Thursday, September 6, 2007
Having a laptop computer these days is just as important as having your desktop machine. You need to have access to the internet, your email, and other important data at all times. It’s important to remember that the same problems that data recovery, spyware and viruses can cause on your PC can also affect your laptop computer. Security for your portable machine is also doubly important because of the risk involved in having your laptop stolen. It’s also very important to make certain your laptop security is in tiptop shape before you head out for work or on a business trip with your laptop. There are certain laptop security tips you can follow to keep your machine and data safe at all times.
If your machine and data are super-sensitive, you can have tracking software installed in your laptop. Security experts can then track and follow the location of your machine as it moves. It works in the same fashion as a global positioning system does for your vehicle. This proposition is expensive, but it does increase your computer security and your overall chance of data recovery should your machine ever get stolen or lost.
Mostly, though, effective laptop security comes from good old-fashioned common sense. Being aware of your surroundings and movements can severely limit the potential of your portable computer being stolen, misplaced or lost. Here are some simple tips that can increase your computer’s security and help minimize the risk of theft to your laptop.
*Never leave your laptop unattended. When you stay with your laptop computer, security increase and the risk of losing your machine decreases.
*Do not leave your laptop in your vehicle. If you have to, improve laptop security by locking it in the trunk of your car. Don’t leave it in plain view.
*When you are not using your laptop, lock up the machine itself or lock it in a secure cabinet or desk.
*Make certain that using hard to decipher passwords enhances your laptop security. If someone does steal or come into possession of your computer, security caused by passwords will make it difficult for someone to access your data.
*Purchase a laptop security cable and lock so you can tightly keep your laptop closed when it’s not in use.
Just as with desktop CPUs, you can potentially lose unsaved data unexpectedly and require data recovery services. Make certain that any important documents or files have data backups at all times. Don’t just save items on your laptop’s desktop. If you lose something on your desktop computer, security experts at least have a chance to recover it for you. If you are not diligent with your laptop security, technicians can’t retrieve the lost data for you because your laptop itself will be gone. It’s hard to work on something that isn’t there.
Laptops are becoming wireless enabled every day. And wireless security is just as important as conventional laptop security. Because laptops can work in hot spots, there are many hackers ready to get into your system. Make certain your laptop computer’s security is up to date with the latest antivirus software to combat potential thieves. Also remember to follow the common sense tips listed above. If you do these things, you’ll never have to worry about your laptop security.
Purchasing a Video Card
A video card or graphic card is a device that allows for the visualization of images on your computer monitor. Without the card you would not be able to view images, play games or see colors. If you are anything less than a graphics card expect, the shopping process for a video card can be grueling. With a bit of knowledge it should make the trip easier and you may just come home with the correct video card. There are currently more than sixty types of video cards that range in price and specifications. In order to decide which card is right for you there are a few things that you must understand first. Keep in mind the type of computer, purpose and uses of the computer, as well as the expectations for rendered image. After that is all decided you must remember your budget when shopping for the video card.
The type of computer that you have is one of the most important issues when deciding on a video card. You must ensure the compatibility of the card with your PC or it could be a waste of money. To ensure compatibility you will need to know what type of card slot the computers mother board has for the video card. There are three types of card slots that we will discuss further.
• PCI Slot – the PCI slot is short for Peripheral Component Interconnect and is not exclusive with any one processor type. PCI was the first expansion slot made by computer manufacturers. The PCI has limited performance, but there are several value cards that offer acceptable performance.
• AGP Slot – the AGP slot is short for Accelerated Graphics Port. AGP has many versions and was first designed for 3D gaming abilities. Today the AGP 2.0 and 3.0 are sold, but the 1.0 is no longer in use.
• PCI Express – this is the latest card slot and is up to four times faster than the PCI slot or AGP slot. The PCI Express was made with the intention of replacing the PCI and AGP slots for the extended performance ability. Note PCI and PCI Express are not compatible and are very different products, not to be confused with one another.
Along with knowing the card slot type you must also know the requirements and specifications of the CPU. When we refer to requirements and specifications we mean the CPU type and speed. If you are purchasing a video card for regular viewing the 500 MHz will suffice, but for optimal use the 800 MHz is suggested. When viewing images it is important to have a higher MHz or your system may become overloaded. The 1600 MHz range is suggested for limited 3D gaming and running other applications such as business applications or graphics. For optimal 3D gaming the minimum CPU would be 2.4 GHz. Much of the CPU speed depends on computer use and personal budget. The faster the CPU the better and more realistic the special effects are. Cost rises as CPU speed rises!
by: www.diamondmm.com
Diamond Multimedia is a provider of a quality and advanced graphics card and video cards, digital television, communications and sound hardware solutions for home and business users
How to Choose a Gaming Laptop
If you're in the market for a new gaming laptop there are some certain things you should look out for. This article will explain the various factors you should consider when buying the best laptop for your gaming needs.
Processor
The processor inside your laptop will have a lot of influence on how your games will play. You will need a fairly fast processor to be able to run the latest games at good quality. I would recommend a dual core processor, such as an Intel Core Duo or an Intel Core 2 Duo if you can get your hands on that. You should also make sure the processor has a speed of at least 2.0 GHz or so.
Memory
The amount of memory (also known as RAM) is another key factor in choosing your gaming laptop. The more memory you have onboard your laptop, the faster your games and other programs will run. I would aim for a minimum of 1 gig of memory, but at least 2 gigs if you’re going to play the latest games.
Hard Drive
The size of the hard drive will determine how much you can store on your laptop. 60, 80, and 120 gigs are common sizes, although you can certainly find larger. The size of your laptop’s hard drive may not be that much of a concern because you can always get an external hard drive later on and store all your files on there without clogging up your laptop’s hard drive.
Graphics Card
This is perhaps the most important component in a gaming laptop. Without a dedicated graphics card, your laptop won’t be able to create the surreal 3D graphics that the latest computer games offer you. Avoid a laptop with ‘integrated graphics’.
You usually cannot upgrade a graphics card in a laptop computer, so be sure you buy a laptop with a good graphics card. The two main types of graphics cards around today are the ATI Radeon and the NVIDIA GeForce series. Be sure to get one of these cards inside your laptop. If you’re going for a GeForce card, get at least a GeForce 7400 or a GeForce 7600.
Screen
The size of the screen is something to keep in mind too. The larger the screen, the better the viewing experience. But they are also quite more expensive as you go up in size. Laptop screen sizes range from 14” to 15”, all the way to 17” and above.
Operating System
Window’s Vista has recently been released so most newer laptops have it installed. If you have any reasons to go with Windows XP instead there’s nothing wrong with that. XP will still be widely used for quite a while, until Vista takes over the reigns.
Drives and Ports
Most laptops these days have a DVD burner built in already, so you shouldn’t need to worry about your laptop not having one. And take note of how many USB ports the laptop has. The more the better. If you need special ports such as Firewire or Bluetooth, then check for these as well.
Hopefully you should now have a better idea of what to look for in your new gaming laptop. Keep in mind that there are no tricks in buying a good laptop, you pretty much get what you pay for.
If you want to know more about gaming laptop computers then check out Julien’s website on how to Build Gaming Computers.
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