i'm attempting to burn some dvds and the files i'm using are about 500MB at the most. however, when i get to the part where it tells me how much available space there is, it's telling me one file is, like, 6GB. any ideas?

i'm using Ulead because i can't seem to find my Nero cd anywhere. argh!

I maybe have to tape something once or twice a week, so subscription is more $$ than it is worth.

sarameg, you can get DVD recorders that can use rewritable discs. They're not super-expensive ($100 - $200 range) and work basically like VCRs with better quality, and you can also replace your DVD player with it. They should have them at any Best Buy / Wal-Mart / Circuit City type of place, or even cheaper online.

An example: [link]

Hello, immense hivemind and a new thread!

So, I'm getting a laptop as a present from my folks. And the three of us could use directions. I was thinking about Lenovo, but I have no idea about their models. It needs to be as much as maintenance and trouble free and user friendly for the computer-killer-by-mere-presence-person-moi (for I won't have a lot of time to get it fixed and will need it on a daily basis), good for the university freshwoman, and some memory won't hurt for the music junkie who likes to have her music next to her at all times. Also, regarding OS - and I'm hoping I'm not opening any Pandora box - do I want Linux or Windows XP, considering all university farms are with the latter and I'm gonna need to transfer files between those OSs?

Any advices?

At my last job, we used Thinkpads exclusively, but had enough in-house expertise with minor repairs that I may have an exaggerated sense of how reliable they are -- and also, this was before Lenovo took over the line. My sole personal laptop ownership is a Mac iBook that's chugging along nicely after three years+, even though I've worn the letters off a significant part of the keyboard.

(Mac OS runs a version of Unix underneath the fancy interface which makes them more Linux-compatible than you might think.)

It looks like most of the details of today's new MacBooks have been leaked. Apple hasn't been as good at clamping down on rumors lately.

Shir,

I think you want Windows XP.

Some here don't like Dells, but I've been generally happy with my Dell laptops (I've had 2 of them).

Apple hasn't been as good at clamping down on rumors lately.

I think they just stopped caring.

I think they just stopped caring.

Maybe they just got tired of killing people.

eta: That makes me think that an Apple death squad must have some awesome, aesthetically pleasing weaponry....

That makes me think that an Apple death squad must have some awesome, aesthetically pleasing weaponry....

[link] ?