PC Repair in Vancouver & Portland

Google fired an opening salvo in their OS ware against Microsoft last week with the beta launch of their Chrome operating system.  There has been much talk of a Google OS for quite some time, and many suspected that their mobile operating system titled Android would be ported to desktop applications.  Instead, Google has turned their Chrome web browser into a full-fledged operating system.

Google makes some grand promises for Chrome.  A 10 second boot-up time, no security updates, no viruses and malware to mention a few.  It all sounds great.  But will Google deliver?  The bottom line is, at this time it’s too early to tell.  Google Chrome operating system isn’t due to be released until the second half of 2010.  But the demo version that we downloaded from gdgt.com was intriguing to say the least. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s getting towards Christmas-time.  Is there a new computer on your wish list?  Maybe someone you love is getting one? Great!  Just be sure to dispose of that old computer in a responsible manner.  Yes, it’s easy to simply toss it in the trash can.  But in doing so, you’re only contributing to the ever-growing amount of electronics in the waste stream.

According to the EPA, approximately 2.5 million tons of consumer electronics – including televisions and computers – are sent to landfills every year.  Only about 18% of all computers are recycled. Read the rest of this entry »

Thanks to wireless routers, setting up a home or small business network is easier than ever.  No running cables, no drilling through walls, just plug in, configure, and go.  However, it’s also easier than ever to hack into someone’s network, thanks to wireless routers.

If, when setting up your router, you didn’t change the administrator name and password, or if you’re still broadcasting your SSID, (or if you don’t understand this is talking about,) then it’s possible someone else might leach onto your network and leverage your broadband connection for their own nefarious means. Read the rest of this entry »

Skip forward 30 seconds!

OK,  I know this isn’t a computer article. And those who don’t have Comcast cable, feel free to read something else. But, for the rest of you… Read the rest of this entry »

Pssst, wanna know a secret?  Wanna know how “power” computer users maximize their time at the computer?  Whenver possible, they don’t use the computer’s mouse.

The process of moving your hand away from the keyboard and onto the mouse, clicking on an item, and then moving back to the keyboard only takes a moment.  But imagine how many times you do that during a typical computing session.  Now imagine how much quicker you can type if you didn’t have to constantly move your hand back and forth to and from the mouse.  Windows has a way to help wean you away from the mouse and keep your fingers on the keyboard. Read the rest of this entry »

Here we go again. Windows is introducing a new operating system. And – according to Microsoft at least – it’s one we can’t live without. Face it, Microsoft would dearly love to have consumer reaction similar to that displayed when they introduced Windows 95. Back then we saw stores staying open all night so people could buy the program at 12:01 in the morning on the day of release. And they did. There were actually people lining up to (gasp!) willingly – eagerly! – upgrade their operating system. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s no reason to pay big bucks for quality Windows software. Below is a list of “must have” applications for Windows, all free, and all 100% spyware and adware free! Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know you can specify what happens when you close the lid to your laptop or netbook computer? This short video will show you how to make your system sleep, hibernate or power off completely.

Learn how to put your computer into hibernate mode when you press the power button.

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The Windows Desktop. It’s the single largest piece of real estate on your computer. Every time you start the computer, every time you minimize or close a window, there it is. Is it boring? Does it not shout “you”? Why not personalize it?

You can use virtually any picture as an image on your desktop. If you have a picture in your computer that you’d like to use as desktop image, all you need to do is browse to that file’s location, and the right-click on the file. In the subsequent pop-up, select Set as Desktop Background. Easy, isn’t it? Read the rest of this entry »