The Best of The Best
Posted by admin on Jan 7, 2012
Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2012 Edition
A survey of more than 63,000 people produced the following results…
LAPTOPS
The top five laptops – based on reliability – are Apple, Samsung, Toshiba, Asus and MSI
The top five things that go wrong with laptops are operating system, hard drive, power supply, video, and keyboard
Tops in customer support… Apple, Dell, Toshiba, Asus, Lenovo
The worst brands overall are Acer, and Dell
DESKTOPS
The top five desktops – based on satisfaction – are Apple, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP
The worst brands overall are Compaq, eMachines and Gateway
TABLETS
The top five tablets – based on reliability – are Apple, Asus, Motorola, Toshiba and Acer
The easiest to use… by far… is Apple
The worst brands overall are Acer and Dell
SMARTPHONES
The top five phones – based on user satisfaction – are Apple, HTC, Motorola, Palm and Samsung
The top five things that go wrong are operating system, battery, touch screen, mic/speaker, and bluetooth
Tops in customer support… Apple, LG, HTC, Nokia and Motorola
The worst brand overall is Blackberry.
HDTVs
The top five TVs are LG, Samsung and Panasonic
The worst brands overall are Philips, Westinghouse, JVC and Philips
PRINTERS
The best were Brother, Canon, Samsung, Epson and HP
The worst were Lexmark, Kodak, Ricoh and Dell
Canon and Lexmark were the best for support.
CAMERAS
The best are Nikon, Panasonic and Canon
The worst are Kodak, GE, and Fijifilm
Do You Speak Securitese?
Posted by admin on Jan 4, 2012
Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2012 Edition
Like many other topics we cover here, security has a language all its own. Listening to a group of security experts carry on a conversation, for instance, can be a frustrating experience for mere mortals. And sometimes, technical jargon seeps into everyday security news. Knowing what the following five key security terms mean, however, can help you stay better informed about the threats around you.
ZERO DAY = The expression refers to anyt newly discovered software security flaw that has yet to be fixed by the software’s maker.
REMOTE CODE EXECUTION = This is a fancy way of saying that a cybercriminal could use a vulnerability to gain access to your computer from afar and run malware on it.
SANDBOXING = This technique isolates apps and other software processes in such a way that, even if attackers figure out a security hole in a piece of software, they can’t exploit it to install malware on your computer.
SSL = Stands for Secure Socket Layer, is a way of securing the information being passed between you and the site you’re visiting.
CERTIFICATES = A digital document – or ID badge – that verifies a site’s identity… issued by organizations known as “certificate authorities”.
How to Tweak Windows’ AutoPlay Settings
Posted by admin on Dec 24, 2011
Ever wonder why DVD movies start automatically when you pop them into your PC? That’s Windows’ Auto-Play, which kicks into action – or not – when you connect a device or insert a media. Windows Vista and Windows 7 offer granular control over AutoPlay settings. You can access them easily. Click Start, type auto, and the click AutoPlay. First, make sure that the box is checked for Use AutoPlay for all media and devices. That’s basically the “on” switch for AutoPlay. Find the option you wan to modify, click the menu beside it, and choose your desired action. For example, if you have iTunes on your PC but want audio CDs to play in Windows Media Centre, click the menu next to Audio CD, and then choose Play CD using Windows Media Player. Alternatively, you might want to select Ask me every time, in which case inserting a disc will open an AutoPlay window, where you can select which player you want. When you’re all done, click Save. The changes should go into effect immediately.
Change What App Loads
Posted by admin on Dec 21, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, December 2011 Edition
You can easily change the program associated with a particular file extension. In Vista or Windows 7, right-click a file of the type you want to reassociate and select Open With -> Choose Default Program. Double-click the desired program. In XP, right-click an appropriate file; select Open With -> Choose Program. Check always use the selected program to open this kind of file. Double-click the program. If you can’t find the right .exe program file, keep the dialog box open as you click Start and look in the Start menu. Right-click the app’s shortcut, and pick Properties. On the Shortcut tab, select the contents of the Target field; press <Ctrl>-C to copy to the clipboard. In the Open with dialog box, click the File name field; press <Ctrl>-V.
Change an Odd File’s File Type
Posted by admin on Dec 17, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, December 2011 Edition
So you have a file that a colleague sent you, and you don’t know to open it. The person who sent it to you doesn’t seem to know either, and your deadline is ticking nearer. What to do? Head to www.go2convert.com
Go2Convert is a handle little site that’s not much to look at, but it serves an incredibly useful function: file conversion. Simply upload the mystery file – it can be in practically any conceivable format – and the site will let you convert it into something that you can use. The site handles more than 100 different file formats, including ancient ones like PostScript and PhotoCD, and somewhat exotic ones such as EXR and DPX. Once you have selected a file from your hard drive and uploaded it, Go2Convert will identify the file format and present you with a drop-down menu of compatible formats to which you can have the file saved. Choose one, select a file quality (if applicable), and then click Convert Now. Once the site has finished the conversion (the process usually takes only a few seconds), the output file will appear below the input area of the screen. Then you just click Download to save the converted file to your PC.
To Update or Not To Update
Posted by admin on Oct 7, 2011
That is the question…. or at least that is a question I get a lot. When Windows or another program bugs you to download and install an update, should you? Well, the short answer is YES! In many cases that update is going to plug a hole that some malicious attacker might use to get in. That update may also add a feature that you wished was included in that program.
The nice thing about most updates is that you can click the “remind me later” button and continue working. The problem is that we keep doing that and the update never gets installed. Then, an attacker plants a virus on our machine through one of the security holes, and we have the hassle of getting our system cleaned. I agree that these updates seem to nag us when were are in the middle of something important, but it is necessary that they be installed.
Microsoft releases updates on the third Tuesday of the month (aka Patch Tuesday). Most versions of Windows are set to check for those updates on the following Wednesday, or at least the next time the computer is turned on and accesses the Internet. The updates come in three types – Critical Updates, Recommended Updates and Driver Updates. The Critical Updates should be installed as soon as they are available because it is these updates that are plugging those security holes. The Recommended Updates are usually upgraded versions of programs or improve the functionality of the system. Driver Updates are for the various hardware devices that you have installed.
New to Windows 7 is what we refer to as the “forced update”. If you have been putting off those Windows Updates for too long, your computer might just lock you out and install them anyway. Depending on how many Critical Updates are needing to be installed, it can take several hours. You cannot stop the install, and forcing your computer to shut down might prevent the system from restarting. It would have been easier to install the update as they were needed.
Most programs are also set to periodically check for updates, or at least have a button that you can manually check for updates. It is important that you update these programs as well, especially if they access the Internet or open files that you have
received by email or online. Adobe Acrobat, for instance, is used to open PDF files. Those files can contain a hacker’s code, and can exploit a flaw in Acrobat – unless it has been patched. Java, Flash, .Net Framework and others can also contain the same types of security holes.
So the next time your computer bugs you to install an update, take a few moments and install it. That might be the perfect time to stand up and stretch, go visit a co-worker, or just do nothing!
Add a Spelling Checker to Internet Explorer
Posted by admin on Aug 3, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, August 2011 Edition
Even the latest Internet Explorer doesn’t do bad spellers any favours. But Speckie, a free add-on, offers a real-time spelling checker.
Once installed, Speckie – which is compatible with all versions of Windows and all versions of Internet Explorer (including IE 9) – immediately starts working, underscoring any unrecognized word with a squiggly red line. To see the program’s suggestions for possible correct spellings, just right-click the word.
So if you’re an Internet Explorer user who needs a utility to check your spelling in e-mail, Web forms, and other browser-based activities, Speckie gets the job done quickly and efficiently.
Five Reasons to Upgrade to Windows 7 in 2011
Posted by admin on Apr 18, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, April 2011 Edition
Can we talk? Based on the e-mail I receive every day, I know that a lot of people out there are still using Windows XP. I can understand why; it’s like a comfortable old shoe. Plus, XP is bought and paid for. Windows 7 probably seems stiff and scary in comparison, and it’s not as if Microsoft is handing out free upgrades to the latest version of the OS.
That said, it’s really time to move forward – time to put Windows XP out to pasture. Out with the old, in with the new. If you’re an XP holdout, I hope you’ll trust that I’m not shilling for Microsoft here, but rather nudging you toward better overall computing.
Here are five reasons why I think it’s time you switched over to Windows 7.
Why Can’t I Open .DOCX Files?
Posted by admin on Mar 30, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, March 2011 Edition
With the introduction of Office 2007, Microsoft abandoned the age-old .doc format in favour of the newer .docx format. If you’re still using Word 2003 or an earlier version of the program (and many people are), you won’t be able to open .docx files without a little assistance. Likewise, the venerable .xls spreadsheet format gave way to .xlsx and PowerPoint .ppt files became .pptx files. Anyone using Office 2007 or 2010 is generating these kinds of files, which older versions of the Office applications can’t read.
What you need is the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats, available at find.pcworld.com/71116. (Not there’s a name that leaves no room for confusion).
Designed for use with Office 2000, XP and 2003, the downloadable add-on allows you to open, edit and save the newer file formats, seamlessly converting the files on the fly and in the background. Just make sure that your copy of Office is equipped with all of the latest updates from Microsoft before you install the Compatibility Pack.
Master Your E-Mail (Before it Masters You)
Posted by admin on Mar 28, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, March 2011 Edition
I field hundreds of incoming e-mail messages each day. Processing them – from opening the inbox to deciding which items to act on, which to file for reference, which to delete, and which to mark as spam – takes more than just time and energy. It takes planning. Here are some useful basic tactics to add to your e-mail strategy so you can tame your inbox and work more productively.
