Top 5 Laptop (Notebook) Maintenance and Repair Tips

Laptop computers, also called notebook computers, are functionally similar to the desktop computers. Laptops are the hottest gadget today, used by all kinds of people regardless of ages; but they are also the most neglected gadgets that you can find in your household, when it comes to their maintenance and proper care taking.

Today, it is a revolutionary technology in the world of computing. But although they are very handy and easy to use and carry around, laptops are prone to many technical glitches when compared to desktop computers. The better you take care of your laptop, the longer it will last and stay productive with less downtime.

There are some simple yet essential things that you should really do to take care of your laptop when you are trying to make sure it lasts a long time. From the most simple maintenance to that which requires a few minutes of your time it can significantly increase the life of your laptop and in return save you a lot of money. With these top 5 simple and easy to follow suggestions you are sure to help you learn how to take care of your laptop like a geek.

1. Keep Away From Dust Particles

Fine dust particles may not be visible to naked eyes but they are essentially one of the worst enemies for the laptops. It is best to clean your laptops regularly with a soft cotton cloth (not any rough material). Make sure you turn off your laptop for safety measures before cleaning carefully. Do not touch it if your hand is dirty, greasy or wet. Avoid chemicals or acids to clean your laptop. You can use a small-tipped vacuum, a soft paint brush or a can of compressed air to clean it. Always cover your laptop in its bag during non-usage hours to get rid of environmental dusts.

2. Vent Maintenance

This means you need to check all of the vents (air/heat outlets) on your laptop at least once a week to ensure that they are clear and not blocked by any dusts or other such particles. Be sure you do not push anything into the air vents while cleaning though; the safest way to clean these vents typically is using a simple can of air that can be purchased at most computer supply stores.

3. Keep Away From Food and Beverages

Okay we know you’re a geek who must eat, sleep and drink with the laptop; right? Wrong! Do not eat your pizza/burger or drink your cola/bear when you’re working on your laptop/notebook. The food particles could easily occupy the tiny spaces in the keyboard and invite bugs along with their families. This would lead to the worst and most frustrating situation. Also the liquids can produce short circuit issues and your laptop will be in flames and fumes within no time.

4. Do NOT Use Your Laptop on Your Bed

This may seem like an non-issue but when you experience overheating and your laptop on fire, you will suddenly notice the significance of this. In order to help prevent overheating and lap burn and ensure your laptop is getting proper airflow make sure you are using something such as a desk or similar hard surface to hold your laptop anytime you are using it.

5. Keep Away From Extreme Temperature, Humidity and Magnetic fields

Laptops generate more amounts of heat and are capable of adequate thermal tolerances. To take care of it, keep it out of direct sunlight or a bad weather. Do not use laptops in the kitchen. Cover it with the tight laptop bag based on its size while transporting. Do not operate your laptop near any magnetic devices such as microwave oven as this could damage the hard disk.

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Top 10 Best Tablet Alternatives to the Apple iPad

Apple has become quite a trend-setter when it comes to design. First the “iPod” gave birth to a whole new world of portable music players, then the “iPhone” emerged a new generation of mobile phone devices, and recently came the “iPad”, which started turning heads towards touchscreen mobile computing (that already existed).

Although it’s almost guaranteed that the Apple iPad will sell well, there are still many complaints about the lack of various features such as multitasking (which might appear later this year), and the lack of flash support, pen input amongst other things.

It happened with the iPhone and it looks set to happen again with the iPad; consumer electronics manufacturers are rushing to bring out their own touch-screen tablet computers, with the latest being the WePad from German company Neofonie. Here, we round-up some of the most likely ‘iPad killers’!

So wait! The iPad isn’t the only game in town. Sure, it might have a fancy-pants interface, but each of the follow ten tablets win the hardware fight, which is just as important to a lot of consumers. As interesting as the iPad is, no matter what Apple wants us to think it’s by no means the first tablet. What better way to share the tablet love than to give you 10 alternatives to the iPad, which could easily be deemed as serious iPad Killers.

So without further ado, check out these ten iPad alternatives to see which suits you best. Some of these offer features the iPad doesn’t have or can deliver what the iPad can but for less money.

1. Archos 9 PC Tablet

Archos has been a major player in the MID market since it started. The Archos 9 PC Tablet is the company’s largest slate device to date. It also proves that Apple isn’t the only one to out beautiful looking devices. With a price tag starting at $549, the Archos 9 PCTablet it is a great device and looks awesome. It comes with an Intel Atom Z510 1.1 G Hz processor, 1GB on-board RAM, and is available in two models, 80GB and 160GB. The high-resolution 9-inch touchscreen and the two positioned leg-stands make the Archos 9 perfect for media and hands-free viewing without having to purchase additional accessories.

It runs Windows 7, supports full-HD video playback, has a webcam for Skype calls and video conferencing and, unlike some other tablets we could mention (we’re looking at you, Apple), it’s compatible with Flash technology. Usability, however, leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the iPad.

2. Compal Tablet

This working prototype was shown off at CES 2010. Made by Compal, the 7-inch Android 2.0 tablet runs on the new, high-powered next-generation Tegra 2 processor NVIDIA announced at CES. With this chip, a device can support 1080p video playback, yet retain startlingly good battery life. NVIDIA says it already has several partners lined up to make Tegra 2-based tablets, so expect more of this type of device in the near near future.

3. Dell Mini 5

The Dell Mini 5 is the smallest tablet on the list with its 5-inch touch screen, but that just adds on to its ease of use. The device comes with a speedy 1GHz Snapdragon processor with WiFi, 3G and bluetooth connectivity. But the feature that really stands out is its ability to make phone calls (It’s like a big iPhone, or a small iPad that makes calls and fits in your pocket). Oh yeah, there’s also a 5MP camera on board.

4. Fusion Garage’s JooJoo

With it’s 12-inch screen and onboard camera, the JooJoo is a worthy iPad competitor. It supports Flash and achieves 1080p video streaming. The Intel Atom / NVIDIA Ion powered tablet has a great interface and more processing power which gives the user an awesome visual experience.

5. Google and HTC Tablet

Google is already crossing swords with Apple on the mobile operating front – its Android operating system andNexus One handset compete directly with the iPhone – so it comes as little surprise that the company is also seeking to build a tablet computer based on the Android platform. Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, said his company had been working with several hardware manufacturers, and hoped to make its Android Marketplace available on other slate-like devices. Google is thought likely to partner with HTC – the company behind the Nexus One – for any tablet computing initiative.

The cited report says the Google Tablet has already been in development for the past 19 months. HTC is a plausible logical choice for the trusted partner as well, given its existing relationship with Google and the Android operating system. Still, with nothing yet official on the books, the Google Tablet is the most speculative entrant on this list for now.

6. HP Slate

Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, took the wraps off the Slate during his keynote presentation at CESearlier this year. The HP device is due to go on sale later this year. It runs Windows 7, supports the Kindle e-book reader app, it’s multi-touch, and can even play games. Rumours suggest prices will start at around $549 – around $50 more than Apple’s entry-level iPad.

7. ICD Vega

Seattle-based startup Innovative Converged Devices announced its Vega tablet back in November 2009, and now the device is officially headed to T-Mobile UK sometime before the end of 2010. Yet another tablet based on Android, the Vega will have a large amount of screen real-estate at 15.6-inches. Check out the full spec list here.

8. ModBook

The ModBook is the original Apple Tablet — besides the Newton of course. Except it’s not made by Apple proper, but rather Axiotron who has been making them since 2007. The ModBook by Axiotron is an iPad and then some, including its Wacom-enabled 13.3-inch screen which you can write directly on for easy note taking. With a 120 GB hard drive, built-in camera and optical drive, the tablet is worth considering. It supports Flash, capable of multitasking and it’s even Windows compatible. Prices start out at $899, but customers have to provide a pre-polycarbonate unibody Macbook making the total price closer to $2,000.

9. Neofonie WePad

The WePad may be the most complete alternative to the iPad with Linux at the core and access to the Android Marketplace. WePad is priced a bit lower than the iPad and comes with a web cam and 2 USB. Its 11-inch screen, faster processor, and bigger RAM makes performing multiple tasks a bit easier. And of course, it supports Flash!

10. The Notion Ink Adam Android Tablet

News about the Notion Ink tablet broke late last year and many chalked it up to a fanboy dream. But it’s real and supposed to be coming this spring from Indian startup Notion Ink. This is another tablet running Android and powered by the Tegra 2 chip and a 10-inch tablet. It uses a screen technology from Pixel Qi that combines the best of a full color multi-touch LCD display with a low-power reflective mode that’s readable in direct sunlight.Notion Ink says the Adam should come to market in the second quarter of this year, with a target price somewhere between $300 and $800.

With its sleek design and 10-inch touch screen, the Notion Ink Adam Tablet is to be desired. It also boasts a 16-hour battery life and 3MP camera. Also unlike the iPad, the tablet features a browser that supports Flash. Maybe the most striking is the Adam’s revolutionary Pixel Qi screen. The transflective LCD screen can switch between color and black and white modes for e-reading.

11. Bonus Contender for iPad Alternatives – Viliv X70

This widescreen 7-inch tablet has nearly every piece of hardware missing from the iPad. Viliv X70 is Windows compatible, supports Flash and has slots for SD cards and USBs. The Viliv x70 comes with a feedback touchscreen and unlocked 3G GSM modem. Its multitasking capability, built-in camera, and faster processor make it a windows-friendly iPad competitor.

Hope you found these iPad alternatives interesting. But still, if you are not impressed feel free to check this Affordable $199 Tablet. And it’s not from Apple, either! 

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Google Uses Colored Balls, Adds ‘Lock’ Feature to SafeSearch

Since long time Google SafeSearch has provided concerned parents, and web searchers an easy alternative for avoiding (seeing) adult sites in their Google search results.  Today, Google went yet another step ahead and added an additional security layer to its search functionality, thus allowing users to lock-in SafeSearch on their accounts so that questionable material will not pop up.

Via this new feature Google will let you lockdown SafeSearch settings. Once you put your search on lockdown, you’ll need to enter a password to revert back, and you’ll know your results are safe because you’ll see big, colored balls. Yeah, SafeSearch has been around for awhile, but users can now lock their setting to a “strict” setting that cannot be turned off or changed unless you type in the password. Meanwhile, searches that are done using SafeSearch will include an icon of four colored balls in the top, right-hand corner of the results page, so users know that SafeSearch is on.

Do we need to say that the color of these balls are none other than the Google trademark colors – green, yellow, red, and blue? This essentially means that if you are seeing these large colored balls at the top-right corner of your Google Search result page then be visually assured “even from across the hall,” that the search experience is locked down. And if you don’t see them, it’s quick and easy to verify and re-lock SafeSearch,” Google said in a blog post.

To lock in SafeSearch, go to Settings on your Google account and look for “safe search filtering.” Click “lock safe search” and then log-in again. The settings apply to all Google domains, regardless of which country-specific Google service you are using. But if you have multiple profiles across Google, all these accounts must be locked separately.

Although this “lock safe search” feature doesn’t appear to be rolled out to everyone yet, you will be able to turn on SafeSearch lock from your Search Settings page, and use the colored balls as an ongoing reference to ensure that you and your children/students aren’t exposed to inappropriate content.

Watch the video below for a demonstration of how to setup SafeSearch lock.

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Top 5 Best Tips To Survive Google Panda and Penguin Updates

For many bloggers, website owners and webmasters, Google’s Panda and the more recent Penguin updates robbed them from their online earnings that they were making before hand, leaving them wondering with one of the biggest SEO questions of recent times — How to survive Google’s Panda and Penguin updates! But the fact of the matter is that, whenever Google carries out a major update of their search algorithms, there is always going to be fallout from the effects it has on business websites, whether it’s good or bad.

The reason is simple though; Google is currently the mother of all search engines, owning 95 percent of search engine traffic. If Google modifies its search algorithms even slightly, hundreds of thousands of websites will feel the impact, for better or for worse, overnight. When you think of Pandas and Penguins, your first thoughts may be about the zoo. For blog and business website owners, another three-letter term immediately comes to mind: SEO. Google’s Panda and Penguin updates have marked the search engine’s war against spammy web content.

The Google Panda and Penguin updates serve as excellent quality control measures for all Internet users because they reward truly useful, quality content with better search engine rankings. Let’s be honest here. Most of us usually visit Google when we need to conduct a search and then we click on one of the first two or three results we see. Who wants to see spammy or inferior quality content here? I sure don’t.

But the real problem starts when a pretty genuine and non-spammy site loses it’s traffic over-night because Google’s Panda and/or Penguin update (wrongly) identified the site/blog as spammy! Let’s look at the Panda and Penguin updates from the perspectives of the blog and business website owners who never resorted to any black-hat SEO methods and yet were penalized. How can bloggers, website owners and webmasters avoid being penalized by Google? Here are some simple but important tips you can follow to help offset Panda and Penguin:

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

After you have compiled your list of highly targeted keywords to incorporate within your web content, do not just go on a keyword stuffing spree. Google will recognize this for what it is – SPAM. You have to naturally and subtly integrate these keywords into your web content without overusing them. This is a skill you will develop with experience.

Avoid Article Spinning

Many websites “spin,” or reproduce, articles in slightly different versions with the same keywords to try to manipulate Google. The Panda and Penguins updates have strengthened Google’s ability to catch these sites and penalize them in search engine rankings.

Be Smarter With Backlinks

Backlinks are generally created through guest posts on other blogs with your blog or business website’s link incorporated. This used to be a great way to gain a higher ranking on Google. In the post Panda and Penguin era that we live in, backlinks are monitored with a cautious eye. Irrelevant and spammy backlinks will now be penalized by Google.

Create Fresh, Original and Engaging Content

Google will always view websites that feature fresh, original and engaging content favorably. Focus on developing great content. Spend the time to create informative, engaging and truly valuable content. If matters if people read your content and if they share it. It is important to have a renewed focusing on developing great content. If you produce compelling, original content, and have a website that is easy to navigate you should continue to see a steady increase in search traffic in the future.

Don’t Use Bots Or Other Automated Software

Now I know that everyone uses or has used bots at some point, their whole purpose is to make things easier so we have more time doing other stuff but using these to increase SERPS is a very bad idea. Adding too many backlinks too quickly will only hurt your website, search engines pick up on this fairly quickly and you will most probably be put onto some list for de-indexing for something like that.

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Top 5 Best FREE Antivirus Software for 2012

Even if your budget doesn’t include any money for antivirus protection, you’ve got plenty of good choices for free antivirus. Considering the upcoming July 9 Internet Blackout due to DNS Trojan, are you wondering which of the 2012 antivirus tools are best yet FREE? This list of best 5 Free anti-virus software 2012 has all the types ofpopular anti virus software programs you are looking for your computer system, this year. All the anti virus programs listed here are used for home editions/versions and if you wish you can download free antivirus with their latest paid, free or trial versions.

According to a study by software firm OPSWAT, free software takes up 50% of the global antivirus market for Windows PC users. If you are a home user and are aware of what not to do online and how to avoid yourself from phishing attacks a good free antivirus should be sufficient to keep your pc clean and safe from other possible threats.So here we are compiling a list of best free antivirus softwares for you to take advantage of,these are ranked not just according to their virus fighting capability but also the ease of use and efficiency (usage of pc resources) are taken into consideration.

Download Top 5 Free Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software of 2012

This top 5 antivirus list comprises of only those top 5 best antivirus products that are available free of cost and offer you virus detection and removal features with full version.Though.They also offer paid and premium services to those seeking full online antivirus program support. The many different free antivirus software makes for a very competitive environment. Popular options from companies like Avast, AVG, and Avira enjoy high usage numbers, and more knowledgeable Windows users also rely on Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Free 1.51.

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE)

From the creators of Windows comes Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), a free antivirus solution for your Windows system. If you are running a genuine copy of windows then you need not look any further. MSE is the best free antivirus solution you could get, the software being from Microsoft integrates with the OS very well and provides effective real time scanning and virus removal. It also updates on its own is in constant watch running in the background.

MSE is the ONLY truly free antivirus program out there. There are no pushes, subtle or otherwise, asking you to get a paid version. Secondly, the license for Security Essentials allows professional use, so long as one user doesn’t install it on more than 10 PCs. Some of it’s notable pros are it’s Free with no need for registration, always up-to-date, very easy to use and capped CPU usage.

MSE  also notifies users into activating Windows Update, Firewall, and User Access Control (crucial security features of the OS) if they are deactivated. But the best part about MSE is that installing an antivirus on a severly malware-infested computer can be a nightmare. Some antivirus programs take a long time to install and update; others won’t even install due to self-defense by malware. But, Microsoft Security Essentials wouldn’t give you any trouble; and will install quickly and smoothly.

AVG Anti-Virus Free 2012

AVG is an old player and hence a trusted one too. The AVG free 2012 edition has great potential but the heavy resource usage makes it rather undesirable. But if you are running a PC with a good configuration then we don’t see why you should not use it. AVG Free is also one of the most frequently updated antivirus programson our list.

The 2012 edition’s main screen collapses the previous edition’s ten component icons down to six, but adds three new ones to integrate the company’s other products. Overall, this free antivirus and antimalware solution is a great choice for free antivirus protection. It has the best scores among current products in our malware removal test and very good scores for malware blocking as well.

Avira Free Antivirus 2012

Avira is a very intelligent and proactive antivirus solution with virus definitions and detection rate higher than any of the antivirus we have listed down here. Also it seemed to be the fastest and has got phishing protection as a cool bonus feature. The Web protection that blocks access to known malware-hosting sites is also designed to keep users away from fraudulent (phishing) sites. The only downside would be its clustered user interface which might not be very user friendly to many.

But that asides, Avira has a great malware clean up score and is very good at detecting and cleaning any type of new virus. There’s also a relative sparsity of protection, especially concerning how well Avira protects the hosts file and the registry (two important system functions that control how a PC connects to the internet and the operation of other applications respectively).

Overall, Avira is a great free choice and it is free for non-commercial use, it is one of the best free antivirus program in 2012. Give it a try and if Avira suits you better, go for it!

Avast! Free version 6.0

Avast Free 6.0 is probably the only antivirus that provides total security from spywares to malwares to rootkits. The Free addition comes with numerous features and the best of all it has a very user friendly interface and uses very less resources. To name a few, the boot-time scan handles entrenched malware, the all new Script Shieldchecks for malicious scripts, AutoSandbox lets suspicious programs run safely in isolation and the Web Reputation feature rates and categorizes web sites.

Of course, like any other detection and protection system that relies on reputation this one can get things wrong. We’ve seen otherwise harmless programs get quarantined by Avast for their supposed matches with certain threat profiles. However, it’s easy to undo mistakes when they’re made. Overall, Avast Free version 6.0 is a a very capable total security solution and thus makes it to our top 5 list of best antivirus and antimalware programs of 2012.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Free 1.51

The free version of Malwarebytes is the software that tech support people at other anti-malware companies tell customers to install when a virus becomes entrenched. It’s a clean-up pro. The definition of “Malware” includes viruses, trojans, spyware, adware and rootkits. All of these are very real threats in the face of a computer andMalwarebytes does an incredible job at removing them all.

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Free 1.51 does an extremely fast install unhindered by even the most resistant malware. It comes with a very fast malware scan and does so without burdening too much on your computer’s CPU and memory. It is very thorough in cleaning up most malware types. However, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free does not offer “real-time” protection, meaning you won’t be notified as soon as malware infects your computer. Because of this, you’ll need to frequently scan your system to detect and remove malware unless you are willing to pay for their Pro version.

Overall, if you need to clean up threats that your regular antivirus can’t, or if entrenched malware prevents installation of that regular antivirus, absolutely give Malwarebytes a try. It is an impressive and the best anti-malware tool you can find today and can save your day (and your infected computer/PC) on any given day!

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