While most of us regulars happily spend hundreds of dollars on a RAM upgrade or a spanking new graphics card, we usually tend to overlook a certain piece of hardware that is just as crucial. Your computer specs might be the very best, but how good are they really, in the absence of an equally worthy monitor? But then, unless you happen to be a geek or a gamer, you don’t really pay too much attention to the quality of the monitor, right?

Well, not really; and if you want to get the best out of your computer, a good monitor is where you begin. So the first question to be resolved is how to distinguish among the various flat-panel display monitors that have inundated the market and pick one that is perfect for you.

Flat-panel monitors now come with color-calibrating hardware and software, which put them at par with the good old CRTs in terms of color quality. What’s more, they are energy-efficient, too. Here’s a list of things you need to keep in mind when you set out monitor shopping.

✓ Before you think of anything else, you need to classify your usage. Light users do not need all the frills and trimmings that video editors or gamers do.
✓ Do a little research on the Internet and fix a budget.
✓ The advantages of widescreen monitors are many, but if you think you want a standard one, buy it.
✓ Companies bank on extras to influence customers, and you need to decide which ones are more important to you. For instance, multiple video inputs may be far more useful than a USB port.

Shopping for monitors may not be as much fun as buying a new computer; nevertheless, in all the excitement of getting a new monitor, don’t forget your duty towards the environment and dump the old one. Recycling electronics may be a legal requirement in certain states, but even if it isn’t in yours, do dispose it off wisely. You may donate a working monitor to charitable organizations as well.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-monitor.html

For years now, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) has controlled the show from the inside of your computer by connecting network, video and sound cards to the motherboard. It’s gotten better with the PCI Express (PCIe), which promises improved functionality, and delivers it too.

PCIe is a far cry from the earlier versions of serial connections, which moved data packets at a crawling pace. The PCIe, despite being a serial connection, has several lines which separately lead to each respective device. In other words, each peripheral device gets its own connection, translating into improved computer performance.

Other than its point-to-point connection system, the PCIe permits hot plugging and thankfully consumes less power. You can use it as an input-output channel for desktops, laptops, cell phones and servers as well. If you’re wondering if it would be compatible with your current OS and PCI drivers, then relax; as the PCIe allows that. It is remarkable for regular users to say the least, who stand back and watch every miniscule upgrade that renders their computer obsolete.

Now for PCIe’s best feature. Yes, it’s not the compatibility, but the scalability, which means that the bandwidth can be added by simply increasing the number of lanes. In all probability, this feature will ensure its use in the years to follow.

Traditional PCI slots were good enough for basic audio/graphics functions. With the PCI-X and the AGP, circuit designs improved, and with it, the audio-visual quality was enhanced. But, it wasn’t long before the advancements in processors’ designs outran the PCI bus capacities, which left the latest and fastest computers trudging. Advocates of parallel connections added more lanes, but could not get past the limitations set by the 8-bit bus.

Serial connections came back into the picture as they allowed data to run faster on single paths, way faster than it could, on parallel paths in directional flows. As opposed to one bus controlling the flow of data from various sources, the PCIe has one switch that handles it all by using many point-to-point serial connections, bypassing the need for connected devices to share bandwidth. And this brings us to the point where we have to be relieved that the PCIe has managed to elbow out not only PCI, but AGP as well.

The flavors of the PCIe represent the number of lanes – x1, x2, x4, x8, x16 and x32, and all of them offer more bandwidth compared to PCI. It is the x16 flavor that you need to use for your graphics card, effectively replacing the AGP, while the x1 and x2 flavors are used to connect your computer to peripheral devices.

When it comes to computers, the mention of versions brings with it a lot of confusion regarding compatibility. And, as with all things technological, the PCIe is constantly revamped. The latest PCIe version available is 3.0, with the development of PCIe 4.0 already underway. Take a look at the following PCIe compatibility chart to know more.

How much does the version matter? Thankfully, not too much. The reason being that the PCIe version has no influence whatsoever on the functionality of the SBC card. The most outstanding feature of this interface is its backward and forward compatibility, which makes it safe to pair it with many card options, irrespective of the interface version. Graphics cards fit into the PCIe x16 slot (the x1 and x2 are for devices, remember!). As the PCIe has just about made the AGP outdated, most nVidia and AMD GPUs are compatible with PCIe. Most cards from the current lot don’t require the PCIe power connector, unless you’re probably overclocking.

By the look of it, the PCIe interface is here to stay, which is sure to make the users happy. Thanks to its versatility, users will get to experience unmatched audio-visual effects. And the best part? It’s going to keep getting better.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pci-express-compatibility.html

The good thing about the 21st century is that there are a number of gadgets available to suit almost our every need. But the bad thing (at least for some of us) is that within a few months of buying the latest gadget, you realize there’s a new improved version of it in the market making you feel like you should have waited some more. Mobile phones and laptops are perhaps on top of the list of gadgets that are improvized within a few months or weeks of their latest releases!

Do you love your laptop too much to trade in for a newer version but wish you could spruce it up a bit? Let us check out some of the best performance upgrades for a laptop you could do to boost its performance and make it almost as state-of-the-art as the latest version to hit the market!

It is important to note that your manufacturer’s warranty will be deemed void with many of the following upgrades. It is best to ensure that you have used up your warranty period before carrying out these upgrades, unless you’re confident that your laptop can handle a few nips and tucks.

Laptop Parts that May be Upgraded

Battery
If you’re frustrated with the battery life on your laptop and find the replacement from the manufacturer pricey, search online for a compatible one instead. And while you’re at it, purchase one with a higher capacity that is sure to last longer. This is sure to be one easy upgrade; however, your manufacturer is less likely to be too pleased with your choice. You’ll have a choice of number of cells while buying a battery such that a 9-cell battery will have more capacity than a 6-cell battery. Go for the maximum cells your laptop model can support to match your gaming and video requirements.
Hard Drive
You will need to purchase a hard drive and run some programs to replicate the existing hard drive. It is almost as simple as it sounds. Typically, you would be able to purchase hard drives online with the installation kit. Depending on whether you need to double or triple the existing storage, purchase one from a reliable vendor. The kit typically comes with instructions or you could refer to the vendor site for the installation steps. All you’ll need is a USB cable to plug the drive, run the installation that will clone your existing drive contents on the new drive and finally boot up your laptop with the new drive. You can either add on an external hard drive or swap your existing drive with the new one and use your old hard drive as a backup external drive! That should take care of your storage needs for a couple of more years. Anything from 160 GB up to 1 TB should be good enough, while a spin of 5400 RPM works for most laptops. You may upgrade to a drive with 7200 RPM, but remember that more the RPM, more the heat (though more the RPM, faster is the data transfer speed), so weigh your options.
RAM
Memory capacity is another relatively hassle-free upgrade that you can do. Purchase RAM modules that suit your requirement the most, whether you want to add on to the existing capacity or replace the memory entirely. You should be able to easily find new modules that match your old ones, in case you’re looking to tag on to the existing memory capacity of your laptop. Depending on your laptop model, the memory slots would be located either on the underside or below the keypad. Unscrew the chip (usually labeled as M for memory) to replace with the new chip. Assemble again and boot up your laptop. The new RAM or additional RAM should be detected automatically. Using DDR3 you will be able to scale to higher clock speeds and go for a 1600MHz speed for better performance, if you have a compatible laptop model.
Processor
A laptop requiring a processor upgrade puts into question your real intentions for doing so as opposed to buying a new laptop; however, if you’re ready to rise up to the challenge, this also may be possible. Remember that you’re treading into complex and super-geeky turf! If the processor chip on your laptop is one of those soldered parts, you may well be disappointed unless you’re comfortable with desoldering and then soldering the new chip back on. On the other hand, if the chip is accessible and removable, another compatible processor that’s more powerful may be easily possible. You must be warned that this is not going to be easy though. Typically, your manufacturer will be delighted to upgrade your processor with a compatible replacement; however, they will certainly charge for the parts and labor. You must weigh the pros of upgrading the processor chip vis-a-vis purchasing a new laptop. However, if you’re the brave geek who doesn’t care about the manufacturer’s warranty, by all means get the micro screwdrivers and replace the processor chip. No doubt there’s a risk, but if it pays off, you’ll be glad that you can do without the latest mean laptop in town. Motherboard compatibility is a major “if” even if you find the ideal chip that sits in the socket somehow!
Graphics/Video Card
Moving on to a bit more complexity with regard to upgrading, and this one’s sure to render the manufacturer warranty invalid. Now that you have upgraded storage capacity and memory, the next important thing that will surely please the gaming freak in you is a graphics card that matches up to them. The reason for this upgrade is that the card itself is likely to have its own memory and enough processing for the mind-blowing graphics such that your laptop performance (or lack of it) does not matter. For added satisfaction, check out the prices of laptops designed purely for better gaming experience and you are sure to find the graphics card upgrade even more tempting! However, here’s the bummer, check if you can replace the graphics card at all! An integrated graphics chip may be tough to replace, unless you are one of the lucky few to own a laptop (mostly alienware or custom-made) that allows you to replace the graphics card. Fret not, for there’s a ray of hope with graphics cards that can be docked externally (usually detected by the operating system as an external video device). Depending on how old or new your laptop is and if it has the required slots, plugging an external graphics card may be relatively easy.

Things to Remember Before you Upgrade

✔ Refer to your laptop manual for instructions on disassembling and assembling.
✔ Switch off your laptop and let it be unplugged and powered off for at least an hour before disassembling.
✔ Wear an antistatic wrist strap and ground yourself at all times to guard against electrostatic discharge.
✔ Ensure to take a backup of your data on an external drive before you open up your laptop.
✔ Be gentle while handling the fragile electronics within as they’re prone to breakage.
✔ Keep a digital camera/mobile camera at hand and take snapshots of the assembly frequently for referring while assembling the parts back.
✔ Hold the screws in labeled paper cups and hold the electronic parts such as processor chips in antistatic bags, so that you don’t misplace them.
✔ Even a small electrostatic discharge can damage the electronics in the laptop chassis.
✔ Ensure that upgrades do not add to the heating issues of your laptop, even if it does add an accessory that will prevent or reduce heat like cooling pad.

Some Cheap Performance Boosters

If you have figured that you really don’t need to do all the complex upgrades but still wish your laptop performance can be shot up a few notches, the following tips may be helpful.

• Use a performance monitor utility to keep tabs on your CPU, disk and memory loads. This is where you will get the earliest signs of a need for an upgrade.
• Does your laptop boot in time enough for you to soak into a warm bath and come back? Check your startup list and remove unnecessary application from automatically loading at startup.
• If you have wondered about the use of the Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter utilities, take the hint from their names! The Disk Cleanup deletes temporary files and suggests deletion of unused program files and the Defragmenter consolidates file (much like organizing your wardrobe) for faster access.
• Similarly, a registry cleaning utility will also help improve laptop performance.
• Regularly scan your laptop for spyware, viruses and malicious applications. Keep the antivirus software updated.

If your laptop performance does not improve even after you have tried most of the options listed here, then well, it may be time for grabbing the wallet and ordering a new laptop. If you’re a gaming enthusiast, you may be better off buying a desktop or laptop that has been manufactured for the extreme gaming experience rather than upgrading a less powerful laptop. Ensure that you check with the manufacturer about upgrade possibilities with your new purchase.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/best-performance-upgrades-for-a-laptop.html

Internet dating is huge, and it’s no secret why. It’s a simple matter of maximizing resources to attain a goal. Your parents’ generation relied upon set-ups and chance encounters to find “the one”, but the Internet has expanded your search to include potential suitors from around the globe. Sure, a larger pool increases your odds of success, but it may not translate into finding a mate if you let it go to your head. The trick is in the approach.

Pro: Success is Common

Internet dating works – eHarmony claims to be responsible for over 500 weddings per day, and that is just one of the hundreds of dating sites. Beyond the biggies like eHarmony, Match, Plenty of Fish and OKCupid, there are niche dating sites that cater to just about any social subset you may be a part of – some even cater to married folks. Rather than take your chances with strangers in a bar, you can rest assured that because you were matched based on something, you have at least one thing in common.

Con: Many Facets of Success

The term “success” as applied to dating means different things to different people. Some see marriage as the ultimate goal, while others just want to expand their social circle and go on some fun dates. Be upfront with yourself, and be honest on your profile – don’t say you’re looking for a soulmate if you have no intention of settling down. Also, be aware that not everyone is as honest as you are, so don’t become too emotionally invested until you know the other person’s intentions for sure.

Pro: It’s Safer

Most Internet dating sites allow for online communication within the system itself, so you don’t even have to give out your email address until you feel comfortable with the other person. Many people refrain from sharing a phone number until several emails have been exchanged, and the first date may take place after several weeks or more of conversation. This allows you to establish a certain level of comfort with the other person – unlike “real life” dating, where you exchange phone numbers almost immediately, before you know very much about the person.

Con: Still Not Entirely Safe

No matter how careful you are and no matter how slowly you take things, there is always a risk in meeting someone new. People lie, especially online. In most cases, a person’s dating profile is like a resume – embellished, but basically the truth. The picture may be taken from a good angle, the wit and charm may be the product of numerous rough drafts instead of spontaneity, but the essence of the real person comes through. There are, however, a small number of people who flat-out lie. Most lies are relatively harmless – they may be married or have kids, for example, but a psycho stalker would never identify himself as such in his profile. Always meet in public places at first, preferably as part of a group. Safety first.

Pro: You Can Find Your Perfect Person

Your dating profile will reach a huge number of eyeballs. As such, it behooves you to be specific about what you’re looking for. Sites that only show you people who match your criteria feel like bespoke tailoring – you place your order for the perfect person, and they deliver. Sites that allow you to browse through all available profiles are more like off-the-rack shopping – you may find something that looks nice, but it probably won’t fit exactly right. Being specific about what you’re looking for helps separate the wheat from the chaff – the people who read your profile will self-select to an extent, so the cream will rise to the top and you won’t have to wade through a zillion profiles to find the one girl who can spell and doesn’t make fish-face.

Con: There’s No Such Thing as Perfect

The problem with being specific about what you want is that people tend to have unrealistic expectations. When faced with an Internet-sized dating pool, you may be tempted to look for the millionaire brain surgeon part-time rocket scientist/underwear model who breeds puppies, loves to shop and owns an island. Surely, with all the world to pick from, that person must be out there, right? Well, yes. But that person has no trouble finding dates. And who’s to say that this dream-mate who looks perfect on paper isn’t an obnoxious jerk in real life? While you’re holding out for Mr. or Ms. Absolutely Perfect, you’re missing out on a bunch of Pretty Darn Awesomes along the way.

So go ahead, fill out your profile, and jump into the worldwide dating pool. Be fearless but cautious, honest but not needy. You might kiss a few frogs, but your prince (or princess) is out there somewhere.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-internet-dating.html

Wondering why your just-bought computer is trudging slower than a tortoise? You’re among scores of others who are equally baffled by the annoyingly slow performance of their new device. Well, welcome to the strange world of computers where ‘new’ may not always mean ‘fast’.

Rotten luck, that, especially when you’ve purchased the device in the hope of owning a faster one. But hope floats in the form of extendable RAM, and the general consensus is that it ups the speed noticeably. Or does it?

Well, since we’ve entered this strange world of computers, we can’t take things for granted anymore. While extending the RAM may do a world of good, this rule may not hold true every single time. So, good things first? Here we go ….

Do You Multitask?
As a human, you’ve got to be greedy, and a part of that reflects in our computer usage. Multiple programs open simultaneously, with several tabs within those can take a toll on your computer performance. Upgrading your RAM will address these woes. Software upgrades of operating systems will be hassle-free with the added space, and the new features that come with it will function smoothly.

Do You Create?
With upgraded memory, you’ll have a better video editing experience. Video files eat up a lot of space, and the enhanced memory comes in handy here. Add to that, a fast processor, and Photoshop will work faster, as will Outlook and Firefox. Creating multimedia presentations will become effortless with an upgraded RAM, as graphic programs eat up a lot of space. The difference in the performance will be yours to see.

Do You Surf?
Racy Internet connections are a godsend; but do you know what, in the actual, makes your pages load faster? A RAM upgrade, of course! This is how it works – with more free space available, thanks to a RAM upgrade, your computer will utilize this space instead of crowding the hard drive, which ultimately mean faster browsing. Expect better visuals too, with faster flash displays.

Do You Share?
If your computer is part of a shared setup, a RAM upgrade will lead to smoother networking. You will notice a marked improvement in your printer’s performance too. Clear, high-resolution prints need not be sourced from outside anymore. More memory space means that you don’t lose time while images are buffered, which translates as printer efficiency. Also, RAM upgrades enhance networking setups overall.

So, it all seems hunky-dory so far. But going back to that part where every rule has its exception, let us begin considering those.

Is there anything like too much RAM? Strictly in terms of regular users, yes there is. If you happen to be a power user, there is little chance you would be needing to know all this anyway. As a regular user, you could be wondering if adding RAM always leads to better performance. The simple answer is ‘no’ and here’s why …

⇨ While more RAM does make your computer performance efficient, it wouldn’t matter much to a person who is sparingly using space-hogging programs. For instance, if you’re running a single program of 200 MB at a time, the size of your RAM would be immaterial. But let’s say, you’re one of those who opens 8 applications of this size simultaneously every time; an upgrade will bring you tremendous relief.

⇨ If you don’t consider yourself a power user or a gaming freak, that humongous 8 GB upgrade won’t make a difference to your computer. Going through your Task Manager will give you an idea of your computer’s memory usage, which is the best way to decide if you really need that RAM upgrade or not.

⇨ Does more RAM help gaming? This is slightly tricky. With RAM, the definition is not all-encompassing. Your graphics card holds the key to this as it includes the video RAM or the VRAM. The VRAM stores the high resolution structures, and this is what is crucial. Certain games have specific requirements, so make sure you follow those. While upgrading RAM would help with switching within programs, an increase in FPS can be brought about by a good graphics card.

⇨ There will be times when you do an 8 GB upgrade, and notice that your software doesn’t even register it. The reason behind this is that the 32-bit version of certain software are not equipped to use more than the 4 GB limit. So if the 8 GB usage is justified according to you, ensure that you have the 64-bit software version running. Don’t forget to check if the RAM you are installing is compatible with the motherboard, a quick net search should lead you to compatibility guides.

To sum it up, more RAM will definitely make for a better computing experience for heavy users. And with memory upgrades being dirt cheap, installing extra RAM seems like a very attractive proposition indeed. Go ahead and smash that hourglass for good.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/does-more-ram-mean-better-performance.html

Creative QR codes were first noticed in Japan, where companies thought of using these mini bar codes to get closer to their customers. It wasn’t long before the ‘mobile tagging’ craze took over, and today, we can spot some really innovative uses of QR codes that definitely help you to expand your customer base. To some, it may seem like a passing whim, but statistics proving the caliber of the QR codes as an effective marketing tool, tell a different story. QR codes have been around for more than 15 years now; long enough to tell you that they’ve been tried and tested.

How could you work them to your company’s advantage, then? There are several ways to do that, and a few of them are listed right here.

Offer Goodies
Yes; it is the oldest trick of the trade. Rewarding your customers with freebies is a fabulous marketing tool. It could be a promotional offer that includes slashed rates of the product or a membership or even future discounts. Run these codes as a part of your print medium advertisements and/or plaster it across your store and watch your fan base multiply.
Choose your Spot
The most obvious spot for advertising is a purchased product. You’re assured that it stays with your consumer, so why not make use of the product’s part to make your company visible? QR codes can be printed on product labels, price tags or product bags. It is a clever spot to put a QR code on, and you don’t even have to buy advertising space. Embed information about your company, special online offers or priority deals.
Store Displays
Your company may have an online presence, but aren’t you overlooking a very obvious spot to market it 24×7? Display windows in your store are sure to be arresting, but why exclude customers who happen to view them beyond your working hours? A QR code displayed here, lets you get in touch with someone who is interested in your product, but may not necessarily return.
Outdoor Displays
Be brazen at public places, conventions, fairs or seminars and put forth your company’s profile in a “subtle” QR code. Even better, embed your company’s logo into the code (shouldn’t be too difficult, but ensure its functionality), so that you arouse enough curiosity without revealing too much information. Put up QR codes on banners, employee t-shirts, visiting cards, etc., which will ensure visibility.
URL Access
QR codes that direct the user to the shopping page’s URL will be a sure-fire hit. Do make sure that the page is mobile-friendly, or else the entire purpose of the QR code would be wasted. Likewise, you could use QR codes to connect with Facebook or Twitter, and be liked or followed instantaneously. However, pulling this off might be slightly tricky as people who are looking for more information may consider it misleading.
Creative Glimpse
Restaurant menus can include QR codes next to popular dishes, which lets the user connect to a URL that allows them to view the preparation. QR codes are also used in art galleries where they are strategically placed next to the exhibit. Scanning them gives you inputs about the artist and the exhibit as well. In fact, each business can have their own list of things that they want their customers to know about.
Treasure Hunts
Although it won’t suit all products, organizing a treasure hunt through QR codes is an excellent way to engage potential customers. And what could be better than to have a prize at the end of it? As mentioned before, it can be bothersome to organize, but well worth a try for a new product from a recognizable brand.
Create a Buzz
QR codes can be so designed that they make phone calls and send messages to your company. Just be sure that your customer service department is capable of handling inquiries and feedback, or at times, brickbats too. While this does not really qualify as a marketing tool, you can spread some exclusive offers so that the customer does not think of it as a meaningless gimmick.

An innovative marketing tool it certainly is, but overenthusiastic usage of the QR code really kills its very purpose. This is how QR codes can be completely mismanaged. (Hint: Location, location, location)

✘ A subway is the worst place to place a QR hoarding. Unless the underground has Wi-Fi, placing a QR advertisement makes no sense at all, as the idea is to engage people with information on the go. We can’t expect people to save our QR image and scan it sometime later.

✘ QR codes in in-flight reading material is a dubious one indeed. Seriously, a QR code is not something that is cherished; it is just a ticket to more information. And unless the viewer gets immediate access to it, (impossible when he’s flying) you’d rather not print it at all.

✘ QR codes on billboards that are high up there, completely miss the point. People are not interested in craning their necks to take a picture of something they may not even want to know about. The key is easy accessibility.

✘ When QR codes appear on buses or trains, one does wonder who put them there and why; unless they really wanted those buses and trains to break down, so that the frustrated commuters and random pedestrians could then scan it.

✘ It would be a sin to let your QR code get entangled in the Android/Apple face-off. Create a code that is flexible for both, so you make sure that it does not leave out either smartphone user.

QR coding is a contemporary communication tool and you can think of several ways to integrate it into your marketing plan. It definitely is cost-effective, and according to many, it is the ultimate marketing medium of the future.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-use-qr-codes-creatively.html

Creative QR codes were first noticed in Japan, where companies thought of using these mini bar codes to get closer to their customers. It wasn’t long before the ‘mobile tagging’ craze took over, and today, we can spot some really innovative uses of QR codes that definitely help you to expand your customer base. To some, it may seem like a passing whim, but statistics proving the caliber of the QR codes as an effective marketing tool, tell a different story. QR codes have been around for more than 15 years now; long enough to tell you that they’ve been tried and tested.

How could you work them to your company’s advantage, then? There are several ways to do that, and a few of them are listed right here.

Offer Goodies
Yes; it is the oldest trick of the trade. Rewarding your customers with freebies is a fabulous marketing tool. It could be a promotional offer that includes slashed rates of the product or a membership or even future discounts. Run these codes as a part of your print medium advertisements and/or plaster it across your store and watch your fan base multiply.
Choose your Spot
The most obvious spot for advertising is a purchased product. You’re assured that it stays with your consumer, so why not make use of the product’s part to make your company visible? QR codes can be printed on product labels, price tags or product bags. It is a clever spot to put a QR code on, and you don’t even have to buy advertising space. Embed information about your company, special online offers or priority deals.
Store Displays
Your company may have an online presence, but aren’t you overlooking a very obvious spot to market it 24×7? Display windows in your store are sure to be arresting, but why exclude customers who happen to view them beyond your working hours? A QR code displayed here, lets you get in touch with someone who is interested in your product, but may not necessarily return.
Outdoor Displays
Be brazen at public places, conventions, fairs or seminars and put forth your company’s profile in a “subtle” QR code. Even better, embed your company’s logo into the code (shouldn’t be too difficult, but ensure its functionality), so that you arouse enough curiosity without revealing too much information. Put up QR codes on banners, employee t-shirts, visiting cards, etc., which will ensure visibility.
URL Access
QR codes that direct the user to the shopping page’s URL will be a sure-fire hit. Do make sure that the page is mobile-friendly, or else the entire purpose of the QR code would be wasted. Likewise, you could use QR codes to connect with Facebook or Twitter, and be liked or followed instantaneously. However, pulling this off might be slightly tricky as people who are looking for more information may consider it misleading.
Creative Glimpse
Restaurant menus can include QR codes next to popular dishes, which lets the user connect to a URL that allows them to view the preparation. QR codes are also used in art galleries where they are strategically placed next to the exhibit. Scanning them gives you inputs about the artist and the exhibit as well. In fact, each business can have their own list of things that they want their customers to know about.
Treasure Hunts
Although it won’t suit all products, organizing a treasure hunt through QR codes is an excellent way to engage potential customers. And what could be better than to have a prize at the end of it? As mentioned before, it can be bothersome to organize, but well worth a try for a new product from a recognizable brand.
Create a Buzz
QR codes can be so designed that they make phone calls and send messages to your company. Just be sure that your customer service department is capable of handling inquiries and feedback, or at times, brickbats too. While this does not really qualify as a marketing tool, you can spread some exclusive offers so that the customer does not think of it as a meaningless gimmick.

An innovative marketing tool it certainly is, but overenthusiastic usage of the QR code really kills its very purpose. This is how QR codes can be completely mismanaged. (Hint: Location, location, location)

✘ A subway is the worst place to place a QR hoarding. Unless the underground has Wi-Fi, placing a QR advertisement makes no sense at all, as the idea is to engage people with information on the go. We can’t expect people to save our QR image and scan it sometime later.

✘ QR codes in in-flight reading material is a dubious one indeed. Seriously, a QR code is not something that is cherished; it is just a ticket to more information. And unless the viewer gets immediate access to it, (impossible when he’s flying) you’d rather not print it at all.

✘ QR codes on billboards that are high up there, completely miss the point. People are not interested in craning their necks to take a picture of something they may not even want to know about. The key is easy accessibility.

✘ When QR codes appear on buses or trains, one does wonder who put them there and why; unless they really wanted those buses and trains to break down, so that the frustrated commuters and random pedestrians could then scan it.

✘ It would be a sin to let your QR code get entangled in the Android/Apple face-off. Create a code that is flexible for both, so you make sure that it does not leave out either smartphone user.

QR coding is a contemporary communication tool and you can think of several ways to integrate it into your marketing plan. It definitely is cost-effective, and according to many, it is the ultimate marketing medium of the future.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-use-qr-codes-creatively.html

In the age of technology and social media, it’s hard to find a student who doesn’t have a Facebook page. The interesting thing about this is that students will spend hours updating statuses and creating the perfect page that represents themselves. There are so many items that Facebook allows you to show about yourself. You can put in your favorite music, TV shows, movies, books, quotes, as well as your other personal information. You can add pictures and videos as well as update your status for every important (or unimportant) thing going on in your life. Having students create a page for a literary character can be the best way to test your students’ knowledge of a character while having a little fun.

Creating the Page
Creating the page for the assigned character will be easy for your students. Just have them create a new, free email address that they will use only for this page. Then, have them sign up for Facebook as their character. The rest is up to the students. Have them add all of the different items you want them to add in the profile, and watch the characters come to life. You can even have several students create pages for several characters in a book and have them friend each other and comment on each other’s profiles.

Formative Assignment
This can be used as a formative assignment as the novel is being read in class. To do this, have the students create their profiles and update them as the book progresses. You can require a certain number of updates at certain periods of the book, but the end result will be awesome. When you are finished reading the book, you will have profiles for characters that reflect what they did during the entire novel. Then, you can use these as study guides or examples for future classes.

Final Assignment
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time on this assignment, you can assign it as a final project after the book is over. Have the students create their profiles and add things to them. These, however, would not be as in-depth as profiles that are updated as the novel is progressing. You could also put students into groups and have each student take on the role of a different character. As stated above, have the group friend each other and comment on each other’s profiles. This will create a great learning experience for all the students in that they need to comment and react to updates as the character would have done.

Fakebook
Fakebook is a great alternative to creating an entirely new Facebook page for a character. If you do a web search for “fakebook,” you will find it. It is a web-based program that allows students to create multiple Facebook pages without having to go through the process of signing up for Facebook. This can give you many more options to create an assignment that is a little more difficult than just creating one profile. You can have them create profiles for every character if you want. This is a great idea to use in lieu of a test or larger project.

Other Subjects
Of course, Facebook pages are not only for literary characters. History teachers can use this idea for their students to create pages for famous, historical people. Science and math teachers can have their students create pages for famous scientists and mathematicians, or even to personify famous equations. The possibilities are truly endless.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facebook-pages-for-literary-characters.html

Whether you are a system administrator in an organization or someone who has a networked setup in your home, troubleshooting networking glitches is an inseparable part of your life. For a person, who ensures the smooth functioning of networked computers, frantic calls of help are the norm rather than the exception. While disasters do happen, most of the calls demanding assistance are a result of some very basic troubles; troubles that do not require a lot of skill, but just a little patience. Learn how to fix the most common networking and Internet problems right here.

Common Network Problems

Sometimes, two computers are assigned the same IP address erroneously; and because the IP address is the identifying feature of a computer, it leads to obvious connectivity issues. On the other hand, network cards enable computers to link, and faults in the network cards obviously disrupt connectivity.

Fix it: Simply enough, changing the IP address on one computer will fix this problem in no time. To resolve the network card issue, pinging another computer is how you test the network card’s functioning, which should tell you if it needs to be fixed.

Problems related to connectivity plague us perpetually, and more often than not, the solution lies in checking your physical connections and connection devices. Even with Wi-Fi network, there could be some unreachable areas where radio signals simply refuse to venture; and with a multiple client WLAN, you must choose a central location to install the router or WAP.

The Solution: A quick inspection of your router or hub will tell you if some machine is disconnected, or if the culprit is a faulty cable.

Certain computers remain undetectable even after the naming rules for computers and domains have been followed. If you aren’t using TCP/IP already (especially with home setups), it is recommended you do so as the functionality it offers is unmatched.

Fix it: Ensure all the computers are within the same subnet with individual IP addresses. This is elementary; but, just check if the file and printer sharing option is installed and functioning, and also define network shares on each computer. Tweaking Firewall settings may also help.

Slow connectivity is the mark of a haphazardly planned network, leading to extra collisions, which the network is incapable of handling. Heavy file transfers bring down the speed tremendously. At times, the network card, which is actually in charge, may also be overtaxed.

The Solution: Users must be told to zip bulky files while transferring, which lowers the pressure on the network. Also, check if the network card is not suspended in the transmit mode, which indicates that the card is working overtime. All you need to do in such cases is, to replace the faulty components; having done that, never forget to test the functionality.

Troubleshooting Internet connection drops should begin with an examination of the router and a check for any configuration problems. Before you do that, just confirm if your signal strength is fine, and if it is, the problem is obviously internal.

Fix it: In case you have a wired setup, examine the network cables, as you’re likely to notice that the source of the problem is a faulty cable. With wireless setups, it gets a little difficult to identify the source of the problem. However, in most cases, as mentioned before, the rogue computer could just be placed in a network-unfriendly zone.

Along with providing the necessary security, Firewall settings can interfere with file sharing on connected computers. It is true that disabling security features can make your system vulnerable to attacks, but lowering security levels should not cause too much trouble.

The Solution: Rigid Firewall settings need to be adjusted to allow networked computers to share data. You may consider disabling the security settings temporarily, after having thoroughly considered all security related threats.

Problems related to networking rarely venture far from the mundane. Having gone through the common networking problems and the mistakes to avoid, ensure that you keep them at bay and stay away from trouble with a finely operating networked system.

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/most-common-computer-network-problems.html

We’re all familiar with Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), but just as any convenience to us can be taken away, so it is that our Internet service, since it’s made available by satellite, can be used without our knowledge. If you go to a Wi-Fi hotspot like at your nearest coffee shop, it’s ok for multiple people to be using that Internet service, because that coffee shop is a public place. And its Internet service is supposed to be made available to all.

But here at home, we do things and see things on the computer that we would not want revealed to the public. Whether it be financial information, emails, business matters, or other important personal stuff, a Wi-Fi hotspot is the last place we’d want to go through that stuff. But even here at home, Internet criminals can hack into your network and steal your Wi-Fi! How can you tell? Thank goodness there are warning signs! There are at least 2 ways to tell:

(1) Your Internet will be running slower than usual. This may happen either because you’re quite a distance from your network’s modem. The signal strength may not be that great, so you and your computer move closer to your modem. If it’s still running slow, that means someone’s stealing your Wi-Fi. Why would it be running slower? Because the Internet service you’re using can only send out so much satellite availability to you, considering almost all humans in the world use satellite. If someone’s stealing it, that means the signal strength will get fuzzier and fuzzier by the day, because the satellite is having a hard time reaching the administrator of the network, you, to tell you that it’s being hacked. It eventually gives out. How else can you tell?

(2) If your network allows, it will show you if an unknown user of another network is using yours… in such cases, your network will even show you the network name of the user that’s stealing your Internet. You will also be allowed to block your network from that user, or allow that user to continue using your Wi-Fi. So always look for warning #1 first, and if none of the symptoms occur, then look for #2. But here’s where it gets creepy… WHO is stealing your Wi-Fi?

Rumors state that the government hires people to pose as Internet criminals to hack someone’s Wi-Fi service to monitor their activities. Now more than ever, the government is alert for terrorist activities, and to make sure no one’s planning any criminal conspiracies, they hire agents to hack Wi-Fi systems. After all, they’re the government! They know everything. All that matters to them is that they know what we’re doing, and we don’t know that they’re practically breathing against us, looking over our shoulder at all times. It would explain why it’s so easy to hack into a system!

So what do you think? Do you think the government is constantly watching us? While there’s little to say against that statement, there’s more to suggest it. But what we should probably be worrying more about is OUR safety… how can we protect ourselves from identity theft, for example? Just to state… this is the end of ‘Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know’. The next series to follow is: ‘How To Protect Yourself From… In Part 1′, we discuss how to protect ourselves from identity theft. If you have the time, please consider filling out the poll form below. We hope you enjoyed our 3-part series… thanks, dear reader!

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/stuff-they-dont-want-you-to-know-part3.html