The Hebronian December 2008 Page 1 Volume 7, Issue 3 ... - Gulemo

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Advice on Taming Unruly Computers by Allen Stein Seven Rules To Follow When Buying a New Computer – [Revised again because technology is constantly changing] The holiday season is just about here and many people buy computers for others and themselves. If you are planning on buying a new computer, take a few minutes and read this article. It all started with an email from one of our radio listeners asking “I’m thinking of buying a new computer, can you give me some guidance The ads are confusing and it is very hard to compare” - (Bill from Lebanon). Bill is just one of the people who have asked us this question; this is one of our most asked questions. “How to Buy a Computer” has been a topic more than once on our weekly radio show and I’ve had a few columns answering the question. First of all we recommend an Intel dual chip for desktops. If you are buying a notebook, we recommend the Centrino Duo that integrates the processor with advanced wireless networking and there is more memory on the chip to speed up processing. The Centrino Duo also has special features built into it allowing it to use less power than traditional chips. Less power use equals less heat produced thereby increasing battery time and overall life of the components; these benefits are important with laptops. Enemy number one of all computers is heat. The less heat the longer its life. Celerons are used on budget computers. Intel manufactures both the Core 2 Duo and Celeron Dual Core processors. The Intel Core 2 Duo will work faster than the Intel Celeron Dual Core because the Core 2 Duo has more memory on its chip (this type of memory is called “cache,” and increases the cost). The Intel Celeron Dual Core will be less money. In our opinion, the money you save with a budget computer may not be the best investment in the “long run.” The service life of a budget computer is about 2 years at most. Getting a better computer such as a middle-of-the-road model will last you 4 to 5 years. Second, we recommend Windows VISTA Home Premium for most all home users and VISTA Business for business users. VISTA Business is designed for organizations that have a Microsoft network with a domain. Home networks will work fine with VISTA Home Premium. Budget computers will perform best with Windows VISTA Basic which offers very little innovation. VISTA Ultimate provides all of the features and functions of the operating system; power users may opt to purchase it. Our technicians recommend XP over VISTA for many users. A professional service center like The Computer Tamers can still provide XP on a new computer. You may want to consult with a technician to determine if VISTA is best for you. Third, your new computer should have at least 1GIG of RAM to run Windows VISTA. Anything less will slow down your system when it works on multiple tasks. We Tamers suggest getting 2GIG of RAM to get the most out of Microsoft VISTA and this will speed up the computer. 512MB or 1GIG is more than enough RAM for XP. Fourth, we recommend for desktops a minimum of a 100GIG hard drive and suggest getting a 250GIG hard drive especially if you are going to do digital photography, music, and video. For laptops 80-200 GIGS is fine. It makes good sense to keep your personal data on your hard drive as long as you back it up on a regular basis. Hard drive storage has come down in price and we Tamers think when it comes to hard drives, bigger is better so that you’ll have enough space for storing your pictures, movies, songs, and data. Get the biggest hard drive you can afford. Fifth, we suggest a CDRW drive so that you can copy data and music to CD’s. This is a drive that permits you to write audio and data CD’s. A CDRW is a cost-effective backup device as well. Consider a DVDRW so that you can write DVD’s and CD’s with the same drive especially if you plan to do video, audio or have large amounts of information to write and save. Also buy a USB “thumb” drive for backup – a 4 or 8 GIG one will serve your needs for a long time. Sixth, this rule is often overlooked by computer buyers, yet it is an important one. When you buy your new desktop computer include a UPS backup unit to protect your computer from electrical surges and brownouts. UPS means Uninterrupable Power Supply. A small UPS is about $60 - $70 and it is well worth the money. An inexpensive UPS is better than the best surge protector and also permits your computer to automatically shut down when there is a power loss thereby protecting your operating system and data. In Eastern Connecticut YOUR VACUUM CLEANER & SEWING MACHINE SUPER STORE We Offer: • Parts • Service • Accessories • Sales VACUUM CLEANERS Sebo • Miele • Simplicity • Eureka • Royal • Lindhaus • Hoover Electrolux • Kirby • Kenmore • Panasonic • Dirt Devil • Oreck Sewing Machine & Vacuum Repair Vacuum Bags & Accessories Sewing Notions Visit us on the Web at http://www.schillersontheweb.com The Hebronian December 2008 Page 4 SEWING MACHINES Baby Lock • Brother • Pfaff • Singer White • Viking • Kenmore • Elna 1088 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226 Tel: 860-423-6800 E-mail your news to: hebronian@gulemo.com
there are many interruptions in power and browning. Laptops are automatically protected with their external power supply. You can get an in-line surge protector for your laptop power supply that can save it when the electricity isn’t stable. Seventh, buy your next computer from a store that includes setup and service so that you will enjoy computing immediately. Often people Making your computer like its old self - Almost like NEW again! 456-1310 Save $$$ With the Computer Club Membership Card Panasonic Bsns Phone Sys Sales/Install Available ONLY from The Computer Tamers ALL labor is included in ONE economical price to make your computer fast again, secure, protected and ready to give you more years of faithful reliable service. No appointment necessary for diagnosis! Bring your ailing computer to our Sales/Service Center during regular business hours Don’t Worry - if your computer doesn’t qualify for the CCC Program, Basic Service is available. 75 Bridge St • Willimantic CT TheComputerTamers.com Mon, Wed, Fri: 9 - 5 Tues, Thurs: 9 - 7 Saturday : Closed Sunday: By Appointment Only try to do the setup and installation themselves and they spend many frustrating hours and often end-up with an unprotected computer that can be easily compromised while on the Internet. An unprotected computer is “red meat” on the Internet for viruses, Trojans, and spyware infections. A local computer store like the Computer Tamers can also copy your important data, pictures and music from your old computer to your new one as part of the initial setup. This is a valuable service that can save you a lot of time. Here is a summary of the seven rules to follow when you buy a new computer: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Intel Core 2 Duo for a desktop, Intel Centrino Duo for a notebook/laptop, or budget computer with a dual-core Celeron (remember a budget computer will not serve you as long as one that is better equipped with the latest technology) Windows VISTA Home Premium for home use; Windows VISTA Business for businesses and Windows VISTA Basic for budget computers 1 GIG of RAM at a minimum – better 2 GIGS 100 to 250GIG hard drive for desktops, and 80 to 100 for laptops Definitely include a CDRW and consider a DVDRW to write DVD’s Buy a UPS backup unit for your new desktop computer – this is important! Get setup and service with your new computer from a dependable local computer service center like the Computer Tamers – this will save you hours of time and reduce your frustrations If you follow these seven rules, you will be happier with your new computer and it will serve you for many years to come. Allen is one of the Computer Tamers heard every Wednesday after the 5 o’clock news on WILI AM 14 and you can learn more about getting your unruly computer under control by visiting www.TheComputerTamers. com and explore the free information compiled there for you. Be sure to visit the Computer Tamers sales and service center at 75 Bridge Street in Willimantic to learn more about buying a new computer. If your current computer needs some taming and some tender loving repair, be sure to bring it in for a free diagnosis while you wait! Unruly and slow computers beware, the Computer Tamers are here! The Hebronian December 2008 Page 5
Page 1 and 2: The Free Hebronian Volume 7, Issue
Page 3: PHONE NUMBERS Emergency/Fire/Police
Page 7 and 8: Every Thursday and Friday evening,
Page 9 and 10: 7:10 AM PAUL HARVEY’S REST OF THE
Page 11 and 12: When the heavily insured collection
Page 13 and 14: AHM Celebrates Twenty Fifth Anniver
Page 15 and 16: Hebron Artists Show: A New Annual E
Page 17 and 18: Town Hall for those who want a keep
Page 19 and 20: HVFD’s Annual Wreath & Poinsettia
Page 21 and 22: Respite from the economic worries f
Page 23 and 24: RHAM Football Coach Don Hammon, a F
Page 25 and 26: anyone care that my Mom, Emma Miner
Page 27 and 28: Hebron Elementary Celebrates Vetera
Page 29 and 30: Gilead Cemetery Association Elects
Page 31 and 32: Caring for Women is a Way of Life f

The Hebronian December 2008 Page 1 Volume 7, Issue 3 ... - Gulemo

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