Tag Archives: computer
Find The Best Computer Hardware
Find The Best Computer Hardware
In our age, owning a personal computer is something that most people have the luxury of. In fact, I know several people who have multiple computers in their home and at their office. As the popularity of computers and the internet have grown in the past decade, so has the need of the people in having a computer to call their own. Sure, they can go to a local computer shop and purchase a desktop or a laptop computer, but more and more people are opting to put together a computer from separate pieces of hardware.
Computer hardware is basically all of the parts of your computer. Your screen, your keyboard, your tower, your disc drives. All of the parts that make up your computer are considered its hardware. Hardware is not to be confused with the software of a computer which is its programs and the things you can do on a computer.
The growing trend of building your own computer or of having someone build one for you can be a great alternative to purchasing a computer from a large company. This process of computer building is much easier, however, when you have a friend or two who knows the details of computer hardware and who will help you learn as well.
If you are wanting a homemade computer with hardware from a variety of companies, than your first step is to do what I have already suggested: find a computer expert and enlist them to help you in the cause of finding great hardware for your computer. The chances are high that they will know just where to find hardware for you whatever your computer wish may be.
Looking for computer hardware to build your own computer can be a bit overwhelming. The important thing is just to start. Start by looking in your newspaper and in other sources of local news to see what kinds of computer hardware are available for sale. Often times businesses will be upgrading their computers and will sell their old hardware to the public at very reasonable prices. Just keep your eyes pealed for these deals and you’ll be collecting computer hardware in no time. Make sure you have a detailed list from your computer expert friend of what you will need so that you don’t make any mistakes with your purchases.
Another great source for buying cheap computer hardware is to look online. There are warehouses of hardware pieces just waiting to be sold to the public at discounted prices.
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Computer Recycling – Switch To Environmental Friendly Mode
Computer Recycling – Switch To Environmental Friendly Mode
Computer recycling refers to the practice of salvaging useable components from obsolete electronic devices or safely disposing off electronic devices. It is a practice that each one of us must inculcate because inappropriate handling of discarded computers and other electronic devices can cause environmental hazards.
Studies estimate that over 40 million electronic pieces become obsolete annually. These pieces have constituents such as lead, cadmium, barium, and mercury, which are hazardous to the environment. In a landfill, these materials seep into the ground and then into our food and water supplies. This can cause serious health concerns over a long period.
Obsolete Computers: Environmental Threats
Obsolete computers that are simply dumped in the garbage drums are the biggest threat to the environment. The computer monitors have cathode ray tubes containing four to five pounds of lead that contaminates the environment acutely. Besides lead, the computers have many other hazardous elements such as mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium. When inhaled over a long period, these elements cause high blood pressure, liver and nerve disease, blood with poor iron, and even brain damage to the exposed group. This causes great concern, considering several million computers become obsolete annually.
Therefore, we must handle the obsolete electronic devices carefully. Moreover, different Environmental Laws have banned the illegal landfills by the disposals of computers and other electronic equipment. These laws necessitate sending the un-functional computers to a reputable recycler for harmless recycling. The laws also specify the need for regular recycling to avoid such computers from piling up.
There are several methods to deal with old computers. Some of them are as follows:
· Give It For Reuse: If your computer is in a decent condition, you can sell it to a company or an individual so that it can be used further, or simply donate it to someone needy.
· Trade It In: There are many computer dealers (e.g. HP) who offer trade-in promotions on computers and peripherals.
· Auction It: You can sell the computer on eBay or any other auction site. You can also organize a quick garage sale and see if any of your friends or neighbors wants the computer.
· Set up a Server: You can continue using the old computer as a server to store and share data.
· Salvage Some Parts: You can see which parts of your computers are in good working condition. You can salvage those parts and use them in your new computer.
Go for computer recycling and safe the planet earth!
Who Plays Computer Games?
Who Plays Computer Games?
Playing computer games was once reserved for the geek of the class who would shut himself away until the early hours of the morning with no company apart from a joystick. This has changed significantly as the standard of graphics and game play has improved and the use of computers is even more widely accepted. The advance of the Internet has also made sure that online gaming has become increasingly popular allowing people from all around the world to play against one another or in huge online tournaments. The appeal has spread significantly to what it once was.
The first generation of gamers are growing older now and this is coinciding with the introduction of next generation console games that look and sound much better than was ever dreamt possible ten or twenty years ago. AS such, many of these early gamers continue to play console games and computer games meaning what was predominantly a children’s market is shifting upwards in age. It is by no means uncommon for people in their twenties and thirties to be buying the latest games.
As well as being younger, the game market used to consist of almost solely males. Again, this has changed. AS technology has become more and more accessible and accepted in the form of cell phones and computers, the playing of computer games has also increased and there are many girls and women who are just as comfortable behind a control pad or a joystick as the men.
One more factor that has changed in the gaming world is that playing computer games is a solitary existence. Again, the stereotype of previous generations of gamers is kids locked in bedrooms playing fantasy games until midnight. Now, well over half of the people who play computer games do so on the Internet or with their friends on a regular basis.
Hurricane Proof Computer
Hurricane Proof Computer
Hurricanes cause billions of dollars in damage each year, including damage to computers. Unfortunately, computers can be much harder to replace if lost than other electronics because of the data contained on their hard drives and time spent tweaking and overclocking them. Being a Katrina evacuee and survivor myself, I know how important a computer can be after a natural disaster. With hurricane season looming in the days ahead, I decided to write a guide to help people protect their computers and data during a natural disaster.
Part I: Backing Up Data And Things to Have
Hurricane season or not, you should always be backing up your data. Whether you plan on riding out the storm (a bad idea) or evacuating to another location, you should have a backup of your computer data either on an external hard drive or optical media such as CD-Rs or a DVD. Be sure to keep your data in a very safe place, such as a water proof safe. Never leave your backup by your computer.
Next, you should have the following things to make life after the storm easier:
1. Phone numbers for insurance, computer or computer parts companies, and phone numbers for all local ISPs (including dial-up and satellite). Having your insurance phone number and phone numbers for your computer company will help get your computer replaced faster if it is damaged. I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to have phone numbers and even access disks for all of your local ISPs! After Katrina, the Internet was the only way many people could contact the outside world. As fate would have it, my broadband was down for 3 weeks and none of the other broadband ISPs would except new orders due to the storm, leaving me with my old friend Dial Up, whom I thought I had buried 8 years ago. Your best bet is to use a satellite ISP as they have no equipment that can be destroyed by a hurricane and cause an outage.
2. Back ups of all your file, have all application and game discs, CD keys, drivers, and operating system discs on hand.
3. Photos of your computer as well as proof of what parts are inside.
In the event your quad SLI rig is destroyed, you don’t want your insurance company to replace it with something of a significantly lesser value, do you? It’s very easy for people to claim “I had this, this, and this and it all cost me 00 last month.” after their 3 year old Athlon XP rig is destroyed. As a result, your insurance company may be hesitant to replace your expensive computer parts unless you can prove you own them. Also know to what extent your insurance (including flood insurance) will replace damaged property. While some policies will cover the replacement cost of damaged property, some may only cover part of the damage cost. Also know what your deductible is.
4. Blog or Social Networking Profile
Social networking sites such as myspace were great after Katrina. Friends could find out where other friends had evacuated to simply by reading each others’ myspaces.
5. Generator and Gas
A generator can power many things, including home computers! Check with your local generator supplier about any local laws about generators, how to safely and properly set one up, and how well they will work with computers. Because generators provide unstable power, a battery backup UPS and a surge protector are a must. Do not count on gas to power your generator being available in the aftermath of the storm. It’s best to have a good supply of gas as well as a few empty gas containers on hand.
Part II: Evacuating with Your PC
Like any family members or pets you may have, your PC isn’t something to leave behind if you can avoid it. While your first priority should be getting out alive, you should consider bringing your PC with you if you can room in your car. You can’t count on your destination to have good computers, high speed Internet, or any entertaining activities for that matter. Being in another place during a hurricane is stressful. Between watching your home town being walloped on CNN and The Weather Channel, the people around you as well as yourself will be tense and worried. Having a nice computer to browse the web with and play Battlefield 2 is a sure entertainer. In fact, the Internet was the only place where I could get information about my very neighborhood after the storm! Local newspaper message boards were packed with evacuees from all over my area and had plenty of information about damage to share.
Even if you can’t bring your PC, at the very least bring your hard drive with you! If your home is looted in the aftermath of the storm, the last thing you want is your personal data in someone else’s hands. Be sure your hard drive is in an anti-static bag to avoid needless damage to it.
If taking a long road trip, you should probably place some sort of padding or foaming (even a blanket will work) around your computer or hard drive to protect it from the vibrations of the car. Don’t bring your monitor unless you have an LCD and there’s room for it.
Part III: Leaving Your PC at Home
If you don’t have room for your PC in your car, don’t plan on staying with it during the storm. There are several safeguards you can take to prevent unnecessary damage to your computer:
1. Cover any open parts of your computer case (such as fans and vents) with tape. Don’t use duct tape unless you want to risk taking paint off your case or a sticky mess.
2. Cover your computer with as many trash bags as you need. At least 2 trash bags per computer are recommended.
3. Consider how high your home is above sea level, the risk of flooding, and other factors. If you know your home could flood, you should put your computer on the second floor. But if you know your roof is weak and could easily blow off, don’t put it on the second floor! Find an enclosed space with no windows (such as a closet) as close to the center of your home as possible. If your computer case has a side window, make sure it’s facing towards the ground or against a wall. If you can, place other objects around your computer to offer it additonal protection from blowing rain and flying debris.
Part IV: When the Worst Happens
In the event your PC becomes damaged during the storm, don’t fret. If the damage is from a fallen tree or a piece of flying debri, there is nothing you can do. If your computer becomes flooded, however, there are steps you can take to recover it. Below is a basic guide on how to recover a flooded computer.
1. Do not turn on the computer! Make sure it is unplugged! While you may be anxious to see if your computer can run, don’t do it if you know it’s been exposed to water. You’ll just end up causing more damage if you do. Remember to keep your computer unplugged.
2. Remove components that work. If you can see a water line in your computer, take out all the components above it and put them in a safe place.
3. Let your computer dry. Let your computer dry for a week or so. One drop of water in a running computer could mean disaster.
4. Remove the CMOS battery and other parts.
5. Use a solution of 90% alcohol or more to wash the various components of your computer, including connectors. If necessary, use a paint brush to remove stubbon crud.
6. Let your computer dry completely.
If the above doesn’t work or you have data you can’t risk losing on your hard drive, consider professional computer recovery. Do not plan on salvaging the power supply, CMOS battery, the hard drive, optical drives, or any fans if they have been flooded. Also remember to take pictures of any damage to your computer before you attempt to fix it for insurance purposes.
Hopefully this guide will help people save their computers from hurricane related damage. A computer is a very useful tool that should be part of any good disaster supply kit. Trust me when I say it’s an important thing to have around. However, remember a computer is only a material possession. Like all material objects, they can be replaced. Human and animal life, however, cannot. Use good judgement when deciding whether or not to take your computer with you and while repairing it if it damaged.
Disclaimer: In no way is the author responsible for any actions you may take to save your computer from a hurricane or fix it after flooding. Any actions you choose regarding hurricanes and computers are taken at your own risk. For the sake of all, please use common sense during any natural disaster.
Computer Desks Chairs and Work Stations
Computer Desks Chairs and Work Stations
Using a computer has become an integral part of many people’s lives, and the time we spend on a computer is increasing with each passing year. This trend is fuelled in part by pleasure, the computer has become a Media Centre, and is a focal point for home entertainment, and secondly we are increasingly using our home computers for business.
The Home Office, whether for self employed activities or Tele-working for your employer has become common-place, hence the increasing need and importance of having a comfortable and well designed Computer Desk and Chair.
Important design issues that incorporate correct support, and encourage good posture, have become critical factors during the design process, and this is often integrated with modern and elegant styling. Fortunately, Home Computer Desks and Chairs have evolved along with the technology and are now available to suit every situation, comfortably fitting into even the smallest of corners in your property.
Home Computer Desks and Chairs come in many formats from functional to funky, or they can even be casual or quirky, or just plain friendly in their look and feel. Though there is no set requirement to look as classical or stylish as office Computer Desks and Chairs, they nevertheless have to blend in with the décor or theme of the chosen room. Prime examples and advice can be found at www.computer-desks-online.com.
For these reasons Home Computer Desks and Chairs come in many shapes and sizes and may be corner, u-shaped, curved or just straight. Similarly, they can be roll-top, modular, or just practical. They can be made of wood, oak, glass, metal or fibre. They can be fitted with a myriad of shelving options or storage racks, or they can be plain and functional with minimal drawers and shelves. The appearance can be selected from a wide range of finishes and can be sealed with a durable and stain-resistant finish to withstand daily wear and tear avoiding unsightly scratches.
The modern day Computer Desk and Chair has evolved to cater for many tastes and situations and is now an ergonomic extension of the computer and its user; they are critical elements in the quest for a satisfactory and safe computing experience, choose wisely.