Monday, April 16, 2012

What To Look For In A Computer Monitor


A computer monitor is important for any computer because it is what brings the world of computers to people visually. There are all sorts of different things to use for a computer monitor. Among the things to look for in a computer monitor, include the resolution of the monitor, its size, the type of display and the refresh quality of the monitor. The size of the pixels in the monitor should also be considered when you are considering what to look for in a computer monitor.

The first thing to look for in a computer monitor is the resolution quality of the monitor. The resolution is based on the number of pixels that are in the monitor screen. When there are more pixels in the monitor the resolution will be better. For instance, a monitor with a resolution of 1600x1280 is better than a 1280x1024 monitor. The horizontal number of pixels is listed first followed by the vertical number.

The next thing to look for in a computer monitor is the size of the monitor. The size of the monitor will refer to how big the screen is from a diagonal measurement. Sixteen-inch monitors are popular but there are other sizes available at typical stores that sell computer monitors. When looking for the monitor that has the right screen size the ability of the user to read what is on the monitor should be greatly considered.

The display type that is used in a monitor is similar to what is used with a television set. Cathode ray tubes are used in larger monitors that have picture tubes working to display images. Liquid crystal display monitors are becoming more popular. This uses a liquid film to display images and is incredibly popular because of the thinner size of the monitor.

It should be noted that the display type is going to make an impact on the colors in the monitor. A cathode ray tube monitor will be easily visible from multiple angles and will do a better job with displaying images. However, a liquid crystal display monitor will be able to bring out higher quality resolution for images. Technology for this is improving though. In fact, it is easier to place on a typical desk because of the smaller width of the monitor.

The refresh quality of the monitor is another thing to think about when looking for a computer monitor. This refers to the highest number of vertical scans that a monitor can produce. A typical monitor will have a range between seventy and two hundred vertical scans per second. When the monitor has a higher number of vertical scans per second that means that monitor will be able to refresh what is on it at a faster rate. There will be less flickering when there are more vertical scans in a second.

While the number of pixels in the monitor is one of the things to think about when you consider what to look for in a computer monitor, the size of those individual pixels should be considered also. Each pixel will have a size in a specific amount of millimeters. The size will determine the dot pitch in the monitor. A typical dot pitch for a quality monitor will be .25. This means that the pixel will be especially small and less than a millimeter in size. Overall, when the dot pitch is smaller the monitor will be better. This means that greater levels of resolution can be created on smaller monitors.

That is what to look for in a computer monitor. The resolution, size, refresh quality, display and the pixel size should all be considered when looking into buying a computer monitor. Not all computer monitors will be the same, so it is important to look into all of these aspects so that it will be easier to find a monitor that is right for one’s individual needs.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Recycling Old Computers To Save The Environment


Many cities, towns and townships are now thinking about computer recycling as well as TV recycling methods to protect the environment and avoid possible soil contamination. Because computers contain many parts that could release toxins into the soil, city governments are seeking alternative ways to dispose of your old computers as well as all your old electronic equipment. This eventually will become a normal practice as more city governments become aware of the potential danger of dumping computers and all electronic products into a landfill. Many groups are also spreading the word about computer recycling and want to find better ways to dispose of the equipment. 

In many cities, there are local electronic stores or recycling centers that will take your old computers and other electronics, dismantle them, and place the right parts in the right containers for disposal. This method of disposal will soon become a necessity because of the computer industries continued upgrading and making more computers that are newer more affordable for the average person to buy. If the computers make it into landfills as they have in the past, it could eventually cause environmental issues that would then need to be addressed by the federal government. 

The issue of recycling computers and other electronics has become a hot computer topic and will continue to be addressed by conservatives and government officials in order to protect the land. Because the monitors as well as televisions have gases and other toxins that if placed in landfill sites could sooner or later release these gases into the atmosphere as well. This is a concern for all who have the ozone and air quality in mind. The gases inside a monitor need to be released safely as you do with a refrigerator or air-conditioner. Without proper release, the air can become filled with these toxic gases. 

When recycling computers, monitors and any printers, people need to take the equipment to a place that is accredited for safely disposing of the equipment in a safe and proper way rather than dumping the equipment in a pile somewhere and hope for the best. It is vital that everyone disposes of their computer equipment properly and take it to a participating recycler in the area. You may have to pay a small fee to drop off your old electronic equipment, but you will also be spending the money wisely to protect the environment. 

One of the issues surrounding computer disposal is the already thousands if not millions of computers, printers and monitors as well as other electronics that are already in landfills all over the world. Many people express concern about ways to clean up landfill sites that already have the electronics dumped there, but the cost would be in the millions to do such a huge project of this sort. Besides the fact that electronics that have been in landfills for some time now have probably already done what harm they could do already. 

Printers just need the ink cartridges and toner cartridges removed before dismantling them. Many stores such as Office Max and other retail electronic stores have barrels for disposing of your old cartridges. Many ink and toner manufactures that sell to stores, supply pre-paid envelopes for sending the old cartridges back for recycling. These practices have been around for quite a while now. This has cut down on ink cartridges and toner cartridges from being pull in landfills. If everyone would learn to recycle computer and electronic equipment, then it will save millions of dollars for future clean up of these landfill sites. 

Recycling old computers to save the environment is necessary and everyone has a responsibility to abide by this practice to protect and preserve land and air quality. With the newer computer systems becoming available for an affordable price and the way technology changes daily, people are going to need new computers and other electronic equipment to keep up with the changing world. Recycling is needed to accommodate all the old equipment that will double if not triple over the next few years.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Portable Media Inputs For Computers


Portable media is one of the most popular things that can be used. Whether it is for an MP3 player, a digital camera or something that is just used to transport files around, portable media can be used to easily transfer information from one computer to another. There are numerous portable media inputs to look into.

The most popular of the portable media inputs for computers is the USB input. The Universal Serial Bus input is used to improve plug and play compatibility so that devices can be easily connected to a computer without having to restart the computer or install additional software. Flash drives are especially popular among USB inputs, but various other programs and hardware will use this. This includes MP3 players that use USB connections to connect the player to the computer or portable video players that work in the same way. Hardware for the computers have been using USB inputs too, including computer speakers, monitors and printers.

An SD card is another of the portable media inputs for computers. Short for Secure Digital, this is a popular method of data storage for all different types of digital media. This includes digital cameras, GPS devices and PDA computers. Many of the top cards can hold multiple gigabytes of information. SD cards are becoming popular in these devices and more computers have built in SD card readers. SDHC cards, which are Secure Digital High Capacity cards, are also popular and can be read on these computers. These cards are known for using the FAT32 file system and can handle more than ten gigabytes of data.

Most computers will have memory stick compatibility. This is one of the most commonly used portable media inputs for computers because it can be easily transported and can carry large amounts of data. This media input can write around two megabytes of information per second and can transfer more megabytes per second. This is one of the portable media inputs for computers that is continually evolving. Whereas an original stick would be able to handle sixteen megabytes of data, a Memory Stick PRO can handle more than a gigabyte of information and the Memory Stick Micro, which is smaller in size but can fit into a typical memory stick input, can theoretically fit up to thirty two gigabytes of data.

CompactFlash is another of the portable media inputs for computers. This is an input that is used especially with digital cameras. Many computers today will have built in inputs for CompactFlash cards. Some of these cards will be able to handle data with sizes as great as that of four gigabytes. Professional film development stores that have machines that can read CompactFlash cards can even handle this type of portable media. Because of the ease of reading the data on the card, it is affordable to print pictures from a CompactFlash input at one of these stores.

The last of the portable media inputs for computers is the SmartMedia card. This is a flash memory card made by Toshiba that is popular among digital cameras. Several considerations should be used with this input though. In addition, some devices will only be able to handle five-volt cards and not 3.3-volt cards. Some readers can handle cards of either voltage, and this is the case for most computers that have these portable media inputs for the SmartMedia card.

Portable media is popular in that it is easier to store and move data between computers. These five portable media inputs for computers are among the ones that can be found on a typical computer system. Not only will these portable media inputs for computers read the data that is stored on cards and other devices, but in many cases they can be used to connect equipment that uses these cards and devices with ease.

Friday, April 13, 2012

People Are Rethinking The Idea Of Installing Windows Vista


Many people who rushed into the download and installation of the new Windows Vista are having second thoughts. Like everything new, the bugs are not quite worked out. Microsoft has a great concept in Windows Vista, except it has some potential problems. Many businesses run Windows XP or Windows 2000 and have established great success with their current product and tend to be a little apprehensive about installing the new Windows. They may have good reason. The Window Systems they are using now have been around longer, are tested and have been proven to work for the businesses with IT technicians. Many businesses are waiting for the Service Pack 1 to become available before installing Windows Vista. 

The biggest downfall to installing Windows Vista is that some applications are not as compatible as Microsoft had hoped for and this is a major concern. Many companies that have older computer systems are worried that when they install the operating system on their older computers, they are going to have additional cost in upgrading computers and other applications and software that they currently use now. This concern is not only been proven by businesses but also by personal computer users. 

If you are a personal computer user, your software and other applications may be compatible with Windows Vista, as for business owners, they have many different programs that will more than likely not run correctly once they install the new Windows System. This is the top concern. If a business relies on the communication through computers, they are going to want a compatible Windows System that will allow them to use their current software and applications. This concern is the biggest problem that businesses have with Windows Vista. 

Another concern is coming from people who work at home as a freelancer. Many companies that are hiring for work at home jobs are not accepting people who have Windows Vista. There computer systems and software will not work with the new Microsoft Windows. This is causing concern for home workers who are buying new computers in hopes of making a living at home. 

Since the issues with the compatibility of Windows Vista have become such a hot computer topic, many have expressed concern about not being able to use the program. Many would like to use it, but feel it may hinder not only a business environment but also a home environment. If you have a newer computer with Windows XP and the newer software, it might not become an issue with the software, but if your computer is older and upgraded to Windows XP and then Windows Vista, then you will probably run into software issues. 

Many people are upgrading without reading the reviews and issues about upgrading, how it affects their current software and the possible problems. After they have installed the new Windows Vista, people are having problems with programs not running. They are finding that they have to also upgrade all the software or not use it at all. This causes concern for people who need the software they have and cannot afford to upgrade everything at one time. Many people also have slower running computers and find out that the computer is running slower after the upgrade.

Windows Vista is a hot computer topic because of the concerns and issues, but also because people are waiting for the service pack to be released. Once the service pack is released and more people start having better performance from Windows Vista, it might then sell faster. Right now, the reviews of the Windows program is split fifty-fifty on the ease of use and the performance. Of course, like any new Microsoft product that comes out, Windows Vista is no different, many people wait to make sure all the glitches are worked out before rushing out to buy the product. This is something more of a personal choice more than anything.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

How Can You Tell If Your Computer Is Bot Infected


A bot is an important thing that a computer uses when on the Internet. A bot is an application that works to run automated activities for maintenance and protection when the user is on the Internet. There are some instances of where bots can be dangerous. So, how can you tell if your computer is bot infected? You can find out when you follow the tips mentioned here.

How can you tell if your computer is bot infected? You can find out by seeing if your Internet activities have been involuntarily restricted. There are various different types of bots that can be dangerous to a computer. Some bots will cause denial of service attacks to take place. This is where the user who is trying to get it to work cannot access a resource that is on a computer. It will be impossible for you to access certain websites on the Internet. This is one of the main ways of how can you tell if you computer is bot infected.

How can you tell if your computer is bot infected? You can tell if there is a good amount of computer viruses that are found on your computer during a virus scan. Even though a typical antivirus program will update itself often and do automatic scanning and protection, there can be instances where new viruses can sneak onto your computer that are not listed in the definitions that your computer program has. Many malicious bots will have these new viruses on them, so you should especially watch out for these when you are online.

One of the best things to do to find out how can you tell if your computer is bot infected is by checking to see how much spam you are getting in your email account. Bots will be especially effective in creating spam that can be sent to infected computers. This can even affect email servers that have strong spam filters. The reason why these filters will be avoided when bots send spam is that in some cases multiple bots on multiple systems can work together to send different pieces of spam. This takes place through a botnet that can build up when one bot infects a computer and it spreads to other computers.

One of the other things that can be used to help you tell if your computer is bot infected is if you live in an area that is near a bot control server. Bots have become a global problem in many countries that have control servers that send bots to other innocent computers. The United States has most of these servers, particularly in the Washington D.C. and Chicago areas. Atlantic Canada, Stockholm and Seoul also have large servers. These are areas that have the highest concern levels. 

Are there any products that can help you with understanding about bot infections and that tell you how can you tell if your computer is bot infected? Of course there are. You can check to make sure that your firewall and antivirus programs are fully updated and contain the latest patches. After you update the program, you can run a scan to see if your computer is bot infected.

Prevention is an even more important thing to use though. Having a firewall program is helpful. Protecting personal information that you may be sending online should be used too, as you should only give it to legitimate sites that are trusted. Do not forget to avoid spam emails that may sound like a good deal. This is one of the main ways of how bots can spread onto a computer, and it can indeed be prevented.

How can you tell if your computer is bot infected? You can tell by looking into the viruses and spam that you have in your computer. Making sure your computer is protected can help you to avoid them so that only good bots that help with computer processes will be on your computer.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Hot Tips About Dual Core Processors

Dual core processors have become very popular in the world of computing. Some hot tips about dual core processors have been printed in many computer magazines for the last few years and have served to whet the appetite of many computer users looking to upgrade their computer systems. The ability of dual core processors to make computer systems run much faster and cooler means that many people want these processors in their computers. 

The hot tips about dual core processors have been talked about in many computer user forums online for many months now and the consensus seems to be that everyone wants them to be in their computer systems. While many older computers may not have the correct architecture to accept these dual processors, many of the newer models of computer can easily adapt to this innovation. The ability of dual core processors to handle multiple programs at one time is a very attractive aspect for anyone thinking of buying dual core processor architecture for their computer system. 

The goal of the companies that are producing these dual core processor systems has been to get a system that can do the work at the best price for consumers. Because hot tips about dual core processors have become commonplace among many computer users, the popularity of these processors has grown a lot. Many people have been waiting for the ‘bugs’ to be worked out of the dual core processor systems, before they purchase a system for their own computer.

The main groups of computer users who are interested in this technology are the ones that use higher memory applications and people who use a lot of graphic programs such as computer games. This last set of users has been behind the dual core technology since the beginning as this innovation will enhance their playing considerably and allow their systems to compete with video game consoles already on the market. Once dual core processor systems can easily compete with video gaming consoles, and then the gaming consumer will think twice about buying a video console rather than upgrading to a dual core system. 

While some manufacturers of these processors have gone after the gaming market, others have aimed their marketing towards the business sector. Offering reliable and powerful processing systems to both markets has resulted in many computer users having much more powerful systems with a high level of reliability. The speed at which these processors deliver results is staggering to many users who have been waiting for innovations such as this to come along. Many hot tips about dual core processors can be traced back to online forums among users who wanted a better and faster way to process computer applications.

The companies that create these applications wanted the manufacturers of the processors to make the processors faster so that the newer programs could be run much better and faster than they once had. This allowed for a great deal of innovation in the programs being produced as well. Knowing that the dual core processors could handle the program criteria allowed the programmers of games and applications to do whatever they wanted in the creation of a better and faster game or applications program.

When talking about hot tips about dual core processors, it’s important to realize that not only are these new processors faster at handling multiple tasks, but they are more capable of being able to deal with many computer programs and processes running at the same time. Since many people seldom run a single program or application on their computer at any one time, this ability to handle multiple applications is very important. The chance of your computer crashing under the load of trying to operate many programs at the same time is very slim now. These powerhouse processors can easily handle all the computing needs you have. You can read all about the newest innovations where dual core processors are concerned by simply searching online for manufacturers who specialize in these systems for computer users.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Web Raises Security Issues


If there is one thing that people do not want to put up with when they are online, it is a hacker that disrupts Internet connections and even affects the files a user has on a computer. Here is a look at how hacking the web raises security issues and how hackers can be stopped so that these security issues will not be a problem.

One of the ways that hacking the web raises security issues is that it can create dangerous software. Hackers can easily insert malware into a computer. This consists of files that can be especially damaging to the computer. The reason for these damaging capabilities is that a hacker can easily look through and edit files that are inside a website or the computer of a user on a website. Hacking the web raises security issues because it not only affects the websites involves, but it can also affect the users of the sites that have been affected.

Hackers who work on hacking the web can steal specific information that other groups may give to websites. This includes phone numbers that can be used to call people with unsolicited offers. In some cases, a hacker may have more control over the malware that is used and therefore insert this software into a mobile phone that is listed on a website database. This can cause the hacker to steal even more phone numbers.

In many cases, the hackers can send data to people on a contact list and this is then considered spam. They can send viruses and other pieces of malware that will only end up expanding the level of power that the hacker has. Some people may not know what to do with the emails that they get from a hacker because they may not know exactly whether the message is legitimate. This makes it clear that hacking the web raises security issues.

A hacker can steal the especially sensitive financial data, and this is another reason why hacking the web raises security issues. For people who are going to be sending financial information and other important pieces of data to a website the information can be especially important. A hacker for that person to use for that person’s advantage can steal the information. This includes not only credit card numbers and other information regarding these cards but also Social Security numbers.

Since hacking the web raises security issues, it is best to use a few simple tips to work with improving security. For businesses that run websites that may be prone to hackers, it is best to install a good firewall onto the server. This can be used to help monitor incoming transmissions and block any software that is going to be sent to the server without the permission of the company that owns the server.

Having the appropriate antivirus software is needed. A typical firewall program will have all of this information. This can be used for a server as long as the program will automatically update itself as new information on viruses and other dangerous things that hackers may have to gain access to a website or your computer are known. With automatic updates, it will be easier to be protected.

In addition, for people who visit these sites, a firewall can be used. General measures that the average person should be using can help too. These include visiting only websites that can be trusted and by not opening any online links from any emails that may have been sent as a result from visiting any sites.

It is very clear that hacking the web raises security issues. By taking care of these risks with a good firewall and antivirus program and by recognizing how hackers will look into affecting a system it will be easier to handle hackers and any other dangerous things that may come around.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Great News For Computer Users


The new Intel 3 chip is out. This is the newest chip in the world of Intel computer processors. This is going to be a chip that will be used to power some of the world’s fastest and most powerful computers and will be used to help make a computer more efficient. Now that the new Intel 3 chip is out let’s take a look at all of the different things that will work with this new chip.

The reason why the Intel 3 chip has the three in its name is that the speed and strength of the chip is incredibly powerful at three gigahertz or higher. This is one of the strongest chips that is available on the market and will be impressive for high end products in terms of how well they will work on a computer.

One of the best things about the Intel 3 chip is how it performs in certain display technologies. Image technology is one of the newest technologies in computers, and the new Intel 3 chip works very well with this technology. It also performs incredibly well in integrated illustration display.

The audio quality of the programs that are run with the Intel 3 chip is impressive. 7.1 channels of ambient sound can be produced on programs that are run with the Intel 3 chip. This is the best sound technology that is available on the market and it can make computers that run with the Intel 3 chip work like a home theater system with its unbelievable sound quality.

One of the most notable things to see now that the new Intel 3 chip is out is that the chip supports HDMI technology. This is High-Definition Multimedia Interface technology. It works to transmit fully uncompressed video and audio streams in high definition quality. This is found to be one of the newest technologies and is expected to replace coaxial cable based technologies in the future and VGA video technologies.

Another thing to know now that the new Intel 3 chip is out is that it is a 45nm, or nanometer processor. With the smaller size of this chip there will be less power consumed by the chip. This is impressive in that it will help to keep from overheating or being especially stressed while still sending out the best technology available to a computer. Of course, because of the much smaller size of the chip, it will cost more money to make, and this will result in a cost for the chip that is going to be higher than that of other chips on the market.

Because the new Intel 3 chip is out, there will be a greater demand for this than other chips in the world of computing. However, it will also be more expensive than that of other chips that are on the market. A typical chip that has a speed of three gigahertz or more can cost over a thousand dollars in most cases.

In addition, since the new Intel 3 chip is out there will be many stores that will have them for sale. Technology stores like Circuit City and Best Buy will generally have these computers available for sale. Specialty stores like Fry’s Electronics will have them also.

Wholesale computer part stores and outlet stores will have these products in the Intel 3 chip family as stand-alone items that can be installed into certain computers too. For instance, Tiger Direct outlet stores in the Chicago, Miami and Raleigh areas will have them for sale. These outlet stores can generally be found online also for those who do not live near any of these places. For instance, by going to tigerdirect.com Tiger Direct products can be purchased online.

The new Intel 3 chip is out. Not only is it powerful but it is also on top of the latest technologies in the world of computing.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Finding Affordable Hard Drives


One thing is for sure, the hard drive is something that no computer can be without. In fact, when you are looking to upgrade your computer or buy a new one you should use the hard drive as one of the most important considerations to follow. There are all types of affordable hard drives to choose from though. These will help to not only give your computer a place for its data to be stored but they will be useful in that you will not have to spend more money than you need to.

The first thing to consider when finding affordable hard drives is the capacity of the hard drive. While larger hard drives have become the way to go for some computers these days the more affordable hard drives are going to be the ones that have lower levels of data capacity. A hard drive that fits 250GB of data will certainly cost less than that of an 800GB hard drive.

Another thing to consider for the affordable hard drive is the USB capability. Some hard drives will only be able to be used inside of the computer. Some of them can be read through a USB connection. This has turned into one of the most convenient methods of data storage on the market. Groups like Western Digital and Seagate have been making these, but it should be noted that the most affordable hard drives in this range are ones with lower capacity levels.

Affordable hard drives will still have great data transfer rates also. Inner zone transfer rates for one of these cost efficient hard drives will be at around fifty megabytes a second and close to a hundred megabytes in a second for data at the outer zone.

There are various different places where you can find affordable hard drives. For instance, a typical computer hardware store will have new hard drives available for sale at different price levels so you can find one that will be in the range that you are willing to spend it on.

Some independent computer hardware stores will have refurbished hard drives for sale. These have already been used but are cleaned up and restored so that they will work just like new. Even the higher end hard drives may be available in refurbished quality. This will mean that you can save a great amount of money on top quality products.

An outlet store will also have affordable hard drives. This is because these hard drives are sold individually to people who are looking to customize their computers. In addition, with no middleman involved money will be saved because of the small transfer costs. You can find an outlet store in your area through your local phone book.

Online sites can be useful too. TigerDirect.com, which is the website for the Tiger Direct Outlet Store, has many of these affordable hard drives. SuperWarehouse.com has plenty of hard drives and special deals for sale too. PCNation.com has more hard drives and arranges its hard drives by capacity size. Of course, those are some of the more credible sites to visit. Remember, some online stores may not be protected or secure like these three are.

A hard drive is something that you should use for your computer. By using the considerations of the hard drive in terms of the size, you want and by looking at various different stores, you can find affordable hard drives that your computer can use without you having to spend more money than you want to.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Computer Viruses Are A Hot Topic


No matter who you talk to, everyone has either had a computer virus or knows of someone who has gone through the agony of trying to get rid of the problem. Computer viruses are a hot topic that seem to affect everyone who owns a computer system, whether at work or at home. The companies that produce software programs that catch and delete these computer viruses are constantly updating their databases for virus types and definitions so that they can better protect your system against all the newest viruses. Creating virus protection programs is a multi-billion dollar business that is growing more and more everyday. The number of viruses being created and uploaded to the Internet is growing at an astounding rate of a new one every eighteen seconds! This definitely keeps the virus protection companies on their toes with research and development. 

Because these viruses copy themselves to any computer system they come in contact with, the spread of viruses throughout a computer network or the Internet is a very fast and deadly thing to happen to your computer. Because computer viruses are a hot topic, they routinely are the subject of magazine articles and forum topics online. While some viruses do nothing more than frustrate you with pop-up ads or other messages, others are completely malicious and set out from the start to destroy the files and operating systems of your computer. 

Of the 53,000 viruses that have been identified and classed, more than 80 percent of them have been classed as malicious and capable of harming your computer system or data files. These computer viruses behave in much the same way as biological viruses by contaminating any computer systems they come in contact with. These self-executing programs are generally very small and work at damaging the way your computer works or by damaging or completely removing key system files. 

When computer viruses are a hot topic, more and more people find out about the destructive power of these programs. In this way a great many people find out about virus protection programs and rush out to get the newest protection programs or they ensure that their computer virus protection is up to date. Many magazine and news articles about computer viruses have the effect of sometimes panicking people into believing that their computers are at risk. Having a good anti-virus program and current updates is one of the best ways to protect your computer system against virus attacks. 

This must also be coupled with good file habits such as scanning all downloaded files with the anti-virus program before opening them. It is always a good idea to take the time to ensure that the file you thought you were downloading is indeed the file you have. For instance, a file that labels itself as a movie file and is less than one megabyte in size is not a movie file. Movie files are generally nearly a thousand times that size and therefore, the file you have downloaded is most likely not a movie file and may in fact be a computer virus.

Computer viruses are a hot topic at the office when a virus attack manages to get past protection protocols put in place by the network administrators. All it takes is one person allowing some executable files they have been sent to open and start replicating itself through the network of computers to make life Hell for that company. Virus attacks can cripple office systems very quickly resulting in lost revenue and consumer confidence which can affect the way that stocks in that company are traded resulting in even further financial losses. That is why it is so important for larger businesses to have comprehensive computer virus protection programs in place. 

These virus programs are much more detailed and powerful than the anti-virus programs that many consumers have protecting their computer systems. Because the fallout from a virus attack is much more financially damaging to a large corporation, the virus protection program needs to be much more robust and capable of protecting multiple systems within the corporation. Computer viruses are a hot topic among businesses simply because of the way that they can affect the company financially.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Computer Use by Seniors Eases Loneliness


More and more seniors are catching the ‘computer bug’ and taking the plunge to go online. The active baby boomers have grown up and become active seniors looking to get out and explore the world around them. The Internet and computers in general, have opened the doors to many avenues of entertainment and excitement for these seniors. No longer are they resigned to the playing of shuffleboard or canasta with their friends for their entertainment. Now with the aid of computers and the Internet they can play these games and more over online connections with people from all over the world. While learning to use a computer is still one of the biggest challenges to many seniors, many of them, when they learn to use a computer, cannot believe that they were ever worried about it at all. 

Some seniors have expressed nervousness when it comes to learning how to use a computer and interact with others over the Internet. They are doubly proud when they cannot only learn to use a computer but can also manage to send emails and use computer programs without any outside help at all. While some seniors may have had some experience with computers in their past employment, most are learning the basics of computer use for the first time from the ground up. It is quite an ordeal at first for many people who find it all a bit overwhelming. This quickly passes though as they learn the basics very quickly and can see basic results after only a few lessons.

Computer use among seniors has proven to be very beneficial to them in many ways. It gets them active again in something. While using a computer is not the same thing as doing exercise for the body, the use of a computer is a very stimulating way for them to exercise their most important muscle – their brain. By keeping mentally active, many seniors find that they are not lonely any longer and they have much more that they can accomplish with the aid of a computer. Not only can they use computer programs to help them work on any hobbies they have, but the Internet can also help them to stay in touch with others who share in their hobby.  Staying in touch with family and friends by way of email is another great way to help seniors feel connected to the lives of others and to the world around them. By staying in close contact, they find more purpose in their old age.

Some seniors even become competent enough with their computer usage that they can take on part time jobs doing simple data entry for businesses. They can also help to teach other seniors about the benefits of learning to use a computer and the amazing world of the Internet. Many seniors may have only heard about the millions of web sites out there that have so much information that they can access easily. For many seniors it is like turning on a light that shows them what they have been missing all these years. They become passionate about their search for knowledge with computers and the Internet. The sense of isolation is immediately lifted the very first time they send and receive their initial email message to someone they know. Whether the person is across the country or just across the street, the excitement is the same. They soon learn to feel part of the world again and can take part in many more conversations as their knowledge about computers and the Internet grows.

Being able to reconnect with old friends that they have not talked to for years is a very big deal for these seniors. They can also encourage each other to learn more as they go through many of the same things together while learning about computers and the Internet. Many seniors with hearing problems find it much easier to email someone rather than try and talk to them on the telephone. Seniors who are grandparents find the Internet a great way to stay a part of their grandkids lives. By sending emails and talking over everyday events, the family grows closer and stays closer as well. By using the Internet, many seniors have found friends with common interests, whether those interests are hobbies or health matters they share, the excitement at being able to message someone and have them chat back to you in nearly real-time is very fun for these seniors.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Banning USB Flash Drives From The Workplace


The last few years we have seen an increase in sales of the fancy looking USB flash drives. They have been made as small as a keychain figurine or a tie clip. Yes, USB flash drives to wear on your tie. Now that these flash drives have made their way to everyone because of the affordable pricing, many workplaces are banning them from the office. It is one of the best ways to steal company information without anyone knowing about it. Many companies have as far as disabling the USB ports on employee’s computers. This may seem a little extreme, but companies have to protect their information. 

Although some businesses give these little units to their employees for advertising purposes, they are not allowed to use them in the workplace. They are basically given as an advertisement with the company logo on them for others to see. There are so many harmful affects that these flash drives can have on a business. Because of their different shapes and designs, businesses have decided to pull the plug on the USB ports. You might look at someone’s keychain and think that little gadget they have is cute, but that cute little gadget could ruin your business. 

This type of theft and the creation of the USB flash drives brought concern from many businesses and individuals alike. What if you are individual that carries around a USB flash drive in their purse or on a keychain would lose the unit? All information would be loss and open to anyone who finds the flash drive. This causes concern for concern for how to properly store the flash drives that have sensitive information recorded. Carrying around a flash drive is just like carrying around your credit card. If you lose it, you are vulnerable to fraud. 

For the most part, flash drives have allowed people to download music, pictures and files and free up room on the laptop or the desktop computer. These are also valuable in the event you would lose information on your computer due to a hacker or a virus. In this case, the USB flash drives are extremely necessary. You can buy different size flash drives to hold different amounts of information. If you download a huge amount of music, you may want a USB flash drive that can accommodate all the files or more than one. 

New technology has enhanced the use of the computer for more than one reason. People can now use flash drives for file storage and businesses can storage vital information on these drives in order to keep it safe from potential security leaks. Although businesses ban the use of the flash drives from employee’s, the company themselves do use these as way’s to conduct business during travels. They can make presentations and instead of carrying a laptop along on their travels, they just take the flash drive. 

Today, with the higher security in airports, it is always important to check with new security rules before attempting to take a flash drive on the airplane to make sure it will be accepted. In most cases, you will fid that they are allowed. Other business concerns the flash drives are a valuable and handy little piece of technology that will help secure important files and information.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Using Google Adwords To Drive Laser Targeted Traffic


The biggest well known secret in generating wealth in the internet based business or e-commerce is Traffic. Everybody knows it; every site wants it and every site needs it. The point of websites is to be visited and viewed. Many elaborate designs, money and countless hours of developing a site to make them beautiful and attractive are utilized. Without traffic, it is for naught. 

With traffic comes a potential customer which basically means sales which in turn means profit. While many sites have collapsed in the past with the downturn of many internet based business, many smaller sites have generated good money by concentrating on a certain niche and some subniches. 

This is a reason why e-commerce site laser target certain groups of people and drive them to their site to showcase their sites and products. Precision marketing is essential so that you could count on all the traffic on your site as potential customers.

Using Money to Make Money

It’s a common business notion that if you want to make money, you have to spend money. One good way of spending money for business gain is through advertising. Advertising brings in the people because through advertising, they know that there is such a company or product in existence. With the right type of advertising, you can see the spurt of traffic growth to your site. With a high volume of traffic, even if only a small portion or percentage turns out to be buying customers it is still a good average of profit generating income.

Right now, there is no other advertising scheme that would be worth every cent than using Google’s Adwords. The surge in popularity of Google’s Adwords is very evident as you can see so many sites sporting this ad scheme. 

In using Google's Adwords, you pay a certain fee depending on the number of keywords your ad is keyword sensitive to. Each time a person does a search in Google, the keyword or keywords use generate ads in the side of Google which are generated by the keywords they have assigned for their ads.

This method laser targets the traffic a site wants for their site. This also ensures that you are readily visible in the first page of a search result. Paying Google for this ad scheme ensures that your target group of people sees your ads. You drive your laser targeted traffic to your site which provides for their needs and wants. You can also be sure that you can meet their demands and needs. 

Aside from Google, you can also be featured in their other search networks, these includes sites like, AskJeeves, AOL Search and Netscape. These sites also show Adwords ads that react to searches done by visitors. There are also content networks, non-search engine sites that feature Google Adwords, which will also carry your ads. But this is subjected to the niche the site features. Your chosen keywords will determine which content network shall feature your ad. The frequency of your ad shall also be determined by your allowed budget.

Laser Targeting your Traffic

To get a good number or estimate of the traffic to buying customer ratio it is good to laser target your traffic. Knowing that your traffic are all potential customers and are interested in your products and company provides you with a more accurate statistics. This will show you how effective your utilizing of Google Adwords is.

Drive laser targeted traffic to your site by using keywords or keyword phrases for your Goggle Adwords that pertains to your company and to your products. There are many online internet tools that can help you in choosing keywords and keyword phrases that are currently in demand that could help drive laser targeted traffic to your site.

With your Google Adwords ad, you are ensured that every click to your ad is a potential customer that is precisely looking pr interested in what you have to offer. Make sure that your Google Adwords ad has the right keywords so that you can drive you're laser targeted traffic to your site. 

Using Google Adwords to help boost the drive to increase laser targeted traffic will prove to be very beneficial as many other companies can attest to. The benefits are high with the cost relatively justifiable.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

A Look At What Caused Skype To Shut Down


Skype is one of the most popular communication programs used by people on the Internet. People with Skype accounts can call one another and talk with each other verbally with computer microphones. Phone calls from standard landlines can even be received and handled through a Skype account. Rates for calls through Skype are cheaper than that of standard calls and calls between Skype users are free, and this makes Skype especially popular. However, on August 16 and 17 in 2007 there was a time in which Skype shut down because of a crash in the system. Here is a look at what caused Skype to shut down.

One of the factors that caused Skype to shut down was that there was a security update that took place on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Microsoft Windows users will receive routine security updates from time to time. These updates are all used with the intention of helping to protect the user’s computer from the newest hazards that are online.

One of the requirements that are needed for a security update on the Windows operating system is that the computer will have to be restarted so that the new updates will be installed and able to function.  According to reports from Skype, there was a high amount of traffic and it seemed that everyone was rebooting their computers at the same time and then trying to get onto the Skype program. This plays a very important factor into learning about what caused Skype to shut down.

Another issue that caused Skype to shut down was from an error in the software code in the Skype program. This error prompted Skype to shut down in the event that excessive activity takes place. It is not clear as to how the error came about, but after this was found, work began to close the error so that a shut down like this would not take place again.

The Skype Company described the error that caused Skype to shut down as a “deficiency in an algorithm within Skype networking software.” The algorithm was described as an interaction that helps to connect the Skype network with the client that the individual Skype user has to connect. This was considered to be the first time in which this took place within the system. Some have argued that the company was not prepared to take care of this particular type of error.

Many other factors evolve around what caused Skype to shut down. One of the biggest problems is that more people are using Skype more so than in recent years. This has prompted more people to use up the bandwidth that Skype has available. It is in theory that because of the incredible demand for services from Skype that the system may have shut down as a result.

How popular has Skype become recently? In the early part of 2006, there were a little less than a hundred million Skype accounts throughout the world. As of July 2007, there are a little over 220 million users throughout the world. With an average of nine million individual users on at once at any time of the day around the world, the bandwidth amount and activity that can take place with all of the Skype accounts can cause the Skype program to be over taxed.

That is a general look into what caused Skype to shut down. While the original problem has been fixed and Skype is now available for all people to use again, the Skype Company will be looking to take care of the problem so that this will not happen again. However, with the continuously growing popularity of Skype and the increased activity that is used in Skype, there is always the chance that something new may happen, unless Skype can upgrade their system to handle so much traffics.