Upgrading Your Computer: A Guide on What Parts You Should Upgrade First

A desktop computer’s lifespan usually runs around 5 – 6 years, so once you reach this pinnacle and go beyond, your PC will start running slow. After countless optimizations and removing all unnecessary files and your PC is still running slow, maybe it’s time to upgrade some hardware. But, which parts or components should you upgrade first?

Although you can tailor your upgrades to suit a particular need, in general, performance must always take priority. And so, based on performance, you should upgrade in this order.

RAM

Adding more memory is the easiest PC upgrade you can make. It’s affordable and it can be done on almost any PC including many laptops. Upgrading the RAM delivers an instant performance to almost all PCs that are running slow. For resource hungry tasks such as video editing or gaming, the more RAM your computer has, the better. Even for casual use, extra RAM will enable you to have more apps running in the background and keep a greater number of tabs open in your web browser. How much RAM is needed? 4 GB is currently the baseline amount, but you’ll notice a significant improvement if you upgrade to 8 GB. For heavier tasks, you should look to 16 GB for best results.

Graphics Card

If you’re a serious gamer or do heavy work like video or image editing, then this should be an upgrade together with the RAM. This also includes work in gaming programming, 3D modeling, and 3D animation. Otherwise, you can upgrade just to improve the quality of watching videos. PC manufacturers tend to go with integrated graphics cards rather than dedicated graphics cards. If you have an integrated card, then moving up to a dedicated one will work wonders.

Hard Drive

There are usually two reasons to upgrade your hard drive. Either you’re running out of space or you want faster performance. If you’ve done everything you can to free up your hard disk storage and still regularly run out of space, then you will need to swap it out for a larger one. Not only does a full hard drive make it impossible to save new data, but it can also impact performance. At the very least, try to keep 10 GB of free space for the operating system to use. A quick option is to switch to a solid state drive. These use flash memory instead of a spinning disk and are many times faster than a typical hard disk drive, and are reliable since they last much longer than ordinary drives.

Processor

A processor is only worth upgrading if the upgrade is really important and much needed. But it’s expensive and may require you to upgrade your motherboard and it may require you to buy a new RAM. Even if your motherboard is compatible with a new processor on paper, it may need a BIOS update to work, so check before you buy. Ultimately, if your processor is the speed bottleneck in your system, you might want to consider buying a whole new PC altogether.

Track Your Data Usage Easily With the Help of These Great Android Apps

If you're looking for ways on how to maximize usage out of your mobile data plan, you need to closely monitor your data usage. Although Android has a built-in data tracker, there are times when it doesn't suffice to your needs. Luckily, there are apps that can offer more than what Android's built-in data tracker can do.

GlassWire

GlassWire is a great solution if real-time tracking is important to you. By default, GlassWire will show a live graph depicting the data usage over the last minute. The “Alerts” section will warn you when an app initiates a data connection for the first time, so you can keep an eye on mischievous data eaters. GlassWire also adds information to the notification bar, detailing the data usage over that month as well as a very useful bandwidth monitor for real-time tracking.

Data Usage Monitor

Data Usage Monitor is a very basic app that’s best used for tracking how close you are to your usage limits. The graph on the main page shows you a rough trajectory of your current usage as well as an estimate on when you’ll reach your limit. The apps page brings up all the apps you’ve used when you hit the refresh button so you can see who the main offenders are. There’s a second app this developer has created that can monitor Internet speeds, making for a nice combination of apps.

3G Watchdog

3G Watchdog does a lot more than track 3G connections. It can also track 4G and Wi-Fi data usage. Featured within the app is a real-time graph to see how your data is being used by apps as it happens. You can set up a plan and let 3G Watchdog report on how far through your plan you are. It even puts a small icon in the notifications tray that lets you know how much data you’ve used so far.

My Data Manager

Once installed, My Data Manager will keep track of all the data you use. It nicely separates it into Mobile and Wi-Fi traffic, so your Netflix-watching back home doesn’t skew the data.

You can see how much data each app used that day on the main screen, or scroll through the Apps menu to see a day-by-day history of how each app is doing. There’s even a map feature that pinpoints where you were when you used your mobile data. My Data Manager also places a status bar in the notifications area so you can track usage as it happens, but this can be turned off if you find it annoying.

Internet Speed Meter Lite

Internet Speed Meter Lite is the perfect choice for people who don’t want to be inundated with features. There are no graphs, charts, or even app-by-app data logs. What makes this app very useful, however, is the live bandwidth notification in the top left. This allows for real-time monitoring of how much data an app is using while you use it. You can also tell the app to stop tracking traffic and shut itself down, which is a surprisingly absent feature in many data usage monitors.

Powerful Tools to Help Keep Your Computer in Good Condition

Your desktop or laptop is an expensive investment so you need to treat it right and keep it in good condition. A well maintained and cared for computer means many years of good and fast response. Keeping your computer well maintained and cared for isn’t rocket science at all. In fact, there are various tools that will keep your computer effective and in good condition, often without the need to spend too much.

Computer Protective Case

You put your expensive smartphone in a case, so why wouldn’t you put your more expensive computer in a case? This is probably the most important tool you need to invest in, and there are lots of options available from hard covers, to sleeves and carrying cases that aren’t expensive at all. To protect your computer at all times, consider a hard case, but any sort of protection case is better than an exposed computer.

Store Your Backup Discs Where You Can Find Them

Never ignore the fact that those backup discs that come with your computer purchase are important tools as well. When your computer needs an OS reboot, uninstalling and reinstalling a program can sometimes fix the problem. But how can you do that if you don’t know where you put the backup discs? Label them and put them in a safe place that you’ll remember so you can use them for later. A good way to do this is to put the discs in a CD case or a three-ring binder so they all stay in one place.

File Cleaner and Optimizer

As you use your computer, there are certain files that you will need to delete on a regular basis. This includes browser caches, temporary installer files, Windows thumbnails, system log files, crash dumps, recycle bin, etc. Doing all this manually is hard since you’ll need to search for these files one by one. The file cleaner feature of CCleaner has two sections: one for Windows and one for third-party applications. Go through both and check (or uncheck) the kinds of files you want to clean, then click Run Cleaner. You’ll be surprised you can free up over 1 GB of disk space. We do advice to stay clear of the registry cleaner feature since registry cleaning has no measurable effect and should be avoided on all computers. Even though the Pro version isn’t necessary at all, you may want to consider upgrading if you’re interested in deeper scanning, real-time system monitoring, scheduled cleanings, and automatic updates. Upgrading will cost you $25.

Malware Scanning and Removal

Malware will always be a huge problem for computer users. It can slow down your system to a crawl, or worst, your PC becomes controlled by a hacker, your data gets locked and held for ransom, or your identity gets stolen. Malwarebytes is the absolute anti-malware app that you can currently get for free. Its database of infections is updated daily so it can successfully detect and remove the latest viruses, worms, spyware, and more. The free version only does manual full scans, but that’s more than adequate. The premium version adds real-time protection as well as support for anti-ransomware, anti-exploits, anti-phishing, anti-rootkits, and more for just $40 per year. Think of it as a preemptive vaccine, whereas the free version is more like a post-infection treatment.

Bad Habits That Lead Your Computer to Potential Danger

If you’re one of those computer users with the following bad habits – even just one – then all you’re doing is bringing harm and danger to the computer. Your bad habits may even bring danger to your personal security if you frequently use the computer and Internet. All these bad habits may eventually and collectively risk the security of your machine, work, online accounts, and sensitive personal information.

Not Cleaning Your Computers

Desktops and laptops have air-intake vents for cooling and are the most affected when it comes to dust and grime. Dust generally won’t damage electronics, but it can clog fans, optical-drive mechanisms and other moving parts, which can lead to component failures and overheating if the fans stop working properly. Cleaning your computer isn’t hard, but it’s important to do so regularly before too much dust and grime build up significantly. Try cleaning out your PC just once a month using compressed canned air or desktop blower and a soft brush to remove dust that has been stuck. Be careful in cleaning around sensitive components.

Eating and Drinking Around the Computer

Many people are guilty of drinking, eating, or just snacking while working on the computer. This is not good for computers. Crumbs, oils, sticky spills and germs will build up on the device, potentially gumming up keys and mouse functionality. The worse thing that could happen is spilling your coffee or soda drink on your computer.

Smoking

Cigarette smoke isn’t just bad for humans but for computers as well. Dust and tar can build up in the unit and over time, the build-up causes the Central Processing Unit to overheat and fail.

Using One Password for Everything or Reusing Passwords Over and Over

You’d be surprised to know how most hackers get into your online accounts because they take advantage of weak passwords, and when they obtain one, they use it to log in to other vital accounts. Some users will argue that it’s not realistic to have different passwords for every online account they have. But that’s not true because many people can have several passwords and have never been hacked in their life. We suggest creating at least three types of passwords: A strong one for online banking and shopping, a moderately strong one for email and social media sites, and a generic one for non-financial or non-essential websites.

Failing to Back up Files and Data

You have a bad habit of not making copies of your files and other important data, so what do you do when your computer crashes and you lose everything? You can always start from scratch by reinstalling your OS and other programs, but you can’t reinstall lost files and data. So do back up your data. Any number of online backup services will sync your files automatically with a cloud-storage system, whether you use a PC, tablet, or laptop. Or you can physically back up files and data by saving on external drives or DVD’s.

5 Ways to Grow Your Small Business in 2018

For 2018, small businesses must now learn to transform themselves to keep up with the ever-changing landscape moving the business world forward. Not only is success vital for any small business in a competitive landscape, but this success is also crucial to the success of the greater economy. As of 2013, small businesses accounted for 63% of net new jobs.

If you own a small business, here are 5 ways to grow that business for success this 2018.

Manage your office space and storage

To get started, you need to make sure your physical surroundings are neat and organized. This ensures that you will be able to perform at your highest level. In many ways, the organization of your small business is determined by how organized your desk is. For starters, make sure everything has a specific place, even if that place is the pile of papers on your desk. To make the best use of your business space, do some research on using vertical storage opportunities to improve your workflow and efficiency.

Merging online and offline customer experience

Your small business can’t just be purely a brick-and-mortar store or just on the Internet. You have to be everywhere. You need to merge online and offline experiences by getting creative. A good example is food trucks, an industry which achieved a growth rate of 7.9% from 2011 to 2016. They use social media to inspire offline engagement. Additionally, technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) make it possible to track and interact with customers anywhere. In 2017, it is estimated that there are 8.4 billion IoT devices already in use, impacting everything from logistics to the customer experience. In 2018, you’ll see more companies attempting to merge online and offline to create a multi-presence experience. That means adopting the right technologies and employing the right marketing tactics to meet your customers’ needs.

Participate in trade shows

Trade shows can be a great way for growth because the more exposure you get, the more you become known. Trade shows draw people who are already interested in the type of product or service you offer and can improve your bottom line. The trick is to select the trade shows you participate in carefully, seeking the right match for your product or service.

Conquer a niche market

A niche market is simply a narrowly defined group of customers. Think of them as a subset whose needs are not being met and concentrate on meeting those unmet needs. If your small business is already successfully targeting a certain niche market, try and conquer another.

Contain your costs

Bear in mind that when we’re talking about growing a small business, we’re actually talking about growing the bottom line. The difference between pre-tax and post-tax money can make this a very effective growth strategy. There are two main approaches to cutting costs; liquidating your “loser” products and improving your inventory turnover.

5 Steps to Make Sure That You Are Getting the Best from Your Tech Support Provider

Are there ways, steps, or tips that can be followed to make sure that you’re getting your full money’s worth from the services provided by your technical support provider? Of course there are.

When you need help fixing your computer, the first thing to consider is how your tech support provider handles communications and problems that go with it. A good technical support company knows how to keep every possible means of communications open sees to it that there is a two-way communication on both parties. So how do you know if your tech support provider is up to par to give the best service possible? Check out these 5 steps.

They identify and evaluate the problem level from your point

It’s important to pinpoint the problem immediately and quickly evaluate whether it’s something that can potentially be solved with a simple fix, always from the point of view of the customer. On one end of the spectrum, a customer might simply need instructions on how to recover a lost password or directions to return a defective product for replacement. On the other end, they might need to troubleshoot an unexpected device failure or report a software-halting glitch they’ve encountered that they have never been seen before. It’s also useful to identify more complex issues early on so they can be routed to other technicians with the proper expertise to solve them.

They always gauge the customer’s technical level

Using intuition and clues from the conversation or correspondence, a good tech support provider can identify the customer’s level of technical know-how in order to determine the best way to help them. For some customers, something that might seem like a simple fix could be a lot more complicated if they’re not technically experienced. Good tech support technicians on the phone or online never assume anything from their customers.

They also direct customers to other solutions like Q&A forums and videos

Good tech support providers often cultivate a variety of self-service options that provide solutions to common problems for their frequent customers. Since many customers prefer to find an answer on their own, directing them to the right resources can save everyone time and energy.

The value here is in creating the best resources possible for the most common issues raised by customers, then offering several different self-service troubleshooting methods. Some customers may respond best to a guided video walkthrough. Others may respond better to Q&A forums. Good tech support providers give options to explore, but still leaves the door open for further direct assistance if needed.

They keep solutions clear and easy to understand

Any solutions offered to customers, especially if they are pre-created, should be as clear to follow as possible. Good tech support providers avoid getting too technical, keep things short, and whenever it makes sense to do so, take customers through the solution step-by-step. They also gather feedback on the quality of any problem-solving materials created to fine-tune them for future customers’ needs and ability levels.

They make it easy for customers to follow up

Good tech support providers never provide solutions that don’t work, and certainly never keeps a customer waiting for hours, even for an email response. They make sure never to frustrate any customer, so they give a quick way to follow up if their issue persists and requires further assistance, whether that’s a direct phone line to the technician who helped them initially or an email address.

Effective Ways to Go Green and Maximize Office Expense

One of the most popular tag line is to "Go Green" and how beneficial it is to our lives, our businesses, and even to our planet. But unless you have taken the steps to implement the green revolution to your business, the entire act of going green may seem to be overwhelming or even impossible.

Don't worry because all you need to do is check out these simple yet effective ways on how you can smoothly direct your small business down to the "greener path."

Use recycled paper around the office.

The first step for many businesses is switching paper types. Purchasing recycled paper is as simple as heading to your local office supply store. Every major paper manufacturer offers recycled paper in a variety of sizes and uses. There’s no drop-off in quality, no major price differences, and it saves trees, water, energy, and space in your local landfill.

Reduce the paper clutter.

Alleviating paper clutter can mean many things to you depending on the size of your company, but here are a few easy tasks to complete that will make a difference.

Mailing Lists
Your company probably receives more junk mail than you realize. Some of it is unsolicited and that’s hard to manage, but plenty of it comes from mailing lists you’ve joined. Remove your company from as many non-essential mailing lists as possible and you’ll see a noticeable reduction in wasted paper from the mail.

Digital Subscriptions
Most companies today offer paperless solutions for their various correspondences. Banks, utilities, service providers, government agencies, newspapers, and trade magazines all offer email or web-based alternatives to traditional mailings. Switch to as many of these paperless solutions as possible and enjoy further reductions in the amount of needless paper in your mailbox.

Reuse Printer Paper
There will always be a need for scrap paper, so don’t throw paper away. Reusing pages that only have printing on one side is an excellent repurposing of a product. Printing double-sided documents whenever possible is also an excellent way to get the most out of your paper supply.

Use recycled printer ink cartridges and recycle old ones.

If you have to buy ink for several printers it can become quite expensive. Recycled ink and ink cartridges have gained prominence in the workplace and offer businesses a legitimate way to save real money. Savings can be as much 70 percent versus traditional ink cartridges.

Office supply stores and printer manufacturers offer rebate programs and other incentives to recycle used cartridges and purchase recycled inks. And you’ll never have to wonder if there are cartridges available for your specific printers. Recycled ink cartridge manufacturers offer solutions for every ink-jet and laser printer in use today.

Make the switch to energy-saving light bulbs.

This is one those “green” initiatives we hear a lot about but might not fully realize the full impact the right kinds of lighting products can have on your bottom line. Traditional light bulbs are horribly inefficient compared to today’s energy-saving bulbs.

LED Bulbs
These bulbs are ten times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. This translates to getting the same amount of illumination at a tenth the cost. The tradeoff for this type of technology comes in the up-front price. LED bulbs run approximately $35 per bulb, which can certainly add up to a substantial amount at one time. However, these bulbs also last 40-50 years before they need to be replaced, so that means they’re about $0.70-$0.88 per year.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
These bulbs are roughly seven times more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and come in at a fraction of the price of LED bulbs. At roughly $4 per bulb, the ten-year lifespan comes to just $0.40 per year.

The savings on monthly utilities alone makes switching to the most energy-efficient bulbs and lamps you can afford a savvy financial move and a great way to green-up your company.

Start carpooling or using public transit.

Many companies offer employee incentives to carpool and to take advantage of public transportations. Preferred parking spaces are often an excellent incentive for employees to carpool, but there’s no limit on what a company can do to encourage participation in this type of program.

Public transportation companies also have incentives for businesses to participate in their clean air programs. These typically include discounted transit passes and some form of recognition for its participants.

There are countless ways you can take your company in a green direction; the trick is to just get started. Hopefully these ideas will get you moving in the direction you always wanted to take but weren’t sure if there was really a difference to be made.