Ever since the development of heavy industry, we’ve been polluting our environment. At first, we didn’t really understand that we were doing anything wrong. No one really considered that the smog from industrial-era factories wasn’t exactly healthy for plants or animals, no one thought that coal power or early aerosols were all that harmful. The possibility that we could cause lasting damage to the world around us simply didn’t occur to any of us.

Of course, all that’s changed over the past few decades – there’s been a huge push towards green computing and more responsible energy use. It’s as if we’ve realized that we’ve got only one Earth, so ruining it is probably a bit of a bad idea.

It certainly helps that being energy efficient and environmentally conscientious can save money in the long run, as well. But that should be a secondary consideration. We’re making progress.

We’ve still got a long way to go, though. Computers still have a massive impact on the environment, and even the green efforts we’ve been making to mitigate things have only managed to get so far. There’s a lot that home users can do, as well – it can be as simple as shutting down your system instead of putting it in sleep mode.

That’s the topic of today’s infographic, titled “The Environmental Impact of Computing.” It’s a fairly brief one, granted, but it goes into a fair degree of depth, with a few suggestions on how the standard user might work to make things more efficient and more environmentally sound.

The infographic’s below – as always, clicking on it will display a larger version.

Is this something you pay attention to?

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How Does Your Computer Usage Impact The Environment? [Infographic]

But, building a PC can also be kind of confusing. There are a ton of different types of RAM, processor types, card slot types, ports, you name it.

You can go to Google and start searching. But, that can take forever.

Well, one of the awesome things about the internet is that there are a ton of people out there who make extremely useful things – all in their spare time – and just because it is fun. One of them we came across is this VERY useful chart detailing all the different RAM types, hard drive ports, card slots, CPU sockets.

The image was created by Sonic840, over at DeviantArt. Check out his profile for the most up-to-date version.

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Building a PC? You’ll Want This Chart

You get the idea.

At most, a high-end system has a lifespan of about 3-5 years before it’s time to upgrade some of the components within, or buy a new system altogether. It’s just the way technology works. Eventually, every gadget you’ve got is going to be obsolete and you’ll end up buying a new one if you want to keep up with everyone else.

Manufacturers make it fairly obvious when it’s time to upgrade your tablet, or processor, or graphics card. A new model hits the market. A new type of chip revolutionizes the way computers function. A new piece of hardware won’t work with your old motherboard.

But what about when it comes to routers? How can you tell when it’s time to upgrade your access point?

First things first, you need to pay attention to how many devices you’re running. Your old router might not have had any trouble whatsoever dealing with a computer or two, but now that you’re running several PCs, a tablet, and a smartphone, well… latency should probably be expected.

Speaking of which, there’s another sign it’s time for an upgrade – if you’re noticing your connection seems to be slowing down (or it’s simply not as fast as you want it to be) it might well be time to upgrade your router. Of course, there are a number of reasons your connection might be slow. Maybe there’s something wrong with the wiring in your building or neighborhood (in that case, call your service provider and have them send someone out). Maybe your connection’s being throttled, or maybe it’s time to upgrade your service. You could always try optimizing your router, as well.

Or perhaps it’s simply time for a new router. As a general rule, even if you’re not replacing it, you should check your hardware at least every year to two years, and upgrade every three years or so.

Same deal as with computers, really.

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When Should You Upgrade your Router?

A number of solutions exist to address this problem: extra batteries, car chargers, and solar chargers. The last item on that list is hardly a new idea; solar charging devices have been on the market for quite some time.

But none of them are quite like the WakaWaka Power.

Some of you may have heard of the WakaWaka Light, which hit the market last year; with the goal of both providing charging capabilities to consumers on the road as well as safe, non-toxic power and light to developing nations such as Haiti.

Recently, the organization behind the WakaWaka Light has put their product through something of an upgrade process. The new device functions both as an LED lamp and as a solar charger capable of charging virtually any mobile device you might happen to be using. It clips on to most smartphones, and features a USB jack for charging iPads and other tablets, with indicators for battery level and charge progress. Not only that, it’s portable, easy to use, and incredibly effective. There’s just one tiny caveat to the whole deal…

It’s still a prototype at the moment. There’s currently a kickstarter campaign running in an effort to make enough money to distribute the devices (it’s already well exceeded its goal). Those of you who go to Kickstarter to contribute can nab a model of the device for yourself (assuming you pledge enough to cover the cost of one of the devices).

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WakaWaka Power: The Portable Solar Charger and Light

Chances are pretty good that this is something you don’t particularly enjoy dealing with; particularly if you’re working with any sort of sensitive information (although one might question why you’d be managing such information in a public spot). 3M has come up with a rather unique, interesting, and – dare I say it – innovative solution to this common problem. It’s called the Privacy Screen. How it works is through the installation of a plastic ‘filter’ of sorts over your device’s primary screen, using a series of small sticky tabs. With the filter installed, you can easily see what’s on the screen if you’re looking straight at it. Anyone looking from an angle, however, will (theoretically) see nothing but a blank screen.

Thus, whatever you happen to be working on at the time will be completely safe from prying eyes.

While they’ll still allow anyone who’s looking directly over your shoulder to see what’s on your screen, they’re still better than the alternative (nothing).

The Privacy Screens come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; 3M has designed screens for notebook PCs, Desktop LCDs and CRTs, and even for several handheld devices (no word on how well touch-screens work with one of these gadgets installed onto them). Those of you interested in nabbing one of these for yourself can get them from the 3M Website. Note that they’re mostly designed for standard devices; Macbooks may have some trouble with sizing.

Image Credits: [1][2]

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Guard Yourself Against Shoulder Surfers with 3M’s Privacy Screens

Or maybe you’re just a terrible procrastinator.

Either way, you’ve left your shopping to the last minute. You’re stressed, you’re rushed, and you’re running yourself ragged rushing around trying to find the perfect gadget. You’re certainly not alone, if the clogged storefronts and frantic shoppers surrounding you are any indication. Assuming you didn’t get lucky and managed to get out before getting trampled, chances are good that it’s going about as well for them as it is for you.  So what’s a shopper to do? How can you make sure you get hold of that piece of tech your loved one wants, while keeping your sanity intact? Here’s a few tips to get you on the right track:

Know What You Want Before you Shop

If you can’t figure out what you’re getting for your friend (for example, they haven’t told you what they want), things are going to get a touch more complicated. First off, you’ll need to find out what hardware they already have, and what they use it for. If they’ve a desktop PC, for example, are they a gamer? Do they do sound design? Do they simply use it to browse the Internet? How tech savvy are they? Do they have any particular brand preferences?  What do you feel they need? Yes, you’re going to need to know them in order to answer any of those questions.

As a general rule, most people probably won’t object to receiving a shiny new tablet under the tree. The same goes for Mp3 Players. Smartphones, unless they don’t include a contract with them, generally aren’t the best gifts to buy someone spontaneously. If you’re particularly strapped for ideas, you could always find out how satisfied they are with their mobile provider – and offer to buy them out of their contract if they’re unhappy with it.

For anyone who’s a gamer; a new pair of headphones, a new mouse, or a new keyboard could be just the ticket (Razer, Turtle Beach, and SteelSeries are a few of the top brands). If they’ve got Steam, try finding out their username and seeing what they have on their wishlist (or find a friend who knows what they’re doing to do it for you). Buy a game or two, and tell them to log on to the service come Christmas morning. Same deal goes for games like League of Legends, which currently includes a ‘gifting’ system. Granted, they’re not exactly tech, but they’re gifts someone might appreciate, all the same.

Alternatively, the Wii U is pretty hot this season.

If you’re going all-out and buying a laptop or PC, make sure you know what the person you’re buying for does with their technology. Someone who writes for a living might be okay with a bare-bones, portable piece of tech, while someone who does something more intense would probably want something better. Generally, I’d stay away from buying specific parts such as graphics cards or RAM. That’s something best left to the person you’re buying for – if need be, you can simply get them a gift card.

Last, but not least, consider reading online surveys and forum threads such as this one.

Consider Shopping Online

Okay, this probably isn’t your ideal solution. After all, even if your seller does offer next day delivery, chances are good that you’ll have to pay a mint for it. Next day shipping is expensive on a good day, and on Christmas, well…you get the idea. Still, if you’ve the money to spare and you want to avoid the busy storefronts, it might well be worth your while to pop online and do your ordering. After all, everybody’s doing it these days.

Plus, if the product is sold out in most brick-and-mortar stores, it might still be available online (on eBay, for example).

Of course, the first step to finding the ideal gift lies in knowing exactly where to look. In general, I’d recommend avoiding Big Box retailers that provide everything and the kitchen sink. There’s certainly a chance you’ll find the gift you’re looking for there, but the staff sometimes tend not to be as knowledgeable about their products as would an employee at Future Shop, for example. Gamestop’s probably the best place to go if you’re buying any sort of gaming hardware, while the Apple Store (obviously) is your go-to location for any Apple products. In general, you’re going to want to stick to specialized electronics retailers; even PC wholesale outlets (it depends what you’re purchasing, after all). You’ll save yourself quite a few headaches, and the crowds, while they’ll still likely be considerable, won’t necessarily be as overwhelming as they might be otherwise.

Do Your Research

First thing’s first, assuming you’ve little knowledge of technology and you’re buying for a friend, you need to make absolutely certain they’ve spelled everything out to you, in black-and-white; right down to the model number of whatever piece of hardware you’re buying them.  Particularly if you’re buying something without guidance, read a few reviews about the product you’ve got your eye on, to make sure it’s not a complete dud: Tom’s Hardware, CNet, and Gizmodo are all good places to start looking (and expand your knowledge a bit).

Second, even if you’re not doing your purchasing online, you should still do your shopping there. In other words, do your research: figure out exactly what it is you want before you leave. Instead of wasting time scurrying from one store to another, you can check store inventory online: most electronics retailers worth their salt will provide you with an online catalogue which you can peruse at your leisure.  As an added bonus, this makes comparing prices – and tracking down deals- an incredibly simple task to pull off. Once you’ve tracked down a store, see if you can put a hold on the item in question. Again, some retailers offer this as an online service; for others, you’ll have to call ahead.

If you’re still not entirely confident about tracking down (or identifying) the product you want, and you’ve a friend who’s more knowledgeable about that sort of thing than you are, consider bringing them along (unless they’re the one you’re buying for). Offer to buy them a drink or a meal after the shopping trip’s done to thank them for their help. After all, ’tis the season, right?

Consider Waiting Until Boxing Day

Last, but not least – and I know this isn’t an attractive option for some of you, as it completely shunts the usual “presents under the tree” tradition – but if you’ve exhausted all other alternatives; consider waiting until Boxing Day to buy your gifts. You might get lucky, and nab even more hardware for your friend or family member than they originally wanted. There are, after all, some pretty extreme deals floating about.  It might well end up being the only choice you have (even though a few retailers are, for some reason, open on Christmas).

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for you folks at the moment. Have yourselves a grand Christmas, and if you’ve got any last-minute tech shopping suggestions of your own, drop a line in the comments.

Image Credits: [1][2][3][4][5][6]

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The Last-Minute Tech Buyer’s Guide

Does the extra dough you have to pony up for the i7 actually get you anything that you’re going to need?

Well, thanks to Intel, they didn’t exactly make it easy to figure out. 7 is a higher number, so a lot of people just base their decision on that alone. But, let’s take a peak at this here…

Differences Between Desktop i5 and i7

First, Intel went off and made it confusing by making their desktop and mobile versions of these processors different. So, let’s talk about the desktop first…

The Core i7 processor has more processor cache, higher clock speed, and hyper-threading. The processor cache just means that the processor can store more data internally, saving it from having to “re-think” things again. The end result is faster operation, especially for repetitive tasks. The higher clock speed is obvious (although not as much these days as it used to be. And, hyper-threading is a technology that is aimed at making multi-tasking a lot faster.

So, with all that, the i7 is better equipped for things like heavy multi-tasking, lots of multimedia (although we’re talking video editing and photo editing, not simply watching movies), heavy gaming, or data-crunching.

The i5 runs at a slightly lower clock speed and doesn’t include hyper-threading. Are you going to notice the lack of hyper-threading in the real world? Depends on what you do.

Basically, hyper-threading simply means the processor has the ability to process more than one thing at a time. Processors without hyper-threading (like the i5) cannot process more than one thing at a time. Sounds worse, but in reality, the processor is so fast anyway that you’ll never notice. So, for everyday tasks like office work, web browsing, email… you can run all those things at the same time without hyper-threading and you’ll never notice any difference at all. Where you will notice a difference is only with data-hungry tasks like processing video, gaming, and the like.

So, in short, if you’re planning to use your computer for things that most users use it for – browsing the web, email, word processing, watching movies, organizing photos – then the i5 will be perfectly fine for you.

If you put a little more demand on your computer than the average user – video editing, crunching data, processing raw images off your DSLR, doing some intense gaming – then you’re a prime candidate for hyper-threading and the extra juice of the i7.

What About The Mobile Versions?

Mobile systems have to worry about conserving battery power, so the processors are designed to be a lot more efficient. For this reason, the number of processor cores are different.

On the desktop versions, both the i5 and i7 are running quad core (which means 4 processor cores internally). For laptops, the i5 is only a dual core while the i7 can be either dual OR quad core. I know, complicated.

But, the i5 mobile version has hyper-threading, while the desktop i5 does not. Confused yet? I guess they figured since the desktop i5 could have 4 cores, it would have enough power not to need hyper-threading, but I don’t know. Either way, they packed only two cores into the mobile i5, but made it more efficient by adding hyper-threading. The end result is a processor that can crunch fairly well while using less power.

But, again, the i7 mobile comes in both dual and quad core versions. So, this means that the dual-core i7 doesn’t really have much difference at all over a dual-core i5. Both have hyper-threading. Basically, you get a little higher clock speed, but that’s about it. So, when buying a laptop, pay attention to the number of cores the i7 has. Here’s why…

This Macbook Pro has a base model which is the dual-core i5. For $300 more, you’re getting a dual-core i7. Now, you’re also getting more memory and a bigger hard drive, but the point is this… the two processors aren’t going to be very different. They’re the same except for the clock speed and a little extra cache internally. Worth it? Maybe not in your case.

Bump up to a quad-core i7 and it is a different matter. A quad-core i7 will out-perform an i5 very easily. But, again, you have to think about what you’re going to be doing on the machine and if your habits need the extra power.

The truth is, the extra processing power these upgrade prices will buy you – for most users – will sit there dormant and unused.

So, Pay The Extra Money for the i7? Yes or No?

If money isn’t the huge deciding factor and you want a PC which is more future-proof, then I would say go ahead and grab the i7 if we’re talking about a desktop computer.

When it comes to mobile, consider the other upgrades you’re getting. Unless you bump up to a quad-core, the performance differences between the i5 and i7 are fairly negligible. Spending money on an SSD drive or more memory would be a better performance gain for the buck.

The truth is, for most people reading this article, you will never personally notice the performance differences between an i5 and i7. In fact, almost all modern CPUs can crunch faster than we need these days. Processors are rarely the bottleneck anymore. Instead, focus on the speed of your storage (mechanical hard drive versus SSD, for instance) and the amount of memory in your machine. These things will be a lot more relevant to overall speed than your processor these days.

CPU upgrades don’t provide the value for the buck that they used to.

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Deciding Between an i5 vs i7 Processor: Is The i7 Worth The Extra Money?

Recently, Dell announced the XPS 13 available with Ubuntu. In a world dominated by Windows, and a lot of new computers coming bundled with Windows 8 now, seeing Dell come out with this Ubuntu ultrabook raises an eyebrow.

But, what is more interesting about it is that… it is more expensive than the Windows version. In fact, it is $250 more than the same laptop running Windows 8.

Being that Linux comes from a world where everything should be free, how does this happen?

Bloatware Saves You Money

Linux users and Mac users will laugh at bloatware experienced by Windows users. It is so insanely hard to buy a Windows-powered computer these days without it being loaded to the hilt with promotional software and various trialware that bugs you to be activated.

It is annoying, but it also saves you money.

Because those companies who make those titles pay fees to have that software pre-installed on your new computer. They see that new desktop as a big billboard, waiting to be populated. And, boy do they load it up!

In the same way as a cell phone contract allows you to get a new phone at a discount rather than paying full retail, having software creators pay to place their wares in front of you on your new PC reduces the price of the computer at retail.

This Ubuntu installation doesn’t come with any bloatware, Dell isn’t making the kick-back, hence it increases cost.

Other Costs

Bloatware can explain a potential loss of revenue for Dell by using what is otherwise a free operating system.

But, let’s not forget that these companies are USED to Windows. All of their internal processes are based around Windows systems. All their support personel are trained in Windows.

An Ubuntu laptop won’t have as much demand. The people who would buy this laptop are going to be a more dedicated bunch, because otherwise why go out of their way like this to buy an Ubuntu laptop? So, smaller supply and a dedicated demand equals higher cost. Basic economics.

Not to mention the additional cost of support staff for these laptops, who need to be trained in an entirely different environment.

Why Linux Remains The DIY Operating System

For desktops, Linux will remain an OS for self-dependent, DIY computer users. And, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

While I can only sit here and guess about why Dell is charging more for a Linux machine, I’m willing to bet my reasons here are pretty accurate. From the company perspective, Linux is far from free.

But, hey, the beauty of Linux is that you can simply install it yourself. So, grab yourself a Windows laptop and do a self-install of Linux. You might not be able to call Dell on the phone and get support for it, but my guess is that if you’re using Linux to begin with, you’re probably not that kind of computer user anyway.

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Why Would A Linux Laptop Be More Expensive Than A Windows One?

Online Coupons

Ok, suggestion number one. Look for discount coupons online. I just noticed that techbargains.com is offering a 20% off coupon for an Inspiron R series laptop. I have no idea how long that particular coupon will be offered but there are coupon offers popping up all of the time. It is surprising how many shoppers will forget to check out the available online coupons before they go shopping for a great deal on a laptop.

Refurbished

Suggestion number two has to do with one of the best kept secrets. Big computer retailers almost always have a great selection of refurbished laptops. A lot of people don’t know this because most of the retail sites don’t advertise this little secret. Sometimes you need to do some keyword searches on Google to find where these offers are hiding. A certified refurbished laptop is one that has been returned to the company and then completely retested by trained technicians to ensure they meet all of the original factory specifications. Some of these refurbished units have minor cosmetic blemishes that do not affect performance. To get even more information on refurbished laptops click here.

Scratch and Dent

Every large manufacturer and distributor is going to have a percentage of their products that will experience considerable cosmetic blemishes while moving them from point A to point B. Shipping items without bumping them is still more of an art than a science and some shippers are not very good artists. Nevertheless, these blemishes do not affect performance. Acquiring these laptops is another great way to save money while obtaining a quality laptop that has been through an outlet’s rigorous testing process. To see more on on this type of discounted desktops check this out.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Cheap Laptop Sales

Finally, I need to stress the incredible opportunity that Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers laptop purchasers. These holidays are famous for great deals on just about everything but especially for electronics and even more specifically, laptops. Take the time several days in advance to do some serious Googling to compare the deals that will be had on those magic shopping days.
This holiday season is a great time to pick up on great laptop deals whether you are looking for new or used. It is also a great time to get Windows 8, the new Intel chipset and other bells and whistles you been wanting to get. Just remember, don’t be impulsive. Take the time to check out the current coupon offers as well as pricing on refurbished laptops.

Brian Jensen works for Dell and has a passion for learning and writing about all things technology. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his family.

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Cheap Holiday Laptop Buying Guide

1. Don’t fully discharge the battery before charging. Believe it or not, in newer, Lithium based batteries, this can actually shorten the battery’s effective lifespan, since it puts the battery under a great deal of stress. Further, modern batteries can be charged regardless of how much energy they’ve got left – so there’s really no reason to fully discharge them.
2. Depending on what type of battery you’ve got, leaving your battery in while your laptop is charged could either be harmful, or have no impact whatsoever. Heat has been known to shorten battery life, however, so if you know your laptop tends to heat up when you’re doing processor-intensive tasks, it might be a good idea to pull it out.
3. If you don’t care to remove the battery, you should, at the very least, purchase a cooling stand for your laptop (or make one yourself). Again, you want to keep things cool.
4. If you’re planning to store your battery for an extended period of time, be sure to discharge it until it reaches around 40% capacity, then put it in as clean and dry a place as possible. The key here is isolating it from too much heat and humidity.
5. If you’re particularly paranoid, you could try downloading a battery management program such as Batterycare, though it’s not strictly necessary.
6. It should go without saying that you want to keep your battery away from water or any other liquids. It’s like any other piece of electronic equipment – it doesn’t really like to get wet.

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Daily Tip: Laptop Battery Best Practices