Do We Cover Bangalow?
Please note: We do not work on Apple (Mac) computers
I simply do not like Macs or the way they are marketed & am fortunately in a position to choose not to work on them.While some companies claim to specialise in 'all computers', they are treating you to (or as) an oxymoron.
We are actually based in Mullumbimby but yes, Bangalow is in our area (Standard fees apply & are listed under "Pricing" at the top of this page). If you prefer, you are welcome to drop off your PC at our office at 65b Argyle Street. Mullumbimby (during working hours).
This page was written to make it easy for people to find us for PC repair, sales & servicing in & around Bangalow. Rather than it serving no other purpose, each of the pages also covers a subject we hope you will find useful (if you'd like to see more, they are listed by subject under 'Useful Stuff' at the top of this page).
Movies & Music On-line
Movies & TV shows have been available to stream on-line for a fair while now (streaming just means you click on something to watch it & it starts playing straight away, rather than waiting for the whole download to finish before you can start watching). The first of the 'legal' offerings by Telstra & the like were laughably expensive, but things have changed recently & are continuing to do so. Youtube was the first major streaming service & yes, there is a lot of dross on there, but there's a LOT of good (& free) stuff too. I remember 1 night, I was looking at instructional videos on spray painting & ended up clicking & clicking until I stumbled across "What's my line?" featuring Cary Grant from the 1950's. It really is a great way to lose an evening when you're at a loose end.Free video streaming services
SBS on demand & ABC iView both offer their current & recent shows free to watch (on-demand requires you to set up & sign in with an account, but it's free too. They're both a great way to test the water (& it's much easier than recording the shows you want to watch later).Subscription video streaming services
Even if you're not using it, you've probably heard of Netflix, which like the many other streaming services is simply a website, which allows its paying members to access all of their video catalogue through a web browser (or I should say, all of their video catalogue approved by that country's censors). You go to their website, sign up for an account (if you don't already have one), log in, type something you're looking for into the search box & click on any of the results that are displayed. It really is that simple..... well, if you're using your PC anyway. If you're using a smart TV it's not quite as simple (or anywhere near as smart). You connect your TV to the internet (usually through your wi-fi) & run the streaming service's app. The (to me major) downside is that you can't actually type what you're looking for (& I really don't think TV remote character input is usable, even for entering a wi-fi password, let alone searching for a good TV show). That will I'm sure, change with time (voice recognition etc), but a 'Smart TV' will never be as 'Smart' as a PC - If you don't know how to connect your PC to your TV, have a look at "Connecting Your PC To Your TV" under the "useful Stuff" heading at the top of this page.I read an article a while back, which said the reason so many American Netflix shows weren't available in Australia, was because the Australian Classification Board simply didn't have the staff to review the vast number of new shows available. While there are ways to access the US version of the streaming sites, there seems to be a constant game of whack-a-mole (the streaming services actively try to stop viewing US services from overseas) & using a VPN to do so, is apparently, a breach of terms & conditions. The vast amount of money generated by these subscription services has financed a LOT of good shows (ok, & a lot of rubbish as well), but there is something for every taste (especially if you like Marvel comics :). Once again GIYF (Google Is Your Friend) when trying to decide which subscription service(s) to go for. Try searches like:
- "stan v's netflix" - this brings up several good reviews comparing many of the services & what services you get for your money.
- "what shows on stan" (or netflix, amazon prime, foxtel, etc) - this brings up a good few listings of the programs that service offers.
I have found that pretty much anything with a rating of 6.0 or more is worth watching & 7s & 8s are "must sees".
Data usage
Obviously, as you're downloading video (streaming is a form of downloading), it uses part of your data allowance .... & video uses a lot of data.- SD (Standard Definition) uses about 1GB of data for an hour's viewing.
- HD (High Definition) uses about 3GB of data for an hour's viewing.
- 4K (Ultra High Definition) uses about 7GB of data for an hour's viewing.
Streaming Music
There are a good number of streaming services & as with video, what's available is continuously evolving. Choose a service based on:- Whether it's a paid for or free service, many providers offer a choice (obviously they get paid 1 way or another - usually ads).
- How much data a particular service uses (bigger file = better quality). I'm perfectly happy with MP3s. If you're a muso, you probably won't be.
- Which takes us onto how much data access do you have on the device? If you're on your PC with NBN access, it's unlikely to be an issue. If you'll be using your phone (on a limited data plan), it may well be an issue.
- Does a particular site cater to your taste in music? Some artists/tracks are limited to specific sites.
Data usage
Streaming music, just like video, involves downloading data & correspondingly uses part of your data allowance .... Music uses a lot less data than video, but it still adds up (especially if you're using your phone's data allowance). The figures below are a rough guide only as bit-rate (quality) & naming varies greatly between providers.- Low (@ 96kbps) uses about 43MB of data for an hour's listening.
- Normal (@ 256kbps) uses about 115MB of data for an hour's listening.
- High (@ 320kbps) uses about 144MB of data for an hour's listening.
- Lossless (@ 1411kbps) uses about 635MB of data for an hour's listening.