Have you ever wondered whats inside your beloved iMac? We take an intimate look into the workings off the iMac, thankfully, at the cost of someone else’s warranty.

With the new rising generation of hackers and IT technicians, I often wonder why the interior of the iMac is still a mystery to most people (myself included).

But I suppose the threat of a void warranty really has stopped most hackers and computer enthusiasts in their tracks when to comes to tinkering with the iMac, especially when you consider the price tag, plus that fact that the components are not as readily available as PC hardware.

So sit back and enjoy as we watch the Apple iMac being taken to pieces.

(Click Here To Read More…)

Jon Edwards, an engineer at Kroll Ontrack Inc., outside Minneapolis, may have set a new standard in Data Recovery: He found information on a melted disk drive which had fallen from space when shuttle Columbia disintegrated in 2003.

In the past Edwards has recovered data from computers wrecked in floods and fires, but when it came to recovering the data from a melted hard drive which had been aboard the space shuttle Columbia, Edwards was pessimistic.

Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated in during re-entry into the atmosphere on Feb. 1st, 2003, scattering it debris - including the mangled disk drive - over Texas.

It was six months later when NASA sent the disk drive to Kroll Ontrack, which specializes in data recovery. Edwards’s recalls,

“When we got it, it was two hunks of metal stuck together. We couldn’t even tell it was a hard drive. It was burned and the edges were melted,

“It looked pretty bad at first glance, but we always give it a shot.”

Edwards had reason for his pessimism.

The drive’s metal and plastic elements were scorched and the protective seal on the side which keep out dirt and dust had also melted.

Without the protective seal, the disk drive was vulnerable to tiny particles which can scratch the materials inside rendering the ability to retrieve the binary data.

However, once the disk drive had been opened, Edwards found that spinning metal platters that store the endless amounts of 1’s and 0’s had not been warped. Although the platters had been gouged and pitted, the 340-megabyte drive was only half full and the damaged had occurred where the data had not yet been written.

In another lucky twist, Edwards explains that the ancient DOS operating system which the computer had been using, helped their efforts in recovering the data, because unlike more recent operating system’s which scatter data all over the drive, DOS stores data with a linear approach.

After cleaning the platters with a chemical solution, Edwards used them to build a new drive. The whole recovery process took two days and Edwards was able to captured 99% of the drives information.

Most of the information gathered by space shuttle Columbia was radioed back to Earth during the voyage however, the data stored on the melted drive was crucial in completing the results from a scientific experiment on the properties of liquid xenon.

The data that Edwards was amazingly able to recover, allowed researchers to publish the results of the liquid xenon experiment in the April issue of a science journal, Physical Review E.

This coming month we are running a few specials which are sure to catch your attention. First up is our custom-built, liquid gaming PC, complete with two video cards.

The Liquid Gaming PC Available On Finance From High Tech Credit - Next business day build and shipping

The specifications of this smooth machine really are top notch. The Liquid Gamer has been built with one thing in mind, to produce high quality flawless graphics for the ultimate gaming experience.

If you’re wondering how this machines dedicates itself to pure gaming, the answer lies in the two NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTXs. These 512MB PCI Express graphics cards are used simultaneously - one rendering the top half of the screen whilst the other renders the bottom half – increasing the resolution and quality of the graphics twofold.

This is the height of modern graphics technology enabled by the new SLI (crossfire) motherboards.

If you’re not into gaming, then this beast of a machine is capable of double-tasking all your modern day computer applications, using an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300@ 2.5 GHz 1333FSB rigged to EVGA nForce 780i main board with the new 3-way SLI technology.

The system has a massive 6MB of L2 Cache, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, not forgetting the dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800s; this makes the PC perfectly capable of surfing the net whilst watching your favorite DVD, or burning your back up library whilst listening to a new CD, utilizing the two DVD ROMs.

The system also boasts:

• Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1, 64-bit Edition
• 24” TFT Active Matrix Flat Screen LCD
• 500 GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive
• 3D - 5.1 Onboard Sound
• 802.11g Wireless Network Card
• PCI 56K Fax Modem w/Voice
• 10/100 Network Card
• Zonet USB Webcam w/Motion Detection
• Floppy Drive

With all that power under the hood, there is a lot of moving parts which need to be kept cool, this is something that many machines choose to over look.

Helping to minimize heat in the Liquid Gamer is the Zero PC Tower from NZXT. This case is designed with the new SLI crossfire technology in mind utilizing for 12cm fans optimized for SLI and Crossfire Configurations. In the words of NZXT, their new cool PC case is,

“Outfitted with the ultimate in quiet cooling, the Zero comes preloaded with 8 fans and a boasts impressive drive space.”

The cooling power doesn’t stop there either, there is an additional 3 color neon light fan upgrade plus the Liquid Gamer comes with a Thermal Temperature LCD that not only displays the current temperature but also controls up to 3 fans inside the machine.

And just to top off this incredible machine, the list of extras and freebies is almost as long as the top-of-range specifications!

Here’s what else is included in this package:

• HALO 2 Game
• 600 Watts PMPO Subwoofer Stereo Speakers
• I-Rocks CR-5301 USB All-in-One Card Reader
• I-Rocks SP-7000 Superman Mouse
• I-Rocks SP-6000 Superman Multimedia Slim Keyboard
• 4GB USB Pen Drive
• Professional Wiring throughout the system chassis
• CyberPower Multi-Purpose Carrying Briefcase
• CyberPower T-shirt

This amazing complete PC package is available on finance from High Tech Credit and comes with our 3 Year Limited Warranty PLUS 24/7 LIFE-TIME Technical Support, Click here to apply for the Liquid Gaming PC >>>

Also hitting the specials list this month is the Sony Bravia 52” LCD Flat Panel HDTV and the HP DV2800SE Artist Laptop. STAY TUNED!

We will be posting more details on these two products in the next few days. For now, if you would like to find out more about our specials or any of our other products then click on over to High Tech Credit Military Computer Financing Click Here>>>

What do you do when your Windows XP operating system won’t boot?

Although throwing your computer out the Window or grabbing a sledge hammer seem like the appropriate answer, there are actual several simple methods to get Windows XP to boot. If all the computer’s hardware seems to be working (running and making a normal noise) it’s likely that some system files have been corrupted are the cause of your problems.

Before you send the machine off to the technicians or start ripping apart the hardware, try these simple fixes which should get Windows XP to boot up again.

1. Windows Start-up Disk
2. Last Known Good Configurations
3. System Restore
4. Recovery Console
5. Corrupted Boot.ini File
6. Partition Boot Sector
7. Master Boot Record
8. Automatic Restart
9. Back-up
10. Upgrade

(Click Here To Read More…)

If you’ve ever wondered how computer technicians always manage to get into those stubborn computer cases that just don’t seem to want to open, this image may help explain things.

With custom computer case modifications becoming ever more popular, it was only matter of time before talented ladies starting putting together their own creations.

When artist Kasey McMahon decided to put her skills to use and fashion her very own custom computer case modification, she chose to cross technology with nature.

In her own words:

About the beaver:

I am interested in the way we interact with nature. As we become increasingly reliant on technology, we become disconnected from our natural environment. Nature then is a spectacle ( i.e. holy crap, that’s a beaver!), an outing, a thing that is nonexistent in our daily lives.

There is also something intrinsically funny about putting a computer in a beaver. In fact, I find it difficult to think of a more ridiculous case housing for an office machine. All innuendos aside, what better creature to house the busiest of machines - the machine that has sped up our lives and made us captive to a constant flow of information.

The beaver is the first case mod I’ve done. Many thanks to all those who helped.

Next, I would like to make a car out of a giant squid.

The CompuBeaver will be on display at the Brewery Artwalk, April 21 & 22 in downtown Los Angeles.

::::::::

::::::::

::::::::

::::::::

::::::::

After being overwhelmed with good feedback from their customers, Asus are now planning to embed a lightweight version of Linux dubbed ‘Splashtop’ into all of their motherboards.

DeviceVM, the company behind the distribution, announced on Wednesday that the hardware manufacturer would be putting Splashtop (which Asus calls “Express Gate”) into more than a million motherboards a month. Joe Hsieh, General Manager of Asus said,

“In response to great user feedback, our plan is to proliferate Express Gate across our entire motherboard-product portfolio, starting with over one million motherboards per month…….

“Consumers want to turn their PCs on and off like any other appliance, and Express Gate has made that possible.”

Splashtop/Express gate is an instant-on “secure web-surfing environment” which can be booted in seconds as an alternative to a full operating system. Applications incorporated into Splashtop include a Firefox-derived browser and the popular Skype internet telephone application.

Splashtop first appeared on high-end Asus motherboards in October last year and was later added to the more mainstream M3 motherboards series. Splashtop will now be extended through the entire range of Asus motherboards.

Four new motherboards carrying Splashtop/Express Gate will appear this quarter: the P5Q Deluxe, P5Q-WS, P5Q3 Deluxe and P5Q-E.

DeviceVM hopes to have “numerous Splashtop-enabled motherboards, desktops and laptops available internationally in 2008″, the company said.

The Optimus Maximus keyboard is one of its kind. At first glance it looks like a standard keyboard, nothing too flashy going on, just a nice simple design with pleasing lines. But upon closer inspection you will see that each and every button on the Optimus Maximus keyboard is actually a tiny display screen that uses OLED technology.

Each button consists of a moving cap, a microchip and a display which shows the current function assigned to the key.

To help extend the lifetime of the buttons and to cut down on vulnerable wires, the OLED display is fixed in the transparent cap, this means replacing a key is as easy as it would be on a standard keyboard, perhaps with one exception…the cost.

Optimus’s customizable layout enables the use of any language — Cyrillic, Ancient Greek, Georgian, Arabic, Quenya, hiragana, etc. — as well as any other characters: notes, numerals, special symbols, HTML codes, math functions etc.

The included configurator software enables the user to program each button and the image displayed and once everything is set up, you can switch between layouts with ease.

To run the Optimus Maximus you’ll need Windows XP, Vista or Mac OSX 10.4.8 or higher, at least 20 MB of hard disk space, at least 256MB of RAM and the $400+ it costs to buy one.

The OLED technology used in the keyboard is still an expensive alternative to a standard keyboard however; OLED screens are theoretically cheaper to produce in the long-run compared to regular LCD screens.

There are also other advantages over LCD. OLED screens can be as thin as a human hair, they can produce light without the need for a back-light, the can be bent and transferred to fabric, they have a greater range of color and the image quality is equally as good.

The main disadvantage is the lifetime of the OLED is very limited, almost 10 times shorter than LCD. But, according to experts it will only be a matter of time before the technology is improved and these types of displays will be found on many devices from laptops to revolutionary new ‘multi-use newspapers’ or video screens embedded in clothing.

Check out the video to see the OLED keys in action!!!

The newest version of the Guitar Hero series hit the stores late last year and has been causing a storm ever since. Developed by Neversoft and Aspyr Media, and published by Activision and RedOctane, Legends of Rock is the third full installment in the Guitar Hero series and the fourth title overall.

The game is available for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac platforms. Xbox 360, Wii, and Playstation 3 users can also connect online to rock out with others anywhere in the world.As with the previous Guitar Hero games, the player can use standard controllers or a new wireless guitar-shaped controller specially designed for the game.

The gameplay in Guitar Hero 3 remains essentially the same, with the player guiding the guitarist through the varying genres of rock music by hitting the notes in time as they scroll across the screen.One notable addition to the game is the new cooperative career mode. The co-op mode is arranged similarly to the single player career, with one player on lead guitar and the other on bass or rhythm guitar. In this mode you’ll find just 6 tiers of songs - each encore song is unique to the co-op mode but the boss battles have been removed.

(Click Here To Read More…)

Following on from our previous post about Datamancer’s custom laptops, PC’s and steampunk devices, we’ve come across another handmade custom mod we thought was worth a mention.

Ukrainian, Valerie Beetle has spent countless hours’ hand carving this Gothic looking PC Tower. No word on what exactly was his inspiration but it seems like this guy must have some dark thoughts! Click On Image To Enlarge

:: :: :: ::

In the world of custom laptops and PC’s, steampunk specialist Richard R. Nagy aka Datamancer is on a level of his very own…… Know for creating some of the most original steampunk modifications his newest creation, the steampunk laptop is no exception.

Based on a Victorian music box made from brass copper and wood, the design is extremely intricate. Inside the elaborate display of clockworks under glass, engraved brass accents and antiqued copper keyboard and mouse lies a Hewlett-Packard ZT1000 laptop. Other features include leather wrist pads, a customized network card, a power on switch that works by winding an antique key and a hidden power down switch.

:: :: :: ::

(Click Here To Read More…)

Defragmentation of your hard disk is a necessary task that should be done regularly to ensure the efficiency of your PC.

It is extremely common and almost certain that over time your PC will slow down. This is caused by the way files are stored on a hard disk and is directly related to the amount of files you manage.When you save data on your hard drive the file is split up and stored in sections which are adjacent to each other. Small files are easy to store because they can be placed efficiently next to each other.

As you continue to use your computer performing tasks such as editing, adding and deleting files, changes occur in these sections of data and some areas will become empty pockets. These areas are referred to as fragmentation.

(Click Here To Read More…)

There isn’t really much left to comment on regarding this neat concept iMac, a picture really does say a thousand words. The concept design by Adam Benton is based on, “current Apple design trends, as well as the previous iMac incarnation” and pitches a 30 inch transparent screen which can be set to different levels of transparency and is totally transparent when switched off. The keyboard, also transparent is ergonomically designed with light sensitive illuminated keys and the whole set-up is of course wireless. No word yet on whether this design will go to production, we’ll just have to wait and see!

View Apple iMac Computers Financed

View Apple MacBook Pro Laptops Financed

Most computer users quickly get to grips with the software and applications that are used on a regular basis. However there is one application included in every version Windows that many people over look, the Task Manager.

The Task Manager’s purpose in life is to provide computer performance information along with details about currently running programs and processes. It also provides the ability to monitor your network traffic if you are connected to a network.

Savvy computer users will know that a couple of quick short cuts can take you to the task manager; Ctrl + Alt + Delete and Ctrl + Shift + ESC. The task manager can usually be accessed even when other programs have crashed, enabling the user to quit an application or process, or shutdown the PC.

(Click Here To Read More…)

From Nov. 1 until Nov. 31, 2007 we are offering FREE iPod Shuffles with every order! All orders must be made no later than Nov. 31, 2007 to receive an iPod.