We all live in an age now that is simply digital. Everything has a chip and/or a processor that in one form another helps us to manage our ever increasingly complicated lives. However, none of them are as central to our lives as our home computer. Whether it is a super gaming computer, a home entertainment system, a laptop or your new super-duper cool phone. In this weeks posting, I am going to give you some tips on how to protect your investment. After all, in most cases, these items aren't cheap.
1. Know what you have. Typically, an average Dick and Jane just knows that they have a computer, a phone or whatever other cool gadget that is seemingly making life more interesting. Before you buy, be a conservative and observant shopper. Take a few moments to read the package. In 99% of all cases, it will tell you what type of memory, processor and operating system it is using or what the minimum requirements are. When you do buy it, save the information sheets and instructions. Doing so will make getting assistance from your favorite tech guy or gal much, much easier.
2. Take the time to register your product. That is the one thing I like about Apple that nobody else does; it registers your product upon initial configuration (setup)and the warranty for that product is active. Most people are so excited to play with their new toy that it never gets registered, thus the warranty never gets activated, and this, my technology lusting friends, will cost you more money (that you probably don't really have)in tech fees and new products.
3. Installation/setup. We're all "techies", right? I mean, we've all seen somebody, somewhere putting this "whatcha-jiggy" behind the computer and "voila" there is sound or video . . . How hard can it be? Well, in most cases, it is really quite easy to install your computer. However, if you ever are guessing that the end of a cable seems to "look right", then just stop and ask for help from someone that doesn't guess. A hole may be a hole, but the "holes" on your computer are very specific. Also, you may really want to stop a moment prior to opening that box with that fancy new computer in it and think about where you want it. Placement is everything. More importantly however, is your ability to protect your computer. You never want to set your computer on the floor near a heat vent, water sources, a window or door and definetley, never on a rug.
4. Maintenance. Yes, your wonderful new puppy will become a scraggly, snarling mess of a dog without proper care. At least once a week, you should power down your toy and give it a good, old fashioned cleaning. Put that dish soap down though . . . it won't be good. Simply get an old spray bottle with good old water in it, give a couple of pumps on a nice piece of cloth (an old t-shirt works great)and wipe down the body of the computer (not the back, inside or any surface that may have a connector or port). Buy a can or two of compressed air. Aah, my best friend and yours too. DO NOT SHAKE THE COMPRESSED AIR. Holding the can upright, stay 6 inches (at least) away from your target and spray left to right in short bursts. If you get too close, you'll freeze whatever is getting sprayed and potentially crack or otherwise damage the goods. Oh, before I forget . . . I know it is really cool when you are spraying air into the fans and they spin ultra fast and make that high pitched squeal, but you can crack those too or even freeze out the ball-bearings inside. If that happens, you'll be needing a new one.
5. System maintenance. Not as mission critical as oil in your car, but very effective in prolonging the life of your lean, mean computing machine. I'll keep this simple: Keep your system updated, have anti-virus (and keep it updated too), and defrag. Here are a couple of free tools that are absolutely great and again, free!
CCLEANER: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
DEFRAGGLER: http://www.piriform.com/defraggler
6. Invest in a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply). Those little strips with multiple outlets on them will not keep your equipment safe. To save a little time, I'll let an ad to the talking.http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0255538
Well, it's off to wherever I may roam for now, but I'll be back!
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