Q. When I purchased my computer, the computer speed was phenomenal and Now it takes forever for programs to open up. I have not added any new softwares or have made any drastic changes, I've purchased the brand new Dell computer about a months ago. Why is it so slow now?
A. There are various reasons why the computers and or server speed may be compromised, including but not limited to :
1. Dust Buildup - Dust buildup in the computer can cause the heat sink / cpu fan to be clogged which leads to overheating and
eventually slowing down the performance.
2. Insufficient Hard Drive and or Memory Size - As we all know, almost all of the programs including Microsoft Windows
(XP, Vista, etc) release updates at least once a month and if the Hard Drive and Memory capacity does not meet the requirements,
it will significantly affect performance. Note : Also, the speed of the memory and hard drive affects performance. i.e. - You may
have purchased a computer with the top of the line CPU, but if the Hard Drive is 5200 rpm verses 7200rpm
(rotations per minute), the machine is not performing to the fullest capacity.
Q. How safe is my Wireless connection, can anyone gain access to my machine and gather my personal information, Bank Account information, saved passwords, etc?
A. Setting a WEP or WAP encrypted key for a home or office wireless connection is recommended. A WEP is similar to a lock and only the person with the Key would be able to connect to the wireless connection. To further secure the wireless network, one may use the advance settings and configure machine authentication feature which will authenticate the allowable MAC address (unique machine ID) for successful secure authentication.
Q. What is the depreciation rate of my machine? In other words, how long should I keep my machine till its time for an upgrade?
A. The depreciation rate of any electrical equipment is greater than say an automobile. As the Information Technology industry drastically progresses at an exponential rate, the depreciation of the equipment also increases. But most of us use our Computers for tasks such as word processing, Internet surfing, Social networking, etc. A computers lifetime is associated with its usage.
To answer the question, we would consider 3 years. It seems 3 years is a long time, but even if the IT industry develops faster CPU’s and greater Memory. The daily use of a common user is not affected or the speed of the machine is not compromised unless the machine is not maintained. i.e. – Monthly sweep, Hardware and Software. Hardware would be dust cleanup and such and Software would be deleting the Temporary Internet cookies and files, virus cleanup, etc.