Verizon DSL service is a good way to get on the Internet for your home or office.  It is also a cost efficient way to ensure the speed you pay for is actually the speed you get.  This is in contrast to Time Warner’s Internet Service where your paid service is shared with your building’s users.  So, you might not be getting the speed you paid for.

Enough about speed.  The biggest thing to watch out for with Verizon DSL, or for Time Warner’s Cable, is the activation date.  We get a lot of people asking our computer Internet technicians to come out to set up their computers for the Internet; however the Internet service is not activated yet.  Typically, the Internet companies ship out kits, including the modem, filters, cables, and sometimes routers.  Just because you receive the kit, it doesn’t mean your service will automatically work.

You’ll need to confirm with Verizon or TimeWarner that your service has been activated or else the modem will not pick up the Internet signal.  This is similar to the phone service where you need to make sure the phone service is activated or plugging your phone into the phone jack will not help at all.  This may seem obvious to make sure the service is activated, but the date you get is typically delayed.  So, the next time your Internet service is about to be set up by an Internet setup tech, make sure your Internet service is really activated.

Starbucks has a deal now with ATT to offer free wi-fi access to iPhone users.  Previously, Starbucks had a deal with T-mobile to provide paid Internet service to computer users.  Now, iPhone users can use wi-fi access for free instead of using the slower EDGE network.  Wi-fi access is similar to going on the Internet wirelessly from home.  You simply connect wirelessly to a router that, in turn, connects to a modem for Internet access. 

How does it work?   As an iPhone user, your Safari browser will automatically prompt you to enter your phone number for verification.  Once it’s verified, you’re good to go.  This is one more reason to visit Starbucks for a cup of Joe.  Just make sure to keep your coffee at harm’s length from your laptop.  We have many customers that visit our computer repair shop shortly afterwards due to a cafe latte that spilled on their keyboards.

If you’re computer screen, whether desktop or laptop, went horizontal, don’t fret.   This computer issue just means you mistakenly hit the wrong combination of keys.  You can correct it by making your screen vertical again.

Hold down the CTRL and ALT keys and hit one of the arrow keys.  This should bring you screen to the right position.  If this doesn’t work, right-click on your desktop, click Properties and Display Properties.  You should see something like Rotate or Directional which you should be able to switch

A couple months back, Yahoo! signed an agreement to be acquired by Microsoft.  However, as of this past Saturday, the two have not come to terms.  Basically, Yahoo didn’t like the aggresive terms that Microsoft set forth.  These terms are confidential, but most likely include Microsoft attaining rights to Yahoo’s pay-per-click advertising to better compete with Google.

Currently, the deadline was Saturday to wrap up negotiations.  Since they haven’t, the deal might not even happen at all.  Or Microsoft may perform a hasty takeover by wiping out the Yahoo team and bringing in its own Microsoft board for full authority.  While this battling continues, Google continue to chug along with its increasing stock price and top online advertising model.

This is a question we hear often: My PC died.  Should I get a Mac now?

The answer stems from several factors?  Please read the below factors to determine if you should make the switch from PC to Mac:

1. Do you have the patience to learn a new operating system?
2. Do you have the patience to learn new software and settings?
3. Will you software be compatible on the Mac?
4. If you’re geared towards graphics, music, and overall multimedia, the  Mac is for you.
5. If you’re just geared towards Word processing the PC will be more than sufficient.

These factors should help you decide if moving towards the Mac is right for you.

AVG has released a new version of its free software: Version 8.  Instead of just an anti-virus software, it includes protection against spyware, e-mail viruses, a links.  The newest form of protection, link scanner, protects against dangerous websites, pop-ups, and downloads.  Also, link scanner will warn you have dangerous links in searched sites all in real time.

AVG can now compete with Norton’s Security, McAfee Security suite, and other all-in-one protection products.  It is still fast, doesn’t slow down your computer, and goes unnoticed until it runs a daily scan or update. 

After 30 days, the e-mail scanning feature turns off, but the virus, spyware, and link protection remain.  Finally, this is the first solid free virus and spyware protection software available.  And we’re definitely on board.

Before Windows Vista SP1, all x32 (32-bit) computers didn’t display 4GB within the computer although 4GB is installed.  The computers would allocate 256MB - 512MB RAM for video, motherboard, and resources.  That would leave app. 3.5GB left for applications and processing, the real reason for installing so much RAM.

Now, Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista solves the 4GB jip.  No more are you jipped when you upgrade to 4GB of RAM.  Now, when you install 4GB of RAM, you get and are shown 4GB of RAM.  This is the first big win for Vista - RAM is actually accurately allocated.

Spyware Doctor is one of the best spyware removal software tools out there.  It detects the most spyware hidden on your computer, and removes it effortlessly.  Whether you have pop-ups, malware, spyware, low-level viruses, or malicious registry links, Spyware Doctor will find it and remove it. 

Here’s the skinny though - Spyware Doctor, by having it loaded on your computer, will slow down your system.  Spyware Doctor constantly looks for malicious info on your computer so its auto-feature really bogs down your speed. 

So, what do you?  Install Spyware Doctor, update it for the latest spyware, run a full scan.  When you’re done removing the spyware, click on the “shutdown” option of Spyware Doctor so it will not be automatically loaded afterwards.  You can even fully remove the program and just install it when necessary.  Once you buy this software, you’ll always have an available license to reload it.

Spring is here and you probably have some old computers to get rid of.  Or possibly some heavy printers tucked underneath your desk need to be trashed.  On Green Day, we’d like to discuss how to properly get rid of your old tech stuff.

Here’s what not to do:

• Don’t throw your old monitors on the street.  It’s illegal.
• Chop of your laptop in little pieces.

Here’s what to do:

• Recyle, recyle, recyle.  It’s the safest way to decompose your technology equipment.  And it’s the most efficient for the environment
• Donate to schools or non-for-profit organizations
• See about upgrading your computer instead of trashing it
• Make sure to back up your files and format/delete your info before giving away your computer.

Please make sure to think of the environment first before disposing of your computer electronics.

Does your Windows computer take too long at startup?  Is your loading time unbearable?  This can happen if you have too many startup programs running in the background.  When a program starts up, even if you’re not using it, it is running in the background and takes up processing speed.  This processing speed not only slows up the startup time of your computer, but also the overall speed.

You can stop programs from starting up.  Please note that by removing these programs from starting up doesn’t mean you’re permanently removing them.  It just means that these programs may be used at a time of your preference.

You may remove these programs by going to: Start->Run-> and type in msconfig and hit enter.  Click the Startup Tab and uncheck those programs that don’t need to be working at startup.  Make sure not to remove anti-virus programs and manufacturer necessary software.  After restarting your computer, you should experience a faster startup