|
|
 |
|
PC Tips
- Never turn the power off your computer unless it is necessary.
- Always click start and then shut down. By doing so will keep your files from getting corrupted.
- Every two weeks run scandisk and defrag your hard drive to keep your computer's performance from slowing down.
- It is necessary to have at lease 15 MB of free space on your hard drive in order for it to perform appropriately.
- Always plug your computer and monitor in a surge protector to prevent it from receiving electric spikes which can damage your system and cause costly repair needs.
Viruses run more rampant on the Internet than Star Wars rumors. But if your virus protection is not the best there is, you may as well have none at all. New viruses crop up almost every day in the form of malicious macros, Trojan horses, and worms. With a healthy dose of paranoia as our guide, we compared the two giants of the virus-protection field, McAfee VirusScan and Norton AntiVirus 2002, to see which would keep our PC safest on the virus-infested Internet.
In the end, the deciding factor with virus detection software is, obviously, virus detection. While both programs feature self-updating virus definition lists, Norton AntiVirus 2002 consistently catches more new viruses, as shown by Virus Bulletin's tests. Add to that its malicious script-blocking capabilities and lower system impact, and you have our hands-down winner.
For some, the thrill of playing games on a computer is more exciting than calculating a spreadsheet. Many people have discovered that a fast, personal computer with a color monitor, sound card, and speakers is a powerful game machine, far more versatile than a Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis video game system, or even newer games.
With your home computer, you can play 18 holes of computer golf on the world's finest courses with Tiger Woods, lead a bombing run against drug cartels, undress computer opponents in strip poker, challenge Michael Jordan to a game of one-on-one, or start your own airline.
It's pure escapism, and industry observers say many people are spending hundreds of dollars upgrading their machines just to play games.
If you have an older computer, one purchased more than four years ago, you may discover it needs more memory, a CD-ROM player, a larger hard drive or better speakers to handle the entertainment software now available.
A fast computer is essential. Serious game players buy the most powerful computers they can afford, including IBM compatibles with the Pentium hardware chip installed and Macintosh machines with the 68040 chip the newer machine are the i Mac G's series. The Pentium and 68040 chips offer brute computing strength for handling the complex sound and graphics found in today's computer games. Expect to pay $600 and up for a Pentium or 68040-powered machine, and budget another $150 to $600 for a monitor. Sales of Pentium-powered computers slumped briefly because of a design flaw in the chip, but the problem has been corrected.
CD-ROM players no longer are a luxury. Many games, such as the space combat title, Wing Commander III, are available only on CD-ROM If you are really serious about games, you must have a CD-ROM unit.
Budgeting for accessories is important. Expect to pay $60 and up for high-quality computer speakers that will sound better than the cheap speakers sold with your PC. Some games require a controller, or joystick. They start at about $20 and can cost more than $100. The more expensive models are more precise, making it easier to blast away space aliens after a long day's work.
|
|
