Need a new computer?
Things to Consider When Buying A Printer
Printing papers, copying, faxing and the like has become almost required in this day and age even to function in normal everyday life. Whether you’re doing it for work, or doing it for hobby purposes, having a quality printer is essential. What do you look for when you buy a printer though? Are there certain features that make one printer better than another, or are the all in the same league? This article aims to guide you into making a purchase on a printer that you will not regret.
1. Consider Your Needs- It’s important before you do anything that you consider your needs and why you’re buying this printer. If you’re buying for a company, it might be a good choice to make sure that this printer has a high volume of ink and that it has wireless access as well as the ability to fax. If you’re buying a printer for home, however, you might just want a simple printer that is less costly and fits your basic needs. It can even be questions like do you want to print in color or do you only need black and white text? The price of printers varies greatly, but unusual capabilities such as fax and wireless networking tend to make printers cost more.
2. Consider the Amount of Use- This may seem like an odd piece of advice, but this can drastically change the price of which you pay for your printer. If you’re printing multiple pages quickly, or if you need them quickly, you may want a higher PPM (page per minute) ratio than if you’re just using your printer to print a few pages every few days. Considering how much use is also important when comparing what kinds of ink each printer uses. Ink is often expensive and annoying to come across after you’ve bought your computer, this means that if you’re a power user you may want to find a printer that consumes less ink or that gets more out of the ink it uses.
3. Consider Brands and Companies- It’s always important to note where you’re buying your technology from, as some companies are more reputable than others. You not only want a good value from the company you look at, but you’re also hunting for good service and support for once you’ve actually acquired your printer. Prices on Amazon or from company websites are often cheaper than buying them in a retail store, making online purchases from a company more desirable.
If you get nothing else out of this article, please take away with you that it’s important to consider what you need when you purchase new technology. If you get more features than you’ll actually use, then it’s apparent that you overpaid for your printer.
Photo Credits: krossbow
Originally posted 2009-09-29 03:14:35.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 7, 2011 in
Computer, How to Fix
Is your computer on fire?
Overheating is a serious issue with PC’s today, especially with
the new powerful graphics cards and processors on the market today.
It’s no coincidence that more and more fans and liquid cooling options
have emerged, it’s very common for your computer today to shut itself
off to protect you from the damage that overheating can cause. How
can you prevent the overheating from happening though? This article
will give you a few surefire ways to prevent your PC from overheating.
Clean Your Computer
That’s right; it could be as simple as cleaning. Clearing the
dust out of your computer is one of the best ways of decreasing the
heat that your computer is putting off. Dust can accumulate to a
point where it slows down the speed of computers fans, and it even can
stop them! You can’t stop dust from getting into your computer
either; even if you leave the computer case closed dust will still
find its way into your computer.
When cleaning your computer it’s important to remember to turn it
off. This ensures that the fans won’t be moving and that you won’t
cause any unwanted damage to your system. It’s also important to know
what areas you’re looking for. There will be a fan on your CPU, your
power supply, as one located on the back of the side of your case.
There are many ways to clean these fans off but one that’s often
recommended is the use of canned air.
Reduce Overclocking
Overclocking is the term used for when you’re running a computer
component at a higher speed or rate it was intended to run at.
Overclocking is more popular among high-end and gaming PC’s, so if you
didn’t know what overclocking was it’s safe to assume you’re not doing
it.
Overclocking not only decreases the life of the component being
overclocked, but it also increases the temperature that the part runs
at tremendously. Therefore, if your computer is having overheating
issues, it’s never a bad idea to investigate if there is any
overclocking occurring within your PC.
Control Air Flow
It’s important to make sure that your computer has room to breathe.
If you’re cramming objects against the computer or putting it inside a
desk, you will cause it to retain more heat that it normally would.
You should also pay extra attention to the cables inside of your
computer. Many manufacturers let them run wild inside your computer,
which could mean that the cables are rubbing against other parts of
your computers or even slowing the fans down. This can easily be
solved by organizing them with Velcro cable ties.
Computer overheating is a serious problem, but it almost always
has a direct cause. This article outlines a few tips that should get
you on the right track to returning your PC to its intended
temperature level.
Photo Credits: rust.bucket
Originally posted 2009-09-08 03:54:33.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 4, 2011 in
Computer, Tech Repair
Busted, broken, and beat up.
Beyond repair? Here are some things to consider when buying a computer monitor:
Resolution
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)? Confused yet? You’re not alone; buying a computer monitor can be a daunting task for someone who doesn’t understand what any of the above terms mean. Monitors are much more than meets the eye, and while the market may seem oversaturated with seemingly similar monitors, there are key differences that should be noted.
CRT or LCD
Whether a monitor is a CRT or an LCD is the easiest thing to notice when you’re purchasing your monitor, as CRTs often have backs and LCDs are flat. Being flat, LCDs weigh much less than CRT monitors, making them ideal for transportation or for those who need to fit a monitor into a small space. In terms of cost however, the CRT wins hands down as its older technology and less desirable design makes them less sought after. It’s important to note however that LCD monitors come down in price with every breathing moment. One advantage that CRT monitors hold against LCDs is their color rendering ability. Many graphic designers and artists feel that the colors presented with a CRT monitor are of higher quality, which is true in most cases. LCD color quality is quickly improving, however, and it’s hard to tell if the CRTs will hold this advantage much longer.
Response Time
Response time, or refresh rate, refers to the ability of the monitor to update the color that a pixel must represent as quickly as possible. It’s actually so quick that this quality is measured in milliseconds. So why does this concern you, the buyer? Response time is very important for people who’re playing video games, as they require a quick response time, as well as video editors. High response times can cause more than lagging your game though because bad response time is often seen as the cause for image ghosting and blurring.
Your Needs
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a new monitor is what it’s that you actually need. If you play video games then you may want to spend extra time looking for a monitor with a high response time and resolution. On the same note, people who just check their emails need not worry with things like a high response time. It’s also important to note what kind of connection your video card uses and what kind can fit into the back of the monitor. Messing with converters can be annoying!
Photo Credits: binarydreams
Buying a Monitor can seem like a challenge for the computer illiterate, but it’s actually quite easy with a little help. Make sure to talk to a store expert if you find yourself in a jam, and consider your needs so that you do not pay for pointless extra features.
Originally posted 2009-09-23 03:31:14.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on November 29, 2011 in
Computer, Tech Repair
Shiny new computer.
So it’s about time for you to finally upgrade your computer, but
wait, what details should you look for while shopping? This article
is not for an IT student or a computer science major; this article
aims to help the computer illiterate into making a choice that he or
she won’t regret. Most of the advice in this article can be applied
to both desktop and laptop computers.
Warranty
While at the store looking for your new computer, make sure you ask
and search for any warranty options that may be available to you. Not
only search to make sure that the computer you’re interested in has a
warranty, but also make sure that it covers as much as it possibly
can. A limited warranty that only covers an overheating part won’t do
you much good when you spill coffee all over your laptop. It’s
important to note that many computers come with a one year limited
warranty that covers basic damage, though many people don’t feel safe
enough with this warranty.
Prioritize RAM
If you’re looking for a basic computer that will let you: play music,
let you surf the internet, and run most applications then RAM (Random
Access Memory) is your best friend. With new operating systems such
as Windows Vista becoming the standard, RAM is increasingly more
important so that you don’t feel that clunky slowdown. An ideal
amount of ram for a Windows Vista machine is 2GB (gigabytes). While
processor speed and hard drive space are important, they are usually
not as big of a factor in small end machines and therefore won’t be as
important to you.
Your Needs
What are you using this computer for? This is a question you should
constantly ask yourself when buying a new computer. If you’re buying
a machine just to check your email, then you don’t need the best and
most expensive computer parts to achieve your goals. If you’re trying
to build a machine that can play top of the line video games, or run a
large amount of applications at once; then it’s then more important to
invest a larger sum of money on your video card (GPU) and processor
(CPU) units. If you’re unsure about what parts will fulfill your
needs, you have many options to educate yourself. Ask the store
specialists, search online blogs and articles, or even asking an
online forum will net you a sufficient amount of answers to any
questions you may have.
Remember when buying a new computer to always think of what you will
be using the computer for. This will help you not end up with a
machine that is less than what you needed, but it will also help you
not to overpay for a machine that offers much more than you wanted it
to.
Photo Credits: thelastminute
Originally posted 2009-09-11 03:05:53.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on October 30, 2011 in
Computer, Tech Repair
Spyware is to Computer what Trojan Horse is to Troy.
Along with the modern conveniences commonly associated with today's computers and laptops, we have one serious drawback: the things just don't always seem to work! This is especially true if you grew up in a generation that wasn't familiar with computers - why does your computer run so slow and always seem to keep freezing? In this article, we'll look at how to fix a computer loaded with spyware. After all, it's important to get back to that game of "Age of Kings."
First, you'll have to be sure that the problem with your computer is actually spyware. If it is, you should be able to remove it, but if your computer's problems rest in its actual hardware or construction, you'll probably want to get in touch with the manufacturer for some help. In some cases, a computer might be beyond fixing and you'll need to have it replaced. If your problem is only the spyware, you should be able to sweep it clean using the following technique.
Disconnect your computer from the internet - this might even be a good habit to keep up every night. Once your computer's disconnected from the Web, power it down by clicking "Shut down," or whatever proper way you have at your disposal. Give it a minute to shut down properly, and then have an anti-spyware CD ready. You'll re-boot your computer, this time with the CD ready to go. Once the computer's been started up, insert the CD and install the software.
Run a deep and wide software scan to find and track down the spyware on your system. (Note: You might want to set aside a day to handle this so that you can let the software take its sweet time). Periodically check in with your computer to see how far the scan has progressed. Once it's finished, go through with all the "deletes" you can to clear off the spyware from your computer.
After this is done, give your computer another re-boot and connect it back on to the computer. Make sure to note that the anti-spyware software you just installed might contribute to a longer start-up because it will automatically come on with your computer; if you don't want this, try to configure the options to meet your needs.
Your computer should now be spyware-free, or at least freshly cleaned. Now, back to "Age of Kings"!
Photo Credits: Darcy McCarty
Originally posted 2009-09-09 03:22:42.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on October 28, 2011 in
Computer, Tech Repair
Fix up your photos with computer programs.
Top 3 Graphical Editing Programs
Photo graphics programs are becoming more and more popular for photographers and artists, as well as casual users who want to edit or change the nature of their photos. As technology has become the standard for graphic editing, the market been saturated with graphic editing programs. Which program should you choose to edit your photos in though? This article will explain which programs are right for you, as well as giving you the list price that you can expect:
Photoshop
The beast from Adobe continues its domination for professional and amateur use alike. Photoshop has been described as a ‘killer application’ proving its desirability among the masses. As one of the earliest editors, dating back to 1990, Photoshop comes with a wide array of both creation tools as well as editing tools that make for an extremely powerful all-in-one program. Most notably, Photoshop’s layering system can make for splitting images into layers, making editing each individual area much easier. With credentials such as these, one must consider that Photoshop comes at a high price. If you thought this, you’re correct, as Photoshop clocks in $700 or $200 dollars if you have a university discount. Photoshop is meant for the professionals and the hardcore, if you don’t fall under this demographic, and simply want to edit as a hobby, don’t buy Photoshop as it has a high learning curve.
GIMP
With the success of Photoshop, what could possible rival it? Well, GIMP has been hailed as the ‘free Photoshop’ as it’s an open-source program that was originally created for Linux systems in 1996. As you may have just picked up, the biggest pro of using GIMP is that it’s completely free! Like Photoshop, however, GIMP has quite a steep learning curve and its large list of features may be completely mind boggling to the beginner. If you learn to utilize GIMP properly, however, it’s one of the most powerful graphical editing programs on the market.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET is a newcomer to the world of graphical editing; however, it has made an explosive entrance in 2004 as it has had a large amount of success. Paint.NET, like GIMP, is free to use. Also like GIMP, Paint.NET has often been compared to Photoshop in terms of its quality and efficiency. Paint.NET features a layering system like GIMP and Photoshop, as well as a much friendlier user environment that lowers the learning curb substantially when compared to the other two programs. One cool feature of Paint.NET is the ability to click a button the program that takes you to their online forum where many users can help you with any potential problem you may experience.
Hopefully this article gave you an idea on what kind of editing software is right for you. Remember, just because Photoshop is the most expensive software on the market may not mean its right for you. Consider your needs and what each program offers before you buy them, and that shouldn’t be too hard considering two of the greatest are free!
Photo Credits: Auzigog
Originally posted 2009-09-24 03:41:35.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on October 26, 2011 in
Computer, How to Fix
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