Battery News - How to Extend Battery Life in Your Laptop

There are three things that every laptop owner should know about extending battery life in their laptop to avoid the situation that we have all been in too many times. We are doing something important on the computer or hadn't had the chance to save - thinking that we have enough time before the battery dies, and the screen goes black. The battery has powered down, without reprieve for your work! Here are some tips and tricks that can help to prolong battery life in your laptop from the guys over at BatteryFuel:

Avoid functions that take up large amount of battery power. This means Movies, and running more than two or three programs. As well, change the settings when using the laptop battery as the main source of power. These functions can be found by right clicking on the battery icon, or via the control panel. Adjusting these functions can save up to an hour of battery life.

When using the laptop ensure that it is not using valuable battery power to maintain a safe temperature for the machine. Using, and changing the battery battery at room temperature can increase the capabilities of the battery and extend the life.

Charge your battery fully - allow the battery to die completely to maintain the life of the battery. Partially charging the battery life can decrease the life of the battery substantially. Consider this when using the laptop, or shortening the charging time of the battery should you have to move. Once the laptop has been plugged in, allow the battery to charge fully for the best effects for the computer, and the battery.

http://batteryfuel.com

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Body Armour For PCs - Protecting Your Computer

Computers are now everywhere, not just in our offices and homes but nearly every working environment now seems to be controlled by a PC. Of course their processing power often means tasks that took hours or days before are done almost instantly.

Even in heavy industry, computers, if they haven't replaced human workers, now run side-by-side with them. Yet computers can be sensitive pieces of equipment and often conditions in some industry locations can cause tremendous problems with IT.

It would be illegal and unethical to make a human employee operate in hostile conditions without adequate protection or safety equipment but it is very rare that people make the same consideration for computers.

However, each year, companies have an average of 501 hours of computer downtime costing millions in annual productivity and revenue. According to a recent study, computer downtime is responsible for the loss of 3.6% of annual revenue compared to 6 % caused by employee sickness and absence.

Yet often, the conditions that computers have to work in often cause many of the problems associated with computer downtime, from dust, fluid spills, excessive temperatures (either hot or cold) or bangs and knocks from forklifts or other industrial machinery.

Computers of course are very sensitive piece of equipment and designed to run in offices or homes, certainly not industrial locations. Yet millions of PCs do just that, from controlling machinery like furnaces or presses to processing data on production lines.

Of course specialist PCs are available that can endure extremes of hot and cold and withstand being bombarded by dust or fluids. However, these are often highly expensive machines and as computers develop at an exponential rate, will need replacing quite regularly.

This is quite possibly the reason many industrial computer users opt to use cheap PCs and replace them regularly rather than opt for expensive and quickly obsolete specialist industrial computers.

However, there are inexpensive solutions to protecting PCs in hostile environments in the shape of industrial PC enclosures. All computers have an enclosure of sorts, normally just a thin piece of aluminium, which protects the circuitry. However, for industrial applications these are not adequate enough and fail to protect the PC from spills, dust or knocks by heavy machinery (such as fork lifts)

An industrial PC enclosure is made from all sorts of materials including food-grade stainless steel and can house a conventional PC protecting it from dust and fluids, heat and cold (often industrial enclosures have air conditioners or heaters installed to control temperature) and can withstand dramatic impacts (some even claim to be able to withstand a bomb blast).

These industrial PC enclosures allow a conventional PC to be repaired or replaced whilst still keeping the same enclosure, allowing operators the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest upgrades. Many industrial computer enclosures can also operate safely even in explosive atmospheres as the circuitry is housed inside, preventing any dangerous sparking. They can also be completely doused in water making them perfect accessories for food manufacturing or areas that are frequently hosed down.

Copyright 2008 © Richard N Williams
Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the industrial computer industry helping to develop industrial computer enclosures and protection for all environments. Please visit us for more information about industrial pc solutions.

Laser Printer Parts - What Are The Parts Of A Laser Printer

What are the parts of a laser printer? The main laser printer parts are located within the toner cartridge. There is an assembly of many components within the cartridge, and inside a series of chemical, electrical, and mechanical processes takes place. Parts include a primary charge roller or corona wire, photoconductor drum, laser, toner, fuser assembly with rollers, and discharge lamp. It is an electro photographic process which transfers digital information from a computer to images on paper in the laser printing process.

A primary charge roller, or a corona wire in older printers, projects an even electrostatic charge onto the surface of a photoconductor drum. A laser shines onto the photoconductor drum, and creates a chemical reaction. An electrostatic image is developed from discharging the areas that are negatively charged. The printer covers the rotating drum with toner creating text and images. The toner, which is fine particles of dry, plastic powder mixed with black or color, will stick to the places where the drum has an opposite charge and not to the places with the same charge. The letters and images are formed that will be printed on paper.

There is a fuser assembly with rollers which uses heat and pressure to make the ink permanent on the paper. The toner powder melts and fuses with the fibers on the paper making a finished page.
The drum passes a discharge lamp after the toner has been placed on the paper. This bright light erases the electrical image from the photoreceptor.

For more information on printer parts and purchasing a part for your printer, visit http://www.marketpoint.com Market Point is a trusted and experienced national seller of printer parts, accessories and supplies featuring Lexmark, Hewlett Packard and Dell products.

DVD Drives - Bank Upon Them!

Storing the important data and files has always been a matter of tension for everybody. Everyday, we have to do various official works and gather audio and video files of personal interest. These things have to be stored in permanent manner to serve our certain purposes in future. DVD drives can serve these multiple functions by storing all the required data and files in an appropriate manner.

A DVD is also known as Digital Versatile Disc which is mostly used as a storage medium. These devices are meant for video and data storage. Almost all the DVDs have dimensions similar to the compact disks or CDs but they have the potential to store a massive amount of data in a small space.

A DVD can store data upto 17.1 GB of data, while the CDs have the capability to data upto 700 MB. This huge difference in storage capacity definitely scores more marks for the DVDs. Nowadays, they have replaced the CD Rom drives. These DVD drives have astounding capacities of transfer rate. They are very affordable and can be availed easily. Various brands are available in the markets; as such it becomes a bit difficult to select an appropriate drive for personal computer.

The Computer DVD drives use DVDs to store the data and other useful information. If these drives are incorporated in your computer then you can comfortably play all the video and audio files anytime. Moreover, these drives have the potential to read the files which are stored both on CDs and DVDs. Various positive features are associated with the drives of DVDs. They can efficiently store more data and at the same time at a much faster rate as compared to CD Rom drives. Basically, all the formats of DVD typically use a file system known as UDF. They are designed to perform recording and re-writing efficiently. A DVD video has the capability to play full length digital movies in a Digital Video format. It has an innovative Content Scrambling System which does not permit the users to copy discs. DVDs can actually encompass various files within a single digital format.

Jacob Marshal, an author who writes on different themes for Rupiz Compare and appeal to visit the site to get information about Storage Media and Hard Drive.

Printers - Easy And Safe Printing

Do you feel that printing is very important these days? In fact, everybody would give a positive response to this question. Printing can be regarded as a regular activity to facilitate all your official works. Now, printing is done through printers which are usually used to print the hard copy of our important documents which are saved in the electronic form. These gadgets are very efficient and are basically rated in terms of printing speed, high resolution and bright colour quality. Various models from the top class brands such as Canon, Packard, Xerox and Hewlett etc are available these days to offer wide range of choice to the customers. One should carefully check the specifications and research the models of the available brands to purchase the appropriate gadget.

Printers which are available these days are basically of four types namely dot matrix, inkjet, laser and thermal transfer. Few years back, only dot matrix machines were available, but new developments have taken place recently to incorporate many innovative features into this unique gadget. Nowadays, these widgets are found in relatively lower price rates and are enhanced with various high tech features to facilitate all our works. One can opt to purchase feature rich laser photo printers for his or her official and personal use. These gadgets are available in varied shapes, sizes and prices. Moreover, these widgets have the potential to perform multiple functions such as photo copying, scanning, and faxing etc very comfortably. However, the latest and the advanced laser gadgets are a bit expensive and are adorned with a wide array of features. These widgets have the potential to print out your desired documents within few minutes at ease as they are designed to operate faster. They have the capability to print photographs also with great clarity and efficiency. One can easily save a lot of time and the ink which is used in these devices also lasts longer.

The Inkjet machines are also very common these days and these systems are also available at cheap rates. Though they print out papers slowly, they can print out high quality photographs very easily. These widgets are referred to be the best in terms of quality and service. The dot matrix machines are the oldest ones which are a little bit noisy and are usually used to develop long reports. You should carefully research the various types of machines available in the market these days before entering into any purchasing procedure. The online stores can be of great help in this process. Various models of varied ranges are available in these sites which can be availed very easily at cheap rates.

Jacob Marshal, an author who writes on different themes for Rupiz Compare and appeal to visit the site to get information about Inkjet Printers and Laser Printers.

Acer Laptops - Enrich Your Computing Style

The computers have always been the most sought after gadgets among the people, as they have the potential to perform various high end tasks within few minutes. With these gadgets a person can efficiently perform various tasks without any hassles. In fact, the computers have rapidly geared down the manual labourers in various industries and firms. However, these widgets are very heavy and it is not always possible to carry them wherever we want. As such, the laptops have been innovated to make people more techno savvy. These high end mechanical devices are enhanced with all the advanced features to offer maximum satisfaction to the users.

As the expectations of the people keep on increasing, the developments in the field of technology also managed to keep the similar pace. In fact, almost everyday, a technically advanced gadget is launched to enrich the lifestyle and the working style of the users. However we always search for the best options and never compromise with the quality and service. As the laptops are the latest craze of the people these days, it is also very important at the same time to purchase the best and a branded gadget. The Acer laptops are ruling the market with its varied high tech features.

Amidst all the top notch brands like Dell, HP, Sony etc, the Acer seems to have created ripples in the consumers' minds due to its innovative features. It is also very essential to check the quality and price of the gadgets while entering into any purchasing process. The Acer first made its presence felt in the year 2000 though it has been in the market since 1975, after that there was no looking back. This brand has been acclaimed globally due to its quality and price. It has launched various series of laptops to meet the requirements of every class of professionals. The latest Gemstone series has enjoyed enormous popularity due to its high end technical specifications. This series has been specially launched for the mid level segment of consumers. Moreover, this company is offering innovative features in its widgets like LCD panels, Blu-ray drives and also unique touch panel to enhance the multimedia management.

The acer laptops are basically outfitted with glossy top panel and attractive LCD panel. Moreover, the latest Acer AS 4310 and AS 4710 series are brilliantly targeted to empower the common people with various high end computing technologies and are fabricated on the basis of the innovative 'Pebble' design. The series supports LINUX operating system and is endowed with Intel Core2 Duo mobile processor T5500 and amazing hard disk drive of 160 GB. These gadgets can be availed at very reasonable rates without any hassles. The most attractive range of Acer is the Aspire 4310 series as it uses Celeron M 520. These notebooks are adorned with a system memory of 512 MB, elegant wide screen and hard disk drive of 80 GB.

Cheap Laptops, Price Comparison

The Importance Of Site Surveys When Specifying Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Guaranteeing uninterrupted power has never been more important for facilities managers. Site survey, early in the specification process, is vital for a successful UPS installation and future business continuity.

Above 5kVA, a reputable UPS supplier will usually recommend a site survey. For such installations, the site generally requires a little more thought about health and safety risk assessments, method statements, logistics and floor loadings, electrical installation, remote monitoring, environment and aftercare. Below 5kVA, surveys are less usual unless there are specific installation issues, such as those associated with long runtime battery packs.

Site survey is integral to successful UPS selection

For facilities teams, intent on optimum business continuity, site surveys should be an integral part of the pre-sale process. They offer the perfect opportunity to discuss the uninterruptible power supply installation with the manufacturer's technical energy consultant (TEC). Trust and communication established at this stage often sets the pattern for a successful relationship.

A key part of UPS specification involves identifying both critical, essential and non-essential loads. It's an inherently complex task that inevitably draws on site observations as well as theoretical data. Significantly, there's a distinct difference between the power ratings on rear panel labels and those in operating manuals; that's why ascertaining actual load ratings involves measuring the values drawn from the local distribution panel. This type of assessment is hard to achieve without specialist uninterrupted power knowledge and a site visit.

Similarly, Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications often require upgraded capacity. With the criticality of certain applications dictating the degree of protection required, network managers need a sound overview of applications and equipment. During the site survey, a comprehensive network overview can establish this alongside highlighting how it is departmentalised. For example, if one component is shut down, how many other departments will continue to enjoy uninterrupted power?

With every square metre having to earn its keep, space planning is vital. This requires comprehensive understanding of current and planned loads and their role in business continuity. It is particularly important for a high-density datacenter and requires careful consideration of existing and future cooling and power requirements. The significance of the trade-off between uninterruptible power supply footprints (UPS and batteries) and revenue-earning hardware should not be ignored. Should server space be given over to UPS and batteries or should they be housed elsewhere?

When specifying UPS for uninterrupted power, everyone wants to avoid the risks of over- or under-specification. A site survey, enabling exploration of power protection needs, can help avoid this. An optimally specified uninterruptible power supply solution can only be procured from a supplier that truly understands the subject, an organisation's vulnerabilities, complexities and business continuity objectives - hard to achieve without visits and site surveys.

In many ways, the science of uninterrupted power is less about electrical engineering than the dynamics of departmental interaction. Not least, it's about the increased susceptibility to power issues of remote loads at the edge of the grid. Not only are power cuts more frequent here, but problems such as sags and surges too. A thorough site survey, allied to proven UPS technology, is essential. It also provides the structure for good documentation going forward, which in today's dynamic and fast-moving business environments is a must.

Last but not least are the challenges of location, architecture and site availability. As well as creating site-specific needs, failure to properly understand the implications of these could jeopardise installation, UPS operation, maintenance of uninterrupted power and business continuity. Physical location of a UPS, the means of accessing its location, load-bearing capabilities and working regimes during and after installation are all better understood from on-site.

Designing, installing and operating UPS for uninterrupted power may seem complicated. It needn't be, with support from a suitably experienced vendor and proper preparation. For a start, there's The Power Protection Guide, written by power continuity experts Robin Koffler and Jason Yates of Riello UPS and published by entiveon, with its detailed information on designing and implementing secure power continuity. The next step is to enter into a consultative partnership with a reputable manufacturer and get them to site to fully understand the business continuity challenges.

Robin Koffler is the co-author of The Power Protection Blog and the General Manager of Riello UPS Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Riello UPS (RPS S.p.A). For more information visit the Riello UPS - uninterruptible power supplies website.

Have You Ever Tripped on a Laptop Power Chord?

It happened to me one hot summer evening 2 years back. I was writing this proposal on my dining room table - with this spanking new laptop.

Ring ring.. ring ring.. Its 7pm and that phone that is ringing needs to be to be picked up .. NOW. Its my boss checking my progress. I literally jumped out of my chair to pick up that phone. It took less than 10th of a second. I was lying flat on the floor with my nose seeking south. You guessed right. I forgot all about the ringing phone the ringing in the ear was louder, and the patch on my face from the ER later that evening lasted for 3 weeks. And I had just experienced the full glory of tripping on my laptop's power chord.

That was the story 2 years back..

Now this whole sequence was replaying in my head as I was at the Apple store a few weeks back shopping for a new laptop. I have always been a mac aficionado, but this moment was special. And what I held in my hands at that moment appeared to be the perfect palliative to my anguish.

It was the newest Macbook Pro incorporating its newest innovation - the Magsafe Power Connector. This one innovation can save hundreds of laptops from flying off desks, prevent people from tripping at airports and even better, save people from the hospital.

I learned later that the magsafe power connector was introduced by Apple on its Macbook Pro line of laptops. Launched at Macworld 2006, the magsafe power connector originated from a concept that was used in deep friers originally, which prevented the friers from falling down and spilling hot oil. A lateral technological adoption that seems out of the world !!

The Magsafe power connector is magnetically attached to the laptop. So if you were ever to trip on the power chord, the power chord will detach with ease - just as easily as peeling a magnetic sticker from your refrigerator. And your laptop and the power chord and your bones can live to tell the story! Halleluiah!!!

About the Author
Josh Thomas is a writer and technologist based in Northern California. You can read his full Macbook Pro Review and reviews of other top laptops including new ultra portable laptops on his website: Great-Laptop-Deals.com

You may freely recirculate this article as long as all the links in this article is not modified in anyway and all the links in this article are active.

Tips When Doing a Memory Upgrade

A slow running computer can be a huge pain when you are trying to get a job done. The software runs slow, the load times are unbearably long and forget about playing any computers video games.

If this is happening to you and you want your computer to operate at a faster speed, then you need a memory upgrade to make your computer zip along at lightening fast speeds. You will be able to run several applications at once, listen to your MP3 players music and get to play those computer games you just cannot live without!

Upgrading your computer's memory is a great way to run programs faster and speed up the overall use of your computer. A memory upgrade is relatively inexpensive and real easy to install. The hardest part is finding out what kind of memory you need and selecting the right type of storage for the speed you wish. There are four types of memory which are: RDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and SDR SDRAM.

Step number two is to go to a discount computer hardware store to purchase your new storage card. You want to upgrade to the highest capacity you can afford. Remember that more storage means more speed and efficiency for your pc. You do not want to have to purchase a new card every few months. Go ahead and splurge a little. This is the cheapest way to improve your computer's speed.

Most computers allow you to use generic memory cards. Once you have your new memory card it is then time to open that baby up. Remove the cover to your pc. If you have an available slot, then all you have to do is plug in the new desktop storage card you purchased. If there are no open slots left, then you will need to remove the old one and replace it with the generic one card or a pc specific storage card.

So now you see how easy a memory upgrade can actually be. Before you consider getting rid of your computer for a faster model, do an upgrade and you will see a noticeable difference in how fast your processing speed is. It is a simple plug in and go swap of the old storage module and the new version. Just make sure to get as much storage as you can possibly afford so you do not have to replace the memory again any time soon.

Enrich your knowledge further about the memory upgrade from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our discount computer memory blog where a free gift awaits you.

TV Tuners

A TV tuner is a device that allows television stations signal to be received by a computer. They can also act as video capture cards which can record TV programs into
hard disk memory.

TV tuner cards come in four different types. They are the analog tuners, digital tuners, hybrid tuners and the combo tuners. The analog tuners are cheaper and ideal for live viewing and do not suit for video recording. It uses more system memory if used for recording.

The digital tuner gives the viewers the digital audio video quality and record the TV program in the mpeg format. The hybrid tuner can also be used as the digital tuner and switching in between the TV and the system mode is quiet simple.

The combo tuner has two different tuners where one can record and the other can play live TV. Its flexibility to be used as both the digital and analog tuners and its cost is making it more popular now a days.

Another interesting fact is that the TV tuner can also act as an FM radio since both their frequencies are too close to each other.

Here are some quick tips to buy a TV tuner card:

*Make sure you can receive digital broadcast signals in your area.

*Choose which tuner you prefer. Whether an internal or external one.

*See if it has a remote control.

*Check for the features like Cd burning and scheduled recordings.

*Do comparison shopping because the price of a TV tuner varies considerably with local stores.

Consolidated CD-ROM, Inc. It is a family owned and operated business where customer service and satisfaction has always been our number one priority. Consolidated CD-ROM Inc is a Pennsylvania State Corporation since 1992. http://www.computerdealsdirect.com

ASUS Eee Vs HP Mini

The reaction I seem to get from most people when I mention ASUS is "Who are they?" The same cannot be said of Hewlett Packard. In the years since Mr Hewlett and Mr Packard started making high quality electrical test equipment in a commercial garage, the company has grown and grown. They still manufacture the world's best electrical test equipment, but they also are major computer manufacturers both in the mini/server and desktop/notebook arenas. You cannot go to many major computer stores without something from HP even if it is only a printer.

HP has a little machine with an 8.9" screen. Sounds good so far. They have been marketed as Vista machines with an option to downgrade some versions to Windows XP. I was in a local electrical store, and at last they were offering an ASUS Eee for sale, but next to it was a display for this little HP 2133 with a price tag that was exactly the same as the ASUS. So for $499 you get this little machine, but it has a 120GB hard drive. What is missing? The webcam is an optional extra and you will have to research the price. I am also finding out if there is a microphone in the machine and speakers.

The Linux operating system of the HP2133 is from Novell. The difference between this and the majority of other Linux-based operating systems is that they offer commercial support. This will be very helpful to anyone who gets into problems with Linux.

You should note that the specifications for these HP2133 sub notebooks seem to be varying dramatically from one country to another. So check on www.hp.com and select your own country from the dropdown list where you see "United States - English" and see what is on offer to you. That way you won't get angry with me or HP if the local specification does not match what is on offer locally for you.

So look at the specifications and make your choice. I will wait to find out if the HP 2133 has a microphone and speakers and how much the webcam is. These may be decisive factors. Maybe we will need to get both the HP and the ASUS to test them out.

You might be wondering what the asus eee computers is, and why you would make money from promoting it. When you go to Amazon, you will see Kindle, and many people will click wanting to buy one. But, there is a problem...find out what it is here at: asus eee computers

Best Ways To Maintain Your Computer

It can be very boring to work with a computer that runs very slowly, and more so, freezes every now and then. You can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly by just following simple guidelines. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Vista to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.

Free up disk space

By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:

• Remove temporary Internet files.

• Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).

• Empty the Recycle Bin.

• Remove Windows temporary files.

• Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.

• Remove installed programs that you no longer use

Run Windows Update Weekly

So, what's so important about running Windows Update? Well, it's pretty simple really. There are numerous security holes and bugs in Windows, for that reason, it's important to make sure that you have all of the latest updates and patches installed on your computer.

Updates fall into 3 major categories: High Priority, Suggested and Drivers. At a minimum you must install the High Priority updates. I can't stress this enough. If Windows Update tells you that you should install a High Priority update - install it! If you're on dial-up and the file is large, you can either order a CD or have Microsoft mail it to you, or you can leave your computer online all night to download it then. Which ever the case is, make sure that you install it.

Suggested updates are just that and those are not as important. Feel free to install them if you wish, but don't feel that you have to. That being said, you should know that if you do install a suggested update, you need to make sure that you visit Windows Update again because there may be an High Priority update for the Suggested one that you just installed. As for the Drivers section, I usually recommend that you steer clear of this one unless you're currently having difficulties with the device the driver is for. I've run into too many cases where Windows Update says that there is a new driver for my sound card. After I install it, my sound card no longer works. Not a huge deal to fix, but a PITA for sure, so unless YOU know that you need the update, I wouldn't install it.

After you have applied any update, always go back to Windows Update to make sure that there isn't another patch that you need to download. I know it sounds silly, but it's true, often times there are patches for patches, so keep returning to Windows Update until it tells you that you have no High Priority updates left to install.

If you are on a broadband Internet connection (DSL, Cable, etc), then I recommend that you turn on "Automatic Updates" to download and install automatically. This way you're always up-to-date. If you choose not to do this, then I recommend that you check Windows Update at least once-per-week at a minimum.

Speed up access to data

Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter

In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals-monthly is optimal-there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

• You add a large number of files.

• Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.

• You install new programs or a new version of Windows

Detect and repair disk errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

Install Anti-Virus And Update Daily

When was the last time you updated your Anti-Virus software? Can't remember? Then chances are you are out of date. Most anti-virus software companies are now charging an annual fee to keep your virus definitions current. If you haven't paid for an update in the past year, then your anti-virus doesn't have an up-to-date list of what nasties to protect you from.

This is especially true if you haven't done anything since you purchased your computer. Most computer companies give you a 30 - 90 day version of the anti-virus software that comes pre-installed on your machine. They expect you to purchase a full version somewhere down the road. If you haven't, then rest assured you're vulnerable. Personally, I think it's hogwash that a company wouldn't give you a full version of the software. I know it's in an effort to cut down on costs, but by providing only 60-90 days of protection, it gives the consumer a false sense of security. "But anti-virus software came with my computer." I often hear from clients when I tell them that they have to purchase a new version of the software. It's just not right, 'nuff said.

So what do you do? You have three options:

A) You can either purchase an update through the software that is currently installed.

B) You can un-install the old virus software and purchase a new version from the company of your choice.

C) You can un-install the old virus software and install a free Anti Virus product such as AVG Anti Virus.

Most people are going to go for the free software and I don't blame you. It's what I use for my personal computer and I've been using it for over a year and really like it. Regardless of what option you choose, make sure you set it to update automatically and to run a full virus scan once a week. Most do this by default, but double-check just to make sure.

Protect your computer against Spyware

Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, Spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, Spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat Spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Alternatively, there are other free anti-Spyware software programs available.

Dolson Ifegwu is a professional webmaster and a systems engineer. He has designed several websites for companies, organizations, etc. Check out his website, http://www.kifecwebsolutions.com , for more details.

LCD Monitors - Some Key Features

Whether you are upgrading, buying your first LCD monitor or buying a monitor to use as a second screen the following explanations will help in your decision making.

Some of the key features to consider include:

Size

The size of your monitor depends on how you want to use it. Large monitors are great for watching movies, playing games or viewing slideshows of photographs. However check to ensure you have the space before purchasing. Also if you are thinking you will use a large monitor to view documents side by side consider instead buying two smaller monitors.

Contrast Ratio

In terms of actual specifications for LCD monitors there are not too many too consider by contrast ratio and response time can be important for specialist users. Contrast ratio is the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the deepest black. This becomes important if you are gaming or doing graphic editing work. Higher contrast ratios will display more grey shades and 'blacker' blacks.

Response time

A lower response time means the lcd monitor refreshes faster. For the majority of computer used this is not an issue and a response time of around 12 ms or lower is fine, but if you intend to use the monitor for gaming you will want a response time of 5 ms or lower.

Viewing angle

This is the angle beyond which the screen will darken and be difficult to see. Some monitors may have narrow viewing angle to give you increased privacy but this is normally a feature of laptops Having a wider viewing angle is important if you are wanting to watch the screen with a number of people.

Widescreen

LCD Monitors now come in widescreen versions. This means they have an aspect ratio of 16:9 as opposed to the 4:3 of standard monitor. Some games are designed for widescreen format so if you play a lot of games or even watch movies through your computer a widescreen monitor is the way to go.

Integrated Speakers

Few monitors come with integrated speakers but it can be a handy bonus if you require sound and don't have separate speakers for your computer.

Read more about LCD Monitors and learn how to use one as a second screen to extend your desktop. Karl Check writes for Perweek a New Zealand online retail business.

https://www.perweek.co.nz/lcd-monitor-buying-guide/

Maintaining The Speed Of Your Personal Computer

Sometimes you might end up seeing that your personal computer is not running as fast as usual. This can be due to various problems but here is how you can make sure that your PC is running as it should. All you need to learn is how to differentiate and have the information linked with anti virus, anti spyware and various other optimization programs out there.

First off we need to understand that we must not turn off our computers with the use of the power switch directly until Windows finished shutting down. There is one exception to this rule though. When your PC simply locks up and the hard drive is not running anymore (you can easily notice this by the fact that the hard drive light is not blinking). That is when you can turn the power off to your computer with the use of the power switch without any harmful effect on the hard drive. The problem is that if you cut the power to your PC directly you can end up with data lost and even damaged Windows files. Only do this when you have no other possibility at hand. This is how you can prevent hard drive defects that are caused by its heads hitting the surface of the disc. If possible first try to recover from crashes by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL and then press them again in order to reboot your PC.

Another thing you can do in order to maintain the speed of your personal computer and also aid in it working properly is purchasing an UPS (uninteruptable power supply). This will aid it from crashing when power outages happen. In the same time you will see that the computer is protected from high and low voltage occurrences. Any UPS is superior to a surge protector and your PC might end up being saved from most power type disasters that can happen.

Every single month you must remember to run Defragment and Scandisk. This is highly important in keeping the hard drive healthy and will also prevent crashes. One can also utilize Norton Utilities for this if you have it installed. Also, remember that you should keep at least 500 MB free on the drive where you installed Windows. If there is not enough space Windows will start dumping data on your hard drive or it can become really slow, without warning you in some situations. Alternatively you can utilize Cleansweep (also included in Norton Utilities) in order to clean your drive. If you decide to use it keep in mind that you should not delete any shared file until you have a backup setup. All cleaners out there will have problems with knowing whether or not any other program uses the files you might end up deleting automatically.

Another common mistake that people do is allowing a lot of programs to load up when it starts. This translates in Windows Resources and memory usage. Every program that is located in the Windows System Tray is working and currently running on your computer. You should close them if you do not use them and configure them not to load when you start up your computer. All other programs that are running in the background can be found by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.

Never neglect the existence of a virus checker. Everyone needs one and the best solution is choosing a good anti-virus that also has continuous monitoring. There are also online virus checkers but we do recommend the use of regular anti virus software. Another thing that should not be neglected is the need of a firewall program, especially if you have high speed Internet connections. Such a firewall will keep people that want to gain control of your computer away. There are a lot of such software packages out there and you should do a little research and choose the one that suits your needs best.

Although it is not directly linked to the speed of your computer, you must always remember that backup is essential. you never know when hardware fails or software becomes corrupt and so you end up losing a lot of personal data that might be very important for you or your business. Use at least two separate hard drives and always backup data to zip disks, DVDs, CDs, or whatever you can. You should always save documents as soon as you create them if you can not afford to lose them. Waiting until the next day can be dangerous!

More computer basics articles courtesy of Hardware Software tutorials

Laser Printers And Inkjet Printers - Advantages And Disadvantages

When choosing a printer the first choice will be whether to buy a laser printer or an inkjet printer. The following summarize the main advantages and disadvantages of inkjet and laser printers.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers works by propelling droplets of ink onto the paper. The ink is released from small removable cartridges and if it is a colour inkjet printer there will normally be a black cartridge and three different coloured cartridges. You can either replace the whole cartridge or refill the cartridges with a special refill kit.

Advantages

* Inkjet printers are considerably cheaper to buy.
* High end printers are capable of producing good quality images when used with special paper.
* Most models are relatively light weight and compact so they don't take up too much space on the desk.

Disadvantages

* Due to the cost of ink, running an inkjet printer over time is a more expensive than a laser printer.
* Prints emerge from the printer slightly wet and may need time to dry.
* Printing is slower and therefore inkjets aren't designed for high volume printing.

Laser Printers

This printer incorporates a laser beam as a part of the image processing. Rather than using ink a laser printer uses toner, a dry plastic powder combined with carbon black or colouring agents. The consumable a part of the printer is encased in a cartridge which needs to be replaced from time to time.

Advantages

* Laser prints are generally very high and very accurate.
* For high volume printing laser printers are considerably cheaper to run.
* Printing is fast so they can handle large volumes.
* Due to the technology used prints from a laser printer emerge from the printer dry to the touch.

Disadvantages

* Buying a laser printer can be expensive when compared to an inkjet.
* Colour laser printers are significantly more expensive than a colour inkjet.
* Laser printers are larger and heavier as they need to contain the imaging drum and laser technology.

You can learn more on the subject of computer printers by reading Laser Printers v Inkjet Printers which provides some recommendations on the best printer for your needs. Karl Check writes for Perweek a New Zealand online retail business.

https://www.perweek.co.nz/laser-printers-versus-inkjet-printers/

Wireless Keyboards - Using The Power Of Radio Frequencies

An essential component to any computer, be it a desktop, laptop or notebook computer, keyboards have generally been a fixed device directly connected to the control of the computer. The spaghetti junction worth of cables, wires and plugs was not only unsightly, but severely limited the options of the user as well as posing safety risks.

In a bid to give the user more freedom, and to help save on space, wireless keyboards have became increasingly common and popular. It is a testimony to the value of wireless keyboards that they are now being sold as an included component of the machine, as opposed to as an accessory.

Many of the early prototypes of wireless keyboards did not have a particularly successful career, due to limited battery lifespan and a constant need to replace the batteries soon irked consumers. Advances have now been made which have ensured that the longevity of the batteries are ensured. Whilst keyboards in general are always assumed to be the QWERTY model so often associated with desktop and laptop computers, wireless keyboards have became increasingly common amongst handheld devises such as PDA and other media players.

These wireless keyboards are used to more conveniently play and manipulate media, and include fast foward, rewind, play features as well as volume control and mute function. Miniature QWERTY keyboards which are fully wireless are also available for the likes of PDAs and other hand held devices so as to allow the user a greater ease for entering data and contacts.

Other useful features include a button which can be used to engage the internet browser, and another dedicated to email. Rather than being a traditional keyboard minus the cords, wireless keyboards are a clear mark in the next stage of evolution of keyboards, designed to be more user friendly as well as of greater, practical benefit to the user. Many wireless keyboards also come with a pointer device akin to he standard mouse which is designed to eliminate the need for a traditional mouse, and this further increases the freedom for the user.

Concerns have been raised however as to the actual security of the wireless keyboards. Wireless keyboards in order to actually work, need to transmit signals from the device to the computer and this has meant that they are open to abuse and exploitation.

Radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) signals sent and received from the keyboard and the unit attached to the computer facilitates it to work as wireless keyboard and these can be readily intercepted by hackers. This means that not only can the keyboard itself be compromised, but that the actual integrity of your system can also be compromised as well.

Wireless keyboards are also becoming increasingly eco-friendly, with the latest innovative design feature being the inclusion of solar powered keyboards. This has meant that batteries and plugs are no longer required and has thus guaranteed the smooth operation of the keyboards for a long time to come. With an eco-friendly design, wireless keyboards are fast becoming the latest must have computer item.

For purchase information on wireless keyboards, laser keyboards, and other cool gifts, visit us at Giftgadgetgateway.com

Cheap Computers - Incredible Electronic Devices

In today's latest technology world, having a computer has become mandatory. These devices have made our daily tasks easy and fast. They are one of most innovative gifts that have made our lives comfortable. These devices with great capabilities and efficiency are most commonly used in offices, homes, schools, etc. In this modern age, a consumer can find a variety of hi-tech devices that facilitate our work on the go. Computers have become an essential part of our daily lives. Having computer knowledge has become important for getting a job in almost every sector. These equipments are available with the top brands like HP, Acer, Compaq and Lenovo. Some of the other features in the latest models include a web camera, touchscreen, Bluetooth, etc.

Due to the advancement in the technological area, we have been offered various innovative gadgets and devices that have bought a drastic change in our lives. This has contributed to increase our abilities and making our lives more comfortable.

One can easily find some great deals online for computers. They are available in a variety of designs and colours. These stylish devices are available with superb features like amazing sound and picture quality. The huge capacity of the hard disk lets the users save a large number of files in their computers. You can also look for cheap computers which have been recently introduced. This way you can save a lot of money on your purchase. The best part is that you can get a lot of goodies along with them. If you are looking for a cheap computer in the online market, you need to consider a few things before purchasing one. These include memory, power supply, monitor, and CPU (Central processing Unit). One should make sure that they are of top quality. Another thing to consider is the RAM (Read only memory) which is used by the computer while performing any process. The memory in your hard drive is also to be considered. This stores your essential files like pictures, files and programs of your computer.

With online shopping, one can easily find great deals and offers. There you can get low priced computers with some amazing deals. The user also needs to do some comparison shopping to get the best price. Do some research and compare prices and offers provided by different brands.

If the consumer finds out a cheap computer that consists of all the high quality features, then it is a good decision to purchase this computer for his or her daily needs. It may be sometimes difficult to find the computers which are cheap and offer superior quality performance.

Jayson Pablo, an author who writes on different themes for Rupiz Compare and appeal to visit the site to get information about Computer Speakers and System Power Supply.

User Permissions On Printer And Printers Tasks

There are a number of ways to share a printer on the network. Out of the many possible ways, however, it is most advisable to use a print server if you are using a domain environment. Using this mode to share printers has an obvious advantage over the others. If you have a print server assigned to manage the printer, you can set different permissions on the printer for users and groups. Permissions on a print server enable you to allow printers in sensitive areas, where you want that only select people are able to take print-outs. With server printer and printers permissions, you can allow some users of your domain to utilize the printer, whereas denying others of the privilege. There are three levels of printer permissions:

Print

With the print permission, you can allow ( or deny ) a user to print documents and to start, pause, resume, and cancel their own documents. By default, this permission is granted to the default group "Everyone", and hence, all the users inherit it from this parent group. You can deny the ones who you don't want to give print permissions.

Manage Documents

This permission of printer and printers sharing allows or denies the ability to restart, pause, resume, and delete all documents, no matter which users they belong to. This permission is not given to the users by default, and you can assign it to the ones requiring it.

Manage Printer

This permission gives users the ability to pause and restart the printer, share a printer, change printer properties, and modify printer permissions. Grant this permission very sparingly, assigning them to the few who really need to manage the printer.

A well-planned set of printer permissions will help in the smooth functioning of your organization. It is advisable to set the most restrictive permissions to the default group of users initially and then allow additional privileges to the ones who need them.

Learn more about available printer and printers accessories at Superwarehouse.com. Apart from printers, you will find numerous other hardware and software components here. The store offers you products of renowned brands, such as Epson printer and printers at attractive prices.

Know Your Printer And Printers Better

In this vast and ever-expanding world of computer peripherals, new hardware devices and their updated drivers flow in into the market regularly. Printer and Printers supplies are some such hardware devices, having established themselves in the market, as a major hardware commodity. Printer and Printers accessories, having started as a necessity to publishing houses, are now stretching out into every sector. It is very common today to find a printer in every home. While businessmen and offices use printers to infuse style and professionalism into their documents, students gain from their use in making projects and writing term papers.

The present-day market is being flooded by multiple brands - HP, Okidata, IBM, Panasonic, Samsung, and Brother Printer and Printers accessories, to name a few. And the products released by every brand are further more. And more the variety of printers available in the market, more are the chances that you can choose one that matches your needs and suits your budget. But before you browse the market for printers, you must know what you're looking for in the printer you're going to buy. Broadly speaking, printers differ depending on how or what they print. Some of the major classes of printers are:
# Laser Printers: In such models, there is a roller charged with electricity, and a laser beam is employed to remove the charge from parts of the charged roller. When the paper comes in contact with the roller, powdered ink from the toner adheres to the areas that were hit by the laser. This ink is then transferred onto the paper. Laser printers are fast, and they can operate at great speeds. Laser printers may either be color, or they may be black-and-white.

# Inkjet Printers: To print, inkjet printers spray drops of liquid ink onto the paper. These printers are fast and they produce good image quality. However, the images formed by them tend to smear when they get wet.

# Dot-matrix Printers: In these printers, a print head runs across the page. A set of pins are responsible for producing the text or graphics on the paper. These pins hit the ink-ribbon against the paper to produce dots, and every image or character is a combination of such dots. Although they are slow and noisy, they are cheap and durable; some businesses still use them, primarily to print bills.

# Multifunction Printers: These printers vary in the set of tasks they can perform, but as the name suggests, they are more versatile than the previously discussed types. The common functions encompass printing, scanning, fax, e-mail, photocopying, and so on.

If you are planning to buy Printer and Printers accessories, Superwarehouse.com would be an excellent choice to purchase from. An excellent blend of quality and right pricing, this store also offers different hardware and software products, under one roof. Don't forget to check out the high quality Brother Printer and Printers supplies available here.

The Emergence Of Dell NZ

Among the biggest names in computer and technology is Dell. The expanse covered by Dell is so great that it actually develops and markets software up to computer gadgets and accessories such as computers, routers, networks, even switches, among others. From its early years, Dell has really grown stronger as evident with the 95, 000 employees it has right now in the year 2008. During the 1980s up until the 90's, Dell was able to achieve immense success by becoming achieving the top spot in terms of sales. Although it's been a decade since those years, Dell has consistently retained its place despite the fact that it is a second tier with Hewlett-Packard obtaining the top spot in 2008 computer sales.

Michael Dell is the force behind the inception of this technological icon. He began to found the company while he was still a student back in the University of Texas. It was in 1984 when Michael decided to run his own business, using the name PC's Limited during that time. He started off with just a thousand dollars and from then on, Dell emerged as a result of all his hard work and technological passion. In his early years of being a computer entrepreneur, Michael Dell decided to sell various IBM computers which are considered to be PC-compatible. These computers are built right out of stock components.

During that time, Michael thought that it would be a good venture to try selling personal computers to direct customers. He thought that this strategy will help make computers more attuned to the needs of every individual. In his mind, he saw this strategy as a very helpful way of making PC's Limited a very effective computer program from users as it learns from what previous clients have suggested with the earlier version of the computer products. True enough, his efforts paid off and his computer business soon began to boom. Because of the overwhelming success he experienced, Michael Dell finally decided to quit school and focus instead on making his business a full-time venture.

Just a year after it began, PC's Limited launched its "Turbo PC" back in 1985. The design of the computer is specific to the said brand. At that time, the turbo PC already ran via Intel 8088 and also has a functional speed set at 8MHz. To be able to reach bigger and better markets, Dell advertised on computer magazines which are nationally distributed. Moreover, Michael Dell also allowed customers to make their own specifications when it comes to what they want for their computers to look like. Indeed, Michael Dell was able to meet two of the most important things computer users want: a customized platform at an affordable price.

Within three years after that, PC's Limited once again opted for an expansion venture. It was in 1988 when the company finally changed its previous name to what we now know as "Dell Computer Corporation." By this time, the company's capital already increased by 50 million dollars and its shares has also started to pick up. From here on, Dell established itself as a technological pioneer.

Mike Wall is the author of this article on Dell NZ. He is the owner of a computer company and specializes in writing articles on computers in his spare time. For more information visit:http://www.dellnz.co.nz