Archive for September, 2009
Five reasons why you should turn off your computer at night – Part Two
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Articles, General Technical Advice, Home Computing on September 30th, 2009
In part one of this 5 part series, we explored the first reason why it’s best to turn off your computer at night (or when it’s not in use, such as when you go out of town).
Today, we will cover part 2.
The second reason why you should power down your computer at night, is to [...]
Five reasons why you should turn off your computer at night – Part One
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Articles, General Technical Advice, Home Computing on September 28th, 2009
Some people say that turning a computer off when not in use shortens it’s life.
I disagree.
The rumor comes from the fact that a circuit is more likely to blow when electricity is first applied, much like a light bulb is more likely to “pop” when you first flip the switch. This may be true about [...]
Question: “I am worried about my teenage son going to bad web sites on the computer. What should I do?” – Paul Maddox, Loveland
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Purchase Advice, Questions & Answers on September 25th, 2009
Answer: Paul, I’m a parent myself. And since I know what sort of dangers are lurking on the web, I agree that you have reason to be concerned.
A quick way to check the web sites that a computer has been to in the past several weeks (or more) is to view the history on the [...]
Question: “What do I do with with an old computer after I’ve purchased a new one?” – Regina Harris, Fort Collins
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Questions & Answers on September 23rd, 2009
Answer: That’s a question we get a lot, Regina. Thanks for asking. Although certain details about your computer and your family situation are unknown, I’ll do my best to give you some good options.
First of all, if the computer hardware is functional, then it may make a great gift for a child or grandchild. I [...]
Windows 7 only $30 for students
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Purchase Advice on September 21st, 2009
For a limited time only, the folks over at The Rice Company (a site hosted on behalf of Microsoft), is offering Windows 7 to students for only $30 USD. You must have a valid student e-mail address to take advantage of the special pricing, but the offer seems very legitimate.
Note: If you are a student, [...]
Vista Desktop Icons Keep Moving Around? Give This a Try…
Posted by Bradley Chapple in IT Consulting on September 18th, 2009
Yes, we are still fighting Vista quirks are here… and counting down the days to Windows 7. Keeping in mind Microsoft’s history for moving release dates, I’m just hoping it’s still in 2009.
I had a client the other day call me about his icons moving around on the screen. I guess, technically, they were just [...]
Question: “I’m thinking about buying a new computer, but I keep hearing all this stuff about Windows 7. Should I wait for that, or should I just go with a Windows XP or Vista computer?” – James “Hutch” Hutchinson
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Purchase Advice, Questions & Answers, Reviews on September 16th, 2009
Answer: Thanks for the question. Hutch, at this point I would wait. Windows 7 is slated to be released in October, and “Black Friday” shopping is not too much later. Around the holiday season, sales and steep rebate programs are going to be plentiful, to say the least.
But, with that being said, many computers are [...]
Question: “Should I buy a ‘netbook’ instead of a desktop?” – Buddy Schall, Fort Collins
Posted by Bradley Chapple in Questions & Answers on September 14th, 2009
You may have seen that Wal-Mart has a netbook for sale at less than $300 (actually, it was $288 the last time I checked). Click here to see for yourself. If you were already in the market for a netbook and you have an extra $300 laying around, this may be the perfect time to [...]
Geek Squad’s Stance on Censorship and Helping the Consumer
Posted by Bradley Chapple in IT Consulting on September 14th, 2009
I like the founder of Geek Squad. The story of Robert Stephens and how he founded the Geek Squad is very motivational. If you are the owner of a small computer repair start-up, you should look into reading as much as you can on his philosophy, his business savvy techniques and the exponential growth of Geek [...]
Question: “My computer is telling me that I’m infected with 527 viruses and spyware programs. What should I do?” – Sal Gertch, Fort Collins
Posted by Bradley Chapple in IT Consulting on September 11th, 2009
Answer: Sal, your computer is probably not infected with that many viruses, but your computer is infected with at least one.
Ironically, the “antivirus” program giving you the warning is probably the worst virus on your computer. Fake antivirus and fake antispyware applications are becoming more and more common. The latest one I had to deal [...]
-
You are currently browsing the archives for September, 2009
