Monthly Archives: September 2022

Taking Care of Your Computer – 7 Useful Tips

Taking Care of Your Computer – 7 Useful Tips

There are many reasons why you should take care of your computer. Number one, is that it’s a major investment for most people and you would probably like to keep it running for as long as possible.

There are various things that you can do to help prolong the life of your PC, both hardware and software wise. It’s always a good idea to keep your computer clean. A clean computer runs faster and lasts longer.

Here are some ways to clean and maintain the software (your operating system) on your pc.

1. Run the defragmenter utility, at least once every month or two. In Windows XP this can be done by going to your Start menu, then All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then select Disk Defragmenter. The defragmenter will help ensure that your files are located at the right place on the hard drive and should boost the overall speed of your computer.

2. Clean up old files. When you install/uninstall software frequently it can leave many unwanted files in temporary and system folders. In Windows XP, you should run the Disk Cleanup utility once and a while to clean things up. This utility can be found by clicking the Start menu, then All Programs Accessories, System Tools, then select Disk Cleanup

3. Scan for viruses. Viruses can cause your computer to be slow or not work at all. You should always have a good virus scanner installed and keep it up to date. Some well known virus scanners are Norton, McAfee, and AVG.

4. Scan for other malware. Other malware can include spyware, adware, key loggers, and Trojan horses. These pieces of software can get installed without your knowledge when you install another program or visit a website. They can cause your PC to slow down considerably. Spybot Search & Destroy and Adaware are two well known malware scanners.

Here are some ways you can keep your hardware running smoothly.

1. Clean out the dust. Computers are notorious for accumulating dust. Every once and a while you should open it up and clean it out. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner or a can of dust remover.

2. Keep your PC cool. You should always make sure that you keep your computer in a well ventilated area. By doing this you help keep the PC cool and, therefore, will prolong the life of your hardware.

3. Buy quality hardware. When you buy new components for your PC try and get good quality parts. If you get components from respected manufacturers you can be sure that you will get good technical support and the parts will be well made and not cause problems with other hardware.

Theses are just a few little tips to help you keep your computer running for a long time. There are many other things that can be done but by following these few tips you can be sure that you will reduce future computer problems.

Xbox Games For Online Gaming That Mom And Dad Should Know About

Xbox Games For Online Gaming That Mom And Dad Should Know About

If your kid has an Xbox and they play online you will often here them either yelling at the TV or talking to you about how awesome it is. You will often see your kid wanting to play role playing games or shooting games because they like the action and shooting. If you love to play Halo then you will love to play that type of game online. Your kid probably already plays it and that’s what he has been trying to tell you forever.

If you have a computer and an internet connection you can play any online game as long as you have a subscription so you can make an account. I play Counterstrike and I love it. You just get online and start playing with your friends from the game. You will make friends fast online if you play a decent amount. The more you play the better you will get. Most kids that play computer games on the internet play the most insane hours that you will ever hear. Kids somehow find a way to play more then 50 hours a week. It is in the stats on Counterstrike if you were to look.

The other type of activities that you might find your students or kids playing is the flash games on the internet. While at school I used to play the flash games after I did my work because I had a computer class and I had computers in some of my other classes. We would get online and look for some that were fun until school was out and we could go get on the real servers and play real online games.

If you have an Xbox or a Sony Play Station then you probably already know about online gaming. All you do is sign up for the service and you play the types that are online enabled. Most online games are like Gears of War and Halo 3. You can also find shooter types like Call of Duty I think they actually just came out with a new Call of Duty called Modern Warfare. I heard it was a good one but I am not sure if it is online enabled. Although I am pretty sure that you play it on the net because most of these games you can play online. They are pretty fun you usually just go out and start shooting up the other team. There are role playing games and such like that but they don’t tend to make them for internet play although they do have a few of them I think like Final Fantasy and games like those. I am not really into the whole anime theme like the fable games and stuff; online gaming is for shooters in my opinion.

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Air Travel Tips for Parents with Teens

Air Travel Tips for Parents with Teens

Are you the parent of a teenager? If you are, are you in the process of planning a trip that requires air travel? If so, you may be looking for tips that can help you and you family have a nice and pleasant flight.

When traveling with a teenager, you will find that you are very lucky. This is due in part to your child’s age. Teenagers are likely to be more pleasant and cooperative on flights, especially when compared to toddlers and preschoolers. Still, you may be looking for some extra tips, just in case.

One of the first things that you will want to do is teach your child the importance of watching what is said at the airport. With security concerns, it is not uncommon for travelers to be detained for a closer look, even just when joking. Many teens do like to joke around, so be sure to let your teen know the danger of doing so. Make sure that they know not to repeat certain words in an airport, such as knife, gun, bomb, or terrorist. Your teenager may already know this important piece of information, bt there is no harm in providing a quick reminder.

If you let your child pack their own bags for your trip, be sure to give them a quick look over. The checking of your teen’s carry-on luggage is extremely important. Does your child have anything in their carry-on bag that may result your family being stopped at an airport security checkpoint? As for checked baggage, make sure that your child’s bags are not overfilled. Also, make sure that they don’t put anything of great value or importance, like a digital camera or a laptop computer, in a checked bag, as damage can occur.

You will also want to make sure that your child has a drink or snack for the trip. This is particularly ideal for short flights or picky eaters and drinkers. Although many dry snacks, like chips, are okay to pickup before arriving at the airport, drinks are another story. Due to a limit on liquids, have your child get a soda, water, or juice at an airport store, namely one that is positioned after you have passed through all needed security checkpoints. This approach may cost more money, but the end result is much less hassle.

Since all passengers are allowed a carry-on bag, you will want to make sure that your child brings things that interest them. For example, books and magazines are cheap ways to keep teens occupied on an airplane ride. Extra items that are perfect for teens include handheld video gaming consoles, DVD players, and MP3 players. There are some locations in the United States where you can rent these items if you or your teen doesn’t already own them. When using anything electronic, be sure to bring a few extra batteries and keep them in your purse or in a carry-on bag.

As highlighted above, there are a number of steps that you, as a parent, can take to ensure that your next family flight is pleasant for you and your teenager. Although teenagers are more likely to be pleasant and cooperative, the above mentioned points can still provide you with much needed assistance, as well as comfort and peace of mind.

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Computer Programming Degrees Ideal For Women

Computer Programming Degrees Ideal For Women

Computer programming degrees have come a long way in the last two decades. The typical image of a geek with thick glasses and a pocket protector hunched over a computer keyboard has faded in the wake of the incredible boom in computer programming careers. Today’s programmers can be successful members of cutting edge teams, independent contractors setting their own hours and executives developing new code and languages that sell for millions of dollars to corporations. There is no longer anything typical about being a programmer, except that males still dominate the field. Over eighty percent of individuals with a computer programmer degree are still men.

It’s a shame that more women haven’t entered the field, but in the last few years this has begun to change. This is a good sign for the industry and for women. The industry can benefit a great deal from the unique perspectives of women, and women with computer programming degrees can have successful, high-paying careers that will take them places.

Why a Woman Should Get A Computer Programming Degree

Most young women don’t initially consider a computer degree when considering an occupation, but this is a mistake. These jobs have several things going for them that make them perfect for many women:

1: Most programming positions are in an office environment. It’s a professional job with few physical demands and, for the most part, regular hours.

2: There is flexibility for women with families. Many of today’s programmers work for themselves as independent contractors, so a woman can work full-time or part-time depending on her family’s needs.

3: The salary for programmers typically begins in the ,000 range and can reach the six figures.

4: Colleges and universities are actively seeking women with computer programming degrees to add to their staff. This gives women another career option that also offers flexibility.

5: Women who become computer programmers usually excel in this field. One theory is that their tendency toward linguistic skills enables them to write cleaner, simpler code with fewer errors.

6: Social skills combined with computer programming skill translate to a quick move up the corporate ladder; female programmers may have an edge over men when it comes to “playing well with others.”

What’s Responsible for the Upswing?

Why are more women pursuing computer programming degrees after years of being obviously missing? It’s impossible to know, but one reason may be that the mystery surrounding this field has simply faded as the demand for talent has grown. The “old boys” network is no longer so entrenched in any professional area and programming is no exception.

Another theory is that the first generation of computer programmers (primarily men) now have children who are entering college. Many of these male programmers have daughters they may be encouraging. These women are more likely to follow in the footsteps of their parents, and a generation ago there weren’t a lot of role models in the fledgling industry for young girls.

Whatever the reasons, computer experts are happy to note that after a twenty-year reduction in the number of women in the profession, female enrollment in computer programming courses is on the upswing. They hope that more women will pursue computer programming degrees in the coming years.

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Technology Bites Man Again

Technology Bites Man Again

If entrepreneurs didn’t know by now that Technology was taking over the business world, now it’s encroaching on the gambling casinos. We can’t even escape it on our trips to Las Vegas.

RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION is headed for Vegas. Casino chips embedded with RFID tags and are being tested at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and will be displayed this month at the new .7 billion Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino.

The chips will each be given a unique player code to track behavior and possibly get more revenue out of high rollers. It’s estimated that this could be a 0 million business by the year 2010.

There are two Vegas based companies that own the casino-RFID game: Progressive Gaming International and Shuffle Master.

Progressive’s TableLink, which reads RFID chips using table-embedded antennas and records the wagers on a dealer’s PC, is the system of choice at the two casinos. Progressive and Shuffle Master have also developed optical card shoes, which holds decks and scan cards as they’re dealt. Shuffle Master’s Intelligent Shoe is already getting rave reviews in Australia and Asia.

The cost of outfitting a table with the chips and antennas costs a casino about ,000, but analysts predict that Progressive will score bigger bucks from the per day per table it charges for its system.

One RFID chip costs a casino 40 cents more than a standard chip, but that margin will drop to about 10 cents in the coming months.

This is certainly a “technology leap” from the “eye in the sky” that we all knew about in the casinos, but I don’t think that even George Orwell would have thought of these chips.

Those of us who used the games in Vegas casinos to escape our computers and software programs, seem destined to be followed by technology no matter where we go.

Somehow Radio-Frequency Identification in poker/gaming chips just doesn’t seem to be what a good poker player expects. Oh well, technology marches on…and on….and on.