29 August 2006

How to Clean your startup

IT'S TIME TO CLEAN UP THOSE EXECUTABLES THAT APPEAR AT BOOTUP/STARTUP.

EXPERIENCING SLOW STARTUP ? IT'S TRUE THAT YOUR PC SLOW DOWN FROM THE MOMENT WINDOWS STARTUP DUE TO PROGRAMS THAT GOT INSTALLED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, DON'T BE SUPPRISED BY HOW MANY AUTOMATIC SERVICES ARE HIDDEN IN YOUR SYSTEM,TOOLBARS,STARTUP FOLDER, POPPING UP ONE AFTER ANOTHER TO SLOW DOWN YOUR PC STARTUP. FOR EXAMPLE SPYWARE SENDING REPORTS TO ITS MASTER NON STOP.

WHAT WE NEED HERE IS A TOOL TO HELP US LOCATE WHAT IS STARTING UP AND FROM WHERE. THE TOOL CALLED SYSINTERNALS AUTORUNS WILL ALLOW YOU TO DO JUST THAT, FOR EASY VIEWING THE UTILITY DEVIDES UP ALL THE AUTO-STARTING ITEM INTO TABS FOR PRINT MONITORS, WINLOGON,DRIVERS, BOOT EXECUTE, IMAGE HIJACKS, INTERNET EXPLORER AND SO FORTH, OR YOU CAN JUST CLICK ON " EVERYTHING" TO VIEW ALL ENTRIES GROUPED TOGETHER.

YOU CAN VIEW PROPERTIES OF EACH ENTRY, OR EVEN DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FROM THE AUTORUNS ENTRY MENU.YOU CAN DELETE THEM INDIVIDUALLY, VERIFY THEIR SIGNATURE OR EVEN JUMP TO THE ACTUAL ENTRY IN THR REGISTRY EDITOR ONCE YOU'VE FOUND OFFENDING ENTRIES.

NOW NOT ALL SPYWARE AND MALWARE WILL APPEAR IN AUTORUNS LIKEWISE NOT ALL EXECUTABLES ARE ACTUAL SPYWARE OT MALWARE. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS SOME UNWANTED PROGRAM THAT GOT INSTALLED THAT YOU CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO RUN EVERYTIME YOU START WINDOWS, AND THAT'S WHAT AUTORUNS IS FOR, FINDING THE UNNECESSARY APPLICATIONS AND HELPING YOU GET RID OF THEM. IT'S A FREE TOOL AND ALSO EASY TO USE. DOWNLOAD IT FROM : WWW.SYSINTERNALS.COM/UTILITIES/AUTORUNS.HTML

14 July 2006

How to Disable Win Xp Highlighting newly installed Application

Win XP has a concept of highlighting all new applications that you installed In the programs menu sound practical in the beginning, but it does not make sense when you realize that you remember the latest applications you have installed and don't need to be reminded, Here is a simple way to disable it :



* Right click on "start" and select " properties"
* On the start menu tab click on Customize
* Select Advanced tab
* Uncheck the box labeled Highlight Newly Installed Porgrams
* Click on OK



Good Luck

09 July 2006

Mp3 Player for your studies

Ever wonder that you can use your mp3 player to studies instead of just listening to songs.

Why use Mp3 player for your studies, because its simply easier for anyone to listen then read.

There are a few ways to utilise your Mp3 player for studies.
Read More...


Some Mp3 player has a record function which you can use it to record lectures, it will directly encode the file to Mp3 format for playback later. Some study material now comes with Mp3 files or you can use software to convert your text into Mp3 files.


The software I am talking about is ' Speaking Notepad ' and best of all it's FREE, download it from . It will convert whatever text you want into speech and save it as Mp3 or Wav format file. You have 6 male and 6 female voices to choose from. So you can easily copy and paste chapters or paragraph and just type it into the speaking notepad and will do the work for you. Pause whenever you want and it can convert from TXT, HTML,DOC and RTF Documents, Readme's, notes and e-mail.




20 June 2006

Protection for your PenDrive

Portable Drive or USB Flash Drive have taken over Floopy Disk.It's has been so convenient that you see everyone carry one of this Portable Drive around whether is it for work, share files, etc. It's small in size, work faster & hold large files many times of that Floopy.

However , for the convenient and the small size it causes worry if they get lost while storing sensitive information, anyone who finds an unprotected Portable Drive could just plug into a computer and browse the files on it.

Many Portable Drive, include security software to encrypt stored files, and require a password to view files on it.If you already own a Portable Drive and want to keep you files safe, you can find encryption programs for external and Portable Drive around the web.

One free option include, True Crypt for windows and Linux systems,and there are plenty of commercial programs available, Version Tracker a site that lists thousands of programs and softwares updates for Windows, Macintosh and Palm handheld systems, also plenty of files encryption and data-security programs to browse.

PC Buying Tips

14 June 2006

Buying Computer Online



Getting all this information on buying computers was interesting. Keeping this interest in mind, did we compile this informative article on buying computers. All you needed to know, and will need to know on buying computer is found in the following article. Don�t hesitate to start reading......

The Processor Procession – Intel versus AMD Processor Technology Now that we think about it, buying computer are not actually that difficult a topic to write about. Just looking at the word, ideas form in people�s minds about the meaning and usage of buying computer. Right now, server processing power is a buyers market. Intel has had decreasing success in getting higher clock rates without proportional performance gains from the Pentium architecture, as well as its Xeon server-optimized configurations.

Writing this composition on buying computer was a significant contribution of ours in the world of literature. Make this contribution worthwhile by using it. In the battle between Intel and AMD, how much opportunity is there still for hardware to analyze an increased flow of Pentium-style instructions? It is two different answers that define the differences between the Itanium and Opteron as the next big step for server computer systems. Intel is banking on the idea that the hardware for on-chip instruction scheduling hardware is nearing its limit.

Intel is proposing to look at programs when they are compiled into a form that is executable and encode concurrent operations ahead of time. This EPIC approach, as Intel calls it, is the main difference between the Itanium and AMDs x 86-64 in their continuing competition. buying computer proved to be the foundation for the writing of this page. We have used all facts and definitions of buying computer to produce worthwhile reading material for you. There is a drawback to EPIC. It does not offer an upward-compatible path for x 86 codes that already exists, and its speed in running such code has been somewhat disappointing. This drawback gives AMD an opportunity.

They are betting that it will be cheaper to perform a duplication of volume-produced microprocessors than revamping the software base. The Opteron and the Athlon 64 use all of the AMD available talent to running x86 instructions as fast as possible, while still introducing 64-bit hardware and instruction set extensions. There are no boundaries on countries for one to access information about buying computer through the Internet. All one has to do is to surf, and then the required matter is availed! If vendors of industry infrastructure and software developers think AMD will do well, IT buyers will see a big number of optimized driver software, middleware, and applications for x86-64 (AMD) that may add tens of percentages to the performance of Opteron as well Athlon 64 machines.

Right now, AMD is winning the race, but AMDs and Intels strategies are really pretty similar. For instance, it is a safe assumption that computing requirements will expand in all economic segments for 64-processors like Opteron and Itanium. Both work with growing data collections, have intrinsic computing speed, and both have multi-way scalability. The thing is, though, 64-big computing is not a new innovation. Many hardware builders offer respected families of such systems that are doing well in a number of applications, but they are failing to achieve the low mass-market prices that will be needed if they are to apply to a broader base.

The question then, is how many high end processor architectures can this industry develop and build and yet still afford? As Intel and AMD battle, each subsequent generation raises the stakes. However, in the end, only a handful of processor families will be able to survive this. Inspiration can be considered to be one of the key ingredients to writing. Only if one is inspired, can one get to writing on any subject especially like buying computer. What AMD and Intel will have to do is see all of the enterprise of the IT buyer.

There needs to be a readiness to acquire and incorporate new bases of operating systems, enterprise middleware, and applications that are to take advantage of the Itanium builds new instruction set. All of this may seem very confusing to the lay person or everyday computer industry consumer. That is because it is a little bit. What all of this Intel versus AMD competition and bickering really means is just good news. If there is the slightest possibility of you not getting to understand the matter that is written here on buying computer, we have some advice to be given. Use a dictionary! Competition in any industry is a way of raising the bar and lowering the costs. As long as Intel and AMD compete in this processor technology market, it just means that notebooks, PDAs, and even personal home computers will become faster, better, and less expensive.

Business, lay people, and techies alike will gain the benefit of healthy open market competition. No matter what the final outcome of who has the better processor technology, the technology will improve, and will do so at a lower cost to consumers and businesses. Maintaining the value of buying computer was the main reason for writing this article. Only in this way will the future know more about buying computer. So dont worry if it all doesnt make sense in terms of Pentiums and Athlons and x86s.

You dont have to always know what it all means as long as those competing and increasing the technology do. In the end, all you have to really do is watch the prices of your laptops and computers fall as the speed of your PDAs and processors rise. Free market, open competition is good for the industry, for you, and for business in general. This article on buying computer may leave you speculating about buying computer. Hope this speculation also leads to better understanding about buying computer.

Read more at : PC Buying Guide


19 May 2006

Forgetful? 5 Basic Rules for Memory

This is a very interesting article on buying computer.

Forgetful? Five Basic Rules for Memory

Suppressing our knowledge on buying computer is not our intention here. In fact, we mean to let everyone know more about buying computer after reading this!



All computers possess the ability to store information in its memory, also called Random Access Memory, or RAM. Some computers can hold small amounts of stored data in the memory and others have the ability to store massive amounts of information. Whether looking at memory for your next computer or trying to improve the memory on an existing computer, there are five basic rules for memory.

Knowing about RAM is the first rule for computer memory. Random access memory is a type of computer storage that allows files and information to be used. This process allows quick access to data that programs use. Most computer users have a version of Windows, such as Windows 95 or Windows XP as their operating system. Those who have Mac programs use another operating system. When looking at RAM for your computer, it is important to look at the size. Most computers users need a minimum of 128 MB. However, the larger the MB size, the better the computer will operate.

New computers with newer versions of Windows will need a higher RAM to run smoothly while an older version of Windows will require less RAM. Also, while a minimum amount of RAM will allow the system to operate, it may not perform at as well as it should.

Another rule to remember when thinking about computer memory will be to become familiar with cache and how cache works. Cache, pronounced “cash”, is a special type of high-speed memory. The cache is a buffer between the processor and the main memory. It will send data into the processes. This allows the computer to do the same functions over and over again. When the computer is called on to retrieve data, it will search the internal cache first. If the information is not found in the cache, it will search in the external cache chips next and then in the RAM last.

We do not mean to show some implication that buying computer have to rule the world or something like that. We only mean to let you know the actual meaning of buying computer!

We can proudly say that there is no competition to the meaning of buying computer, when comparing this article with other articles on buying computer found on the net.



A cache holds all redundant information to save memory space and help the computer increase the speed. When the computer becomes slow, it is often recommended to clean the cache files and cookies that have been stored. By clearing space from these places, it allows the computer to process information faster. When it cannot locate the information in the cache, it will look in external cache chips and in the RAM. An example of how cache works is when a page on the Internet has been stored into the computer. This allows the user to go back to the last page or forward to the next.

Knowing what makes a computer work fast is another good rule for computer memory. Megahertz (MHz) is the speed measuring how fast a computer can think. Computers come in a wide variety of megahertz. This measurement of chip performance is expressed as millions of cycles per second. The higher MHz a computer has, the faster it will run. This directly affects how fast the computer can operate computers and commands. Some speeds on computers are measured in gigahertz (GHz). Gigahertz is measured in billions of cycles per second. One GHz is the same as 1000MHz. Computers with GHz are often used with programs that use multimedia applications.

The last two rules of computer memory involve keeping the computers memory clean and free to store more information and updating memory. Computers take a lot of memory to keep going. Storing too much information on a system is the number one way to slow the computer down. Having too much stored in the memory bogs the computer down and will often cause computers to crash as well. When a computer becomes slow, it is often necessary to clean the computers memory by defragging the system or deleting unnecessary files and programs.

This article has been written with the intention of showing some illumination to the meaning of buying computer. This is so that those who don’t know much about buying computers can learn more about it.

Computer users can find out how much memory their computers have by checking the system control panel in Windows. That information can be located in the About This Computer menu on a Mac. This can also tell the user how much RAM the computer can handle and what type of memory and the speed of the RAM. New memory for an older computer can be updated easily and inexpensively if more is needed.

It is rather interesting to note that people like reading about buying computer if they are presented in an easy and clear way. The presentation of an article too is important for one to entice people to read it!

Most computer technicians can install more memory into the computer with minimal cost. When looking to hire someone to install computer memory it is recommended to purchase upgraded RAM from a vendor that gives a good guarantee. Make sure to back up all files on a disk before having the memory upgraded.


These were my thought and views about buying computer. What about you? Are your thoughts and views similar to mine?

Visit the website for more tips on buying computer:
http://www.buying-computer.infoplugin.com

15 May 2006

Buying Computer Guide

Bet you never knew this about buying computer!

The essence of a great article on buying computer is one with creativity in it. This article was written keeping this very point in mind!

Floppy Facts-Three Drawbacks to Floppy Disc

Floppy Drives and Floppy Disc do still exist, but in a few years, that probably wont be true. Floppy Drives are a near obsolete technology and which means they are on their way out. Remember your old 45s? Do you recall how you absolutely refused to believe that they were one day going to be dinosaurs? Now CDs are the way you listen to music. You probably spend a lot of time burning music discs, never stopping to think about your vinyl now stuffed away in the closet. Well, get ready to have that same experience with your Floppys.

The Floppy Disc deserves respect since it has served its purpose well. The Floppy Disc is being upstaged by a number of exciting new storage tools. If you are still one of the few that are dedicated to your not so trusty, dusty Floppy Drive, read on. There are some rather annoying drawbacks to using a Floppy Disc and some really great newer technologies to take its place.

Floppy Discs have been around for a long time. For well over twenty years we have been saving our files to them. Most people still keep their Floppy Drives out of comfort, but they arent doing much with them. Studies show that the vast majority of consumers dont use Floppy Discs anymore. Most applications we are using these days require larger storage capacity.

If you are downloading music and movies and other files you arent using a Floppy Disc for any of that. Today there are so many low priced alternatives to the floppy disc be sure to check into your other options.

Dwelving into the interiors of buying computer has led us to all this information here on buying computer. buying computer do indeed have a lot to tell!Dwelving into the interiors of buying computer has led us to all this information here on buying computer. buying computer do indeed have a lot to tell!

With all of the new and exciting drives and storage technologies available, there is no reason to settle for Floppy Drives. And, by the way, you are settling if you are using one. Besides, you are bound to run into problems eventually with your old Floppy Drive and there are very few technicians that will still work on these. Dell is cutting Floppy Drives as options on all of their new computers. You have to request one if you want it. Apple ended their affair with Floppy Drives years ago and other manufacturers are slowly following suit.

One of the main reasons for the great demise of Floppy Drives is that they only hold 1.44MB of data. The majority of files people are using these days are much large than that. Word documents can be stored on these but not much else. The Floppys inability to change with the times and increase storage capacity has allowed newer technologies to over take it with flash memory devices holding 64 MB or 128 MB

Another issue with floppy disc is size. Even though they have shrunk over the years, they still are inconvenient size wise. Memory pens and flash memory devices fit in your pocket or on your key chain. No big square to carry around and risk destroying.

It is of no use thinking that you know everything, when in reality, you don’t know anything! It is only because we knew so much about buying computer that we got down to writing about it!

We find great potential in buying computer. This is the reason we have used this opportunity to let you learn the potential that lies in buying computer.

We were rather indecisive on where to stop in our writings of buying computer. We just went on writing and writing to give a long article.

We consider that we have only touched the perimeter of information available on buying computer. There is still a lot more to be learnt!

Laptops are the latest craze. The world is moving at incredible speed. In order to keep up you need to be able to connect to the information highway at a moments notice. Laptops allow you to do that. The sales of these lightweight, portable machines are increasing and overtaking desktops. Floppy Drives add weight to laptops so it is more convenient to not have them installed and youll find that its actually cheaper to go without one on your laptop. A Floppy Drive will only increase the weight on your shoulders, literally.

As computers further evolve the issue of compatibility will come into play. If you continue using your Floppy Drive there is a chance that in a few years you will have a bunch of discs that you cant use on your new computer. Why take the chance of losing touch with a ton of data just because you didnt want to move on? Start by trying out a disc drive and gradually move towards using it as your standard.

There is no risk of outdated material ruining your storage if you switch over now. There is affordable, newer, more efficient technology out there right now waiting for you. Besides, everybody loves new toys, so you might as well get some that are useful as well. So give in and move on. Soon words like flash drive will become a part of your everyday vocabulary. Say goodbye to your Floppy Drive.


Writing about buying computer has led us to learn unknown things about buying computer. This is the main reason for us to write this article; to make it fruitful to you!

http://pc-buying.infoplugin.com/

24 April 2006

Tips for Choosing a Commercial Printer to fit your needs

There’s a wide variety of commercial printers out there that can provide you with most any type of printing you may need. However, not just any commercial printer can tackle every printing job successfully. Most printers have certain techniques and processes that they use to fit certain types of printing needs.In other words, when it comes to commercial printers, one size does not fit all.


For example, many commercial printers specialize in using newly developed laser or digital technology. This technology is much less expensive than traditional press printing in most cases. However, the quality may not be as good as you can get with traditional printing techniques. The images are not quite as sharp, but digital commercial printing is a great alternative if you have a lot of printing needs and need commercial printing frequently. When it comes to choosing a commercial printer, you want to be sure that the printer has the right equipment for your printing needs. For instance, if the piece you want printed has die cuts in it, you will want to be certain that the printer has die cut capabilities—and is good at it! Ask to see samples of recent die cut pieces they have produced for clients. If you don’t like what you see, try another printer. If you want your piece printed on something unusual like fabric, again, question commercial printers about their capabilities in doing this and request samples of produced items.

Seeing samples is vital to ensuring you are choosing the right commercial printer. There’s just no substitute for seeing the quality of actually produced pieces. Don’t simply take a printer’s word for it or go by examples they may have on their website. Printing can be very expensive, and you don’t want to risk not being happy with your final printing.

You also want to do some comparison shopping to find the best commercial printer that fits both your budget and your quality needs. Most commercial printers will happily send you a quote for a printing job once they have the printing specifications and quantity you want. A good rule of thumb is to always get three bids for a printing job. It’s also a good idea to hit a full range of printers, from the expensive to the inexpensive, with one in the medium range as well, when choosing a commercial printer. Most printers will give price breaks for large quantity printing jobs, so that expensive printer you don’t think you can afford may surprise you when it comes to the cost of printing a large number of pieces. So it’s a good idea to have a commercial printer price out different quantities which will likely make it possible for you to afford both a better, more qualified printer and more printed pieces than you originally thought.

Bill Harris is a retired foreman who spends his spare time as a freelance writer for sites like http://www.foremansfinder.com – a resource site for all things industrial. If you need information about die castings, copper alloys and Teflon hose, ForemansFinder.com is the place for you.

24 March 2006

Good news for Notebook User

Thief of Portable Computer or Notebook is on the rise, especially in places that have Wi-Fi connection, but you need not worry I have found a great software for notebook user, Its a computer tracking & theft recovery system.



PAL PC Tracker is a computer tracking and theft recovery software system. PC Tracker allows the user to do their own monitoring and works with both Laptops and Desktop computers.

Every time you boot your computer and have an Internet connection, PC Tracker sends a stealth e-mail message containing its exact location to a pre-determined e-mail address set by the customer. Additionally, it will post a second message on to our servers containing the exact location for extra protection in the case you are unable to check your email.

PAL PC Tracker runs hidden in your system and is password protected.
In the event the computer is stolen, the customer must make a report with the local police and then notify the PC Tracker support team, which will provide full tracking and recovery support.

When the stolen computer goes online it will send a stealth message to our server and the pre-determined e-mail address containing its location. Once this information is received, recovery agents at PC Tracker will work with our customer and the investigating law enforcement agency to recover the stolen property.

Features:

· Sends you the location of your PC automatically on start-up
· Protect your computer automatically
· Run hidden in your system
· Password protected options restricts configuration by an unauthorised user


PAL PC Tracker:
  • PAL PC Tracker


  • Other Software :
    PAL Evidence Eliminator:
  • PAL Evidence Eliminator

  • PAL Registry Cleaner/Optimizer:
  • PAL Registry Cleaner/Optimizer

  • PAL PC Spy:
  • PAL PC Spy

  • PAL Emergency Response:
  • PAL Emergency Response

  • PAL KeyLogPro:
  • PAL KeyLogPro

  • PAL Popup Eliminator:
  • PAL Popup Eliminator

  • PAL Spyware Remover:
  • PAL Spyware Remover


  • Best Regards
    Eugene

    23 March 2006

    Flash USB Drives: Backup Easily, Conveniently And Securely by Yuri Filimonov

    Tired of switching CD/DVD discs while backing up? Flash USB drives to the rescue!

    If you already backup often, you are doing the most you can to secure your files against accidental file deletion and recovery, file damage and what not. Also, you may be considering making your backups as easy and painless as possible. So what may be a remedy to this issue?

    Naturally, you need to consider several backup media and select the one suitting your needs and requirements. Among all, CD, DVD and flash USB drives are considered.

    You may as well use CD to backup, but you will either need to dump CD-R discs often, or insert a CD-/+RW discs often to make another backup. Someone else can also misplace your backup CD disc or overwrite your backup data with other information. Moreover, a CD only admits about 700Mb of data, which may not be convenient. Nor is storing multiple CDs of your backup copy.

    The same can be said about backing up to DVD. Of course, a DVD admits from 4.7Gb to about 18.6Gb of data, but is it really convenient backing up to DVD? An external hard disk drive or a flash USB drive will be speedier, more reliable and easier overall.

    Here is when a flash USB drive comes handy. It not only allows faster data copying than CD or DVD, but can also admit from 256Mb to 4Gb of data (or maybe more). Moreover, you can take the USB drive with you anywhere you go and transfer the data between distant computers without resolving to FTP backup. Of course, one of the drawbacks of a flash USB backup is that the drive is only limited to about 100 000 writings, while another slight disadvantage (or an advantage, if you put it nicely) is that the device is so small you can easily misplace it.



    The author of the article is the creator of a site, aimed to assist the Internet folk when backing up their data to flash USB drives and other backup media.

    Article Source: http://real-articles.com



    05 March 2006

    Is a laptop better then a desktop computer ?

    Is a Laptop better then a Desktop Computer ?
    By Michael Lastun

    This is the question a lot of people are asking.Well i think the answer to this question is just like the story about black and white.You have to see the gray in order to fully understand the
    advantages and disadvantages that come with having a laptop.Of course the best solution is to have both of them but in case you don't afford it let's take a moment to analize the situation.


    The laptop is very mobile.Yes ,you can take it with you everywhere you go.They are easy to carry and if you have a laptop case then you can even look more presentable in some cases.The wireless network adapter will enable you to connect to the world with ease and no more wires to take care of.The battery will not always be to your satisfaction but you can buy two of them and you're all set : you can enjoy a movie or listen to a few hours of your favorite songs.You have to take the all the cables in case you're planning a long trip.

    The display of a laptop is great, the view angles are becoming bigger and the clarity and contrast are not a problem anymore. You can even get more work because people tend to get impressed and know you can do your job wherever you are.The Combo Dvd is a must because you hard may not be to large.From my four years experience I can tell you a mice is essential to get your job done fast.You can use the touchpad in case you just want to browse through your folders.

    But let's see : are the old PC absolete? Well not really.For the same money you get double power.Yes this is true at some many levels.You can get a bigger display,a huge hard drive and a faster processor.But they are big and inconvenient to move.The new LCD can help you when you have to movearound.They are better then the LCD screens of most laptops and they are easy to carry.The motherbord and the towercase didn't get smaller.The need for performance makes them really big but powerfull.

    The conclusion is simple : You need to move around ? Show presentations to people? Work on the run? The notebook is the only solution for you . If you're a passionate gammer or just like to work with complex applications even at home , then the desktop solution is your choice.

    If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://www.laptop-sleeves.info where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic, all original and wrote by Michael Lastun.

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lastun



    20 February 2006

    Tiny URL




    Enter a long URL to make tiny:




    19 February 2006

    Pretty Unbelievable

    An Indian discovered that nobody can create a folder or file anywhere named
    as "con" This is something pretty odd and unbelievable. At Microsoft the
    whole Team, including Bill Gates, couldn't answer why this happened! Try it
    out yourself

    15 February 2006

    How To Maximize Hard Drive Life

    The following is a list of important maintenance and monitoring techniques you can use to maximize the life of your hard drive and prevent data loss.

    read more | digg story

    30 January 2006

    The BEST Messaging Client Is...

    RT TITLE HERE



    Review :: The BEST Messaging Client Is...

    Author: Eric Roberts


    Manage All IM From One Piece of SoftwareI use Instant Messaging (IM) all the time. I use IM to speak with collegues and contractors in different time zones and different countries. My biggest problem is that there is no "one" standard for instant messaging. There are services from Yahoo!, MSN, and AOL not to mention the more generic ICQ.

    I got tired of having all those instant messaging clients open and operating all the time. I got tired of having to update all 4 clients to the latest versions, etc.


    Then I had an inspiration! I was looking at my personal printer in my office - it's one of those all-in-one appliances. You know the kind: it acts as a printer, a copier, a scanner and fax machine all in one physical device. Using an all-in-one has helped me to save a great deal:

    Saves money. There is only one brand of toner or ink to buy
    Saves money. I didn't have to waste money buying 4 different kinds of machines
    Saves space. Who has the space to have all those specialized machines?
    Saves time. I can print the document, put it in the scanner, fax and file the paper copy within 30 seconds.
    Saves frustration. I don't have to deal with 4 different sets of drivers, 4 different manufacturers, 4 of anything!

    I wondered if there was something like that for chat? It turns out - there is! There is one product that can organize all of your chat protocols under a single program. Best of all - it's FREE.

    "OK - what is it?" you're asking. It's a program called "Trillian."

    After discovering this really fantastic product - I was leary of downloading it. Why? Because it's free and I didn't want to be slammed with a virus, worms, spyware, adware or any of the dozens of "malware" that can wreak havoc on my computer.

    Luckily, I have a spare computer that has sacrificed itself to test these kinds of things out. The maker of the software claims that there is no adware or spyware - but I wanted to see for myself. After some exhaustive testing - they were right - NO spyware, NO adware, NO malware whatsoever!

    Once I was up and running - it was easy to import all my MSN, AIM and Yahoo contacts into Trillian. I could even import my ICQ contacts as well! Setup was easy, importing was easy - now there was just one other thing I wanted to know - would it really work?

    The answer is YES, it works extremely well. When you launch the program, you can tell it what service(s) you want it to log into on startup, and then it shows a list of your buddies by service type. You can expand lists by service type, add new buddies with a couple of clicks.

    When you receive a message from someone - that message appears in a tabbed window by servcie name. For example, if I got a message from someone on AIM, it would appear in an "AIM" window with the name of the buddy in a tab. That way if more than one AIM person wanted to chat with me, I don't have lots of different windows open at the same time - just a single window with multiple chat sessions going. Simple idea, but BRILLIANT.

    If you don't like the way the program looks - you can download free "skins" for it. A "skin" is a different set of graphics that changes the look and feel of the program. There are a couple of dozen to choose from - allowing you to give your application a look to match your personality and the way you like to work.

    On TOP of all this functionality - trillian even provides for video chat (free), audio chat (free), keeps a history of your chats, has different plug-ins that allow you to link music weather and more to a contact, and more.

    I know what you're thinking - "OK - but how much is it?" FREE. Nothing. Nada.

    There is a "Pro" version that is $25 that allows you to get 1 year tech support, 1 year of upgrade protection (you get all versions free), access to patches and fixes, and a member-only forum. You should TRY it out for free to see if you like it - and if you don't want or need the extra features in the "Pro" version - then stick with the free version until you do. You can upgrade at any time.

    On Eric's scale of 1 to 5 (5 being best) Trillian and Trillian Pro definately score a 5 out of 5! If you use IM, you NEED this program!

    You can download your free copy from: http://www.trillian.cc


    Reprinted with permission from ActiveAuthors.com


    16 January 2006

    Protect Your PC with these Top Free Software Programs

    This is a dangerous world for a computer user- threats multiply by the hour designed to swipe your data, cripple your network, steal your identity and in general- wreck havoc. Fortunately you can arm yourself to battle these menaces with several top software programs. And the best part is that these applications are free. So strap on your seatbelt and let¡¯s get started!



    The first weapon in your arsenal should be anti-virus protection. Many of the popular and expensive programs tend to slow down PC performance and require an annual paid subscription. My impression is that they work no better than their ¡°freeware¡± cousins. A good recommendation/alternative is AVG Free Edition from Grisoft. This program may not feature every single bell and whistle offered by some of the more commercially available apps, but it does provide rock-solid protection with all the tools needed to keep your system free of viruses, worms and Trojans.



    Next in line: the firewall. A firewall is essential in preventing others from breaking into your machine. These hackers will steal your data, destroy your system or attempt to convert your computer into a ¡°spam zombie¡± (remotely using your computer to send spam email) so using an effective firewall is a must. Owners of Windows XP (Home or Professional Edition) may be familiar with its built in firewall, however many options abound. While there are numerous offerings in this category, the Zone Alarm Free Firewall is a sure bet.



    Now that we have anti-virus and firewall protection, let¡¯s address a topic I hear more and more frequently: what to do with all of those pesky passwords? Luckily there is a stellar new program, CyberScrub KeyChain designed specifically to address this perplexing problem. Distributed free, KeyChain stores not only your user names and passwords, but all of your addresses and credit card details. All passwords and sensitive data are stored under a single master pass phrase, eliminating the need to recall scores of unique access combinations. You simply highlight and click a password protected website from a small browser toolbar and KeyChain fills in and submits your log in details. As powerful web-based form filler, the long and tedious process of typing in your credit card and address info is a click away, making shopping a snap. All data is protected with strong encryption for your safety.



    Of course no discussion of computer protection would be complete without discussing the scrounge of spyware. Every bit as insidious as a computer virus, spyware seems to multiply exponentially with new forms of malware limited only by the creative schemes of the evil geniuses that produce them. Spyware can easily take control of your machine, opening and closing your CD bay, serving objectionable browser ads, hijacking your homepage, logging your keystrokes to steal your passwords and more. So if you don¡¯t have protection against this menace, take action now. Lavasoft offers a very good program, Ad-Aware SE Personal.



    While this list is by no means exhaustive, it will provide the essentials to protect your PC and data. So don¡¯t delay- your computer needs you!


    Reprinted with permission from ActiveAuthors.com