For starters, you can get one of these degrees and the online colleges go through the same accreditation process as traditional colleges. The main difference is that you can apply to one of these programs and take classes on your own time. Not everyone has the ease and flexibility in their schedule to attend traditional universities.

As we’ve seen in recent years, many people have to return to school in order to improve their candidacy for employment in a job market that’s more competitive that ever before. Many of these people are non-traditional students, which means that they’re older and likely have responsibilities. More traditional students that just graduated high school usually don’t have a full-time job and children to care for. It’s not just because it’s more convenient because, for some online degrees are the only option for those that don’t have the time or the luxury to participate in a traditional education setting.
With online degree programs, many of the people that are entering them usually have a much better understanding of what they’re trying to accomplish. It’s with online schools that you can create a tailored experience that will work best with your particular field of study. Many traditional majors are based strictly on giving you a basic overview of a topic. Though these institutions are great for a working general knowledge of many different areas of the market, they don’t always give you the best focused approach to education. Online colleges give you the information that you need and allow you to focus on specific areas that will give you the knowledge and education you need and not a bunch of information that you’re never going to need.

One of the side benefits of online schools is that you don’t have to deal with many of the ancillary costs of going to a traditional college. Whether you’re a commuter or you live on campus, brick-and-mortar schools have many side costs in transportation, living expenses, rent, food, and gas. With online schools you take all of those costs and through them right out of the widow. With online schools you simply save way more money. It’s become so popular, in fact, that many traditional colleges have begun to start similar online programs of their own. They realize that not everyone wants to deal with the normal college life and simply want to get the education so they can be more competitive in the workforce.

Though many traditional and younger students have found the myriad benefits of online education programs, it’s growth in use and popularity has largely been due to the use of typically non-traditional students. These programs don’t cater to one specific group, but it’s not about getting the college experience. It’s far more focused and to the point because, with online schools, you’re getting an education. You’re not going to get the dorm life experience or all the parties. Online schools are all about getting the information and education you need in the way that you need it.

The new gaming laptop is labeled MSI GE620DX, and it really does not look like your run-of-the-mill gaming laptops.

MSI GE620DX

As you can see, the machine is designed very simply. One really wouldn’t think of it as a gaming laptop from the get go! I do like the metal brush finish of the case – who wouldn’t? And even closed, the MSI GE620DX does not look too bad at all.

MSI GE620DX Closed

So aside from the subdued design, is there anything else remarkable about the MSI GE620DX? Definitely! It hasn’t been labeled a gaming laptop for nothing.

The processor – i7-2630QM quad core processor (core speeds of 2.00GHz) – combined with the graphics card – nVidia GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card – will certainly contribute to a great gaming experience. As for the sound, the laptop comes with MSI’s Premium Sound and THX TruStudio Pro, ensuring only the best sound experience while playing.

There’s another plus – the MSI GE620DX has support for MSI GPU Boost technology. This technology allows switching between the discrete graphics card and the graphics chip, depending on what the laptop is doing. This gives you performance when needed and helps save power at the same time.

Other important details…the MSI GE620DX has a 720p camera (which might not be a necessity for gaming, but is always handy to have), an HDMI port (perfect for when you feel like playing on the big screen), and USB 3.0 ports. The laptop comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, supports up to 8GB of RAM, and has a 15.6-inch (1366 x 768) LED backlit screen.

If it is about time that you get a new gaming laptop, the MSI GE620DX just might be what you are looking for.

Via

Free Laptop!

Who wouldn’t want a laptop for free? Even those who already have a laptop or two at home will certainly appreciate acquiring a new one without paying a single cent!

Recently, AtCheap.com announced a contest offering the opportunity to win a free HP laptop, and it’s still open. AtCheap.com is a site which offers comparison services. It does what it says on the tin – you basically search for a product that are looking to purchase. The site then does the tedious task of comparing product prices from more than 60,000 stores. All that is left for you to do is to look at the cheapest prices shown in the search results.

AtCheap.com covers not only laptops but other gadgets such as digital cameras, televisions, mobile phones, mp3 players, and watches. You can also search for and compare products such as clothing, make up, sunglasses, and so on.

The contest is simple. You just need to go the AtCheap web site and sign up. The thing that I am not too sure about is that you need to log in using Facebook. I am a stickler for privacy so when it comes to logging in on other sites, I prefer not to link my Facebook account. Also, you need to invite 25 friends to qualify for the contest. I am not sure, but that sounds a little spammy. Still, if you want that chance to win the laptop, then you might as well go for it.

Based on a press release published by the company¹, there are 1,000 laptops up for grabs, and only 500 have been given away so far. After signing up and inviting friends, you simply have to wait for the guys at AtCheap to get in touch with you via e-mail. They will ask for your shipping address, and you just have to wait for that freebie.

It sounds too good to be true, to be honest, but it just might give you that extra laptop to play around with. Or if you really need a laptop, then joining the contest is a no-brainer. Unfortunately, this seems to be a US-only promo, so those of us in other parts of the world will have to sit this one out.

1. Press Release

G-Slate

Have you gotten yourself an iPad 2 yet? I am not going anywhere near one as I think the iPad is more than enough to suit my needs. That is, playing my silly games and occasionally surfing the Web. There is also the even rarer occasions when I use the iPad to blog or create documents. My point is, I am the kind of user who does not need a faster tablet.

If, however, you have a need for speed, then you will be excited to know that T-Mobile is touting their new tablet, the LG G-Slate. Their claims are rather bold, designed to make one’s blood quicken upon reading. A whopping 200 percent faster than Apple’s newest tablet (iPad2). An even more impressive 300 percent faster than Motorola’s XOOM. How can that not fail to impress?

But they do not stop there. They highlight what may be the deciding factor for a whole lot of people – the price. The LG G-Slate is cheaper than both the iPad2 and the XOOM. Consumers have to shell out $729 for the iPad 2 and $599.99 (on contract) for the Motorola XOOM. For the LG G-Slate, one only has to put aside $399.99 for a 2-year contract. And if you hate being tied down by contracts, then you can get the G-Slate for $599.99 – still considerably than the other options!

Given the attractiveness of the package due to the speed and pricing, the question is whether the LG G-Slate will become as popular as the current tablets in the market. In a review published by BGR¹ a couple of months ago, it seems that the LG G-Slate still has a lot of catching up to do. Catching up in terms of the user interface and apps. But these are issues that have always plagued Android devices (mainly because of people who compare them to Apple devices), and still the Android camp has a strong following. On the other hand, the G-Slate is said to be very solidly built, having a high end feel – not like some cheap plastic device.

Bottomline: the LG G-Slate will be an attractive option for consumers who are not Apple fanboys. And there are more of them out there than some might think.

1. Review

ARM Laptop Chart

Love it or hate it, but Windows is still the most used operating system around the world. Reasons range from convenience to price to habit to loyalty, but if rumors are to be believed, there is another reason for people to continue patronizing Bill Gates’s major software product. In the foreseeable future, we are going to see the launch of Windows 8. And while countless people are too focused on the launch of Apple’s Lion (and the MacBook Airs!) today, there is no doubt that when the time comes, Windows 8 will get its fair share of coverage.

More than the operating system, though, the rumors are also highlighting a probable consequence – the boom of a new breed of low cost laptops. No matter how you look at it, price is always a prime consideration for many buyers. We may all want the best specs, but sometimes, the price is a big hindrance.

So what is the link between the upcoming Windows 8 operating system and laptops that won’t break the bank? According to Matthew Wilkins, an analyst at t IHS-iSuppli, the reason is the ARM processors. By the year 2015, Wilkins says that around 25 percent of laptops will have the ARM processors. And guess what? Windows 8 is ARM-enabled.

Wilkins goes further and predicts that laptop manufacturers will jump into the bandwagon by making budget laptops using the new processors. By “budget” he means laptops priced below $700 – with a lot going as low as $500. While we do have these budget laptops today (at least based on the price alone), the major difference is in the processor. If – or maybe when – laptop manufacturers start using ARM processors instead of the current AMD and Intel ones, then we might just have more options for laptops that will free up more cash for other expenses.

I am not too sure about the cause and effect situation as described by Wilkins¹. Is the predicted rise of new low cost laptops (running on ARM processors) because of Windows 8, or is Windows 8 going to be more popular because of the ARM processors? Maybe it works both ways, or maybe I am missing something. In any case, the most important thing is that more budget laptops are in our future.

1. Source

Samsung Series 9 Laptop

The other day, I was walking around the mall when a huge display caught my eye in what usually is an open space. Samsung was holding a special exhibit, and special it was! The Series 9 laptops have been the talk of the town for a while now, although I don’t know too many people getting their hands on one. It seems, though, that Samsung has struck gold with this series, making their thin laptops a feasible alternative to Apple’s MacBook Airs. And if expanding the line is anything to go by, then Samsung has really done a good job with the initial offerings.

The news is that there are new 13.3-inch versions which are part of the Series 9 laptops. First comes the NP900X3A-B01US, which comes with an Core i5-2467M CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. This configuration will cost you a nice $1,349.

If the 128GB storage is not enough for you (understandably, if the laptop is going to be your main computer, that storage space needs to be bumped up), then the next model might be more to your liking – the NP900X3A-B02US. It has similar specs to the previous laptop, except that the SSD is 256GB. The price tag for this configuration is $1,649.

Now for the big boy – the NP900X3A-A05US. This laptop has a Core i7-2617M, 6GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD – all for $2,049.

Of course, it is to be expected that the additions to the line up includes smaller sized laptops. The Samsung Series 9 is also welcoming two new laptops in the 11-inch models. The NP900X1B-A02US has a Core i3-2357M processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. The price is $1,049.

The other option is the NP900X3A-A01US, with the same processor as above, but more RAM at 4GB and more storage space at 128GB (SSD as well). This is priced at $1,249.

My first thoughts – beautifully sleek, but disappointingly pricey. Why would I want to go for these laptops if they are not way cheaper than the MacBook Airs? Then again, for people who want the look without leaving Windows, these laptops are perfect. Another thing going for these laptops is the material used to make the case – duralumin, which is supposed to be twice as strong as aluminum.

Watch out for their release next month, although I hear some stores are already offering them on a pre-order basis.

Via

The problem is simple, but the results of any malfunction can be painful: the defective batteries may overheat and rupture. Obviously, if you’re using the laptop when/if this happens, you can get serious burns. Otherwise, you run the risk of setting your home/office on fire, just like what has happened to some users in 2010.

So if you have an HP laptop, how do you know if you need to get in touch with HP (and not waste their – and your – time in case you are not affected)?

Certain HP laptops that were manufactured between July 2007 and May 2008 are affected by the problem. So the first thing to do is to check when your laptop was manufactured. If it does not fall in between those dates, go on with your life. If your laptop was manufactured in that period, here is a complete list of model numbers and battery bar codes: US Consumer Product Safety Commission announcement. A quick list: HP Pavilion, Compaq Presario, HP, and HP Compaq.

Once you have determined that your laptop and battery are included in the list, do another check by visiting HP’s validation process web site. From there, you can also start the process of requesting a replacement battery, which is of course, free of charge.

I hope that you are not affected, but if you are, best get that battery replaced NOW!

Photo via Complaints Board

If you are a fan of Sony products, then you might want to know that the newest in the Vaio line is now available on a pre-order basis on the Sony web site. Here’s the dish on the F series laptops.

Inside, you’ll find Intel Core i7 quad core processors to make sure that you have the computing power that you want and need. Sony recommends that you run Windows 7 on the laptop, although you can always use your preferred operating system. You can choose between the 16-inch 3D display and the 16.4-inch 2D display. And yes, you read that right – the laptops are 3D compatible, allowing you the luxury of watching the latest 3D movies on Blu-ray. The selection may not be that brilliant at the moment, but 3D capability might come in handy in the future. Personally, I would opt out of the 3D functionality for now.

Moving along, other key points about the F series include NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics and S-Force™ Front Surround 3D audio. As for the battery life, the 2D models can last for 2.5 hours on default settings and only 1.5 hours on DVD playback. This is rather poor, don’t you think?

As for connectivity, it has the usual Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, plus it also has two USB 3.0 ports.

The laptops are available in four colors – glossy black, matte black, premium white, and silver.

Of course, you can configure the laptop to your heart’s content, but that probably means you will be paying more than the base price of $799.

Until now, PC has been competing with Apple and it’s approach has been its beneficial price difference. Everyone is making PC’s these days and competition is stiff which is motivating many of the Microsoft based computing systems to find cheaper and cheaper ways to produce an affordable laptop. But there’s one difference between the two computing camps, there’s only one Mac, and it’s clobbering the PC world, both in brand recognition and sales.

Intel recently asked designers to create a game changer. They wanted a better laptop that had to compete with Apple’s fashionable models, sate of the art wireless internet connective capabilities, and the fastest computing capabilities currently possible, and they want it all as thin as a Motorola Razr. Only one engineer, Ziba Design, rose to the challenge.

Ziba Design, based out of Portland, Oregon, hopes to create the next generation of computers that will finally allow PCs to recapture the top spot in the computer world. It wants to make the world’s thinnest notebook. They’re hoping to come in at less than 0.7th’s of an inch thick. This commuter, code-named Intel Mobile Metro Notebook, is hoped to be the smallest, most efficient, technological advancement in computers to date. It has to be the best to beat the Mac, apparently.

It’s up against a lot of odds and many are wondering if it will meet the challenge. Apple has many factors on its side such as: superior brand recognition, greater sales, consumer loyalty, and excellent advertising. People love the iconic Apple image and it has become a trademark in every film and media presentation. This new notebook is definitely the underdog in this fight and only time will tell if this new design will be able to compete with its Apple counterpart, the Macbook Air.

With their development, the Lithium Ion battery as we know it might just live longer than we are used to. According to the company, they are launching a tweaked version of the Lithium Ion battery, and it will NOT start degrading for three years – at least. That means that users will have access to the full power capacity of the battery for that minimum period.

Think about what this means. When before you would have about one year or so of full charge (if you have a good battery and if you’re lucky, even) before you had to start relying on your power cord to use your laptop continuously, the new battery will allow you to be as mobile as you want to be for three times longer.

Leyden Energy’s patented technology gives a high energy density (225Wh/kg, >400Wh/I) and has more than 1,000 cycles at 60 degrees Celsius. More than having the most out of the battery at high temperatures, this also means that the product is safer for use.

How much is this extended-life battery going to cost us? Leyden Energy has not revealed pricing details yet, but they said that they will be selling the battery via Canadian battery retailer Dr. Battery. One thing seems to be sure – we are expected to pay more than the standard batteries we have access to today. As to when it will reach the other parts of the world, we just have to wait and see.