Hardware Upgrade Tip of the Day #46


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TipWorld - http://www.tipworld.com
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Proudly presents:
Hardware Upgrade Tip of the Day

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*1. NEW PC SETUP--PART 1 OF 6

Your operating system will arrive from the factory with default 
settings for everything from look-and-feel customization 
elements to nuts-and-bolts performance elements. Make sure you 
review both the printed and online documentation regarding these 
settings, particularly performance settings, and adjust them to 
your style of working.

--by Dean Andrews


*2. NEW PC SETUP--PART 2 OF 6

--by Dean Andrews

Take the time to position your monitor correctly. Not only do 
you want to find the right height (ergonomic specialists say 
your screen should be at the same height as your head while 
sitting), but also the best place in terms of your other 
electronic equipment. Magnets embedded in stereo speakers and 
other equipment may affect CRT monitors negatively. If your 
display is not crystal-clear, try adjusting its position in 
relation to other devices.


*3. NEW PC SETUP--PART 3 OF 6

--by Dean Andrews

Unused software on your hard drive can negatively impact your 
overall system performance, particularly as your hard drive 
starts to fill near capacity. Your Windows operating system 
relies on free hard disk space as a virtual memory repository 
where it can store active programs and data when the RAM 
fills up. 

When you get your new PC, go through the software preloaded on 
the hard drive with a fine-toothed comb. Chances are you'll find 
applications, sample programs, demos, and data you'll never use. 
Delete unneeded software for better performance down the road. 


*4. NEW PC SETUP--PART 4 OF 6

--by Dean Andrews

If you plan to use an analog modem for an Internet connection, 
make sure you plug your modem into a phone line and test it. 
Before you connect to a new ISP or reconnect to your current 
ISP, you'll want to make sure the modem works properly on its 
own. This way, you eliminate the modem from any troubleshooting 
problems that might arise when you try to get online. 

Read your documentation to determine if your modem vendor 
included a modem test application with your new PC. But, if not,
use Windows NT's HyperTerminal applet or Windows 98's 
PhoneDialer applet to see if you can simply hear a dial tone 
through your modem.


*5. NEW PC SETUP--PART 5 OF 6

--by Dean Andrews

Examine the technical support and warranty information that 
arrives with your new PC. These days, many PC makers request 
that you set up an account by filling out and sending in a 
product postcard or by signing up over the Web; you can't get 
technical service for your system until you do so. 

You'll save significant time if you follow the company's 
procedure and sign up in advance for your technical support 
and/or warranty. Otherwise you may have to wait on the phone 
for quite a while as the account is set up for you.


*6. NEW PC SETUP--PART 6 OF 6

--by Dean Andrews

When your new PC first arrives, make sure you open up the case 
and take stock of what's inside the PC box. Sometimes, as a 
result of either poor assembly or a shipping mishap, you might 
find loose connections or unseated cards inside your system. 
It's best to check for internal trouble before powering up your 
system. This procedure will also familiarize you with the method
for opening and closing the case. You'll need to know this 
technique later when you upgrade components.


*7. TOUCH SCREENS--PART 2 OF 3

If your mobile device comes with a stylus-pointing device, use 
it. Using a pen or other substitute pointer will likely scratch 
or otherwise damage the semifragile screen. The stylus features 
a rounded point that won't damage a touch screen even when 
you're clicking and double-clicking objects.

--by Dean Andrews


*8. TOUCH SCREENS--PART 3 OF 3

You probably go for months without cleaning the screen on your 
desktop monitor. Make sure you change this habit with your 
mobile device. Your fingers, which contain natural oil and 
perhaps small dirt and dust particles, come in contact with your 
mobile device screen much more frequently than they do with the 
screen of your desktop monitor. This oil and dirt will scratch 
or damage your screen if not removed. Make sure you use a 
scratch-resistant cloth or disposable tissue specially designed 
for screen cleaning to clean your touch screen.

--by Dean Andrews


*9. NEW VISORPHONE

--by Dean Andrews

The long-awaited wireless module for the popular Handspring 
Visor is almost here. The so-called VisorPhone is a GSM digital 
cellular technology cartridge that plugs into the expansion port 
of the Visor handheld device. It will offer calling alerts that 
ring or vibrate, and it is designed to run for about 2 hours of 
talk time and 70 hours of standby time. 

Using the included headset, you can talk on the phone and use 
your Visor's applications (calendar, schedule, and so forth) at 
the same time. 

Handspring says the $299 VisorPhone and phone service plans will
be available before the end of the year. 

http://www.handspring.com


*10. SHARING A HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTION        
     
by Dean Andrews 
           
You may remember past tips discussing the fact that many home 
networking products were not designed to share high-speed 
Internet connections (such as those delivered over DSL or cable
modems). Well, times have changed. 

If you do have a high-speed Internet connection and you are 
considering a home network setup, check into the latest 
versions of home networking gear. Proxim's Symphony, for 
example, shares an Internet connection across several PCs 
regardless of whether the Internet connection comes over a 
dial-up (analog phone line) or Ethernet (DSL or cable) 
network structure. 

Proxim 
http://www.proxim.com
