Tech Time: Back To School

The back to school shopping season is now in high gear. That shopping list may include traditional items such as binder paper and pens, but there are some new “must haves” for tech savvy students. Let’s break down the list into hardware and software.

Regardless of grade, all students have the same basic deliverables - homework. In order to efficiently research, process, collate and prepare homework, students can utilize these basic hardware tools.

• Computer: PC or Mac, desktop or notebook, tablet or netbook, the choice of form is a personal decision, but it all starts here.
• Printer/Copier/Scanner: Email and other forms of electronic submission are increasing in popularity, but paper is still the dominant form.
• Portable storage device: A simple flash drive will do for some, an external hard drive is needed by others; but the very nature of school means that students have to do work from multiple locations.
• Digital Dictaphone: This one may not be a necessity, but it sure makes life easier to record lectures, study sessions, oral language practices.
• Not so necessary but really cool: All work and no play made Carlette a dull girl, if I were back in school my must have list would be augmented with a digital camera, a Sling Box, a TV, a DVD/Blu-ray disc player, external speakers, an MP3 player and a handheld game console.

On the software checklist, your new computer needs to have some basic programmes to be really effective.

• Office application suite such as Microsoft Office, OpenOffice or Google Docs to create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Antivirus to protect your PC such as AVG, Kapersky, Macafee and Norton; go further to install anti-spy ware too.
• Web browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari
• Again, all work and no play … But we can fix that with ITunes, instant messenger software such as Trillian Astra, video conference software such as Skype, photo, video and audio edit software and compression software.

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Next on Tech Time ... Back to school websites

Tech Time: Desktop vs. Laptop

Maybe you are a parent buying a computer for a college bound kid, or a busy professional looking to work away from the office. Regardless of the reason, the decision to buy a laptop or a desktop is not one to be taken lightly.

To put it into context, a desktop computer is comprised of several complementary external components designed to operate from a fixed location. A laptop is usually an all in one unit designed for portability. Each manifestation of the computer has advantages (and disadvantages).

Desktop computers offer huge storage, fantastic graphics, ergonomic design, superior power, upgradeability and great value. Laptop computers are completely mobile and compact.

Storage: Many laptops sport 100+ GB hard drives as standard features, but desktops offer larger hard drive space. It’s not uncommon to see desktops sport 500 GB hard drives.

Graphics: Hardcore gamers, video editors and other high end graphics users need the advanced graphics processing offered by desktops.

Ergonomic Design: The design of the keyboard, monitor, mouse, speakers and other peripherals can add to the comfort and functionability of these devices especially over long periods of time.

Upgradeability: The all in one design of laptops makes upgrading challenging. Increasing the memory may be simple, but changing out the mother board, graphics card, hard drive and other key components is not practically possible on most laptops.

Great value: spec for spec, a desktop computer is cheaper than its laptop counterpart. This is primarily due to the miniaturization of parts. Desktops are also cheaper to maintain; most don’t use proprietary parts and components, meaning you don’t have to go to the dealer for repairs and upgrades.

Mobility: Packing up a desktop and using it at a remote location is clumsy and challenging. Desktops can’t work without consistent power and lots of space to spread out all the peripherals. Laptops by contrast are easy to slide in a bag and move around. You can open them up virtually anywhere. With battery power and wifi, they remain untethered and lets face it, they are sexy. Sexy is attractive to thieves as well, and laptops are being stolen at an alarming rate.

If you are on a tight budget, don’t plan to move about or seriously considering upgrading in the future, a desktop is the right computer for you. But, if you live in a small space and want to move about, then a laptop is your best option.



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Next on Tech Time ... Back to school

Tech Time: Preparing for a Hurricane

The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season commenced on June 1 and thankfully, we have not been threatened or hit by any hurricanes or tropical storms to date. Let’s hope, that remains true for the rest of the season, but prepare if it does not. Log on for important news, updated, tips and best of all tracking sites.


Best International Sites
National Hurricane Centre
The US National Hurricane Centre is the absolute authority on both Pacific and Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms; many other websites and tracking software use the data provided by the NHC. The site boasts advanced satellite and radar tracking, email advisories and updates, analysis tool and tips, hurricane names and historical data. The information is provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• The Weather Channel
• Storm Pulse

Best Local Sites
Go-Jamaica
Arguably one of the most popular local sites for weather information, it boasts daily weather forecasts localized by town, powerful pictures of hurricane aftermath, satellite images and great tips.

• Jamaica Meteorological Service
• Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management

Best Regional Sites
Storm Carib
The site covers the region with reports from local correspondents in each island, daily updates from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, background information, tools and satellite images

• Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency

Hurricane Tech Tips

• Make sure you have a battery operated radio to listen to updates from the RJR News Centre
  
• Completely charge phone prior to loss of electricity, ensure you have an emergency charger on hand
• Turn off data services for smart phones to preserve battery power
• Back up computer data to an external hard drive (or other data storage device) and place in safe, secure, waterproof location
• Scan and email yourself important documents
• Store family and emergency contact information into your phone; also write them down and keep in waterproof container
• Take pictures of your property and contents using your mobile phone or digital camera; further safeguard these images by uploading to online storage service
• If you are going to be away from your home or office, forward calls to a land line close to you
• For those with traditional land lines, ensure that you have a non-powered phone available

Interface with us:
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On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)

Next on Tech Time ... Desktop vs laptop/touch vs tablet

Tech Time: Mobile Phone Myths

We keep hearing them; and they almost sound true. Mobile phone myths and urban legends have a life of their own. Even when debunked, they are rehashed and repeated over and over again, to a new generation of mobile phone users. Or, are they only branded as myths as part of an elaborate conspiracy designed to lull us into a false sense of security?
Let’s explore for ourselves.

Myth: Mobile phones can give you brain tumors
Reality: There is no tangible scientific evidence that mobile phones can cause cancer or develop brain tumors. But there is lots of anecdotal evidence that they cause headaches and increase stress levels. Mobile phones emit a low power electromagnetic field, and when used for prolonged periods can emit heat. After nearly two decades of heavy usage, there are no reported cases of brain tumors as a direct result. My advise is however, use mobile phones only when necessary … just in case.

Myth: Mobile phones can provide keyless entry for your vehicle
Reality: It is not possible to open your car using the keyless entry remote over your mobile phone. Its been widely circulated via email, that you can use your phone as a keyless entry remote, by having a friend activate the remote on one end of the call and you placing your mobile phone near your car. Keyless entry systems use radio frequencies, that cannot be transmitted over the phone.

Myth: Mobile phones cause explosions at gas stations
Reality: The electromagnetic filed and the electrical current associated with a mobile phone are not powerful enough to ignite gas. This myth came about following a late 90’s news report regarding an incident in Asia. But, there is no evidence to support the claim. Though your phone isn’t likely set off any explosions, you should be paying attention and not on your phone at the pump. REMINDER: Smoking in gas stations is not allowed.

Myth: Using a mobile phone in flight will cause the plane to crash
Reality: Crash is a strong word. Using a mobile phone in flight will not cause a plane to crash. But that doesn’t mean you should whip out your phone next time you are airborne. There are lots of other reasons to stow your phone while in the air. Many systems on an aircraft use wireless technology to communication, which can be affected by mobile phones. But, more importantly, it is important that you pay attention to what’s going on around you (and not your phone), when you are careening above the planet in a narrow mental tube at hundreds of miles and hour.

Myth: Charging your phone every day will reduce the battery life
Reality: Newer Li-Ion batteries don’t have this issue which was true of older NiCd and NiMH batteries. Charge your phone as often as you need to, but don’t overcharge your phone (because there is no need to have a mobile phone charger plugged in unnecessarily, not because its bad for the phone or battery).

Myth: Using your mobile phone while charging may cause it to explode.
Reality: Your phone will not explode, or you get electrocuted, just because you are on the phone while charging. The fuse is in the charger while likely blow before either occurrence. You will notice that your phone gets hot far more quickly while talking on charge. I’ll end the same way I started, use only when necessary.