PlayStation is a gaming brand that has Sony as its parent brand. Launched originally in 3 December 1994, it was considered to be a part of the fifth generation of game consoles, it competed against the Sega, Saturn and Nintendo 64 back in the mid-’90s.
The main reason PlayStation console actually spawned, was a failed partnership with Nintendo. Back then, Sony was in talks to manufacture an add-on for the Super Nintendo. The PlayStation had features that included dual-speed CD-ROM drive, a single core CPU that had 2MB of RAM with a separate 1MB of video RAM with graphics that delivered up to 360,000 polygons per second.
Thus began PlayStation’s pivotal role in transitioning the gaming industry away from 2D graphics to real-time life-like 3D rendering. The compact disc format allowed it to create a much detailed full-motion video, something the competing (Nintendo) N64 struggled to do with its cartridges. The PlayStation didn’t have an internal hard drive. If the users wanted to save a game, it required memory cards, which were then a measly 128KB in size.
PSOne
Sony released the PSOne on July 7, 2000 and started a trend of compact sized gaming consoles. Being smaller, it featured a refurbished chassis that was much rounder.
PS2
The PS2 launched with its Emotion Engine CPU, which was a single-core processor clocked at 294.9MHz. It featured 32MB of system RAM and 4MB of video RAM. The upside being that the console was backward compatible with most PS1 games, which was a rare feature at that time. PS2 was the first console to support DVDs that was useful for games with larger assets. It was also the first console to support USB ports.
While the original console allowed users to install an optional 40GB hard drive, it still used memory cards. Unlike the PS1, however, which used 128KB cards, storage here was pumped up to 8MBs. The PS2 also introduced the DualShock 2. While still wired, this controller featured a new black finish and tighter sticks.
PS3
At the heart of the PS3 was its proprietary Cell processor. Sony designed the chip in partnership with Toshiba and IBM. However, the CPU became controversial among developers due to how difficult it was to program. The Cell featured seven cores and was clocked at 3.2GHz. The PS3’s graphics used Nvidia’s RSX Reality Synthesizer GPU, which featured 256MB of VRAM and clocked in at 550MHz. The PS3 was also the first PlayStation system to support HDMI and 1080p output.
Initial versions of the PS3 were backward compatible with PS2 games, but that was because Sony physically incorporated a PS2 processor inside the chassis. In order o cut costs, Sony later removed this feature shortly after launch.
The PlayStation 3 also introduced Wi-Fi connectivity and came with a 20GB internal hard drive. It allowed users to install their own HDD as well.
PS4
The PS4 marked the first time Sony would release a console with a CPU based on the x86 instruction set, which is the same processor architecture that gaming PCs use. Specifically, it uses an 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar CPU clocked at 1.6GHz along with 8GB of GDDR5 memory, which it shares with its integrated AMD Radeon GPU.
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Points to consider while buying used or refurbished laptops
Read moreUsed laptops are very different from refurbished laptops even though these two words are used interchangeably. First of all, lets understand the meaning of both of the laptops and gradually, the difference will be clear too. Used laptops, as the name suggests, have been previously used by someone. It is after the usage that these are sold to some other person.
Refurbished laptops might or might not have been used. They should have been having some minor defect like scratches or the issue may also be major and relating to the software. These defects were removed by the company and they have been restored to the condition of a brand new laptop. The refurbished laptops are thus, checked thoroughly for being capable of working as a new laptop. Hence, they are different from used laptops in many aspects.
The first difference between the two is that used laptops are not checked for their working before reselling, while refurbished laptops are thoroughly checked and repaired before reselling. Usually, refurbished laptops, due to minor defects, are returned to the manufacturer or seller. It is the company that deals with the further reselling of the product after repairing it. But the used laptops are usually directly sold by the previous owner of the laptop.
This difference is all the more reason that buying refurbished laptops is much more reliable than buying used ones. Third major difference is that the price of refurbished laptops is more than that of used laptops. This difference in price is justified as the working of a refurbished laptop competes to that of a brand new laptop and is certainty better than that of a used laptop. On this basis, refurbished laptop is a preferred option when it comes to both performance and price. It completes new laptops in price and used ones in usage.
Refurbished laptops usually come with a warranty, while the used laptops may or may not have a warranty; the warranty of the used laptop depends on the time of usage and the warranty received by the previous owner. Generally speaking, refurbished laptops are supposed to be more reliable as they are purchased from the company outlet or an agent. The seller has the responsibility as the warranty would have been given while the refurbished laptop was sold.
Used laptops, on the other hand, are less reliable as the liability of the seller (who is usually the previous owner of the laptop) ends when the resale takes place. So, whenever you are buying a refurbished laptop, a person can be assured that he has some place to go if something goes wrong with his laptop. Such luxury is absent when it comes to buying a used laptop unless the warranty is still valid.
Despite having so many points in their favor, it is not 100% guaranteed that a user will have a better experience with a refurbished laptop than that of a used laptop. Even though there is no warranty along with a used laptop, it is no reason to think that it won’t perform well. Similarly, having a warranty doesn’t mean a refurbished laptop is sure to give a pleasant usage experience.
It is so that some laptops are better refurbished than the others. The buyer has no way of finding out how thorough the laptop has been checked apart from buying and using it. Moreover, a person might need a laptop for very limited use and a used laptop may suffice. Even though a refurbished laptop has an edge over the used one in more aspects than one, it can never be said that users will stop considering the option of buying a used laptop.
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7 ways to keep the charcoal grill clean
Read moreCharcoal barbecue grill-made foods are full of flavors, but to maintain the functionality of the grill, it needs some cleaning along with regular maintenance. Like any other kitchen appliance, charcoal BBQ grill needs cleaning at least once or even twice at the time of the grilling season. It’s important as the ash or carbon, and rust buildup is not healthy for your health.
Even manufacturers recommend cleaning the public grills before use because, before you, someone has used it.
Here is a checklist to ensure you have all the necessary things for cleaning the charcoal barbecue grill.- Several grills do not have peeling scope inside the lids due to a coating of porcelain enamel. You may find some small pieces of paint like debris sometimes. Relax! These aren’t any kind of paint but the accumulated grease and smoke which are collected while using the grill. Make sure to check these things if you’re purchasing a charcoal grill on sale. The debris can be removed by simple brushing. Use a stainless steel brush before grilling. If you want to prevent the accumulation in future, wipe the grill with paper towels. Even mild soap water solution can also be used after the cooking is finished. Always do this when the charcoal barbecue grill is warm but watch out for the temperature.
- If you want to clean the inside portion, there are two ways; you can use machine One-Touch for removing excess grease and smoke accumulation out of the kettle bowl. Or use mild dishwashing soap with steel wool pad.
- For cooking grates to be free from stain and ash, preheat the grill and open all the vents while maintaining the grill temperature high. Keep it like this for 10 to 15 minutes, and after that use the bristle brush made of stainless steel to dust off remaining debris. Residue attached to the grate can cause the food to stick while grilling.
- For maintaining the charcoal BBQ grill perfectly fine for cooking, you can wipe down the lid as well as the bowl during cooling. Use mild detergent water or glass cleaner for this to get spotless shine.
- Check the ash catcher every time you grill. Keep it sufficiently empty and don’t overcrowd the catcher.
- Scrubbing with aluminum foil can be of excellent use. You can use it to clean the leftover debris off the part of the grate.
- If you’re using a public grill, make sure to place a paper bag or plastic to remove the debris out of the charcoal barbecue grill into another bag.
Keep the aluminum foil, paper, and plastic bags, bristle brush, putty knife and grill brush (coarse brush) in store if you’re working on a charcoal barbecue grill. A properly cleaned grill can elevate the taste of the food by maintaining appropriate hygiene.
If you haven’t purchased one already, look for the best charcoal grills on sale. However, opt for reliable and reputed brands even if you want to buy charcoal grills for sale.