Free Email Accounts

There are many free email accounts available on the internet. Internet email is handy because it can be accessed from any internet-connected computer. There aren’t many differences between the free email accounts, and they are all easy to set up.

One free email account service is called hotmail. Hotmail can be found at www.hotmail.com. It’s owned by the Microsoft Network. Hotmail gives you lots of storage and good spam protection. Hotmail allows the user to create and name folders in order to sort one’s email to keep it organized. The folders can be downloaded to the user’s computer, or stored there if the user wishes.
Another free email account service is called Gmail. Gmail is owned by Google, and is currently in beta testing. However, if you want to try it, a current user can email you an invitation, and you can get an account easily. Gmail is nice because it organizes your email by conversation, meaning that original messages and replies are organized together, making it easy to find and track your back and forth emails. More information can be found at www.gmail.com.

Yahoo also has free email accounts. They are located at www.yahoo.com. Yahoo is teamed up with SBC phone company to offer people high-speed dsl access from home. Yahoo is a good source for information, groups, and email. Yahoo also owns geocities, which is a free web page host. If you’re looking for a reputable free email account with lots of available services besides, you may want to check out Yahoo.

Free email accounts are great to have, because they allow the user to read, send and store messages on the internet. The messages are accessible all over the world, wherever a computer with internet access is found. You can also keep lists of email contacts on free email accounts.

Free email accounts are also a good alternative to work email. They allow the user to keep their work email completely work-related, and their personal email in a separate place that is accessible from work, home, or anywhere. Nowadays, work email is often monitored, so free email accounts on the internet are a smart way to keep personal email in a separate place.

When deciding on a server for a free email account, you could choose one of the ones detailed in this article, or do a search using a search engine. Decide if you need lots of storage, or want lots of features available to you. This will help you choose a free email account to use.

Most free email accounts have rules against spamming. Do not spam from these accounts, because spammers are prosecuted. If you are receiving spam from a free email account, report it right away to the administrators of the email accounts.

Should You Get IE7 ?

There are so many people asking should you get ie7 around that I thought I would cover a few points. Firstly, I have the ie7 download on one of my pc's. I decided to keep ie6 on my laptop until I had ironed out any ie7 problems. Boy am I glad I kept the old version!

When I downloaded ie7, almost immediately I began to have problems. Since the ie7 download, my computer has refused to boot up several times. This can be a pain if you are ready to start work.

Then yesterday, I got an email from my friend Eric, in which he told me as soon as he installed ie7 as part of his windows updates (you get a prompt), his ie browser would no longer launch. In fact, any time ie7 was launched his computer froze.

Eric launched his alternative browser and searched for reviews of ie7 problems. He uncovered thousands of people who had posted the same problem this week. That means the ie7 problems are most likely affecting millions of people.

In this case Eric simply did a system restore and everything is fine again. We'll be talking about system restore a little tomorrow.

If you are thinking of getting ie7, my advice is you should hold off a month or two until all the ie7 problems have been ironed out.

Data Recovery Utility

No one wants data loss, but of all the internet wired people I know, I have yet to meet one who has not, at some point, lost important data. This is inevitable, and has nothing to do with the electronic age in particular. Think about it. Haven't you ever lost a notebook for school, or perhaps a paper that you had to turn in? No matter what form our data takes, we will have to face the possibility of losing it. Fortunately computers, unlike other mediums, provide us with data recovery utilities to cope with these disasters.


The best data recovery utility is one which prevents data loss before it happens by providing a backup copy. Really, any kind of file backup system can be considered a data recovery utility. There are many different forms of backup, which vary in complexity, reliability, physical location, and expense. The simplest data recovery utility is making a physical backup of important files. This can be done with a flash drive, which can then be carried with you, or put in a safe place. This has the advantage of portability, but isn't really all that reliable of a data recovery utility.


A better idea is to backup on a physical hard drive. There are data recovery utilities called raid systems, which will automatically create an identical copy of your hard drive as you go along. This is great, because if one hard drive fails, you will still have all of your files on the other hard drive. Another kind of data recovery utility is an off-site backup. This means that your computer logs into a server and uploads encrypted copies of its data on a nightly basis. The data is secured and protected on that remote system. This has the advantage that if something were to happen to your building – say a fire, or an earthquake or other natural disaster, there would still be a perfect copy of your data existing elsewhere.


Of course, once you physically lose your data, you can still find a data recovery utility to use, but your chances of success are much lower. There is data recovery utility software which will search a damaged hard drive, or the fragments of an accidentally erased file, and will sometimes, at least partially, be able to recover what you have lost. Still, this kind of data recovery utility only has a moderate success rate at best, so you would do better to take adequate precaution to not lose your data in the first place.

4 Port Switch

A 4 port switch is necessary to use to connect multiple computers to the same ethernet connection to access the internet together from the router. There are different kinds of routers – the two main ones being with wires and wireless. The wireless ones will typically have ports for wires if you want to use them that way, but have the added advantage that other computers don't have to be really physically connected to the switch.

A disadvantage of a wireless 4 port switch is that security is tougher. Anyone in range can log onto your ip address, and can perhaps steal information or at least free service from you. A solution from this is a quality firewall. This will stop other people from piggy backing on your computer or from hacking into your account. However, usually even without a firewall, you are unlikely to get your account pirated or disrupted.

Another way to increase security is to use encryption whenever possible. Encryption is a super-password which scrambles your informations with keys so complicated that no one can break them unless they have the right code. It is routinely used not only for email security, but also for buying and selling things with money on the internet. Soon encryption will automatically be used in everything to prevent you from being spied on.

The type of 4 port switch that you need depends on the speed of your connection as well as your wired or wireless status. If you are using regular dsl or cable modem, you don't need the speed you would need if, say, you were wired to a backbone or major hub. It is important to get a switch fast enough for your connection so as not to slow you down unneccassarily. After all, what would be the price of paying for high speed service which you couldn't use.

A 4 port switch also allows the different computers on your network to speak to eachother. This can be useful for both business and recreation. For business, you can work on and modify the same documents, or send memos back and fourth on the local network. But my favorite, personally, is to play network games on these systems. After work, i love to sit down to a first person shooter or a nice strategy game over the 4 port switch, and blow off the days steam by competing friendlyly with my friends. Sometimes, however, the competition gets pretty heated and intense. But that is even better.

Law Office Management Software

As one of the top law office management software out there, AbacusLaw offers a whole bundle of features that give the most value out of your money. A lot of other software companies out there offer more or less similar packages, but what makes AbacusLaw from the others is the tons of cross-platform capabilities and value added features they offer.

See the excellent features of this Law Office Management Software

Data Recovery Hard Drive Failures

The logical data recovery hard drive failures, on the most basic, are usually a result of file system corruption. The causes of this failure may be a computer virus, accidental deletion of key files or registry components, and even an electro-static discharge, in some cases. It is also important to note that in most cases where a logical data recovery hard drive failure has occurred, the hard drive is still recognized by the system BIOS, but it will not boot.

Read the full article about data recovery hard drive failures

Internet Marketing

Most internet marketing entrepreneurs know that the key to success lies in planning, coordination and testing prior to implementation. Once you “go live”, you'll have to live with your mistakes. The better your planning, research, targeting your audience and testing the waters, the greater your chances of success. So how do you put together a successful internet marketing campaign?

First, you must accurately determine your market. Who wants to buy your product or service? If you want to succeed in internet marketing, you must have a crystal-clear picture of your target market.

One terrific tool is the online survey. Many are available, some free and others offering a 30 day free trial. Look into these, as the information you'll gain will pay off big-time in honing your internet marketing focus.

Another source of information critical to targeting your market is demographics. If your product is pet products, do a search on ”demographics pet products”. This search yields age groups, income, product favorites, regional needs, the industry and your competition. All valuable information for a successful internet marketing effort.

Cost-effective planning is paramount to successful internet marketing. You don't need a huge advertising budget to start. If your marketing plan is solid, don't be in a huge hurry to spend on advertising. Instead, spend your money and effort testing small distributions of copy in ezines directed at your target audiences.

Vary your copy and see which pulls best. You may be surprised at the results, but it's all part of your internet marketing strategy. Use what sticks and discard what doesn't. Test everything on a small scale. Remember that effective copy can make or break your internet marketing plan! When inquiries and sales start flowing in, your internet marketing plan is becoming a success!

My 17 Inch Notebook Is Awesome

I recently got a 17 inch notebook, and am quite impressed with its quality. It is so much better than the old IBM Thinkpad that I had years ago. Back then, laptop computers were big and bulky, the screen resolution was poor, they were even more expensive than now, and the batteries had very low life expectancy. But my new Dell 17 inch notebook is everything that my old laptop was not. It is sleek, low-profile, with hours of battery life, and a high-resolution lcd screen that is just simply a joy to look at.

I put off getting my new 17 inch notebook for quite a long time. I have always found the process of buying a new computer agonizing. No matter how long you wait, the very next week after you buy whatever system you have chosen to purchase, there is something cheaper and more powerful at a lower price and with a better warranty. It is enough to drive you completely batty. Nevertheless, I knew that the convenience of a new laptop computer was worth it, and eventually I broke down and bought my new 17 inch notebook. And I am sure glad that I did. There is nothing that beats a laptop computer.

Buying a Refurbished Laptop Computer

Check out the Minimum Systems Requirements needed to do all of the your applications. They will not come with the laptop, as refurbished laptops often only include the Operating System (OS). If they don't include an installed OS, then be prepared to install it yourself. This is not for those that don't know what they are doing, so research what is involved before buying one without an OS.

Once you understand what you really need, you need to determine your budget.

Most old laptops do not have working batteries. If you need a battery, shop around to figure out how much they cost. You should know that on older laptops, batteries don't last more than an hour or two, so purchasing a new battery for the purpose of longer battery life may not be worth the expense. And by all means, stick with a name brand... IBM, Dell, Toshiba, Compaq-HP.

Buying A Desktop Computer?

Ever since the first personal desktop computer made its presence felt on the first office desk, humanity as we know it has become infatuated with desktop computing. Over the decades the processing speeds have gone up, the configurations have changed, desktop computers have become more adaptable to concepts like the Internet and networking, but the fundamental purpose has been the same – that of providing affordable computing services to every office desk in the world!

From its initial days as a mammoth machine that occupied a room, the desktop computer of today has become snug enough to occupy very little space on your desk. Till a couple of years ago, the desktop computers came with huge, cumbersome desktop monitors. These were cathode ray tube (or CRT) monitors and took up more space than the central processing unit of the desktop computer. But of late, the desktop computers available in the market come with flat screen liquid crystal display monitors, making them lightweight and sleek.

The changes have been more than superficial though. If truth be told, the very desktop computer industry has undergone massive changes. The original manufacturer, Integrated Business Machines (IBM) is still around. But they no longer have a monopoly on the desktop computer industry. China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea have entered, conquered and continue to drive the desktop computer market in the world today. Although price was the initial entry point for these Asian manufacturers, over a period of time, they have grabbed sufficient market share and volumes to provide dependable quality and even product innovation in their versions of the desktop computers.

Choosing A Laptop That Is Right For You

Most of us tend to think of laptops in the same way: a fairly small portable computer that can open and close like a suitcase, with all of the capabilities of a desktop. In fact, the term “laptop” is really very generic. There are currently four main styles of these portable PCs, each offering something a bit different, depending upon your specific needs.

Ultralights – Also known as sub-notebooks or ultra-portables, this style of laptop weighs up to – but no more than – four pounds, making them ideal for travelers. The upside of an ultralight is that it doesn’t burden those who have to spend a lot of time carrying them with aching muscles, as its larger cousins often do.

Learn How You Can Receive A Free Laptop

The downside, however, is that – in order to cut down on the size and weight – this type of laptop is so small that there’s no room for a network card or internal CD drive. In order to reap the benefits of these types of “attachments,” you’d have to bring an external CD drive and port replicator. Another negative in the scenario is that ultralights tend to be on the expensive end of the laptop spectrum.

Anti Spam Software

Spam is a term that most of us are familiar with these days. You will hear it on the television or see banners posted on your laptop. It seems unavoidable. We are all too familiar of what it's like to be checking our emails, and become overwhelmed with useless adds, which force things on us that we typically don't care about. Luckily we can avoid this little annoyance with anti spam software. This software allows you to weed out the junk email and keep what's important. These days we are flooded with the ramblings of some wannabe doctor, who's flashing a cheesy grin and encouraging us to buy some kind of sexual enhancement drug. Another big one is the classic weight loss add. How many times a day are you told about that great new fat reducing pill?

Anti spam software is available on a variety of Internet stores. This time-saving email cleaner will do wonders for your inbox. A clear advantage to this software is it's ability to keep out the viruses that seem to be floating around cyberspace a little more and more as time goes on. There is always some horrible new virus out there, just waiting to destroy your computer's hard drive. Anti spam software will ensure you that those unwanted emails never make it to your inbox.

Since we all love computers, we use them for a variety of chores these days. Whether it be communicating with others far away, or simply getting a term paper done, we always want them to work properly and efficiently. We have to keep our computers primed and ready for action, or they won't complete the task properly. Sorting out spam, blocking spy ware, and preventing pop-ups are things we want to keep on top of.

External DVD Writers

We all remember the humble floppy disk and how it ground away in our computers, trying to save little bits of information without becoming corrupted or damaged. Then came our savior, the CD-ROM, which managed to store a lot more information without the problems of corruption or damage. Of course, for a long time the CDs were read-only, so we could use programs or documents which were already saved to CD-ROMs but we couldn’t save our own information to them, so if we wanted to transfer our own files from one computer to another, unconnected computer, we had to rely on the floppy disk anyway. Then the CD-Rs and CD-RWs came onto the market, allowing us to save a lot of information onto disks, either once or, in the case of a CD-RW, time and time again.


Now another revolution has come about with DVD writers, which allow us to save even more information onto a disk than the CD-R and CD-RW allowed us to save. However, DVD-R and DVD-RW drives are only standard or options in some of the very newest computers, and many of us have perfectly good computers without DVD writers. For those of us who want to upgrade to DVD writers without going through the hassle of getting new CPU cases, external DVD writers offer a great solution to our problems.


With an external DVD writer we can use our own computers to make our own DVD movies or photo DVDs which we can then play on home entertainment systems. DVD writers are also great for storage and file backup, since DVDs can hold a ridiculous amount of information, especially if you’re saving digital photographs or text documents. Though DVDs are still good for transporting data from one computer to another, remember that not all computers are equipped with DVD drives. Often times this can raise compatibility problems, though with external DVD writers it’s an easy fix: you can just attach the external DVD writer to the computer you want to transfer files to and move the files that way.


Most external DVD writers attach to computers through either a USB 1.0, USB 2.0, or Firewire port; be sure to check compatibility with your computer and its connections before purchasing an external DVD writer. Also, remember that external DVD writers are also great for laptop computers since they allow you to burn DVDs while at your home or office and then leave the DVD writer behind when you’re travling with your laptop.

Google Toolbar

The Google Toolbar is a free software download available from Google – http://www.google.com/. In the words of Google, the Google Toolbar leys you “Take the power of Google with you anywhere on the web.” The Google Toolbar will integrate with Internet Explorer to provide seamless access to Google as well as some very useful tools. The Google Toolbar is now available for Firefox as well.

The Google Toolbar started out basic and has grown and expanded its features. The basic feature of the toolbar is the ability to do Google searches from the toolbar without going to the web page. The search bar will remember your last searches and will allow you to choose (just like on the web page) if you want to search the web, images, the current site and more.
One very pleasant feature on the Google Toolbar relates to its searches. There is a highlight button on the toolbar that when pressed will highlight your Google searched words on the current web page.

The Google Toolbar also offers a popup blocker which is easily adjustable to allow a singe popup when needed. You can also, with a click of the mouse permanently allow popups from a web site that you trust.

There is also an Autofill feature available on the toolbar. You can store information such as your name, address, email and phone number. When you come across a web page that needs this information, the Google Toolbar can fill in the information with a single click of the mouse.

Additionally, there is a button that allows you to move up levels on a web site. This allows easy access to index and home pages if your Google search took you a page embedded deep in the web site.

There seem to be new features popping up with the Google Toolbar. Today, the Google Toolbar includes features such as a spell checker that will check your typing when you are entering data on various web pages. It also includes a word translator that allows you to translate a word into other languages. Another recent addition that is currently available for US users of Google is the Autolink feature that provides automatic links to maps from street addresses.

There is a page rank feature to help you determine if a website is relevant. There is a word find feature to help you find your information on the web page.

The Google Toolbar is fully customizable. You are able to choose which buttons you want displayed on your toolbar. Thus, you can easily adapt it to flow with your web surfing needs. The download is free and the installation is simple.

Internet Phone Calls

Ever since the Internet entered our lives, there have been tremendous changes in the way in which we communicate. For one thing, we use e-mail communication to instantaneously get our messages to others across the globe, no matter which part of the world they happen to be in. And for another, we do a whole lot more on the Internet than we ever imagined possible. But if you stopped to think about it, the Internet essentially hinges on what once was a different kind of communication. This is nothing but the plain and simple telephone call. What used to transmit voice calls over wires now transmits data information over the same thing. Slowly but steadily the wires too are disappearing to give rise to what has come to be known as internet phone calls.

Internet phone calls became popular because of several reasons. Chief among them is the low cost associated with internet phone calls. When the service of Internet phone calls first appeared, people looked at it a little skeptically. At that point in time broadband still had to make an appearance and the existing data itself was transmitted rather slowly. So how exactly could Internet phone calls be implemented? But the fact remained that Internet phone calls were implemented. Sure they were slow and unreliable, but a beginning had been made. And it was the follow through spirit of some of the Internet phone call pioneers that has improved the service by leaps and bounds.
Today, when we talk about Internet Phone calls, we can easily connect through a variety of media. There is the dependable and reliable method of contact through instant chat applications like the MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. Of course these are limited in nature in the sense that they allow for computer to computer call or in some cases a computer to a mobile phone call. But in order to be a true Internet phone calls service, they still need to be able to connect with landlines.
There are also other paid for Internet Phone calls like net to call and the like which charge users a nominal fee to give them access to a high bandwidth channel over the internet to make and receive calls. This is a technology that is known as voice over internet protocol (VOIP) and it is already well entrenched in several countries of the world. Of course, in keeping with the bureaucratic restrictions that have enriched a lot more economies, some of the developing countries still don’t allow for Internet phone calls. But the sooner that changes, the better it will be for all of us.

Internet Worldwide

Since the 90’s, computers have certainly become part of our everyday lives. As we did with televisions and phones, we now add computers to our necessity list. Without them, most of us would go insane. We structure our lives around their abilities. Since the Internet spans worldwide, this isn’t just Americans who feel this need for the phenomenal machines.

The worldwide Internet allows us to be a little bit lazier with our daily chores and errands. While we used to spend a chunk of our free time running to the bank to deposit a check, we no longer have to deal with this burden. Direct deposit and online banking have washed many of us free of these daily hassles.
Shopping is a key factor when it comes to the Internet. A worldwide availability of pretty much anything you desire can be found. Fortunately it doesn’t stop there. Not only can you avoid the chaos of vicious shoppers, but also you can get the best deal available by sorting through various web sites who offer the same products, but at different costs. At Christmas time, this method of shopping can be rather choice. No more fighting crowds and standing in lines, just you, peace and quiet, and a laptop.

The world-wide-web has certainly made anything and everything more attainable. Who’d of thought you could purchase a car online. Ebay is a prime example of where many retail stores have lost a considerable amount of business. Why pay more in a store, when you can pay less sitting at home.

The Internet has not only aided us in shopping and banking, but it also provides a cheap form of communication. We can easily chat worldwide with friends and family. Instant messaging has become all-the rage. Why spend money on a long distance phone call when you can chat for hours for free. The option is even available to see others via a web cam. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the Internet.

I believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the world-wide-web. What is yet to come? We’ve attained so much new in such a short time. One thing is for sure; the Internet will continue to change the way we do things and the way we live.

Latest PC Games

Trying to find some good info on the latest PC games can be tricky. Whenever I put in phrases like ‘recent PC games’ or ‘current PC games’ under Google and hit search I get a billion replies, and many them aren’t really helpful. As a long time player of PC games, I’ve bounced around looking for some decent sites that describe the latest pc games, and the search is getting harder and harder. It seems like every year more and more focus is heading in the direction of gaming consoles, and finding news on PC games is hard.

Computers are still of course a very popular gaming platform, and there are still some solid websites that have areas devoted to PC games. Finding websites with a listing and prices of some of the latest PC games is quite easy; finding a site that actually provides some information or reviews about the latest PC games is harder.
Some of my favorite sites include Gamespot, Gamespy, IGN, and Gamezone. These sights always have some information on the latest PC games, as well as information on current console videogames as well. While I sometimes don’t fully agree with the reviews I see on these sights, they are more often useful than not. They can at least give me a feel for the kind of game I’m reading about, and if I know that I don’t like games of its genre I can save myself some cash and take a pass on it. Usually, if I suspect I may be interested in a certain game, I’ll read several reviews about it first and see what several different sites say about it.
Since the price on all the current and latest PC games is up to $50 per title, it’s a good idea to look into what you’re going to buy beforehand. There’s nothing more frustrating than shelling out hard earned money only to bring home a sub-standard, beta program filled with bugs and riddled with a poorly conceived plot. Unfortunately, most of the latest PC games seem to be in this category of digital trash. Formulaic, and poorly proofread seems to be a sort of standard in the video game world.
Having said that, every now and then a real gem comes out and is all the more appreciated due to the lack of decent options. I frequently keep an eye online for any news on the latest PC games, hoping to catch one of these rarities.

Photo Editing Software

Following right along the huge popularity of digital cameras came a host of new photo editing software programs. Though photo editing software actually predates most modern digital photography; photos would be scanned into a computer to be digitally manipulated, it was digital photography that really allowed photo editing software to take off.

The best thing about photo editing software is that, combined with digital photography, it allows the consumer to do at home what used to be impossible without a full darkroom or professional photography studio. Everybody can now digitally remaster their photos at home to make them much better than they were to begin with.
One of the most useful features of almost all photo editing software is that the software allows you to quickly and easily crop and resize your photos. Remember the feeling of getting a roll of 35mm photos back from the lab and finding that your thumb screwed up a great photo of the Leaning Tower of Pisa or Notre Dame? Now, with a few clicks you can crop out your thumb, leaving an excellent, thumb-less photo.
Another handy feature of nearly all photo editing software suites is that they allow you to alter the brightness and contrast of your photo with a few clicks of your mouse. Aside from poor composition, which can usually be corrected with a little cropping, one of the most common causes of bad photos is that they’re either too light or too dark. By adjusting the contrast and brightness sliders in your photo editing software you can’t save every photo, but you can save a lot of them and, what’s even better, you can make your already good photos great.
Photo editing software varies from here quite a bit, depending on the manufacturer. Some photo editing software, especially software which comes bundled with digital cameras, usually only has features for cropping, resizing, and adjusting brightness and contrast. Other, more advanced programs like Adobe Photoshop will allow you to alter the brightness and contrast of each color in the photo relative to the rest of the colors, to work in adjustment levels, and to add other visual filters to your photo. You can even blend photos together or take a person from one photo and drop him or her into another (helpful if your uncle keeps missing the family reunions). Regardless of what software you use, all photo editing software can help you make your photos a lot better.

Getting Started In Internet Marketing

Multi-level marketing, mail order businesses and other in-home businesses are very popular. If this way of earning extra income appeals to you, by all means check out the possibilities. These are not the only ways you can operate from home. There are many ways to become a successful internet marketer.

Some other ways of getting started in your own internet marketing business include on-line businesses such as a typing service, ghost writing for others, creating ad copy, dating services, credit counseling service, producing how-to dvd's or videos on various topics, preparing resumes, etc. In reality, the options for getting started in your own internet marketing business are almost unlimited.

Read the full article about Getting Started In Internet Marketing

Aol Broadband Internet

Now that I have tried AOL for broadband, I would never go back to my old dial up service. Compared to AOL broadband internet, I think that it would be almost unbearably slow and poky. I mean, now that I am using AOL broadband internet I can download flash animation, check my email, and go on my MySpace page thirty times a day to see if anyone has given me a message. I mean, when I was using normal AOL dial up, the best that I could do was email, and maybe some text based news pages and blogs. But with AOL broadband internet, I can really access anything that the internet has to offer, which is the whole point, after all.

Recently, however, I have thought about trying other high speed internet services. It isn't that I don't like AOL broadband internet, because I definitely do. It is just that there are so many options available, I feel that I had better try out some other stuff. I have heard that Yahoo dsl is offering something like thirteen bucks a month for high speed dsl internet, and that is much better than what I am paying now.

Read more about Aol Broadband Internet

Online Computer Courses

Online computer courses are rising in popularity, and it’s pretty clear to me that they are the wave of the future. While I don’t think online computer courses should ever replace live lectures completely, they do offer a great supplement to traditional learning methods, and are great for people that would be otherwise unable to attend classes in a university setting. I’ve taken several online computer courses, and have been very satisfied with each.

Indeed, toward the end of my college years, most of the course I enrolled in had online elements that made learning and doing assignments much more convenient. After college I found myself pursuing a postgraduate certification, which was largely conducted by online classes. Though there was always at least some live discussion, which I think is key, a lot of learning can easily be done by way of the internet.

More recently, I took a Kaplan preparatory class for the MCAT exam. There were plenty of live classes to attend if I wished, but I found the online element to be the most helpful part. Being able to access any number of tests, quizzes, videos, and lectures with just a few clicks is extremely convenient, and makes preparing for even the most arduous exam almost kind of fun.
Today you can earn entire degrees with online computer courses. Though I haven’t done this myself, I’d imagine you can get every bit as good of an education online as by going in to live lectures. Most online computer courses and online degree programs do in fact have live elements as well, but the real key to any kind of learning is your effort and will to learn. If you’re not willing to make an effort, and don’t care about what your learning, the entire staff of Harvard wouldn’t be able to teach you a thing. Likewise, if you really are motivated, you could learn as much as any doctorate just by hanging out in a library.

Another really cool thing you can do with online computer courses is learn new languages. I foresee a lot of language programs coming on for the web in the future, and there are already some good ones available. I’m using one called Rosetta Stone, and I’m loving it.

Online computer courses can be a real godsend to anyone with a busy schedule that wants to further their education. Sometimes you just don’t have time to go in for a lecture, and night classes can be brutal to attend after a long day. Being able to take online computer courses to work towards or complete a degree gives you an element of freedom that makes the process a lot more doable.

Pocket PC Programs

Ever since I bought myself a pocket PC, I was out in the market looking for some efficient pocket pc programs. Now seriously, did you think that the apologies of a software program that came with the original packing were going to help me get along in life? Damn sure not. Which is why, I went on a quest for the most suitable pocket pc programs in the first place.

I had bought myself the pocket pc as I found that I was relying on my laptop for some very basic functions. Not only was it cumbersome, I also had to lug around my laptop even if all I needed were some email addresses or simple to do lists. A pocket pc, I thought, would help me make my life easier and I got myself the top of the line model. But I was really unhappy with the quality of the pocket pc programs I was given as bundled software. And was therefore on the lookout for something better and more powerful.

But there were several problems. Now, I really believe in using approved software. And I wasn’t going to load in any pocket pc software that wasn’t approved by the manufacturer. But look as I might, I could not find any pocket pc software that was approved by the manufacturer. All the software I could find came with a huge warning against loading it without approval of the original manufacturer and that the software manufacturers were not to be held responsible in the case of any malfunction. Now I wasn’t going to risk that with a new and expensive gadget!

And when I succumbed to temptation and loaded in some software that I found on a third party website, my pocket pc crashed. It had crashed not because of malicious programs or lack of care in usage. It had crashed simply because the memory required to run the powerful program of my choosing was just too great for its limited capabilities.

I realized then that even the most advanced pocket pc comes with its own set of custom built pocket pc programs for a reason. It is incapable or giving one the functionality of a full fledged computer. That was the mistake I made in trying to stuff various third party pocket pc programs into my gadget. Now I am wiser. And my pocket pc programs are chosen with greater care to ensure that both the pocket pc and my peace of mind stay secure.

Search Engine Rank

Setting up a website in order to sell your products or services over the Internet is a smart business move. You'll be able to reach many more potential buyers than if you simply maintained a physical store or tried to sell through direct mail or catalogs. However, setting up a website is just the beginning. You also have to find some way to get people to visit your site in order to view what you have to offer. The best way to ensure that your website gets a lot of traffic is to have a high search engine rank.

When your website has a high search engine rank, it will appear within the first few pages of results returned by Google, Yahoo, MSN, AltaVista, and others. This could make a significant difference in the number of visitors that go to your website. Just think about the way you conduct your own searches. When you enter a term into Google, you probably click most of the links on the first page of results, and a few on the second page. Do you ever make it as far as page seven or page 10? It's not likely. So you can see why a good search engine rank is critical to the success of your business.

Websites that have a high search engine rank have a couple of characteristics in common. First, they feature pages and pages of relevant content. This means if you're selling accounting services, you should have a lot of articles about accounting, taxes, and bookkeeping. When you do this, your website will naturally contain numerous keywords that people searching for accounting services would enter into Google, Yahoo, etc. The more keywords you have, the better your search engine rank. Another characteristic of successful websites is the number of links they have to and from other sites. When other websites link to yours and when you link to others, it makes your website appear more important, relevant, and legitimate. This results in a higher search engine rank.

At this point, you might be thinking to yourself that only fantastic marketers are able to achieve a high search engine rank for their websites. That's not entirely true. Since a good search engine rank is so critical to web-based businesses these days, there are a lot of companies that specialize in getting you the best placement possible. They can provide you with original, targeted content for your site; give you tips on how to effectively market your site; and submit your URL to Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other engines for consideration. If they do their job the right way, you'll have a prime search engine rank within a few months.

The importance of a high search engine rank shouldn't be underestimated. Before you start selling on the Internet, you should consider hiring professionals to help you quickly achieve good placement for your website. The difference between appearing on the first page or the tenth could literally amount to tens of thousands of dollars, so do what you have to in order to get a high search engine rank as soon as possible.

Domain Names

For surfers wanting to buy their first domain name we provide free helpful information on what to look for plus how to register your domain name. Before we get into any details we will first take a look at what a domain name is together with the various extensions that are available.

Prices vary for these different extensions so it is very important when looking at prices of domain names to ensure you are comparing like with like. One offer will be quoting fantastic prices on .co.uk domains, while another company might be offering discounts on .com domain names, but charging full price for other extensions.

Read the full article on Domain Names

Spyware Removal

‘Spyware’ is a form of advertising software that is covertly installed on a person’s personal computer without their knowledge or consent. Some advertising software today is installed with the consent of the computer owner as a form of payment for the use of a website or program, and these forms of marketing software are usually termed ‘adware’. The difference between spyware and adware is knowledge and consent of the user. Because spyware is added without consent, and often can lead to a number of damaging effects to a computer, spyware removal is a popular subject for computer users today.

The first step in spyware removal is of course determining that you indeed have spyware installed on your computer. Chances are, you do. In a study conducted by America Online and the National Cyber-Security Alliance in 2004, it was estimated that 80% of computer users across the world have some form of spyware installed on their computer, and 90% of these users are not aware of it.

Some common signs that your computer maybe infected with spyware are ‘pop-up’ advertisements that occur frequently, and sometimes even when you are not on the web. These ads can be extremely annoying to be sure, but spyware can have even more sinister effects to your computer. For instance, it can considerably slow your computer down, add hard to remove toolbars to your browser, change your home page without your knowledge, and cause lock-ups or crashes, resulting in lost data.

The good news is there are a number of spyware removal programs available that will scan your computer to detect spyware elements. If it is determined that your computer is infected with spyware, some of these programs are able to remove the infection.

Many spyware removal programs are available free of charge, though they must be updated regularly. Some programs will allow you to scan your computer for free, but will then ask for payment in order to clean the detected spyware. Personally, I’m a little skeptical of these programs, and stick to the ones that are entirely free of cost. Some good examples include SpyBot, and AdAware.

These spyware removal programs are usually able to get most spyware off your computer. To increase your chances, it is best to run two or even three different programs. You may encounter occasional spyware programs that are especially malicious and will require more complicated measures to remove. Instructions on how to remove these more devious spyware programs are often available in technical forums across the internet, and most stores that offer computer repair are also able to clean spyware as well as viruses.

Sound Editing Software

Sound editing software used to be something that was used strictly by sound engineers in recording and televisions studios. Movie studios also used this type of software, and for the most part, it was very expensive. Things are changing now, and a lot of home computers and laptops come with some type of sound editing equipment for personal use. This type is usually easy to use, and can be found cheaply elsewhere as well. It is becoming more and more common, and easier to use as time goes on.

If your computer comes with sound editing software, your biggest challenge is learning how to use it. I have a background in live and studio sound, yet I still have a bit of trouble getting it to work right. I have an older copy, however, and I have seen newer versions that are much more user friendly. It may take you some time to learn in the ins and outs of the software, but once you get the hang of it, you can enjoy hours of fun mixing and matching your favorite sound clips, or adding music and sound effects to your home or personal movies.

This is a great idea for small local bands as well. It is not always practical to pay for recording studio time, and the initial purchase of sound editing software can save you money down the road. As long as you know what you are doing, you can get a quality mix through your home computer using sound editing software right in your own home. Some musicians have a background in, or at least some knowledge of sound mixing, and can probably use this software rather easily with great results. If not, you probably have a live sound engineer, and he can help teach you how to use it properly.

If your computer or laptop did not come with sound editing software, you can find it where you find most computer programs today. Look in places like office supply stores, or in larger department stores. Remember to look at the feature before you buy to decide if the software is what you need. For adding music to your home movies, or to make a mix of your favorite tunes, you can buy sound editing software on the inexpensive side. However, if you are looking for something to mix your latest recordings, or to tighten up a live recording from your last show, you should spend a little more to get the best you can get.

Internet Web Conferencing

In today's tight and uncertain economy, Internet web conferencing provides companies with a means to organize staff training and interactions in a manner that allows them to avoid time-consuming and expensive travel costs.

According to Cheryl Jenkins, enterprise solutions manager at Lockwood Greene Engineers, Inc., Spartanburg, S.C., one of the biggest benefits of Internet web conferencing is reducing the travel cost. “There are definitely tremendous savings,” she disclosed.

Read the full article on Internet Web Conferencing

Time Warner Internet

When looking for Internet service, not only do you have to decide if you want broadband or dial up, you have to decide where you would like to get your service. For broadband Internet, I have had the best luck with Time Warner Internet. I, at one time, had DSL Internet through Verizon. I was very unhappy with the service I was getting, and decided I needed to make a change. Not only was my phone bill way too high, I found the Internet service to be average. I decided to look into Time Warner Internet service.

I had Time Warner as my cable provider and I kept seeing ads for Roadrunner, the premier Time Warner Internet connection. The Internet ran though the cable line rather than the phone line. They advertised that cable was a faster medium than phone wire, and that Roadrunner was the faster than DSL by a large margin. When I called to discuss Time Warner Internet service, they told me I could also get my home phone though them, and could eliminate the phone company altogether. Because of all the problems I had been having with my phone company, I thought this might be the best way to go.

The phone service runs with Time Warner Internet in a package deal. For $125.00 a month, I can have my cable, phone and high speed Internet service. For me, this was a savings of about almost $150.00 dollars a month. Because Time Warner Internet runs though the cable lines, they can afford to offer free long distance in the US. I have a bad habit of calling friends in Australia, so that got quite pricey. With Time Warner Internet, I can call Australia for ten cents a minute.

Another great feature of Time Warner Internet is the customer service. I have always gotten quick and helpful advice when I’ve had a problem, though I have to admit, I really haven’t had many problems. I find Time Warner Internet service to be reliable as promised. The only down fall to having my phone through my Time Warner Internet connection is that when the power goes out, I have no phone service. This isn’t too large a hassle, however, if you have a cell phone that can be used during these times. Overall, I am very happy that I decide to switch to Time Warner Internet service. The price is right, the service is top notch, my Internet is faster than ever, and I got to keep my phone number. What’s not to love?

Unlimited Internet

Computers are rather baffling. When I actually sit and ponder what they do, I'm simply amazed. How can the Internet allow us to so many different places? Well, these days we're pretty much all jacked in. We turn to our cyberspace buddies to help us pay the bills, or send a friend a quick message. With unlimited Internet at our fingertips, we surely couldn't go back to life without it. Our PCs and Macs make too many everyday chores seem like nothing. These electronic innovations save us time and allow us more fun with our families and friends. Yes indeed, unlimited Internet access has sure changed things for the better.

In reality, I can't think of a way the Internet and computers have regressed our species. How can we complain about feasible jobs from home and locating our favorite products at half the price in cyberspace? In fact, with unlimited Internet we can always keep up with stock changes and even trade from home. These days it is simple to attain unlimited Internet through various companies. Many of us have chosen Road Runner for cost reasons. With Time Warner I achieve unlimited Internet, in addition to Tivo and unlimited long distance, and all for a nice little fee that doesn't break the bank. I was actually amazed that it was cheaper than our local cable provider.

Most of us enjoy unlimited Internet on a daily basis from our homes. Isn't it great to be able to watch trailers of upcoming films, or chat in forums with those who share your interests? My wife uses the Internet daily to get extra work done from home. This allows many professionals to leave their workplace at a much more desirable time. Personally I enjoy unlimited Internet to keep in touch with family and friends. I can chat any time of the day with Instant Messenger.

Who'd have thought we'd be doing that one day? If you are one of the few who lack unlimited Internet, it's time to get in the game. You no longer have to put up with a dial-up service that constantly kicks you off when the phone rings. Get unlimited Internet today at a low cost and enjoy the infinite perks of cyberspace whenever you desire. We live in an age of technology, and it's time we all got a taste of the good life without all the extra chores stealing our valuable time. Get online today and browse your options.

Web Search Engine

What do you consider to be the greatest invention of all time? Is it the wheel? Okay, let's not be ridiculous. Although the wheel has its place, there are other creations that seem incomparable. I've heard folks say that the television is the most amazing innovation since it works as a mass communication device, but also entertains beyond the capabilities of the radio. I can see the praise. However, how can anyone choose one invention and deem it the best form of technology? For me personally, it's impossible. Although the computer is certainly at the top of my list. When it comes to home computers, they just offer us so much connection. The World-Wide-Web has provided us with limitless possibilities. How often do you use your PC or Mac? These nifty little machines grant us with so many conveniences. I'll never forget the first time I popped open a web search engine.

What web search engine do you use? Most of us prefer a certain one in order to surf the web. Back in the day when net surfing became a phenomenon, Yahoo.com was like the biggest thing around. Everyone was talking about investing in this new-age web search engine. These days there are several ways to browse cyberspace. In fact you have a number of search engines to choose from. Anything from Webcrawler to Askjeeves to Lycos to Google to MSN to Hotbot can be used to locate that special website. Now, the question is; how do you decide on a particular web search engine? Well, the way I settled this was trying them all. I used to love popping open new search engines and surfing for my favorite products. In the end I made a decision on which one worked the best, hence provided me with the best selection of products and deals. For me this web search engine was Google. Keep in mind this was back in the late 90s. Back then Yahoo was still all the rage. Now days Google.com is probably the most used web search engine around. Yahoo and MSN follow close behind.

Web Hosting Services

When you have created your webpage, you need a place to showcase your work. Although it is possible to run your own server and host your own site, this kind of service demands a lot of technical know-how, money and equipment.

Whether you are going to run a small business, work from home or just some kind of fancy website to showcase your hobby, it pays to have a basic understanding of what to expect from your web hosting serivces.

Talks to the sales people before you decide which of the web hosting services to use. They all want your money so let them earn it. There are no dumb questions to ask. The technical staff should be able to handle all your requirements or else you should be looking at another company.

If you have a basic understanding of web hosting, it will help you to ensure you get the most from your Web Hosting Services

Buying A Laptop

The first thing to consider when buying a laptop is what you want to use your laptop for. When I was buying a laptop, I had a specific task in mind. The idea was to get away from my home office and spend more time with the family while still working as much as I could. That meant I was buying a laptop to sit in my favorite chair while working away as the family sat around watching tv. Now, three years on, I want to travel with my laptop, only to find the battery no longer holds its charge and my laptop is actually rather heavy to carry around.

Read the full article for more advice on Buying A Laptop

Malware Is Bad For Your Computer

As some programmers begin to learn their way around systems and the internet, they wrote malware just to see what they can do with it. For example, a beginning programmer might write a virus code to see how far it could spread. Others, though, have far more hostile intents for writing malware. One reason they might write code like this is to vandalize current websites. This is a lot like kids with a can of spray paint near a public wall. Another reason malware gets written is to cause a loss of data to major systems. Malware can completely erase the memory files of computer systems if written properly, and many malware authors have this intention, for one reason or another, as they write their vicious code. There have been many pieces of malware written for revenge.

Read more on why Malware Is Bad For Your Computer

Building A Computer

I have got to tell you that building a computer is one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done. Growing up, my dad was always into tinkering, but he could never get me interested in it. He was more about working on his car than on his computer, and I just was not really that kind of kid. I loved computer games and computer programming. I was more of a nerd than a real macho guy. That is why he decided that it would be such a great bonding experience to build a pc. He was right. I have felt so much closer to my dad since building a computer.

We never really had the money to buy a computer from one of the name brand stores, so I would always either use the computer labs at school or go over to a friends house. My dad recognized that I had a talent for programming, so he thought that building a computer was the answer, and boy was he ever right. It is tough to build your own pc, but it is really worth it. Building a computer requires not only the right parts but the right knowledge as well. I read through almost every single manual that I could find about building a computer. My gear head dad read them with me. It was really neat to be able to share my interests with him as he had shared his interests with me, and he seemed to enjoy the whole thing and learn a lot in the process. It was more than a few months before we were ready to start building a computer, but those months were some of the most rewarding of my life.

By the time we were really building a computer, I was so excited I thought that I might burst. Now, we did not get all the parts at once. On the contrary, building a computer was mostly a process of going to trade shows after really learning the ins and outs of pcs . That way, we knew exactly what parts were needed for building a computer, and knew what were reasonable prices for those parts. By the time we had finally assembled everything that we needed to build a computer, we were both long past ready to get the show on the road. Compared to the part leading up to it, building a computer was easy!

Website Design Software

When it comes to designing your website, you have so many options it can make your head spin. There are various free tools on the Internet that will work well, but for a truly special site, you may want to buy some professional website design software. These have everything you need to help you build a professional and slick looking website. These also come with detailed instructions on how to use the software, as well as help.

You may not know what to choose when it comes to website design software, and it may depend solely on what you can do with a computer and how much help you need. When you look at some websites you like, see if they list what type of software was used to build that site. This may help you narrow down your list. You may also want to email some webmasters to see if they will let you know what they used. You may not get a response, but it is worth a shot.

The website design software I have found pretty easy to use is Swish. This program makes it easy to build a nice looking website without being too complicated. This is great for a beginner, because the controls are easy to use, and once you get the hang of it, it is easy to build and update your site. It also makes it easy to upload your site to your server and everything seems to run smoothly.

Your selection of website design software may come down to price. The best software won’t do you much good if you can’t afford it. You may be able to find used versions on eBay, but make sure it is a legal copy before you buy it. You may find new software at a great price, but remember that the lower the price, the less it can do.

Don’t forget to search the net for ideas and information. Look for reviews for website design software, and read all you can. This will help you discover which software works the best, and which types are more user friendly than others. Quite often the best advertisement for any type of software is testimony from those who have used it. See what users have to say about ease of use, price, and the results. If the software is easy to use, it won’t be worth the price if it cannot give you a professional looking website when you are finished.

Help Organizing Your Desktop Area

Nothing will improve your productivity more than organizing your desktop. I know that it may sound kind of strange, but it is really true. I have been using desktop organizers for years, and they have made a bigger difference in my life than you could possibly imagine.

Getting a good desktop organizer will give you a place to put everything. Your pencils, your pens, your urgent notes and invoices, your office tools such as staplers, and even other things that do not fit neatly into any of these categories, will all find their proper place within your desktop organizer, and that is a fact.

And, even if you are quite particular about the way your desktop looks, that need be no obstacle to selecting a desktop organizer. Desktop organizers come in all sorts of different styles, from classic to modern. Some of them are quirky, clunky, and made of solid, craftsman-like wood, while others are made of metal mesh shaped into slick, low-profile drawers.

No matter what look you are searching for, there will probably be dozens of desktop organizers, if not hundreds, to chose from which fit that look to a t. And many furniture and office shops will help you chose which of their desktop organizers is right for you. They will put them out on display on their different desks, with real sample office gear organized in them, so you can compare the different desktop organizers and imagine which looks best in each type of office.

Read more about desktop organizers for more on this topic.

Failed Hard Drive Data Recovery Tips

One thing that manufacturers of hard drives will not tell you is that hard drives are subject to fail, regardless of the amount of time they are used. Some takes more than 10 years before the hard drive failure to occur, while others fail within just a year of normal use. Because of this, a failed hard drive data recovery is important to consider.

There are two major categories of failed hard drive data recovery. The first applies to those hard drives that fail due to a software problem; while the second failed hard drive data recovery category applies to the case of which the hard drive encounter a physical malfunction.

Read Failed Hard Drive Data Recovery Tips

Computer Education

If you are looking for a career in computers, or simply want to know more about them for personal use, you should look into computer education. There are many different types of classes, so make sure you know what you want before you start looking. Computers run on software, and there are many computer education courses that deal strictly with learning how to use that software. These computer education classes will cover how to use Microsoft Word, PageMaker, Excel, and other like programs. Many of these types of courses are geared towards office work, and you will learn software that will be used in day-to-day business dealings, as well as typing and shorthand.

You can also find computer education courses that teach you how a computer works, and all about computer programming. These classes are often complicated, and the material is hard to learn, but if you are looking for a high paying career, this may be just what you are looking for. You can also find computer education classes that deal with web design. These will teach you how to build a website from the ground up, and may also offer marketing techniques, and career direction. Building websites as a commercial venture can be a profitable career for someone who has the right skills.

You can find computer education classes in many colleges. Many have computer education that is an essential part of any curriculum. Look for schools that are geared towards business in general, and ask if they offer computer education. You can also find computer education classes online. These classes allow you to work and learn from your own home, and may be the answer for someone looking for a second degree that doesn’t wish to go through the entire college experience all over again.

When searching for online computer education, make sure you research any classes or degrees that you are considering. Some schools are well established, while others may be on the shady side. You don’t want to spend your money and your time on a worthless degree that doesn’t help you secure a new job. No matter where you go for computer education, keep costs in check by looking for classes or plans that have a lot of your needs already covered. If you take computer education classes in your home, you will need, at the very least, a good computer and the money to buy the software.