Are Second-Hand EMachines Laptops Worth Having?

December 26th, 2010 by Kim


Many people are considering picking up secondhand eMachines laptops as their new computer systems, but are they really worth having? Without doubt, there are many available on the market today, with more being added all the time.

Since the prices are so cheap, the temptation is strong to pick up these used laptops, but the price that you pay in the end may be more than you expect, as the cost of repairs skyrocket.

Although eMachines have been on the market for quite some time now, the reputation that the manufacturer holds has not been very solid. Concerns in the market about the cheap hardware that goes into these computers brings to mind the question their reliability.

According to warranty providers in the industry, eMachines have a fail rate that is much higher than other manufacturers on the market today. The clear winners in the reliability game are Toshiba and Asus, with less than 15% being sent back to the manufacturer for repairs within the first two years. Emachines do not compare.

So even with the value pricing of eMachines, in the end, one has to wonder what the final price will be. The cost may be more than you bargained for.

If you’re looking for the most reliable laptop deals, consider Toshiba, Asus, Apple, or even HP. The end result will be a far more reliable product and less frustration to you.  There are many laptops under 300 dollars available, including freshly refurbished models from the manufacturers themselves.

If you do decide to go with an eMachines model, consider having a trained professional look over it first.  Many times, with used hardware, there are trouble spots that are hard to see by the untrained eye.  Most of the problems tend to be associated with the motherboards failing or hard drives crashing.

Although the pricetag can be tempting, consider what you might have to pay in the long run with a purchase of this brand of laptop.

Gaming Laptop Keeps Freezing | Troubleshooting Tips

December 19th, 2010 by Kim


When your gaming laptop keeps freezing, it is a sure sign that a software or hardware fault has occurred. This article looks at the troubleshooting approach to resolving the issue starting with hardware checks.

Many slow laptop issues can relate to the CPU or hard drive getting overheated. Check the BIOS menu diagnostics to see if the CPU temperature levels are reaching automatic shutdown temperatures (detailed as well as the settings in the BIOS). If the laptop does appear to be overheating then make sure to keep all vents are unblocked, don’t leave the laptop near a radiator or other heat source and make sure the inlets on the underside of the laptop are not being blocked.

You can also check the hardware components via the Device Manager utility. It will detail if there are hardware conflicts or problems with device drivers and suggest ways of fixing these issues. It could be that your laptop keeps freezing because the driver has become out of date or developed faults.

It is also worth checking the Event Viewer log file (start, run, type in the eventvwr) to see what messages were thrown moments before your laptop froze. It should be possible to identify which software component or piece of hardware was causing the problem based on this error code (you can search online for the code to try and focus in what the component this).

Many slow laptop issues also relate to a lack of hard drive space. This impedes the virtual memory from expanding unhindered (as it uses free empty space on the disk). Microsoft recommend keeping at least 10% of the disk drive left empty for this purpose.

Lastly, run a virus check on your laptop hard-drive to make sure that there is no malware or adware in the system that could have damaged system files. You should also check the task manager utility to see which applications are running and try closing down any background tasks in order to allocate more RAM memory.

USB Computer Joysticks For Any Budget

December 18th, 2010 by Kim


When playing on your laptop, a mouse and keyboard will only take you so far, and many games require the precision control that only a joystick can provide. So when shopping for a joystick that will plug into a USB hub or USB port on your computer, there are a lot of options available. For those looking to upgrade to a new level of control, here are a few USB computer joysticks to consider.

For those looking for an inexpensive controller, consider the Logitech Attack 3 Joystick. It comes with 11 programmable buttons, a comfortable grip, and a weighted base that will keep the joystick from shifting when playing games. It can be used by both right and left-handed gamers and also features a rapid-fire trigger, perfect for first-person-shooters or games requiring a lot of button mashing. Retailing at around $20, this is a good joystick for those who love computer games but don’t want to spend too much to improve their game control.

For those looking for a mid-range joystick, the Thrustmaster 2960706 is an excellent choice. It actually has a patented control system (Hall Effect Accurate Technology) that provides precision control for a joystick in this price range (about $60). It features four separate axes and a weighted base for stability. The base is also very wide, allowing you to comfortably rest your hand on it while playing, thus reducing stress and pain. It has a beautiful, ambidextrous design and feels smooth as silk.

If you are a die-hard gamer and want a top-flight joystick, look no further than the Microsoft Sidewinder 1.0 Joystick. This joystick feels like a piece of fine stereo equipment, with eight ultra-responsive buttons and a precision throttle. It stays firmly in place and provides some of the tightest game control available. It will cost you, though, as it runs about $200.

Whether you are somewhat light in the pockets or well-to-do, there are USB joysticks for every gaming budget.

Acer Gaming Laptop Reviews

December 15th, 2010 by Kim


The improved version of Acer 8930 gaming laptop was released a year before and is found to be exact opposite of Aspire one. It is considered as the monster among gaming laptops. This Acer gaming laptop is comprised of NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT graphics as well as monitor measuring 18.4 inch. It also includes video memory of 512MB which provides the most wonderful gaming experiences to people in all parts of the world. It is of the same price as this particular Acer laptop.

The Aspire 8930 turned up with CineCrystal widescreen display as well as Blu-Ray drive in order to offer awe-inspiring experience to all the movie lovers. The reviews that have been made online highlighted that people received great satisfaction from these Acer laptops. They are believed to be of good value and superb quality. They are regarded as safe laptop choice for a number of people in comparison to Toshiba gaming laptop.

The complete range of Acer laptops tends to offer everyone with something. Acer Inc is basically a multinational computer corporation that is based in Taiwan. It specializes in the manufacturing of desktop, storage devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and peripherals. Acer Aspire 8942G is considered as the earliest gaming laptop that featured Intel Core i7 processor as well as DirectX 11 graphics facilitating extreme performance. Acer has made it possible to play all the most recent games with full brilliance with no requirement for compromising in areas of performance as well as resolution.

The technical specification of Acer Aspire 8942G Laptop includes 8GB DDR3 RAM, Intel Core i7 720QM Quad Core Mobile Processor, Bluetooth, Blu-Ray DVD Combo, Windows 7 Home Premium, 4 USB, 2x640GB Hard Disk, WLAN 802.11 abgn among others. Acer also emerged with Acer Aspire 5943G which is best suited for relaxed gamers. The designing of this product is largely done for multimedia functionality but is also considered as strong gaming laptop. The Acer Aspire 8930g-7665 is equipped with video graphics card which tend to please every gamer. Thus, this gaming laptop may be considered as a must buy for gaming geeks.

What To Look For When Shopping For The Cheapest Gaming Laptop

December 15th, 2010 by Kim


Those who wish to play games on their laptops will often find that the least expensive models on the market are not suitable for this purpose. They may not have the optimum amount of memory to run the largest games smoothly, nor will they meet other system requirements for playing some of the most advanced games. Learning what to look for when shopping for the cheapest gaming laptop will ensure that you are saving money, but not at the expense of smooth, fully functional gaming.

Before you begin to browse online or visit your local electronics store, make a list of all the system requirements that are listed on the packages of your favorite games. When making this list and comparing it against the computers you are considering, it is a good idea to keep in mind that this is the absolute minimum number of features that your laptop of choice must have. It is often a good idea to find one that is slightly more powerful than the requirements suggest.

Remember that computer financing is an option. If you do not have much money saved, you do not necessarily need to get a computer that you do not want. Instead, shoppers can explore one of the many financing options that are available to them in order to get the computer that is best suited to their needs at monthly payment prices that they can afford.

Read online reviews that are specific to their use in the gaming world. Many avid fans of online and computer games belong to chat rooms and other virtual membership communities. Talk to your friends there about the inexpensive laptop models with which they have had good luck.

Gamers who are hoping to spend less on a new laptop computer may be able to find an acceptable model for around $500. If that is too much to spend, financing may be available which will allow you to put no money down and pay small amounts toward buying the computer each month.

Shopping for Gaming Headphones for Your Laptop

December 9th, 2010 by Kim


There are many types of gaming headphones available for purchase in the market today. You can choose from a variety of features, including different ways to connect to your system. The type of headphones you choose should be right for your system, although many people will find that micro USB headphones are the best choice, especially if you play multiple systems and computer games.

The first thing to consider is how you want to connect to your game system with your gaming headphones. There are three ways to do this. First, you can go with traditional headphones. These plug right into your game system or computer, just like headphones for your discman or mp3 player. The second option is wireless headphones that work with an fm antenna and a receiver in the headphones that allows you to use the headphones wirelessly. Finally, there are micro USB headphones, that allow you to connect wirelessly via a micro USB device. These are typically the most versatile and the most convenient.

Next, you need to choose what types of features you want in your headphones. If you play online games on your computer or game system, you may want to consider headphones that have a microphone built into them, similar to what you would use with a cell phone, like a larger form of a blue tooth with ear pieces for both ears instead of one. Other features include volume control on the headphones, separate controls for the microphone, and different ranges from the micro USB or fm antenna.

Once you have found the right gaming headphones for your system or systems, you should then consider where you will buy your headphones. You can find them in any number of places, including electronics stores and online. Make sure that any headphones you buy come with a warranty or refund policy so that you don’t have to worry about what to do if you get them hooked up and they don’t work.

Five Fun Spiderman Games For Under Twenty Five Dollars

November 27th, 2010 by Kim


There is a wide variety of Spiderman games available, and you can find anything from video games to board games to dressing up as this spiderific superhero. Here are just five you can find for under $25 that has embraced the awesomeness that is Spiderman.

Spiderman Table Top Pinball Game

This tabletop mini arcade unit has all the bells, whistles and fast paced action of their bigger counterpart and based on the ever popular Spidey. It has flashing lights, fun sounds and it does all the scoring electronically for you.

Spiderman TV Game by Jakks

This is a simple plug and play item you can plug into just about any newer television set with no other gaming system or equipment needed. It holds the promise of endless hours of fun as you battle the bad guys. Whether you are web slinging around the neighbor in order to help people or bashing guys to stop the odious Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus’s nefarious schemes, this game is pure Spidey action.

Spiderman 3 for XBox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and PC

S-3 will keep you on the edge of your seat and your fingers ready on the buttons as you never know what may come at you in this next generation feeling video game. You may be chasing down a purse thief, tracking down a stolen car or even doing mini missions, like photography, for the Daily Bugel. This latest edition features an all new freedom to explore the city at will as you defeat ten of the most infamous Spidey enemies.

Spiderman Web Blaster with Mask

Children of all ages can spend hours creating their very own superhero action fresh out of their imaginations with this fun set. It includes a full face mask and gloves, complete with web blasting capabilities, a belt clip and five stretchy web accessories. Any child is going to love tracking down the bad guys and fighting crime as everyone’s favorite superhero.

Spiderman vs. the Green Goblin Board Game

You can have up to three additional friends join you in this fun and fresh board game. This game is based on the movie and allows you to try and defeat the Green Goblin, but before you get the chance of taking him out, you have to collect tokens in order to strengthen your abilities. Try to avoid all of the pitfalls and enjoy the many twists and turns this game can take you on as you work your way around the play board.