Windows 8

I have got my hands on Windows 8 today. It seems to work really well for those with newer PCs, especially those on the latest. As for older PCs, don't try to run Windows 8 on those that are much older than 2 years. Anyway there is a steep learning curve to learn some of the new features Windows 8 has, but it isn't so bad once you get used to it. SSDs seem to benefit the most from Windows 8 due to its new features.

I'm just waiting on Intel's Haswell to be released next year since we'll be seeing how Windows 8 really shines. With the holiday shopping craze starting to begin in a few weeks, people will be looking for new tech gadgets at lower prices. The latest trend seems to be smartphones and tablets, but Windows 8 needs to make a big wow factor on consumers to really use the operating system.

2 Corsair Neutron SSDs contest

The SSD Review has just posted a contest where you could win a chance of getting the Neutron and Neutron GTX SSD. Both are at 240GB each and you could win one. Regulations and rules are posted on their site to win one of the SSDs. I already got myself a 120GB Intel 520 SSD from another contest, but winning a different SSD is good enough for me. If you don't know, SSD stands for solid state drive and is somewhat similar to a HDD.

Xoxide out of business for good

Looks like the site Xoxide will be closing its doors soon and selling off all their stuff. The store specializes in computer mods, components, and other knick-knacks. At first, the prices were okay but later prices drop to unbelievable levels. The price cuts make me want to buy stuff, but I didn't since I lost my job recently. Who would ever thought an Enermax Revolution 1050w PSU would be sold for $135 when the PSU is around $285? Blame the weak U.S. economy and skyrocketing unemployment. At least Xoxide still has an auction on buying the domain name which is good. If another computer parts store is going out of business, then I will buy whatever they have if the discounts are huge. It is scary though if other online computer vendors follow suit.

XoticPC review

Today I'm doing a review of XoticPC. It is a website that specializes in selling custom notebooks for a variety of uses to buyers. The reason is that people want to be different instead of using the same old Dell, Apple, HP, and any other OEM laptop. Just remember that XoticPC also competes against other online vendors who sell the same laptops/notebooks as theirs.

Their customer service and tech support are top notch, they are very friendly, and they will price match other sites that offer the same specs on any notebook. I can vouch for them since they were originally on eBay, but they moved on to have their own web site dedicated to selling custom notebooks. They occasionally have special sales on certain laptops in the form of discounts, which is good if you plan on upgrading your notebook.

There are several choices to choose from like Asus, Sager, MSI, and their own brand Force. Most seem to be on the expensive side, but you will pay in quality and service. No bloat ware or any junk software in the laptop beyond the drivers. You have the option to include an OS, but it costs extra if you need an OS except for Asus (which is included). Click on the link below and see if any of these notebooks is best suited for you. I get 1% for every sale made on anything sold by XoticPC. Trust me, you won't regret ever going back to a Dell, Apple, HP, or any other OEM branded laptop.

Back to college and spent too much

I went back to college this week and there are way too many freshmen running around the Georgia Gwinnett College campus this week. Bills keep coming in and I've spent over $1600 in computer parts and upgrades. Mother told me not to spend anymore, so they'll be no Christmas gifts this year. Finding a job is even harder now no thanks to higher unemployment and foreclosures here in Georgia. I need to find work soon, but there are some focus groups that pay pretty good if you want to try out new products.

Buying components for new PC build

Finals are over and I'm out of work, but now I'm going to build a new PC to replace my 5 year old HP. The only parts I have gotten so far are the case and PSU, but there are many more parts to buy along the way. Might as well go t my local Fry's Friday and see if there are any good deals coming out. Guess I'll have to be cheap from now on since I am out of work. Being a temp. worker isn't that great when your annual income is below $10k. I'm not even sure anyone is hiring in Georgia since there are so many job seekers working for just about any job as long as it is stable.

Seasons greetings

With Black Friday over and Cyber Monday approaching, I can't help but wonder if people are going to be shopping for gifts or still be saving money. My parents have already bought a washer/dryer combo from Samsung for $1000 USD, which is $750 less than the original prices. As for me, I'm trying to save up some money for building my new computer. I still don't have the parts yet, but I'm browsing all over the Web for great bargains. eBay is a great auction site to get components at low prices, but you buy them as is unless they are completely new. People want to save money since jobs are disappearing constantly. Let's hope the holidays in December are much more promising.

Going to buy parts for my new PC

I'm going to be upgrading my PC by giving my 5 year old rig to my father. With the upcoming release of Intel's Nehalem processors and X58 motherboards later this month, I've been dying for a new gaming PC. Unfortunately, work is getting harder to find and I have to pay my bills. It is necessary as my old PC cannot even play any recent PC game. Online gaming is getting more competitive and LAN parties are the rage. I wouldn't mind attending a LAN party just to see the latest gaming rigs. Wish there were some in Gwinnett County. Anyway, let's hope that I have enough money to spend when Christmas comes around and land a good job.