10 Ways To Go Green On Your PC By Mark Tiongco - February 27, 2011

Let’s face it, hybrid cars, solar panels and wind farms are invading! The trend of going green is catching up to all of us whether we like it or not and we see it virtually everywhere. If you’re looking to save on your energy bill or want to do your part by conserving, this article has 10 tips that can help lower power consumption and reduce paper dependency with your desktop PC. 1.) Upgrade your computer’s hard drive to a green drive While more and more OEM computer parts manufacturers are upping the ante on computer power supply wattage and more stream processors on video cards, some companies like Seagate are taking a step backwards and creating hard drives that eat up less power. The idea behind a green hard drive is that its spindle speed is less, like 5900 rpm, but is engineered to perform virtually on par with its faster 7200 rpm siblings. The way they do is by enhancing other functions like offering 32-64mb cache buffer or utilize the new SATA 3 (SATA/600) interface which offers blazing-fast file transfers. These hard drives come in usually larger sizes, between 500GB to 2TB sizes and can be used in external drive cases. 2.) Switch to an Eco-Friendly Power Supply How did we not see this one coming? A computer’s power supply unit is the most important power-related component. That being said, companies like Antec have been releasing environmentally-friendly power supplies such as Antec’s Earthwatts 650W-series. The idea here is that yes, it still puts out 650 watts. However, it provides continuous, quiet, reliable and stable power and all the energy needed to power the PSU’s fan, circuits and other components are reduced. According to Antec, their Earthwatts 650w model is 80 PLUS compliant which means it eats up to 33% less energy than an equivalent power supply with zero reduction in performance. 3.) Speed up your PC! While this sounds hardly relevant to going green, having a fast-performing computer is important for several reasons. First, a fast-performing computer equates to minimized waiting time. Minimized waiting time can increase your productivity of what tasks you need to get done quicker and not have to use unnecessary power. By fast-performing, I don’t mean raw CPU speed. What I mean is keeping your computer quick by performing consistent maintenance. (Just like how auto experts will say the best way to keep a car’s mileage up is by proper maintenance) For example, you can use C Cleaner, which is a free & powerful tool that removes old junk files left by browsers in your hard drive, clears the Recycle Bin, Recent Documents, Temporary and Log files. Another one is Puran Defrag which is a unique disk defragmenter as it not only defrags your hard drive, but also organizes your boot files so Windows starts up quicker. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, Tune Up Utilities 2011 can clean and optimize your entire computer in one application! 4.) Set your computer to auto-shutdown Yes, some tasks do take a while to finish completing and you don’t want to wait around. You can actually find many free programs, such as Switch Off to shut down your computer. This program can be set to shut down your PC at a certain day, time or once, etc. For example, if you’re waiting for a movie to finish downloading or Windows to complete defrag, you can set this program to auto-shutdown 2 hours from now instead of leaving it on all night and thus eliminating the need for excess power consumption from idling after said tasks are finished. 5.) Switch your PC to a smaller form factor or all-in-one Looking to buy a new computer or something more space-saving? Desktop PCs are now being built with more utility in mind. For example, many desktop PCs such as the Mac Mini offer a small footprint but still have the main amenities of a PC while sucking up less power. Another emerging trend is the all-in-one PC such as Dell’s Inspiron One 2305 which has the computer components built inside the LCD monitor’s chassis thus also reducing its footprint and eliminating the need for a second power outlet. This type of consolidated computer is more for people who don’t need the raw power of a desktop and/or are looking to downsize and get more space. 6.) Turn off unused peripherals connected to the computer You can save additional power by turning off unused peripherals attached to your computer such as scanners, printer docks, hard drive docks and that 12-port hub (with its own power cable) that you’re not even using half of its USB ports. Granted, the idea here is to turn off UNUSED items and not the ones you use on a daily or weekly basis. 7.) Switch to a laptop from a desktop Yes, it’s been shown through sales that notebooks have steadily crept up to desktop computer sales in terms of number of units sold and yes it’s true they have surpassed desktop sales. The point is that if you’re looking to upgrade to a new system, you might want to consider picking up your next computer in a laptop form. Notebooks come in many shapes and sizes such as the good ‘ol 15.6”- 17” desktop replacement to the fun-sized 10” power-sipping cheap netbook. The big picture is that you should examine your purposes for buying a computer and determine whether a desktop PC is really needed. For example, if you’re planning on just checking email and chatting via Skype, a standard 14-15” notebook with a webcam eats up way less power and will take up much less space on your desk than a desktop PC that needs 2 power outlets and occupies half your table. 8.) Use your battery! It’s funny that no matter how many times I visit a coffee shop, whether it’s Starbucks or Panera Bread, I always see customers walk in with their notebooks and look around for the nearest outlet. Unless you’re carrying a 17” monster laptop, most notebook computers now feature 4-8 hour battery run time depending on size and type of use. The point is that you can control how your notebook’s power is consumed by examining the Power Options (Power Plans) under Windows Control Panel. By reducing dependence on an AC outlet, you can minimize excess usage of electricity. (Case in point – I’ve actually seen groups of people in corners at a Starbucks huddled around one or two 6-outlet power strips that were brought in by a customer.) 9.) Turn off stuff that’s idling! If you’re planning to go on vacation soon, be mindful of what things that can be turned off while you’re gone. First, that Wi-Fi router that’s going to be idling for 2 weeks while you’re on a cruise ship would not make sense to be kept running. (both for power and security reasons) Second, unplug your fax machine and printer/scanner if you’ll be gone for a while. (assuming it’s not required to be on for your work or other important matters) Basically, any devices that don’t need to be on should be turned off. 10. ) Quit printing stuff! PDF 995 printer which can virtually print your web page(s) into a PDF file on your desktop. The idea is that it functions like a normal computer printer but instead can convert MS Word documents, web pages and other formats into a nice and neat PDF file that can be viewed later. So for example, if you’re a student needing to print 12 pages of a scholarly journal article with APA citations, you can “print” it to your desktop as an easy-to-read PDF file. In addition, if you need to perform a Print-Screen capture but want to reduce printer paper usage, there are free programs such as Gadwin PrintScreen that enables full, partial or selective print-screen captures and can save them in different picture formats. Thus, you can save your important prt-scrn captures digitally and print the ones that are necessary. Remember, going green doesn’t have to mean radical changes to your digital lifestyle. What really matters is consistency and focusing on utility regarding your computing needs. Technology has become so mainstream that cost differences (and speed differences) between notebooks and desktop computers have been reduced to a blur; in other words, you can’t say that you were forced to buy a bulky desktop PC because notebooks were just way too expensive or were too slow. Ultimately, it’s all about being able to identify an opportunity that can be exploited to help save you time and money.

Speeding up your PC - 10 Ways! By Mark Tiongco - March 6, 2011

Are you a victim of slow-PC syndrome? Do you wish your computer boots up Windows in seconds instead of minutes? Well fear not, you’re not alone! Many people have this issue and it can be remedied by several simple and proactive steps. In this Tech Tip, we examine 10 simple ways to quickly speed up your computer regardless if it’s a laptop or desktop. 1.) Turn off unnecessary programs during start-up. Click START – RUN – and type “msconfig” – click STARTUP tab - uncheck the programs that are not needed upon startup such as ADOBE ACROBAT, GOOGLE UPDATE, QUICKTIME – You can see the program name, its file extension and location by the Manufacturer, Command and Location, respectively. WARNING – IF YOU’RE UNSURE ABOUT A CERTAIN PROGRAM, DO NOT UNCHECK IT AS IT CAN HAVE UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCES. ONLY UNCHECK THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU RECOGNIZE AND DO NOT NEED TO HAVE RUNNING AT START-UP (i.e. WINAMP AGENT) 2.) Use a free cleaning utility to clean out your system. Free programs like C Cleaner delete old junk files, cached pages, temporary files and other unimportant data from your computer, thus freeing up your hard drive. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, Tune Up Utilities is an excellent program that can tackle all things cleaning-related so you don’t have to use multiple programs to clean your computer. C Cleaner also has a Windows Registry cleaning feature that can help clean out your registry for increased performance. 3.) Upgrade your computers hard drive to a new/bigger/faster one! Hard drives are getting faster, cheaper and bigger so pick up a new one! Whether your current one is old, sputtering on its last spindle rotation, or almost at full capacity, you can purchase a 500GB, 750GB or 1 Terabyte drive that has much more buffer cache, faster spindle speeds and can even consume less power! (eco-green models) Even if your current drive is working fine, a second hard drive is handy as a large dumping ground for files or can serve as a place to store back-up images of your current hard drive. If you don’t feel like cracking open your case, you can opt for an external hard drive and dump your archive files there to free up space. The reason is because as a hard drive gets full, its performance decreases because it has to work harder to access files. 4.) More Computer Memory (RAM) Scotty! Now is the time to buy RAM/Memory if your computer was built within the last 5 years. The prices of DDR2 and DDR3 RAM have gone down significantly so it would be in your best interest to pick up at least 1-2 GB on top of what you have now. More RAM means that the computer can do a better of job of booting up programs, delegating tasks and increase overall system performance. Check with your respective PC manufacturer to determine how much RAM you computer can accommodate. 5.) Utilize Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Anti-Malware programs It’s not rocket science that if your computer is infected with a Trojan, botnet or other type of malicious infection, it can slow down your computer considerably. (And possibly compromise your IT security) Pick up a good anti-virus program like MS Security Essentials or AVG Antivirus if you fancy free versions. If you don’t want to have your system hijacked by a Trojan, pick up Malwarebytes’ Antimalware which can find and quickly eliminate programs such as “Avira AV” which auto-install and trick the unsuspecting victim that he/she is infected. (Then it will try to collect payment from “product activation” but it’s really just a hijacking program) Bottom line, your computer will run faster and much more efficient without these kinds of infections. 6.) Update Drivers This obviously sounds like a chore but keep in mind that with the super fast pace of technology, having the most up-to-date software is important for a computer’s stability, compatibility and performance. For example, if you play PC games or do heavy graphics editing, your gaming/editing performance might suffer if you’re using outdated drivers from the video card manufacturer. (Or OEM PC maker) 7.) Take advantage of READYBOOST! If you’re running Windows Vista or 7, utilizing ReadyBoost is one of the simplest speed tweaks you can perform! Just pick up a 2-4 GB USB flash drive, plug it into your computer and wait for it to be recognized. Afterwards, right click on the flash drive letter under My Computer and click the READYBOOST tab. Check USE THIS DEVICE and click OK and voilá! You’re done! 8.) Turn off User Account Control (UAC) and Aero For Windows Vista and 7 users, turning off UAC not only eliminates the annoying pop-ups but also speeds up the computer. Just go into Control Panel – Security Center – USER ACCOUNTS – TURN USER ACCOUNT CONTROL OFF. For those of you who don’t care about the graphical fancy pants that is Windows Aero, you can turn it off and thus save Windows from performing unnecessary gratuitous graphics when you’re simply navigating. For Vista - right-click on the desktop – PERSONALIZE – click WINDOW AND APPEARANCE – OPEN CLASSIC APPEARANCE PROPERTIES FOR MORE COLOR OPTIONS – COLOR SCHEME – WINDOWS VISTA BASIC. For Windows 7 – right-click on desktop – PERSONALIZE – Select Windows 7 Basic theme – OK. 9.) Remove unnecessary programs in Windows If you buy a computer from an OEM such as Dell or HP, it’s most-likely filled with “bloatware”, the programs that are usually trial but are installed with the OEM’s copy of Windows. While these programs are harmless, they get annoying because they slow your computer down considerably. You can either manually uninstall each program from CONTROL PANEL – ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS, or you can download and install PC Decrapifier. This program searches your computer, targets the programs that are considered bloatware such as “Auto Backup – Free Trial!”, “McAfee 90-day Trial”, and “eMusic” and un-installs them to not only free up hard drive space, but also increase performance. 10.) Defrag the right way! Defragmenting your hard drive the proper way can speed up your PC in addition to organizing your files. Some programs like Puran Defrag not only defrags your hard drive(s), it also defrags your boot files so your Windows start-ups are quicker. In addition, there are comprehensive programs like Raxco Perfect Disk that optimize the placement of data for maximum performance depending on the settings you choose. While there are many ways to speed up your computer, the goal for these 10 speed tips are simplicity and ease of use. Yes, you can tinker with your Windows Registry files but if you make a mistake, you can crash Windows just like that! The most important thing to keep in mind is remembering to perform the above cleaning tasks every now and then. (At least once a month) Just like proactively keeping your car in good running condition (ahem, Skyline GT-R!) with timely maintenance, running these applications from time to time keeps your computer running in peak performance. Regardless of whether you have a dual-core, triple-core or quad-core CPU computer, you did pay for your computer’s performance so it makes sense to able to utilize all of it. Please share with us any of your favorite or most effective performance tips in the comments section!

Is Satellite Internet for You?

Is Satellite Internet for You?

With so many broadband choices available today, it can be overwhelming when selecting the best choice for you. Satellite internet is a great broadband choice, but it's not the best option for everyone. How do you know if Satellite's right for you? Here are a few questions that will help you decide:

1. Do you have access to a telephone line or a cable TV line? For those that aren’t plugged into these networks, satellite internet is the way to go. Satellite internet delivers internet access through over-the-air satellite waves, and therefore aren’t limited by the physical infrastructure the same way DSL, Cable, and even Fiber Optics broadband services are. That means, for those in remote parts of the world, or those that are in a mobile set-up (e.g. mobile home), satellite internet makes plenty of sense.
2. Do you have space for a satellite dish? Sounds obvious, but it’s necessary to have space to install an outdoor dish with a clear line-of-sight to the southern sky. If unsure, it might be worth it to consult with a provider’s technician on whether your set-up is optimal for satellite service before signing any agreement, especially for multi-story apartment or condominium units.
3. Do you live somewhere with inclement weather? On the flipside, the fact that satellite internet is not tied to a physical infrastructure means its subject to connectivity problems with moisture and precipitation in the atmosphere. Heavy storms may even cause prolonged periods of signal outages. It’s, therefore, important to take into consideration the normal weather patterns in and around your area.

WiMAX Wireless Broadband Info

WiMAX Wireless Broadband Info

  

 

WiMAX stands for World Interoperability for Microwave Access that enables the actual broadband wireless network with high speed. WiMAX operate same like WiFi but WiFi operate with some limitation like it is base band technology and cover only 100 feet radius with slow speed. WiMAX covers a radius of 50 Km and work with the speed of 70 Mbps. WiMAX is the replacement of the wired broadband. In wired broadband connection, we can transmit data with 512 Kbps to 10 Mbps speed and more, for example DSL broadband and cable broadband. In future all new desktop and notebook computers will be incorporated with WiMAX technology. With this technology you will be connected to the internet even you are driving your car with the speed of 120 Km.

Objective of WiMAX 

• Superior Performance
• Flexibility
• Advanced IP-Based Architecture
• Attractive Economics

 IEEE 802.16 Specifications

• Range 30 mile radius from the base station for LOS (line-of-sight).
• Range 4-6 miles radius from the base station for NLOS (Non-line-of-sight)
• Maximum data speed supported as 70 Mbps.
• Licensed frequency band: 2- 11 GHz
• Un-licensed frequency band: 10- 66 GHz
• Line of sight is not needed between user and the base station unless very high date rates are required at the user premises.

How to improve your Wireless internet and network connection?

How to improve your Wireless internet and network connection? 

Microsoft Windows gives you a notification whenever your wireless network has a weak signal. This is a sign that you should improve your wireless network. When you get this notification, it means that the wireless connection is not as reliable or high-speed as it's supposed to be. In fact, the wireless connection signal may be completely lost in certain areas of the house. If you would like to improve your wireless network signal, you should carry out a few of these tips. These tips will extend the wireless range. They will also improve the overall performance as well as reliability of the wireless network.

Re-position the wireless router (or wireless access point) to the centre of the house.

Place the router away from walls.

Place the router off the floor.  

Place the router away from metal objects.

Instead of using a standard antenna which you get with the router, use a hi-gain one. If the standard router is placed by an outer wall, part of the wireless signals will be directed outside the house. This will also waste the power of the router. Hi-gain antennas send the wireless signals in a single specific direction which you are able to aim on the path where you need them a large amount.

Replace your laptop or computer's wireless network adapter with a USB network adaptor. It uses an external antenna that improves the range of the signals. (Laptops which have built-in wireless normally contain outstanding antennas. They do not usually require to be upgraded.)
Add a wireless repeater to extend the signal range.

Change the wireless router's channel to increase the strength of its signal. You can do that through the configuration page of the router. The computer will detect the new channel itself.

Reduce wireless interference by avoiding wireless electronics which use the 2.4GHz frequency. You should use cordless phones which use the 900MHz or 5.8GHz frequencies.
Update your firmware updates for your router through the manufacturer's website. Update your network adapter driver through the Windows Update feature of Windows 7 and Vista or visit the website www.update.microsoft.com for Windows XP.
Upgrade 802.11b devices to 802.11g or buy a new 802.11 g equipment.  It is five times faster than an 802.11b device.

System software

System software is computer software designed to operate the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software.^[1][2]
The most basic types of system software are:

• The computer BIOS and device firmware, which provide basic functionality to operate and control the hardware connected to or built into the computer.
• The operating system (prominent examples being Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux), which allows the parts of a computer to work together by performing tasks like transferring data between memory and disks or rendering output onto a display device. It also provides a platform to run high-level system software and application software.
• Utility software, which helps to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer.

In some publications, the term system software is also used to designate software development tools (like a compiler, linker or debugger).^[3]
Computer purchasers seldom buy a computer primarily because of its system software (But purchasers of devices like mobile phones because of there system software, as is the case with the iPhone, as the system software of such devices is difficult for the end-user to modify). Rather, system software serves as a useful (even necessary) level of infrastructure code, generally built-in or pre-installed.
In contrast to system software, software that allows users to do things like create text documents, play games, listen to music, or surf the web is called application software.^[4]

[edit] Types of system software programs

System software helps use the operating system and computer system. It includes diagnostic tools, compilers, servers, windowing systems, utilities, language translator, data communication programs, database systems and more. The purpose of system software is to insulate the applications programmer as much as possible from the complexity and specific details of the particular computer being used, especially memory and other hardware features, and such accessory devices as communications, printers, readers, displays, keyboards, etc.
Specific kinds of system software include:

• Loaders
• Linkers
• Utility software
• Desktop environment / Graphical user interface
• Shells
• BIOS
• Hypervisors
• Boot loaders
• Database Management Systems(SQL, NoSQL)

If system software is stored on non-volatile memory such as integrated circuits, it is usually termed firmware.