Posts Tagged ‘Speed’

Computer Speed – Bridge the Gap with ReadyBoost

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Ask anyone about their home PC and you will get one answer more than any other, “it’s slow.”  This is typically the point at which most computer owners will begin to debate a new PC purchase.  It is also the reason I began JumpstartMyPC.com.  Home computers will slow down over time, but that doesn’t mean they should be cast aside.  As we have pointed out time and time again, there are steps you can take to keep a PC running like new and a hardware upgrade can help speed up an aging machine, but what if you are caught in the middle?

You’ve already performed your routine maintenance: defragged your computer, cleaned the registry and dumped all of your browser history and unnecessary files.  That helped, but you still feel like you want/need more speed from your PC.  You’ve debated that switch from 1GB of RAM to 4GB, but the upgrade will cost you over $100 + shipping and you aren’t quite sure if you want to open up your tower or laptop and “fiddle around in there.”  If you find yourself in this state of limbo and you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 (any version), there might just be a simple, cost-effective answer right in front of you.

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Posted in Free Programs, PC Support, Tips and Tricks | 4 Comments »

CLEAR 4G Launching in Houston – The Skeptic’s View

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Several days from now (May 1st) CLEAR will begin a huge advertising campaign in the Houston area.  The city will be “covered” in the bright green (their company color) and CLEAR logo.  Electronics retailers, like Best Buy and Micro Center, will have displays and sales people demonstrating the CLEAR 4G high-speed internet service and answering questions.  Some of your friends, family and co-workers will sign up and begin using the product.  The entire city will be exposed to CLEAR in some way and some of us will take the next logical step, research.

If you are anything like me, your research will encompass several resources and a large dose of skepticism.  After all, when something sounds this good, there must be a catch.  What are they not telling us about the product?  With this article, I hope to provide you with something that you will not get anywhere else, a personal look at the product and the service here in the Houston, TX area.

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Posted in WiMAX | 12 Comments »

WiMAX Will Change the Way You Surf, Think and Live

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Have you ever wished that you had high-speed internet access available to you everywhere you went?  Have you ever been frustrated because your mobile device (laptop, game system, music player) seems almost handicapped by the lack of free Wi-Fi around the city?  Do you have a “smart phone” that allows you to surf the internet on the go but avoid using it because it is slow, the screen is too small and/or web sites seem more difficult to navigate?  This is exactly how I felt, until the introduction of WiMAX in my area.

WiMAX is a new internet service that allows users to access the internet wherever they are, wirelessly.  At home, in your car, at the park, at a coffee shop…. the possibilities are limitless.  Depending on your city and the coverage provided by your local distributor, WiMax covers hundreds to thousands of square miles and allows you to enjoy true high-speed internet on the go.  Imagine how having high-speed internet access anywhere/anytime could change the way you surf, think and live.

This 4G (fourth generation) service is not available everywhere in the US now, but major cities and surrounding areas are being added constantly.  To date, WiMAX is available in over 25 cities of the United States (covering 10 states) and overseas.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Tweak Your Computer’s Power Settings for Improved Performance

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

One of the most popular services we offer at JumpstartMyPC.com is a PC Tuneup.  Why?  Because people want speed from their computer and they have steadily watched their PC slow down, down…. down to a crawl.  We have highlighted numerous ways that anyone can improve their own PC performance (like defrags, registry cleans and deleting unnecessary files) but today we tackle the simplest tweak possible, power settings.  Most people have no clue that their computer is designed to monitor and control power usage.  This feature is built into Windows and changing the settings is super easy.

WARNING: Before jumping into the step-by-step, it is important to note that changing these settings may very well provide you with a performance boost, but it might come at a price.  Pay close attention to the temperature of your system (especially with laptops).  I have seen cases where increasing the power settings has resulted in a system that “runs hot.”  While this is not the standard, it is something to keep an eye on.  It is also important to keep in mind that these settings are to be used while the computer is plugged into a constant power source.  If you are using a laptop and are concerned about prolonging the battery life, be certain that you change the “running on batteries” settings or “power plan” accordingly.

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Posted in Tips and Tricks, Windows 7 | 1 Comment »