Is it wise to choose a Notebook over a Desktop computer?

That question came up for a discussion when my attempt to sell my unused desktop computer brought lukewarm response. My friend told me that the era of desktop home computers is gone and is replaced by portable and hand-held computing devices such as notebooks and iPads.

Well may be he is right but I am of firm opinion that desktop computers can easily outweigh the other computing gadgets as far as convenience is considered-right?

I am aware that computer notebooks offer a number of advantages over desktops but still…

Ok, let me think aloud of the advantages.

1.       Mobility

Notebooks with wireless connectivity can travel with you throughout your home, so you can check your email or do your Internet shopping anywhere.

Of course, notebooks also make sense for those who are on the go. Students can take laptops to class and to the library, while businesspeople can take them along while traveling. With WiFi so widely available, it even makes sense to have a notebook while on vacation. With the right notebook, it's easy to take photos with your digital camera, upload them, and email them to friends and family before you even get back home. Or you can use it to write a vacation blog and include those pictures from your digital camera.

      2. Better Displays

The size and quality of computer notebook displays has improved so dramatically that there's little difference between laptops and a computer desktop. For example, you can get Apple's MacBook with a 13.3-inch LCD widescreen (1280 x 800 pixels), a 15.4-inch LCD widescreen (1440 x 900 pixels) or a 17-inch widescreen (1680 x 1050 pixels). Similarly, the Compaq Presario has a 15.4-inch display.

3. Light Weight

Arguments for a notebook against heavier laptops are worthless. The weight on your hand speaks for notebooks.

There are so many advantages to owning notebooks that, before you buy your next computer, it's worth your while to take one for a spin.

So, what should I do with my unused desktop?  May be I can donate it to a library?

Does your computer hangup frequently?

No one can escape from this vexing problem of computer hang s up. However experienced you are and whatever expensive brand of computer you may be using, you face these very annoying computer hangs up. At such times, re-boot after forcing to shut down. If you find it happening regularly, then warrants you to find the cause and fix the problem.

Before, you call in your computer technician; go over this checklist by yourself:

Check the operating temperature. The computer may shut down if this moves outside the desirable temperature range.  It is a known fact that for your system to run at the correct operating temperature it is important that air circulates freely in and around the case.

Next, examine the internal cooling fans and ensure that it is free of dust and grime.  Most of the computers usually have a cooling fan placed on top of the processor. This fan should be running freely without any noise.

If your computer still hangs up, call your computer repair man.

What is the best price for a refurbished desktop PC?

I was stunned when I began my search for refurbished computers that I need to buy for my mathematics academy, not because of the various options but because of confusing words. Refurbished computers are also sold as ‘reused computers’, ‘recycled computers’ and ‘end of life computers’. Naturally, I had to postpone my purchase before I educated myself properly about what are the differences between them.

Though the computer prices have fallen a lot since I bought my first computer 12 years ago, I know it is not advisable to buy new computers to teach school students who are not likely to use them with caution.

In addition, I have no budget for 8 new computers; that is the reason for my shopping for used computers that are sold after refurbishing and still come with limited period warranty.

What do you think is the best price for a refurbished desktop PC that has a one year old configuration?

When you need to buy computer video cables?

Sometimes, ordering computer accessories will expose your ignorance of them glaringly. Last Tuesday, when my system engineer (he loves that tag engineer though he is only a hardware technician) asked me if he could bring over the computer video cables to connect my laptop to the newly bought HDTV, I said yes.

His next question was what are the output options my laptop has. I had no idea what he was talking about. Then, he asked me to look at all the sides of my laptop and asked me to tell him about all the ports (openings to plug pins?).

As I was following his instructions, he stopped me in the middle and told me he got the information he wanted.

In a few hours, he came to my house to do his work. I was waiting for him to ask what he meant my output options. He then explained about various video card output options that include VGA, DVI or S-Video.

This time, the way I nodded convinced him further that I am a sub-zero in these things.

Troubleshooting 101: What To Do When Your Laptop Battery Won't Charge

From time to time laptop users will experience an anomaly that's difficult to figure out. One such example is when your computer operates normally with an AC adapter, but the laptop battery will not charge. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, use this checklist to troubleshoot the problem.

1.) Check the batteries connection: First inspect the battery for signs of physical damage. Be sure to check the batteries connectors in the bay as well.

2.) Check batteries charge: Press the status button on the battery near the LEDs. If no lights display there is no charge in the battery. If all LEDs come on, the battery is fully charged. If the ac-160 battery does not light up it could be time to purchase a new one.

3.) Insert Battery: Put the laptops battery back into notebook. Push the pins until they fully lock into place. The latch should snap back when being put into the locked position.

4.) Try Your Laptops Battery in a Different Computer: If you've got a second laptop. Try switching the battery out if they are compatible. This will be a clear indicator of whether or not the really is in fact the battery that's causing the problem.

5.) Flash BIOS: By flashing the BIOS you can correct many hardware malfunctions. Click here for detailed instructions.

These are a few easy steps you can implement to test whether or not there is a problem with a laptop's battery. If you discover that there is a problem with the laptops battery there's little need for concern. These can be replaced inexpensively and don't require much technical savvy to perform.

This article is a guest post by David Sterik. David writes full-time for the laptop-battery and accessories distributor PriorityElectronics.com.

ConsumerMate.com helps you buy the best laptop.

Just as I was secretly appreciating myself over my previous month’s achievements that include the purchase of a laptop apart from volunteering in an orphanage or that letter to the editor that got published, my pride took a subtle beating.

My uncle called me up and invited me to the laptop computers exhibition that he is organizing. He is one of the largest laptop dealers in the city. He sent me through email some of the press clippings he received in the last three months.

Noticing my reluctance to go to the laptop show, he asked me to visit ConsumerMate.com, a site dedicated to help consumers compare prices of laptop computers of all the leading brands.

I complied and I am sad I did it because had I known about them a month earlier, I could have saved at least Rs.1000 over my laptop purchase. ConsumerMate.com gives in depth analysis of laptop computers provided by Digit Test Center.

It is testing laptop’s features, portability, performance and the most important ergonomics. Based on these parameters, Digit Test Center gives a rating to all the laptops in India.

You see, the laptop I bought was rated below 60 out of 100 points.

My uncle’s laptop computers show will display each and every laptop that is available in the market at present. He is planning to propagate the services of ConsumerMate.com through his computer show.

Personally, I believe this is a positive happening in India where consumer reviews are very rare to find. Every Indian who is planning to buy a laptop should visit ConsumerMate.com to compare laptop prices and features. This will result in better products and services from laptop manufacturers.

In ConsumerMate.com, one can read about new product launches, read technical answers by a laptop guru, get to know the hot deals and special offers etc.

I am like a vulture!

Vultures are patient birds. But when they decide to end their patience, they ensure to have their grab of the day.

I too wait for days and sometimes months before I am ready to buy something I need. I look around the web, gather prices and other Sale Offer details, read reviews, save them and re-read.

I am criticized strongly for this habit of mine. Of course, I buy several things on an impulse but not so when I buying valuable products that are really needed.

Usually, I end up getting appreciation after I show off my purchase. I must admit the credit goes to buy.com, the cheapest shopping resource online and I never stop recommending buy.com to my friends and colleagues.

I just ordered a portable hard drive manufactured by Transcend. It is a 320 GB memory disc that comes with a protective leather case.

Learn all about file extensions.

I have created a new blog three days before. It has funny pictures and videos, jokes and cartoons and very rare paintings. My son used to send me so many emails that contain the above. I like every one of them and thought of sharing through a blog.

But I didn’t know I have to know about various file formats in order to save and upload the images and videos in my blog. Till now I never looked at the three letters that are followed after the dot.

For example, wmg, mdi, jpeg etc were always there but I never even looked at them till now. But now, I am forced to learn several file extensions that I find it difficult cope up with.

I sought my son’s help. He directed me to computerfileextensions.com and asked me to study the information given there. My God, I was astonished to find a big, big list of file extensions arranged in alphabetical order.

I wanted to learn about file extension dmg and file extension mdi among other frequently used file extensions like file extension mpeg, jad, ppt, etc.

After I passed out a test held by my son, he then asked to read about the unique software called 'Regcure' that is supposed to fix some of the registry related errors that arise due to different file extensions.

After spending about 15 minutes in computerfileextensions.com, I gave up and surrendered at my son’s computer knowledge. For your information, he is a computer science engineer working as a software engineer in an IT firm.

But I wish, computerfileextensions.com offered a more easy way to search and locate the file extension one is looking for. Overall, this site is very useful for all computer users.

How to save buckets of money?

Computers that are usually dependable, ditch us only at the wrong time always. While we have not much work to do with the desk top, it will standby you like a pet dog; but occasionally, it will fall sick when we want its support the most.

Oh, well, after all they are machines!

My desk top lost its source to the power and thus refused to wake up on last Wednesday. Fortunately, I have a macBook as a standby. But it is not always idle; my son uses it as a game console.

Now, I think I need to purchase another laptop that is ultra portable. I used to check up online to compare prices of notebook PCs before deciding on the brand. So, I visited Save Buckets and searched for ultra portable notebook. I was recommended Asus Eee PC by a few forum members.

But my son was of the opinion that the ThinkPad X series of ultra portables from Lenovo have always been excellent systems.

Hmmm…, now I am faced with a difficult task; Lenovo or Asus Eee PC. Hey, what about Toshiba Laptops? But whatever I decide to buy, I am sure of saving fair amount dollars by buying from Savebuckets.co.uk

Since I have been using the laptop for the past 7 days, I am finding it much easier to use than a desk top. Laptop since portable, I could take it to my cozy couch and work without back and neck pain.

Using the CAT6 bulk cables.

Last Friday, my son took a break from his hectic IT training and came home. We all immediately gathered around him and requested him to talk about his training. When he started off, my husband was able to understand most of it including several technical terms and gadgets.

But he too looked blankly at his son when he explained how his company managed to network nearly 35,000 computers using high speed CAT6 Ethernet Cable. The details that followed made some sense to my husband but still he could not comprehend the applications of CAT6 in ATM networks, Gigabit Ethernet etc.

I secretly took pleasure that my husband’s usually sound knowledge took a beating from his own son.

Literally compact flash card..

We had to unpack a big suitcase to confirm if we have put in the really compact flash reader that my son bought recently. My husband assured me that he has kept it inside a pouch but I wanted to recheck. This compact flash drive is very important for my son during his job training.

This literally compact flash card is a USB powered device that came with extension cable of about one meter length and manual is a fast one that runs at about the speed of your hard drive.

There were a lot of choices of compact flash readers at memorysuppliers.com, but my son liked this (see picture) sleek and compact piece and he was sure it would serve his purpose. The cost was also very cheap; we bought it for only $14.00

Ah, at last it was there exactly as my husband said.

Check out the satellite laptop from Toshiba.

My husband and my son have been ignoring me since last Friday but not intentionally. Actually, they are trying to draw plans for our new house to be built at the foothills of the mighty Western Ghats. They have assumed that I have no flair for it.

They are wrong and I was expecting they will seek my help when it comes to dimensions of the rooms.

I am right and they did approach me. They crude drawing they prepared in my newly bought Toshiba Satellite L355D-S7809 laptop was obviously made by non-mathematics people.

But without criticizing them, I made quick changes and suddenly the house, neat and symmetrical sprang up from the dark screen.

Do we know what '~' is for?

We have been using our computer keyboard for a long time. But are we using all the keys? Obviously not. Because it is not required.

Ok, at least do we know the functions of the rarely or unused keys? Certainly not!

For example we rarely use function keys that are numbered as F1 to F12. We do not use '^' also.
Do we know what '~' is for? When did it start appearing on our keyboard?

Here is some useful information about a file with '~' that appear on our desktop.

To say it in brief:
"This file started appearing on people's desktop after the April 2003, Cumulative Patch for Outlook Express (330994) update released by Microsoft. If that update is installed and you take any action that changes the Windows Address Book the tilde file will appear on your desktop."

However, you can click on the link above to know in detail.