Sep 30, 2009 | General
Our exchange of e-mail is one of the most common uses of the internet, with free e-mail accounts comprising the bulk of resources we utilize when communicating with one another. From Yahoo to Hotmail, there is no shortage of choices with which to stay in touch with friends and family, most of them offering similar features you can employ in the management of your mail.
Relatively new, having initially been available in just a closed beta, Google now offers Gmail to the public. Not unlike those e-mail accounts I?ve already mentioned, Gmail is a free service, yet its functionality extends beyond what’s typically offered by its competitors:
- An initial storage capacity of 8GB, which is considerably larger than what?s available with your standard free e-mail account.
- A conversational-like management of e-mail, which sees correspondence on a single subject ( which can span numerous e-mails ) grouped within a stacked format that saves users the time spent returning to their mailbox and selecting each relevant e-mail.
- Comprehensive spam filtering that is community-driven, where one user?s receipt and acknowledgment of legitimate spam results in the entire Gmail community being notified of any future mailings originating at that source.
These are just a few examples to be found among the many useful features that have helped propel Gmail above more threadbare alternatives. Google is constantly improving upon its interface, making it easier for Gmail users to organize the email they send and receive. ?While it?s certainly not perfect, it has been the recipient of numerous technology awards for good reason.
If you need assistance setting up a Gmail account, or you?re unsure of how to take advantage of its features, let us know. That is what Geek Choice is for.
Sep 28, 2009 | Computer technology, General
Once a burgeoning niche product, laptops are fast becoming an established alternative for consumers opting for the convenience of portability over? being tied to a desktop. While desktops will continue to be used for tasks that aren?t feasible with the average laptop, the technology of portable computing has progressed to the point that many functions once limited to those desk bound mainstays are now available for people on the move.
When choosing a portable computing solution, a number of considerations come into play, the primary one being the functionality you?re looking for. Many use their laptops for gaming, while others simply want a portable word processor; ?one might just want wireless accessibility for their local? hotspot, or they?re looking for something on which to play a DVD while commuting to and from work.
The uses for these portable systems are as varied as the technology housed within them.
Deciding on a laptop can mean the difference between $400.00 or $1,000.00, the gulf between the price tags is determined by the functionality required by the user. ?If you?re solely looking for something with which to browse the internet, you?re not going to require a high-end system that might be tailored for the purpose of editing videos. If you’re an avid PC gamer, you?re going to want your system outfitted with a lot of ram, which is just another variable when assessing the expense you?ll incur.
When shopping for a laptop, ask questions. If you?re still unsure of what kind of portable solution will work for your needs, give Geek Choice a call.
Sep 21, 2009 | Computer Repair, General, Software
From creating spreadsheets to playing the latest games, we use our computer for multiple purposes, one of the most common being our navigation of the internet.? With the use of the internet occupying so much of our time, it stands to reason that we?d want to enhance that experience as best we can.
When it comes to internet browsers, there isn’t a more ubiquitous one than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Bundled with Microsoft Windows, the most widely used operating system in the personal computing market, Internet Explorer is the standard by default.? However, in spite of its widespread use, there are alternatives to Internet Explorer that are arguably more popular with the geeks amongst us.
Because of its de facto popularity, a result of being packaged with Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer has seen only incremental advances in how it functions. This lack of innovation has paved the way for competitors to release alternative choices which offer greater functionality and more reliable security for users browsing the internet.
Of those choices, my favorite is Mozilla?s Firefox.
Free and thoroughly customizable, Firefox is fast becoming the choice to which users are migrating from Microsoft?s problematic browser, its superior functionality immediately apparent:
- Firefox includes helpful features that augment the browsing experience, such? as spell checking and saving sessions for those who accidentally quit the browser.
- hundreds of plug-ins afford users a staggering level of customization for their browsing experience.
- Though Internet Explorer now has tabbed browsing , which allows multiple pages to be opened within a single browser, Firefox? tabbed browsing is faster and easier to manage.
- With the advent of malware, those bugs that creep along the porous byways of the internet highway, your computer remains at risk whenever you use the internet. When it comes to security, Firefox is unmatched, with seamless updates that keep you protected from vulnerabilities that leave Internet Explorer users subject to spyware and viruses.
While your internet browser of choice is a personal preference, there?s no denying that Firefox adds a bit more to the experience than Internet Explorer. Yes, Microsoft?s offering has certainly taken steps in the right direction, but much of its improvements were available in the first version of Firefox.
The functionality of Firefox may prove daunting to new users, but Geek Choice is always available to show them how to get the best out of its use.
Sep 15, 2009 | General
As we all know, social networking is all the craze, with everyone from our children to the family dog posting updates on their social networking site of choice — the most popular ones being Myspace and Facebook. These sites allow you to stay in touch with family, catch up with old friends you’ve lost contact with, and introduce bits of your life for public consumption.
While these sites are tremendously beneficial for the aforementioned uses, particularly when it comes to remaining in touch with your close circle of friends, they also leave many unsuspecting users vulnerable to the prying eyes of unwelcome visitors. It’s always advisable to be vigilant when using the internet, and your use of these social networking sites should be no different.
Be very careful with the information you post on your site, making sure not to reveal anything that you wouldn’t want a stranger to know. Everything that you post becomes public, down to the most sensitive detail you decide to divulge.
If you don’t want the neighbor down the street knowing what time you arrive home from work, don’t post it.
If you’re not sure your employer will take kindly to you taking a sick day to go to the beach, you might want to refrain from revealing that bit of information on your Facebook wall.
If you think your parents might experience discomfort when reading about your latest tattoo, you might want to make your Myspace page private? (in the event they’re not on your friends list).
These are powerful networking tools that afford their users the ability to connect with a myriad number of people, for multiple reasons, from business to the recreational. If you have any questions about their use, feel free to ask.
Sep 12, 2009 | General
Welcome to the new GeekChoiceBlog.com, the blog for Geek Choice, the best on-site computer repair company around.? In business since 1996 and? headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts we are a nationwide computer service company specializing in:? Computer Setup, Spyware Removal, Virus Removal, Data Backup and Recovery, Wireless Networking, Network Setup, Computer Repair, Firewalls, and much more.
We hope to provide you with the latest news and updates that you need to keep up to date with the world of computers and the internet.
