Why should you upgrade your computer to a Solid State Drive?

Noticed your old computer being a bit, well, slow recently? You’re not imagining it, you’ve not had too much of your morning coffee – the chances are that your computer is getting slower and you’d think that there’s nothing that you’ll be able to do with it – and you’d be wrong.

Hard disk drives (HDDs) have been running the show for some time now when it comes to storage on laptops and desktops – but their rein may be coming to a swift end. Solid state drives (SSDs) can do everything that HDDs can, just better. Your old computer needs a solid state drive. Don’t believe us? Well here’s why:

 

Faster access to data

It’s not really even worth comparing – like a foot race between Danny DeVito and Mo Farah – we know which is faster and it’s not by a small margin. SSDs use flash memory so it’s no surprise that they’re quicker when it comes to storing and accessing your data. Boot-ups are faster with a fraction of the usual time, programs load faster, files and photos load faster, data can be transferred faster… In the long and short, they’re simply better.

No need to defragment

Data fragmentation on an HDD is and always has been a problem that, even with today’s rapid increase in knowledge and technology, we can’t seem to escape. It’s all down to how the data is stored on a disk as it’s not always contiguous. The head (what’s used to access the data) has to hop around the disc to try and find and receive little bits of data which increases the time that you’re waiting to access a picture.

Fragmentation is particularly bad when the storage starts filling up – remember you noticing that your computer has been slowing down recently? You’re not imagining it, it’s due to your HDD, fragmentation and clogged drives. SSD’s don’t really care where all the bits of data have been deposited and there’s no disk to spin and slow things down. It’s simply find what you need instantly and hand it over to you – like a well rehearsed chemist. You’ll never have to defragment your SSD.

 

Less chance of damage

With no moving parts – like you get in the HDDs – SSDs are less prone to damage meaning that your data is safer within them. Of course there are some HDDs out there that have been proven to be part of a tougher group, but where there’s moving parts there’s the danger for things to go catastrophically wrong.

 

Lower than ever price point

The big con when it comes to deciding on an SSD is the price point – they’ve never been the cheapest things on the market. But it’s history is becoming just that – it’s history – as now SSDs are more affordable than ever. It’s still true that they are more expensive than their disk based competitors at approximately 4x the price for the same memory – but that’s a huge saving from where they were just a couple of years ago. And it’s still heading in the right direction.

 

As quiet as a mouse

With no moving parts, no spinning platters or moving heads – SSDs are silent. Compared the HDDs with bits and bobs flying around at upto 7000rpm, SSDs are completely still and their storage is entirely on silicon. That makes for a quieter computer and more relaxing work environment. Or gaming environment. Or Netflix environment. Whatever you use it for, you’ll appreciate less – awful – mechanical noises from your PC.

Twitch, for those of you that don’t know, is an online streaming software that seemingly came out of nowhere that focuses on video game content from streamers around the world. Anyone can watch or live stream themselves and with an unfiltered, real-world environment – for us as parents – our spidey-sense is all over the shop.

It’s not all bad and with the site picking up at a rapid pace, streamers such as Ninja are gaining more and more traction in creating entertaining content. Even Drake popped in to play with the streaming celebrity and with 9.7 million active users every single day visiting the site to watch – it’s no surprise.

 

Why are people so fixated on Twitch

 

The main idea of Twitch is that streamers can play games online and broadcast this to an audience, via the streaming site. People visiting the site can then view these streams and interact with the streamers via a chat box and by tipping the player. This sparks conversation in the smaller streams between viewers as well as the streamer – so it’s a social focus – chat with people who have the same interests as you online.

 

There’s also a huge entertainment benefit to watching others play the games that you love or that you’re interested in buying. Think of it as watching football. You like playing football, but you like to watch it and listen to the commentators too – add in an option to comment live so other people around the world also watching can see and you’ve got the recipe for Twitch. Simple.

 

How to keep your kids safe on twitch

 

Twitch safety is always a bit of an issue as the content that’s being pumped out by the media machine giant is all live from independent creators. That means that anything can happen, from foul language and adult themes to uncensored images broadcast from the streaming site.

The chat section can be a bit of a minefield too and with a moderation system in place, the site does try to limit bad language and cyber bullying from its rooms. However when it comes to the bigger streams, this function is rendered useless and with unlimited messages every second, everything slips through the net with minimal censorship.

Figuring out how to limit screen time is one of the biggest struggles for parents in 2018 and with more and more reasons to be staring at our TV’s, on our laptops, phones or tablets, it’s a problem that isn’t going to be getting much smaller anytime soon.

 

There are of course methods and strategies to limit screen time and prevent your kids from focusing too long on one thing – but a lot of the time we find these detrimental to parents/child relationships. If you’re taking their hobby away from them, they’re not going to be your biggest fan for the next 24 hours. But you can’t leave your kids to play Fortnite for 18 hours a day – luckily – Disney has stepped up to the problem with the launch of Circle.

What is Circle

 

Circle, despite the name, is a 3-inch cube that connects to your Wi-Fi network to allow you the control to filter content, add time restrictions and see activity updates for all of the devices on your network. Simply plug in the power cord and connect the device to your router over Wi-Fi through your phone or tablet.

 

From here you can manage everything you could possibly want from a parental control device – everything from tablets and laptops to smart devices and games consoles. You’ll control your preferences through the Circle app where you can choose between 5 filter levels for each of the devices connected to your Wi-Fi. Pick between ‘Pre-K’, ‘Kid’, ‘Teen’, ‘Adult’ or ‘None’ before diving deeper into the settings for full control.

Fortnite is literally taking over the world. That’s not an exaggeration – okay maybe a little one – but if you’ve found your way over to this article then we’re more than sure that you know exactly what we’re talking about. You may even want to learn how to block fortnite.

With everyone and their aunt playing the ‘free to download’ online shooter, it can almost seem a little cruel to stop your kids from playing and limiting game time with Fortnite parental controls. But as we all know, breaks from the screen and engaging in real-world activities are undeniably beneficial – for children especially.

So how can we limit our kids Fortnite playtime? Are there are any Fortnite parental controls? Don’t worry, we’ve got your answers and more:

Playtime limiting strategies

The simplest way to limit Fortnite playtime is by implemented simple, but effective strategies to keep your kids engaged in real-world activities. With attention spans getting shorter every single day with endless entertainment literally in your pocket – it can be hard to pry eyes from the screen. So here are 3 strategies for limiting playtime:

1. Put playtime on a timer

Limiting your kids playtime to a set number of hours/minutes a night is a method adopted by many, letting them play for a dedicated time per night. Our recommended maximum is for 2 hours at the most, that way it feels fair to the kids – it is their hobby after all. Setup a timer for your chosen amount of time, when it goes off – Fortnite goes off – simple as that.

2. Have set off days

Just like with working out, it’s imperative to have off days from anything strenuous – that includes strain on the eyes. Having set off days where Fortnite doesn’t go on is a great way to limit playtime meaning that kids will be out of the screen and into your home. Although we’re not responsible for the chaos that they’ll cause – sorry!

3. Come up with alternative, fun and interesting activities

If you’re limiting playtime or having dedicated off days, you’ll want something to keep your kids engaged. When you’re at an age where you need to be occupied with something all of the time, it can be difficult to enjoy the simpler things in life.

How many kids do you see enjoying Stranger Things with a bottle of beer and a packet of nuts – it’s not happening. Coming up with fun and interesting group activities will let them forget all about the game and you’ll have plenty of memories from the activities that you plan.

Deciding between a Mac or a PC can be a difficult decision. After all, both companies have excellent marketing campaigns and each has a strong following of dedicated users. As such, finding accurate information to help you decide which is right for you can be quite challenging. Similarly, separating fact from fiction can be a trying experience, as there is a great deal of propaganda that must be sorted through. When it comes down to it, deciding between a Mac or a PC is a personal choice that is based on your personal preferences, but here is some useful information that will help you decide which one suits your needs the most.

Operating Systems

There is no doubt that the Windows based PC received a great deal of negative attention after launching Windows Vista, which had a number of bugs and general usability issues. When comparing Macs to PCs, however, it is important to remember that the PC operating system Microsoft Windows has moved on to the Windows 7. This is a very good operating system, as is the Snow Leopard OS system used by Mac. Therefore, when comparing operating systems, you should think in terms of the Snow Leopard OS versus the Windows 7 operating system, both of which are very good.

Cost

There is no way around it: Macs are more expensive than PCs when it comes to purchasing comparable systems. Even so, those who are looking to purchase a higher-end computer tend to gravitate toward the Mac. In fact, Apply has 91 percent of the premium computer market share. In other words, 9 out of 10 computers purchased in 2009 with a price tag of more than $1,000 were Macs.

Software Options and Concerns

If you are looking for the system with the greatest availability of software, the PC is the right choice for you. The simple truth is that there is more software for PC than there is for Mac. If you only need specific software applications that are available for the Mac, however, this may not be a concern for you.

It is also important to keep in mind that Apple makes both the Mac hardware and the software that is used by the computer. Therefore, you generally will not experience software compatibility issues with Mac as you will with PCs. Although Microsoft does a great job with making its software compatible with the thousands of different computer manufacturers and parts manufacturers in the industry, compatibility issues still do arise.

Viruses

There is a myth that Macs do not get viruses, but this is not true. It is true, however, that Macs do not get as many viruses as PCs. This is not because PCs are more susceptible to viruses. Rather, there are more viruses made to affect PCs because PCs are used by 90% of users while only 10% of computer users are Mac users. In other words, if you were creating a virus and you wanted to affect as many people as possible, the obvious choice would be to create a virus affecting PCs because more people use PCs than Macs.

So, what’s my personal opinion? In short, I like both. In fact, I have a MacBook Pro laptop as well as a Windows 7 desktop. I have noticed, however, that I tend to use my Mac more than my PC. I think this is largely because I like the simple designs of Apple products.

The bottom line is that there are no simple answers to this question. So, if you are still not sure which system is right for you, send me a message and tell me a little about yourself, how you plan to use your computer and your budget and I will do my best to help you decide and to help you find the best deal possible.

For those of you who already have experience with Macs or PCs, what is your opinion on this issue? What types of experiences have you had with one or both systems?

Normally, I am not one who likes to brag about myself.  As those who know me the best are well aware, I don’t consider myself to be a computer geek or even the best computer expert in the country. Rather, I think of myself as a regular guy who just happen to know quite a bit about computers and I like to share this information with people who need help with their computers. In fact, in my opinion, I am offering more to my clients by staying small rather than going big.

While it may sound contradictory to say that I am going big by staying small, the reality is that our society has become a little too caught up in the use of technology and the hustle and bustle of every day life. How often do you call a company for customer support, only to be routed through a complicated menu system that never seems to put you in touch with an actual person?

At Computer Clue, I think it is important to maintain the human element. While technology is a very useful tool that can certainly make our lives easier in a number of ways, it can never replace the human factor. So, rather than expanding my business to include dozens of tech representatives all over the state or even the country, I have made a conscious decision to stay small. This way, I can truly get to know and to understand the needs of my customers.

By staying small, I believe I offer a number of benefits to my clients. These include:

• A personal level of service that allows me to get to truly get to know my clients so I can more effectively meet their unique needs
• The ability to provide in-house computer services to each of my clients
• Scheduling flexibility – we only need to find a time that is good for me and for you rather than trying to work around the schedules of a team of employees
• Lower rates because I do not have all of the overhead that is involved with creating a corporate image and keeping a team of workers on the payroll

In short, I have made a conscious effort to remain a “small guy” because I truly believe it is the best way to provide you with the best New Jersey computer repair service possible. I sincerely hope that this commitment to customer service shines through when you choose me to provide you with computer repair services in New Jersey.

People spend a lot of time online – both professionally and personally – especially now that smartphones make it so easy. But, is it possible that mobile Internet can become too mobile?

It’s not hard to recognize the impact that the Internet has had on how businesses operate. The Internet is where companies are turning to launch new products and spend a great chunk of their marketing budgets.

Marketing experts have seen the change in mobile marketing, and admit that there are both positives and negatives when it comes to adopting a mobile-based marketing scheme.

Who are mobile Internet users?

How are businesses targeting and communicating with customers? Games, applications and social media are just a few ways that marketers can use the Internet to instantly connect with their customer base.

Since so many people are using mobile Internet, it’s a safe bet that the customers companies are trying to reach spend time online. Each business has a specific demographic and a niche audience. Grandparents, grandkids, men, women, teens, pre-teens – they’re all online. But, you have to reach each demographic in a different way.

Businesses trying to reach a younger audience know the mobile sites to hit – social media is the best place to start. Marketing targeted at an older audience would have to take a different approach to reach current and potential customers. The more you know about your audience, the more you know what kind of mobile outreach will appeal to them.

Mobile Internet advantages

People are always online. Perhaps the biggest advantage mobile advertisers have is that wherever people go, they take their cellphones. Smartphones have huge Wi-Fi networks, making it convenient to get online at literally any hour of the day.

You can advertise for free. Social media makes it easy to reach a large number of people for little, if any, cost. Many social media platforms are 100% free, but still have the features and tools to connect with thousands and millions of people. You can give quick updates at any time, promote new products and share deals and offers. Plus, social media apps make it extremely easy to get online remotely.

It’s instant. As a marketer, you want to get the word out fast. Mobile traffic is immense, and you can promote news in just seconds with the help of a mobile connection. You won’t have to jump through the hoops that other advertising campaigns do, because you have time on your side.

You reach mobile-online users. Because smartphones have so many capabilities, many people don’t even use laptops or desktops anymore. By going mobile, you expose your brand to potential customers who wouldn’t otherwise get the chance.

Possible mobile Internet disadvantages

Time. Yes, you can update fast and efficiently using mobile Internet, but that also means you need fresh content regularly to keep up with the competition. Updates can be lost among the sea of other social media users, and can easily get overlooked if your posts aren’t frequent enough.

Development. Mobile sites have certainly made strides and continue to do so, but they are still limited in some capabilities. Development opportunities could be stifled and limit your overall vision.

Do you want to take your business to the mobile space?

If going mobile seems like a way to broaden your business, it’s easy to get started. Before you can explore the mobile space, you need a reliable and secure way of getting online yourself. Many Internet service providers are out there, and places like Internet Service Provider by Zip Code can help narrow down your search.

They are the five little words that no computer owner wants to hear: “Your computer has a virus.” Unfortunately, despite all of your best efforts, there is always the possibility of a virus making it through to your computer. While a well-programmed virus may not create any recognizable symptoms, most viruses will affect your computer in some obvious way. Here are the top 10 most common signs that your computer has a virus.

#1:  Everything’s Moving So Slowly

Even a well-programmed virus that is supposed to sneak onto your computer without your knowledge may cause your system to slow down. Why? Because the software is using up so much of your memory that your computer can’t keep up with whatever it is you are doing on it. On the other hand, some viruses may cause a slow down because they are destroying files or otherwise wreaking havoc on your system. If the computer runs more quickly in safe mode than in normal mode, it is a good indication that you have become infected.

#2: You’re Knocking, but No One’s Home

Another sign that your computer has become infected is a general lack of response.  You might click and click on certain commands, but nothing seems to happen. Or, your entire system seems to freeze up and forces you to press Alt+Ctrl+Del to get out of there.

#3: The Bi-Polar Computer

An infected computer may also start exhibiting bi-polar behavior – one minute it’s on and the next minute it is off for no good reason. A system that crashes and restarts for no good reason is likely to be infected with a virus. In addition to crashing and restarting on its own, an infected computer may go through this same process and then run erratically after it restarts.

#4: Where Did My Security Go?

Once your computer is infected by a virus, that virus may also go into your system and make unusual changes to your security settings, including dropping your Firewall. Of course, this leaves you vulnerable to a whole host of other viral threats as well, which will only compound your problem. In addition, because your security has been compromised, you may even find signs of activity on your computer that you didn’t initiate, such as a constantly flashing disc drive light.

#5:  What Happened to My Big Report?

If your software applications suddenly don’t want to work correctly anymore, you most likely have a virus on your computer. Perhaps you can open your word processing application, but the fonts are all incorrect, documents appear to be missing or you experience other problems with using the software application. A common application-related sign of a virus infection is receiving a message telling you that your file cannot load because it “is not in the correct format.” In some cases, you may be able to open your files, but the content will be unexpectedly changed or some of it will be missing.

#6: Where are My Disks?

One sign of a virus infection is one that will surely illicit panic in just about any computer owner – suddenly not being able to access disks or disk drives. When you think of all of documents, photos, music files and other information stored on these disks or within these disk drives, the thought of it all suddenly disappearing is truly devastating.

#7: What’s Wrong with This Printer?

If you are suddenly unable to print from your computer or if the items you print do not turn out correctly, a virus infection may be the problem.

#8: I Can’t Do Anything Right

When a virus attacks your system you might also receive a number of unusual error messages. Some of these error messages may be legitimate ones from your computer as it tries to warn you about the problem. But, in many cases, these supposed error messages are actually part of the virus program and are designed to encourage you to take certain actions that will only make your infection worse. For example, you might receive messages from your Internet connection firewall telling you that a program needs to access the Internet. While the message may be sent from your actual firewall, it is the virus program that is trying to access the Internet.

#9:  Everything Looks So Strange

A virus infection may also cause the menus and dialog boxes on your computer to be distorted. Or, it may make changes to your cursor, to your desktop wallpaper or even add icons to you desktop. Again, this could be your computer’s reaction to the virus attack, or it may actually be the virus running a program that is designed to trick you into thinking everything is still normal on your computer.

#10: Everything’s Poppin’!

Pop ads that keep showing up at unexpected times or that won’t go away are another sign of a virus infection. Ironically, these pop up ads are often advertising antivirus programs. Theses ads even tell you that your computer is infected with dozens of viruses and may prompt you to purchase the anti-virus software in order to protect your computer.

It is important to note that some of these signs of a virus infection can be caused by other problems with your system. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of these problems or otherwise believe your computer may have become infected by a virus, it is a good idea to contact a professional computer repair specialist to help resolve the problem.

As a parent, you are probably experiencing an ongoing internal debate when it comes to keeping your child protected: to snoop or not to snoop. On one hand, you want to be able to trust your child and to respect his or her privacy. On the other hand, you want to keep your child protected and the best way to do that is to know more about his or her friends and what they are doing.

This age-old debate has been burning in the hearts and minds of parents for many generations, but the technology boom has moved this debate beyond deciding whether or not to read your child’s diary or to monitor his or her phone calls. Thanks to the technology age, there are far more reasons for you to be a bit more concerned about what your child might be doing in his or her spare time. Furthermore, technological advancements have provided parents with far more reason to do a little snooping. In fact, here are 5 reasons why monitoring your child’s computer activity is a good idea.

Reason #1:  Online Predators are a Frightening Reality

Perhaps the most important reason to monitor your child’s computer activities is to keep him or her safe from online predators. Back before the Internet was around, you didn’t have to worry about your child making contact with absolute strangers when he or she wrote in a diary. Thanks to social networking sites, however, it is quite simple for your child to make contact with people all over the world. While there are certainly positive aspects to being able to meet other people online, it also puts your child at risk of connecting with predators who are up to no good. By monitoring your child’s activities and by placing restrictions on certain websites, you can help prevent your child from becoming a victim.

Reason #2:  Online Content Can Questionable

Monitoring your child’s online computer habits is also important because there is a great deal of incorrect or possibly questionable content on the Internet.  While every parent wants his or her children to become educated individuals and to learn more about the world around them, some of the information contained on the Internet may be of a more adult nature or may simply go against the morals you are trying to instill in your child. By monitoring his or her activity, you can make sure your child is not receiving incorrect information or being guided down the wrong path.

Reason #3:  Online Photos Can be Quite Graphic

In addition to containing questionable written content, the Internet is also full of nude and pornographic photos and videos as well as videos and photos that depict graphic violence. Most parents prefer to keep these images away from their children, particularly while they are still young. Yet, these types of pictures and videos are quite commonly found on the Internet.

Reason #4:  Posting Online Photos is Easy

Not only is it easy to find offensive pictures on the Internet, it is also easy for your child to post pictures online. Unfortunately, some kids don’t realize just how serious posting a photo can be, particularly if it is a picture of questionable nature.  These pictures spread easily and quickly around the Internet and can lead to a great deal of embarrassment. Of course, posting pictures also puts your child at an even greater risk of being taken advantage of by a child predator.

Reason #5:  Purchasing Online Items is a Snap

Finally, monitoring your child’s online activity is important because it is quite easy to make purchases online. All your child needs is to get a hold of your credit card and you might suddenly find yourself receiving a number of expensive items you don’t really want to have.

Now that you know why you should monitor your child’s computer activity, visit my blog again as I will write and post new article called  How to Check Your Kids’ Surfing Habits soon.

If you are concerned about what your child is doing while online, you will be happy to know that there are several different ways for you to monitor his or her online activity. Depending upon your child’s level of technical expertise, the steps you have to take in order to keep a closer eye on your child’s online activities will vary. Here is a look at a few of the different options you have available to you.

Blocking Out Questionable Websites

One step you can take to prevent your child from visiting questionable websites is to install software that will simply block out certain websites. Depending upon the type of security program you install on your computer, it may have a parental setting option that will allow you to easily keep certain sites blocked out. These programs can also be set up to only allow the Internet to be accessed at certain times of the day. This way, you can be certain your child is only browsing the Internet at times when you can monitor it more closely.

Checking the Browsing History

While blocking questionable websites is an easy way to help prevent your child from visiting certain sites, it does not guarantee that your child will stay away for the sites you do not approve of. In addition, some parents and kids find this software to be frustrating because it tends to block out sites that are not actually “bad,” while other sites that are questionable might still make it through the filter. Therefore, whether you use this software or not, it is still a good idea to check your child’s browser history.

If you have Internet Explorer installed on your computer, you can check the browser history by taking the following steps:

• Click on the “View” on the tool bar at the top of the page
• Select “Explorer Bars”
• Choose “History”

You can now choose to look at the sites that have been visited today or on any specific date that you desire by browsing through the box that will appear on the left side of the screen. You can also bring up this box by simply pressing Ctrl + Shift + H.

If you have Firefox on your computer, on the other hand, you will need to take the following steps to view the browser history:

• Click on “History” on the tool bar at the top of the page
• Select “Show All History”

From here, you can choose to view the history for today, yesterday, the last 7 days, this month or last month. Just as with Internet Explorer, you can also click Ctrl + Shift + H in order to bring up the browsing history.
The downside to using this method to monitor your child’s computer usage is the fact that the browsing history can be easily deleted. Of course, if your child is clearing out the browsing history, it certainly gives you reason to be suspicious of what your child might be up to and what he or she is trying to hide.

Installing Monitoring Software

In order to make sure you are able to view all of the sites your child is visiting, you might want to consider installing monitoring software. With this software, you will still be able to view the sites your child has visited even if he or she deletes the browsing history. Many of these products can be installed and used without your child even knowing it has been installed. To select the program that is right for you and your situation, it is a good idea to talk to a computer expert who can recommend the right software to meet your needs.

Although there are many “techie” ways for you to monitor your child’s online activities, it is important to remember that there is no better prevention than to maintain an open line of communication with your child. Before he or she even gets on the computer, be sure to discuss how to stay safe online and what types of sites are and are not acceptable. By laying down clear ground rules and by continually discussing your expectations with your child, you will have the greatest chance of keeping him or her safe.