Most warranties are 1 year for new computers.  But, should you cover your computer for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year?  Desktops are able to be fixed for a reasonable computer service charge since most of the parts are easily swappable.  However, laptop fixes are usually more expensive since everything is compartmentalized.  What does that mean? 

Usually, everything is connected to the motherboard on a laptop.  So, if your video card, sound, usb port, or power are dead, more times than not, you cannot just replace those individual parts since they are integrated on the motherboard.  So, the only fix you can perform is to replace the motherboard to get your laptop up and running again.  A laptop motherboard can cost $350 - $850 depending on the model.  So, based on that premise, it makes reasonable sense to splurge on at least the 2nd year and preferably the 3rd year of hardware warranty for your laptop.  Each additional year on the warranty will cost app. $100 - 150.

Another route you may try is to see if your credit card will cover additional years on computer equipment.  For instance, American Express has an offer to double your equipment warranty.  With AMEX, if you purchase a computer with their card, and say you purchase a 1 year warranty, they’ll double it to 2 so the 2nd year is on them. 

In sum, we recommend 2-3 years of hardware warranty on laptops, and for desktops you can get by with a 1-year warranty with a low-end one.  Obviously, if you purchased a rocket ship of a desktop, you might want to add a couple of years warranty to support it and its expensive parts.

Sometimes, I bet you cringe when going to restaurants because of either the overzealous restaurant server or the rude waitress.  Now, you can avoid those protocol pleasantries by ordering your dinner through a tough-screen computer.  That’s right, a computer!  New e-menu computers are being offered to restaurants so patrons can see images of the food they want to eat, and then touch them to order.  After touching the food, the order is electronically processed and sent to the kitchen computer so the chef can cook it to order.  While waiting for your food, you can play video games on the computer.  Pretty cool!

Microsoft has taken this step further by releasing a computer that becomes your tabletop.  This was launched in November of 2007, and has been slow to take off.  Maybe the $5,000 - $10,000 has something to do with the slow take-off.  These Microsoft tabletops can be a good idea for restaurants also by allowing the full menu to be right on your table.  Several hundred more studies must be done before Microsoft can target the right industry groups. 

Technology is becoming screaming fast in terms of new products and software.  Apple has put out Mac Air, Windows has released Vista.  Laptop hard drives may be purchased at 250GB and external hard drives may be bought up to 4-drives and up to 2TB (that’s 4 x 500GB).  It’s great that new products are being offered to consumers and at alarming productive rates.  This shows that technology is accomodating consumers’ needs.  For instance, larger hard drives are able to store users’ larger iTunes and picture collections.

But, are the new technologies stable?  Are these hard drives as stable as their predecessors (i.e. 40GB, 80gB, and 120gb hard drives)?  I’m sure you’ve had or heard of an older computer from the 90’s lasting for about 10 years time, and that was pretty normal.  Now, laptops are lasting 2-3 years before a part, most likely the hard drive, breaks down.  We believe that the technology is going at a rapid pace and, whether to fast or not, we’ve seen new computers and operating systems fail faster than a decade’s past.  We believe that more computers and hard drives have been produced to meet the higher demand of more computer users.  So, we feel it’s more of a numbers game in the end.  Hopefully, you will not be one of the unlucky few.  But, if your computer decides to crash, your friendly NYC computer support team is ready to get you back on track.

Telling your mac what to do can be a lengthy process without keyboard shortcuts.  Copying and pasting, printing the screen, or opening a Word document can take seconds by pressing 1-2 keys on your keyboard rather than navigating to programs to open.  If you want to add an shortcut, or hot key, it’s easier than you think.

Here’s how to set up your own Mac hot key:

1. Go to Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Keyboard and Mouse
2. Go to Keyboard Shortcuts tab -> click “+” sign at bottom-left
3. Select Finder from the application menu and type the name of the command you want to add
4. Type the shortcut you want to use (i.e. A + F) and click Add

Now, you have no excuse for increasing your computer performance with this Mac hot key setup.

Lacie has a new Ethernet Disk Mini - Home Edition Server that is a great solution for your home.  There are home servers now costing $2,000+ that will store files, administer permissions, and backup.  For only $210, you can do the same thing with Lacie.  It has 500GB to back up music, pics, and docs. And the Home Server looks like an external hard drive instead of a big unit.

• What’s in the box?
• 500GB of storage space
• Mac/PC compatible
• HipServ software to administer folder permissions - block the kids from your folders or provide access to everyone
• DesktopMirror software that backs up and restores your computer files
• Access your files from outside your house via a homelacie.com personalized website address
• E-mail friends and family to view certain folders via a give website address.

The last feature is very cool.  How many times does a family member e-mail you a link to their pictures?  All the time I’m sure!  Now, you can provide access to a bunch of folders on your external hard drive to your buddy or parents.  Don’t worry - you can give access to just some folders for view pictures.  You can even give access to iTunes songs so you can have friends stream the music to their own computers.  This is all over the Internet.  Definitely a thumbs up on this product!

Spyware is one of the biggest nuisances out there for computers.  Why is spyware not banned?  Spyware might come as pop-ups or more popularly as intermittent messages on your computer relaying “Your computer has spyware.”  At the worst, your computer may not start after the next reboot.  At the least, your system will receive pop-ups, spam, and slow internet use.

How come this annoying spyware is not banned?  Well, the Internet is still a free realm that is unregulated.  The only time the Internet is regulated is to make sure adult sites and chat rooms are under control, and not open to under-aged adults.  Other than that, the Internet is still free game for those who solicit e-mails and advertise non-stop pop-ups. 

Petitioners have tried to get numbers of people to sign up to demand spyware to be stopped; however, lawmakers are reluctant to ban such marketing.  Why?  Probably because spyware brings in lots of advertising dollars to those who are looking to get their products out.  Someone out there is asking for his product to be advertised.  Whether directly or indirectly, the products sometimes finds its way in the wrong hands and is advertised maliciously via spyware.  When one party is benefiting and profiting, it is hard to stop such flow and where there is money involved, the government usually looks the other way.  This is just one conspirary theorist’s mind talking.

The blue screen of death can be a shocking and miserable situation.  All of sudden, you are writing a document or reading the news online, and.. BAM!!.. you have a blue screen with white cryptic writing.  The writing will typically start with “0×000000…”  What do you do?

Here are 7 steps to follow for resolving your blue screen of death:

1. The first thing you should do is jot down the error code (i.e. 0×000000de IRQ less than or equal)
2. Unplug any unncecessary peripherals (i.e. printer, iPod, laptop mouse) that could be causing the issue
3. Think of any recent software or hardware you installed.  If reasonably recent enough to cause this issue, remove them if possible.
4. Type your error code into a Google search and look for answers
5. Follow the Internet’s instructions if the source looks reliable.  Please note if the solution worked for others as shown in forums
6. If the solution didn’t work, update your device drivers by going on your manufacturer’s website.
7. If all else fails, bring in your computer for a repair to NYC’s favorite computer repair shop.

With the Democratic race neck-and-neck between Obama and Clinton, the spammers have tried to sway sides.  Specifically, spammers are e-mailing a Hilary Clinton video showing her discussing the importance of the March 4th vote in Ohio.  The e-mail has a “Full video.  Download it now!” link that will really cause you trouble if you click it.  Those who clicked this link turned their computers into spam-spewing bots from the Srizbi Trojan horse.  Basically, their computers were sending spam to their contacts and other people on the network.

This is either a sad plea of desperation for the Obama camp, or just a sad ploy by a spammer in general.  Whether politically-motivated or not, this is the first time politics has played into such a malicious virus.   It is quite possible that Obama gave a lump sum of money for advertising purposes, and the advertisers deployed a spam tactic to make Clinton look bad.  Or it could have been some renegade individual performing this wrongdoing, one who sides with Obama.

Whatever the reason, just be on the look-out for this spammed e-mail.  The only way to resolve this is by having a virus removal professional or possibly even reinstalling your operating system if it gets too bad.

CompUSA is closing 126 of its stores due to financial woes.  Its parent company, US Commercial Corp SA de CV, reported a loss of 45.7 million during the third quarter of 2007.  This shutdown includes the store as well as the computer support division.

Is this good news or bad news for tech consumers?  Well, based on our customer feedback, we have found that many had the same sentiments: “It’s about time!”  Those who searched for laptops, digital cameras, or other computer equipment felt like the customer service was lacking in two areas: 1.  the wait was too long and 2. the advice was not clear in terms of whether the product proposed was tested or if they were just trying to make a sale.  In regard to their computer support, some users felt like their techs were not interviewed or screened thoroughly as shown by their inability to resolve issues as well as customer-service skills on-site.  That disappointment is probably due to the fact that CompUSA’s hiring process was not in-person or on the phone, but entirely by completing an application online that was 95% approved.

The pricing overall by consumers’ feedback was grossly high, and the warranty, when provided, took app. 2-3 weeks.  So, it is safe to assume CompUSA will not be missed.

The new all-in-one iMac is definitely turning heads.  But, what if you are a die-hard PC user?  You may opt to go with Dell’s new XPS One.  This computer also packs eveything into the pack of the LCD monitor.  Dell’s 20″ desktop computer has everything the Mac has and a few more tricks.  It has a built-in TV tuner so can you watch television from your computer.  You may also throw in your memory cards for quick viewing in the integrated picture card slot.  Wave your hand near the screen and quick media controls are available.  Further, USB slots are easily accessible from the front of your system instead of reaching far into the back like the iMac. 

So, which one should you go with?  The default configurations are $300 cheaper with the iMac, but you’ll get more hard drive space and RAM with this factory-configuration on the XPS One.  As always, you’ll need to bulk up with anti-virus and anti-spyware software for the PC which could slow down Windows users.  As per the operating systems, Windows Vista is coming out with Service Pack 1 shortly so the Vista vs. Leopard showdown should be a wash post SP1.  In the end, it comes down to which operating system you are more comfortable with:  Windows or Mac.