Buying Tips

Here are some quick computer buying tips & tricks. This article is not going to show you what to buy, but it will show you how to buy.

1. Do not buy a computer because your friend has one. Buy the one that will accommodate the tasks that you want to perform day in and day out.

2. Don’t think something is cheap until you also compare what quality parts it has inside the computer. People come to me and ask if the cheapest laptop in the store is good enough for them and most of the time I say no. Unfortunately these laptops are usually already outdated stock.

3. Make sure the computer you are buying is totally upgradeable. It must have spare memory slots and be able to handle more ram in the future. Also make sure there is space to add more parts inside the computer with extra plugs on the main motherboard.

4. Buy a computer with a 2 year plan. Hopefully you will get the right computer and keep up with your tasks for at least two years. If it doesn’t you will be able to make a small upgrade to get through the two years. After that time is up you can then evaluate if the computer is worth upgrading again and continuing on with it.

5. Make sure your computer comes with at least 1 year warranty. 2 years is definitely better because you always find the problems start when your computer is 1 year and two days old, just when the warranty runs out.

6. Do not buy a computer without the original operating system cd and a COA (certificate of Authenticity) sticker on the side of the computer. Some companies do not give you a Windows Operating system CD and this will cause problems in the future. It makes it harder for you to restore your computer yourself and will have to take it back to them to fix.

7. Ask about after sales service before you buy. Make sure you are clear on what you are entitled to. What happens if a part dies in your computer. Will you have to take it to where you bought it, or will you have to post it to Thailand? Don’t laugh, it has happened before.

8. Make sure you get all driver cd’s for the computer. There is nothing worse than trying to find drivers on the internet to try and make your computer function correctly.

9. Get quotes from different shops and small system builders. Do not go into the first shop and buy what you see. Compare your prices with Ebay . It doesn’t hurt to find out the facts.

Memory Tips

Random Access Memory – 1) You can get the fastest processor out on the market, but you don’t have anything until you load it up with RAM. We recommend at least 2gig (3 gig or more is better). Before buying the latest PC, consider upgrading your memory first. You will be surprised. See our electronics dictionary for information on purchasing memory. 2) Bad RAM can cause many problems with your pc. Some symptoms include – blue screens, programs crashing, and shutdown of your computer for no apparent reason. Memory can be bad from the moment you purchase it. There is a free program called Memtest86 that can help you troubleshoot memory problems. Real easy to use. Must be on a bootable floppy or cd.

ReadyBoost – A Windows Vista application that provides an easy way to speed up a computer by adding additional memory capacity by using a readyboost compatible USB drive. Be sure to correctly size the USB flash drive to the system memory. Microsoft recommends between 1 to 1 and 2.5 to 1 ratio. For example, if a computer has 1 gigabyte of memory the USB drive capacity should be between 1 to 2.5 gigabytes.

Keeping it clean – Keep as few as possible icons (shortcuts) on your desktop. Those little icons rob your RAM of 500bytes each. These can quickly add up and slow your PC down.

Carry out the trash – empty the recycle bin, internet history, cache, and cookies frequently.

Static Electricity

Do not touch the hard drive (case) or monitor after walking on carpet. Good way to tear up something electronic. Try to touch something metal before putting your hands on them. Static electricity can cause catastrophic damage to a computer. If you are doing upgrade/repair work yourself, invest in a anti static wrist strap/pad. Inexpensive and well worth it. Do not use a brush or cloth to clean circuit boards. They can cause static electricity. Use a can of compressed air to clean these sensitive components.

PC Problems Handling Tips

If you here “funny noises” coming from your PC, stop immediately. If you don’t know a thing about them, call some one. It is not uncommon for fans to go out. They are inexpensive to replace, but can trash the whole system. Here is an article about strange computer noises. Always insist on high quality ball bearing fans. Do not go with the cheap ones. Good quality fans will not cost more than $10.

CD Stuck – Ever wonder what that little bitty tiny hole on cd and disk drives was for? Stick a straightened paperclip in that hole to eject stuck cd/disks. .

General Tips

Get a good video card. We recommend NVIDIA with at least 128mg of built in memory. On board video (graphics card built into the motherboard) can cause lag. Onboard video cards use valuable PC resources. Put in a good video card, bypass the onboard video and notice the difference. Extremely good choice for upgrading your computer with minimal investment.

We do not recommend buying extended warranties with a new computer. Why? Most of the time, if new electronic components fail, they do so fairly quickly. Leave your new PC on for two weeks without turning it off to give it a good trial/break-in period.

A cool browser zoom tip – If you are running Windows Internet Explorer, hold the Ctrl key while moving your mouse wheel (if you have one). You can instantly zoom in or out!

Keeping your registry clean will keep your computer running at peak speeds.

PC Safety Tips

Get a good monitor – Set the refresh rate high (above 80). Cheap monitors or improper settings can damage your vision. Maintain a comfortable viewing distance (25 to 30 inches). Adjust the monitor so you can work with your head level. Take appropriate steps to reduce glare on screen (ambient light sources).

Lower the brightness – Keep the brightness level as low as what is comfortable for you. Set the contrast as high as what you feel is comfortable.

Blink while looking at the monitor – PC’s tend to cause eyes to blink less, which causes dryness of the eyes. Force yourself to blink more often.

Ergonomics – This is becoming more of a danger with more people spending more time at computers. Repetitive motion can cause carpel tunnel syndrome (swelling around nerves). Buy ergonomic keyboards (padded wrist rest are intended for resting NOT WHILE KEYING), get a good chair, and take breaks (stretch or walk around  1-2 minutes every hour). Keep your shoulders and upper arms perpendicular to the floor and relaxed.

Give your eyes a break – Refocus your eyes on something in the distance from time to time.

Give your body a break – Change your body position about every 20 minutes or so.

No food or drinks -Go to the table if you want to eat or drink. Have you no manners? And say your prayers while your are there. Thank God Almighty for all of your blessings! God and your PC will love you for it.

Clean the monitor screen – Keep the screen clean with a soft dry static free cloth. Do not use cleaners. A dirty screen causes more stress on the eyes.

Working on monitors – Although they can usually be repaired quit easily, DO NOT ATTEMPT to work on them unless you have the experience to do so. Why? Electric components inside them store electricity, EVEN unplugged.