The iPod Shuffle is the perfect stocking stuffer. Just $79 and Free Shipping. There is still time for a chance to get this great holiday gift and the Apple Store is fully prepared!

Here are the Shuffle last ship dates for December 25th delivery:

iPod Shuffle: 12/18
Overnight: 12/20
iPod Shuffle with Gift Wrap: 12/16
Overnight: 12/19
Laser-engraved iPod Shuffle: 12/16
Laser-engraved iPod Shuffle with Gift Wrap: 12/16



Everything iPod for the holidays. Buy now and get free shipping on any Holiday Gift Guide item.

Laptops Vs. Desktops: The Key Differences

By: Jeremy Maddock

Laptop computers differ from their desktop counterparts in a
number of important ways. Aside from their sheer size and
portability, there are several other important features that
might contribute to your decision to buy a laptop or notebook.

One of these features is the power supply. Unlike desktop
computers, which need to be plugged into an AC Power outlet at
all times, laptops are generally equipped with a rechargeable
lithium, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride battery,
contributing to the obvious benefit of increased portability.

The displays on laptop computers also differs greatly from that
of desktops in that they use LCD technology, rather than a
picture-tube, to display images on the screen. Although notebook
computer displays are generally smaller, and often have a lower
screen resolution, they can provide better overall color
quality, and are considerably easier on the eyes.

The integration of input devices is another difference commonly
associated with laptops. The keyboard is, by definition, built
right into the body of the machine, as is some sort of pointing
device. This adds to the portability factor, but is in fact a
mixed blessing, since a damaged keyboard or touchpad is a much
more serious problem on a notebook.

All in all, laptops are designed with different priorities in
mind than their desktop cousins. The cost of basic functionality
is much higher than that of a desktop computer, yet owning a
notebook is now a virtual necessity for a large percentage of
business users and other consumers.

About the author:
Jeremy Maddock is an experienced webmaster and technology
enthusiast who owns and operates Laptop Reviews.ca.

Laptops Vs. Desktops: The Key Differences

By: Jeremy Maddock

Laptop computers differ from their desktop counterparts in a
number of important ways. Aside from their sheer size and
portability, there are several other important features that
might contribute to your decision to buy a laptop or notebook.

One of these features is the power supply. Unlike desktop
computers, which need to be plugged into an AC Power outlet at
all times, laptops are generally equipped with a rechargeable
lithium, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride battery,
contributing to the obvious benefit of increased portability.

The displays on laptop computers also differs greatly from that
of desktops in that they use LCD technology, rather than a
picture-tube, to display images on the screen. Although notebook
computer displays are generally smaller, and often have a lower
screen resolution, they can provide better overall color
quality, and are considerably easier on the eyes.

The integration of input devices is another difference commonly
associated with laptops. The keyboard is, by definition, built
right into the body of the machine, as is some sort of pointing
device. This adds to the portability factor, but is in fact a
mixed blessing, since a damaged keyboard or touchpad is a much
more serious problem on a notebook.

All in all, laptops are designed with different priorities in
mind than their desktop cousins. The cost of basic functionality
is much higher than that of a desktop computer, yet owning a
notebook is now a virtual necessity for a large percentage of
business users and other consumers.

About the author:
Jeremy Maddock is an experienced webmaster and technology
enthusiast who owns and operates Laptop Reviews.ca.

A Complete List Of Accessories For Your Laptop

By: Javier Fuller

The demand for laptop accessories is growing steady. People are
constantly looking for new accessories that go with their
laptops. Popular laptop accessories are nothing more than some
special add-on's or additional gadgets attached to the original
setup of your laptop which makes working of your machine more
smoother. Especially for the travelers it is a boon as they can
stay productive even while on the roads.

With the burgeoning demand of laptop accessories coupled with a
fray of these available gadgets in the market, you have many
options at your disposable. The most common and the top most
accessories available for your laptops are:

* Bags: The right kind of bag is very essential for your laptop,
as it is the outer most protective shield. The bag should be
sturdy enough to bear the weight of your machine.

* Note Book Security Cables: Preventing your dream machine from
theft is a very important concern. This lightweight cable wraps
around the stationary device and then locks the security slot of
your laptop. If your machine does not have an in-built security
slot, then an optional glue-on adapter comes with no extra
charges.

* Portable Hood: This necessary equipment improves the screen
visibility by eliminating glare and also reduces eye strain. The
shade also works as a privacy screen concealer of your
confidential documents.

* Laptop Mouse: If you are tired of scrolling your finger over
those hard touch pad, there comes an optical mouse at your
service, both wireless and wired, suiting your requirements.

* Mobile Printers: It is yet another important accessory needed
for your machine. It makes you independent wherein comes the
matter of taking printouts of the important documents for your
immediate use.

* Laptop Desk Version: This particular accessory is engineered
for the heavier laptops in order to give relaxation to your legs
on a journey, coupled with five typing positions and a rubber
surface.

* Podium Cool Pad: This add-on provides heat dissipation and a
360 degree rotation benefit along with helping you to adjust
your laptop keyboard.

* Headset Microphones: It gives you the benefit to control your
output.

* Speakers: Apart from the inbuilt speakers, using external
speakers gives you an extra edge at time of meetings and
presentations.

* Portable USB Handy Lite: This gadget is a convenient way to
illuminate your laptop keyboard when the light is poor. * Earbud
Headphones: It is an important accessory for the telecommuters.
It is small and compact and is also able to filter out the
background noises.

* Multi Power Car Charger: Multi Power Car Charger is a very
useful accessory for those who spend most of the time working on
laptops in their cars.

* USB Handy Fan: It is a perfect accessory for your laptop in
hot and humid environments, which helps to create a gentle and
refreshing breeze.

* DVB-T-USB Stick: with this add-on in your laptop, you can
watch and record TV and radio shows.

* USB Number Pad: It is a USB hub with two additional USB parts
that helps you to connect to more USB devices. This gadget helps
you to work more quickly, easily and accurately on the spread
sheets.

* USB Numeric Pad: It is a 19-key device which offers an instant
benefit to the notebook users.

*Web Camera: An accessory which you can use to stay in touch
with your friends by seeing them.

* Phone to PC recorder: It helps you to connect to your
telephone handset with your laptop's sound card, enabling you to
record the telephonic conversations.

To read more articles on laptop laptop accessories and buying
laptops visit http://www.iwantnotebook.com/

About the author:
The author writes articles on different topics. To get more
laptop articles visit http://www.iwantnotebook.com/

How To Get Rid Of Spyware Quake

By: Bob Stewart

How To Get Rid Of Spyware Quake

Spyware is the most annoying, anger producing and downright
craziest invention ever made.

In this article I will show you how to get rid of spyware quake
and the techniques I show you will work for any type of Spyware
you need to remove.

What Is Spyware Quake

Spyware Quake is the latest variant of rogue programs using
adware and false alert messages to sell their product.

Spyware Quake is promoted on it's webpage as a solution to help
users to detect and remove spyware from their computers.

In actual fact, it is a rogue anti spyware program that uses pop
ups to alert the user about a critical system or registry error.

That pop up is actually an advertisement to get the user to
purchase and download Spyware Quake.

So there is no system error or virus APART FROM the tojan virus
that is Spyware Quake!

How To Get Rid Of Spyware Quake

Unfortunately, Spyware Quake is designed so that it cannot be
manually removed - either by the user or by security programs
installed on the computer!

However, there are few programs out there than can get rid of
Spyware Quake and every other type of Spyware out there.

I recommend using PC Health Plan which you can get by Clicking Here!

Once you have PC Health Plan you need to follow these steps
to get rid of Spyware Quake...

1)Download PC Health Plan

2)Scan your computer and remove all viruses

3)Restart your computer

4)Scan your computer again and remove any remaining viruses.

And BOOM - you have got rid of Spyware Quake.

Beware

To prevent your computer being infected in the future it is
vital to scan it frequently in order to find any Spyware.

PC Health Plan! is updated frequently and
filled with the new programs to detect all the new Spyware
viruses that come around monthly.

Conclusion

There you have it, how to get rid of spyware quake.

It is easy when you have the correct tools to do it and it is
important to use a reputable program such as PC
Health Plan! to ensure complete removal every time.

To A Spyware Free Future

Bob



About the author:
Spyware Quake (and all other foms of Spyware) "spy" on you and
steal your credit card details and other private information.

Stop being spied on and Click Here! to get PC Health Plan!

PS3 Madness

It seems that PS3 madness has extended to Ebay. Prices are being bid up into the thousands. It's kind of crazy that people don't want to wait until they are fully stocked. I predict that you'll be able to get them any time in January. Check out this story here:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6161967.html

Get ready for Office 2007

By: Mike Fletcher

Get ready for Office 2007, the most sweeping update to
Microsoft's popular suite of productivity applications.

An extensive re-education awaits those who will upgrade to the
new Office 2007. It's truly a redesign. The menu bar and
navigation buttons for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, for example,
look completely different.

But before buying, I'd suggest you visit
http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/default.mspx and click
through all the explanations Microsoft has posted that
demonstrate many of the new features and controls.

There's something else that's very different: Microsoft uses a
different format to save files with Office 2007 that, without a
special viewer that will have to be downloaded, makes them
unreadable with earlier versions. When saving a document with
Office 2007, you have the option of saving as a previous version
-- which makes them compatible with earlier versions -- but I'm
betting this change alone is going to cause massive amounts of
confusion among the early adapters.

That said, the beta of Office 2007 that I've been testing for
the past couple of weeks is faster, more powerful and lots more
intuitive and interconnected to other programs and files. Once
you figure it out.

There are lots of subtle new features, too, like built-in
blogging functionality and something called the ribbon that
replaces the traditional toolbar and gives greater control over
each program's various functions.

Office 2007 is the biggest change Microsoft has ever made to the
interconnected suite of software tools so many of us depend upon.

So big, it's going to take a learning curve to master.

Buying Office 2007 also promises to be confusing. There will be
no fewer than eight versions to choose from, all aimed at
different markets ranging from home and student users, to small
businesses, midsized companies and corporate conglomerates.
Depending on what software you have bundled into Office, the
prices will range from $147 to $679.

About the author:
The author is publisher of Notebook Scoop
(http://notebookscoop.com) and PC Scoop (www.pcscoop.com, sites
devoted to notebook and desktop computers.

How to Repair Stuck Pixels on LCD Screen

By: John Eminescu

The biggest downside to LCD screens is the fact that they may
have one or more dead pixels. Fixing these white (TN + film) or
black dots (dead pixels) is not possible - which is a serious
problem, since they can really be distracting. So before
actually buying an LCD monitor, it's a good idea to find out how
comprehensive a warranty your dealer offers - in other words,
how many dead or stuck pixels do you need to have before you can
trade in your monitor for a new one?

Some dealers will exchange your monitor even if it only has one
dead pixel, which is an ideal situation, but most of them won't.
There's a very real risk that your display won't be considered
defective until it has eight dead pixels. That's eight too many.
Faced with this prospect, the best thing to do is to start
looking around for another dealer who offers you a better
warranty.

A lot of people have been complaining about stuck and dead
pixels. Well I have done my research and I heard about a guy
over at psphacks.net that had a LCD TV that had some stuck
pixels and when he went to Best-Buy they gave him a dvd that
flashed Red, Green and Blue over and over again. This supposedly
"un-sticks" the stuck pixels, by calling them to do rapid
changes (To my understanding). So I thought about it for a
while, and I said, what the heck, I'll try it. So I made my own
video that does this, and it works!

Several forums users have reported success with this video,
though several have reported failures. You don't have much to
lose, so just give it a shot and let us know your results. So
far, it has worked around 60% of the time. I tried it on my
friend's that had 6 stuck pixels, and it fixed them all. The
only real thing you can do is set the video to repeat and leave
it on for a few hours. In Version 2.0, I have added a white
screen and a black screen, so you can periodically check to see
if your pixels have been fixed. This video works with all
versions of the PSP, from 1.00 to 1.52; good luck with it to all
of you.

Find more information on how to repair stuck pixels on
http://fixdeadpixels.uv.ro

About the author:
I am a 27 years old writer working at my first book.

New iPod Shuffle

Apple has come out with a new iPod called the Shuffle. It holds 240 songs and is the size of a matchbook. This is a signicant downsize and would be especially good for exercising as you can wear it clipped on anywhere. Check it out.

5 Simple ways to keep your computer secure and virus free

By: William McRand Sr

These simple tips will help you stay virus and spyware free,
even if

you're connected to the internet 24 hours a day.

1. Protect yourself

Good protection on the Internet these days consists of 3
components:

anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.

As for a firewall, Windows XP ships with a decent enough
firewall. Just

make sure it is always enabled. Alternatively you can visit a
site like

www.download.com and search for Zone Alarm, which has an
excellent free

version.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to
keep your

anti-virus software up to date. An anti-virus program that uses

definitions that are months old is just about useless.

Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software at least once a
week.

2. Stop opening every attachment you receive.

Most of the devastating worms and viruses of recent times were

distributed via email. These viruses feed on the curiosity and
also the

ignorance of a huge number of email users. People will get an
email

from fakename@weirdsuspiciousdomain and they'll just open
whatever file

is attached to it.

If you don't know the sender, don't open the attachment - just
delete

it. It doesn't matter if the subject promises you'll see Britney
Spears

dancing nude on the kitchen table, just delete it.

If the email is from someone you know, always scan any
attachments

first before downloading or opening them.

If every email user in the world followed these simple
guidelines the

distribution of viruses via email will grind to a halt.

3. Stay clear of pornographic and illegal software sites

If you want to pick up viruses and spyware quickly, visit some

pornographic web sites. One wrong click on a subtle little
pop-up or

security warning window (which you'll run into often on these
type of

sites) and you'll have infested yourself with trojan horses,
spyware,

dialers and other unfavorable software that could leave your
computer

wide open to further attacks.

The same goes for web sites distributing software, serial codes
and

cracks illegally (warez).

Simply put - keep out of the dark side of the web and the odds
of

keeping your computer clean shifts decidedly in your favor.

4. Watch out what you download

Spyware is embedded in a lot of software on the Internet -
especially

those related to ripping, converting and playing music and
videos. That

free MP3 player or DVD Ripper you just downloaded may have
installed a

bunch of harmful spyware without you even knowing about it.

5. Keep yourself informed

Major anti-virus software developers like Symantec and Grisoft
updates

their sites regularly with the latest virus alerts. Visit these
sites

frequently to keep yourself aware of what threats are doing the
rounds

and how to avoid them.

Using this simple software I have kept my computer virus-free
for

the past 3 years. It's not rocket science. Just stay alert, use
some

common sense and you too can stay bug free while still enjoying
your

Internet experience.

About the author:
By William McRand Sr 1908 Clinton Ave Mobile AL 36617 Your P.C.
maybe infected with adware & spyware Fix your pc in less than
five minutes Click
Here

What You Need To Know About Adware And Adware Stoppers

By: Jackson Summers

What is Adware?

Adware is software application incorporated into or bundled with
a program, and when installed, display or download advertising
material to a computer. Adware is usually a method used by many
programmers to recover development costs when a software program
is provided free of charge, or at a low cost. Adware can drain
the computer's resources, spy on user's surfing habits,
adversely affect Internet connection speed, and even redirect
web browsers without permission. Owing to this, a host of adware
stoppers has sprung up, which clean an infected system and
prevent new infestations with real-time protection, and becoming
some of the most downloaded programs on the internet.

Adware, Malware, and Spyware:

The three terms, and related terms such as adware stoppers,
spyware removers etc, are often very easy to confuse since the
concepts overlap. Adware is usually installed with the user's
consent and comes with an uninstaller, while spyware installs
itself without permission and can be almost impossible to
completely uninstall without assistance. Spyware is intended to
track, report, and re-sell user's activity and information
without consent, and malware refers to a worse form of spyware
in which the operation and functioning of other software
applications can be negatively affected. The problem of
distinction occurs, for example, when an adware that comes with
a tracking feature, when activated by the user, becomes a
spyware. So, an adware stopper can also refer to a program that
prevents an adware application from performing spyware
activities.

Well-known Adware Programs and Adware Stoppers:

Some of the most well-known adware programs include 123
Messenger, 180 Solutions, Bonzi Buddy, ClipGenie, Comet Cursor,
Cydoor, Direct Revenue, Ebates MoneyMaker, Gator, PornDigger,
WinFixer, Hotbar, ErrorSafe, and Smiley Central.

Popular adware stoppers, which have been around for a couple of
years include NoAdware, ErrorDoctor, Spynukker and PC-Cillin.

Top Adware Stoppers:

PC World evaluated ten existing adware stoppers and anti-spyware
utilities devised to detect and get rid of spyware and adware
from computers, based on -

* rates of detection, * scanning speed, * ability to prevent
unwanted applications from installing themselves, * and ease of
use

Seven spyware/adware stoppers in the price range of $20 to $40
were noted for their outstanding performances, which include

1. Allume Systems' Internet Cleanup, 2. McAfee's AntiSpyware, 3.
Computer Associates' ETrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware, 4.
InterMute's SpySubtract Pro, 5. Aluria Software's Spyware
Eliminator, 6. Webroot Software's Spy Sweeper 7. Sunbelt
Software's CounterSpy, and

Three other adware stoppers, which are available for free, were
also tested and found to be equally effective. These include
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE Personal, Safer Networking's Spybot
Search and Destroy, and http://Merijn.org's HijackThis.
However, HijackThis was not included in the charts because it
does not scan for infections. Microsoft's new Windows
AntiSpyware was the only product in beta that was tested.

About the author:
Protect your computer from best free spyware remover and adware stoppers. For free trials, and
recommendation visit the adware critic.

How Do Viruses And Worms Affect Your Computer

By: Jeff Clark

Unlike viruses that most commonly infect an individual
computer, the worms usually attack a computer network. A
computer network functions by using a collection of servers and
routers. This is what the internet is comprised of. A server is
like a PC but has more speed and storage and a router is a
server with specialized functions, it directs traffic through
the network. PC Security - Worm Viruses, Deadliest of All

A virus attacks the unit used to run programs on the computer
called the central processing unit or CPU for short. It does
this by running programs and being constantly busy, so that none
of the functions you select can be opened. Similarly, this is
how a worm functions on a network. The routers rely on memory
and processing time (similar to the CPU functions). These are
attacked and as a result the network drastically slows down.

Worms carry payloads which are comprised of other types of
malware, backdoor installations or spyware. Spyware is a
monitoring program that can keep an eye on activities on your
computer and backdoor programs set up hidden access points used
by hackers to steal your information or send spam.

"My Doom" sent out at the beginning of 2004, was the fastest
spreading worm to date. The worm came in the form of an email
with the message "andy; I'm just doing my job, nothing personal,
sorry."

Although the culprit was never found, its intended victim is
thought to have been a software company called Santa Cruz
Operation or SCO for short.

When a person opened this email, the worm was programmed to
overwhelm SCO's website with traffic. The worm spread through
the internet and caused a massive slow down.

For the individual computer, the worm's payload is more serious
because it allows ports to be opened on the computer where
hackers have access to steal or delete information. In addition,
a payload may come with a program to attack your antivirus
software and disable it.

De worming

Using firewalls will help protect your computer. Firewalls
reduce traffic and "hide" your computer. In this state, you are
less likely to be attacked by worms spread over the network.

Be careful not to open suspicious emails and if you don't know
the person or get and unexpected email don't open it. If you
find your computer is slow and reboots by itself or the internet
is sluggish, you may have been infected. Try running antivirus
software to check it out. If that doesn't work, try to manually
removing the virus. Information as to how this is done can be
found on the internet.

About the author:
Jeff Clark is a staff writer at Technology Digest
and is an occasional contributor to several other websites,
including Games
Enthusiast.

Recovery From PC Failure Using Windows XP's Restore Point

By: Otis Cooper

Have you ever done something to make an improvement and later
regretted it?It would be awesome to be able to go back in time
and undo the the thing that were supposed to make an improvement.

While life in general will not allow us to return to an earlier
time to make changes, we computer users do have such an option
should we experience problems with our Windows XP operating
systems.

If you update or install the wrong device driver for your video
card, and you delete accidentally delete a critical Windows
file, so what.

You can simply use Windows XP's Restore Point feature and, Tada,
you're back on track and recovered that deleted file.

Restore Points are snapshots of the state your operating system
was in during that time.Windows XP automatically creates a
restore point when it senses a major change in your operating
system.And Restore Points are created every 24 hours as a safety
measure.But you can create a Restore Point manually any time you
feel there is a need.

If you have a change of some sort that causes problems with the
operating system, you can tell Windows XP to revert to any
Restore Point established before the problem occured.After the
rollback, every change in the operating system that happened
after that Restore Point is eliminated.

Restore Points are generally used when you experience such pc
problems as extremely slow performance of the system. Your
computer responds far more slowly that it did before you
installed or updated something.

Other times to run Restore Point is when your system stops
responding after an update or installation. Be sure to create a
Restore Point before making any significant change to your
computer's software or configuration.

To set a Restore Point, click on Start, point to All Programs,
click on Accessories, System Tools, and then click on System
Restore.When the System Restore windows appears, click on the
button labeled "Create A Restore Point" and click Next.

Enter a description of the restore point, something like "Before
scanner device driver install" and click the Create button.A
notification will inform you that a Restore Point was made.Now
click the Close button and you're all set.

Reverting to a Restore Point is as easy as create one.Click on
Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, System Tools,
and System Restore.When the System Restore window appears, click
on the "Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time" and then click
on the Next button.

Choose the date on which you set the Restore Point and click the
Next button.Review the information presented and save any open
files.Shut down any other programs that may be running.

Click on the Next button and now your computer will restart. As
it restarts, it will present a message informing you of the
restore point. Click OK and you're done.

After reading all about setting and reverting to restore points,
you should make a known restore point if you have not done so
already.Whatever you do after reading this article, don't say
I'll get to it soon.Familarize yourself with this feature and
create a restore point one.

You should try Restore Point and see how it works before you
need it.Create a Restore Point now and update something.You can
update Windows Media Player for example.

After the update or the installation of a program,wait a day or
so and go back to Restore Point.Revert to the Restore Point you
created and see if the old version of Windows Media Player comes
back.Or see if that old device driver is present.

Doing a simple task like this can and will boost your computer
skills and give you much more confidence in yourself and the
Windows XP operating system.

About the author:
Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and
confidence of every computer user. Sign up to receive his
informative articles every month and learn PC Repair absolutely
free.Sign up now at http://www.repairarticles.com

Aperture 1.5 Is Out

Apple has upgraded Aperture with some cool new features. Check these out:

- Ability to store photos anywhere.
- Tight integration with the iLife '06 and iWork '06 application suites.
- Ability to automatically generate XMP metadata when exporting masters.
- A new color adjustment tool.
- New Edge Sharpen tool for high-quality results.
- Pre-filled metadata templates. No repetitive typing!
- Ability to use Aperture on a MacBook for a super-affordable mobile studio

Aperture 1.5: the first all-in-one post-production tool for photographers. New Features. Free Shipping. Only $299 at the Apple Store.

Troubleshoot Your Wireless LAN

Setting up a wireless LAN at home to share computing resources is becoming more and more popular. Wireless LAN manufacturers have simplified the process of setting up a wireless LAN to just a few quick and easy steps. However, like any computer hardware, wireless LAN can work for months or years and then all of a sudden, it stops working. Before you call in the professionals to check your wireless LAN, here are a few simple things you can do to troubleshoot the wireless LAN yourself.

1. First of all, save your work and restart your computer. If you have access to the wireless LAN router and broadband modem, restart them as well. This simple technique has a surprisingly high success rate.

2. If this technique fails, the second thing is to check for loose connections. If you have a USB or PCMCIA wireless LAN card, ensure that it is seated firmly in the slot. If you have an internal PCI wireless LAN card, you will need to open the computer casing to check the connection.

3. If a loose connection isn't the cause of failure, the next thing to try is check Windows' My Network Places. Are there any new network icons that appear there? Sometimes, your wireless LAN card may detect another network nearby that has a stronger signal and connect to the new network instead. If My Network Places showed any unfamiliar network name, simply remove it. Then double click on your own network name to re-establish the connection.

4. If there is no new network nearby, you can try to bring your computer right next to your wireless LAN router. If this works, then it is likely to be a case of interference. You should think carefully what has changed recently in your house. Maybe you have added a new cordless phone or other equipment that use radio waves. Try switching them off one at a time to determine the source of interference.

5. If you can't determine any source of interference, you can now try resetting the wireless LAN router to its original factory setting. You can login to the router's control panel using a web browser and look for the option that allows you to restore the settings to the factory defaults.

If none of these techniques worked, it is likely that there is a hardware failure in your network. You need to unplug each piece of hardware in your wireless LAN in turn to figure out where the failure is. Once you identify the source, call the manufacturer and report the fault. In the event you are unable to isolate the source of failure, call the manufacturer and seek their advice. They should be able to advise you on how to troubleshoot your network further. Just remember to stay polite and be patient.

iPod Nano Update

Here's a few more tidbits to add to yeterday's post on the the new iPod.

Up to 2,000 songs & 5 brilliant colors.

Aanodized aluminum enclosure and rounded edge.
3.5 inches tall, 1.6 inches wide, and just over quarter of an inch thin.
Brighter color screen.
1.5-inch color display that's 40% brighter than before.

Check it out.

New Remastered iPod Nano

Just out today:


• 2GB/500-song, silver iPod nano for $149.
• 4GB/1000-song silver, green, pink and blue iPod nano for $199.
• 8GB/2000-song black iPod nano for $249.

Check it out.

Apple Computers - Compatibility With Windows Applications

By: Yina Dong

In the early days there was little compatibility between Apple
applications and Microsoft Windows applications. However, much
has changed over the years, and many applications can be
seamlessly shared between the two operating systems. This is
especially true of the Max OS X Tiger which enables not only the
sharing of files, but can co-exist peacefully on the same
network. Sharing printers, scanners and other peripheral devices
between Macs and PCs is now almost a non-issue, while there are
still the occasional user who has problems sharing files between
PCs and Macs, the difficulties have mostly be resolved. It is
expected that within the next few years, there should be
problems at all.

Best of all, in today's highly wired world, where electronic
mail is a way of life, now even email can be shared across Mac
and PC platforms with minimal fuss. Apple started on the road to
compatibility in 2003 when they resumed installing PC Compatible
Cards into their systems. This was done in partnership with Dell
Computers.

With so many businesses using Microsoft Windows, it was only
natural that Apple made their systems compatible so that users
could work across platforms. Nowhere is this compatibility more
appreciated than in the freelancing world where clients and
freelancers need to quickly and efficiently exchange files. The
introduction of Intel processors in the current lines of Apple
Computers has cemented this compatibility relationship across
multiple-platforms.

Prior to this, users of Mac applications had to use third party
software, like Stuffit Expander and Conversion Plus, to be able
to access and work on files created with Microsoft applications.
Also, the current generation of Macs now has Mac compatible
Windows application suites which include everyday Windows
applications, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Office for
Mac can be used between Macs and PCs with no problem.

About the author:
Click here
now to find more observations from Yina.

Laptop Computer Sale

On almost any given day, you can find a store that is having a laptop computer sale. These are hot items, and many people are beginning to prefer laptops over personal computers because of their portability. This means that stores are fighting for that share of the computer sales pie. To find a laptop computer sale in your area, all you have to do is look through your local paper, or keep an eye on local television ads. Laptops are often hot items, and discounts are used to draw customers into the store.

Not all sales are created equal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save a lot of money. One type of laptop computer sale is not a deduction in price. Instead they offer a huge rebate. There are two different kinds of rebates, in store and mail in rebates. In store rebates are often taken off the final price, while mail in rebates come after the sale. Many stores like to use the rebate laptop computer sale. As wonderful as these rebates are, there are many people who will not actually follow up on the rebate, and the company gets to keep the money.

If you find a laptop computer sale price that seems too good to be true, find out why. They may be offering a low quality model to get you in the store so they can talk you up to a pricier model. If you want to take advantage of the laptop computer sale, do your best to ignore the sales pitches, or you may end up spending more money than you wanted to. Sometimes, a laptop computer sale is not really a price break on the computer itself, but is instead an offer for extras. These extras can include free upgrades or even a digital camera. Read the fine print. The upgrade may not be something you need, and the digital camera may be low quality, and not worth the price.

There is one place where there is always a laptop computer sale, and that place is eBay. Many, many sellers have laptops they are trying to sell, and if you are patient enough, you can find a great deal on a top of the line, quality laptop. The most important part of finding a bargain at a laptop computer sale is to read all the fine print, and make sure there are no hidden charges, fees, or costs that will jack up the price of the model. Also remember, a deal is not a deal if you don’t get what you need.

Protect your computer against viruses

By: John Fallens

Learn how to protect your personal computer against viruses by:
John Fallens

More and more people have access to computers and the Internet
at home, school etc it all computer systems are at big risk of
getting infected with a computer virus, here will give you ten
tips on how to avoid this and protect your computer.

·Install a good ant virus program in your computer, there are
many free versions out there but it is better to buy a trusted
ant virus program in your local computer store.

·Keep your ant virus software updated, this way your system
will always be protected/

·Backup important files at least once a week, you don't need
expensive software to do this, use a cd burner and make copies
of your most important documents.

·Be careful when opening email attachments, if you receive
something that you don't trust simply delete the email don't
open the attachment.

·Use plain text in your email program, html emails can open
wholes in your computer and you could end up with a virus.

·Be careful when downloading programs for free online, some of
this program will record your Internet activity, read their
privacy policy before installing them in your pc.

·Setup your ant virus program to monitor instant message
programs since other people are able to send files using this
type of software.

·Scan your floppy or cd roms when you bring a disc from another
computer.

·Run a virus scan in your computer at least twice a week.





About the author:
If you need more computer help or tech support visit our
computer forums http://www.computerhelp2u.c
om.

Who's Tracking Your Online Identity?

By: Greg Culver

If you spend a lot of time online, looking for that special
little spot on the web-then this may intrigue you. With all the
information floating out freely on the WWW, you have to wonder,
is someone watching you? Surfing the web is entertaining in many
ways, and dangerous. This formed the usefulness of anti-spy ware
products as well as pop-up blockers, and antivirus programs.
That is a lot of protection, and it doesn't even include the
recommended firewall.

Have you ever had a pop-up show on your screen that asked you to
buy products similar to a site you were surfing, or through
random keywords you put into a search engine? That is no
coincidence.

There are companies that watch your every click, monitor your
surfing habits, and offer services to you at their leisure.
Someone is watching you, and they're not too shy about admitting
it. Every computer online has to have an IP address to identify
itself, it is the social security cards of computers. Without an
IP address, computers cannot get online. What is your IP
address? If you know it then read above-protect it like you
would protect your social security card.

With an IP address anyone can find out exclusive private
information about you, and in extreme cases, take over your
entire computer. However IP address trackers operate more on
an annoying telemarketer function, and although harmless, is
still a huge blow to privacy.

If you just happened to see flash banners online with an
interactive game, promising you'd win something if you'd win,
then you would be surprised to see your location information
filled in on the winners form after winning the game. The only
thing missing would be some personable information such as your
name and email address.

This is what website trackers do, it is similar to MSN's and
Yahoo's portal that can give you relevant information-only these
website trackers ASK for your information before displaying the
relevant details.

Normally, with the protection available to computers we surf
aimlessly without worry, not even considering how wide open our
computers are. And with IP tracking software freely available to
the public online, privacy becomes even worse to protect.

Education is the best weapon, and ways to hide and protect your
IP is freely available online.

To read more articles by Greg Culver, check out http://homeandfamilyweb.com



About the author:
www.coolcomputerweb.com
is owned by Greg Culver and is a directory dedicated to
providing information about computers and related information.

Windows Vista - An Overview

By: Lucy Bartlett

After a gap of nearly 5 years, Microsoft released the latest
version of Windows which is named as Vista. With a name change
from Longhorn to Vista, the stable version of Windows is
expected to be released during November 2006. The beta version
of this software is already available as a free download. If you
have a lot of patience or a very high speed internet connection
then you can download Vista which is nearly 2.5 GB in size.

Microsoft promises that Vista will have plenty of new features
which includes updated graphical user interface (GUI), Windows
DVD Maker - a new creation tool for multimedia - and totally
revamped audio, print and networking sub-systems. Vista will
make use of peer-to-peer technology to make file sharing between
networked computers easier. With the inclusion of Virtual PC in
Vista, Microsoft claims that running previous versions of
Windows simultaneously on the same machine will not be a problem.

The developers can make use of the Net Framework version 3.0
introduced in Vista. This version is claimed to be easier to
work with than the traditional Windows API.

The most common criticism of Windows XP is its unstable security
and its inability to protect the system from buffer overflows,
viruses and malware. The stated goal of Vista is to improve the
security considerably and make the system protected from the
invasion of malwares and virus threats.

Vista comes with improved performance of Windows Shell, easier
and faster search functions, a sidebar resembling Apple's
Spotlight, desktop gadgets for applets, the latest version of
Internet Explorer - the controversial web browser of Microsoft
-, Windows Media Player 11, specialized User Account Control,
built in Firewall to control and monitor outgoing and incoming
traffic, Windows Defender, a Windows version of anti-spyware and
Windows mail which will replace the existing Outlook Express.

Microsoft claims Vista will help in improving the performance of
the PC in certain key areas which includes starting up, response
to user actions, and waking up. The start up is going to be very
quick and while background processing of scripts and
applications are executed, the other desired tasks can be
performed by the users.

The new sleep state provision in Vista has combined features for
standby mode, data protection and low power usage during
hibernation.

If you want to try Vista on your desktop computer then your
system should have a processor which should be at least 800MHZ
speed, 512 MB RAM and have the latest version of any good
graphic card capable of executing DirectX version 9 or above.
This is only a minimum requirement. For optimum results a better
processor - above 1.2GHZ is needed.

About the author:
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles
here. For more
info visit Windows
Vista or Vista Products

Laptops and the College Student

If you are the parent of a student that is soon planning to go to college, then you may want to purchase a laptop computer. A laptop

computer will give the student an effective tool that will allow them to keep track of their busy college schedule, to keep in touch with
friends and family, and to do academic research and papers.

A laptop for the college student is more than ideal; it’s a necessity in today’s technologically advanced and equally demanding society.

College students are expected to type all of their papers in the proper format, whether it is in the Modern Language Association or
American Psychological Association format, and they can easily do so on any of today’s laptop computers.

Don’t make your college bound child rely on the computers at the campus they attend. It can be a hassle when all of the computers

are in use or when the computers malfunction, especially when a term paper or a project is due. Let your college bound child know you
care about their education by giving them a tool they will find invaluable during their college years. College students can use their laptop
to create PowerPoint presentations, lectures, writing assignments, charts, diagrams, websites and more.

Finally, a college student will undoubtedly want to use their laptop computer for entertainment purposes. Downloading music, blog

writing, web surfing, and sharing photos with family and friends are all activities that can be accomplished with the laptop computer you
provide.

Deals On Laptops

By: Larry Haywood

Are you looking for good deals on laptops? There are an endless
amount of websites on the internet about laptops and finding
good deals on laptops. You could literally spend hours and hours
on the web researching laptops or you could visit a site like
TigerDirect.com. This site is by far one of the most helpful
sites I have been to when it comes to trying to figure out which
laptop to buy. There are so many brands and different types of
laptops out there today, it's almost mind blowing. You have
laptops, notebook pcs, and tablet pcs to choose from. Do you
know which one you need? How will you find good deals on laptops
without knowing what you need to fit your situation.

Some of the top laptop brands available today are: Dell laptops,
Gateway, Acer, Toshiba, Compaq, HP, Sony, Apple, and more. Along
with each type of laptop brand, you've also got a large variety
of models to select from. You can expect to spend anywhere from
499.00 to 1500.00 dollars for a decent laptop these days.
However, if you do your research and are open to different
laptop models and brands, you can save a load of cash.
TigerDirect.com provides a review and complete specifications on
the laptops available to buy online.

Now, the laptop specs are pretty darn important. This is what
your laptop will be made up of, so to speak. For example,
howmuch disk space and storage will your laptop have? I have
seen some laptops that come with 60-100 GB of disk space. That
is a massive hard drive for a little bitty laptop! With that
kind of storage available, you will have plenty of space for all
your mp3s, videos, movies, or whatever you want to download on
your laptop. Another important specification is the processor
used. Some of featured laptops on TigerDirect.com come with a
1.7 BHz processor, which should be more than enough juice for
the job. Then, you've got your memory, also called RAM. For
memory, I would get atleast 256MB, but you might want to go with
the 512MB memory if don't plan on updating for a while. With a
setup like this, you could use your laptop for business or
personal use.

Also, you will also want to know the dimensions of the laptop.
Howmuch does the laptop weight? How thin is it? What is the size
of the viewing screen? Now, these things really matter! You
don't want to buy the heaviest, most bulky laptop you can find.
Lightweight and thin laptops are the wave of the future. I know
I do not want to be carrying around a clumpy piece of technology
that weighs 15 lbs. when I could easily carry a 6lb. laptop
around much easier.

Finally, you will also want to pay attention to the type of
networking setup the laptop comes with. Do you plan on using a
LAN at your house? Are you going wireless? Maybe you're still
using a dial up isp. Whatever your situation, you'll want to
find a laptop that is ready to plug into your setup at home or
business. So, with a little time and patience, you can find good
deals on laptops without much effort.

About the author:
Larry runs the website Laptop Buys where you can
find information about laptops, notebook pcs, and tablet pcs.

Windows Repair Xp

By: Tom Jackson

Learn about a new way to speed up Windows XP using a new method
called computer speed system design.

According to the experts at http://windowsrepairxp.com speeding
up Windows XP has been a big problem for it's users only because
it is been approached from the wrong angle by. The correct way
to speed up Windows XP is to create a computer speed system that
has six specific parts. This computer speed system is a
collection of several pieces to a puzzle once you have these
pieces put together you'll always have computer speed.

You're very lucky to be reading this article on windows repair
xp because we are going to reveal all six parts to computer
speed. You're about to learn how to eliminate computer freeze
ups, prevent computer crashes, extend the life of your computer
almost indefinitely, and create computer speed that you've never
seen before. Now that may seem like a bold statement but most
computer owners are missing one or more pieces to this puzzle.
And as anyone knows if there are missing pieces to a puzzle you
never get a perfect picture until you find the missing pieces.

Normally computer speed has been attempted by making changes to
your computer hardware. The most popular is simply adding more
memory or getting a bigger hard drive. This does work well but
it doesn't solve the problem so your computer slows down later
on. So, what is slowing down your computer and what are the
parts to computer speed?

Computer speed has six specific parts to it when you're using
only one or two of these parts you don't get the kind of speed
that you really want.

The parts to computer speed are. 1) Windows XP optimization 2)
Windows XP tweaks, maintenance, and adjustments 3) Spyware an
Adware Removal 4) Antivirus Software 5) Software That Organizes
Your Hard Drive 6) Special Privacy Software

Now in order to have a very very fast computer you'll need to
design a system that has all of the things above in it and
working together. These are the things that slow Windows XP down
and these are the things that can speed Windows Repair XP up.
The six items are not new and they are no mystery to most of us
who've been on Internet for a long time. The real mystery is
learning how to use them properly to create computer speed.

It doesn't take much to learn and become an expert on the six
items above. What it takes is the time and effort to research
each of the individual items. You'll have to learn who, what,
where, when, and how of each individual area. You can use the
help that is available to you on many web sites like

Windows Repair Xp

where they address all six items individually and show you how
to design your own computer speed system.

The fact of the matter is computer speed is the responsibility
of the computer owner not the computer itself. Your computer
simply will not stay fast, safe and running well unless you
address all six areas of computer speed.

About the author:
This article is written by researcher and Thomas Jackson and is
taken from his e-book on XP computer speed secrets. Visit

Windows Repair Xp

to
get a free copy of Spybot Search & Destroy spyware removal
software. Watch our free advanced spyware protection video on
this software while you are there.

Laptop Essentials! Five Basic Accessories to Think About

By: Garry Allen

Everybody, it looks like, has a laptop today, and if you don't
have one, you most likely are thinking of buying one. As if it's
not difficult enough to choose from the many types and brands of
laptops out there, you are also confronted with the many
accessories that are available for one to. Of the overwhelmingly
large amount of accessories out there, it can be certainly
overwhelming to figure out what you really need for your laptop. Clearly, it is completely dependant
upon your needs and plans with your computer, but there are five
essentials you may want to consider to start with first.

Laptop Essential 1: If you are planning to use your laptop at
home with any kind of regularity, you will want to consider
getting an external keyboard and pointing device (mouse). Why?
Well, believe me, if you have ever tried typing on a laptop for
any more than an hour, then without a doubt you know that your
neck, shoulders, and wrists can start to feel wiped out, to say
the least. Well, the solution is to buy an external keyboard,
which you can plug into the back of your laptop, as well as a
mouse. And if you use your laptop in the office you can raise
the screen up with books or risers of some sort to make looking
at the screen a little more ergonomic. Of course you can also
purchase accessory swivel stands for your laptop as well if you
want them.

Laptop Essential 2: When you're home you will most likely want to
connect other peripheral devices to your laptop, like a printer,
maybe a DVD player, or even a CD burner. This can create a lot
of clutter with all the wires you need to plug in and unplug if
you want to take your laptop out of the house or move room to
room or even take it to the office. So to resolve this problem,
you will absolutely love a docking station.

Now a docking station basically turns your laptop into a desktop
computer when you're home and when you're ready to take it away,
you simply slip it out of the station and off you go.

Another alternative along the same lines is a port replicator,
which has computer ports. You connect your external devices to
the replicator and then to your laptop. When you want to move
your laptop, you simply detach the one port replicator, rather
than each external device.

Laptop Essential 3: Now this isn't as exciting as some of the
other accessories, but I assure you, you will be thankful you
have it, and that is an external hard drive. It's certainly not
going to make your day, and it certainly won't throw any
excitement in your life, but the morning you wake up and your
laptop won't start will be the day you are overjoyed that you
decided to get that external hard drive.

Here's a little tip to go along with your new external hard
drive: never pack your backup drive and your laptop in the same
case when going on a trip, keep them separated. If you happen to
lose your bag with both the backup drive and the laptop in it,
you're going to have a really bad day!

Laptop Essential 4: This little device will allow you to hook up
everything you need. So make sure you go out and get yourself an
external USB hub. Desktop computers sometimes come with several
USB ports, some with as many as 8 or 9. But, laptops since they
are smaller, often only have a couple of USB ports. USB hubs
will usually have four or more ports that will connect through
one of your laptop's USB port making them very easy to use to
hook up multiple USB devices.

Laptop Essential 5: You need to think about the worst thing that
can happen with your laptop. Now you probably bought your laptop
so you can work out of the office, or your home, or wherever you
need to, right? Well, since you will be out and about, you will
definitely want to think about insurance for your laptop. The
manufacturer's warranty usually doesn't cover anything beyond
parts, and an extended warranty will certainly not cover theft,
though it may cover you for breakage or fire.

Finally, there are literally thousands of different accessories
available for your computer. Of course some you might need and
others you won't. It really depends on what your plans are for
your laptop as well as where you plan on using it. Nevertheless,
these five things are indispensable to making your laptop as
functional to you as possible. While there may be some variation
to what you need, most of these items will be valuable to anyone
who owns a laptop, no matter how you expect to use your portable
computer.

About the author:
Garry Allen is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Best-Rated-Laptops-and-Computers.info.
Providing you with more information on computer technology and
answering the question what's the best rated
laptop that you

Home Internet Options: The War Between DSL And Cable

By: Ross Gravett

If you are still using dial-up, you have probably gotten either
the "You don't use DSL yet?" or the "You don't use cable yet?"
expressions of credulity. So you've decided that it's probably
time to get off of dial-up - yet, the question remains: which is
better, DSL or cable? There are advertisements arguing the perks
of both, but which will really get you more bang for your buck?

The three issues to take into account when comparing DSL and
cable Internet connection are speed, customer satisfaction and
security.

Theoretically, cable modems run faster than DSL because they
offer more bandwith. There is also a form of DSL called VDSL
which can match the speed of a cable modem. However, the speed
of cable is relative to the number of people in your area who
are accessing the neighborhood at the same time. One popular
commercial compares cable modems to drinking out of a straw -
the straw is fine, if one person is drinking from it. But if the
straw must be shared - well, obviously things slow down a
little. Both DSL and cable also vary in speed by the minute
depending on the congestion caused by multiple users.

Customer service surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates
in 2004 showed that DSL had an edge over cable in customer
satisfaction ratings. This survey looked at billing, the
provider's business image, cost and tech support, and email
services. Earthlink and Verizon, both DSL, were the top two
service providers rated in the survey.

Since cable modems necessitate the sharing of a cable line to
provide service to the entire neighborhood, DSL is slightly more
secure. However, cable modems are easier to install, and many
sources believe that the difference in security is not
significant enough to go through the trouble of installing DSL.
Many cable customers avoid security problems by putting up
firewalls in order to protect themselves, and their information.

About the author:
You have full permission to reprint this article within your
website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully
intact and include the "About the Author" resource box.
Thanks:-) To find the best home based business ideas and
Opportunities so you can work form home Visit:
http://www.yer-it-tis.com

iMac for Education

Apple has just introduced the iMac for Education. This is an affordable entry level iMac with the dual core processor than everyone has been raving about.

Check out these specs:
• Built-in iSight camera
• 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor (1)
• Built-in AirPort Extreme
• 512MB memory (2x256MB SO-DIMMs)
• Front Row • 80GB Serial ATA hard drive
• Mac OS X Tiger • 24x Combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW)
• iLife '06 • Free Shipping
• 17-inch widescreen LCD
• 1440x900 resolution
• Starting at $899 or $21/month

This looks like another killer Apple product!

The new iMac for Education - providing students and teachers everything they need to learn and create in today's digital classroom, all in the ultra-efficient iMac design.

Apple MacBook Rocks

This box rocks. It is super fast and easy to use. Check it out.

Built upon the revolutionary Intel Core Duo — with two processor cores on a single chip — MacBook leaves other consumer notebooks in the dust. It performs up to five times faster than the previous generation iBook without compromising on size or style.

At 1280 by 800, the 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display delivers 30% more viewing area than the iBook or 12-inch PowerBook — perfect for movies and more. And the ultrabright LCD makes photos and graphics come alive with color. You can also connect your MacBook via the mini-DVI port to an external display and create twice the workspace.

Learn the truth about Spyware

Learn the truth about Spyware and how you may be stuck in
QUICKSAND!

By: T.J. Vanek

Spyware is a software that sends personal information to a
third party without your permission or knowledge. This can
include information about web sites you visit or something even
more sensitive such as your name and password.

In reality it is like having an uninvited guest in your home
and allowing him unfettered access to all your most personal
information including banking records,credit cards
records,social security number and computer passwords. The
effects of Spyware can be devestating.

On a National level we have been shocked to learn of security
lapses at the Veteran's Administration that affects about 28
million American's and their most sensitive records.It is
therefore extreemly important that american's protect themselves
from Spyware intrusions due to such lapses.

Here are the most common ways that Spyware gets into your
Computer.

1.Bundled with free software like screensavers or P2P file
sharing programs which you download. For example Kazaa, a P2P
file-sharing application, installs adware onto a user's computer
even though it claims to contain "no spyware." Waterfalls 3 from
Screensaver.com installs spyware and Trojan horses. Examples are
courtesy of a report from StopBadware.org's website.

2.Opening Spam email attachments

3.Being enticed into clicking on links in pop up adverts which
then downloads spyware. These pop ups usually display messages
to do with winning money or entering a special prize drawer.

4."Drive-by downloading" - this is when spyware is automatically
downloaded onto your computer from the website you are surfing.



Earlier this year a report published by the University of
Washington revealed categories of websites which are mostly like
to host spyware or infect users through"drive-by downloads."
Their research revealed the following categories.

1.Gaming sites

2.Music download sites (I interpret this to mean "illegal" music
sharing sites like dailymp3.com or where you can find P2P
applications)

3.Adult sites

4.Celebrity sites

5.Wallpaper / screensaver sites

For Additional information on Spyware or to Free Scan your PC or
Tips to Protect your computer go online
to(http://www.myaxxessmarketing.com/spywarenuker.html,http://www.
myaxxessmarketing.com/spywarenuker1.html)

Father's Day iPods

The Apple Store has a special going on for father's day. You can get dad a personally engraved iPod. Father's day is June 18, so there's plenty of time to order one. Check it out here:

Disk Defragmentation: All You Needed To Know

By: Andrew James

Much like an automobile, a computer needs a little bit of
maintenance every so often to keep it running smoothly. One of
the most overlooked of these tasks is defragmenting the hard
drive. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding
defragmentation.

What Is File Fragmentation? Think of your computer's hard disk
drive as a large warehouse for your data. Every bin in the
warehouse represents a file, and the boxes filling the bin
represent the bytes of data that make up the file.

In order to ensure fast access to your bins, you want to keep
the bins at the front of the warehouse full, so they can be
pulled from as quickly as possible. Let's say, however, that
when you get a new shipment of product, you completely fill up
the bin, have more boxes of product to store, and the bins next
to it are full as well. In most warehouses, the extra product is
moved to the back of the warehouse and a note left in the
original bin as to where the overstock is stored.

Your computer works in much the same way. Space is allocated on
the hard drive to keep each file. To keep your computer running
smoothly, files are often stored right next to each other in the
first available space. However, if you go back and add a few
pages to that story you were writing, the computer doesn't see
any space on the hard drive to store the new data. Therefore, it
moves the new data into the next available spot on the hard
drive and leaves itself a "note" of sorts as to where the rest
of your file is. This splitting of the file into separate pieces
is known as "file fragmentation".

Why Do I Need to Defragment My Hard Drive? As more and more
files get more and more fragmented, it takes the computer longer
to access these files, whether you're opening, editing, or even
deleting them. If we revisit our warehouse analogy, when someone
purchases the entire stock of a product, the warehouse employees
may have to visit 3-4 different bins to fill the order. This
same exact thing is happening on your hard drive.

What Does Defragmenting My Hard Drive Do? The disk
defragmentation process takes all the pieces of a file and puts
them back together in one single spot on the hard drive.
Additionally, your file is moved toward the front of the drive
so that it can be accessed faster.

How Often Do I Need to Defragment My Hard Drive? This is going
to depend on how you use your computer. If you access a lot of
large files on a frequent basis, chances are your files will
fragment more quickly than someone who only checks his e-mail a
few times a week. Generally speaking, the average home user
should defragment his or her hard drive 4-6 times per year
(which is every 2-3 months).

How Do I Defragment My Hard Drive? Your operating system should
have a built-in utility for performing this task. Check your
manual, help files, or favorite search engine for the full
procedure. Although the process can take a long time, depending
on the size of your files and how many files are fragmented,
starting the process is usually straightforward.

If it's been a while since you last defragmented your hard
drive, you should notice your computer running much faster and
more stably than it was before.

About the author:
Mr James started My Business Tips
Online in 2006 to provide business advice, etc and write
articles about his industry-full article here

Adware Removal Tools: Why You Need Them

By: Guy Ray

Do you need an adware removal tool? If you computer has been
running slow, you're seeing new toolbars in your browser, your
home page has changed, your internet favorites list has new
unwanted entries or strange software loads when you start up
your computer then your computer has probably been infected by
adware. Now that you know you have an adware problem you should
know what adware is.

Adware are programs that have the ability to track your internet
browsing habits and even steal personal information like your
bank account numbers and passwords. Adware programs are
perfectly legal because most of these companies get your
approval beforehand without you even knowing it. They hide
licensing agreements in files that you would normally download
like file sharing programs. Even though your infected adware can
be gotten rid of by using a adware removal tool.

Primary Response Safe Connect is one of these adware removal
tools. This adware removal tool provides instant detection and
removal of adware without scanning. It also constantly updates
to cover new threats automatically. Along with complete removal
of all adware programs it eliminates all traces of the malicious
programs and prevents reinstallation. This adware removal tool
is very easy to use and will only cost you about $25. Acronis
Privacy Expert Suite is another adware removal tool. This adware
removal tool provides you with real time protection against
adware programs. It not only provides protection against adware
programs but also spyware parasites, rootkits, keyloggers,
hidden dialers, browser jackers and other malicious programs.
There is a trail download available but it will only tell you if
you have any malicious programs on your computer, it won't get
rid of any of them. To use this adware removal tool to get rid
of these programs you will have to buy it for $30.

Super Anti Spyware Professional is another type of adware
removal tool. This adware removal tool will basically do
everything the others do and the cost is the same as the Acronis
Privacy Expert Suite. It detects and removes malicious programs
from your computer and protects against any further
infestations. One new feature of this adware removal tool is
that it scours the internet for new threats and provides you
daily definition updates on these viruses. Two other adware
removal tools made by Lava Soft are Adware SE Professional and
Adware Enterprise Edition. These are both very competent adware
removal tools designed for businesses. They are designed to
block aggressive adware programs and prevent reinstallation.
Being designed for businesses both of these adware removal tools
are available in several different languages and can be
purchased over the internet or on a hard drive. These two adware
removal tools are going to cost you about $40 apiece with an
extra ten bucks for a backup copy. Adware removal tools remove
malicious adware programs from your computer. By removing these
programs your computer can run more efficiently and you won't
have to worry about being cyber stalked.

About the author:
Guy Ray is a published web author on various subjects as well as
a certified copywriter and webmaster. To learn more about
protecting your computer from stealthy adware visit his site
atadware removal

Benefits of Wireless Routers

By: Michael Sterios

Broadband is now streamed into more homes and business around
the world than ever before. Much like television before it,
broadband has provided a medium for content providers to supply
customers en masse. Unlike television, however, broadband is
delivering a more on-demand selection of content allowing its
users more freedom to choose what they want to watch, read, and
listen to, whenever they want.

As download speeds continue to increase a greater number of
broadband users are downloading heavy content items such as
entire films. This is because the time it takes to complete such
tasks are shortened. It is also the case that several computers
sharing the same broadband connection may accessing the Internet
simultaneously, therefore creating a situation in which these
machine must be connected to the point at which broadband enters
the premises.

In the past this was achieved by using cables and wires. More
recently, wireless routers have become popular amongst broadband
enthusiasts as they allow for the connection of multiple devices
to the same broadband connection, as well as the ability to
connect peripherals such as printers and cameras together,
without the need for unsightly cables running between each
device.

Apart from the obvious advantage of improving the look of your
home or office by not having cables running between devices,
wireless routers have other useful features as well. As the
router is a stand-alone device, it does not require a computer
to be switched on for it to operate. Therefore machines that are
not being used may be turned off while the broadband connection
remains active for other devices to use.

Wireless
Routers also provide an extra layer of security against
malicious programs such as viruses which can infect your
computers via the Internet connection. Routers have built-in
security features such as firewalls and the ability to protect
your wireless network by making it accessible through a
password. It is always recommended that this feature is enabled
in order to avoid unwelcome users hijacking your broadband
connection if they are in range of the router's output.

The router should also provide the ability to connect itself to
other devices with wires. Routers usually come with several
sockets for Ethernet cables which can be connected to your
devices' wireless network cards, should the need arise.

Broadband is often touted as an always-on service, and while
this may be true from the providers' point of view, it is not
usually the case if you connect from your computer via an
Ethernet cable and a modem. This is because the computer will
often be switched off when not in use, and therefore the
connection to the Internet is not active.

As mentioned before, a wireless router does not require an
active PC to function and therefore helps to provide a true
always-on broadband connection from the customers' perspective.
While ADSL modems require dialling up each time the computer
connected to it is turned on, a wireless router can remain
switched on and connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.

About the author:
Broadband-is-cheap contains information and deals on Wireless
Routers in the UK.

Dual Core Laptops: This Isn't Your Last Year's Laptop!

By: Titus Hoskins

The laptop world is seeing double. The next evolution in laptops
is dual-core technology. Dual-core processors are quickly
raising the laptop experience to the next level and laptop users
are benefiting from the extra boost in performance.

Dual-core means exactly what you think it means, you have two
processors or CPUs in your laptop instead of one. Theoretically
this should mean twice the performance level for all those
multi-tasking chores we call upon our laptops to do. However,
you must have ways or technology (the platform) to utilize and
handle all this extra power. There is some catching up to do but
to keep things simple, Hyper-Threading, PCI-Express and SLI are
all ways of harnessing or using this extra power.

With the recent introduction of the new Centrino Duo Mobile
Technology, Intel has entered the multi-core arena. All this
extra dual power and Hyper-Threading will finally put some punch
into laptops and especially gaming laptops. Now almost on par
with desktop PCs, laptops and notebooks can finally hold their
heads high when it comes to performance. This isn't your last
year's laptop!

How quickly things change, Intel expects the Core Duo chip will
be in 230 different laptop designs in the first months of 2006.
Intel also claims this Duo chip will deliver 68% more
performance over the current Sonoma processor (many
manufacturers say this will be around 30%) and reduce battery
consumption by another 28% (Giving 5 hours for a standard
battery and 10 hours for an extended cell battery).

Still, dual-core processors coupled with Hyper-Threading
technology, will and does greatly improve the multi-tasking
functions of your next laptop. The only minor hurdle, many of
today's current video games can't use all these multi-
applications features. But as more games come on stream which
can take full advantage of all this new technology, expect your
gaming enjoyment to increase. As with any new technology there
will probably be a lag time before all the multi-applications
can be applied to the majority of new games hitting the market.

Some major laptop makers now sporting the Intel Core Duo include
Dell with its new "entertainment" Dell Inspiron e1705 line of
high end laptops. HP with its Pavilion dv1000 line of laptops,
which comes with a remote and you can play CDs and DVDs without
booting up.

Nor is Intel the only player in town with a lot of chips on the
gaming table. Intel's main rival AMD has introduced dual-core
into its mobile Turion 64 X2 processors. Also keep in mind, in
recent head-to-head CNET Labs testing, AMD's Athlon 64 X2 chip
performed better than Intel's desktop Dual-Core chip.
http://www.cnet.com/4520-6022_1-6410042.html

You're probably wondering, how will all this new laptop
technology be applied? And what does it mean for the average
laptop owner? What does it mean for gaming laptops?

Well, lets examine one sample notebook to see what all this next
generation technology will do for laptops. Take for example, the
Xtreme SL, a new gaming laptop designed by Rockdirect.
Rockdirect, formerly known as Rock computers, is a leading UK
laptop manufacturer who introduced some of the world's first
dual core laptops last summer (2005).

Rockdirect's latest gaming offering, the Xtreme SL has specs or
features which are rather awe-inspiring, even for the non-gamer.
It comes with an AMD Turion 64 ML-44 2.4GHz processor, sporting
1MB L2 Cache and 2 Gigs of DDR 400MHz RAM. More importantly, it
has twin NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX 256MB graphics cards with
PCI-Express and SLI (Scalable Link Interface).

SLI lets you have two graphics cards on your laptop, working in
tangent to increase or double your graphics performance and
visual quality. Throw in a 19 inch WSXGA+ X-Glass TFT Screen and
you have a perfect example of where gaming laptops are headed
with all this new technology.

For those involved in gaming, this means the ultimate gaming
experience can be best captured on a laptop with Dual-core
processors and dual graphics cards using all the latest SLI or
Hyper-Threading technology. And it is just not for gamers. The
new mobile multi-core chips are turning heads for ordinary
laptop users who want the best performance possible in their
sleek shinny new laptops or notebooks.

Besides, why should gamers have all the fun, these new
technologies will greatly benefit all laptop users. It means a
sleeker, faster, and more powerful laptop for everyone. It also
means longer lasting battery life for your laptop, a much needed
improvement. For the demanding laptop user working in
multi-media authoring, multi-tasking with video editing, spread
sheets, large graphics... these dual core laptops offers a very
capable alternative to the bulky and oh-so stationary desktop PC.

This new multi-core technology offers ultimate performance in a
sleek, quiet package that buyers will find hard to resist. It
will draw even more potential customers into the laptop market,
looking for the ultimate in style, portability, and performance.
Dual-core laptops may just deliver the goods.

This surely is not your last year's laptop.



About the author:
The author has an unhealthy interest in all things laptop!
Including Dual Core laptops. Gami
ng Laptops He also owns a modest website on Marketing Tools
for eMarketers. Marketing
Tools Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins. This article may be
freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

The Skinny On LCD Monitors

By: A. Pruder

There are advances being made in science and technology
everyday, and a good example of this is the LCD monitor. LCD
monitors have several benefits over the old chunky computer
monitors that most users are familiar with. Old computer
monitors, take up quite a bit of desktop space, put out a ton of
heat, drain a ton of energy, and most often have low picture
quality and resolution. Modern advances with the LCD computer
monitors have changed a lot of that. The screen itself is flat,
and very thin, needing very little desktop space, therefore
giving you more room while working at your PC. A big advantage
in my opinion is that LCD monitors don't put off all the heat
that the old monitors do. Those old monitors could quickly heat
up a room, especially if you have more than one in the same
space. LCD monitors require very little energy, making your
wallet a little fatter by avoiding high energy bills. LCD
monitors also reduce the glare, making them a better choice for
gamers, and anyone who spends a lot of time in front of their
computer.

A big problem with the old monitors, other than the obvious, is
that if you forget to use a screensaver, images left on the
screen will actually burn into the screen, which can affect
picture quality, not to mention the fact that screensavers are
just flat out annoying.

LCD monitors also tend to be less expensive on repair costs as
well. They have less parts inside them to break, therefore
saving you money in the event of a problem. Many people who have
CRT monitors will just opt to buy a new monitor when something
goes wrong, because it is often cheaper than trying to repair
the problem, again saving you money.

As with any major purchase, it is important to do some research
and shop around before making a final selection. Many people are
often thrown off by the price of LCD monitors, but they are a
good investment in the long haul of things. The good thing is
that LCD monitors are quickly gaining popularity, so dealers
have to work harder to keep their prices competitive, which puts
the consumer at an advantage. Before going shopping, you should
decide what type/brand of LCD monitor you need, and know the
average cost of that particular monitor, so that you can get the
best overall deal. You should also have in mind what size
monitor will best suit your needs, which will narrow down your
search once you are actually at the store to make your purchase.

Purchasing any kind of new technological gadgetry can be a
daunting task, but if you arm yourself first with good research
and planning, purchasing an LCD monitor should be an easy
decision. If you spend as much time in front a computer screen
as most people do, an average of 3 hours a day or more, you will
be thankful that you made the decision to purchase an LCD
monitor.

About the author:
For more information about lcd monitor,
click the link to visit our website at
www.top-lcd-monitor-guide.info . We have some great free
articles and resources about lcd monitor.

Data Recovery Procedures For Hard Drives

By: Stu Pearson

Your computer's data is at risk. Whether you use a Mac or a PC,
viruses, power surges, hackers, human error, natural disasters,
hardware failures, and more are real everyday threats. To keep
your data safe and sound, you will first need to back up your
files on a regular basis. Secondly, when hard drive failure does
occur, data recovery is the only solution.

Of course it is ideal to back up data and avoid the complicated
process that is data recovery altogether, but even when you take
the necessary steps to prepare for hard drive damage, you might
run into problems.

Here are some procedures to follow if you experience trouble.

If a program is not functioning well on your computer, turn the
computer off! This may seem a simple task, but shutting down a
computer at the moment you notice your hard drive to be working
overtime - perhaps you hear unusual sounds (like "cleaning") -
can prevent damage to the disk and data loss. If you let a
failed hard drive run, it will eventually self-destruct. Damage
to your disk is inevitable in this scenario.

If this is the case, unless you know exactly what you're doing,
don't fix your computer yourself. Professional expertise is not
a luxury in this situation - it is a must. Data recovery is a
difficult and sensitive process requiring special tools and a
clean environment. Not only will it be tremendously challenging
to repair a hard drive on your own, but you might actually make
matters worse and ensure irreversible data loss.

There is "do-it-yourself" data recovery software, but be
cautious of things like this. With most computer problems of
this nature, at-home instructions can be more dangerous than
useful. Even if a company boasts that its products and
instructions will handle your vulnerable data properly, it is
important to be a skeptical consumer.

A local service provider is the average solution. Repair can
happen on your own premises and you can be assured that your
computer is in good hands. However, there is always the
possibility that your hard drive is beyond repair - even for
expert technicians - so be prepared to buy a new hard drive
altogether; data recovery may not be an option any more.

About the author:
Stu Pearson has an interest in Business & Technology related
topics. To access more information on data
recovery services or on restor
e data, please click on the links.

Get The Facts About Wireless Laptops

By: David Stone

Laptops give you unbelievable portability for all of your
computing needs, but as the need for communication grows more
each day you need a computer that will keep you in touch. There
are many options for portable computing. Laptops now come in
many different sizes to match your specific needs.

Large or small screens are the biggest factor affecting the size
of a laptop. Extra options like media drives and larger
batteries will add overall weight to laptops. The current trend
for any traveler is to get the smallest computer that will get
the job done. Airports have wireless internet access available,
so a wireless network or wi-fi card is a good option. Large
screens used to be popular but strict travel regulations have
caused many people to get smaller screens. This will make the
computer easier to deal with at security check points.

Major reasons for the trend in "less is more" with laptop
computers, is that they have become simply more of a tool and
less of a novelty. Most basic computers are very capable in
running any business application and have the necessary options
for general use. Basic laptops have also dropped in price
dramatically. The options have become the expensive part as
competition grows fierce to have the lowest priced computer
available. People are now buying computers more frequently with
less options because it is more cost effective that buying the
newest technology. Fast processors and large hard drives start
out very expensive and quickly become standard features on basic
laptops. You can keep more up to date by getting a new laptop
every two years instead of getting the newest technology and
trying to make it last for 4 years. Anyways, most laptops show a
performance loss after about two years if the hard drive is not
defragmented and formatted. It may not sound cheaper to buy a
computer more often, but it also what you buy. Doing a little
shopping around and assessing what you really need in a computer
can save you the money that you need to buy one more often.

About the author:
Get more of the information that you need at
http://www.find-laptops-now.info