Saturday, October 20, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Buying a Home Theater Receiver - What to Look For
The overall sound level of the receiver is critical to the quality of your home theater experience. Decibels are used to indicate the sound level produced by a receiver. To make sure your receiver doesnt emit background noise or distort sound, look for one with about 50 watts per channel (WPC) with minimal distortion levels. Keep in mind that a receiver with a distortion rating of 10% is going to sound terrible! A receiver rated at .01% for distortion levels is ideal. Usually, distortion information is indicated by the acronym THD, or total harmonic distortion.
Yet another factor to consider where receivers are concerned is signal-to-noise ratio. This number indicates the amount of sound in contrast to the amount of background noise. A large ratio indicates that important sounds like dialogue and music will be effectively isolated from annoying background noise. Signal-to-noise ratios are indicated in decibels. Look for a ratio of 70 decibels when buying a receiver.
A factor called continuous power is also important. This is the capability of the receiver to work to its fullest power over an extended period of time. Continuous power is indicated by the acronym RMS. The RMS will give you the power capability of the component, including its potential for generating sound at various levels over an extended duration.
Dynamic headroom is another term shoppers should be familiar with. Dynamic headroom refers to the power of the receiver to generate sound at particularly high levels for brief periods of time, during a music crescendo in a movie, or when loud sound effects occur. The ability to accommodate sudden increases in sound is an important factor to look for in a receiver. Decibels are used to indicate dynamic headroom. Look for dynamic headroom of three decibels when shopping for a home theater receiver.
You will find only the best Dish Network deals in L. Dixon's articles. Check back frequently for new submissions from Dixon about new technology and how you can find the best Dish Network Promotions for your home and family.
Monday, September 17, 2007
LCD Vs Plasma - What's The Difference?
So Should I Get A Plasma or LCD TV?
1) What size of a screen will you be selecting?
Both the LCD & Plasma screens are available in up to 65” now. Are you considering a TV bigger than 50"? I believe you will find that with Tv's larger than 50" you will get a better deal on a plasma than a LCD. But here's the good news…LCD’s are becoming less expensive every day.
2) What will the lighting situation be in your TV room?
The reason I mention this to you is that the degree of sunlight that enters the room will play a role when choosing your flat panelwall mount television set. The reason I mention this is that the plasma’s glass screen can reflect plenty of direct sunlight.So as you can imagine sometimes this can be an issue in very bright rooms. Did you know-- direct sunlight can also contribute to a washout of color. Even indirect or ambient lighting can cause a contrast ratio reduction, especially in black colors produced on the screen.
Now we will talk of one of the LCD's key benefits, since the LCD comes with a plastic matte screen that reflects less light. So if you have a very bright room-- the LCD is probably your best choice. So score a point for the LCD here.
3) Lets discuss your seating arrangements.
The reason I ask is that unfortunately, when you sit at a funny angle from the screen you will get a faded LCD picture. So this may be an important thing to consider when arranging your furniture in your TV room. Sometimes based on the the amount of wall space and windows you have…You really don’t have much of an option. So think carefully about the trade off here. You tend to see some brightness and color shift when you're on too much of an angle with LCD’s. (Thankfully LCD designers are burning the midnight oil to try to find a solution to this. Here's some good news for you plasma fans, a plasma can be viewed with a fairly solid picture from almost an angle. So score a point for plasma's here. Since technology is changing minute by minute and quality varies from manufacturer to manufacturer (and model to model) I would suggest a side-by-side comparison with several flat screens you may be thinking about. Try to make believe where your seating would be so you can watch it from the estimate angle you will be using at home--and simply judge for yourself.
These are just a few concerns to think about when picking a television for your home.
Would you like to learn more about the differences between a plasma and LCD?
Learn more about Plasma TV Installation Atlanta.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
What You Need, Personally, To Write A Book
The book is working its way through your thoughts and you are becoming more and more excited to get your ideas written down. Yet, like any habit, it starts with a bang and quickly loses momentum. This is the point where self motivation takes over. Here's where you need to go back to your reason for writing a book. Ask yourself questions such as why am I writing this, who am I writing to, what do I want them to get out of it, and is it worth my time and energy to continue. If you answer yes to the last question your motivation will be renewed and your habit of working on writing your book becomes solidified.
The key to a good book is the strength of its concept. Make sure you can explain what your book is about , preferrably in one sentence. If you were asked 'What is your book about?" you should not hesitate to be able to answer with confidence. If you can not you need to regroup and get a clear idea of what your concept is. Keep your eye on that concept throughout the writing of your book..
This may sound elementary but when you take a trip you need a roadmap to know where you are going and how you are going to get there. Do not start your book without a roadmap and plan. Some may think that writing a book means sitting down to your computer and just let the words flow out. Although a romantic idea, this is not how it works. Draft a plan of ideas and concepts, who you are writing to, and your end goal. This plan will be the difference between a tightly written book and a book that rambles on.
Writing a book requires focus and commitment over many months or more. You will not finish in a day or even a week. Your attention span will be strengthened when you follow the plan you've set up for yourself and your book, and you will reach each step. You will need a long attention span to keep you on task. Focus and commitment will be necessary not only to finish writing your book but also to get it published and with promotional efforts.
Remained determined, even through times that you have nothing to write or when your life has hit a rough patch. This commitment is necessary to keep you together through these times and come out the other end with a book you are proud of and worked hard at.
It is always a great idea to have guidance and someone in your corner all the way from the concept to the finished product. If this is your first book or your 99th it never hurts to have someone to bounce ideas off of who can actually help. Join a book writers forum, take a course, or get a coach. Any of these will assist you when times get tough.
You are the one who wants to write a book. You are the only one who can keep your determination throughout the entire process of writing, publishing, and promoting your masterpiece. If you're personally ready then it is time to start writing your book.
Toni Grundstrom is a freelance writer with emphasis in the Marketing field. I have been writing for a living for newspapers, newsletters, and now online ezines. I have also worked for a professional legal association, government entity, and small businesses. With 17 years of experience I provide valuable content in all aspects of Writing and Marketing.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Used Or New Car Shopping? Think About Car Insurance Costs
The type of car you drive is just one of the factors in how much you pay for car insurance. But it can be a big one. Other factors that affect the costs of insurance include your age, your driving record, the city you live in, coverages, deductibles and discounts.
Insurance companies rate vehicles as a lower or higher risk to insure based on claim histories. For example, it may cost more to repair certain foreign vehicles than others. Or, some cars are stolen more often than others. This can vary from city to city. What you want to do is get some quick insurance quotes on the car or cars you're considering buying.
One of the best ways to do this is to go online. You can get quick comparison quotes from different companies by visiting each company Web site, or by going to a comparison site. You want to get at least three different quotes because rates can vary from company to company.
A comparison site allows you to enter your information once and get several quotes back. If you visit each company's site, just make sure to enter the same information (coverages, deductibles) to get the most accurate comparison.
If you already have an insurance agent or company, give them a call and get a quote. You can use that as well to compare car insurance costs from other companies. Since you're already a customer, they may also offer some advice on discounts and relative insurance costs for other cars.
Insurance is just one of the things you should consider when evaluating your new or used car purchase, but it could help you make a decision between different vehicles that you like.
You can get free comparison car insurance quotes, and more information about saving on car insurance at LowerYourInsurance.com. The site includes a handy sheet you can use to help compare quotes. Justin Scott is an insurance freelance writer.