Advice

“I’m about to invest in a new washing machine and my friends tell me I should buy a front loader because they are more energy efficient. Is that true?

Yes, front loaders are usually more energy and water efficient. The Water Services Association of Australia’s website has a database of all water efficiency rated clothes washers. Check it out here.

BUT…there are other things to consider before making your choice. Generally the pros and cons of each technology are as follows:

Top loaders

- You can add clothes to the machine, even though the wash cycle has begun

- Faster washing times – typically 30-45 minutes

- Latest technology means more machines now come with a 4 and 4.5 star energy rating

- Use more water (therefore more energy on a warm wash)

- More wear and tear on clothes

- Have a range of cold washing options

- Have hot and cold water connection (cheaper to operate for a warm wash if you have a gas, off peak or solar water heater)

Front loaders

- Slower washing times – typically 60-90 minutes (a majority have a 30 minute quick wash function)

- Use less water (therefore less energy on a warm wash)

- More gentle on clothes as they do not have an agitator and that means, less tangling

- Wash much better (although all washers have to meet minimum wash performance standards)

- Many only have cold water connection and operate on internal water heating. This means that water is often heated using day rate electricity. Some have limited cold water washing options and/or hot and cold connections.

Front loaders may be a bit more expensive to buy...but are often cheaper to run due to energy and water savings as well as less wear and tear on clothes. On the other hand…if you do many loads in one washing session, you may appreciate the top loaders’ faster washing times.

While all Betta Electrical preferred supplier brands come with a manufacturer’s warranty, keep in mind your washing machine is the hardest working product in your home. Be sure to speak with us about our inexpensive, comprehensive Totalguard extended warranties. Your local Betta Electrical store will be happy to advise you based on your circumstances.

Induction and Traditional Cook top differences?

The induction cook top is a very practical device and can be used for any cooking application. It cooks food just as well as any comparable system but in a more energy efficient manner. Protecting the world's environment and conserving resources is an important concern, and the induction cook top is probably the most environmentally sound cooking device on the market, as it releases no fumes or chemicals into the air and uses no irreplaceable fossil fuels.

Traditional electric cook tops use some form of electric resistance to create heat, which is transferred to the saucepan and its contents. Induction cooking is based on magnetic fields: each ‘element’ (an induction coil) generates a magnetic field that induces heat in steel cookware placed on top of it. In essence, the pot becomes the element that cooks the food, so the cooktop surface doesn’t get as hot as other cooktops.

Induction cooktops have the same instant control as gas and are the fastest of all cooktop types to heat and cook food. The only stipulations include:
- pots and pans must be made of steel, cast iron or other combinations of metals that will react with the magnetic field.
- a kitchen must be wired for 220 volts (which is not likely if you are using gas).
What's more, the induction cooktop is more energy efficient.
- Induction cooking uses 90% of the energy produced compared to only 55% for a gas burner and 65% for traditional electric ranges.
- Induction provides extremely fast boil and re-boil, over 50% faster than gas or electric

The surface of the cooktop does not heat up, so overflows and spills do not stick. The cooking surface stays cool even during the cooking cycle.

What is a Catalytic liner in an oven?

Catalytic liners absorb grease and dirt, then burn it off at up to about 200°C. The filters should last a long time if looked after properly, but they can be replaced. When the oven is run at around 200°C or higher, the splashes are burnt off. If you don't run the oven at a high enough temperature to do this, the liners will become saturated and no longer effective

Most electrical products are covered by a manufacturers’ warranty for one, two or three years. If you want a longer warranty they are available at a reasonable cost. So, do you need one? It really comes down to three key factors: the product, the brand and YOU.

Product

Most electrical products are very reliable, some more than other. Generally there is a  slightly higher risk with high-tech products (e.g. computers) than there is with low-tech products like refrigerators or dishwashers. If anything does go wrong, low-tech products are usually less expensive to fix as well. For most people an extended warranty makes more sense for big ticket items. Let’s face it - a $1,000 washing machine is cheaper to replace than a $5,000 Plasma TV! Another thing to consider is that service calls for many large home applicances incur a call out fee which in many cases would exceed the cost of an extended three year warranty.

Brand

As always, buy a well known manufacturer’s brand and you are much less likely to have headaches. Betta Electrical only sells products and brands with a proven track record, however, occasionally things can go haywire. Like car insurance, you don’t buy because you think you will need it, you buy it because it could make a big difference IF you need it. This brings us to the last and most important key factor...

YOU

No matter what you buy there is always a risk, however remote, that it will break down just outside the warranty period. Some people are quite happy to run that risk, some aren’t. Ask yourself: what are the consequences if it breaks down? If you are willing to live with them, you may not see the value in an extended warranty. If an unexpected breakdown would put you and your family under financial or emotional stress, it could be money very well spent. Ask yourself, how much do I prefer peace of mind?

Ask your local Betta Electrical for advice regarding extended warranties.

Horses for courses. The temperature in a bar fridge (around 5 degrees) is good for beer and soft drinks but too cool for wine. So if you mainly need to store beer and soft drinks you should go for a bar fridge.

Wine cabinets, as the name suggests, are made for storing wine. Red wine, white wine and champagne all benefit from the slightly higher temperature in a wine cabinet (10-15 degrees). Cooler than 10 degrees the wine won’t age…warmer than 15 degrees the wine will age too quickly.

So…in an ideal world you should have both: a fridge for beer/soft drinks and a wine cabinet for wine.

Before you start looking you need to measure the space that you want the fridge to go in. Armed with the measurements you can start hunting for the type of fridge that suits your needs. There are 5 different types:

Freezer-on-top
This is the most common type. They are economically priced and the most energy-efficient to run. There is a huge range of products available and they are a good choice if price, range and efficiency are your main concerns.

Fridge-on-top
This type has become more and more popular in the last 5 years or so. What you use most is at eye level and less bending down can save your back. This type can cost slightly more and generally be less energy-efficient than the freezer-on-top type. It would suit for convenience or if you want a larger freezer than generally offered by a freezer-on-top type.

Side-by-side
This type of fridge is great for family households. They are generally larger internally which helps cater for families. Side-by-side fridges are available with different features such as ice cube and/or water dispenser (can take up a lot of space). One disadvantage of this type of fridge is that the fridge and freezer space can be quite narrow – large platters, pizza boxes and the like don’t always fit in.

French door fridge
These are similar to side-by-side fridges in size and are available with the same features. The main difference is that the fridge and freezer are split horizontally instead of vertically. This means more width in the fridge and freezer for those large platters and pizza boxes. French door fridges are quite new to the market .

Separate fridge/freezer
You could also consider buying separate but matching fridge and freezer designed to stand side by side. You’ll get a full size fridge and a full size freezer…but with a combined width of over a meter you’ll have to make sure they fit before you buy.

Size
As a rule of thumb a family of two requires a minimum of 250-285 litres of space in the fridge – add 28.5 litres for each additional family member after that. On top of that comes freezer space. If in doubt, go for the bigger fridge – too small a fridge can be a daily annoyance.

Frost free
Frost free means the air is circulated efficiently around the appliance to prevent any build up of frost. This means no scraping ice off your freezer elements. If frost free is an option, choose it.

Energy rating
Energy efficiency is becoming more and more important. The Energy Rating label enables you to compare the energy efficiency of each fridge. Over the life of the fridge you can save hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars by going for the more energy efficient option. So even if it costs more to buy an energy efficient fridge it may well be worth it in the long run.

Your local Betta Electrical has a wide range of fridges and would be more than happy to advise you further.

It obviously depends on your needs but here is a short introduction to what steam washers actually do.

First of all a steam washer is a washing machine with a steam cycle OPTION so you can still wash your clothes in the traditional fashion. But the steam cycle option has a few obvious advantages.

With the steam cycle option you can refresh your clothes without water and detergent in around 20 minutes. The steam cycle is gentle on your clothes but will still remove odours caused by sweat, smoke, pollution and perfume…often you won’t even need to iron afterwards.

Thanks to a higher temperature, the steam cycle is also better at breaking down stains than other washing cycles. Still you’ll be saving energy because the steam cycle uses less water and less power.

Steam washers are known to help eliminate some allergens such as dust mites. LG has just released the first steam washing machine to be certified by Asthma Foundations Australia.

Steam washers are a bit dearer than conventional washers but have a look at one from Betta Electrical’s range. There are options to suit most budgets, just visit your local Betta Electrical.

Good luck with choosing your new washing machine!

Digital Camera Resolution

The amount of detail that the camera can capture is called the resolution, and it is measured in pixels. The more pixels a camera has, the more detail it can capture and the larger pictures can be without becoming blurry or "grainy."

Some typical resolutions include:

- 256x256 - Found on very cheap cameras, this resolution is so low that the picture quality is almost always unacceptable. This is 65,000 total pixels.

- 640x480 - This is the low end on most "real" cameras. This resolution is ideal for e-mailing pictures or posting pictures on a Web site.

- 1216x912 - This is a "megapixel" image size -- 1,109,000 total pixels -- good for printing pictures.

- 1600x1200 - With almost 2 million total pixels, this is "high resolution." You can print a 4x5 inch print taken at this resolution with the same quality that you would get from a photo lab.

- 2240x1680 - Found on 4 megapixel cameras -- the current standard -- this allows even larger printed photos, with good quality for prints up to 16x20 inches.

- 4064x2704 - A top-of-the-line digital camera with 11.1 megapixels takes pictures at this resolution. At this setting, you can create 13.5x9 inch prints with no loss of picture quality.

High-end consumer cameras can capture over 12 million pixels. Some professional cameras support over 16 million pixels, or 20 million pixels for large-format cameras.

No matter what type of storage they use, all digital cameras need lots of room for pictures. They usually store images in one of two formats -- TIFF, which is uncompressed, and JPEG, which is compressed, but some use RAW format. Most cameras use the JPEG file format for storing pictures, and they sometimes offer quality settings (such as medium or high). The following chart will give you an idea of the file sizes you might expect with different picture sizes

Digital still cameras are getting better and better at video recording. Digital compact cameras have the benefit of smaller size than camcorders. Then there are digital still cameras with video recording capacity!

Digital camera vs. camcorder

Digital stills are broken in to three catagories - compact (pocket size!); ultra zoom (great for moving action photos and scenic shots) and Digital SLR (DSLR) which also allows you to change the whole aspect by using different lenses. Camcorders have reduced considerably in size (almost pocketable now!) and feature hard-drive capacity for longer record times without the need to carry spare tapes or disks. 

The still picture image quality is generally better in a digital still camera because the image sensor is bigger than a compact camcorder’s, giving it a more ‘cinematic’ feel.

Also, digital still cameras have less memory than camcorders. A couple of examples: Fuji F60FD which is a great solution for high quality still photos taking up to a 16GB SD card whilst a Panasonic SDR-H80-K camcorder comes with a 60 GB built in memory.

Still, if you are thinking about buying a digital still camera and a camcorder, you could do well by buying a digital still camera which will capture still photos and videos in one - provided you don’t need to record lengthy videos.

At the end of the day your choice depends on what you need. For the ultimate in still picture quality you can’t go past a digital still camera. For the best video recording performance the camcorder is still no. 1.

Visit your local Betta Electrical  for the best products, the best advice and the best price…you qualify for the Team Betta price just by printing your BettaNews! e-newsletter and presenting it to the staff!

Product examples and Team Betta offers:

DIGITAL STILL CAMERAS

Fujifilm F60fd Silver and Black – RRP $399 – Team Betta Price $379 (please bring a print of this newsletter) 12.0m eff. pixels, Super CCD, 3x optical zoom, 3" LCD, SR Auto, ISO 6400, Face detection 3.0, Dual IS

Fujifilm S2000 – Bonus HDTV – RRP $528.95 (Camera and Cable) – June Catalogue Price $449 – Team Betta Price $429 (please bring a print of this newsletter) 10.0m eff. pixels, 15x optical zoom, ISO 6400, 2.7" LCD, HDTV Output, Dual IS

Panasonic DMC-FS42 – Silver, Black & Pink – RRP $279 – Team Betta Price $249 (please bring a print of this newsletter) 10.1m eff. Pixels, 4 x optical zoom, Intelligent ISO control, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Lumix Vario Lens

VIDEO CAMCORDERS

Panasonic Camcorder, SDR-S26-R (Red), also available in Blue and Black, Normal RRP $549

JVC Camcorder, GZ-MG630S (Silver), also available in Red, Normal RRP $849

Canon Camcorder, FS22, Normal RRP $899

Visit our product showroom for more information.

What is an Inverter Microwave?

Panasonic microwaves have exclusive inverter cooking technology onboard, giving users greater control over microwave cooking. Inverter technology offers accuracy in power control to prevent spill overs, burnt edges or uneven cooking. Moreover, inverter technology can also reduce cooking and preparation times.

High, medium or low for the entire cooking cycle

Panasonic inverter microwave oven users can cook at high, medium and low power settings for the entire cooking process. A Panasonic inverter cooks at 100% of the power selected for 100% of the time required. For example, if you choose medium power, the Panasonic Inverter microwave oven will cook at medium power for 100% of the time.

Graduated cooking sequences

Inverter cooking technology also offers graduated cooking sequences. Graduated cooking controls the microwave’s power levels directly and thereby allows more cooking control. For example, when cooking on a high power setting, the power level is gradually reduced once the food reaches its optimum cooking temperature. The smaller size of the inverter circuit also makes it possible to offer a light, compact oven without compromising the cavity and turntable size.

Thanks to Panasonic for this information.

It really depends on how much of a connoisseur you are and which coffee you prefer. With winter coming, here are the essentials:

Pressure system

A true café quality espresso requires 92 degrees water temperature and 15 bars of pressure. Many of the (cheaper) ‘espresso’ machines on the market use the steam pressure system which only creates 3.5 bars of pressure. While you can make very good coffee on this type of machine, technically speaking it is not espresso. You will need a coffee maker using the pump pressure system to create the required 15 bars of pressure. But if you prefer cappuccino or latte anyway – or if you are not that much of a connoisseur – the steam pressure system will do the job.

Heating system

Another thing to consider is the heating system. There are two systems: the boiler system and the thermoblock system. The boiler system uses a heating element that is in direct contact with the water (like a kettle where you can see the heating element). This system often results in water hotter than 92 degrees and as water sits in the chamber until the next coffee is made, it becomes stale and scale builds up around the element. The thermoblock heating system creates none of these problems. It instantaneously warms the water to the ideal temperature, you always use fresh water and the heating element is not in direct contact with the water.

Choice

There are other things to consider. Some machines are fully automatic, some half automatic or manual and the features vary as well. 

At the end of the day your choice depends on how much you want to spend and how much you love your coffee. Coffee makers with a pump pressure system and a thermoblock heating system cost from $200.

Ask your local Betta Electrical for advice or attend one of our free Which coffee maker is right for me? workshops. 

It all depends on how much ironing you do. If it's not a lot the traditional steam iron has a few things going for it:

• Takes up less space
• Convenient for everyday use
• Lower price ($30-$150)

A steam station consists of a water tank and an iron that rests on it. Steam stations produce more steam because they have a separate boiler. Therefore they can be a good choice for large families, especially those who like to do all their ironing at once. The pros and cons are:

• Takes up more space
• Best if set up permanently in an area devoted to ironing
• Larger tank
• About twice as high steam output (= faster ironing)
• Some can iron multiple items simultaneously
• Higher price ($220-$600)

Regardless of which type you choose there are a few general things to consider when choosing an iron:

• Weight: a light model is good for synthetics and small items. For linen, cotton and denim a heavier one is better
• Steam: steam is the best wrinkle remover - the more the better
• Settings: check that they are simple to adjust without having to stop work
• Tank: make sure it's easy to fill and large - it saves refilling and reheating time
• Cord: a long cord gives greater mobility. Reversible or pivot means both right- and left-handers can work comfortably
• Self-clean nozzles: a burst of steam clears the holes in the soleplate. Clogged vents reduce steam output and - even worse - deposit can spew from the iron at any time
• Auto-off: if you've ever been halfway to work and suddenly wondered if you turned the iron off this feature will be top of your list.

Hope this helps. Your local Betta Electrical will be able to assist you further. Here you'll find all the best brands and great advice.

What size/type of air conditioner should I purchase for my home?

Before purchasing an air conditioner you should consider other non energy consuming means of providing a comfortable home environment during the warmer months of the year. The design of your house can significantly affect the internal comfort conditions. Features that can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for refrigerate air-conditioning include:

- Orientation for exposure to cooling breezes.

- Increase natural ventilation by reducing barriers to air paths through your home.

- Provision of fans to provide ventilation and air movement in the absence of breezes.

- Floor plan zoning to maximise comfort for daytime activities and sleeping comfort.

- Appropriate windows and glazing to minimise unwanted heat gains and maximise ventilation.

- Effective shading (including vegetative planting).

- Adequate levels of appropriate insulation.

- High thermal mass construction in regions with significant diurnal ranges (i.e. large variation between daily minimum and maximum temperatures).

- Low thermal mass construction in regions with low diurnal range (i.e. small variation between daily minimum and maximum temperatures).

- Use of light coloured roofs and walls to reflect more solar radiation and reduce heat gain.

Try out our Air Conditioning Calculator

What is an "inverter" air conditioner?

An inverter model means that the compressor is powered by a variable speed drive or "inverter", which enables the compressor to run at a range of speeds from slow to fast, to match the output required. Most conventional compressors run at a constant speed and these types of units vary their capacity by switching on and off at different intervals. Inverters are a sophisticated piece of technology which improve the performance and energy efficiency of air conditioners under normal use.

If you want to heat up your home efficiently a reverse cycle air conditioner is probably your best option. In BettaNow! issue 8 (October 2009) we gave good advice on how to choose the right air conditioner 

There are other kinds of heaters available if you are after a simple solution that you can just pick up at your local Betta Electrical. Here’s a bit of general advice about the different kinds of heaters available:

Column heaters

Column heaters use electricity to heat oil that’s sealed inside their columns. They take longer to heat a room than fan-assisted heaters of similar capacity (unless of course you choose a fan-assisted column heater). Therefore they are particularly useful in rooms where they’ll be switched on for long periods of time or where they’ll operate unattended, such as overnight in a bedroom. The surfaces on a column heater don’t get as hot as on other types of electric heaters.

Convection heaters

Convection heaters draw cold air over an electric heating element. The warm air then leaves the heater and rises towards the ceiling, while cooler air moves in to replace it. They usually have a fan to enhance the convection effect by forcing the warm air from the heater. When you use the fan, the room will heat up more quickly and evenly. However, the fan can be noisy so make sure it can be switched off.

Fan heaters

Fan heaters can supply heat almost instantly, but are best suited for warming a small area such as a bedroom or study. The fan can’t be switched off so there will always be some noise. Some models are quieter than other but fan heaters are not the best choice for areas you want to heat over long periods of time. Choose a model with a plastic grille if you are likely to have children playing around the heater. While the outside surface of fan heaters usually doesn’t get very hot, metal grilles can far exceed 100°C.

Electric blankets

The good old electric blanket will keep you warm and cosy all night long. Electric blankets are available at your local Betta Electrical from as little as $33.95.

Electric heaters are generally quite straightforward to use, and don’t give you too much choice of features and functions:

• There are usually two or three power levels
• A thermostat allows you to maintain the desired room temperature
• A timer is particularly useful with slow heaters such as column heaters, as they can take a long time to heat up a room
• A tilt switch switches the heater off if it’s tipped over
• A thermal cut-out switch prevents the heater from overheating

Whether you are after an air conditioner or an electric heater your first point of contact is your local Betta Electrical. They have all the products and can advise you based on your circumstances.
Good luck – and best wishes for a warm winter!

It’s time for the big spring clean…is your vacuum cleaner up to the challenge? Like most other electrical products vacuum cleaners are going through rapid technological development. In recent years bagless vacuum cleaners have gained ground. But are they any better than the conventional bagged vacuum cleaner? That’s what BettaNow! set out to explore…

The difference

A bagged vacuum cleaner uses a replaceable bag as a filter to trap dirt while allowing air to flow through the bag. When the bag is full it needs to be replaced. A bagless vacuum cleaner uses filters to trap dirt and debris in a dirt cup or chamber. This too needs to be emptied.

Bagged benefits

With a bagged vacuum cleaner you change the bag when it is full. It is quite easy and most vacuum cleaner bags are inexpensive. Some models have an indicator that will let you know when the bag needs to be changed. On models without an indicator you have to remember to check if the bag is full. If you forget, the vacuum cleaner will remind you by losing suction. There is not a lot of contact with the dust and debris in the bag. Just throw the old bag away when its full.

Bagless benefits

The bagless vacuum cleaner deposits dirt and debris into a container rather than a vacuum bag. But the main benefit is that bagless vacuum cleaners normally include HEPA filters that more efficiently remove dust, dirt particles, pollen, and dander from the air passing through the vacuum cleaner. This makes them a good choice for allergy sufferers (although some bagged vacuum cleaners have HEPA filters as well). Bagless vacuum cleaners have filters that must either be cleaned or replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions.

How do I choose?

Bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners both have their strengths – there is no clear winner. For most people other aspects are just as important when choosing a new vacuum cleaner. Some of the points you should also consider are:

Size: make sure you have enough room for convenient storage

Manoeuvrability: is it easy to carry or move around? Do its wheels respond fluidly?

Wet/dry: some vacuum cleaners will suck up dry particles as well as liquid, with a separate setting for each

Barrel or stand-up: Which do you find easier to operate? Make sure to choose a design that suits you

Suction power: how effectively does the vacuum cleaner convert electricity into airflow? Will it be powerful enough to penetrate deep into the carpet?

Adjustable settings: with adjustable power settings the vacuum cleaner can work on delicate materials (e.g. curtains)

Reverse airflow: this is handy for directing dirt particles into one area and clearing a clogged nozzle.

Vacuum bags: if the bags are disposable, how much are replacements? If reusable, are they easy to remove and reattach?

Turbo heads: a turbo head will prove more effective at removing dust and dirt than a regular vacuum head

Retractable cord: is the cord contained within the unit? Is it long enough to get from room to room or do you need to plug it into different outlets? A long, retractable cord will make cleaning quicker and easier

Sound: few vacuum cleaners are quiet but some are a lot noisier than others

Warranty: how long does it last for?

“Spring is here and my house needs a good clean. Is there a good cleaner on the market that I can use for both my carpets and my wooden floors?”

Thank you for your question. We asked three of our best suppliers to give you an answer – this is what they suggest:

Electrolux
The Electrolux Z8280 Twinclean is ideal for both carpets and wooden floors. It comes with a motorised powerbrush that delivers deep down cleaning on all carpet types. Not only that, it's lightweight and easy to manoeuvre in and around furniture and 4 soft wheels on the bottom of the powerbrush allow it to roll from carpet to hard wood floors without the need for adjustments.

For large areas of wooden flooring, a soft bristled hard floor brush is best to prevent scratching and provide a gentle clean. The Z8280 includes a premium hard floor tool, designed for maximum dust and dirt pick up and equipped with soft bristles to protect polished surfaces.

Twinclean also features soft ride wheels that will not scratch or leave marks of wooden surfaces…it will keep your wooden floors scratch free as well as dust free. Your Betta price is $899.95 for the Electrolux Z8280 Twinclean

Dyson
All Dyson vacuum cleaners can be used on both carpet and hard floors, although different types of floor tools will provide a more effective clean on each surface.

Dyson models with a Turbine or Motorhead will provide the best pick-up on carpet. These types of heads have a rotating brush-bar that gently agitates the carpet to open the pile and help extract dirt and dust. Both heads can be quickly and easily turned off to move directly onto hard floors, although a hard floor tool with softer bristles would be recommended for these surfaces – particularly if they are delicate, like polished wooden boards. Some Dyson models come with a hard floor tool included, for other models hard floor tools can be purchased separately as a cleaning accessory.

The Dyson DC23ACMHPL comes with a motorised head and a hard floor tool. Your Betta price is $1,099.

Bissell

Living up to its name, the Bissell PROHeat® All Rounder is the ultimate multi purpose home cleaner. It comes with a variety of attachments that allow you to either vacuum or deep clean every surface in your home – there’s even a Crevice Tool and a Drain Cleaner. This hi-tech product even helps dry your floors so they are ready to walk on in a flash!
 
An array of cleaning tools ensure that you can clean everything from rugs and carpets to upholstery and stairs with the PROHeat® All Rounder. Bissell’s unique Quick Dry Hard Floor Tool uses a combination of gentle scrubbing action and strong suction to clean and dry hard floor surfaces in only a matter of minutes. Being able to wash every type of floor in the modern day home makes dirt and stains a thing of the past.

Keep you eyes peeled at your local Betta Electrical store for the Bissell PROHeat® All Rounder – available December 2009!

Is it true what they say about Vista?

Windows Vista is probably the most talked about operating system ever launched. The critics were on its case from day one and the criticism hasn’t stopped. But what exactly are the critics saying and to what extent do they have a case?

The critics

For obvious reasons Vista is often being compared to its predecessor Windows XP. According to the critics Vista comes out short in a variety of key areas, e.g.:

Speed: the critics claim that identical applications work much slower on Vista – in other words: the computer has to be more powerful to run at the same speed

User-friendliness: security features – especially the many prompts generated by the User Account Control – make Vista annoying and tiresome compared to XP

Software compatibility: XP is still compatible with more devices and drivers than Vista – and software runs better on XP

The defence

Vista is a much more advanced and complex operating system than XP, to a large extent due to its enhanced security features. Therefore it requires a more powerful computer to run efficiently. Betta Electrical recommends a minimum of 1GB memory for Vista – XP runs comfortably with 512 MB. It’s the price you pay for enhanced security and better features, Vista supporters would argue.

The perceived lack of user-friendliness is also largely due to enhanced security features. But Vista supporters would claim that Vista is actually more user-friendly than its predecessor. Better features, better graphics, faster searches.

Vista supporters would also argue that in terms of driver compatibility, the ‘older’ operating system will always have the upper hand…for a while. That will slowly change and Vista will get the upper hand as newer devices become part of the norm and hence, more and more users upgrade.

The Mojave Experiment

To silence the critics, Microsoft introduced a web-based advertising campaign – the Mojave Experiment – in July 2008. In the Mojave Experiment a group of people are asked to evaluate the newest operating system from Microsoft, the Mojave. Firstly the participants are asked about Vista, whether they have used it or not and how satisfied they are with it on a scale of 1 to 10. Then they are shown a demo of some of Mojave’s features and asked to rate it on the same scale. Vista rated an average of 4.4 out of 10, Mojave’s average was 8.5.

Microsoft’s point? Mojave and Vista was one and the same thing.

See the Mojave Experiment

Wii Fit is a video game developed for Nintendo’s Wii console. It was released in Australia in 2008 and worldwide more than 14 million copies have been sold. It consists of a balance board and a game disk for the console. On the disk are 48 fitness related games and activities, divided into 4 categories:

·         Yoga (balance and flexibility exercises)

·         Strength (muscle-toning exercises, e.g. sit-ups and lunges)

·         Aerobics (getting your heart pumping, e.g. running or stepping)

·         Balance (e.g. ski slalom, heading footballs, walking tightropes)

Most activities take place on the balance board that also measures your weight, centre of balance and assesses your posture. Just let the software know your height and it will calculate your body mass index as well.

Wii Fit has obviously been tested and it does provide health benefits. In ‘The Great Wii Fit Experiment’ a user summarises his 7 weeks with a Wii Fit – he lost 4.9kgs – as follows:

In conclusion, Wii Fit works. But like any exercise it only works if the person using it is willing to put in the effort. I could have achieved the same results simply by doing sit-ups and push-ups everyday, and going for a run. In fact, that may have let me obtain even better results. However I don’t realistically believe that I would have had enough motivation to do that.

Wii Fit works because it shows me everyday how much I weigh, how much time I’ve invested, and how well I am doing on my exercises. It also keeps fantastic records that I can look back on and it makes charts showing my progress (or lack thereof).

The balance board is nothing magical. Just by standing on it you don’t get a better body. You have to put in the time. What Wii Fit tries to do is to make that time enjoyable, and for me it accomplished that goal. To say that Wii Fit made me thinner is giving it too much credit. I made me thinner, but Wii Fit helped.

That probably sums it up. Good luck with your Wii Fit!

How big a laptop do you really need?

 The emergence of ultra-portable ‘netbooks’ at considerably lower prices than traditional laptop computers raises the question: how big a laptop do you really need? Your local Betta Electrical store can tell you more – but here is the short version of what you need to consider. 

What do you use it for?

A netbook is the same as a laptop…but does not feature optical drive and has limited graphics. The screen size is up to 10” but can be much smaller. Most laptops are around 15”. So if you primarily use your computer for viewing movies and playing games, the screen size alone should tell you to stick to a traditional laptop. If you are not discouraged by the screen size, you may need to consider the power. Netbooks are less powerful than their bigger sisters – the average processor-size may only be half that of a traditional laptop. So they are not really suited for very demanding applications like movies or games.

But they are brilliantly suited for most other duties. You can run most of the same programs as you would on a traditional laptop. Sending and receiving emails is easy as…and surfing the internet is no problem at all, although you will notice the slower speed on some websites. YouTube, for instance, displays static/fragmented images due to the limited graphic abilities.

How do you use it?

This is where the netbook really shines. If you are often out and about it is much more convenient than a traditional laptop. It usually weighs less than half – many netbooks weigh less than 1kg. Their footprint is much smaller, too. Some of them fit into a handbag and you can use them just about anywhere. Plenty of space to work or study on a plane, in a train, even on a bus. The keyboards are obviously smaller but still big enough to perform most tasks comfortably.

If you have an office or a study and the computer rarely leaves the room, then price could be a reason why you may choose a netbook instead of a laptop. In that case you should of course consider a desktop computer but that’s another story!

What is your budget?

A basic 15” laptop will retail between $899-$1099 with limited features. Netbooks start from approx $349 so you may even consider purchasing both? Or maybe a netbook computer for when you’re running around and a desktop computer at home?

Last but not least: Have you actually seen those netbooks? They look awesome…so if you have found no other compelling reason to buy one, this could be it! Drop into your local Betta store for a first hand look and demo.

 Olivia Earle chose a netbook computer when she went to Africa as a volunteer at an orphanage. The computer was sponsored by Betta Electrical. Read some of her stories here.  

“My kids spend hours on the internet and you hear all these stories about what can happen. What can I do to protect them?”

There are actually ways that you can protect your children with only a minimum of effort. First of all you’ll need to decide what your kids are allowed to and not allowed to on the internet. When you have made that decision you can block inappropiate content by using your computer’s parental controls, the link for Windows 7 is here, click here if you’re on Windows Vista.

Increase your security and privacy

It's a good idea to block sites and downloads that could be a risk to your security and privacy. Free games, free music, animated toolbars and other downloads can expose your computer to spyware or other unwanted software. Teach your children not to download software from unknown sources or to ask your permission before they do so. This can help keep unwanted software off of your computer.

ALWAYS use a good antivirus software! Norton AntiVirus 2010 with Antispyware is available at your local Betta Electrical from only $49.95! A cheap protection for your children, yourself and your computer…

Monitor your kids

You are not always there when your kids are online but you can always check where they have spent their time. By reviewing the history list in Internet Explorer you can see which places your children have visited online…other browsers have a similar feature.

Stranger danger is online too

The internet can be a great place for your children to build friendships and discuss their interests. But the anonymity of the internet put them at risk of falling victim to imposters and predators. Teach your children to…

·         …only use a first name or nickname to identify themselves.

·         …never disclose a phone number or address.

·         …never send photographs of themselves.

·         …never agree to meet someone they met online without supervision.

These few precautions are easily implemented and will help keep your children safe on the internet.

It depends on whether your old computer runs Windows XP or Windows Vista. If it runs XP it’s a good idea to check Microsoft’s free upgrade advisor before you buy Windows 7. It will help you assess how easy or how hard it would be to upgrade your computer.

Upgrading from Vista is easy. All files, settings and programs will stay in place and you will notice an instant improvement. Windows 7 does everything better than Vista:

Simpler. Less waiting, less clicks, less hassle connecting to devices, less power consumed, less complexity. Windows 7 will help you do more on your PC. It works the way you expect it to.

More media, more places. Your Windows 7 operated PC will become the control center of your home and your media. It’s the easiest way to do more with all your media: photos, music, movies, videos, TV.

Power gaming. You’ll get a richer, more realistic gaming experience on Windows 7.

Work from anywhere. Windows 7 will allow you to seamlessly take your work home or on the road.

Safer. With Windows 7 it’s easy to keep PCs and data backed up, protected and highly secure.

Upgrade prices

The cost of upgrading your computer depends on which version on Windows 7 you need. There are 3 to choose from:

Home Premium has everything the average consumer could wish for. The price for an upgrade is $199.

Professional is mainly for people who need to tap into company networks. The price for an upgrade is $399.

Ultimate is for techies who want EVERYTHING. The price for an upgrade is $429.

This December up to three people in one home can upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium for just $239 (SAVE $358). Ask for the Windows 7 Family Pack at your local Betta Electrical.

Statistically there is a 1 in 8 chance that your computer will crash at some point in time, with the loss of all your data. So backing up may not be the most exciting thing you can do with a computer but the day your computer crashes, you’ll be glad you did it! But what is the best way of backing up your computer?

Many computers have free data backup software included with the operating system. It’s easy to use. All you need to do is select the folders on your computer that you want to backup, and the software will do it automatically at predetermined times. But you’ll need an external hard drive.

External hard drives come in various capacities and speeds at prices from around $100. Typical capacity is from 250GB to 2TB (2000GB)….generally the higher the capacity, the higher the price. A capacity of 1TB will cover most computer users’ storage needs today and in the foreseeable future. At your local Betta Electrical you’ll find plenty of options. One of them is a great looking Iomega Prestige 1TB hard drive for as little as $159.99.

For most computer users an external hard drive is the most convenient and safe solution. But if you don’t use your computer much, you may be able to get away with backing up manually on disks, CDs or memory sticks. After all, you only need to backup personal data as software programs can be reinstalled with original software (keep a copy at hand).

Visit your local Betta Electrical for further advice on how to backup your computer.

You’re right, the iPad was a bit of a wake-up call to other manufacturers – the tablet computer is far from dead! The competition is still a bit thin on the ground but some major manufacturers have a response ready…or will soon be ready with one. Here’s an update on what a few of the major players are up to in regards to tablet computers.

ASUS
As reported in the July issue of Team Betta’s newsletter, ASUS is leading the charge against the iPad.
The ASUS Eee Pad is a portable tablet PC with a 10 or 12-inch screen. The 12-inch Eee Pad is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and has an embedded as well as a docking station keyboard. At a mere 12 millimetres wide, the 10-inch Eee Pad  is designed for more mobility.
ASUS has also introduced the Eee Tablet, an e-reader/notepad with a 2450 dpi touch screen, 0.1-second page turns and a 2 megapixel camera. The Eee Tablet has a 10-hour battery life and can be synchronised with a PC or notebook via USB or Micro SD.

LG
LG is best known for TVs, refrigerators and computer monitors but is also on its way with an iPad competitor. LG is planning to release its new tablet computer by the end of 2010 and promise a thinner and lighter device with a superior performance. It will run on Google’s Android operating system.
 
Acer
The Aspire 1820PT at $999 features a special convertible design that allows you to use it as a photo frame, portable cinema or the perfect presentation tool. You
can also fold it up like a notepad to take notes, read ebooks or navigate maps. What’s more, this Aspire features a built-in accelerometer that automatically rotates images! Smaller than a magazine, the Aspire 1820PT still offers total usability via its Acer FineTip full-size keyboard with larger keys for better typing.

Netbooks
At this point in time, netbooks are probably the iPad’s main competitor. Some are not much bigger than the iPad, look great, and offer
better functionality in many areas at a lower price.

Have a chat to your local Betta Electrical for a complete rundown of your options. Good luck with choosing your new tablet or netbook computer!