iKKi's Interest...

When many of us buy comic books we frequently read them and place them on a pile of old comic books or our book shelves. This attitude changes when we are collecting these comic books. In these cases we take great steps to preserve our comic book collection. There are instances where we may decide to sell comic books that we have doubles of or ones that we feel are bringing the value of our collection down.

To ensure that you are able to sell comic books that you have no need of there are certain steps that must be seen to. As many people want to have good quality comic books whether it is just for reading pleasure or for serious collecting you will need to make sure that both the inside and the exterior of the comic book are in excellent condition.

To sell comic books you will need to preserve the appearance of your comic books. You can store them in clear plastic sleeves with a piece of acid free cardboard at the back of the comic book to give the comic book a strong support. With the help of the supporting cardboard you should store your comic book upright on your book shelves.

This way you can be sure that your comic book will not develop any creases in the cover from the pressure of the other comic books. Besides storing your comics in an acid free plastic cover sleeve if you want to sell comics books you should know what are the types of comic books that are very popular.

These comic books will help you to gain a profit from selling them but these popular comics should also be in excellent condition. The other types of comic books that sell well are the first series comic books. There are many people who love buying these types of rare comic books.

When you sell comic books like these and they are in mint condition you can be sure that you can get a very high price for these early edition comic books. The best places to sell comic books that you have no need of or ones that you are expecting to get a profit from is your comic book store.

The internet and auction houses are also good places where you can sell comic books. There are many comic book collectors who attend these places so they can see what sort of comics are for sale and hope to buy a rare or coveted comic book. When you are looking to sell comic books the main facts to remember is that the various comic books must be ones that are in demand and the condition of the comic books should be excellent.


Technorati Tags: What are the Main Facts to Remember When you Want to Sell Comic Books? , Facts to Remember When you Want to Sell Comic Books , Sell Comic Books

College life can be a major temptation to overspend. Keep these smart tips at hand to avoid serious money troubles...

1. Create a budget. TO be fiscally fit track your expenses and income. Set aside something for emergencies and if you know you need some money for entertainment, be it a CD or the occasional movie, factor it in to avoid nasty surprises.

2. Buy in bulk. If you're sharing a place with friends, try buying household items such as detergent, dish-washing liquid or rice in bulk from low-price hypermarkets.

3. Buy used books. If you can get used books from seniors who've completed the course so much the better! Alternatively, check out book prices online, it could be lower than what the bookstores offer. If you divvy up the freight charges with a group of friends, it could be worth your while.

4. Don't drive. A car is no doubt convenient but maintaining a vehicle is expensive. Besides petrol and parking, you need to set aside funds for insurance, road tax, regular service appointments as well as repairs should it become necessary.

5. Smart spending equals savings. Stock your wardrobe with basics and update them with key items from the latest trends or hit the boutiques during end-of-season sales. Do your research to see what or when certain cafes, cinemas or even restaurants offer student discounts and patronise these outlets to save.

By Carolyn Pereira

Technorati Tags: 5 Ways To Save On Campus , Save Money On Campus , Save Money , Tips On Campus

There is now a video games console to suit practically every need, taste and budget. But the range and diversity of gaming systems, never mind the games themselves is a daunting prospect to the uninitiated.

This guide - adapted from Johnny Minkley’s excellent overview of video game consoles at productsifter (dot) com - will answer all your questions, and arm you with the information you need to make your purchase in confidence.

The raison d’etre of any games console is, fundamentally, gaming, notes Johnny. But today’s systems offer much more. Are you an online gamer? Are childrens’ games a priority? Want to take full advantage of that 50-inch flat-screen plasma TV? Or are you just looking for cheap hassle-free fun with friends and family?

Johnny, who has been using video game consoles for 20 years and writing about them for more than seven, concludes that:

Nintendo Wii is the best console for families

Nintendo DS Lite is the best handheld console

PlayStation 2 is the best budget console

Xbox 360 is the best console for online gaming

The new PlayStation 3 is the best high-definition video games console

Once you’ve decided what you want the console for and which one to get, where next? Here are the key things to keep in mind to buy a games console in complete confidence:

1. Watch out for worthless extras

Many shops offer bundle deals in addition to selling stand-alone consoles. Typically they throw a load of games in for “free”. While the savings can be substantial with such deals they can also be illusionary. Are the “free” games on offer actually worth having? If you are not careful you could end up spending more than you intended on games you will never play so check them out first.

2. Make sure all the essentials are included

Do not assume everything you need to get your console working will come in the box. Extras you may need to purchase separately may include additional handsets for multiplayer games; subscriptions for online gaming; and special cables which will boost the audio and visual performance of your unit.

3. Compare Prices

Retail competition in this market is fierce, so shop around for the best prices. Game (and to a lesser extend) console prices vary wildly from place to place, so doing research in advance and checking prices on-line makes sense. Unless you really need to buy the latest blockbuster on day of its release, wait a month or two - all games are reissued on budget labels and console prices also fall over time.

4. Duck and Dive

Staff at specialist computer games stores are much more likely to have expert knowledge than their equivalents at supermarkets and the like. But if the supermarket is cheaper, don’t be afraid to take advice from one place and buy in another. Also, consider asking the specialist store for a discount if you know the product is available for less elsewhere.

5. Read Expert Reviews

Don’t know your Halos from your Half-Lifes? Websites such as ProductSifter (dot) com, Gamerankings (dot) com and Metacritic (dot) com all have excellent reviews and rankings for a wide range of video console and game products.

6. Test before you buy

Many games shops have in-store demo units, so you can take a game or a console for a test run before you buy. Remember, you can also rent video games or use online clubs like Swapgame (dot) com to cut costs further.

7. Check the age ratings

Every video game should have an age rating. In Europe, the Pan-European Game Information standard is used. It is not legally binding, but offers a clear guide to parents about a game’s suitability for children. Also, any game featuring mature or realistic content is rated by the British Board of Film Classification. For more on this subject go to: AskAboutGames (dot) com.

This guide is adapted from a fuller overview of video games consoles by Johnny Minkley, so visit full Review of Video Game Consoles -
http://www.productsifter.com/Gadgets/VideoGameConsoles/overview
http://www.productsifter.com/Gadgets/VideoGameConsoles/review.aspx

To access Johnny’s Biography go to:-http://www.productsifter.com/journalist/bio.aspx?id=77

Technorati Tags: Buyers Guide To Video Game Consoles – Seven Vital Tips , Buyers Guide To Video Game Consoles , Buyers Guide

A lot of people out there have successfully downloaded the video games onto the psp. But are stuck with how to play it. Sometimes, because of firmware differences, you might not be able to play the games instantly.

Do you know that you can play the games from other consoles and even directly from the memory stick. All these are possible with emulators and ISO’s. You need version 1.5 to execute the procedure. You can check the version that you have from the main menu and scroll to the system settings. It will show you the system software version.

An emulator is a system that can play the games which normally runs on a different system. For example, a PSP will be able to load and play games that are intended for gameboy. With an emulator, you will be able to access the games that normally do not run in PSP. The only challenge is that the PSP have to be able to run the emulation code. Sometimes, errors occur or it will run very slowly. That’s why the software version is important.

One of the most popular emulator pack is the KXSPLOIT pack. You can search for this on the Internet and there are free versions available. Once you have this emulator pack, you can proceed to connect your computer to the PSP and download a game that corresponds to the emulator pack. Copy the game to the emulator folder pack.

Here are the steps in details:

1) Unzip the KXSPOIT file into a directory and connect the both PSP and your computer by means of a USB.

2) Copy the 'PSP' folder to the root directory of the drive.

3) Download a game that corresponds to desired emulator such as Nintendo, genesis, Sega, etc. The list is mentioned at the bottom of this article for your reference.

4) Extract the game file and copy to the corresponding emulator folder on the PSP memory stick

5) Disconnect your PSP from the computer. Do this by removing the USB from your personal computer.

6) From your PSP, scroll down the Memory Stick option and press X button. You should be able to see the psp flash menu loading. Then select the file that you downloaded earlier and press the O button.

The following emulators are included in the latest KXSPLOIT pack:

a) PC Engine

b) Sega Master

c) MSX

d) HUE

e) SNES

f) Nintendo

g) Genesis

With emulators you will be able to play a wide variety of games on your psp. So I guess by now if you don’t own one, you will be definitely encouraged to go and get one. This handheld device can do a lot of things. As you know, PSP’s are not only used for gaming but also for playing movies, music and music videos. There is a lot of software available to further enhance the use of your PSP. So what are you waiting for? Start to explore now and enjoy the many things that PSP can do.

Jordan Michael writes on a variety of subjects and recommends
http://pspblenderpspdownloads.blogspot.com for more information on How to Play Downloadable Games on PSP.

Technorati Tags: How to Play Downloadable Games on Psp , Play Downloadable Games on Psp , Psp

Claim to fame: Austin is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World" and it's also the birthplace of cyclist Lance Armstrong and country legend Willie Nelson.

Must-see: Start your tour in downtown Austin at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum to learn about the history of Texas. Then head for the Austin Museum of Art to see its exhibitions on life in the wild west and the Mexic-Arte Museum to enjoy traditional Mexican art. For a sample of Austin's famed music performances, drop by One World Theater in West Austin. Do a spot of shopping in the boutiques and galleries at SoCo on Congress Avenue or get gifts at the Old Bakery and Emporium. At Neiman Marcus Last Call, off the Capital of Texas Highway, haute couture finds are available at marked down prices!

Food & board: Sample typical Austin fare like chicken-fried steak at Arturo's Bakery and Cafe for about US$15 and stay in comfy room at the Holiday Inn Austin for US$90 per night for two pax.

Getting there: Fly to Austin with Delta Airlines at around RM3,250 pre-tax. For more info, call Delta Airlines at 03-2691 5490.

About The Author:
Zurien Onn

Technorati Tags: Travel , Hot Spots , Austin , Texas , USA

All websites ranging from social networks, e-commerce sites to small personal blogs all start from nothing. Even the most popular website on the internet today began with no registered users, visitors or members. They worked hard getting their site known and attracting those all important visitors. It is a challenge everyday to get just one person interested enough in your site to read through it and more importantly come back.

Countless websites become stale after a big launch mostly because the site’s owners become bored or discouraged by the lack of traffic. It is important to continually be making decisions about strategic planning and marketing efforts, even after your website is established.

You need to be asking yourself all the time, "How do I attract new members to my website?" It’s pretty easy. All it takes is for you to be an active member in the internet community through linking, being involved in social forums and focus on the task at hand. Once you get that going, your site will begin overflowing with visitors, members and dollars. Here are a few ways to help you get started building community trust.

• Make your website easy to join and simple to navigate. Begin by only posting a few different blog posts or topics where the discussions can be focused. The last thing you want for your website is a wide range of topics all over the place. This makes your website appear to be sloppy and not very professional.
• Be friendly with all new guests or members of your website. Members are the food which keep your site up and running. Check it everyday for new members and when they make their first post, greet them. You want them to enjoy their experience with your site and its community.
• Content is king and great content is even better. You cannot have a website based on nothing interesting. Why would anyone want to come back to it? Write interesting content and gets the conversation flowing. If you don’t think you’re a good enough writer, then hire a ghostwriter to do it for you. There are a few sites out there that provide freelance writing services.
• Make your presence felt. It’s your website. That means visitors should see new posts and topics from you. You need to have an active presence by making several posts a day and if not a day at least a few a week. If someone leaves you a comment, try to leave a reply back to that commenter and keep the conversation going. The idea is to always have fresh topics posted.
• Encourage people to link to your website. Find other webmasters in communities similar to the theme of your website and ask them to link to you in one of their posts.
• Don’t get discouraged. Nothing happens overnight, especially online. It often takes months if not years for websites to finally become noticed by visitors and search engines. That is why it is so important you never stop actively promoting your website and recruiting links and visitors.

About The Author:
Tl Kleban

Technorati Tags: Get Visitors Back to your Website , How to Get Visitors Back to your Website , Website , Guide , Traffic

You may not know that a PSP can pick up free wireless internet! So many users are blissfully unaware of what their machine is capable of, but it can be quite easy to set up if you know what to do! This guide will tell you exactly how to get internet on your PSP!

Downgrading your PSP from 2.0 to 1.5 involves rewriting the data stored in the flash memory on your PSP which contains the firmware. What is a firmware? In computing, firmware is a computer program that is embedded in a hardware device, for example a micro controller or a flash memory. As its name suggests, firmware is somewhere between hardware and software. Like software, it is a computer program which is executed by a computer. But it is also an intimate and vital part of a piece of hardware and without it, the hardware could not run.

Instructions on how to downgrade your firmware from 2.0 to 1.5 is provided below but always remember that firmware is an essential part of the PSP. Without it, your PSP is useless. Modifying firmware ex. Upgrading or downgrading always posses a risk of rendering your PSP completely useless. Any modification on the firmware must be done with caution.

How to downgrade your PSP from 2.0 to 1.5? Try out the steps enumerated below.

1. You must first get a downgrader for firmware 2.0 to 1.5.

2. Extract the downloaded files and Double click 2.00DownGrade.exe.

3. Choose your psp drive and extract it there.

4. Make sure that no umd is inserted. On your psp's XMB go to the "PHOTO" menu, press X to enter "eloader 099" then it will either freeze(just keep trying until it works) or bring you into a menu.

5. Select 200Downgrader(the icon says 2.01) press X , it will bring up a new menu, press O, then press X, then press any key to exit and wait until the psp shutdown completely.

6. Power PSP back on. On your psp's XMB go to the "GAME" menu then "Memory Stick" scroll down to "PSP Update ver 1.5" and press X. Then follow the on screen instructions. This is a crucial stage and accidentally turning off your psp at this stage may render your psp useless.

7. It will only install 99% then an error message will appear, just ignore it and hold power switch up till psp shuts down. When it restarts another error message will appear, Press O then it will restart again, then enter in your settings and your done. Your PSP is now a 1.5

Easy isn’t it? You don’t actually need to sweat much to go around the downgrade procedures. Try it out right now and just follow the procedures above. But don’t forget to get the downgrade firmware we mentioned in the first part of the article. That’s important before you can proceed with the downgrade from 2 to 1.5.

About The Author:
Jordan Michael writes on a variety of subjects and recommends http://pspblenderpspdownloads.blogspot.com for more information on How to downgrade your PSP from 2.0 to 1.5.

Technorati Tags: How to Downgrade Your PSP , Downgrade PSP , PSP , Guide

If you are looking for a program with the function of converting FLV to AVI, maybe this guide will help you after your reading, and I am very happy to share this guide to the people who would like to convert FLV (Flash Video) to AVI format with Open Video Converter developed by Digitbyte Studio.

Here is the simple discription of Open Video Converter: An amazingly easy tool to convert almost all video formats to AVI, one of its current functions is: easily convert FLV to AVI format with excellent output quality, you can deem it as a FLV Converter.

FLV Definition: FLV stands for Flash Video, FLV streaming media format is a new video format developed by Macromedia, it is a good streaming media solution. Because its higher compression ratio and superior download speed, any video/audio files can be compressed or converted to Flash Video format, and then FLV can be played in websites.

The following is the steps of how to convert FLV to AVI with this app:

1. Download Open Video Converter .

2. Before your converting Flash Video to AVI, there are two additional requirements, please install (a) FLV Splitter (184 KB) and (b) FFDSHOW (3.55 MB) to your pc, just search in google and find them out.

3. Launch Open Video Converter.

4. Click the "Options" button from the main interface, then press "Browse" button to select a directory where you like to save your output file in your pc, or change the default output file name; As you know, you can also set Resolution, Frame rate, Resize mode, Video Compressor and Aduio compressor in their properties dialogs; The app sets Microsoft ADPCM as the default audio compressor. Press OK icon when all settings are completed.

5. Then come back the main interface, Click "Open Video" button, select a deirectory in your computer where the FLV file is stored, change "Files of Type" to "All Files" from the menu drop-down list, and select a FLV file you wish convert, then click the Open icon.

6. Now, you have loaded the FLV file in the program, you can preview your FLV file by clicking "Play" botton to make sure this app working well.

7. At last, click "Convert" button to start the process of converting FLV to AVI.

Note: If you like to convert a part of your FLV files by using this FLV Converter, directly lug the slide bar, or click the "Play" button to preview the FLV file, set the Start Time and the End Time that you need.

Done!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/how-to-convert-flv-to-avi-format-231684.html

Copyright © 2003-2007, www.008soft.com All Rights Reserved.

About the Author:
Bill Wei is the webmaster of 008soft.com. Since 2004, 008soft.com has dedicated to develop and market powerful Windows multimedia software.

Technorati Tags: Flv Converter , Flv To Avi , Convert To Avi , Convert Flash Video To Avi

If you have decided that you want a PDA (personal digital assistant) then there are many characteristics that can influence that decision. You have to do your research in order to get the best deal based on your requirements and budget. If you shop around and get advice from the professionals you will be sure to get a good deal!

First you should identify what you need from your PDA, if you want a basic one to write word documents then you don’t need to splash out on a top of the range device costing you a small fortune. Make sure that the PDA you are buying can cater for all your needs, ask to have a test run of it to make sure you can operate is easily enough and that it has all of the necessary features you require. It would be ideal if you can set a budget prior to buying as the price can range drastically depending on the level and sophistication of the technology used. You can buy many additional pieces of software to boost the performance of your PDA, you can also get applications which will enable you to use your PDA as a satellite navigation, TV, radio and many more useful devices.

If you are having trouble in finding the perfect device you can always seek advice from professionals who will be able to guide you in the right direction. Always ask your friends and family who have their own personal digital assistants to see how they found them as there is no better information than people who have used them in the past.

Once you have found the specific model you want you then have the choice of where to get it from, when considering this you have to put the price into the equation and the customer service. Most people will put the price first and buy it from the cheapest place available, this is good but in the unfortunate event of a failure you would wish you went for a more reputable company if you receive bad customer service. This is why many people often pick static shops over internet stores as they can take it back into the shop easier.

Technorati Tags: PDA , Tips , Guide

Lots of web sites have disabled the right click function of the mouse button. It's really, really annoying. This is done so that you don't steal (via right-click->save picture) their photos or images or any other goodies. Unfortunately, it disables ALL right-click functionality: copy, paste, open in new window.

It's easy to change, assuming you are using IE 6:
Click "Tools"->"Internet Options"
Click the "Security" tab
Click "Custom Level"
Scroll down to the "Scripting" section
Set "Active Scripting" to "disable"
Click "Ok" a couple of times.

You'll probably want to turn this back to "enable" when your done because generally the javascript enhances a website.

Technorati Tags: Internet , Guide

It just a guide on how you can download any video from YouTube and store in .mp4 format. Been using for a while, the new version work really well and stable with the new iTunes ver 7.

iTube Version 2.0 (history)

Publisher - Benjamin Strahs
File Size - 2531 kb
Last updated Nov 17, 2006
License Freeware
Windows 98/NT/ME/2000
Requirements .NET Framework 1

Download iTube ver 2.0

1. First of all you need to have this two program:
- iTube Version 2.0
- iTunes (this version work well under iTunes ver. 7)

2. After installing both software, open your internet browser. Go to YouTube.com

3. Watch a video that interest you.

4.


5.


6. In your iTunes, goes into your Videos section, you can see your converted YouTube video.

Technorati Tags: iTunes , Guide , Internet

Should I buy a cheap laptop or a cheap desktop?

You may find yourself asking that question many times while shopping for a computer. This guide offers you the pros and cons of owning a laptop versus a desktop pc.

Processing speed

Comparing processing speeds, laptops usually lag behind their desktop counterparts. With the rapid advance in microchip technology, the gap between them will become smaller.

Wireless

Most laptops especially those with Intel mobile chips come with wireless capability out of the box. This means you can get online from any location at home easily without ugly wires if you have a wireless network setup at home. Desktop pcs do not typically provide this capability out of the box although that may change in the near future.

Memory

Memory chip tends to be more expensive in Laptop than desktop pcs. If you buy a laptop with less than 512MB ram, be prepare to pay more for memory upgrades than you have to with a desktop pc.

Graphics Display

Because of the size of a laptop, most business or entry level laptop use integrated graphics with limited ram. This means most laptops even some expensive ones cannot run graphics intensive applications or 3d games as well as a desktop pc. With a desktop pc, you can buy a dedicated graphics card just to serve a graphics intensive application.

Portability

Portability is why everyone wants a laptop these days. Because of their size and weight, it is easier to carry a laptop around as opposed to a desktop pc.

Screen Display

Everyone buy laptop for their portability so laptops usually do not come with screens as big as their desktop counterparts. The screen technology used is usually not as good as those used by desktop pc. Furthermore with a desktop pc, you can always upgrade to a bigger and better screen whereas for laptop you are stuck with the same screen display for the whole lifespan of the laptop.

Upgradeability

Laptops do not offer many upgrade options. You can only upgrade memory and hard disk. With a desktop you can upgrade almost anything and only limited by the motherboard. This means a cheap desktop pc offers a longer lifespan than a laptop.

So whether you should buy a cheap laptop or a cheap desktop, ask yourself what are your needs? If you want to be able to use a computer wherever you go, then you are looking at a laptop to fulfill your needs. However if you do not require the portability of a laptop, play a lot of 3D games, graphic intensive applications, if you care about upgradeability to prolong the lifespan of your investment, then desktop pc is a smarter choice for you.

Charles Wee runs a free hosting service at BloggerHaven. He also owns and runs a website at CheapLaptopGuide which provides free guidance for buying of cheap laptops and notebooks

Technorati Tags: Guide , Tips , Laptop , Desktop , Computer

Downloading music movies and games to your PSP are very simple - you simply follow these 9 steps...

1. Connect the PSP to your PC with a USB cable.

2.Press the "home" button on the PSP (it's a tiny button to the lower left of the screen) then use the left-right directional buttons to find "Settings", then the up-down buttons to find "USB Connection" on the PSP.

3.Press the "X" button (you got it, the round button with the "X" on it) and your PSP should display "USB Connection".

4.In a moment or two your computer should tell you that a new USB device has been connected, then show you a new generic hard drive, usually E: or F:

5.Click on the drive letter that corresponds to the PSP unit.

6.Now create a new folder on that drive and name it "psp".

7.Within the new "psp" folder create another folder, and name it "games".

8.Copy your desired mp3 files into the new "games" folder.

9.When you're done copying your desired music tracks, press the "O" button on the PSP to get out of USB connect mode.

And from there your good to go! You just simply use your left-right arrows to move to your music area, than the up-down areas to select your memory stick, than simply choose your folder and your desired games.

To learn more about how, and where to download games to your PSP go to - http://drew72.pspblend.hop.clickbank.net

Technorati Tags: PSP , Guide

There is now a video games console to suit practically every need, taste and budget. But the range and diversity of gaming systems, never mind the games themselves is a daunting prospect to the uninitiated.

This guide - adapted from Johnny Minkley’s excellent overview of video game consoles at productsifter.com - will answer all your questions, and arm you with the information you need to make your purchase in confidence.

The raison d’etre of any games console is, fundamentally, gaming, notes Johnny. But today’s systems offer much more. Are you an online gamer? Are childrens’ games a priority? Want to take full advantage of that 50-inch flat-screen plasma TV? Or are you just looking for cheap hassle-free fun with friends and family?

Johnny, who has been using video game consoles for 20 years and writing about them for more than seven, concludes that:

Nintendo Wii is the best console for families

Nintendo DS Lite is the best handheld console

PlayStation 2 is the best budget console

Xbox 360 is the best console for online gaming

The new PlayStation 3 is the best high-definition video games console

Once you’ve decided what you want the console for and which one to get, where next? Here are the key things to keep in mind to buy a games console in complete confidence:

1. Watch out for worthless extras

Many shops offer bundle deals in addition to selling stand-alone consoles. Typically they throw a load of games in for “free”. While the savings can be substantial with such deals they can also be illusionary. Are the “free” games on offer actually worth having? If you are not careful you could end up spending more than you intended on games you will never play so check them out first.

2. Make sure all the essentials are included

Do not assume everything you need to get your console working will come in the box. Extras you may need to purchase separately may include additional handsets for multiplayer games; subscriptions for online gaming; and special cables which will boost the audio and visual performance of your unit.

3. Compare Prices

Retail competition in this market is fierce, so shop around for the best prices. Game (and to a lesser extend) console prices vary wildly from place to place, so doing research in advance and checking prices on-line makes sense. Unless you really need to buy the latest blockbuster on day of its release, wait a month or two - all games are reissued on budget labels and console prices also fall over time.

4. Duck and Dive

Staff at specialist computer games stores are much more likely to have expert knowledge than their equivalents at supermarkets and the like. But if the supermarket is cheaper, don’t be afraid to take advice from one place and buy in another. Also, consider asking the specialist store for a discount if you know the product is available for less elsewhere.

5. Read Expert Reviews

Don’t know your Halos from your Half-Lifes? Websites such as ProductSifter.com, Gamerankings.com and Metacritic.com all have excellent reviews and rankings for a wide range of video console and game products.

6. Test before you buy

Many games shops have in-store demo units, so you can take a game or a console for a test run before you buy. Remember, you can also rent video games or use online clubs like Swapgame.com to cut costs further.

7. Check the age ratings

Every video game should have an age rating. In Europe, the Pan-European Game Information standard is used. It is not legally binding, but offers a clear guide to parents about a game’s suitability for children. Also, any game featuring mature or realistic content is rated by the British Board of Film Classification. For more on this subject go to: AskAboutGames.com.

Technorati Tags: Video Game , Guide

You've probably heard a lot about Google AdSense, but you may not know just what it is. Well, for one thing, it's a one of the hottest new ways to make money online without having to do a whole lot. If you've read Robert Kiyosaki's book, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", you know that passive income is the best kind of income to have.

You'll have to invest just a little bit of time in learning about it, but once you get it set up you can look forward to seeing those nice checks roll in. Or, if you're totally online, seeing money flow into your PayPal account.

Google AdSense is a fast and absolutely ridiculously easy way for people with websites of all types and sizes to put up and display relevant Google ads on the content pages of their site and earn money.

So what kind of ads do you have to put up? That's the good part. You don't have to decide. Google does it for you. AdSense always delivers relevant ads that are precisely targeted on a page-by-page basis to the content that people find on your site. For example, if you have a page that tells the story of your pet fish, Google will send you ads for that site that are for pet stores, fish food, fish bowls, aquariums. You get the picture.

Here's the thing you need to know: Google has no strict criteria for acceptance into the AdSense program, and Ad Sense doesn't hit you with a minimum traffic requirement. The only criteria they're really sticky about is the standard "acceptable content" requirements, and that's pretty standard almost anywhere.

Once you've been accepted into Google AdSense, you'll be able to get the AdSense advertisements on any site you own using the same ad code, provided you obey the Google guidelines. (And that's very, very important more on that later.)

It's easy to get started with AdSense and it only takes a few minutes. You fill out one single online application and that's it. Once you're approved, it takes only minutes to set up AdSense; all you have to do is copy and paste a designated block of HTML into the source code for your site. Once you do that, targeted ads will start showing up on your website and start watching those nice checks roll in.

While i can't guarantee results, of course, since a lot of your success lies in your own hands, i wouldn't have written this article if i didn't believe in the power of Google AdSense. A lot of webmasters are making a lot of money off of AdSense, and there's no reason you shouldn't be one of them.

To date, comparisons of AdWords rates with AdSense earnings add up to commissions of between 40% and 60%. People speculate all the time on user boards as to why Google refuses to publish its commission rates, but no one has the answer. It might have something to do with legal reasons or it could just be that Google wants to retain the ability to change rates without having to send out an announcement about it each time, which costs money.

Author: Gabriel Clyde

Technorati Tags: Adsense , Guide , Tips , Money