Another Day With My PC

The pit stop is already near for those who got a free Windows Vista ride through its various beta versions.

As had been previously announced, Microsoft began prompting users of the impending expiration of its operating system’s pre-release version. The pop up message apprises the user on the remaining number of days that he still has before the program blinks on him. It also contains a reminder for the user to back up his files and to install the commercial version of the product.

I haven’t tried using the beta version. Many were even unaware that there is one. For those who were aware, maybe they harbored the same opinion that I have regarding beta editions – they’re just teasers.

Beta versions can either whet the interest of the user or turn him off. Some enjoy the free ride, but others just see it as a merry-go-round. I share the latter view. True, beta programs give you a taste of things to come. However, I wouldn’t bother installing them in my system, especially if it’s an OS, since they would eventually die on me after a few months. I’d rather entertain reviews or news regarding it. That would definitely spare me from being a gullible guinea pig of the application’s maker.

A few weeks ago, I’ve written an entry regarding the dizzying pace at which chipmakers are churning out processors in their manufacturing plants. I lamented that many of those who bought the Core Duo model felt cheated when Intel released the Core 2 Duo unit in just a short span of time after it has introduced the former.

At the rate Intel and AMD are going, one might not help but wonder on how are we going to use or what are we going to do with all that computing muscle. The two chip-making giants have been injecting steroids in their products in order to meet the processing requirements of various applications, especially Windows Vista. However, many experts are now saying that Intel and AMD might have overshot the runway by about a mile and a half.

Wait for Me

There was a time when software manufacturers were constantly whining on how slow chipmakers are in developing a processor that could fully exploit or support the full potentials of the former’s products. Indeed, the computers back then seemed to be always inadequate. Intel and AMD can’t seem to satisfy the insatiable demands of programs, especially those which involve image or video editing, for more computing power.

Things have drastically changed since then. The lot of software authors and chipmakers has taken a 180-degree turn. It’s the application manufacturers’ turn now to do be the “it” in their game of tag with Intel and AMD. Processors have not only become faster, but it also developed multiple brain or cores.

Fitting Everything in One Package

A few years ago, Consumers and chipmakers were toying with the idea of putting two processors in one motherboard. The idea seemed plausible, although those who entertained the scheme were turned off by the thought of introducing PCs that are preposterously expensive due to the fact that it has two chips.

Advances in chip-making during the past 3 years have enabled Intel and AMD to assimilate 2 or more cores into just one chip. This proved to be more economical and viable than the 2-chip unit. Both manufacturers immediately embraced the idea.

We Can Only Use One

Software manufacturers hailed the developments in the chip-making industry. Sadly, they could not yet exploit the full potentials or capabilities of the dual or multiple core chips that are already available in the market. Many of the programs that are being sold today are not designed to take advantage of the multiple processing capabilities of the chips. Hence, the extra power of the CPU is wasted. It’s as if the computer is just running on a single core processor.

Rude Awakening

Program makers admit that they are lagging behind in the race. In the recently held Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in Los Angeles, software giants urged each other to come up with products that would be able flex every muscle of the computer. Even this year’s most talked-about application, Windows Vista, is not designed to make use of every core of multiple-brained chips. Microsoft’s Ty Carlson expressed the need for the next Windows to be able to fully utilize the number of processing cores that would be hailed or considered as the industry standard in the future or during the period when the new OS would be released.

Be careful when dusting off your computer using aerosols. There are reports which indicate that the number of persons, particularly children, who die each year from inadvertently inhaling the air that comes out of the canister is rising.

Many parents are unaware of the danger that computer dusting brings, and it’s not surprising why. The air that comes out of the container is odorless. This creates a presumption that it contains no chemicals and that it’s just pure air. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The compressed air inside the canister actually contains Freon. This chemical is also being used in air conditioners and refrigerators. It doesn’t take much in order for one to exhibit the symptoms of Freon poisoning. If you’re not sure if a person has inhaled the chemical, look for the following signs: redness in the eyes which is usually accompanied by white blisters in the mouth. The person’s throat may also become numb.

Ridding your computer of dust and dirt should be a worthwhile undertaking, not a life-threatening one. Ensure your safety first before you take steps in improving or maintaining the health of your PC.

Now this is something Microsoft would love to gloat upon.

Apple has just revealed that it would be releasing patches for the MAC OS X. The affected versions include 10.3.9 and 10.4.9, covering both the standard and server editions for each version.

The patch reinforces the defenses of the Apple operating system by closing the doors on hackers which use PDF files to crash its host or make it execute malicious instructions. It also includes band aids from Fetchmail, Bind, and GNU Screen. The process involved in downloading and installing them is pretty much the same to that of Windows’.

Many wonder why the OS X doesn’t receive waves of patches unlike its more popular counterpart. If you’re an XP user, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Microsoft releases dozens of updates every week, mostly addressing security concerns. While it’s comforting to know that Microsoft is relentless in putting bricks and cement to its besieged product, you might also wonder if Windows is really or will ever be secured at all.

Downloading and installing patches are not enough as far as protecting your PC is concerned. You will definitely need the help of third-party system tools to keep your PC free from malware. Registry cleaners and Antivirus programs are must-haves. Hackers often target the registry since it controls or is the repository of all instructions that should be executed by the computer. Hence, make sure that you’re registry is not possessed by viruses or other malicious programs.

I guess nobody would be surprised if I’ll say that Microsoft has again concealed a gaping hole in its new OS and hasn’t divulged the same to users until it was ready to release the patch for the problem.

The omission was similar to that of the animated-cursor dilemma that plagued the software since December. The present hole which involves the way Vista processes error prompts is not as serious as the pointer problem. However, hackers who would be able to exploit the flaw will have the capability of executing any command or program on the PC that they’ve drilled into.

Vista seems to never run out of problems. But then again, so does majority of all programs, especially operating systems. Although Microsoft’s lack of candor on the vulnerabilities of its new OS has left many users feeling duped, it should also be credited for continuously stitching every tear on its product.

Just recently, Microsoft has released a patch to squash a bug on its OS which can corrupt an iPod when one uses the “Safely Remove Hardware” function. The flaw can also be triggered by disconnecting the Apple gadget through Windows Explorer. If you’re an iPod user, you’d better get the update or face a data wipe-out.

You can’t expect Microsoft to fight against internal errors and external threats alone. At the pace that it’s going, your computer would probably have already crashed several times before it has released the critical updates. You could help in this endeavor by installing antivirus and anti-spyware programs.

A registry cleaner is also important since many worms and other malware attack or modify the Windows registry in order to take hold of their hosts. Sometimes, doing your part is already enough. But of course, don’t fail to acquire the updates as soon as they’re released. Better yet, just turn on the auto update feature of your OS.

What probably took Linux or Mac OS X a year or two was abbreviated by Microsoft to just a quarter of a year.

In a speech made at the Windows Hardware and Engineering Conference (WinHEC), Microsoft Corporation’s top honcho, Bill Gates, announced that the company has already sold almost 40 million copies of Windows Vista.

The pace has been considered as somewhat blistering, considering that the figure is larger than the install base of the company’s toughest competitors. It also edged out Windows XP in sales, with Gates saying that people embraced the new OS twice as fast as they did when XP was released.

The trend or figures given by Gates on Vista are not that surprising. You might think that Gates’ numbers are inaccurate, especially since Vista’s release has been met by numerous skepticisms. One would definitely arrive at a higher figure for Vista than with any other software, even with Microsoft’s most successful product, Windows XP.

But the comparison made by the Microsoft boss is flawed. Vista sales would definitely outnumber that of XP’s during the same period since there are many persons now who own computers. PC sales have risen astronomically since XP was first introduced to the market. It’s only logical then, that Vista would outmatch XP in sales.

There will come a time (and it’s sooner than you think) when that dual or quad core processor of yours will become obsolete and will be replaced by a new chip that is 10-20 times more powerful. The news of its impending arrival has been received with both elation and frustration. Some are accusing Intel and AMD of flooding the market with beta chips, and that the two companies have been less candid with consumers on the release dates of their latest models.

Indeed, it would seem that Intel and AMD are taking us for a ride. It wasn’t long ago when Intel bannered its Core Duo processor as the best in the industry. Many rushed to buy new laptops and desktops that have the new chip. A few months later, Intel released the Core 2 Duo processor. Needless to say, the new chip’s predecessor became a collector’s item overnight.

Deceived

Many consumers bought the Core Duo processor, thinking that it’s Intel’s long-term replacement for the Pentium 4. It’s not surprising then, that they felt cheated when Intel released the Core 2 Duo in just a short span of time after it flooded the market with Core Duo chips. They said that Intel should’ve been candid enough to divulge that they will be coming up with another chip that’s twice as powerful as the Core Duo.

I’m one with those who feel bad about the way Intel plays in the market. Of course, it’s a good business strategy. However, consumers might also fight back by delaying the purchase of the chip-maker’s new releases. This could be very detrimental to Intel’s fiscal health, considering that consumers have the ability to delay the purchase of things, even essential ones, for an unreasonable length of time. The top producer of computer processors could then face the dilemma of having to advertise or banner both chips as the best in the market.

Patience Consumes Time, But Saves Money

You might contend that such a situation wouldn’t be a very big headache for Intel. In fact, it might even help them in reaching both spectrums of the market. The company has been successful before in marketing its Celeron and Pentium 4 chips. The former is considerably weaker compared to the latter. However, the Celeron is also substantially cheaper than the Pentium 4 and other more powerful processors. Intel marketed the Celeron to low-income consumers, while aggressively pushed for the use of its high-end chips to those who have plenty of cash to spare.

While the strategy proved to be successful for Intel in their Celeron-Pentium “situation,” especially in developing countries, such a scheme may not be applicable to its present dilemma. For one thing, the price discrepancy of the Core Duo and the Core 2 Duo is not that wide, if there’s any at all. Even if they do decide to cut the price tag of the weaker chip, I don’t think consumers would take a bite at it since they’re already anticipating the release of the next line of processors that Intel and AMD would be releasing within the year or early next year.

In case you’re notebook is dying out on you faster than it usually does, don’t rush to the nearest computer store to buy new batteries. Chances are is that it’s not a hardware problem.

Vista has drawn the ire of its users anew when it has recently been revealed that its Aero Glass interface has been sipping the energy out of laptop batteries like a glutton. This new video engine of Microsoft’s new OS allows images to be displayed seamlessly. It’s the feature that many ditched Windows XP for.

Many laptop owners weren’t aware of the consequence that the Aero Glass interface would have on their unit as far as battery mileage is concerned. The only concern that surfaced during the introduction of the graphics feature was that it will most likely consume a huge amount of actual and video memory. Little did many know that it’s also an energy hog.

I don’t know how Microsoft would remedy the problem. Some are suggesting patches that would modify the way Vista consumes energy. I’m not sure if they can simply fix the dilemma through a simple patch. The process would surely involve some changes in the registry.

Laptop manufacturers aren’t waiting for Microsoft to come up with a solution, though. They have already included various power management utilities in their products which overrides a similar feature or function in Vista. They claim that their utility provides more options to the user than the one integrated in the new OS.

Great advances have been made or achieved in hard drive design and architecture over the past 10 years. In case you haven’t noticed, hard disks are one of the few PC peripherals which you can immediately use without having to go through its manual. Of course, installing it can be quite tricky, but everything’s definitely smooth sailing after that.

As with any other PC component, hard drives will eventually reach that point when it won’t be able to retrieve or save data as efficiently as it used to be. This is especially true for data storage devise that are used in laptops. Laptop hard drives are more susceptible to damage or wear and tear because they are constantly being exposed to stress, such as shocks and jolts.

The Old Fashion Way

So how could you prolong the life of your hard drive? If you’re going to ask your parents or grandparents about this, chances are is that they’ll just give you a shrug. For old timers who know a thing or two about PCs, they might suggest methods or procedures which would seem logically sound, but is actually unnecessary and outdated already.

Take for example the common practice of leaving the computers on so as to protect the hard drive. Sounds absurd, huh? I mean, how could letting your hard drive spin needlessly for long number of hours be actually beneficial for your primary storage device?

Believe it or not, this was a sound and even necessary practice in order to stretch the mileage of the component. Subjecting the hard disk to frequent starts and stops back then actually meant exposing it to unnecessary and damaging stress. Hence, many were constrained to leave their computers on for long periods in order to prolong the lifespan of their disks.

It’s Safe to Turn It Off

This wasteful practice of having to leave your hard drive spinning even if you’re not using it is already a thing of the past. Hard drive manufacturers, such as Seagate and Samsung, already guarantee that their products would last around 5 years of more, regardless of whether you leave it spinning constantly or turn it on and off occasionally.

While storage makers can guarantee that constant shut downs would not affect the longevity of their products, other factors can definitely affect its mileage and performance. Heat is a problem that affects every computer component, especially hard disks. The longer your computer is turned or kept on, the greater the heat that it produces. Hence, it is definitely unwise to needlessly keep your computer on, especially when you’re not using it. Not only is this practice wasteful, but it is also damaging to your unit as well.

At Your Every Beck and Call

At a time when everything needs to be done at a heartbeat, it’s not surprising when users would opt to just leave their computers on so that they could immediately use it. Boot up time has tremendously improved over the past several years. However, one would still waste around 3-5 minutes on the start up stage alone. If you don’t want to be wasteful but would want your computer to be immediately available at just a second’s notice, then you might probably opt to just set your PC in standby mode whenever you’re not using it. You would still be wasting electricity on this mode, but the consumption is greatly reduced since power is cut to almost every computer component except the RAM.

Have you ever thought of giving your mom a desktop or a laptop for Mother’s Day?

The digital divide between the “haves” and the “have nots” is also replicated between those who grew up playing board games and those who spent their summers holding keypads and tapping keyboards. It’s not surprising then why many old folks are virtually clueless as to what a CPU is.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not saying that they’re entirely clueless about PCs. That’s impossible considering that almost every human activity is assisted, facilitated, or somehow affected by Information Technology.

While it would be great or ideal to orient the older generation on how easy or convenient life could be with a computer around, teaching them how to incorporate new things in their daily routines could be a very challenging undertaking. It’s not as if using a computer is similar to operating a blender. PCs need constant maintenance. While it would be easy for you to demonstrate to your mom how to use instant messengers, teaching her how to clean the registry or get rid if viruses could be a very daunting task.

I’m not discouraging you from giving your mom a brand new PC on Mother’s Day. On the contrary, I’m encouraging everybody to give their moms that sleek HP or Compaq notebook that adorns the display window of many computer shops. Just make sure that the unit is ready to use. Don’t expect your mom to know how to install the operating system, antivirus, registry cleaner, and other essential system utilities. Guide her through the process step by step. Or better yet, install all necessary applications first before giving it to her. Make things easy for her, especially on the day that’s dedicated to women like her.