Articles by Yung Trang on ArticleSnatch.com

Choosing a Keyboard

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Choosing the right computer keyboard can be a daunting task. After all, there are many options from which to choose: basic to multimedia, midnight black to neon green and even backlit, wireless and waterproof keyboards! The good news is computer compatibility is not an issue with keyboards. Like your computer mouse, keyboard units are generally universal. With that in mind, you can focus on finding a computer keyboard best suited to your comfort and specific needs. Your keyboard is essential to you communicatingâ€ with your computer. Without it, even the best computer is just another expensive piece of electronic equipment! The computer keyboard is a descendentâ€ of the typewriter, and the original models had only 84 keys. However, the keyboard has evolvedâ€ to include extra function keys (101 or 104 are the most popular), which are preprogrammed for specific uses. The function keys can work independently, or can be used simultaneously with other keys. (We ALL know what ctrl-alt-delete does right?) Many of these added keys assist the user with editing and searching more efficiently, and are called shortcutsâ€ or hotkeys.â€ Computer keyboard options are many and varied. **End Summary** Topics: keyboard]]> computer keyboard]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality of its Avenue Coupons , and Nike Coupons .

Must-Have Checklist: Choosing a Scanner for Your Home

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The time has come. You are in charge of your 25th high school reunion, so it is up to you to collect everyoneâ€™s senior pictures and Most Likely Toâ€¦â€ photos from your yearbook. You need to invest in a scanner. But where do you begin? What should you look for in a scanner? First of all, it is important to know what a scanner is and does. A scanner is a device that converts printed material into digital information that your computer can use. Using a small electronic component, it records how much light is reflected off the material being scanned, and reports that information to the computer. In order to see the entire image, it is broken into cells, called pixels. Next, consider what kind of scanner you need. Currently, there are four primary types of scanners available from which you can choose, including: 1. Flatbed This is the most common type of desktop scanner. The flatbed looks a bit like a small photocopier, and the item being scanned rests on a glass plate while the scanning head moves underneath it. (For the project of scanning old yearbook photos, this scanner should be ideal!) 2. **End Summary** Topics: scanner]]> flatbed scanner]]> sheet fed scanner]]> slide scanner]]> drum scanner]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality of its Avenue Coupons , and Nike Coupons .

Must-Have Checklist: Choosing a Laser Printer for Your Business

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Choosing the right kind of printer for your business can be challenging. Obviously, you want the best quality printing available; after all, the kind of printing you do does reflect on your business. You want the documents your business prints to be around for the long haul, which is why you should consider a laser printer verses an ink jet printer. Here are some reasons whyâ€¦ â€¢ Laser printing print lasts longer than ink jet printâ€¦sometimes years longer; â€¢ Laser print does not deteriorate over time; â€¢ There is no risk of laser print smearing (as there is with ink jet printing); â€¢ Volume printing on an ink jet printer is neither efficient or economical; previously outsourced print jobs can be done in houseâ€ with a laser printer; â€¢ When printing camera-ready artwork, the laser printer image is significantly clearer than with an ink jet; â€¢ When considering your return-on-investment of a laser printer vs. an ink jet printer, the laser printer is more economical, because: 1. The per page cost is less with a laser printer; 2. Laser printers require less maintenance than ink jet printers; 3. The Laser printer lifespanâ€ is greater than that of the ink jet; **End Summary** Topics: printer]]> laser printer]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Must Have Checklist: Choosing a Cordless Phone

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Cordless phones have come a long way since they first hit the market in style, technical capability and convenience. Sleeker, lighter handsets make for both fashionable dÃ©cor and comfortable chatting while full-color displays show off pictures and detailed information. One of the best advantages to the new era in cordless phones is expandability. Now phone systems come with or can be expanded to 5 or more handsets so you can have one in every room of the house all while using one phone jack. Thanks to Bluetooth technology, cord-free phones can now be hands-free phones. With a Bluetooth-enabled cordless phone and a Bluetooth headset, you can attach your handset to your waistband and walk around the house or outside, all the while doing laundry, writing an email or trimming the hedges. Here is a list of the many advanced features that come with cordless phones. Not all phones come with these features, so compare carefully: â€¢ Expand your phone system with 5 or more handsets â€¢ Go hands free with a speakerphone or Bluetooth headset (on Bluetooth-enabled phones) â€¢ Talk securely and without interference from wireless networks, microwaves or other devices with DECT 6. **End Summary** Topics: phone]]> telephone]]> cordless phone]]> cordless telephone]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Must Have Checklist: Choosing a Mouse

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Upgrading a mouse may seem like an insignificant improvement compared to a new hard drive or monitor, but a mouse can make or break a computer userâ€™s experience. Slow, inaccurate and uncomfortable mice can distract away from important tasks and frustrate even the most advanced users not to mention ruin a perfectly good score on the latest computer game. Todayâ€™s mouse is a whole different animal than the clunky trackball mouse of the 80s and 90s. Bluetooth capability for high velocity wireless connectivity, laser tracking for pinpoint accuracy, programmable buttons and tilt wheels for advanced functionality and sleek, ergonomic lines have transformed this peripheral into a powerhouse. There are five different kinds of mice to choose from: Wireless Mice Wireless mice connect to your computer through a receiver plugged into a USB 2.0 jack or using Bluetooth technology. They come in all sizes and styles. Since they operate on standard battery power, a distinct decrease in performance can be noted near the end of battery life. Indicators on most mice warn you when itâ€™s time to switch to new batteries. **End Summary** Topics: computer mouse]]> wireless mouse]]> trackballs]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Must Have Checklist: Choosing a Digital Photo Frame

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Vivid digital photos lose some of their magic in print thereâ€™s no backlight to give them life, and the glass in traditional frames can produce annoying glare. Digital photo frames reveal the true character of your pictures by using an LCD screen (like a computer monitor) to show off the details, colors and contrasts of your photos as you intended them to be seen. In addition to doing your photography justice, digital photo frames allow you to rotate the display of many different photos without having to change them out like a traditional frame. Some can be picked up and handed around, all the while grabbing pictures wirelessly from your computer. No printing, no ordering, no cropping, and you can edit your photos on your PC with touch-up software to make them look their best. Features of Digital Photo Frames â€¢ Display sizes vary greatly from keychain-size to over-the-couch 32-inch frames and even larger. **End Summary** Topics: digital photo frame]]> digital picture frame]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Must-Have Checklist: Choosing a Portable Media Player

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Handheld music and video players can make standing in line at the grocery store, enduring a long plane or car ride, or waiting in a doctorâ€™s office waiting room an entertaining experience. Assembling an enormous list of favorite songs, videos, pictures, games and movies to choose from is half the fun. The rest is deciding what to enjoy first. There are many different brands and models of portable media players, from inexpensive devices that simply play music and audio books to the fully-featured big names: Appleâ€™s iPod and Microsoftâ€™s Zune. Features of Portable Media Players Appleâ€™s iPod has several different models available: The Shuffle fits in the palm of your hand, and clips to clothing, bags, etc. It does not have a screen, just controls for playing music according to how youâ€™ve arranged your music using iTunes on your computer. It holds from 240 to 500 songs, and costs about $50. The Nano is a slim cell-phone-sized model with a 2-inch full color screen. Music can be shuffled by shaking the device. Turning the device sideways allows for a different view. Available in 8GB and 16GB which holds 2,000-4,000 songs or 7,000-14,0000 photos. **End Summary** Topics: portable media player]]> portable music player]]> mp3 player]]> ipod]]> zune]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Must-Have Checklist: Choosing a Web Cam

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Tuning in to view and chat with a friend, relative or client across the miles is just plain cool. Web cams bring this capability to most computers with ease usually as simple as plug and play. With broadband Internet they can produce television-quality video and audio, and are used for many interactive purposes, including: - Videoconferencing for meetings - Working on projects while sharing software on a participantâ€™s computer - Browsing the Internet or shopping online together - Helping with homework - Sharing files and pictures - Playing games against one another over the Web - Remote monitoring (e.g. babysitter cams, security cams, locations-of-interest cams or weather cams) - Providing technical support - Recording videos for posting on websites or podcasting Free instant messaging software such as Yahoo! Instant Messenger, AOL IM, Microsoft Messenger and Skype can be installed on your computer to make many of the features listed above easy to use. Features of Web Cams A web cam typically plugs into your computer with a USB cable, and may require included software to install drivers. It should be positioned so that your face can be viewed clearly by others. **End Summary** Topics: web cam]]> web camera]]> camera for pc]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Shopping Guide: Choosing a Video Game Console

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Video game consoles such as Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii or Microsoft Xbox 360 are close to the heart of many a child (of any age). The phrase playing gamesâ€ takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to these entertainment powerhouses. From simple fun to complicated plots, video games made for these systems are becoming more and more sophisticated - including smooth action, sharp graphics, more interactive play, better audio, and the ability to play with others in living rooms thousands of miles away or just next door. Having fun with a gaming console can include more than video games, too. There are gamesâ€ available for cooking, exercising, dancing, practicing for American Idol, or even playing guitar in a rock band. The following info will help when shopping for the best in family-room adventuresâ€¦ Features of Video Game Consoles â€¢ Consoles come with handheld controllers for multiple players â€¢ Bluetooth technology offers the ability to connect up to 7 controllers to one system â€¢ Hard drives (included in the systems) vary in size and contribute to cost; **End Summary** Topics: video game console]]> game console]]> playstation]]> wii]]> xbox]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Shopping Guide: Choosing a Home Theater System

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Adding a home theater system to an existing media center can bring a whole new level of entertainment to the typical living room. Movies, television and music come alive with surround sound, and the subtle nuances of soundtracks can be revealed by high quality audio technology. Not to mention a rumbling subwoofer. In the past, home theater systems were considered high-end and would cost upward of $1000, not including the cost of installation. But a new, more affordable option home theater in a box now can provide an instant theater experience for many an average viewer. Home theater systems in a box (HTIB) are media components which expand the capabilities of an existing setup with television, cable box or satellite, VCR, etc. Most of them share some basic features, but after that, the options (and price range) can vary widely. **End Summary** Topics: home theater]]> home theater system]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind Techbargains.com, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in PC World, and the Wall Street Journal.

Must Have Checklist: Choosing a Mini Laptop

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A new generation of low cost, lightweight laptops is rapidly becoming a global sensation. For many people around the world, owning a personal computer has long been considered a luxury. In the last couple years, manufacturers of mini laptops (also referred to as mini notebooks or mini notes) have managed to strip down a lot of the bells and whistles that come automatically with standard laptops, to make a lite version that fits in more peoplesâ€' handsâ€¦and pocketbooks. Unlike previous computer products that aimed at reducing size and cost, these mini machines have powerful processors, substantial memory and come with all the basic software, entertainment options and Internet most people need. To entertain the possibility that each family member could have their own computer without a significant financial investment opens up a whole new world of opportunity for most of us. Children, stay at home parents, senior citizens and disabled family members can easily get plugged in to the larger world around them, and going wireless gets us all out into the world more. Similarly, many small businesses struggle to get by with old, unreliable computers that are stretched thin between employees. **End Summary** Topics: Mini laptop]]> technology]]> car]]> trip]]> email]]> software]]> computer]]> laptop]]> mini notes]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality and breadth of its Dell Coupons , Newegg Coupons , and Staples Coupons .

Must Have Checklist: Choosing a Smart Phone or PDA

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Purchasing a smart phone or PDA may seem like a luxury, but for many they are essential tools of productivity. For those pressed for time, or who are frequently away from a home or work computer they rely on heavily, these devices quickly pay for themselves in efficiency. Features of PDAs and Smart Phones Personal Digital Assistants offer many of the same tools and toys of a PC in a handheld size. (If they also function as a mobile phone, theyâ€'re called smart phones.) Usually sporting a Microsoft Windows or Palm operating system, most of them support: â€¢ Reading email â€¢ Address books / contact managers â€¢ Instant messaging â€¢ Listening to music â€¢ Shopping on the Web â€¢ Editing spreadsheets â€¢ Writing documents and letters â€¢ Reading ebooks â€¢ Creating presentations â€¢ Shooting and viewing quality photos and videos â€¢ Playing computer games â€¢ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless technologies â€¢ Global Positioning (GPS) software â€¢ Synchronization with MAC or PC â€¢ Voice-activated dialing Keep in Mind â€¢ Size and quality of the screen are very important especially for those with limited visual acuity. Larger screens mean a larger price tag. **End Summary** Topics: PDA]]> smart phone]]> phone]]> handheld]]> mobile phone]]> reading email]]> IM]]> GPS]]> travelling]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Yung Trang leads the team behind, one of the most visited online shopping deal sites. Techbargains has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, PC World, and the Wall Street Journal. The site was founded in 1999 and is best known for the quality and breadth of its Dell Coupons , Newegg Coupons , and Staples Coupons .