Quick Start Ideas

Quick Idea #1
Is It Time to Upgrade To An LCD?

Computer monitors seem to have an unlimited life. That’s an illusion, especially when dealing with a CRT-based (cathode ray tube) display. Because the image on a CRT is created by a beam of electrons manipulated numerous times across a phosphor-filled faceplate by complex electronics, there are lots of variables -- all of which need to fall exactly into place to keep the image crisp and sharp.

The problem is that electronic component values start to shift the moment that the device is first plugged in and this shift continues throughout the life of the display. While it happens gradually, the electron beam drifts out of alignment with the red, green, and blue phosphors on the face of the CRT. This causes the display to gradually lose focus and become blurry. You probably don’t notice it, because it happens gradually, but it does happen with almost every CRT, and this loss of sharpness often results in eyestrain or even headaches.

It is possible to re-align a CRT display, given the right tools and the know-how. This process is called convergence, and most users don’t have a clue of how to go about performing it. A better and simpler approach is just to replace the display with a new LCD-based flat-panel monitor. Now that they have become a lot more affordable, flat-panel LCDs not only look great on your desk, but never require convergence or focus adjustments. The reason for this is that these LCD displays produce an image differently. Each image element on the display, called a pixel, is physically fixed in place. It might go bad (a condition called a “stuck” or “dark” pixel), but it can’t shift from its place on the screen. The net result of this is an image that doesn’t lose sharpness over time as the electronics age. What you see the first time the display is powered up is what you get every time.

Quick Idea #2
PC Problems? Use the Web.

Oh-oh, your PC seems to be sick. It is acting funny, and you don’t know what to do. Assuming that you’re not a repair technician in your spare time, and don’t have a toolbox full of diagnostic applications and hardware test cards, your first impulse is probably to run for help.

Before you panic and pack up the system for a trip to the computer store repair shop, there are some things that you can try to determine your PC’s state of health (or lack of the same). All you’ll need is a good quality connection to the Internet. High-speed broadband is best, but you can even get by with 56K dial-up if necessary.

The Internet connection lets you find helpful sites that can lead you through troubleshooting and identifying problems that might exist on your PC. Also available are lots of software tools, many free for the downloading, which let you test the components and peripherals that comprise your computer system.

A good place to start is www.pcpitstop.com. This site sells a variety of reasonably-priced utilities. It also has a diagnostic test that you can run directly from the site by downloading a small software utility. This utility and the test do not change anything on your PC, and is safe to run. At the end of the test, you are presented with the results, and if any problems are found, the utility offers to fix them for you.

For troubleshooting guidance, take a look at www.pcguide.com. This site features an expert system that queries you on what symptoms your PC is showing. It then suggests possible causes and solutions. It’s free and a good resource. Also, www.arstechnica.com is another great site for help with troubleshooting your PC.

One thing to keep in mind is that before you start fiddling with your PC’s innards, it’s always a good idea to back up the data and applications residing on your hard disk. That way, even if your PC is inadvertently nuked, you’ll be able to restore critical data.

Quick Idea #3
How Fast Is Your Broadband?

All broadband suppliers like to brag about how fast their services are. But if you look at what they are claiming, a lot of the time, you see the wiggle words “up to” or “as fast as” in the marketing materials.

If your service doesn’t seem as fast as it should be, there are reasons why it simply may not be what you expect. DSL (digital subscriber line) service is very sensitive to the distance from your house or place of business to the place where the phone company’s switch is located, called the Central Office or CO. DSL has a maximum service range of between 15,000 and 18,000 feet. At that distance, you’ll be lucky to see a data transfer rate of 300-400Kbps.

Cable modems theoretically are not affected by the distance between the cable head (main office equipment) and your location. The data transfer rate, however, is often dependent on how many users are sharing the same cable simultaneously.

If you think that you’re not getting the speed that was promised, it isn’t hard to double check. Most broadband services offer a speed check button somewhere on the site, but you don’t have to take the vendor’s word for your connection and transfer speed.

A good broadband resource is www.dslreports.com. On this site you can test your up and download speed, and for DSL, find out just how far from the CO your location is. If you are at the edge of DSL availability, over 12,000 feet, you may need to switch to cable to get better Internet speed.

An even more comprehensive set of tests is available using the download from www.broadbandspeedtest.org. This utility, Dan Elwell’s Broadband Speed Test, conducts up to 38 separate down and upload tests and presents the results in tabular or graphic format. The base utility is free, but for an $18 payment, you get enhanced utility, including the ability to schedule tests at different times.

Don’t reply on the results of a single test, but if testing shows slower than expected broadband, you may want to look to see if you have one or more heavy users on your staff, or put some hard questions to your broadband provider.