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Does your computer drag? Are you thinking it is time to buy a new one? Everyone knows new computers always have WAY more power and cost less than your old one. But consider something before you make the jump….
While it is fun to tell everyone you have a quad-core system with 8 gigs of RAM, you may not realize that even powerful a new system is dramatically limited by something called “PEBKAC“ which means ”[a] Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair”. And there is little you can do about it.
Don’t take it personally, but at any one time, you (and me and everyone else) can only browse so many web pages, type so many documents, listen to so many songs, watch so many videos or play so many games of solitaire. Modern computers breeze through these tasks. Unless you do 3D gaming, video editing or other tasks that are very system intensive, it is unlikely you need the kind of performance a new computer comes with.
But you only want a new computer because your current one is really slow right?
Although it is true that a computer system can get too old to run modern programs, if your system is less than 5 years old, try a few things first:
- Add RAM.
This is easy, cheap and it works! When you bought your computer RAM was expensive so you didn’t get much. But now RAM is one of the cheapest upgrades. You can likely double or triple your RAM for under $50. Try the tool below to find the correct memory for your system:
- Get rid of unnecessary programs and processes.
On a Windows system, open up the run utility (It is under the “start” button or launch it with “windows key + R”) and run “msconfig”. Under there, you will find a “startup” tab. While most of these programs are necessary, several may not be. Remove the checkmark from programs such as Quicktime, Adobe, Real Player and other programs you may have installed. These programs will still work just fine but won’t run unless they are needed. Doing this frees up memory and speeds up your system. Worst case, if you disable a startup program that you needed, just go back to “msconfig” and turn it back on!
Also go to the control panel and uninstall programs you don’t ever use. (This may not improve speed much, but will free up space and get rid of clutter.)
- Restore your system to its initially factory setup.
Sometimes it makes the most sense to restore the computer to it’s original factory setup. This removes everything that is slowing down your computer (Because it deletes EVERYTHING you installed and saved, so backup your important files first! With Windows XP, try the “File and Settings Transfer Wizard” located in “All Programs/Accessories/System Tools”)
After you have everything backed up, you’ll either need to use your factory restore disks or access the restore files on your hard drive. (Because the methods for this can vary a bit, it is best to do a search for how this works on your particular computer.)
- Get a new monitor.
Sometimes your computer only seems slower than it is. If you’re using a relatively small monitor (perhaps 17″ or less), tasks can take longer than with a larger one. With less “screen real estate” (lower resolution) web pages, documents, and just about everything else takes of up more of your screen. This means more scrolling and working with the computer to see and do the same things when compared to a bigger screen. (check out this images below for a comparison.)
smaller monitor (1024×768 resolution)
larger monitor (1440×900 resolution)
As you can see, there are many things you can do to get a significant performance boost from your computer system. These are just a few things that can spare you the expense of a new computer. Please add any other good tips in the comments below.
There has long been a debate regarding the eco-friendliness of buying online. A common conception is that having a single item shipping directly to you is environmentally worse than the traditional approach of going to retail store. But a new study seems to confirm the opposite.
According to a study ( link: PDF) by Carnegie Mellon University’s Green Design Institute, buying online consumes less energy and creates 35% less carbon emissions compared to shopping at traditional retail outlets. (The study was specific to Buy.com’s distribution system. Read Buy.com’s summary of the study.)
The primary reason for the energy savings and carbon reduction is because the traditional model requires individuals to travel back and forth in their vehicles to aquire items, whereas the online model puts many items on a single truck and follows a more efficient delivery route.
(image from buy.com)
Also featured in Buy.com’s page on the study are ways to be even more “green”, such as knowing the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) rating of what you are buying. They also provide links to eCycling programs available for a responsible way to dispose of electronics.
After reading the articles, I began thinking of some other ways buying online could be made even more “green”.
One thought I had is to have online deliveries made to your workplace (if possible). This allows there to be one stop for multiple deliveries on a route that is already established.
What do you think could be done to make further improvements?
Saving money, much like going on a diet, is a lifestyle choice. It is easiest to make small, incremental changes than go cold turkey (unless your health or financial situation means dramatic change is required.) It is interesting how positive financial changes often directly coincide with positive health changes. Here are three tips to improve your financial and physical health – today!
1. Make a list of all the stores that are in walking or biking distance. Write out their names, locations, and what kind of store it is. Once a week, make the choice to skip the car ride and gas money that goes with it for a healthy and money-saving jaunt to one or a few of these locations. Don’t worry if the first time you head out to the local hardware store you return with a pack of batteries because the mulch was a bit unwieldy sand wonder why you bothered. The point is that you will learn to keep a list of items you can easily find and carry home without breaking your back. The bonus is improved health, which is a known cost-saver.
2. Give up your favorite drink for 1 day a week. For those of you who drink coffee, I’m sure you’ve already made the switch to at-home brewing from the umpteen articles about how you’d be a millionaire if you only stopped drinking Starbucks. But have you thought about how addicted you are to coffee in the first place? Take a break from the miraculous liquid one day a week. It’s good for your health to stop the constant flow of caffeine, and will reduce the amount you regularly need to get your buzz, making the caffeine you do drink a bit more effective. (Yes, I KNOW that is a bad reason, but we are all human, no?). I recommend weaning off on a day you don’t have much to do. You will probably be extremely tired and nod off a few times. If you can manage, up the ante by saying no to caffeine 2 days a week, and reduce your consumption by half on the days you do drink.
3. Do nothing. That’s right. Doing nothing can be really good for your health and your pocketbook. Have you ever just sat down for a few minutes a day without any goal in mind? It sounds simple, but if you are anything like me, you will soon be barraged by a stream of thoughts of the things you need to accomplish (often involving expenditures of money, right?). Some people prefer to do “nothing” in the form of meditation, prayer, or simple movement like tai chi, yoga, stretching, or walking at a slow pace. Check out different things you can do at no cost that are good for the body and soul!
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