October 18, 2012

What are People Using Computer and the Internet for?

Quick, what's the first thing you do in the morning? For many people it's pouring that first cup of coffee, for others, and this number is growing, they turn on the computer and get on the internet. The internet has become such a staple of our everyday lives it's a real pain when it goes down or doesn't work even for a couple of hours. Businesses have also depended on services like Metrofax Internet Faxing for easier communication.

So what are people using their computers and internet for?

  1. Paying their bills – When is the last time anyone bought a stamp? With the availability to pay bills with online transactions it might be years before you actually need to set foot in the post office.
  2. Let's make some money – Ever hear of Search Engine Optimization? There are many free-lance writers out there that are writing things about various products and items.
  3. Marketing and Social Networking – Okay so Facebook has taken the world by storm as millions of people now get onto Facebook every day.
  4. Education – There are hundreds of online colleges now offering students a variety of ways to gain experience without ever leaving their home.

Top 4 Affordable Smartphones on the Market

Smartphones are some of the best inventions ever. With a smartphone, you can talk, text and cruise the Net from just about anywhere. These are the top 4 smartphones that won't make you take out a second mortgage to afford them.

Motorolla Droid Bionic

This is one powerful phone, and it'd make a great prepaid cell phone. With this much battery power, the huge screen and its dual core 1ghz processors, the Bionic could give Lee Majors a run for his money.

Apple iPhone 4

Apple's latest entry runs well on its battery, carrying you through the day while feeling great in your hands.

HTC Thunderbolt

Do you need speed but still want to be able to afford it? If that's the case, the Thunderbolt is your baby.

Google Nexus S

Google's device is still very solid despite being an entire year old. Its expandability makes it an extremely solid device.

Top 3 User Friendly Gadgets

Amazon Kindle 2

Image by peteg via Flickr

There are a lot of gadgets that can greatly enhance your productivity, entertainment, and just about everything in between. With the explosion of tablets, smartphones, and other types of gadgets, it might be the right time to investigate some possibilities.

  1. iPad – The iPad offers an impressive array of functions. At under 10 inches (diagonally), you can perform just about anything that you can on your laptop.
  2. Roku – Available in three models under $100, getting rid of the cable bill is done quite well with this great device.
  3. Amazon Kindle – The Amazon Kindle is the most prominent e-book reader on the market.

Surviving Internet Connection Problems

Cable Modem

Image via Wikipedia

An internet connection that goes bad is a really frustrating event, especially if your lively hood depends on it. Fortunately, most internet connection problems are caused by really simple things – making them equally as simple to fix.

  1. Check all cables and cords. This is one of the most common reasons that people have difficulty with their internet connection.
  2. Turn off your modem and restart your computer. Try unplugging your modem and turning off your computer before you call your current internet service provider in a panic.
  3. Look into a new internet service provider. Morphyone.org is a great place to start looking for up to date reviews on the latest technology trends.

Troubleshooting Common Sound Problems

It's happened to pretty much everyone. It seems like someone always running into issues with their sound functioning. There are a number of things you can check to help you get your sound back working again.

One of the first is to simply make sure your speakers are turned on. You should also make sure the speaker volume is up. Next you need to check the physical connection to your PC. Make sure the speakers are plugged properly into the personal computers input.

Finally you need to check your computers settings. In Windows you can double click the sounds icon bringing up the controls for the sound settings. Make sure the volume slider is up at least half way. In Windows 7 the volume sliders are application specific.

Signs Your Computer has a Virus

Malware logo

Image via Wikipedia

Computer users always act surprised when they find a computer virus or malicious software on their computer. Computer viruses rarely come out of the blue and usually there are signs and symptoms.

Changed Desktops

If your computer desktop changes without you having made the changes it is a sure sign there is virus on your computer.

Computer Speed

Computer viruses often effect the speed of your computer. If you notice it is taking unusually long to upload documents, it could be a sign there is a computer virus.

System Errors or Blue Screen

Computer viruses can cause an extreme amount of system errors to occur. If you experience the blue screen of doom these might be caused by a virus.

4 Most Popular Tablets

iPad con dock y teclado inalámbrico

Image via Wikipedia

The BlackBerry PlayBook is the newest tablet PC to be introduced. It has a 7″ screen, weighs 0.9 pounds, and is literally smaller in width than a sheet of paper. The Blackberry Playbook Price varies from $500 to $750.

Next is the Apple iPad Tablet PC. You have the iPad, the iPad 2, and the iPad 3G. The iPad 3G is the latest model with more features and apps.

The Samsung Tablet PC is #3, with three models to choose from: the Q1, the Q1 Ultra, and the Galaxy Tab.

The HP Slate is #4. It offers an 8.9″ touchscreen, a digital pen, and several different software programs pre-installed.

Keeping Yourself Secure On the Internet

It's important to keep a watchful eye out when browsing the internet. Pay attention to sites with popups and trying to sell you things. Visit reputable places and only use your credit card with them.

Your computer most likely has a built in firewall, if you are on a Mac or PC. But just that is not enough – you need to make sure that you keep it updated. In addition using a secure browser such as Firefox, Internet Explorer 8, or Google Chrome can help you stay secure.

You should also keep your network secure. If you have wireless, you can keep it locked down using a WPA key. Ensure that you change the password on your router as well.

Resolving Keyboard and Mouse Issues

If you are on a desktop computer and having problems with the keyboard and or the mouse, there are some things you can do to test and see where your problem is. As your primary input devices keyboard and mice see a lot of use and abuse.

One question to ask is, do you have a wireless keyboard or mouse? If so you could have a couple issues. Check the batteries in both the mouse and the keyboard. Also check your receiver – are they plugged in properly and is the receiver close enough?

Check and make sure that they are plugged in properly. Also rebooting your computer could resolve the issue. One thing to consider is that they just might be worn out.

Dell Streak 7 Review

The Dell Streak 7 is one of many new tablets that have recently been introduced. Featuring the Android operating system, the Streak blends smartphone and tablet functions.

The Dell Streak 7 has a seven inch multi-touch screen for easy viewing and overall mobility. Not only does it include Android 2.2 for its operating system, but the Streak is one of the first tablets to support Adobe Flash.

There are plenty of other cool features as well. You will find 16 GB of storage on the device. Additionally, the Dell Streak 7 has a five mega-pixel camera which allows for video chat as well as normal video capabilities.

Consider the Dell Streak 7 for your next computer-related purchase. It is an Internet tablet and smartphone which combines the advantages of each.