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Shaun Hummel asked:




Overview

This article discusses some of the considerations involved with self employment. There are alot of opportunities for information technology workers to start their own business. You can decide to start it as a part time venture and gradually build the work and phase out of a current opportunity or do both. 

1099/Corp to Corp/Taxes

You have to pay taxes whether self employed or as a standard w2 employee. The contractor can work as a 1099 status or as an incorporated business. The 1099 is a self employed status and has specific IRS rules that determine if your relationship with the employer is indeed as an independent contractor. The 1099 status requires you to file a 1099 schedule during tax time and all liabilities of the business are yours. The taxes with 1099 involve self employment and income taxes. Working as a Corp to Corp requires you incorporate the business and there is a cost involved with that. From the perspective of the IRS you are a corporation and not a self employed individual. There is no self employment tax, however you should consider the complexities of tax laws in your state and consider and decide what is best for your business.  

Health Benefits

Working for yourself will require you to shop around for your own health care benefits. Web sites such as ehealthinsurance  can generate a list of providers with plan specifics and costs. 

Finding Work

Searching for work can be daunting however there are some good places to focus your efforts. Start with contacts you have made over the years working for clients and let them know you are now available and working as a contractor. Have some basic information you can provide that specifies previous work experience and samples if available. There are some good job search engines such as careerjet.com, smuz.com and indeed.com that aggregate opportunities from several sources. Freelance web sites such as Elance, Scriptlance and Getacoder advertise a lot of opportunities that could match your skill set. Setup a company web site and specify on any job boards you work Corp to Corp or 1099 status. Local advertising in free online classifieds is a good  idea and joining local community networking groups. 

Billing

There are some companies that do payroll online as an outsourced service if you dont want to do any billing, taxes or financial statements. It is easy enough to get a basic accouting package online and learn to use it if you have basic computer skills and do your taxes online.

Career Development

Keeping your technical skills current is key and the best way to do that is with certifications. Plan on doing a certification that supports your business plan and market demands every 6 months.

Contracts

Most contracts with the information technology industry involve non-disclosure agreement, work scope, penalties for contract default, payment plans and intellectual property rights. Read carefully and confirm you are not signing away rights.

Advertising

The best advertising is customer testimonials from previous work you have done. Your reputation is valuable and a great selling point when competing for a contract. Include samples of previous work accomplishments.

Shaun Hummel is an author of various technical books and has a web site focused on information technology job search solutions and certifications.

http://www.networkjobsolutions.com



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James Murray asked:




1) Bluetooth And Infared, Electrical Devices

Bluetooth and with new electrical devices being produced every day, the problem of connecting things is becoming more and more complex in nature. The system that comprises computers and other electronics makes use of varieties of wires, cables, etc.

These parts will communicate through light beams, lasers, radio signals, and infrared. The problem however, is the devices and technology is often the connection between each component. Therefore, most electronic systems are not used to their full extent due to the problems and imperfections.

To help simplify things, a solution was created, the solution of Bluetooth. Bluetooth is wireless and automatic, offering users a variety of features that have simplified the art of connection. Bluetooth has revolutionized the standard methods of connecting things to enabling almost anything to be connected to a single system.

Aside from Bluetooth, there are other ways of connecting wireless devices. One example of such is the IR or infrared. Infrared allows low frequency light waves to transmit signals to another component. This technology is easy to create and the cost of putting the IR device into a system is rather low.

Infrared technology is a one to one process. Due to the limitation, you may only send signals from one device to another, similar to a television set and remote control. You can only transmit signals between the two although not with a seperate system.

Aside from the fact that these two natures of infrared are obstacles to acquiring results, these same qualities have worked in advantage to the connection. Infrared devices need to be lined up directly, meaning too little interference can occur between the transmitters and receivers.

The technology behind Bluetooth works by transmitting signals through low frequency radio signals. The path of communication is working on 2.45 GHz, which is the same frequency band used in ISM devices.

2) Bluetooth Applications

With Bluetooth being very popular with wireless, it is no wonder there are many applications available for the technology. Below, you will find the applications for Bluetooth.

a) Wireless networking between laptops and desktop computers, or desktops that are in a confined space and little bandwidth is needed.

b) Peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and printers.

c) Cell phones with Bluetooth technology have been sold in large numbers, as they are able to connect to computers, PDAs (Personal Data Assistant), and various other devices. The standard also includes the support for more powerful and longer range devices.

d) The transfer of files, images and MP3, between mobile phones.

e) Certain MP3 players and digital cameras to transfer files to and from computers.

f) Bluetooth technology headsets for smart phones and cell phones.

g) Data logging equipment that transmits data to a computer via Bluetooth technology.

h) Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Revolution will both use Bluetooth technology for their wireless controllers.

For Bluetooth, there are literally hundreds of different applications and devices available for you to use or purchase. As you may already know, Bluetooth is the most popular wireless technology in the world. It is very reliable, very dependable, and very hard to crack into.

There are many other applications for Bluetooth in development now, many of which plan to take the wireless age to the next level. Video game systems are using Bluetooth technology as well, for their wireless controllers. This is great news for gaming fans, as Bluetooth offers the best in wireless data transmission.

If your curious about applications for Bluetooth that are still in development, you can search on the internet. You can find all sorts of information, especially when it comes to Bluetooth. As the future arrives, you can expect Bluetooth to bring bigger and better things.



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Michael Lemm asked:




What is a viable choice for your business network backbone? Is it DSL, cable, T1, DS3, or something else?

Ok, is a T1 a viable choice? Yes, due to geographic locations where DSL/Cable is not available.

As far as other flavors? Well a DS-3 is a viable options when fiber is not run to the location and therefore a copper circuit is still required.

Voice T1s/PRIs are still viable choices.

If the organization is large enough, then a T1 for backup would be a viable option.

DSL and Cable (when available) or good choices for very small businesses that do not run specific servers.

As fiber is built out to more locations, copper circuits sales will continue to decline.

At the enterprise level, most phone companies will not bond more than two DS3s (around 88Mbps), when you could have Gig-E Internet if the location is fiber lit.

DSL vs. T1 – depends how far away you are from the central office whether DSL is a viable alternative

Cable vs. T1 – depends on how many people are running off of node. Cable company may state 8M/1M but the actual speed may be 4M/384K, ah the wonders of speedtest.net

FiOS vs. T1 – FiOS will win everytime. 20M/20M business FiOS is around $150/month? NxT1s can not compete with that. Of course this is limited to Verizon footprint and FiOS availability.

To really zero in on what you actually need (notice I didn’t say “want” ) …… ask yourself these questions:

Do you require the line to be confidential?

What is the maximum acceptable outage you can handle for this line?

Does the pipe size meet your requirements and allow for future growth?

What kind of support do you want for the line?

What kind of money do you want to spend?

If you require the line to be confidential, you could use either a T1 or a VPN over cheaper media.

The uptime of a T1 will generally be greater than that of a lesser service because you’re paying for a dedicated circuit. Most providers offer credits when the service is down, so you are not charged when the circuit is not usable. Compare that to lesser services.

A T1 can send and receive 1.544 Mbps concurrently (really 1.536), depending on your location, other services have probably surpassed this: FiOS, Comcast Cable

T1 support is generally much better and more personalized than a lesser service, because you’re paying for a dedicated line.

T1 pricing can be somewhat expensive compared to lesser services. But …. this is NOT always the case.

Please note that I call anything non-dedicated “lesser” because it essentially is a lower quality of service you are receiving.

In the end …. do your homework. Making a decision based on anything other than sound business analysis will get you into trouble. Don’t buy on your emotion, a friend’s advice, or a vendors pitch and hype. Answer the questions above and focus on what makes business sense.



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Davion W asked:




Ever wondered how to watch satellite TV on PC or computer? People are familiar with satellite dish systems and setup. To many, they think that using satellite dishes are the only way anyone can watch satellite TV. However, you would be glad to know that nowadays, you can even make your personal computer work like a TV. Yes, anyone with the help of some special tools can watch satellite TV on PC today.

There are a few ways to watch satellite TV on PC quickly. Either you buy and install a PCTV card, special PC satellite TV software or buy an emulated card. Whichever method you use, generally, a computer with minimum Pentium 3 CPU processor and internet connection is sufficient.

Watching satellite TV with PCTV cards would cost you more than $150 in most cases. This is a piece of hardware you can buy from the software stores or online auctions. Be careful when you buy from the auctions as you do not know what is the make and manufacturer. There are bootlegs around. Famous and established brands like ATI Wonder, Hauppage, Plextor and Pinnacle make some of the best PCTV cards around. But they are not cheap. The cards are either external and connected to the computer via a USB port, or installed within the computer.

Be sure to check your computer system configurations and purchase one that is compatible with your PC. Look out for the requirements for RAM, CPU processing speed and any other peripherals needed.

One way to watch satellite TV on PC is to use an emulated card. This card basically intercepts satellite TV signals from the satellite TV service providers. I have included this for the purpose of information only. Now, I won’t recommend using emulators because firstly, it is not right to steal signals and secondly, the digital systems service developers are constantly introducing electronic counter measures to lock the cards. A lot of money has to be spent reactivating those cards.

The last option to watch satellite TV on PC happens to be the most popular option. It is using PC satellite TV software which can be easily downloaded online. This nice piece of software allows you to watch satellite on computer after installation. Developed by the top brains in software development, it makes use of breakthrough satellite TV technology that allows you to watch free internet satellite TV. The number of channels available is over 3000 and you can purchase it for less than $50.

Watch satellite TV on PC is a great past time for families. Dads may love financial news and golf games. Mums absolutely like shows on cooking and recipes, beauty and health care programs, and shopping news. Teens would love the music videos and kids the cartoons. All these are available when you watch satellite TV on PC. Watching satellite TV on PC is truly an entertainment avenue for the whole family.

Find out from my blog where you can download PC satellite TV software and start to watch satellite TV on PC moments from now.



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Raphael Hidalgo asked:


Car Headrest Entertainment System with DVD player, CD Player, MP3 and MP4 player, video games, and built-in stereo speakers. With a wide screen 9 inch TFT LCD display, passengers in the back seats can really enjoy themselves as the driver concentrates on the road ahead.

This headrest entertainment system signature feature is a region-free DVD player, so the children or film aficionado can easily enjoy all the movies of their choice. Another great feature includes the built-in game system, which plays old school game ROM’s and comes with a starter disc. How about music? Again, this system has you covered. Not only will you get a terrific CD player, but you can also play both MP3 and WMA files. If that is not enough, add to that the USB and SD Memory Card reader, and there is just about no limits to what you can do with this unit!

Are we done yet? No way! For easy installation, the headrest has two built-in adjustable width metal struts to fit most car manufacturer standards and allows the to use the car headrests own built-in speakers or use the AV OUT cable to send the sound to your cars stereo system. While you may have seen Car Headrests on the internet before, none compare to what this unit can offer.

The CVSA-448 is now available only from your source for wholesale direct from China electronic products, Chinavasion.

At a Glance…

This headrest entertainment system plays a wide range of disc and media types plus has its own integrated stereo speakers so it can be used independent of the car stereo system. No matter what you’re watching, it all looks great on the crisp 9″ widescreen LCD. A great DIY addition to any family vehicle. In these tough economic times, why not save some money by doing some D.I.Y. work on your car during your next holiday? This car upgrade is sure to be enjoyed by the whole family!

Note: this product comes as one piece (one headrest monitor/DVD player) in 1 box. If you need a pair, you need to order two of CVSA-448-Grey.







Manufacturer Specifications

Primary Function: Car headrest DVD player and entertainment system.

Headrest Specs

- Materials: Faux Leather covered padded pillow on front, LCD with DVD and controls on back

- Color: Gray

- Dimensions: 240mm x 290mm x 130mm (L x W x D)

- Space between struts: Adjustable from 110mm – 210mm

- Strut diameter: 11mm

Discs/Formats Played

- Discs Played: DVD, DVD-R/RW, VCD, CD, CD-R/RW, DVCD, CDG, SVCD

- Files Played: DVD, CD, MP3, WMA, MP4 (AVI), JPEG, DIVX, MPEG

- Video System: PAL/NTSC/Auto

Screen Information

- Screen: 9 Inch TFT LCD

- Aspect Ratio: 16:9

- Resolution: 800×480

Input/Output

- USB Port

- 2x mini USB ports (for game controllers)

- AV audio and video OUT (RCA red white yellow)

- SD/MS/MMC card slot

Power: 12V DC Operating Temperature: -20C to 55C OSD Languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese Manufacturer Ref: TRH7FE8M81HR

Product Notes

Built-in game emulator and game disc included Brightness: 350 cd/m2 Integrated DVD Player with built-in stereo speakers Total length including strut = 390mm (height) Backlight: Cold Cathode Florescent Lamp Supports FM audio transmission Supports IR headphones AV OUT (RCA red, white, yellow) on power cable

Package Contents

Model CVSA-448-Grey Headrest Multi function remote control x2 wired game controllers x1 wireless game controller ISO power cable Users Manual – English Hardware 1x 8-bit game disc and 1x 32-bit game disc

 

Login for Wholesale Discount Price Catalog Ref: Gray auto headrest DVD entertainment center with pillow

 

Visit the website: http://www.electronicschinawholesale.com

You will find much more.



Current Reviews:    1 This product was added to our catalog on Monday 15 December, 2008. Reviews for: (Car Headrest with DVD Player, Game System, and Media Card Reader)   Car Headrest with DVD Player, Game System, and Media Card Reader very good sellerby Pedro Pereira – on 09/22/2009

perfect!!!!! five stars*****



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ray tamayo asked:




What happens when you start to understand what others value? I wish I could use the word magic. Actually I used the word magic for a long time because that is what I thought it was. Now that I have studied human potential and the glue that makes it stick I have come to know exactly how to get what I want and to give what others are looking for.

I have heard that win-win is not actually possible but if you look beyond the things you can see, you start to understand and make your life a living scene out of what you would think was a movie. Now what I am describing is not mystic, cosmic or weird although some may think so, but when you understand that potential part the hidden part of you so to speak it makes much more sense. Living at your highest level seems like a dream and it is until you know how to move that dream into a reality. You may say what does this have to do with rapport? Everything you cannot influence another person to your way of thinking unless you know how YOU THINK. When you discover that you and I are pretty much the same only the wrapping is different you are able to see farther than a whole lot of people. You will see that you have infinite potential and that others do as well.

Rapport starts by valuing another person and then being able to talk about how to increase their value and not yours. Rapport starts with making the choices that help promote what someone else wants and not only what you want to give them.

How can we create a world that evolves around the customer? By asking ourselves some deep thinking questions. We can generate a better base of customers. I have been able to keep a 95% reorder rate in products and a retention that keeps customers and builders happy and content. How do people see the value of staying with your business and product. People have to be shown value and value sells products and value never goes away.

Also, from this comes the Critical Mass factor to get your business form 0-1,000,000.00 is to know what your critical mass factor is. This is a simple understanding but you have to first know what you want to be able to get to critical mass and your rapport factor has to be factored to really get to this number.

Napolean Hill states in “Think and Grow Rich” that one of the principles in creating wealth is to have a pleasing personality and it is so true. You must be someone who is pleasant, for rapport to be given to you.

Ray Tamayo is a Certified Life Success Consultant and has built a successful a marketing team that seeks to help people be more aware of their environment, community and family health. You can hire Ray to speak to your group and create long lasting success. If you would like to get in touch with Ray email him at winnersimage@comcast.net

Ray Tamayo does Seminars in the Chicago area and focuses on the results that people look for in their lives.



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david burton asked:




Accessories for your new laptop computer

Just spent big money on another laptop?.Now you need accessories.Here are a few accessory ideas you may want to consider to make the set up complete.

1: Notebook bag

You can’t very well go travelling around the world with your laptop exposed to the elements.

When it comes to laptop bags, you can spend £15 for a basic case made from less expensive materials or up to a hundred pounds on one made of quality leather.some laptops have the bag as a give-away, i find that you can get an affordable one by shopping around and not neccessarilly buying the exact one, but one that will do the job. Personally i pick one that is large enough to hold a few accessories besides.

2: Software

Did your laptop come with software? If so, did it come with the right software – the software you actually need to perform whatever tasks you require?

Don’t guess you have everything you need. You’ll probably need to add some software, as well as go on the net to update the software that was included.

3: A Real USB Mouse

The inbuilt touch-pad does the job. However, given the choice, most people would rather use a real mouse.

If you stop and think for a moment, you’re likely to realize that many places where you’ll be computing actually are suitable for a real mouse.

So one of the most useful laptop accessories you can buy is a USB mouse, keep it in your bag, and use it whenever you’re able.

4: A Cat5 Ethernet Cable

Your built-in Ethernet port won’t do you much good if you get to your hotel room, discover an Ethernet connection, and don’t have a cable. Some hotels provide them; others don’t. Always come prepared with the right cable.

5: A Standard Telephone Cable

The same holds true for your modem connection. If you don’t have a cable to get you from your computer to the phone jack, you’re not going to link to the net.

6: Disposable Cleansing Cloths

Over time, the display on your laptop is going to get dusty, or even grimey. You’re diceing with the death of your laptop if you attempt to clean your display with paper towels and spray cleaners.

Instead, use disposable cleansing cloths. These essential laptop accessories are designed specifically to clean laptop displays and they are cheap to boot, about £2 a pack . Always have a pack on hand.

7: USB Drive

A USB drive is a storage device about the size of your thumb that plugs directly into a USB port.

Capacity-wise, they’re relatively small – usually well under 100 MB. However, they’re very useful for moving files quickly and easily from one computer to another, e.g., moving a PowerPoint presentation from your laptop to your business associate’s laptop.

A USB drive also makes a great temporary backup medium for the really important files you create on the road.

8: Blank CD-R Discs

You’ve just finished your big sales presentation. Someone from the audience approaches you afterward and asks for a copy of the presentation.

You’ll make a better impression if you burn them a CD of the presentation on the spot.

9: Stereo Headset

It’s great to be able to watch DVD movies no matter where you are. Imagine watching your favourite movie at 30,000 feet.

There’s just one problem.

The family in the row behind you has absolutely no interest in hearing the dialog from the latest horror movie

Do yourself and everyone around you a favour. When you’re watching movies or listening to music in public, use your headphones.

10: Security Device

Laptop security devices come in many shapes and sizes.

For example, most laptops include a security dock that allows you to attach your laptop to some immovable object via cable, much like you’d lock up your bike on the street.

laptop computers

david is the owner of www.discount-notebooks.net which deal in great bargains on the latest laptops,notebooks & their accessories



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Colin Yao asked:




Just like copper cables, NEC (National Electrical Code) requires indoor fiber optic cables be marked with their fire and smoking ratings. NEC requires all indoor fiber cables be marked correctly and installed properly for its intended use.

According to NEC, a building’s inside area is divided into three types of sections: plenums, risers and general purpose areas.

:: What is a Plenum area?

A Plenum area is a building space used for air flow or air distribution system. In most buildings, the area above a drop ceiling or under a raised floor is used as the air return (source of air) for the air conditioning. Those drop ceiling and raised floors are also where fiber cables are often installed. If those cables were burning, they would give off toxic fumes and the fumes would be fed to the rest of the building by the air conditioner. As a result, people could be injured even though they are a long way from the fire.

:: What is a Riser area?

A Riser area is a floor opening, shaft or duct that runs vertically through one or more floors

:: What is General Purpose area?

All other area that is not plenum or riser and on the same floor is a general purpose area.

:: Fiber Optic Cable Fire and Smoking Rating Markings

OFNP Cables:

OFNP stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum. OFNP cables have fire-resistance and low smoke production characteristics. They can be installed in ducts, plenums and other spaces used for building airflow. This is the highest fire rating fiber cable and no other cable types can be used as substitutes.

OFCP Cables:

OFCP stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Plenum. OFCP cables have the same fire and smoking rating as OFNP cables but they have a conducting armor or central strength member which is usually steel. OFCP cables must be properly grounded at both ends. As a result, OFCP cables can not be installed in the same cable tray or conduit as power cables.

OFNR Cables:

OFNR stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser. OFNR cables are used in Riser areas which are building vertical shafts or runs from one floor to another floor. OFNR cables can not be installed in plenum areas since they do not have the required fire and smoking rating as Plenum rated cables. OFNP plenum cables can be used as substitutes for OFNR cables.

OFCR Cables:

OFCR stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Riser. OFCR cables have the same fire rating characteristics as OFNR cables but they have conducting armor or central strength member which is usually steel. OFCR cables should also be properly grounded at both ends. OFCP cables can be used as substitutes for OFCR cables. OFCR cables can not be installed in the same cable trays or conduits as power cables.

OFNG Cables:

OFNG stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive General-Purpose. They are typically used in horizontal cabling, single floor applications. OFNG cables can not be used in plenums or risers. OFNP and OFNR cables both can be used as substitutes for OFNG cables.

OFCG Cables:

OFCG stands for Optical Fiber Conductive General-Purpose. They have the same fire characteristics as OFNG cables but they have conducting armor or central strength members which is typically steel. OFCG cables should be properly grounded at both ends. They should not be installed in the same cable tray or conduits as power cables.



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Amanda asked:




With the China’s economy developing rapidly, the digital products, especially digital cameras produced in China get very high quality and become very low price. People are now searching for cheap digital cameras for both fun snapshots and serious photographic applications. Chinese manufacturers have been quick to react to this market. You know the labor force and raw meterials are not that expensive. ILoveChinaShopping provides various digital cameras which can be used in different situations. When you buy a camera from ILoveChinaShopping it is guarantee by our 12-month warranty. They have excellent value for your money. Our 3-10 Megapixel digital cameras are great entry level products with nice designs. All digital cameras are supplied with all the necessary cables, adapters, software, manuals, and packaging. But when you really go to us for one, there are still some advises for you.

 

First, the resolution. It is known to everyone that, the most important for a cameras is take a photo. A feature of the better digital cameras is that they have a sensor that converts light into electrical charges using a different system to their less expensive cousins. Some people believe the device used to capture an image in cheaper digital cameras the CMOS will eventually be the replacement for the better CCD but this is highly doubtful.

 

Second, screen is the another function of digital cameras. Screen is to show the images and photos, without question, if you have a high quality Screen then you can take a good photo. And the digital camera with high definition and large screen will become new favorite in the market.

 

The last, you should pay attention to the accessories and its packing. Usually, there are some accessories with the digital cameras when you buy it, such as li-ion battery, USB / AV cable, hand strap, earphone, AC adapter, pouch, CD ROM, user manual and so on and it is different from one to one. The packing is important too, especially when you buy the digital cameras on net. The digital cameras maybe need to travel across continents before it received you.

 

Don’t waste your time any more. There has only a few suggest for you but they should help with your choice of wholesale digital cameras. And you should check it by yourself. Buying a digital camera, with their range of features and ease of use, digital cameras are the future of photography.



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Mark Robbins asked:




Gone are the days of drab, underpowered gaming consoles with limited features. The Microsoft Xbox 360 is here! It doesn’t matter if you are a serious gamer or a mere hobbyist, the Xbox 360 that Microsoft launched in November 2005 is suitable for all players. It claims to have taken into consideration all the facets of ultimate gaming experience with this much-improved version of the original Microsoft Xbox that came out in November 2001.

Check your budget. Depending on what you can afford, you may start with the very basic core system composed of the light console, the wired controller and the composite AV cable; and when your budget allows you to purchase other peripherals one by one for the enhancement of your total gaming experience, maybe you’d want to change your wired controller with the wireless model, or maybe you’d want to add in the Xbox Live headset for amplification of sound effects to a mind-boggling level far above what your normal TV speakers could provide.

On the other hand, if you are one of those to whom “money is no object,” you may just go ahead and buy the entire Microsoft Xbox 360 system, where everything is all in (i.e., the console with premium chrome finish, a wireless controller, the Xbox Live headset, component hard drive-AV cable, the Ethernet cable that allows you to connect with the other players, and the hard drive that contains an array of original Xbox games and allows you to download even more games. Since the Xbox 360 allows up to four wireless controllers operating on one console, it lets you play with three other players simultaneously for that added fun and challenge in live competition.

The Microsoft Xbox 360 gives you total digital entertainment. You may amplify and enhance your music and movies to a soothingly soft or to a ripping loud volume. Connect to the Internet and instantly stream your music, digital home movies, photographs and graphics or any other files stored in your hard disk, memory and other digital media that are Microsoft Windows XP-based PC that you want to share with others.

When attached to your TV, the Microsoft Xbox 360 takes advantage of the high-definition TV resolution in its full color and size that makes the game movie-like. Its anti-aliasing capability renders the animation flawlessly smooth and non-jerky, and the characters seem as though they are jumping out of the wide screen! When you are connected to the Internet via the Ethernet card, you have the Xbox Live headset, a facility that allows you to voice-chat with other players, thus combining active gaming with socialization.

There are games that are rated “must-have” because they are simply sensational with the Microsoft Xbox 360. These include “Dead or Alive 4,” “Call of Duty 2″ for the best WWII shooter, “King Kong” for great effects and “Need for Speed Most Wanted” for racing fans. For some odd reasons, some games that run with excellent audio and video effects using the first version of Xbox don’t run as well in the Xbox 360; these include “Madden NFL 06,” “NBA Live 06.” This must be given immediate attention by the Microsoft people because it is a source of great disappointment for hardcore gamers and, in some cases, could be a deal-breaker.

Pressure is on for movie makers and game programmers/manufacturers to properly and visibly indicate the appropriate rating of their products on the packaging to provide guidance for buyers. In this regard, it is an added attraction to parents that the Microsoft Xbox 360 has settings that allow them to control how it is used by their children. The box has Family Settings which enable parents to shield their children from unsavory or unwholesome contacts. Family Settings perform two functions on the Xbox 360 console-to allow or restrict access to offline games and/or DVD movies, and access to online contact and content via the Xbox Live environment.

ESRB is the regulating body that takes care of rating the propriety or impropriety of a game or movie based on age. ESRB’s restrictions on games are EC (early childhood) for children below 6 years old, containing no inappropriate materials at all; E (everyone) for children younger than 13, and these have minimal violence and comic mischief but are substantial for character building. Some Xbox 360 games with an E rating include Ridge Racer 6 and NBA 2K6.

The rest of the ESRB ratings are: T (teen), which may also contain minimal violence, mild-to-strong language and/or suggestive themes; M (mature 17+) containing mature sexual themes or more intense violence and language; AO (adults only, for players aged 18+), which may include more graphic sexual themes and/or violence; and RP (rating pending) for games that have not been officially released yet.

With the safeguard placed by the Family Settings of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console, the parent feels safe buying the system for their kids. So, whatever the gaming preference of the child – or the parent!—Microsoft Xbox 360 promises to satisfy them.



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