MySpeed VoIP tests VoIP connection quality

Considering changing or starting phone service using your Internet connection?

MySpeed provides VoIP quality tests to test your VoIP connection quality.  This will help you see if your Internet service is up to the level that will give you acceptable voice service comparable to traditional phone lines.

Spectackler Compares Electronic Products

MakeUseOf has a post about Spectackler which “tries to help you with the buying decision for electronic products. It lets you find the exact product you’re looking for by letting you search for electronics and gadgets and then easily compare them side-by-side.”

Active Free Stuff from graphics to t-shirts

Now here’s a site that us cheapskates can really enjoy:Active Free Stuff.

“Our purpose is simple, to bring free stuff to the internet community. Simply browse around and get tons of free stuff or you can sign up for our free stuff newsletter to get weekly free stuff right to your email.”

Free stuff for web sites, for health and beauty, for t-shirts, for entertainment, books and magazine, food … all sorts of stuff.

Use any of this at your own risk, but some bargains might be found.

These speedup utilities aren’t worth your money

WindowsSecrets has a post on These speedup utilities aren’t worth your money.

“Dozens of Windows utilities promise to optimize your system’s memory, improve your Internet connection speed, and rev up disk-access times to provide an overall performance boost. Some of these benefits can be demonstrated. For example, in a Sept. 11, 2008, Best Software column (paid content), Windows Secrets contributing editor Scott Spanbauer found three Windows cleanup utilities worth recommending: Business Logic’s WinCleaner OneClick Professional Clean, Piriform’s CCleaner, and PC Pitstop’s PC Optimize.”

Check this before buying the wrong software.

Search for Discount Deals

MakeUseOf.com has a post on DealsLook, a search engine that searches over 100 top deal sites.

Another they suggest is called FreshBargains which covers 15 major deal sites.

Microsoft Office student discount

While this site normally doesn’t promote commercial software (companies have budgets of their own for that!), the Microsoft Office Suite is the campus standard software and many students would like to get it at a discount.

Try the student discount for the ultimate package here.

PriceAdvance add-ons for IE and Firefox

PriceAdvance has add-ons for both IE and Firefox, which search for products that you’re currently viewing, to see if other prices can be found elsewhere.  Freeware add-ons.

Note: some proxy servers may interfere with this add-on working.

Best academic discounts for students, faculty & staff

Windows Secrets had instructions on how to get Microsoft Windows software at an academic discount for students, faculty & staff.  Requirements on what they want differ from vendor to vendor.  This article was dated April 12, 2007 so check current prices starting with these sites, and then perhaps elsewhere.

Where to shop for academic discounts

“Using your favorite search engine, you should have no difficulty finding software retailers that offer academic discounts. The ones I’ve found that have the best prices and selection are, in alphabetical order:”

• Academic Superstore
  Campus Tech
  Creation Engine
  CCV Software
  JourneyEd
  School World
  VioSoftware
  

Buying a laptop? Check it out with these sites

CNET has a Laptop Buying Guide to help you select the right kind of laptop and find reviews of the available brands and models.

My Product Advisor helps you find information on laptops, tablets, cars, cell phones, televisions and digital cameras.

Which cell phone do you prefer?

Finding the phone with the right combination of features, that is convenient for the way you use it… not an easy choice.  MakeUseOf reviews a new site that lets you test drive phones, called  TryPhone.

The site is adding more phones soon but has a number of them already.  You can see:

• For each phone view: dozens of demos and howto video (ex. how to download music), full specs list (battery life, dimensions, weight …), user reviews and ratings, etc.
• Compare multiple phones side-by-side.

HP notebooks problems

A class action lawsuit was filed against HP (Hewlett Packard) for faulty graphics adapters and motherboards in some HP notebooks.  Click here for the information on it.  Current owners may fill out a claim form postmarked by April 4, 2008, or take other action by the deadlines stated.

Recommended by SmartComputing magazine.

Upgrades that are not (upgrades, that is)

Webware has a post on 6 upgrades that are downgrades, meaning that the newer version is (in the poster’s opinion) worse than a previous version.

Interesting to note that the #1 item is Windows Vista.  The author describes it as “Vista is the new shiny operating system Microsoft released to replace Windows XP. Except it hasn’t, because it’s a poor upgrade. It’s slower, bigger, and buggier.”

Quicken is another complaint: “Intuit apparently believes that new users won’t buy a personal accounting product if it’s last year’s model, and it also wants to upgrade its current users each year. So it “sunsets” older versions after three years: it turns off online access to bank updates and eliminates support. Sadly, some older versions of Quicken are faster and more stable than the new versions.”

One of the Linksys wireless routers comes in for a blast, as do Zune and iPod and cameras.

See the post for further examples.

Inkjet cartridges on the cheaper side

Inkjet ink costs more than gasoline, but it doesn’t make the headlines as often.

Review: the Cheapest Inkjet Cartridges Sites from Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert newsletter has places to get your cartridges cheaply.

Refurbished computers from Dell

UA Fort Smith presently uses a lot of Dell desktop and laptop computers.  While this is not an endorsement, it indicates one possible brand available.

You don’t have to get one brand new, however.  A refurbished computer may (check carefully!) have the same warranty, and actually be doublechecked because it came back once.

Dell’s TKO Education recertified used computers from Dell.

Cheaper Vista by upgrading?

Get cheaper Vista upgrade, never pay full price From Windows Secrets, the instructions on how to install Vista using the cheaper upgrade process, but without having an older version of Windows installed first. Windows Secrets contends that this appears to be a legal method of getting Vista more cheaply, by buying the lower-priced “upgrade” version without actually having an earlier version of Windows on the computer.

Notebooks and laptops sites

Notebook and Laptop Reviews can offer you information on your computer buying, Dell discounts and pricing.

Notebookforums has reviews, pricing and possible discount coupons.

Both recommended by Coolsites newsletter.

Refurbished Macs

The Apple Store has refurbished Macs for discount prices. (If this link doesn’t work, check Apple.com and search for refurbished.)

This is not intended as an endorsement or support for this vendor. It is provided simply as a way for students, faculty and staff to save money if they are considering a purchase.

Note that the new Intel-based Macs may be capable of running both the Mac and Windows operating systems, if you purchase some additional enabling software. This might be a way to have the best of both worlds, but check the model and it’s compatibility before buying anything for this purpose.

Versions and versions of Vista

Wondering what version of Windows Vista to ask for?

• Techgage compares the Vista versions.
• Windows Secrets has information on Vista Ultimate that may affect your decision.
• Tom’s Hardware compares Vista speed and functions versus XP.
• Tom’s Hardware compares Vista speed and functions versus XP.
• A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection is an opinion on the media content protection in Vista. It may lead to second thoughts about upgrading to Vista.

Saving money on Microsoft products

Windows Secrets has advice and links on how to save money on Microsoft Windows and other products. Use at your own risk.

WARNING: Student/Faculty, aka “Academic” versions of Microsoft products, may NOT qualify you for cheaper “upgrade” versions later.
For example, the Office Suite’s academic version for 2003 may not be eligible for the discounted upgrade to the 2007 version, even if it
says “all versions” on the box. You may need to buy another complete academic version instead.