Random Question Thread: Tech

[Arximiro]

anyone have an idea about my question? Curious because I may become poor soon and if I can just use wifi for texting I'll be good to go.

[Ratatapa]

I'm sure you could

[Mafai]

Can use google voice for texting as well. I believe iphones/android have google voice apps.

[Yuri-G]

any thoughts on forcing my computer to recognize my TV if it's connected to my video card via HDMI? the computer recognizes my TV if I turn the TV on first, but if I turn the computer on first it doesn't. it's not a big deal since I can just turn the TV on first every time, but it'd be nice to know if there is a way to smack my computer and say "hey, dumbass - there's a visual output device right there!"

[xerodok]

any thoughts on forcing my computer to recognize my TV if it's connected to my video card via HDMI? the computer recognizes my TV if I turn the TV on first, but if I turn the computer on first it doesn't. it's not a big deal since I can just turn the TV on first every time, but it'd be nice to know if there is a way to smack my computer and say "hey, dumbass - there's a visual output device right there!"

It depends what kind of TV you have, but, for most HDTVs it will auto-detect video input. It won't detect your computer if you cycle through the different sources?

Also, you might have to use some kind of software or change your display settings on your computer.

[Hellfury]

UPS question

I'm not entirely certain I get the technical aspects of Line Interactive UPS'. I strongly suspect the power system in the house I currently reside of being of somewhat unstable quality, but am a complete ignoramus on the more technical sides of this, my suspicion has its roots in that ever since I moved here, the computer has had short freezes, and it sounds like the drives etc. spin down, then back up again. It goes back operational right away though, no shutdown or similar. I've switched out every component in the computer, including motherboard and powersupply at least once, but the problem has persisted and USB ports have started dying/being incredibly unstable. So I'm wondering if I should get a UPS. But I'm entirely uncertain if Line Interactive (cheaper than onlines) will maintain quality of powerflow?
(from my googling, I think it will, but I'm way out of my league, sorry if I'm unclear)

I'm considering this one: http://www.apc.com/resource/include/...ase_sku=BR800I

[Chun Liroy]

Good place to buy a laptop charger in person (as in, not via the internet).

[jmc]

Good place to buy a laptop charger in person (as in, not via the internet).

Looking for more of the universal laptop chargers?

If so, can check out microcenter or a batteries plus if any are near you.

(i've never been to a batteries plus, a few popped up near me.... and claim to have a large selection of laptop batteries and chargers)

[Yugl]

What is the best setting for Tomato Router Firmware? Atm, we're on DSL (Soon comcast perhaps) with two computers. Priority of stuff would be Browsing/Loading a site > FFXI > Streaming videos/movies. Is there a specific setting that would optimizing this? Is there a way to make it so that FFXI/Streams only affect my computer and not the other computer?

[Koyangi]

I currently 4 box in FFXI, 5 boxxing is harder atm because of my xbox controller's wire. I've been told it can be wireless but when I unplug it, it doesnt send commands to the xbox (been this way since I 1st got it). Any advice?

[Koyangi]

anyone have an idea about my question? Curious because I may become poor soon and if I can just use wifi for texting I'll be good to go.

Texting is a "phone" feature, not a wifi feature.

[Overburn]

Texting is a "phone" feature, not a wifi feature.

There are apps to text over wifi, you just need to be texting somebody who has access to texting to emails, which is just about everyone at this point. I know at least one works with my iPod Touch in the Appstore, so I would think that they don't need anything special set-up since it is an older 2nd gen without any special iphone type features.

[Yuri-G]

It depends what kind of TV you have, but, for most HDTVs it will auto-detect video input. It won't detect your computer if you cycle through the different sources?

Also, you might have to use some kind of software or change your display settings on your computer.

it auto-detects my PS3. but it does weird tricks with my PC. besides the aforementioned weirdness with having to turn the TV on first, it also gets freaky with fullscreen applications. for example, if I maximize a movie that's playing in windows media player, it'll go black for a second and then display the movie along with the little box that shows the resolution and frequency (which normally only appears when a new signal is detected).

I mean it's working, so I'm not too worried. just seems strange. I've never had this weirdness with a monitor.

[Kerberoz]

Anyone use http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-...talk-plans.jsp ? Thoughts? Complaints? Thinking about grabbing the Optimus V when my ATT contract dies this month. I don't think I've ever used 300 minutes in a month.

[jmc]

Anyone use http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-...talk-plans.jsp ? Thoughts? Complaints? Thinking about grabbing the Optimus V when my ATT contract dies this month. I don't think I've ever used 300 minutes in a month.

around h
my brother uses that every month, no complaints really. I believe they piggyback on the sprint network, and around here sprint is pretty solid.

His only complaint.... is not getting a service plan on his phone, they don't see to be the best build quality.

[Punices9]

Anyone know why a pdf file saved to my computer and then copied to a website will only show up in Firefox and not Internet Explorer?

The reason I ask is that the menu on a website I am building for a family friend will not show up for them when viewing it in IE but I can see it fine in Firefox.

Website is www.all-american-bbq.com and the menu link is on the top left hand side. Thanks for any advice.

[Phoenyx]

Anyone know why a pdf file saved to my computer and then copied to a website will only show up in Firefox and not Internet Explorer?

The reason I ask is that the menu on a website I am building for a family friend will not show up for them when viewing it in IE but I can see it fine in Firefox.

Website is www.all-american-bbq.com and the menu link is on the top left hand side. Thanks for any advice.

Seems to be loading as an image instead of an imbedded .pdf, is that by design?

Works in FF4, but not IE8. Can try IE9 when I go home for lunch.

[Punices9]

Seems to be loading as an image instead of an imbedded .pdf, is that by design?

Works in FF4, but not IE8. Can try IE9 when I go home for lunch.

Not by design, that is the only way I know how to get it on there. I am no programmer, just the most knowledgeable person they know who will do this for free. Thanks for your help Phoenyx

Edit: I converted it to a .jpeg because I thought that it would work this way but, I was wrong. Would you happen to know how to embed the image as a .pdf or .jpeg? I have the menu hosted on google docs if that matters. Thanks again.

[Not Kuno]

I am bad with computers. Which one of these will be able to play FFXI best (if at all)?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115979

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834215061

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834215057

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115995

[Jojimbo]

I'll say this one but you could probably throw any of those at FFXI and they'll work. (Unless you plan on db'ing with high settings on both windows lol)

EDIT:: Looking into it a bit more, 6310 is obv the best card, 4500M sucks still apparently (using this)

But the Intel CPU (2.3GHz) has a passmark score twice that of the AMD 1.6GHz