Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Set a budget. Check "refresh cycles. Consider a refurbished computer. Ask about discounts. Ask about a finance plan.

Answer: Determine a limit for what you're willing to spend. Don't get tempted by software you don't need. You can usually get a decent desktop computer system for under $1,000, unless you need the additional features of a more expensive system. Laptops tend to cost more than desktop computers with equivalent features, but you can buy most for less than $1,000. Generally, Apple computers tend to be more expensive than computers that run either Windows or Linux. However, they're popular with users who do a lot of graphics work. They're also less vulnerable to malware. " Do some research on when computer manufacturers come out with new models. Usually, they'll drop the price of the soon-to-be old model around that time. If you don't worry about having the latest technology, you should consider this option. Different manufacturers have different schedules. Some introduce and phase out models throughout the year. However, most refresh cycles tend to fall during these times of the year: Back-to-school (June-September) The holiday shopping season (October-December) Spring (February-April) Do this if money is especially tight. Refurbished computers cost considerably less (as much as 20 percent) than brand new computers and run just as well. In fact, many refurbished computers have never been used. Buy only from reputable sellers or manufacturers like Best Buy or the Apple Store. Make sure your refurb comes with at least a one-year warranty. If you're a student, educator, or member of the military, have your ID ready. You might be eligible for a five- to ten-percent discounts off the retail price of your computer. Your student, faculty, or military ID must be current. When you buy on installment, you pay a certain amount up front (about 10 percent) and continue to make monthly payments until your computer is paid off. Ask about interest rates and whether the store finances through a third party. Read the fine print before signing off on anything.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Make sure that your remote is a universal model. Turn on your TV. Change your remote's switch to the "TV" option. Press the MENU button. Select Settings & Help. Select Settings. Select Remote Control. Select Program Remote. Select an item. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Answer: Remote model numbers RC-66, RC-65, RC-64, RC-32 (or RC-32RF), RC-24, and RC-23 are all universal remotes. These are usually grey, rectangular remotes. Press the TV's "Power" button, or use the TV's original remote to turn it on. If your DirecTV box isn't hooked up to the TV or a power source, make sure that it's plugged in as well. On most DirecTV remotes, you'll find a switch near the top; push this switch over so that it sits next to the "TV" label. If you want to program your remote for a component other than your TV, change the switch to one of the "AV" positions instead. For most remotes, you'll find this button near the top of the remote. You should see a menu pop up on your TV. Use the arrows on the remote to highlight this option, then press SELECT in the middle of the remote to select it. It should be in the middle of the screen. For an SD receiver or DVR, select System Setup here. Doing so will open the Remote Control menu. Select Remote or Remote Control for an SD receiver or DVR. This will open the programming menu, which should list each component (TV, audio, DVD, etc.) item that you have available for programming. You'll usually select the TV option here, but if you want to set up your TV's audio component or a DVD player, select the appropriate option instead. These instructions will vary depending on your available components. Once you've finished the on-screen setup, your remote should be programmed for your TV or component.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Pat it dry after washing. Fit it onto a head-shaped form. Allow the hat to air-dry.

Answer: Whether you washed it by hand or a machine, use a towel to blot out the excess moisture immediately afterward. Absorb as much water as you can. Reduce its water-weight to help preserve its shape as it air-dries. Be gentle as you do, though. Avoid crushing, denting, or otherwise marring the hat's shape. Ideally, use a mannequin head that's roughly the same size as your own. Otherwise, use a similarly sized round object (like a ball or rolled-up towel) to fit your hat onto. Set this on top of a dry towel to absorb any excess water that drips. Wool hats lose their shape very easily. For best results, wear it as it dries if possible. Never use a machine dryer. Expect the heat to shrink or otherwise warp the hat's shape. Let it dry on its own instead. Place fans around it to dry it faster if desired. A hair-dryer set to a low setting and held from a safe distance (a foot or more) is safe to use to make drying even quicker. Depending on the internal components, losing shape may not be as much of an issue for certain styles of hats. However, you still want to set it on something like a coffee can to keep the brim from resting on the wet towel.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Visit Iceland between October and April. Choose a remote place with little unnatural light. Stay in north Iceland to experience more full hours of darkness. Camp out if you want to spend more time observing the lights. Take a guided tour out into the more rural areas.

Answer:
One of the most important aspects of planning a trip to Iceland to catch the northern lights is to choose the right time of the year. Typically, the lights are most active from early September to the end of April each year, largely due to the longer periods of darkness during the winter. Plan a trip during these months to give yourself the best chance of seeing the northern lights. Light pollution from cities and houses can really decrease visibility of the night sky. So if you want to see the northern lights in Iceland, you should choose a destination that is removed from the lights of the city. Avoid Reykjavik and Akureyri, where light pollution may be too severe for you to see the northern lights. If you are stuck in a town with no way out into the countryside, try heading toward the outskirts of town or finding a darker area like the Grotta Lighthouse or a park inside Reykjavik. These regions have longer hours of full darkness and, as a result, provide greater opportunities to catch the northern lights. You will be more likely to see them the farther north you travel in Iceland. Consider traveling to the Westfjords or the most extreme north locations in Iceland. These areas have about 2 more hours of darkness (22 hours total) than Reykjavik during the peak winter months. There are many places to go camping in rural Iceland, and spending a night underneath the stars greatly increases your chances of seeing the northern lights. Camping will give you hours of observation time in a remote, dark area. There are about 170 registered campsites in Iceland for you to choose from, but Icelandic law also allows you to pitch a tent for 1 night in residential, non-campsite areas. Just remember that Iceland can be quite cold in prime northern lights viewing months. If you plan to sleep outdoors, you'll need to bring warm clothes, blankets, insulated sleeping bags, and a sturdy tent to protect yourself from the elements. Sign up for a guided tour that has a goal of northern lights sightings. The local tour guides will have a better idea about where to go and what the likelihood will be of seeing the lights. You can also take a boat cruise in the dark hours. People who go on these kinds of tours are often very successful at viewing the northern lights.