Everyone Should Have Google Mail (Gmail)

The newest and best in free email services is from, what do you know, Google. This comes as no surprise, as they are the top and fastest growing website in the world. There are many advantages to gmail, such as over 2.5 gb of space (a huge amount), sweet search options for finding long lost mail fast, and a number of other cool features. Read the following article to find out why you should consider getting google mail.

One of the newest players in the free web based email arena if Google mail. When Google came on the scene with email, it changed the way the public used and understood free email. Google mail is known as gmail.

For those who sign up for a Google mail account, there are some noticeable differences. Google offers a large amount of free storage – over 2 Gigabytes and that number keeps growing. Google also displays your google mail in related conversations. By using Google’s search technology, Google can sort your emails by conversational relevance.

Google mail brought the end of pop up advertising in free email accounts. Google will show advertising with your email, but it is targeted advertising based on keywords found in your email. Thus, in Google’s opinion, the advertising seen in google mail is relevant to the user. Many people arguing against Google when this email was first offered. People believed that google mail would be read and privacy would be ignored. I think that perhaps those concerns have been overshadowed by the popularity of google mail.

"Google offers a large amount of free storage – over 2 Gigabytes and that number keeps growing."

Google mail may also be the first and maybe even only free email provider to provide POP3 access to the email account. What does this mean? POP3 access allows you to access your email account from a client email program such as Microsoft Outlook instead of using the web based interface.

I chose to try google mail while it was still in Beta testing. In those days, the only way you could get a google mail account was by the invitation of someone who already had a gmail account. The google mail accounts were highly treasured items and were somewhat difficult to find. At times, the invitations were even sold on eBay and made available to the person who was the highest bidder. I confess that I was so eager to get a google mail account of my very own, that I myself found my invitation on eBay.

Having a google mail account means I can travel all over the world, and always have access to my email. You can’t always access paid email accounts from countries outside the United States. I love the POP3 access, because I can fully configure and control my email access. Google also offers spam protection as part of your email account. In addition, Google mail offers free mail forwarding to other email addresses you have. I have been a gmail user for many months now, and have loved every minute.

As you can see, gmail, aka google mail, is one of the most promising email services ever provided. You should definitely go check it out...now!

Getting a Free Email Account

There should be no reason why you would have to pay for an email account. They're so common now, that finding one with big storage and great features is only a matter of time. Read the article below to find out more about getting free email accounts.

It's important to have free email accounts, because it is so easy, why would you pay money for it. There are many services that offer free emal accounts including yahoo, microsoft mail, gmail, and others. It is also good because it allows you to have extra email accounts, so that if spammers get ahold of your email you can get a new account easily, or change the address of your email account. It is also useful because, if you want to transact business over the internet, it allows you to do it without people knowing certain information, such as an organization through which your other domain name is affiliated. My free email account is through gmail, but it used to be through atdot.org while that was still alone, just because I thought the domain name was so funny and amusing.

"There are many services that offer free emal accounts including yahoo, microsoft mail, gmail, and others."

When finding a free email account, there are several things to keep in mind. You should look for one that is easy to use, with every feature located where you would expect it, and good help documentation should you encounter any problems while using it. It is also important to see what features does it include. Does it have a spam filter? Does it have file space and if so, how much? Also, do they give out your information, or store personal records that could potentially be compromised or requested. It is best the less information they store about you, the better. Also, how many annoying pop up ads are there on the email website when you check your mail, and does your free email account include advertisements in the bottom of your emails, and if so, how annoying and obtrusive are they?

Another thing that is important is the stability of the website. Is it often down, or is it well maintained and stable? It is all good to have a free email account, but if you cant use it, what is the point anyway? My friend had what looked to be an excellent free email account: It had 50 megs filespace, few ads, easy to use features, and even a dedicated support staff. Unfortunately, their connection was lousy and they were down as often as they were up. He couldn't even get on to use his email and their features, as awesome as they were, were useless to him. Fortunately, if this happens to you, you can always get a new free email account.

Well, I hope this article helped shed some light on what a good free email account encompasses. In my opinion, gmail is the best one out there, but you're going to need an invite.

Advantages of an External DVD Writer

Nowadays most computers and laptops come with a dvd drive and dvd writer/rewritable drive. But, have you ever thought of purchasing a external dvd writer? There are many advantages to this, including better performance. Read the article belowt to get the full scoop.

I recently bought a laptop computer. Since I had been waiting to purchase the right one for quite a while, I saved up, planned the purchase and got myself what I believed to be the perfect laptop computer with all the goodies. It had fabulous memory, an excellent processor, enough RAM to run most varieties of games and even an in-built DVD writer. While I can’t really complain about the rest of the goodies, I do have a bone to pick with the in-built DVD writer. I realize now that I should have gone in for an external DVD writer, even if it seems like an inconvenience. For with an external DVD writer, I would not have the problems that I have been facing.

Most people, when they chose to go in for a new laptop, make the same mistake I did and opt for an in-built DVD writer. But it truth be told, the external DVD writer is so much better than the in-built variety. For one thing, the external DVD writer is a component that you can carry around, without having to lug the entire laptop. What’s the purpose you ask? Well, if like me, you tend to require several DVD copies of data or movies, you can choose to plug your external DVD writer to just about any computer. My older desktop for instance does not have an inbuilt DVD writer. But it does have a 200 GB hard disk and an internet connection. While this enables me to store several hours of audio and visual information in it, I have no way of writing that information onto a DVD disc. As such, writing my DVD files involves a laborious scenario, where I have to transfer my data to my laptop, using a fire wire cable or something similar and then I have to write the DVD. If I had an external DVD writer on the other hand, writing the data would be a single click affair.

"But it truth be told, the external DVD writer is so much better than the in-built variety. For one thing, the external DVD writer is a component that you can carry around, without having to lug the entire laptop."

But that is just one of the issues I have been having with my existing DVD writer. Most DVD writers today come with a factory pre set that does not allow them to change the region code more than five times. If like me, you need to view or copy DVDs from multiple regions, you are likely to be stuck after the fifth attempt. But with an external DVD writer, you can choose to change the regional settings without compromising the CD drive of the laptop. If only had I known about this aspect earlier, I would surely have opted for an external DVD writer! Finally, some of the external DVD writers available in the market can be hooked up to your existing television setup in order to function as an effective DVD recorder. Note that this is an option that you cannot enjoy with your built in DVD writer. Only external DVD writers offer this facility. Considering that the eternal DVD writer comes with immense flexibility, the opportunity to change the regional settings of the drive without compromising the functions of the laptop and t opportunity to carry a portable DVD writing source, I still don’ understand why people go in for in-built DVD writers.

As you can see, an external dvd writer is probably the way to go. Though there are some nice conveniences about having a built in dvd writer in your laptop or desktop computer, overall the external one will probably satisfy you more. I hope you enjoyed reading this article, and good luck finding what you need, whatever you choose!

The Functions of Email

Just about everyone knows that e-mail or email is short for electronic mail, a system for sending and receiving electronic messages between computers over some sort of network. It also refers to the messages sent over such a system.

When people first started sending email, it was a very casual medium. Some people insisted that standard rules of spelling and grammar need not apply. If you're in that camp, you might want to think again, especially if you have or aspire to a professional career.

Bear in mind that whatever you send can be broadcast by your recipient to countless others with the push of a button. Do you really want to be careless knowing this is the case? Probably not.

So, make your messages correct, concise, to the point and tidy. Don't put anything you wouldn't want your grandmother to read in an email, especially at work. Also it's good to avoid sending complex information (who wants to get red eyes trying to read and absorb a mass of detailed information on screen?), sensitive topics as well as private or confidential information via e-mail. Jokes are often good to avoid. Stories that might be funny to you and the person you're sending them to might be offensive to someone they get passed on to down the line.

Now, as far as being efficient, and having co-workers happy to open your e-mails, here are some tips: In your subject line, try to come up with a line that gets their attention and is to the point, much like a magazine header or newspaper headline. Also, in the body of the e-mail put the most important information in the first paragraph. Leave all the supporting details and interesting tangential issues to the paragraphs that follow. And as with any sort of writing, us the active rather than the passive voice most of the time. What does this mean? Say, "The dog ate the food" instead of "The food was eaten by the dog." If you use too much passive voice, your readers will fall asleep at their desks.

And one more tip. Limit the amount of time you spend dealing with e-mail during the day. Avoid those little windows that pop up whenever you've got a new message. That way you'll manage your e-mail rather than have it manage you.

Oh, and those smiley face icons? Drag them to the trash right away.

Want to Download Computer Games?

Some of us computer game junkies like to buy a lot of computer games, why not? There sweet! But it would be easier if we could just download them for a fee, and not always have to go to the store, and wait for them to be shipped from an online store. In the article below, you'll learn about downloading computer games from the internet.

People have been playing games on computers since there have been computers. Gen Xers will remember their first run at Pong, while most twenty somethings will remember fondly playing Oregon Trail and the despair they felt when their oxen died or their whole wagon was struck down by diphtheria. Now in games like Everquest or World of Warcraft gamers battle their friends who could be in the next room, the next county, or the next country. The internet has not only brought about a surge in online gaming, but also a rise in people who are starting to download PC games.

You can download PC games at all kinds of different sites. Some of them allow you to download small games to your own computer and play them whenever you want. These games, often smaller applications like poker, pool, or puzzle games, are usually called "freeware" because they are free to copy, play, and give away.

Other games called "shareware" or "demos" only offer limited versions of games. They are often used to promote full retail games which usually sell for between twenty and fifty dollars. Downloads of these pc games are usually limited either in scope or in time. For example, in the shareware version of an adventure game your character may only be able to explore a limited portion of the game's "world." Other games are limited by the amount of time you can spend playing the game or how many times the application can be used. These shareware games can be helpful to gamers who are unsure of if they'll like a certain game or if it will run on their hardware. With game demos they can try running the game on their own computer before deciding to purchase the full retail version of the game.

"You can download PC games at all kinds of different sites. Some of them allow you to download small games to your own computer and play them whenever you want."

Most sites make downloading pc games a relatively painless process; with a few clicks you can start downloading your favorite game. The pain usually kicks in for dial-up users, as some games, especially shareware versions of large, graphics-heavy games, can weigh in at hundreds of megabytes. This makes downloading many pc games the territory of the DSL or cable modem, which can still take a while handling the larger downloads. However, smaller games can be downloaded and enjoyed by everyone, often serving as a needed break from Minesweeper and Solitaire on your home computer. With so many different choices, you may never have to go back to Spider Solitaire again.

So, there's a lot of sites and choices out there when it comes to downloading computer games. There are some good deals to be found, so go and start looking!

Getting Quality Computer Desks is Important

Most computer users know that when it comes to setting up their computer station, the desk is very important. It organizes everything around the computer, including your paperwork, cds, printer, fax machine, and more. As most computer geeks sit at their computer desk much of the day, you can see why it's important to get a high quality one. The following article sheds some light on what a good desk should encompass.

Ever since we got our new computer, my wife has been nagging me to get a suitable computer desk for it. Right now, the computer lies precariously perched on the dining table that serves as a ad-hoc desk of sorts. Frankly, it is not a very convenient arrangement. When it is just the two of us at home, we eat wherever we want to, most often in front of the television. But when guests arrive, it becomes a mammoth problem. The computer has to be moved from the ad hoc dining table cum computer desk to a less inconvenient location. Similarly, the tangle of wires that lead from the socket to the computer, the computer to the keyboard and mouse and from the computer to the printer have to be moved as well. Finally, after one particularly painful weekend, when the computer moved not once or twice but a grand total of five times, I had had enough. I resolved then and there to go shopping for a suitable computer desk. So with wife in tow, I made my way to one of the reputed furniture dealers in town to select a good, yet affordable computer desk. Believe me when I tell you, shopping for a home could be much easier!

The trouble with choosing a good computer desk is that there are so many varieties to pick from. There is the regular, plain Jane computer desk that comes with a table, a chair and nothing else; there is also the drawer variety of computer desk that comes with, you guessed it, a drawer! Then of course there is the ergonomically designed computer desk that comes with an adjustable table height and optimal positioning of the computer for reading and working convenience. And finally there is the space age computer desk that makes you feel like Captain Kirk atop the control and command terminal on the spaceship Enterprise! The wife and I looked at all these kinds of computer desks and more until we were totally flabbergasted. It was then that we spotted the do it yourself section which had a special offer on custom built computer desks. We were thrilled. Finally, here was an option that would allow us to create the computer desk of our dreams at a fraction of the price of a pre-built one! We happily entered the section and soon spotted a computer desk in the catalogue. We selected an antique finish and happily carted our would-be computer desk home. There it lay for the rest of the week as I resolved to set it up over the weekend.

"Then of course there is the ergonomically designed computer desk that comes with an adjustable table height and optimal positioning of the computer for reading and working convenience."

The weekend came and I happily set to work on the computer desk. With the self explanatory diagram laid out in front of me, I hammered away at the various pieces of wood that were supposed to come together as the computer desk of our dreams. Fourteen hours later, I stood looking at what appeared to be a mangled, gnarled sample of modern art. I don’t know how or where, but the build it yourself project had gone horribly wrong. Today, my computer stands perched proudly atop the dining table and ad-hoc computer desk. While the dream computer desk (or what remains of it) lies in the garage, never to see the light of day again.

Well, I hope you now see the importance of at least trying to get a good computer desk.

Why You Should Consider Cable Internet

Okay, so we know that most everyone has a computer, and of those people who own a computer, most of them have an internet connection. The internet has become such as important part of our lives that it's very convenient-and almost necessary-to have a high speed connection. Cable internet I can assure is something that you should consider upgrading to if you haven't already. The article below discusses the advantages of cable internet, why it's useful, and how you can get a service provider.

A big part of everyone’s lives in this world of technology is clearly computers. Cable Internet has revolutionized the way we do things. Whether it be sending an email or searching for the latest movie trailers, the Internet has it all at our disposal.

The speed of Internet connection has come along way in the past ten years. I remember when dial-up was the way we signed online with the slow obnoxious dialing sound, followed by an atrocious blare of static. This method allowed us to view basically anything our hearts desired from anywhere around the world. Let’s face it; it was love at first mouse click. The world had never seen such a feat. We could actually chat online with someone in China, for free!

"Why spend ten minutes waiting for a clip to download when you can view it immediately with cable connection? Why face the burden of a slow connection speed that hinders you from placing a fast enough bid on Ebay, causing you to lose the item?"

Soon, better methods of connection became available. We suddenly had DSL and cable Internet. While DSL offered a much faster speed of surfing the web, cable connection was clearly the epitome of what the world desired. Let’s face it; we live in a chaos of hustle and bustle. This is what makes cable Internet ideal for businesses, schools and even homes. We want what we want and we want it now!

A slight downside to cable service is the price, which typically runs higher than its competitor, DSL. However, this has certainly not put a damper on its success. The fact is, that many of us desire the speed to tackle our online banking, as opposed to dealing with the hectic lines at the bank, or surf the millions of websites for Christmas gifts at the lowest prices possible, or simply send an email. We’ve come to depend on computers like we do our cars or cell phones.

Cable Internet certainly has its advantages concerning video feeds and downloads. For those of us who like to view the latest movie trailers or download a music video, cable makes this more viable. Why spend ten minutes waiting for a clip to download when you can view it immediately with cable connection? Why face the burden of a slow connection speed that hinders you from placing a fast enough bid on Ebay, causing you to lose the item? These are dilemmas that all of us face everyday, and these are some reasons why we prefer cable Internet speed to the others.

As you can see, upgrading to cable internet isn't just smart, it's becoming a necessity. There are so many benefits and conveniences that come with cable that it's well worth the price.

Boot Sector Virus Removal is Tricky Business

Boot sector viruses are the worst kind of computer viruses out there. They are the most lethal, and they cause the most trouble. However, there are ways to get rid of these pesky viruses by scourging you computer. Below is an excellent article that discusses how boot sector viruses work, and how you can get rid of them.

Boot sector virus removal can be a tricky business as these are some of the most evil and difficult kinds of viruses. They lidge in your boot sector, the part of your computer that is responsible for loading or “booting” the rest of it, so that as soon as your computer is turned on, the virus is already loaded into memory. This can be a big problem, because a cleverly designed boot sector virus removal can convince your computer that there is no virus at all when it loads. The best way for boot sector virus removal is to make a backup “clean” disk. This disk loads your computer when you stick it in the drive, so it is not loading from the boot sector, which has been contaminated by a virus. This way, you can load your computer virus free, and then clean the virus off of it.

The best way to prevent boot sector virus removal is to switch operating systems away from Microsoft Windows. Windows is the only system which is commonly infected by viruses. They strike macs and linux machines, almost never at all. This is because windows is badly programmed. If, for example, you get an email with an attachment, it is designed to automatically open the attachment and to follow its instructions even if they put your computer in danger! Mac OS and Linux both have safeguard built in to protect you from these problems, but Microsoft doesn't care about anything except about whether or not their system looks pretty and they are making money.

"The best way for boot sector virus removal is to make a backup “clean” disk. This disk loads your computer when you stick it in the drive, so it is not loading from the boot sector, which has been contaminated by a virus."

Boot sector virus removal isn't the only protection you might need on your computer. You need spyware removal as well. Spyware is a little like viruses, but much less harmful. When you visit certain websites with spam, they will put a program in your web browser which keeps track of your information and sends it back to them. It follows what websites you go to, what you buy, etc., and uses it to market things to you. It also slows down your computer and opens pop-up windows which you don't want to see repeatedly, which is very distracting and annoying. Some adware can even devert your web browser, sending you to websites you don't want to see, and stopping you from getting to the ones which you are trying to get to. Fortunately, these harmful nuisances are easily removed using one of any number of commonly avalable adware removal programs.

I know that article was a lot to handle, but I hope you found it helpful. These boot sector computer viruses can be a pain, but you need to get rid of them. When in doubt, it might be best to get a software or professional help to remove them.

How Good are Acer Laptop Computers?

If you're shopping around for a laptop, chances are you don't really know what to get. With all the choices out there, it's no wonder it's hard to make a decision. Below is an article on Acer laptops. It discusses their uses and if they are worth it to buy.

An Acer laptop computers can revolutionize your business or professional life. I am a writer, and largely self employed, so I know. For me, I hate staying at home to work amid all of the distractions of my house – there are just too many temptations to fall victim to in the home. But if I'd go out to work at a coffee shop, my productivity would in many ways be better, but at the expense of having to do everything in pen. This means that after I'd go to the coffee shop, I'd have to go back home again and rewrite everything typed up on my computer.

When I bought my acer laptop computers, It changed everything and made things better. It meant that I could do my work out on the town, and then come home and upload it to my clients without any bother about rewriting. This has made life a joy, and made my personal life so much better, because I can write up my work on my acer laptop computers and then meet up with a friend for a drink, or go dancing, without having to stop at home again before going. There is no difference between work and play any more, I go around town, get business taken care of, and then dance all night.

My acer laptop computers work pretty well, but to make it really cooked, I had to change the operating system to red hat linux. The windows included slowed down my high performance computer drastically, and made it unstable. Besides that, Windows made me vulnerable to viruses which other operating systems get rarely or never. Basically, having Microsoft windows on your acer laptop computers will cripple your productivity, like it does on any system.

It is important to take good care of your laptop. They are more fragile and more difficult to maintain then desktop computers and, because you carry them around, are more liable to be damaged. Soft computer bags are not enough, no matter how well padded they are. Get a hard case. It is bulkier, harder to carry, and more expensive, but still, in the end, you will thank me for suggesting it. It will protect your computer as an investment, as well as all of the valuable information on it. Besides that, you must back up frequently on your computer, daily if possible to make sure you lose no information. Perhaps you can have a home computer which you use to store backups of your data.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little article on Acer laptops. As you can see, laptops are very useful and essential to most business and computer junkies. Acer laptops are an excellent choice if you want to fulfill that need.

Should you Get a 17 in. Monitor?

With so many computer monitors out there, it's hard to choose which size is the best for your money. The article below discusses this dilema and how to solve it. I hope you find this very geeky indeed.

My computer only had a 17 monitor, but it was fine for my needs. It displayed text and simple graphics well, and let me serf the internet just fine. It also fit well on my desk, and didn't take up too much room. I remember the days when computer monitors were twelve inches and resolution was only 400 by 600 lines. Forgive me for sounding like an old timer, but sometimes just enough is plenty.

My computer itself is pretty old, and I've been thinking of getting an upgrade. Beside the 17 monitor, I don't have a graphics accelerator or a good sound card. The graphics card is so important for gaming. I know that games are a big time suck, but well, I can't resits. But I haven't been able to play doom 3 because my computer won't support it. As for Warcraft 3 or diablo – forget it. Just not going to happen.

At least that is what i thought until I saw the new computer monitor models. The 19 monitor may only be 2 inches bigger than the 17 monitor, but boy those two inches make a difference. If I have friends over to watch a movie or something like that, its so much nicer. I've been comparison shopping and looking for a while, but I'm not sure. I think the flat screen models are the best. They don't have the glare of the others, and they look good. Besides that, they have a low profile and fit slimly on the desk. The downside is that they are more expensive. And anyway, I'm sort of used to what I have.

The sound card I need for music. Not to listen to it – any sound card will play music. But to record music its good to have an expensive external sound card. You can do multiple track recording straight into the card, balance tracks, apply a lot of nifty affects, and do it all much cleaner. Its just all around more convenient for sure. But its not just a sound card I need. If I'm going to be making music on my computer, I'd like to be able to at least listen to it cleanly, but my little included dell computer speakers, while making clean sound, they've got no body. Completely flat. So, I guess you need everything you'd need for any home stereo. A reciever, a pre-amp, a tuner, and of course, great speakers. But one at a time. For now, I'm going to focus on upgrading my 17 monitor.

So, what did you think of the article? I could have told you that in this day and age a 17 monitor is way to small and cheap for hard core computer geeks. But, the article was good anyways, right? Be sure to check around my other articles as well by looking at the right hand side for links!

4 Color Printing- The Advantages and Warnings

So, are you looking for 4 color printing services? I hope you are, as the color quality will probably astound you. But, you should probably take a look at the article below, as it discusses 4 color printing in greater detail.

When using 4 color printing services, its not just the cost it takes that it is important, but the time it takes to get the job done. I had a 4 color printing job for a seminar the other week at a national conference of aeronautical engineers and designers, and was to give a presentation. Power point is a little stale, many people believe, and so I thought that I'd hand out everyone their own personal and personalized printouts of my stats with places where they can make their own notes as well as a form which they can use to send them back to me, and ask questions and give feedback. But, unfortunaltely, I was way behind schedule, and was only able to give the job to the printer palce four days before the scheduled event was to take place, so there was a rush on the order, and it was more expensive than a normal order.

When I got it back, I thought my 4 color printing job was alright, after briefly looking through the printout. Everything was ready for the conference, and when it was my turn to speak, there was appalause. Little did I know, that half of the printouts were misbound, with several of the pages in the wrong order. Not only that, but some of them had missing pages, while other ones had extra pages. The printing quality was, as promised, perfect, but they never bothered to bind it correctly!

To avoid mishaps like this 4 color printing debacle, it can be advantageous to bind your printouts yourself instead of ordering them bound for you. This can be offered by many 4 color printing companies, and they should give you a discount price. However, assembling all of those printouts will take forever, and the results wont look as professional. Another alternative is to have them offer you a moneyback guarantee that their printouts are all correctly assembled, well printed, and on time. Any company should be willing to stand behind their product like this, so if you cant get this money back guarantee or some other type of agreement, then you probably should not order your printouts from that company, but use someone else instead.

4 color printing is the name of the process, but in reality, it creates several thousand colors when its done. This is because it uses pixels, tiny dots of ink, in different combinations to fool the eye into thinking that there are many more colors than there actually are. This is the same way that newspapers and many magazines work, and is as good as the colors actually being there.

Well, what did you think? Did the name 4 color printing deceive you? Most printing services will get you great quality, but you should follow the advice in this article to be sure. Make sure you take a look at the plethora of articles in this site, as it will teach you about all things computers!