Professionals constantly on the go should understand what important considerations and features must be kept in mind when buying a laptop bag. Buying a laptop bag is not just about finding a way to protect your laptop and other mobile gear while traveling.
Laptop bags provide more than a just a secure place to store a laptop, they also add functionality. It’s important to find a laptop bag which suits your style but one that fits your notebook properly. When function is just as important as style zippered pockets on laptop bags are your best friends.
There are even wheeled laptop bags now that are chic, cool and most importantly functional. A good laptop bag is well padded and come with multiple pockets to keep track of your gadgetry.
A type of bag known as “The Work to Play Laptop Bag” is great for carrying a laptop and other personal items.
There is a large and growing offering of laptop bags out there for any taste, whether you’re looking for superior protection or a personal style statement. Keep in mind that your laptop bag may expose some of your personality and while it makes traveling with your mobile gear easier to cope with.
Weight is an important consideration to keep in mind when looking at laptop bags.
For ease of use a top loading laptop bag can be your best friend when traveling. You'll find that a top loading laptop bag is very convenient especially if you deal with Customs or Security and have to remove your notebook from the bag often.
Backpack Laptop bags are a casual looking and easy way to carry your laptop and other mobile gear hands-free.
Messenger style laptop bags have a more casual appearance and offer mobile professionals an alternative way to carry their mobile gear. They can also be a great way to carry your laptop without broadcasting to everyone what you may have inside.
Cool Computer Bags.com is a leader in designer laptop bags and cases, sleeves and accessories. Features mens and womens leather laptop cases.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clyde_Lee_Dennis
Boost Your Small Business with Computer Services
Today, no business whether a start up or an established corporate has time to waste; after all, time is the biggest asset. And, nothing can be frustrating for businesspeople than the slow performance of their computers.
Unlike their large corporate cousins, small businesses feel urgency to stay in step with technology, but they need help in putting together the right solutions, arranging and leveraging them for the best benefits. This underlines the importance of computer support for businesses especially small home office.
Nowadays, there is numerous onsite computer support companies offering high quality small home office PC repair at affordable rates. They ensure your success by protecting your precious computers with preventative and proactive maintenance. You pay only for the service you get and keep your computers, the most important business tool, running at their best.
Online computer repair is one of the most cost effective and timesaving ways to keep your computer in working condition. Small home business computer support generally includes service for printers, operating systems support, virus and spyware removal and prevention. The array also covers network troubleshooting, data back-up and new installations.
In addition to small home businesses, home PC users can also take advantage of online computer support. Whether you want support for computer break down or PC optimization for high speed, you can contact any efficient home PC repair company. Whether it is a server, desktop or network issues, technicians working here are Certified System and Network Engineers and assist you either online or over the phone. They are well equipped to handle all your technical queries related to computer.
No matter you are subscribed or not, online computer support services help you around the clock, 24x7. From day-to-day troubleshooting to strategic long term planning, they cover all the aspects.
However, there are also private computer repair technicians who are in business for themselves. But, they are believed to offer expensive services. Depending on your personal preference and requirements, decide which one is best for you.
Johny Latta is an Online Technical Support Executive in iYogi Inc. iYogi provides Computer Support, PC Repair Services, Online Computer Support, Computer Repair, 24/7 Support, Tech Support, Antivirus Support, Antispyware Support, Email Support etc.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johny_Latta
Unlike their large corporate cousins, small businesses feel urgency to stay in step with technology, but they need help in putting together the right solutions, arranging and leveraging them for the best benefits. This underlines the importance of computer support for businesses especially small home office.
Nowadays, there is numerous onsite computer support companies offering high quality small home office PC repair at affordable rates. They ensure your success by protecting your precious computers with preventative and proactive maintenance. You pay only for the service you get and keep your computers, the most important business tool, running at their best.
Online computer repair is one of the most cost effective and timesaving ways to keep your computer in working condition. Small home business computer support generally includes service for printers, operating systems support, virus and spyware removal and prevention. The array also covers network troubleshooting, data back-up and new installations.
In addition to small home businesses, home PC users can also take advantage of online computer support. Whether you want support for computer break down or PC optimization for high speed, you can contact any efficient home PC repair company. Whether it is a server, desktop or network issues, technicians working here are Certified System and Network Engineers and assist you either online or over the phone. They are well equipped to handle all your technical queries related to computer.
No matter you are subscribed or not, online computer support services help you around the clock, 24x7. From day-to-day troubleshooting to strategic long term planning, they cover all the aspects.
However, there are also private computer repair technicians who are in business for themselves. But, they are believed to offer expensive services. Depending on your personal preference and requirements, decide which one is best for you.
Johny Latta is an Online Technical Support Executive in iYogi Inc. iYogi provides Computer Support, PC Repair Services, Online Computer Support, Computer Repair, 24/7 Support, Tech Support, Antivirus Support, Antispyware Support, Email Support etc.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johny_Latta
Cheap Computer Repair Does Not Mean Bad Computer Repair
When people are looking for cheap computer repair they need to consider a few important things. The first is you get what you pay for. This does not mean you can't find a great cheap computer repair company. I say this because many times the cheaper person is not insured and does not offer a guarantee. A perfect example of this is just last week. I had a customer who gave me call and said they needed their computer repaired. They took it to a guy they found on craigslist and yes he was cheap but the guy also had their computer for a full week and the issue was not resolved. He did say he had 20 years of computer repair experience but they still got burned.
When choosing a cheap computer repair company always ask how long the company has been in business. If they have only been open a few months consider going some were else. 85% of all companies do not make it to the one year mark.
Another great question to ask is if they have any computer certifications. At the very least they should have an A+ certification. This is the most basic cert in the industry.
When you find someone who offers a great price ask about any guarantees and if the price includes the full cost of the repair. Some places charge by the hour. I never go this route for computer repair. The tech might quote you $25 dollars an hour and say it will only take 2 hours to repair. Then 5 hours later you paid double what you wanted. The guarantee matters as well. Being in the business I can tell you that yes 90% of the time I am able to remove the virus the first time. However you really do not fully know if the virus is gone until a few days later. If you missed one trace the thing can reactivate and that is were the guarantee comes into place.
Having you computer repaired online for software issues and viruses is the cheapest way to go hands down. Be sure to find one that has a "No Fix No Fee" policy and that charges by the service and not the hour. This way you know ahead of time if the issue is not fixed you do not pay and you know exactly how much the repair will cost ahead of time. Be sure and ask what kinds of guarantees the company offers as well. If your issue comes back you want to know it will be taken care of with out any further costs to you.
If your in the market for computer repair consider us at Online Computer Repair. We do not charge if we can't fix the issue and have some of the best prices around. You may also want to visit our Vista Repair site for more computer repair tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Erdei
When choosing a cheap computer repair company always ask how long the company has been in business. If they have only been open a few months consider going some were else. 85% of all companies do not make it to the one year mark.
Another great question to ask is if they have any computer certifications. At the very least they should have an A+ certification. This is the most basic cert in the industry.
When you find someone who offers a great price ask about any guarantees and if the price includes the full cost of the repair. Some places charge by the hour. I never go this route for computer repair. The tech might quote you $25 dollars an hour and say it will only take 2 hours to repair. Then 5 hours later you paid double what you wanted. The guarantee matters as well. Being in the business I can tell you that yes 90% of the time I am able to remove the virus the first time. However you really do not fully know if the virus is gone until a few days later. If you missed one trace the thing can reactivate and that is were the guarantee comes into place.
Having you computer repaired online for software issues and viruses is the cheapest way to go hands down. Be sure to find one that has a "No Fix No Fee" policy and that charges by the service and not the hour. This way you know ahead of time if the issue is not fixed you do not pay and you know exactly how much the repair will cost ahead of time. Be sure and ask what kinds of guarantees the company offers as well. If your issue comes back you want to know it will be taken care of with out any further costs to you.
If your in the market for computer repair consider us at Online Computer Repair. We do not charge if we can't fix the issue and have some of the best prices around. You may also want to visit our Vista Repair site for more computer repair tips.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Erdei
Computer Components for Idiots
There are many fancy add-ons for computers, but the basic components of the computer are simple and universal. If 1 of these main components is missing, it’s not a computer.
The 4 essentials of every computer system are: a motherboard, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and a hard drive. These components are installed in a case to which are attached a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. That’s your basic computer.
Mother WHAT?
The motherboard ("mobo" for short) is the foundation. Everything attaches to the mobo -- the CPU, memory, hard drive, monitor, mouse, keyboard, add-on cards, even additional peripherals like printers, scanners, and speakers. The motherboard is like the nervous system and skeleton of the human body -- it provides support for the internal components and also passes information between the computer parts.
CPU
If the motherboard is the nervous system, then the CPU is the brain. Most of the mathematical manipulations that make computers operate are done by the CPU. Other components may also have their own processors, but their results still have to be passed through the CPU.
The speed of the computer is usually measured by the speed of the CPU. Even though other factors also affect overall speed, the CPU rating is generally seen as the single most important measure of performance.
Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 GHz and 3.0 GHz, although each passing month will see increasing performance. This measurement refer to the number of calculations the processor can make in 1 second. The higher the number, the faster (better) the computer.
CPUs generate a lot of heat doing this work, so they need a heat sink and fan to keep them from overheating. Heat is a major enemy of the computer and directly affects its life span.
Computer Memory
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the part of the computer that stores information the computer needs while it is operating. It is Random Access because the computer can get the data in any order, not necessarily the order in which it is stored. Generally speaking, the more RAM the better. 512 to 1024 megabytes is common for memory.
The most common type of RAM these days is DDR-SDRAM, which stands for double-data-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. We already know what the RAM part means. DDR means that the data is accessed twice as fast as ordinary RAM.
The latest type of RAM is DDR2. It offers even faster access rates and is quickly becoming the standard for computer memory.
Hard Drive
All the data contained in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off, so there has to be a place to store it permanently. This is what the hard disk is for.
It holds the computer’s operating system. An operating system like Windows uses around 4 gigabytes of hard drive space. The extra space is used to install computer programs and to store your personal data.
80 gigabyte hard drives are common, but 400 GB units are available. Furthermore, you can install more than 1 in a computer case for added security and convenience.
Peripherals
All you need to complete the basic computer system is a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Accessories like a printer or scanner are useful for office work, and gamers will probably want to add speakers and joystick controls.
So there you have it. The basic computer needs just 7 major components. For the best performance, these components must integrate well. The motherboard is the most important component for determining the type and specification of the other parts. Choosing an appropriate mobo for your computer needs is the first step and may require a quick call to your local geek.
Soon YOU will be considered the local geek!
Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit Build-Computer-Now to learn more about this fascinating subject.
Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_King
The 4 essentials of every computer system are: a motherboard, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and a hard drive. These components are installed in a case to which are attached a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. That’s your basic computer.
Mother WHAT?
The motherboard ("mobo" for short) is the foundation. Everything attaches to the mobo -- the CPU, memory, hard drive, monitor, mouse, keyboard, add-on cards, even additional peripherals like printers, scanners, and speakers. The motherboard is like the nervous system and skeleton of the human body -- it provides support for the internal components and also passes information between the computer parts.
CPU
If the motherboard is the nervous system, then the CPU is the brain. Most of the mathematical manipulations that make computers operate are done by the CPU. Other components may also have their own processors, but their results still have to be passed through the CPU.
The speed of the computer is usually measured by the speed of the CPU. Even though other factors also affect overall speed, the CPU rating is generally seen as the single most important measure of performance.
Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 GHz and 3.0 GHz, although each passing month will see increasing performance. This measurement refer to the number of calculations the processor can make in 1 second. The higher the number, the faster (better) the computer.
CPUs generate a lot of heat doing this work, so they need a heat sink and fan to keep them from overheating. Heat is a major enemy of the computer and directly affects its life span.
Computer Memory
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the part of the computer that stores information the computer needs while it is operating. It is Random Access because the computer can get the data in any order, not necessarily the order in which it is stored. Generally speaking, the more RAM the better. 512 to 1024 megabytes is common for memory.
The most common type of RAM these days is DDR-SDRAM, which stands for double-data-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. We already know what the RAM part means. DDR means that the data is accessed twice as fast as ordinary RAM.
The latest type of RAM is DDR2. It offers even faster access rates and is quickly becoming the standard for computer memory.
Hard Drive
All the data contained in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off, so there has to be a place to store it permanently. This is what the hard disk is for.
It holds the computer’s operating system. An operating system like Windows uses around 4 gigabytes of hard drive space. The extra space is used to install computer programs and to store your personal data.
80 gigabyte hard drives are common, but 400 GB units are available. Furthermore, you can install more than 1 in a computer case for added security and convenience.
Peripherals
All you need to complete the basic computer system is a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Accessories like a printer or scanner are useful for office work, and gamers will probably want to add speakers and joystick controls.
So there you have it. The basic computer needs just 7 major components. For the best performance, these components must integrate well. The motherboard is the most important component for determining the type and specification of the other parts. Choosing an appropriate mobo for your computer needs is the first step and may require a quick call to your local geek.
Soon YOU will be considered the local geek!
Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit Build-Computer-Now to learn more about this fascinating subject.
Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_King
Steps To Maintaining Your Personal Computer
1. Safety First!! - Protect your computer from viruses and spyware.
Many PCs will come with a free trial version of an Anti-Virus Software. However, once this trial expires, what should a basic home user do?
It is very common for people to either choose to go without Anti-Virus, or to pay for a subscription to Norton. However, Norton produces annoying pop-ups and warnings, and also takes up so much of a computer's RAM that it will actually slow down the PC's performance.
I recommend AVG's Anti-virus. It is a free program that provides very sufficient protection for your computer. It can be downloaded at the link below. AVG should be updated and a scan should be performed AT LEAST once a week.
Additionally, you must protect your computer from spyware. According to Microsoft, "Spyware is a general term used to describe software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent first." It can be very harmful and is commonly overlooked when basic users are protecting their PC.
A very useful program to sweep your system of spyware is Spybot Search & Destroy. It is also a free program and can be downloaded at the link below. It should be updated and a scan should be performed once every couple of weeks.
2. Don't make your hard drive work too hard.
Like any car or home appliance, a computer's hard drive will suffer from "wear and tear." You can usually expect a hard drive to last 4-5 years but that can be greatly increased by giving your hard drive the occasional tune up.
The first step of doing this is running the Windows Disk Cleanup Tool. This is done by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Cleanup. It will scan your computer, and provide you with a list of files you can choose to remove. This will remove any files on your computer that may not be needed and are simply taking up space. Disk Cleanup should be performed approximately once a month for the average user.
Next, you should run the Disk Defragmenter. The hard drive can become fragmented with a greater frequency of new software installations, internet downloads of movies or music, or simple creation of files. Fragmenting of a hard drive occurs because all files are stored in sectors and when a file is opened a needle has to find all parts of that file on the hard drive. When a file is created it won't be one large package, but many small packages that make up the whole. When these packages are stored, they will be placed in the first open area on the hard drive. If a hard drive is fragmented, the packages will not be placed together and will force the drive to work harder to build the file. This can decrease both the lifespan of the drive and the speed of your computer.
Defragmenting simply places all of the files in a position that relieves the stress on a hard drive. It can be done by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Defragmenter. You can then click analyze in Windows XP and it will give you a response on whether or not you should defragment. Windows Vista now allows you to schedule how often you would like to defragment. This should be done AT LEAST quarterly for an average user but might need to be done more often for some.
3. UPDATE!!
Windows allows a user to permit automatic updates, so take advantage of it. This can be done by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Windows Update. It should be set to automatic so that you can be as up to date as possible on the built in security measures that windows has already installed.
It is also a good idea to check on updates for any programs that you have installed. This is not necessarily needed but is recommended to get the most out of your programs. It can usually be done by opening the program and then looking for "Update" in the Help Menu.
4. Do Some Spring Cleaning
All computers have fans that encourage air flow through the tower to ensure that the processor runs at a cooler temperature. Dust and pet hair can clog these vents and overheat your processor. This must be cleaned to prevent a very expensive repair. Every computer technician has a story about a computer that they opened up and everything was caked in dust. Don't let this be you. It may be intimidating to some to open up the computer's case, but it is quite simple.
Go to your local PC shop and purchase a can of compressed air, which will only cost a few dollars. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS UNPLUGGED!! Open up your computer's tower. It should only be a couple of screws but if you can't figure it out then you probably shouldn't open it in the first place. Use the compressed air to remove any of the dust on the motherboard, fan and processor. Close everything back up and you are all done.
You can also use the compressed air to clean your keyboard. Use alcohol and a soft cloth to clean your monitor's screen. You can also purchase a CD-ROM Cleaner that will clean your drive. It is basically a felt cd that is put in the drive to clean the optical lens.
Follow these steps and you will greatly increase the performance and longevity of your computer.
AVG Download
Spybot Search & Destroy Download
Innovative Network Solutions Michigan Network Service and Web Design
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hight
Many PCs will come with a free trial version of an Anti-Virus Software. However, once this trial expires, what should a basic home user do?
It is very common for people to either choose to go without Anti-Virus, or to pay for a subscription to Norton. However, Norton produces annoying pop-ups and warnings, and also takes up so much of a computer's RAM that it will actually slow down the PC's performance.
I recommend AVG's Anti-virus. It is a free program that provides very sufficient protection for your computer. It can be downloaded at the link below. AVG should be updated and a scan should be performed AT LEAST once a week.
Additionally, you must protect your computer from spyware. According to Microsoft, "Spyware is a general term used to describe software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent first." It can be very harmful and is commonly overlooked when basic users are protecting their PC.
A very useful program to sweep your system of spyware is Spybot Search & Destroy. It is also a free program and can be downloaded at the link below. It should be updated and a scan should be performed once every couple of weeks.
2. Don't make your hard drive work too hard.
Like any car or home appliance, a computer's hard drive will suffer from "wear and tear." You can usually expect a hard drive to last 4-5 years but that can be greatly increased by giving your hard drive the occasional tune up.
The first step of doing this is running the Windows Disk Cleanup Tool. This is done by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Cleanup. It will scan your computer, and provide you with a list of files you can choose to remove. This will remove any files on your computer that may not be needed and are simply taking up space. Disk Cleanup should be performed approximately once a month for the average user.
Next, you should run the Disk Defragmenter. The hard drive can become fragmented with a greater frequency of new software installations, internet downloads of movies or music, or simple creation of files. Fragmenting of a hard drive occurs because all files are stored in sectors and when a file is opened a needle has to find all parts of that file on the hard drive. When a file is created it won't be one large package, but many small packages that make up the whole. When these packages are stored, they will be placed in the first open area on the hard drive. If a hard drive is fragmented, the packages will not be placed together and will force the drive to work harder to build the file. This can decrease both the lifespan of the drive and the speed of your computer.
Defragmenting simply places all of the files in a position that relieves the stress on a hard drive. It can be done by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Defragmenter. You can then click analyze in Windows XP and it will give you a response on whether or not you should defragment. Windows Vista now allows you to schedule how often you would like to defragment. This should be done AT LEAST quarterly for an average user but might need to be done more often for some.
3. UPDATE!!
Windows allows a user to permit automatic updates, so take advantage of it. This can be done by clicking Start --> All Programs --> Windows Update. It should be set to automatic so that you can be as up to date as possible on the built in security measures that windows has already installed.
It is also a good idea to check on updates for any programs that you have installed. This is not necessarily needed but is recommended to get the most out of your programs. It can usually be done by opening the program and then looking for "Update" in the Help Menu.
4. Do Some Spring Cleaning
All computers have fans that encourage air flow through the tower to ensure that the processor runs at a cooler temperature. Dust and pet hair can clog these vents and overheat your processor. This must be cleaned to prevent a very expensive repair. Every computer technician has a story about a computer that they opened up and everything was caked in dust. Don't let this be you. It may be intimidating to some to open up the computer's case, but it is quite simple.
Go to your local PC shop and purchase a can of compressed air, which will only cost a few dollars. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS UNPLUGGED!! Open up your computer's tower. It should only be a couple of screws but if you can't figure it out then you probably shouldn't open it in the first place. Use the compressed air to remove any of the dust on the motherboard, fan and processor. Close everything back up and you are all done.
You can also use the compressed air to clean your keyboard. Use alcohol and a soft cloth to clean your monitor's screen. You can also purchase a CD-ROM Cleaner that will clean your drive. It is basically a felt cd that is put in the drive to clean the optical lens.
Follow these steps and you will greatly increase the performance and longevity of your computer.
AVG Download
Spybot Search & Destroy Download
Innovative Network Solutions Michigan Network Service and Web Design
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hight
Delete Computer History
If you want to maintain your privacy on your very own computer, then you will need to delete your computer history. Your computer maintains a file of everything you do. And no matter what you do, you will not completely erase your footprints of where you have been, whether by accident or on purpose. You need to delete everything.
You have probably been somewhere on the internet you should not have gone. Maybe it started out as an accident, but then curiosity set in, and you kept looking and reading. All of this information is on your computer right now. Just because you erased the cookie, or erased the temporary file, then deleted the internet history file, and even emptied the recycle bin, you still have proof of your viewings on your computer. This is how so many people get caught doing stuff they should not be doing. They assume this stuff is gone, and it is there all the time, even right now.
Don’t worry, though. There are software programs, which can delete computer history for good. This is beneficial in many ways, as it will protect you and your privacy. No need for the wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, or husband to see what you might be looking at. It is really none of their business. But in order to do that, you need to clear that history on your computer completely. It takes more than just a delete of the file and an empty of the recycle bin. Specialized data recovery software programs can recover your data within minutes.
Even if you view images, these can be traced back as well. Everything you have ever done and the proof of you trying to delete the files are all noticeable, and can be found. Do not let this happen to you. Keep your tracks hidden and privacy protected by using history erase software to delete computer history.
Michael Baker is a Computer Optimization Technician, and recommends Erasing Your Internet History to remove all files and protect your privacy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baker
You have probably been somewhere on the internet you should not have gone. Maybe it started out as an accident, but then curiosity set in, and you kept looking and reading. All of this information is on your computer right now. Just because you erased the cookie, or erased the temporary file, then deleted the internet history file, and even emptied the recycle bin, you still have proof of your viewings on your computer. This is how so many people get caught doing stuff they should not be doing. They assume this stuff is gone, and it is there all the time, even right now.
Don’t worry, though. There are software programs, which can delete computer history for good. This is beneficial in many ways, as it will protect you and your privacy. No need for the wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, or husband to see what you might be looking at. It is really none of their business. But in order to do that, you need to clear that history on your computer completely. It takes more than just a delete of the file and an empty of the recycle bin. Specialized data recovery software programs can recover your data within minutes.
Even if you view images, these can be traced back as well. Everything you have ever done and the proof of you trying to delete the files are all noticeable, and can be found. Do not let this happen to you. Keep your tracks hidden and privacy protected by using history erase software to delete computer history.
Michael Baker is a Computer Optimization Technician, and recommends Erasing Your Internet History to remove all files and protect your privacy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baker
Thriving Computer Support Services
These days, most businesses and home computer users are fast embracing online computer support services to handle their computer repair and support requirements. These services are certainly better than hauling yourself in the hassles associated with bringing a computer to a repair center.
Technicians offering the online support are masters in their profession and can do more than just fix computer problems. They work with the customers, listen to their computer problems, offer effective fixes, design as well as implement solutions to improve the efficiency of their computers.
Online technical support is gaining in popularity among tech consumers. One of the main reasons is increasing complexities in technology usage. And another reason is convenience. The customer gets the quality support at his/her own premises. The technicians make this possible with the help of remote desktop connection. This is known as remote support.
A remote computer technician watches everything on his/her computer screen while working on your problem. With advancements in technology, you can even control the actions taken on your PC while availing the remote support, just in case you feel that there is a breach of security. You can also ask for the support over phone. Here, you are given the instructions from a remote location over phone and you follow those instructions to fix your computer error.
Although the entire method is popular, it is always preferable that you take good references for online tech support companies from your friends and family. You may also search for good computer support resources on the Internet. Use keywords such as Computer Repair, Computer Support, Online Technical Support, and PC Repair Services to refine your search and narrow down on the best.
Online computer repair or tech support is of great help for spyware removal, troubleshooting irksome PC errors, virus removal, software installation, Internet or computer up-gradation. Indeed, the success rate is also high when it comes to remote PC repair services. Another advantage lies in the fact that it saves you money in the long run, since the technicians are working from their own location.
James John is an Online Technical Support Executive for Iyogi who provides detailed information on Computer Support, Online Technical Support, PC Repair Services, Computer Repair, 24/7 Support, Antivirus support etc.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Jes_John
Technicians offering the online support are masters in their profession and can do more than just fix computer problems. They work with the customers, listen to their computer problems, offer effective fixes, design as well as implement solutions to improve the efficiency of their computers.
Online technical support is gaining in popularity among tech consumers. One of the main reasons is increasing complexities in technology usage. And another reason is convenience. The customer gets the quality support at his/her own premises. The technicians make this possible with the help of remote desktop connection. This is known as remote support.
A remote computer technician watches everything on his/her computer screen while working on your problem. With advancements in technology, you can even control the actions taken on your PC while availing the remote support, just in case you feel that there is a breach of security. You can also ask for the support over phone. Here, you are given the instructions from a remote location over phone and you follow those instructions to fix your computer error.
Although the entire method is popular, it is always preferable that you take good references for online tech support companies from your friends and family. You may also search for good computer support resources on the Internet. Use keywords such as Computer Repair, Computer Support, Online Technical Support, and PC Repair Services to refine your search and narrow down on the best.
Online computer repair or tech support is of great help for spyware removal, troubleshooting irksome PC errors, virus removal, software installation, Internet or computer up-gradation. Indeed, the success rate is also high when it comes to remote PC repair services. Another advantage lies in the fact that it saves you money in the long run, since the technicians are working from their own location.
James John is an Online Technical Support Executive for Iyogi who provides detailed information on Computer Support, Online Technical Support, PC Repair Services, Computer Repair, 24/7 Support, Antivirus support etc.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Jes_John
ATA vs SATA
Hard Drives: ATA versus SATA
The performance of computer systems has been steadily increasing as faster processors, memory, and video cards are continuously being developed. The one key component that is often neglected when looking at improving the performance of a computer system is the hard drive. Hard drive manufacturers have been constantly evolving the basic hard drive used in modern computer systems for the last 25 years, and the last few years have seen some exciting developments from faster spindle speeds, larger caches, better reliability, and increased data transmission speeds.
The drive type used most in consumer grade computers is the hearty ATA type drive (commonly called an IDE drive). The ATA standard dates back to 1986 and is based on a 16-bit parallel interface has undergone many evolutions since its introduction to increase the speed and size of the drives that it can support. The latest standard is ATA-7 (first introduced in 2001 by the T13 Technical Committee (the group responsible for the ATA standard)) which supports data transfer rates up to 133MB/sec. This is expected to be the last update for the parallel ATA standard.
As long ago as 2000 it was seen that the parallel ATA standard was maxing out its limitations as to what it could handle. With data rates hitting the 133MB/sec mark on a parallel cable, you are inviting all sorts of problems because of signal timing, EMI (electromagnetic interference) and other data integrity issues; thus industry leaders got together and came up with a new standard known as Serial ATA (SATA). SATA has only been around a few years, but is destined to become “the standard” due to several benefits to be addressed in this Tech Tip.
The two technologies that we will be looking at are: ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) – a 16-bit parallel interface used for controlling computer drives. Introduced in 1986, it has undergone many evolutions in the last 18+ years, with the latest version being called ATA-7. Wherever an item is referred to as being an ATA device, it is commonly a Parallel ATA device. ATA devices are also commonly called IDE, EIDE, Ultra-ATA, Ultra-DMA, ATAPI, PATA, etc. (each of these acronyms actually do refer to very specific items, but are commonly interchanged) SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) – a 1-bit serial evolution of the Parallel ATA physical storage interface.
Basic Features & Connections
SATA drives are easy to distinguish from their ATA cousins by the different data and power connections found on the back of the drives. A side-by-side comparison of the two interfaces can be seen in this PDF from Maxtor, and the following covers many of the differences…
Standard ATA drives, such as this 200GB Western Digital model, have somewhat bulky, two inch wide ribbon cable with 40-pin data connections and receive the 5V necessary to power them from the familiar 4-pin connection. The basic data cables for these drives have looked the same for years. A change was made with the introduction of the ATA-5 standard to better improve the signal quality by making an 80 wire cable used on the 40-pin connector (these are commonly called 40-pin/80-wire cables). To improve airflow within the computer system some manufacturers resorted to literally folding over the ribbon cable and taping it into that position. Another recent physical change also came with the advent of rounded cables. The performance of the rounded cables is equal to that of the flat ribbon, but many prefer the improved system air flow afforded, ease of wire management, and cooler appearance that come with them.
SATA drives, such as this 120GB Western Digital model, have a half inch wide, 7 “blade and beam” data connection, which results in a much thinner and easier to manage data cable. These cables take the convenience of the ATA rounded cables to the next level by being even narrower, more flexible and capable of being longer without fear of data loss. SATA cables have a maximum length of 1 meter (39.37 inches), which is much greater than the recommended 18 inch cable for ATA drives. The reduced footprint of SATA data connections frees up space on motherboards, potentially allowing for more convenient layouts and room for more onboard features!
A 15-pin power connection delivers the 250mV of necessary power to SATA drives. 15-pins for a SATA device sounds like it would require a much larger power cable than a 4-pin ATA device, but in reality the two power connectors are just about the same height. For the time being, many SATA drives are also coming with a legacy 4-pin power connector for convenience.
Many modern motherboards, such as this Chaintech motherboard, come with SATA drive connections onboard (many also including the ATA connectors as well for legacy drive compatibility), and new power supplies, such as this Ultra X-Connect, generally feature a few of the necessary 15-pin power connections, making it easy to use these drives on new systems. Older systems can easily be upgraded to support SATA drives by use of adapters, such as this PCI slot SATA controller and this 4-pin to 15-pin SATA power adapter.
Optical drives are also becoming more readily available with SATA connections. Drives such as the Plextor PX-712SA take advantage of the new interface, although the performance will not be any greater than a comparable optical drive with an ATA connection.
Performance
In addition to being more convenient to install and drawing less power, SATA drives have performance benefits that really set them apart from ATA drives.
The most interesting performance feature of SATA is the maximum bandwidth possible. As we have noted, the evolution of ATA drives has seen the data transfer rate reach its maximum at 133 MB/second, where the current SATA standard provides data transfers of up to 150 MB/second. The overall performance increase of SATA over ATA can currently be expected to be up to 5% (according to Seagate), but improvements in SATA technology will surely improve on that.
The future of SATA holds great things for those wanting even more speed, as drives with 300 MB/second transfer rates (SATA II) will be readily available in 2005, and by 2008 speeds of up to 600 MB/second can be expected. Those speeds are incredible, and are hard to imagine at this point.
Another performance benefit found on SATA drives is their built-in hot-swap capabilities. SATA drives can be brought on and offline without shutting down the computer system, providing a serious benefit to those who can’t afford downtime, or who want to move drives in and out of operation quickly. The higher number of wires in the power connection is partially explained by this, as six of the fifteen wires are dedicated to allowing the hot-swap feature.
Price
Comparing ATA drives to SATA drives can be tricky given all of the variables, but in general it is the case that SATA drives will still cost just a bit more than a comparable ATA drive. The gap is closing rapidly though, and as SATA drives gain in popularity and availability a distinct shift in prices can be expected. Considering the benefits of SATA over ATA, the potential difference of a few dollars can easily be justified when considering an upgrade. Computer Geeks currently has a limited selection of SATA drives, but several technical sites, such as The Tech Zone and The Tech Lounge, offer real time price guides to see how comparable drives stack up.
Final Words
The current SATA standard provides significant benefits over ATA in terms of convenience, power consumption and, most importantly, performance. The main thing ATA has going for it right now is history, as it has been the standard for so long that it will not likely disappear any time soon. The future of SATA will be even more interesting as speed increases will help hard drive development keep pace with other key system components.
Jason Kohrs Computer Geeks tech tips and computer advice
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Kohrs
The performance of computer systems has been steadily increasing as faster processors, memory, and video cards are continuously being developed. The one key component that is often neglected when looking at improving the performance of a computer system is the hard drive. Hard drive manufacturers have been constantly evolving the basic hard drive used in modern computer systems for the last 25 years, and the last few years have seen some exciting developments from faster spindle speeds, larger caches, better reliability, and increased data transmission speeds.
The drive type used most in consumer grade computers is the hearty ATA type drive (commonly called an IDE drive). The ATA standard dates back to 1986 and is based on a 16-bit parallel interface has undergone many evolutions since its introduction to increase the speed and size of the drives that it can support. The latest standard is ATA-7 (first introduced in 2001 by the T13 Technical Committee (the group responsible for the ATA standard)) which supports data transfer rates up to 133MB/sec. This is expected to be the last update for the parallel ATA standard.
As long ago as 2000 it was seen that the parallel ATA standard was maxing out its limitations as to what it could handle. With data rates hitting the 133MB/sec mark on a parallel cable, you are inviting all sorts of problems because of signal timing, EMI (electromagnetic interference) and other data integrity issues; thus industry leaders got together and came up with a new standard known as Serial ATA (SATA). SATA has only been around a few years, but is destined to become “the standard” due to several benefits to be addressed in this Tech Tip.
The two technologies that we will be looking at are: ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) – a 16-bit parallel interface used for controlling computer drives. Introduced in 1986, it has undergone many evolutions in the last 18+ years, with the latest version being called ATA-7. Wherever an item is referred to as being an ATA device, it is commonly a Parallel ATA device. ATA devices are also commonly called IDE, EIDE, Ultra-ATA, Ultra-DMA, ATAPI, PATA, etc. (each of these acronyms actually do refer to very specific items, but are commonly interchanged) SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) – a 1-bit serial evolution of the Parallel ATA physical storage interface.
Basic Features & Connections
SATA drives are easy to distinguish from their ATA cousins by the different data and power connections found on the back of the drives. A side-by-side comparison of the two interfaces can be seen in this PDF from Maxtor, and the following covers many of the differences…
Standard ATA drives, such as this 200GB Western Digital model, have somewhat bulky, two inch wide ribbon cable with 40-pin data connections and receive the 5V necessary to power them from the familiar 4-pin connection. The basic data cables for these drives have looked the same for years. A change was made with the introduction of the ATA-5 standard to better improve the signal quality by making an 80 wire cable used on the 40-pin connector (these are commonly called 40-pin/80-wire cables). To improve airflow within the computer system some manufacturers resorted to literally folding over the ribbon cable and taping it into that position. Another recent physical change also came with the advent of rounded cables. The performance of the rounded cables is equal to that of the flat ribbon, but many prefer the improved system air flow afforded, ease of wire management, and cooler appearance that come with them.
SATA drives, such as this 120GB Western Digital model, have a half inch wide, 7 “blade and beam” data connection, which results in a much thinner and easier to manage data cable. These cables take the convenience of the ATA rounded cables to the next level by being even narrower, more flexible and capable of being longer without fear of data loss. SATA cables have a maximum length of 1 meter (39.37 inches), which is much greater than the recommended 18 inch cable for ATA drives. The reduced footprint of SATA data connections frees up space on motherboards, potentially allowing for more convenient layouts and room for more onboard features!
A 15-pin power connection delivers the 250mV of necessary power to SATA drives. 15-pins for a SATA device sounds like it would require a much larger power cable than a 4-pin ATA device, but in reality the two power connectors are just about the same height. For the time being, many SATA drives are also coming with a legacy 4-pin power connector for convenience.
Many modern motherboards, such as this Chaintech motherboard, come with SATA drive connections onboard (many also including the ATA connectors as well for legacy drive compatibility), and new power supplies, such as this Ultra X-Connect, generally feature a few of the necessary 15-pin power connections, making it easy to use these drives on new systems. Older systems can easily be upgraded to support SATA drives by use of adapters, such as this PCI slot SATA controller and this 4-pin to 15-pin SATA power adapter.
Optical drives are also becoming more readily available with SATA connections. Drives such as the Plextor PX-712SA take advantage of the new interface, although the performance will not be any greater than a comparable optical drive with an ATA connection.
Performance
In addition to being more convenient to install and drawing less power, SATA drives have performance benefits that really set them apart from ATA drives.
The most interesting performance feature of SATA is the maximum bandwidth possible. As we have noted, the evolution of ATA drives has seen the data transfer rate reach its maximum at 133 MB/second, where the current SATA standard provides data transfers of up to 150 MB/second. The overall performance increase of SATA over ATA can currently be expected to be up to 5% (according to Seagate), but improvements in SATA technology will surely improve on that.
The future of SATA holds great things for those wanting even more speed, as drives with 300 MB/second transfer rates (SATA II) will be readily available in 2005, and by 2008 speeds of up to 600 MB/second can be expected. Those speeds are incredible, and are hard to imagine at this point.
Another performance benefit found on SATA drives is their built-in hot-swap capabilities. SATA drives can be brought on and offline without shutting down the computer system, providing a serious benefit to those who can’t afford downtime, or who want to move drives in and out of operation quickly. The higher number of wires in the power connection is partially explained by this, as six of the fifteen wires are dedicated to allowing the hot-swap feature.
Price
Comparing ATA drives to SATA drives can be tricky given all of the variables, but in general it is the case that SATA drives will still cost just a bit more than a comparable ATA drive. The gap is closing rapidly though, and as SATA drives gain in popularity and availability a distinct shift in prices can be expected. Considering the benefits of SATA over ATA, the potential difference of a few dollars can easily be justified when considering an upgrade. Computer Geeks currently has a limited selection of SATA drives, but several technical sites, such as The Tech Zone and The Tech Lounge, offer real time price guides to see how comparable drives stack up.
Final Words
The current SATA standard provides significant benefits over ATA in terms of convenience, power consumption and, most importantly, performance. The main thing ATA has going for it right now is history, as it has been the standard for so long that it will not likely disappear any time soon. The future of SATA will be even more interesting as speed increases will help hard drive development keep pace with other key system components.
Jason Kohrs Computer Geeks tech tips and computer advice
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Kohrs
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