Screen Savers

(See at the bottom for the DVD 'screen saver' for your TV) A screen saver is a moving or animated set of images which appears on a computer display after a certain length of inactivity.

The screen saver originally served the purpose of preventing screen images being 'burnt in' if left the same for hours.

Today's monitors are more advanced and don't actually have this problem, so screen savers are now purely cosmetic.

Most computers come with various screen savers that you can select yourself. In Windows, go to Start, Settings, Control Panel and then Display. Along the top, click 'Screen Saver' and try out the different options. Here, you can also set the length of inactivity before the screen saver comes on. You may like to set a password - if you're away from your computer and the screen saver is active, the password is required to turn the screen saver off.

Many websites are dedicated to free or shareware (try it, pay if you like it) screensavers, which vary in quality. Here are a few starting points:

Sachs Marine Aquarium (as seen on the show) - www.serenescreen.com (free for a few fish, upgrade to all the fish if you have a high-tech video card in your PC by paying around $US19.95).
Screen Saver Heaven www.galttech.com/ssheaven.shtml
Top 100 Screen Savers www.top100screensavers.com
Varied http://www.shareware.com - do a search for screen saver
You can also buy screen saver programs, varying in price from $10 to $70, depending on quality, licensing, brand, etc. Try the Dancing Baby Screen saver available at some Dick Smith Powerhouse's - check http://www.dse.com.au for more info.

You can also find screen savers dedicated to scrolling through your own photographs, which are stored in a folder on your computer. Free ones can be found at some of the sites listed above, or purchase a program that helps you create your very own screen saver - like Fandango, available at Australia's International Software Warehouse - visit http://www.iswh.com.au and search for Fandango ($29.95)

DVD Screen Saver

Put your TV to good use on those cold nights you're not watching anything. The DVD Fireplace crackles and glows on your TV screen like a real log fire, without the mess. You can choose from normal or wide screen, with natural fire sounds or soothing piano melodies. Also available is the DVD Aquarium. RRP $29.95 from DVD Productions - http://www.mdgraphics.com.au/dvd.html

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