Mini DV Players
January 24, 2012 | 
Author Mini DV players are available with many different features. Sometimes the technical terminology becomes a little confusing for the layperson. You may have doubts regarding the compatibility of Mini DV cassettes with certain players, or what kind of editing features are available with a particular player. It is best to research extensively before purchasing a Mini DV player, and if you have doubts, you can always get them clarified at the DV player retail store. Also, many websites offer advise on what is the best Mini DV player to suit to your needs.
The Mini DV players mostly double as recorders. They are available for both amateur and professional use. For professionals like wedding videographers and filmmakers, JVC has come up with many innovative players. The JVC HR DVS 3U, for example, is a player as well as recording system. It is very convenient to use, since the Mini DV cassette can be directly inserted into and played by the DV player. There is no need for connecting the camcorder to a VCR using a jumble of confusing wires. It has good editing features, and is capable of converting analog signals to digital. JVC’s HR DV S 3, on the other hand, is a double deck Mini DV VCR which also converts Mini DV to S-VHS format after editing, apart from being a player and recorder compatible with almost all Mini DV cassettes.
For amateur use, the Panasonic Professional DV Proline offers many features like a high sound to noise ratio, four video heads, timer programming, and a clear image quality. This device is meant simply for playing and not for recording purposes. Many users have mentioned problems like the absence of remote control or parental locking mechanism, as well as the lack of built in monitors, which means the player needs to be connected to a VCR, but this player is good for amateur or home use.
With many brands of Mini DV players flooding the market, there is always one out there suited to your needs. With a little patient research, you will be able to locate the best Mini DV player in terms of features, size, recording/playback quality, and price.
Television & Computer Effects on Learning and Emotional Intelligence
As a counselor and life coach I have always taken a strong stand against having a television or computer in any child or teens’ bedroom, period. Yes, we used this rule in our own home. We had objections at times and that’s alright. It didn’t change our actions.
My rationale is two fold. First, I see the social isolation, decrease in social/emotional skills, decrease in peer interaction and increase disrespect of authority from children and teens who have electronics in their bedrooms.
Having visual electronics in kids’ bedrooms decreases the amount of time families spend together, increases the risk of early exposure to pornography and children acting out sexually, decreases the number of family dinners, and decreases the amount of social play time with other young people. The negative impact of this is apparent in school as well. These children have a shorter attention span, more often want to get their way, have lower than average social skills and often feel socially isolated.
The second reason, is knowing a thing or two about brain development, I knew that TV and computer use does not tap into the normal brain development and brain stimulation needed to make our young people healthy and happy. Now we have plenty of research to back that up.
Let’s look at the summary of research from Joseph Chilton Pearce who is a scholar, scientist and teacher. He states: “First, if you want intelligent, successful and healthy children they must have positive emotional experiences. This starts in the home through unconditional love, appropriate loving touch and a safe, secure environment. Then it extends into our learning environments. If you want true learning, learning that involves the higher frontal lobes…the intellectual creative brain…the emotional environment must be positive and supportive. The first sign of anxiety the brain shifts its functions from the high, prefrontal lobes to the old defenses of the reptilian brain.” To put it simply: In order to have a higher functioning child we need to nurture head and heart. The heart and brain communicate with one another in an intricate symphony of ganglia cells, neural networks and neurotransmitters.
Pearce talks about the harmful effects of television and computers on growing brains regardless of content. “Television literally prevents neural growth in the developing brains of children. When young children watch too much, it suppresses the capacity of their brains to develop imagination.” This has to do with the way that the brain reacts to radiant light. Children’s brains “shut down” (stop the thinking process).
The television industry has countered this by introducing “startle effects” into children’s programming. This triggers the brain into thinking there might be an emergency and alerts the brain to pay special attention. This is accomplished by dramatic changes in the intensity of light, sound and rapid shifting camera angles. According to Pearce “Every 10 years the TV industry ups the ante by making the startles bigger, there are now an average of 16 bits of violence every half hour in children’s cartoons. The moment the heart receives any indication of negativity or danger it drops out of its usual harmonic mode into an incoherent one, triggering the release of the single most potent hormone in the human body, known as cortisol. Cortisol instantly wakes up the brain and causes it to produce trillions of neural links in order to ready the individual to face the emergency.”
Computer monitors have a similar effect due to the radiant light. Researchers’ assigned students to 3 groups where the same information was presented on a fourth grade reading level in 3 different mediums. Group A had a regular piece of paper; Group B was shown a movie with the page; Group C viewed a computer monitor. Students were then tested for retention of the information.
Group A averaged 85% retention after viewing a paper; Group B averaged 25% – 30% retention after viewing a movie screen; Group C averaged 3% – 5% retention after viewing a computer monitor. “Computers & television are changing our children’s brains. We must encourage our children to develop the ability to think first and then give them a computer. Pearce sites Piaget’s developmental research ” The first twelve years of life are spent putting into place the structures of knowledge that enable young people to grasp abstract, metaphoric, symbolic types of information…the danger is that the computer and television will interrupt that development.”
Wedding Table Linens 101
Planning Your Wedding:
When you are planning your wedding… the biggest event of your life, consider the many possibilities available to you for your wedding table linens, be sure to research well if you are considering using standard round white tablecloths, keep in mind that you can also use tablecloths with vibrant and exciting colors and make a dramatic statement, colored tablecloths are usually the same price as standard white table linens.
The size of your tablecloths and napkins will of course depend on the size of your table. Dressing your tables with beautiful table linens is the most dramatic way to change the ambience of your event space and make a personal statement with elegance, style, and color.
Never buy table linens with SERGED HEMS:… unless you want to carry an iron down the aisle… serged hems will curl up and look awful, and they will fray when laundered, and I personally think they look cheap, ALWAYS buy table linens with “folded and stitched” hems.
Will the event planner, caterer, hotel or venue, provide the tablecloths?:
Sometimes wedding planners, caterers, or reception venues will provide standard “House Linens” as part of a package deal. Some will refund part of your cost if you choose not to use their house linens, you may want to use theirs if they have “exactly” what you want in the color and size. The hospitality industry calls these table linens “house linens” or “full tablecloth” when used alone, and “under cloth” or “table liner” when a table runner or table topper is used for accent.
Will the tablecloths reach the floor?:
The critical question regarding tablecloths is what will the “drop” be, meaning the amount of tablecloth that hangs over the edge of the table. Most people at weddings and events like to see the tablecloths touch the floor, but some prefer a half-way “drop”. as tablecloths can be too long and bunch under the table but it is far better for them to be too long than to be too short. Check out a table linen sizes guide and keep in mind if your event budget is an issue in these difficult economic times shopping from online stores will give you the biggest table linens bang for your buck.
What are the most popular wedding table linen colors?:
The most popular wedding colors are white, black, ivory, burgundy, and chocolate, consult with your wedding planner or reception reception venue and choose table linen colors that work well in the room where you will be hosting the event. Make it a fun project and consider creative ideas such as matching your bridesmaid’s outfits with elements of the room decor, and don’t forget to double check your room size calculations with a Tablecloth Sizes Calculator and tablecloth sizes with a Tablecloth Sizes Chart.
When buying wedding table linens online are the table linen colors on most websites the exact colors I would receive if I buy them?:
Viewing exact linen colors on a computer screen is somewhat subjective as the exact color you see depends on your own computer monitor settings and your computer screen resolution, but for the most part the online color will be exactly or almost exactly what you will receive, usually if there is a difference it will be very slight and hardly noticeable. The best idea is to ask for fabric swatches in the colors you are interested in, or better still why not buy 1 tablecloth, runner or napkin so that you can exactly compare under the venue room lighting and make sure it’s exactly the color you want, don’t take chances, do your due diligence and you will have a successful event.
Event Venue Lighting:
It is wise to consider any room lighting change that may occur during your event, many events begin when it’s daylight and as the evening progresses electric lighting is switched on and this can color the room decor and in some cases can noticeably change the overall ambience and style of the room, the degree of change depends on the type of lighting so be sure to consult with your wedding planner or the reception venue staff, and if possible go to the reception venue and check it out for yourself.
Table runners or full length tablecloths?:
If your wedding planner or reception venue will be providing tablecloths it is cheaper to just buy a suitable table runner. However, if no tablecloths are provided then you will need to buy both a tablecloth and the table runner or buy a full floor length tablecloth for each table. It is not just a matter of budget but also of having the “right look”. Some people prefer the layered two tablecloth style while others prefer the smooth style of one tablecloth. Both ways are correct it’s purely a matter of taste and style.
How many people will fit at each table?:
The standard table sizes for event tables are 60 inch round tables that seat 8 guests comfortably and 10 guests not so comfortably. 72 inch round tables seat 10 to 12 guests. Ideally you seat to the lower number at the table but sometimes guest comfort can be sacrificed for other reasons, mabey a group of colleagues or sisters may all want to sit together and they would rather be seated together than separated, or sometimes it depends on the size of the event room and the number of guests, each time you add a table you will add an additional table centerpiece and tablecloth. 160 people seated at 60 inch round tables can be either 16 tables of 10 guests or 20 tables of 8 guests. Sometimes the reception venue will only have one size table available or a set configuration of tables due to the room size and layout. The most important thing is to make your guests as comfortable as possible with the tables and space you have available.
Napkins:
When choosing napkins be sure the napkin fabric is heavy enough to hold a fold and will be absorbent. 100% visa polyester fabric is a good choice for weddings and catering events, most are stain resistant and wrinkle free.
Wedding Chair Covers and Sashes:
The chairs at your reception venue may be suitable, however, if the chairs are unsuitable consider using chair covers. Wedding chair covers and sashes are available in a variety of colors and styles and may easily solve any problem with the chairs. Make sure the chair covers you want actually fit the chairs your going to use and do you need folding chair covers or banquet chair covers.
Chairs and covers come in different sizes and do not always fit each other, it’s better to find this out well before your event, also make sure the event caterer, planner, hotel or reception venue has the staff and have agreed to put the chair covers (and sashes) on and take them off after the event. The alternative to chair covers is to rent a better chair, there are a wide range of chair styles and costs ranging from a basic plastic folding chair or higher end white wood folding chairs to very expensive banquet chairs. Keep in mind that the venue’s existing chairs will have to be removed and stored and also put back after your event so allow for this labor cost in your budget
Catering Buffets:
The catering buffet should always be styled with additional table linens. If the guest tables have upgraded linens then the buffet should be matched with the same or very similar style table linens. If you have plain house tablecloths on the guest tables then the catering buffet should be dressed with decorative table linens that match with the room. The buffet is of course about the food on the menu, but it is also about the overall presentation of the event room.
Gift Table Location:
The location of the gift table varies and the location will determine the extent that it should be decorated. If it is in the main dining area then it should match or blend with the guest tables. If it’s situated outside the main dining area then it should be dressed in a single tablecloth with minimum decorations.
Head Table Decorations:
A head table if you choose to have one, should be decorated to a greater degree than the guest tables, at many weddings the bride and groom have specially decorated chairs dressed with flowers, garlands, or ribbons. Many couples choose to have chair sashes with names embroidered to keep as a keepsake of the wedding.
Cocktail Table Linens:
Make a BIG statement immediately with the decor in the cocktail area by choosing a tablecloth that is bright, vibrant, elegant and an understated preview of the dining room, or for more adventurous tastes, decorate in direct contrast to the dining room decor. If the cocktail and dining areas are visible to each other the wedding table linens should be matched in style and color. When all the pieces are put together the main room should produce the “Oohs” and “Aahs” that you deserve to hear when the doors are opened to welcome your guests.
You should have strong statements from your flower arrangements and the tablecloths that can be seen from a distance, and also in the napkins and favors that will be enjoyed by your guests after they are seated.
The Cake Table Setting and Location:
Cake tables are normally a small round table anywhere from 30″ inches (2 1/2ft) wide to 48″ inches (4ft) in diameter. Although it should be well decorated your cake table does not need to be decorated too much so as to detract from the cake itself. The cake table tablecloth can be a little shorter as most cake tables need to be easily movable and they almost always have wheels for this purpose.
Place Card Table Setting and Location:
Place card tables are normally situated set in the reception venue lobby or in the cocktail area and they provide a good opportunity to do a single tablecloth that either matches the place cards or something really special such as a large flower bouquet arrangement, but be sure that it does not appear “too busy or loud” or disturbs the natural layout of the place cards.
Latest Technology in Computer Hardware
The rate at which new computer hardware products are arriving in the market is simply mind-boggling. As the technology advances, the size and the price of the devices come down, while the efficiency and capacity increase. The scenario is same in all cases, whether it is about internal components like processor, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and hard disk or for peripheral accessories like mouse, keyboard, and monitors. Personal computers became popular only before about three decades back. But already there are huge piles of outdated and antique hardware components and devices. This is a tribute to the tremendous rate of development of latest technologies in computer hardware field. Perhaps, the newest entrant into the archeological catalogue of computer peripherals is CRT monitors. The sleek looking LCD monitors are spreading like computer virus.
Data storage devices have attracted considerable attention of the technology developers. New kinds of storage devices such as newer versions of flash memory cards, hard disks using latest technology and disks of ever-increasing capacity are the results of advancement in latest technology in compute hardware. The memory size of the random access memory (RAM) cards is soaring to enable the smooth functioning of graphics animation software packages and streaming video websites. Also, computer motherboards have undergone substantial changes over the years. More and more functions are being added to the motherboard. Also, despite the incredible improvement in performance and functionalities, the price of these components has actually fallen steadily.
The most vital component of a computer is the microprocessor. It is in this field that a battle of developing latest technologies in computer hardware takes place. The pace of development of microprocessor increases as the competition between the major processor chip manufacturing companies, Intel and AMD, intensifies. Both the companies are engaging in a neck and neck competition and continuously outdo each other in introducing new technologies.
In the field of computer peripherals, the latest technology in computer hardware is in developing yet another version of wireless mouse and keyboard. The concept of wireless mouse and keyboard is about a decade old. But the development of these items is still a work in progress. The latest products of wireless mouse and keyboard are said to be highly durable and error free.
Some of the developments in the latest technology in computer hardware are gearing up for changing the present concept of desktop and laptop computers. With new developments making possible the convergence of mobile phone technology and computers, a new breed of fully functional palm-top computers are going to be introduced in near future. With touch screen monitors and without the need for a mouse, these gadgets are likely to become the next big leap in the constantly leaping technological development field.
Eliminating that Terrible Hum From Your Home Theater Speakers
You’ve all heard it, that dreaded 60Hz hum through the speakers of a home theater or house audio system. Hopefully you heard it at a friend’s house and not your own. It can drive you completely nuts. You may have even tried, unsuccessfully, to fix the little noise problem. That can make you even more crazy. What causes that horrendous noise through your speakers?
More often than not humming through your speakers is caused by a grounding problem. There are three main ground problems that cause problems in an audio / video system. These are ground loops, improper grounding and lack of a ground altogether. The other possible culprits that can cause noise are bad cables, a faulty piece of equipment or electrical noise from a lighting dimmer or electric motor. There are steps you can take to troubleshoot the noise and eliminate it from you theater.
The first step is find out where it is coming from. Disconnect your source and display equipment from your receiver or surround sound processor. If the noise stops, connect them back to the receiver or processor on at a time until the noise returns. When the hum comes back, you found where the noise is entering your system. Note that if you are connecting remote equipment, such as running the signal from your theater room DVD player to the TV in the bedroom, your chances to pick up noise increase dramatically. With such long runs, noise can be induced into the long cable runs from adjacent electrical wiring. It is also easy to create a ground loop, because the equipment is plugged into two different, widely separated outlets, on different electrical circuits.
If the noise is caused by a cable box, the noise is likely caused by the cable TV ground. To test this theory, disconnect the incoming cable TV feed to the rear of the cable box or TV while they are still connected to the rest of the system. If the noise is eliminated by disconnecting the TV cable, the problem is the cable TV ground. You can electrically decouple the cable TV feed from your system with a ground breaking transformer. These are available from many sources. Be advised that many newer, digital cable TV systems require any device in the signal chain to pass a full 1,000 Mhz. Some of the older ground break transformers will not do this. Be sure to check the specifications of whatever device you are purchasing to verify it will pass the digital cable TV signal.
If the noise is from your projector, TV, or monitor, it is most likely caused because the video display device is plugged into a different outlet than the other a/v equipment. It could be on a different circuit as well. These circuits may have two different ground potentials. That is, the resistance to ground is different on each circuit. A difference in resistance to ground from one ground point to another can cause the dreaded ground loop. If you get a ground loop, current flows between the two components. If the current flows through the components internal audio signal ground, you will get a hum.
You can use an isolation transformer, similar to the type used for cable TV ground problems, to eliminate the electrical connection from one component to the other. These transformers are inserted in line with the audio signal connection between the two components. If there is no audio connection between the components, the problem may be current flowing through the video portion. In this case, a video isolation transformer should be used to eliminate the ground loop.
Sometimes power conditioners will stop noise problems by placing equipment on different, electrically isolated outlets. This is done using isolation transformers. Sometimes this is ineffective however, due to the differences in internal construction of different power conditioning equipment. Some safety regulations, such as UL 1950, specify that an isolation transformer is only allowed to isolate the hot and neutral wires; the grounding wire must be passed straight through. If this is the case, the ground loop problem may still exist because many communication circuits are connected to the grounding conductor and not the neutral. In this case, the isolation transformer, or any power conditioner or UPS with an isolation transformer will have absolutely no affect on the grounding problem.
The noise may be generated externally, from a dimmer or refrigerator compressor for example, and coming in through the main power input on the audio video equipment. In this case, a high quality power conditioner may be effective in reducing or eliminating the noise problem. You may also find that one of the signal interconnecting cables in your system is faulty. This can also cause noise problems. Check for this by swapping the cables with one that you know to be good.
You can solve most noise problems in your home theater or multi room audio/video system by taking the systematic, step-by-step approach. Work your way up the signal chain, eliminating each piece of equipment as you go. If you have nothing connected to your speakers except the speaker wiring, and they still hum, the problem is noise induced into the speaker wiring from adjacent power cables. Other than that case, most problems are caused by ground problems, which you can find, and solve, if you take it one step at a time.
How to Guide – Connecting Your Laptop to HDTV Or TV
I’m writing this guide after being asked a few times on ways to connect a laptop to a TV. People want to achieve this for several reasons. First, it’s great for presentations at work, school, or home. It’s also convenient for viewing pictures and videos to friends, watching DVDs, and it is now even being used for viewing Blu-ray and other high definition content on the HDTV.
First, we want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your laptop when it comes to displaying it on the TV.
If you have an HDTV with HDMI inputs, check if your laptop has an HDMI output. If it does, you’re in luck! Your HDTV can display from your laptop in HD resolutions. All you need is an HDMI cable to connect them. If your HDTVs HDMI inputs are used up already. An HDMI switch would be the best solution for you. We supply switches that can connect up to 5 different HDMI sources to 1 HDMI input.
If you don’t have an HDMI output on the laptop, check if it has a DVI output. Some ASUS, and Dell laptops have them. If you do, you can connect your laptop to an HDTV with an HDMI to DVI cable. They are both digital cables so this will produce the same HD resolutions as a standard HDMI cable.
If your laptop doesn’t have HDMI or DVI out, it should have a VGA output. Connecting with VGA is capable of high resolutions. However, different TVs support different resolutions with VGA. You must check the maximum resolution your TV model supports with VGA.
Pretty much all laptops come with an S-Video output. It’s not going to be as great of a picture, but it will certainly do the job with an S-Video cable.
After you have connected your chosen cable, boot up your laptop and see if it has detected your TV. If not, you have to go into your display properties and look for the settings that will enable your TV to display from your laptop. Where to find the setting will vary depending on your graphics card (just look around). If you are having trouble getting your TV to show a picture, make sure you have updated the display drivers on your laptop. Now you’re probably going to want sound from something other than your laptop speakers. So you can choose to output it to your TV, or blast it from your home theater audio receiver.
The best way to connect audio to your TV or receiver is through a digital audio cable. Both a digital coaxial cable or Toslink optical audio cable will work great for crisp high quality audio. Just make sure your laptop has either a digital coaxial or an optical audio output. Some laptops use the headphone jack to double as a digital coaxial (S/PDIF) output. If you use this method, your going to need a 3.5mm to RCA adapter with a digital coaxial cable. If your laptop has none of these outputs and you still really want that high quality sound. Don’t worry! You can still get an external (USB) sound card that has digital coaxial out or optical out. I recommend the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 SB1090 with Toslink Optical audio out.
Another way, which won’t require any add-ons, is to use the headphone (3.5mm) jack on your laptop to the RCA (red and white) inputs on your TV or receiver. To do this, all you need is a 3.5mm to 2 RCA adapter with a 2 RCA audio cable.
I know all of these cables can seem confusing to you. If you’re having trouble finding out what each cable looks like or find out more about a cable, check out the Cable Guide at CableTrain.com. All of these cables are available for you on our website as well. I hope you can now successfully connect your laptop to the TV in the best way possible!
The 10 Most Common TV Problems That Aren’t
In this report we will concentrate on the “problems” seen by customers with their equipment. We see these kinds of things all the time here in the shop, and hopefully this information will save you an unnecessary trip to the shop.
Problem # 1: Can’t get channels above channel 13 Your TV is in the “air” mode. To remedy this problem, you must either autoprogram your TV, or set your unit to the cable mode in the menu.
Problem # 2: Channels won’t change, can only get 1 channel This is similar to problem #1. Your TV needs to be autoprogrammed again using the menu.
Problem # 3: TV has a funny looking menu, looks like an ad This unit is in what is called the “demo” mode. Contact the manufacturer and if they are of no help, call us and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process of getting rid of it.
Problem # 4: There’s a black box blocking the picture We see this all the time. You TV has been accidentally placed into the closed caption mode. To clear this problem, bring up the menu and turn the closed captions off.
Problem # 5: I can’t view certain channels on my TV This is usually a password or parental lock problem. If you have forgotten your password, you may be able to access the menu by using the factory default password that you’ll find in your owner’s manual. If this doesn’t work, then you may have to contact the manufacturer for help.
Problem # 6: I don’t have sound on some channels, spanish or the weather report on others This is another one we see a lot of. You unit is in the SAP or separate audio program mode. Access the menu and set the audio to normal, standard, or stereo.
Problem # 7: My TV just quit working This could indeed be a real problem, but maybe not. If you have cats or small dogs, do they hang out behind the TV a lot? If so, check and see if they have damaged the power cord or pulled it just far enough out of the wall to allow it to lose contact with the wall outlet. If this is not the case, carefully move the set out from the wall and smell the carpets and look at the back of the set for signs of wetness. If you find this, your pet is urinating into the set and has caused your unit to shut down. Unplug it and take it to the shop as soon as you can.
Problem # 8: No picture, all I get is snow The first thing to do here is to verify that everything is hooked up properly, and that the signal source you want to watch hasn’t been changed. If you find no problem here, then you may have a cable box problem, or your satellite provider is down. Contact your company for details on any problem you might be having and don’t forget to log on to their website for current information if you can’t get through by phone.
Problem # 9: My remote doesn’t work verify this by checking to see if you can turn on the set with the panel mounted power button. If this works and the set operates normally, then all you may need to do is change the batteries in the remote to restore operation.
Problem # 10: My TV doesn’t work right since my son/daughter started playing with it Kids seem to have a real understanding of electronic gear, and some of them (my son included) love to monkey around with the menus. Some of them will even add their own passwords and setup their own access codes. It’s rare that they can do any real harm so make sure that they tell you what they’ve done so you’ll be able to enjoy your own programs.
I hope this list of the things we see everyday will help you to enjoy you TV a lot more, and save you money and time. Thank you and have a great day!
By W. Braverman
The Pulsar Digisight N550 – Digital Night Vision Riflescope
The Pulsar Digisight N550 is unlike any other NV rifle sight on the market, as it relies on digital technology and infra red illumination to enhance the image instead of traditional NV Gen 1 or Gen 2 image intensifier tubes.
The green image normally associated with NV devices is not present in digital units as the N550 does not use a green phosphor screen, the image instead appearing on a sharp black and white LCD screen. Green was commonly thought as the most effective colour for the human eye to view at night, so it would be interesting to find out how the N550 image compared.
Scott Country first saw the N550 in the “flesh” at the Tackle and Guns Trade show in Stoneleigh and we were lucky enough to be one of the first in the UK to put it through its paces..
N550 LIGHT-FREE TUNNEL TRIAL
We had heard great things about the N550, and we were excited to see if it lived up to our expectations and couldn’t wait to try it out. UK Distributors Thomas Jacks had access to a custom built light free tunnel for the afternoon, so we put the N550 through its paces.
The dark tunnel consisted of a long blacked out tunnel with a range of targets to acquire at the far end of the range, this was ideal for testing a Night vision device.
To get a comparison we tried a Gen 1 + Riflescope to see how it performed, and using the Built In IR I could easily make out the rabbit shaped targets and it performed as expected.
Eagerly we mounted the N550 to the plastic dummy stock, and I raised the eye piece to my eye and what I saw was a revelation. The image was sharp and defined with a depth of clarity that far exceeded my expectations.
The best way to describe the image is that it is like a crisp clear CCTV camera image, but in black and white.
The N550′s built in reticle can be cycled through various profiles, and I chose a traditional cross hair, and practised lining up for shots against the rabbit targets. With the built in IR turned on, the N550 could easily pick out targets in the light free tunnel, giving virtually daylight quality images.
N550 SET-UP
Setting up the N550 on a firearm couldn’t be easier, with the adjustable dovetail fitting most rifles from 11mm dovetail to weaver. As part of the ongoing product development for the N550, Pulsar will shortly be releasing their own reticle design software, which is currently in its BETA stages.
This will allow the user at home, to create their own bespoke reticles for their requirements. You can then have a reticle for a 25yard range onboard an air rifle, or a mildot reticle for 200m lamping foxes at night. We at Scott Country have been testing the new Pulsar software and are offering a free of charge reticle design service when you buy a Digisight from us.
Zeroing is simplified using Pulsar’s one shot zero system which allows you to adjust the reticle position using a single live shot. I found this very easy to use, and although I needed two or three shots to convince myself it was zeroed correctly, it’s certainly a way of saving ammo.
Most people find gauging distance at night is particularly difficult and this poses a problem when zeroing conventional NV riflescopes.
I have found this a problem in the past using a Gen 1 device at night, but with the Pulsar N550 the one shot system makes this easier, although with the N550 being resistant to bright light exposure, you can use it in the daylight also. This is great news for zeroing during the day before you go out lamping at night.
THE N550 IN THE FIELD
Taking the N550 out in the field for the first time was an exciting prospect but there was little in the way of quarry about, primarily due to the awful weather.
It was a very dark and gloomy night with almost 100% cloud cover so no hope of starlight to assist the unit, I wondered how it would fare. As there wasn’t a rabbit to be seen I set up a target at 100m and turned on the optional IR flashlight (or so I thought) and looked through the eye piece.
I could easily see every detail and blades of grass and twigs were clearly visible.
I reached to turn off the optional IR Flashlight to see how the built in IR compared, to find that in fact it was turned off!!!
The unit was performing this well already without the IR flashlight!!
With the optional IR flashlight on I actually found it overpowering at air rifle ranges, the image was so bright I had to look away for a moment. Looking at trees with nesting crows over 200meters away with the IR flashlight on this time, I was stunned at how clear the image was, and it blew a Gen One riflescope out of the water.
I have only ever used one Gen 2 riflescope before, and the N550 was easily comparable at less than half the cost of the Gen 2 unit. I spent a bit of time with the N550 handheld as a viewing monocular, and my Yukon MPR capturing footage at various distances and throughout an evening to see how it performed.
Watching pigeons flighting to roost was fantastic, and as I lay still and motionless a badger cub ran past me and I managed to catch sight of it as it went through a hedgerow.
I was most impressed as the clock got close to 11pm and I sat and watched some rooks nesting in trees, which were easily 250 metres away. I could see them clearly and watched them getting ready to bed down for the night, just as they were spooked by a rifle shot in the distance and flew off again.
N550 FUNCTIONS
The functions of the N550 were all very easy to operate at night and I could change the reticle, adjust the brightness, focus and zero with the touch of a button.
The SumLight function of the N550 is operated by push button and switches the N550 into enhanced sensitivity mode, this was particularly useful with the mist closing in.
Some time ago I tested a riflescope that could take pictures of what you were shooting at when you pulled the trigger, well the N550 goes one step further.
Being a digital night vision device the N550 can output a video stream to a mobile personal recording device such as the Yukon MPR, allowing you to record your night’s hunting.
THE RESULT
The Pulsar N550 Digisight offers a true night vision riflescope with the capability of day light use which is ideal for those of us who dont have two rifles. No need to switch between day and night scopes, or having to add on a bulky NV add on scope device.
Offering clear and precise viewing out to 250meters with the IR flashlight, the N550 is ideal for vermin control on centrefire rifles, as well as for hunting small ground and roosting vermin with air rifles.
Acer Aspire 5542g Review
The Acer 5542G is the company’s replacement model for it’s very popular 5536/5536G series. The new model comes with an improved processor and a whole new Tigris platform. It was after more than a week’s wait and phone calls that I got hold of one Acer Aspire 5542G. From the moment I read the specification sheet, I have been very thrilled to get the machine in my hands. The specs boasts about a AMD Turion II 2.2 Ghz, 3GB DDR2 Memory, ATI 4570 Dedicated graphics card with a 512MB DDR3 memory and a quite generous 320GB Hard disk drive for a price tag of less than RS 34000, which is quite a tempting deal.
In this detailed review we will see how these specs meet the real performance needs.
Key features:
In this section, we will look in detail at the key components that makes up this laptop. I will also try to include as much specifications and details as available from the manufacturer’s source.
Processor:
Acer Aspire 5542G comes with the second generation AMD Turion Processor (AMD Turion II M500) clocked at 2.2Ghz which houses a 1MB L2 Cache. The Turion II M500 is fabricated using the 45nm technology. It belongs to the Caspian generation of processors and supports HyperTransport 3.0 and hardware virtualization.
The Turion is AMDs answer to mobile processors, which provides excellent performance while keeping the power consumption at the minimum. The Turion processors generates less heat compared to AMD’s desktop work horses that have a bad reputation in heat emission department. The Turion II being the next version of the decent performer Turion, it sets high expectations in terms of competing with the Core 2 Duos in the market. We will see how it scores in real performance when we benchmark it down the road.
Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 512MB DDR3
One of the main attractions of this laptop is the graphics engine that lies beneath the hood. The Acer 5542G comes with a dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 with 512 MB of DDR3 memory.
For those of you who are not clear about the difference between an integrated and a dedicated graphics solution, I’m adding a few words. An Integrated graphics solution (eg: the Intel’s X4500) doesn’t come with dedicated video memory; it eats up your system memory for graphics processing and thus the slower path between the system memory and the graphics engine causes the biggest bottle-neck when it comes to performance. Also the integrated graphics processor would be less powerful than a mainstream dedicated one in raw processing power. On the other hand, a dedicated graphics card will usually have a high speed dedicated video memory (eg: DDR3) which is coupled to the graphics processor. This removes the bottle neck and gives the card superior performance. The graphics processor on a dedicated card would usually support high-end effects provided by the latest DirectX and OpenGL APIs which gives the realism and visual-candy in the latest games.
The HD 4570 is a faster clocked version of the Mobility Radeon 4530/4330. It has a 64 Bit memory bus and comes with a 512MB DDR3 VRAM. The 512MB should be adequate for most gaming and graphics needs, unless you play in the craziest resolutions. (As rendering resolution increases, the more memory it needs). The DDR3 memory will meet the needs for the fastest and huge volume texture processing that modern games demand. However the 64 bit bus stands inferior to the 128 bit bus that most mainstream cards offer.
The ATI Mobility Radeon 4570 is based on the RV710 chip and it provides 80 stream processors. The Mobility Radeon also provides the video technology called Avivo HD that provides an on board 7.1 sound chip. The graphics solution also features a 2nd generation Unified Video Decoder that supports full bitstream decoding of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1 streams. The 4570 graphics unit is capable of handling all video tasks including HD video decoding.
Display:
The Acer 5542G comes with a 15.6″ High Definition LED backlit TFT LCD display that provides 220-nit high brightness and Acer’s Cinecrystal display technology. The pure widescreen (16:9) display supports a maximum resolution of 1366X768 and provides a 60% color gamut. It has a high-def response time of 8ms.
Memory: There is nothing much to boast about a 3GB DDR2 800Mhz memory that comes with the Acer Aspire 5542G when compared to the current line of laptops many of which sports a 4GB under the hood. The 3GB is sufficient for most of the computing needs which can later be upgraded to 4GB. However the 3GB deal would appear reasonable when we keep the price tag of the Acer 5542G in mind.
Hard Disk Drive: Again there’s nothing jaw dropping in this department. But I would say that the 320GB that comes with the Acer 5542G is generous for most of your storage needs.
Processor performance and benchmark:
I was initially reluctant to switch from the Intel’s proven workhorse Core 2 Duo to the AMD’s Turion family of processors. It is a widely accepted fact that the Intel’s processor outperforms the AMD counter part, provided that both runs on the same clock speed; the main culprit being the lower L2 cache in AMDs. But my reluctance to move on to the AMD Turion II was swept away by the performance benchmarks. The AMD Turion II M500 2.2 Ghz outperforms the Intel Core 2 Duo 6670 2.2 Ghz. When AMD Turion II M500 scores a decent score of 1426, the Intel Core2 Duo 6670 managed to get only 1379, though the margin is not huge.
The Turion II M500 also scored higher in the Windows 7 performance rating with a score of 5.7 against the score of 5.5 of the Intel’s Core 2 Duo 6600.
The Turion II without doubt has improved it’s architecture dramatically compared to the previous generation Turion, which helps it to achieve a higher performance benchmark, while competing head-on with the Intel’s counterpart, even though AMD Turion II M500 houses only 1MB L2 cache compared to the 2MB offered by the Intel’s variants.
The AMD Turion II M500 is doubtlessly an excellent performer and is commendable for being the first AMD processor model overtaking the Intel Core 2 Duo along the performance lines, both of which are clocked at the same speed. Though the Turion II has only 1MB L2 Cache it brings excellent performance and computing power on a budget. The Turion II M500 processor gives the Acer 5542G with great number crunching efficiency, that was much noticeable when we ran tests involving compressing/extracting, Gaming and Video rendering using 3D graphics tools. The Acer 5542G showed brisk performance during daily computing, and the Windows responsiveness and multi-tasking were significantly quick.
Graphics card performance:
The Acer 5542G with the ATI Mobility Radeon 4570 with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM is not an exceptional performer in terms of the latest gaming standards. But very few laptops comes with a high end graphics card that meets the high-end gamer’s needs and those machines will burn a hole in your wallet for sure. The HD 4570 in the Acer 5542G is a decent graphics card to play a little older game titles in full detail whereas when it comes to the most recent games, you might have to tweak the detail level to a medium to get reasonable frame rates.
The Acer 5542G is an excellent choice for gamer’s on a budget as well as 3D Graphics designers and Animators.
I found the Acer 5542G delivering very smooth frame rates on Test Drive Unlimited even at the highest settings, though a video review of the Dell Studio 15 housing the same graphics card showed significantly lower frame rates in YouTube. May be the performance boost is due to the DDR3 Video Memory as well as the better number-crunching done by the AMD Turion II M500. The card fared really well in older titles like Need For Speed Most Wanted, Need For Speed UnderCover, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Crysis Warhead even at the highest detail settings with 1024X768 resolution and FSAA turned on. The Acer 5542G also delivered consistently playable frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator which is a quite resource hungry game, due to the presence of huge textures and extensive terrain.
Display performance:
The 220-nit high brightness display of the Acer 5542G, gives excellent display quality with good sharpness and contrast. It also delivers very good and accurate color reproduction (60% gamut). The viewability from sides is not exceptional, but is adequate. The only major disadvantage of the display is that it’s high glossy finish attracts glare. Hence it is not suitable while viewing against any direct light source.
Audio Performance:
The Acer 5542G sports a Dolby certified audio system. The Realtek chip provides 32bit audio decoding and provides SP-DIF and Dolby Digital output. It also supports Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Surround modes. It means you will be in audio bliss, if you connect the Acer 5542G to a nice home theatre or high-end headphones.
The built-in speakers of the Acer 5542G clearly lacks the bass and was a disappointment during our tests. The sound clearly lacks the thump element in it. It doesn’t mean that the speakers are worthless. The speakers give you very nice high and medium range frequencies quite well. The audio volume levels were loud enough and will be adequate if you are not in the middle of a very noisy environment.
Battery:
The Acer 5542G comes with a 6-cell battery pack. It would probably disappoint you, if you are looking for a laptop with 3+ hours battery backup. The lower battery backup can be attributed to the modestly big 15.6″ display paired with the dedicated graphics card that can drain out quite a lot of battery power. With the screen brightness at low, I was able to obtain a 2 hours 50 minutes backup with no audio, video or games turned on. At highest performance setting, you can expect roughly two hours of battery backup.
Heating:
Being an AMD based laptop most of us who have used an AMD based sytem would have concerns about over-heating. Stay cool. The Acer 5542G handles heat well. When you use it for extended hours for your daily computing needs, it doesn’t generate any significant heat. I found the heat near the palm rest regions less compared to some other Intel based competing laptop models. The Acer 5542G has adequate ventilation at the bottom and has a vent at the back, that blows the hot air out. The fan steps into high speed the instant things start getting hot.
It doesn’t mean that the Acer 5542G won’t generate heat at all. The moment you start playing games, the rosy picture changes. Though the Acer 5542G’s body remained just warm, the vent at the rear end was blowing out really hot air, which obviously means heavy heat generation, though it gets displaced well. Though the Acer 5542G gets away with the heat quite well, it would be a good choice to get an efficient laptop cooling pad if you are into serious gaming.
Other components:
The Acer 5542G comes with a good DVD Writer, Bluetooth, Wireless LAN etc. These devices performs quite well and doesn’t seem to have any specific points worth mentioning.
Accessories:
The laptop comes with a nice backpack from Targus with Acer logo on it. The backpack has adequate space to carry some extra stuff in it while you are on the move. It’s build quality is good and provides adequate cushioning for the laptop compartment.
Conclusion:
Acer 5542G is a laptop that brings great value to those on a budget, who need excellent processing and graphics performance. I highly recommend it for all gaming enthusiasts and graphics designers, owing to the excellent performance of the processor and the graphics solution built-in. It’s powerful processor can meet most of the extreme computing needs unless your needs target the ultra-high-end like an i7. The Acer 5542G equipped with it’s Turion II processor competes really well with the Core2 Duos out there; no need for the ‘Will AMD perform equally well?’ question anymore. It delivers brutal processing power.
If you are an audiophile who would play music through the laptop’s built-in speakers round the clock, Acer 5542G may not be the best suit for you. If that is not a top-priority for you or if you have a nice home theatre/headphone, then the Acer 5542G gives you great joy in the audio department too, through it’s Dolby processing and digital outputs. It all depends on your needs.
The battery suits the home computing / gaming / designing needs. It’s 2+ hours backup can handle your presentation, on-the-go needs too, though a 3+ hours backup would have been more recommendable.
The laptop model I purchased comes loaded with Linpus linux operating system (command prompt only) and eliminates the Windows dependency, which helps the Acer 5542G keep its price down. You might also get a version with Windows pre-loaded but for a higher price tag.
Pros:
Excellent processor
Excellent graphics for designers and budget gamers
Good Looks
Quite sturdy design
Good Audio processing and digital out
HDMI
Cons:
Built-in speakers do not match the good audio processing and lacks bass completely
Glossy screen difficult to work with in direct light
Volume control keys could have been softer to touch
Arrow keys needs refinement
Pricing and final words:
This laptop is available in India in many online shopping websites at a sub RS 35k price tag. I got hold of one for RS 33700/- (approximately 717 USD) through a local dealer. With such reasonable price tag and compelling set of features, I strongly recommend the Acer 5542G.
Windows 7 Freezes – Windows 7 Keeps Freezing, How Do I Fix It?
Been having trouble when Windows 7 freezes? Despite being Microsoft’s latest release, Windows 7 still has some bugs that need to be worked out. The OS appears to have a very bright future but computer freezing can still be an issue. This can be quite a pain in the neck if you had been working on something important, only to see it lost forever.
So what causes Windows 7 freezes? The first issue can be running your system beyond it’s hardware specifications. This occurs when having too many programs open at once. If the amount of RAM in your system cannot handle it then the computer will freeze. The simple solution for this is to run fewer programs or purchase additional RAM.
Some folks ask – what if Windows 7 crashes when I run a certain program? In this case you may need to update your drivers. Often times compatibility issues can cause your computer to freeze up. You can check the Microsoft Windows website for the latest updates.
If Windows 7 freezes at random, then the problem is related to the registry. When the Windows registry is filled with errors it can’t stop your system from properly communicating information. The registry contains the information your computer uses to communicate between the OS, software, and hardware devices. When the registry becomes congested with errors, the communication process breaks down.
The only solution for this type of Windows 7 freezing is to clean the registry of corrupt files and various errors. Not only will this prevent computer crashing, it will also speed up your system considerably. Simply scan your computer with a top flight registry repair program.