Do Desktops Rule over Laptops?
January 31, 2009 by James Gilbert Pynn · View Comments
For you dreadful few who somehow managed to miss the computer revolution of the 1980s, allow me to recap. The desktop computer is a personal computer (PC, get it?) that fits on top of your rickety desk at home unless your desk is too small, in which case its called a tabletop computer. Still with me? Good. Now, desktop computers can come in a range of shapes and sizes, from large vertical towers to small cases that fit behind the monitor to balloon animal desk mounts.
You can interface with this desktop contraption by means of a monitor, which lets you see what the computer is thinking and doing. You can give this desktop a command by means of a keyboard (think typewriter) and a mouse (not the furry kind). Fancy people, or people whom fancy music, have been known to plug speakers into the desktop computer. Ah, the sweet sounds of the Chariots of Fire soundtrack.
Now, breaking from the PC desktop, I would like to make brief mention of those kooks at Apple Computers. They are, and have been for some time, fond of the all-in-one computer. This means the tower or case is built into the monitor. This, of course, saves space (lots of it) and makes for a nice, clean contraption. They’re meant to be more portable, but who in their right mind would carry an all-in-one desktop to the cafe to check on the Cowboys game? Ok, some Cowboys’ fans might.
Now, in the never-ending tennis match between desktops and laptops, you must remember that desktops are easier to maintain and cheaper to repair. Fifteen-love. Laptops, on the other hand, are highly portable (duh). Fifteen-all. Desktop upgrades are easier to manage as all you have to do is pry off the cover, snap in your new piece of hardware, and off you go. Laptops, meanwhile, are highly portable. Desktops enjoy no power concerns as long as they’re plugged in, your’e good to go. Laptops suffer from chronic power shortages and indeed, as long as you keep them plugged in, they’re good to go.
It’s fair to say desktops rule the known world; you just can’t take them anywhere. So what, you say? Good point. So what, indeed. Desktop computers still enjoy the lions share of power, memory, speed, and popularity (though many hipsters would disagree). A desktop is always poised to deliver years of service especially if you piecemeal its upgrades. As Mr. T used to admonish, Don’t be a fool, stick with your desktop computer, fool. Wiser words were never uttered, Mr. T. Ever.
Oh, you desktop computer faithful, gather unto me and proclaim the gospel of superior performance and power. I know the laptop is a temptress, but she is a pale flicker compared to the roaring brilliance of the desktop computers
around us.
A Basic Photoshop Tutorial
January 29, 2009 by Andrew Edgington · View Comments
Photoshop can seem overwhelming at first glance due to the program’s lack of simple tutorials and seemingly challenging interface. Cast your worries aside, because the basics of Photoshop are much easier than they appear.
Photoshop is basically made up of four areas: the menu bar at the top, the toolbar just below it, the toolbox on the left and the palettes on the right. The menu bar and toolbox always stay the same, as they contain the different modes and options that you can choose, but the toolbar changes depending on context.
The palettes are there to show the current status of your image, including the history of all the actions you have used and a thumbnail overview of how the ‘big picture’ currently looks.
Let’s take a look at how the interface changes depending on use. From the toolbox, select the “Type” tool (it looks like a capital T). Notice how the toolbar changes completely to enable you to set the font name, size etc.
Now notice the updates in your palettes. The Type tool modification will be added to your history in the history palette and a new layer will be generated for your text and displayed in the layers palette.
The toolbox or the menus will most likely be the starting point for projects done within Photoshop. Everyday tools such as selecting, filling and making shapes will be found in the toolbox. More advanced functions, such as blurring, sharpening and most other effects Photoshop can produce are found in the menus, most of which are found under the Filter menu.
When you have selected a tool from the toolbox, you can alter its settings using the toolbar – options from the menu will generally open a dialog box. Finally, when you want to go back and alter something that you already put on the image, you can use the palettes, although they have some other uses too, notably changing colors.
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Advanced MCs – Light Speed Motherboards
January 25, 2009 by James Gilbert Pynn · View Comments
Prepare yourself. Don’t be scared. It’s a frightening name. Are you ready? Advanced Mezzanine Cards. Never heard of an Advanced MC (that’s how people in the know refer to them)? Relax, because you’re in the majority (unless you’re in the IT sector or maintain a mainframe). Advanced MCs are used to augment the power and usability of a motherboard. They reduce operating costs for businesses while reducing the disruptions incurred by system upgrades and maintenance.
What makes the Advanced MC reign supreme is its unprecedented hot swap-ability. This means it can use a telecommunications platform to send and receive information. This makes data upgrades and retrieval move 
at the speed of light ” so to speak”. They offer mainframes and motherboards a higher bandwidth, integrated system management, and higher power yields.
That sounds impressive and it is, go ask your computer geek friend and watch him or her stumble around like Jerry Lewis. You can also tell him or her (trust me, he or she will know) that these Advanced MCs enhance the salient features of ATCA platforms (don’t ask) and specific mezzanine cards, like the PICMG AMC.0 card, AMC.1 card, AMC.2 card, AMC.3 card, and AMC.4 card. Your friend will be flabbergasted you bothered to make this clear and you can enjoy a brief moment as King of the Geeks.
An Advanced MC can be used as a main controller, data server, traffic processor, and media processor. Impossible you say? That’s what they told Edison when he said he cold harness electricity. These Advanced MCs are popular with military, law enforcement, government, transportation, avionics, and carrier-grade telecommunications agencies and subsequent mainframes. Motherboards? We don’t need your stinkin’ motherboards — we’ve got Advanced MCs!
Early in 2008, the leading technology website, EG3.com, awarded the Advanced MCs manufactured by Kontron the Editors Choice award. These mezzanine cards are designed to meet the needs of businesses that demand faster time-to-market turnarounds. Nothing will synergize a mainframe faster and more efficiently. Kontron is a leading mezzanine card manufacturer that started revolutionizing the computer industry as early as 1962. Thats ancient history in computer terms and their longevity is a good key to their success.
If you need to take your business to a higher level, think about upgrading with an Advanced MC. Invest in an Advanced MC from Kontron and watch your business move at the speed of light.
Computer Tips – A Few Common Computer Errors
January 22, 2009 by Irmo Maurer · View Comments
Computer errors can pop up when you least expect it. They can cause your entire system to suddenly shut down and they can inadvertently corrupt data to the point where it can’t be deciphered. Although errors can’t always be avoided, it’s important to remember that computer errors can be corrected. The key is to understand what computer errors are, understand what they mean when they show up, and understand how to minimize their occurrence in the first place.
Basically, computer errors are the result of a number of things that may or may not have anything to do with the way you use your computer. They “operate” whenever there’s a conflict among commands. Remember that computers essentially run off of a series of commands and it’s normally a smooth process but when one command conflicts with another command, or when one command asks for a process or information that isn’t available, the computer returns results that aren’t usable. This is when an error occurs.
A prime example of this kind of error is when you attempt to use software that isn’t applicable for your system. Almost all software accompanies a list of system requirements which indicates what a computer 
needs to have in order for the software to work properly. To minimize errors of this sort, always verify that your computer has the required components. A project management program that you’re interested in may require a specific operating system, like Windows XP for example, and although this program may install just fine on a Windows 98 machine, it will generate a multitude of errors once its started.
Insufficient memory will cause errors as well. That’s why software programs include minimum memory requirements. A program that needs 14MB of memory will generate errors on a computer that only has 4MB of memory, if it even runs at all. The same goes for disk space, monitor color depth and resolution. In these situations, problems occur the moment a piece of software attempts to access hardware, memory, space, resolution, etc. that it can’t find.
Sometimes, errors occur because a system doesn’t have the required drivers or the drivers that are on the system are the incorrect version. Both errors in these cases can be resolved by updating drivers on a regular basis. Microsoft provides a section on its website that can automatically update a driver online and it does this at no cost in an effort to reduce errors like this. Always try to keep your computer updated so that should a program share a file, it will share a file that has been updated on hundreds of thousands of computers, like yours.
This article doesn’t even begin to cover the entire gamut of computer errors but additional information regarding how to get help with a computer issue (including computer errors) can be found in our article titled, “Computer Help” no matter what the problem is.
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Performance and Storage – the OWC Mercury On-The-Go (500GB)
January 19, 2009 by Matt Ryan · View Comments
External storage units are becoming smaller – physically – while much larger internally. Simply put, to get the attention of consumers, manufacturers must create small, pristine, casings over ample storage capacity. OWC has done exactly this with their new Mercury On-The-Go (500GB) storage unit.
The Mercury On-The-Go 500GB, 5400RPM offers consumers a variety of high-speed connectivity ports, all easy to get to on the back of the unit. These ports include a USB 2.0 port, FireWire 400 port, and FireWire 800 port, although there is no sizable difference in transfer rates between the FireWire 400 and FireWire 800. The speed at which this unit performs read/write functions is astonishing, and by far, above that of many comparable units.
my little eye download These ports, both FireWire ports and the USB port, allow consumers to connect – immediately – with any plug-n-play device that also allows for FireWire and USB connectivity. This functionality is beyond useful for those who need to transfer (for backup purposes) their files from these devices from wherever they are located.
The Mercury On-The-Go can by be used by just about anyone, as long as you have a computer with either an Apple or a Windows operating system. The device is delivered unformatted giving you the ability to format the drive as you see fit. The one and only downfall to the formatting is that you cannot format the drive as FAT32 meaning you will not be able to use the drive on both an Apple and Windows machine.In the box, you will get an AC adapter and necessary cables along with backup software. The backup software provided is compatible with either Apple or Windows operating systems as you will receive both NovaStore NovaBackup and Prosoft Data Backup. An additional benefit is the Intech Hard Disk SpeedTools software, which also comes with the Mercury On-The-Go storage device.
On the back of the device, where the USB and FireWire connections are, is also where the power switch is located making it simple to power down for travel and down time. Additionally, power consumption is low with this unit. Typically, enough power is supplied to the device through the USB or FireWire connections (USB 2.0 not USB 1.1).
The overall appearance of the Mercury On-The-Go 500GB unit is actually clear. This clear casing allows you to see the blinking blue light on the hard drive which is an indicator that the unit is on and working. Because of this design feature, there was no need for OWC to add additional LED lights anywhere else on the device.Even though this unit measures 5.5 x 3 x 1 inch, it is still compact and easy to travel with. It is not nearly as compact as many other external drives, but it works. If you look at the fact that the Mercury On-The-Go offers one of the largest storage capacities, on the market, it should be no surprise that the device is not smaller than competitors’ devices.
Consumers can also take advantage of a total of three years worth of warranty on the Mercury On-The-Go with a 1-year warranty on the device itself and a 2-year warranty on the TravelStar5K500.The sticker price is nowhere near as compact as the unit at an average of $359.99 per unit. This is a bit higher than many other external drives; however, many are not even in the same ballpark as the Mercury On-The-Go because of the available storage capacity and its read/write speeds. If you aren’t concerned about functionality, cheaper is the way to go, if you want the top of the line, the Mercury On-The-Go 500GB is the right choice.
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How to Use a Proxy for Safe, Anonymous Web Surfing
January 15, 2009 by Harry Constantine · View Comments
Before we learn how to use a proxy, we need to know what a proxy is all about. Proxy is nothing but a server, an application or a system, in the computer networks, which processes the clients request and forwards it to the specified server. When we are connected to a proxy server, we can send a request for a web page, file, connection or any of these resources available in other servers.
So then, how to do we use a proxy? It’s quite easy. A proxy server comes in a numeric format, like 111.111.111.111.111. A proxy server allows you to hide the IP from the recently visited site. It acts as a 
middleman; where IP stands for Internet Protocol. Then with the means of a computer, your request for a web page will be carried forward to that particular web site from your end and you will get to see the page right on the screen of your PC. That’s how to use proxy server.
All the major web browsers allow the use of proxies including Internet Explores, Firefox and many more.
It’s always better to learn how to use a proxy as it is one of the safest ways to surf the net. Once you’ve learned how to use a proxy, you can maintain anonymity while browsing online. You can hide your identity and you can also bypass the firewall of an ISP and have quick access to sites that have been blocked.
Also, you need to know two different types of proxies and how to use a proxy of every type. Along with the types, you’ll need to learn how to use a proxy in the most appropriate way. Remember, when you learn how to use a proxy, you should also concentrate on finding the right proxy to use.
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How to Repair Microsoft Office Issues
January 11, 2009 by Adrian Edwards · View Comments
There is nothing worse then needing to get a word document done or an e-mail sent out and not being able to. Of course this will happen at the worst possible time.
Office 2007 errors and Office 2003 errors are very common. Many times this happens when you install a newer version over an older one. You may find that after doing research on the issue or error code that it’s not an easy fix and involves going into your computer registry.
If you suffer from Office related issues then you should check out this Office 2007 repair site. These guys are the leading online computer repair company. Not only do they guarantee their work but they have a no fix no fee policy. I have personally used them before for my Office 2007 issue and they resolved it right online and for a great price.
For those that want to try and repair the issue themselves, you can always try to uninstall all versions of office and then reinstall it. This sometimes resolves the issue but most of the time it doesn’t. A free tool you can check out is the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. This tool is rather simple to use and it’s free from the Microsoft website. This tool basically removes any files that the normal Window’s Add and Remove Program tool does not. Unfortunately this still doesn’t resolve the issue most of the time. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, it is well worth a look.
The most common issue people have with Office is setting up an Outlook account. If you have problems, many ISPs offer step by step setup guides on their website. That is the best place to look for help on setting up your Outlook account. Many ISPs also offer free support for setting up Outlook. They won’t help resolve other Office related issues but can at least help setup your e-mail account.
If the above free tools don’t work for you then you really should consider having this remote computer repair site repair Office for you. The cost is low and you can have your issue fixed then and there.
It would be nice if Office didn’t let you install a newer version over the older one. There is no reason to have the old version present and because it often causes issues, they should at least warn you about installing the newer version over the old one.
The Benefits of Updating Your Security Software
January 9, 2009 by A Noton · View Comments
Software programs are the lifeblood of our computers, without up to date software programs we wouldn’t be able to do all of the things that we need to do on our computers.
Some software updates may not be quite as necessary as others, but regular updates to some software are crucial to provide necessary security against the latest internet threats.
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What Types of Updates Do I Need?
If you spend time on the internet, send and receive e-mails or send and receive instant messages’ then internet security software is a necessity. Internet security software is what will protect you against viruses, spy-ware, ad-ware, mal-ware and all other sorts of threats present to those who spend time on the internet. New viruses and other forms of internet threats are generated every single day. In order for you to stay safe from these threats, you need the best and most up to date security software you can get.
Some internet security software companies, like the producers of Norton Internet Security 2009, are constantly generating protection from the latest forms of internet threats and they make these updates available for their customers as soon as they are ready. Subscribers to Norton Internet Security 2009 can receive ‘pulse’ updates that are available with up to the minute protection to ensure that you’re protected from every type of threat as soon as it’s discovered.
Continuously updating your computer security software is an absolute necessity if you want your computer to be protected and run as fast and efficient as it’s capable.
What Types of Updates are Optional?
Some software companies tend to go a little bit overboard with updates, releasing a “brand new” version of a program when you’ve barely even had a chance to get used to the previous version of the same program. These are the updates that you have to make a decision as to whether of not you want or need it enough to download the update.
You sometimes need to be wary of potential bugs that may be introduced with updates. Manufacturers all to often rush the release of an update and let it hit the market before all of the bugs and incompatibilities are worked out. It’s not always necessary for a software package to be updated every few weeks or months.
For software packages or programs that you’ve installed on your computer that don’t have to do with your PC’s security, you have the freedom to be able to choose when and if you want install an update without the 
fear of an imminent threat making the decision for you. You can take the time to take into account how much you like the current version of the software and how well it runs on your system. You can compare the features listed in the update to the features of the version that you are currently running. If the features on the version you have are more appealing to you, or if the new version has no new features that you want or need, then you don’t have to update it.
Ultimately, any update that becomes available on any type of software is optional, but you can keep your computer running at an optimal level by continuously updating you computer software as the updates become available. Any updates that fix existing problems with software that you run are beneficial to download, as is any update that will increase the speed of the programs you are running, but the biggest benefit of updates comes with security software.
Continuously updating your security software guarantees that you will be safe from the latest threats that may invade and cause problems with your PC. It will give you the piece of mind to surf the internet freely because you are protected.
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Get Rid of Your Computer Problems with this Registry Fix
January 6, 2009 by Adrian Edwards · View Comments
Do you have computer registry problems while using your computer on a daily basis? Sooner or later you’ll need to consider fixing your registry if you’re someone who uses Windows on your computer. If your personal computer displays some ongoing problems, it may originate from your registry since it’s an essential element of proper functioning and health of your computer.
In order for your computer to function properly, you may want to consider using Registry Fix software to find out how it can help you and your computer problems. This type of registry repair software or a “window registry cleaner” is designed to aid you in repairing the slow registry problem you have and get your computer back to its old self again, in hardly any time at all.
What does your windows registry do and what can you do to fix it when you have problems with your computer? Before you begin anything, you do need to consider whether or not you should purchase Registry Fix repair software, you really should understand what it is that your registry does for you. In a nut shell, your computer registry organizes the tasks of your computer.
Your computer registry attends to all the instructions that your computer requires to run each basic task. Your windows registry also determines what you need to do when you run any type of software that you install. Over the course of your PC’s life, your computer does a great deal for you. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand how a problem with a corrupt windows registry can make computer problems even worse.
You may be wondering if there are any particular signs to be aware of when you’re considering your need for the Registry Fix repair software. If you are thinking about what you might need to do to ensure an error-free computer, there are a few signs that you should be aware of.
If your computer begins to slow down while you’re using it, you can take that as one sure sign. Are there specific functions that seem to take a long time for your computer to process? Have you found that over time you’re not able to perform some of the functions that were available to you before? Are particular functions limited to you? Are you coming across a lot of blue screens or DLL errors? In a lot of cases, these are all good signs that you need to take care of fixing your computer registry.
What can you do to fix these types of computer problems? You can take care of your registry errors and problems once and for all when you use the Registry Fix repair software. Using a good registry cleaner aids your computer and its performance for a long time. There are various options available for you when you’re searching for the best way to fix your computer problems. However, Registry Fix repair software is one of the better performing software additions you can find.
When you want to make sure that you fix your registry right, you don’t want to take any risks. This is why you should make sure that you find a permanent solution for fixing your computer. When you have registry problems, you should take the time to make sure you get your problem fixed once and for all by using the Registry Fix repair software.
