Computers can be frustrating when they go wrong. Of course, this is true with everything but computers, and computer parts as well as computer users have a tendency to not all work in unison with one another 100% of the time.
One of the best things about having the internet is the endless amount of knowledgeable people out there prepared to help you with your computer problems.
Knowing where to find these people is the key to your success - bring on Internet forums.
Forums have been around for a long time. They are basically a bulliten board of peoples postings that combine together to create a kind of conversation. every topic is usually separated to allow easy navigation.
You can pose your computer question of computer problem and within a short amount of time someone will come along and answer this for you. Often whole communities are present on forums, prepared to help and offer computer advice and support to those less knowledgeable. A great way to increase your own computer knowledge.
It is very important to not take these people for granted as, of course, they are not obliged in any way to help you out. If they are not thanked then offense can easily be taken and rightfully so. It can also annoy people when they have to constantly answer the same question over and over again so ensure you use the search functions to see if your questions has already been experienced and answered by another forum user - chances are if it's happening to you, someone, somewhere else in the world has experienced the same issue.
Monday 2 June 2008
Tuesday 27 May 2008
Cheap Components Cost More!
Aren't computer components cheap these days? Look on ebay and you will find thousands of amazing deals. Computer components that are usually £xx.xx going for £x.xx. But wait.........
Since the boom of eBay a few years back, more and more imported goods made in countries such as China and Taiwan are being brought to our market place. The competition is so tight that these people are manufacturing on the cheapest budget possible. This means the cheapest components, the cheapest factory to manufacture and the minimum amount of quality control.
When I last checked eBay for a simple sound card, names that I could trust had disappeared from the marketplace. In place of them were brands no one had heard of. Very much cheaper than the branded models. But I have already found out the real cost in the past. I needed brands I could trust.
Consider this. If you rely on your computer and computer parts for any part of your life, think how much you would suffer from not being able to use the machine for a few days whilst replacement components were sourced to replace your cheap failing one?
Think about when you need to update your driver due to a reformat or compatibility issue? Where would you go? No one will have ever heard of the brand. What about a readable manual if things do go wrong or need adjusting?
This along with the fact that the chances of having a faulty card out of the box, or it failing with the first few weeks, is quite high - you may wish to consider spending a couple more ££ to get trusted brands. Ultimately this is cheaper in the long run for you.
Since the boom of eBay a few years back, more and more imported goods made in countries such as China and Taiwan are being brought to our market place. The competition is so tight that these people are manufacturing on the cheapest budget possible. This means the cheapest components, the cheapest factory to manufacture and the minimum amount of quality control.
When I last checked eBay for a simple sound card, names that I could trust had disappeared from the marketplace. In place of them were brands no one had heard of. Very much cheaper than the branded models. But I have already found out the real cost in the past. I needed brands I could trust.
Consider this. If you rely on your computer and computer parts for any part of your life, think how much you would suffer from not being able to use the machine for a few days whilst replacement components were sourced to replace your cheap failing one?
Think about when you need to update your driver due to a reformat or compatibility issue? Where would you go? No one will have ever heard of the brand. What about a readable manual if things do go wrong or need adjusting?
This along with the fact that the chances of having a faulty card out of the box, or it failing with the first few weeks, is quite high - you may wish to consider spending a couple more ££ to get trusted brands. Ultimately this is cheaper in the long run for you.
Wednesday 21 May 2008
WiFi Internet Radio
A new product range is hitting the market and this could be huge this Christmas.
Wifi Internet radios - as the name suggests, these radios connect to your existing wireless network. They allow you to pick up literally thousands of internet radio stations, free of charge, and play them anywhere in your property.
This is great news for anyone who listens to internet radio stations online as previously you would only be able to listen to your favourite shows by sitting in front of a computer.
Perhaps you are into podcasts or you like tuning into a regional show not found in your area. Maybe a specialist topic radio station that does not broadcast on your conventional radio waves.
As well as the above, most of the newer internet radios allow you to steam your mp3s or other audio, from your pc, to the wifi radio, once again freeing you from sitting in the room with your computer.
Listen in the bath, in the kitchen or even in the garden.
Either way there is something for everybody and this is what makes the wireless internet radio one of the best computer accessories to own this year.
Wifi Internet radios - as the name suggests, these radios connect to your existing wireless network. They allow you to pick up literally thousands of internet radio stations, free of charge, and play them anywhere in your property.
This is great news for anyone who listens to internet radio stations online as previously you would only be able to listen to your favourite shows by sitting in front of a computer.
Perhaps you are into podcasts or you like tuning into a regional show not found in your area. Maybe a specialist topic radio station that does not broadcast on your conventional radio waves.
As well as the above, most of the newer internet radios allow you to steam your mp3s or other audio, from your pc, to the wifi radio, once again freeing you from sitting in the room with your computer.
Listen in the bath, in the kitchen or even in the garden.
Either way there is something for everybody and this is what makes the wireless internet radio one of the best computer accessories to own this year.
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Digital Photo Frames
Digital Photo Frames are a relatively new craze that has swept the world. proving to be the number one gift for over Christmas.
So what are Digital Photo Frames?
Well very simply they are a small TFT Monitor that is the scaled down to the size of any given photo frame - there seems no limit to how small these go with models only 1" in size and they are also going to very large scales such as the 12" digital photo frame called the Matisse and possibly beyond.
These digital frames, from the outside, look identical to a standard picture frame. Insert your memory card from your digital camera and hey presto the image appears on the screen in perfect clarity - perhaps better than if you have a real photograph in a real frame.
The massive benefit to having a digital photo frame is simply the fact that you are not limited to viewing one image. Images can scroll through displaying a new image every second, minute or a time suitable to you.
since the dawn of digital cameras people have stopped having albums, and stopped displaying their images. Often just kept on a computer for occasional viewing and risking everything with a potential hardware failure.
Digital Photo Frames allow you to start enjoying your photos again - after all that is why you took the photo in the first place!
An excellent idea for a relative that lives a distance away is to take photos of your nearest and dearest. Spend a minimal amount on a compatible memory card (these cost virtually nothing these days) then send a frame to them complete with photos. Hours of joy for the relative.
So what are Digital Photo Frames?
Well very simply they are a small TFT Monitor that is the scaled down to the size of any given photo frame - there seems no limit to how small these go with models only 1" in size and they are also going to very large scales such as the 12" digital photo frame called the Matisse and possibly beyond.
These digital frames, from the outside, look identical to a standard picture frame. Insert your memory card from your digital camera and hey presto the image appears on the screen in perfect clarity - perhaps better than if you have a real photograph in a real frame.
The massive benefit to having a digital photo frame is simply the fact that you are not limited to viewing one image. Images can scroll through displaying a new image every second, minute or a time suitable to you.
since the dawn of digital cameras people have stopped having albums, and stopped displaying their images. Often just kept on a computer for occasional viewing and risking everything with a potential hardware failure.
Digital Photo Frames allow you to start enjoying your photos again - after all that is why you took the photo in the first place!
An excellent idea for a relative that lives a distance away is to take photos of your nearest and dearest. Spend a minimal amount on a compatible memory card (these cost virtually nothing these days) then send a frame to them complete with photos. Hours of joy for the relative.
Monday 19 May 2008
3 Monitors at once
One of the more exciting developments in monitor technology at the moment is multi monitors. With your windows desktop ever more cluttered, along with the fact that we rely on our computer more and more a multi monitor solution can free up space.
As well as the above, game manufacturers have spotted the market for a more 3d gaming experience by utilising this technology with their games. Now instead of gaming on one monitor, you can use three!
The Dualhead2go and the Triplhead2go allows easy connection for multi monitors.
The technology is easy to use and easy to fit to an exiting system. All you do is plug the two, or three monitors into the Matrox box and the lead from the Matrox box back to your computer. No0w you have your windows desktop spanning three monitors!
As well as the above, game manufacturers have spotted the market for a more 3d gaming experience by utilising this technology with their games. Now instead of gaming on one monitor, you can use three!
The Dualhead2go and the Triplhead2go allows easy connection for multi monitors.
The technology is easy to use and easy to fit to an exiting system. All you do is plug the two, or three monitors into the Matrox box and the lead from the Matrox box back to your computer. No0w you have your windows desktop spanning three monitors!
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