Home and Office

A PC USERS’ SURVIVAL GUIDE: 15 Essential PC Tips and Tricks For Every PC User

Written by Your PC Matters | 19 December 2011
Posted in Home and Office

It’s a jungle out there!  We’re no longer talking about the concrete jungle of skyscrapers and traffic jams.  In this digital day and age, the jungle is now at our fingertips.  Day in and day out, we pound, click, scroll, press, navigate our way around our personal computers or PCs -- be it a laptop, desktop, notebook, or netbook.  Yes, working with your PC is like being a contestant in survivor island. You need to be tough, you need to outwit and outshine your enemies.  Boot-out those unwanted threats to your PC’s safety and performance.

computer tips and tricks

Be armed with essential facts, tips, and tricks, and stake your claim against threats towards your PC’s efficiency.  The computer technology website PC World, has given this 15-step road map for both newbies and techies:

1. Don't double-click everything.
Think before you click.  Double clicking is often done on reflex, thus be doubly careful.  Chances are, you might skip an important message or step, or submit something twice.  This may happen when submitting data on a webform, where personal data is often exposed to risks.

2. Use slashes and backslashes in the appropriate situations.
/ - is a slash or forward slash, often used in internet addresses like http://yourpcmatters.com/blog/
\ - is a backslash, often used in Windows file paths like C:\Program Files\Whatever

3. Record the exact error message.
When something is wrong with your PC, it usually communicates with you with an ‘error message’.  In your eyes, it may seem like an odd combination of numbers and letter that you could not decipher. Take note of the message in its entirety or better take a screenshot of it.  If your PC did not flash an error message, the Control Panel of your PC has an “Action Center” where the error message can be retrieved under 'View archived messages' or 'View problems to report'.

4.  Bring deleted files back from the dead.
When you pressed delete or moved your file to the trash bin, can you now be assured that your files are now in the black hole forever lost in space?  Nah, you have not erased if completely out of your hard drive. The experts at PC world says “you're simply removing the index information that tells your PC where the file is, at which point the PC is free to treat the part of your disk that contain that file as empty space that it can write something else to.”  Now, you can heave a sigh of relief if you just accidentally deleted it and want to perform the miracle of file resurrection.  Yes, you can do so as long as you have not written over that file.  Utilities like Recuva can help you bring those files back to life.

5. Wipe your hard drive before getting rid of it.
If you want to sell or get rid of your computer, it is wise to wipe it clean of all your personal data.  That’s your safety net against identity theft and cyber crimes and personal blackmail.  Reformatting your computer just won’t do the trick.  There are a lot of ways to wipe your drive clean, but PC World recommends Darik's Boot and Nuke.

6. Uncheck the boxes before you install.
Installing apps and other add-ons to your toolbar could be very tricky. Some are helpful yet some make you think you need it, but actually you don’t or will hardly ever use it. And whenever you find something that you really want to use, it may be bundled with a whole lot of other extras, unless you un-click those check boxes to prevent installation of those unnecessary apps and add-ons. Be careful of clicking ‘install’.  Some of these apps may add to your PCs loading time, and some may be sending out some of your data.  Check only those that you want, and un-check those that you don’t need.

7. Beware of viruses living in Office docs.
For Microsoft Office users, macros are used to automate tasks, but it can be utilized by malicious coders.  Macros are disabled by default and one is notified when a document in use contains it.

8. Be skeptical of "cleaning" apps.
Be wary of trusting apps sending out vague claims of boosting your PC’s performance.  A Disk Cleanup system is built-in every Windows installation.  It can be accessed by selecting Start Menu, All programs, Accessories, System Tools.

9. Uninstall your old apps.
As they say, less is more.  Un-clutter your PC with apps you no longer use or don’t even remember its existence in your PC.  PC World prescribes these steps:
a. Open the Programs and Features control panel
b.  Scroll through the list, and click Uninstall to ditch items you no longer want.
d.  You may need to take a trip into your C:/Program Files/ folder to hunt down a few additional unused apps.

10. Don't let a spilled drink ruin your laptop.
First of all don’t panic...yes, your data and motherboard could be saved by quickly doing these:
a. Before Windows goes into power off mode, unplug the power cord and yank out the battery.
b.  Detach all accessories and removable tems that can be pulled-off like cables, usb devices, optical drives
c.  Tilt the laptop or PC to drain.  Make sure that liquids are drained outwards.
d.  Dab off liquids from the surface with a the use of a dry towel
e.  Have it examined by an experienced PC repair technician

11. Turn down UAC
UAC is “User Account Control, which dims the screen and flashes a dialog box whenever you install an app or change your system settings. This is useful yet annoying.  Get the warnings without being annoyed by a dim screen.  For Vista users, grab TweakUAC.  For Windows 7 users, “go into the User Accounts control panel, click User Account Control settings, and change the setting to the third notch down.”

12. Don't work in your admin account.
Avoid being exposed to viruses and malware by working outside of your admin account.

13.Keep your Control Panel in Icon View.
Seeing icons at a glance makes it easier for you to navigate through your control panel. For Vista users, click Classic view; for Windows 7, choose Large Icons from the View by dropdown menu.

14. Clear your system tray.
Give your PC’s RAM a reason to thank you. Some of your app icons stay open and you hardly ever notice it.  Take time clear them out to un-clutter your system.

15. Manage your power settings.
Conserve your PC’s battery and get maximum and prolonged performance when you most need it.  Follow these battery and power saving settings recommended by PC World:
- “Open the Power Options control panel, and choose from among several presets containing different configurations for when you're plugged in and when you're mobile--or feel free to create your own.”
-”To access the advanced settings, click Change plan settings, Change advanced settings; there you'll find detailed options related to your battery, Wi-Fi radio, graphics card, and more.”

Congratulations, you are now on your way to join the elite ranks of the ultimate PC survivors!

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For Computer Users: How To Prevent Carpal Tunnel Symdrome

Written by Your PC Matters | 07 November 2011
Posted in Home and Office

Teleworkers should wear a hardhat against this occupational work hazard


In our previous blog posts, we’ve tackled on telecommunting --- a new workstyle that’s sweeping across the world.  Work-from-home, virtual assistants, teleworkers are considered the new breed of employees arising from the workforce.  They have the usual job descriptions and tasks required of an office worker, yet they are not glued to their office cubicles.  A computer and an internet connection are essential for them to carry out their tasks and get the job done, be it in the comforts of their own homes, at a neighborhood cafe, or amidst the chaos of a shopping mall.  Working from home may look so safe and sound, yet don’t be deceived.  Teleworkers get their own share of occupational hazards.  You’d wonder, what could possibly go wrong if you’re just sitting all day in your dining-cum-office table clicking on your mouse and pounding on keyboards while trying to balance an accounting worksheet?

teleworker

An article from PC World.com reports of the writer’s personal experience in his initial encounter with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:  “My index finger went completely numb. You could poke it and I wouldn't feel a thing. That was the flashing red neon sign telling me something was wrong. The culprit: laptops.”, says Darren Gladstone.  “ I spent too much time using poorly placed touchpads and seriously scrunched keyboards...Every time you start tapping out a document on the bus, at the coffee shop, or on that flight to the big meeting you're likely forcing your hands into uncomfortable positions. “, he adds.

Dr. Thomas M. Marsella, MD, with the Occupational Health Services department of the Physician Foundation at California Pacific Medical Center recommends mobile/teleworkers to get on a break-stretch routine.

Here are tips on how to be kind to your hands and to your body as well, while using the computer:

Take Breaks

"Micro breaks are the surest way to prevent repetitive strain injuries. They let the body recover from activities." -Thomas Marsella

- Take a walk
- Get your daily dose of sunlight

For the techies who get sucked-in to their monitors and keyboards, Break Reminder is a software that can be configured at a certain time to lock your keyboard.  Yes, it could really force you to stop and smell the roses.


Do Some Stretches

*For those with medical conditions or other existing health problems, consult your physician before getting into any exercise activities or program.
"We see younger people coming in with hand problems these days. Usually, as the body ages, people aren't as flexible and able to recover. So don't forget to exercise."--Thomas Marsella

Stretch 1: Evil Genius. Extending your fingers and placing your palms together in front of you, put your elbows out and gently press your hands together. For the proper form, think somewhere between "Zen prayer" and "evil genius."

Stretch 2: Hands Down. First, extend your left arm and hold your left hand parallel to the floor, palm down. Take your right hand and place it across your left one. The four fingers of your right hand should be on the back of your left hand, with your right thumb pressed against your left palm's base. Gently push your left hand downward. Now, switch hands.

Stretch 3: Double Chin. The proper sitting posture at your desk is an "L" shape. Your ears should be over your shoulders. If you're leaning into your computer, you're straining your neck. To ease that, start with your head craned slightly up and forward. Now, slowly bring your head toward your chest and tuck a little to make a double chin.

We may think that sitting and using the computer all day may be one of the most safest jobs in the world, but has been proven otherwise.  Indeed, a healthy lifestyle and workstyle is our hardhat against work-from-home occupational hazards such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

 

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Your Basic Guide In Buying a Printer for Your Home or Office

Written by Your PC Matters | 30 October 2011
Posted in Home and Office

Know the types and features of printers and measure it up against your needs.

guide in buying a laptop

USBs, external hard drives, and more recently, cloud storage were said to have taken centerstage, and moved the good old reliable printer to stealthily settle into the background, in terms of saving and filing data.  Some may now think of it as ‘old school’, but the printer could still be considered as the computer’s ‘significant other’ or they are ‘made for each other’.  School papers, photos, personal documents, application forms, contracts --- these are just some of the more important files in our lives that require tangible, hard copies.  Some may already find printing outdated, but who knows, a hard copy of your document might just be your safety net, when all else fails in the world of clouds and usb 3.0s.

Printer models have evolved in leaps and bounds through the years.  The dot matrix has spawned laser printers, inkjets, photo printers to multi-functional printers.  And now you’re faced with the dilemma of understanding features, functionalities, and choosing from myriad of brands.

Here are the basics -- Digitaltrends.com has put these together to help you decide what printer is best suited to answer your home or office printing needs.

Inkjet vs Laser

Color inkjet printers are somewhat hitting two birds with one stone.
- can do both photo and text printing.
- colors and images are vividly projected on to paper.
- however, text are not as clear and sharp as that of laser printing
- runs slower
- higher cost of supplies and maintenance, like inks and repair costs
- a better option for home use

Laser printers rule the office.
- prints sharper texts
- can print at high speeds
- ideal for volume printing
- water resistant -- won’t blot or run
- lower priced inks
- better for office use --heavy on printing texts and documents


What is an All In One printer?
A printer that comes with a scanner, a copier, and a fax.  You might not use all these functions regularly, yet it’s more practical and relatively cheaper to buy one compared to a stand alone printer.
Photo Printers
For those who print more pictures, it would be better to buy a dedicated photo printer.  These are easy to use --easily and directly connects to digital cameras. It produces better quality photo prints that are comparable to photo printing shops.  In the long run, it is more cost effective than taking regular trips to the mall or printing shops.

Here are other factors to consider:

Supply costs
You may be able to find incredibly low priced printers and think you got a good deal.  Think again and ask ‘what’s the catch’?  Manufacturers may be milking you dry with their line of expensive ink cartridges.  Do your research in checking out the price of the printer and their corresponding ink cartridges or ask if you can use alternatives like ink refilling or if the printer is compatible with generic or more affordable ink cartridges.

Duty Cycle
Duty cycle - “a number reflected in the manufacturer’s suggested ‘duty cycle,’ which is the number of pages it can print in a month without damaging the printer.”  For office use, opt for those that rate 8,000 pages; while home use printers are rated at around 750 pages.

Networking Capability
If you intend to connect your printer to multiple computers, invest in a printer with a networking capability.

Other special features:

Memory Card Slots, Bluetooth, PictBridge
If you print pictures often and want it done quickly without the extra steps of plugging your digicam and transferring your photo files into a computer, then find a printer that has built-in memory card slots, bluetooth, and PictBridge -- wherein “cameras can be plugged into the printer with the same USB cable you might use to connect to a PC”.

Paper Handling
Office needs may require printing in various paper sizes and formats like legal envelopes, index cards, large sized papers, etc.  In this case, get a printer that has dedicated feed trays that can accomodate and handle varied paper sizes and formats.

Speed, Resolution, Color Claims
Printer brand manufacturers have their own claims to fame as what sets them apart from their competitor brands in terms of speed, resolution, and color.  Read product reviews, request for a product demo or actual printing test, or get opinions from actual users.

 

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Your Basic 5-Step Guide in Buying A Laptop

Written by Your PC Matters | 21 October 2011
Posted in Home and Office

5 questions to ask and answer to help you decide what laptop is best for you.

“A computer on every desk and in every home...”  That’s what Bill Gates envisioned how the future would be like, in  the late 70s.  He got a lot of flak from the ‘smart’ guys.  Even Ken Olsen of Digital Equipment, who made computers that Bill Gates used during his growing up years, found it silly for people to want to own a computer.  But look at where we are now, a computer is part and parcel of our daily functions.  Imagining a ‘computer-breakdown-day’ would cause us to panic; remember Y2K?  Bill Gates’ prophesy did not only come true, it grew by leaps and bounds.  Now, we’re no longer content at having a computer on every desk and home, but we want it in our beds, our cars, our laps, our palms, and inside our pockets.

These days, the most practical computer to buy is the laptop, which has now spawned into notebooks, netbooks, ultrabooks, tablets...and who knows what’s next. The brands, the features, the add-ons, the price options -- make buying a laptop one of toughest decisions to make.  The bottom line is getting value for money and compatibility to address your needs.  Buying a laptop is an investment. Laptopmag.com prescribes you to focus on and answer 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a laptop:

5 step guide in buying a laptop

1.  The Budget = how much are you willing to spend?
$ 300 to $ 400 AUD :   Average price range of netbooks
$ 700 to $ 1,000 AUD:  Average price range of laptops with faster processors like Intel Core  i5 or i7

above $ 1,000 AUD:   Gaming, multimedia, highly durable and secure for business


 

Laptopmag.com has plotted down a summary of price ranges vis-a-vis specifications,
plus a rundown of recommended brands based on budget:

 

Top Specs Under $600 Under $800 $1,000 and up
CPU AMD Fusion CPU, Intel Core i3 Intel Core i3 or i5 Intel Core i5 or i7
RAM 4GB 4 to 6GB 6 to 8GB
Hard Drive 320GB 500GB 750GB or 1TB
Graphics Integrated AMD or Nvidia (512 to 1GB video memory) AMD or Nvidia (1 to 2GB video memory)

Best Laptops for Your Budget:


2.  Size = What’s an ideal screen size and laptop weight for you?
Primarily for home use: 5- or 17- to 18-inch display (generally 6 pounds and up)
Mostly for travel:  10-inch netbook (2.5 pounds and up) or an ultraportable laptop with an 11.6- to 12-inch screen (3 to 4 pounds).
Choose Your Size:

3.  Battery Life = How many hours will you use it on battery power?
What good is a mobile laptop when battery life quickly runs out?
A 15-inch notebook runs on approximately 4 hours of battery; 5 to 6 hours is ideal and a good deal even if you have to pay extra for battery life extension.  Don’t rely on the manufacturer’s declared battery life.  Read reviews, talk to people, ask around...

Like this one -- Laptop mag’s review on Laptops with Longest Battery Life


4.  Specs = How much hard drive performance, memory, capacity will suit your required usage?
For the common not-so-techie buyer, words like hard drive, RAM, CPU, etc., sound like gibberish.
Here are Laptopmag.com’s simple guide and recommendations in understanding computer specs...read on: http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-questions-to-answer-before-you-buy-a-laptop/5

5. MAC or Windows = Whose side are you on?
In the end, it all boils down to this.  Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Apple / Macs:
- easy to use operating system
- easy to find and install programs from the Mac App Store
- notebooks start at $999 AUD

Windows:
- more software choices, especially in gaming
- more affordable
- more brands / vendors
- more design choices

Laptopmag.com expounds on this long-running battle of the greats in this article: Mac vs. Windows Face-off

 

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How To Increase Your Productivity While Working From Home

Written by Your PC Matters | 13 October 2011
Posted in Home and Office

Tips to set-up your home-office and create a conducive and productive mobile/home working environment.
A few months back, we wrote about the global trend in the workforce -- the big shift from the ‘9 to 5 office work’ set-up to ‘teleworking’ or ‘mobile working’ or a.ka. -- “working from home”. (see related blog post here: From Boardroom to Bedroom – Check Out The “Mobile Workstyle”)

set up your home office

Now the big questions is-- how can you be productive at home? It’s like playing a game of tug-of-war. Distractions or ‘temptations’ at home can push and pull you out of your work productivity zone. To list down some of these ‘deadly sins’, they would include watching TV, checking out Facebook, mindlessly surfing the net, online chatting, household chores, your bed-- to get some ‘over-power’ naps...this list could go on forever.

Avoid getting stressed out with this tug-of-war with distractions by getting yourself ready for the game. If you want to be part of team productivity, equip yourself. An article from the APC mag website has provided essential and very helpful tips on how to set-up a perfect tele-working environment:

1. Desk
The dining or the coffee table is not cut out for the job. You need a real desk with these ideal specifications:
- height of about 70 cm
- enough desk space to place your monitor 45-60cm away from you. The top portion of the monitor should be aligned with your line of vision
- enough room to move your mouse around
- an organized area to place other work essential equipment like a printer and some office supplies

2. Chair
Time to kick-out the kitchen stool and get yourself a sturdy ergonomic chair,
- preferrably adjustable height that could enable you to rest your hands and forearms on your desk at a 90-degree angle
- enough and comfortable back support (poor back support could lead to health problems)
- chairs are generally expensive, but worth it to invest on a good one and not compromise your health.


3. Lighting
- sunlight is ideal
- for articifial lights, it should be overhead and diffused to prevent glare
- desk lamps should face away from your field of vision
- to prevent glare on your monitors, place it perpendicular to windows
- use blinds to control lighting

4. Noise
- look for a part of your house where noise can be prevented or reduced
- choose a particular time of the day (or night) where ambient noise is minimal
- you may mask noise by shutting your door or playing some music on low volume

Here are some must-have hardware equipment for your home office:

1. Computer
- no elaborate explanations required
- definitely a must for any teleworker

2. Modem
- Broadband is prevalent and more popular these days
- options could be 3G through dongles or phone tethering

3. Router
- to enable you to connect networked devices such as notebooks, desktops, printers, storage devices, etc.

4. Printer and Scanner
- if your work requires you to produce hard copies or convert hard copy files like photos and documents, into soft copies

5. Backup and Storage
- as the cliche goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry...so backup!
- saving data on multiple storage devices is ideal
- you may also automate your backup and storage task with the use of software
- or opt-in to cloud services

Other tips to get you in the productive zone:

1. Dress for the occasion
It may feel like it’s a luxury to be able to do office work in your pajamas, but later on you will realize that ‘dressing up’ with smart and comfortable clothes can help put you in a working disposition. Sometimes strange but true, clothes can psyche you up into a productive work mode.

2. Minimise distractions
Avoid close proximity to ‘temptations’ like the television or your bed...self-discipline and will power are what it takes for you to curb distractions.

3. Take regular breaks
Taking regular short breaks increase productivity. It gives you space to clear your mind, rest your eyes, and keep your blood flowing. Breath in, breath out, walk around, get some coffee...

4. Organise your work space
Set aside your personal things, free-up your work desk from personal clutter. Some organized chaos in your desk could also be good, but make sure it won’t add up to your work stress. But a good rule of thumb would be to tidy-up at the end of the day.


P.S. Check out this awesome video clip -- a little reminder that we need to give ourselves some T.L.C. while we spending long hours on the computer while working from home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47Lktm65h4Y&feature=related&noredirect=1

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The Best Download Sites To Create Stunning PowerPoint Templates and Backgrounds

Written by Your PC Matters | 23 September 2011
Posted in Home and Office


Enhance your PowerPoint presentation slides with eye-catching and topic-appropriate PowerPoint template slides and backgrounds.

microsoft powerpoint



Ever heard the corporate jargon ‘death by PowerPoint’?  If you’re in a business meeting as the presenter, you wouldn’t want to be the ‘cause of death’ ; or if you’re an attendee, you wouldn’t want to be one of the casualties either.  Of course, you don’t want to kill people nor be killed with boredom one slide at a time.

For corporate meetings, product event launchings, or even family gatherings, slide presentations has got to have that ‘wow’ factor.  Apart from delivering good quality, relevant, accurate, and organized content, a PowerPoint presentation truly stands out with the aid of stunning visuals.  Text-based information can be easily grasped and understood with the help of illustrations and graphics. We are now living in the world of visual-digital technology where eyeballs move from sites to sights and attention spans are as quick and sensitive as touchscreen tablet pcs.

With that said, don’t just rely on those ho-hum cliparts. Bring your PowerPoint presentations to life!  Here are download sites where you can get paid and FREE (ah, the magic word!) PowerPoint templates and backgrounds:

CFOworld.com highly recommends the Best Microsoft PowerPoint Template Sites:

Microsoft
You may not need to look far and wide. They designed PowerPoint so they gotta have those well-suited and compatible templates.

Template Monster
Offers PowerPoint, website and blog templates. Downloads require payment; yet think of it as an investment on quality and branding.

Graphic River
Offering value-for-money PowerPoint templates, starting at $12 and occasionally offer $5 templates. 240 designs to choose from, and are updated regularly.

fppt free PowerPoint Templates
A free downloading site, specializing in templates designed for business, nature, and medical fields.  A good option for students.

Presentation Magazine
A free PowerPoint template site plus free tips on speeches and presentations.

Template Wise
Another free template downloading site rich in business and finance, nature, and travel themes.


PowerPoint backgrounds function like wallpapers of your computer screen.  The background on your slide presentation should blend well and complement your content.

CFOworld.com highly recommends the Best Microsoft PowerPoint Background Sites

Microsoft
Again, the creator of PowerPoint is still one of the best places to scour for the perfect background.

Graphic River
Shelling out $2 ain’t heavy on the pocket, especially if you have a site that offers over 18,000 PowerPoint background choices.

Brainy Betty
No brain surgery needed.  This site offers a wide variety of background choices and it’s free!

Charteo
Professionally-designed PowerPoint backgrounds and images as well are offered at a price; but it’s an investment on quality and professionalism.

Idezine
Another free site to download PowerPoint backgrounds as well as other free software and programmes.
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The Sims: Fast Gaining World Domination in Online Gaming via Facebook

Written by Your PC Matters | 03 September 2011
Posted in Home and Office

Mashable.com reports that The Sims is now the “...World’s Fastest-Growing Social Game”


Barely two weeks out of it’s beta stage, Mashable has reported staggering figures that positioned The Sims Social as a major threat to the throne of Zynga, makers of CityVille, FarmVille, Texas Hold ‘Em, among others.

In a matter of a few weeks, The Sims Social has:
  • registered 4.6 million players every day
  • jumped to number 10 on Facebook’s overall top app ranking
  • moved to number 6 overall game ranking

The Sims Social on Facebook

Since it’s release in the year 2000, this PC-based game pack developed by EA sold a whopping 140 million units, and still counting. With Facebook’s 500 million subscriber base, no wonder, The Sims Social made this larger-than-life debut.

The rules and the gaming interface are pretty much the same as that of the PC format. However, the Facebook version offers a different twist to the gaming experience by allowing your Sim to interact with the Sims of your Facebook friends. Also, Facebook Sims do not ‘sleep’. Virtual life goes on in your Sim neighborhood, and you have a video playback of the interactions your Sim had with other Sims.

Take a tour of The Sims Social neighboorhood on Facebook, with the EA producers as your tour guide: The Sims Social Producer Video
The Sims Social on Facebook is another dimension to make and/or break relationships, but all in the name of fun. So as EA puts it, “play with life”. Now, are you ready to make a ‘frenemy’?
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From Boardroom to Bedroom – Check Out The “Mobile Workstyle”

Written by Your PC Matters | 22 August 2011
Posted in Home and Office

When Bill Gates envisioned “a computer on every desk and in every home”,  did he also foresee the possibility of  a computer as a means for an employee to work from home?   This report from Mashable declares, “the era of the 9-to-5 job is over.”  Glaring statistics and data prove that  Bill Gates’ prophecy has come to pass – spawning the evolution of a new workforce…

Mobile workers, telecommuters, virtual assistants – these are just some of the monikers to classify people who  work from home (or from any remote or out-of-office location, for that matter).  Computer breakthrough such as  laptops, notebooks, mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, mobile internet, Wi-Fi, file sharing, cloud computing, and the rest, has opened the floodgates for this new business trend.

Now question is, are workers more productive?  Are they more efficient?  Are they more satisfied?  What are the trade-offs?  In a similar news article published on Yahoo! news, here are statistics that show “telecommuters say they are happier, healthier, and "more balanced" with their lives…”:

  • “…they would take a pay cut to work from home, with 20 percent offering up 10 percent of their salary”
  • “…they'd swear off their favorite food (40 percent) and forgo an extra hour of sleep (54 percent) rather than go back to an office.”
  • “…the researchers noted that office politics can stress workers and reduce their performance.”
  • “…at-home workers say they also feel more productive and better about their jobs…”

source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/telecommuters-happier-healthier-161602286.html

Check out this infographic below to show you where, how, and why employees are making the big switch from boardroom to bedroom…

The Rise of the Mobile Workforce [INFOGRAPHIC]

The Rise of the Mobile Workforce [INFOGRAPHIC]

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Internet Statistics (made pretty) - Infograph

Written by Daniel Smith | 21 July 2011
Posted in Home and Office

Interested to know how much time the average person spends on Facebook, or how many hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute? Or maybe how many BILLION emails are sent per day.. 

Well all these internet statistics and more are presented in this pretty infograph courtesy of Visual.ly - enjoy! 

internet statistics made pretty
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Coolest PC Cases

Written by Your PC Matters | 13 July 2011
Posted in Home and Office

For the hardcore PC owner - a lot of pride can be derived from how cool your PC case is. Whether you're a PC gamer, PC programmer, or even a full time blogger; your PC case will be a prominent part of your office setup. So, this week we're bringing you some of the coolest PC cases we could find on the net. Prepare to be blown away by the lengths some of these people have gone to pimp their PC cases!

Batmobile PC Case
batman pc case

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How to: Transfer from iPhone to Computer/PC

Written by Your PC Matters | 06 July 2011
Posted in Home and Office

iphone to pcA lot of people struggle with transferring music, apps, contacts etc from their iPhone to their PC. The find it particularly difficult if they lost iTunes on their computer for some reason, and then want to retrieve files from their iPhone and restore on the computer. This guide will take away the struggle and show you how to do it stress free:

For iPhone Apps; this works for Windows and Mac OS X

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer, and iTunes will detect your device automatically.
  2. Right click on your iPhone in iTunes and select "Transfer Purchases". You should see a progress bar in iTunes and your phone should read “Sync in Progress”
  3. This process will copy all of your purchased files (including Apps, Games, Movie, etc.) into the iTunes library, (Tips: In order not to miss Apps, you can select your iPhone in iTunes and then go to the "Applications" tab, and make sure that all of the apps are selected.)
  4. If everything ran smoothly, all of your Apps, Games, Movies etc. that were purchased on your iPhone or iPod touch should now appear in iTunes.

Transferring non-purchased songs and videos from iPhone to iTunes on your PC

The above method only works for purchased items. For non-purchased items such as free downloaded songs, CD ripped music, etc. you will need third party software to do it. There's plenty of iPhone transfer software around, iPhone iPod Transfer seems to work pretty well compared to others though. It also has a Mac version.

  1. Download and install iPhone iPod transfer, and then connect your iPhone to the computer. If your iTunes runs automatically, close it manually.
  2. Run the iPhone iPod transfer, it will scan all the files on your iPhone.
  3. Once the process finishes, select the files you'd like to transfer and click “Export” to transfer them iTunes on your computer. Done!
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Mac vs PC People (Infographic)

Written by Your PC Matters | 01 July 2011
Posted in Home and Office

For anyone who spends a decent amount of time on a computer (which is pretty much everyone these days) - you know there's always been a bit of a difference between Mac users and PC users. Well the good people at Hunch.com have gone ahead and done a bit of research to ascertain exactly what some of these differences are, and used their findings to produce this groundbreaking (term used loosely) infographic. Some of our favourite takeaways: 
  • PC users are more likely to ride a Harley where a Mac user would prefer a Vespa
  • PC users like Pepsi, Mac users like San Pellegrino
  • PC users consider themselves more mathematical while Mac users consider themselves more verbal.

What about you, PC or Mac, and can you relate to any of these findings?

Mac vs PC users (infographic)

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Top 10 PC Games of All Time

Written by Your PC Matters | 05 June 2011
Posted in Home and Office

With the popularity of games consoles these days the humble PC game isn't quite as popular as it once was. There's still plenty of people who do their gaming on the PC though, and this week I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane to celebrate 10 of the best PC games of all time (in my opinion!). Check em out, and please add any of your favourites in the comments!

10. Myst
Released: September 24, 1993. Developer: Cyan
Cyan's landmark adventure is both revered and reviled in different quarters of the gaming industry. Very different to other popular titles of the time, Myst seriously challenged the gaming status quo of the early 1990s.

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9. Mech Warrior II
Released: 1999 Developer: Activision
Honestly, what could be cooler than walking around in a giant robot with a bunch of guns strapped to it? Nothing. 

mech warrior ii












8. Final Fantasy XI
Released: 2002 Developer: Square Product Development Division 3
Originally launched in Japan, the story is set in the fantasy world of Vana'diel, where player-created avatars can both compete and cooperate in a variety of objectives to develop an assortment of jobs, skills, and in-game item rewards.

7. The Sims
Released: January 31, 2000. Developer: Maxis Software
Everyone's had a go at this game somewhere along the line. One of the top selling games of all time - people seem to get a real kick out of controlling someone else's life. It's a pity some people can't put as much effort into their own lives as they do their sims!

6. Star Craft
Released: 1998. Developer: Blizzard Entertainment.
I lost a lot of hours to this real time strategy war game. Selling over 11 millions copies since its creation, this one's an all time classic. 

starcraft

5. SimCity
Released: 1989. Developer: Maxis Software
The first in a long line of Sims titles, SimCity has influenced many game designers since its release in 1989.You can play it as long as you want, as many times as you want, and it never gets old. That's because you create the game as you go along.

4. Half Life
Released: 1998 Developer: Valve Corporation
This first-person shooter required the player to perform combat tasks and puzzle solving to advance through the game. Unlike its peers at the time, Half-Life used scripted sequences, such as an alien ramming down a door, to advance major plot points. One of the best story lines I've come across in a game, it was easy to become immersed.

3. Age of Empires II 
Released: 1999 Developer: Ensemble Studios
Another RTS (real time strategy) game, Age of Empires II was the most fun history lesson I ever participated in. With thirteen playable civilizations AOE II made waging war around the globe a very enjoyable pass time. 

2. Doom 
Released: December 10, 1993. Developer: Id Software.
Nearly everyone's heard of 'Doom' - even kids who still weren't born when it was released have heard of it. Doom defined the 3D shooter genre and was the first game to make multiplayer gaming mainstream. 

doom

1. World of Warcraft 
Released: November 23, 2004. Developer: Blizzard
Currently boasting over 11.5 million subscribers world wide, World of Warcraft (WOW) is definitely one of the most amazing PC games ever. The consistency, imagination, and epic reach of WOW's game design is breathtaking - and with it's massive subscriber base still growing, it's likely to be with us for a long time.  

wow- making character

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@ - A Symbol of Many Names

Written by Your PC Matters | 29 May 2011
Posted in Home and Office

at_symbolYou probably use it every day, whether it's in an email or in a tweet - it's always there, sitting patiently above the 2 just waiting to help out. Of course, I'm talking about the '@' symbol. A humble little symbol, I bet you didn't know the number of different nick names it has in different counrtries around the world though! Check them out:

  • Afrikaans - In South Africa, it is called aapstert, meaning "monkey's tail"
  • Arabic - The @ symbol does not appear on Arabic keyboards, only keyboards in both Arabic and English. The Arabic word for @ is fi, the Arabic translation of at
  • Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian - In these countries, it is referred to as the "Crazy I"
  • Cantonese - In Hong Kong it is generally referred to as "the at sign," just as in England and America
  • Catalan - In Catalonia, it is called arrova, a unit of weight
  • Czech - In the Czech Republic, it is called zavinac, meaning "rollmop," or "pickled herring"
  • Danish - It is called alfa-tegn, meaning "alpha-sign" or snabel-a, meaning "elephant's trunk" or grisehale, meaning "pig's tail"
  • Dutch - Since English is prominent in the Netherlands, the English "at" is commonly used. However, the Dutch also call it apestaart, meaning monkey's tail," apestaartje, meaning "little monkey's tail" or slingeraap, meaning "swinging monkey"
  • French - In France, it is called arobase the name of the symbol. It is also referred to as un a commercial, meaning "business a", a enroule, meaning "coiled a", and sometimes escargot, meaning "snail" or petit escargot, meaning "little snail"
  • German - In Germany, it is called Affenschwanz, meaning "monkey's tail" or Klammeraffe, meaning "hanging monkey"
  • Greek - In Greece, it is called papaki, meaning "little duck"
  • Hebrew - It is shablul or shablool, meaning "snail" or a shtrudl, meaning "strudel"
  • Hungarian - In Hungary, it is called a kukac, meaning "worm" or "maggot"
  • Italian - In Italy it is called chiocciola, meaning "snail" and a commerciale, meaning "business a"
  • Japanese - In Japan, it is called atto maaku, meaning "at mark"
  • Mandarin Chinese - In Taiwan it is called xiao lao-shu, meaning "little mouse," lao shu-hao, meaning "mouse sign," at-hao, meaning "at sign" or lao shu-hao, meaning "mouse sign"
  • Norwegian - In Norway, it is called either grisehale, meaning "pig's tail" or kro/llalfa, meaning "curly alpha." In academia, the English term "at" is widely used
  • Polish - In Poland, it is called malpa, meaning "monkey." It is also called kotek, meaning "little cat" and ucho s'wini, meaning "pig's ear"
  • Portuguese - In Portugal it is called arroba, a unit of weight
  • Romanian - In Romania, it is called la, a direct translation of English "at"
  • Russian - Russians officially call it a kommercheskoe, meaning "commercial a", but it is usually called sobachka, meaning "little dog"
  • Spanish -- Like in Portugal, in Spain it is called arroba, a unit of weight
  • Swedish - The official term in Sweden is snabel-a, meaning "trunk-a," or "a with an elephant's trunk"
  • Thai - There is no official word for it in Thai, but it is often called ai tua yiukyiu, meaning "the wiggling worm-like character"
  • Turkish - In Turkey, most e-mailers call it kulak, meaning "ear"

Which one's your favourite? I like 'Crazy I', it sounds pimpin! Maybe we should give it an alias in Australia, what would you call it? Tell us in the comments!

For more '@' facts checkout this site.

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10 Best Procrastination Websites

Written by Your PC Matters | 15 May 2011
Posted in Home and Office

top 10 procrastination websitesSo we realise a lot of our readers are office workers and students, and we know that you guys spend a lot of time in front of the computer. From the outset, we'd just like to iterate that we're not trying to make your computer time less productive with this post. Rather we're trying to make it more productive. How can providing procrastination sites make me more productive you ask? Well everyone needs a bit of downtime right, it helps make us work harder when we do work. With this in mind, please use these sites responsibly, like 5 mins every hour; just to break things up...

10. Collegehumor.com — The most mind-numbing website, collegehumor.com requires next to no intelligence to enjoy, so it acts as a perfect distraction from heavy studying or working. Between the videos (I like the “Hardly Working” videos best) and the photos with ridiculous captions, collegehumor.com will give your brain a nice break. 

9. Todaysbigthing.com — Stop trolling the internet for the newest viral video. This site compiles the best of the web each day for you.

8. Geekologie.com — Maybe you don’t really want to call yourself a geek, but you may still be kind of interested in what’s going on in the geek world. Geekologie is the website that will make you laugh aloud as you read about the ridiculousness of a robot trained to play Rock, Paper, Scissors or soap that is shaped like a Playstation controller. The website is filled with great and useless geek news. 

7. Facebookfails.com — See what people didn’t really mean to say with this compilation of facebook fails.

6. LOL Cats (icanhascheezburger.com) - It's safe to say that pretty much any internet user anywhere has heard of LOL Cats; and if you haven't, then you have epically failed at life. These random cat pictures are posted with funny captions making sense of the cat's pose. Adorable and funny. 

5. Postsecret.com — “I would love to drop an anvil on your girlfriend.” How can you not love a website where people send postcards in with their greatest confessions? The postcards tend to have an artistic side as well, making them both entertaining and visually appealing.

4. Bored.com — Sounds kind of trite, but actually bored.com will link you to a plethora of websites perfect to get you through those all-nighters. Bored.com will lead to the weirdest headlines, provide an outlet for you to send an e-mail to your future self (dear me, did you ever finish your paper?) and much, much more. 

3. Foundmagazine.com — Funny shopping lists, strange photos and everything in between, this site showcases a new found item each day. 

2. Sporcle.com — Sometimes when I procrastinate, I think, “Wow, I really should be productive right now instead of doing whatever I’m doing.” That’s where sporcle.com comes in. Sporcle.com touts itself as a website of mentally stimulating diversions. They have quizzes on everything from naming every country in the world, to movie quote recognition. What did I learn from sporcle? That I (and many others) cannot spell.

1. fmylife.com — Today, I sat down to finish 3 very important tasks and instead went on fmylife.com for two hours. FML. On this site, people just complain about their horrible lives. Guaranteed to turn the worst of days around because you can see just how sad and pathetic so many other people’s lives are. The only problem with using this site as a procrastination tool in the library is how susceptible you are to laughing out loud.

Hopefully you get as much procrastination joy from these sites as we did, and remember use responsibly!

Got some other website suggestions for how to kill time aimlessly? We'd love to hear them, let us know in the comments..
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Time to book a holiday? Using tech to help you travel.

Written by Your PC Matters | 08 May 2011
Posted in Home and Office

As Autumn sets in, public holidays become fewer, coats and scarves start finding their way out of the closet, and most Aussies turn their thoughts to one thing : booking a holiday.  Whether it is a shopping  trip to the US to take advantage of our strong currency, or a short Qld holiday to catch a little mid-year sunshine, it is more than likely that the internet will get some play in the planning.

We're all well-accustomed to booking flights online and visiting hotel websites, but may not yet be using the internet to its full advantage when it comes to managing travel from start to finish. If you are a small business owner or in some position of management within an organisation, not only do you want to make sure your precious time-off is optimised, but that things back in the office keep tickling along in your absence.  On this week's Twitter and Facebook feeds, we'll be looking at the best websites, downloadable content and mobile devices to get your trip wired.

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Living with email

Written by Your PC Matters | 27 March 2011
Posted in Home and Office

Email in the workplace has been both a godsend and a curse. It allows us to connect with colleagues around Australia and the world; deliver information to large groups of people without having to call a meeting; and produce documented records of any information discussed. While we’ve all been sullied with the “can’t-get –any-real-work-done-with-so-much-email-in-my-inbox,” more and more services are being offered to help you deal with the influx, either free on the web, or through companies specialising in task management.

But as we start to take advantage of this advice and get on top of our work email, we’re now entering new territory of personal email demands via the internet-charged mobile phones.  Suddenly we have two inboxes to manage, each requiring a very different approach.

What have been the best ways you have found to manage your email, be it for work, uni or for personal use? What coping habits have you learned that you wish you’d put into practice sooner?

*While there is no known cure to email, by taking the right approach to it, you will be able to live a healthy, normal life.

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Home Office Furniture: Choosing The Right Computer Desk

Written by Your PC Matters | 15 February 2010
Posted in Home and Office

Your home office should be planned carefully, as the right equipment and office furniture will not only save you time and effort, but money, too. Old or inconvenient office furniture results in a messy workspace, loss of productivity and can eventually lead to back or wrist pain.
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