Chris Pirillo » build http://chris.pirillo.com News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:15:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © chris@pirillo.com () chris@pirillo.com() Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. chris@pirillo.com No no http://chris.pirillo.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpgChris Pirillohttp://chris.pirillo.com 144 144 How to Build your own Laptophttp://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-build-your-own-laptop/ http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-build-your-own-laptop/#comments Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:41:00 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/11/how-to-build-your-own-laptop/ How to Build your own Laptop is a post from Chris Pirillo

LaMott is a PC Tech, and wrote in to ask this: “My question is why isn’t there an industry standard of MBD’s & cases that techs can use to build their own laptops? Also, what percent of people in the U.S. would you say build their own PC’s vs. those that buy?”

PC fanatics are up in arms over how Apple doesn’t let you build your own Mac. I hate to say it, but there’s a good reason for it. Some people feel that’s not how things should be. I guess I won’t open that particular can of worms.

By the way, if you are subscribed to my Podcast, you could be eligible to win a computer this Saturday, March 15th! If we reach 20,000 subscribers, I will be giving away the AMD Spider computer system. Ok, so now on to your answer!

I don’t think 12% of the world population build their own computers. I actually think it’s less than 5%. Most people will buy off the shelves. It’s a matter of convenience and being taken care of. People think that they are better off buying from a well-known brand. I seem to recall an old movement surrounding building laptops. There are so many things that go into a laptop. A notebook needs to be designed to move around. Weight is a concern, the lid needs to easily and fully shut, the connections need to be secure. Is it possible? Yes, it is. At the end of the day, I really think it may not be worth it. There’s just too much that goes into it, and it can get to be extremely expensive to get everything just right. CCMike, who is an Op in my Chat room said it best: “Many laptop platforms are much too “style” specific to be able to find parts for”.

For any of you who enjoy building machines, I ask you this: If the parts were all available, would you build a laptop from scratch? I honestly don’t know that I would. There’s just so many complexities that go into building something that’s designed to be mobile. It’s a different level of challenge from building a desktop computer.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> How to Build your own Laptop is a post from Chris Pirillo

LaMott is a PC Tech, and wrote in to ask this: “My question is why isn’t there an industry standard of MBD’s & cases that techs can use to build their own laptops? Also, what percent of people in the U.S. would you say build their own PC’s vs. those that buy?”

PC fanatics are up in arms over how Apple doesn’t let you build your own Mac. I hate to say it, but there’s a good reason for it. Some people feel that’s not how things should be. I guess I won’t open that particular can of worms.

By the way, if you are subscribed to my Podcast, you could be eligible to win a computer this Saturday, March 15th! If we reach 20,000 subscribers, I will be giving away the AMD Spider computer system. Ok, so now on to your answer!

I don’t think 12% of the world population build their own computers. I actually think it’s less than 5%. Most people will buy off the shelves. It’s a matter of convenience and being taken care of. People think that they are better off buying from a well-known brand. I seem to recall an old movement surrounding building laptops. There are so many things that go into a laptop. A notebook needs to be designed to move around. Weight is a concern, the lid needs to easily and fully shut, the connections need to be secure. Is it possible? Yes, it is. At the end of the day, I really think it may not be worth it. There’s just too much that goes into it, and it can get to be extremely expensive to get everything just right. CCMike, who is an Op in my Chat room said it best: “Many laptop platforms are much too “style” specific to be able to find parts for”.

For any of you who enjoy building machines, I ask you this: If the parts were all available, would you build a laptop from scratch? I honestly don’t know that I would. There’s just so many complexities that go into building something that’s designed to be mobile. It’s a different level of challenge from building a desktop computer.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-build-your-own-laptop/feed/ 50 How to Build Your Own Computer – Tips and Ideashttp://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-build-your-own-computer-tips-and-ideas/ http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-build-your-own-computer-tips-and-ideas/#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2007 07:18:05 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2007/12/23/how-to-build-your-own-computer-tips-and-ideas/ How to Build Your Own Computer – Tips and Ideas is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Here are some excellent tips you should read when you are preparing to build your own computer. Thanks to everyone who continue to send in their Top five lists. Keep them coming!

  • Save your money. Some times you do not need to buy everything for a new system. If your hard drive is running fine on your current computer, do not go and purchase a new one. Often times you can find things such as a hard drives; and use it for your new system that you are going to build. The only thing you need to make sure is that it will work with your new system’s motherboard. For example, If you do have a spare Video Card that you are willing to use for your new system, make sure it is PCI or PCI-E.
  • Cases. The case of a computer is what holds the components inside. You want to make sure you are going to have enough space to place everything inside. Usually, mid-towers are what you want if you are going to build a regular computer. You may want to go a bigger size than a mid-tower if you are going to use RAID or more Hard Drives for space. I recommend buying the case first, so in a case where a motherboard would not fit, you can possibly return it and get a new one.
  • Power Supply’s (PSU). In my opinion, many people do not realize that they need a good Power Supply. Many people do need see a reason why they need to worry about getting a good one. However, when their computer keeps shutting down for no reason, then you may want to think about it. Power Supply’s are very important because it is going to control all of the components inside of it. If you have a top-of-the-line system with 2 Video Cards with SLI, 4Gigs of Ram, A Quad-Core Processor and 2 500Gig Hard Drives, you are going to need a good Power Supply. However, if you are going to use a on board video card or something along the lines of a lower end machine, you may not want to purchase a bigger Power Supply.
  • Cooling your System. Cooling your computer also goes along the lines of having a good Power Supply. You PC can overheat if you have to much heat coming from your system. There are many ways to cool your system. The first one is to purchase case fans. Case fans, will allow you to create a good airflow so you can cool the system. I suggest placing a case fan in front of the case taking in air; and place another case fan on the back of the case blowing air out. A good airflow is good for keeping your computer cool. The second thing you can do from preventing the system from overheating is to add a good Heatsink. A Heatsink can cool your processor and this is very important if you are going to overclock your system’s processor. The last and final thing you should do, and must do if you are going to run a high end system, is to purchase a water cooling system. This will help the system to cool a lot better than just regular case fans. I do not recommend getting this if you are going to run a basic machine, but for higher end machines with more video cards it is a must.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> How to Build Your Own Computer – Tips and Ideas is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Here are some excellent tips you should read when you are preparing to build your own computer. Thanks to everyone who continue to send in their Top five lists. Keep them coming!

  • Save your money. Some times you do not need to buy everything for a new system. If your hard drive is running fine on your current computer, do not go and purchase a new one. Often times you can find things such as a hard drives; and use it for your new system that you are going to build. The only thing you need to make sure is that it will work with your new system’s motherboard. For example, If you do have a spare Video Card that you are willing to use for your new system, make sure it is PCI or PCI-E.
  • Cases. The case of a computer is what holds the components inside. You want to make sure you are going to have enough space to place everything inside. Usually, mid-towers are what you want if you are going to build a regular computer. You may want to go a bigger size than a mid-tower if you are going to use RAID or more Hard Drives for space. I recommend buying the case first, so in a case where a motherboard would not fit, you can possibly return it and get a new one.
  • Power Supply’s (PSU). In my opinion, many people do not realize that they need a good Power Supply. Many people do need see a reason why they need to worry about getting a good one. However, when their computer keeps shutting down for no reason, then you may want to think about it. Power Supply’s are very important because it is going to control all of the components inside of it. If you have a top-of-the-line system with 2 Video Cards with SLI, 4Gigs of Ram, A Quad-Core Processor and 2 500Gig Hard Drives, you are going to need a good Power Supply. However, if you are going to use a on board video card or something along the lines of a lower end machine, you may not want to purchase a bigger Power Supply.
  • Cooling your System. Cooling your computer also goes along the lines of having a good Power Supply. You PC can overheat if you have to much heat coming from your system. There are many ways to cool your system. The first one is to purchase case fans. Case fans, will allow you to create a good airflow so you can cool the system. I suggest placing a case fan in front of the case taking in air; and place another case fan on the back of the case blowing air out. A good airflow is good for keeping your computer cool. The second thing you can do from preventing the system from overheating is to add a good Heatsink. A Heatsink can cool your processor and this is very important if you are going to overclock your system’s processor. The last and final thing you should do, and must do if you are going to run a high end system, is to purchase a water cooling system. This will help the system to cool a lot better than just regular case fans. I do not recommend getting this if you are going to run a basic machine, but for higher end machines with more video cards it is a must.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-build-your-own-computer-tips-and-ideas/feed/ 53 LEGO Block Building Softwarehttp://chris.pirillo.com/lego-block-building-software/ http://chris.pirillo.com/lego-block-building-software/#comments Thu, 22 Nov 2007 02:32:31 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2007/11/21/lego-block-building-software/ LEGO Block Building Software is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

When I was a kid, I would get into trouble all the time for trying to build with my LEGO blocks when I was supposed to be sleeping. To this day, I have a box of LEGO blocks, and I still build things with them. Well, you can also do some LEGO construction using your computer!

The official LEGO computer program is called Digital Design. There are currently 763 different LEGO bricks to choose from. Using these, you can design your own projects, then order the pieces you used if you wish to build it at home for real. You can choose from partially built models, or a blank slate to create the design of your dream. There is no obligation to actually order LEGO bricks, so let your imagination wander!

There are a couple of good open-source applications which are LEGO-like, but not endorsed by the company itself. The first one of these is called LDraw. LDraw is an open standard for LEGO CAD programs that allow the user to create virtual LEGO models and scenes. You can use it to document models you have physically built, create building instructions just like LEGO, render 3D photo realistic images of your virtual models and even make animations. The possibilities are endless. Unlike real LEGO bricks where you are limited by the number of parts and colors, in LDraw nothing is impossible.

Second, we have BlockCad for Windows. BlockCAD is a freeware program for building virtual models with Lego-like bricks. You can save your models, or save pictures of them (.bmp, .jpg), even reuse a complete model as a part in another model. Everything can be controlled with the mouse, but it’s also possible to use the keyboard for most of the commands, making ‘routine building’ more effective, and there is a minimum of text involved, to make it easier for kids.

Last but not least, there is the BrickSmith offering for OS X. Bricksmith allows you to create virtual instructions for your Lego creations on your Mac. The magic is based on the LDraw library, a collection of 3D models of Lego building blocks created by enthusiasts from around the world. With Bricksmith, you never have to worry about running out of parts!

So, do you still play with LEGO’s? What do you like to build? Have you used any of these programs… or will you try one out after reading this? Let me know!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> LEGO Block Building Software is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

When I was a kid, I would get into trouble all the time for trying to build with my LEGO blocks when I was supposed to be sleeping. To this day, I have a box of LEGO blocks, and I still build things with them. Well, you can also do some LEGO construction using your computer!

The official LEGO computer program is called Digital Design. There are currently 763 different LEGO bricks to choose from. Using these, you can design your own projects, then order the pieces you used if you wish to build it at home for real. You can choose from partially built models, or a blank slate to create the design of your dream. There is no obligation to actually order LEGO bricks, so let your imagination wander!

There are a couple of good open-source applications which are LEGO-like, but not endorsed by the company itself. The first one of these is called LDraw. LDraw is an open standard for LEGO CAD programs that allow the user to create virtual LEGO models and scenes. You can use it to document models you have physically built, create building instructions just like LEGO, render 3D photo realistic images of your virtual models and even make animations. The possibilities are endless. Unlike real LEGO bricks where you are limited by the number of parts and colors, in LDraw nothing is impossible.

Second, we have BlockCad for Windows. BlockCAD is a freeware program for building virtual models with Lego-like bricks. You can save your models, or save pictures of them (.bmp, .jpg), even reuse a complete model as a part in another model. Everything can be controlled with the mouse, but it’s also possible to use the keyboard for most of the commands, making ‘routine building’ more effective, and there is a minimum of text involved, to make it easier for kids.

Last but not least, there is the BrickSmith offering for OS X. Bricksmith allows you to create virtual instructions for your Lego creations on your Mac. The magic is based on the LDraw library, a collection of 3D models of Lego building blocks created by enthusiasts from around the world. With Bricksmith, you never have to worry about running out of parts!

So, do you still play with LEGO’s? What do you like to build? Have you used any of these programs… or will you try one out after reading this? Let me know!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/lego-block-building-software/feed/ 28 How to Handle Remote Tech Support <em>Using <a href="http://www.gotoassist.com/chris">GoToAssist</a> is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party. </em> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMThttp://gotoassist.com/chris/ http://gotoassist.com/chris/ Network Tools for Windows You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">SolarWinds ipMonitor</a>: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">Download your free trial today</a>. Or, try their <a href="http://www.solarwinds.com/products/freetools/">totally free tools</a>! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase <a href="http://store.solarwinds.com/s.nl/sc.16/.f">ipMonitor 9.0</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome Get Your Own Web Site Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">GoDaddy</a> includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">code CP2</a> at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order. <p>Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">CHRIS7</a>, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">GoDaddy.com</a>.</p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a> or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> and/or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ Coupons for Online Shopping <p style="color: red">This feed is fueled by Lockergnome <a href="http://www.lockergnome.com/buy/">Online Shopping and Coupon Codes</a></p> <p> Before you shop next time, see if we have <a href="http://coupons.lockergnome.com/">a coupon</a> first. </p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMThttp://coupons.lockergnome.com/ http://coupons.lockergnome.com/