WhatComputers.net

Gel Mats and Laptop Cooler Pads

Guest Post — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:44:56 +0000

Have you ever heard of gel mats that can be used as laptop cooler pads? This is another innovation in computer technology that allows for earth-friendly designs. This particular kind of laptop cooler does not need any external power to operate, thus the savings you get by not using electricity.

Gel mats come in printed or plain designs that you can search through the Internet. They are also waterproof and surprisingly fireproof as well. Most gel mats are tested with no toxicity that goes with it and they are even certified to be non-toxic. They are also hygienic and easy to clean. The gel on its interior is equally distributed to automatically cool a laptop and protect it from overheating. Most of these gel mats have ventilation materials that are non-woven. Look for the gel mats that have exterior features made of TPU, or Thermoplastic Polyurethane, that can endure scrapes or oily materials as well as high temperatures.

As you can see, a gel mat is a perfect substitute of battery powered or adapter powered cooling pads. With the description above, a gel mat does not require any power supply. Its internal components may turn into a gel once they get exposed to a heated laptop. Since they don’t require a power supply, you are assured that you can get a lot of savings from electricity expenses. Laptops are already quite costly to take care of, and you surely want to reduce some costs on accessories that require added power supply.

As an added feature, these gel mats are made of earth-friendly materials. While you are still about to buy a gel mat, you have already done your part in preserving the environment by purchasing an accessory that’s not only power-free but efficiently recyclable as well in the future due to its non-toxic components.

Fix Error Messages Using Free Tools And Advice

Guest Post — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:47:58 +0000

This article takes a look at some different ways to research and fix error messages that you experience. As with any approach you should back up your data and registry files before starting into any PC maintenance work.

It may not seem like it, but it is actually a positive sign to see an error code in a pop-up message – it gives you something to research. The best starting point for researching any errors is to search the product support site for the product throwing the error (rather than doing a full search of the web, which returns less-focused results).

Check the maker’s website for updates, known issues or solutions stating how to fix error codes you see. If you are in luck then others have already seen the fault and a fix exists.

Next search independent user forums online relating to the product. They may contain solutions to your error but you should be careful of trying out changes that have not been widely tested.

For broader solutions to fixing computers when an error code relates to system files you should consider running a full scan for viruses, spyware and malware. Many modern anti-virus programs (e.g. the free version of AVG) can fix changes to system programs and files.

If the error code relate to problems with the Windows registry then you should wary of manually editing this file. Many of its configuration keys are shared amongst programs so one change can affect multiple products. Use a registry cleaner (if you have one) to repair corruption to this system file or use Windows own System Restore tool (accessories / system tools) to roll back the file to any earlier saved version.

These tips should help you troubleshoot and fix error codes you see. The key is to only make changes to your PC that you are certain others have tried and tested before you.

Counting the Perks of Travel Printers for Laptops

Guest Post — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:56:53 +0000

With the busy lives most people are leading today, having the need for gadgets that can help cope with multitasking needs is a must. Fortunately, technology never failed to come up with new gadgets that made hectic schedules easier to follow. One example is the invention of travel printers for laptops. With the advent of this device, people no longer need to stay at home or in their offices just to print out important papers. With the help of this gadget, busy individuals can still go on with their work no matter where they are.

Besides of the benefit of easy use, travel printers are designed to be portable and compact so that they won’t be a weight hindrance to those who are always traveling. Most travel printers only weigh less than 8 lbs. so users need not to worry to pay too much on baggage prices because they are very light. They can also be very beneficial to students and people who have home offices because they do not take up too much space in small rooms.

Moreover, most travel printers for laptops are now equipped with other functions making them even fitter for multitasking purposes. There are now mobile printers that already come complete with scanners and photo printing options to finish more tasks.

There are a couple of factors which should be considered in buying a travel printer. First is durability. Since these portable printers are always moved from one place to another, they have a high probability of getting damaged. Thus, before buying, make sure to choose something that has a durable stiff plastic case for protection. Another thing to take note of is the type of printer. Inkjet portable printers are most used in printing colored documents and pictures because of their high dots per inch. On the other hand, laser printers are best used in printing black and white documents. It is also very reliable in printing numerous documents because it can manage producing several hundreds of pages.

Will A Netbook Work For Me?

Guest Post — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:47:50 +0000

The netbook came into the technology industry like a whirlwind, and left almost as quickly. Like many other new gadgets, it caught the attention of techno geeks for only a short time, but much of the general public is still enamored with the little netbook. It is a small computer, the size of a small writing notebook a child would use for school, but you can use it for most office applications and connecting to the internet. So, if you are in the market for a netbook, how do you know which one to choose?

You need to assess your needs before you go shopping. Many people who are dissatisfied with their netbook are dissatisfied simply because netbooks were not made for them. Netbooks can do a lot, but if you are expecting a portable version of your PC, you will be sorely disappointed. You can not run a bunch of programs at the same time. You will not be able to store all of your files. if you are looking for more than a netbook can handle, you will be better off looking for laptops under $500. If you are willing to go the used or refurbished route, you can even find laptops under $300. If you think that a smaller netbook will work just fine for your needs, than you will want to find a good one.

There is a difference between higher end and lower end netbooks. Higher end netbooks are sometimes equipped with the same processors as lower end laptops, which means they can do a lot more stuff much faster. HP and Toshiba offer these higher end netbooks, while Asus and Acer will provide less expensive netbooks with less power.

With most high end netbooks equipped the same way in terms of processors, there are some other factors that they are competing for to get your business. The first is weight. People like netbooks because they can fit them into their purse. They are ultra portable. Keeping them lightweight is key. Another factor is the battery life. Netbooks can have a longer lasting battery life than laptops simply because they do not take as much energy to run. So, there is a competition for ridiculously long battery lives. This, though, adds to the weight, so it is a balancing act.

Search Engine Optimization

Guest Post — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:28:05 +0000

Sometimes it is tough for a new website to get noticed; you may have the most innovative, informative website out there, but without a high ranking on search engine return pages (SERP) no one will ever see it. Search engine optimization (SEO) offers one way to get your website noticed and attract more viewers and customers. There are firms that specialize in website design and optimization; however careful research is necessary before choosing an SEO firm; they are not all honest.

There are two philosophies to search engine optimization; the white hat and the black hat approach. SEO techniques are based on how a search engine works; some are legitimate means of letting search engines know your website exists, others may involve exploitative methods that give the website a higher ranking. Mangoco, a professional SEO company from Virginia, suggests that “for any site that you want to rank over the long term, and not just a quick score, you absolutely should focus solely on white-hat techniques”.

Search engines classify web pages based on keywords, which are important terms that are relevant to the content of the page. Search engines use programs known as spiders or crawlers to search the web and analyze different pages. Having keywords in the right places is how a web crawler knows what your site is about. Link analysis is also used to determine the quality of a webpage; this means the search engine looks to see how many other web pages link to the page in question.

Keyword stuffing which distorts search engine results is one example of the black hat approach to SEO. Webmasters may also use invisible text that matches the page’s background; the search engine’s crawlers read the content through HTML code they detect the code that users can’t see.

There are many SEO firms that are legitimate and will help your website become one of the most popular. Just be sure to do some research and choose a firm that uses only the white hat approach to search engine optimization. Increasing SERP ranking can lead to increased website traffic and therefore, increased profits.

Duplex Laser Printer Buying

Guest Post — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:29:07 +0000

If you are interested in buying a duplex laser printer, you will find that this is the one printing solution that will remain in your office for years to come. There are many advantages to using duplex around the office and you can experience them for yourself at a low price. You can find these printers available online for an affordable price, you should also consider buying more than one for your office and home. You need to switch to this technology in order to be able to use the duplex technology. This is available in these printers and what it allows you to do is print on both sides of a paper. This is useful for anyone that would like to limit the amount of paper that they waste. It also helps you to stay better organized by allowing you to place all of your information onto very few papers. This will increase the quality of your presentation and eliminate clutter that can take away from your presentation.

When you use less paper you will find that it makes writing a report easier, it also becomes easier to read and understand. Additionally, you are using less paper and this means that you will be doing something great for the earth. We live on this earth and consume all of its resources without consideration of the future. However, this printer technology will allow you to print your material using half of the paper and this is great for the earth. A duplex laser printer also uses less ink than a standard laser printer and this will allow you to limit the amount of ink that you purchase. Printing is faster and you will be able to print on both sides of the page, these printers start at a low print and they are budget friendly.

Taking on the Wii with Kinect XBox

Guest Post — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:27:06 +0000

At last year’s E3, Microsoft debuted a new motion sensing device that would forever change the way the world thinks about motion-sensing devices. The Wii revolutionized the control scheme and made it feasible to use in the mainstream, but the Xbox 360 Kinect fine tunes motion control by not even requiring a controller.

Many people ask themselves why they need the motion control offered by Xbox Kinect when the Wii does the same thing. However, the quality of games available on the Wii is something many people do not consider. The Xbox 360 is a superior system due to it high definition graphics which is something the Wii cannot do. The Wii’s success has not come about by offering a superior gaming experience, but instead, a more family oriented one through multitudes of party games.

The 360 has a ton of great games, but most are aimed at the core gamer, someone who enjoys first person shooters or hardcore role-playing games. The Xbox LIVE Arcade has opened the platform to a more casual audience, but the Kinect will take this further by opening the device to the Wii audience. Several of the Kinect games that will be available at launch mirror Wii titles, but with the improved Kinect control scheme, it is clear Microsoft will have an advantage over the Wii on its own playing field.

A good example of this imitation is Microsoft’s Fitness Evolved game, which mimics Wii Fit. However, unlike the Wii version, the Kinect game does not require any controls, and all actions performed for the game are actually done by you, so jumping, boxing, and other activities need to actually be performed instead of swiping your arms or standing on a balance board. There are other Wii imitations too, as Joy Ride is clearly the answer to Mario Kart Wii. Kinectimals is Microsoft’s answer to virtual pet games like Nintendogs, featuring such exotic pets as lions and tigers.

The main drawback to owning a Wii is the graphics processing power is simply not up to snuff when compared to both the 360 and the Playstation 3. The clear advantage in this situation was the motion control scheme that many people enjoy, however with both Microsoft and Sony stepping into this territory, the Nintendo Wii is fast losing its value as a primary gaming console. Instead, it is being replaced by Microsoft Kinect, a device that does motion control so much better than Nintendo.

The Microsoft Kinect debuted as Project Natal at last year’s E3, but this year it was dubbed Kinect and received a generous showing. Microsoft has a clearly innovative product that will overshadow the Wii in just a few months time after release, since many of the titles are nearly identical and offer much better functionality than the original version on Wii.

Data Governance Software

Guest Post — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:42:06 +0000

Data governance is about comprehending and managing an organization’s data; in order to do this there must be a software system in place. Most companies either have a software designer create specific software for their data governance needs or use software that is available commercially. One risk in using off the shelf software is that it may not be well-adept in the way the system works within the organization. Commercially available data governance software is designed to work in many situations and organizations; therefore it may not be able to fit the specific needs of a particular company. A drawback of custom software is the designer may know how to create the software, but may not have enough of an understanding of how the software should work with the different departments; thus creating software that is less than effective.

To avoid these situations, larger companies now have IT personnel and software designers as part of their data governance team. Their main goal is to ensure that there are qualified individuals in place to develop new software as needed and to monitor the quality of the existing data governance system. By having this dedicated team, they understand the program better because they are exposed to the entire enterprise and have a working knowledge of the needs and goals of the data governance program.

Some companies elect to have a third party provide data governance services and design software. These services may include a data quality workshop; this is when a team of third party data governance analysts and developers visit an organization and observe how data is managed. Another service offered by third party contractors is strategic planning services; this is done to help an organization formulate ideas and solutions to ensure a flawless execution of data governance software. Data governance planning is another service that aids in recognizing areas in need of improvement. Each part of data governance system needs to be accurate in order for the whole system to function accurately.

Data governance is extremely important to the efficient operation of an organization; and software can only do part of the work. Effective data governance is a combination of suitable software and a team of appropriate and efficient people behind the system.

The Right Travel Printer for Your Specific Needs

Guest Post — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:43:04 +0000

Finding the right travel printer to match your specific requirements for printing on the go is easier than ever before. Frequent business travelers will find that a good portable printer will save time, money and hours of hassle. Mobile printers have come down in price significantly in recent years, making them much friendlier for those on a budget. Needless to say, a portable printer is convenient when an office supply or copy store is not.

There are only a few reputable companies to choose from, like Canon, HP or Brother, but they do offer an ever growing selection of high quality models that feature everything from full color, high definition photographic images to standard black and white documents.

Portable laser printers are usually the best choice if you plan to print endless pages of black and white because instead of using tons of expensive ink cartridges they feature a longer lasting toner that costs much less over time. Inkjet printers are the most reliable and versatile for accuracy, quality photos and very good graphics.

HP makes a very reasonably priced printer, the HP H470 Officejet which is Bluetooth, PictBridge and Wi-Fi compatible. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters do need to be bought separately, but if you are not looking for a lot of special features, this model is affordable and speedily delivers eighteen color pages per minute. They also offer the Deskjet 450 that prints nine color sheets per minute.

Canon has the most compact travel printer, which also supports Bluetooth and PictBridge and allows the user to print fourteen to twenty pages a minute straight from your cell phone or camera. A travel printer that is really great for notebooks and PDAs is one offered by Brother that is so small it fits in a coat pocket.

These companies offer the best in mobile printers with a variety of different functions and sizes for all your travel printing needs.

Different Types Of Laptop Bag

Guest Post — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:02:04 +0000

Laptops are becoming more and more common. For those people who want to protect their laptop because they carrying it around to work or school a lot, then a good quality laptop bag is a must have item. There are lots of choice when it comes to laptop bags, so let’s take a look at some of the most common ones here.

Standard Manufacturers Bag
A lot of laptops come with a free bag or optional bag. Although this can be great to get you started, you are probably going to want to get some other bag. Manufacturers bags scream out the fact that you are carrying a laptop and that can be a security risk. Also they don’t tend to have much space to allow you to carry other things in the bag as well.

Laptop Backpack
Laptop backpacks are great as they allow you to spread the weight of your heavy laptop across your shoulders. They also allow you to easily carry additional things with you. You will find that many laptop backpacks are just ordinary backpacks with a padded internal section enabling you to easily carry your computer around with you. The added bonus of these types of bags is that they aren’t overly obvious as laptop bags, so they are more secure.

Leather Messenger Bag
If you want something a bit more stylish then a black leather bag like a messenger bag could be just the ticket. There are lots of great leather messenger bags out there that have internal pockets for you to carry a laptop around with you with ease.

Laptop Slip Case
This is a skin tight case for your laptop usually made out of neoprene (stretchy wetsuit material). These protect your laptop so that you can slip them in to any bag that will fit them in, and make another great laptop carrying bag.

As you can see there is lots of choice when it comes to laptop bags, and you are sure to find one that suits you.