Stan's Chrome-Plated Tech Tips
Monday, May 12, 2014
Warm up your Wallets Peeps - Intel Busts out the new Z97 Chipset
Intel has upped the bar again, with eyes set on faster CPU and storage technologies, improved security, and of course, your wallet. Up next in the technological arsenal that is Intel, they have
finally released their Z97 or series 9 chipset - Code Name "Devil's Canyon" (awesome, right?) along with a new line of Processors. I'll give you the highlights here for what you can expect.
First up is SATA Express - the long awaited heir apparent to current SATA hard drive architecture. SATA Express is being integrated
into the Z97 chipset and utilized by SATA-Express supported drives. The big benefit - a data channel up to 300% faster than current Hard Drives. What this
means to the average consumer: it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaay faster.
The next of these improvements includes support for M.2 SSDs, which is
the replacement for the currently used mSATA. These are the small SSD's typically seen on many ultrabook models In the real world, they promise read/write increases up to 35%. Again, faster = better.
As far as processors go, we have Devil’s Canyon CPUs in i7 . Intel has unlocked each and every of the new Devil’s Canyon
processors, providing a better overclocking experience and enhanced performance
right out of the box. Not only are these the first desktop platforms to support
the soon-to-be-released DDR4 memory, but the forthcoming models will bee the first 8-core desktop processor. These are meant
for PC enthusiasts, starting at an amazing 4.0Ghz and a speed boost clocking in
at 4.4Ghz, a first for Intel.
All
in all, it seems like a good step for Intel, but to whom? The Gaming and Power Users,
sure, but for the your basic web browsing/office work types, it's really overkill. There's very limited availability of SATA Express or M.2 currently, and they're probably still a ways away from qualifying for a good "bang for the buck" as they say. So unless you're one who needs the latest and greatest, it probably won't pay off to be an early adopter. Big name brand PC's probably won't roll out Devil's Canyon Models for a few months. Those new Hard Drive technologies aren't coming until Christmas most likely.
Let's not forget, these new enhancement are going to come at a premium and it's up to you early adopters to act as beta testers. But like Maverick once said to Goose: "I feel the need. The need for Speed!" Guess you can count me in for two.
Labels: 2014, 4.0, CPU, DDR4, Devil's Canyon, Enthusiast, Gaming, Ghz, haswell, i7, Intel, M.2 SSD, mSATA, Overclock, pc, Processor, SATA Express, Series 9, Storage, Z97
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Farewell, Old Friend. A Requiem for XP.
As of today, Windows XP reaches the end of its long and winding road. For those who've stubbornly (yes Windows 7 and even 8 are improvements - no comment on Vista) held on to the venerable OS, it’s
now time to wave farewell and move on. We know it’s hard, we know it’ll take
some time to get used to something else, but that’s the joy of it all, right?
Experiencing something new, experiencing something you haven’t had much time to
experience before. Let’s take this
moment to remember all the good moments about XP and what it brought to the
table.
A huge improvement from the get-go
was the highly reduced crash rate. If you remember, Windows ME and earlier
would almost always lock up once or twice a week, while Windows XP was locking
up, if ran all the time, once a month. Faster Internet performance was another
key aspect of the upgrade from earlier Windows versions. Not only did they soup
up the Windows 2000 operating system for the modern world, but also files
downloaded twice as fast over DSL.
Something that soothed most of us
entertainment users was the fact that Windows XP treated the CD/DVD drive as an
actual drive, utilizing not only the ability to burn CDs, but as well as play
them through Windows Media Player that had support for movies and music (Remember that AWESOME visualizer?).
While
all of this was beneficial to Windows XP, the simplicity of it all was what
rang true to most. The ability to go highly advanced or keep it bare was what
brought the two mindsets together. Not only could the masses use it with ease,
but the people who have the intellect to code and develop have highly advanced
features to use around the office and at home. This is the main factor in why
XP gained its popularity and stardom. It had a little bit of something for
everyone, like a nurturing mother to the many children it oversaw.
Just
as a child that has transgressed through puberty into young adulthood has to
move out of the house, so should the masses with Windows XP. There are, dare I
say, hipper choices to go with nowadays, all geared towards maintaining a fresh
outlook. You might think it’d hard to
move on, you may even think it’s a whole different planet going to the newer
Windows, but it’s not. Windows 7 is the XP of the current age and even that is
slowly growing old; just imagine how XP is feeling!
And
with that, we wish you farewell XP. As mentioned, it’s been a fabulous run and
you’ve done your best to keep it hip for as long as you possibly could. You
will always have a place in our hearts and minds. We hope to see you in a few museums
around the world sooner than later, so that we, too, can show our children
where we grew from.
Labels: 2014, 7, 8, 8th, April, Death, End, Farewell, Garage, Repair, Stan, Tech, windows, XP
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
This is the End . . . Preparing for the End of the Road with Windows XP
With D-Day quickly approaching for Windows XP, it seems we have come to the end of an era. Since 2002, XP has dominated the PC market, and even today, it accounts for 29% of current operating systems in use. And with that, we here at STG would hate to see our friends be stuck with vulnerable computer. Here’s what you need to know:
· On April 8th, 2014, Microsoft will be pulling all it’s resources for Windows XP, including security fixes, vulnerability patches, and software updates.
What does that really mean? Well, this could be dangerous for your data on day one. Hackers could be sitting on a new exploit just waiting to strike when they know there's no update coming. You'll be vulnerable, and unless some third party starts patching Windows XP for the remaining holdouts, you're going to stay vulnerable.
What options does that leave you? Well, you're basically left with two: upgrade to a supported operating system or buy a computer with one.
Chances are your computer doesn't warrant an upgrade, but on the off chance that it can handle a modern OS, you can purchase a copy of Windows 7 or 8 in the $120 ballpark. If you've neither the desire nor inclination to install a new Operating system, you can of obviously hire someone to do it for you or buy a computer with the latest OS (typically Windows 8) already installed.
If you are thinking upgrade, you'll want to make sure your PC meets the minimum requirements:
Look, your precious XP system won't just magically cease to function one tragic day in April. But you already know that old PC is starting to lag. It can't properly support the faster, modern hardware of today and virtually no new software is being written to support XP either. Even with the chance of a massive strike against remaining XP systems by hackers being more or less the same as April 7th, it's time to let go, and you know it.
Just like with waiting to pay your bills at the very last moment or forgetting about a traffic citation, the consequences can become a huge headache. This isn’t the end of the world, but just like ignoring that warrant to appear, you're much better handling it before it becomes a problem.
To go over what we just covered, here’s a short list of things you can do or mull over before you decide:
1. Decide if you want to keep your existing computer or buy a new one
2. Find which OS you like more! Windows 7, Windows 8, or even a Mac.
3. Backup your current system’s data
4. Just do it! You’ll thank yourself later.
As Always,
Stan
Labels: computer repair, windows 7, Windows 8, windows xp
Monday, February 3, 2014
Stock is for suckers, make mine Custom!
Ever hear the phrase you get what you pay for? Well, when shopping for a new PC it couldn't be more true. Gone are the days when you could get a custom built PC from a little shop around the corner for half the price of one from a major manufacturer at a big box store. The big boys moved their operations overseas, and started using far cheaper, lower quality components to crush their mom-n-pop competitors.
What you, dear reader, were left with was an inferior product at only a small discount, if any at all. Now you should Rage against the Machine, escape corporatism and maximization of profits from this industry by opting for one of many sweet custom-built computers. With you in mind, the benefits of these hand-built beauties heavily outweighs the competition.
Complete control over the components that make up each custom build is key.
Never again do you have to sacrifice quality in order to receive the same
parts you would building your own computer. Not only that, but down to the
motherboard and case, you can pick and choose the components you need, not
receive what the company thinks would be best.
Keep in mind, each and every computer manufacturer can and will cheap out
on certain portions of a computer they sell you. It's absolutely a guarantee that the motherboard, power supply, and RAM in a major manufacturer's PC is the most mediocre component they can source at the cheapest prices. Definitely not the case when you build from scratch. Preventative measures can be taken when the
computer is built to prolong the life of any computer. With pre-built desktops,
you’re going to see components that mismatch in reliability with the other
pieces to the computer, leading to planned obsolescence.
From the very beginning of the custom built process, the entire computer is
built with you in mind. Ever wanted a lit up case, drowning in blue or red lights,
shining in the night like some sort of ghoul? You can have that done. What goes
into the computer is built around your needs and what could be needed in the
future. Let's not forget the Operating System. Pretty much every new PC comes preloaded with Windows 8 nowadays. With a custom build, you can get Windows 7, no problem. Heck you even want XP or Vista (although who in their right mind would), they're yours for the asking. And you always get a clean install without the bloatware pre-installed as major manufacturers feel is some sort of preordained necessity.
So whether it’s your need for power, speed, or reliability, custom built PC’s are
the way to go. With the whole process being about you, is there really any
question about which to go with? Not only do you choose the case and what goes
inside, but you get the satisfaction of a clean and neat build, with easy upgradability, and a sense of control you're not going to get from an assembly line PC.
Now if you need a little help getting yourself into one of these beauties, I know just the guys.
As Always,
Stan
I'm not a Geek. I'm your friend. And I'm here to help.
Now if you need a little help getting yourself into one of these beauties, I know just the guys.
As Always,
Stan
I'm not a Geek. I'm your friend. And I'm here to help.
Labels: components, computer repair, computer service, custom pc, windows
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Windows 8.1 - Um I don't think that's what the people meant by Start Menu.
So if you bought a new PC in the last year or so and you didn't go far out of your way to find one with Windows 7, you got Windows 8 by Default. Odds are you also weren't overly thrilled with the new Windows 8 interface. From there you could have done a couple of things - found a start menu app or pissed and moaned about it hoping Microsoft would fix it.
You likely heard about Windows 8.1 and that the start menu was coming back! The joy you must have felt! Then you got it as it was a free upgrade, and when you clicked that magic start button hoping to get you back to the familiar Windows interface to which you'd become so accustomed, you landed right back on the thing you were hoping to avoid. This right here:
Um, how exactly is that any different than the crap people have been complaining about since it's inception? Great job Miss-crosoft, that'll save the struggling PC market!
But on top of all that, there's all this new erratic behavior popping up. All of a sudden you may notice something like this pop up on your screen:
Now try as you might, there's no straightforward way to get this thing to go away. To things worked out for me with varying degrees of success:
- Move the mouse pointer all the way to the upper left corner and it'll usually make these "tips" go away.
- Use the old Alt+F4 (on newer Windows 8 machines you may have to use Alt+Fn+F4) on the newer Windows 8 app to close it and make the tips go away.
Now if you're the adventurous sort, you can disable these tips from ever appearing again by modifying the registry. Yes the registry - that scary mysterious thing that can unlock all the mysteries of your Windows computer not entirely unlike the Smoke Monster from "Lost." Anyway, our friends over at Eightforums.com created a handy little registry file for this very purpose. Download it via THIS LINK and simply double click to run and click yes when prompted. Poof - there go those annoying help tips.
With Windows 8, you've basically got to accept the fact that you're a Beta Tester. They're no longer gunning for your PC dollar, but a viable transition into the more sought after mobile market and they're banking on Windows 8 to help make that a reality. Whether it works out for Microsoft or not remains to be seen. However this shakes out, I'll be here to steer you in the right direction.
As Always,
Stan
I'm not a Geek. I'm your friend. And I'm here to help.
Labels: microsoft, tech tips, Windows 8
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Kobe hard at work!
Sup Readers! As you know, the Garage is a very dog friendly spot.
We've got two of our own here - Reese and Kobe - any they love to meet
new doggy visitors.
When we're not busy doing computer repair, data recovery, or doing on-site IT for businesses and individuals, well, we're probably playing with the dogs. We've even managed to teach them a couple tricks in the process.
They also love to show off. Oh yeah -
they've got tricks and will use them any time treats become a part of
the equation. So naturally I recorded Kobe doing his signature move -
"The Kobe Dance." and without further adieu, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Kobe:
Bring him a treat and he may just do it for you too!
Next time I'll post a video of Reese do her thing. You'll love it.
Labels: Kobe, Stan's Tech Garage
Thursday, September 19, 2013
HTPC's - Why You'll Probably Want One
You probably don't even know what an HTPC is and what you're missing out on by having one of these magnificent beauties attached to your television. Well fear not Dear Reader, for today's the first day of the rest of your life!
A Home Theater PC (HTPC for short) is your key to having the entirety of the Internet and all its glorious content at your disposal whilst connected to your beautiful HDTV and Surround Sound system. With no restrictions either, I might add. Sounds good doesn't it? Yeah I liked the concept so much I'm in for 2!
Basically, we're talking about a typically small form-factor (SFF) computer, with an HDMI output that connects to your TV. Throw in a wireless Keyboard or Remote, and there you have it. Youtube. Netflix. Amazon. Hulu. HBO. Showtime. Just about anything you can stream to your computer, you can now get on your TV. Now while your connected devices like Roku, AppleTV, or various connected Televisions and Blu-Ray players typically can't easily display a lot of this content (to protect the Cable and Satellite monopolies), your HTPC can show you ANYTHING. That's not even taking into account what the less-scrupulous of you can find online for free (it rhymes with shmeverything).
So how do you get one of these glorious things? Glad you asked! Well, in reality you probably already have one. Most laptops and desktops of the last few years come equipped with HDMI ports that you can connect to your TV. While that's not the most elegant solution, it'll mostly do in a pinch. If you want to do this the right way, there are both off-the-shelf and custom built solutions out there for you.
Apple, and a handful of other name brands offer SFF PC's specifically geared towards the HTPC market. If you want to really do it right and match the esthetic of your Home Theater setup, a customer setup is the way to go. The beauty is that it won't cost you a arm and a leg because an HTPC doesn't need to be a supercomputer.
First, pick a case that works for you. Depending on the case, you need a motherboard and power supply fits. An entry level i3 CPU is more than sufficient. Add a motherboard with an HDMI output. Then throw in around 4GB RAM. Add a Solid State Drive in the 64GB range for storage (you can always add an external for a large media library). Connect a combo wireless keyboard with a trackpad and you're basically set. All in, you could build something in the $200-$400 range depending on the options you choose. In any case, even at the least expensive in the range, you have far greater options than you get with a single function device like an AppleTV.
But they best thing about an HTPC is yet to come. The writing's on the wall folks. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are already lining up original content. The major carriers offer streaming as a free "throw-in" to their service. Live events (sports primarily) are still shaky, but they'll get there. It's only a matter of time before the Cable and Satellite companies go the way of the dinosaur. Don't believe me? Ask a record, book, or video store about it. What's that? Can't find one? Then you get my point.
As Always,
Stan
I'm not a Geek. I'm your friend. And I'm here to help.
Labels: custom pc, home theater, htpc, streaming
