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Only 26 Shopping Days ’til Christmas

November 29, 2007 at 10:25 am · in Coupons · Comments (56)

Doesn’t it feel like Summer just ended a few days ago? Well it was over two months ago and Christmas is fast approaching, so you better start shopping. Here’s a list of the latest coupons by store:

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TechSay Says IT Surveys Pay

November 29, 2007 at 1:43 am · in Technology · Comments (15)

Breckenridge Cartwright (I swear that’s his name) thought this might be up your alley:

We figure the readers of Lockergnome might be interested in joining TechSay. If they do, they can get paid for their opinions on IT issues through online surveys. We know they are not going to answer a survey for “the chance to win an iPod”, so we just pay cash.

We use a point system to handle the fact that we pay out in USD, Canadian dollars, Euros, British Pounds, etc. but in any case for each questionnaire the participant knows in advance how much they will make (minimum $10). IT pros tend to like the money, but according to what we’ve heard, they also like being able to “fix” products / software / services that they will end up using on a daily basis.

We’d like you to invite your readers to join TechSay.

Okay, so obviously I’ll get a credit if I refer you to take these surveys - but I’m largely interested in getting paid for the feedback I have been previously been handing out for free.

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Top 5 Tips on Buying Technology: Hardware and Software

November 29, 2007 at 1:28 am · in Media Blog, Hardware, Software · Comments (23)

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I am an early adopter when it comes to technology. I tend to spot tech trends sooner than the average consumer, and I’m quick to buy something when it’s hot off the shelf. However, this isn’t always the best way to go about purchasing new technology. Here are Pongo Shawn’s top five tips when buying new technology products:

  • Don’t buy immediately Is this something you really need? Or do you just want it, because it looks cool or everyone else is buying it? Chances are, if you buy based on “want”… you will end up wasting money on things you’ll never use. Also, look for discounts whenever possible. You can always keep an eye on my chris.pirillo.com blog for special deals and coupons.
  • Don’t always shop at the same store Even if you have one favorite place where you like to buy all your techie products, shop around for other stores who may have the same thing at a much lower price.
  • Do your homework This is a must no matter what you’re doing. Check online for product reviews, but take them with a grain of salt. If people are complaining about the color… and that doesn’t matter much to you… then it’s not really “negative” feedback, is it? However, if many people are saying the same things about defects, you better think twice about that particular purchase.
  • Be careful buying used items This is especially true with buying through Ebay or other similar sites. Check out the person you’re wanting to buy from. For instance, on Ebay you can view a seller’s rating. My video uploader Kat has a method she always uses. She refuses to buy from anyone who has less than 1000 ratings. Of those 1000, they must have a minimum of 99% positive feedback. Otherwise, she looks for someone else to shop with. This is just for your own protection, folks.
  • Don’t wait forever for new versions There will always be something newer, but it may not always be “better”. When you find what fits your budget and your needs, buy it once you’ve researched.

Edited to add follow-up. I received another excellent tip via Email after this video was posted, and wanted to pass it along:

Hey Chris,
First i want to say that i am an extreamly avid readier of you blog, chatter in your chatroom, and subscriber to the Youtube channel, and podcast. Recently, I watched a video that you posted on Youtube, about a top 5 that you read, about Buying Technology, Hardware and software.

After watching it, i really wanted to bring-up another point: about 90% of the time, there is a free/shareware or opensorce alternative to the software out there. Allot of people don’t like this, because of things they have heard in the past about free software, (that they cause virus etc..) but as long it is trusted, and recommended by people that you trust, (like you!) you should be fine. Allot of the time, the free alternative is just as good, or better than the one you where going to pay a fortune for. Also, when buying software, don’t immediately buy it at the store. Not only can you most likely get it cheaper online, but sometimes, there are free demo downloads for the software on their website, or other trusted places, like Apple.com.

Hope this helps!

~Steven, Naples, Florida

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Top 5 Tips to Avoid Viruses and Spyware

November 29, 2007 at 12:48 am · in Media Blog · Comments (27)

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Eric sent in his top five list of tips for downloading things safely from the Internet. My best advice is to remember that software such as anti-virus programs are your *second* layer of defense against malware. The #1 layer is YOU and your common sense. Here are Eric’s top 5 tips for safe Internet downloading:

Close all other applications while running a setup wizard If you have other applications running, it can cause the install to fail, or critical files to be corrupted… even making uninstallation impossible by normal means. Chris adds: This isn’t completely correct, however it is a good idea to quit other applications. Also, never run more than ONE installer at the same time.

Only download from trusted sites Don’t trust a bunch of random people on YouTube, for instance. If something screams out “free!”, it is likely a scam. Do some research, know what you’re downloading and the site you’re getting it from. Get recommendations from trusted family and friends, and even via some of the excellent computer forums online.

Don’t download anything from “dirty” sites You may be sitting there giggling by now, but adult sites are about 90% of the way computers get infected. Most every one of those sites has malware embedded in them, and even more when you download something from them.

Be careful using P2P programs Ahh, here is the other 10% of the malware. Peer to Peer file sharing. Be smart when downloading anything this way. Check the file sizes, and the titles. Seriously guys. If a file on a Torrent site (for instance) claims to give you Vista for free or turn your PC into a “psp” machine to allow you to game… do you REALLY think it’s true?

Make sure the company you’re downloading from is really legit There are many sites and companies out there who pretend to be Apple, or Microsoft, or any other number of reputable companies. Never download something that claims to be from them from somewhere other than their site, without making sure you know it really did come from them. Also, make sure the site you are going to download from has permission from the content owner to host the file for download.

Use common sense, do your research, and protect yourself. Happy safe computing!

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Top 5 Tips on Repairing Your own Computer: PC and Mac

November 29, 2007 at 12:05 am · in Computer, Media Blog · Comments (8)

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Brandon is a community member who works for Geek Squad. He sees customers come in every day with nearly the same problems, and came up with his top five tips for getting your own machine back up and running, whether you own a PC or a Mac.

Google is your friend Knowledge is power, even when working on a computer problem. There are thousands of websites and resources out there in Internet-land that can help you decipher that odd error message, sound or whatever problem you are experiencing.

Ask the dumbest questions possible Start from the ground up. Many times, the simplest fix can be the one that works. Don’t try to over-think the problem, or assume it’s something awful and too hard to fix.

Read the Manual… especially when it comes to add-on devices such as a sound card or modem. You will usually find the answer you need simply by reading the manual that came with the product. An addendum to this is that you can go to the manufacturer’s website, and read their “FAQ” or similar page. Many vendors have these with the answers to the most common/frequent questions and complaints. Remember: RTFM. (Read the FINE Manual).

Backup BEFORE you begin This is imperative… especially if you’re going to open the case to work on something physical. Regular backups outside your machine are always a good idea, anyway. You can backup to another machine, a CD or DVD, or even to an online service.

Be patient and calm This is the biggest tip I can give you. Computer repair can be a long process, especially when it comes to software. Most people have the capacity to fix their own machine, but aggravation often causes them to just give up. Stay calm, walk away when you need to. You might be surprised what you can fix on your own with some patience and research.

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Top 5 Tips for Buying an Audio Mic and USB Headset

November 28, 2007 at 11:25 pm · in Media Blog, Technology · Comments (6)

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On occasion, I’ve asked for your Top 5 tips and tricks. Thanks to bowler4ever for this excellent video email.

Top 5 Tips for Buying A Headset:

  • Don’t buy dirt cheap! They break too easily or too soon, they tend to not have any controllers for the microphone and/or headphones (if you have a headset), they tend to not last very long, and the sound quality can be pretty bad and you can get static to no end!
  • Buy within your budget! These $300 headsets may look great, but some can go for $45 and can work just as great or even better. So do your homework on these!
  • Find a set that looks comfortable for your ears and also look for an adjustable mic (so when you’re not using the mic, you can put it off to the side of the headset). Comfort is EVERYTHING in a headset. Make sure you find a headset that will fit your ears comfortably (preferably ones with the padding around the edge) and make sure they’re not too small, otherwise it’ll just keep falling off (having one with a clip that goes around the ear is a GREAT option, as this problem is vitually eliminated!)
  • Make sure the store you buy it at allows you to return it within 1-2 weeks, even if you’ve already opened the product, tried it, and you don’t like it. It makes no sense whatsoever if you buy a headset and try it, but you don’t like it and the store won’t let you return it, ESPECIALLY if they don’t have ones on display that you can try on! Staples is a great place to buy one and it has a 2 week return policy (as far as I know).
  • If you have never tried one that plugs in via USB, I strongly recommend you try one, especially if you have a bad sound card or you have none at all, because the drivers are either on a CD or, when plugged in, immediately recognized by the computer and the software gets installed via Plug-and-Play. (There are ones that come with both analog [which is plugged into the sound card] AND USB [via an adapter that comes with the headset]).

So, those are the top 5 tips for buying a headset! If you have any questions/recommendations for a headset, e-mail me via YouTube or Ustream or just shoot an e-mail to one of the best geeks in the computer industry. His name is Chris Pirillo and he can help you out with a lot of stuff. His e-mail address is chris@pirillo.com and if you want to see him in action, please drop by and say hello at live.pirillo.com. Thanks for watching!

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Yule Log: Fire Video Screen Saver for your Desktop or iPod

November 28, 2007 at 10:25 pm · in Media Blog, Holidays, Fun · Comments (12)

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There’s nothing like a crackling fire to warm you inside and out during the holiday season. And now… you can even have that “fire” on your desktop.

At iYule.tv, you can purchase 30-minutes of crackling fire and a beautiful original score by Geoff Smith formated for wide or standard screen portable players, your computer or Apple TV. This was filmed in high definition, and can come with or without music.

This is a collaborative effort between Geoff, Paul Cullgian, and Cali and Neal. The cost for the Yule Log is anywhere from $5.00 to $10.00, depending on what you need. Why should you pay for this? Well, a portion of the proceeds is going to charity. ‘Tis the Season for giving, after all. In Cali’s own words:

This is something we’ve worked on nights and weekends for almost a month and we hope it’s something that will warm your heart and bring smiles to the faces of friends you share it with.

If you’re giving someone an iPod that plays video this year, load it up with the iYule Log.

If you’re taking that special someone in your life out for a nice holiday dinner, load iYule Log on your iPod and put it on the table for a touch of whimsical romance.

Proceeds will be split by the producers and a percentage will go to three of our favorite charities. Geoff chose the Songs of Love Foundation, a charity that provides personalized songs for chronically and terminally ill children and young adults. Paul has chosen LitLiberation, the largest online literacy experiment in history. Neal and I have chosen Heifer International, a non-profit that helps families in poverty by giving them valuable live animals to provide eggs, milk and farming help.

The video we’ve produced is a cozy multi-sensory experience that pulls me into the romantic essence of a fireplace, every time I turn it on to watch.

You can also get the cool Christmas clock wallpaper you see on my other desktop, for free!

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12 Days of Christmas Song: A Music Geek Carol!

November 27, 2007 at 9:55 pm · in Media Blog, Holidays, Fun · Comments (20)


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That’s right, the 12 Days of Christmas… Geek style! Thanks to the community members in the live.pirillo.com chat room who helped me come up with the lyrics.

Going backwards, here are the lyrics:

On the 12th Day of Christmas, my geek love gave to meeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Happy Holidays everyone!

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Make Extra Money Online During the Holidays: Ebay Auctions

November 27, 2007 at 9:15 pm · in Media Blog, Holidays · Comments (7)

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Last night, I offered up two of my old digital cameras for sale to the chat room. Nothing is wrong with either of them… in fact, they aren’t really even old. Then it hit me. Why not throw these up on Ebay in auctions?

Even though I’ve used ebay for years to buy things, I have never before sold anything. So, I created a seller’s account, and off I went. It was actually a lot easier than I expected it to be. Using the picture tutorial made starting my auction a snap. You’d be surprised at some of the things you can make money off of on Ebay. Think of all the things lying around your house that you dont’ use anymore. You don’t want to throw them away, do you? They still work! Why not list them for sale and make a few bucks?

I listed several things I had lying around. Surprisingly, the autographed mouse pad is going for about $40.00! Ya just have to love our community members. I also listed several other items on my L0ckergn0me ebay account. Yes, that is typed correctly. The word Lockergnome is spelled with zeros, instead of o’s. Thus: L0ckergn0me.

Instead of going out to get yet another job for the holidays, why not consider making your shopping money by selling things you no longer want or use?

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PSP on the HDTV: Component AV Cable

November 27, 2007 at 8:42 pm · in Gadgets, Media Blog · Comments (8)

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Pardon me while I watch a movie on my 42″ television… oh, did I mention the movie is actually playing on my PSP, and also on my tv?

I took a DVD that I already own, and ripped it to my PSP. Then, I just grabbed the new Component AV Cable and hooked the PSP to my tv. I can watch movies, read my RSS feeds, or browse the Internet, all using the PSP controls and viewing on my big screen.

There are two main drawbacks to this cable. The first is that while you can browse your PSP full screen, and surf the ‘Net full screen… you cannot play games full screen. Sony dropped the ball with that one. But for only $20.00, that’s not much to complain about! The only other complaint I have is that the cord does not retract back into itself. I LIVE for retractable cords, people!

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iPhone and iPod Video and Audio Cable for TV

November 27, 2007 at 7:55 pm · in Media Blog, Apple · Comments (4)

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Whenever I want to show Ponzi something from YouTube, she complains that she doesn’t like watching it on the small screen of the iPhone. Well, now I can connect my iPhone or iPod directly to my 42″ Plasma tv!

Using the Apple Composite AV Cable, you can connect your iPod, iPhone, or Universal Dock via the 30-pin dock connector to your TV, home theater receiver, or stereo receiver via the composite video and red/white analog audio ports. The cable also features a USB connector that you can plug into a power source, such as a computer or the included USB Power Adapter.

With them connected, I simply click the YouTube button on the iPhone, which takes me directly to the site. Choose a video to watch, and a box pops up asking me if I want to view it on the iPhone or the television. Choose television… and there it is. I can even change the aspect ratio that displays on the tv by using the iPhone controls.

Pretty much any media file on (or obtained through) your iPhone or iPod can be viewed or listened to on a home stero or television. Now you can watch slide shows, listen to your music with your awesome surround sound, or check out the latest videos online… on bigger screens, and with better sounds.

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I’m Gonna be on Television!

November 27, 2007 at 7:30 pm · in Media Blog, Internet, Fun · Comments (5)

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Every day, someone asks me if I’m ever going to be on television again. I am going to settle this question once and for all.

Chris goes over, lays his upper body on top of his tv, and shouts: “There! I’m on tv! Now stop asking me when I’ll be on tv! Are you happy now?

Besides, the Internet is better anyway.

Edited to add in excellent follow-up comment:

I just watched your segment titled “I’m Gonna be on Television!” & as usual you were funny. but when you ended it by saying “Who needs television when you got the internet?”, you hit upon reality with a ton of bricks!!! Ever since I got my computer back in 2001 my TV viewing has dwindled down to maybe an hour per week at the most. Why? Because when I watched TV, my exposure to what was happening in the world was through a little box & what was decided by network executives that I should see & hear. But with the advances in technology, I am now able to have a front row seat to whatever is hapening in the world & what I choose to know about. I have the power to see practically anything, anywhere, & anytime around this great earth. Not only that, I have interactive capabilities worldwide! This is amazing! I think we all should pause & recognise the gift of technology we take for granted & thank the many people before us who were responsible for the little box that now shows us all what we want to see & hear. Thanks for reading.—Bill Greco

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eBay Problems

November 26, 2007 at 9:06 pm · in General · Comments (31)

I’ve been eBaying a few odd items lately, and last night some moron kid from Florida ruined half of the last minute auctions by jumping in and placing bunk bids. It was too late to block him or remove him from the bid list. As you can imagine, I was quite irate. I fired off an email to my personal eBay expert, Chuck. He responded:

There’s not much you can do unless he doesn’t pay. If he doesn’t pay within 7 days you can report him to eBay and they may suspend his account. Here’s a link with details:

pages.ebay.com/help/tp/unpaid-item-process.html

If it’s clear he’s not ever going to pay, eBay will let you offer the item to the second highest bidder. This is called a “Second Chance Offer.” You can read more about it here:

pages.ebay.com/help/sell/second_chance_offer.html

He didn’t really snipe because his bids were submitted about ten minutes before the end of the auction. Snipe bids are usually submitted in the final seconds of an auction.

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Safe Toys for Kids

November 26, 2007 at 5:49 pm · in Coupons, Holidays · Comments (7)

Via Andrea Martini of Alex’s Coupons…

What a challenge this holiday season is shaping up to be! With toy shopping taking on more of a Russian Roulette feel every day, how are we supposed to feel good about the toys we are getting for our kids? It seems every time I turn on the TV or open up the newspaper I’m hit with yet another toy recall leaving me feeling like teaching my five year old to juggle knives would be safer than purchasing the latest “must have” toy!

The commercials on the kids stations are no help as they relentlessly strive to convince every child alive that they can not possibly survive one more minute unless they get THIS toy in their hot little hands right NOW!!! Sure, this particular toy may cause brain damage, stunted growth or poke the handlers eyes out, but kids needn’t be inconvenienced with this information! Okay, so I do have to admit that there are at least a few toys in my kids playroom that I WISH would be recalled because they are so incredibly mind numbingly annoying. You know the ones - those seemingly designed with only two goals in mind”

  1. To be the perfect anti-educational toy of the year and suck every last brain cell out junior’s precious little head!

    and…

  2. To make parents eyes twitch and cause that vein in the middle of our foreheads bulge! Of course there are bonus points for the toy that can drive the parent so insane that they hurl it out a window!

Now I get a LOT of catalogs. I try to be a good parent and look through all of them, but honestly it can be a daunting task. Then just this week as I was pondering what to do for toys this Christmas a few catalogs came that intrigued me. These toys were thoughtful, educational, well made and best of all, wouldn’t make me want to put my head through the wall and question my sanity for buying it in the first place! Then, just when I thought it couldn’t get better, there it was, a quality and safety guarantee! These merchants actually test EVERY toy they sell before they allow it to be sold in their catalog to make sure it meets US safety laws! I started looking at some of the other toy stores that are out there thinking that this seems to be an easy and relatively inexpensive service to provide customers and surely there must be more stores doing it. How quickly that rude awakening came!

With so many online toy merchants out there I was shocked that I could only find 4, yes 4 merchants that do their own safety testing and offer such a guarantee! Then add to that the fact that these were not the big name stores that could easily afford to provide such a service, but small companies that were generally started by one or two people with the goal of providing quality toys. It’s truly appalling. I could really go off on a tangent here about the big name stores and their greed, but I won’t. Instead I will lead you to the 4 merchants that are still putting kids before profits, which in the end hopefully makes them more profitable. I think they should be rewarded for their efforts and deserve all our support this holiday season.

MindWare is the catalog that prompted this post, so I’ll start with them. This site is packed with the coolest toys! Alex was looking through it and found something on practically every page that she would like to have. MindWare offers everything imaginable from books to that new Bionic Eye that just came out that lets the user magnify objects to 200 times their regular size and displays them on any TV screen. Better yet, though it won’t be obvious to the kids, everything they sell is educational! So, your only challenge will be to try to hold back your joy when they beg to play just a little longer on their Math Mat Challenge! Their prices are great and they carry items for all ages.

Hearthsong has always been a favorite of mine. While not all of their items are educational, most are and those that aren’t still don’t fall into the “annoy mom and dad enough to drive them to the funny farm” category. They have a huge variety of items and their prices and customer service are fantastic. Last Christmas most of the kids gifts were purchased from Hearthsong and all of them were great. One of my daughter Alex’s favorites was the Rock Polisher. THAT was a lesson in patience! Who knew that polishing rocks would take a month of continuous tumbling?! The wait was worth it though and she was thrilled with the results.

Highlights is one most of us grew up with. Although the only thing I remember about them was their magazines, which is what they started with back in 1946. Now they carry all kinds if items with something for every age group. I think there might be a Creepy Crawlers Workshop under the tree this year for the bug nut of the family!

If you’re looking for anything Radio Flyer check out Redwagons.com. They carry the entire Radio Flyer line, which has a fabulous safety record.

Honorable mention needs to go to Oompa Toys. While it doesn’t state on their website that they do their own safety testing it does talk about the lengths that they go to in order to provide quality unique, educational and safe toys. They are not only concerned with the safety and quality of the toys they carry, but where they are made and by who. They go to great lengths to make sure their products are produced in facilities with where safety and fairness is standard for their employees.

I wish you all a wonderful and SAFE holiday season I hope this information was useful. Good luck out there!

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MacMall Cyber Monday Sale

November 26, 2007 at 4:41 am · in Coupons · Comments (1)

MacMall’s Cyber Monday Sale is live with up to 22% off MacBook Pros and great deals on iMacs, iPods and more!

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