Looking to get some quality time with dad?  With the new software coming later this year, you have just enough time to get hooked on Electronic Arts’ Left 4 Dead ($27.99), an interactive zombie shooter with great graphics and four campaigns.

You can play alone with three computer associates or online with three friends.  Fighting for your survival, you are surrounded by Infected and must shoot or blast your way out.  Dim lighting, creepy graphics and spooky audio make for intense exploration of dark rooms and corners that can very well be hiding a super mutant.

Make it to a safe house and take a break from this action-packed horror-filled universe, but guaranteed you’ll want to jump right back in.  No puzzling plot lines or deep character development, zombies are simple-minded folks.  They’re set to kill and their eyes are on you.  Get your shotgun and a couple friends and have a blast.  What better way to bond with dad than fighting your way out of a zombie apocalypse?

If you haven’t played this yet, you might be the only one.  I even know parents who have joined the virtual world of Paladins, Mages, Taurins and Undead because of this multi-player RPG.

The World of Warcraft Battle Chest by Blizzard Entertainment ($36.99) includes the base game software and the Burning Crusade expansion pack so it’ll keep you busy much longer than the 14-day guest pass that’s also included.  It allows for thousands of online gamers to interact and play in the same world at the same time.

Be warned though, WoW is addictive and you’ll find yourself coordinating schedules with your new online buddies to run instances, explore dungeons and battle with other guilds.  Choose your side, good or evil, and customize not only your character’s appearance, but his skills when you choose his profession.  This online gaming world will soon become your second life, especially if your aim is to work up through level 70.

Get them both from Amazon and get free shipping on purchases over $25.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more video games and software.

A correctly configured firewall will keep out most baddies and people intending harm to your system.  At the office, it can keep you from visiting “undesirable” web pages like pornography or wasting time on Facebook – called content filtering – or keep out jerks who want to hijack the company website for there own amusement.  At home, issues can be just as potentially harmful with intruders spying on your personal information.

When you employ firewall software or hardware, think of it as a dual-duty operation.  On one hand it blocks traffic to your system, and the other allows traffic, both based on the rule set you’ve provided.

For the general user, the terms can be daunting, especially when trying to avoid security risks.  Do I want it embedded? Who is this SOHO person?  I thought that was a city in New York?  At a basic level, there’s the simple broadband router that screens content – like packet filtering.

Netgear WGR614 802.11g Wireless Router with 4-Port Switch: $31.46

A level up would be a system that inspects the new content and checks it against content that’s previously been approved or accepted.  To be most secure, though, the proxy server is preferred.

This guy changes outbound and inbound IP addresses and then compares them against the given rule set for admittance so there’s no “direct” traffic.

Basically, you want to find something that complements your network, is manageable and affordable.  Most use the stateful inspection and proxy method and will walk you through installation.  You want to look at how many users you have, less users = less RAM.  You want NAT capabilities, which most will have.  If you’ll be streaming, you want a VPN.  And you want it the ability to log as many different events (by IP address, date, time, domain name, etc.) as possible with different content filters.  Most importantly, ask questions.

Even with these access limitations, clicking on the wrong webpage or opening an undesirable file can cause havoc with your system.  That’s why it’s advisable to implement programs like Norton Anti-Virus and Spybot as support to your firewall defense.

Norton Antivirus 2009: $14.95

That way, you can probably avoid most compromises to your system from intruders, spyware and viruses.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for firewall hardware and security software.

Just about everyone knows someone who recently got the dreaded “pink slip” or is that unfortunate person himself.

Hopefully, these items can aid in a speedy recovery.

1. Laptop – For your remote job searching and resume storage, something like the HP Business Notebook 2133 is small but mighty. With a 120GB 5400-rpm hard drive, 8.9″ widescreen display, and Wi-Fi capability, this notebook can help you find your next job and then at 2.6 lbs. it slips easily back into your bag for mobility. Save $30 on your first purchase at Buy.com (until April 30 no code required) off the $479.99 price, and you can save $40 with a manufacturer’s rebate.

2. All-In-One Printer/Scanner/Fax/Copy – If you haven’t already, there’s no better time to set up that home office. Gone are the days of exploiting the office printers for your CD covers and Borders coupons. You’re going to be printing and faxing applications and resumes so you need a machine that does it all. Like the LexMark X3470 All-In-One or HP Officejet J4580 All-in-One Printer Fax Scanner Copier at about $70, it’s a good investment in yourself. Think of all the money you’re saving by not having to go to Kinko’s every time.

3. Nova Development Winway Resume Deluxe – Affordable at $34.99 and because you want to stand out from the crowd, it’s time to revise and renew the old resume. Features enhanced Resume Auditor to catch mistakes before employers do and a Merriam-Webster English Language Resource disc with a 70,000+ word dictionary, a 157,000+ word thesaurus and other reference tools.

4. Nova Development Berlitz Spanish Premier- Learn a new and valuable skill while waiting for employers to call you in. Imagine the opportunities adding “bilingual” to your list of abilities can bring. Italian, French and German are also available. Starts at $35 and up.

5. Total Training Educational Software – For Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, any of these educational training softwares can aid you in becoming adept in these popular programs and can build your resume skill set, helping you gain an extra edge over the competition. From $32-$190.

6. Stamina InMotion E-1000 Elliptical Trainer - At $70, or about 2 month’s gym membership, bring the gym to your house. Stay fit and motivated, hey, you’ve got the time now so no more excuses! Replicates the elliptical machine, but without the bulky arms and front console resulting in lightweight and easy closet storage.

7. Apple iPod shuffle 2GB – Affordable musical entertainment. At $60, it can store up to 500 songs and be worn on your arm, sleeve, belt, bag, etc. Upload some motivational tunes to keep you going through those workouts and prep before interviews. Maybe something like Joe Esposito’s “You’re the Best”, ala Karate Kid soundtrack. Classic.

8. Solo Business Cases Leather BiFold Padfolio-At $28, appearances count, whether for the interview you’re going to score or even at the coffee shop, you gotta look professional. Great for keeping resumes and calling cards on hand — you never know who you might run into, and how embarrassing to be unprepared. Also available with a zip around feature, to keep those important docs from falling out, for about $35.

But what I am here to share with you is a way to save on filing your taxes.

Maybe you thought of H&R Block as a place that only prepares your tax returns, but you’d be surprised, as they also sell software to allow you to prepare it yourself. Right now, you can save 15% off the tax preparing software TaxCut from H&R Block. All you have to do is click on the product and the savings is applied for you.

Why pay someone else to do it when you can do it yourself at a discount price.

To check out more deals and coupons for H&R Block on Smarter, click here.

To go to H&R Block, click here.

I have to admit, I was lacking inspiration for this week’s entry, so I went to the one place that never seems to be short of inspiration, Urban Outfitters. While there I spotted this incredibly unique USB portable flash drive in the shape of a yummy salmon sushi!

It’s a nifty and stylish way to carry your computer files from home to class, to work, and back. This drive holds 1 GB of memory and is Mac as well as PC compatible. Cost: $50. While you’re there, snatch up this Tuna-shaped one too!

This post was written by Smarter Guest Blogger Leslie.

Source: Urban Outfitters

Microsoft is now giving away Windows Vista Ultimate, Office Ultimate ‘07, Money Plus Premium, Encarta Premium or Streets and Tips for FREE.

Yes, free!

What’s the catch? Well, all you have to do is let Microsoft sit and watch your every move for three months by filling out surveys and downloading an application by being apart of their Windows Feedback Program.

It’s a bit creepy, I know. My guess this is just one more step in Microsoft’s ultimate goal of world domination. But whatever, at least you save a few hundred bucks.

Source: Engadget via Notebook Review
Photo Source.

Although the release date for Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac is pushed to January 15, 2008, the prices for it’s three versions are now available.

Here they are:

• Home and Student Version - $149.00: Designed for non-business use, can be installed on up to three computers and includes the four main applications, but not the ability to connect to Exchange or the Automator actions.
• Microsoft Standard Version - $399.00: Includes PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Entourage and the ability to connect to the Exchange Server and some actions for Automator, Mac OS X’s built-in scripting tool.
• Special Media Edition - $499.00: Includes all applications and features as the Standard Version, but also includes Expression Media, a digital media cataloging program.

Source: CNet
Gizmodo.