Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spyware?
Spyware is Internet jargon for Advertising Supported Software (Adware). It is a way for shareware authors to make money from a product, other than selling it to the users. There are several larger media companies that offer them to place banner ads in their products in exchange for a portion of the revenue from banner sales. This way, you don't have to pay for the software and the developers are still getting paid.
- Refrain from installing shareware
- Periodically clean your temporary internet files and cookies
- Do not click yes to windows that popup asking you to install various programs while on the Internet.
- Run Ad-Aware frequently
What is a Computer Virus?
One of the most useful things about the Internet is the way it connects you to people and information from all over the world. Unfortunately, it can also expose you to malicious and unwelcome intruders - like computer viruses.
A computer virus is a simple program, but one that's been specifically designed to damage or take control of your computer. Viruses reach your computer in two main ways:
1. Viruses that spread using email
Viruses most commonly travel via email and typically, they are hidden in what's called an attachment. An attachment is simply a file like a Word document or picture that is attached to an email message that you might get sent to your mailbox.
2. Viruses that spread using the Internet
Your computer can also be attacked by a virus just by being connected to the Internet. Often called 'Internet worms', these types of viruses travel across the many networks that make up the World Wide Web, looking for vulnerable computers to attack.
What is Ram/Memory and how does it work?
Random access memory (RAM) is the best known form of computer memory. RAM is considered "random access" because you can access any memory cell directly if you know the row and column that intersect at that cell.
The opposite of RAM is serial access memory (SAM). SAM stores data as a series of memory cells that can only be accessed sequentially (like a cassette tape). If the data is not in the current location, each memory cell is checked until the needed data is found. SAM works very well for memory buffers, where the data is normally stored in the order in which it will be used (a good example is the texture buffer memory on a video card). RAM data, on the other hand, can be accessed in any order.
What is a Hard Drive?
Hard disks were invented in the 1950s. They started as large disks up to 20 inches in diameter holding just a few megabytes. They were originally called "fixed disks" or "Winchesters" (a code name used for a popular IBM product). They later became known as "hard disks" to distinguish them from "floppy disks." Hard disks have a hard platter that holds the magnetic medium, as opposed to the flexible plastic film found in tapes and floppies. At the simplest level, a hard disk is not that different from a cassette tape. Both hard disks and cassette tapes use the same magnetic recording techniques described in How Tape Recorders Work. Hard disks and cassette tapes also share the major benefits of magnetic storage -- the magnetic medium can be easily erased and rewritten, and it will "remember" the magnetic flux patterns stored onto the medium for many years.
What is a modem and how does it work?
The word "modem" is a contraction of the words modulator-demodulator. A modem is typically used to send digital data over a phone line.
The sending modem modulates the data into a signal that is compatible with the phone line, and the receiving modem demodulates the signal back into digital data. Wireless modems convert digital data into radio signals and back.
Modems came into existence in the 1960s as a way to allow terminals to connect to computers over the phone lines. A typical arrangement is shown below:
In a configuration like this, a dumb terminal at an off-site office or store could "dial in" to a large, central computer. The 1960s were the age of time-shared computers, so a business would often buy computer time from a time-share facility and connect to it via a 300-bit-per-second (bps) modem.
A dumb terminal is simply a keyboard and a screen. A very common dumb terminal at the time was called the DEC VT-100, and it became a standard of the day (now memorialized in terminal emulators worldwide). The VT-100 could display 25 lines of 80 characters each. When the user typed a character on the terminal, the modem sent the ASCII code for the character to the computer. The computer then sent the character back to the computer so it would appear on the screen.
Which are better DSL or Cable Modems?
A high-speed battle for digital dominance is unfolding across the United States. In one corner are the nation's cable companies -- AT&T and RCN, to name a couple -- which have been busily upgrading their networks and deploying cable modems for high-speed Internet access. In the other corner are local telephone companies, like the Baby Bells, and dozens of Internet service providers, which are deploying their own high-speed systems using a technology called digital subscriber line or DSL.
This competition between cable and telephone giants is just what Congress had in mind when it passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996. But while competition has pushed companies to bring out new services and lower prices, it also has created consumer confusion. It doesn't make sense to get both a cable modem and a DSL connection. So if both are available in your area, which should you get? Which is better?
Do You Sell Parts?
Yes we do sell parts but our in-store stock is limited. Typically we will order in any part that is needed for you if we do not have the part in stock.
Do You Fix Printers?
Because printers are so cheap these days we find that its not cost effective to fix a printer. We will however fix your printer for you if you are willing to spend the money to do it. The process would be done the same way computer repair is done with an up front $25 dollar diagnosis fee to see what's going on with the printer. We would then call you with a quote for the time it would take to fix. Its highly important to determine if it is even worth it to fix a printer as compared to going out and buying a new one.
Do You Sell Computers?
Yes we do. We try to sell quality, high-end computers over those that are cheaply made. HP Business Line Computers are typically what we sell. Because prices are continually changing call or come in to discuss purchasing.