Free Essential Windows 7 Downloads

Now that you have Windows 7 installed on your computer (and if you don't, we can install Windows 7 for you), it's time to give it a turbo boost with updated software. We've collected links to seven (get it?) of the top essential free software downloads that will enhance your new Windows 7 experience.


Ultimate Windows Tweaker / Windows 7 Tweak Guide

Windows 7 is already designed to perform faster and more user-friendly than Windows Vista...and arguably, Windows XP. But many of us aren't satisfied with a piece of software's default settings. They are, after all, set for the average user. With a little tinkering, we don't have to settle for average; we can do better!

Ultimate Windows Tweaker is a free application that will open up the hood for you in Windows 7. By selecting from an assortment of tick boxes, you can optimize the speed of your PC, adjust the user interface, and even improve security.

This tool is a slim 345KB executable that requires no install and can be run as a portable app from a flash drive. It even detects whether you're using it on Windows 7, Vista, and whether the OS is 32bit or 64bit.

For those who want something more hardcore, the guys over at Tweak Guides is currently working on a thorough Windows 7 tweak guide to go along side their fantastic Windows Vista and XP guides. There's more manual work involved, but the benefits are well worth the effort.


Microsoft Security Essentials

Nothing is more important than making sure that your computer is safe and secure. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free utility offered by Microsoft to defend your PC against viruses, spyware, and other malware that may infect your computer. Security Essentials establishes real-time protection and runs in the background, so it won't slow down your computers regular run time.

While tests show that Security Essentials is capable of protecting your system against over 98% of the current wide-spread malware, there is a third-party alternative. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is another reliable security application, which just recently updated to version 9.


Ninite

Ninite is a fast, convenient application for quickly installing your favorite third-party software. This can come in handy if you have a new computer or have to do a clean-reinstall of the operating system. You'll save hours off the chore of re-downloading and re-installing all the programs you use on a regular basis.

All you do is go to their website and check from a list of available popular programs. Ninite will collect the latest versions into one executable installer. The program will then install all of the selected applications with their default settings. The install will also reject any extra, unwanted features (like search toolbars, etc.) that other developers like to sneak in.

If you don't find one of your favorite applications from their list, they're very open to requests.


Windows Easy Transfer

We all have our own style in preferences in how we use our computers. Whenever you get a new PC to welcome into your family, it can be time consuming adjusting it to match the others that you use.

To make synchronization of multiple computers a lot less painless, Microsoft offers a handy tool: Windows Easy Transfer. This program will copy selected files, email, and settings that you need to transfer from one PC to another. You have the option of making the transfer over a network or saving them to a portable storage drive.

The transfer process will complete without disruption, regardless of running into incompatible files. If a file is unable to be included in the transfer, Easy Transfer will continue with the rest of the task and make a report of non-transferable files for your review.


Combined Codec Community Pack

It's becoming more and more common for people to connect their PC to an HDTV to act as a high-tech media center. (In fact, we wrote a PC-to-HDTV guide!) Video files are easily made available in high-definition video, with multiple subtitle and audio tracks. This is an incredible opportunity for users with high-end home video cameras and aspiring filmmakers!

In order to view video files these extreme features, you'll need to install the proper codecs to decipher them. The Combined Codec Community Pack is a bundle of all the essential codecs that your computer will need to play high-quality multimedia, as well as some media players most suited for the task. The pack is free and fully customizable, depending on your preferences.


Windows Live Photo Gallery

One of Microsofts key goals for developing Windows 7 was to reduce as much bloat as possible. As a result, many applications that had been packaged in with Windows up through Vista were removed. While these applications could be argued as unpopular, there are still a great many users that enjoyed or depended on them to carry out specific tasks.

One of those applications that users have expressed missing is Windows Photo Gallery. It was an easy-to-use image editor, great for managing your photos and home video collection. Microsoft has made a newer version for faithful users, called Windows Live Photo Gallery. It's free to download and install for Windows 7.


Live Mesh

Unlike Windows Easy Transfer, Live Mesh will allow you to share programs across multiple machines, along with your favorite files. This includes multiple platforms—PC, Mac, and even mobile devices.

Every computer with Live Mesh installed will be able to share resources with each other, whether on a network or connected remotely from the web. If you need an application on one computer that's installed on another, you can access the other computer's desktop and run it on your current display.

The service is free to use and signing up will give you an additional 5GB of web-based data storage.


If you would like Triangle Laptops to include any of these applications along with our professional Windows 7 installation, please let us know! Consult our laptop repair service page or contact us by email for details. You can also call toll-free 1-877-456-7869.

The Benefits of Halogen Light Bulbs

One of the heaviest users of power in the home is the lighting. One of the easiest changes that a person can make is to replace the standard, incandescent bulbs in their home with compact fluorescent bulbs. As they grow in popularity, CFL light bulbs are becoming more and more affordable. In the long-term, CFL bulbs save you money on your power bill, conserves our energy resources, and are overall healthier for the environment.

Alternatively, you might want to invest in installing track lighting using halogen bulbs. Like CFL light bulbs, halogen bulbs are quite energy-efficient. They also give your home a classy, showcase look.

Here are some of the other benefits to using halogen bulbs:


Brightness

Halogen bulbs burn brighter that just about any other type of light bulb, creating the best area illumination. The light is whiter and more focused as well. This way, you can direct each light in the track on the key areas in the room, like a desk, decorative art, reading area, or a central table.

Unlike standard or CFL bulbs, halogen lights can be equipped with a dimmer switch, giving you much more control over the lighting level in your room.


Longer Life

Since halogen bulbs do burn hotter than other types of bulb, they require a much more durable glass to contain the filament inside. The glass is also filled with the halogen gas, which holds the magic that extends the bulb's life. As the filament burns, it emits particles of tungsten. The halogen gas gathers up these tungsten particles and re-applies them to the filament. Since the filament is constantly restored, halogen bulbs last much longer than incandescent bulbs.

Efficiency

Halogens have gotten a bad rep for having poor energy efficiency. However, more recent types of halogen bulbs have proven to be quite efficient! Many halogen light bulbs emit double the light per wattage than their incandescent counterparts.

Additionally, halogen bulbs continue to emit nearly 94% of their original light output near the end of their lifespan. Incandescent bulbs tend to dim below 85% their original light before they finally going out for good.

Some people may complain about the initial cost of a halogen bulb, but they don't quite realize the money that they're actually saving in the long run.


Space Saver

Placing your lighting overhead will free up valuable space by replacing floor and table lamps. Using halogen light bulbs in your track lighting or is even more convenient, due to their compact size. Installing them is also as easy as a simple twist into the socket.

Track or recessed lighting is most recommended for using halogen bulbs. Free-standing lamps can pose a hazard if they're knocked over, due to the heat generated by the bulbs. Since they burn so bright, they could be uncomfortable to the eyes if seen in direct line of sight.


Outdoor Use

Halogen bulbs are excellent for outdoor flood lights. Since they last so much longer, you won't have to be bothered as often with climbing up into hard-to-reach places to change them.


Triangle Laptops puts a conscious effort toward protecting the Earth's vital energy resources. We also look for the most cost-effective solutions for our customers. Both halogen bulbs and CFL bulbs are available in our online store, along with a variety of LED light bulb options. If you have questions about lighting or any of the products we carry, please contact us by email or call toll-free 1-877-456-7869.

Windows 7 Is Here!

The much-awaited Windows 7 is finally here!

Over the past few years, Microsoft has had difficulty with their Windows Vista operating system, due to its early compatibility issues and taxing use on system resources. In fact, it increased demand for its previous version of operating system, Windows XP. Customers proved that they were willing to pay PC suppliers extra to downgrade from Vista to XP.

While Microsoft eventually resolved most of Vista's compatibility problems, the OS continued to struggle to please users. Learning from their past mistakes and listening carefully to the needs of their customers, Microsoft quickly went to work developing its next generation of operating system, titled Windows 7.

Beta testing for Windows 7 began in early 2009, earning quite the positive reception. Its interface is much more customizable, bringing back the "personal" in "personal computer". At first glance, Win7 appears similar to Vista. However, the most notable features are what's under the hood. So far, Win7 has both XP and Vista beat in several performance tests, proving that it's faster and easier to use.

These test results come from the open Beta version of Win7, though many more improvements are expected to be made by its commercial release version.

Microsoft has put effort into simplifying the differences between its edition of Windows 7, making it less confusing for consumers to determine which one best suites their needs. Win7 comes in three flavors: Home, Professional, and Ultimate. Home Edition is designed for basic home use. Professional Edition has more features that benefit a work environment. Ultimate Edition is loaded with additional features and is intended for those who have network administration. There is a Starter Edition of Win7, though that will be reserved for pre-installation on netbooks and simple computers.

In order to ease skeptics and to insure better compatibility with older hardware and software, Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate come with an XP mode. This feature runs a virtual machine that basically runs WinXP on the same installed PC. Users will be able to run their old software as before, though it will appear through XP's older interface.

Users who want to streamline the operating system further will have the ability to disable many more components than in Vista. This includes the Internet Explorer web browser, Windows Media Center, and Windows Search.

For PC gaming, Win7 will continue supporting the Games for Windows features that began in Vista: The Game Advisor and Games Explorer. Game Advisor is a handy tool that evaluates the PC's hardware and determines which video games will run the smoothest on it. Games Explorer simplifies accessing your installed games by displaying them all in one spot. It can also automatically checks for any new patches that update your games' software.

Over the past few months, Microsoft has offered free upgrades to Win7 for consumers who have recently purchased a PC with Vista pre-installed. If you have purchased a new computer after June 26, 2009, you may qualify. Check with your manufacturer for details on their procedure for receiving the free upgrade.

Triangle Laptops, as part of our laptop repair services, will also soon be offering upgrades and installations for Windows 7. More details will be added shortly to our laptop repair page regarding benefits, services, and prices. If you would like to have your laptop or desktop PC upgraded by our skilled professionals, please contact us by email or call toll-free 1-877-456-7869.

Privacy on Social Networks

Social networking online has exploded over the past decade. Services like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter have made the web incredibly accessible for everyone to create their own content to share with the world. It's never been easier to express yourself and communicate with friends.

This revolution we know as "Web 2.0" is phenomenal, but is also a double-edged sword. Used irresponsibly, social networking services can be used by criminals to take advantage of us. Employers look to the web to keep tabs on their staff, using what they find to affect whether they hire or fire employees.

Students tend to be the most careless with their digital footprints, but anyone can make devastating mistakes online. It's easiest to just say not to sign up for any social networking sites, but with so many people depending on those services and other websites integrating social networking features, it's almost impossible to avoid.

Here are some tips for protecting yourself against online predators...


Use Private or Friends Only

Most online networking services offer security functions for their members. If you do have any photos that may appear a bit shady, you should set them so that only those specified on your Friends list are able to see. Some services are keen enough to let you select only certain friends or groups can see certain material on your page. This is especially helpful if you choose to include co-workers into your social network.

By default, most online services are set to display all of your information publicly. You'll need to go into your user settings and choose what content you want to be made public and what you want to give restricted access.


Pretend It's Your Mom

The easiest rule of thumb is to not publish anything on the web that you wouldn't want your mother to see. Regardless of your security settings, files can still be shared by third parties across the web. Once it's on the loose, it's only a matter of time before it reaches someone who disapproves.

You're lucky if a photo taken at a drunken New Year's party is only embarrassing. In may ways, your boss at work is like your mother, because if you're caught misbehaving, being fired is like being grounded.


Use Email to Send Photos

Many people use social networking sites to host and share photos. But if there are photos that you really only want to share with a few people, it might be best to simply attach them to an email. Try to think of it as the difference between sending a letter directly to someone and posting it on a public bulletin board.

This could also be a big favor to friends that you want to show photos to, but don't want to sign up for their own Facebook or MySpace account. Some people may appreciate a direct correspondence, rather than making them put forth the effort to look at what you want them to see.


Don't Post Personal Information

This is the mistake that most students tend to make, especially teenagers. Stalkers or sexual predators often disguise themselves as a student-aged person to start up an online relationship with their victims. They'll then use any personal information found on a website to contact young, naïve people to contact them.

Addresses, and phone numbers are definite no-no's. Avoid letting your age be known, since that may attract predators. Posting your email in public may be okay, especially if you set up a separate email account to use exclusively for your social networking accounts. If your website account is for personal use, you should also avoid sharing information about where you work or go to school.

Making too much personal information available can also leave you susceptible to identification theft. Never share your social security number or drivers license information with anyone online.


Use Pseudonyms

If you're a blogger that enjoys writing about controversial topics, you may want to use a nom de plum. Make that part of yourself into an online persona, giving out no personal information whatsoever. This practice goes back to the old days of the internet, when most users would adopt an online handle (or nickname) to provide themselves with a level of anonymity. In a way, it's like being yourself without anyone knowing it's really you.

The only exception is if you intend to blog professionally. In that case, you'll definitely want to post some kind of contact info, but no more than you'd put onto a business card.

Do You Own Your Software?

The increased accessibility of broadband internet connection and high-capacity data storage drives have had an incredible effect on the entertainment industry in the past few years. Movies and television shows can now be seen à la cart, either through digital recorder boxes or streaming over the internet. Video games and other computer software are available through direct download services, without the use of install discs.

This new stage of multimedia evolution shows great potential in benefiting the consumer. Folks in the mood for some entertainment can order movies and games on demand without having to leave home. Users also need not worry about running out of shelf space at home when their entire library can be stored on one or two hard drives.

However, there is danger over the horizon... Consumers need to be aware of both the advantages and the trade-offs of these new types of business model. You may be eager to embrace this new technology, but if you're not careful, you may lose very important rights over the things you purchase.

Have you ever read the End User License Agreement for any piece of software you own? Chances are, you haven't. Most EULAs are notoriously long and filled with legal jargon, so it's no wonder why most people simply skip it and aim their pointer straight for the "I Agree" button. An EULA is a contract that you have with the software's manufacturer, and clicking that button is your legal signature.

You may find that in most EULAs, you don't actually own the software. You are agreeing to a license to use the software, not own it. As such, the publisher retains the ownership rights of the software while you have permission to use it, just so long as you use it only as the publisher intends.

One of the top no-no's in the typical EULA is sharing or selling your software with others. As far as any publisher is concerned, the only person allowed access to their product is the person who paid for the license. While piracy is a genuine concern for the multimedia industry, publishers in the past decade have begun to cut off their nose to spite their face by punishing the consumers who have acquired their products legitimately.

Luckily, a court ruling this week determined that software that is purchased should be owned by the buyer. Software developer, AutoDesk, sued Timothy Verner for selling legitimate copies of their software over online auction, claiming copyright infringement. The court used a previous case involving the ownership rights of motion picture film as precedent for this case, since they were based on similar principles. This was a great victory for Verner, and while it may appear so for consumers as a whole as well, it's more likely that software companies will adjust their EULAs to avoid these legal loopholes in the future.

The video game industry has taken the greatest strides in shifting to digital distribution. They may site piracy as their primary concern, but it's no secret that they've also vilified the second-hand market for disappointing sales of new products.

This month, Sony launched their new portable handheld console, the PSP-Go. The PSP-Go is a revised version of their now-five years old PlayStation Portable platform. What sets the PSP-Go apart from its older siblings is that it lacks the UMD disc drive required to play most PSP games. Instead, the new handheld contains a storage bank of flash memory (launch versions hold 16GB) to store downloadable games, music, and video. Most of the PSP game library, as well as a collection of movies, TV shows, and original games are available to download from the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation Network.

Sony claims that the UMD format was a failure (and it was) that was holding the PSP platform back, again blaming those who pirated ripped data from game discs. However, there is more than meets the eye. Many believe that this is Sony's big push to not only eliminate the secondhand market, but video game retailers altogether. In the future, video games may only be available for purchase directly from the publisher, and the benefits of traditional commerce may be lost: Refunds, reselling, or even just giving it away to someone.

Digital distribution, for the moment, has provided a fantastic alternative to purchasing multimedia. Smaller, independent software developers and filmmakers have an easier opportunity to get exposure for their work. Without the expense of physical media, the savings on production can be passed on to the consumer. Rental services like NetFlix or Xbox Live Marketplace allow for cheap, temporary access while eliminating late fees or poorly cared discs.

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that movie and software companies will be satisfied with that. If they're successful in transitioning the distribution of multimedia to a strictly direct platform, then we as a people lose the right to obtain property. Rather than being a low-priced alternative, digital distribution will become the standard where publishers will be able to charge whatever they want for products that you'll never truly own. Examples of this have already been shown in PSP game price comparisons between PSN and Amazon.

Fear not, for there are groups at work to protect our rights from being stripped from us. The Entertainment Consumers Association is a non-profit organization designed to spread awareness and fight for consumers' rights.

If the software end of multimedia is allowed to fall outside our control, it may be a matter of time before hardware follows. Companies like Hewlett-Packard is already working on ways to make their overpriced ink cartridges proprietary, so that third-party companies are unable to sell compatible toner cartridges at competitive prices. This could expand to include any replacement parts of accessories that you may need for your laptop.

Triangle Laptops wants to offer necessary replacement parts and repair services to those who don't want to pay inflated prices from the manufacturer.

For more information about the laptop parts and services that we offer, please check out our online store or call toll-free at 1-877-456-7869.

Ergonomic Health Tips for Laptop Users

More and more people are relying on laptops to get their work done. Laptops allow us to improve our productivity by working on tasks just about anywhere; not just in the office or class. In fact, in 2005 laptop computers outsold desktop PCs for the first time in history. With prices of laptops continuing to drop and netbooks making portable computing even more accessible, more and more people are relying on laptops for their primary computer.

With this trend on the rise, there are some increasing health risks that affect the growing number of users. No, it's not catching a computer virus—it's more about how we position ourselves while we use our laptops. According to the 2007 Labor Force Survey, nearly half a million workers suffer from upper limb disorders. Staying in the wrong position for long periods of time over the course of months or years can do significant nerve and joint damage.

Below are some helpful tips for avoiding some painful ergonomic conditions that may arise from avid laptop use.


Use a Separate Keyboard & Mouse

For your eyes and your posture, it's ideal for your keyboard to be close to you and your screen to be at a distance. Unfortunately, those two devices are firmly connected to each other on a laptop.

So unless you're using our laptop on the go, use an external keyboard and mouse whenever possible. An external keyboard can be moved to whatever position is most comfortable and convenient for you. You can even use an ergonomic keyboard as an alternative. Using an external mouse also gives you more freedom to move about than awkward laptop touchpads or trackballs.

USB keyboards and mice are very affordable and Bluetooth keyboards and mice greatly help with mobility.


Use a Docking Station or Stand

As much as possible, resting your laptop on your lap. The heat that a laptop produces can do internal damage to your legs with long-term direct contact. Instead, set the laptop on a stable surface. Better still, use a docking station or laptop stand. They're specially designed to keep your laptop steady and most expand your laptop's functionality.


Get in Position



While typing, we tend to lean or hunch over to get your face closer to the screen. Your back should be straight with your head centered above your shoulders. The best place to position your keyboard is level with your elbows as your arms are positioned where they're most comfortable.

If necessary, place a pillow or cushion underneath your forearms for additional coziness. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't rely on resting your wrists on a wrist pad. Instead, keep your wrists straight with your arms and rest the ball of your hand on the pad.


Adjust Your Screen

The best viewing distance between you and your screen is between 18-30 inches. A good way to avoid eyestrain is to position your screen perpendicular to your line of sight. It's also helpful to lower the light level in the room, if possible, to reduce glare.

Clean off your LCD screen often, but be gentle since too much pressure can damage the displays pixels. And always use proper cleaning fluids.


Take Frequent Breaks

Of course...take a break; you've earned it! Every 30-60 minutes, take a quick breather from your work. Stretch your arms and legs to help with blood flow and maybe take a quick walk around the office. This may help refresh your mind as well as your body.

To help prevent carpel tunnel syndrome, try this easy exercise with every break:

1. Make gripping motions with your hands. Squeezing a tennis ball is a great help.


2. Extend your arms with your palms facing forward. This will stretch the tendons in your wrist.


3. With arms still extended, make fists while turning your hands downward.


4. Finish it off with a good few swirls of the wrist.

Carry On

How you carry your laptop also as important as how you use it. Try not to overload your laptop's travel bag with additional cargo. This will take extra weight off of your shoulder. To further improve comfort, use a travel bag that has a cushion on the shoulder strap. Switch shoulders periodically to balance out the burden on your shoulder muscles.

Backpacks that are designed for carrying laptops are great for not only distributing the laptop's weight on your back, but also as camouflage for potential thieves. Wheeled luggage carts are even better since they take the weight off your body entirely.


Make it a Habit

It's always best to get in some preventive medicine. If you wait for when you start feeling the pain, then it's too late—the damage is already done. Instead, start getting into these habits early. Your aching co-workers may notice your exercises and ask, "But you don't have any joint problems!" You can then tell them that's right...that's how you know it works!


For more information about laptop docking stations and other useful laptop accessories, please take a look at our online store. You can also contact us with any questions via email or by calling 1-877-456-7869.

Coolest PC Case Mods

Computers are like sports cars for geeks. It's the meter by which we judge each other and establish our geeky status.

It's not always about who has the hottest technical specifications... Many times, it's about personal style! If you can't have the most powerful computer, it's just as good to have the most unique. Hardcore computer geeks with an artistic talent (and a lot of time on their hands) turn their computers into fun projects. Think of it as Pimp My Ride, but for PCs.

The key to an impressive PC case mod is—as the saying goes—thinking outside the box. In order to fit all the necessary hardware into various unorthodox shapes, most PC case modders use laptop parts, due to their compact size. The most common parts used are laptop optical drives and laptop motherboards.

Here are some examples of the craziest PC mods that we've found across the web! Some of the engineers that created them were also kind enough to supply detailed instructions for how to create your own!


Hamster PC


We all like to joke that our computers are powered by a hamster wheel. Will Knier from Raleigh, NC decided to bring that vision to life! He converted the top sections of a full-sized PC tower into an actual home for his hamster. The living compartment of the PC case is split into two rooms, connected by PVC pipe, and are visible by translucent walls.


NES PC


One popular case mod converts an old 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System into a slick retro PC design. The NES's cartridge loading bay is an ideal spot to install the optical drive, often using a laptop CD-ROM drive. The power and reset buttons can easily be used for their PC tower counterparts.


Similar PC case mods have been produced using the bodies of other classic video game consoles, such as the Commodore 64, Super NES, and even the portable-sized Nintendo Game Boy.


Victorian All-in-One PC


This case mod (created by Jake von Slatt) is made with state of the art hardware, but given a classy, antiquated look. It's also been nicknamed the "Steampunk PC", since it harkens to the type of science fiction that places modern technology in old-world eras.

On the inside, the creator of the Steampunk PC mounted the system hardware onto the back of the 19in LCD monitor. The DVD-ROM drive is installed inside the base, hidden on one side. As icing to this nerd-tastic cake, Jake added matching custom-made keyboard and mouse.


Batman Begins Batmobile PC


There are few pop culture icons that rank cooler than Batman. He has the neatest gadgets, hottest car, and can master any puzzle with his sharp detective mind. A veritable geek god.

In homage to the caped crusader, a PC case modder known only as "batfan06" assembled an impressive case mod in the form of the tumbler Batmobile from the recent Batman Begins film. What's especially cool about this case mod is that the case itself is a simple remote-controlled Batmobile toy found at Walmart!

Mr. batfan06 took great care to make all the ports, drives, and vents easily accessible, yet tactically hidden from casual view. LED lights were added to make the Batmobile PC quite the impressive sight in the dark. At first glance, you wouldn't expect it to be a fully-functional desktop PC; it would just look like a really sweet Batmobile model.


Microwave PC


This may be the most clever way to disguise your computer as a common household appliance. The front window of the microwave has been refitted with a flat-panel LCD monitor. By opening the microwave's door, you'll be able to access the system hardware, housed inside the food compartment. The control panel on the side has been revamped with PC controls and switches, while maintaining the style of a traditional microwave oven. Oddly, the optical drive is mounted on the top of the microwave, where discs are fed in vertically, though it doesn't detract much from the overall coolness factor.


For any questions or suggestions about PC hardware, please contact us via email or by calling 1-800-620-6886. We offer a wide variety of replacement laptop parts that you may need for your own custom PC case mod, as well as laptop repair services (in the event of a modding mishap).

Top 5 Web Distractions

When it comes to productivity, the internet is both the greatest tool as well as your worst enemy. We’re all guilty of indulging in a bit of web-based distraction. When a co-worker sends you a link to a funny video in an email, you can’t help but click!

Just for fun and because it’s Friday (TGIF!), here’s a Top 5 list of irresistible web distractions...


5. Bash.org


Bash.org is an online quote database of some of the most ludicrous quotes collected from online chat rooms. It’s filled with witty comebacks, pop culture references, embarrassing typos, and personal anecdotes. We warn you, however, that much of the language found in these quotes are off-color and might not be safe for work, in case your boss comes looking over your shoulder.


4. LOLCATS, et all


The term "lolcats" comes from a popular internet meme (or fad) of taking cute/silly photos of cats and adding funny—often misspelled—captions to them. The first site to showcase these images was icanhascheezburger.com and its popularity quickly spread across the web like wildfire. This inspired a boom of similar blogs where viewers of the site are encouraged to send in their own images of a similar theme.

Failblog.org collects images of hilarious sign typos and design flaws. ThisIsWhyYoureFat.com displays all sorts of confectionary abominations that will stop your heart in one bite. And LameBook.com collects snips of unfortunate messages found on social networks like FaceBook.


3. Newgrounds


Newgrounds hosts a wide variety of Flash-based animations and games. At first glance, this looks like a site designed for the younger crowd, and for the most part, it might be. However, even adults can find themselves trapped in their games section.

Many video game designers who have moved on to design games professionally found their origins in Newgrounds. Perhaps the most famous of which being The Behemoth Company, who went on to develop Alien Homonid for PS2 and Nintendo Gamecube as well as Castle Crashers, which is available for download on Xbox 360 and PS3.


2. YouTube, et all


YouTube is one of the hottest sources for video on demand. In their archives, you’ll find postings of people’s favorite TV show clips, original homemade videos, and all sorts of crazy stunts caught on cell phone cameras. The most common traps are videos with cute/funny animals. Once you see one, your eyes immediately scroll through the list of Related Videos. You’ll also find classic commercials, long-forgotten cartoons, and news clips from around the country.

Since YouTube created fast-growing interest in streaming video, similar sites have emerged. Hulu is one of the top sources for watching official streams of current and classic TV shows and movies. And for the kids, Crunchy Roll hosts a vast assortment of streaming cartoons. These sites aren’t something you want to check out while on the clock, though they are great for those at home that have a PC-to-TV setup.


1. Fark


The world truly is a strange place. Every day, Fark posts hundreds of links to the most astounding news stories from around the world. Each link is submitted by their readers and is given one of Fark’s trademark witty headlines.

Fark depends on more than just user-submitted links to maintain its reader base. To keep the community active, there are several interactive links posted in the feed. Photoshop challenges and photo caption contests take place in the comments of certain links.

While most of the stories found on Fark are humorous, there are plenty that cover serious topics, as well as amazing feats in science and nature. Each news story is fitted with a topic-related tag, which makes the site easier to browse. The site has grown so much in the past few years that it’s had to divide itself into different sections, depending on the type of news you’re looking for. (There are some hidden sections as well, but those are mostly NSFW.)

Top 10 Laptop Battery Tips

Your laptop battery is the lifeblood of your portable computer work. The longer a laptop battery can stay juiced up, the more work we can get done between charges. And when the battery eventually dies, it can be costly to replace. More so if you have an older laptop whose parts are hard to find.

So in order to keep your laptop running strong, you'll need to take good care of your battery. It's easy to neglect the laptop battery; they don't stand out as much as most notebook accessories. As they say, out of sight, out of mind.

To arm you with the knowledge you need to maintain your beloved laptop, we've come up with this list of essential Top 10 tips for extending the life of your laptop's battery!


1. Avoid The "Memory Effect"

Older laptops that use nickel-metal hybrid batteries are tricky in how they are charged. If you frequently use battery power for a short period of time before recharging it, the battery life will gradually shorten.

For example, if you typically use only 15% of the battery's power before recharging it back to full capacity, the batter will "remember" this habit and over time will only make that 15% available. That means 85% of the battery's full capacity will become wasted. For older batteries, it's best to not recharge it until it reaches below 25%. This will improve the battery's chances of "remembering" its actual full capacity.

Laptop owners with newer Lithium-Ion batteries shouldn't worry about this phenomenon. In fact, a full depletion of battery charge is only recommended for every 30 recharges.


2. Power Options

You can easily adjust the power settings in your laptop to optimize your battery power usage. For Windows users, access Power Options in your Control Panel. From there, select the Max Battery power scheme to get the most power from the battery. Adjust the wait time before the laptop's screen or hard drive is shut off.


Mac users can click on System Preferences from the Apple Menu. When running on battery power, select the Power Saver power plan. When your laptop is plugged into an AC adapter, switch the power plan to High-Performance. You can adjust when the screen shuts off from here as well.


3. Keep The Laptop Cool

As is true for any type of hardware, heat is a killer. Never place your laptop on an insulated surface like a pillow or blanket. Avoid using your laptop in areas where the temperature exceeds 80°F. Make a habit of blowing compressed air through your laptop's fans and vents to clear out any dust or hair. And if at all possible, get a cooling pad to rest under your laptop to insure a cooling airflow.


4. Hibernate, Not Stand By

Two key areas to pay attention to while you're managing your laptop's power options are Hibernate and Stand By. Sending your system to Stand By will save some power while the laptop is idle, but many functions remain active.

When your laptop goes into hibernation, it saves the state that your system is in before shutting itself off. When the laptop switches back on, that state is send back into memory so you can pick up where you left off while saving significantly more power in the meantime.


5. Save To The Hard Drive

It may not look like it, but CD- and DVD-ROM drives use a lot of power to keep spinning. If you need to access multiple or large files that are stored on a disc, save the files to the hard drive first. You'll save a lot of power reading the files from the hard drive than keeping the optical drive's motor continuously spinning.


6. Defrag Often


Since we recommend reading your data from the hard drive, you'll need to make sure the hard drive is in optimal shape. The easiest thing to do is to defragment the hard drive every week or two. By defragmenting our hard drive, data that's used most often is kept close together. As a result, the hard drive won't have to work as hard to gather up that data, thus using less power.

As a bonus, you'll notice a vast improvement in load time!


7. Avoid Multitasking

The more tasks that your system has to juggle, the more battery power you'll eat up. If possible, try to only have one or two applications running at a time. Using the Task Manager in Windows, shut down all the background processes that you aren't currently using.

Multitasking applies to hardware as well! Minimize the amount of devices you have connected to the laptop at a time. Each USB device you have connected to the laptop uses battery power to operate. Obviously, it may not be wise to charge the battery in your cell phone or iPod through a USB cable while your laptop itself is running off battery power.


8. Dim Your Screen

Your laptop's monitor screen is like a big, flat light bulb. Turn the brightness setting of your laptop's display as low as you can comfortably see. If you're using your laptop in a dark room, you should be able to turn the brightness levels to their lowest setting while still seeing the display clearly.

As mentioned before, set the display to turn off shortly after you stop working on the laptop. Avoid relying on a screensaver while on battery power, since they tend to keep the screen's backlight on unnecessarily as your laptop sits idle.


9. Disable WiFi

If you're not accessing the internet while you're running on battery power, disable your laptop's wireless internet adapter. Even if you're not actively working online, the wireless adapter will continue to seek and connect with nearby WiFi hotspots.


10. Disconnect The Battery

If you're at home or anywhere that you can connect your laptop to a laptop AC adapter, you may want to remove the battery once it's been fully recharged. This will decrease the risk of overloading the battery. Store the battery in a cool place, since heat can damage the battery even when not in use. A fully-charged battery should be used again within three weeks in order to maintain longevity.

While your battery is disconnected, it's important to keep the connectors clean. Use light amounts of rubbing alcohol on the connectors of the battery and the laptop (just make sure the laptop is turned off first!).


One habit we like to encourage: Always keep a spare! While traveling with your laptop, keep a spare laptop battery packed with you in case your first battery gets used up.

Additionally, we recommend carrying a spare laptop AC adapter wherever you take your laptop so you're never too far from a recharge.

If you're experiencing strange power glitches in your laptop that you can't explain, we can take a look at it for you! Our laptop repair service includes checking your laptop's battery or DC power jack. For any questions, send us an email or call 919-620-6886.

Gmail Outage Affects Millions

If you tried checking your Gmail at some point yesterday afternoon, you may have felt some frustration. The same frustration shared by millions of other Gmail users when Google experienced a service outage for a few hours during routine maintenance.

Google had taken some of its Gmail web servers offline to perform some routine maintenance and upgrades Tuesday morning. While Google performs this kind of maintenance quite often, they had underestimated the amount of traffic that the remaining request routers would be left to handle. The web servers that handle Gmail’s web-based interface where severely overloaded, unable to direct users’ requests to Gmail’s web servers.

Gmail users that send and receive their email via IMAP/POP access experienced no interruption, since that service doesn’t require communication with the same request routers as Gmail’s web-based interface. Those who have Gmail Offline enabled through Google Apps were able to at least connect with their inbox, but sending or receiving email was disabled. All the same, tens of millions of Gmail users were unable to access their email at all.

It wasn’t just personal email accounts that panicked about their crippled services; over 1.75 million businesses are dependent on Gmail as part of the Google Apps platform. Google uses its Google Apps service as a web-based alternative to compete with Microsoft’s various office software. Google insists that web-based "cloud computing" is far more secure than locally installed applications.

Cloud computing is also one of the leading concepts used to promote netbooks. However, outages like the one experienced on Tuesday suggest a critical danger in the dependence of other entities to support virtualized utilities.

As you’d imagine, one industry that’s hurt more by Gmail outages more than any other is the spam industry. Companies out to sell us Viagra, weight-loss pills, and fake lottery winnings couldn’t reach a large percentage of their market.

Google claims that the outage only lasted for about two hours, though many users experienced and outage for several hours on Tuesday, with reports of some outages on Monday as well. Once they’d recognized the problem, they immediately brought as many available request routers as possible online to spread out the massive demand on traffic.

Also hit with a taxing boost in traffic were services like Twitter and Facebook, who also suffered short outages on Tuesday. As Gmail users discovered their email was down, many fled to other sites to tweet their complaints. Other popular social networking sites were used as secondary means of sending messages to their peers.

In the wake of this disaster, Google has promised to learn from this experience so that it doesn’t happen again. Obviously, the first step is to insure that plenty of extra request routers are in place in order to handle potential traffic during maintenance. Additionally, they’ve set up their network so that if all request routers are overloaded, they’ll merely slow down instead of refusing requests altogether.

After much apology, Google assured its users that they’ll be hard at work over the next couple weeks to implement the necessary system improvements so that outages like this one are at most, rare. While most users may be forgiving, but businesses considering Google Apps to handle important tasks may be more hesitant to subscribe.