The Microsoft Xbox 360 Console: Powerful Gaming in a Box

The Microsoft Xbox 360 Console: Powerful Gaming in a Box

Gone are the days of drab, underpowered gaming consoles with limited features. The Microsoft Xbox 360 is here! It doesn’t matter if you are a serious gamer or a mere hobbyist, the Xbox 360 that Microsoft launched in November 2005 is suitable for all players. It claims to have taken into consideration all the facets of ultimate gaming experience with this much-improved version of the original Microsoft Xbox that came out in November 2001.

Check your budget. Depending on what you can afford, you may start with the very basic core system composed of the light console, the wired controller and the composite AV cable; and when your budget allows you to purchase other peripherals one by one for the enhancement of your total gaming experience, maybe you’d want to change your wired controller with the wireless model, or maybe you’d want to add in the Xbox Live headset for amplification of sound effects to a mind-boggling level far above what your normal TV speakers could provide.

On the other hand, if you are one of those to whom “money is no object,” you may just go ahead and buy the entire Microsoft Xbox 360 system, where everything is all in (i.e., the console with premium chrome finish, a wireless controller, the Xbox Live headset, component hard drive-AV cable, the Ethernet cable that allows you to connect with the other players, and the hard drive that contains an array of original Xbox games and allows you to download even more games. Since the Xbox 360 allows up to four wireless controllers operating on one console, it lets you play with three other players simultaneously for that added fun and challenge in live competition.

The Microsoft Xbox 360 gives you total digital entertainment. You may amplify and enhance your music and movies to a soothingly soft or to a ripping loud volume. Connect to the Internet and instantly stream your music, digital home movies, photographs and graphics or any other files stored in your hard disk, memory and other digital media that are Microsoft Windows XP-based PC that you want to share with others.

When attached to your TV, the Microsoft Xbox 360 takes advantage of the high-definition TV resolution in its full color and size that makes the game movie-like. Its anti-aliasing capability renders the animation flawlessly smooth and non-jerky, and the characters seem as though they are jumping out of the wide screen! When you are connected to the Internet via the Ethernet card, you have the Xbox Live headset, a facility that allows you to voice-chat with other players, thus combining active gaming with socialization.

There are games that are rated “must-have” because they are simply sensational with the Microsoft Xbox 360. These include “Dead or Alive 4,” “Call of Duty 2” for the best WWII shooter, “King Kong” for great effects and “Need for Speed Most Wanted” for racing fans. For some odd reasons, some games that run with excellent audio and video effects using the first version of Xbox don’t run as well in the Xbox 360; these include “Madden NFL 06,” “NBA Live 06.” This must be given immediate attention by the Microsoft people because it is a source of great disappointment for hardcore gamers and, in some cases, could be a deal-breaker.

Pressure is on for movie makers and game programmers/manufacturers to properly and visibly indicate the appropriate rating of their products on the packaging to provide guidance for buyers. In this regard, it is an added attraction to parents that the Microsoft Xbox 360 has settings that allow them to control how it is used by their children. The box has Family Settings which enable parents to shield their children from unsavory or unwholesome contacts. Family Settings perform two functions on the Xbox 360 console-to allow or restrict access to offline games and/or DVD movies, and access to online contact and content via the Xbox Live environment.

ESRB is the regulating body that takes care of rating the propriety or impropriety of a game or movie based on age. ESRB’s restrictions on games are EC (early childhood) for children below 6 years old, containing no inappropriate materials at all; E (everyone) for children younger than 13, and these have minimal violence and comic mischief but are substantial for character building. Some Xbox 360 games with an E rating include Ridge Racer 6 and NBA 2K6.

The rest of the ESRB ratings are: T (teen), which may also contain minimal violence, mild-to-strong language and/or suggestive themes; M (mature 17+) containing mature sexual themes or more intense violence and language; AO (adults only, for players aged 18+), which may include more graphic sexual themes and/or violence; and RP (rating pending) for games that have not been officially released yet.

With the safeguard placed by the Family Settings of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console, the parent feels safe buying the system for their kids. So, whatever the gaming preference of the child – or the parent! — Microsoft Xbox 360 promises to satisfy them.

Packing Properly

Packing Properly

You’ve arrived. You’ve joined the ranks of move-up buyers. The deal on the new house has closed, and all that’s left is to pack up and leave your overcrowded, two-bedroom life behind. With visions of new neighbors, social teas, potluck suppers and picket fences dancing through your head, you hastily toss your treasured valuables randomly into a box labeled “Accessories,” slap some tape over the seams and hand fate over to Manny the Mover.
Now, picture your arrival in your new four-bedroom home. You’re sitting in the middle of your spacious living room, cutting open that box that reads “Accessories” on the outside. Funny … it seems to be making an odd rattling noise when you move it ever so slightly. Tearing open the seams, you uncover not accessories, but rather shards of glass, which have settled in every nook and crevice of the accessories that miraculously stayed in tact. Considering your down payment and that hefty bill for Manny’s services, you’re hardly in the position to replace those (very) breakables.
To avoid accessory-break and heartbreak, purchase more boxes than you think you’ll need before you begin packing. For starters, this avoids your having to run out, mid-packing session, to purchase more boxes. Second, you’ll avoid overpacking your boxes, which often results in breakage … both of your precious valuables and your precious back. Nobody wants to end up in traction after a move. Boxes are expensive, you say? Savvy movers head to their local grocery store or furniture store and ask for their empty boxes. Most retailers are more than happy to accommodate you and merely point you in the direction of the trash bin. Before you haul those boxes into your car and into your home, however, peer inside them first. Some may contain live or dead insects, and you don’t want to expose your new home to bug infestation; nor do you want to unwrap a stray roach upon your arrival.
Before you begin to fill each box, make sure that the bottom flaps aren’t just closed securely, but that they’re also taped shut with heavy-duty packing tape. Although it takes more time in the beginning, pack boxes according to their assigned place in your new home (i.e., living room, kitchen, etc.). This saves you loads of time upon your arrival. Your movers know where to place your belongings so that you don’t have to lug them elsewhere before unpacking them. Pack your boxes with heavier items on the bottom, lighter items on the top.
As you’re packing, you’ll undoubtedly be looking for cushioning material for your valuables. While newspaper is a great choice, just make sure that newsprint isn’t rubbing off on fabric or other linens. It’s a good idea to wrap anything made of fabric in plastic before you place it in a box. And when using newspaper to package your belongings, wash your hands at frequent intervals so that the newsprint doesn’t rub off on your belongings during packing.
Whether or not you trust your computer to your moving crew is your decision. Before you declare “No way!” and swear to move it yourself, consider the story of a personal friend who said the same thing, then dropped his PC while lugging it into his new office. If your comfort level is high enough with Manny to entrust him with your computer (read: your life), pack your computer in its original box and styrofoam inserts if you still have them (and if you don’t, let this be a lesson to you … and instead, use a strong container with plenty of packing material). Before you pack up your PC, make sure you don’t have disks in the drives, and close all drive doors. Back up all of your files on disks, store them together in one box, and take the box with you; Manny’s going to be a bit too preoccupied to pay much attention to their proper care. Make sure those disks aren’t exposed to excessive heat or moisture during your travels.
Even if you’re just moving locally and plan to begin unpacking your belongings the same day you officially depart your previous residence, it will save you considerable grief if you pack a box of essentials and label it as such. Take this box with you so that you don’t have to track it down when you arrive in your new home. Your “essentials” box will contain such must-haves as toilet paper, paper towels, tape, a local phone book (if you have one for your new neighborhood yet), instant coffee and coffee mugs, bar soap, dishwashing detergent, scissors, pens and paper, a small box of laundry detergent, flashlight, a few bath towels, paper plates, cups and plastic utensils, toothpaste, toothbrush and other toiletries, and aspirin.
Following these simple guidelines will save you an enormous amount of time (and money) after your arrival in your new home. Instead of rummaging through unmarked boxes, straining back muscles and mourning the shattered remains of Grandmother’s fine China, you’ll be able to unpack efficiently and enjoy this milestone occasion.

10 Secrets To A Healthy Computer And A Happier You

10 Secrets To A Healthy Computer And A Happier You

There comes a time in a person’s life where no matter how much you fight it time takes its toll and we begin to slow down in how we perform our daily activities. However, in order to extend our youthful glow and energy levels it is important to eat right, exercise, and keep a positive outlook on life.
Now you may ask what has any of that got to do with “Secrets To A Healthy Computer?”
Well, in a way we’re all just like a computer. If you neglect to take care of yourself you soon will cease to function properly and the many tasks that once were easy to do now take twice as long to accomplish and often require you to rest or “reboot” after a malfunction.
I can’t tell you what foods to eat or what exercises to perform because I am not a nutritionist. Although, with my experiences in the personal computer field I can share with you some tips of how to keep that rectangle box of circuitry that sits within sights range functioning at maximum performance as long as time will allow.
Some important steps to follow are…
*Make certain that your computer is located in a well ventilated area and that all air vents are unobstructed to prevent overheating and premature failure to any internal components.
*Clean out the dust build-up at least every 6 months from the inside of the computer case including case vents, power supply vents, and all visible circuitry with a few cans of compressed air that can be purchased from any major computer store or electronics outlet. This will help reduce the chances of overheating and circuitry damage.
Before cleaning just be certain to always unplug the computer from the wall outlet and never physically contact the circuitry inside the computer case to prevent damage.
*Be prepared for an unsuspected failure by always making backups of any important data that you do not and can not afford to lose.
I personally keep updated backups of my website and even store the disks at a remote location away from my every day use computers just in case a disaster were to occur and my main computers were destroyed resulting in the need for those lost files.
*Purchase and install a well known anti-virus program that can be regularly updated with the latest virus definitions and ran during boot-up to help protect your computer from being the victim of an unwanted infestation.
*Every few months or so run your computer’s “Scandisk” program followed by the “Defragmenter” program to maximize the efficiency of your hard drive.
If you are not certain of how to use these utilities and being that the steps to execute these programs varies slightly from one operating system to the other it would be easiest to simply use the “Help” option that can be found by clicking on the START button found on your computers desktop.
The START menu will open up a drop-down-box that should display the “Help” option. By going here you can enter the keywords that deal with the answers to the subject you are searching for.
*Run your computers “Disk Cleanup” utility every other week or so. If set the “Disk Cleanup” utility will automatically empty the recycling bin and recover some wasted disk space by removing the internet temporary files that seem to always accumulate.
Again, use the “Help” option if you are uncertain of how to perform this task.
*Never smoke near a computer because the cooling fans will pull the smoke into the case where it can coat the inside parts of the computer with a residue which in turn can damage sensitive components.
*Place the computer case in an area where it will not be accidentally kicked or bumped to prevent the loosening of cables and damage to internal parts.
*Invest in a high quality surge protector to provide your computer and monitor against voltage spikes or “surges” that can dramatically shorten the life of your system. Just like most items in a store, “You get what you pay for”. So don’t skimp out on this important device!
Its also not a bad idea to invest in a surge protector that includes what is called a “Data Line Protector” which allows you to connect your telephone lines to and serves the same purpose for the telephone line to your modem just like the surge protector does for the electrical household current lines.
*Finally, if you plan on being away from home for more that a few days at a time or if there is a thunderstorm brewing in your area it is a very wise decision to always unplug all electrical lines and modem telephone lines from your system. Even with a surge protector installed it is possible that such a large voltage spike such as one caused by a lightening strike could prove fatal to any computer system.