Laptops come with an adapter that plugs in and attaches itself to a little metal electricity conductor inside the computer. These little Gps vehicle tracking power jacks can easily come undone, leaving your computer to run out of battery. To have this repaired by a professional, it can cost you upwards of one hundred dollars just to have them look at it.If your laptop isn’t turning on, it is most likely one of two issues: the power cable or the battery. It is important to attempt to isolate an issue prior to calling customer service, as you will either be able to fix it yourself, or will be able to provide more useful information to the technical support agent.

If you want to fix the Gps vehicle trackers yourself, the following may help you:

Flip your laptop over and remove all of the screws. Be sure to unscrew the ones holding the screen in place. Some screws are different sizes, so keep them sorted in order of where they were removed. Uncover the hard drive housing located at the bottom front of your laptop. The hard drive will be screwed in, so you have to remove those screws before you can take out the hard drive.

Test Electrical Outlet

Plug a different device into the electrical outlet you are using. Occasionally, the issue is not with the laptop at all, but rather a bad Gps vehicle tracker power outlet.

Inspect the Power Cable

Inspect the power cord using vision and touch. Check for any nicks or gashes in the cord, and feel for any possible issues such as a break in the wire inside.

Check Power Cable Connection

Verify that the Gps vehicle trackers power cable is properly plugged into the outlet, the laptop and the transformer box in the middle of the cable, if there is one.

Remove the Battery

Power on the computer with the Gps vehicle trackers power cable plugged in but with the battery removed. This will determine if the battery is the cause of the problem.

Free Gps vehicle tracking software Description:

Input: AC100-240V 50-60Hz (worldwide use)

Output: 19V 3.42A

Power: 65W

Outlet: 3-prong

Connecter size:

Internal Diameter: 1.5mm

External Diameter: 5.5mm

Item Includes: AC Adapter and Power Cord.

Brand New and Original Parts!

Product Warranty of Gps vehicle trackers

12 months warranty

For return of non-defective product within the first 10 days from date of purchase, full refund.

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Laptop screen scratches are highly annoying. They interrupt in your work. A single scratch requires immediate laptop screen repair. Any neglect on your part can damage the screen display and cost heavy on your pocket. Hence, an intelligent user should mend the screen as soon as a scratch occurs. After all, who likes to work on a laptop which has damaged screen display.

Ideally, you should appoint an experienced and competent technician to conduct the laptop screen repair task. Don’t avail into cheap technicians who use second hand or pirated parts for laptop repair. Remember, cheap repairing techniques can deteriorate your laptop screen. Hence, you’ll be left with the option of buying a new laptop which would have serious impact on your budget.

If you can’t avail into a technical expert, then you can use this technique to repair the screen yourself. This is known as petroleum jelly method. This technique works with small cuts. Take a cotton ball and dip it in some petroleum jelly. Now, apply it on the scratched area. Take a new cotton or damp cloth to rub the petroleum jelly across the screen. Rub till the scratch blends with the laptop screen.

If this technique doesn’t work, then buy a laptop screen repair solution. This solution is rarely available hence you can also use a CD cleaner. You can also buy the screen repair kit for yourself. It has the necessary solution and instructions to repair the laptop screen. You can follow them step by step and repair the laptop yourself.

This technique works in most of the cases. You can also check Internet laptop repair websites. Several websites provide tips and tricks to repair the laptop screen. These websites and tool kits are alternatives to solve the issue with minimum investment but the safest mode is to appoint a technical expert for the task of screen repair.

So, don’t neglect the scratches on your laptop screen. Get the laptop screen repair immediately.

Batista Hayden is a wizard in innovative IT solutions. He has experience and expertise in the field of computer, laptop and notebook hardware support. His skills and knowledgeable writing provides information about Windows and Mac laptop repair, data recovery techniques and troubleshooting. So, go through the informative content and get the latest updates on Do-It-Yourself laptop repair tips and techniques

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Ambition is the seed that gives rise to businesses. And profit is the compost that keeps them flourishing. Most businesses today are built for revenue by revenue. And apart from noble causes, idealisms and genius inventions, the lives of businesses are often more reliant on how much is spent and how much is earned than on experience and following. To quote Meja, “it’s all about the money.” Indeed, money is what fashions the trade industry. And it is the most fundamental component and metric of the economy. If you don’t have money, then your business will not make it. Ask any entrepreneur out there and they’ll confirm that profit is the strongest driving force behind their business success. It’s no wonder why business competition is so stiff these days. With so little money circulating out there, individual companies are pressured to get the greater share. To win, it’s not enough that you have a herd of customers and a fan base for your company right in your own state. You’ve got to make your presence known and reach out to more people. It’s a big world after all. What purpose will your products and services have if they’re not bought and patronized by consumers? Now, the only way to go about this is through marketing. Marketing creates demand. The only problem with it is that it’s quite expensive. Among the marketing tools needed, IT equipment gets the biggest cut. Good thing there are computer rental products available to minimize marketing expenses.

Having a laptop, a projector, a plasma screen display or a good sound system will do wonders for your promotional campaign. You’ll be able to set yourself apart from other competitors and deliver your message creatively and conveniently to your target audience. But these equipments, helpful as they may be, are very taxing on the budget and quite difficult to maintain. Now, computer rental allows you to have full access to these marketing devices at a fraction of the cost; this, without further damaging your finances on repairs. It’s very ideal to use for marketing caravans, because you need not worry about installation or delivery. Computer rental shops will take care of sending your projector rental to Melbourne or anywhere else you need it in Australia. They will even set it up for you free of charge. What’s even greater about computer rental shops is that you can go as far as matching up your marketing plan with a device that’s programmed specifically for it. This is good for online marketing campaigns that will require faster, more advanced software. You can hire an apple mac laptop for short term or long term use, and just return it after you’ve created the ad campaign for your company.

Marketing is the oldest strategy in the business handbook but it still proves to deliver positive results. But then again it is very demanding. You must be aggressive in handling your own marketing strategy; otherwise, it won’t get you anywhere. You have to be unique. You have to be attractive. You have to be impressive. Marketing in trade shows and conventions or through the internet will require the use of computers and audio visual equipments. So don’t be hesitant to take advantage of computer rental products.

If you’re looking to get your hands on LCD projector rentals, apple computer products or asus laptop hire in Australia, there is only one computer and audio visual equipment rental company to call on. TR Vidcom is Australia’s leading authority in providing state-of-the-art technological devices for the marketing needs of Australia’s top businesses.

Cheryl Mint is a full time writer for TR Vidcom. At her spare time, she enjoys spending her day in front of the computer and reading new articles about recent technological innovations. Visit her company’s website at http://www.trvidcom.com.au/ and avail of their superb computer and AV equipment rental services. Also, check her list of blog sites: Computer and AV equipment Essentials & IT Equipment.

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A computer plays an important role in simplifying a man’s life. This hi-tech piece of equipment can help an office worker do his task faster, thus lessening the workload. In school, a student can do some research, work on his thesis or organize his lessons. Even a regular user can enjoy the benefit of having a computer at home.  This machine provides fun by allowing end-users to play video games, watch DVD movies or just by surfing the World Wide Web when connected to the internet.

With the modern technological advancement, computers evolve to cater the current computing needs as well as unstoppable demands of consumers. From the traditional desktop PC to easy-to-carry laptops including the newest netbooks, computers offer different configurations to suffice the needs and personal preferences of a particular user. This article aims to provide information regarding these types of computing machine for regular PC users.

Known as a conventional computer, a desktop still has many advantages over its slimmer and sleeker counterparts.  Modern desktop PCs outdo portable notebooks in some aspects.  First of all, it is cheaper than mobile computers in terms of cost and maintenance. Having PCI cards and available IDE cables, upgrading a desktop is also easy. Customizing the internal and external components is a straightforward process by just replacing the old ones. The proven tough performance and longevity of desktops is another main reason why they are superior.  On other hand, portability can be the main issue of these desktops.

For people on the go, having a laptop is a necessity. Due to its small dimension and light weight, laptops are becoming popular among pc enthusiasts. In reality, the major reason why some people buy notebooks is because they can take and use it anywhere, anytime. Today, contemporary laptops offer advanced performance as with desktops, making them very useful for office related tasks, extreme computing and digital entertainment. However, its compact and integrated design makes it difficult to upgrade or repair. In addition to expensive price, this mobile PC has limited possible configurations provided by the manufacturer.

While laptops are considered portable, there are netbooks that are made to be ultraportable.  This ultra compact laptop is setting a place next to notebooks and desktops. Having a smaller design than the usual laptop, this tiny piece of device is the ultimate computer in terms of weight and portability. Its small size makes it easy to fit even on a handbag. Best of all, these netbooks are generally inexpensive than laptops. But its slim design needs to sacrifice some important aspects. Netbooks has less powerful processor, small screen and no built-in CD drive.

Of the three, preference depends on the needs and wants of a user. There are people who have great satisfaction with desktop machine when it comes to performance and reliability while others demand to have a laptop so they can access their files and work anywhere. Also, there are some people who want to get a netbook so that they can stay connected on the internet wherever they go.

Jewel Cole writes articles for BlazinTech, an online retailer that offers various computer hardware and accessories, as well as electronic products.

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Buying a Computer does not need to be a budget breaker. A Computer purchase often includes additional components and software that are not needed and can be avoided…if you are well prepared with the correct information.

To help, the following tips can be used to save money on your next Computer purchase:

Tip #1 – Take a look at your Computer case. If it is not a name brand Computer more than likely the case is expandable and can be reused. Cases can cost anywhere from $25 to $100. If you have a mid tower case, check how many bays are available for CD/DVD drives, and other peripherals, Are the USB and audio ports in the front?

Cases are often an over-looked item that usually can be used over and over again.

Tip #2 – Monitor Keyboard and Mouse – Just because you are purchasing a new Computer does not mean the keyboard and mouse need to be replaced. An Optical mouse last longer than the ball style mouse. The same principal applies to keyboards, unless you are a heavy Computer user and the keys are worn and do not respond, you probably don’t need a new keyboard.

Monitors may need to be replayed if want to upgrade to a larger screen size. If you are happy with your monitor and are having no problems with it, you are better of keeping it a little longer until you can afford a new Monitor.

Tip #3 – Software License – Many people forget when purchasing a new Computer the cost of the Operating System license is included in the price. If the new Computer has the same OS installed, don’t pay for another license.

The same applies for other software such as Microsoft Office. Unless you want to upgrade to another OS or Office version, save your money. Significant savings can be realized by not purchasing un-needed software license costs.

Tip #4 – Consider No Name Brand – While Dell, Hp and Sony are some of the big names with Computers, the reality is that most Computers originate from the same area in Asia, specifically laptops. Consider shopping for lesser name brands, or visiting your local Computer repair store.

Unknown brand names such as Acer, are usually cheaper, yet inside the case or laptop, the parts are the same. Computer repair stores allows for customization, so you can tailor to your need, not by what is on the shelf allowing for more savings.

Tip #5 – Warranty – With Technology advancing, what seems like the speed of sound, the life span of Computers tend to run about three to five years. Its not that the hardware starts to fail, but advancements in Software requires more processing power and increased memory requirements.

Consider the length and type of warranty at time of purchase. Also consider the warranty that comes with the Computer. It may be possible that purchasing an extended warranty may not be needed for a desktop, but may be needed for laptops.

Tip #6 – Labor costs – Adding or upgrading involves labor which amounts to additional costs. If you are somewhat technical or handy, consider installing any additional components yourself. There are lots of how – to tutorials on the Internet, with video that detail many types of installations.

As always with making a big purchase, research and shop around for prices. Understanding what your price range is will keep you from overspending, while becoming knowledgeable about what you are buying, will keep the salesman commissions from emptying your wallet!

Author – Technology, Internet, Computer tips and questions answered every day. Easy to understand tutorials for the non-techie in all us. Visit Watching The Net for free online support.

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In this article, we will tackle how to setup the Windows User Accounts. This will allow you to add new accounts or close old accounts. You can even change passwords or upgrade accounts from “standard user” to “administrator.” First we will cover how to use the windows XP interface, then we will see how to use the windows vista and windows 7 interface.

Part One: Windows XP interface.

To edit user accounts in windows xp:

Press the start menu key in the bottom left area of the screen.

Click on Control Panel.

Find the “User Accounts” button and double click it.

Your first three options will be: change an account, create a new account and change the way users log on or off. Clicking change an account will allow you to manage existing accounts. From there, you will be able to:

Change my name. This allows you to change the name of the selected account.

Change my password. Click this to EDIT your current password.

Remove my password. This removes the password associated with the account. Anyone will be able to access this account!

Change my picture. Edit your account profile picture. This is the image you see at the top of the open start menu and the login screen.

Change my account type. This option allows you to change from standard user to admistrative user.

The second option, create a new account, is a very straightforward manner of creating a new windows user account. After selecting the name of the new account and choosing whether to make it an administrative account or a standard account, you will be able to manage it with the step one instructions.

Finally, the third option, change the way users log on or off, allows you to choose between two options. The first option allows you to display the welcome screen as users attempt to login. This will list all of the accounts on the computer. If this is disabled, then a prompt will appear instead where the user needs to type the account name and password to log in. The second option determines whether a user account “shuts down” when the log off button is clicked. This will allow your programs and documents to remain open while someone else uses the computer and then you will be able to log back on to your account and find all your work intact.

Part Two: Windows Vista and Windows 7 Interface.

To edit the users in the later versions of windows:

Click on the start menu key in the bottom left area of the screen.

Click on Control Panel on the right side.

Click on User Accounts and Family Safety.

Click on User Accounts.

The screen that appears will allow you to perform all of the same functions as the old windows XP interface except that you will be able to do so in less clicks. For example, the options on the main screen are:

Create a password for your account/Edit your password.

Change your picture.

Change your account name.

Change your account type.

Manage another account.

Change User Account Control Settings.

The main difference between XP and Vista/Windows 7 is the addition of the 6th option to control UAC or User Account Control. This is the additional screen that appears when making changes to your computer system to confirm that you want to proceed. After clicking on this option, you will be able to choose what sensitivity to set the UAC settings to, if any. Slide the bar all the way to the bottom to turn off UAC.

Written by Karim Salmi with Vitalitech.
Vitalitech is a Maryland Computer Repair and Laptop Repair company. We service Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony, Gateway, Asus, Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo computers and more. On site, In store, by mail and remote support available for virus removal, DC jack, LCD repair, Data recovery and more.

http://vitalitech.net/component/content/article/3-windows-guides/23-editing-user-accounts

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We recommend using Avast anti-virus for a few reasons. Not only is it a very powerful tool, but it is very easy to use even for beginner computer users. It is free for home use and requires very little active user maintenance to run. Once you have it setup, you don’t need to tinker around with it for over a year. Let’s explain how to install the program.

To download Avast, visit www.avast.com and download the free home edition. You can either download the user installation file or the English installation file. Once it is downloaded, double click the icon to proceed. The introduction screen will appear. Click Next. The second screen has some technical information including the minimum requirements for Avast. If you bought your computer within the last 12 years, you will be fine. Click Next again. Now you will be prompted to agree to the end user license agreement. You can read through this if you would like to, otherwise click “I agree” and move along. You will now be prompted for a destination folder to install the program. It is best to leave the default input as it is. The following screen provides configuration options that you should not tinker with. Finally, the last screen before the actual installation gives a quick summary. Clicking Next will install the program.

Once the installation is complete, you will be prompted to schedule a boot time scan. This is one of our favorite features of avast because it allows the program to clean up your computer before windows starts (and the viruses!). Clicking yes will schedule the scan and render your computer inoperable for a couple hours next time you reboot the machine. We recommend clicking NO at this time. The next screen will ask you to reboot your machine. Simply click restart later.

Find your newly installed Avast icon on your desktop and double click it. This will run the actual program. You will be prompted to enter your license key or press demo. Demo will allow you to use the program for 2 months before registering. Registration is free for home use and is a very quick process. Your license key will last 14 months at which point you can just re-register. We recommend getting it out of the way today! Click the program registration link.

Your default web browser will now open and take you to the avast website where you will be asked to register. The whole process involves providing your e-mail address (where the key will be sent), offering your name, your intent to use the program at home, your country, age and computer level. A few optional dialogues ask you why you chose avast and which antivirus you used prior to using avast. Finally, enter the security code image and click “Register for free license.”

Go to your email and copy paste the key you were provided in to the still open avast program and click okay. Voila! You’re ready to use avast for the next 14 months.

Written by Karim Salmi with Vitalitech. Vitalitech is a Maryland Computer Repair and Laptop Repair company. We service Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony, Gateway, Asus, Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo computers and more. On site, In store, by mail and remote support available for virus removal, DC jack, LCD repair, Data recovery and more. http://vitalitech.net/component/content/article/3-windows-guides/24-how-to-download-and-install-avast-anti-virus

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Multimedia projectors such as overhead projectors, LCD displays, audio-visual displays in multi-national organizations are mainly used for making presentations like projects plans, health programs, entertainment and education programs in front of a small or great amount of audience. Marketing firms make regular use of these equipments for drawing valuable clients.

Certain problems can occur in the projection equipment such as, resolution problems, difficulties of displaying slides, boot-up problems etc. These problems can ring alarms of losing valuable clients if proper presentations are not done.

Multimedia equipment repair centers are present to handle any type of problem in any multimedia equipment. These centers offer the total after care solution, and ensure that you get the most when your machine is back working with the minimum of disruption.

Some well-known repair centers offer full repair and servicing facilities on all brands of LCD, video, home theatre projectors, which includes collection and delivery of your faulty equipment, a full diagnostics soak test, cleaning of equipment and a quote at an affordable rates which also includes delivery charges.

The repair centers can also diagnosis the fault of your multimedia system over the telephone and advise you the best course of action, either fix at home or send the projector in for repair, to inspect for minor faults or major faults which could take time and money for the repairs.

In addition to the current models, older models that have become obsolete from the market and the manufacturers can also be repaired by the repair centers that have huge inventory of both old and new parts.

There are very few repair centers for the multimedia and presentation equipments because many instruments are imported from different countries or the qualified engineers are called from Western countries.

One of the few repair centers of multimedia projectors, presentation equipments, engineering survey instruments is ‘Graceful Drawing & surveying’. This repair center deals in almost all kinds of survey instruments, for purchase of survey and presentation instruments, repairs and also updating in the hardware of the instruments, Having state of the art equipments to quickly diagnose and repair instruments and skillful and experienced working staff to give 100% quality service to not to let down customers’ immediate demands rental rates. GDS deals in the following sections of equipment.

Multimedia / Presentation Systems:

LCD Projectors

Overhead Projectors

DLP Projectors

Transparency Film

Screens / Flip Charts

Trollies / Mobile Stands

White / Notice Board

Laser Pointers

Survey & GPS Systems:

Total Station

Theodolites

Automatic Levels

GPS/GIS Systems

Surveying Instruments

GPS Devices

Surveying Accessories

Office Equipment:

Office Products

Binding Machines

Paper Shredder

Ammonia Printing Mac

Note Counters

‘Graceful Drawing & Surveying’ also handles orders relating to electronic instruments, repair of Digital Cameras, laptop’s and other Commercial Electronic equipments.

GDS is a Presentation and Survey equipment sales and service provider company, Experts in all kind of electronic equipments. GDS helps creating survey maps, adjustment of GPS, Theodolites and etc. Khizer Hayat is owner of the GDS, and one of the best Engineer in Pakistan. Call Now. for more details. Tel: GDS +92-21-2028051 & Cell: +92-0321-2491691

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Computer maintenance?

Personal Computers are more and more vulnerable these days. It’s not only viruses or spyware that you need to protect your computer from, but also from your operating system clutter up. Some people de-fragment their hard drive(s) on a regular basis but that is not enough today.

windows-computer-registry

Windows computers use something called a registry. That registry collects everything that you do. Installing software, deleting files, basically everything!

So when you use your computer for a while you will be experiencing the following possible problems with your computer :

* PC runs more and more slowly * You get mysterious pop up error messages * Annoying ads when you are surfing the Internet * Active-X or similar ‘Unable to load’ .dll file errors * A Blue screen, system crashing or freezing from time to time

When one or all of the above apply to your computer you might want to learn how to fix your windows registry.

Why should you fix your registry?

Cleaning your PC on a regular basis is of the up most importance!

A PC or laptop with a registry which is fragmented and not checked regularly, can actually turn into a nightmare.

Hardware failures, even start up failures. Which usually leads to a re-installation of the Operating system and most of the time a lot of data gets lost along the way!! Sure some people have a neighbor or a friend who knows a little bit about computers, but most other people, either have to bring their computer to a store, or call an expensive repair person.

Registry Cleaner

Using an easy to use Registry cleaning program makes it all so simple!

Such software spares many people a lot of headaches. It will fix your windows registry even if you do not know anything about computers!!

Trust me I KNOW. I have learned it the hard way and did not back up the files that were important. If I only knew then what I know now, I still would have had those pictures that I lost for good. Some programs cost a few dollars.

Remember you’ll save tens or more dollars not having to go to the store or call a PC repair man!

Hi I love to write articles about repairing PC’s and solving computer related problems. If you’d like to know HOW to fix your own computer and learn the basics:
Back 2 School/p>

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The desktop computer has become just another appliance you use every day. Replacement sales–not first-time purchases–now drive the computer market. Fully loaded desktops selling for less than $800 are common, even among established brands.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

There are dozens of companies vying to put a new desktop in your home. Dell, eMachines, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard (which merged with Compaq in 2002), IBM, and Sony all make machines that use Microsoft’s dominant Windows operating system. eMachines, recently merged with Gateway, specializes in budget-priced Windows models. Apple is the sole maker of Macintosh models. Small mail-order and store brands cater to budget-minded buyers.

Price range: $400 to $3,000.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

The processor houses the “brains” of a computer. Its clock speed, measured in gigahertz (GHz), determines how fast the chip can process information. In general, the higher the clock speed, the faster the computer. But not always, since different chip families attain different efficiencies. Manufacturers of Windows machines generally use 1.6- to 3.8-GHz processors with one of the following names: Intel’s Pentium or Celeron, or AMD’s Athlon or Sempron. Celeron and Sempron are lower-priced processors that equal higher-priced chips in many respects. Intel now assigns “processor numbers” to its chips, de-emphasizing clock speed. Apple’s Macintosh machines use 1.25- to 2.5-GHz PowerPC G4 or G5 processors, which are manufactured by IBM. Apple has announced that they will begin a transition to Intel processors in 2006.The system architecture of some families of chips allows them to be as fast as or faster than others with higher clock speeds, so speed comparison by the numbers can be misleading.

All name-brand computers sold today have at least 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM, or random access memory, the memory the computer uses while in operation. Video RAM, also measured in megabytes, is secondary RAM essential for smooth video imaging and game play.

The hard drive is your computer’s long-term data storage system. Given the disk-space requirements of today’s multimedia games, digital photos, and video files, bigger is better. You’ll find hard drives ranging in size from 40 to 300 gigabytes (GB).

A CD-ROM drive has been standard on most desktops for many years. Commonly supplied now is a CD-RW (CD-rewriteable) drive, also known as a “burner” that lets you create backup files or make music compilations on a compact disc. A DVD-ROM drive brings full-length movies or action-packed multimedia games with full-motion video to the desktop. It complements the CD-RW drive on midline and higher-end systems, allowing you to copy CDs directly between the two drives. A DVD writer will also play CDs and CD-ROMs. Combo drives combine CD-writing and DVD-playing in a single drive, saving space. The newest in this family, rapidly becoming a common choice, is the DVD-writer, which lets you transfer home-video footage to a DVD disk, or store as much data as six CDs. There are three competing, incompatible DVD formats–DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM–as well as drives that can create dual-layer DVDs that store twice as much. Some drives can write in more than one format, but all can create a disk that will play on standalone DVD players.

Fast disappearing is the diskette drive, where 3.5-inch diskettes are inserted. Apple Macintoshes and a growing number of PCs don’t have a diskette drive built in, because it only allows you to read or store relatively small amounts of data. Many people use a CD-RW as a large “diskette” drive to transport files. Many PCs now come with a digital camera memory-card reader that can also serve for file transfer. You can also get external drives or use a USB memory module that holds much more than a diskette.

The computer’s cathode ray tube (CRT) or flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor contains the screen and displays the images sent from the graphics board–internal circuitry that processes the images. Monitors come in sizes (measured diagonally) ranging from 15 to 21 inches and larger. Seventeen-inch monitors are the most common. Apple’s eMac and iMac come with built-in monitors. Its Mac Mini comes without a monitor. LCD displays are now the most popular, taking less space and using less power than CRTs. Better LCD displays can use a Digital Video Interface (DVI) connection, found on many newer PCs.

The critical components of a desktop computer are usually housed in a case called a tower. A minitower is the typical configuration. More expensive machines have a midtower, which has extra room for upgrades. A microtower is a space-saving alternative that is usually less expensive. All-in-one computers, such as the Apple iMac, have no tower; everything but the keyboard and mouse is built into a small case that supports the monitor. Apple’s Power Mac line of computers has a tower. Apple’s newest model, the Mac Mini, has a space-saving design that puts everything but the monitor, keyboard, and mouse in a case about the size of a hardcover book. An “entertainment PC”–one with a TV tuner built in–comes in a case that is more like an audio or video component, made to fit in with other home-entertainment devices.

A mouse, a small device that fits in your hand and has a “tail” of wire that connects to the computer, moves the cursor (the pointer on the screen) via a rolling ball or a light sensor on its underside. Alternatives include a trackball, which is rolled with the fingers or palm in the direction you want the cursor to go; a pad, which lets you move the cursor by sliding a finger; a tablet, which uses a penlike stylus for input; and a joystick, used to play computer games.

Most computers come with a standard keyboard, although you can also buy one separately. Many keyboards have CD (or DVD) controls to pause playback, change tracks, and so on. Many also have keys to facilitate getting online, starting a search, launching programs, or retrieving e-mail. There are also wireless keyboards that let you move about as you type.

Multimedia computers for home use feature a high-fidelity sound system that amplifies music from CDs or downloaded music files, synthesized music, game sounds, and DVD-movie soundtracks. Speaker systems with a subwoofer have deeper, more powerful bass. Surround-sound systems can turn a PC into a home theater. Some computers come with a microphone for recording, or one can be added.

PCs come with a modem to allow a dial-up Internet connection. Parallel and serial ports are the traditional connections for printers and scanners. Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, seen on all new computers, are designed to replace parallel and serial ports. FireWire or IEEE 1394 ports are used to capture video from digital camcorders and other electronic equipment. An Ethernet port or wireless network card lets you link several computers in the household to share files, a printer, or a broadband Internet connection. An S-video output jack lets you run a video cable from the computer to a television, which lets you use the computer’s DVD drive to view a movie on a TV instead of on the computer monitor.

HOW TO CHOOSE

First, decide whether to upgrade your current computer. Upgrading, rather than replacing it, may make sense if your additional needs are modest–a second hard drive, say, because you’re running out of room for digital photos. Adding memory or a CD burner is usually more cost-effective than buying a whole new machine. If your PC has become unreliable, your want list is more demanding, or if there’s software you must run that your system is not up to, a new PC is the logical answer.

Consider a laptop. A desktop computer typically costs hundreds less and is easier to upgrade, expand, and repair. It usually offers better ergonomics, such as a more comfortable keyboard, bigger display, and enhanced audio. But a laptop merits consideration if portability and compactness are priorities.

Pick the right type of desktop. Most manufacturers offer several lines at different price points. Budget computers are the least expensive, yet they are suitable for routine work. Workhorse computers cost a few hundred dollars more, but are faster, more versatile, and upgradable. All-in-one models have most of the components in a single case. And entertainment or media PCs include TV tuners and software that give them the functions of a DVR. They usually provide a remote control for easy operation.

Choose by brand. Our surveys have consistently shown notable differences in reliability and technical support among computer brands. And some brands are generally more expensive than others. Those factors could help you decide which of two similarly equipped computers is the better buy.

Choose between preconfigured and custom built. You can buy a PC off the shelf in a store or via the Web, configured with features and options the manufacturer pitches to average consumers. Or consider purchasing a desktop that you configure to order, either online or in a store. When you configure a computer to order online, onscreen menus typically show you all the options and let you see how a change in one option affects the overall price.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

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