5 Easy Steps to Improving Your Computer Performance

By: Grant Eckert

You don't have to be a computer expert to realize that your computer isn't working as well as it once was. Over time, that brand new computer - laptop or desktop - begins to have troubles. It runs slowly or it freezes up for no apparent reason, ruining your computer experience. But before you run out to the store for a new model, you need to try these five steps. All of them are easy enough for anyone to do - and you will see a vast improvement in just a few minutes.

Get Rid of Extra Files

If you've ever tried to find something in a room that's cluttered, you already know how difficult that can be. The same can be said of your computer. When you have too many files and too many programs, it can lead to troubles with the performance. What you need to do is get rid of the excess bloat that's on your computer. But while this is easy, you do need to be careful along the way. There are some programs on your computer that you do not recognize by name that are vital to your computer's performance - and these should not be deleted.

The good news is that most PCs are careful about letting a user delete something that might be important, so you will be warned if you are heading into dangerous territory.Right now, you might want to go into your Documents menu to remove any excess files that don't need to be there. If you do need these files, think about storing them on a flash drive instead of on your hard drive. In the documents folder, you will also see that you have pictures and other files that you are storing. If you don't need them or they can be taken off the hard drive - take them off.

Get Rid of Extra Programs

When you get a new computer, not only does it have the latest specifications, but it also tends to have extra programs on it - programs that you may never use. To help your computer's performance, you will want to remove as many of these as possible.

In a PC, go into your control panel folder to 'Add/Remove Programs.' You will find a list of all the games and other programs on your hard drive. Each of these programs is not only taking up space on your drive, but they can also be potentially slowing down the performance. Take some time to look through these files to see what you use and what you can remove. Games tend to be a big filler on a computer's hard drive, so unless you play these regularly, they can be removed. Just follow the prompts on your computer screen in this folder.

Free Up Space on your Hard Disk

To further help your computer's performance, you will want to head back into your control panel to the option to free up space on your hard disk. This is helpful especially to a computer user that doesn't know a lot about what is okay to delete and what isn't. This program gathers the information on the computer (temporary internet files, things in the recycling bin, etc.) that can be easily deleted without any troubles. All you need to do is click on this option, allow the computer to gather the files, and then tell the computer to remove them.

Defragment Your Computer Regularly

Another option in your Control Panel is to defragment your hard drives. This option allows your computer to rearrange the remaining files on your computer so that they run more quickly and efficiently. This process basically assesses your current hard drive and then sees how it can rearrange everything. The process should be done on a regular basis, even weekly if you can. It's best to do this after you have deleted the excess files because you can then just rearrange all of the remaining programs and files in the process.There may be some files that can not be moved during the defragmentation process, but this does not cause any major problems for most people.

Add More Memory

If all of these steps simply do not help your computer, your best bet is to add more memory to your hard drive. This will help your computer to run better and more efficiently. When all the programs have enough room to run, this will enhance the speed of your programs as well as your ability to run multiple programs at the same time.These simple steps will help you improve the performance of your computer without necessitating any additional costs, unless you need more memory. And this adds up to savings for you and for your computer. When you can maintain the performance, you will be able to keep your computer for a longer period of time without having to replace it.

Print from your Mobile Phone

By: Alan Wilson

If your Bluetooth-enabled camera phone is full of snapshots you'd rather see in print, a Bluetooth-enabled printer can set them free.

Let's say you're out and about, and you find yourself in the midst of a scene that you just have to capture on (digital) film. Do you stop and dig around in your pocket for your camera? Do you even have your camera with you? Maybe not. But you do have your camera phone. So you snap the picture with your mobile, and there it is. In your phone. What's the next step? You can beam it to a friend's phone. You can download it to a computer. And now that phone companies and printer manufacturers are embracing the world of Bluetooth, you can make a quick, easy, good-looking print.

Although camera companies are quick to espouse the high pixel counts of their latest offerings, the truth is that you don't really need a 10-megapixel SLR for quick snapshots, even if you plan to print your pictures. In fact, you can make a high-quality 4 by 6 print with only two megapixels. Two! And now that phone companies are installing higher-quality cameras in their products, two-megapixel camera phones aren't that difficult to find.

Printer manufacturers are also aware of the upswing in camera-phone photography. In response, many have integrated Bluetooth technology into their machines. This means that if your phone supports the Bluetooth Printing Profile (BPP), you can wirelessly send a photo straight from your phone to your printer, and end up with a hard copy to hand to a friend. (Just keep in mind that BPP support is an important detail—just because your phone offers Bluetooth doesn't mean it supports everything Bluetooth can do.)

Many photo printer manufacturers offer optional Bluetooth adapters that plug right into the USB port on the printer. We examine dedicated photo printers from three of the main manufacturers offering this facility and determine a best buy for your budget.

HP Photosmart A717 is the latest compact photo printer available from HP, it has all the usual features common with the photosmart range, has memory card slots for all the major formats, is PictBridge and iPod compatible and has an optional Bluetooth wireless capability.

The 2.51in LCD screen is acceptable and the 4GB internal memory will allow you to store a massive 4000 photos which can be printed out in a variety of sizes up to 13x18cm. One improved feature over previous models is that waterproof output is now a standard with the improved ink and paper used with this printer.

Output quality, including indoor and outdoor shots, close-ups of faces, landscapes and more – qualified as true photo quality. There were some minor flaws on close inspection, including a slight loss of detail in bright areas of some photos but certainly not common enough to be offputting.

Cost per print using the HP110 Value Pack (hpq8700a) which includes an HP110 cartridge and 120 sheets of 10x15 photo paper is just over 20 pence which is less than most photo printers.

Epson PictureMate 500 Epson is one of the main manufactures of photo inkjet printers and its dedicated, small format PictureMate 500 is interesting because it prints in six colours rather than the three colours provided in the above HP printer.

Whilst the three colour print processes used by HP produce high quality photo prints, the extra colours offered by Epson produced noticeable improvements, particularly in lighter shades. Here the photo cyan and photo magenta inks produce brighter and more vibrant colours.

Cost per print using the T557 picture pack is also about 20pence per print and all major memory cards are supported along with PictBridge and of course the optional Bluetooth capability.

Canon Selphy CP740 is the final printer to be considered in this group and if looks alone were your criteria it would win hands down.

The CP740 weighs a mere 940g and its 179x127x63mm dimensions are smaller than a tiny loaf of bread. Its Apple-like creamy colour is clearly designed to complement your Mac and iPod and the range of buttons that control mode, layout and the welcome auto Red Eye correction icon are easy to use.

Quality of the finished image is impressive, although not quite up to the standard of the Epson. Each print takes four passes to complete and it's intreaging to watch the sharpness and clarity emerge with the final pass adding a high gloss protective layer.

The major downside of this machine is the awkward front photo tray whose fitting can take a while to master, all other features are similar to the other printers reviewed and considering the Canon currently sells for about £30 less than the opposition, it looks a bit of a bargain.

So which printer is best for my mobile prints? If out and out photo quality is your primary concern then the Epson is clearly your best option, if however all you want to do is produce respectable photo prints quickly and with minimum fuss then the bargain priced cute looking Canon is the printer for you. The HP does everything well but ultimately fails to be best at anything.

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Recognizing Your Skills and Abilities (EzinePrime)

By: Cindy Swiantek

Going out into the job market can be a frightening prospect, especially if you are trying to branch out in a different direction than the type of work you are used to doing. It can seem as though employers are only interested in those individuals who have experience with certain techniques or who have performed similar types of work previously; with a bit of research, however, you will quickly find that there are a number of opportunities available to you so long as you are able to present the skills necessary to do the job.

Unfortunately, many people sell themselves short when trying to list or describe the skills that they possess. If you can't be confident in your skill set and understand the skills that are transferable into new markets, then you'll have a much harder time convincing a potential employer that you're the right person for the job they're offering. This is where being able to identify your own skills and interests can help you to bridge the gap and show that you are more than qualified for the positions that you seek.

Identifying Your Developed SkillsThe first thing that you need to do is start thinking about the different jobs that you've had in the past and the various skills that you've developed over the years. Even fairly menial jobs can pass on a variety of skills, including those skills which are highly sought after in the corporate world such as time and project management and even customer relations. The skills that you have were developed with time and hard work, so don't be quick to discount them. List the various skills that you've developed through work and other activities, making notes of any areas that you are particularly strong in. Managing a household or home business requires skills. If this is you, identify what skills you possess.

Finding Your Natural Talents and AbilitiesSome things just come easier to certain people, and being able to identify your natural talents can help you to get ahead when trying to get the job of your dreams. Examine exactly what talents and natural abilities you have, and how long you've known that they just come easily to you; many employers are interested in having people with talent and who can do the work that they offer them without struggling to get it completed. Don't worry that it will sound like you're bragging to mention these talents and abilities… that's what interviews and applications are for, to enable employers to evaluate potential employees and determine which ones will be the best for the job. Having natural talent in certain areas and showing documented proof will help to qualify you as being one of the best.

Following Your InterestsWhen you begin looking for a job, make sure that you try and find potential employers who fall within some of your areas of interest even if you've never had employment in that area before. Often times employers will ask job candidates during an interview exactly why it is that they want to work for the company they've applied at; being able to say that you're genuinely interested in the work that they do and having enough knowledge about the field to back that statement up will help to show them that you'll likely be a diligent worker and that you won't become bored with the work and go off seeking another job. If you have developed skills or possess natural talents which support that area of interest, that's even more of a mark in your favor since you will not only be interested in the work but will also have at least some of the skills and abilities needed to do it. These are qualities that employers are always looking for, and they can help you to land the job even when you thought that you wouldn't be qualified enough.

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Networking: Your Most Important Career Activity

By: Ford R. Myers

So, you've gotten totally clear on your career goals, prepared your complete "executive portfolio" of self-marketing documents, and developed a detailed strategy for your search.

Now it's time for "your feet to meet the street" - and that means NETWORKING! You'll be spending most of your job search time networking with people who can help you reach the hiring managers inside the companies you've targeted. You can network over the phone, in person, via e-mail, or even over a cup of coffee or lunch.The main thing to remember is that, in general, people want to help others. It makes them feel good to connect people with opportunities and information. And, of course, these people really are quite important to your career success! (Just as you may have been very important to the career success of others in the past - and certainly will be again in the future!)

Ninety percent of my clients land great jobs through their networks. It's not worth risking those odds to NOT be continually networking! It should be the primary focus of everything you do. The quantity and quality of your networking time is directly related to the personal, professional, and financial satisfaction you'll have in your next job - and your entire career.

Many clients have told me that networking intimidates them. They can't understand why anyone would actually want to network with them, and they feel like they're imposing on people - most of whom they don't even know. Let's review some of the reasons why someone would actually WANT to talk with you:

1. They might (secretly) be looking for a job soon themselves, and they can learn from your approach.

2. They might gain new information about their industry or their competition - plus other knowledge or perspective that you bring.

3. They like to feel important, have their "ego stroked," and feel that their advice is valued and respected.

4. Many people genuinely WANT to help, and they find it gratifying to be of service.

5. They might be bored, and you can provide welcome relief from their "normal routine."

6. They're happy to do a favor for the person who referred you, by agreeing to network with you.

7. They've been through a job search or career transition themselves, so they empathize with you.

When it's done properly, networking is NOT about "taking," but rather about "giving." You must always come from an attitude of generosity during the networking process. When a networking conversation has been concluded, the other person should genuinely feel glad that you contacted them, and feel enriched by the experience. So, always seek to offer something of value before asking for something from others.

Networking is a lot simpler (and less scary) than many people think. You do NOT need to be a great "schmoozer" to network effectively. In fact, the best networkers are often great listeners, more than great talkers!

And no matter what, don't let up on your networking efforts. Remember: If you're in career transition, networking IS your job. You should be spending at least 85% of your time networking ... and 15% on everything else!

If someone is not willing to network with you, you must learn to NOT take it personally. Adopt this powerful formula from the world of sales - SWSWSWN! What does this mean? "Some Will (help you), Some Won't (help you), So What, Next!" (Move on to the next person). Keep working through your network list, and don't let the occasional rejection deter you! Just move on to the next person on your list.

I hope you can now see that it's a smart career move to always be networking, no matter what's going on for you professionally. If you don't need help at this time, build up your networking power by helping others. Networking - which is such a vital element of career management - will always pay big dividends in the long run!

Copyright 2008, Career Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved

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