Awkward Laptop Picture of the Day

I'm not sure if this is a marketing technique, as if the company is trying to say, "Look! Our computer even lasts through a plane crash and still works on a stranded island." I mean, really? Or, maybe this is just a random picture of a laptop that's in mint condition...on a beach...next to a coconut. Either way - awkward.

Microsoft's New Windows 8 Preview Launches Today

It's official! The Windows 8 consumer preview launched today! Wow, this definitely looks impressive. This is by far the most dramatic change we've seen in Windows yet. Below are pictures of what you can expect to see after downloading it. If you'd like to try it out, the download link is at the bottom of the post. 

Charms 

Charms are one of the central pillars behind Windows 8’s design. Swipe your finger (or hover your mouse pointer) on the right edge of the screen, and you’ll get instant access to Search and Sharing functionality, as well as your devices and settings. These charms are designed to work with your apps, too; if you’re browsing the web and have a link you’d like to pass along, tapping the Share charm will give you quick access to the email client, or services like Facebook and Twitter.

Settings 

The settings menu contains a lot of stuff we’re used to seeing on tablets but not in Windows, like virtual keyboard settings and notifications.

Pinball 

One of the two pre-installed games is Pinball FX 2, which is really a fantastic title. Too bad only one table is available.

Solitaire 

The other built-in game is an old standby: Solitaire. This one is touch-enabled, but otherwise unremarkable. What, no Minesweeper? Hopefully these built-in games are a little more polished and feature-rich in the final release.

Tweets from @PCWorld who attended the Window's consumer preview event:

• XBox Live, already found on Windows Phone, will also be a part of Windows 8.
• You can run multiple apps on the same screen by dragging and "docking" them. MSFT just showed a video and IM client running together.
• To close an app in Windows 8, you simple touch and drag it off the screen.
• Don't like touch screens? Don't worry, you can use Windows 8 easily with a mouse and keyboard. Microsoft is showing us now...
• To zoom in, you click the magnifying glass icon in the corner. Move the mouse up to the left corner brings you to your open apps. #win8

See more pictures of Microsoft 8 by clicking here.

Download your preview of Windows 8 today!

Things To Think About When Buying A Laptop For A College Student

Are you thinking about getting a computer for your daughter/son that's already in or about to go to college? It can be tricky finding out what the perfect laptop for a college student would be. Here are a few tips to make the process a little bit easier.

• The first thing you should do here is to contact the college or university where your student is going to be attending.  Ask about software.  A lot of the schools offer students a free version of all the major software programs they might need.   Their versions aren’t really free.  The costs are included in school tuition.  Why pay for it twice?  If the student has access to an already paid for version, then go with that one.  This is also true about security programs such as antivirus.  A lot of colleges give it away.  Plus you know that the software the school is giving away will allow the student full access to whatever they need at school.
• The larger the screen is on the laptop, the heavier and bulkier it is to carry around.  You might be better off going with a 15 inch or an even smaller 14 inch laptop screen.  Ask the student his or her preference.  The larger 15" and even 17" laptops are heavy to carry around campus for long periods of time.  Smaller laptops will obviously weigh less.  They take up less desk space which is surprisingly small at many schools.  Remember their desks in class are tiny compared to the one in your home office. 
• Students will be using these laptops for everything under the sun, not just school work.  They will need larger hard drives.  A hard drive of 500GB or larger will make for a happy student. You should not have any trouble finding that these days. Most laptops have 500GB and larger drives now.
• I think it is wise to purchase a subscription to an online backup service like Carbonite or Mozy before the student heads off to college.  This will make sure that they have their school work backed up.  Then if the laptop breaks down, the hard drive crashes or if the laptop is stolen, they will still be able to retrieve the documents that they have already created.   Losing data is a major disaster to a college kid.  You can safeguard their data for $50-$60 per year.  That is money well spent. Another service that should work well for them is a website called Dropbox. (Dropbox is free)
• Some laptops come with a fingerprint scanner or some other form of identification security.  This is also a nice feature but not absolutely necessary.  IBM Lenovo laptops are well known for better security.
• It is probably worth a little extra to pay for a better battery for the student.  Long battery life could come in handy if there is little time for charging in between lectures.

Shop for your student's laptop today at TechTurn!

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Awkward Laptop Pic of the Day

The Matching Red Laptop Family.

Need I say more?

We Ask Again: Is Google Taking Over?

It's no new news that Google is continually growing and keeps becoming more popular. Not only is Google the number one search engine in the world, but it has the most online text ads program available. Alright, are you ready for the crazy fact? Google controls up to 44% of global online ad revenues. 

Now that's as of 2010. By now the percentage could be up a little higher. Wouldn't surprise me!

source

Awkward Laptop Pic of the Day

He needs a mask to steal something on this computer. This helps him get more into character!

Awkward Laptop Pic of the Day

Frustrated much? 

New iPhone 5 With Possible Curved Design

Could this possibly be the new design for the iPhone5? Being an iPhone carrier myself, I'm not quite sure what I think about it yet. The main differences, besides the obvious curved shape, include change of position for the camera and the audio jack. It definitely looks more futuristic, but is Apple changing something that truly doesn't need any "tweeking?" What do you think?

Let’s take a closer look at the concept design. Aside from its Magic Mouse-like appearance, Ciccare Design also moved the iPhone’s camera at the center from the left-most part of the phone’s back panel. There’s also the audio jack moved on the side from the top part of the current iPhone 4S. This I think is a smart move since, the current location of the audio jack is not ergonomically located and becomes a problem when using a wired earphones. And those are pretty much what we can gather from this concept design of the iPhone 5. Take note, this is just a concept design and does not in anyway suggest that the next iPhone will indeed sport a new form factor. Who knows, we might see another minor adjustment in the design of the iPhone 5 when it comes out later this year.

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Awkward Laptop Pic of the Day

I think someone needs a hug, preferably not from a computer. At least she's happy with the computer she chose! 

Check out this Dell Inspiron One 2305 all-in-one desktop that offers a large touch screen and fast performance at an affordable price!

Laptops vs. Tablets: Which Is Better?

With all the technology coming out, it's hard to know what computer is the best fit for you. We're here to make that decision a little bit easier for you. Included below are descriptions of both laptops and tablets that describe the pros and cons that can potentially help you decide which one is a more ideal choice.

Most people involved in the decision making process can fit into three categories: college students, office workers, and people who like to read. College students use just about every software or application available for their computers and smart phones. Like people in the work environment, students need the flexibility of word documents to create projects and spreadsheets, and they need to be able to send their finished work to other members of the group on time. They also like to have their textbooks in digital format in addition to reading books for leisure. All this being said, let's look at the facts of each computer.

Laptops One of the benefits of using a laptop is the hardware included on the product. Laptops come with full keyboards, large screens and much higher screen resolution than you would find on any tablet. A full, physical keyboard is a desired feature for many individuals who do not like to type on a touchscreen. You can type much faster and more accurately using a full keyboard. The screen is also much larger for viewing photos, browsing the web or even enjoying entertainment content. For a full laptop, not a netbook, your screen size will be 13 inches or larger, depending on the type of product you purchase. Laptops are also more durable than tablets, and you won’t have to worry about scratching or damaging the touchscreen display. However, bigger may not always be better. Originally, laptops were designed for portability. These devices accomplish work on the go but they can be a burden to carry with you. Most laptop computers weigh anywhere from 3 to 9 pounds. Not only can this heavy weight be an annoyance to carry in a backpack or briefcase, it can cause back pain if they are carried for extended periods of time. 

The Bottom Line: Laptops come with keyboards and a large screen, which can be very important features to a lot of people. However, if you're someone that is on the go a lot, you might want to choose a light-weight tablet that can give you a fast performance on a smaller screen.


Check out a great deal on a Samsung Galaxy Tablet - click here!

Tablets  These highly portable computing devices give you full control of the screen, features and applications. By using your finger or a stylus, you can directly touch the screen to make gaming more interactive, and the hands-on approach provides a more tactile experience than a mouse for drawing and illustrating. Compared to laptop computers, these products are small. Most tablets offer anywhere from a 7-inch to a 10-inch display screen and weigh less than 1 pound. You can store all your music, capture photos or videos, video chat and even read books on their built-in eReaders. Aside from some hefty price tags, you must take special precautions in the care of these devices. They may have a durable body, but the touchscreen display is exposed. And if the touchscreen is damaged, your device could become useless. You can buy a case to protect the screen, but these are not included with the product and require a separate purchase. If you're trying to decide between a laptop and a tablet, it all depends upon you and your needs. If you are planning to carry your computer for extended periods of time, the lighter tablet may be ideal for you. Or maybe you want a physical keypad and don’t like the touchscreen display. If you are in the market, figure out what features you must have in your device. Compare and contrast different products to see which ones have the specifications you are looking for. Only by figuring out your needs will you discover which type of computing device you prefer.

The Bottom Line: Tablets look good and are easy to maneuver around with, but the touchscreen can easily be scratched. If you don't mind taking sweet, precious care of your computer, the tablet could be the right choice for you. 


Check out this great deal on a Dell Inspiron N5030 - click here!

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Awkward Laptop Pic of the Day

I don't know why people bother taking romantic engagement pictures. Apparently all you need is a laptop, white background, and a cute pose where you pretend the computer is blocking fake rain above you!

Can't hold in your opinion? Leave a comment!

Awkward Laptop Pic of the Day

Awkward Laptop Picture is going to be a daily post where we'll provide a picture of people in some type of awkward circumstance where a laptop is involved. People never fail to surprise us...

Exhibit A:

I think I have an idea of how he could solve this problem. Maybe...go inside?

Leave your comments!

Welcome to TechTurn's Blog

Welcome to TechTurn's blog! In case you haven't heard of TechTurn, I'll tell you a little bit about our company. TechTurn sells and processes millions of technology devices that are returned or recycled from businesses and consumers. We then sell our rebuilt and refurbished devices to online retailers, electronics vendors and our online store. Our online store is stocked with a variety of laptops, desktops, hard drives, monitors, etc. 

TechTurn is proudly the First Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher. As a recognized leader in Corporate Social Responsibility, TechTurn provides free community recycling events and has sponsored EPAs Earth Day collections. The company also promotes technology in education through its partnership with Teach for America.

We're excited to get involved in the blogging world and want you to participate and have fun! We're going to have lots of specials, giveaways, and funny videos coming up. Make sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter account to get a first look at the promotional deals going on. (Hint: Kindles) Also, take a look at our YouTube account to get a better feel for what TechTurn has to offer!

Now, let's have some fun...