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PC World has posted a handy video demonstrating how to install and configure a dual-monitor (often called “dual-head”) setup for your workstation.

The video shows you how to upgrade your video card, explains the differences between analog and digital connections, talks about adapters, and wisely suggests that you backup your PC before you get started.

We’re big fans of the productivity gains from dual-head workstations.

View the video here:
http://www.pcworld.com/video/id,367-page,1-bid,4/video.html

via lifehacker:

Windows only: PortableApps Suite 1.0 stocks your USB drive, portable hard drive, or any other drive with a full complement of software, ready to run wherever you plug in.

This new version of the suite includes the latest portable versions of Firefox, GAIM, OpenOffice, and other open-source gems. The suite also comes with PortableApps Backup for–you guessed it–making backups.

If you have a 256MB of bigger thumbdrive colleting dust, this is definitely worth checking out. Revew the full suite at portableapps.com.

Do you have wifi in your house/apartment/whatever? Are you irritated w/ the range of the router?

Don’t want to spend $50 on a bigger antenna or two?

Here’s your solution: freeantennas.com EZ-12 Parabolic Reflector

It’s pretty simple really:
- It creates a parabola. Parabolas reflect things.
- You cover it with tin foil, thereby providing an RF-reflective surface.
- It’s dirt cheap. Like less than $1 cheap.

There’s a cool side-effect to this, though. In reflecting RF from the router, you’re also dampening the RF field behind the reflector. This is a great solution, not only for boosting coverage in your house, but for getting rid of the pesky bandwidth leeches next door.

Do you own a camcorder? Do you use it? If so, then you’re familiar with the all-too-common problem of camera shake. Here’s a quick and dirty DIY solution.

For $20 in parts and less than an hour of your time, this project will create a shoulder bracket for your camcorder that attaches to the tripod mount and helps give your camcorder a more solid basis to sit on. The result? A more stable image.

Read the tutorial here:
http://www.instructables.com/id/EYCLDWU142EQ6T257Y

Flying home for the holidays?  Have a laptop in your bag?  Here’s a list of airports that provide free wifi ‘net access.

http://www.smallbusiness.com/wiki/Free_wifi_airports

This is a really slick illustration of 10 of the top photography tips. There’s also links to more advanced ones.

Check it out

OS X experts tend to agree: Dashboard is a resource hog. Most folks will never notice and, consequentially, will never care. Me? I’ve disabled mine. Here’s how.

1. Open a Terminal window (found under /Applications/Utilities in Finder).
2. At the prompt, type:

defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean YES
killall dock

To re-enable dashboard, just repeat those commands, but replace “YES” with “NO”.

Now, when you’re editing photos or rendering video, you’ll have a small amount more of performance to squeeze out of your system.

I’ve always used SnapZ Pro X to record my screen and voice-overs but, this new app looks pretty sweet.

Check out the free open beta while it lasts. I know i’m going to.

http://shinywhitebox.com/home/home.html

via LifeHacker:

“Nothing brings out the camcorders like the holidays, which is why this is the perfect time to admit an ugly truth: You suck at making home movies.

No, really. I’m sure you’re a nice person and all, but there’s more to videography than just taking the camcorder out of the box and pressing Record.

As with photography, good videography requires a bit of know-how. Luckily, I know how, so here’s my list of ways you can improve your home movies. You won’t come out Soderbergh on the other side, nor even Singer, but your Uncle-Henry-dropped-the-turkey-on-Aunt-Edna’s-head submission to America’s Funniest Home Videos will look a lot better.”

Read the rest of the article here.