Week of August 17, 2003 \u00a0<\/p>\n
Q: \u00a0 \u00a0 I recently bought a professional digital camera and am becoming quite serious about photography. \u00a0 I want to buy a laptop computer to use with my camera and want to get the best screen possible. \u00a0 What do you recommend?<\/p>\n
-Sharon, State College, PA<\/p>\n
A: \u00a0 Manufacturers change their laptop computers very frequently, so it can be hard to recommend a specific model. \u00a0 The best way I can help you is by providing some advice that will help you find the best display quality on your own.<\/p>\n
Regular readers of my column know I strongly advise they use their own source material when evaluating televisions and sound systems. \u00a0 This means bringing your own DVDs and CDs with you when shopping, using them to compare products by playing the same movie scenes and songs on each item you are considering. \u00a0 By using your own CDs and DVDs, you will have a common frame of reference from store to store and product to product. \u00a0 \u00a0 You will also be using songs and movie scenes that are familiar to you, enabling you to notice and identify differences quickly and easily.<\/p>\n
You can use your own source material when evaluating laptop computer displays, as well. \u00a0 Select five to ten of your best digital pictures and burn them to a CD. \u00a0 Then, make two or three copies of the CD and bring them with you when you shop for your computer. \u00a0 Open the pictures on computers you are considering and compare them side by side. \u00a0 By displaying your own pictures simultaneously on several computers, you should be able to identify the best picture quality quickly. \u00a0<\/p>\n
For a starting point, I have found the displays on the Sony VAIO and Apple Computer laptops to be quite good for professional digital photography. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Q: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I need two cables to connect my receiver to my two front Polk speakers, which each have a built-in powered subwoofer. \u00a0 My dealer wants to sell me “Monster” brand. \u00a0 These 12-meter cables sell for $150.00 each. \u00a0 Kindly let me know, what are my alternatives, must I spend $300 on two wires? \u00a0 \u00a0 I need 25 feet of subwoofer cable for each subwoofer.<\/p>\n
-Ashish Bhushan, Chicago, IL<\/p>\n
A: \u00a0 $300 for two cables? \u00a0 That’s crazy and unnecessary, even for a 25-foot length. \u00a0 \u00a0 Would $22 be better?<\/p>\n
There is nothing magical about interconnect cables, despite the claims of some to the contrary. \u00a0 (The people making the dramatic, magical claims stand to make an immense profit if you fall for the sales pitch.) \u00a0 When connecting audio components, all you need is strong construction, good shielding to protect the electrical signal from interference, and a good solid connection at each component. \u00a0 \u00a0 You don’t have to spend $300, $50, or even $25 to get these qualities.<\/p>\n
A twenty-five foot long cable with one RCA connector at each end is rather uncommon. \u00a0 An easy and inexpensive way to tackle your problem is by converting a piece of \u00a0 “F” connector video cable into an audio cable with RCA connectors at each end. \u00a0 Video cable is very strong, well shielded, and inexpensive. \u00a0 At Radio Shack, you can buy a 25-foot video cable terminated with “F” connectors for under $7.00. \u00a0 Buy two of these 25-foot video cables, one for each subwoofer. \u00a0 Next, buy four “F Connector to Phono Plug” adapters for $1.99 each. \u00a0 These screw into the video cables and provide you with RCA jacks to connect your subwoofers to your receiver. \u00a0 If you do not have a Radio Shack store nearby, a Google search for “F connector to RCA” will yield numerous mail-order sources for the adapters, and of course, video cable can be purchased almost anywhere.<\/p>\n