PC Memoirs

Have you ever needed free online computer help but didn’t know where to turn? There is a new site called the Computer Help Chat Room, a non-profit service provided by volunteer technicians and computer experts.

Users from around the world join the chat to help each other with problems and questions, and to discuss technology related topics. There isn’t any annoying registration or advertisements, just instant free technical support. All users are welcome to volunteer and help each other at anytime, and it is a great way to improve computer skills and learn troubleshooting and support.

The Computer Help Chat is about freedom. The freedom to fix your computer and receive technical support for free. The freedom to learn about computers and improve skills. The freedom to help others and gain hands on experience with technical support.

The chat also provides basic tutoring on a wide variety of computer related topics. Learn about virus removal, web design, internet marketing, Linux, networking, hardware, and more. The volunteers differ in their specialities and levels of experience. Most of them are employed technicians or students that volunteer because they enjoy helping others, and improving their computer skills and experience.

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In the current economic climate, businesses across all sectors are being forced to scrutinise expenditure and improve operational efficiency. Occupancy costs are one of the largest outgoings for many organisations, yet the vast majority of companies do not possess an accurate understanding of how their shared space is being utilised.

It is estimated that the average business leases or owns around twice the space they need for the size of their workforce, but despite this, most organisations’ face issues with meeting and conference room utilisation. Whilst many companies have woken up to the idea of hot desking and flexible workspace, typical meeting room utilisation remains at only 60%.

This figure may come as a shock to many professionals, who still hear staff complaining that they are unable to find an available room in which to host their meeting. Numerous businesses will identify with the frequent problem of double booked conference rooms, and will bear witness to staff being forced to hold meetings in open office and informal areas. Even worse, a significant proportion of organisations are faced with a lack of resource availability within their own office and have to rely on utilising external meeting facilities which incur significant costs.

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Loving your Apple device is something that we can understand but that doesn’t detract from the fact that while you are ready to transfer videos and movies to your iPod touch or the iPad or the Mac to watch sometime later, you can get frustrated because the format you have with the movies and videos is incompatible with the iOS. That much has to be suffered. IOS devices after all have their own unique format, something Apple has been pretty open about forever, and if you want your apps or files to function properly it is most advisable to compromise by converting them into Apple usable formats.

That is actually not as hard as it seems. There are tons of websites like anyvideoconverter.com that will convert videos from one format to the other for you, with an option of making modifications to volume control, the quality of image (normal or HD) and much more. With such tools available online free of cost, there is no need to fret about knowing how to convert video files for the iOS. But what you should know is which formats are supported by the iOS so you don’t have to waste precious time which could be used to watch a video in converting it for a compatible format when it is already in a compatible format!

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There are a million reasons to ignore your computers gentle nudges to upgrade your software; and ultimately, none. Consider the following: when you casually tap that ‘ignore’ button, you are saying no to new features that have the potential to make both your personal and business operations infinitely easier.

Software upgrades are much like Big Brother housemates: they are designed to be progressively introduced, giving you the time to get familiar with each one’s function without being overwhelmed by all there is to learn.

There’s also the indelicate matter of bugs. Not the cute Pixar kind, but the species designed to mash the inner workings of your computer. There is one way to avoid the inevitable head banging and braying at the Gods that accompanies the crashing of a computer- update, update, update. Updating your software regularly also helps to prevent the unique shame and horror of having your computer hacked.  While you may not be too concerned with who is privy to your facebook post about the eggs hollandaise you scarfed that morning, all of us have some eye wateringly shameful matter stored within the confines of our computers. Hands up who hasn’t downloaded all seven seasons of Extreme Couponing? More seriously, hackers can access your personal banking details and wreak merry hell before you have time to yelp ‘but it’s a really interesting show!’

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When VGA Extender solutions came along it was a real boon to video technology. Not every business can afford to upgrade all their VGA computer monitors to newer digital models. In fact, some applications have to be rewritten to work with a digital interface. Until that happens, VGA monitors will be around.

We had an application where we needed a VGA over Cat5 Extender at a local manufacturing plant. The company creates foam insulation and added on an assembly line in a new location in the plant. They wanted to have the line foreman monitor the status of the mixing application on a monitor in one location, but have the PC host in a different room over 300 feet away from the monitor. There was an additional requirement to have a second monitor located with host computer so someone could also view the production status from that room. We used a VGA Extender with local access to solve this problem.

We connected Video Extender transmitter to the local VGA monitor output port on the host PC. Next we connected the receiver to the remote monitor and connected the extender using a Cat6 cable. Next, we plugged in the power sources to the transmitter and receiver devices and we fired up the monitors and computer. It worked!

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