If you have Google Chrome, this model of 100,000 stars is pretty amazing. It gives you an interesting perspective of how far away we are from our nearest stellar neighbors.
The holiday season is a common time for families to buy a new computer. New PCs will ship with Windows 8, which is a very different user experience from previous versions of Windows, like XP and Windows 7. Take a look at Windows 8 features so you can be prepared for the change.
Speaking of buying a computer for the holidays, Google has a Chromebook for $249, designed for web-based work. I wouldn't recommend it as a replacement for the only computer in a home, but as an additional computer for a student, it seems like a useful device. It provides web-based access
Practice safe shopping on Black Friday!
Lots of people will shop online to avoid the crowds this season. Be sure to avoid scams and shop safely by following these safe shopping tips:
- Look for https in the address bar of your browser. This means your credit card information will be encrypted during transit.
- Only buy from vendors you trust. Encrypting your credit card info doesn't help if you are sending it to a shady site you've never heard of, which could take your money and run.
- Make sure the URL (website address) matches with the site you think you are using. Beware of typos. Sometimes sites will appear in a web search, but they go to unreliable (or even nefarious) websites, hoping that the unbelievable deals will distract you from noticing that you aren't on the correct site.
- Don't give out too much personal info. Nobody needs to know your birthday, income level, mother's name, or driver's license number to sell you something. Well, unless you are buying a car, in which case you really shouldn't be buying it online anyway.
