“Tim, can you help me pick out a new computer? I just don’t know what to get and I don’t understand all the tech jargon that goes along with it.”

It never fails. I’ve even met people at parties and had them ask me after 10 minutes of conversation. I love to talk computers and I enjoy specking out new models so feel free to ask, but I thought I would write down the basics of purchasing a new PC so that you can be more informed consumers and not get snowed by those lousy, good for nothing BestBuy Geeks. (A quick sidebar – I hate BestBuy. If you can find someone to help you they rarely work in the department your question is about, and when you do find the correct sales rep he or she usually only knows enough about the products and technology to make themselves sound proficient in their area of “expertise”.) Anyway, when purchasing a new PC you have to balance the latest in technology with the amount of cash you are willing to hand over. Don’t skimp just because it may cost a few more dollars, but you probably don’t want to ride the bleeding edge of the technology curve either. Here is a quick rundown of the key components of a computer:

1. Processor – This is the “brain” of your PC. The faster it is the more quickly your computer can process data. However it relies on the cache and RAM to feed it the data that it needs to process making the processor and the RAM contingent on each other. Speed is measured in gigaherz (Ghz). Processors can also have multiple cores which allow each single processor to basically function as multiple processors while remaining the size of a single processor – a dual core processor has the equivalent speed of two processors but fits in the space of a single processor – really cool technology. Dual core processors are pretty standard now and I wouldn’t recommend anything less. Quad cores are even better.
2. RAM – the RAM or Random Access Memory is what temporarily stores data while your computer is processing the information you are feeding it. Usually more RAM is better, however it can get expensive really quick. RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB) and 4 is pretty much standard anymore.
3. Graphics Card – This is what processes and displays the graphical images you see on the screen. Most computers come with one built in now, however you can upgrade to much nicer ones if you are going to be doing graphics intensive work like photo/video processing or playing games. Measured in megabytes (MB) and 256 or 512 is about standard.
4. Hard Disk Drive – where your files are stored. The bigger the hard drive, the more files you can store. Measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB) where 1024 GB = 1 TB.
5. Audio Card – most likely integrated into the system and not necessary to purchase an extra one – unless of course you are doing high end audio recording and playback. Then you need to spend the money on a good audio card.
6. Operating System (OS) – This is what allows you to actual interface with the computer hardware. The most prevalent are Windows and Mac, but Linux is becoming more prevalent. The biggest question you face now when purchasing a new OS is 32 bit vs 64 bit. Basically these numbers simply tell you the level of processing the OS can do. Until very recently most programs didn’t run in 64 bit making the 64 bit OS highly impractical for every day use. In my opinion Windows 64 bit is still fairly impractical. Apple however is doing all of the 64 bit migration in the background and allows you to run in both 64 bit and 32 bit mode simultaneously making things much easier for end users (basically you can run any software on it regardless of whether the software is 64 or 32 bit compatible). In my opinion you should purchase a 32 bit OS
7. Display – The thing you look at. Most displays are LCD or LED backlit. Both are good but the LED backlit screens use less power allowing for longer battery life on laptops.

Anything else being sold with the computer is probably extraneous. Don’t spend your money on anti-virus software or this that and the other thing that a computer retailer is going to try and sell you. Keep it basic and you’ll save yourself a lot of money. There are free applications for almost everything anymore, all you have to do is look for them.

Now, when you go to purchase all you need to do is look at the processor speed, the amount of RAM, the size of the video card, the size of the hard drive and the operating system you want to have on it. Combine all those together and you’ll get your final price. Dell has a really good method for customizing your own computer which can give you a great estimate of what a computer with your desired specifications should cost.

My final tip is SHOP AROUND! Don’t buy the first computer you come across that looks good and is in your price range. Take your time and find one that fits your needs exactly. Good luck!

I didn’t realize it until today, but Apple is slowly mastering the Holy Grail of computing – user/technology interraction – and by defining how the user interacts they will remain one or two steps ahead of the competition.

First the desktop app is a well designed, sleek looking Mac app. It has the standard easy to use buttons, straightforward configuration that every Mac user looks for and loves. Set up is a breeze and synchronization with Google Reader was simple. It even brings down the folder arrangement I have in Google Reader and allows me to browse by feed, by folder, or by the last 24 hours of news (which by the way is a feature Google Reader should add). I often fall behind in keeping up with my RSS feeds and the 24 hour view allows me to get up to speed on that days news quickly. Then I can go back at my convenience to read up on what I have missed.

Second NetNewsWire has built in tabbed browsing functionality or it easily sends links to your default browser. I prefer to open all of the news stories in NetNewsWire and thereby never leave the app. In fact, after using NetNewsWire for some time, I don’t even realize at that I have been surfing the web from within it. I can click links and browse just like a web browser.

Third is built in functionality to post directly to a blog (via my choice of blogging software) or post to Delicious with just the push of a button. This functionality makes it incredibly easy for me to read a story and immediately blog about it.

Lastly it provides me with reports about the feeds I am subscribed to – how often they update, the bandwidth they take, etc. The stats aren’t that important to me, but it is extremely interesting to see what feeds provide me the most content and which ones I read the most. Absolutely perfect for a guy like me who enjoys the numbers.

Overall, I don’t think I will ever go back to using the Google Reader web interface except when viewing my feeds from a computer other than my Mac. Especially since NetNewsWire also is available as an iPhone app with a much easier interface to use than Google Reader on the phone via Safari. Best part is it’s all free as long as you are willing to put up with a few tastefully displayed adds. If not the desktop app is only $9.99 and the iPhone app is just $1.99.

Download NetNewsWire Mac App

Download NetNewsWire iPhone App

(Via Lifehacker.)

• Uninstall / Remove Webmin Software –
• Thomas verdict: willful infringement, $1.92 million penalty – OUTRAGEOUS!!! Why can technology savvy people never end up on these juries.
• BitBlinder: free, anonymous torrenting may be a reality –
• A Beginner’s Guide to Image Sharpening [Image Editing] –
• Use Automotive Window Tint to Make a Glass Desk Mouse-Friendly [Clever Uses] –
• Chinese Filter Software Opens Hacking Risk –
• 15 Effective Tips and Tricks from the Masters of CSS –
• Lawyers plan class-action to reclaim “$100M+” RIAA “stole” –
• Swedish Pirate Party headed to European Parliament –
• Monticello, MN beats the phone company; Internet a “utility” –
• Study: P2P customers are Hollywood's best friends—really! –
• The Ultimate Drupal Toolbox: 150+ Themes, Modules & Resources –
• Dear EU: Please quit whining about browsers already –
• Canada IP battlelines: “plagiarized” report, piracy “guesses” –
• Easily put Google services on your site with Web Elements –

• Landmark study: DRM truly does make pirates out of us all –
• 40 Exceptional “CMS Enabling” WordPress Plugins –
• Nesson speaks: Inside P2P’s “David v. Goliath” story –
• Linux Limit CPU Usage Per Process –
• Nielsen: Mobile, Online Video Hasn’t Put A Dent in TV Viewing –
• Doom + Heretic + Hexen (in your browser) = Epic Win – Time Waster –
• Conficker Keeps Growing And Growing –
• Lawyer: RIAA must pay back all $100M it has collected –
• Copyleft v. Copyright: FSF, RIAA face off in court –
• CSS3 Exciting Functions and Features: 30+ Useful Tutorials –
• Big Content appeals Pirate Bay case—damages were too low –
• 15+ programs you don’t have to miss when you switch to Linux –
• Zilla PDF to TXT Converter Plain-Texts Your PDF Files in Bulk [Downloads] –
• Another 6,400 workers to lose jobs at HP – Maybe why the quality of their computers is tanking?
• Harvard prof tells judge that P2P filesharing is "fair use" – I didn't see that defense coming…

• France Passes Three Strikes Net Piracy Bill – One more reason to despise France…
• OffiSync mixes Microsoft Office and Google Docs –
• Fake Windows 7 Creates Botnet –
• Norwegian ISP: dig your own fiber trench, save $400 – I love my ancestors. They're so damn innovative. I would dig the trench with my bare hands to get fiber and save $400!
• Web designer opposes France's "3 strikes" law, loses job – This is outrageous! I guess free speech isn't a right in France.
• MPAA: teachers should videotape monitors, not rip DVDs – The MPAA once again shows its STUPIDITY. They only make me hate them more.
• Botnet master hits the kill switch, takes down 100,000 PCs – Wow, its not every day your computer just dies…
• ISPs' costs, revenues don't support data cap argument – I HATE ISPs!!!
• Five Best Free Data Recovery Tools [Hive Five] –
• The Pirate Bay verdict goes English, and we dish the dirt –
• Study: pirates biggest music buyers. Labels: yeah, right –
• Why no one should be shocked by The Pirate Bay verdict –
• Appeals court: no webcast for Joel Tenenbaum –
• Stimulus: Stanford's president on the $800 billion question – A very compelling read.
• Congressman: there should be a law against Internet caps! – Nice work Congressman!

Radmind is designed for Unix workstation managment and is very similar in function to Deep Freeze (a Windows workstation management software).  When run, Radmind will completely examine the client file system and return the workstation to its original state.  This is incredibly useful in a Lab environment.  At the same time it allows you to pick and choose which files you want to be managed by Radmind, thus allowing you to enable users to have selected preferences.

Configuration of Radmind is by no means simple.  In fact, it takes hours and the process is poorly documented.  You first begin by installing the Radmind Server software on whatever machine is going to act as your server.  The box you install it on should be able to handle (at worst case) all of your client machines connecting simultaneously.  Therefore if you are only going to use it for a few computers you can use just about any computer as a Radmind server.  Best practices of, course, would be to install it on server grade hardware to prevent failure of the system.  The next step is to load the Radmind client software on the client machines and create the main transcript files.  There are two types of transcript files – positive and negative.  The positive transcript contains the information for all of the files on the client machines that should always be equivalent to what is stored on the server.  The negative transcript lists the files that should never be touched by the Radmind software.  For instance, you want Radmind to keep your main OS files the same regardless of what a user may do to them, but at the same time you may want the list of printers to be managed by each user.  Once you have created the transcripts you then create a command file that tells which transcripts to apply and to which machines.  This allows you to manage multiple computers and have different software configurations on different groups of computers.  Thus if you have a computer lab that is supposed to have a certain software set and a group of office computers that are supposed to have a different software set you can set Radmind to differentiate the two groups and maintain their software accordingly. Finally you install the Radmind client side software on the client machines and connect them to the server.  The machine will then be updated to the configuration pushed down by the server.

I really like Radmind.  It is an effective solution to mass computer deployment, but it requires some serious tech chops.  If you decide to use Radmind be prepared for some long days of frustration and suffering as you learn how it works.  I have been working on a wiki posting concerning Radmind, but that is slow going and done only in my free time.  If you have questions feel free to post and I will do my best to help you out.

• Roll Your Own Streaming Media Server with Subsonic [Downloads] – Gonna have to give this a try…
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• Swedish Piracy Law Cuts Internet Traffic By A Third –
• Google yanks tethering app from marketplace – SEE!!! GOOGLE IS NO BETTER!
• Man uses 35 cable modems to provide WiFi, sued by Comcast – Ouch, this guy is gonna owe some money
• Chinese cyberespionage network runs across 103 nations – Wow, this is some scary stuff. Job security for me though…
• A New Study Say Video Games Can Improve Adult Vision – One more reason to keep gaming.
• Skype for iPhone Arrives Tuesday [IPhone] – HEY OH!!!!!
• Australian classification board website gets hacked – Give up Australia. The Hackerz are better than you.
• German cops raid Wikileaks after Internet blacklist posted – WTF! So the police are now raiding people's homes because they post a list of web addresses? Child porn hysteria is an understatement!
• Parents fight child porn threats against "sexting" teens – What a mess…
• Console is an open source, tabbed CMD alternative for Windows –
• MIT to make all faculty publications open access – Finally the big academic institutions step in and lay down the law.
• Complaint Urges Shutting Down Google's Street View U.K. – I don't understand! Why is this such a big deal to people. It's not like people aren't being photographed everyday at random. Who knows how many pictures I am in without my knowledge that are readily available on the web.
• China Pulls the Plug on YouTube…Again – Can you say "We shall overcome"?