Bits & Pieces
We love our personal computers. They provide us
with entertainment, communications, and productivity.
We hate our computers. They freeze, surrender
to attacks from viruses and badware, and then lose our important
information.
Yes, just like life, we have a love / hate
relationship with computer hardware and software.
These articles
will allow you to turn this love / hate relationship into
a love and maintain friendship.
To do this, PC users have to accept the fact
that a happy PC and network takes hard work and self control.
Despite what your friends tell you, PCs don’t
fail on their own. They have help. Your help. Yes, despite your
hope that you can blame others for your PC’s failure, it’s typically
something that you did – or probably didn’t do – that caused your PC
to make your life a living nightmare.
Despite your greatest hopes, there is no simple
program that you can install that can keep your PC totally safe.
Why? Because there are too many people who have an interest in your
make your life miserable. Some do it for fun. Some do it for
profit. Why? It really doesn’t matter. All that matters is that
you prevent something bad from happening to your PC.
These articles will hopefully provide you with
some solid tips on how to properly maintain your PC to make sure you
PC fills your life with joy, profits, and good times.
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Articles on Family, Technology, and Business
by Fred Litt, Family Technology Associates
Family
Technology Holiday Gift Ideas
Most family technology users already have a laptop, a
cell phone, and an iPod. Here are several gift ideas that every
family member can enjoy.
The New PC Bombshell - NO reinstallation CD-ROMs
Most companies no longer provider CD-ROMs that you will need to
revive your PC.
How
to get good phone support
As most PC users have little knowledge of how to diagnose and
remedy even simple problems, they are dependent of the ‘kindness of
others’.
Your PC won't
defrag
Defragging your PC is required maintenance. What if it fails?
Should I buy an Apple/Mac
PC?
Apple PCs have earned their cult following - but is it right for
you?
Saving money on your PC
hardware and software
You can pay full retail OR you can pay a lot less.
Solving problems – MORE IS LESS - what NOT to do
Anyone you meet (even strangers), will have a solution to you
problem. While your current problem is making you crazy,
implementing bad advice can make matters worse and can put your
important documents and music in jeopardy.
PC exercise program - Day 1 - disk cleanup
Every time you connect to the Internet or install a program,
temporary ‘work’ files are created that help Windows work more
efficiently. Cleaning up these files is simple and harmless.
PC exercise program - Day 2 - disk defragmentation
Every time you access the Internet, view your email, download files,
or do just about anything else, your hard drive has to spin to
locate your requested information. Unfortunately, Windows does
not efficiently place files for speedy access.
PC exercise program - Day 3 - adware removal
Free software comes at a cost – web advertising – also known as
adware. How do you get rid of these annoying programs?
The answer is ‘with great difficulty’.
How
to diagnose a specific PC problem
Look and listen to better understand what's gone wrong with your
PC. Does your PC make groaning or clicking sounds?
Keep your PC Healthy,
Safe & Secure
5 steps to help you avoid PC problems and to help you keep your
PC in tip-top shape. (PDF)
Your teenager and your PC
Learn how to control your teenager's use of the family PC.
Save money on AOL
If you have Optimum Online or Verizon DSL, you can dramatically
reduce your AOL costs.
Your teenager
and your PC
Family Technology Associates advises you to implement the following
steps to keep your PC healthy and secure. (PDF)
Diagnose your PC
problems
When your PC isn't working properly, here are a few things that
might have gone wrong.
Home Office
Equipment
The perfect home office device - the All In One
printer/scanner/copier/fax.
Gain
extra USB connections
Everything now requires a USB port to connect to your PC. What
if you need more?
Does your PC need professional support?
Using a PC is no longer fun and games. Viruses, adware/spyware, and
corrupted Windows files can wreak havoc with your PC. Here's how
you can tell if it's time for a professional overhaul.
The floppy
drive is dead
If you buy a new desktop or laptop, you now have to pay extra for
what we have traditionally called the “A:” or floppy drive. Why?
The floppy has become obsolete. It just doesn’t hold a lot of data
(1.44MB) in today’s standards of multimedia documents, digital
pictures, Flash animations, and videos.
These article may be reproduced with permission of Fred Litt, Family
Technology Associates. Contact Fred at (201) 315-4943
fred@FamilyTechnology.com for details. |
