Question for the computer gheeks

[Cardinal Fang]

And majic is allowed to answer this as well.

I have a program that allows me to download videos from YouTube. It's a FireFox add-on. For those of you who don't use Firefox as a browser, go into the bathroom....look into the mirror and call yourself and idiot because I'm too tired to do that this morning.

Ok...so I have an add-on that allows me to download the video I'm watching to my pc. (insert Mac joke here) The problem is that it saves it as a .FLV format. I want to convert the .FLV format to an mp3 or mp4 or any other format that would allow me to put it on my ipod. I don't want it as a video though because my ipod doesn’t play video. I only want it as the audio. I believe you kids refer to it as "ripping a track."

Does that last statement give me "Street cred?"

I've searched the internet and I've only come up with programs that you have to pay for. Being a cheap bastard you can imagine my objection to such a move. Any ideas?

[majic]

Nevermind guys...

I found it here (http://www.moitah.net/#FLVExtract). I'll let you know how it works.


PS.. duh I'm as stupid as Broli. A simple google search would have done the trick. 6th link down (http://www.google.ca/search?hs=ln9&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=extract+audio+flv&btnG=Search&meta=)

[majic]

I heard majic tried super (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html) but it didn't always work

[Cardinal Fang]

Thanks Fang. Has anyone ever told you that you’re as smart as you are devastatingly handsome? :D

[bluntman]

** crickets **

[whos ur daddy]

** crickets **


blunty, where chu been at man!

[bluntman]

I've been busy at work.

[TheProfessor]

Alright, rather than starting a new thread I thought I'd ask this here:

My father has been in desperate need of a new computer for quite some time. He has been using a Dell laptop he purchased six years ago and it's just slow and the hard drive is at capacity (only 28GB).

He wanted a Dell desktop so I helped him pick one out yesterday that met his needs and we purchased it. Now I'm a little worried that our only option for OS was Vista. I have a few issues with this that I'm hoping some of you can help me get over:

1) Is it full of bugs, or can we expect some level of stability?
2) How easy is it to use as compared to XP SP2? My father is not exactly the computer literate type of guy, so I want things to be as straight forward as possible.
3) The system we got has 'only' 1GB of ram, was that a mistake? For background, the most action this PC will ever see is possibly having iTunes open ripping some music and being on the internet at the same time. The only other apps my father uses with any frequency is Word, Outlook, and possibly Windows Media Player, but never all at the same time. In case it matters the system has an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.85MHz something or other with 250GB harddrive.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Vista can run (not well as I'm told) on lower spec PC's but you'd want 2Gb for Vista, at least. Seems the rest of the specs look alright, I'd suggest XP for his use. Since there is no benefit to choosing Vista.

There's always going to be inherent problems and bugs with a new release. XP still gets updates. IIRC, Vista should be just as easy to use as XP, maybe easier for some aspects.

[majic]

i am running vista on 512MB with 32 of it dedicated to video (on my s2020 laptop) it runs.. it runs simple progs but is slow :( i just upgraded to 1024MB and it's a tad better but i just think my lappy overall is not really supposed to be running vista.. but i wanted to see what the hype was all about..

1) should be stable enough for what he uses..
2) if he's going from xp to vista.. ugh.. i would say vista is easy for n00bs.. but not so easy for those trying to go from another OS (like XP) .. a lot of the stuff (especially the advanced stuff) is 'almost' in the same places as XP but sometimes getting there is so roundabout!!!
3) 1GB will be ok BUT i bet you have the same dilemma as me and my lappy, ONBOARD video which will suck up 32-128MB of RAM, probably 6150/430 nforce chipset.. although the 1GB should be enough for the occasional word/outlook/itunes..

[Fuman]

if u don't like vista, why don't u just format the computer and put winxp on it?
try using the cdkey from the dell laptop?

[TheProfessor]

if u don't like vista, why don't u just format the computer and put winxp on it?
try using the cdkey from the dell laptop?


I thought about that, but when you buy the software through a company like Dell I don't think they give you the CD and key, do they?

Does it matter that the video card we got is a 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE with TurboCache? It was a free upgrade with the system.

[majic]

7300 LE is good.. good enough and it's dedicated so a full gig will go to the OS and not to video memory..

your vista key probably won't work BUT, having a legit key (vista) allows you to install any MSFT OS up to and including that version or vista.. now i gues su have vista home so LEGALLY you could install xp home but you would have to 'buy' the media (install CD)..

[DrunknFoo]

7300 LE is good.. good enough and it's dedicated so a full gig will go to the OS and not to video memory..

your vista key probably won't work BUT, having a legit key (vista) allows you to install any MSFT OS up to and including that version or vista.. now i gues su have vista home so LEGALLY you could install xp home but you would have to 'buy' the media (install CD)..

Keep in mind when re-installing Vista, you will have to call Microsoft for a new product key to install. A buddy of mine had to format twice because he was having some issues enabling NCQ for his harddrive. Both format attempts requires one to call in, Regardless of which version.

If you do call in and the representative asks you which version of Vista you have. (let's say you have home basic?), just tell them you have Home Premium or Ultimate, they sometimes might give you the proper key to unlock the 1-2 additional features

[TheProfessor]

This is great info, thanks guys! One more question, what is the easiest way to transfer all of his old laptop files to the new desktop? Specifically, we're talking about all his music (iTunes), photos, and his outlook e-mails/settings. Is there a website that walks you through such a process?

[majic]

plug old HD into new PC.. and transfer.. it's the fastest way..

[MajesticBlueNTO]

plug old HD into new PC.. and transfer.. it's the fastest way..

or get a IDE-to-USB adapter and plug the old HD into the USB 2.0 port. some computers have the "if you break the seal the warranty is voided" sticker on them and it may be prohibitive to hook the HD to the internal IDE bus.

[majic]

or get a IDE-to-USB adapter and plug the old HD into the USB 2.0 port. some computers have the "if you break the seal the warranty is voided" sticker on them and it may be prohibitive to hook the HD to the internal IDE bus.

and by that he means something like this :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002

and if you do need it let me know.. i have one at work that you could borrow ;)

[TheProfessor]

Can the HDD from a laptop be removed easily.....never done anything like this.

[majic]

lol.. ugh..

laaaappptop.. doh.. just use a crossover cable.. and share out the folders.. that's the easiest.. or use a hub/switch and then reg cat5e cables

[S.F.W.]

Can the HDD from a laptop be removed easily.....never done anything like this.
I also have an 80GB USB hard drive you can use, if that makes your life easier.

[TheProfessor]

Well I have a 250GB external, but I still don't know how to transfer the Outlook stuff. For the iTunes, is there an easy way to just copy the whole thing (i.e. application and music)?

Sounds like I'm getting in over my head here.

[S.F.W.]

outlook is really easy. Just go to file, export, export to a file, and select PST. Then import that file on the new system, and voila.
for itunes, follow this: http://uneasysilence.com/how-to-backup-your-windows-itunes/

[TheProfessor]

Okay, so my dad's computer came in yesterday and I managed to hook the whole thing up without ruining anything. I'm going to go back today to transfer all of his files over. I have a new problem now. He has been using a really old HP laser printer that does not support USB (it only has parallel). So I have two options, buy some sort of a connector cable, or just bring him into the 21st century with an all in one type deal. I think I want to go with the AIO since he has a seperate scanner and fax so I could replace all three with one unit.

I don't want to spend a great deal of money on this, perhaps $150 and less. Does anyone have feedback on this unit:

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10079983&catid=21192&logon=&langid=EN

Looks really good for only $129 plus tax.

[majic]

woohoooo!!! :)

anyway.. never been a fan of AIO.. excels at nothing and sux at everything ;) just like a no-season tire.. :P

how much faxing/scanning/copying does he do now? remember it might be hard to teach him to use new equipment..

i'd go laser.. i have this printer (http://accessories.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=bsd&cs=cabsdt1&sku=222-1682) and it's on sale TODAY ONLY.. it's cheap.. it's quick.. and it does the job.. free shipping too ;) http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/tuesday_report?c=ca&cs=cabsdt1&l=en&s=bsd



EDIT: the brother looks sleek tho!!! and for that price i don't think u can go wrong BUT it is an inkjet that will probably cost a lot to replace the ink.. check some quick reviews online

4*s
http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/masterid=27509254/form_keyword=

4*s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16828113072

[TheProfessor]

My dad is a real estate agent so he uses the fax quite a bit. The printer will also be used for mainly black and white documents. He will use the scanner once or twice a year and will not likely use this to print any photo's as he usually takes them to a store.

[S.F.W.]

stay away from the brother printer. They don't make a very good product. When I worked at FS, we had a very high failure rate on them.

[majic]

but his fax is still workin' n'est pas? :)

so i'd just get the laser.. but that's just me..

[majic]

stay away from the brother printer. They don't make a very good product. When I worked at FS, we had a very high failure rate on them.

i had the HL1230 and i think i got about 100 pages and then the toner started getting all over the paper (eg. paper would come out grayish not white)

[TheProfessor]

His fax is working but it's really old (i.e. large and clunky). He wants an all in one to help save desk space.

Okay, can I for the time being just get some sort of adapter cable that will allow me to connect his old printer? AFAIK it only uses a parallel connection while the new computer only accepts USB.

[S.F.W.]

you can get an adapter:http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21365&vpn=Y-120&manufacture=nGear%20Technologies%20Inc.
though the money is better spent on the new printer. Check out this Canon, decent reviews should do what he wants:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10074198&catid=21192

[TheProfessor]

Yeah, spoke to my dad last night and he just said to go ahead and spend up to $250-300 on a decent all in one as opposed to dumping any further money into the old equipment.

On a side note, this was my first time using Vista and it looks okay for the average user. It's a lot 'prettier' than XP.

[majic]

On a side note, this was my first time using Vista and it looks okay for the average user. It's a lot 'prettier' than XP.

aaaaaand that's about it :)

[TheProfessor]

True, it is just cosmetic, but for somebody like my dad, that's all that matters. He loves it over XP as it's much more 'cool' looking.