Technology Tips for making your online life easier

I have done many in home service events over the years and have overwhelmingly ran across folks who have simple questions, but are unwilling to ask their friends and family for answers. This article is about how to make your online life easier and what options to consider when making purchases. The sections below are split into common issues that I have ran across in no certain order of importance.

Which Anti-virus software is the best?

This question has been asked the most often and there is no one good answer. I will, however, narrow the search for so that you can make a the best decision. There is malicious software out there masquerading as legitimate anti-virus software. Never be lured into one of those pop-up windows that flashes and tells you that your computer is infected. The best thing to do if you are alarmed is to click the X and close all of your open windows. Now, open your Anti-virus software and run a scan. What if you do not have an anti-virus software? The list below will cover the various legitimate anti-virus software along with some information about each one.

PC-cillin AntiVirus 11.0was recently ranked the number one anti-virus software in independent tests. It is a full suite of protection that won’t slow your computer down like some of the others will, especially good if you have an older PC, or are concerned about speed and memory.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 3-User is another good choice for an easy to use antivirus that won’t slow your computer down and has very good support for users.
Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware – 2 Year Subscription has been around for many years and is used heavily by PC technicians as a sound reliable anti-virus software solutions.
Everyone needs anti-virus protection and at the very minimum you should have at least a free version, but don’t trust just any product that says free, because it could do more harm than good. For free solutions try:
AVG Free
Note: Your computer should be virus free before attempting to install an anti-virus

How much memory do I need?

The amount of memory in your PC, also called RAM, depends on what you are using it for. The demand that software puts on immediate memory usage makes it relevant to have a sufficient amount of RAM. My standard answer is get as much RAM as you can for the lowest price, but everyone needs at least 1GB, 2GB is better, and for heavy users 3-4GB is best. The motherboard and operating system has to be able to support any added memory. You can find out what your motherboard is capable of accepting by going to your manufactures Web site, or by looking at your documentation that came with your machine. It will say expandable up X amount of Ram.

What kind of computer should I buy?

Buying a computer is in large part the 3 P’s, personal preference,  performance and price. Get the machine that has the look you want with the most amount RAM, fastest processor, and best video capabilities as possible for the lowest price. In other words do some research first! However I do recommend staying away from E-Machines, HP and Gateway. HP makes very good printers, and decent business class equipment, but it is too proprietary for home users making service and upgrades more difficult. Gateway is also very proprietary.

My favorite PC laptop is Acerbecause they are reasonably priced, durable, and reliable and have good battery life. I am also a big fan of the Apple MacBook Profor its light weight, sleek design, and overall reliability. Which brings us to the next question.

PC or Mac?

The choice to buy a PC or Mac is also very personal. While Macintosh computers are not incapable of getting virus’s they are much less susceptible to them. It is not that Macs cannot get a virus, but that the large majority of virus’s are made to attack the Windows operating system. Another choice when purchasing a PC is to have it loaded with one of the Linux operating systems. In the past decade Linux has become much more user friendly and capable of supporting a wider range of hardware and software. Even if you have a MAC or Linux operating system you still have the choice of loading Windows.
You can have a dual booting operating system, or run Windows in one of the many Virtual Machinesavailable.

Remember the 3 P’s, preference, performance and price! If you need a professional opinion your local computer store can assist you. Many small business owners are affiliates for computer hardware and software vendors and can get you special pricing!

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