Guides & Articles on Computer Components and Accessories
Firewall Software and Services
Without a suitable firewall, hackers, viruses and worms can hijack your data
By Chris Maxcer
With the advent of "always-on" high-speed Internet connections in small businesses, computers are under constant threat of attack. To protect your systems from viruses, spyware and other threats that can take up residence in your PC without your knowledge, you'll need a good firewall. A firewall helps you protect your private business information. Some top ways it ca...
CD and DVD Labels and Duplication
A myriad of options offer low cost, convenience and control
By Lou Bortone
New equipment and software have made CD and DVD duplication cost effective and convenient. There are several different methods for duplicating and labeling CDs and DVDs. The option you choose will depend on your budget, your time constraints and the quantities you're producing. You can use: A standalone DVD duplicator tower. This is a manual system that works well if you're produ...
Solving Your Computer Storage Problems
How to secure more storage capacity for your digital data
By LaRita Heet
If you use computers in your business, you know how quickly computer storage space can evaporate. Temporary fixes – deleting old files or defragging – help a little bit, but once your biz starts growing, you may need more "oomph!" behind your storage capabilities. There are three basic types of computer storage solutions from which to choose: Smallest Storag...
Buying a Computer Monitor
Ways to screen out the best and clearest monitors
By Lynn Walford
Your view of your business is important. While you look at your finances, spreadsheets, marketing materials and calendars, don’t you want to see them clearly? Good news, while the clarity of computer monitors is increasing, the prices are dropping—17-inch LCD monitors range from about $150 to $200, 19-inch models start at around $180 and go up to $300, and 20-inch monit...
Computer Mice and Touchpads
Find and buy the right computer mouse or computer touchpads for your needs
By Greg Brown
It seems like ancient history, but not too many years ago the biggest challenge in computing was making it accessible to ordinary people, not just programmers. Part of the solution was graphical-user interface -- the icons and menus common on Windows, Apple and other popular operating systems.Once you commit to graphical interface, though, you need a way to "touch" those ...
Buying and Using a Computer Modem
Bring the world to your PC or Mac with a speedy computer modem or cable modem
By Greg Brown
Anyone over the age of 25 or so knows the sound well. That high-pitched electronic whine-and-fuzz of a computer connecting to the Web. Dling-dling-dling-dling-shhhhhhh....That's the sound of a computer modem doing its job. Once an enormous, complex device, today's modems are silent, small and much faster at what computer modems do: turn a digital stream of 1s and 0s in...
Wireless Modems
Clear the clutter of wires from your desktop with a wireless modem
By Jenni Simcoe
If you want to connect to the Internet and email but don’t want to deal with a tangled mess of cables (and who does?), try a wireless modem. Thanks to the increasing popularity of wireless technology, numerous wireless modem options are available. In fact, every type of modem — cable, DSL, dial-up and WiFi — is available in a wireless model. Keep in mind that havi...
PC Cases
Is it time to give your PC case a new look?
By Judy Artunian
Computer monitors and keyboards have traded in their clunky profile for more streamlined designs and now the plain, rectangular PC case has a new look, too. If you want to make a statement with your PC cases, or just want to upgrade your office furnishings, you can replace those heavy steel cases that hold the guts of the PC with lighter-weight aluminum cases, or opt for PC cases t...
USB Cables
USB cables simplify computing while adding speed and flexibility
By Marianne Cotter
USB cables, officially known as USB 2.0 cables, have eliminated the confusion of serial, parallel, SCSI and MiniDin cables that made early computing such a headache. USB cables and connectors are now the only cables you need to connect a PC computer to devices and peripherals, such as printers, scanners, digital cameras, PDAs, keyboards and mice. When buying USB cables, consider th...
CD-R/W and DVD-R/W Discs
Use recordable CDs and blank DVDs to supplement your hard drive
By Stephanie Fagnani
Running out of computer storage space during a hectic workday can be your worst nightmare. CD-R/W and DVD-R/W discs — also called rewritable CDs and DVDs — can help ensure this never happens, as each provides ample storage capabilities that can be used in addition to your PC’s hard drive. Blank CDs and blank DVDs are inexpensive, small and lightweight, which make ...
SmartMedia Cards and Other Camera Memory Cards
When it comes to memory cards, one size does not fit all digital cameras
By Judy Artunian
Memory cards sit inside your digital camera and store the images you shoot. In the early days of digital photography, SmartMedia cards were considered the state-of-the art memory cards. Today’s memory cards are smaller, yet they store more images and transfer them to your computer faster. Some points to remember about memory cards: Although digital camera memory cards c...
Webcams
Put internet video to work for your business with cheap webcams
By Jeff Copeland
Web cameras (or webcams) are little digital cameras that send still or video images out to the Internet, live or recorded. Typical webcams are simple multimedia video cameras made to shoot at close range; clip one on your computer monitor, point it at your face and you’re ready for your (often grainy) closeup. Higher end web cameras, often called network cameras, ...
Computer Switch Boxes
Use an AB switch to switch computers
By Michael Berman
Tight on desk space? You can use two or more computers with one printer or a more sophisticated switch box to share monitors, keyboards and mice between PCs by attaching your devices to a computer switch box.The simplest of these devices have an AB switch on the front allowing you to select which computer you want to use with your printer. More advanced CPU switches ...
Computer Security Hardware
Thefts, stolen IDs emphasize need for a good computer security system
By Michael Berman
A decent computer security system can protect your data and hardware from thieves and intruders. There are various types of computer security hardware available, ranging from firewalls to computer locks and alarms.There are many reasons to install security hardware. Some of the key reasons are:1. To protect valuable and personal data from being stolen.2. To protect y...
Touch Screen Displays
Save time, increase productivity and allow customers to interact via touch screen displays
By Robert Hill
Touch screen displays provide many applications for businesses. Public information displays like kiosks and trade show displays, restaurants and retail only hint at the possibilities. You'll see productivity gains through less time needed to enter data by employees and self-service for people using ATM machines or airline ticket terminals, among others. Some touch screen manufa...
Computer Fans
Computer fans and cooling solutions for your office
By J. Stoltzfus
When you're talking computer fans and computer cooling devices, it's important to know what it is you're talking about. In some cases, buying a "computer fan" means getting a small piece of hardware that sits behind the processor and runs when it needs to (called computer case fans by some). In other cases, business managers look for larger computer cooling de...
OC-192 Broadband
Purchase an OC-192 service to meet your business needs
By Emmet McMahan
OC192 broadband is the 192nd Optical Carrier (OC) level carried on a Synchronous Optical NETworking (SONET) fiber optic network. The OC level is directly proportional to the data rate of the digital signal with each level representing approximately 51.84 million bits per second (Mbps). OC192 speed is therefore 9953.28 Mbps of which 9621.504 Mbps is payload and 331.776 Mbps is overh...
External Hard Drives
Get more digital storage space with an external hard drive
By Melissa Haveman
If your business generates a great deal of data or you want to store important information in a more secure place, external hard drive storage may be a solution for your business. A 160 GB external hard drive or one with even greater storage capabilities can offer your business a number of benefits. Business external hard drives store large files that would ordinarily take up too m...
Laptop Batteries
How to get affordable, reliable laptop computer batteries for your small business
By Courtney Ditzler
Laptop batteries are a must for using laptops away from a power source. Laptops are the perfect computer solution for businesspeople who travel frequently or those who split their work between the office and home. Despite major technological advancements in the computer industry, however, the notebook computer battery continues to prove problematic for many otherwise satisfied lapt...
Mouse Pads
Find personalized mouse pads or buy in bulk
By Lori Carver
Are you looking for custom mouse pads, personalized mouse pads or wholesale mouse pads for your business? Mouse pads are no longer a necessity when you use an optical mouse, but most people still use them. New uses include advertising your business with logo mouse pads or decorating your office cubicle with personalized mouse pads that have pictures of your family in them. Create ...
Laptop Accessories
How accessories for a laptop computer can shape your mobile office
By Christine Margiotta
A laptop can free you from the confines of an office desk. But a laptop with the right accessories enables you to literally bring your whole office with you--staff and all. No matter the brand of computer, there's a laptop accessory to compliment it, from extra storage space for important files to presentation devices that punch up your impact on an audience. Essential laptop acces...
Compact Flash
Compact flash memory cards are your low cost storage solution for photographers
By Nikki Davis
Compact flash devices offer you small, removable storage solutions for your digital camera and other electronics. Your compact flash card doesn’t require batteries to retain its data, and they come in two types: CF Type I (3.3mm thick) and CF Type II (5mm thick). Your compact flash memory card offers you greater protection of data because it doesn’t contain any moving ...
Telecommunications Wire and Cable
Set up an office network with telecom cabling
By Ben Hahn
In the fast-paced world we live in, you need to be able to send and receive voice, video, and data at the speed of light to keep your company competitive. To do this, you need to be set up with the right telecommunications wire and cable for your business situation.If you’re setting up telecom cables for the first time, here are some things to keep in mind:Get quotes from mu...
AC Adapters
How to find the right AC adapters for your electronic devices
By Christine Margiotta
An AC power adapter keep your electronic devices powered up and their batteries fully charged no matter your location. These power hubs are essential for the mobile business professional who needs to plug in and work without worrying about the type of power source available. Naturally, since alternating current adapters convert the power to direct current, adapters that will perfor...
Parallel to Serial Converters
Parallel to serial adapters give you porting perfection
By Nikki Davis
Your parallel to serial adapter is the tiny piece of hardware that allows you to convert an unusable port on your computer into a functioning interface. Parallel to serial adapters were created to allow you to connect 25 pin connection to a 9 pin connection receiver. Serial ports usually work with some of your common devices such as: dial up modems, printers, serial mice, and bar c...
