Computers How To

Grocery Gift Card

2010-10-08T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hello Loyal Readers, Posters and Community Members!

Today I have a great bit of information that may help some, but I would think almost all of you, to have a better week. A local company is doing a giveaway with 250 dollar grocery gift cards to people who's areas are in the accepted zones. Anyways, worked for me and it took around two weeks to actually receive the card but I honestly didn't think they would ever send it but they did. So check if you have a minute and see if your area is accepted and if it is, congrats!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Here is the link to the promotion.

Buying Fake Computer Hardware Can Prove a Costly Mistake

2008-09-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Procuring genuine IT hardware products from a reputable source is vital to ensuring that networking products can be supported, will provide the correct functionality, compatibility and life span guarantees, and that it will be covered by warranty.

Thousands of networking products are produced abroad in the Far East each year and flood the world market looking identical to authentic products. The scale of the problem was recently highlighted in the case of a New York hardware reseller who netted $10m passing off as genuine bogus Cisco networking equipment. His two and a half year prison sentence and $2.2m fine shows how seriously this problem is taken and the cost of dealing in bogus kit.

However, the huge potential reward is a big temptation to some unscrupulous dealers.
It is often not possible to establish whether hardware is the real thing by simply looking at them, or indeed by using them, as the fake branding and functionality is so convincing. This causes problems for both the hardware manufacturers and their potential customers, as very often the product's origin only becomes evident when a warranty issue arises, leaving customers angry and disgruntled and manufacturers frustrated and helpless - not to mention out of pocket. In fact, millions of pounds are lost every year through fake product flooding into the European and US markets - both in terms of revenue for manufacturers and of productivity, resale value and associated costs for users.

But it transpires that the risks to purchasing bogus kit could be even greater. There is a potential to configure networks to spy on businesses from the very heart of their information systems and it has emerged that, incredibly, counterfeit networking kit was being used by the US military which could have posed a possible significant national security threat.

So how do you avoid buying phoney kit?

You can buy through approved or certified partners. These are dealers who comply with the relevant conditions. In addition, you can expect that the manufacturer will fully support the products you buy from here. There is a drawback with these approved partners: they are usually the most expensive place to buy product.

However, it is still possible to obtain networking products at favourable prices, yet still benefit from professional support and services - look for resellers who can offer both.

There are very professional organisations who deal in IT hardware who are not necessarily restricted by the limiting terms of business imposed by manufacturers. These companies can supply perfectly genuine and legal hardware at much lower prices which, for a large organisation, can make an enormous impact on the IT budget and even on profitability. Additionally, a few companies offer refurbished hardware which is very much less expensive, but in most circumstances as fit for purpose as new hardware, fully functional and supported.

Many organisations are needlessly missing out on high quality products at a fraction of what they have paid, simply because the fear of bogus equipment is so great. There can be significant cost benefits to using a hardware dealer who is not necessarily authorised and who can supply a mix of new and refurbished genuine networking kit.

Choosing a supplier who is prepared to support the products he sells, and who offers services around those products, is a good way to establish a company's credibility. An all singing, all dancing website does not prove a company has integrity, but a long-established website can be significant and this can be verified through Google. Customer recommendation is a good indication of whether a company does sell genuine product. In addition, look for a dealer who sells a range of networking products and is completely independent. You are more likely to be sold products that are perfect for the job you need them to do rather than products the dealer happens to sell.

Great Features of Adobe Photoshop

2008-09-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

Adobe Photoshop is an image editing software. You can edit and manipulate images in a breeze with this powerful software. Whether you are a graphic artist, web developer or a photographer, this is a tool, which can surely help you do the job with less time and effort.

Adobe Photoshop is the leading graphic application used in digital image editing, web graphics, prints and other multi media requirement. Photoshop is widely-used by millions of graphic artists, web developers, photographers, as well as ordinary people. Because of the popularity of the software, it has been accepted as a print industry standard.

Most likely, posters, magazine covers, book covers, brochures, and ads have all been created or edited with Photoshop. With the powerful tools that Photoshop offers, there are a lot of features that can be used to create, even the most complex digital art in a breeze.

One of the great features of Photoshop is that it consists of a user-friendly interface that is very easy to navigate. Tools are organized into groups of palettes, which you can customize according to your working preference. It also comes with shortcut keys that you can use to quickly apply commands or switch on or off a group of tools.

In addition, Photoshop comes with a sub program called Adobe ImageReady. This added program is basically used to create graphics and is enhanced for web design purposes that greatly reduce the file size in making a certain website faster to load. GIF files can be reduced as small as 10 to 50% with its compression abilities. The software is also capable of making animated graphics or GIF. With Adobe ImageReady, you can design interactive JavaScript rollover without the need of writing any programming code. Simply slice the image and link rollovers and create different variations of slices.

All products of Adobe Systems support layer effects. When working with Photoshop and ImageReady, you can easily apply effects to an image or text like drops shadows, inner and outer bevels and other layering effects. A great advantage of working with layers is that you can preserve the original state of an image while manipulating another version of it through another layer. You can add as many layers as you want depending on your needs. These layers are independent of each other, meaning, if you edit one layer for instance a layer of text, it does not affect any other layers.

Photo editing or photo manipulation is a difficult task without the right tool. But with the use of Photoshop, you can easily edit a photo in lesser time and little effort. Photoshop comes with powerful tools that can be utilized to perform photo-editing tasks.

You can crop or resize pictures without losing the quality of an image. Also, you can easily remove the background with an eraser tool. With Adobe Photoshop, it is easy to select precise parts of an image with the use of the magic wand and lasso tools. The software also comes with tools like: brightness and contrast, color balance, hue and saturation, levels, curves, and many more which are useful in enhancing or changing the color of an image.

Also the software comes with a variety of built in plug-ins that can be used to apply variations to your designs. Some of these plug-ins are custom brushes, filters, effects, and many more.

Adobe Photoshop is integrated with the other softwares of Adobe Systems. Photoshop shares the same user interface like in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects. With the integration you can work seamlessly and produce great work results.

This software has also the capability to utilize color models such as lab, RGB, CMYK, binary bitmap, grayscale, and duotone. It also supports vector and raster formats such as: .PNG, .EPS, .GIF, Fireworks, .JPEG and lots more.

The latest version of Photoshop is the Photoshop CS3. The latest version offers additional enhanced features. Some features include the application of non-destructive filters and the new selection tools such as the Quick Selection and Refine Edge.

With all the great features that Photoshop offers, you can do any work of graphics that you can imagine. You can create outstanding graphics without limiting your boundaries.

Can Your Digital Camera Last Longer?

2008-09-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

The long life of your digital camera can be determined by how well you maintain it. As it is a delicate instrument, you have to pay special attention to maintain it. It is important to maintain it occasionally. Your digital camera can last longer provided you have to maintain it properly. Most people may not care for it and this may cause damage to your device. This article offers you certain guidelines to maintain your camera properly.

How to care of the lens?

The lenses are the prominent element of a digital camera. Keep it safe and clean. If your lenses are dirty, you will never get good quality, sharp images. Don't think of cleaning it daily. Clean it perfectly only when need arises. If you clean them daily some scratches form on the lens or some coatings of the lens may be lost. Do not touch the surface of the lens with your finger. Cover your lens when you are not using it. Always wipe the lens with lint-free cotton or tissue.

Preserve it when you go for outing

If you go for an outing, always keep your camera dry. Preserve it from high temperatures. Don't leave your digital camera within your car itself. If the temperature increases above 100 degrees, the elements may get heated soon. Always wrap your camera with a light colour towel when you keep it inside your car and this is to prevent the penetration of high temperatures.

Proper storage

When you do not use your camera for a long time, you have to keep it away from moisture. Magnets are the first enemy of your camera’s memory cards. They may not affect the components of the camera, but it will completely erase the contents of your memory cards. Therefore keep away your digital camera from magnets.

Remove the Battery

Suppose you have planned to store camera somewhere for longer without using it, remove the batteries. Otherwise some sort of chemical may come out of it. Wipe the battery compartment by a cloth and keep it free from dust.

Take care of the delicate elements

Your digital camera consist of certain delicate elements like lens, battery, memory cards etc. so keep it away from bouncing and be careful that you do not drop it.

The lens and memory cards are the two main factors that have to be taken much care to give the costly digital camera a long life. Less care on the maintenance of the lens will affect the image sensor, forming blotchy patches on the image. This can be avoided with the regular maintenance of the camera dust from the accumulation of the dust particles. Clone stamp is a tool that is used to remove the dust particles in the digital camera. The regular formatting of the memory card can prevent it some data corruption.

Earlier SLR cameras were used for photography which does not require much care, except the lens. Only handling the device has to be taken care. After the introduction of the digital camera, the handling has become much easier. But still the lens, memory card and the sensor are some of the factors that have to be taken care of in a digital camera.

What Are the Special Features to Look For in a Laptop?

2008-09-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Most people prefer laptops because they are easy to carry around whether on work, holiday or on working holidays. Transporting them is very easy because they are very light weight. However they are tough because they can take all the wear and tear of a long journey without suffering damage. A magnesium casing is good armour for the laptop because it can then absorb any kind of shock due to sudden or violent movements. Laptops were thus designed for being carried around us whenever we are on the move. Working people whose job necessitates frequent touring need not worry about setting up afresh the whole show in every place they go. The laptop with its multimedia features can make very effective presentations within no time. Indeed it houses more features than what one can possibly use at one time.

Laptops are made small and compact but work just as smartly as the regular desktop models. Indeed some work even smarter. They weigh less than 3 kg measuring about 350 to 357 mm in width, about 160 mm in depth and about 42 mm in height. Not only do they function as a regular computer, they also provide the entertainment features of a television. They are the best partner for those who needs to travel regularly without spoiling their daily work.

A good branded laptop has about 4GB built in memory features to facilitate the storage of large chunks of data files, documents, images, pictures, videos and video games. Thus the user can switch from work mode to entertainment mode within no time. The screen size is a little over 15 inches to make screen viewing comfortable and easy on the eyes. It is also fitted with anti glare properties. Features like the graphics and optical drive and at least four USB ports along with wireless connectivity are very essential. HD movies can be watched if there is combo drive.

Most of these laptops work for about 11 hours at a time on battery alone. It requires about 5 hours for recharging it completely. The best thing about a laptop is that the internet can be accessed at will from wherever we are. With wireless connectivity one is completely hassle free. It has a data speed of about 533 MHz. For music lovers, there is a facility to use the headphone jack and listen on quietly and privately. This is especially useful for long flights and when one wants to shut out any other objectionable noise.

The facilities that the users enjoy in the normal PC are available in the laptops too. For people who tend to depend a great deal on the hard disk there is a facility called the data disk erase utility? The touch pad can be used for operating but for those who prefer a regular mouse, it can be connected to the computer. This optical mouse connector can also be used as a storage device, like the regular pen drive. The laptop should carry the above features if is has to give optimum benefit to the customer

Making Your First Video

2008-09-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

As digital media and video becomes more and more prevalent people are being called upon to submit pictures and videos online. With the invention of photo and video sharing sites, it seems like everyone is expected to know how it is done. Submitting photographs seems to be a task that people with very little tech experience can overcome but when it comes to submitting a video, it seems somewhat daunting.

The first time that I uploaded video footage, I proceeded with worry and caution, trying hard to focus on the instructions that were prompted by my video recorder and computer. To my great surprise, the footage was very easy to transfer from my camera to the computer. I can assure you that it is not as scary as it seems and it really is as easy as hooking up the connection from the camera to the USB port.

As a first timer, I turned to what was free and easily available. The two most popular options seem to be iMovie for Mac and Windows Movie Maker for a PC. I was delighted to find that Windows Movie Maker came loaded on my PC and all I had to do was double click on the program from my start menu. If the programs are not on your computer, both are available for free download. When the program opened up, the instructions were easy to follow with a three step process starting with capturing video, pictures and music.

I naturally moved on to step 2 which was the edit process. The edit features took a little bit of time to figure out but it was mostly fun just trying out all the neat things that I could do with the program. While I was playing around with the software I could not resist thinking about how impressed my friends and family would be with my finished video. They would definitely wonder how I learned all of those amazing, creative skills but the truth is the program does it for you.

After I had the video just the way that I wanted it, I moved on to step 3 which gave me the option to save to my computer, save on a cd/dvd, send in an email, send to the web or send it back to my video camera. It was literally as easy as clicking on one of the options and it before I knew it, the video was finished and uploaded to the web for my friends and family to view.

My experience with this project showed me that the brilliant folks who create these video editing programs make it very easy for people who have absolutely no skills. If you have been thinking about giving the video project a try, I would definitely move forward. I wish that I would have had the gumption to start earlier because I missed out on a lot of adorable baby video opportunities when my children were toddling around. It is true when people say “there is no better time like the present”.

- Ellen Ambrose

Missing .DLL, Corrupted Registry Entry? Fix it now!

2008-09-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you are having the common missing .dll, system error, registry key is corrupt, aka annoying pop ups that are taking over your computer. What are your choices?

1. Take it to a computer shop, pay $50+ dollars an hour,
2. Throw it away(NO!!!!)
3. Get an amazing program called XP Repair Pro 4.0!

Okay, obviously you aren't supposed to do the top two, so that leaves us with option number 3.

Before I go on and explain this program, I'm going to introduce myself. My name is Brett and I work in the IT (Information Technology) industry at a very large firm. I'm a basic tech support/help desk operator, and am almost done getting my degree in network administrator.

There's that and now you know who I am, so let me explain this product. I know you have at one time in your life had a computer that felt unrepairable, extremely slow, a bazillion errors and you just wanted to smash it against the wall. I think most people have been there, computers are stupid machines. With this program it automatically goes through your computer and repairs the entire thing. Good-bye missing .Dll files, good bye corrupted registry entrys.

You can read their site for more information, but it's saying something when download.com(cnet.com) rates them "Top 10 Must Have Programs For Windows Users". This program saves me enormous amounts of time at my job, and it obviously is a quality product if it is rated on Cnet. The best thing of all is that they offer a free trial AND it is Vista capable now! Check out the free trial and see if it can fix your problem. XP Repair Pro 4.0 Website

Optimize and Secure Your Computer

2008-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what is hidding on your computer?

Well I recently discovered a product called Pare to Logic. This software has showed me where all the hidden files on my computer were hiding. It sped my entire computer up from getting rid of all the junk files and clutter that was slowing my PC down.

"ParetoLogic Privacy Controls cuts through the clutter, removing unwanted and unnecessary files, leaving your system clean and protected."

Now the security of the product.
When you delete important documents that include personal information you probably thing they are deleted forever, well you are wrong. When you delete a file, it basically deletes it from the computers memory, NOT the hard drive. Any experienced hacker or PC technician will tell you that every file you have ever deleted can be recovered from your hard drive, unless you take the proper precautions.

"Shred Your Data...Keeping your data confidential is vital – ParetoLogic Privacy Controls ensures that your information remains safe!ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is a state-of-the-art, reliable and effective data shredding program that was created from the ground up to make sure that your deleted data stays deleted!"

This software will overhaul your computer and show you the weak spots and the hidden files that need to be deleted in order to secure your privacy and imensly speed up your computer.

If anyone of this sounds good, then check out Paretologic's software.

I personally back it up 100% and it is a great buy and a great investment.

Myspace Tips and Don'ts

2008-06-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

Three big no-nos on MySpace: Do not obscure the MySpace ad banner (or feature your own ad banners), spam, or feature inappropriate content. Any of these will almost guarantee that your account gets deleted.
DON'T!

1. Three big no-nos on MySpace: Do not obscure the MySpace ad banner (or feature your own ad banners), spam, or feature inappropriate content. Any of these will almost guarantee that your account gets deleted.

2. While we strongly encourage using your MySpace design to the maximum benefit, remember that MySpace monitors the level of activity on every account. We recommend limiting your interactions to 200 or less per day to ensure that MySpace will not mistake you for a spammer.

3. Some graphic suggestions… Do not use a photo or busy graphic as a background to your content. An overwhelming background may distract the visitor from key points or messages within your page. Take advantage of a strong title graphic, and present the content in a way that isn't distracting.

4. Do not clutter your MySpace page with "Which Hollywood Superstar are You?", quizzes and other obnoxious widgets that don't directly speak to your audience, at least if you expect to be taken seriously as a professional entity on MySpace. For tips on how to effectively market yourself or your business on MySpace please visit our MySpace Marketing Tips.

5. If you're going to have your profile song on auto-start, make sure it's easy listening or a nearly universally loved tune. This may be the deal breaker on whether or not a visitor returns. I have been known to repeatedly visit someone's page based on their having a good song. I have also been known to immediately leave a profile before the page even completely loads due to something intolerable being played.

DO!

1. Choose a catchy MySpace URL. Chances are I won't remember your unique page ID as the URL, so pick something I'll remember, ideally using words from an existing domain of yours. Underscores are allowed. Remember once you choose a name you can't change it without creating a new account!

2. Keep your content current and fun. Most people are visual and making a strong first impression with your MySpace design when a visitor comes to your page is important. Just as important is the strength and relevancy of your content, so keep those blogs and bulletins coming.

3. Choose your top 8 with care. Oddly, it is a significant factor in how people perceive your account. You may want to include certain organizations or groups which speak to your purpose or cause. You might also consider asking for a top friend exchange with someone who would return the favor and bring some extra traffic to your page.

4. Keep in touch with your network. We want news. We want gossip. We want the latest pic. So keep us in the loop through your blog, bulletin, a friendly comment or personal message. Don't forget to add your website link too!

5. Remember, MySpace is "a place for friends." Be a nice MySpacer.

Author - Amy McInerney

Ethernet Crossover Cables

2008-06-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

An ethernet crossover cable is similar in appearance to a standard ethernet cable except that it has its "send" and "receive" wires crossed, allowing for a back-and-forth communication between the two computers

A network can be defined as two or more computer terminals connected in a way that facilitates the sharing of data. A network can be as simple as two computers with limited access to a few of each others' files or as complex as hundreds or even thousands of client terminals, hubs, and routers all connected seamlessly, feeding data to each other. Ethernet has been the standard for computer Local Area Networks (LANs) since the mid-1990s

An ethernet crossover cable is most often used for very simple networking scenarios, often for networking only two computers. Often, there is a need for a simple method of connecting two terminals in a network without the use of a hub or router, either because there is no hub or router available or just for the sake of simplicity. An ethernet crossover cable can alleviate the need for such a hub as a result of its unique design and functionality.

Additionally, many hubs, routers, and modems have internal crossovers to allow users to directly connect a computer to them without the need for a crossover cable. However, if the user wishes to connect a succession of these items, a crossover cable is needed to reverse the original crossover so that they communicate normally.

This scenario would usually take place when connecting a DSL or cable modem to a hub for extended networking applications. If the user simply wished for one client computer to have access to the internet, a standard ethernet cable connected between the computer and the modem would suffice. However, if there is a need for multiple computers to access the internet, then a hub is required. The hub is connected to the router via an ethernet crossover cable, and the client computers are then connected to the hub via standard ethernet cables.

Ethernet crossover cables save time and confusion by allowing a dual-directional communication pathway between computers or computer-networking devices such as hubs, routers, and modems. They can also spare users the added expense and complication of the use of a hub in simple two computer networks. Ethernet crossover cables can be found reasonably online or in most computer supply-related stores and distributors.

Author - John Cicero

Choosing the Best Computer Support Service

2008-06-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

At times, you must have found yourself in a dire need to call computer support technicians to see if they can help you with your nasty computer problem. Availing the experts help can be beneficial for both of you and your PC.

At times, you must have found yourself in a dire need to call computer support technicians to see if they can help you with your nasty computer problem. Availing the experts help can be beneficial for both of you and your PC. The best par is that your support worker would walk you through the procedure to resolve your problem. This helps you to understand the intricacies of your computer.

Search thoroughly before your shop Many times when your computer is giving you a problem, rebooting can miraculously cure whatever is ailing it. If this is not the case, and you keep receiving the same error message as before, you will want to write this down, just in case you do wind up needing to call tech support.

There is no dearth of potential computer support resources on the Internet. The only thing you need is to brush up your search skills. Try searching with keywords like online computer support, computer repair, PC optimization, computer help, technical support, computer tech support etc. This will help you narrow down on the desired results by refining your search.

Ask for Credentials Always ask how long or how many computer problems your support worker has performed. Just as a writer writes better with every project, a technician offers better support every time. This is why it is suggested that you always ask for references before hiring a computer support technician.

Sometimes, you can also repair your computer issues yourself in future just by following the instructions given by your technician. If you are under the impression that your computer issues are hardware related, you can ask the technician about the same. Although, not all computer support resources over the Internet offer hardware repair but you can ask them.

Fix the Rate Before You may come across many computer support resources that charge on per hour basis. It can turn out to be a prohibitive choice and cause you hundreds of dollars. As opposed to this, you should search for the vendors that have plans tooffer. For example: You may ask for an unlimited annual support plan or any other exclusive combo plans. Following such tactics will help you to get the quality services at the most competitive prices.

Author - James Larry

Basics of Networking - Layers

2008-06-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

It is necessary that you know a little about layers in the Network. Now let me take you down the seven layers you need to get familiar with. These are the physical layer, data link layer, network layer, transport layer, session layer, presentation layer, and the application layer.
Physical Layer, is just the physical parts of the network such as wires, cables, and the media along with the length. Also this layer takes note of the electrical signals that transmit data throughout the system.Data Link Layer, this layer is where we actually assign meaning to the electrical signals in the network. The layer also determines the size and format of data sent to printers, and other devices. The Data Link Layer can also be called nodes in the network. It is responsible for logical link control, media access control, hardware addressing, error detection and handling and defining physical layer standards.

Network Layer, this layer provides the definition for the connection of two dissimilar networks.Transport Layer, this layer allows data to be broken into smaller packages for data to be distributed and addressed to other nodes (workstations).Session Layer, this layer helps out with the task to carry information from one node (workstation) to another node (workstation). A session has to be made before we can transport information to another computer.Presentation Layer, this layer is responsible to code and decode data sent to the node.Application Layer, this layer allows you to use an application that will communicate with say the operation system of a server. A good example would be using your web browser to interact with the operating system on a server such as Windows NT, which in turn gets the data you requested.

Author - Dolson Ifegwu

Inexpensive tips for getting website traffic

2008-04-25T12:39:00.001-07:00

You can get a lot of website traffic without having to spend a lot of money. If you want to develop a busy and profitable website for your online business, there are a lot of techniques for getting website traffic without it being expensive. Some of these cheap website traffic techniques include article directories, SEO, blog posting and even forum posting.

Among these methods, one of the most practical and most effective is submitting articles to article directories. These articles should contain a link or two back to your own site, which can help you increase your site traffic from readers who may be interested in seeing more of what you’re offering. There are already several excellent article directories available for your submissions. As long as your articles remain in the directories you submitted them to, this method will be one of the best and cheapest ways to pull in traffic.

Using SEO, or search engine optimization, is another inexpensive yet very effective way for getting traffic to your website. By using proper search engine optimization, your articles and your website’s overall content will become more search engine friendly, as well as your website. Include your keyword in the domain name of the website that hosts your articles. Also include keywords in the first paragraphs of your pages, as well as the title of the page itself. These SEO techniques will help your site get better exposure with search engines, and your articles will rank higher on search results.

Blogging is now becoming more popular than ever before, and you should take full advantage of it. More and more online businessmen are using blogs to promote their products and services, and it just makes perfect sense to follow suit. There are several good blogging sites on the Internet that allow people to sign up and create a blogging account with them for free, such as Blogger or Wordpress. Create your blog and link your home page to it. Updating your blog regularly will allow it to become more relevant to search engines, and as a result, it will help to drive more traffic to your site. It would help a lot if your articles and posts contain the appropriate keywords.

Another inexpensive website traffic technique that you can use is to join and participate in forums. Finding a forum that is related to your website’s content is even better. You can then easily post discussions, answers, and even start threads that can be useful to other forum members. You can pull in traffic by making entertaining or informative posts, since you’ll develop a reputation for being an authority on certain subjects. And don’t forget to have a link to your site in your signature file or your member profile. See? You can get a lot of website traffic without spending a lot of money, just by following these techniques. Remember, effective usage of relevant keywords in your posts and articles, proper SEO methods, article submissions, blogging, and forum posting can all become invaluable but inexpensive tools for driving traffic to your website.

By Richard Legg

The way to make valuable keywords

2008-04-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

There are a few things your have to have in order to really pull people into your website. The number one thing you need to do is come up with a list of relevant keywords that will bring you and potential customers together. A couple of questions you need to get answers to are: What is the subject matter of your business? What are the sub-categories? The best way to decide these answers is to simply set down and start making a list. Don’t worry about thinking up the perfect words yet, just include everything you can think of that has to do with your subject. Let’s say my website is a coin collectors site. The subject matter for the site would be ‘collectors.’ Without stressing out about it, I would take a pen and paper and begin writing down anything I could think of that would work with it, for instance, coin, antique, hobby, and so on. The point is to make the list as long as you can.

You may be looking at your list now thinking ‘Great, I have my keywords,’ Sorry, but not yet. You have created a list of keywords, but they are not the ones you will use on your site. It is at this crucial step that most sites blow it. What you have before you is a list of subjects, not keywords. To really take it to the next step and reach your target audience, you need to identify the keyword phrases your potential customers are searching for within these subjects. Don’t get frustrated, lucky for you it is a fairly easy process.

Word Tracker is a program that will take you from frustrated and guessing to relaxed and the perfect keyword list. It is a program that allows you to analyze a subject matter to find out every phrase a potential client may be using in searches for that particular subject. So how does word tracker make your life easier? Simply put, it does the work for you, and it does it well. For $8 you can get access to the program for two days. Once you have tried it out you may want to invest in a year’s subscription. Whatever you may choose, you will find that the phrases and words that Word tracker comes up with will be a perfect for your subject matter.

By Jason Pearson

How to maintain your computer

2008-04-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you have a computer. An important part of keeping a computer running is maintenance. Without doing certain things to keep your computer healthy, it will slowly bog down and cease to function. I am going to explain different ways to maintain and keep it running like new.

1. Virus Protection! Very important, if not THE MOST important peice of software you can have. A lot of people have it, but I have seen countly time people who have it and then never update it(older virus scans don't have automatic update sometimes). If you don't update it, it won't do you any good. New virus's come out everyday, if you arn't protected with the most recent, you will get infected. A good free virus scan is AVG , which can be downloaded here - http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html.
Also, some people use AVAST, which is also a very good free virus scan. http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

2. Spyware! Spyware is what tracks you where ever you go, say you go to a fishing site a few time, well spyware will track that site and keep in its memory that you like fishing, so whenever you are browsing the web, pop up will come up and have fishing advertisements because they know what you like. This kind of spyware isn't super bad or harmful, but certain types on spyware can bog down you machine and take up a lot of your system resources. It's good regulary clear your system of these types of files. There are two main programs i use which are free and work amazingly good. Spybot Search and Destroy which can be downloaded at http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html and Ad-aware which can be downloaded at http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007/3000-8022_4-10045910.html . Althought they both somewhat do the same things, I always run both to make sure everything is gone.

3. Emails! Emails are one of the highest ways to get virus and spyware. NEVER open emails from people you don't know esspecially if they have attachments. Also, if you get emails from a friend and it seems odd and there is an attachment, dont open it, call them and make sure they sent it and it isn't a virus. Always be aware of what you are opening and think before you do so.

4. Defragment! Defragmenting can speed up your computer and get rid of a lot of not nessessary space usage. What is does is compresses and organized your clusters and sectors so they are more compact and not spread all over the place, this in turn give you more room on your hard drive. To get to your defragmenter go to *Start > All programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. Also while you are here run your disk cleanup BEFORE you do the defragment. The first time you do the defrag it might take a while because it has never been done or atleast not in a long time.

Okay so that's the basics of maintaining your computer, please let me know if theres anything I missed or should add. Look back soon for regular updates and new blogs on computer how to!