Xbox 360 versus the Wii and PS3

Posted on September 30, 2010 by admin

The Xbox is often compared to its rivals: the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PS3. However, each console has its advantages and disadvantages. The Xbox 360 has millions of fans worldwide, and for good reason. The price, graphics and gaming selection easily places the Xbox 360 at the top of the console heap.

The Xbox 360 boasts the best graphics out of all three. The reason is that the Xbox has a “Xenos GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) that can process more pixels. Neither the Wii nor PS3 can beat the crisp display. Like its rivals, the Xbox 360 can play movies in a high-definition format.

More people can afford the Xbox 360 over the other two consoles. The Xbox has been around longer and has more games than the Wii or PS3. Halo, the flagship gaming series, is for the Xbox only. The Nintendo Wii is mostly for people who are new to gaming. Young children can easily work the interactive controllers and will enjoy the “childlike” graphics of the games. Xbox and Playstations are for serious gamers who want to solve puzzles and who can handle the often “mature” themes and graphics.

Another major advantage of the Xbox is the “Xbox Live” feature, which is an interactive gaming platform. Players can team up against other Xbox gamers and display ranks, titles and unique nametags. Many people consider the Xbox 360 “Live” feature to be superior to the PS3 online “Home” feature, which is rife with problems.

The PS3 and Xbox 360 are both excellent consoles for people who are really into gaming. They are very similar, yet each has unique features to offer gamers. However, the Xbox 360 does have its downfalls. It does not have the interactive accessories of the Wii. Nor does it have the processing power of the PS3.

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MacBook Pro: Inside and Out

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin

The MacBook Pro is a common fixture in college dorms. Students who desire the best features of a Mac are drawn to the relative affordability of this particular model. If you are on a budget, the MacBook Pro is a good choice. The screen is small, at about 13 inches, but it is known for its high quality over budget laptops like the Acer or Compaq.

Apple laptops are known for their long-lasting quality over PCs. They are about twice as expensive as a budget model PC, but they make up for it in resale value. Launched in 2010, the newest version of the MacBook Pro was released to rave reviews. It features an aluminum metal cover and paneling. Aluminum is one of the strongest materials for the laptop, so it acts as a protective barrier. It has a glass trackpad with several features besides the traditional mouse buttons.

Internally, this laptop has better components than before. It has a Core Intel processor, which has a long battery life. In addition, the speed is over 2.2GHz. Even the smallest version of the MacBook Pro, the 13-inch model, has GeForce 320M integrated graphics.

Some downsides of the MacBook Pro include USB ports spaced too closely together, faulty internal fans, sharp edges, and a small trackpad. The fans tend to get too hot and you cannot hold it on your lap, but the newest version has fixed this problem. These are hardly problems when compared to PC laptop problems.

Overall, this particular laptop model has many admirable qualities for a basic Apple laptop. It can fit into the budget of a college student or someone who is just getting into the Apple field of products.  It is a not a hardcore system for gamers, but it has some excellent video-editing programs.

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Droid Incredible versus the iPhone 4

Posted on August 29, 2010 by admin

The Droid Incredible phone is often compared to the iPhone 4. However, it has certain features that the iPhones lacks, and vice versa. Right now, the Droid is a hot commodity for those who are seeking a touchscreen phone that is an alternative to the iPhone. The Apple Company is very controlling and does not like its users to have any apps that are not created by the company. The Droid offers its users more freedom, but not as many apps as the iPhone.

Comparing the Droid to the iPhone is difficult. Apple has years of experience perfecting its flagship iPhone and developing hundreds of apps. One major flaw in the Droid is that it cannot compete with the superior casing and design of the iPhone. Plastic cannot hold a candle to iPhone’s shatterproof glass that is used in trains, airplanes and helicopters. However, if the phone is kept inside a case when not in use, the durability of the glass should not be an important feature.

The size of the Droid Incredible is about four inches by almost five inches. The iPhone is very similar, but it is much thinner than the Droid. However, size is not exactly a huge consideration for many buyers. They are more concerned with what is on the inside of the device.

Both devices offer WiFi, which is nearly everywhere in urban areas. The iPhone has the 3G network, and Droid uses the Dual Band CDMA 2000 Internet system offered by Verizon and Alltel. AT&T is currently the only provider for the iPhone, while Droid can use Verizon or Alltel. This choice is probably a big deciding factor in which phone a person chooses. Some people have had problems with AT&T and do not want anything to do with the company. Others are loyal to one company and will stay with it for many years.

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Comparing the Six iPad Models

Posted on August 14, 2010 by admin

The iPad is the newest Apple sensation on the market today. Appearing to be a cross between an iPhone and a laptop, the iPad combines the best of both devices. There are six different iPad models, each priced differently. If you are considering an iPad purchase, weight the six choices carefully and figure out your specific needs.

Internet

All of the iPad models have a WiFi antenna for wireless connections, but only half of the models have an additional 3G network feature that allows AT&T users to access the web. The ones with the 3G feature cost more than the others, but they have the same amount of RAM.

Having the ability to connect to the Internet anywhere is necessary for people who live in rural areas or in suburban areas where there are few WiFi hotspots. Someone who is constantly on the go will probably need constant Internet access. However, there is an additional expense for the 3G network access.

Memory

The iPad models have varying amounts of storage capacity. The smallest one starts at 16 GB and goes up to 32 GB and 64 GB in the bigger models. You need to decide how much memory you are going to use and then purchase the correct storage size, since you will not be able to upgrade memory with an SD card.

An iPad with 16 GB is perfectly suitable for someone who merely wants to browse the web, type, use apps and send emails. If you want to watch videos and store music, then you should consider a larger memory size.

Price

Since the iPad is new, the price is still high. Obviously, the more features your iPad has, the higher the cost. All of the iPads cost less than $1,000, however, which is comparable to the price of laptops.

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Nintendo DS Models: DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL

Posted on July 28, 2010 by admin

The Nintendo DS is a small, handheld gaming console. There are three main types: the DS Lite, which is smaller and less expensive; the DSi, which has more features; and the DSi XL, which has the largest screen. If you are trying to decide on which model you should buy, first compare and contrast the features of each one to see which type meets your needs.

If you are on a budget, the Nintendo DS Lite is probably your best option. This is the most basic model. However, it has some nice features that the others do not have. It has a “global compatibility,” which means you can play DS games made in any region of the world. Since many games ordered online come from other countries, this is a good feature to have. The DS Lite can also play Gameboy Advance games.

For people with a little more cash in hand, the DSi or DSi XL make terrific choices. These models play iTunes music and have other apps like an audio recorder, an IM app and a web browser. You can surf the web if you are in a WiFi area! Nintendo DS also provides a proprietary online store called “DSiShop” that has a whole slew of apps you can download. The DSi XL is similar to the DSi, but the screen is larger and the battery lasts longer. The stylus pen in the XL version has been redesigned for a more comfortable fit.

There are more apps in the DSi XL. The software includes “Brain Training” and “Camera Dictionary,” which are fun to use with friends. Two built-in cameras provide you with plenty of photo options. If you like to take many photos or store songs, you will appreciate the SD card reader in the XL version. Other improvements include better speakers, redesigned buttons and an easier layout.

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