Hack Speak 'N Spell, Patrick's Switch
Episode #1373
Top Features
 Hack the Speak 'N Spell Peter Edwards of Casperelectronics transforms the popular educational toy from the '80s into a musical instrument.
|  Can Patrick Switch? For the past three months Patrick has been putting Apple's 'Switch' campaign to the test. Is it really as easy to jump from Windows to Mac as Apple claims? Patrick discusses his findings on today's show. Also, watch Patrick's 'Switch' ad. |
More From This Episode
Your hosts for this show are Leo Laporte and Patrick Norton.
Today's headlines
- Report of Windows Update (must pay $2 for the full report)
- Download Windows Updates individually
- Intel announces price cuts
Question of the Day: Web ads that suck less
Vote in our poll and join our Talkback discussion.
Megan's Windows tip: Folder views
If you want to display all your folders the same way, here's how.
- In Windows Explorer, click on the Tools menu and select Options.
- Click on the View tab.
- Click "Apply to all folders."
On This Day
In 1870, a pneumatic subway was opened to the public to show that air-powered travel would be feasible.
Join our LAN party
Frag fellow fans (and staff members) in the only live, televised LAN party in the world. Our LAN party is held every Thursday, but you must register to participate.
Windows tip: Fax in XP
Put your fax machine in the trash and get ready to fax straight from your desktop.
Multifunction printer roundup
Sumi Das of Fresh Gear takes a look at multifunction printers:
- Canon MultiPass F80 ($399)
- HP psc 2210 ($299)
- Lexmark X85 ($180)
Clarence Clemons
The famed saxophonist and vocalist will join us live via satellite to discuss the evolution of tour technology during his thirty year career and how he uses his website to interact with his fans. Pick up his new CD "Live in Asbury Park."
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Come see the show in person
If you're going to be in the San Francisco Bay area and you'd like to join "The Screen Savers" live on the set, here's how you can request tickets.
Tune in tomorrow
On Thursday, here's what's happening.
- Turn your old videotapes into DVDs.
- Discover how the people of the planet are connected by six degrees of email separation.
- It's time to party -- LAN party, that is.
Send us email
- Got something for the show notes? Email us.
- This page is updated throughout the live broadcast of the show at 7 p.m. Eastern.
- Looking for a past article? Find it in our archive, which keeps a list of articles up to a year old.
Live Calls
Cellphone virusesRick in Oakland, Maryland, wants to know if a cellphone can get a virus.
It's possible. Since many of these cellphones use Java, the virus would be delivered in a Java application, such as a game.
But there hasn't yet been any cellphone viruses, because there aren't a lot of those email-enabled cellphones available. It's not a major concern, so don't worry about it.
LCD problems
Dennis in Adairville, Kentucky, has a 14-month-old laptop. The screen started flickering, and now it's almost completely dark. He brought it into a shop, and they tried fixing the inverter unit, but that didn't fix the problem.
Since the laptop is out of warranty, you might want to try opening it and checking to see if the cable is loose. The LCD cable will look like a ribbon cable. Try adjusting the cable.
Leo thinks the cathode is on its last legs, which means you need to replace the LCD. You can replace the LCD by finding a similar one at EarthLCD.com. You need to find an LCD that's compatible with your laptop.
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FEATURES
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Tips for Switching From PC to Mac
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Talkback: Text Ads Better Than Banners?
Can text links cure Web advertising woes? |
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Can Patrick Make the Switch?
The co-host of 'The Screen Savers' puts Apple's popular campaign to the test. |