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Take a random tween, age 8-12, place them in front of a rotary phone and observe at the blank stare of bewilderment. Yes, gone are the days of the landline, pushed aside by the next wave of technological advancement. Mobile phones are fast displacing landlines in many homes; accompanying this movement is the fact kids regularly use and know how to use these cell phones. The mobility of cell phones means you can be anywhere and have the necessity, or should I say the convenience, of a phone.

Cellular service providers and manufacturers would enjoy nothing more than exploiting the vastly untapped tween market. However, is it necessary to provide cell phones to kids age 8-12? What makes it necessary today? Is the simple the notion of having the technology enough reason to equip younger and younger customers with phones? Where do we draw the line when it comes to tweens owning cell phones, and when should we be restricting use? The remainder of this article will discuss the pros and cons of purchasing cell phones for kids. It will discuss the social aspects, health concerns, and cost issues.

Social and Cost Issues:

Weighing in at a paltry 56 grams, designed with a smaller frame to accommodate smaller hands, measuring 88 x 44 x 20 mm, one of the leading cell phones targeted exclusively towards the 8-12 market, the Firefly. It offers up to 2.5 hours of talk time, and up to 100 hours of standby, basically it’s your bare bones cell phone that permits parent’s to limit outgoing calls to certain numbers and also sports ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ buttons for quick dialling. The Firefly is marketed with such catch phrases as “Parents of pre-teens understand that it’s time to start loosening the reins and letting their kids travel unsupervised to school, the library, or friends’ houses.”

Pro: Yes kids need a safety mechanism and having a cell phone handy does provide added protection in the form of determining whereabouts and phoning for help.

Con: Big safe mechanism, however, if any parent purchases a cell phone for their kid using the catchy marketing ploy directed to parents, ‘…start loosening the reins and let their kids travel unsupervised,’ they have the wrong perception regarding the purpose of a phone. Anybody who believes that providing a cell phone to a child automatically provides them with responsibility and ability to take care of themselves, when they were unable to do so before a cell phone, are relying too heavily on ‘parenting by technology’. Be mindful of such reasoning when thinking about buying a cell phone.

Con: Another item to consider, are we turning our kids into internet and mobile phone junkies? One should question whether connecting kids 24/7 to their friends via cell phone will influence their social habits. Also, cell phones are quickly becoming the norm and the fashion. Kids will demand to be hip like their buddies from school who sport the latest cell phone, or any cell phone for that matter. Parents will be pressed to give in to ignescent demands of ‘everyone else has one’, or ‘I want to be cool like the other kids’. Sure it may be good to have your kid fit in, but since when is school primarily a popularity contest? Furthermore, when does fitting in cost so much?! The thing with cell phones is there are monthly costs attached — not a one time sunk cost. Chances are you will pay the monthly fees. Some options are available to have ‘pay-as-you-go’ options, you pay for whatever minutes you purchase, however, either or, the more your kid talks on the phone, the more you pay. Don’t forget too that cell phones are more than phones. Almost all (the Firefly does not) have text messaging and more complicated communication tools included that have an attached cost as well. Boy, this is starting to get expensive!

Health Issues:

The Firefly cell phone is designed to give the bare phone essentials. However, this phone is a candybar style, which means the antenna is located within the phone unit and does not protrude out. This means cellular frequencies are closer to the brain. The question now revolves around how early is too early for exposing kids to cellular frequencies on a regular basis? On one hand you don’t want to risk your child’s health, on the other hand scientific research is still inconclusive when it comes to cell phone ‘radiation’. The juror is still out on this one, be your own judge regarding the health impacts.

There you have it, some helpful reminders to consider before going out and dropping a couple hundred dollars and an additional twenty per month, minimum, on a cell phone for junior. One certainly cannot downplay the safety benefits, you never know when it could save a life, however, at the same time, there are many con items to consider before sending buying a a cell phone for junior. One thing is for sure, the little handset device will never replace supervision from an adult when supervision is due.

Barry Nagassar is owner and operator of DiscussWireless.com. Visit DiscussWireless for useful cell phone fourms that include cell phone reviews, PDA reviews, discussion regarding manufacturers, service providers, and the latest tech news. Shop and compare cell phone and PDA prices among competitors in the SHOP section.

The dreaded long distance calls fee regularly haunts individuals of all ages. From chatty Cathys to gabby Garys, everyone seems to have a problem when sky high long distance bills.

If you are tired of paying an astronomical phone bill, look into alternatives that will allow you to bring down your monthly balance without having to end conversations with friends and family members across the country. Before you hang up the phone for good, know there are a variety of options available that will enable you to keep talking without draining your pocket book.

Most individuals have ditched the traditional land line phones in favor of cellular phones. These portable communication devices enable you to take your conversation with you wherever you go. Cellular phone plans have free long distance service, allowing you to call everyone you know from Alaska to Florida without incurring any additional fees.

However, it should be known that most cell phone plans are based on minutes used during peak times and any overage costs may be quite steep. Cell phone companies are constantly having different promotions regarding their coverage areas, talk times, and overage fees. Some companies now features roll over plans that allow your unused minutes to be added to your next month’s pot. Other companies allow individuals to speak unlimited time in certain areas or call others with the same plan without penalty.

If you wish to keep your traditional home telephone, or land line, consider looking at all your long distance options. There are many plans that, for a flat fee each month, allows you unlimited long distance minutes. These plans are usually more expensive than traditional long distance plans, but can save you a great deal of money if you regularly use excessive long distance minutes.

There are also long distance plans that offered tiered pricing for their minutes. For example, long distance fees will be eight cents a minute until you hit a certain number of minutes, where the cost dips to five cents. Another time tier will lower the price to three cents a minute, assuming you use that many minutes a month.

Another option is to consider completely canceling your long distance program and purchasing a calling card. This will cut down on the amount of long distance calls you make a month, since you will no longer be able to pick up the telephone and directly dial. Furthermore, calling card rates are usually cheaper than traditional long distance plans, and since the cards are pre paid, you know the exact amount you are spending on your long distance. When the monthly phone bill rolls around, there will be no surprises!

Finally, use completely different methods curb your long distance costs. Consider using e-mail or an instant messaging program to communicate with your friends and loved ones. There are several programs that allow you to speak over the internet using a microphone attached to your computer. Bring back the old fashioned notion of letter writing, since the 37 cent stamp is a great deal cheaper than a long distance bill than can run up hundreds of dollars.

For more information on Long Distance Calls, visit http://www.freelongdistancecall.info.

Since Ink cartridges are a recurring need to keep a printer going, it is much easier to buy refilled ink or filling it yourself using refill kits.

Ordering refilled cartridges online is probably the easiest option. It is simple and the cost of these ink cartridges is considerably lower. However, there are a few things to remember or watch out for while choosing your supplier. Even after you make up your mind, it is advisable to try a few cartridges before placing bulk orders.

It might be preached that, a refilled cartridge makes the warranty on the printer void. This is NOT true and the warranty on the printer still stands even if you use recycled ink, as per the law..

Here are a few tips that could help you pick your supplier:

1. The company should have a street address. This would authenticate their presence. It is much better to have a street address rather than a P.O.Box address.

2. It might be handy to have your supplier’s customer care number in case there is a problem with the refilled cartridge. A phone number would help you reach them in much lesser time and is definitely a more convenient way of communicating. If a phone number is not available, you must insist on an email address at least.

A good online retailer should typically have the following on their website to make things easy for you.
1. Glossary Of Terms: This should contain the understandable version of any technical term used or any jargon that is used to describe the technicalities of a printer and its part or about the ink cartridge.

2. Refunds: This is the one you need to read carefully. Before you make a purchase, it is very important to know what the companies refund policies are. There could be a few things involved, such as, refund being made only within a certain period of time or what needs to be done in order to get a refund. How to go about it etc.

3. Exchange: In some cases you might want to have your cartridges exchanged. For example if you have bought the wrong cartridge or you mixed up the model of the printer for which you wish to make the purchase. Here again it would be handy to know the policies in place. The policies could change with the companies.

4. Cancellations: This could be an important factor when you pick your supplier. If you wish to make a cancellation, you would need to know how it can be done, if there is a timeline involved, whether or not you get a full refund etc.

5. Frequently asked questions: This section would take care of your general queries and save you time that you would have to spend otherwise calling them. This would help you find out more about the company.

6. Simple product election procedures: You should be able to select the product by the model of your printer either by its name or number.

7. Money Back Guarantee: Most good companies would offer you a money back guarantee without too much hassle. This could also be a confidence booster because if a company hesitates in promising you a refund, chances are that the company is not too sure of its product. On the other hand if there is a simple money back guarantee, the product should be good.

8. Shipping Instructions: Most companies would offer free shipping if the purchase is over a certain amount, which could vary from. They would also give you indications of timelines of how much time it is likely to take. Some companies do not offer free shipping. This needs to be clearly understood to avoid getting unpleasant surprises.

9. Data Security: This could be an extremely important factor in choosing your supplier. During the registration process, you might enter details that are not personal. Your details such as, phone number, address, email address etc need to be protected. This is where the privacy policy is important. If these details are sent out, you could be at the receiving end of unsolicited emails or phone calls. During the process of making a payment you might enter your credit card details, which obviously is confidential. To make sure this information is not handled carelessly, you must check the data security or the privacy policies of the company.

10. Tracking: Once your shipment is on its way there should be some method of knowing where exactly the packet is. Should it take longer than usual or get lost, the order tracking information would prove useful.

There is obviously no better way to find the best dealer than to keep looking for one that you are happy with. However, these pointers could give you things to look out for and help you find the right supplier.

John Sollars is the managing director of Solar Electronics, which are both ink and pc peripheral suppliers based in Shropshire, UK. To access a comprehensive online shop of original and re-manufactured printer inks please visit http://www.mega-office.co.uk

If you love to listen to music while you work on your computer, then you
should check out the newest computer sound systems. Computer sound systems
deliver realistic sound reproduction and excellent bass for most listeners
needs. Here’s some tips on purchasing a great computer sound system.
If you enjoy CD’s, MP3’s, watch DVD movies, or play games on your
computer, your sound system is an integral part of enjoying the entire
experience. There are now plenty of computer sound systems that deliver high
quality sound reproduction along with a small size and price.

Whether you are looking for deep resonant bass or THX digital processing, you
can find them on computer sound systems. Many surround sound speaker systems are
now made for computers and the prices are very reasonable.
If you are looking for a basic two speaker system or a speaker and bass
woofer system, you can find a computer sound system easily and
inexpensively. Many quality sound systems can be found for less than $100.

For
high end surround sound or THX sound systems made for DVD movies expect to pay
from around $200 to over $400. Computer sound systems are sold at most
electronics and computer stores and there are plenty of models to choose from.
Another vital part of your computer sound system is the sound card. Basically
sound cards function to convert digital signals into analog, and vice-versa in
some cases. Almost all computers sold currently have an adequate sound card but
if listening to high quality sound while watching a movie or playing computer
games is important to you, consider upgrading your sound card.

An extra benefit
of a premium sound card is that it can improve the performance of your computer
in general. Quality cards have their own processor built in which can assume
some of the workload of the main computer processor, freeing it up for other
tasks. Remember to investigate online and find the best prices and features. Don’t
overspend and buy too much card for your computer.

Find Personal Financial Tips at
pftown.com

Who needs an LCD display? Well, if you’re like me, having one huge hunk of a monitor sitting on your desktop is just not feasible. Not only does it take up desk space, but there’s just simply no need for all of the physical mass, right?

Welcome LCD displaysthe computer monitors of the present and future. From year to year these computer peripherals tend to get smaller and thinner in size with twice the power and benefits. Well, stay on the look out for more to come because I am certain that our current flat monitors have not reached their journey’s end yet. An LCD (which stands for liquid crystal display, by the way) works much differently than your CRT, mostly because they don’t project light, and therefore use much smaller units during display.

Let’s talk about the benefits of a flat monitor:

1.) They produce less heat

2.) They use less electricity

3.) Because they use digital signals, the display is sharper and clean

4.) Speakers are generally included in the screen, so you don’t have to worry about cluttering your desk with speakers anymore

When deciding on purchasing your LCD display, be prepared to spend at least $200, and definitely look into a 19 inch display (as opposed to a 17 inch). From Sam’s Club to Sears to Circuit City, it’s certain that you’ll find the display you need for the price you want to pay. Just do a little comparison shopping, and pat yourself on the back for making a purchase that will clear up your desk clutter and save you some space!

Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of http://www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of http://www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.

The sales of OEM cartridges have been major revenue for printer manufacturers for many years. This pattern is changing recently. Despite the steep drop of printer price, the price of OEM cartridges remains remarkably high. Many consumers are fed up with expensive OEM cartridges and look for cheap alternatives. As a result, compatible cartridges and remanufactured cartridges are becoming more popular than ever before.

Compatible cartridges are also known as generic cartridges. They are like the generic drugs in pharmaceutical industry. Compatible cartridges are made by third-party manufacturers. They follow the same specification of OEM cartridges but are offered at one-half to one-third of the price of OEM cartridges. This gives them a distinctive advantage for bargain-hunting consumers.

Remanufactured cartridges are OEM cartridges which have been through one cycle of service. They are disassembled, cleaned, repaired and refilled before they are released to the market again. Remanufactured cartridges save landfill space and extra resources to produce new cartridges. These replacement cartridges are very popular among environmentally concerned consumers.

With compatible cartridges and remanufactured cartridges taking up market share, printer manufacturers are working hard to protect their profits. Some manufacturers have incorporated smart chips into their cartridges, making it difficult or impossible to refill the printer cartridges or to use compatible and remanufactured cartridges from third-party manufacturers.

On the other hand, third-party manufacturers are capable of overcoming this by providing 100% compatible printer cartridges with new replacement chips. Some companies also offer smart chip resetter or refilling services to their customers.

In conclusion, compatible and remanufactured cartridges are viable choice to cut printing cost. However, consumers should be careful when shopping for cheap printer cartridges. In addition to low price, they should compare the quality and compatibility of the printer cartridges. It is also prudent to shop with merchants who offer good customer support and extended warranty.

Kwan Lo is the owner of http://inkjets.4reviews.net, an online review site promoting high quality discount ink and toner cartridge, including hard to find Samsung toner cartridge.

In today’s life, staying connected with network, a mobile phone has become essential. Consequently there are different types of mobile phones coming up in the market. With so many models, designs and features, it may be confusing for you to decide which mobile phone would be right for you. So First you have to decide what type of mobile you are looking for, what is important to you and what you need in a mobile phone. These days, millions of different mobile phones and plans have come up in the market, all claiming to be the best. You need to research on different models, mobile phone offers, compare prices .Once you know what type of mobile you want and need, you will have a better idea of where to start buying.

Some people buy mobile phones only because they are very fond of music and they want to play their favorite music wherever they go with the latest polyphonic ringtones or they want to play the latest java games with their mobile phones. In short, they want to go with the technology and keep themselves updated with the trend. The best place to check out the latest mobile phones and accessories in the market is internet or the online mobile phone shop because there’s no better place to look for a mobile phone. So get online and explore the various mobile phone deals and lot of benefits like free line rentals, half line rentals, free mobile phone insurance and free mobile handsets.

Here are some tips that can help you to buy a mobile phone:

• Take advice from your friends, relatives, neighbors who are already using mobile phones. Ask about their experiences with their mobile phone, service provider, reception and clarity of calls.

• Having the latest phone with the best plan and cheapest price is not the end. What matters the most is that you get a solid clear reception for both incoming and outgoing calls. So research for best networks among the well known networks like Orange, 3 Mobile, T Mobile, O2, Vodafone, Virgin etc and option for the one which provides the best service.

• Ask yourself what kind of mobile phone do you want and what are the features you are looking for? What size and which colour do you prefer? Do you need the latest features with a built-in camera, java games and polyphonic ringtones?

• You can try calling on the phone before you buy to make sure the signal is strong.

• Research as much as possible and educate yourself before buying your mobile phone. If you keep these points before buying a mobile phone, you will surely be successful in your purchase. Good luck!

Buying Mobile Phone Visit:
halfvalue.com

With millions and millions of mobile phone users around the world, there’s no wonder that cellular phone manufacturers have continuously modified this little gadget from a simple communication device, to an essential multi-purpose tool. It now functions as a still camera, mp3 player, radio, organizer, clock, word processor, web browser, game console, networking device, and recently, as video camera.

The practise of exchanging videos through mobile phone brings a whole new meaning to “show and tell.” Video capable phones have become a delightful and convenient conversation starter and aid. For instance, the technology makes it easier to introduce friends to other friends, even when they’re not physically present, by sharing the video you took of him or her on your mobile. In a different scenario, you can now instantly prove your claim of being able to sky dive, bungee-jump, and kite-surf, to a friend you have not seen in a while, by showing him or her the videos on your phone.

Just imagine the wonders that having this capability in your phone would do to your social life; having the latest funny, exciting, and interesting clips can lead you right to the “in” crowd. Those who find a clip interesting enough, seeing it on your mobile phone, will want to have a copy of it just to show it to other people, or simply to be able to view it again. This culture of sharing has the capacity to keep the conversation going, from one group of friends to the next.

Sharing videos through phone also provides instant entertainment and a convenient way to pass the time. Regularly receiving videos from friends and acquaintances can make your phone the ultimate mobile entertainment gadget, as it holds clips that you can view at any convenient time.

When you have a mobile phone that’s equipped with a video camera, it’s easy to capture footage that you would not have been able to catch otherwise. If your friends spontaneously sent you on a dare to try on an outrageous costume in the vintage shop and then take a tour of the store, you probably wouldn’t have the chance to get your home video camera to tape it. With your video enabled phone, you can record it and instantly send it out to a friend who needs cheering up. Going on a Caribbean cruise?

You can bring out that video camera just in time to capture footage of the dolphins diving in and out of the water.

Aside from creating potential works of art and documenting rare events in your everyday life, you can also use the video camera to send your love to someone who is far away, and it will have a more personal touch as the receiver can see your image as you deliver the message.

Ringtones.lt is a site specialising in the different genres of mobile ringtones,mobile videos and Nokia wallpapers.

A Scottish born American inventor Alexander Graham Bell -1847-1922 A.D. – invented the telephone in the year 1876. The telephone underwent many more innovations and today we see a bewildering variety, in very many sizes and shapes flooding the markets. There has been a giant leap in the telecommunications area and today it is possible to send voice, data, pictures, video, stills etc to distant lands at unimaginable speeds in analog and digital formats. Such information can also be transmitted through fibreoptic cable in the form of light waves. Also it is possible to send such information in the form of radio-waves.

A Satellite phone therefore is a distinctive instrument, which has been devised to enable voice and other data transmission possible through a satellite; in the form of radio waves! There are very many variations of landline telephones and even more variations in cellular phones. Then, what is the need for satellite phone?

The clarity in landline if the voice or data is sent in the analog format, is susceptible to noise interferences. Cell phones depend on cell towers and cell exchanges. If you have to talk to someone 1000 kilometers away in all probability you may have to cross many cells to reach the receiver. Again, if the receiver happens to be in the so-called ‘fringe areas’, the reception may not be to your satisfaction.

Since satellite telephones do not need the existence of cell-towers or cell sites, they go out of the ambit of any geographical dependency and, therefore, it becomes possible to have a dependable and regular communication. They can be used from any place on the globe. Governments and Militaries of many countries are using satellite phones for many years. Only over the last couple of years, satellite phone are being used for commercial and personal use. They can be very handy if you go into a very remote area – a desert or a jungle.

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Laptop Notebook – Your Portable Office

In much of today’s business world, portability and mobility are the keys to success. Having a laptop notebook computer provides business men and women with portable computing capability, and these notebooks help them take their mobile business functionality to a new level.

Notebook Computers Provide Portability to Today’s Workers

Advances in computer electronics have brought us to the point where we can take these mobile and portable notebook computers all over the world, conduct business from home with our notebooks, and even connect our laptops to a computer network in Los Angeles from a coffee shop in Atlanta. These notebooks have changed how we conduct business, and in order to keep up with these changes more and more professionals and companies are making the investment of notebooks for themselves and their mobile workforce.

For the small company or individual business owner, the investment needed to buy notebooks and move into the world of portability and mobility doesn’t have to be enormous. Some companies, especially larger ones, will make the decision to invest big money in the top of the line notebook computer. Other companies will choose to make a lesser but equally valuable investment in discount or used laptops. As long as the laptop computers meet the mobile business needs, making the smaller investment in notebooks works out great for companies or individuals who are conducting mobile and portable business on a tighter budget.

Want to read more about Electronics? Visit electronicsme.net or electronicsme.com for the latest articles on televisions, digital still cameras, and notebook computers.

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