Converting Videos To Play on an iPod
There's no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help.
Here are a few questions about computers I've received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about converting videos to play on a video iPod, opening multiple Web sites with a single click and power adaptors for using a laptop overseas.
If you have a question, send it to me at
mossberg@wsj.com, and I may select it to be answered here in Mossberg's Mailbox.
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Q: Can I convert my home videos so they will play on a video iPod? If so, how?
A: Probably, though it depends on whether they are in one of the formats that can be easily converted, and it can be hard to tell in advance. You'll need conversion software to do it. One option, for both Windows and Mac users, is to spend $30 to upgrade Apple's free QuickTime media player to the pro version, which can convert numerous video file types to an iPod-compatible format.
Another option is to download one of many free conversion utilities that appeared on the Web after the video-capable iPod was released. For Windows users, there are numerous choices. One example is Free iPod Video Converter, at
www.ipod-video-converter.org. If you use a Mac, one such program is iSquint, at
www.isquint.org. I haven't tested either.
Q: I like to visit about 50 news sites every morning but don't want an RSS feed only. I like to see the entire site. Is there a way to open all of them at the same time, without having to click on each bookmark one by one?
A: Certainly. All you need to do is switch to a tabbed Web browser, like Firefox or Opera for Windows or Mac; or Safari or Camino, for the Mac only. These browsers can open multiple Web sites, in the same window, marking each site with a tab bearing its name. And they allow users to open these multiple sites with a single click. Though each differs slightly, all have a command -- usually called "Open in Tabs" -- that will open a list or folder full of bookmarks with one click. For instance, every morning I open about 20 technology-related Web sites in Firefox or Safari with one click.
Q: I would like to purchase a laptop computer in the U.S. but use it for extended periods in Europe. Is there anything I have to modify because of the difference in the electrical power supply?
A: Most laptops I have tested in recent years have power adaptors that can handle both U.S. and European electrical standards. Just make sure the one you choose is similarly equipped. The only thing you'd have to buy is a cheap plug adapter -- not a transformer -- to physically fit the plug into the sockets used in the European countries where the laptop will be used.
用视频iPod播放家庭录像
在我们大多数人拥有的大件电器中，再没有什么比个人电脑更令人费解、更变幻莫测的了。每个人或许都有些关于电脑的问题，而《莫博士信箱》将为您提供帮助。
本周我将回答读者有关如何将家庭录像转换成iPod格式、同时打开多个网站以及异国使用电脑是否需要调整等问题。
问：我能不能转换家庭录像的格式，以便在视频iPod上播放？如果能的话，该怎么做？
答：也许可以，但要取决于家庭录像的格式是否容易转换，很难提前告诉你到底能不能。你需要有转换软件。一个选择是，Windows和Mac用户可以花费30美元将苹果电脑免费的QuickTime媒体播放器升级为pro版本，它可以将很多视频文件类型转换成与iPod相容的格式。
另一个选择就是，在视频iPod推出后网络上出现了很多免费的转换程序，你可以下载其中一个。对于Windows用户来说，有很多选择。比如免费的视频转换器(Free iPod Video Converter)，你可以登录
www.ipod-video-converter.org下载。如果你是Mac用户，有一种适用的程序叫iSquint，可以登录
www.isquint.org下载。这两个程序我都没有试过。
问：我想每天早晨都能访问大约50个新闻网站，但我不只想安装一个RSS feed。我希望看到整个网站。有没有什么办法能够同时打开所有的网站，而不需要一个一个地点击每个标签呢？
答：当然。你所要做的就是换成加标签的网络浏览器，如同时适用于Windows或Mac的Firefox或Opera；仅适用于Mac的Safari或Camino。这些浏览器可以在同一个窗口内打开多个网址，给每个网址加上一个带名字的标签。用户只需点击一下，就可打开多个网址。虽然不同浏览器之间存在微小差异，但所有的浏览器都有一个共同的指令－－通常被称为“Open in Tabs”－－你只需点击一下，就可打开一个充满标签的清单或者文件夹。比如说，每天早晨我都会通过Firefox或Safari浏览器点击一下，打开大约20个科技相关的网址。
问：我想在美国购买一台笔记本电脑，但拿到欧洲使用很长的时间。由于电源的差异，我需要做什么调整吗？
答：近年来我试过的大多数笔记本电脑都配有能够应对美国和欧洲电力标准的电源适配器。只要确保你选择的笔记本电脑也有这样的配置就可以了。你唯一需要买的一样东西就是一个便宜的多头插座－－不是变压器－－以便插头能够插入你所在欧洲国家的插座。
