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Corporate Users Want To Solve Tech Problems Using Online Chat: Survey

Seventy percent of corporate users who have used online-chat to resolve their consumer problems say they'd also like to use online-chat to fix technology snafus in the office, according to a new survey.Online chat between help-desk workers and users could be more convenient and faster way to solve technical problems at work than using the phone or email for many employees, according to a survey of 301 individuals by Decipher, Inc., an independent online market research firm. The survey was commissioned by SupportSoft Inc., a maker of technical support automation software and services.

Each of the survey respondents use a PC daily on the job, are employed by companies with more than 1,000 workers, and have used web-chat for customer-service or technical assistance outside of their workplace.

Of those surveyed, 69% said they'd want to use web-chat to solve technical problems at work. Seventy-one percent think web-chat is the most convenient way to resolve their technology problems; 52% thought it would be the fastest; and 42% thought it would be the easiest method.

Fujitsu No Payments for 90 Days!!!

Customers that choose to finance their purchase at our online store will have 90 days to pay off their balance with no finance charges. If the customer does not pay off the balance in Full within 90 days of the purchase, finance charges will be billed from the date of purchase at 17.99%. If the customer does pay in full within 90 days of the purchase, then all finance changes will be waived - same as cash!
No Payment for 90 Days at Fujitsu

New Browser Lets Web Surfers Hide Online

A new Web browser called Torpark that lets users navigate the Internet without leaving a trace is now available for download from a consortium of would-be hackers, security experts, and human rights activists with an eye on boosting online security.

The group called Hacktivismo has modified Mozilla's open source Portable Firefox browser to run through the TOR (The Onion Router) network and make an anonymous connection between the user and the Web site being visited. The free Torpark browser can be stored on/run from a USB memory stick, and leaves no tracks behind in the browser or computer.

Typically, when you log onto the Internet, a unique IP address is assigned to manage the computer's identity. Each site that is visited can see and take down that IP address, providing a way for government investigators to monitor Web activity and to pinpoint a user's identity.

Microsoft launching new online video service

Microsoft Corp. is hoping to tap the explosive popularity of online video sharing by joining startups and major Internet rivals with its own video service.

"Soapbox on MSN Video" will let Internet users watch and post videos, rate or comment on them and share favorites by e-mailing them or linking them to their personal Web pages or blogs.

Rob Bennett, general manager of MSN's entertainment and video services unit, acknowledged that Silicon Valley startup YouTube Inc. has an early lead, having already attracted tens of millions of users in the year and a half since it launched. Rivals Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL also have similar offerings.

Web Design - How to change your default directory page in htaccess

Some of you may be wondering, just what in the world is a DirectoryIndex? Well. this is a command which allows you to specify a file that is to be loaded as your default page whenever a directory or url request comes in, that does not specify a specific page. Tired of having yoursite.com/index.html come up when you go to yoursite.com? Want to change it to be yoursite.com/ILikePizzaSteve.html that comes up instead? No problem!

DirectoryIndex filename.html

This would cause filename.html to be treated as your default page, or default directory page. You can also append other filenames to it. You may want to have certain directories use a script as a default page. That's no problem too!

DirectoryIndex filename.html index.cgi index.pl default.htm

Placing the above command in your htaccess file will cause this to happen: When a user types in yoursite.com, your site will look for filename.html in your root directory (or any directory if you specify this in the global htaccess), and if it finds it, it will load that page as the default page. If it does not find filename.html, it will then look for index.cgi; if it finds that one, it will load it, if not, it will look for index.pl and the whole process repeats until it finds a file it can use. Basically, the list of files is read from left to right.

New Microsoft Zune revealed

It's been an eventful week for audio players--first, Apple upgrades every iPod, and now Microsoft has released more details about Zune, its new family of devices and services which will include an iPod-like player. We now know that the first Zune player will have a 3-inch screen, a 30GB drive, built-in Wi-Fi, and an FM tuner, and will come in black, white, and...er, brown. (Brown?) And it'll be here for Christmas.

Price is yet to be announced, but with Apple's possibly-Zune-related price drop on the 30GB video iPod to $249, it's clear what Microoft's maximum asking price will be. The company has already announced that accessory manufacturers such as Griffin will be making Zune add-ons--smart on Microsoft's part, since the ecology of iPod-related products is a major reason for buying an Apple player.

As with any new music player, the inevitable temptation is to begin by obsessively comparing its specs with the iPod. It's got a bigger screen (3 inches versus 2.5), the FM tuner the iPod lacks (but which can be added as an external accessory), and wireless (more on that in a moment). There will be a Zune music store with both subscription and purchase options, and the device will come preloaded with some music. It apparently won't launch with full-blown video download capability, but will add it later.

For now, the Zune's most interesting distinguishing characteristic--brown model aside--is that Wi-Fi connection. Microsoft is pitching the Zune as a more community-oriented gadget than the iPod, and the Wi-Fi will let owners beam songs to other Zune owners, who will then be able to listen to them up to three times over three days before having to purchase them. Sounds pretty cool--if Zune gets enough critical mass that Zune owners end up with friends who have them too. (With millions of iPods out there, you gotta think that a similar sharing feature would be wildly popular if Apple were to offer it.)

How To Install RAM memory

If you are not contemplating a memory upgrade for your computer, perhaps you should be. Here’s why:

1. Memory prices are at their all-time low.

2. If your computer has less than 256 MB of memory, adding more memory is probably the most cost-effective way to increase speed.

The easiest way to add more memory to your computer is to hire a computer professional. If, however, you want to add the memory yourself, you may be surprised to find that it is a task that can be handled by the average computer user, given the time, patience, and proper instructions.

Assessing What You Have

The first step is to assess what you already have. Don’t know how much memory your computer has? Hold down the ALT key while double-clicking on My Computer and you will see the System Properties screen which tells you exactly how much memory you have installed. Before adding more memory to a really old system, you must assess whether you want to invest any money into the system or would be better off to just purchase a new computer. Most newer computers, however, are sure to benefit from some additional memory. If you have less than 128 MB of memory, taking the computer up to 128 MB or 256 MB should show you a noticeable improvement. Although the improvement from 128 MB to 256 MB is generally not as obvious, usually it is a worthwhile investment.

Purchasing Memory

Actually, purchasing new memory is the hardest part. Not because of the cost, but because of the many different types and configurations of memory that are available. For your computer to perform most efficiently, you need to match new memory with the memory that is already installed in your computer. Once you start looking at memory modules, you will find lingo like SDRAM, DDR, EDO DRAM, and Rambus DRAM thrown around quite flippantly.

The easiest way to find the type of memory that you need is to look at the documentation that came with your computer. Your receipt will tell you the amount already installed. The computer documentation should state the type of memory used and the number of slots that the computer has available for additional memory. If you don’t have the documentation or it doesn’t give you the information that you need, a quick call to the manufacturer with your serial number in hand will usually get you the answer. You can also visit the Web site of a company like Kingston or Crucial who sells memory. The Kingston Memory Configurator will allow you to enter the brand, model, and type of computer and will tell you exactly the type of memory needed.

Don’t be cheap when it comes to memory. Erratic computer behavior caused by poor or mismatched memory modules can be the most difficult problems to troubleshoot. Head off any potential problems by purchasing memory from your computer manufacturer or a reputable source.

While investigating the memory to purchase, be sure to note any additional requirements. Some older SIMMs must be installed in pairs. Some memory slots will accept only a certain capacity memory module.

Installing Memory

Need help on how to install new memory in your computer? Sure. It's easy. I'll tell you how. Once you purchase the right memory module:

1. Open the PC case. You can leave all of the plugs in place and components attached.

2. Get grounded. Before touching the new memory or anything inside the computer, you need to get grounded. The easiest way to be sure that you are grounded is to use an inexpensive antistatic wrist strap that can be purchased at a local electronics or computer store. If you don’t have a wrist strap, touch the inside of the chassis while the PC is still plugged in; this will ground you. Once you are grounded, unplug the computer from the wall.

3. Find the place to insert the module. Look for other memory like the memory you have just purchased. You will see empty slots next to the memory that is already in place.

4. Pick up the memory module by the side edges. Don’t touch the flat surfaces or the contacts along the bottom. Orient the memory to match the memory that is already installed. Insert the memory module in the first empty slot next to the currently installed memory. Different types of memory install slightly differently.

a. DIMMs and most newer types of memory are simply inserted into the slot with a gentle downward pressure. The clips on both sides of the module must snap into place for the module to be properly seated.

b. SIMMs are a slightly older type of memory found in most computers more than three years old. They are inserted at a 45-degree angle and then rotated to a vertical position. Again, the supporting clips will snap into place.

5. Replace the cover, plug in the computer, and turn it on. In some computers, you will see the amount of RAM scroll by, confirming that the computer has recognized the new memory. If the memory has not been installed properly, there may be error messages, or the computer may freeze. If anything seems abnormal, remove and reinstall the new memory. Once everything is running properly, you can hold down the ALT key while double-clicking on My Computer to see the System Properties screen which will confirm the amount of memory that your computer thinks is installed.

How Much RAM Memory Do You Really Need?

How much RAM does your PC have? If you run Windows XP, it is probably in the range of 512 MB to 1 GB. Older Windows versions will do the job with less than that, but as soon as you execute demanding applications or more than one application at a time, anything below 512 MB will likely translate into performance bottlenecks.
Of course, the more RAM you have, the better off you are - but how much memory do you really need?

Multiple software threads that run all at once every time you boot up your PC continue to proliferate. Multitasking software includes what we really need, such as anti-virus tools or firewall software, or useful programs to which we have all grown accustomed that permanently run in the background until they need our direct attention. Most users, for example, have their email client and browser permanently available. Instant messengers such as AIM, ICQ MSN or YIM increasingly pop up on a growing number of desktops, while a media player plays music while you work. And all of these consume some memory, leaving fewer resources available for applications that you want to launch.
Many believe that one gigabyte of RAM is enough for virtually any non-professional application scenario. Unfortunately, that is not the case if you using games with lots of resource-hungry applications.

The conclusion is that "Memory really matters..."

Apple adding movies to iTunes lineup

In a move widely viewed as inevitable, Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said Tuesday that the company will sell movies from its online music store with prices starting at $9.99.

The announcement is likely to jump-start a nascent movie-downloading industry, much like Apple's move into selling music online in 2003 popularized legal song downloads.

Yet it's what Apple didn't say Tuesday that also made some news and led to only a marginal increase in the company's stock price, which rose 13 cents, to close at $72.63.

Many analysts believed Apple would introduce a wider-screen version of the iPod to better showcase movies, and they also expect Apple to soon enter the wireless phone business with a phone that plays music, videos and handles scheduling tasks. Neither product was announced.

What was announced, among other new products, was the introduction of a new iPod with 80 gigabytes of storage and a brighter screen for better movie viewing.

Download iTunes

Build you own PC

First things first. What do you need to build a computer? Believe us, it's not as complicated as it seems. Let's start with the case. The variety is staggering, with hundreds of styles, shapes and sizes available. We recommend that you look closely at the features. Some gorgeous PC cases are nightmares to work with, or are cheaply built. Get the best case you can afford, we recommend you ask for "tool-less" case design, which enables you to click---open, click---closed. Most cases and motherboards use the ATX Formfactor, standardizing the sizes of the components and all of the power connections. Speaking of power: Although many PC cases are sold with a pre-installed power supply, check it carefully---your power requirements may exceed the capacity of the pre-installed unit. How do you know? Click here's for a quick guide.

HP to Drive Mobile Connectivity Around the Globe with Vodafone

HP announced a marketing initiative with Vodafone, the world’s largest mobile community, which will provide customers around the world with access to Vodafone’s global 3G and 3G broadband high-speed service built into future HP Broadband Wireless business notebooks.

As part of the collaboration, future HP broadband wireless notebooks will integrate Vodafone’s global 3G and 3G broadband (HSDPA) high-speed service. This will enable customers to enjoy more secure wireless access to email, the Internet and critical business data while living, working or traveling throughout major Vodafone markets including Western Europe and the Pacific region. The first notebook to support built-in 3G/3G broadband is the HP Compaq 6400 Notebook PC series. Available with HP Broadband Wireless, this innovative notebook includes configurations with integrated wireless WAN capabilities(1) that will be expanded later this year to include support for Vodafone’s 3G/3G broadband high-speed wireless network. The agreement between HP and Vodafone calls for close collaboration around product development, testing and marketing. This new collaboration between the companies focuses on future notebook designs that deliver on ease of use and the flexibility of international roaming. Notebook users can expect to experience connections that mirror what many have in the office, allowing them the freedom to work where they want to whether riding in the back of a taxi to a business lunch or downloading a drawing at a construction site within the coverage area. HP Broadband Wireless business notebooks with built-in support for the Vodafone 3G and 3G broadband wireless network are designed to support international roaming in many countries around the world.

Apple to release iTV video streaming box in 2007

In an unusual turn of events, Apple has pre-announced a wireless video streaming set-top box to be released in Q1 2007 with the tag line "you can take content to your computer or iPod, but now... TV." Going by the codeword of iTV, the box looks like a flattened Mac mini -- apparently it's around half the height -- and features a built-in power supply, USB 2.0, Ethernet, 802.11 "wireless component video", optical audio and HDMI ports, plus regular ol' RCA stereo audio ports. Controllable by the standard Apple remote, the iTV will come with an updated version of the Front Row interface that shares Front Row's smooth 3D graphics, but differs in that it has a menu on the right side of the screen. Apparently it'll work with both iTunes on both PCs and Macs, and will sell for $299.

PPLive - shareware streaming p2p Internet TV

PPLive is a Shareware Windows software for free online streaming TV programs. The software integrated peer-to-peer technology so it can provide the users with smooth TV programs with no interceptions. In P2P technology, everyone becomes a broadcaster without the cost of traditional streaming. The more users are online, the faster the programs can be loaded.
PPlive TV signals are mainly from the cable TV. Some channels can not be shown in PPLive. Currently, most of the media contents are TV channels from China.
PPLive is a Shareware, and no registration is needed.
How to use PPLive
1. Download the PPLive software. Make sure that you have already installed the Windows Media Player 9.0 or above (if you don't have it, you can download usng our link in our sidebar).
2. Open and install the PPLive program and update online.
3. Run PPLive
4. Double click the PPLive icon in the system at the bottom right corner of the screen. It will brings you a list of TV channels. You can also go to the PPLive website or other partners' websites to view the channel listing.
Hint: Chinese is the default language of all PPLive menus. To switch language to English, right click on the PPlive icon in the system tray and select the third option from the bottom.
5. All TV channels are listed at one place. The channel lists also contain TV programs that you can watch at this particular moment. Click on the "PLAY" icon behind the channel to watch it.
6. Then the connection information will be shown in the PPLive icon. Now your computer is downloading stream data from other computers. Wait patiently.
7. When the buffer data reaches 90% and above, PPLive will automatically start the Media Player and you can enjoy the show.
8. Enjoy the program!
Links:
• PPLive English version
• PPLive channel list (English)
• PPLive channel list (Chinese)

Tired of forgetting your favorite URL's ?

BlogMarks is a collaborative link management project based on sharing and key-word tagging. Build on a blog basis, BlogMarks is an open and free technology. Now, you can access your favorite URL's from any computer. And with BlogMarks, you share your favorites with other users. Sign up Now for Free!

Know the 3 signs you need to buy a new computer

If you believe the advertising, you need a new computer every six months. That isn't true, of course; a good one should run well for up to four years.

The constant march of technology does leave many people with the nagging feeling that they are missing out if they don't buy at least every two years. At the same time, today's PCs are built to last longer than ever. Indeed, there are tradeoffs in deciding how long to own the same computer. PCs constantly are being upgraded to offer more speed and power at reduced cost.

But there will be a point when you absolutely need a new one, because your current one is ready for its after-life (hopefully safely in the hands of a recycler; for more on safe disposal, keep reading). Here are three signs that it's time to spring for a new PC.

1- Your computer plays music at startup.

At first, it might look pleasant to the ears... If you hear melodies when you turn on your computer, you're likely to want to relax or sing along…Or you may suspect you have a virus. You’re wrong on both counts.

The computer is telling you that the microprocessor or microprocessor fan is failing, or has already gone south. Or it may be telling you that power supply voltages are drifting out of tolerance, or that the supply cannot meet demand.

The music is a feature built into the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of some motherboards. It is a gentle reminder that you have a serious problem. It's probably not a problem if you hear a couple notes at boot-up. But if you regularly hear a tune, you need to take care of it.

What can you do? In all cases, you can get by at a reasonable cost if you have the ability and time to diagnose and fix the problem. You might well decide to take it to a shop. If so, you're probably looking at a minimum $300 repair. Labor is expensive.

Can you ignore the problem? Not for long. Heat is the enemy of computers. It will fail soon, although perhaps you enjoy listening to "Fur Elise."

Consider looking at new computers. The problem with fixing an older computer (especially if the bill is high) is this: It's probably just the beginning. Over the years we've had problems with memory, hard drives, floppy drives and CD drives. Something else is going to break. Speaking of which . . .

2- The hard drive grinds and grinds away.

When you start your computer, you might get an unpleasant sound akin to a cat squealing. Or you could get a message like "Drive C: could not be found." That's your hard drive. Do you have all of your data backed up?

The message could indicate a problem with your BIOS — that's the thing that plays the tune mentioned above. More likely, your hard drive is staggering toward the grave, taking your data with it. It didn't spin up fast enough to start with Windows and perhaps there is something wrong with the drive's components.

Often, you can rescue the situation temporarily by rebooting the computer. But if the hard drive is failing, you don't want to dillydally. If you don't have a backup regimen, develop one, fast. Send your data to another computer if you're on a network. Burn it to a CD if you have a CD-RW. (If nothing else, pray!)

If you're certain that it's the hard drive, new ones are relatively cheap. Installation isn't particularly difficult, but it is involved. Figure $200 minimum at a computer shop. The hard drive has to be installed and your data will be transferred to it.

Fixing the BIOS would probably be less expensive. It may need to be flashed. Unfortunately, it's easy for you to botch this job; it should be handled by a shop. Figure it will cost $100-$200. Once again, this could be just the beginning. If your machine is two or more years old, consider looking for a new one.

3- Your computer won't handle Windows XP or certain software applications.

When it's time to make a worthwhile upgrade, you may find your computer can't handle it. Maybe the microprocessor is too old. Perhaps you don't have enough memory, or your hard drive is too slow. This could be a problem with Windows XP, or demanding applications such as games.

Let's look at Windows XP. Microsoft has hawked successive Windows systems as "exciting," "fun" and "absolutely necessary" for years. Operating systems are never exciting or fun; they are the digital equivalent of a carpenter's toolbox. And upgrades rarely have been absolutely necessary.

However, Windows XP takes reliability to a whole new level. I would argue that it is necessary if you're using Windows Me or Windows 98. Those operating systems were based on DOS, and are much more crash-prone than XP. If you're thinking of moving up, I'd encourage you to do so.

But Windows XP needs a more powerful microprocessor and additional memory. Some pieces of equipment will not run on XP. You can use Microsoft's Upgrade Advisor to check your computer's compatibility.

If your computer cannot handle XP, consider buying a new one. You'll be amazed at how infrequently XP crashes. The same is true for hot new programs. If you really want them, and they won't run on your old machine, consider a new computer.

If you're using Windows 2000, the upgrade is not as crucial, since Windows XP was developed from Windows 2000. However, XP will run many consumer programs that 2000 will not. So if that's important to you, take a look at XP. Your computer should be able to handle XP if it's running 2000.

Start looking for new computers at cheap prices here.

4 common PC problems you can fix yourself

Computer problems may seem immensely complicated at first glance. But some are relatively easy to fix.

That doesn't mean they will be cheap if someone else does the job. Replacing a hard drive is probably a minimum $300 job at a computer shop.

However, some jobs can be done by the average user. On a scale of 1 to 10 (where 10 should only be performed by certified technicians who have no less than three electronic gadgets on their belt), replacing memory is usually about a 4. Installing a new hard drive is tougher (about 6 or 7), but still do-able. Replacing a video card or internal modem is no more than a 2.

A word of caution: Static electricity can kill the circuitry inside your computer. Before you reach for anything inside that box, ground yourself by touching the metal computer frame.

Computer problems may seem immensely complicated at first glance. But some are relatively easy to fix.

That doesn't mean they will be cheap if someone else does the job. Replacing a hard drive is probably a minimum $250-$300 job at a computer shop.

However, some jobs can be done by the average Joe or Jane. On a scale of 1 to 10 (where 10 should only be performed by certified technicians who have no less than three electronic gadgets on their belt), replacing memory is usually about a 4. Installing a new hard drive is tougher (about 6 or 7), but still do-able. Replacing a video card or internal modem is no more than a 2.

A word of caution: Static electricity can kill the circuitry inside your computer. Before you reach for anything inside that box, ground yourself by touching the metal computer frame.

Here are four common PC problems you may be able to fix by yourself:

1-You turn on the computer and nothing happens.

No lights, no beeps, no fan noise. What is the first thing you do? Be sure the darn thing is plugged in! Even if you're absolutely certain that it is connected, double check.

Assuming that it is plugged in, you probably have a bad power supply. This is a metal box located in the top and back of the computer. It is usually held in by four screws and the power cable connects to it. A fan blows air out the back.

A wiring harness exits the power supply inside the computer. Numerous power connectors are attached to the ends of the wires. These plug into drives, fans and possibly other gizmos. The harness also will have connectors to the motherboard. It doesn't matter which wire connects where, as long as the connector fits.

When you open the computer, this mess of wiring can be very intimidating. Study it, and you'll find it less mysterious. Note the connections in writing, if necessary. Disconnect the wires and remove the power supply. Take it to the computer store and get a replacement with the same wattage.

2- The computer comes on, but nothing appears on your monitor.

In other words, Windows never shows up. You may have a monitor problem. Try using another known-good monitor on the computer and see if anything shows up on the screen. If the second monitor works, the first one is bad. Monitors are not worth repairing. Just buy a new one. Never open the back of a monitor to fix it. The capacitors inside monitors store electricity. You could be injured or even killed.

If the screen is dark, it could be a video card problem. First, find the video card. This is a circuit board that fits into a slot in the motherboard. The cable from the monitor connects to the VGA (video graphics adapter) port, which sticks out through the back of the computer. If the VGA port is part of the motherboard, the video is built-in. You can't fix that. Otherwise, it will be part of the video card.

Assuming you have a separate card, be sure it is firmly seated. The front end of the card can rise out of the slot inadvertently when the back end is screwed down to the computer frame.

If you have a computer that is working perfectly, turn it off and remove the video card. Put the card that works in the problem computer. If the system works, you need a new card. If you don't have an extra card to test your system, buy a cheap one ($30-$50). If it doesn't solve the problem, take it back.

You can spend hundreds of dollars on a video card. But if you're running business applications and surfing the Web, buy on price. The expensive stuff is for serious gamers.


3- If you regularly get the "Blue Screen of Death," you may have a random access memory (RAM) problem.

Note the message on the blue screen, especially the numbers. Check it in Microsoft's Help and Support Knowledge Base. Also, put the text of the error message in a search engine and check the Internet.

Assuming you can diagnose it, a memory problem is easy to fix. If you can't find the diagnosis information you need online, you can try swapping out memory sticks from another computer. But that memory must be the same type. If all else fails, take the old memory to a computer store. The people there may be willing to test it.

Sticks of memory go in slots near the microprocessor. They're about four inches long. Remove the old memory and match it at the store. Memory prices are all over the map, depending on type and speed. Be sure you get the same type.

When you press the new memory into the slot, you will probably have to use some force. The clips on each end will snap into place when the memory is seated properly.


4- If you boot up, and the computer cannot find the C: drive, you might have a bad hard drive.

If you have another computer, swap hard drives to diagnose the problem. If your computer boots with the other drive, yours is probably bad.

Sometimes, a reboot will work. Your drive might have enough life to spin up occasionally. If this works, transfer your data to another drive, pronto.

Another way, performed by some techies, is to seal a nonworking drive in a bag and put it in a freezer overnight. That could shrink things enough to free them up. Some have used this trick a few times and they say it is worth a try.

A regular backup regimen will save you in case of hard-drive failure, assuming you aren't backing up to the same hard drive. If the drive is dead and you don't have a backup, a computer shop may be able to save your data.

Hard drives are cheap. Get one boxed for retail, which will include instructions and any hardware needed.

Your hard drive is in the front of your machine. It will be about the size of a paperback book and is probably held in by four screws, two on each side. Power and ribbon cables connect to the back.

Put the new drive in and install it as the master. Reconfigure the old drive as the slave. The instructions that come with the new drive should explain that. Boot the computer and install Windows on the new drive. If you're lucky, the computer will see the old drive (it will be D:). You can then transfer your data to the new drive.

Replacing a hard drive is more difficult than the other operations. However, if you pay to have the work done, it may not be cost effective. You might be better off buying a new machine. So if you are adventuresome, and you have the time, changing the hard drive may be worthwhile.

What You Should Know Before Buying Computer Equipment

There are many factors to consider when deciding on which computer equipment to buy. The massive amount of choices can seem overwhelming. This guide can help you compare computer equipment features, and help you to examine and sift through the basic items before you buy a new computer.

If it is a desktop PC, laptop, discount/surplus computer, a refurbished computer or a computer accessory, this quick guide will help you to get the most for your money.

With computer equipment today almost any of them will adequately handle what most people need to buy a new computer for; word processing, basic office, internet surfing and email. Which you can buy for about $1000. or less! But if you are into digital videos, photo editing, music, or manage a large database you will need more than the basic Desktop PC or Laptop. This higher end computer will cost you around $2000-$3000.

(CPU) Processors:
There is always a lot of change in the computer market, but no matter what the upgrades there are always two basic choices to be made when purchasing computer equipment:
1) brand 2) speed. To buy a new computer that handles standard office and Internet tasks any processor will work.

Need more 'power' in your computer equipment? Then the Intel Pentium4 or the AMD Athlon XP (great for graphics and photos which use a lot of memory space) is for you.

If you buy a new computer one or two levels from the top you will only lose about five percent per tier performance but you can save a couple hundred dollars!

(RAM) Memory:
Memory is very important because optimum running of your computer equipment is dependent on enough RAM. The minimum amount should be 256MB, for better performance you should get 512MB. If you can afford to buy a new computer with more, you should. It's worth it because you can keep more applications open and it will easily handle memory hogs like Photoshop and music applications!

Monitors:
When buying computer equipment look for a monitor that is at least 17" with a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels. A Desktop PC with a 19-inch monitor gives you 20 % more screen area. If you can spend $300-$450 on a monitor when you buy a new computer you might want to get a 15" LCD because it has the same viewable area as the 17" CRT and takes up much less space and consume less energy.

Hard Drives (storage):
Most hard drives sold today will provide more than enough storage. The basic computer equipment comes with 40GB or larger, which is plenty for most tasks. But for working with graphics, video, music, or large databases 80GB should be the minimum you settle for. 7200-rpm drives give better performance. But for the best performance get a computer with 8MB of cache.

Warranty and Tech Support:
A one-year warranty on most computer equipment is enough, because most problems seem to happen in the first year. If you want you can get an extended two to three year warranty for around $150. to $200. If you buy a Dell you can get priority call routing to tech support for a year for only $39.

Do You Know These Facts About Spyware ?

Imagine something that follows you home and sets itself up
in your house. It eats your food, enjoys your drinks, reads
everything you bring home or purchase. It runs up your
phone bills and no matter where you go, it can follow you
and takes notes on everything you do.

Generically labeled spyware, your stealth visitor is a
program or set of programs designed to track your Internet
activity. And, while it hasn't gone as far as above, it can
and will make your life uncomfortable.

The most benign form of spyware simply takes note of what
types of websites you visit and communicates the
information to its source. For advertisers, this adware
form of spyware allowed them to only send advertisements
you were likely to be interested in.

The theory being that it saved wasting anyone's time on
products you wouldn't likely care about or want to buy. Of
course, that was the theory. The practice has become one of
abuse, with so many packaged adware or spyware programs
downloaded, you may never know who is watching.

While there are different viruses that act spyware and
render malicious damage to your PC, bandwidth and sometimes
your modem, spyware may take the same format and render
similar damage.

Most spyware is installed after downloading some type of
free program or attachment from someone you don't know.
Sophisticated processes can hide in .dll files and be
incredibly difficult to remove even for spyware zapper
programs.

The initial idea behind spyware or adware may not have been
so bad. However, they will take up lots of valuable CPU and
RAM space on your machine, clogging your Internet
bandwidth, which can create noticeable delays when you are
doing normal day-to-day activities. It can slow down reboot
processes because of adding unwanted programs to your start
up menu.

Those downfalls are just what happens with the programs not
designed to hijack your browser, point it at porn sites,
download pornographic material, steal your address books,
stored credit card information or create a waypoint for
hacking into other's machines.

Spyware is a very real villain in the cyber world. The
majority of computer and Internet users do not believe
these types of programs affect them, yet more often than
not; they have hopefully been protected by firewalls and
anti-virus software that combat them.

Avoiding irresponsible net behavior, such as downloading
programs or files from an unknown sender, the taking of
free offers of packaged software, including games,
giveaways, software and utilities may prove detrimental to
the life and function of your machine. Many of these
packaged programs carry hidden within their walls spyware
of some type.

So whether it is designed to discover which web merchants
you visit most often or what credit card information you
have stored on your machine, spyware is a very real threat
in a world where the Internet is seemingly as important to
everyday activity as a pair of shoes. The best advice is to
be aware, in addition to installing anti-virus software
with firewall.

Download Spyware Remover and get rid of Spyware and Adware today.

Top 10 Ways To Protect Yourself From Computer Viruses

As more and more people are becoming comfortable using their computers at school, home or in the office it’s only a matter of time before they encounter a computer virus. Here are our top 10 steps to protect you from computer viruses.
Use a high quality anti-virus program. There are many different anti-virus computers programs on the market some of them are better than others. Look to reputable computer magazines or websites for ratings to help you find the one that matches your needs.
Always use your anti-virus software. Make sure your anti-virus software is always turned on and scanning, incoming and outgoing email messages, and any software programs you run.
Keep your antivirus programs up to date. Most programs come with a yearly subscription make sure you take advantage of the updates. More advanced programs allow you to schedule updates or full system scans for “off hours” like 2AM when you aren’t likely to be using your computer.
Keep your computer up to date. From time to time operating systems fall victim to security holes or issue updates. Make sure you check periodically to make sure you are running stable up to date versions of your software.
Backup your data regularly. Most windows computer users keep their documents in the “My documents” folder. This makes it easy to back up all of your important documents. Make weekly or monthly copies to CD or USB drives.
If you use floppy disks or USB drives on public computers like your school computer lab, Kinko’s, or even digital photo printing store make sure you scan them for viruses. Public computers are notorious for not being up to date and properly protected.
Be wary of email attachments. Treat any email attachment as potentially dangerous. Never open attachments from people you weren’t expecting. Also be careful of attachments from people you know but weren’t expecting. Many computer viruses replicate themselves by reading the contacts from an infected computer.
Use text email if possible. While HTML email is prettier and allows you more control over formatting it also can carry computer viruses. If you use text based email the only way to get a virus is by opening an attachment.
Use downloaded freeware and shareware files or software with caution. Try to download them from popular reputable sources that scan the programs before they are uploaded. To make sure you are safe scan the program before you install it on your computer.
Be wary of links in IM or instant messaging software. Don’t accept invitations from people you don’t know and never click a link from someone you don’t trust, they can easily redirect you to another website that will try to install a virus on your computer system.

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New Windows Vista

Windows Vista introduces a breakthrough user experience and is designed to help you feel confident in your ability to view, find, and organize information and to control your computing experience.

The visual sophistication of Windows Vista helps streamline your computing experience by refining common window elements so you can better focus on the content on the screen rather than on how to access it. The desktop experience is more informative, intuitive, and helpful. And new tools bring better clarity to the information on your computer, so you can see what your files contain without opening them, find applications and files instantly, navigate efficiently among open windows, and use wizards and dialog boxes more confidently.

Ease of use

When you start using Windows Vista, you will recognize familiar elements such as the Start menu, which is now faster, more streamlined, and more helpful than in previous versions of Windows. The Start menu features integrated desktop search through a new feature called Instant Search which can help you find and launch almost anything on your PC. Just type in a word, a name, or a phrase, and Instant Search can find the right file for you. But more than that, the new start menu makes it very easy for you to navigate across all of the installed applications on your PC. Eliminating the slow performing, cascading "All Programs" view, the new start menu can help you get something started more quickly than ever.

Should You Upgrade Your Hardware PC?

What if you found that your computer is out of date? You probably want to upgrade your computer since you have no choice to do so. Your works depend on your hardware computer upgrade. That’s how you going to have a good result.

But before you make any further step, try to learn about your computer. Search all options and ask for advice. Only after this you can go and buy a new component. It’s also useful to check if you really need an upgrade.

Sure, it’s not funny if you keep your old computer but you still loose data when you do your works. Its just a matter of time before you experience a hard drive problem when you still using your old computer. You dont want to loose your data, right? Of course most people only think of backing up their data after they experience a problem. Don't set yourself up for a data loss disaster. Check what hardware you need for your computer.

If you have problem with your hard disk, such as crash when you do your work, better you have it renewed. Most people upgrade their hard disk to increase the size so that they can use it for games, movies and playing a lot of music. A 20 GB hard drive is sufficient to keep new office and internet applications, and all your files and data. A medium sized hard drive would be around 40 GB and the maximum would be around 60 – 80 GB.

You can choose which perfect for your work. Of course the price is also depending on the capacity of your hard disk. If you are a gamer, you may want to have high capacity hard disk such as that 60-80 GB. But if you just used it for your writing, a 20 GB is more than enough.

Another hardware you may need to upgrade is the RAM or Random Access Memory. This memory keeps data that is being worked on now and may or may not be transferred to the hard drive that represents the long-term memory of the computer. Current processors can perform an enormous number of operations per second. Almost all computer have 64 MB RAM and often 128 MB. If you want to run newer applications on your PC then you must upgrade to 128/256 MB RAM. A lot of people who upgrade from 98 to Win 2000 discover that their computers lock up very often. This is because they don't have enough RAM.

So, those are only some part of hardware you might want to upgrade. There are others such as motherboard, CPU or port which you can upgrade. Your action depend on your need.

Get Started In Creating Computer Games

I’ve always loved video games, ever since I first played them on a friend’s computer after primary school. There’s something almost magical about the fact that we can move images around and interact with virtual worlds, a living fantasy presented for us to interact with however we please. I’ve also always wanted to make games myself but, until recently, didn’t have the technical knowledge to do so. Now, I’m a second year software engineering student, so if I weren’t able to code a game without too many dramas there’d be something drastically wrong. But what about the common person? The person for whom the term ‘memory leak’ conjures up images of their grandfather, ‘pipeline’ is where the water flows and ‘blitting’ is unheard of? Well, everyone can get in on the game creation process, and you don’t even need to learn ‘real’ programming to do so.

So where do games start? With an idea. Games, like all fiction, require an idea to be successful. Sure, in the same way you can just sit down and write a story without foresight you can jump on in and slap a game together but, unless you get ridiculously lucky, the best works are usually the ones that have been thought out.

There are two methods of planning a project; you can start from a known technological standpoint and build your project on top of that or you can just go for the design, add as many features and ideas as you like and then remove the ones that you can’t use when you’ve decided on the technology you’re going to implement the game with. In general, the second one is probably the best one to go with when designing games. When you’re first starting out, however, the first option will save you many headaches.

So, for a first game you’re going to want a pretty simple idea. Don’t get me wrong, crazy-go-nuts game ideas are fantastic, and there should be more of them out there, but you’re not going to be able to create a real world simulator with fifty billion virtual people all interacting real time and your actions having a butterfly effect on the future of the virtual universe when it’s your first game. Really. Many people try it; none that I know of have succeeded. Imitation is the best way to start out. Simple games, such as ‘Space Invaders’, ‘Tetris’, ‘Pacman’ or even ‘Pong’ are great places to start. All are largely simple to create but have some inherent challenge. ‘Pacman’, for example, requires path finding for the ghosts. I recommend that you start even simpler than that for your very first attempt. ‘Space Invaders’ is a nice point to jump in. You can make a simple, complete game without much effort and it’s almost infinitely extensible.

If you’re stuck for an idea, pick a genre that you enjoy. Do you love adventure games such as ‘Monkey Island’, ‘Grim Fandango’, ‘Space Quest’, ‘King’s Quest’ etc.? Design one of those. Are you into fighting games like ‘Street Fighter’, ‘Tekken’, ‘Soul Calibur’, ‘Mortal Kombat’ and so on? Come up with an idea for that. Do you like first person shooters such as ‘Quake’, ‘Half Life’ or ‘Doom’? I don’t recommend it as a first project, but you can always give it a go. Feel free to be as generic as you like, this is a learning experience after all.

Now that you have your idea it’s time to flesh it out. Don’t worry about the technology or the fact that you may not know how to actually implement a game just yet, just grab yourself some paper and a pencil and go crazy with ideas. Describe the main characters, game play, goals, interactions, story, and key mappings, anything you can think of. Make sure you have enough detail so that someone can read through the notes and play through the game in their head with relative accuracy. Changing game design during the coding process is almost always a bad idea. Once it’s set, it should remain set until the tweaking phase (I’ll go into this more later) or you’re likely to enter ‘development hell’, where the project goes on and on; more and more work is done with less and less outcome.

At the end of this period of your game creation, you should have the following:
- A written outline of the game’s characters and possibly a sketch or two (be they space ships, yellow circles, cars or the prince of the dark kingdom of Falgour, you need to know who or what the player will be and who they will compete against)
- A written outline of the story (if there is one, this isn’t too vital for ‘Space Invaders’ or ‘Tetris’, but for ‘Uber Quest: An Adventure of Awesomeness’ it’s a really good idea)
- A description of game play, written or storyboarded. Storyboards are visual representations of ideas. Draw your characters in actions, with arrows showing the flow of action and short written descriptions detailing the events occurring in your image (because some of us aren’t fantastic artists and our images can be a little… open to interpretation…)

Now that you have a fleshed out idea, it’s time to work out how this will all get put together. If you’ve gotten to this point worried that you’re going to have to spend years learning complex programming languages in order to implement your idea, fear not! Others have already done the hard yards for you. There are many RAD (Rapid Application Development) Tools available for game creation, a number of which are available for free online. Some of them still require you to learn a ‘scripting language’ (a simplified programming language made for a specific task) but in general this isn’t too complicated or involved. I’ve compiled a brief list of some of them that can be found at the end of the article. The free ones are listed first, organized by game genre.

Well, that should be enough to get you started in the creation of your game. The most important thing to remember once you’ve gotten this far is that you need to complete your game. Many, many people start a project and then lose interest and it fails, or they keep moving on to one new project after another without finishing anything. Start small, build a working (if simple) game that is, above all else, complete. When you get to this stage you will always have a huge number of things that you wish to change, fix etc. but you’ll get a great feeling from knowing that it is, in its way, finished.

From this point, you can start the tweaking phase. Play your game a few times, ask others to do the same, take note of what isn’t fun or could be better and change things here. At this stage, it is more important than ever to keep backups of previous versions, so that if a change doesn’t work you can go back and try something different without losing any of your work. It is at this point that you can add all new features, improve graphics and sounds, whatever you please, safe in the knowledge that you’re working on a solid foundation.

When you’re happy with your game, why not share it with the world? There are many cheap or free places out there for you to host your files on and then you can jump on link lists and forums and let everyone know about your creation. Well, I hope that this has been a helpful introduction into the art of creating games. It’s a great deal of fun, and can open whole new avenues of creative expression for you to explore. Jump in and have fun.

Computer Software Genres That Help Students Think!

A music genre is a classification system that places different instructional materials into neat categories that help teachers choose what to use and when. Content area, developmental floor, and student interests often drive these decisions. Similarly, computing machine software system tin be placed within genres to aid teachers in selecting the best resource for a particular thought skill or process. Core cerebration skills, for example, used for surface-storey intellection, such as organizing a list of supplies and resources needed for a science undertaking.

Complex processing would be required to generate a display describing the task's hypothesis, method of investigation, and summary of conclusions. Each story of processing is important for successfully completing a science labor. Once preparation computing device-amalgamated lessons associated with various levels of mentation, teachers should consider which software package is most appropriate. Core skills often matched with package genres that promote quick recollection of staple facts and that rich person great potential for automatizing certain skills (Sewell 1990).

Mental vigor used to rehearse the steps of a procedure or reminiscence the attributes of a simple concept drains the energies needed for higher-spirit level processes (Mayer 2002). students tin can complete a task automatically (e.g., steps in long division) and callback necessary facts efficiently (e.g., multiplication tables), the cognitive load is reduced, leading to increased mental vigour and capacity (Park and Hannafin 1993). Software categories within this writing style include drills, multimedia system tutorials, acquisition games, reading management programs (e.g., Accelerated Reader(TM)), and intermingled eruditeness systems. exploitation mixed erudition systems (e.g., SuccessMaker® Enterprise by Pearson; Academy of READING55 by AutoSkill®), the classroom might consider presenting the tutorial example victimization a digital projector or large-screen monitor for whole-class or small-group teaching. Most structured learnedness systems wealthy person options for altering or delaying the sequence of skills, which allows the to guide class discussion while progressing through the . Continued from page 1. Most teachers hard-pressed to successfully incorporate both trouble solving and BASIC skill mastery during the instructional minutes available during the school week.

The pressure of preparing students for remember and application of knowledge toilet be reduced by provision educational activity around core and complex processes. Students need both levels to be successful job solvers and to master basal knowledge and skills (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory 1999). To effectively integrate computers into teaching, students' skills must be a priority. The goal is to align processes appropriately with the 's function. By categorizing by literary genre and matching it to the desired skills, teachers lavatory plan deterrent example activities which discrete skills as well as complex processes that will prepare students for a lifetime of solving. The power of portfolios: What children con us about scholarship and assessment.

Basic Tips and tricks for Windows XP

Running Applications in Compatibility Mode With Windows XP, you can run programs as if though they were being run under a different operating system. (This is known as "emulation".) Simply right-click a shortcut, select "Properties" and then check "Run in compatibility mode" and select the operating system you wish to make the program believe it is being run under. This fools or tricks the program into thinking you are really using a previous version of Windows, such as NT, 2000, 98, or 95. This is especially useful for certain games that won't run properly. Be careful *not* to use this with certain system utilities, such as antivirus, defrag, registry, and disk tool applications.

Customizing the Start Menu Right click on the "Start" button and left click "Properties". From here, you can select the new Windows XP style Start Menu, or return to the Windows 2000/Millennium style one. You can also customize the two possible choices using their corresponding "Customize" buttons. This also allows you to turn on or disable cascading menus and other options that are useful, such as large or small icons and more.

Bring Back Those Desktop Icons After you install Windows XP, you probably noticed that some of your icons from previous versions of Windows you've used are missing. Microsoft did this intentionally to help simply and reduce clutter. Of course, for some people, this isn't the best choice or the user preference. So, if you want those icons like "My Computer" and "My Network Places" back, just open Display Properties (right click Desktop Wallpaper, left click "Properties") and click the "Desktop" tab. Click the "Customize Desktop" button and on the "General" tab check the items you want. You can also change the icons used by these desktop items in the same screen. One final tip related to this screen is the "Clean Desktop Now" button, which notifies you of unused icons on the desktop and offers to remove them if you choose.

Give Me My ClearType Windows XP includes a great new visual technology, called "ClearType" which increases horizontal legibility by approximately 300% and it looks great. Go back into "Display Properties" [see tip: "Bring Back Those Desktop Icons" for instructions] and this time, go to the "Appearance" tab. Click "Effects" and for the second drop down box, labeled "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts", select "ClearType". Click OK twice and you're all set.

Lock Computer vs. Welcome Login Screen You must go into Control Panel and open the "User Accounts" applet to change this setting. Click "Change the way users log on or off". For maximum security, uncheck the "Use the Welcome screen" option. This re-enables the use of the "Lock Computer" option from the ALT CTRL DELETE menu, but prevents multiple users from being logged on locally at a single time. This also returns to the Windows 2000 style login screen. If you'd rather have the ability to *not* be able to use "Lock Computer" and would rather allow multiple users to logon to the computer at a single time locally, leave this setting checked and also check "Use Fast User Switching".

Advancement in Computer Technology

5 years ago we gathered around and marveled at the little specs moving at our commands, doing not much – except moving off course, we called these things games. Today the hardware in computers and other devices has changed significantly; we went from having a “spacious” 1mb hard drive to 250 GB of space. The graphics have also taken a giant leap for our computers, no longer are we confined to little dots but our 256mb graphic cards allow us to explore a virtual world in 3d. The sound has also changed from 4bit to 32 and pretty soon 64bit; we went from beeps to actually words. Finally the speed of our beloved computers has also increased from mere kilobytes to gigabytes of rams. In such a short period of time we went from what we used to call “advanced” technology to today’s much superior devices. So if you guys are like I am, there is one question that strikes our mind, what’s next? Well I would love to say that we will be able to put on our virtual glasses that will allow us to explore the virtual world as if we were in it, but this is not likely, sorry guys; however, these sorts of glasses are being constructed but its unlikely they will come out any time soon. What we can expect to see is an improvement in our Text-to-speech and vise versa programs after the 64bit sound card is released allowing the computer to understand our voices much clearly, also we should soon be seeing more “dept” in our computer as you may know that the most our computers can run on 32bit resolution, it is expected that Microsoft is like to bring out a 64bit resolution with there next version of windows. Also the speed and graphics are to increase a lot more, already some games look as they are almost real, and soon they will look real. I am not certain exactly what marvel the computer hardware’s will hold in the future, but one thing is certain it will be something to forward too, and once again the next generation will be mocking the so called advanced technology we have today.