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Posts Tagged ‘kids and teens’

Antivirus Software

January 9th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

If you log on to the Internet, you definitely need anti-virus software. It does not matter whether you do not use a computer. Whatever you use to get on line you must have anti-virus software. Although there are hundreds of malicious idiots producing viruses to attack those who log on to the Internet from a computer, there is an increasing number who are focusing on mobile phone users as well.

It is harder to clear viruses from your cell phone too, because there are less outlets for the anti-virus software and cell phone users are normally less technologically knowledgeable than computer users, although the method of clearing the virus is quite similar.

Let’s just use the example of using computers to go on line. If you go on line, your ant-virus software is your most essential item of software. It does not matter what you use the Internet for - transferring data back to base or receiving emails from friends - you are subject to attack.

For instance, if you use the Internet only to communicate with your head office, a hacker could try to piggy-back your link to gain access to the mainframe at head office and possibly access financial or other personal data and if you just send to and receive emails from your friends and family, you are open to attack from malicious fools around the globe.

If you use webmail such as that offered by Yahoo, Hotmail and MSN to name only the most popular, you will be sheltered from the most obvious attacks, but still not out of harm’s way. If you obtain your email through an email client such as Outlook or Outlook Express, then you do not even have that small amount of protection.

If you do not use email, but only surf the Internet for research or whatever, you are still not secure, because some websites and loaded with viruses, trojans and worms, waiting to unload them onto unsuspecting surfers.

Therefore, whatever reason you surf the Internet for, you could do with some type of protection. Fortunately, anti-virus software for personal use is inexpensive and may even be free. Business users will normally get tax relief on their purchases.

However, be careful with the free anti-virus software, because not all of it is effectual enough. The exceptions that spring readily to mind are Avira and AVG. These are exceptional products and have justly achieved worldwide acclaim. Just Google the two names to get the download URL.

The anti-virus software that costs something (typically $25-$50 per annum) invariably offer one to two months free examination before you buy and a reduction in price, if you pay for more than one year at a time. Names that fall into this class are Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton and Nod.

After you have chosen your software, the subsequent steps are the same for free and paid software. First install it and then configure it. If you are not sure how to do that do not be concerned, the default settings are fine for the vast majority of users. The only choice you will get that it is imperative you make correctly is to allow automatic updates.

New viruses are being discovered or fixed every day and for your anti-virus software to be effectual, you must allow it to update itself whenever it wishes to.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the network antivirus software. If you have an interest in such software, please go over to our website now at Computer Antivirus Software

Why Get A See-through Computer Casing?

January 8th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

What is a transparent computer housing and what can it do for you? Well, before we begin chatting about the transparent computer case, allow me to inquire you something: what does your computer?s case mean to you? I can even ask: what does your computer signify to you? I ask this because your reply will establish what you want for your computer and its housing or casing.

Most people have always been happy enough with the plain, average light-grey case that comes as bog-standard with the preponderance of computers. Some have never even had a second thought about it. But then there are others who have thought about their computer?s casing a lot and who yearn for something individual for their computer.

A few of these people were skilled at metalwork, others at woodwork and a few at glassware and there are some truly incredible, innovative, home-produced housings out there. Particularly among the gaming community. However, we are not all so able with our hands, but that does not mean that we have to be stuck with the grey computer casing.

The easiest option, if you want a custom computer case is to create one out of acrylic - the sort of substance used to make most fish tanks. You can purchase and easily cut sheets of acrylic for the sides and glue them all together with acrylic resin. That may appear hard, but it really is not. Initially you would have to research the architecture of a typical computer casing and then just reproduce it in acrylic. You could make a translucent computer housing in a weekend.

Or you might buy a see-through computer casing kit. These kits come in flat-packs just like most kitchen furniture and can be effortlessly assembled according to the instructions with a screwdriver. No cutting, no measuring, just a little gentle screwing.

And I mean gentle, because the screws that come with the transparent computer housing packs are generally made of acrylic as well and will snap easily. It is the only element of the construction process that calls for a cautionary note, because you don?t want to have to drill out a busted screw, do you? That would only put a dampener on your fun.

So why would anyone want a clear computer housing? I imagine that there are loads of reasons. Some people may just want to be different and others may want to show that they can assemble or even create such a case. However, the see-through computer casing also has artistic and practical advantages. At least the good ones do.

On the Aesthetic Front: hobbyists add neon lights and small LEDs that flash on and off or just glow eerily, perhaps activated by some occurrence, like a hard drive coming to life. These displays are called ?themes? and are normally red or blue, but can be almost any imaginable colour. Then you can add coloured fans (or paint your existing ones). You already have at least one fan in your case and probably two or three.

On the Practical Front: lots of people like to see what is happening inside their computer housing and it is neither practical nor safe to remove the cover all together. Furthermore, assembling your own see-through computer case permits you to insert more fans as over-heating is the main cause of hardware failure. The more fans the better.

A transparent computer case would also permit you to observe whether a fan has failed, which would result in over-heating in a standard housing and guaranteed hardware failure, whereas you would see it going on through your clear computer housing and change the fan before major injury and loss of data might happen.

If you are looking for new full tower computer cases, or any other type of computer cae, just go over to our website now at Clear Computer Case for more information.

Laptop Computer Appraisals

January 7th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

Laptop computer reviews represent a very significant font of information for those who are interested in purchasing a new computer to assist them in their occupation or to provide entertainment at home. But being an informed consumer is not an easy job for anybody.

Even though we may think that we are informed enough, we may later, discover that we were mistaken in the decision we took. Or maybe that mistake was made during the period before the decision itself was made? During the research phase perhaps?

The rule of thumb is to try and read several laptop computer reviews more before you think you have obtained enough information to be able to do what you need. Why is that so necessary?

To start with, laptop computer reviews are written by people who are paid to write quite a lot of reviews possibly even in one single day. As a result of this, whether the writer means to or not, he/she may end up saying pretty much the same thing about almost every laptop computer or even just glossing over the details.

Or, she/he may end up leaving pieces of information out. Making mistakes is pretty widespread in human work when fatigue and boredom enter the picture.

Another reason why you should read as many laptop computer reviews as possible is that this way you will surely come across reviews made by some people who actually make use of the laptop computer you are interested in. These forms of reviews and assessments are the ones that will most probably present you with a truthful picture of how this laptop computer really works.

People who have actually used the computer will also have several points of view that big magazine reviewers may exclude from their pieces or reviews. These forms of laptop computer reviews will also give you an idea about whether you are thinking about buying a laptop computer that is best for you or whether you are thinking about buying something that is too advanced for your needs and so unnecessarily expensive, or too basic, and therefore low-cost but of no use.

Last but not least, different laptop computer reviews, especially if they come from several sites and consumers, will differ in the sort of information they will give you about the laptop computer. What may be absent from one assessment may be mentioned in another.

The whole mystery will not be over until you actually own that computer. However, the larger the quantity of reviews you read, the more accurate the image you will get. Above all, remember that ignorance of the particulars could cost you dearly and more than that, might even land you with a low quality laptop computer.

If you are looking for new aluminum computer cases, or any other type of computer case, just go over to our website now at Clear Computer Case for more information.

Computer Cases - Why Different Types?

January 6th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

Is your computer’s case or casing of any significance to you? You may be asking yourself the question: why should it be? The fact is that the computer case is vital to the computer itself and also to some people.

Let’s begin from the computer’s point of view. One, if not the main causes of computer malfunction is too much heat. Which is why, when computers were first used in factories and large offices, the specialized computer room was isolated from dust and was air conditioned, if not cooled specially. In those days, thirty-forty years ago, computer components were very fragile and extremely costly.

Nowadays, they are very, very much cheaper but they are still subject to jip from heat. Excessive heat will warp the boards, especially the motherboard because it is large, inside the computer case. They are not built for these gymnastics and sooner or later the very fine connections soldered onto the surface of the board will crack and prevent the flow of electricity. It will die.

In order to inhibit this happening, manufacturers put fans inside the computer so as to increase the flow of air. There are usually at least two in a desktop computer case, one fitted in to the external casing and one directly on the CPU (the chip), which is often the hottest and most expensive single component. In laptops, where air circulation is even more restricted, there may be three or four fans.

So, these fans increase the circulation of air within the case in an attempt to cool the chip’s surroundings down. Therefore, it also stands to reason that there must be sufficient space for that air to flow. If it was left up to the computer to design itself, computer cases would be larger and with more fans. A little like you might like to live in a larger house with air conditioning, if money was no object.

Now from the human’s point of view. People agonize more about looks and fashion and about how much space the computer is taking up. Producers have to listen to what people would like if they want to sell their computers. People wanted less obtrusive computer cases, so manufacturers made half-size cases; people wanted quieter computers, so producers put fewer fans in the cases. And the result was unsurprising: computers housed in cases like these broke down more often and the only person who was happy about that was the producer.

There is also a trend towards beauty in computer cases. Acrylic, see-through cases are very trendy with gamers. Now games machines are some of the most powerful home computers on the market, because of the power needed to run the graphics at a life-like speed.

See-through cases promote the use of size and fans, because they are often themed, which means that the interior may have green, blue, yellow or red LED’s to light it up. So, for instance, when the DVD player kicks in a red LED comes on inside the case. Similarly with fans, which may also be painted. Some of these themed computer cases are ideal for the chips that reside in them and the individuals that own them

If you are looking for new full tower computer cases, or any other type of computer cae, just go over to our website now at Clear Computer Case for more information.