Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply open up your brain and add more space so you could remember everything? Oh well, you can’t do that but you can add more memory to your PC or laptop if the need arises.
When you buy a computer, it comes with a certain amount of memory already loaded. This storage is where you can save files, applications, music, videos, pictures and anything else you’d like.
Maybe you have noticed that your computer is running slower than usual. You have used Disk Defragmenter to combine files and get rid of others that you don’t need. A computer that still runs slow may need a memory boost.
When you need more memory, it’s not that hard to find. The quickest way is to check with your manufacturer. Most name brand computers have websites where you can find everything you need with a few clicks.
Let’s use Dell for example. On the bottom of a Dell laptop or on the Dell PC tower is your service tag number. With that number, you can access all of the information about the computer that they built for you. Now, you can find out which memory options you have for that model.
Memory comes in different configurations depending on the age of your computer. It doesn’t require an expert, but you will need to pay attention to the instructions carefully to get it right. For a laptop, the memory can usually be inserted in the underside of the device.
Before adding the new memory into your computer, be sure that the device is turned off and everything is unplugged before beginning. Working on a kitchen table away from carpeted flooring is best to avoid problems with static electricity and be sure that you are grounded to avoid shock and damage.
Read all instructions before beginning. There are dedicated slots for memory expansion in both devices. Before you purchase a new computer, see if it is more feasible to add memory for better performance.
Jump drive, flash drive or thumb drive – they are all similar names for the same kind of device. These are external drives that are used to save information that you want to keep. But, how many of them do you really need?
Your computer has a hard drive. And, that hard drive has a certain amount of memory on it.
A flash drive is another form of storage device which is extremely portable (usually about the size of a keychain). They usually connect to your computer via USB ports and can range from 256MB to several gigabytes in storage capacity. You can have huge external hard drives with terabytes of data storage space, but we will concentrate on the flash drives for now.
Flash drives have several advantages. One, they are easy to take with you. You can use them anywhere you have a computer with a USB port. Your data is always available you when you need it.
Second, they are durable. You can hang them on a lanyard; place them in your purse, on a keychain or even in your pocket. Because of their size and lack of moving parts, a little jumbling is tolerated well.
Third, they can store massive amounts of data for almost instantaneous retrieval. Keep your important documents, pictures, music, videos and movies on flash drives to be used anywhere. They replace carrying around tons of folders in your briefcase or backpack.
Realistically, you only need as many flash drives as you have different tasks to use them for. For example, personal and business needs could be kept separate. You may want one to keep in your briefcase at all times with the most important work documents on it, and another to attach to your key ring with family pictures and videos on it, ready to show off Junior’s Little League debut at a moment’s notice.
Flash drives are economical and easy to use. It is easy to check to see how much memory you have on a flash drive to know if it is time for another one to be purchased. You can also purchase flash drives with some security built-in (passwords, encryption and the like) to ensure that your confidential work design files don’t end up in the wrong hands when you forget it at the airport.
We’ve all heard about someone whose computer has crashed. It’s a terrible mess. That person probably thought that it couldn’t happen to them until it did. Be proactive and back up your data.
A computer’s hard drive can crash for any number of reasons. You don’t want to be happily finishing up a 30 page project when it happens. Where does the information go? It is lost in the abyss that has become home to many a kilobyte.
It’s more frightening than a bad hair day but you can keep it from happening to you. Back up your computer files so that you don’t lose all of your work to the great beyond. It is a good practice for anyone who has a computer
It is not hard to put a backup system in place. When you buy most laptops these days, the system comes with free backup for one or two years. Every file is stored elsewhere for easy retrieval should you lose it. There are two ways of backing up computer files: online or software programs.
Backup Software Programs
Heard of Norton? You probably know about their antivirus software. They also make backup software for your computer. One is Norton Ghost. You can back up your entire hard drive or just specific folders. With this software, schedule regular backups just like any other maintenance operation to protect your computer. The software setup is instructive and easy to follow.
Another Norton offering is Norton Save & Restore 2.0. It is similar to Norton Ghost 14.0 but without the extra features. You can schedule your backup operations and forget about it.
Online Backup Programs
Online backup can be particularly convenient for laptop users. With an online backup, your data is sent to a secure server online. Online backup companies usually offer both free and paid services. Depending on the amount of data you are backing up, the free plan may work for you. For a business, the paid service offers unlimited data backup for a low monthly fee.
Examples of online backup programs include:
Mozy – free up to 2GB; $4.95 per month for unlimited data
Carbonite – yearly subscription of $49.95 for unlimited data
SOS Online Backup – $39.95 per year
Each program offers something different. The advantage of an online backup over more traditional programs is the ease with which it happens. You no longer need to connect your laptop to a cable, or make sure your computer is on at a certain time. Simply set the online backup options and whenever your computer is connected to the internet, it will start backing up files. When you disconnect, it will stop and start from there the next time you are connected.
Use online or software options for backing up the vital information on your computer. It gives you peace of mind in the event of a system crash.
Today, we do everything from order pizza to shop for household appliances online. With that level of traffic and financial information floating around, it’s no wonder the bad guys have turned their attentions to the Internet. But, lucky for you, so have the good guys.
No one wants to be the victim of identity theft or fraud. Even though it is not your fault, the burden of proof is on you and the red tape is monstrous. So, do all that you can to protect you and your loved ones while they are online.
One way to do that is to arm your computer with anti-spyware tools. Spyware constitutes programs that hide within other programs, hence the name “spy.” Here’s how it works: You go to a site and download a program. The program may be hiding another program within to track how you use it. This is a non-lethal spyware program. It was probably employed by the site for statistical purposes.
Then, there are other spyware that, when downloaded, will go in and rewrite certain things on your computer without your consent. If you’ve ever downloaded something and then your home page changed, it was probably courtesy of a spyware program.
Both of these are mild examples, but honestly, if someone has to do something behind your back to get you to try it, steer clear. More lethal types of spy ware will search your files and retrieve financial information.
Anti-spyware tools and programs seek out these dastardly additions and eliminate them. A well-protected computer will have both antivirus and anti-spyware installed for a wider net of protection. Spyware tools, like antivirus can be obtained for free or paid for.
Shop Around
Know what you are buying. Be sure that free programs offer you adequate spyware protection. Sites like STOPzilla and pctools offer free spyware tools for you to use. These tools work behind the scenes in real-time and on schedules to detect spyware. They also clear your browsing history and prevent pop-ups. Spyware can also let you know if a site in your search results is dangerous for you to visit.
Paid spyware offers a few more perks but make sure that you actually need those perks for your system. If you choose to pay, find software with multiple user capabilities so you can arm all of the computers in your home. Some good companies are Avast (as in “Avast yee scurvy computer information pirates!”) and AVG.
Protect yourself from the beginning. Use anti-spyware tools to prevent and remove spyware that threatens your computer.
In the time of rapidly advancing technology and identity theft, it is more necessary than ever to protect your PC.
With so many antivirus products on the market, which one do you choose? There is no right and wrong answers here but what is the difference between the free programs offered and the ones that you have to pay a yearly subscription for?
Let’s backtrack a bit and talk about viruses. Unlike the ones that humans deal with, the computer variety can be found and eliminated before they cause trouble. Computer viruses, adware and hijacking programs get into your hard drive and wreak havoc.
They slow your computer down by taking up your hard drive space or hijacking computer programs. Once there, they can infect steal personal and financial information and, depending on what information they can find on your computer, even steal your identity. What you are left with is a big mess that is a pain in the neck to fix.
Antivirus software may come pre-installed on your computer. If it does, it is likely a free trial or a paid subscription that you ordered with the system. Either way, its job is to detect viruses within items on your hard drive and remove them according to your specifications. When the paid subscription is up for renewal, you’ll receive pop-up messages warning you that your system is about to be left unprotected.
What many computer owners don’t know is that you have a choice. You don’t have to pay for antivirus protection and that many companies offer antivirus software for free. We have all heard the adage, “You get what you pay for,” but, just like everything else, it is best to shop wisely before making a choice.
Ideally you want antivirus protection to alert you when a virus is trying to hack your system. Also, spyware and adware falls into this category. You probably want the software will let you know if there is a danger from anything that you have or will download.
Both free and paid software can do those things. And in this case, free doesn’t mean cheap, it means ‘minimal features’. Some companies offer a program that does only what you really need, but offers the extra bells and whistles for a fee. Depending on your computer usage, the bells and whistles are often not needed. They take up extra hard drive space and almost never get used.
For a person, like yourself, who is careful about where they go on the Internet, the basics of free antivirus protection will work quite well. Protecting yourself with some basic surfing and downloading guidelines is half the battle.
Here is some good advice: While you are still within the free 30-day trial that the manufacturer gave you, compare free and paid software. If the free software gives you what you need, go for it. You can always upgrade later.
Your computer is like a best friend. You spend time with it just about every day. But have you looked at it lately? Ugh! Yeah it can get pretty dirty just like you would if you sat all day long in one spot and had everyone’s dirty hands all over you! Here are some tips for cleaning your laptop or PC.
The first thing to remember is even though your computer screen or monitor resembles a television screen, you don’t clean it the same way. Spraying Windex on your screen will create big problems, like taking off the special anti-glare coating. Computers work hard but they are delicate. Take the soft approach.
Cleaning the Screen
Whether a laptop or a desktop, the screen will get dirty. You touch it, let it collect dust and dare we say, have probably sneezed on it (deadlines still exist even when you are under the weather). Over time, all of this stuff builds up on your computer and needs to be cleaned off.
To see just how dirty your computer is, turn it off and stare at the blank screen. Before you scream, grab a soft, lint-free cloth (our favorite is the iClean chamois cloth and screen cleaner). You can buy them at any computer store.
Gently apply even pressure as you wipe dirt and dust off of the screen. If you have a laptop, support the screen with your hand behind it. And keep in mind that any flat screen can be damaged with *too much* pressure.
If the screen is still not clean, you can apply a little cleaner specifically for computer monitors to the screen. Commercial cleaners may say that they are safe for computers but may leave a film on your screen which kind of defeats the purpose of cleaning it, right? But a screen cleaner specifically for your type of monitor (CRT, LCD, anti-glare, etc) can be bought for very little at your local computer store.
Cleaning the Keyboard
For most of us, the dirtiest looking place on our computers is the keyboard – or rather in-between the keys on the keyboard. Over time, dust, lint, dirt, food and other small particles get wedged between keys. Since the keys are so close together, it is nearly impossible to clean between them with a cloth without popping off the keys first.
Instead, use a can of compressed air (another easily obtainable item at your local computer store) to clean your keyboard. Start at one end of the row of keys and direct the spray towards the other to move all the dirt out in one direction. Use some of the screen cleaner to wipe skin oils from the keyboard keys. You can follow all of this up with a computer brush or computer vacuum to remove the last bits of debris.
Try to perform this maintenance on a monthly basis. It prevents sticky key situations and for laptop users, it will also help keep your screen cleaner longer.
Good computer maintenance is one way to keep your laptop or desktop working like new five years from now. Many people don’t think about maintenance until something catastrophic happens, but you have the good fortune to be thinking about it now. One part of the maintenance process is keeping your computer running at top speed. (Not only will this help your computer stay healthy, but it will help you continue to enjoy using your computer!)
There are many reasons that computers begin to run slow: viruses (or more commonly now, adware), not enough memory, too many applications & software bloat (goes along with insufficient memory) and/or a lot of files. Whatever the reason, something needs to be done so you don’t have to work at a snail’s pace.
One easy way address slowness is to run a hard drive defragmentation, or defrag. Defragging is a process where your computer finds a way to free up space on your hard drive. This may mean deleting temporary files that are no longer needed, rearranging and reorganizing to create bigger blocks of free space and generally helping to improve performance. Defragmenting your computer is a good first step when performance is not at its best, and is especially useful when your hard drive is reaching its full storage capacity.
Performing the operation once a week is more than enough for those who use their computer every day and create a lot of documents and files. For the average computer user with a computer less than 3 years old, once a month or every 3 months is just as effective.
This tool can be set up on a schedule so that it works behind the scenes (like Santa at Christmas or the Easter Bunny hiding eggs every year). Schedule maintenance operations at low-usage times like early in the morning or in the middle of the night, when you are not on your computer in order to keep them from slowing you while you’re trying to work.
Your computer comes with a defragmentation tool.
Windows: Most Windows users will find it listed under “Disk Defragmenter” in either Accessories or System Tools.
Mac: If you are a Mac user with Mac OS X, your computer is automatically optimizing your disk space so you don’t need to worry about doing this yourself, but if you have previous versions of Mac OS, you can find what you need in the Disk Utility program.
Are you experiencing headaches when you work on your computer all day? It could be the screen. If you suspect that the screen may be causing your head to pound, here are some suggestions to cut down on the blinding glare.
For office workers and home business owners, the computer is a necessity. Whether it is a laptop or a PC, you rely on it to conduct your business. So, what can you do to stop the eyestrain.
Tip #1 – Unplug your laptop or find the dimmer keys. By default, most laptop screens are set to be brighter when it runs on AC power. A good laptop battery can run free of AC power for six or eight hours. Even a four-hour battery will serve you well. So, simply unplug. The screen is now dimmed since it is using the battery.
Alternatively, find the dimming/brightening keys on your laptop. This is usually a combination of an ‘Fn’ (function) key and another key. Then adjust the screen luminosity to be similar or just slightly brighter than the environment you are currently in.
Tip #2 – Use lamps and overhead lighting to compensate for a too-bright screen. When your work area is well-lit, there will be less contrast between your foreground (the screen) and the background (the wall/floor/window, etc, behind your screen) which means your eyes don’t have to work as hard.
A desk lamp can compensate for the low light and help reduce the eyestrain. If there is a sunny window behind your screen, consider rearranging your office or using a combination of blinds or curtains to soften the light and dim the background.
Tip #3 –Invest in a glare filter. For PCs the filter is made into a bracket that fits over the monitor screen. For long hours spent on the computer, your eyes won’t become strained and cause headaches. Using the filter all the time will benefit everyone who uses the computer.
For laptops, glare filters fit on the edges of the screen frame or directly on the screen. They can be removed when you are done working. Some glare filters even incorporate privacy so that no one can see what you are doing on your laptop unless they are directly in front of the screen.
Now you don’t have to wear your sunglasses indoors when working on your computer. You’re now equipped with something even better: Three solutions to stop the headaches and still get your work done. Or not. Your choice.
They come via e-mail…voice mail…fax…instant messages…Blackberry…cell phone…Skype. Memos. Communications. Notes.
You receive even more during meetings, be they teleconference, video conference, Web conference, or the good old fashioned face to face kind.
Even before we get to the office in the morning and, for many of us, well into the evening, we are inundated with incoming communications from these sources and more. It seems as though during every moment someone is trying to inform, teach, solicit to, solicit from, question, update, delegate to, warn, disagree with and sometimes even entertain us.
This tidal wave of incoming communication can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling fatigued, irritable and/or distracted. It can negatively impact everything from our work performance to how we interact with our families and friends. It can result in something as minor as forgetting to buy milk on the way home to as major as being involved in an automobile accident. In other words, communication overload can be harmful to our health.
While for the most part we are unable to control or lessen the amount of incoming messages we receive each day, we can develop strategies for dealing with them more effectively rather than letting them engulf us. Incorporating the following tips can enable you to nip communications overload in the bud:
1. Schedule your time better in advance. Are you checking your e-mail between every other task you perform? Break that habit by trying to limit your trips to the inbox to specific time periods during the day, such as an hour at the beginning and end of the day, or 10 minutes at the top or bottom of each hour. You’ll be amazed by how much more time you’ll have to accomplish things that matter more to you.
2. Cloak your instant messaging screen name or, if that’s not possible, put up the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your instant messenger and/or Skype account once in a while to carve out some uninterrupted time. During this span, also let your phone calls go to voice mail and text messages go temporarily unanswered.
These actions are particularly important during times when you’re interacting with people face to face; except in rare circumstances, live interaction should always take precedence over technological devices. Watch how your interpersonal relationships both at work and and home soar when you begin to give people more undivided attention.
3. Learn to determine and rank the urgency of each message you receive, regardless of means. Delete, file or ignore unimportant ones, and devote as much time as possible to only those that pertain to pressing or essential issues. When you look back on your day, you’ll discover that you’ll experience a greater sense of accomplishment when you do this.
Taking a few proactive measures to confront communication overload is so much healthier than multitasking your way into a state of exhaustion or allowing incoming communications to control your life. Not only that, but you’ll also see immediate improvements in your work, home life and overall sense of satisfaction as well.
VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol. These are voice calls routed over internet networks using the internet protocol. IP serves as the base of the internet on which all internet applications like website pages, emails, instant messages etc. reside.
VoIP offers a great promise to communication. VoIP offers a low cost voice communication. Yet, there are hindrances to the wide scale adoption of VoIP.
This article discusses the disadvantages of VoIP, which many are familiar with. In addition, this article will also discuss how to improve the quality of VoIP phone service.
Disadvantages of VoIP
It is common knowledge that the many advantages of VoIP come with a few glaring disadvantages too. Here are the 4 major disadvantages of VoIP.
1. Maintaining Reliable Internet Connection for VoIP
During outages, there will be no internet connection and hence no telephone service, while a cellular phone can be used under such circumstances.
2. 911 Emergency
Normally when a call is made to 911, the operator is able to tell the address of the caller in order to send help to the correct location. With VoIP, that is not the case.
E911 can resolve this issue. The VoIP phone number registered online and whenever a 911 call is made using this VoIP phone, the location can be determined by the emergency personnel.
3. Large Number of Computers Connected to the Network.
If many computers are connected to the network and are using the internet at the same time, then the quality of VoIP audio will be poor, especially over a wireless connection. Ethernet (a cable connection) is highly recommended under such circumstances.
4. Poor Audio Quality of VoIP
This brings up the biggest issue – audio quality. No matter what bells and whistles are associated with a VoIP phone, the basic function of any phone is voice communication. If the audio quality is poor, then there is no point in using VoIP phone even though it has all the bells and whistles!
What good is VoIP phones that have additional video, music, caller ID and many advanced features but has a lot background noise and also dropped calls? This disadvantage is addressed in more detail in the next section.
Although there have been a lot enhancements to VoIP, the audio quality suffers at times. VoIP is entirely dependent on internet connection and so whatever affects the internet connection will affect VoIP phone service.
6 Tips to Improve the VoIP Quality
Many users complain about poor audio VoIP quality (which is the disadvantage #4), dropped calls etc. Here are 6 aspects of the VoIP setup that can affect the quality of VoIP phone service. Following these tips can greatly improve the VoIP quality.
1. Internet Connection
High speed internet connection is highly recommended. Some companies offer VoIP for dial up internet connection but this will result in poor audio and eventually you will begin to dislike VoIP but this is not the fault of the VoIP.
It is the internet connection. Even with the high speed internet connections like cable or ethernet, there are occasionally times of very high data transfer and during those times, the VoIP quality will be poor.
2. External Factors like Weather Conditions
Heavy rains, thunderstorms and snowstorms can cause increased static on broadband lines. Sometimes turning off the VoIP setup and turning it back on can resolve this problem. The other solution is that your VoIP service provider can replace these cables with higher quality cable to reduce the static. These cables are expensive. It is your decision whether to replace it or not.
3. Compression Software i.e., Codec
The technical details of the codecs are out of scope for this article. You can find more details about codecs on Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec). Here is brief explanation of codecs with respect to VoIP – VoIP compresses the voice data packets before sending them. The reason for compression is that the compressed data packet sent or transmitted is not heavy i.e., if the data packet is heavy, then the transmission will be too slow and ineffective. Codec is the software that is used for such data compression purposes. If the codec is not of good quality, then audio quality will suffer.
4. VoIP Hardware and its Location
The VoIP hardware has huge impact on the VoIP audio quality. The most important one is the ATA/Router. VOIP ATA (Analog Telephone Adaptor) brings traditional telephones to the networked world. It connects phone handset-to-Ethernet adaptor and hence interfaces regular analog telephones with VoIP telephone networks. More details about ATA can be found on Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_telephony_adapter).
ATAs in general should have support for Firewall and security, compression technologies and echo cancellation. Many technicians have found out that VoIP equipment interfere with each other and create some type of buzzing noise or feedback and sometimes dropped calls. Contrary to the belief that VoIP hardware/ equipment must be as close as possible to each other, the ATA should not be placed very close to the broadband internet router! Placing these equipment away from each other can improve the VoIP phone service’s audio quality.
5. Computer Hardware and Maintenance
Regular de-fragmentation, availability of more memory on your computer, high quality of speakers and microphone etc. can positively affect the VoIP quality.
6. VoIP Phone Type/ Frequency
The phone type and frequency can affect the VoIP quality. Contrary to the belief that higher frequency delivers better VoIP quality, sometimes using a lower frequency phone may be better suited to your connection. So if you experience a lot feedback in the audio, then it is a good idea to try a phone with lower frequency.
Overall VoIP has a great promise for providing excellent communication at very low costs. VoIP services are not a fad – they are here to stay. A lot research has been done by major corporations to resolve some of the disadvantages of VoIP and also to improve the quality. Every few months, there is some improvement in the VoIP quality.
