Battery Replacement

There are plenty of reasons why your laptop might need a replacement laptop battery. In some cases, the battery is too old and needs replacing. Other times it may be because they never fully charged battery from your laptop. This is a common problem that did not close their laptops all the way once and a while and charges the battery manually. Furthermore, those who frequently leave their laptops at all night instead of leaving them in sleep mode may find that this battery wears significantly.

Unfortunately, another major contributor to need a replacement laptop battery is the storage of the poor. That's why you never, never store your laptop in places like closets, cars, garages, storage or warehouse. Even a night in these unstable areas will result in your laptop overheating or getting too cold, which can wreak havoc on the battery and the rest of the machine. Also, avoid resting your laptop on soft surfaces, such as a couch or pillow, blocking the vent opening that keeps your laptop from overheating.

Once your search has been reduced in this way, you will find that the selection of a replacement laptop battery is not as difficult as it seems. Your budget and personal preferences are the only factors that need to worry. Ideally, you should choose one that lasts longer.

A laptop quality replacement battery should be one that lets you use your laptop to the fullest without worrying about whether your laptop random shutdown due to low power. After all, the central point of a laptop should be able to work or play their favorite coffee shops, libraries and other places of work. By investing in a laptop replacement battery quality are also doing their part to ensure that your laptop will last for many years. Learn more today!

Usa-battery.com recommend the highest quality laptop batteries for all the brands like Toshiba, Dell, HP, Sony, Compaq, IBM, Acer available on the market. Our laptop batteries are the best worth and low price.

Common Graphics Card Problems

Do you have a broken computer and you are not sure what is wrong with it? It could be a hardware problem meaning no matter how many configurations you change in Windows your computer's status will not improve. The following are a few computer slow computer solutions, and one might be the perfect slow computer fix for you.

My Computer Keeps Freezing!

If your computer keeps freezing, possibly while playing a computer game, your video card might be to blame. Based on how graphic-intensive the game is will make the video card try to operate at higher speeds, and in some cases, higher than it is safely capable of. This will cause the gfx card to overheat. Some computers come with programs or meters physically attached to the computer that monitor gfx card performance. If not, there are programs available for download such as RivaTuner. RivaTuner is for Nvidia and ATI gfx cards, so make sure you check compatibility to insure it works with whatever video card you own.

Funny Colors Everywhere!

A good indicator that your graphics card (or GPU) is overheating, aside from GPU monitors telling you, is that the game being played at the time will have very distorted colors, sometimes making the game unplayable. Regardless, it should be fixed immediately. Whether you are technically still able to play the game or not, the messed up colors are telling you that the game is making your card run too hot and, if ignored, can permanently destroy your GPU. Damaged GPUs due to overheating cannot be repaired.

How Do I Prevent it?

The answer is mostly common sense. In a nutshell, keep your computer system cooler. Start by cleaning out your computer, removing all dust with a dry paper towel. If this does not solve the problem you are going to need invest in better ways of cooling your system. If you want to tempt fate or are really in need to use the graphics card as it is now, then point a fan towards your computer tower. This is by no means a fully adequate slow computer fix and is definitely temporary, but it will keep it a few degrees cooler for the time being. To really calm down your card, you need to invest in a computer fan that can be installed inside your computer. Liquid cooling also exists for graphics cards, and while most effective, it can also be most expensive.

If your computer keeps shutting down or you exclaim, "My Computer Keeps Freezing!" after playing a computer game, you might just have a broken computer graphics card. Keep your computer cool, and it will prevent your computer running slow. It might also possibly prevent your from having a permanently broken computer.

USB Flash Drives

USB flash drives are incredibly popular at the moment and have pretty much replaced the CD and DVD as the preferred medium on which to store and carry personal data. Floppy disks, with the exception of the few die-hards that still use them, are all but extinct and there's a whole new generation that will have never seen or used a floppy disk.

USB flash drives are popular because they're relatively cheap, they're easy to use, they're small, they're portable and you can transfer data onto them quickly and without fuss or any technical knowledge. Because pretty much every PC and Mac has a USB port when you use a USB flash drive to store and carry data around with you, you know you're going to be able to access the data on pretty much any PC you use, whether the PC is at home, work or school.

Of course most people when they want a new USB flash drive they'll pick one up at the local store or order one from the myriad of on-line stores that sell them. The only downside of doing this is that most of the stores carry the same style, brand and type of flash drive and most of them are the same rectangular shape - not exciting but they work and the core design around which most are built is a tried and tested shape.

Many crave the opportunity to be different, to push back on the bland uniformity of everyday product design but for many part from putting a "sticker" or two on the drives there's not much that can be done, or is there?

USB flash drives are pretty simple devices made up of 4 components; the core flash memory module, the flash memory controller chip (the brains of the unit); the PCB with integral USB connector and the "shell" that encases these parts and gives the flash drive its styling and look.

Today it's possible to buy a USB PCB with the flash memory module and controller chip already on-board. - This effectively give you a functional USB flash drive but without a body shell. But if you buy these then you can design and make your own shell and have a truly unique flash drive that is personal to you.

Some schools are catching on to this idea and buying USB PCB's and setting their students the task of designing and building a USB flash drive - it's a great idea and a fantastic way to get the students engaged in product design, manufacture and packaging - who knows, they might even come up with a design to challenge the big, established brands.

Phil is part of the team at USB2U. USB2U is a specialist supplier of Branded and Promotional USB Memory Sticks. We offer fast turnaround times, excellent advice and support and free design and mock-ups. If you are considering Branded Memory Sticks or want custom USB memory sticks then please contact us - we 'd be delighted to hear from you.

How to Re-Clip Them

One of the things that attracts customers to the ever popular Twister USB Flash Drive is that you can quickly and easily change the metal clip that makes up part of the body of the flash drive and spins around to form the lid.

It's the metal clip on the Twister Flash Drive that carries the branding so if you do change your logo, phone number, web address or just need to promote something new then you can just remove the clips and get some new ones printed.

The beauty of this is that if you do order too many Twister Flash Drives for a particular event or show then your money is not wasted because you can just re-cycle the drives and get the clips re-printed with details of your next show or event.

Getting new clips printed is incredibly cost effective and providing you're careful when you swap them over the housing of the drive won't get damaged or scratched. You do need to make sure the new clip is put on correctly to ensure a "snug fit" otherwise the clip will just rotate too freely and won't protect the USB connector.

The recommended steps are as follows:

Step 1:

Remove the existing Twister Clip. Wearing a pair of soft gloves to protect the flash drives remove the old clip, by placing the forefinger of your left-hand into the space inside the metal clip and prying it apart. Once done the plastic housing should come out.

Step 2:

Squeeze the new clip together. Before attaching the new metal clip you need to pinch it together to ensure a snug fit.

Step 3:

Wrap a small plastic bag around the Twister body shell. To protect the housing when you attach the new clip try wrapping a small plastic bag around it before attaching the clip. Open the clip just enough to squeeze it around the housing with the plastic bag sandwiched in between as a protective barrier.

Step 4:

Lastly, carefully pull out the plastic bag to reveal the finished Branded USB Twister Flash Drive

There are image of how to do this on the USB2U website.

Phil is part of the team at USB2U. USB2U is a specialist supplier of Branded and Promotional USB Memory Sticks. We offer fast turnaround times, excellent advice and support and free design and mock-ups. If you are considering Branded Memory Sticks or want custom USB memory sticks then please contact us - we 'd be delighted to hear from you.

Disposable USB Flash Drive

There's been a lot of chatter around during the last couple of weeks on the subject of disposable, cardboard USB flash drives and whether they're real or whether they're just a concept drawn up by a Creative Director with an overly creative imagination - not unreasonable of course because that's what they're paid to do!

To be fair to any Creative Directors out there marketing and advertising campaigns using disposable USB flash drives have been with us for a little while now but most have used "web keys" rather than flash drives with any reusable flash memory on-board.

Web keys look similar to flash drives but their only function when inserted into a USB port on a PC or Mac is to fire up the local default web browser and then take the user to a pre-loaded website address - nothing is stored on the web key and the user can't store their own files on it. Its primary function is just to drive "eyeballs" to a web site or web-based promotion. Once this task is complete the web key is redundant and is typically discarded or ideally recycled!

Because they're a little bit different "web keys" arouse curiosity and people tend to use them just to see what happens when they're "plugged in" so they're great when used as part of a physical direct mail campaign or as a magazine insert.

The use of real disposable USB drives with reusable memory on-board is far less common simply because flash drives, even flash drives with a relatively small memory (say 1GB) are still too expensive to be deemed to be disposable. Although the price of branded USB flash drives has fallen over the last couple of years they still have a high-perceived value amongst people they are given to so to suggest that it would be "OK" to use them and then just "toss them away" might not be the best message to give out. It's hardly a message that reinforces any "eco-friendly" credentials and at best is a message that is likely to alienate some people.

If flash memory prices continue to fall as they have done then conceivably we could see disposable flash drives emerge in the market but it would need the factories to continue to produce the flash memory modules. At the moment the factories just stop manufacturing them when the price point reaches a level where they can't squeeze enough profit from them - This is partly the reason why it's hard to buy 64MB and 128MB USB drives.

Flash drives available for pennies that we would all be comfortable "throwing away" do not exist and if the current manufacturing trends are continued they'll never exist. So, truly disposable USB flash drives are possible but they'll be expensive and any company using them needs to pay particular attention to the negative messages associated with encouraging people to "throw away" perfectly good products.

Should Know About CAT6 Wiring

Move over, CAT5 and CAT5e, because CAT6 wiring is here. If you're not familiar with the terminology, CAT5 and CAT6 both refer to categories (CAT is short for category) of Ethernet cables, used for computer networking purposes. CAT5 had a run of many years as the number one standard in the field, and 5e remains the most used wiring. However, increased demands on network bandwidth is causing rapid adoption of CAT6 as the newer, faster standard. This guide will show you what it does and how it's superior to what has gone before.
CAT6 and CAT5 are both standards for Gigabit Ethernet. CAT6 is popular because, among other things, it's backwards compatible with the previous categories, 5 and 3. CAT6 wiring, however, goes CAT5 a few steps better, thanks to its severe specifications for both system noise and crosstalk. Thanks to its performance at 250MHz, CAT6 is perfect for everything from 100BASETX / 10BASET to 1000BASETX / 1000BASET. It also works well with 10 gigabit Ethernet, or 10gBASET standards. There are, however, a few length restrictions with it.
Whereas there is some interference experienced between two twisted pair cables that run parallel to one another when using CAT5e wiring, CAT6 noticeably decreases this interference.
Although the specs are different from CAT5 and CAT3, CAT6 cables look nearly identical to the others. To tell it apart, however, just look for the printing on the sheath of the cable. This will say CAT6 if indeed it is.
Inside the CAT6 cable will be four copper wires, twisted together. these are normally made of 23 gauge wire, although this is not required; it can in some instances be made with either 22 or 24 AWG wire. Either way, it must, of course, meet the testing standards set for the cable.
In many instances, CAT6 is used as a patch cable for 8P8C connectors. This often leads to confusion, with people referring to them as RJ45 connectors--an incorrect identification.
Because of size constraints, there are some CAT6 cables which are too large to connect to 8P8c connectors without a specific modular piece. Also, if you mix two standards together, you don't always have the guarantee that they'll work properly. Usually the performance of the cable's signal path will be reduced to the performance of the lower wire category (For instance, combining CAT6 and CAT5 will give you the performance of the CAT5.).
CAT6 is available in many sizes; the largest currently available is a hundred meters.
A CAT6 cable terminates in either the T568B scheme or the T568A scheme. You can choose which to use according to your personal taste, since both are straight through. Indeed, the two schemes can be safely mixed together. Although there might be a small quality depreciation, it's so small that it might not even be noticeable.
If you're currently using CAT5 cable and are experiencing noticeable bottlenecks in your bandwidth, it might be time to upgrade. Eventually you'll almost certainly need to go to CAT6 wiring. And that time might be now if you're already getting the drag associated with using lots of heavy applications at once.

Outdoor TV Cabinets

Modern TVs are no longer only found in homes. The LCD and plasma screen is being used for a multitude of purposes in outdoor locations from outdoor digital signage, information screens, to outdoor entertainment. And with a growing use of outdoor TVs comes an increasing requirement for outdoor lcd protection.
Along with the burgeoning outdoor digital signage and information market, many bars, hotels and restaurants are increasingly requiring outdoor TVs to entertain patrons as smoking bans and a desire for outdoor socialising becomes more prevalent. And even householders are wishing to install TVs in backyards, patios and around the pool as a luxury item - but there is often a high cost in using an outdoor TV.
However, cost effective alternatives to specific outdoor and waterproof TVs are available and becoming more common, allowing standard LCD and plasma screens to be used outside, protected by outdoor LCD TV cabinets.
Outdoor TV cabinets are protective enclosures designed to accommodate standard LCD or plasma TVs. They are manufactured in various sizes and are a cost effective and comprehensive method of protecting TVs in outdoor locations.
Outdoor LCD TV cabinets offer complete protection to allow LCDs and plasmas to be safely and securely used in almost any outdoor location; from outside a pub or bar to allow customers to watch the big game; around the pool or patio areas to let homeowners watch TV in their backyard; as information screens on railway platforms or outside buildings; to outdoor digital signage - an increasingly popular advertising medium.
Using conventional TV equipment outside requires a multitude of protection all of which the outdoor TV cabinet provides:
Waterproofing - one of the most obvious needs for any outside use of a TV is protecting it from rainwater and other weather elements. A standard LCD or plasma screen will not last long outdoors if water is allowed to get to it. Outdoor TV cabinets are therefore waterproof and often manufactured to international guidelines such as IP65 or NEMA 4.
Rainfall is not the only outdoor element either: hail, snow, sleet and even wind-blow dust and debris can disable an LCD or plasma device if it is allowed to penetrate into the workings of the device so outdoor TV cabinets are also resistant to these hazards too.
Temperature is also another problem. When temperatures get too hot, LCDs and plasmas can easily overheat and this can cause permanent failure so inside the outdoor TV cabinet cooling systems such as airflow fans are installed to ensure the internal temperature never rises above the optimum. And very cold temperatures are equally as disabling for a TV so often heaters, insulation or other measures have to be enclosed in the cabinet to prevent temperature plummeting too low. Quite often for outdoor TVs fitted as permanent features both these extremes have to be countered so many outdoor TV cabinets have a combination of these systems installed.
Finally, it can be vulnerable to theft and vandalism so security measures are installed in outdoor TV cabinets such as shatterproof screens and security locks. The cabinets themselves are also made of steel so provide a rugged barrier against impacts and strikes.