Computer Tips and Tricks

You may have seen this on your laptop and it refers to a small port on the side generally that you can connect some high speed devices to such as a video camera or a hard disk. This is a firewire connection. Here is an explanation from Yahoo Answers from Nayiaf A:

FireWire, originally created by Apple and later standardized as IEEE-1394, actually preceded USB and had similar goals. The difference is that IEEE-1394 was originally intended for devices working with lots more data — things like camcorders, DVD players and digital audio equipment. IEEE-1394 and USB share a number of characteristics and differ in some important ways. Here’s a summary:
* Like USB, IEEE-1394 is a serial bus that uses twisted-pair wiring to move data around.
* However, while USB is limited to 12 megabits per second, IEEE-1394 currently handles up to 400 megabits per second.
* USB can handle 127 devices per bus, while IEEE-1394 handles 63.
* Both USB and IEEE-1394 support the concept of a isochronous device — a device that needs a certain amount of bandwidth for streaming data. This mode is perfect for streaming audio and video data.
* Both USB and IEEE-1394 allow you to plug and unplug devices at any time.

The designers of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) had several particular goals in mind when they created the USB standard:
* Low implementation cost, so that USB could be used in cheap peripherals like mice and game controllers
* Low cabling cost
* Lots of devices on the bus
* Good speed characteristics for things like printers
The idea was to create a system that would replace all of the different ports on computers (parallel ports, serial ports, special mouse and keyboard ports, etc.) with a single standard. USB achieved all of these goals very effectively, and there will come a day in the not-too-distant future when computers will have nothing but a set of USB connectors on the back.
Most digital video cameras have an IEEE-1394 plug. When you attach a camcorder to a computer using IEEE-1394, the connection is amazing. With the right software the computer and the camera communicate, and the computer can download all of the scenes on the tape automatically and with perfect digital clarity. As prices fall, home video production will become trivial!

Run MsConfig by going to Start > Run > type msconfig
Then selected startup and uncheck just about all the programs you can stand. If there is a program that is running and you are not sure what it is, you can google it by typing in “process “. Sometime it is obvious what the program is. Most folks don’t need to run MSN Messenger or Quicktime detector or all those programs resident in memory. You can always start them up manually and save your memory. Remember, you can always check the program back on if you need to. Just about the only programs you need to run is your antivirus or anti-spyware programs.

Technorati Tags: msconfig, slow computer, slow pc, slowdown, Startup

You can improve performance with this site:
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

I have used this for occasions to improve reception for customers that have their routers too far away or have interference affecting them. If you print off the windsurfer card onto card stock, and then glue tin foil on it, cut in the slots and tape it together, you would be surprised how much it will improve. Just remember to direct the parabolic antenna towards where you are. If you get stuck, you can view the systm video that shows it step by step on episode 45 at http://revision3.com/systm/surfer/.
Cool thing is they are basically free.

Technorati Tags: antenna, free antenna, reception, wireless

Is your computer slowing down or getting sluggish on you? Does it seem to not have that snappiness that it had when it was new? That seems to be one of the major complaints that I hear all the time. Now there is a call everyday it seems where someone is getting popups related to XP Antivirus 2009 or XP Antivirus 360 and if you click on any part of the window except for the red X in the right corner, you will get loaded up with some pretty evasive spyware that is not trivial to remove. In most cases, you have to have a professional to remove it. If you do see this Antivirus 2009, It will say you have 146 viruses and you must scan now. DON’T DO IT. If you start it, I recommend immediately powering off the computer. If you want to try some of the maintenance on your own, Here ‘s a list of spyware software that I recommend for the average user to use so click the links to get the software:

Spybot Search and Destroy

Ad-Aware

MalwareBytes

If you need more help, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Technorati Tags: antivirus, malware, spybot, spyware, virus

Have you ever received a link to web page that someone wants you to see but the link is so long and doesn’t work. Most of the time on those long links, the link exceeds the page width and has a carriage return in the middle of that which the link doesn’t understand. When ypu click the link, you get a 404 error. To save aggravation from those busted links, use Tinyurl. You can paste in the long link and what’s cool is that you can preview that before you send.

Well, I have been using Skype for years and I was very skeptical about the Magic Jack and the ads I saw on TV. Then a relative purchased one and then started telling me about. Well I’m a sucker for anything voip, so I took the plunge. The “Magic Jack” plunge anyway. I was quite impressed with the install of it, which was so totally easy, which probably makes it less flexible; but I was up and running with it in no time.

If you are unfamiliar with it, here goes:

This is a small device the size of a memory stick with a USB port on one end, and an RJ11 Telephone Socket style connector on the other end
that allows a fixed rate Low cost long distance USA/Canada wide calling plan
It requires a Windows XP or Vista PC
or an Intel based Macintosh but NO software installation required as it ‘runs’ from the device itself.

Here is their Site: http://www.magicjack.com which says you get 30 days free trial time, So if that’s True there’s nothing to lose but some time if  you don’t like it. Then, it’s  under $4 a month call anywhere in the USA/Canada… NOT BAD. 
The call quality is fine, but it get a little squirrelly at times which is a lot like Skype. I have a 6MB Internet connection though but my relative has a 1mb and it does ok for the most part. It Self Installs (ie. plug it in and wait up to a minute for it to configure itself and you are in business…)
it will NOT work with older style non Intel MAC computers  otherwise PC XP, Vista & Intel MACs work Fine
Pluses- If you try it and like it:
1) Dump your Long Distance Plan for Outgoing Calls on your land line. This DOES NOT affect anyone’s INCOMING calls at all.
2) Real Voicemail so when it is NOT connected it will collect and hold calls for you so when you ARE connected you can get them.
3) Connect any normal handset cordless or corded phone to the jack and it rings normally and is used in a nontechnical way. Computer & Internet need to be On and Up though, and may not work if the PC Goes to Sleep!
4) Use Anywhere. you can plug Magic Jack into ANYONE’s computer anywhere in the world, so long as they have fairly speedy Internet access- even say,
Europe to make free USA calls  (But NO free calls to Europe itself, strangely :
you could add it to your Laptop and go to a WIFI  HotSpot and use it, say.
DOWN SIDES
1) NOT a local number- And you cannot pick one. People returning calls via. caller ID  (which I often do) will get the ‘wrong’ number rather than your more reliable land-line for you or will not actually ‘know’ you as ‘you’ are.
2) This IS a so called VOIP solution BUT it is probably NOT compatible with anything else. You cannot for example put the  account into a VOIP call box-
It HAS to be as far as I can tell,  their special adapter in use to work right…
3) No Call Forwarding or any of those type of features.
4) This one is Obvious. It Requires a Computer.
Not as trivial as it sounds as your Internet Service,  Power, Computer and cabling AND the Magic Jack system must ALL work and be on for ANY of this to work
so It is probably only useful for a roaming consultant or a call-out plan.

5) OH and finally- If you lose the unit, you just lost all the access and probably need to call to get it disabled, Also I doubt you could get the same number back, But it’s all a free trial then cheap.  Try it eh? Let me know what your experience is!