Are you looking for a new computer? Where are all the PCs? Oh dear, its sort of a tough time for that. Since the start of the pandemic and the advent of everyone doing everything from home? Computers are in short supply! So, what are you options? What’s the hold-up? We talk about that and more! Jonathan’s tips: Check out the big companies like Dell, HP, etc. Sign up for an account before you’re ready to buy! Be willing to go up. Better to over buy a little than to under buy. Check the websites, newsletters, etc. Companies do have refurbished machines! Check around from them. Ask about return policies ahead of time.
Setting a home Computer Lab 101! (8/15/20 Part 1)
Do you have kids of school age? Distance Learning! Are you going to be home schooling? Well, time to set up a home computing environment and we’re here to help! Setting up Windows 10 Parental Controls: https://www.lifewire.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-parental-controls-4801595 Netgear parental controls: https://www.netgear.com/home/discover/apps/lpc.aspx Linksys parental controls: https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=134633 How to use Zoom: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-use-zoom
More Home Schooling Computer Lab! (8/16/20 Part 2)
Continuing on with our home schooling and computers! Distance Learning Peripherals You can find computers, printer/scanners, and more at our friendly local OfficeMax/OfficeDepot! Be sure to tell them that Q&A sent you!
Disaster Preparedness: Last Minute Edition (7/25/20 Part 1)
In Hawai’i, before holiday season its HURRICANE season! Hurricane Douglas Same time of year, every year, and we always seem to forget about it. Well, here we are again! https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/public-resources/types-of-disaster/#hurricane https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?cpac https://www.skilledsurvival.com/hurricane-prep-list/#section3 http://ready.gov/hurricanes And from the archives? https://www.q-a.net/mauionline/?s=disaster
Intel’s Lakefield: Setting the pace for future laptops and tablets? (6/13/20 Part 1)
Lakefield is the fruit of years of work from Intel, if not the industry at a whole. Lakefield Processors! We’ll be seeing a few things with it this year, but it should make for an interesting 2021! Given the scope of this, we’re giving you OUR notes for the show for lots of further reading! https://www.anandtech.com/show/15841/intel-discloses-lakefield-cpus-specifications-64-execution-units-up-to-30-ghz-7-w https://www.neowin.net/news/intel-details-its-new-lakefield-processors-for-dual-screen-and-foldable-pcs
Are you Authentic(ated)? (6/13/20 Part 2)
2FA ought be a part of your digital life. Authenticate This! Yes, it is annoying. But, its not as annoying as someone accessing your account after stealing, hacking, or figuring out your login! Many sites and services offer 2FA via text message, but unfortunately that is the weakest form of it. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/do-you-use-sms-for-two-factor-authentication-heres-why-you-shouldnt/ https://www.protectimus.com/blog/sms-authentication/ So, tell me about some of them… Much like sports teams, the overall landscape does change from year to year, so what’s “best” this year might not be next year. This is a good thing, though. https://gizmodo.com/the-best-authenticator-apps-for-protecting-your-account-1840711013 https://www.pcworld.com/article/3225913/what-is-two-factor-authentication-and-which-2fa-apps-are-best.html
Computer Video: Cards and Integrated 101! basics before buying (6/6/20 Part 1)
Your computer’s video is one of those things that either gets no thought at all or gets massive emphasis placed on it. But, how do you get it? Is it a from an add-in card? Or is it something built into your computer’s CPU or motherboard? Video Cards – Part 1 We talk about all that and more! https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-buying-guide,5844.html https://techguided.com/how-to-choose-a-graphics-card/#4 https://www.tomshardware.com/features/amd-vs-intel-integrated-graphics https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html
Video Cards 101: Work or Play? (6/6/20 Part 2)
Did you know that your video card does real work? That’s right! Its not all video games! Video Cards – Part 2 The humble web browser makes use of it. https://www.lifewire.com/hardware-acceleration-in-chrome-4125122 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration https://www.windowscentral.com/how-force-microsoft-edge-use-best-gpu-windows-10-april-2018-update Video Editing and other content creation makes use of it. https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Premiere-Pro-14-2-H-264-H-265-Hardware-Encoding-Performance-1778/ https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html What the guys are looking at… Jonathan has been looking over the Radeon RX 5700 XT video cards for himself. He like gaming and Virtual Reality, so its a good option for him! https://amzn.to/2Y9xYpX Sam has been looking at the GeForce RTX 2060 for his video editing plus RTX Voice (AI-based noise removal). Probably not a buy for this year, but he’s good at waiting. https://amzn.to/3f6mkDf LD doesn’t game or do video editing. He enjoys streaming video and light internet surfing, so the video in his desktop and laptop are actually great! But, if he decides to start running multiple monitors or even setting his PC up to be a 4K home theater? Well, he might need to start doing some research. He’ll definitely want HDMI, maybe even DisplayPort, and multiple of each if possible. But more than that, he’ll want some great sound… that’s another show, though!
CPUs! The 2020 mid-year update! (5/16/20)
Intel and AMD have been at it, creating newer, faster, and better CPUs than we’ve seen in a long time. With so much out there, what on EARTH do you get? What should you avoid? Well, we tackle this topic for you today! CPUs! Due to a technical glitch, however, Part 1 of the show was lost. Oh no! But, no fear, here are the notes complete with links! Click to continue!
Scams, shams, and more of the same… (4/25/20 Part 2)
Just like watching the weather, you gotta keep your eyes on those darn scammers. The bad guys have a terrible dedication to stealing people’s money! So, we have to be vigilant, like it or not. Watch for COVID Scams! Threats? Stuff that’s too good to be true? Guess what, its the bad guys after YOU! https://www.fcc.gov/covid-scams https://www.ftc.gov/slideshow-items/report-scam http://ag.hawaii.gov/ https://news.yahoo.com/google-blocking-18m-coronavirus-scam-094845302.html