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Jul 21
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HDTV
Category : Fun, IT
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Welcome to HDTV For Dummies. HDTV is the hottest technology to hit your local electronics store since the advent of cell phones. HDTVs are getting bigger, better, cheaper, more sophisticated, and more useful every day. Since you’ve bought this book, we figure that not only do you agree with us, you’re already part of the HDTV movement. To arms, Comrade! One of the most appealing things about the current crop of HDTVs is the ease with which you can set up an HDTV-powered home theater, including surround sound and an awesome picture. However, the rapidly dropping price of HDTVs might be the most attractive aspect of all — we’ve reached a point in time where you don’t have to be rich to consider an HDTV for the bedroom, too! Figuring out which HDTV to buy can be confusing, as there are all sorts of technologies, sizes, standards, etc. And then, once you’ve decided on what to buy, making sure it will work with all your other gear — your DVD, camcorder, VCR, set-top box, and so on — can be even more confusing. That’s where this book comes in handy. Our aim is to make sure you get the most bang for your buck (or franc, or peso, or whatever — even euros!). If you’re thinking of purchasing an HDTV and installing it in your home, this is the book for you. Even if you’ve already purchased the HDTV itself, this book will help you install and configure the HDTV. What’s more, this book helps you get the most out of your investment after it’s up and running. With this book in hand, you’ll have all the information that you need to know about the following topics:
- Planning your HDTV system, including all sorts of accessories
- Evaluating and selecting the right HDTV for your home
- Installing and configuring the HDTV equipment in your home
- Hooking up your HDTV to the right high-definition programming sources
- Adding A/V entertainment gear and accessories to your HDTV
- Playing video games on your Xbox, in high-def splendor
- Accessing your HDTV from around the house over a home network
- Enhancing your HDTV environment so you can have your own HDTV theater
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TaGs: Fun, HDTV, IT
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If you thought that the purpose of word processing was to write, not to do amazing things on a computer . . . If you ever secretly wondered who in the world actually uses all those features advertised on the box your software came in . . . If you’d rather create nice-looking, readable documents, not try to use every possible feature in WordPerfect in 90 seconds flat . . . If you’re smart enough to say, “Call me what you will — I just want to get some work done, please!” . . . Congratulations — you’ve come to the right place.
VoIP For Dummies is written for anyone who wants to reduce or eliminate their toll charges while upgrading the level of computer networking services and calling features they receive. Here you discover not only what VoIP is but how you can implement it in your company or home. (You’ll even find out whether VoIP makes a lot of sense for your situation.) VoIP For Dummies is written for anyone who wants to reduce or eliminate their toll charges while upgrading the level of computer networking services and calling features they receive. Here you discover not only what VoIP is but how you can implement it in your company or home. (You’ll even find out whether VoIP makes a lot of sense for your situation.)
This is a problem-solving book. After all, if every problem mentioned in this book were to land on a computer at one time, even I would toss the thing out the window and take up yodeling or log rolling instead. The idea here is simple: You have a problem, and you look up the solution. You can use the index to discover where solutions to specific problems lie, or you can just browse through Part II, which covers many solutions based on the particular piece of the PC that’s being troubled. Each section within a chapter mentions the problem and covers potential solutions. Sample sections include:
Sony CLIÉ For Dummies is designed to be a comprehensive reference and tutorial for discovering how to use your CLIÉ. It progresses from the very basics to advanced topics, from setting up your CLIÉ and entering information by using the stylus and keyboard to using wireless technology and setting security features. Along the way, I also show you how to play games, watch movies, and listen to your favorite tunes. If you’re new to the CLIÉ, you can start from the first chapter and work your way through the book, cover to cover. If you’ve already mastered the basics, feel free to skip around and read the chapters that cover topics that are new or useful to you. Alternatively, you could use this book as a handy reference for the next time that you try to do something with the CLIÉ and you’re stumped. Each chapter is designed to stand by itself, and if I do cover a related topic somewhere else in the book, I make sure to point you there. Sony CLIÉ For Dummies focuses on the newest CLIÉ models that are running Palm OS 5. It’s the first book to cover the newest developments, such as builtin wireless and Sony’ s innovative CLIÉ Organizer software. Even if you have an older CLIÉ, you can find plenty of helpful information here. The bundled software and precise design of particular programs might vary somewhat from the newest CLIÉs, but most of what I cover here applies to Palm OS 4 CLIÉs as well.
When you think of a computer system, what parts automatically come to mind? Of course, you have the box itself, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. What additional pieces do most folks add to their computers? Until three or four years ago, you probably would have considered a printer, a set of speakers, and a joystick. Today, however, more and more prospective computer owners are considering a scanner as a must-have. Scanners are less expensive than ever — you can easily find several models online (or at your local Maze O’ Wires computer store) for less than $100 — but I think that’s only part of the reason. If you choose a Universal Serial Bus (USB) scanner, it’s also among the easiest computer peripherals to install. Again, that counts for something, although I don’t think that’s the heart of the matter. The real reason that scanners have enjoyed such a surge in popularity is that more computer owners now recognize just how useful a scanner can be! More applications than ever make use of your scanner, and the Internet makes it easy to share the documents and images you scan through e-mail or your Web site. Many computer owners are even turning to their scanners for handicrafts, such as creating custom-printed items! I wrote this book especially for scanner owners who want to find out all about what that marvelous piece of machinery can do. You can start from the basics and work your way to the tips, tricks, and technology used by scanner experts. As with any other For Dummies titles, I use the English language you studied in school, with no jargon and as few ridiculous computer acronyms as I can possibly manage! As you can tell already, I also include a little humor — at least, what my editors agree is humorous.
This is a book that is on a mission to take the confusion out of RFID. RFID is based on well-known laws of physics. It’s easy to understand how things work after you get your arms around those basics. The better news is that the technology works really well if you know what you’re doing. So without sending you to MIT for a couple of years of RF engineering school, this book explains everything you need to know to start setting up and deploying your own RFID network — what more could you ask for?
In the 1960s, you could stun guests in your home with a color television set, but they would experience apoplexy at the sight of a computer there. Even in the 1980s, the appearance of a home computer was often met with a head-shaking “Whatever” by anyone you tried to impress. Yes, at one time, it was easy to pluck the PC out of the big picture. It was unusual. It was unexpected. Today, the PC is as much a part of the big picture as a paper shredder in a law office. Yet, despite its ubiquity, the PC maintains an air of mystery and the scent of fear. In this part, I pull together the pieces parts of a PC and give you a visual tour, some basic understanding, and some examples of what a computer can do. It’s your preview of coming attractions to a device that’s useful, fun, and even (dare I say?) friendly.
Things change quickly in the computer industry, so it’s time for another revision and update to this classic book, now in its 10th edition. I’ve done some major work here, shuffled things around, and tidied up all the text so that PCs For Dummies can give you the answer to the ever-burning question “How does a computer turn a smart person like you into a dummy?” You don’t have to love a computer. Some folks do, most don’t. The reason is simple: Computers are not easy to use. True, a computer is easier to use now than it was 10 years ago, but some things remain cryptic. The help files are mystifying. Technical support isn’t even in English any more! So, you’re left feeling numb and cold and wondering why no one bothers to sit down and explain things to you in plain human terms. Well, wonder no more! This book explains the basics of your computer, the PC — how it works, what does what, and all that stuff you want to know or maybe didn’t realize you wanted to know. Honestly, computers really aren’t that difficult to use or understand. It’s just that it has taken an author like me and a book like this one a while to get the word out. Between this book’s yellow and black covers you’ll find friendly, helpful information about using your PC. This book uses friendly and human — and often irreverent — terms. Nothing is sacred here. Electronics can be praised by others. This book focuses on you and your needs. In this book, you’ll discover everything you need to know about your computer without painful jargon or the prerequisite master’s degree in engineering. And, you’ll have fun.
What’s the definition of a reference book? Well, I like to think of this book as a snapshot. Sure, it’s a very heavy photograph, weighing in at over 700 pages — but nevertheless, it captures the current state of today’s PCs, including hardware, the most popular applications, and of course, the latest and greatest incarnation of the Windows operating system that we all cherish (in this case, Windows XP Home and Professional). That covers a lot of ground, especially when you consider how the PC has branched out into all sorts of new directions in the last few years. What used to be primarily a simple word processing platform in the early days of DOS has now become a hub for digital video and CD-quality audio, an optical recording center, an Internet communications system, a digital darkroom, a 3-D gaming console, an office productivity center . . . the list goes on and on. Therefore, fitting the features and functionality of today’s PCs into a single volume was a challenge for me — and it proved singularly rewarding as well because PCs are both my career and my favorite hobby! With that comprehensive approach in mind, this book still holds true to the For Dummies format: step-by-step instructions on each major feature within Windows XP, Microsoft Office, and other popular PC applications, with a little personal opinion, my recommendations, and my attempts at humor mixed in to add spice. I take the time to explain each topic for those who have just entered the PC universe, but you’ll uncover plenty of advanced information as well. With this book in hand, you can set up a wireless network, navigate an Excel spreadsheet, diagnose hardware problems, and even work magic with your digital camera. I sincerely hope that you enjoy this book and that it will help open up the countless possibilities offered by your PC. Thanks to the efforts of all those software developers, engineers, and hardware manufacturers, you and I get to play!
