WMA formatting versus MP3; when is one better than the other and is there even that much of a difference? I have pondered this a couple of times as I was downloading things and uploading other things and making little studio remixes of my own music. So I decided maybe it was a good idea to put one next to the other and see what I could come up and pass that info on to someone else.

Windows Media Audio (hereafter known as WMAs) is the Microsoft proprietary software for recording and handling audio files. All the dings and whistles that come with Windows to alert you to things are WMAs. These audio files are pretty large, but boast a higher bitrate- or the amount of bits per given time that the program will run. Microsoft claims that these files are more accurate than MP3s and better quality. We’ll talk about that in a bit.

When several countries’ labs converged to take on the evil that is Microsoft (not my words) they formed the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) and their third generation of audio software was called MPEG3 or MP3. My typing hand is very thankful for that. MP3’s main attraction has to be a greatly reduced file size to WMAs. They achieve this by cutting out the parts of the recording that the human ear can’t normally hear anyway. The result was a smaller program, or audio file.

The difference in quality between WMAs and MP3s is miniscule, even at the same bitrate, but still it can be noticeable by some. Of course a bad audio track will sound bad in both, but be more noticeable in MP3 format. WMAs win for that sort of versatility.

MP3 files are smaller by an average of 1/3 and that is an advantage to the format. On the smaller hard drives that came with the original digital music players, MP3 files were preferred because you could store more of them on a device. Now, this wouldn’t seem like as big of a deal, but consumers have grown used to MP3s and they have become the portable music standard. WMAs are used on computers and in a lot of games for Windows where hard drive space and processing speed are not really issues.

As to whether your MP3 player will play a WMA, the answer is “most likely yes.” There’s no reason why most will not. The thing to consider is if you want a lot of WMAs and MP3s on the same device, it won’t hurt anything, but things can get kind of weird. It’s a personal choice really. Hard drive space has increased a lot since the first generation of MP3 players were marketed, so space isn’t an issue anymore, but still, sticking to one format is a good idea.

If you have some WMAs and want to do a WMA to MP3 conversion, then feel free. There are all kinds of software packages that will enable you to do that. And you can even convert MP3s to WMAs, but I don’t know why you’d want to. Just remember, like everything else in life, when you make a copy of a copy, it’s never as good as the previous copy.

So overall in the war between WMA and MP3 format we’d have to go with MP3 for size and not much of a drop-off in sound quality. However for musical projects WMA seems to be the preference as the range of audio frequency is higher. I think like most other formats, each serves a purpose, but unless you’re a musician, serious music lover or have the ears of a canine, MP3 will serve you just fine.

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Touch Screen Mp3 Players which provides top deals on touch screen MP3 players From Creative Labs, Coby, Visual Land and more.

With so many computer brands, it’s hard to know whether one is good or not. Today’s your lucky day because I’m here to tell you whether you should buy this brand or not.

You can get nice designs with Dell laptops now but they ask you to pay extra for different colors, which isn’t great. The price is good on these if you can find an online coupon though so be on the lookout for them.

Apple makes sleek looking products and they look the nicest hands down. Their prices are quite a bit higher though so you may want to seriously think about it before you jump on board.

Gateway is really dying. Their laptops are middle of the pack in price and their quality is not that great. Unless you find a killer deal and you really like the look of the laptop that you are going to get, I suggest you just stay away.

If you haven’t checked out an Acer laptop lately, check it out because they often provide better performance for your buck. It’s standard looking but the laptops provide value.

eMachines came out of the market as a value option. No operating system was a major selling point because many people don’t buy one anyway. If you are looking for low prices, check this one out.

It’s sad to see that Sony isn’t taking advantage of the fact that they have a console, laptop, music players and electronics like TVs. If you are looking for a nice design but don’t mind spending more money, check out Sony laptops.

Check out the HP laptops because they are solid and have good quality and warranty service. If you like the performance of a particular model, I wouldn’t hesitate to just buy it.

If you want quality and like the standard black look of the laptops, Lenovo might be a good option for you because the quality is amazing. Just watch out for that red trackball because that’s the only thing that may break.

Nokia has a netbook so it’s technically a player in the field. You know their cell phone technology is unbeatable and their design is good too.

I could swear that I’ve seen better Newegg promo code available.

Your computer has died, and there is no hope for its resurrection. You have already replaced it, but now what do you do? What options are there for disposing of your old computer in a safe and environmentally friendly way? The answer is computer recycling.

Why Recycling Computers Is Important

Computers and other consumer electronics items make up around two percent of all of the materials in todays landfills. We already know that recycling in general is important, as the landfills are not getting any smaller, but recycling computers and monitors is especially important. These items contain lead and toxic metals that can cause serious damage to the environment, particularly if they end up in the water supply.

Additionally, your computer contains personal information that you may not know how to completely remove. You do not want a computer guru finding it in the dumpster and taking your personal information off of it. This can lead to identity theft and a lifetime of problems.

Advantages of Recycling Your Computer

Recycling your computer responsibly carries many benefits. First, by working with a responsible recycler, you are ensured that your personal information is completely removed from the machine. This will protect you from dumpster divers who are just waiting to find a hard drive to tap into.

Another benefit of recycling your computer is the fact that you will be doing your part to protect the environment. You will be keeping the toxins that are in your computer out of the landfills and away from the water supply. Additionally, the precious metals and other materials used in these electronics must be mined, which takes a tremendous toll on the environment. By recycling your computer, you ensure that these precious materials are reused, reducing the amount that must be removed from the earth through costly mining efforts.

In many cases a recycled computer can actually be put to use again. Even if a major part of your computer is broken, there are other components that can be used to rebuild other computers. This can provide an affordable computer for an individual or organization that otherwise would not be able to access one. Often these computers are donated to charitable organizations, so in this way you could be helping the community simply by recycling your broken computer. When you choose a recycling center, choose one that works closely with a charitable organization.

How Computer Recycling Works

The first step in a responsible computer recycling program is wiping all information off of the computers hard drive. This ensures that your finances and personal information are protected. Then, the recycling program should look at the machine to see if there are any usable components. These are harvested to be used to build new machines. Any non-usable parts are broken down into their basic components, such as metal or plastic, and further processed.

The recycling center will then take these basic components and organize them according to the type they are. These parts will then be sent to a smelting facility to be turned into tiny pieces and melted to be made into other things. For instance, plastic can be melted and used again in another computer or for a completely different plastic item. As part of this process, the precious metals that are in circuit boards are extracted for reuse. This keeps them out of the environment.

Today, only 18 percent of all computers and other consumer electronics that have reached the end of their lives are recycled. This means that 1.84 million tons of this type of waste ends up in the landfills. By recycling your old and used computer, you can ensure that you do not add to this sad statistic.