverance, realistic goals (setting, tracking, tweaking), and an intuitive nature to recognize those things that may be beneficial to your marketing campaigns and product niches.

One of the things that you should consider eliminating from your expectations is "FREE". You get what you pay for. This blog for example is a "FREE" blog and I have proved that you can actually make money on the internet without investing a dime. This is indeed a milestone. All of which, no matter how big or small, are things to be tallied to stay motivated. However, let's keep things in perspective. How much? Mere pennies because I am somewhat restricted in what I can do or promote. I am almost totally reliant on the "Google GODs" for advertisements, promotions, optimization, etc... The optimization is for "views" not "sales". A "paid for" blog or full fledged website (like an eCommerce site) have little or no restrictions within legal applications and built-in "sales" optimizations like affiliate status with major internet retailers like Amazon or eBay. Some sites have included built-in marketing and promotion optimizations such as promotional portals to the advertising platforms used on Facebook or Yahoo.

In the near future I plan to take you from beginning to end on a couple of my campaigns so that you may see for yourselves what is really involved in these money making processes. I will also try to provide results and income stats. These campaigns will be posted under the latest new category "Money & Finance". I know, if you're into this sort of thing, that you've heard the saying, "The money is in the list". This is so true. With a good list of supporters, buyers, associates ... You can put things on a sort of auto pilot. Ka-Ching ... Ka-Ching ... Ka-Ching !!! This is the ATM aspect of internet marketing. Any time you need cash, you simply launch a campaign. It takes time, but once in place you can literally make money at the press of a button, but it takes a lot of time and preparation to reach that point. Stay tuned to see how it is done.

Once you have these tools and procedures in place, you are ready to create your website and change your personal computer into a cash cow today!

Checklist On How To Revive A Dead Computer

What To Do When Your Computer Dies 

Its not something we tend to think about much but ... make no mistake about it, your computer will eventually fail if you keep it long enough. It may be a simple problem, such as the hard drive not reading the disk or it could be as severe as a major system crash. Because computers are run by humans, user error is the most common cause of computer malfunction or failure. When the user is at the computer, he or she may add or delete certain files, or he/she may remove or exchange certain hardware features which may effect the operating systems function. Believe it or not, simply pressing the wrong keys at the wrong time (not knowing exactly what you are doing) could reek havoc on an otherwise efficiently running computer system.

When we look at user error, we must remember that since we're human, the user error may be as easy to solve as simply asking the last user if he/she installed any software, re-configured any software or hardware settings, etc. Case in point: A dear friend of mine was having a problem with his laptop, it would not type the proper letters. It would type numbers when certain letters were typed. It would continue doing so after rebooting and nothing seemed to help. In steps the computer geek-a-zoid (moi). The casual user may not be aware that almost all laptops have alternate keyboard settings to access special characters. Reason being that most laptops "do not" have the extended keyboards (with a numeric keypad) that are somewhat standardized with external keyboards and desktop computers. Turns out my friend had accidentally pressed the alternate keyboard key sequence and was not aware that he had done so. All it took was a quick Google of the situation and the answer was found 3 or 4 links down the list. Laptops are different so the key sequence is not the same as per manufacturer.

A large percentage of computer malfunctions are due to environmental factors such as power surges caused by lightning, resulting in over voltage. This is especially common in areas where there is a lot of rain and thunderstorms. In this situation you may have to check your home circuit breakers. Modern circuit breakers are more intricate and area/outlet specific. These circuit breakers are for specific things now like, kitchen appliances, heating, separate rooms (or only half of the room in some cases). Extreme temperatures and extreme changes can cause problems with computer function also. Queen City Example: I am a resident of Buffalo, AKA snow city. We had a very serious snow storm a few years back (48 hours continuous, 7 foot accumulation) ... circuits were going haywire. We also had another situation where there was 3 feet of snow in one day prior to the Autumn leaves falling (city called in National Guard to remove damaged trees). I did not have an uninterrupted power source, so in both cases nothing could be done until the calm after the storm.

Another cause for failure may be room temperature being too high or low, as well as dust, dirt, or sunlight. I find that servers are more prone to fall in this category however, newer computers are on the fast track to achieving server status. If you're in business and heavily dependent on your computers, such factors as room temperature, sunlight and protection against power surges is of the utmost importance and simply cannot be overlooked. The accumulation of dust on integrated circuits causes major problems. The dust retains heat and can actually be the culprit to overheating and the cause for circuits burning out prematurely. And as most of us are aware of this, overheated computers do strange things ... lol.

Speaking of strange things ... Malicious viruses that aggressively replicate themselves can bring your computer to a grinding halt. Not to be taken literally because there may not actually be "grinding" sounds but, you'll be stuck for sure. Before you know it, you're scratching your head or pulling your hair out and cursing your life-mate's existence. Hypothetical Example: If you click the Microft Word icon and nothing happens ... The first thing you should do is a virus scan. If there are any strange anomalies similar to this, do a virus scan right away. Doing virus scans on a regular basis (weekly at a minimum) can prevent a lot of problems before they become serious.

The most common PC problem is when you can't access your PC at all. When you turn on the power switch, NOTHING HAPPENS! Below is a quick checklist of troublshooting procedures you should follow if you encounter any of these problems. There are also videos available that you can download from the Internet (YouTube) should you need assistance in knowing exactly how to perform any of these procedures:

1. Try the Power Switch a second or third time.
2. If nothing happens... Check the wall outlet (switch sockets)  for power. 
3. If the outlet has power. Check the power cord itself (for damages or breaks) from wall to computer. 
4. Check the Power Supply inside the System Unit. 
5. Replace the Power Supply rather than trying to repair it, they are fairly inexpensive. 
6. If the system makes those normal click noises during booting, but the screen is blank, check the Monitor. 
7. If the monitor proves to be good, check the video card, even new systems may have manufacturers design flaws or defects in it's components.
   
8. Don't forget we live in a world of greedy corporate entities (built-in obsolescence), so one or more of the major components may have to be replaced.

Another big headache you will most likely encounter if you're a regular user of your computer system, is the fact that Windows will fail to load or the system's POST will fail to run. Google "Power On Self Test" to learn more about the Windows program used to handle this situation. Don't forget those other Windows programs used as preventive maintenance procedures that should be done often to keep your PC running at peek performance. Running such Windows ultilities as Scandisk, Disk Defragment, and Disk Cleanup will help your computer performing at its best. Using a can of compressed air removes dust that could build to the point of causing a short. If you get the computer to boot but it does not want to read from the hard drive'the Master Boot Record on the hard drive may be corrupted or even missing. To verify that the master boot record has not been damaged... Boot from the floppy disk that contains the FDISK program and type the command "fdisk mbr" to restore the master boot record onto your hard drive.

This is by no means a complete "tutorial" on how to keep your system running trouble free with so many variables of things that could go wrong, but ... this advice is more of an investigative starting point to determine what the problem is and how it may be remedied at little or no cost. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are situations that may call for a heavy outlay of cash for service repairs (labor) or major components (motherboard or CPU). Depending on the age of your computer this may be where you have to consider a last resort. You'll have to ask yourself, "Is it worth it?"

Data Preservation And Recovery

Over many years of computer use I've learned quite a bit through trials and tribulations. I remember in the early years having to cope with the loss of data quite often. Once I lost an original copy of an unpublished novel that I was working on, OUCH! That entire 24 chapter document was recovered ... more on that later. Protecting data is quite simple. There are a few things that you can do in advance in setting up your system to accomplish this. These things do not have to be done for a new setup (as in a fresh out of the box purchased computer), they can be done at any time.

How To Protect Your Data

There are a couple of sure fire ways to protect your data. Firstly, and intuitively simple is to not save any data on your boot drive in the first place. This is the drive that contains your operating system and it's associated files, system files. Why? Because it is here where viruses attack and should you need to do a fresh re-installation of your operating system, if not automatically done, you will need to wipe this hard drive clean. The only thing that should be on your boot drive is your operating system and program files. This drive is usually your C:\ drive and the programs might consist of: The Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Windows Media Player, etc...

There are two ways to avoid saving data on your boot drive. The simplest is to purchase an external hard drive. Get the largest one that you can afford without breaking the bank. Prices have come down dramatically and you can easily find an external terabyte hard drive for less than $100 today. There are even hard drive boxes called arrays which can hold several hard drives and they can perform independently or as one huge drive. (The technical aspects of arrays are beyond the scope of this article but may be visited in a future post)  Most external hard drives are plug-n-play, meaning that there is little if any setup required. Just plug the darn thing in, Windows will acknowledge that it is present, and you're ready to go ... HA! Transfer all of your data and direct all future downloads to this drive. If you must save data to your boot drive, to scan for viruses for example, do so only temporarily and transfer the data to the external hard drive ASAP. In this way, you could say that the external hard drive is used more like an archive.

The second approach is just as good but not as simple. Just as good because it accomplishes the very same thing via different means, and it doesn't cost you anything but a little time. In this option you would setup what's called a partition on your hard drive. The partition creates what's called a new "virtual" hard drive. If no other hard drives are present, Windows will automatically label it D:\ drive but you can label it whatever you like (you can give it a name instead of a letter for example). This virtual hard drive will perform exactly as if it were an external hard drive. The only difference is ... there is no plug ... lol. At some time you may have to reformat, erase, or wipe your C:\ boot drive clean to re-install Windows for example. If this is the case, the virtual D:\ drive will stay intact and untouched as if there was a plug and it was unplugged during the reformat or erasure even though technically it is the same physical hard drive. You can Google "How to set up a partition" to learn how to do this.

The third approach can be costly, is not simple, and is certainly not for the meek or faint of heart but by far provides the ultimate security. This approach requires utilization of a server (my choice). The reason a server provides the best means to secure data is because the data is "usually" not stored on your computer. Your computer functions as a terminal to remotely (at a distance) control the server (as administrator) or access data/services (as user) in most configurations. Good virus protection is required because most servers stay online 24/7 and are more prone to virus attacks. I purchased a couple of Dell monitors on craigslist from an IT guy. I saw that he was running 3 separate executions of Windows simultaneously. He said, "Operating a server was easier than using Adobe Photoshop." He was right. It takes at least a year to become "somewhat" proficient at using Photoshop. When I got my first server, I was up and running, and had become quite proficient within a couple of weeks. Servers are dedicated machines that are designed to do specific tasks namely, push and pull data to and from attached devices such as printers, hard drives, and terminals. Servers also can control those attached devices turning them on or off at predetermined times as well as itself. Servers also allow sharing of installed software (referenced as services) to all attached terminals independently or simultaneously. In other words, if you have 5 terminals (users) and you have Adobe Photoshop as a service ... all users can access and use Photoshop at the same time as with any other installed services.

Data And System Recovery

Data and system recovery can actually be two separate "elaborate" topics. I will do my best to to combine them and be terse at the same time. Just like in the outline of my home network system ... this post is turning into a book ... LMAO. Just as in securing your data, to recover data and a system can be done quite easily with a little advance preparation.

First of all ... I don't know of any retail data recovery program that will recover 100% of your data and get it 100% correct. There may be professional service businesses that do a hell of a lot better but, who can afford them? If you are a bit anal retentive like myself (all of my music and movies have separate folders, titles, dates, cover art, and some have additional info such as liner notes, subtitle files, or biographies). I've used about a dozen data recovery programs and not one of them got it right. Some recovery programs only recover image files for example. Those programs that do recover various types of files "do not" recover "all" types of files. They may not recover database data files for example. If they do, they won't get it quite right (they may appear to be recovered but unreadable by the database program ... sighs). I could go on but I'm sure you get the picture. Several options are available to overcome these dilemmas.

The wonderful thing about today's operating systems, Windows 7 and beyond, is that they automatically create system restore partitions that will wipe your hard drive clean (reformat), re-install Windows, and literally put your computer back to the state it was in fresh out of the box when it was purchased. If you took the above advice and stored your data externally ... problem solved. But what about my programs and desktop Mr. NYSlim you ask? This is where a little advance planning comes into play. Here's what I do. I create a folder called "Desktop Restoration". In that folder I save all of my installation execution files. I have also taken a couple snapshots of my desktop (one with the all programs menu within the start menu open) with my camera program. A copy of this folder is stored in a safe place like an external hard drive and constantly updated as my desktop changes (wink). Now to restore my desktop is a snap. I have to do it manually and it does require some time but, there is no guess work or memorization ... just straight forward installations one after another until the job is done. I suppose this could be automated via batch file programming (a script type programming language that looks like broken English and predates Windows) but you have to have knowledge of such things. Not all of us have the old school computer savvy from back before Windows, eMail, and the internet like myself (toot toot).

One process that can be automated is the backup process. Make no mistake about it, it is true what they say, backup and backup frequently. You do not have to be a computer wizard to understand that backups preserve data for literally instant recovery if lost, damaged, or corrupted. Google "Automated Data Backup (Software)" and you will find many programs specifically designed to keep all of your data backed up. Most work in the background without you knowing it and creates the backup at timed intervals or each time data is saved. Some retail programs specifically designed for graphics and other similar design work have this function built in.

Now folks here's how I recovered a 24 chapter book from a crashed hard drive without backups. First of all, I've fancied myself as a writer since the age of 10. One of the hardest things for me to do was to make the transition to doing work on the computer. I was so accustomed to working the old fashioned way, with pen and paper. I finally got the hang of it and belonged to an online chat group that allowed you to store/save stories on their site (the cloud before the cloud ... lol). Then as we all know is probably bound to happen, the cyber world powers that be shut that bad boy down ... POOF! My hard drives were getting full but I thought I was safe because I'd spread a lot of files out and shuffle them around to different drives from time to time to free up space. Then the worst thing in the world happened ... so I thought. I thought 2 hard drives had crashed/failed. I could see that they had data on them but when I opened folders on the drives nothing was there ... sighs. I had two copies of the book and both copies were on those drives ... DAMN! I didn't know what to do. I researched a few things, couldn't find any answers and proceeded to do "what I thought" was best. I began running those stupid data recovery programs on the drive that had the most data first, big mistake. One program only recovered a bunch of image files (cover art). Another program only recovered some music files. It did not recover the high bit rate music files such as Flac and Ogg or any text files. These stupid recovery programs (I ran about 4) had by now screwed what was left of the original data up.  I think my guardian angel was looking out for me because something incredible happened. Before touching the other drive I decided to do more research. This time I got very specific in my searches describing "exactly" what was going on with my folders and such. Low and behold I ran across a simple answer that proves even those who think they are pretty bright, don't know everything and most certainly can't think of everything all the time Turns out that  there was simple answer to that. If you see that data is present on a drive (via space available) or in a folder but cannot view it ... If you dig a bit there's a button that say's "View All Files" and BAM! they all reappeared like magic ... lol. After going through all that I had gone through, I felt like such a putz. That still does not answer the question: What happened to the files on the drive the recovery programs screwed up does it? Well my guardian gave me a twofer (two for one). While surveying the page one day I found that Firefox allowed me to view the page in it's original state prior to being shut down. I abandoned Internet Explorer as my primary browser long ago due to it's lack of security and allowing several viruses into my machine via web page popups. I use Firefox now. Blocks almost all popups and scans all downloads too. Almost all of the links were still intact and active. I proceeded to re-download all of the chapters I had saved there. It took some time but I got everything back ...WHEW!

SO MANY GADGETS!

There are so many esoteric, eclectic electronic gadgets that it is difficult to separate the practical and purposeful from the frivolous and senseless. And when tastes and personal preferences are factored into the mix, it is not as simple as separating gold and tin into two discernible piles.
There are entire personal-communication systems that fit into mobile phones. Sunglasses and wristwatches now are multidimensional communications and entertainment products. Mobile phones not only serve as entertainment centers and GPS navigational systems, the units also are viewed as jewelry and complementing accessories to one's fashion persona.

Apparently, Baskin & Robbins was really onto something when it decided to offer as many flavors as possible and to treat each tasty twist with the same reverence usually reserved for vanilla and chocolate. B&R was among the first firms to grasp that true luxury embodies a wide berth of available options. If something is made well, it will appeal to consumers of discerning tastes. The marketplace for electronic gadgets and games is truly a phenomenon of the 21st century.

We eat blueberries and talk into BlackBerrys. It is difficult to say whether any gadgets or accessories will amaze and enthrall us like the abacus did the Babylonians back in 300 BCE. While, abaci, which are still in use today, have endured for centuries, the eras of eight-track tape players, rotary-dial telephones, and VCRs are already ancient history. Does anyone still remember when mobile phones were as large as one of Shaquille O'Neal's sneakers, or when television sets did not come with remote controls?

The ever-changing landscape of new electronic gadgets and games is a byproduct of modern technology that is evolving faster than ever. The Luxé Electronic Gadgets Review plugs into today's latest wizardry. However, do stay tuned for upgrades, enhancements, and new product introductions throughout the year.

When it comes to mobile phones with intelligence, the BlackBerry line is summa cum laude with its front-row bleeding-edge technology. After all, it is a handheld mobile phone that works like a multi-port personal computer. And if that isn't enough to prompt a wow from the galley, the new BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is smaller and sleeker than its magnificent predecessors. Aside from being a phone that allows international roaming between North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, it comes with multimedia capabilities and 64 MB of memory, which is easily expandable.

Wearable electronics sounds like something movie characters like Batman or James Bond might wear. Although the terminology possesses a futuristic, science-fiction tone, it accurately describes intelligently designed multiuse products, such as the O ROKR. The O ROKR is Oakley's fourth release of a pair of eyewear with a built-in mobile phone and an MP3 player. It is Bluetooth-driven eyewear. The O ROKR is a collaborative effort by Oakley and Motorola. The O ROKRs come in three distinct colors, and there are stylish versions of it for both men and women.

V-Moda presents "hearwear" that dazzles the eyes, perks the ears, and piques the interests of both fashion and music aficionados. The Modaphone Hearwear collection is a series of fashionable earphones with the sparkle of jewelry and the clarity of high-end earphones. There are four models. Each model is made from super-soft silicon with fittings that are offered in three sizes. The fabulous four are individually known as the Bass Fréq, the Vibe, the Remix M Class, and the Modawrap. The earphones are compatible complements to Apple's iPods, Microsoft's Zune, and various other MP3 players.

It is all in the numbers. Escort Radar manufactures the best radar/laser detectors, as the company owns over 85 percent of all radar and laser patents in use. Radar/laser detectors are legal to use in 49 states. Virginia and Washington, DC, are the only exceptions. With all the coupes, roadsters, sedans, and even SUVs capable of accelerating beyond 150 mph smoothly and effortlessly, it is easy to see how even the most responsible driver could err at a most inopportune time. Escort Radar's Passport 8500 X50 circumvents such mishaps from occurring.

Sony's S2 Sports Walkman MP3 Player is a fit gift for any athlete on the list. The two-gigabyte model stores up to 1,350 songs, and it plays up to 18 hours on an embedded battery that provides three hours on three-minute charge. It also contains an FM tuner for alternate listening choices to get through the workout time. The S2 is lightweight and has a bright, easy to read organic electroluminescence display.

It came as no surprise that when Motorola wanted to glitz out its RAZR V3i that a call was placed to the glamorous team of Domenico and Stefano to add the D and G magic. These guys could make cat litter glitter. So, ascending a streamline, renowned luxury cell phone to jewelry-level status would be a golden opportunity for them to leave another mark of distinction.

As long as the road is in North America, getting lost while driving will not happen if there is a StreetPilot in the vehicle. This GPS-satellite-navigational system, which is no larger than a baseball, is guaranteed to always pitch straight info to drivers. Plus it can easily be removed from one vehicle and placed in another, as it securely attaches to windshields with a suction cup. It is a perfect gift for the soon-to-be rich student, or an ideal addition to the classic car of a bygone era.

Having knowledge at your fingertips makes for a great metaphor. Having knowledgeable info conveyed instantly from an easy-to-use handheld device makes for a very innovative and entertaining product. The SkyScout by Celestron, with its advanced GPS technology, can be used during the day or night. Turn it on and its built-in menu provides operating info simple enough that even adults can operate it without muss of fuss.

When hip-hop, country or rock artists put out a song that has universal appeal beyond its anticipated audience, the hit song is a crossover. So, if a cell phone contains 140 grams of solid gold and is studded with diamonds, would it be a crossover into the jewelry marketplace as well as being a cell phone? There are so many people observed daily constantly holding cell phones against their ears. Many of these sleek machines could easily be mistaken for over-sized earrings. The Illusion, which is GoldVish's sparkling collection of personal luxury communication devices, is for real.

The Sony Ericsson Bluetooth Watch MBW-100 is a very practical, intelligent device that hits the underbelly of anyone who has ever imagined being a super sleuth or a suave secret agent like James Bond. The MBW-100 is a wristwatch with Bluetooth technology. When used with its wireless Bluetooth headset, the sophisticated wristwatch manages calls and music as simply as checking the time. This is a must-have for all lovers of bleeding-edge communications technology.

The thought of installing a telephone in one of the most intimate rooms in the house once left us bewildered, but this takes the cake. The iCarta dock from Atech Flash mounts easily onto the wall, charges your iPod while playing music, and features four integrated moisture-free speakers, which deliver exceptional clarity and high quality sound. The cost of replacing the NY Times for some Top 40 runs 100 dollars.

Since so many cell phones come equipped with MP3 capabilities, it only makes sense to make a dock designed with Bluetooth® Technology. The Altec Lansing T515 wireless speaker system features a speakerphone, a headset with a microphone, and a Bluetooth frequency up to 30 feet. Just a touch of a button allows you to easily switch from your favorite song to any incoming calls you receive.

The Altec Lansing T515 is priced at 150 dollars.
From business professionals to aspiring musical artists, the MicroMemo turns your second generation iPod Nano into a portable, pocket-sized recording studio. You can capture audio using the flexible, detachable microphone and import it onto your computer where you can edit it later. With this little device you can record interviews, meetings, lectures, lyrics, or even your grocery list. The MicroMemo is priced at 60 dollars.

Touchscreen Technology

A New Gateway to Products & Services

Frequent fliers know that checking in for flights is much easier and quicker today thanks to self-serve kiosks that enable users to zip through the process with the touch of a finger. From car infotainment systems to the most advanced communication devices, touchscreens are becoming increasingly popular, converting everyday tasks into fast and fun experiences. Whether they are stopping by the ATM or casting their vote in the latest election, touchscreen technology is enabling people to do so with speed and ease.

An intuitive and interactive quality makes touchscreens appealing to all ages and in a variety of industries. Without the learning or physical limitations of a mouse and keyboard, touch technology is open to everyone, even young children or people with disabilities. Toy manufacturers, for instance, are taking advantage of touch technology to provide entertaining, yet educational, toys for children that are too young to have developed the motor skills required for a regular computer.

At retail outlets, store merchandisers are using touch technology as a new marketing strategy to engage consumers, while delivering product information at the touch of a finger. For instance, FAO Schwarz has installed 17-inch Planar touchscreens as a consumer design center for the Hot Wheels Custom Car Factory in its New York store. Using the Planar touchscreen kiosk, shoppers can customize their own Hot Wheels car with special colors, designs, wheels and rims.

The restaurant industry also is seeing the benefits of touch-integrated POS systems to improve order-processing time. Easy-to-use touchscreen devices enable servers to enter food orders faster and more accurately, enhancing the overall dining experience. Tableside units provide customers with a variety of entertainment and information options, such as playing video games or surfing the Web. Other industries embracing touchscreen technology include automotive (car rental information portals, GPS systems), industrial (ATMs, gas station service pumps) and health care (outpatient information kiosks).

Receptive consumers and falling prices have enabled touch to spread its reach across a wide range of markets. As a result, this technology is making strong inroads as a primary way for consumers to get products, services and information.

Latest Inventions!

  

Check Out These New Gizmos And Gadgets!

 

The Newest Gizmos and Gadgets on the Market:

Ingenuity and technological advances are constantly resulting in new gizmos and gadgets. Gadgets can be both fun and functional and can save the owner time and effort. Below you’ll find descriptions of some of the latest inventions available on the market.

Microsoft Xbox 360

The Microsoft Xbox 360 is one of the latest inventions of video games. Video game lovers everywhere are rejoicing the arrival of the new system. The newest Xbox is still a gamer’s dream, but it is also being marketed as a media center. Not only can the system be used for playing video games, but it can also be used to play DVDs, CDs and MP3s. Digital cameras can be hooked up to it, as well as mp3 players and even personal computers. Video conferencing is also available to other X-Box users.

Irobot Scooba

Anyone who has scrubbed a dirty floor before, take note of the latest inventions from iRobot! The iRobot Corporation has introduced the Scooba, a floor washing robot. Unlike a mop, which uses dirty water to clean, the Scooba cleans only with clean water. The Scooba is programmed to first pick up things like sand and dirt from the floor, then apply clean water and solution to the floor, scrub the floor and clean up the dirty solution. The tiny Scooba is also able to fit into tight spots that are difficult to reach with a mop. IRobot also makes the Roomba, a robot used in vacuuming the home.

Mobiky Genius

A different type of latest inventions is the Mobiky Genius folding bicycle. This bike was developed in response to difficulties encountered by commuters in maneuvering congested city streets and sidewalks. Because it folds up, the Mobiky Genius is easy to carry up and down stairs and can be easily stored.

Philips Digital Photo Display

Another of the latest inventions is the Philips 7FF1AW 7-inch Digital Photo Display. This gadget is a great way to display all those digital photos sitting on the computer that you’ve been planning to print at some point. The display looks like a picture frame, and you can choose to show a slideshow or display individual pictures. The quality of the display is great, not distorted. Photos can be downloaded from the computer or straight from the camera, and up to 50 photos can be stored on the Digital Photo Display.

 

Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition

While many people have digital cameras these days, most of the pictures taken with those cameras will never be printed out. It’s just too much of a hassle to copy them onto a disk, take them to the camera shop, upload them and wait. Fortunately, one of the latest inventions from Epson has made printing those pictures much simpler. The Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition is a portable photo printer. You can simply insert the camera’s memory card into the printer, view the photos on a display screen and select the ones you want to print and print them. You can even make changes to the photos, such as adjusting the brightness, before printing. The PictureMate printer produces pictures with much better quality than most digital printers do.

Feature Overload

Why Are Consumer Electronics So Complicated?

It seems like everything is so complicated these days, especially anything electronic … which is more and more products everyday. Why are they so complex? "Hey, our cell phone takes pictures, sharpens knives, mows the lawn, pays your bills, steers your car, and cooks dinner, all by voice command!" Give us a break!

Unfortunately, the reason so many electronic products are stuffed with features is that it is relatively cheap to add features to them! Do we consumers really want or need those functions? That is an entirely different question. Often, the answer is no. But the manufacturers add them, in many cases, simply so they can advertise that they have more features. It costs a lot more to carefully determine what features are most wanted and to design products so that they are feature-rich, yet easy and intuitive for people  to use. That is why this vital step is often shortcut.

Ever had trouble figuring out how to program your VCR? Did you ever think that perhaps it's not really your fault? It's the fault of the engineers who designed a lousy user interface to the product. And you think they are bad? Try using a combination VCR-DVD player! There is second reason why manufacturers keep cramming more questionable features into products. In the case of products like cell phones, sales have slowed down because most people who wanted one have one. So, the phone manufacturers keep adding features in order to try to find ones that motivate people to buy new phones. They keep looking for that latest cool feature that people will be willing to buy a new phone to get.

Similarly, digital camera manufacturers keep coming out with cameras with more and more megapixels. Two megapixels, then 3.2, then 4.0, then 5, now 6, 7, even 8. Do consumers need 7 or 8 megapixel cameras? Not in the least. For shooting snapshots or sharing pictures online, a 3.2 megapixel camera is more than adequate. Really. Why then, do manufacturers keep extending the capability? It is as we said above: 1) so they can advertise they have it, and 2) to try to get people to stick their old camera in a drawer and buy a new one. Our advise: It pays to look carefully at the features being offered in the products you are interested in. Don't assume that a product with more features (or higher numbers) is the better choice. Often it is not, it is just more complicated to use! And, there is more to go wrong.

BLOATWARE

There is a similar phenomenon in software. It is called "bloatware." Programs that are overloaded with features, especially those not essential to the basic purpose for the software, carry this moniker.

When I was in the software industry and we were working on the next versions of software products, the programmers would sometimes come and say, "Hey I can add such-and-such feature with only 100 lines of code," or some such number. That’s not much, since a software program can have hundreds of thousands of lines of code. But often it was a feature the users of that software had no need for. Playing consumer advocate, I'd ask why such a feature would be needed. If the answer was questionable, I'd tell them to leave it out. Too often, though, those features make it into software products, and they become bloated with unnecessary features. Bloatware.

Why I Buy My Electronics Online

 

I must admit that I'd be absolutely lost without the growing number of desktop and laptop computers, printers, digital cameras and all the other assorted electronic equipment in my house and home office. I know I once got along without all this gear, but that was back in the olden days, in the last millennium. Today I absolutely depend on it. What this means is that I buy a lot of stuff, and I have formed some definite opinions about where I do my shopping and what places I avoid like the plague.

I hate to say it, but #1 on my list of places to avoid are the big electronics chain stores. They are certainly convenient and their prices are usually in the ballpark. And all their glossy brochures have lured me more than once when I quickly needed some RAM, a disk, or a new inkjet printer. Problem is that their sales people are embarrassingly clueless and often only interested in selling extended service contracts. No thank you. It's awfully hard to get me to buy anything out of a brick and mortar store.

When I build a new desktop computer I occasionally buy the parts from a local electronics superstore. Those places are a geek's paradise, or they could be if it weren't for a couple of really annoying deal breakers. First, half of the boards don't work after I bring them home. And second, I absolutely refuse to buy things that are only a good deal after a mail-in rebate or two. I've been burned too many times with rebates. No more.

Office supply stores are stocking more and more electronic equipment. So when I go buy a ream of paper or some other small stuff I often end up looking at their laptops and digital cameras. And once I even bought a notebook computer there, something that I later regretted as there was, of course, no service or support. I actually like the office supply stores and have no problem buying things like laser printer cartridges there, but that's about it for computer stuff.

Another bad practice that's taking over is luring customers with low prices, make them wade through several order screens, and then break the bad news, like some gargantuan shipping charge or that, sadly, the item is not in stock. Do that to me once and I won't be back.

So where do I get most of my electronics gear? Online. I love being able to browse online stores at my leisure, without any sales pressure and usually with all the information I need. I like neat, clean just-the-facts stores that specialize in the kind of gear I want. I don't need useless "reviews" by folks who always seem to have an axe to grind or hate everything. And I don't need long lists of the 99 lowest prices on the web. All I want is information and a good selection. I do expect a degree of customer support in case I have questions, and most of the better online stores can handle that easily.

Had someone told me 10 or 15 years ago that some day I'd buy things like laptops, digital cameras, printers or even desktop computers online from some website far away, I'd have laughed. But that's where I get most of my electronic equipment and gadgets from these days, and I've rarely ever had a bad experience. Those online stores seem to try a lot harder, and that's good news for guys like me.

Finding Hot Deals On Home Electronics

On wish lists around the country, home electronics have bypassed traditional favorites like clothes, lingerie, and jewelry as the most coveted items. But whether you're buying home electronics for yourself and your family, or as a gift, the burning question is always: Where do I find hot deals?

After all, why pay premium prices for LCD flat screen TVs, an iPod, a digital camera, or a cell phone when you can get hot deals at a fraction of the cost? While it's true that the prices for all home electronics are trending downward, it pays to shop around for the best possible prices before you make a purchase.

LCD Flat Screen TVs: Although LCD flat screen TVs for home entertainment systems are massive and relatively expensive, portable LCD flat screen TVs are ultimately affordable - especially when you can find hot deals and discount prices. For example, a seven-inch LCD flat screen TV with a full channel VHF/UHF receiver, built-in speakers, 1440 x 234 resolution and an active matrix display, a detachable and mountable stand, and A/V input jacks might list for $249.99. You can, however, find it for $144.29, a savings of over 42 percent.

iPod: Every family needs at least one iPod, and although the iPod Shuffle lists for $179.99, there are places where you can get hot deals and purchase an iPod shuffle for $109.43, or a discount of 39 percent. Likewise, you can save over 27 percent on an iPod Nano, and pay only $289.77. If you're willing to buy a refurbished model, you can get it even cheaper.

Digital Camera: Let's face it: film cameras are so twentieth century. There's no need to bother with bulky camera equipment and film and developing costs when you can snap all the pictures you want with a digital camera. And, there's truly a digital camera for every budget, with prices ranging from $100 to $10,000 and more. But when you look for hot deals, you can get a lot more camera for your money. If your budget is $150, for example, you can probably find a digital camera that retails for $299, but that is discounted almost 50 percent. Again, if you are willing to buy a refurbished digital camera, the savings can be even greater.

Cell Phone: Everyone in the family needs a cell phone, so it only makes sense to look for hot deals on cell phones. If you buy every family member the same cell phone (or the same cell phone in a variety of colors), you can usually find a calling plan that is extremely cost effective.

There's no question that hot deals on home electronics - and even electronics that double as a car accessory - are out there. Your best bet is to look for an online discount source. Because online stores don't have to pay the overhead that brick-and-mortar stores have to pay, they usually offer lower prices. Online stores also move a lot of inventory, so their hot deals usually surpass those of even the electronics megastores. Always comparison shop, but remember that for the best hot deals, let your mouse do the clicking.