GeekSugar

Extend the Life of Your Computer With These Care Tips

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:31:26 PDT

If your laptop is still in working order, you probably don't need to spring for that brand-new MacBook Air this season before you head back to class. Nonetheless, the start of a new school year (or just Fall in general) is a good time to spruce up your trusty laptop and get it ready for the long nights of studying ahead. Here, a few tips on how to get your machine in tip-top shape before the first bell rings, and how to care for a brand new investment so it serves you well for the next four years.

Clean it Up

Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.

Practice proper shut-down habits

Shutting down all open programs, and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport.

Protect your investment

If you're going to be lugging a laptop around campus, make sure it's protected in a padded case!

See the rest of my tips after the jump.

9 Tips to Make Your Computer Last and Run Fast

LearnVest — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Cute bathing suit vs. medical co-pay. Yummy organic blueberries vs. credit card late fees. Beachside mojitos vs. laptop repair.

When it comes to certain expenses, it’s clear which we’d prefer. So, as a public service to help you fund all of your summer cocktails, we recommend taking a look at your Old Faithful–your computer, that is.

It’s your buddy, your confidant, and it brings you all the great info out there (like, ahem, this article). And at a grand or more apiece, it’s worth your while to make sure this expensive electronic goes the distance–if only to keep your summer funds going where they should be.

From dusting your USB ports to coddling that battery, we bring you nine tips to make sure that your machine does your bidding for ages to come:

1. Protect Yourself

If your computer were to get a virus, a diagnostic and fix at a place like Best Buy could cost as much as $200. So, protect yourself in advance. Make sure you have an antivirus and that all of your definitions are up to date. If you don’t pay for an antivirus, get a free one like AVG or Avast.

2. Watch Your Water

We can tell you from firsthand experience that one of the easiest ways to ruin a laptop is to reach for a glass of water on your desk late at night. This may sound basic, but prevent spilling on your expensive electronics by investing in a closed lip water bottle to use near your computer. If you’re on the market for a stylish new bottle that will keep your laptop-and the environment-safe, check out our picks.

Read on for more great tips.

Web 2.0 Sickness: Symptoms of a Digital Hoarder

GeekSugar — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:47:59 PDT

I'm always talking about how important it is to give your computer a good cleaning inside and out in order to keep your machine in tip-top shape, but apparently there are some of you out there that aren't listening. Online hoarding is quickly becoming a web 2.0 phenomenon that many people may not even realize they have contracted -hoarding isn't a computer virus that you can catch, but it's a habit that should be broken ASAP.

The secret to a healthy computer is cutting the fat - fat being an overabundance of emails, files, movies, downloads, and games that rarely (or worse, never) get deleted. This can slow down your computer to a crawl, despite any upgrades in hard drive space and RAM you've added. The closer you get to the limit on your computer's storage, the closer it is to crashing for good.

Want to find out if you're a digital hoarder? Check the symptoms after the jump.

Minutes to a Healthier You: Walk Away From the Laptop

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:17 PST

Hi, my name is FitSugar and I am an Internet addict. Not exactly, but between my job, iPhone, and home computer, there are days that I can spend a lot of time on the web. While this may not be entirely bad - surfing the web may slow down dementia, after all - it's not all good either.

As much as I love all the great blogs, online communities, and fun time-wasting websites out there, I know that stepping away from the computer is a good thing. So I'm going to start shaving more and more time off my Internet usage, and may even make the weekend an Internet-free zone. For those of you not already doing this, I challenge you to do the same! You'll have more time to be active, visit with friends, and give your peepers a break from staring at a screen all day.

If you think giving up the computer may be too hard for you, here are a few tips that may help with withdrawals.

Schedule unabashed Internet-free time. Start off by designating times during the day where you will completely unplug yourself. For starters, I've been trying to stay offline as soon as work ends. Hopefully, I'll bump that up to an entire weekend.
Set time limits. Don't make your web surfing and Internet usage nebulous. I know plenty of folks who are always on. For some, it's a laptop on the coffee table, while others may have a borderline obsessive BlackBerry habit. These constant online distractions affect the real life happenings around you. Instead, give yourself a set time limit to check and answer emails or surf the web.

To see more tips,

Barbie's New Career: Computer Engineer!

GeekSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:00:38 PST

I put out a call via Twitter and Facebook last month for you guys to vote for "Computer Engineer" as Barbie's new career - and you totally did! Announced today, the newest additions to the Barbie family will include two professions: computer engineer (which won by popular vote - way to go geeks!) and news anchor (took the top vote among girls).

Not only will Computer Engineer Barbie be attached to her shiny pink laptop and Bluetooth earpiece, but Mattel worked closely with the Society of Women Engineers to ensure that Barbie's fashions were as geek chic as possible. She sports a binary tee, black skinny pants, retro-styled glasses, and totes a smartphone along with her other essentials. Although I may disagree a bit with the color scheme, I can't complain - there's finally a geeky Barbie for girls to relate to! Computer engineer Barbie (along with her sidekick, News Anchor Barbie) were unveiled this morning at the NY Toy Fair, and will be hitting shelves this Fall.

How Much Time Do You Spend in Front of a Screen Each Day?

GeekSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:47:22 PST

Obviously with my job, I spend over eight hours in front of my computer screen, and maybe an additional one or two during the day checking up on my reader, emails, and apps on my iPhone, or playing a video game at home. That's a lot of working hours for my eyeballs! But a recent study shows that kids these days aren't that far behind. Children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend almost eight hours a day in front of some form of electronic media. But agile multitaskers of the future that they are, they can pack in over 10 hours of information in that time.

This is not surprising to me since I see kids all the time with their noses in a DS, or clicking away on their cell phones. On one hand, it's amazing how kids can adapt to new media so easily, but on the other, I wonder how much of the outside world they're missing, and when (or if) they'll learn to stop and smell the roses between their text messaging marathons. I'm curious - how much time do you spend in front of a screen each day?

OLPC Sending the XO to Haiti to Aid Reconstruction

GeekSugar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:45:26 PST

The OLPC XO is Haiti-bound. A "ruggedized" version of the Linux-based machine - which is already in the hands of millions of children around the world - is being sent to reconstruction groups who are helping to rebuild the destroyed cities of Haiti after last week's earthquake. This isn't the first high-tech way we've seen aid flow to the country - you can also buy apps and donate your old cell phones for the cause as well.

Humanitarian and reconstruction groups are invited to request the laptops with an application, and can also request solar-charging backpacks to recharge the machines and other devices.

CES 2010: It's Raining Tablets (and Netbooks)!

GeekSugar — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:47:15 PST

Although CES officially starts on Thursday, there's been a whole slew of announcements and leaks from tech companies to whet our palate for the big show. As predicted, tablets are a big deal in Las Vegas right now, and are sure to be a big consumer tech item for the rest of the year. Check out some of my favorite tablets and netbooks that we've seen over the past week.

Disney Debuts Computer-Based DIY Thrill Ride

GeekSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:45:38 PDT

The joy of playing roller coaster Tycoon on the PC is that you get to create the roller coaster of your dreams. You know, the kind you were always too short to ride as a kid? But at Walt Disney World in Florida, Mickey is taking things one step further and letting you design your own actual roller coaster, and then setting you off in a virtual world to enjoy it.

Called "The Sum of All Thrills", this DIY experience has you choosing dips, turns, and loops on a computer tablet, then hopping into a robotic car to test your creation. I'm in love with this idea, since there are an endless combination of possibilities, meaning you'll probably never get the same ride twice. However, this doesn't mean that I would replace the thrill of a regular roller coaster with a VR one on a regular basis. The good news for us coaster fans is that VR rides are pretty expensive to produce. Personally, I think traditional roller coasters are here to stay, and virtual coasters are just the icing on the cake.

HP's Envy 15 Beats LE Comes Bundled With Dre's Headphones

GeekSugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:02:00 PDT

I'm already in love with the sound quality of Dr. Dre's Beats headphones I tested out last year, so getting a free pair with an HP computer bundle would be pretty sweet. But not just any computer of course, one that also comes with a copy of Traktor LE DJing software so I can get my scratch on at the clubs. Who am I kidding, I'm no DJ - but I'll pretend to be one once DJ Hero hits the shelves this month!

HP has announced the HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition (which comes stocked with the same hardware as the original Envy 15, but with a pumped up graphics card), which is perfect for DJs and producers with all of its bundled beat-loving goodies. It's pretty sleek with a glossy black finish and red logo (which you'll also find on the matching headphones), but brace yourself for the price: the Envy 15 LE will start at $2,299. . . wowzas.