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7 Barebones Computer Buying Tips
Getting a new computer should be a cool thing, especially a
cheap computer. After all that time struggling with you old
machine, probably fighting with it to get the latest software to
run, your new computer should be a ray of light for...
Hacking in Cyberspace
Did know you that your normal, everyday e-mail could be viewed and read by practically anyone on the Internet? It's like someone reading your personal mail without asking. Recently security on the Internet has received a lot of attention in the...
How to tell you are infected with spyware, ad-ware or viruses
How to tell you have spyware, ad-ware or viruses Usually, the easiest way to tell you have spyware is because your PC is running at a reduced speed. The other way to check is to hit CTRL+ALT+DELETE and hit task manager (if you have windows service...
See How To Troubleshoot PC Mouse Problems Fast
The Motherboard is the largest component in your PC and the Central Processing Unit is its brain.But when your input devices go on the blink,you're shut down for awhile.When Computer Mice problems come,we don't panic as fast when we cannot access...
Zero Duty: Channel Seeks Clarity
Back in June this year, when 360 Magazine first mooted the question about the impact zero duty will have on the Indian IT industry, most just shrugged it off. For most manufacturers and distributors this was something too far off in the future to...
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Is That PC Still Worth Keeping?
Computers... We love 'em and love to hate 'em. But before you trash that old PC and buy a new one, you may only need some tweaks, fixes or upgrades. If you are in the Parker, Colorado area, I can help you. If you're outside that area, please feel free to use this site as a resource. I've assembled loads of articles, links and resources for you to use.
Many PCs come with too little memory for it to run at its full potential. They also come with a lot of programs that you don't need and that load in the background for no good reason. And, over time, your PC collects lots of files from the internet that are taking up space and slowing things down. Add to that adware and spyware programs you didn't even know were running. All these factors can slow your PC down and bring your blood pressure up. With a good tune up and, perhaps, an upgrade, your old PC may have a couple years left in it.
Each new version of Windows requires more resources from your computer. If your computer came loaded with Windows XP, then it's only a few years old at the most and can still be a fine PC for most people. When Windows XP was first released, many computers came with a minimum of RAM and you would probably benefit from an upgrade. If you upgraded your PC from Windows 98 or ME to Windows XP, It's highly likely that you don't have enough RAM and you're PC is struggling to keep up. Your processor is probably marginally adequate as well.
If you're still using Windows 95, 98, ME or 2000, you should very seriously consider getting up to Windows XP as soon as possible. No, Microsoft doesn't pay me anything for the sales pitch. The reason is this; Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 2000 on June 30,
2005. The older versions of Windows aren't supported either and are much less stable. Hackers are still writing nastyware for all Windows versions and XP is the only one being patched. It's also the most stable and secure of them all.
A new computer can cost only a few hundred dollars if you watch for a sale - and there's always a sale. I picked up a refurbished HP computer for my daughter for $200 and it's as good as some lower-end new PCs. If your old monitor still works and is still in focus, use it with the new PC, it'll work.
My minimum recommended hardware list for Windows XP is:
RAM - 256MB for simple documents, email and web surfing. 512MB or more is really recommended for most people as antivirus and other security software is running all the time and most people have more than one program open.
Processor - I wouldn't go any slower than 600MHz. Something this slow will work, but will struggle, and it shows the age of the computer. If your processor is faster than 1GHz, you're fine for a while.
Hard drive - If your hard drive is bigger than 10 GB, you're fine. But keep in mind that hard drives get old and fail. It's not a matter of if, but when.
There are other, more advanced hardware specifications, but these will help guide most home users.
The Parker Computer Guy can tell you if your PC needs to be upgraded, tuned up or cleaned out. And if your computer is in need of repair, we can fix it quickly and get you back on track. About the Author
Scott Dary, aka Parker Computer Guy, runs a computer repair and consulting business. Additional articles by Scott can be found at http://www.ParkerComputerGuy.com
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Tom's Hardware |
: Tom's Hardware Guide is the Internet's premiere resource for hardware news and reviews. |
www.tomshardware.com |
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HardwareCentral - Your source for in-depth computer hardware info. |
HardwareCentral is the #1 Hardware Information Resource on the 'Net. Featuring over 600 pages of Hardware information, including advice on System ... |
www.hardwarecentral.com |
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Apple - Hardware |
Find your favorite Mac, iPod and other Apple accessories. |
www.apple.com |
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Ace Hardware |
Nationwide (United States) hardware and home improvement retailer. Includes products, dealer locator and corporate information. |
www.acehardware.com |
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Computer hardware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed, in comparison with software and ... Personal computers, the computer hardware familiar to most people, ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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Hardware - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Hardware is the general term that is used to describe physical artifacts of a technology. ... In a looser sense, hardware can be major military equipment, ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
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Open Directory - Computers: Hardware |
Hardware Central - Computing-centric community providing vital information, support, tools and interaction facilities for power computer users and ... |
dmoz.org |
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Microsoft Hardware – Home Page |
Learn about Microsoft mice, keyboards, desktop sets, webcams, media center peripherals, gaming products, fingerprint readers and presentation tools. |
www.microsoft.com |
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AnandTech: your source for hardware analysis and news |
Independent hands-on reviews of computer hardware such as motherboards, graphic cards, and CPUs. |
www.anandtech.com |
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hardware.com - Routers, switches, firewalls, servers, memory ... |
Supplier of new and refurbished networking hardware and approved and compatible network accessories. Located in the United Kingdom. |
www.hardware.com |
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Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters |
From the article: "Although the news caused barely a ripple of reaction in the audience of software and hardware engineers, there are industry analysts who ... |
hardware.slashdot.org |
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InformationWeek HardwareTech Center |
Our hardware coverage ranges from mobile computers and PDAs to servers and supercomputers, and the infrastructure issues enterprises deal with every day. ... |
www.informationweek.com |
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What is hardware? - A Word Definition From the Webopedia Computer ... |
This page describes the term hardware and lists other pages on the Web where you can find additional information. |
www.webopedia.com |
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Google Directory - Computers > Hardware |
Hardware Central - http://www.hardwarecentral.com/ Computing-centric community providing vital information, support, tools and interaction facilities for ... |
www.google.com |
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Gifts: Unique Gifts & Gift Ideas at Restoration Hardware |
At Restoration Hardware, you'll explore an exceptional world of high quality unique gifts. Browse our products to find gift ideas & more at Restoration ... |
www.restorationhardware.com |
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HwB: The Hardware Book |
HwB provides you with circuits, pinouts, cable/adapter descriptions and other technical information. |
www.hardwarebook.net |
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Reg Hardware: Product News and Gadget Reviews from The Register |
More Gadgets Stuff. 5th December 2006 12:09 GMT. Author: Reg Hardware ... 27th November 2006 15:31 GMT. Author: The Hardware Widow ... |
www.reghardware.co.uk |
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red hat hardware compatibility lists |
hardware.redhat.com/ - Similar pages |
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TrueValue.com |
Here's our tip to hang strands of lights with ease. Jeanenne & Jim Tucker Plantation True Value Hardware Richmond, TX ... |
www.truevalue.com |
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A complete illustrated Guide to the PC Hardware |
A complete illustrated Guide to the PC Hardware, Logic and Architecture. 500 easy-read articles about the modern PC. Understand the basic architecture of ... |
www.karbosguide.com |
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