kenobi

Hello. I have bought a new DVD-ROM from LG recently. But after some days it stopped reading any DVD I try. And I tried the same DVDs that it read without any problem just few days ago. And another thing, it reads CDs normally, but this is normal I guess because it doesn't use the same technology to read CDs and DVDs. At first I thought that it might be a software problem because I have installed Nero Image Drive and also Alcohol120% in the time that it stopped to work but than I tried to boot not WinXP with SP2 but a Knoppix Linux from CD and it didn't work either, so I guess it is not a software related problem and therefore it can only be bad hardware. This is waht I think, but it is only my humble opinion. So I would like to know if I am right or if it can be something else. Thanks

hi I am planning to buy a new monitor and I want to be sure it will satisfy my needs and this is what my problem is. I cannot decide, whether to buy a LCD or a CRT monitor. I know that most people say, that CRT monitors are history but still the LCDs have some problems with the dead pixels and other bugs. I would be very glad if someone could share with his knowledge on this topic. I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies. I spend a lot of time working with computer so having a good monitor is very important to me. Most of the time I use it for programming, but I also like to play games so I would like to have a monitor that is good for both of this activities. I have to say that I am more likely going to buy a LCD so I would be interested in what details should I beware when buying one. And I almost forgot, I would like to spend something around 500$ so if someone has some advice on a specific model I would be very happy to know. Thanksp.s. i wanted to spend 150$ in the beginning but I changed it to 500$

hello, i am a student of informatics and i would like to learn more about programming artificial inteligence. The truth is I am new to this and know only very little about it. But I want to learn something new and this seems to be very interesting. I am mostly interested on the creation of genetic algorithms. I would be very thankfull if someone more experienced would give me some advice on where to start, for example links to pages with some tutorials or online books on that subject. thanks