Free Geekery

Alcoholism is no laughing matter, but neither is being broke on Friday night with nary a beer left in the fridge. If you have ever searched your couch cushions for happy hour money or contemplated swigging that last drop of Nyquil in the medicine cabinet (shame on you!), then this simple guide will soon become your manifesto. Calm those shaking hands of yours and take our advice: with the following 10 tips, you can drink on very little money.

1. Find a Frat Party — Notice that we didn’t suggest any kind of party, but a frat party. Frat parties are not only easy to find (just peruse your local college’s Greek Row), they always have copious amounts of alcohol at the festivities, including the beloved beer keg and the occasional Jell-O shot. Assuming you are under 30, you can probably blend in, particularly if everyone else has already started drinking. If you are over 30, then just pretend you are a hip liberal arts professor that wants to mingle with the students.
2. Crash a Wedding Reception — A quick glance through your local newspaper will alert you to many weddings in the area. The most common places for receptions are often banquet halls and hotel ballrooms. Assuming the celebration is crowded and you are dressed appropriately, you shouldn’t have any trouble adapting to the crowd. If anyone asks who you are, remember that they are just being polite and not suspicious. A simple “friend of the groom” or “second cousin” should curb their questions soon enough. The best part about crashing a wedding is that you will score free food in addition to the alcohol.
3. Attend a Wake — This is a morbid occasion to enjoy yourself, but there are always a lot of drinks being mixed at a wake. You don’t necessarily have to crash a wake like the wedding or frat party listed above, but you should take advantage of any funerals you are invited to. Hey, it isn’t glamorous, but you wouldn’t be reading this list if you weren’t desperate, would you?
4. Flirt — If you are a woman and have all your limbs intact, then it shouldn’t be too hard to flirt your way into a free drink. While this practice may not do much for your reputation and can get a bit hairy at times (always have a friend with you to bail you out of trouble), flirting is a sure thing for drinking while you are broke. However, for men, this practice is a bit trickier. Yes, women have been known to buy men drinks (appeal to their feminist side), but it isn’t nearly as common as the opposite scenario. Then again, men can always flirt with other men for drinks, provided the venue calls for such a pairing.
5. Become a Bartender — No job is better suited for an alcoholic than that of a bartender. If you weren’t addicted to the sauce before this career move, you soon will be. The hours are great for a drunk who has to sleep off most of the daylight, plus you get to mingle with other drunks, which is good for your self esteem. However, you do need to stay somewhat sober while you are on the job. Don’t worry, as you can hop on the other side of the bar when your shift is over and spend all that tip money on booze.
6. Date a Bartender — Bartenders give free drinks to two kinds of people: other bartenders and loved ones. Sure, you could just make a bartender acquaintance and hope he/she hooks you up when you visit their establishment, but why not date a bartender? If you are an alcoholic, this would be the perfect opportunity to combine all the things you care about in life. Also, you can serve as their guinea pig when they are learning to mix new drinks. An alcoholic dating a bartender is like an obese person dating a chef. It just makes sense.
7. Look at Open Houses — In newer subdivisions, real estate agents will often host open houses, whereby anyone can drop by an empty home and take a tour. In more upscale neighborhoods, visitors are treated with snacks and champagne or wine. Often, this is during the late morning/early afternoon, which is great for the ambitious alcoholic who wants to get a jump on the day’s drinking. Think of this as a free pub crawl.
8. Mooch Off Your Buddies — Assuming they haven’t already wised up to your antics, you should try mooching off your friends for a few rounds, particularly the ones who brought their credit cards along for the party. However, keep in mind that making this a common occurrence means you won’t have friends accompanying you to the bar for very long. In addition to that, mooching off your friends for alcohol on a regular basis could land you in an alcohol intervention. You don’t want that, as it could take hours. Hours that you could be spending at the bar.
9. Tell ‘Em It’s Your Birthday — This is a classic way to score a free drink and/or dessert. Mention it is your birthday in a sly way at a restaurant or bar and see if they offer you something for free. If you are good looking, this trick is even more successful. For some reason, a birthday really excites people in the service industry. Perhaps it helps to break the monotony in their otherwise mundane routine. However, a very jaded server may ask for an ID to confirm it is really your birthday, in which case you need to laugh it off or make your exit if you are really embarrassed.
10. Go Slumming — It would be easy to just suggest that you hit the drink specials during happy hour, but even that can be expensive at high end bars. Remember, you don’t want $6 martinis, you want $2 well shots. You can’t beat the specials at your friendly neighborhood dive. The ambiance may be a bit different from what you are used to, but a hole in the wall is still a fine place to hang out with your friends. Are all bars created equal? Not exactly, but you should still find a dartboard wherever you go.

Assuming your liver is willing to go along with your schemes, the above tips should work for you, just as they have for countless other lushes. Keep in mind that we only shared legal remedies for your alcohol shortage, as we want you to have some modicum of dignity when you pick yourself off the floor tomorrow. Also, remember to use a designated driver on your quest for free libations, as we would like to safely leave the house tonight, as well.

You’ve decided that you’re not cut out for this whole “working for a living business.” How can you maintain or improve your standard of living without actually having to join the sad saps who trudge to work and home every day? By becoming a freeloader, of course. If you’ve ever gotten anything for free you know the satisfaction that comes with having done nothing to earn what you’ve received. You can enjoy this fulfillment every single day! Of course, being a freeloader isn’t all fun and games. You will have to maintain a certain level of social skills, have some good negotiation and scheduling abilities, and be able to dodge hard-to-answer questions like “why don’t you have a job” with ease. Think you’re ready to try your hand at the glamorous and exciting freeloading lifestyle? Here are some helpful tips and ideas to get you started on your way to a better and cheaper tomorrow.

Be Fun to Have Around

First things first. If you want to get things for free you’re going to have to be the kind of person that people actually want pamper. No being grumpy (unless someone has woken you before noon, then it’s completely fair) and no griping about the things that you’re getting for free, even if your steak was a tad on the rare side. The most successful freeloaders are those who are simply impossible not to like. They know how to tell great jokes and they provide entertainment and flattery for everyone. Basically, the more charming you are, the more people will want to have you around. That’s your goal. Never forget that these people, the people with jobs and money, are key to the success of your freeloading venture. You have to keep on their good side if you don’t want to be unceremoniously dumped out onto the street. So, keep a smile on your face and be the most loveable person in the room.

Make Connections

If you’ve already mastered the whole charm thing, you can use it to make a few friends who carry influence and connections. Not that your run-of-the-mill friends won’t be important, but let’s be real – friends with connections have more opportunities to provide you with quality free stuff. Regular grade friends might be able to get you some free tickets to sit in the nosebleeds at the ball game, but friends with connections can get you free tickets for a luxury suite. Of course, you can’t constantly take advantage of these awesome free things, lest your friends with connections might start to suspect that your friendship is based solely on their material generosity. Make sure you use these friends wisely, and don’t get greedy.

Live with Parents

One of the biggest expenses for working folk is housing, and this is of primary concern to you, the freeloader, as well. You have a few options when it comes to this problem, and the first is undoubtedly the least glamorous “moving back in with your parents” routine. While living at home may not impress the dudes/ladies, it does have its advantages. Unlike your friends, you can tug at your parents’ heartstrings by reminding them how cute you were as an equally needy baby. Plus, you’ll really have to push your luck to get kicked out. Your meals will most likely be provided and you’ll have plenty of time to lounge around, sleep in, and go out with your friends. If you’re really lucky, you might even score yourself some free transportation via your parents’ car(s). You might have to put up with your parents constant nagging at you to get a job, but the cost can be worth it in some cases.

Mooching off Friends

If you feel you are simply too skilled a freeloader to waste your time living at your parents, or you’ve already tried that trick and they kicked you out, there are always friends to be mooched off of as well. This will likely be a trickier endeavor and will involve a little mental scheduling on your part to ensure that you’re not wearing out your welcome at any one place for too long (you want to guarantee your future as a freeloader, not just think about today). If you opt to stay at a friend’s place, unless they have an extra bedroom, you’ll most likely end up on the couch, which isn’t always the most comfortable arrangement. But hey, it’s free right? If you have a particularly generous friend you have the potential to get all your meals free as well, especially if they are already cooking for someone else or if they’re not home much and you can raid their fridge. If not, you might be on your own to find a place where you can get free food. You can always try flirting with employees at your local restaurants to see what you can drum up for free. You should also consider that if you choose friends that are roughly your size that you’ll be able to borrow their clothes when you’re too lazy to wash or purchase your own. Borrow them consistently enough and they just might become yours!

Here is where those friends with cooler stuff might come in handy. Some of them might even own more than one home and what’s the harm in you staying at their summer house when they’re not even there, right? Even if they are, they can hardly begrudge you for wanting to enjoy it, because that’s what it’s there for. Try working your way into their social circle to see if they have other friends who might also not mind, or at least tolerate, you imposition on their hospitality. Always keep your options open!

Whatever you do, just make sure to keep your friends from becoming your enemies. Do not impose to the point where they kick you out, as it’s counterproductive to your interests to anger those who feed and house you.

Find a Sugar Daddy/Mama

Finally, if you are really dedicated to your life of leisure and want to ensure that it lasts for longer than your friend would ever reasonably allow you to sleep on the couch, you can work your charms to find yourself a sugar daddy/mama. Finding a boyfriend or girlfriend to freeload from can be a great way to ensure lodging (and a bed no less!), food, clothes, drinks, and various other gifts your sweetheart will give you. Your level of commitment to this kind of set up can vary, but if you’re really found someone that you like getting stuff from, this kind of relationship can often lead to marriage, guaranteeing you a lifetime free ride. Of course, the pinnacle of freeloading doesn’t come without its costs, and you might actually have to do a certain amount of caring about and for the person you’re with. Be careful with this option, as others might not see your freewheeling ways as innocently as you do.

Safeguard Your Interests

After all this work it would be a shame to let any of these potential gravy trains run out, so you’ll need to make sure that you safeguard your interests. One way to keep friends and family from getting wise to your game too quickly is to be on a constant job hunt. Before you keel over from the shock, I am in no way suggesting that you actually get or keep a job. That would be contrary to your entire scheme. No, you won’t be actually getting a job, but you will be pretending to get a job. Tell your friends or parents that you’re going to an interview when in reality you plan to spend the afternoon sneaking into a movie. This should keep everyone off your case about getting a job—at least in the short term.

Here is another tip, though at first it may sound contrary to your interests. You will need to be extremely generous from time to time. Let me explain further. Say you find some money on the sidewalk. Use this money to buy drinks at the bar for everyone or to take care of the dinner tab. Or, you can apply for a no-credit or poor-credit credit card so that you can purchase a meal every once in a while (your credit card payments will come from someone else’s wallet, so no worries!). This will be a valuable thing later on. How you ask? Eventually your friends and family are going to confront you about your tendencies to not work and to take advantage of other people’s hard earned money. Accusations such as these are prefect opportunities to bring up all the times when you’ve been generous with your money. It will weaken their argument and make them feel guilty about their accusations, however true they may be.

Think getting everything for free is too good to be true? Well, to be honest, nothing is without its price, but if you’re willing to sacrifice some of your dignity and pretty much all of your shame (no seriously, you really have to be pretty much shameless to be successful at this) you can live a life of relative ease for pretty much nothing. So, what are you waiting for? There is no time like now to start enjoying other people’s hard work and your own resourcefulness in avoiding it yourself.

We all enjoy keeping up with the latest in video game news. And there’s no better way to do just that by reading up on all of the best video game blogs. Recently, this begged the question: which video game blogs have the biggest reach? With nowhere to turn to answer this question definitively, we thought it would be an interesting exercise to rank all of the blogs in the video game niche.

In ranking the top video game blogs, our goal was to show — using objective data from reliable sources — which blogs about console gaming are the most popular. To this end, we used data for these four metrics to calculate the rankings:

• — Google PageRank
• — Alexa Rank
• — Technorati Authority
• — Bloglines Subscribers

Top 25 (see complete methodology below)

Rank	Site					Score
1	Joystiq	7	10	10	10	37
2	Kotaku	6	10	10	10	36
3	Xbox 360 Fanboy	6	9	10	10	35
4	Destructoid	6	10	10	8	34
5	Jay is Games	6	9	9	9	33
6	PSP Fanboy	6	8	9	10	33
7	DS Fanboy	6	8	9	10	33
8	Game Politics	6	7	10	8	31
9	Cheap Ass Gamer	5	9	8	8	30
10	Nintendo Wii Fanboy	6	8	6	9	29
11	GameSetWatch	6	7	9	7	29
12	game girl advance	6	6	7	9	28
13	Video Games	5	10	6	5	26
14	WOW Insider	6	9	2	9	26
15	4 Color Rebellion	5	6	8	7	26
16	Water Cooler Games	5	6	8	7	26
17	Video Games Blogger	5	7	8	5	25
18	dubious quality	5	6	7	7	25
19	PS3 Fanboy	6	8	2	8	24
20	Old Grandma Hardcore	5	4	7	6	22
21	Gamers Game	5	4	7	6	22
22	Video Game Media Watch	5	4	6	6	21
23	Casual Game Blogs	5	3	5	6	19
24	Electric Sistahood	5	5	4	4	18
25	wiispin	5	3	5	5	18

Methodology

To begin, we found a set of Web sites that met a certain criteria. To become a member of the set of Web sites to be ranked, a Web site must, as of August 13, 2007:

• be listed on Game-Blogs; or
• be ranked in the top 200 for the phrase video game blog on Google; or
• be listed on the Games > Blogs page in the Yahoo! Directory; and
• be primarily a blog about console gaming.

For each metric, a score was assigned on a 0–10 scale. For Google PageRank, raw PageRank data was scored. For Alexa Rank, Technorati Authority, and Bloglines Subscribers, the Web sites were broken up into deciles. If a Web site was in the 0>10% decile, a 1 was scored; for the 10>20% decile, a 2 was scored; and so on, up to a 10 being scored for the 90–100% decile. If no data was available, a 0 was scored.

The overall score for each Web site is the sum of the scores of the four metrics. In the event of a tie in overall score, the tie is broken according to the Alexa Rank raw data.

Raw Data for Entire Set

Rank	Site
1	Joystiq	7	3,863	6,350	2,749
2	Kotaku	6	2,226	8,967	1,862
3	Xbox 360 Fanboy	6	21,858	1,279	926
4	Destructoid	6	6,427	2,528	272
5	Jay is Games	6	16,657	790	401
6	PSP Fanboy	6	24,877	793	625
7	DS Fanboy	6	43,022	692	779
8	Game Politics	6	74,538	1,280	209
9	Cheap Ass Gamer	5	20,719	234	251
10	Nintendo Wii Fanboy	6	30,600	27	592
11	GameSetWatch	6	86,685	542	144
12	game girl advance	6	151,751	211	421
13	Video Games	5	15,286	27	11
14	WOW Insider	6	18,403	0	599
15	4 Color Rebellion	5	118,788	436	143
16	Water Cooler Games	5	248,153	238	175
17	Video Games Blogger	5	43,157	328	10
18	dubious quality	5	243,647	116	121
19	PS3 Fanboy	6	37,574	0	353
20	Old Grandma Hardcore	5	433,158	226	70
21	Gamers Game	5	583,906	60	41
22	Video Game Media Watch	5	541,800	30	101
23	Casual Game Blogs	5	1,534,946	18	44
24	Electric Sistahood	5	370,570	13	2
25	wiispin	5	948,888	19	10
26	Frag Dolls	6	283,811	0	6
27	Techfresh	4	59,872	25	0
28	The Gamer Collective	0	540,122	27	2
29	BlogNomic	5	1,646,069	4	2
30	Gnade Games	4	1,738,572	13	3
31	Video Game Programming	4	N/A	4	9
32	FlyingOmelette.com	4	304,737	0	0
33	Tom Buscaglia: The Game Attorney	4	3,478,726	1	7
34	Used Video Game Pricing	0	1,900,434	10	2
35	The Game Musketeers	4	7,340,559	16	0
36	Video Game Cheats	2	1,080,900	3	0
37	Retarded Games	3	N/A	0	1
38	Video Game Hoopla	2	4,803,212	3	0
40	My Madden 2008	0	1,874,741	3	0
41	The Gamer Gene	0	2,719,327	9	0
42	Make This Game	2	N/A	0	0

At Free Geekery, gadgetry is more than a hobby: it’s an obsession. Fueling our obsession requires that we stay on top of the latest gadget news with the help of some top-notch blogs. Recently, our obsession for gadgetry begged the question: which gadget blogs have the biggest reach? With nowhere to turn to answer this question definitively, we thought it would be an interesting exercise to rank all of the blogs in the gadget niche.

In ranking the top gadget blogs, our goal was to show — using objective data from reliable sources — which blogs about gadgets are the most popular. To this end, we used data for these four metrics to calculate the rankings:

• — Google PageRank
• — Alexa Rank
• — Technorati Authority
• — Bloglines Subscribers

Top 25 (see complete methodology below)

Rank	Site					Score
1	Gizmodo	7	10	10	10	37
2	Engadget	6	10	10	10	36
3	Ubergizmo	6	9	10	8	33
4	Gizmag	5	9	9	10	33
5	Popgadget	6	8	9	10	33
6	OhGizmo!	6	8	9	9	32
7	The Gadgeteer	6	8	8	10	32
8	Tech Digest	6	8	9	9	32
9	The Raw Feed	6	7	8	9	30
10	CrunchGear	6	10	10	3	29
11	The Uber Review	6	7	8	8	29
12	Mobilewhack	6	9	3	9	27
13	The Gadget Blog	6	6	6	7	25
14	Medgadget	6	7	3	8	24
15	Gadget Spy	5	5	7	7	24
16	The Gadgets Weblog	5	4	8	7	24
17	Mobile Gazette	4	9	3	6	22
18	FreshTrend	5	5	6	6	22
19	GPS Gazette	5	3	10	4	22
20	Gizmos for Geeks	5	6	6	4	21
21	Gadget Reviews	5	5	7	4	21
22	Cellphone9	6	6	3	5	20
23	GadgetMadness	0	5	7	8	20
24	Electric Guitar Review	5	3	7	5	20
25	pdaBuzz	6	3	5	6	20

Methodology

To begin, we found a set of Web sites that met a certain criteria. To become a member of the set of Web sites to be ranked, a Web site must, as of August 13, 2007:

• be listed on The Gadget Blog List by Gadgetizer; or
• be ranked in the top 200 for the phrase gadget blog on Google; and
• be primarily a blog about gadgets.

For each metric, a score was assigned on a 0–10 scale. For Google PageRank, raw PageRank data was scored. For Alexa Rank, Technorati Authority, and Bloglines Subscribers, the Web sites were broken up into deciles. If a Web site was in the 0>10% decile, a 1 was scored; for the 10>20% decile, a 2 was scored; and so on, up to a 10 being scored for the 90–100% decile. If no data was available, a 0 was scored.

The overall score for each Web site is the sum of the scores of the four metrics. In the event of a tie in overall score, the tie is broken according to the Alexa Rank raw data.

Raw Data for Entire Set

Rank	Site
1	Gizmodo	7	757	24,363	43,174
2	Engadget	6	592	30,421	3,252
3	Ubergizmo	6	16,595	1,698	714
4	Gizmag	5	24,647	1,677	1,631
5	Popgadget	6	45,223	1,419	13,224
6	OhGizmo!	6	34,121	1,620	1,094
7	The Gadgeteer	6	41,958	529	1,254
8	Tech Digest	6	44,331	1,399	966
9	The Raw Feed	6	111,221	794	766
10	CrunchGear	6	12,133	3,569	15
11	The Uber Review	6	98,078	860	306
12	Mobilewhack	6	20,428	0	1,022
13	The Gadget Blog	6	152,351	77	195
14	Medgadget	6	100,051	0	617
15	Gadget Spy	5	288,013	147	155
16	The Gadgets Weblog	5	360,611	328	245
17	Mobile Gazette	4	30,299	0	99
18	FreshTrend	5	229,800	72	65
19	GPS Gazette	5	481,949	1,909	20
20	Gizmos for Geeks	5	159,753	76	24
21	Gadget Reviews	5	242,122	204	20
22	Cellphone9	6	173,293	0	51
23	GadgetMadness	0	248,419	180	458
24	Electric Guitar Review	5	531,608	102	47
25	pdaBuzz	6	545,180	19	76
26	Xataka	6	6,026	0	0
27	Gadget Road	4	206,841	96	9
28	playgirlz	5	368,511	0	31
29	dottocomu	4	2,387,891	65	257
30	Unplugged Living	5	670,678	0	32
31	Office Freaks	5	3,627,932	31	22
32	TeamDroid	5	703,173	0	19
33	Church of the iPod	5	2,735,780	13	11
34	Wired@Home.blog	4	1,249,985	4	18
35	Cooking Gadgets	0	885,923	0	54
36	Pomocon	4	1,743,352	6	1
37	All Handhelds	4	3,829,859	2	4
38	Gadget.ca	4	N/A	18	2
39	DeGadget	0	365,278	68	0
40	Gadget Man’s Blog	3	N/A	0	2
41	Gadget User Blog	3	N/A	2	0
42	Gadget & Tech Blog	0	N/A	8	0

At Free Geekery, we absolutely love open source. It’s why we use WordPress to power this blog, and it’s why we use the Ubuntu operating system on the computers here in the Free Geekery “office” (read: mother’s basement). Recently, our infatuation with Ubuntu begged the question: which Ubuntu blogs have the biggest reach? With nowhere to turn to answer this question definitively, we thought it would be an interesting exercise to rank all of the blogs in the Ubuntu niche.

In ranking the top Ubuntu blogs, our goal was to show — using objective data from reliable sources — which blogs about the highly acclaimed Linux distro are the most popular, according to visitor traffic and site backlinks. To this end, we used data for these four metrics to calculate the rankings:

• — Google PageRank
• — Alexa Rank
• — Technorati Authority
• — Bloglines Subscribers

Top 25 (see complete methodology below)

Rank	Site					Score
1	Ubuntu Geek	6	10	10	10	36
2	Ubuntu Blog	6	10	10	10	36
3	Mark Shuttleworth	7	9	10	10	36
4	The Fridge	6	10	9	10	35
5	All About Linux	5	9	10	10	34
6	Ubuntu Tutorials	5	9	9	9	32
7	Linux on Desktop	6	8	10	8	32
8	jonbacon@home	6	8	9	9	32
9	Wombat Ubuntu Blog	3	10	8	9	30
10	Only Ubuntu Linux	3	8	9	9	29
11	UbuntuOS	4	6	7	8	25
12	Motho ke motho ka botho	2	7	8	7	24
13	Ubuntu Linux Tips & Tutorials	3	7	7	7	24
14	ID- Ubuntu Blog\s	4	7	7	4	22
15	Ubuntu Tutorials	4	3	8	6	21
16	Ubuntu Demon’s Blog	5	1	7	8	21
17	Ubuntu Linux Blog by Ralph	1	5	6	8	20
18	Ubuntu Tutorials, Howtos, and More	4	4	5	7	20
19	Xubuntu Blog	4	4	5	7	20
20	The Ubustu Feed	0	6	7	6	19
21	Joey Stanford	4	5	6	4	19
22	The Ubucon Blog	5	0	8	5	18
23	All About Ubuntu	0	6	6	5	17
24	Free Software Blog	4	2	5	6	17
25	Ubuntu Christian Edition Facts	5	5	2	4	16

Methodology

To begin, we found a set of Web sites that met a certain criteria. To become a member of the set of Web sites to be ranked, a Web site must, as of August 13, 2007:

• be listed on this list of Ubuntu blogs on Carthik’s Ubuntu Blog; or
• be ranked in the top 200 for the phrase ubuntu blog on Google; and
• be primarily a blog about Ubuntu.

For each metric, a score was assigned on a 0–10 scale. For Google PageRank, raw PageRank data was scored. For Alexa Rank, Technorati Authority, and Bloglines Subscribers, the Web sites were broken up into deciles. If a Web site was in the 0>10% decile, a 1 was scored; for the 10>20% decile, a 2 was scored; and so on, up to a 10 being scored for the 90–100% decile. If no data was available, a 0 was scored.

The overall score for each Web site is the sum of the scores of the four metrics. In the event of a tie in overall score, the tie is broken according to the Alexa Rank raw data.

Raw Data for Entire Set

Rank	Site
1	Ubuntu Geek	6	67,106	416	172
2	Ubuntu Blog	6	96,193	593	560
3	Mark Shuttleworth	7	137,730	1,124	1,048
4	The Fridge	6	3,477	231	1,007
5	All About Linux	5	129,248	327	505
6	Ubuntu Tutorials	5	145,602	267	97
7	Linux on Desktop	6	336,708	296	36
8	jonbacon@home	6	491,710	227	152
9	Wombat Ubuntu Blog	3	119,026	71	124
10	Only Ubuntu Linux	3	250,900	286	83
11	UbuntuOS	4	1,142,435	33	51
12	Motho ke motho ka botho	5	525,531	138	28
13	Ubuntu Linux Tips & Tutorials	3	635,063	46	20
14	ID- Ubuntu Blog\s	4	612,677	40	5
15	Ubuntu Tutorials	4	2,509,386	49	17
16	Ubuntu Demon’s Blog	5	6,376,013	42	54
17	Ubuntu Linux Blog by Ralph	1	1,608,530	23	58
18	Ubuntu Tutorials, Howtos, and More	4	1,738,468	14	27
19	Xubuntu Blog	4	2,193,821	11	30
20	The Ubustu Feed	0	678,979	33	17
21	Joey Stanford	4	1,203,176	30	4
22	The Ubucon Blog	5	N/A	128	8
23	All About Ubuntu	0	712,872	30	10
24	Free Software Blog	4	4,265,060	10	13
25	Ubuntu Christian Edition Facts	5	1,647,490	0	5
26	Simply Ubuntu	4	3,491,699	1	8
27	Fresh Ubuntu	3	8,445,424	8	13
28	Ubuntu Living	4	N/A	21	8
29	Ubuntu Heaven	4	8,787,619	2	2
30	Ubuntu-FS	3	2,333,761	1	0
31	Ubufied	4	6,370,081	0	0
32	another Ubuntu blog	4	N/A	5	0
33	xubuntu	2	8,138,203	8	0
34	Ubuntu Fan	4	N/A	3	0
35	Using Ubuntu	0	5,147,875	9	0
36	Rolando’s Ubuntu Blog	2	N/A	5	0
37	Schlasim’s Ubuntu Blog	0	N/A	0	4
38	Ubuntu Learner	0	4,248,097	0	0
39	Bheesh! Windows to Ubuntu	0	N/A	1	0
40	Getting Critical About Ubuntu	2	N/A	0	0
41	EF Ubuntu	0	N/A	0	0

Are you ready to visit Las Vegas? If so, you’re probably just as focused on how to save your money as you are on winning the “big pot”. The pinnacle of freebies in Vegas is the “comp” or “complimentary” item that can range from a keychain to an airline ticket. While large comps are reserved for high rollers, even nickle-and-dime patrons can snag a comp or two if they know what to do.
The first-time visitor to Vegas will benefit from the tips listed below, where you’ll learn how to snag as many comps as possible during, and even after, your trip to Vegas. If this is your second trip or if you’re a seasoned Vegas veteran, you might pick up a trick or two that will play well on your next visit.

Before You Leave

Before you walk out that door and even before you purchase that airline ticket or book the hotel room, look online for deals.

1. First, you must know about how much you plan to spend in Vegas and how long you plan to visit. Both money and time are directly related to how many comps you’ll receive and the size of those comps. If you don’t plan to spend a lot of money and if this is your first visit to Vegas, lower your expectations now. But, don’t fret – you’ll still receive plenty of freebies if you know how to find them.
2. Don’t expect a free room on your first Vegas visit. But, you can still snag deals with a “casino rate”, provided that you’ve expressed interest in gambling at the hotel’s casino and if the hotel isn’t the highest-rated place to stay on The Strip. This room will be comped upon checkout, provided you’ve given that casino some medium to heavy play ($1000 – $5000 per day on tables or more on slots). If you’re unsure whether you want to play where you stay, you can use Las Vegas Magazine online to find some very low room rates. When you arrive in Vegas, pick up a print copy of the same magazine so that you can take advantage of any accompanying coupons or advertised sales.
3. You can find more online coupons for activities at Las Vegas Leisure Guide. You can also make a list of any free Vegas activities at Vegas4Locals or at Vegas.com. Don’t pass up Las Vegas Advisor in your search for Vegas information, as this site offers coupons, lists of free activities, and advice for Vegas newbies – including ways to save money on your stay.
4. When you budget for your stay, include money for tips. The average tips include $5 per hour for dealers, $1 per drink for comped drinks, and 15-20% for room service or restaurant staff. You might pool money as a group if you want to get into a nightclub, as the doorman with the clipboard will appreciate a healthy tip and that move may get you in the door (literally). You don’t want to forget to tip the casino host, either, as you’ll learn below.

When You Arrive

Immediately upon arrival, check out the hotel’s casino to conduct the following business:

1. One way to obtain comps in Vegas is to become a slot club member. In fact, you can’t get a free room or some other perks without this status. But, you can breathe easy, because this membership is free. Before you begin to gamble at any casino, find the player’s booth at the casino and ask for a player’s club card. You will need to show an ID and you will fill out a card with your name, address, and phone and social security numbers. In return, you’ll receive a piece of plastic that contains an ID number (much like a credit card). When you sit down to a table game, you will hand your slot card to the dealer, who will then get the host’s attention (for those who remember pit bosses, the host is the pit boss). From that point forward, your money and time spent at any given table will be noted and you’ll be ‘rated’ on your gambling habits with points on that card. Think of this card as a rewards card, much like one where you rack up airline miles. Instead, you’ll be gathering points for comps.
2. Slot machines will also record your gambling amounts and time spent on play if you insert your slot club card into the appropriate slot at the machine.You earn points based on the number of coins you put into the machine, just like you will earn points at any table. You can redeem these points for comps that range from t-shirts to gas coupons to bottles of wine and more. But, as you’ll learn below, the slots are an easy way to part with your money and they really don’t rack up the points like table games do in the long run.
3. If you plan to spend at least $1000 or more per day on gambling, ask to speak directly to a host when you arrive in Vegas and before you begin to play. Tell the host about your gambling budget and habits (what games you play, how many hours a day you play, how much you bet, what casinos you have frequented in the past, etc.) and the host can authorize your comp levels. Once you’ve found a host, that host may accompany you to the players booth where you will follow the same routine as the person who plans to spend only $100 per day. You are now a club card member.
4. If you understand that comps are based upon a patron’s expected losses, you’ll learn why you shouldn’t expect much from a casino unless you’ve accumulated some time and spent some dollars on their tables and/or slot machines. Say that you spend $5000 at poker with a 4% house edge. You would be expected to lose $150 at that rate. The casino would then comp a percentage of that loss, somewhere in the range of 20-40%, or between $30 and $105. This doesn’t mean that you need to lose $150 to receive comps because you can be a winner and still walk away with comps. The point is that the casino wants you to play and the hosts want you to play on their tables and at their slots. They will reward you for your persistance, no matter if you win or lose.
5. With that said, don’t gamble just to show off or to gain more points on your card – you’ll waste your money. No comp is worth that extra $500 to $1000 that you’ll throw around just to gain a reputation as a heavy gambler. That money would have paid for a room, food, and a show.
6. Be prepared to be treated with disdain or ignored totally by your host if you cut your spending short and take your play to another casino. If you plan to spend big bucks but you’re unwilling to lose all your money, decide on your game plan now… either don’t play where you stay or just quit for the day.

How to Recognize a Comp

Whether you realize it or not, coupons, low room rates, and even the free transportation from the airport to your hotel are comps. You can receive those perks when you travel to any large city. But Vegas can be an expensive city, so the more money you can save the better. Despite a seeming warm Vegas welcome, casinos usually won’t provide handouts unless it’s to the breakfast buffet. You need to put some effort into finding those comps and you need to abide by some customs to keep those comps coming. Plus, you’ll need to ask for your comps when you’re ready for them. Don’t be shy – you’ll never get what you want if you don’t ask first.

Free Drinks: The free drink is the most common casino comp, even when you’re not a serious player. As long as you’re playing (not just sitting) at the slots or tables, a waitress will come around to take your order. Don’t try to fake the action because the staff is wise to that game. Additionally, a $1 tip per drink is the norm, especially if you want that waitress to return. Most of these drinks are house drinks, but go ahead and ask specifically for a special drink – the casino may surprise you and bring it on.

Eat Cheap or Free: No matter where you gamble, Las Vegas will serve up food at a very low cost. Think $.99 breakfasts, $4.50 full buffets, $5 prime rib or steak dinners, and $1 for a shrimp cocktail. Even if you don’t get comps for a free meal, you’ll still get some steal deals. If you want to know how much “free” food you can get at any given point in time, just ask the host or the personell at the comp card booth how much you can get with the points you have on your card.

Line or Buffet Passes: You might receive a line pass that will allow you to walk past a buffet line to a sign that says “VIP” or “Line Passes.” This pass, however, will not pay for your meal. The “Buffet Pass” will pay for the meal and it will also allow you to jump line. If you’re traveling or gambling with a party of three or more, ask the host if you can receive Buffet Passes for your group (most likely for a breakfast rather than lunch or dinner buffet, depending upon your gambling budget). While you may not receive passes for everyone, the comps will lower everyone’s cost for the meal.

For instance, if your group numbers three and you all want to eat at a $15 buffet, you might receive one Buffet Pass and you might have a 2-for-1 coupon in your back pocket. In this situation, you’ll only pay $15 for three people, or $5 per person. But, leave a tip based upon $45 (approximately $9) rather than a tip based upon $5 (approximately $1), otherwise you’ll be tagged with a reputation of being “cheap” rather than frugal.

You can use the same tactics for buffets to receive comps to coffee shops and restaurants. When you ask the host or other responsible personnel about your comp ranking based upon your slot club card usage, keep tabs on how many points you have remaining. If you establish a relationship with a host and ask him or her about your comps directly, you may find that you’ll receive further perks, such as a free meal that isn’t taken from your card or a comp when you don’t have enough points to cover the cost.

Free or Cheap Shows: Use the same tactics for shows or special events that you want to attend while in Vegas. Don’t expect comps for special shows that are in town for a short time. Ongoing shows that aren’t free will present a better chance for a comp. Go back to #2 and #3 in the previous list to find free shows or to discover 2-for-1 coupons that will help defray costs.

Cheap or Free Rooms: Even if you don’t make out with a free room on your first trip to Vegas, you’ll find rooms on The Strip that range from $34 to a little over $100 per night – the price of a hotel room just about anywhere in America. But, to get the best rates, try to travel on weekdays rather than on weekends or during peak seasons. When you check out of a room where you’ve stayed and played at the connected casino, speak to a host before you hand over your credit card to pay for the bill. You might be pleasantly surprised or you might be expected to pay the full tab.

While hosts have heard the same line over and over, they never tire of hearing from a patron who states that their hotel and casino are the best on The Strip. Once you pay homage, ask if charges can be removed from your bill. Some regular visitors to Vegas charge everything to the room – from meals to drinks to gambling tabs – in hopes that the comps at the end will be much larger than the accumulative affect of nickel-and-dime comps throughout a stay.

No matter how you manage your meals, drinks, or other charges, always put on a considerate face when you ask for a comp. While the casino wants to make sure that you have a good time and that you want to return in the future, that same casino also doesn’t want combatitive and argumentative guests to remain or return. If the hotel or casino doesn’t offer what you think you deserve, ask for a host’s card when you check out. Before you return to Vegas, call that host and ask for discounts before you arrive for your second stay.

When you establish a relationship with a casino host, you’ll enjoy more comps each time you return – especially if you’re a consistent gambler, if you treat staff with respect, and if you bring friends along for the fun. If you follow the customs listed here, you’ll discover that you don’t need to be a millionaire to be treated royally in Vegas.

Frugal Vegas Tips

Finally, here are some added ideas on how to make your trip to Vegas truly frugal:

1. While it’s a fact that you’ll receive more comps if you stay and play in one place rather than spreading your money up and down The Strip, you may discover that your casino operates under an umbrella. You can then use the card at numerous casinos and rack up your points across the board. The MGM Mirage Players Club Card, for example, earns points at the Bellagio, MGM Grand, the Mirage, Treasure Island, New York–New York in Las Vegas; Beau Rivage in Biloxi; and the MGM Grand in Detroit. Members who own this card get points for slot or table play in any of these casinos, which makes them eligible for a hierarchy of special offers.
2. You can learn more tricks about how to determine comps at Hotel Chatter, including how many points certain hotels might offer for your stay and play. For instance, the Bellagio will provide rooms at casino rates for 1275 points. To put this into perspective, the Bellagio will offer one point for each dollar you put into a slot machine. Rooms at the Bellagio usually average $300 per night, so if you want to spend $1,275 for one night at casino rate is up to you. It’s actually less expensive to pay the full rate.
3. Take time to visit other casinos and sign up for their slot club member cards. You’ll receive offers from these casinos after you return home, even if you don’t stay and play at their facilities. These comps may range from room discounts to free meals or a show. If you visit Vegas often, the comps will begin to reflect the time and money you spend over your many visits.
4. While you’re looking for online coupons to save money, take some time to read local accounts about Vegas before you go. Mark Evanier‘s point of view, for example, provides insights on what you can and can’t expect from a hotel and/or a casino. In addition, his attitude about comps is downright classy.
5. There can be some benefit in asking for two players comp cards in case you lose the first one. You can put that second card to use if you’re with a friend who doesn’t mind playing at different tables or at the slots while you’re playing the tables. Since your name will be on both cards, you both cannot sit in on the same game. Those points will add up on from both cards into your single account. You and your friend can then benefit from one card that contains 500 points rather than from two cards that contain 250 points each…the higher points on one card will gain more comps.
6. You may also want to keep your place at a table if you need a break (remember – time on a table counts toward points). Just ask the dealer to place your spot, and you’ll be recorded as being at the table while you visit the restroom. Don’t abuse this tip by taking long breaks, otherwise the dealers will politely refuse to hold your place in the future.
7. Don’t valet your car even if hotel parking is free… you’ll still need to tip the valet. Instead, park your car in that free garage or lot on your own.
8. Don’t bother with a taxi on The Strip, as they’re prohibited from stopping along the gambling row. The Strip is about four miles long, so walk or catch the Deuce (a double-decker bus) that runs every 10 minutes for about $2. An all-you-can-ride day pass $5. You must have exact change.
9. Forget room service, as it’s overpriced. Roll out of bed and out the door to enjoy less expensive coffee shops or that free breakfast buffet.
10. Don’t purchase gas on The Strip. Drive a few miles to the east or west to find less expensive means to fuel your car.
11. You can save money when you order bottles of wine rather than wine by the glass. If you’re with a group, get everyone to agree on a specific grape and you’ll save all around. To go further, if you have a coupon for $25 for a meal and you only spend $20, spend the final $5 toward a bottle of wine that you can enjoy later.
12. While you might want to put all charges on your room, you can save a few bucks if you need sundries by visiting a drug store on The Strip. Don’t worry – you’ll find several places where you can purchase toothpaste, deodorant, and even souvenirs for almost half the price as the same item at the hotel store.

Finally, if you’re truly serious about making Vegas a point of fun and frugality rather than one of disappointment and debt, you might want to purchase a book or two written by frugal gambling pros like Jean Scott. Scott will advise you on how to be cash-savvy in her columns; and her book, “The Frugal Gambler,” will show you how to maximize slot club memberships and how to look for gambling promotions.

A frugal and almost-free Vegas trip will take a little work on your part. But, once you begin to get the hang of what to expect and what’s expected from you in return, you’ll probably want to return to Vegas again and again. Good luck, break a leg, and kiss the dice.

Do you yearn for self-sufficiency? Is your time and talent larger than your bank account? Then the following sites will appeal to you, as we’ve gathered some of the best and some of the most eclectic do-it-yourself sites and tutorials on the Web for your convenience. The first category contains general DIY network sites that help you learn about any project under the sun. From there, you can learn more about anything from how to raise goats to how to wire your house for sound. In between, you can revel in the fact that you save money when you tackle parenting and herbal remedies on your own.

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Say that you wake up and want to check the traffic before you head out the door. You turn on your computer and wait. And wait. Finally you give up and decide to make some coffee, toast a bagel, and maybe grab the newspaper and check out the crossword puzzle. By the time you finally return, your computer has just completed its leisurely start up. Sound a little too familiar? While a complete computer overhaul might not be too far off, there are a few things that you can do in the meantime if a new computer isn’t in your budget. Here are a few tips for giving your computer a speed boost.

1. Defragment: If your computer is running slowly it may be because your files are scattered all over your hard drive. When you save a file on your computer it goes to the first available space on your hard drive. When that gets filled up it stores other parts of your file in the next available place, then the next place, and so on. When files become fragmented like this, the computer has to spend time searching the hard drive to piece them back together. This process slows you and your system down. Luckily, this is a fairly easy fix. Simply follow these steps: For a PC, go to Start menu and open your Programs menu. From there go to Accessories then Program Tools. You should see the icon for the Disk Defragmentation program in that menu. Simply click on it and windows will begin the defrag process. Be advised, however, that this process usually takes a long time so it could be something you set up to run before you go to bed or before you go to work in the morning.
2. Clean Up Registry: Not everyone agrees that a PC registry clean-up is much of a help, but it can’t hurt to try if you’re frustrated with your computer speed. Before you do anything to your registry, however, make sure you have it backed up as making changes to the registry can have big affects on how your computer runs. Don’t delete things from the registry when you are unsure of the function, as it can wreck havoc on your computer. Be cautious and try to use a free registry-cleaning program like CCleaner, which will not only clean out your registry but it will take care of several of some other issues listed here as well.
3. Remove Old Programs: Have things installed on your computer that you haven’t used in ages? Do you even know what’s installed on your computer? It’s possible all these old programs could clog up your hard drive and slow your computer down. Go to your Start menu and select the Control Panel and then Add or Remove programs. It will bring up a list of all the programs that are installed on your computer and also tell you how often you use them. If the answer is “never,” you can most likely safely uninstall the programs and free up valuable space.
4. Keep Spyware in Check: Spyware seems to be almost unavoidable these days for anyone who uses the Internet. Virus protection programs often catch the worst culprits but there is always something that sneaks through, and these culprits can slow your computer down. If you think you might have a spyware infection, or if you just want to be on the safe side, you can use a free program like AdAware to check your computer for spyware.
5. Repair Disk Errors: While defragmentation might take care of the worst of your disk problems, you can also be slowed down by errors in other places on your disk drive. As you store and delete files on your hard drive, bad sectors can develop. These sectors can make accessing or saving files difficult and they can slow your computer down. You can check for problems by running another Windows utility. Go to your Start menu and click on My Computer. When the My Computer window comes up right click on the drive you want to check for errors. When the drop down menu shows up go to properties. This will bring a box up and you’ll click on Tools. Check the box that says scan and attempt recovery of bad sectors then click start. Once this is done you’ll be given the option to fix the bad sectors, and you’ll want to select “yes.” Fixing any bad areas in your drives can add some significant speed to your system.
6. Get Rid of Temporary Files: Windows is notorious for storing temporary files that can clog up your hard drive and slow down your computer. These temporary files aren’t going to go anywhere unless you ask them to, and that’s where the disk cleanup tool can come in handy. To run an automatic disk cleanup just go to Programs under your Start menu. It’s under Accessories and then System Tools. There you should see the icon for disk cleanup. You’ll simply need to run the cleanup program and it will determine what you can safely get rid of on your computer (this will usually be just temporary files and things you’ve yet to empty from the recycle bin). You’d be surprised how much room you can free up by eliminating these files.
7. Clean Up Your Desktop: Some of you, and you know who you are, have virtual desktops that are just as messy as your real desktops. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s important enough that windows will give you little nudging reminders to clean up your desktop (which, if you’re like me, you promptly ignore). Go through all the stuff you have on your desktop, delete the shortcuts you no longer use, and organize all the remaining miscellaneous files.
8. Empty Your Inbox: If you’re using Outlook or Outlook Express as your email client you might want to check to see just how many old emails you have hanging around. These could be clogging up your memory and causing your computer to run more slowly than it should. If you haven’t checked that spam folder it could chock full of computer-clogging waste. Go through your old emails and weed out those emails that you might not actually need.
9. Reinstall Windows: If you’re getting desperate for a computer fix, and if you have the time to spend, a Windows reinstall can be one option to speed up your system. Make absolutely sure you’ve backed up any data that’s important to you before you begin, otherwise those files be lost. Then you can begin to wipe the slate clean, reformat your hard drive, reinstall your applications, and put your files back onto your computer from the backup. You’ll be eliminating years of junk that can slow down your system. The basic reinstallation is fairly simple if you use the recovery disk that came with your computer; but reinstalling all your applications can take a long time, so be prepared.
10. Check for Viruses: You can never be quite sure what is lurking on your computer, so make sure your anti-virus program has the latest updates, and run a full scan of your computer. Virus programs can often disguise themselves as legitimate windows applications so they can be hiding out in places you might not have noticed. If you don’t have an anti-virus program (shame on you!) you can try a free one like Avast!.
11. Stop Unnecessary Services: Often when you install a new program it will add itself to the programs that start automatically when your computer boots up. All of these unnecessary programs can slow down your startup. You can disable these programs by going to the start menu and then click on Run. Type “msconfig” in the box that comes up. Click on the Startup tab and you’ll be able to see all the pesky programs that bog down your startup time. Get rid of anything that doesn’t look absolutely necessary, but be careful to avoid any Windows system components.
12. Install Updates: Keeping your computers operating system and drivers up to date is very important in maintaining performance. Updates also help make your computer more secure and reliable, improving performance indirectly as well. Most Windows updates can be downloaded from the Internet and installed (mine does this automatically) but you can use the Windows Update site to gain access to the updates as well. This site is accessible only if you’re running Internet Explorer (IE).
13. Delete Old Network Connections: Another thing to check that might slow your computer down is old network connections. Your computer will waste time searching for old drives and ports that no longer exist. You can delete these connections by going into your control panel and selecting Network Connections. You should find a list of all the networks your computer recognizes, and you can delete those that are no longer necessary.

Technology is supposed to make your life easier, not more irritating. Hopefully, some of these tips will help you shave at least a few minutes off the time it takes for your computer to get going, whether just starting up or when you try to run a program (or multiple programs). But, if you’d tried all of these tips and your computer still refuses to kick it up a notch, it might be time to send it to the computer heaven. But don’t give up without a fight without trying all of these tips. Unlike a new computer purchase, these tips are free, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

But, if it’s time for a new computer, be smart about how you purchase one. Look for deals where you can pay over time with no interest, or use a card that has 0% APR. Then sock that monthly payment away in a savings account until it comes due. You’ll save a little money on this high-ticket item, and you’ll have a tax write-off if you use it for business. Keep this list of tips around, and you may never have a slow-down problem with your new computer!

You need a new gaming rig and you need it on the cheap. Unfortunately, one of the most intense ways to use a computer is through gaming. This means that you’ll need above-average hardware to perform gaming functions. “Expensive” is the operative word, as $500-$600 will get you into an entry-level computer that will play Solitaire or online poker. But you want more, right? You want a fairly sophisticated video card to render those 3D third-person games in a playable manner and a CPU that’s geared for high performance.

One major problem with inexpensive systems is that they contain basic video cards built into the motherboard. This setup pulls from the processor and system memory (RAM), so an inexpensive computer just doesn’t contain the juice you need for a grand visual gaming experience. What you need is a system that contains a video card with its own processor and memory so your images don’t suffer. The separate video card is key to a more realistic game play, but you’ll need other components as well…

The following list starts with one solution for the large budget, then offers advice and then all the parts you’ll need to build a new system without paying an arm and a leg (begin with as little as $300!). No matter how much you spend, the following tips will save you money on your ultimate gaming system.

1. Customize Your System

   Most gamers who have added video cards to their systems will tell you that they spent at least $200-$800 on the video card alone. True hardcore gaming systems can set you back $2000 minimum. So, as far as this first tip goes, you might want to consider your expectations for your gaming experience. If your budget allows you to go the route of a custom-built system with the best components immediately, then you’re set. On the other hand, if you don’t have any money, but you have your hands on a credit card with no annual fee and 0% APR, you can purchase that system now and pay over time at no more cost than if you paid cash up front.

   Additionally, when you can purchase all the components at once, you can control the exact configuration you need from the get-go. But, where will you save money? You need to determine an upgrade path for future improvements, otherwise you’ll spend more money in the long run.

   Make sure that the motherboard is capable of supporting a faster CPU, for instance, as you may want to purchase a more dynamic processor sometime down the road. You might also check whether the motherboard in this new system can handle a PCI Express graphics card, as this technology is overshadowing the AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) that has been the standard for gaming graphics for years (see #14). Finally, make sure that this new computer can handle generic rather than name brand components so that you can save on new replacements as you need them.

2. Lower Your Initial Expectations

   If your budget is limited, you’ll need to lower your initial expectations for your system. But don’t lose heart – you can still build a system that will allow you to improve performance over time. And, you also get to configure your system on the front end. Get your hands around a computer that contains fairly generic parts and tons of expansion slots and you’ll be ready to improve that system as your income improves. Take into consideration that Microsoft systems which contain Vista require above-average hardware (especially RAM and video processors) to run, let alone to play Solitaire; so, if you’re bent on acquiring a Microsoft system for hard core gaming, you want to look for a computer that carries Vista Capable. “Capable” (as opposed to “Premium Ready”) will run a stripped-down Vista version. Still, you’ll need a system that can take a video gaming card that carries its own processor and memory.

3. Look For Bargains

   Look through local classified ads for computers that are going for rock-bottom prices if you don’t already own a used computer system. When you can begin with a basic system, you can slowly build that ultimate gaming rig. This tip reiterates the generic capabilities. The generic platform provides the most flexibility when you upgrade, as you aren’t forced into working with the original vendor for parts.

4. Reuse Old Parts

   No matter how you acquired an old computer system, you can use many of that older system’s parts for your new rig. You can reuse components such as your monitor (especially if it’s a good CRT rather than LCD – see #15), keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, CD_ROM drive, and computer case. In some cases you might be able to keep your old graphics and sound cards, especially if they aren’t built into the motherboard. When you salvage as much as possible from your old computer, you’ll need to replace only the core components such as the CPU, motherboard, RAM, hard drive, etc.

5. Determine the System’s Purpose

   One way to determine what you need to salvage and what you’ll need to purchase is to decide how you’ll use this new system. Plus, you’ll need to consider your budget. For instance, if you want to use a system for email and surfing the Internet, then you don’t need a dual-core processor. But, if you want to use it for gaming, you might not need high-end graphic cards, either. (The next two tips speak to how you can save on the components you’ll need before you begin to build.)

6. Watch for New Releases in Components

   For instance, you can often find video cards that deliver many of the same features and performance as high-end components for half the price. Some call it the “sweet spot,” when components contain just as many features as high-end counterparts, yet they’ve been through several price drops. These ‘sweet’ prices usually occur just before or after a new edition or upgrade is released, as the new release will cause older components to drop off the radar and off the high-end price list.

7. Shop Around For Components

   You might be loyal to one or more vendors; but, when it comes to components that can increase your gaming experience, the best advice is to shop around. Don’t be turned off by e-commerce, as shipping charges on small components may be less expensive than the gas it takes to run to the nearest computer parts store. Avoid impulse shopping, because you might find a better deal tonight. First, know what you need, then shop around and compare prices.

8. Be Patient

   If you’ve waited this long to build a gaming system, you might find that if you wait just a little longer you can afford a better system. Look for free shipping and rebates while you’re shopping for components. Sometimes you can save a bundle through holiday sales as well. When you time your purchases to save money, you’ll be able to build a better system for less. This strategy will allow you to purchase the generic components that will take upgrades when your salary improves.

9. Buy Only What You Need When You Need It

   Before you purchase anything, consider what you need and when you need it. For instance, you might need a new CPU, motherboard, and video card now. But, you might not need that new sound card or speakers just yet. Once you lay out a plan for your purchases, you can deal with buying new or refurbished components over time. This plan will help you save money as you wait for your budget to recover from your last purchase. You can determine what you need from the rest of this list, which deals with all the new components you’ll need for your gaming system.

10. The Moderate CPU

    The CPU, or ‘brains,’ for your computer contains the logic circuitry that performs any software instructions you may run, so your gaming performance is directly related to this tiny microprocessor. But, you may not need the latest, fastest or most expensive CPU (Central Processing Unit) on the market for your current gaming needs. In fact, the compatibility between the CPU and the motherboard is the most important issue in your CPU quest.

    AMD and Intel processors have led the market for years with their processors and the dual-core processor market has opened up even for budget-minded gamers. The geeks at Tom’s Hardware Guide managed to build a gaming rig with a Pentium D 805 clocked at 2.66 GHz and equipped with two processor cores both with 64 bit support for $130 from Newegg.com. While the Pentium might provide one solution, you have many other options available.

    Look for CPU speed, which is measured in either megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz) and is referred to as the CPU’s “clock speed.” The higher the speed, the better the performance – but, as you may know (or may learn), clock speeds aren’t the only consideration when choosing a powerful CPU. Some high-speed CPUs require cooling systems, some come with cooling systems, some don’t need additional cooling, and this CPU requirement can add to the bottom line. Your budget CPU choice is a lot like Goldilock’s bed – not too slow, not too fast, but just right. The best advice here is to take your time, look around, read reviews, and consider your motherboard purchase.

11. The Motherboard With Possibilities

    If the CPU is your gaming rig’s brain, then the motherboard is that rig’s central nervous system. The motherboard relays the CPU’s information to all the necessary components through its connections to all your inner workings. Choose your CPU first, but consider the motherboard before you purchase the CPU as you may discover that a certain CPU at a low price might require a motherboard beyond your budget.

    The motherboard will contain different connections for the CPU and for all other components that you need for your gaming rig. You can purchase motherboards that contain video and sound cards, but, as I mentioned previously, you don’t want an on-board video card as you’ll want to install a separate card for good 3D game performance. Try to find a motherboard that supports PCI Express connections (from $59 up) for your new video card (see #14). With that said, you might consider the embedded sound card to save money. If you want to go all out and your budget can face the music (so to speak) for super sound or for audio production, then you’ll want a separate sound card (see #16). No matter what you decide about the sound card, make sure the motherboard will allow you to upgrade to more RAM or to a more demanding CPU in the future.

12. Quality Memory

    The motherboard you choose will dictate the type and amount of RAM you can have. You will want to get SDRAM (older, less expensive, not as fast), DDR SDRAM (no reason not to buy – newer, reasonable prices, fast), or RDRAM (newest and, therefore, most expensive). You’ll also need at least 1 Gig’s worth of memory for gaming performance. This is one component that you’ll want to purchase from a known manufacturer. Memory can be replaced easily, but when you purchase 1 to 2 Gigs of quality RAM on the front end you’ll end up saving money over the long haul. Look for Kingston or Samsung, but you might take a chance on an unknown brand if the price is right and the reviews are good and if your budget is limited (such as this G.SKILL Value 1GB DDR at $59.99 + $4.99 shipping as compared to some Kingston brands all over $70).

13. SATA Hard Drive

    This is where all your data is stored, so your system’s purpose is important to consider before you make this purchase. For normal use you probably need between 80GB to 120GB. But, if you play games that include high-end graphics and complicated levels, this will add to the space you need. You’ll also need to consider the hard drive’s interface, or the hardware that manages the data exchange between the hard drive and the computer. You’ll discover that the most common interface is ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment), and that it comes in two forms: ATA (AKA Parallel ATA or PATA), and the newer and faster SATA (Serial ATA). If you can manage the SATA, that’s the way to go if your motherboard supports this technology.

    A quick search for SATA hard drives revealed some great deals at Tom’s Hardware, where a Seagate 320GB SATA-300 Hard Drive with a speed of 7200rpm goes for $89.99. This hard drive can hold up to “640 Action-Packed Games!”, which means you can run a few of your most complex games and still have plenty of room to handle email and play around with a mid-size MP3 collection. Don’t choose a hard drive with a speed less than 7200rpm, as your action games will suffer from anything less.

14. Take the PCI Express on Video Cards

    The connection for your new video card is important, as it can connect to your motherboard via either an AGP or PCI Express slot. AGP has been the norm, but it’s now old news because the PCI Express can handle much more data. The other advantage to the PCI Express (don’t confuse this with the outdated PCI standard technology) is that you can connect more than one video card to your system. With that said, there’s nothing wrong with the AGP connection, as some of the best video cards come in AGP.

    If you go with AGP, you may find that you’ll need to replace this technology as games become more sophisticated. If you go with PCI Express and a motherboard that supports it, you’ll open the door to future possibilities. Stick with nVidia or ATI, as these companies specialize in video cards for gaming. You’ll want to find a card that contains a minimum 256MB on-board memory, a GDDR3 bandwidth, and a high fill rate (the rate that pixels are ‘drawn’ onto screen memory) to render quality 3D graphics. Plus, you’ll want to consider your output. You can work with high-definition output (you’ll need a monitor that supports DVI), output to a TV screen (probably TV-Out) or to multiple monitors (dual monitor support). Some cards carry options for at least two different outputs.

    A video card purchase isn’t easy, as there’s so much to decide on the front end. But, think about how you plan to upgrade your system over time. For instance, if you decide to go for the ATI RADEON X1300 Pro 256MB AGP Video Card until you can upgrade to a PCI Express, you’ll pay $124 for an excellent card. But, if you go for the PCI Express now, the price difference is negligible. In fact, I found a nVidia GeForce 6600LE 512MB PCI Express Card w/TV-Out DVI for $94.99 at Computer Geeks. Compare the difference in size from ATI’s 256MB to nVidia’s 512MB (the ultimate experience) for a smaller price. If you plan ahead, this PCI Express option will define your motherboard purchase as well.

15. Monitor: LCD vs. CRT

    If your budget is limited (and even if it isn’t), the CRT monitor remains the best monitor for gaming. Why? Because although LCDs are phasing out CRT monitors, manufacturers remain loyal to CRT evolution (see some flat screen CRTs). Plus, CRTs maintain a better color range and a faster response to graphics and video, they can handle multiple resolutions, and they’re fairly rugged – all this as opposed to the LCD’s limited color range and response rate to graphics and videos, a singular resolution, and fragility. On the plus side, an LCD monitor can be easier on the eyes (no flicker), they require less power, and they’re smaller and lighter.

    If you have an old CRT monitor that can adhere to the 85 Hz for non-flicker, stick with it until you can afford an LCD if you want to go that route. Otherwise, you can find many suitable CRT monitors for under $100, whereas a low-scale LCD monitor rarely goes for less than $100. This is one time when a search through the classifieds or on eBay will pay off. For instance, I discovered a Viewsonic 19 Inch E90FB Monitor – VCDTS23307-1M1, one of the gamiest CRTs around, for price ranges from $169-$199 new, but discovered the same monitor refurbished at eBay for $95.

16. Sound Advice

    If you can afford to get into surround sound for gaming, then you might want an extra sound card (as opposed to one built into the motherboard) and speakers. Logitech provides quality speakers, and you’ll want at least five speakers and one woofer for the full 5.1 experience. Since your sound card can’t deliver drive to your speakers, you’ll need computer speakers that contain amps. Plus, look for THD (total harmonic distortion) of less than 1-2%, as the lower that number the better the sound. You might put this system on your wish list, as it’s not that expensive and it’s top notch.

    If you want to amp up your sound experience with a separate sound card, you can find a 5.1 card for under $100 that will satisfy your gaming audio needs. Also, remember that a high-end sound card install requires more juice than your old processor, as that older system can’t take advantage of that sound card’s features. But, you’ll take care of that problem on the front end when you hunt for that new CPU.

17. Power Supply Problems

    You may discover that your old power supply isn’t sufficient for your high-powered gaming rig. While this power shortage might not present a problem at the beginning, if you build a rig over time, you’ll need to upgrade your power supply to handle at least 500W to power your components, and to also help cool your system. The best way to determine whether you need more juice is to add up how much power each component in your system requires. This number will change over time as you add more sophisticated components, so be sure to keep an eye on this issue. Most gaming systems will require somewhere between 500W and 800W systems. You can find reliable sources for the latter wattage at around $200.

18. Computer Case Issues

    Yes, you can salvage a computer case from a used computer, but you may discover over time that this older case doesn’t work with new components. In this instance, size does matter. One important issue to consider is the number of bays contained in the case, as you’ll need 3.5″ bays for floppy and hard drives and 5″ bays for CD and DVD drives. Another consideration is space for the motherboard. The most common form-fitting factor for motherboards is the ATX, so if your case fits that form, then you’re in shape. Finally, the case needs to be large enough to handle any new power supplies and fans with plenty of front and back venting to avoid overheating any components. You can avoid costs here if you don’t customize your case as long as you have a case on hand that can handle future upgrades.

19. DVD and CD Burners

    If you have some DVD or CD burners on hand, you’re in shape. Otherwise look for burners with sufficient drive speeds. Look for 48X for CD burners and at least 16X for a primo DVD burner. You have the option of buying internal or external drives, and your choice will depend upon your budget. Internal drives usually are less expensive, but external drives provide portability. Plus, DVD burners might cost a little more than CD burners, but DVDs can store much more data than CDs. Go with what your budget dictates and upgrade when you can afford it. I discovered a Philips 20X Internal DVD Burner with price ranges from $34 (with free shipping) to $46, so shop around and wait for sales for your best deal.

20. Extras

    Your keyboard and mouse will wear out over time, and you might need headphones and even a new gaming chair to complete your gaming experience. Keep enough cash in that budget for necessities when you need them (like a primo keyboard), and save for all the other extras (like top-notch headphones) once you’re happy with your basic rig.

No matter how you go about building your ultimate gaming rig, you can save money if you’re patient, willing to develop a plan for upgrades, and if you discuss your options with other gamers. If you search for other articles or discussions about building a gaming rig on the cheap, make sure you look for a publication date. Anything over a year old will steer you the wrong way, as many new components have come on the market since 2005. Additionally, prices for those older and newer components have changed dramatically.

If you pinch pennies, you still can begin with a new video card, new CPU, and motherboard for about $300 if you use reuse old parts for the rest of the system. Cut that price if you go for refurbished parts or sale-priced secondhand components to start. Add another $200 for new memory and a hard drive, and you’re set for all the gaming basics. In other words, for the same price as that entry-level computer, you can begin to enjoy the beginnings of your new gaming rig on the cheap.

Since its creation in 2004, Gmail has become a wildly popular free e-mail service due largely in part to the large amount of storage it provides. Gmail is based on the idea that users shouldn’t be forced to delete emails due to lack of space, and the program is loaded with features that allow the user to organize their email without having to constantly cull from the inbox. But with its integration to Google’s search functions, document programs, calendars, and photo management it’s clear that Gmail is aiming to be much more than simple Web mail.

The versatility of Gmail doesn’t end at what comes with the program (though many of the features it provides often are underused). Gmail has attracted the talents of many independent programmers and there are numerous scripts and plug-ins made for Gmail that can further enhance your experience. To that end, the following list provides some of the best tips and hacks to help you make the most of your Gmail service.

Gmail Features

Add Labels: Traditional email clients allow users to archive old emails in folders, which works well a majority of the time. But what happens when an email logically belongs in more than one folder? Gmail circumvents this problem by allowing users to attach tags to emails. Instead of physically moving the emails into folders the label acts as a logical folder, organizing your email in a more dynamic fashion.

Create Filters: Gmail users may not know that they can create filters to help organize incoming email. Filters can be used to automatically label messages sent from a particular user or those that contain certain words and phrases. The feature can also be used to catch any spam that spam filters might miss.

Keyboard Shortcuts: Reluctant to switch to a Web-based email client because you’re attached to all those handy keyboard shortcuts in Windows programs? Not to worry, Gmail has similar keyboard shortcuts that you can learn quickly.

Import Contacts: If you plan to promote Gmail as your main email client, the transition can be made considerably less painful with the contact-importing feature. To import your contacts into Gmail, you simply need to export your contacts list in your current email client as a CSV file, and then import them into Gmail.

Firefox Extensions

GSpace: If you don’t have a ton of email, but you still want to take advantage of the storage space offered on Gmail, you can try out GSpace. GSpace turns the 2GB of your Gmail account into free online storage with your files stored in an easy to use interface. You can even use your Gmail to store your favorite music and listen to directly from GSpace.

Gmail Search from Firefox Toolbar: This plug-in will allow you to search your Gmail directly from the Firefox toolbar, and will take you directly to the page once you hit enter. Best of all, the plug-in can also be used to search Wikipedia, Amazon, and Google as well.

GCalQuickTab: If you have both Gmail and Google Calendar, GCalQuickTab makes it easy to switch between the two in your browser. It overrides the default behavior of the links that appear in the upper-left-hand corner of the Gmail inbox. If the linked program is already open, then the plug-in brings that tab to the front instead of opening it in a new window.

GTDInbox: GTDInbox integrates with your Gmail to help you be more productive. It organizes the Gmail labels into distinct categories: Contexts, Status, Projects and References. It also allows you a way to quickly organize and prioritize tasks and references in your inbox. And if you need a to-do list on the go, you can easily print your tasks in a pocket-sized format.

Drag Drop Upload: Drag Drop Upload makes creating attachments easy. You no longer have to browse through the files on the computer, you just click and drag the file you want into your email, and voila, it’s attached.

Better Gmail: Better Gmail takes the best and most popular of the Greasemonkey Scripts (which are covered below) and combines them into one convenient Firefox extension. Better Gmail includes scripts for the following features: colored labels, macros, saved searches, conversation previews, attachment reminders, and attachment icons. It’s a simple way to spruce up your Gmail experience.

Gmail Skinz: Think your Gmail looks a little boring? Gmail Skinz can help you spice it up. You can change the color of the inbox, add weather and news headlines, insert Picasa images into your Gmail, and – for animal print fans – you can even give your mailbox a zebra makeover.

Email Notifier: If you don’t want to have your Gmail window open all the time, but if you want to know immediately when you receive emails, the Gmail Notifier can be a great addition to your Firefox. The notifier will create an icon in your toolbox and incoming email will create a small pop up notification box that disappears after a few seconds. You can read who sent the email as well as the subject of the email without opening Gmail.

Gmail Manager: Gmail manager allows you to control several Gmail accounts and receive email notifications from them all. The toolbar icon provides information on your unread messages, saved drafts, spam, and the amount of space being used.

Greasemonkey Scripts

Super Clean: Like things minimalist? Though Gmail is already pretty basic in terms of design, Super Clean will make your Gmail simpler and whiter.

Spam Count Hide: No one wants to deal with spam, and since Gmail automatically deletes it you really don’t need to worry about it. This script will eliminate the link that tells you how much spam you have, cleaning up your Gmail interface and eliminating yet another trace of annoying and unwanted email.

Attachment Icons: This script creates different icons for attachments based on which type of attachment file, allowing you to easily browse through your emails and know immediately what’s attached.

Google Reader Integration: Google Reader allows users to read Atom and RSS feeds. With this integration, your feeds will automatically appear in your Gmail account and you can easily send Google Reader news items and interesting articles to your friends with a click of a button.

Gmailto: For many Gmail users, clicking on an email link on a Web page can be a pain if it brings up an email program that you don’t use. This script will make it so that any email link will automatically bring up your Gmail account instead.

Saved Searches: Saved searches are a popular feature among email clients, and there’s no reason why Gmail should be an exception. The saved search feature allows you to create "smart folders." These searches are displayed in a separate box, and when you click on them it executes a stored search, essentially creating folders for your emails.

Conversation Preview: While Gmail offers a short one-line description of items in your inbox, sometimes a larger preview would be more helpful. That’s where this script comes in. By right clicking on any email in your inbox a box will pop-up and you can see the larger text.

Calendar Integration: For those who use Google Calendar this can be a very useful tool. It allows you to see your calendar agenda while still writing out emails so you can easily check your calendar and relay your schedule to others.

Label Colors: Gmail labels can be even more useful when you can gain access to more than one color. Adding colors to labels can make certain ones stand out and allow color-coding to important message labels.

Gmail Macros: Gmail comes with a variety of keyboard shortcuts, but by using Macros you can add even more ways to cut your keyboard time. New shortcuts offered by the macros provide a quick way to move emails to the trash, mark them as read, or add them to your archive.

SSLGoogle: Since Gmail doesn’t provide an inherently secure server, SSLGoogle can help make your emails, calendar dates, and documents more secure by forcing them to travel through an https server instead of an http server.

Gmail Encrypt: To further secure your emails you can use Gmail Encrypt. This script will encrypt your outgoing emails so they can’t be read by nosy outside parties.

Date Search: Sometimes you know just when an email was sent, but nothing else about that communication. With this date search script you can add a search by date function to Gmail’s search form.

Web and Desktop Apps

Gmail Drive: Gmail Drive for Windows will create a new drive in your "My Computer" folder. This drive uses Gmail for additional storage. All you have to do is drag and drop files into the drive and they are automatically moved to your Gmail for storage. A similar program called gDisk is available for Mac users.

Gmail To Do: This is a desktop application that will store your "to dos" in a list that appears as a small label in your Gmail account.

Desktop Notifier: This is the official version of the Gmail Notifier from Google. It will create an icon in your toolbar that will alert you to any incoming mail.

Gmail Mobile: Need to gain access to your Gmail away from home? Not a problem, just bring it with you on your mobile phone. This program simply needs to be installed on your mobile phone and you can read emails and open attachments from anywhere.

Gmail This! GmailThis! will allow you to easily send Web pages using your Gmail without even having to open Gmail in a separate tab or window. GmailThis! creates a tiny window with Gmail that automatically contains the link to the web page you are visiting, as well as any text you have highlighted on that page.

Gmail Based Blog: This is a neat feature for Gmail that allows you to blog via your Gmail. Your Gmail messages act as the entries and comments appear as responses to the conversation.

Gmail Loader: For those making the switch to Gmail, or simply want to take advantage of the large amount of storage space, Gmail Loader can be a valuable tool. It allows users to import their emails from another account directly to Gmail.

Icon Generator: For those who want to post a their email address but don’t want to be exposed to spambots, the Icon Generator can help. It makes a small, colorful icon out of your email address, which you can add to a Web page or blog.

This is by no means a complete list of every Gmail hack, as new tools are being released regularly. The tips and tricks noted above, however, should provide you with a great start with customizing your Gmail.