Las Vegas, NV Computer News
Henderson, NV, North Las Vegas, NV
CompuDoc
August 27th 2010
MICROSOFT COFOUNDER Sues Everyone!
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has filed lawsuits against no fewer than nine silicon valley companies over alleged patent infringements. Targets of the suit are Apple, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Office Depot, OfficeMax, eBay, Staples, Yahoo, AOL, and YouTube. Allen is claiming infringement of four patents by the companies. All the intellectual property in question was held by a silicon valley startup Allen ran several years ago. The company is now gone.
All the patents are described as integral to the businesses of these companies. One example is a patent held by Allen for offering suggestions on an ecommerce site based on what a customer is viewing. Facebook had a comment ready saying, "We believe this suit is completely without merit and we will fight it vigorously."
Conspicuously absent from the suit is Microsoft, which Allen is still an investor in. Amazon is also missing; the only connection there is that Amazon is based in Allen's home town of Seattle. Do you think Allen is pursuing a legitimate course of action, or is he acting like a patent troll?
September 2nd 2010:
We may just have an Internet Explorer and Firefox killer on our hands. I found this new browser and I like the nice , clean easy to user interface, and its FAST!!! Tell me what you guys think.
http://www.avantbrowser.com/
September 2nd 2010:
Best Buy will now purchase your used games:
Jumpstarting its second-hand game business, Best Buy has expanded its online trade-in program to nearly 600 stores with more locations coming soon. Beginning this Sunday, August 29, you'll be able to haul your pre-owned games to a participating store, waltz up to the customer service desk, and fork them over for a Best Buy gift card.
More than 100 popular titles will supposedly fetch $20, with many others valued for less. Joystiq notes that the store offers an online estimator, but it may not offer the most fair or accurate number. For instance, Alpha Protocol is priced at $27, while Mass Effect 2 is only $8.
Best Buy's move comes at an awkward point in the used games market. Many studios have been criticizing the practice of reselling games and are developing measures to profit from second-hand sales. It's also worth mentioning that GameStop recently said it disliked being in the used games business, while just yesterday, Target announced a similar exchange program for games and other electronics.
Monday September 6th 2010:
I am Constantly asked this question, so here I did some research, and even I was shocked at the results:
Computers: Which Are Most Reliable? Asus. Least? Dell.
What is reliability?
When it comes to manufacturing a reliable computer, it means more than just putting together something that works. It's about putting together a computer that holds up and functions well over the long haul. It's about providing computer service when that computer doesn't hold up, and about ensuring that a customer gets the fixes they need to get up and running again.
Rescuecom believes that these are the two fundamentals of producing reliable computers: making machines that work, and providing top quality computer support when they don't.
In this economy, most of us need to make sure every dollar we spend is put toward something we can depend on. With our need to make a dollar go further than ever before, reliability is at a premium.
Every quarter, Rescuecom looks to empower consumers by providing them with a quarterly Reliability Report - a guide to the reliability of the major computer brands, and their manufacturers.
These reports are calculated in a simple and straight forward manner: the number of computers an individual manufacturer ships (and therefore their market share) is weighed against the number of calls Rescuecom's computer repair specialists receive for that same manufacturer.
With nationwide service for every make and model of computer, Rescuecom is able to better judge the widest range of manufacturers, rather than only one or two brands.
The results for the second quarter of 2010 are in, and Asus and Apple top the charts.
Manufacturer U.S. Computer Market Share (Percentage of Share computers shipped) RESCUECOM Repair Shares (Percentage of service calls to 1-800-RESCUE-PC) Computer Reliability Score
Asus 3.5% 0.2% 1791
Apple 9.0% 1.3% 686
IBM/Lenovo 4.9% 0.9% 524
Toshiba 8.4% 2.3% 368
HP/Compaq 25.5% 9.1% 281
Sony 2.4% 0.9% 262
Acer 11.0% 5.0% 218
Samsung 0.7% 0.4% 180
Dell 23.8% 14.5% 165
Total Other 10.7% 65.4% 16
Asus, which had placed second in the first quarter report, regained the top spot, knocking IBM/Lenovo to third. Apple's score took an over 300 point jump, leaping from third to second. Toshiba and Compaq both saw their scores rise, but they remained in fourth and fifth place respectively.
But what do these scores really mean? What do they really tell us about reliability?
These scores reveal two things:
- A manufacturer puts together quality machines that don't require computer repair.
- A manufacturer provides such exemplary tech support for their customers that they have no need to seek outside assistance.
Again, those two fundamentals are what reliability is based on.
A closer look at the scores reveals a little more.
For instance, Asus has an off the charts score as compared to the other manufacturers, even second place Apple. Does this mean Asus is that much more reliable? Perhaps, but it might also be a function of the product itself.
Asus produces a great number of 'eee' series computers and inexpensive netbooks - both popular with budget minded and entry level consumers. While these machines can certainly be reliable, often are inexpensive enough that seeking out computer repair makes less budgetary sense than simply replacing the computer altogether.
Then there is Apple. A consistent top three finisher, Apple's superior level of service for its products has long made them among the most reliable in the industry.
Dell is another interesting case. Despite owning the second largest market share for this quarter, Dell ranks last among the major manufacturers in reliability. When it came to the number of calls received by Rescuecom, Dell had over 100 more than the next closest major manufacturer, a sign that both their products and customer service have left consumers wanting.
The Rescuecom Reliability Report is designed to help consumers feel more confident in their computer purchases. Used in conjunction with smart shopping practices, research, and careful examination of the product, the Reliability Report can help you make the best decision for your budget and your needs.
About RESCUECOM:
RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware or software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit http://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.
Source: http://ctwatchdog.com/2010/08/30/computers-which-are-most-reliable-asus-least-dell
Monday September 6th 2010:
As most Windows users know, after a bit of time your computer runs slow and you can not quite understand why, as you have a fast CPU, plenty of hard disk space and a lot of RAM installed. What a person must do every so often that runs a Windows machine, is maintenance which will help speed up your computer. This article will detail a few easy tasks you will want to perform on a monthly basis.
All of these techniques can be performed by even the novice pc user. These are not actual steps to do in order, do them in the order you wish. However, all should be completed to help with your computer speed.
Be sure to run a complete virus scan of your computer. Make sure that you have updated the virus definitions and you are running up to date software. A virus can be hidden within files you have no you even had, and could be the reason your computer is running slow.
You should also complete spyware and malware detection. Again, as with the virus protection, ensure your software is up to date. Spyware is typically the most common reasons for slow computer speed.
Be sure to run a complete disk defragmentation. This may take some time, but can help the system immensely. A defrag will in essence create contiguous space to allow files to run more efficiently. When you remove a program, the space stays open, and when a new program is installed, Windows will just find open gaps and place what it needs within the, even if they are not contiguous.
Another task you will want to complete routinely to help speed up computer times is to clean your tower. You will need to have compressed air, and a dry static free rag. Be sure your system is turned off and unplugged to avoid shock or static electricity mishaps. Clean the power supply fan, open up the tower and clean all dust and debris from within the tower. Ensure the heat sink and the fan is clear of dust and debris as well.
The last thing to do for this maintenance is to try to minimize the amount of startup programs you have running. Generally, you do not need most of these items. You can see what is running within your taskbar. Go to your msconfig area, start up programs, and uncheck items that you do not need to be running constantly.
Hopefully these steps have helped to speed up your computer. Computer speed slowdown can also be caused by other errors, hardware malfunctions, etc.
Contact CompuDoc today or visit us at 708 S. Jones, Las Vegas, NV 89107 for all your computer needs.
702-871-1881 WEST (Serving Las Vegas and North Las Vegas)
702-869-1881 EAST (Serving Green Valley, Henderson and Boulder City)
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