Computers and Technology

The world wide web is a still evolving community, home to everything from exciting new recipes to hilarious videos to books that are no longer in print. In recent years, as the Web 2.0 revolution shifted the focus of the content online from websites to individual users, the amount and variety of data and entertainment available has exploded. Unfortunately, while the nature of the internet permits for the mass dissemination of pretty much anything, it also means that a considerable amount of what’s available might not be appropriate for children (or in some cases, anyone at all).

Protecting children from the hazards of dangerous and adult material online has been a great challenge for parents and schools since the internet became a part of daily life for the majority of Americans. Some may feel in their frustration that the easiest solution is to simply keep children off the internet entirely, but research has shown that keeping kids offline can stunt their development in the information age.

The internet is an indespensible resource for the near instant transfer of information, and being able to navigate it effectively is an indispensable skill in the modern world. Students can benefit greatly from the educational material online too, so it is understood that some type of compromise must be made to allow children some access to the internet. Web filters are the most common tools that parents and schools utilize to attempt to permit children online without giving them access to absolutely everything on the web.

The balance that any web filter must create between permitting some but not all content in is a complicated one, and some services are criticized for either blocking legitimate content or allowing objectionable content through. Some filters even suffer from both problems simultaneously. Even worse, a percentage of filters can easily be completely undermined by inquisitive teenagers with hardly any technical skill.

Google, being the single most popular search engine on the planet, is the first stop for many web users and especially most of the younger users. There’s plenty of safe content out there for children to access, and Google has always offered its own filter for search results, which has been very successful. Unfortunately these settings could easily be altered by any user, including the ones who should{n’t not} be accessing unfiltered results in the first place.

Now, Google has launched a new improvement that allows users to lock the SafeSearch option with a password to prevent minors from altering the settings. The results subsequently generated by Google’s search engine while these SafeSearch settings are in place will also be visibly different from the normal search results, with a large image of colored balls in the upper right corner letting parents and teachers know even from across the room that the filter is still working.

There’s more than one way to keep kids safe online, and the best decision is to combine several layers of protection. Google’s new SafeSearch is a effective tool to help keep offensive material away from children, but it’s no replacement for active involvement with children while they are using the internet and education about the dangers that lie in the unpleasant places on the web.

Geek Choice prides itself on educating you about the daily advances introduced to this world in which our company continues to grow.  If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact one of us. We are a Computer Repair business specializing in: Virus Removal, Spyware Removal, Data Backup, Data Recovery, Wireless Networking, Business Networking, and a lot more.  At Geek Choice we can fix a wide range of problems including:  Slow Computer, Slow Internet, Printer not printing, blue screen of death, and anything else computer related.

Computers and Technology children, Google, internet, kids, parental controls, Safe Search, SafeSearch, web browsing, web surfing

Every gamer wants a high performance system. However, building one can be wildly costly. As the graphics card often dictates the in-game performance of your computer, a high-end GPU is considered a must for a serious gamer. The most powerful graphics cards can put a serious dent in your wallet and also become obsolete after several months.

However, with the emergence of multi-GPU technology, a user can combine multiple cards to achieve better performance. This means you can purchase less expensive graphics cards for use with your gaming PC. As your needs increase, you can purchase another card to take some of the load off of your current hardware. This will give you an increase in performance that was previously only available on a prohibitively expensive graphics card.

Nvidia’s SLI and ATI’s CrossFire technologies offer multiple card support. If you are interested in put together a machine based on this strategy, you should be careful to get the correct parts. If you want multi-GPU support, you will need a motherboard that supports it. Most newer gaming motherboards will offer this. Also, you will need a beastly power supply to pump out the electricity needed to run multiple cards. These SLI-ready power supplies are not necessarily expensive. However, you just don’t want to have to buy a new power supply when you purchase a new card.

If you use this strategy to build your gaming PC, you can purchase decent graphics cards that are a few months behind the newest releases. These are much cheaper cards. However, the addition of future cards will give you a similar boost in performance to one of the newest, pricey cards. You can save up money for extra cards as you go without having to throw out old parts.

Be careful that you plan your purchases around the limitations of multi-GPU technology. For example, an Nvidia SLI rig will require you to use multiple cards of the same chip set. If you plan on using a GeForce 9800 GT, for example, you will need to purchase the same card when you add a second. ATI’s CrossFire technology allows you to use different cards from the same series. These aren’t unreasonable limitations, but you don’t want to accidentally purchase a card that won’t work with your setup.

If you play massively multiplayer online games, such as World of Warcraft and other popular MMOPRGs you might want to weigh using one powerful card instead. These games tend to be very processor intensive, and there are frequently support issues for multi-GPU setups. However, for other games that really work your graphics card, multiple cards can vastly improve your performance.

High end graphics really show the incredible power of the desktop PC. Gaming does not require the huge budgets of the past. If you choose a smart build, you can get smooth frame rates on the latest games at a reasonable price. Multi-GPU technology allows you to upgrade your machine on your terms.

As a nationwide computer repair service company, Geek Choice is dedicated to helping gamers keep their systems in excelent condition. If you are ready to deal with your slow computer or choppy graphics, consider a consultation with the techs at Geek Choice.

Computers and Technology ATI, CrossFire, Game System, Gaming Computer, Gaming PC, Graphics Cards, Nvidia, SLI, video games

Most of us are already well familiar with the frustrations of spam: unsolicited email ads. In recent years, unwanted emails have evolved in an attempt to avoid increasingly specialized filters and wary recipients. We have put together a list of red flags to help you quickly spot emails that may be harmful to your PC and your bank account.

Suspicious attachments

Attaching files to an email is a fast and easy way to share files with your friends and family. The downside is that crooked scammers can attach files such as viruses and spyware in the hopes that an unwary recipient might download the file and infect their computer. Any time you see an email with an attachment that you were not expecting, be cautious about opening the attachment or even reading the email.

Links that don’t make sense

In an email supposedly from Yahoo, a link to a specific page on Yahoo’s site appears. So why does the text of the link not begin with “http://yahoo.com”? Because it is a scam. Many scammers attempt to collect account information or even credit card numbers by posing as respectable websites looking for data about your account. These emails typically have a link to a page where you can reset your password, confirm your credit card data, or log in to access some exclusive new feature. To spot these harmful links, you simply need to look at the url: the address of the page that is being linked to. All urls begin with “http://” or “htpps://” and from there vary from website to website. If the url isn’t visible in the link, you can hover your mouse over the link and the url will be displayed in the lower left corner of your web browser.

Notifications about accounts you don’t have

Malicious emails that disguise themselves as emails from major websites are counting on their recipients actually having accounts with that website in the first place. If you get an email about your facebook account when you never even signed up with facebook, chances are very good that this is a scam or virus email.

Password reset requests you didn’t send

One of the most common email scams presently is the phony password reset. These emails claim that you recently requested a new password, and direct you to a webpage where you can enter your “old” account name and password. You may be able to spot these emails by the link urls or because you don’t have the account that you would ly be resetting the password for in the first place. Even if you don’t see anything worrying with the link or the account data, never respond to a password reset email that you didn’t specifically request.

Sender addresses that don’t add up

An official email from YouTube.com will be sent from an email address that ends with @youtube.com. If “vanessa1997@aol.com” is sending you official updates about your YouTube account, it’s a safe bet this is also a malicious email. If your email system does not display sender data, you can change your settings to show full headers or just click a link right in the email to show all of the sender data.

Money transfer schemes

Typically from Nigerian royalty, these emails claim that there is some tremendous amount of money sitting in an account somewhere that the sender wants moved to the US before something terrible happens to it. It’s not uncommon for these emails to be all in caps lock and poor English, although there are exceptions. These emails are scam attempts, attempting to get your bank account information so that the sender can access your funds. No matter the story for the email, you shouldn’t ever share bank account information with anyone you don’t know. Newer varieties of these emails claim to be from “a member of your church.”

Suspect emails from co-workers

The most dangerous and hard to spot malicious emails are the ones sent by your friends and other contacts. Usually if you receive a suspicious email from a friend or other contact, it is either because their PC has been infected by a virus or because their email account has been compromised. If you see an email from one of your contacts that has strange characters in the subject, has attachments that you were{n’t not} expecting, links to a file sharing site, or otherwise looks different from the emails you’re used to from that person, take the time to contact them before clicking on any links or downloading any attachments.

Emails from yourself

These types of emails can be very disturbing when you find them. If you find an email from your own account waiting in your inbox that you know you didn’t send (and you have not allowed anyone else access to your account) immediately change your password and security question for your account. After that, check out your “sent mail” folder to find out if any other emails went out that you were unaware of. Let everyone who received one of these suspicious emails know that you didn’t send the emails, that they shouldn’t open them or open any links or attachments and that you think  your account was compromised. You can also let your email provider know about your worries. If this problem comes back, your machine may be infected and require virus cleanup service performed.

As users and automatic filters become more aware of these malicious emails, scammers will develop new ploys to get at your computer, bank account, and other data. The best weapon against these attacks is a healthy dose of skepticism, though even vigilant users can fall victim to scams and viruses. If you believe you may have a compromised email account or infected  machine, or if you just want more information about how to avoid these problems, give Geek Choice a call any time at 1-800-GEEK-HELP (433-5435). We can help you with Virus Removal, Spyware Removal and general computer repair.

Computers and Technology attachments, computer repair, email scam, internet security, malware removal, scam, spam, spyware removal, Virus Removal

The average user probably knows nothing about the hidden world of the device driver. It is a mysterious little file with a hidden agenda. If your computer use is limited to surfing the web, drivers will only come to your attention in the form of a major conflict. However, for those who play games or use peripherals, hours can be wasted trying to switch between drivers to the find one that ends massive problems.

For peripheral devices, there are many bizarre conflicts that can stop you in your tracks. The webcam, microphone or scanner all rely on device drivers to work together with your software environment. If you’re having a {tough difficult} time with peripherals, obsolete are often the source of concern.

Gamers are frequently plagued by driver support problems. For example, g that push your hardware to the limits{ of your computer’s capabilities} will often require the most current drivers. If you have a dedicated graphics card, you will likely need to install each new version. If you experience artifacts during game play, there is a reasonable chance that obsolete drivers are the culprit.

There are some driver issues that demand unusual solutions. For example, laptop gamers are often required to use modified drivers to run their devices. This is done at your own risk as it can void your warranty. However, most laptop manufacturers don’t permit you to use the latest drivers from your video card company. The laptop manufacturer will rarely update their driver series. This means that a new patch can come out at any point that no longer functions well with your driver. There are modification tools and third party drivers that can correct for this issue. This is something that an advanced laptop gamer will probably have to learn to do eventually.

Driver cleaning is another issue of concern that will come up during this process. Old drivers tend to leave their footprint behind in your registry. This can be a source of complications down the road. There are tools out there that will clean these entries from your registry. However, it is important to do diligent research before attempting to use one of these programs. They can cause serious problems if used incorrectly.

Driver support can be complicated for boutique operating systems. Some issues exist regarding the installation of drivers for operating systems with 64-bit architecture. It can be tough to find stable driver software that works well with Linux.

When you are confronting a performance problem, there’s a reasonable chance that drivers could be the issue. If you frequently update your drivers, you are less likely to see these problems. Even for the most diligent users though, some will be unavoidable. A driver problem can cause the same issues as legitimate hardware failure. This can be incredibly frustrating. If you have tried lots of drivers with no effect, you might want to consider getting some technical help to identify if there is a actual hardware problem.

If you can’t solve the problem on your own, consider the help of Geek Choice. They are a computer repair company that offers nationwide support. They provide on-site service for any computer issue. If you are plagued by a slow computer or driver issues like those discussed in the article, consider their professional help.

Computers and Technology computer repair, device driver, driver, windows

As internet service providers offer faster speeds, a new area of competition has begun. At first, there was a race to provide internet service at the fastest possible speed. Of late however the speed race has outpaced the capabilities of users’ hardware. This has created a new factor for internet service provider. The bandwidth cap is fast becoming the new battlefields over which companies must compete.

There are cost limitations on monthly bandwidth. While customers may sometimes feel that there is a big business conspiracy preventing them from getting the bandwidth they want at a comfortable cost, there are massive hardware costs involved in getting data from the internet to your computer at blinding speeds. On the bright side, though, prices are typically determined by the cost a customer is willing to spend on a product. Currently, the costs being charged by most internet service providers seem to be acceptable. However, one change in user behavior looms on the horizon that inevitability threatens to destroy the present comfortable footing on which service providers design their business models. The normal consumer will eventually want to watch on-demand high definition TV content on their computers. This will be the death knell of the cable television station.

While cable companies certianly have an interest in preventing this by limiting monthly bandwidth, they will be unable to force this price control on the market forever. Wireless internet will soon be available all over major population centers at blinding speeds. This will make it nearly impossible for this media transition to be prevented by any commercial means.

This is wonderful news for the consumer. As companies begin to boast that they provide more bandwidth for your money, these caps will increase very quickly due to market pressure. Companies that offer hardware to internet service providers will have to lower their prices in turn. This is of course simply how the market works.

With all of the various methods of transferring data, there needs to be a huge focus on quality. For the consumer that plans to view high quality content, this will represent a dramatic improvement on the current online experience. High quality content inevitably means higher bandwidth demands.

Bandwidth limits will also affecthave an impact on the quality of content made. For example, most current media files need to be compressed to meet bandwidth limits. If it’s possible to transfer more data faster, these limitations would disappear. This may result in new advancements in music storage software. Why not increase the size of music files if they can be transferred very quickly? It’s the same for video files and any other content that people may attempt to share online. If providers can deliver bigger files, then movie files should be available in better quality. Over time this will allow for massive growth in the quality of audio and video files.

Online games will benefit from this boom too. As data transfer rates explode, you can count on game developers to take full advantage of the newly available bandwidth. Online games may never require as much bandwidth as streaming video or music, but it would be a mistake to ignore the demands of the online gaming market.

There is an exciting future for online content. While many complain about the current bandwidth caps, the future holds a race between providers to deliver the increased bandwidth at lower costs. In the long run, this will mean great things for the consumers of high quality online content.

Geek Choice knows that consumers enjoy high quality media. As a nationwide computer repair company, we work very hard to help people enjoy the experience with their PCs.

Computers and Technology bandwidth, cable, dsl, fiber, fiber optics, fios, internet

First look at your present technology costs, because odds are you can decrease and fix your information technology costs at a flat rate. If you don’t have an IT budget, then create one immediately.

Lowering costs can mean a lot of things. You might look in to a technology or computer services firm to take over responsibilities versus keeping a staff on board to manage the computer network and support. The fact is many of the daily duties of a network administrator include a lot of mundane, repetitive tasks that should be automated). Don’t pay an IT admin k+ a year to fix printers. Instead, let your IT admin focus on the important tasks of technology management and planning. Let a professional IT consulting provider pick up the slack with spam, support phone calls and computer maintenance. You would be surprised at how much productivity this adds to your business. By introducing these systems and processes into the technology environment you will increase the productivity of your staff (subtraction by addition – not lowering costs but increasing efficiency).

Taking variable technology costs and evolving them into a fixed-cost model is also valuable when times are tough. Knowing what your costs are going to be and reducing the risk of ballooning costs based on time and material rates allows you to better plan out your budget to survive the slowdown. A managed IT service will provide all the network service and support you need for one fixed cost each month. No matter how often we are there or how many times your provider, the cost stays the same. It’s actually great incentive for your managed IT provider to ensure your network continues to function efficiently!

Just because the economy is slow doesn’t mean the demand on your IT infrastructure is any less or even less important. One could argue reliable and efficient IT is even more important at this particular time to allow you to survive and even thrive. Your technology solution is very important to your business, so don’t undervalue it. Treat it like any aspect of your business in tough times. Review its efficiency and be open to doing things better.

Computers and Technology business computer networking, computer services, Information Technology, IT consulting, managed it

From: low cost laptop buyer’s guide. If your laptop is in dire need of repair or upgrade, it is usually faster and cheaper if you avoid retail specialists and just hunt for spare components on the internet yourself. The internet is the ultimate resource for finding the best deals for any merchandise, and with the proliferation of laptop parts in a slew of computer websites on the web; you are bound to find what you’re looking for at a bargain price if you know where to look. It also saves time because you don’t need to go out to make a purchase. Most online retailers can ship products to consumers within 24-48 hours, and it’s much cheaper because the online retailer has no need for expenses that are required for running a normal business shop. 

You will need to install the components yourself if you order them online, but it shouldn’t be too hard if you do a little research on the internet on how to go about it. Asking a friend who knows about computers to help you out will be great, as well.

Another advantage of fitting the parts yourself is that it prevents the risk of compromising your privacy. Sensitive data might be stored into your hard disk and be used to your disadvantage. If there’s one thing you should be most wary of, it’s a trained specialist who knows exactly how to steal sensitive information from your hard drive.

If you are wary of spending your cold hard cash on online shops, you can do your shopping online through the most trusted sites like Amazon, BestBuy, Epinions, and PC World, just to name a few. The fact that these are very populated sites minimizes the risk of fraudulent deals. The online community itself acts as whistleblowers for those sellers and products that aim to take advantage of prospective buyers. It is almost a guarantee that the products up for sale in trusted sites have already been tested, and should work perfectly upon delivery.

If you want online shops that sell laptops and components exclusively, you might want to check notebook computerparts.com and notebook computeraid.com. It would be a great idea to look for more sites and make extensive comparisons between them to help you choose the particular component that you’re looking for. Another thing to take note of when buying laptop parts online is whether the website has a DOA policy. DOA stands for “Dead on Arrival”, which means that you are not liable to pay for the merchandise that has been delivered to you is in a state of disrepair. 

Finding the best notebook parts is just a matter of digging deeper into the internet for the best products and deals, while making sure the product delivered is in perfect condition. Fitting the parts together yourself also prevents the private information in your laptop from being hacked by opportunistic technicians.

A little research also goes a long way in determining how to fit the component to your laptop after it has been delivered to you.

For more see Laptop Sellers and cheap small laptop.

Computers and Technology buying laptop parts, laptop computer components, laptop parts

A Palm GPS has the advantage of being able to increase the capacity of the personal navigation system by substituting the graphic display device and offering supplementary portable orientation functions. Regular products in the Palm GPS category have larger displays, more memory space and a quicker processing rate. The Palm thus ranges between a stand alone GPS unit and a device that needs computer or laptop connection. The combination of GPS and Palm enjoys worldwide appreciation particularly among hikers. Certain GPS devices have a reduced compatibility with specific softwares, and it’s vital that you check this detail before making any purchase.

Really cheap products usually have this kind of problems. A new Palm GPS version runs on special softwares with hardware advantages such as color screens. It is of paramount importance to check the product features and test them in order to decide whether a certain Palm GPS is a match for personal needs. For older Palm models that use serial ports, a special adaptation to the GPS device will be necessary but the procedure is neither difficult nor costly. There should also be good memory support for the maps on the Palm GPS and good hardware configurations are the best solutions available here. Check the support for the software so that you may detect possible incompatibilities.

Changes are sometimes necessary for the software used by the Palm GPS application. Vendors usually allow for convincing verifications, but in case you are not satisfied, it would be hard to analyze a Palm GPS compatibility without professional assistance. A Palm GPS could be of great help for all categories of travelers, whether you ride the car or you go hiking. The constant possibility to navigate at ease and receive information in real time represents an advantage more and more people enjoy.

Finally, older users of Palm GPS versions should inquire about the possibility to make updates and improve the technical performance of the items. This will not be possible unless the updates are compatible with the Palm and the GPS. Usually, producers take into consideration this issue of compatibility with older designs whenever a new model is launched, but the customer often has to buy a new Palm GPS configuration instead of trying to update the older variant.

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The author is also a fan of best psychics, Mercedes SLK windscreen windblocker wind deflector wind restrictor windstop, and HCG Diet & Weight Loss.

Computers and Technology Car Toys, cell phone, Global Position Satellite, gps, Map, Navigation, Personal Navigation System

Supplementary portable orientation functions replaces the regular graphic display device in the new Palm GPS, which generates good conditions for personal navigation and lots of system applications. Regular products in the Palm GPS category have larger displays, more memory space and a quicker processing rate. In a certain way the Palm is somewhere between a unit attached to the desktop or the laptop and a stand alone GPS unit that incorporates all the functions. The combination of Palm and GPS is considered a technical success that remains a valuable option even for hikers. Some softwares are not compatible with GPS devices even if they incorporate a navigation system.

You should be aware of such differences before buying something really cheap. A new Palm GPS version runs on special softwares with hardware advantages such as color screens. It is of paramount importance to check the product features and test them in order to decide whether a certain Palm GPS is a match for personal needs. The connection of older Palm models to modern GPS devices requires some form of adaptation particularly for serial ports. There should also be good memory support for the maps on the Palm GPS and good hardware configurations are the best solutions available here. Check the support for the software so that you may detect possible incompatibilities.

Changes are sometimes necessary for the software used by the Palm GPS application. The devices should be verified with the vendor and if at a certain time you need to operate changes, take the item to a professional in order to get the best of results. A Palm GPS could be of great help for all categories of travelers, whether you ride the car or you go hiking. The constant possibility to navigate at ease and receive information in real time represents an advantage more and more people enjoy.

Finally, older users of Palm GPS versions should inquire about the possibility to make updates and improve the technical performance of the items. This will not be possible unless the updates are compatible with the Palm and the GPS. Usually, manufacturers carefully analyze the match with older designs every time they launch a new model, but adaptations are not always possible, and you may have to buy a new Palm GPS rather than update the older system.

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The author is also a fan of best psychics, Mercedes SLK windscreen windblocker wind deflector wind restrictor windstop, and HCG Diet & Weight Loss.

Computers and Technology Car Toys, cell phone, Global Position Satellite, gps, Map, Navigation, Personal Navigation System

Windows keylogger will not allow those around you to keep secrets from you anymore. If you need to know what your child or spouse is doing when they are using their computers, there is a way for you to find out without having to physically be there.

No one likes to spy on those around us but there are times when it becomes the last resort; especially when people are concerned about their children and what they doing on the internet. Using a utility like this one can give you the reassurance that you can be aware of any issues before it is too late.

A windows keylogger will record every word that is typed on the targeted computer. This information will be stored a log that can be encrypted, so that you know that you are the only one that access this information and that it has not been tampered with.

No one but you will know that the utility has been placed on the computer. It cannot be detected by another program and the task manager will not reveal its existence. Your children or your spouse will never know that you are watching their every virtual move in cyberspace. Unless you tell them of course, but that would defeat the object of running the program.

This utility will work on any flavor of Windows. Once you have installed the windows keylogger and configured the settings, you will not have to touch the targeted computer. Everything you need to do for the utility can be done remotely and you can set a self-destruct time, so that you will not have to worry about uninstalling the keylogger.

You do have to ever touch the computer again. You set the application up to send regular emails to a designated email account. The application can be set to self-destruct so that you do not have to manually remove the utility once you have finished observing the targeted computer.

Computers and Technology keylogging, using a keylogger, windows keylogger