Unless the computer app is critical for your work, alerts about a new patch update or incoming message can distract you. Luckily, you can personalize your notifications settings on Windows 10’s action center using these three simple steps.

Overarching action center settings

First of all, you should customize your Windows 10 system-wide notifications settings. To view these:

• Click on the Cortana icon on your taskbar and type ‘Notifications’.
• Click ‘Notifications & actions settings’.

Here, you can turn off alerts entirely or customize the alerts for core functions such as alarms, reminders, and incoming VoIP calls.

Settings for individual applications

If you want to take a far more nuanced approach to your notifications, there are advanced options to create rules on an app-by-app basis. At the bottom of the ‘Notifications & actions’ setting screen is a section titled ‘Get notifications from these senders.’ By enabling any of the items in this list, you can open a new window full of more graded notifications options. From here, users can specify lock screen, sound, and priority settings for individual software.

You can also adjust the amount of notifications of a particular app in the ‘Number of notifications visible in action center’ setting. To do so, click on the app’s name and select the amount of notifications you’d like to receive at any given time. Although the default amount is three, you can choose to get up to 20 notifications.

Closing the blinds

For users who have no interest whatsoever in the Windows 10 action center, you can banish it entirely. To do this:

• Open Cortana and search ‘Notification area’.
• Click ‘Turn system icons on or off’.
• Toggle the Action Center option to remove the icon from your taskbar.

You can also choose which apps to remove from your taskbar entirely. To do so, click the back arrow to return to the ‘Notification area’ window and choose ‘Select which icons appear on the taskbar’.

If artists have tools unique to their style, why shouldn’t the tools of your trade be tailored to your preferences? Get in touch with us today to speak with one of our tech-savvy specialists about your technology goals to start achieving new levels of productivity and efficiency on your Windows machine today.

Whether you want to have a darker color scheme, run several apps at the same time, or display multiple desktops, Windows 10 gives you many options to personalize your PC. And while some customization options are less obvious than others, it is worth the effort to get your Windows 10 to look and function the way you want it to. Here are a few things you can do to personalize your PC.

Change your themes

The most obvious way to personalize Windows 10 is by changing your background and lock screen images. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop and choosing the Personalization settings. Here you can choose and preview different backgrounds and themes you can use. You can even add new themes by using images from your gallery or by clicking the Get more themes online option.

Use dark mode

Want to give your Windows 10 an edgier feel? Replace those white backgrounds with dark mode. Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and select the gear icon for Settings. Choose Personalization and go to Colors. Scroll down until you see “Choose your default app mode”. Clicking on Dark sets your screens to dark mode. Clicking on Light, meanwhile, restores the default white background settings.

Virtual desktops

If you’re having trouble separating your work files from your personal files, try creating a virtual desktop. Press the Windows key + TAB to show all your open windows. At the bottom right corner of your screen, you’ll notice an option to add a new desktop. Simply click on it to create a new virtual desktop. Drag the windows you want to move to this new desktop, and immediately enjoy looking up your personal interests on one desktop while strictly doing business on the other.

To quickly switch between desktops, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Windows key + left/right arrow.

App snapping

App snapping is not exactly a new feature, but with Windows 10, you can now snap any app in place. For people who like to multitask, this feature is for you. Snap any app window by dragging it into any of the four corners of your screen. You can have a maximum of four separate windows simultaneously open in your monitor, for when you want to browse the internet while you’re filling out spreadsheets and doing other tasks.

Reorganize your Start Menu

To add a little more “you” into your Windows PC, you can customize how your apps are arranged on the Start Menu. For one, you can resize the Start Menu by simply dragging the top or right side of the menu to resize.

You can also resize the live tiles by right-clicking on them and selecting the Resize option. You can also rearrange application tiles by dragging them anywhere around the Start Menu. If you won’t be using a particular application, simply right click the tile and select Unpin from Start. On the other hand, you can pin applications to the Start Menu by right-clicking an app and choosing Pin to Start. For even faster access to apps, simply pin the programs to the taskbar.

Change color themes

Is the plain black Start Menu not doing it for you anymore? Just right-click on your desktop, choose Personalize > Color, and select any accent color that pleases you. Tick the checkboxes under “How accent color on the following surfaces” if you want this color applied to the start menu, taskbar, action center, and title bars.

Disable notifications

We don’t know where you stand on app notifications, but if you absolutely hate them and wish to never get them ever again, simply click Start > Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and switch off whatever app notifications you don’t want. Goodbye, annoying reminders.

Switch up and personalize your Windows 10 however you like by using some or all of these options, and hopefully you get the settings that are just right for you. If you would like to know about more ways to personalize your desktop, or if you need information on anything Windows 10-related, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

The Windows 10 interface looks good and is quite intuitive, but something is still missing — your signature style. Microsoft’s premier operating system gives you the power to customize your device any way you like. So if you’re tired of your plain blue theme or if you’re starting to get annoyed with that notification sound, there are several ways to customize your desktop. Stamp your identity into your PC by doing these.

Change your themes

The most obvious way to personalize Windows 10 is by changing your background and lock screen images. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop and choosing the Personalization settings. Here you can choose and preview different backgrounds and themes you can use. You can even add new themes by using images from your gallery or by clicking the Get more themes online option.

Use dark mode

Want to give your Windows 10 an edgier feel? Replace those white backgrounds with dark mode. Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and select the gear icon for Settings. Choose Personalization and go to Colors. Scroll down until you see “Choose your default app mode”. Clicking on Dark sets your screens to dark mode. Clicking on Light, meanwhile, restores the default white background settings.

Virtual desktops

If you’re having trouble separating your work files from your personal files, try creating a virtual desktop. Press the Windows key + TAB to show all your open windows. At the bottom right corner of your screen, you’ll notice an option to add a new desktop. Simply click on it to create a new virtual desktop. Drag the windows you want to move to this new desktop, and immediately enjoy looking up your personal interests on one desktop while strictly doing business on the other.

To quickly switch between desktops, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Windows key + left/right arrow.

App snapping

App snapping is not exactly a new feature, but with Windows 10, you can now snap any app in place. For people who like to multitask, this feature is for you. Snap any app window by dragging it into any of the four corners of your screen. You can have a maximum of four separate windows simultaneously open in your monitor, for when you want to browse the internet while you’re filling out spreadsheets and doing other tasks.

Reorganize your Start Menu

To add a little more “you” into your Windows PC, you can customize how your apps are arranged on the Start Menu. For one, you can resize the Start Menu by simply dragging the top or right side of the menu to resize.

You can also resize the live tiles by right-clicking on them and selecting the Resize option. You can also rearrange application tiles by dragging them anywhere around the Start Menu. If you won’t be using a particular application, simply right click the tile and select Unpin from Start. On the other hand, you can pin applications to the Start Menu by right-clicking an app and choosing Pin to Start. For even faster access to apps, simply pin the programs to the taskbar.

Change color themes

Is the plain black Start Menu not doing it for you anymore? Just right-click on your desktop, choose Personalize > Color, and select any accent color that pleases you. Tick the checkboxes under “How accent color on the following surfaces” if you want this color applied to the start menu, taskbar, action center, and title bars.

Disable notifications

We don’t know where you stand on app notifications, but if you absolutely hate them and wish to never get them ever again, simply click Start > Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and switch off whatever app notifications you don’t want. Goodbye, annoying reminders.

Switch up and personalize your Windows 10 however you like by using some or all of these options, and hopefully you get the settings that are just right for you. If you would like to know about more ways to personalize your desktop, or if you need information on anything Windows 10-related, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

You log into your PC and you’re greeted by an incredibly plain desktop background and an equally drab Start Menu. Suddenly, a notification goes off and tells you that an application you barely use is ready for an update. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? If you want your desktop to look or behave a certain way, try out these tips to personalize your Windows 10 experience.

Change your themes

The most obvious way to personalize Windows 10 is by changing your background and lock screen images. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop and choosing the Personalization settings. Here you can choose and preview different backgrounds and themes you can use. You can even add new themes by using images from your gallery or by clicking the Get more themes online option.

Use dark mode

Want to give your Windows 10 an edgier feel? Replace those white backgrounds with dark mode. Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and select the gear icon for Settings. Choose Personalization and go to Colors. Scroll down until you see “Choose your default app mode”. Clicking on Dark sets your screens to dark mode. Clicking on Light, meanwhile, restores the default white background settings.

Virtual desktops

If you’re having trouble separating your work files from your personal files, try creating a virtual desktop. Press the Windows key + TAB to show all your open windows. At the bottom right corner of your screen, you’ll notice an option to add a new desktop. Simply click on it to create a new virtual desktop. Drag the windows you want to move to this new desktop, and immediately enjoy looking up your personal interests on one desktop while strictly doing business on the other.

To quickly switch between desktops, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Windows key + left/right arrow.

App snapping

App snapping is not exactly a new feature, but with Windows 10, you can now snap any app in place. For people who like to multitask, this feature is for you. Snap any app window by dragging it into any of the four corners of your screen. You can have a maximum of four separate windows simultaneously open in your monitor, for when you want to browse the internet while you’re filling out spreadsheets and doing other tasks.

Reorganize your Start Menu

To add a little more “you” into your Windows PC, you can customize how your apps are arranged on the Start Menu. For one, you can resize the Start Menu by simply dragging the top or right side of the menu to resize.

You can also resize the live tiles by right-clicking on them and selecting the Resize option. You can also rearrange application tiles by dragging them anywhere around the Start Menu. If you won’t be using a particular application, simply right click the tile and select Unpin from Start. On the other hand, you can pin applications to the Start Menu by right-clicking an app and choosing Pin to Start. For even faster access to apps, simply pin the programs to the taskbar.

Change color themes

Is the plain black Start Menu not doing it for you anymore? Just right-click on your desktop, choose Personalize > Color, and select any accent color that pleases you. Tick the checkboxes under “How accent color on the following surfaces” if you want this color applied to the start menu, taskbar, action center, and title bars.

Disable notifications

We don’t know where you stand on app notifications, but if you absolutely hate them and wish to never get them ever again, simply click Start > Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and switch off whatever app notifications you don’t want. Goodbye, annoying reminders.

Switch up and personalize your Windows 10 however you like by using some or all of these options, and hopefully you get the settings that are just right for you. If you would like to know about more ways to personalize your desktop, or if you need information on anything Windows 10-related, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

If your Windows 10 computer is starting to slow down after some time, there are ways to make it run faster without breaking the bank. The following tips will improve your computer’s performance without the need for more hardware.

Prevent programs from launching at startup
Windows loads several programs at startup so they’re quickly available. While Microsoft likely has good intentions for doing this, the auto-launch can also slow down the speed of your computer. To fix this issue, you’ll need to make some manual adjustments in the settings.

To see what programs launch during startup, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Next, click on the startup tab of the “Task Manager” window, where you can easily disable any programs you don’t want launching at startup. However, there will likely be a few programs you’re unsure about. For those, it’s best to play it safe and keep them enabled.

Get rid of useless applications
Having too many programs on your computer take up valuable memory and hard disk space. They slow your computer down and make it work harder than necessary. To quickly clean out your unused programs, follow these steps:

Type “Change or remove a program” into the taskbar search box (this will show you all the apps stored in your computer)
Select the program/s you no longer want, and click “Uninstall”.

Once you do this, you’ll then be guided through a number of steps to complete the uninstallation process.

Tidy up your disks
While most people like to clean out their houses come spring, why not do so with your computer sometime this month? Thankfully, Microsoft’s Disk Cleaner tool makes it easy to do so.

To find Disk Cleaner, right-click any drive in File Explorer and select “Properties” and “Disk Cleanup” under the “General” tab. Once open, it will automatically find files that may be taking up unnecessary space, such as temporary Internet and system memory dump files, and present them to you for your review. Once you’ve looked them over, you can easily erase them by simply clicking “OK”.

Turn off apps running in the background
Much to your surprise, there are likely some programs running in the background of your Windows 10 OS that you’re completely unaware of. Microsoft has enabled their native universal apps to do this so you can quickly access their features. However, it also will slow down your CPU, so you might want to disable them.

To find out what programs are running in the background, navigate to “Start Menu>Settings>Privacy>Background” apps. Then, switch off the programs you don’t want running at all times.

By following these four steps, you’ll see a noticeable difference in the speed of your PC. If you’d like to learn more about how to optimize your Windows system or need assistance with your other Microsoft products, feel free to give us a call.

Do you want your Windows 10 computer to run faster without spending on accessories? These tips will help give your machine a speed boost while keeping it safe from system and performance issues.

Prevent programs from launching at startup
Windows loads several programs at startup so they’re quickly available. While Microsoft likely has good intentions for doing this, the auto-launch can also slow down the speed of your computer. To fix this issue, you’ll need to make some manual adjustments in the settings.

To see what programs launch during startup, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Next, click on the startup tab of the “Task Manager” window, where you can easily disable any programs you don’t want launching at startup. However, there will likely be a few programs you’re unsure about. For those, it’s best to play it safe and keep them enabled.

Get rid of useless applications
Having too many programs on your computer take up valuable memory and hard disk space. They slow your computer down and make it work harder than necessary. To quickly clean out your unused programs, follow these steps:

Type “Change or remove a program” into the taskbar search box (this will show you all the apps stored in your computer)
Select the program/s you no longer want, and click “Uninstall”.

Once you do this, you’ll then be guided through a number of steps to complete the uninstallation process.

Tidy up your disks
While most people like to clean out their houses come spring, why not do so with your computer sometime this month? Thankfully, Microsoft’s Disk Cleaner tool makes it easy to do so.

To find Disk Cleaner, right-click any drive in File Explorer and select “Properties” and “Disk Cleanup” under the “General” tab. Once open, it will automatically find files that may be taking up unnecessary space, such as temporary Internet and system memory dump files, and present them to you for your review. Once you’ve looked them over, you can easily erase them by simply clicking “OK”.

Turn off apps running in the background
Much to your surprise, there are likely some programs running in the background of your Windows 10 OS that you’re completely unaware of. Microsoft has enabled their native universal apps to do this so you can quickly access their features. However, it also will slow down your CPU, so you might want to disable them.

To find out what programs are running in the background, navigate to “Start Menu>Settings>Privacy>Background” apps. Then, switch off the programs you don’t want running at all times.

By following these four steps, you’ll see a noticeable difference in the speed of your PC. If you’d like to learn more about how to optimize your Windows system or need assistance with your other Microsoft products, feel free to give us a call.

Windows 10 users normally complain that their computers tend to slow down after some time. They can add either a faster hard drive or more memory, but hardware is expensive. If you want to speed up the performance of your computer without spending cash, give the following tips a try.

Prevent programs from launching at startup
Windows loads several programs at startup so they’re quickly available. While Microsoft likely has good intentions for doing this, the auto-launch can also slow down the speed of your computer. To fix this issue, you’ll need to make some manual adjustments in the settings.

To see what programs launch during startup, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Next, click on the startup tab of the “Task Manager” window, where you can easily disable any programs you don’t want launching at startup. However, there will likely be a few programs you’re unsure about. For those, it’s best to play it safe and keep them enabled.

Get rid of useless applications
Having too many programs on your computer take up valuable memory and hard disk space. They slow your computer down and make it work harder than necessary. To quickly clean out your unused programs, follow these steps:

Type “Change or remove a program” into the taskbar search box (this will show you all the apps stored in your computer)
Select the program/s you no longer want, and click “Uninstall”.

Once you do this, you’ll then be guided through a number of steps to complete the uninstallation process.

Tidy up your disks
While most people like to clean out their houses come spring, why not do so with your computer sometime this month? Thankfully, Microsoft’s Disk Cleaner tool makes it easy to do so.

To find Disk Cleaner, right-click any drive in File Explorer and select “Properties” and “Disk Cleanup” under the “General” tab. Once open, it will automatically find files that may be taking up unnecessary space, such as temporary Internet and system memory dump files, and present them to you for your review. Once you’ve looked them over, you can easily erase them by simply clicking “OK”.

Turn off apps running in the background
Much to your surprise, there are likely some programs running in the background of your Windows 10 OS that you’re completely unaware of. Microsoft has enabled their native universal apps to do this so you can quickly access their features. However, it also will slow down your CPU, so you might want to disable them.

To find out what programs are running in the background, navigate to “Start Menu>Settings>Privacy>Background” apps. Then, switch off the programs you don’t want running at all times.

By following these four steps, you’ll see a noticeable difference in the speed of your PC. If you’d like to learn more about how to optimize your Windows system or need assistance with your other Microsoft products, feel free to give us a call.

Speculation has been circulating that Windows 10 gathers more info than it should. Whether or not you think privacy lines have been breached, here are some tips to protect your privacy in a matter of clicks.

Slip off the grid

Thanks to location tracking, nearby restaurants and future weather predictions are at your fingertips. While some might not mind this feature, there are others who wish to enjoy some privacy from their smartphones every once in a while.

To turn it off, launch the Settings app, tap Privacy, and disable the Location tab. If you wish to share your location with certain apps, scroll down and activate the ‘Choose apps that can use your location’ tab and choose your desired apps.

Say goodbye to ad tracking

Every time you surf the net, you leave a trail of breadcrumbs that lead directly to your online profile. This problem is easily solved by deactivating ad tracking. Windows 10, however, goes a tad further by using an advertising ID, which gathers information based on web browsing usage and whenever you use Windows 10 apps.

To take care of that, launch the Settings app, go to General, look for “Change privacy options,” then move the slider from on to off. If you want to make sure you have no virtual stalkers, head to choice.microsoft.com/en-us/opt-out and disable the “Personalized ads whenever I use my Microsoft account” tab.

Disable Wi-Fi Sense

This feature is designed to let you easily share Wi-Fi connections with specific users, but hackers can misuse it to log on to your network without your permission. To disable it, launch the Setting app, go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > and click on Wi-Fi Sense. From there, deactivate two bars: “Connect to suggested open hotspots” and “Connect to networks shared my contacts”.

Cortana, why so clingy?

Albeit helpful, the digital assistant Cortana requires access to your personal information. But you can stop her from collecting data by logging in to your Microsoft account and clearing all the information Cortana and other Microsoft services (ex. Bing maps) have gathered.

You can also clear the information in your interests section or head over to the “interest manager” tab to edit the interests you want Cortana to track.

More privacy options

All of these tips are easy to follow and will take only five to ten minutes to implement, but if you like to make very detailed adjustments to your system’s privacy setup, launch the Settings app and go to Privacy.

We hope you find these five privacy protection tips helpful. If you need more help protecting your information or securing your network, give us a call.

It takes seconds to infiltrate and obtain private information. Although it’s unlikely that Microsoft will cause your business financial ruin with their data collection, the fact is that Windows 10 gathers a large amount of private information from users. So here are some tips that will enhance your privacy when using the operating system.

Slip off the grid

Thanks to location tracking, nearby restaurants and future weather predictions are at your fingertips. While some might not mind this feature, there are others who wish to enjoy some privacy from their smartphones every once in a while.

To turn it off, launch the Settings app, tap Privacy, and disable the Location tab. If you wish to share your location with certain apps, scroll down and activate the ‘Choose apps that can use your location’ tab and choose your desired apps.

Say goodbye to ad tracking

Every time you surf the net, you leave a trail of breadcrumbs that lead directly to your online profile. This problem is easily solved by deactivating ad tracking. Windows 10, however, goes a tad further by using an advertising ID, which gathers information based on web browsing usage and whenever you use Windows 10 apps.

To take care of that, launch the Settings app, go to General, look for “Change privacy options,” then move the slider from on to off. If you want to make sure you have no virtual stalkers, head to choice.microsoft.com/en-us/opt-out and disable the “Personalized ads whenever I use my Microsoft account” tab.

Disable Wi-Fi Sense

This feature is designed to let you easily share Wi-Fi connections with specific users, but hackers can misuse it to log on to your network without your permission. To disable it, launch the Setting app, go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > and click on Wi-Fi Sense. From there, deactivate two bars: “Connect to suggested open hotspots” and “Connect to networks shared my contacts”.

Cortana, why so clingy?

Albeit helpful, the digital assistant Cortana requires access to your personal information. But you can stop her from collecting data by logging in to your Microsoft account and clearing all the information Cortana and other Microsoft services (ex. Bing maps) have gathered.

You can also clear the information in your interests section or head over to the “interest manager” tab to edit the interests you want Cortana to track.

More privacy options

All of these tips are easy to follow and will take only five to ten minutes to implement, but if you like to make very detailed adjustments to your system’s privacy setup, launch the Settings app and go to Privacy.

We hope you find these five privacy protection tips helpful. If you need more help protecting your information or securing your network, give us a call.

Many business users are becoming more and more concerned about data privacy. If you’re a Windows 10 user and you’re concerned about how the operating system collects your data, follow these tips to ensure your data’s protection.

Slip off the grid

Thanks to location tracking, nearby restaurants and future weather predictions are at your fingertips. While some might not mind this feature, there are others who wish to enjoy some privacy from their smartphones every once in a while.

To turn it off, launch the Settings app, tap Privacy, and disable the Location tab. If you wish to share your location with certain apps, scroll down and activate the ‘Choose apps that can use your location’ tab and choose your desired apps.

Say goodbye to ad tracking

Every time you surf the net, you leave a trail of breadcrumbs that lead directly to your online profile. This problem is easily solved by deactivating ad tracking. Windows 10, however, goes a tad further by using an advertising ID, which gathers information based on web browsing usage and whenever you use Windows 10 apps.

To take care of that, launch the Settings app, go to General, look for “Change privacy options,” then move the slider from on to off. If you want to make sure you have no virtual stalkers, head to choice.microsoft.com/en-us/opt-out and disable the “Personalized ads whenever I use my Microsoft account” tab.

Disable Wi-Fi Sense

This feature is designed to let you easily share Wi-Fi connections with specific users, but hackers can misuse it to log on to your network without your permission. To disable it, launch the Setting app, go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > and click on Wi-Fi Sense. From there, deactivate two bars: “Connect to suggested open hotspots” and “Connect to networks shared my contacts”.

Cortana, why so clingy?

Albeit helpful, the digital assistant Cortana requires access to your personal information. But you can stop her from collecting data by logging in to your Microsoft account and clearing all the information Cortana and other Microsoft services (ex. Bing maps) have gathered.

You can also clear the information in your interests section or head over to the “interest manager” tab to edit the interests you want Cortana to track.

More privacy options

All of these tips are easy to follow and will take only five to ten minutes to implement, but if you like to make very detailed adjustments to your system’s privacy setup, launch the Settings app and go to Privacy.

We hope you find these five privacy protection tips helpful. If you need more help protecting your information or securing your network, give us a call.

Purchasing a new computer can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with its components. You’ll want to make sure you make the right choice so you don’t end up buying one that becomes obsolete within just a few years. How much money should you spend? Which model is the best for you? What about the specifications? While there is no fixed formula when it comes to buying a new computer, these guidelines will help you make an informed decision.

Desktop or Laptop?

This depends on your working style and environment. The rule is quite simple: if you rarely work out of the office, get a desktop PC. If you need to work at home, on the go, or at client meetings, then go for a laptop. It’s worth noting that desktops are generally cheaper than laptops at similar specifications, have a longer usage life, and make for easier changing or upgrading of components. Laptops, on the other hand, are very portable due to their compact size, they consume less energy, and they offer a more flexible user experience.

Processor

If you want a computer that loads programs in a flash, completes tasks almost instantly, and runs smoothly at all times, then we recommend you invest in the strongest processors available. The performance of a processor is determined by its number of cores and speed, so the bigger the number, the better. These days, most users go for the latest octa-core processors, specifically if your tasks involve rendering high-definition images, animations, graphics, and analysis. For optimum results, get a processor with the higher number of cores.

RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) allows your computer to perform multiple tasks at once without a hitch. Just like processors, the amount of RAM your computer has will determine how fast it will run when you work on several programs simultaneously. Nowadays, standard computers come with at least of 4GB of RAM, with 8GB being ideal for most users — to navigate smoothly between tasks such as email browsing, Internet surfing, and working on word processing documents and spreadsheets.

Hard Drive

The bigger the hard drive, the more space you have to store files. If you plan on using your computer with no peripherals, you’ll want to choose a computer that offers the biggest hard drive. But remember that you can always purchase an external hard drive to transfer or store files if your current hard drive is running out of space. Another thing to consider in a hard drive is its spin speed. The average speed for a desktop hard drive is 7200rpm. The faster your hard drive disk spins, the quicker the transfer of data to and from it. And one of the fastest these days are solid-state hybrid drives (SSHDs), which combines solid-state drives and HDDs for seamless data access.

Operating Systems

Picking an operating system is a big decision when it comes to choosing a new computer. You’ll probably want to stick with an operating system you’re already familiar with, since it can take some time to adapt yourself to a new OS. Here are some of the popular options available on the market:

• Windows 10
• Mac OS X
• Linux
• Ubuntu

Most people will just go for either Windows or Mac OS, because the complexity of Linux and Ubuntu mean they are are not popular among everyday users.

Want more hardware tips and tricks? Get in touch with our technology experts today.

There are so many different types of computers out there, each with varying specifications and capabilities – how do you find the best one for your needs? Whether you’re purchasing a computer for yourself or for your family, here are a few things to keep in mind that will help you make the right decision.

Desktop or Laptop?

This depends on your working style and environment. The rule is quite simple: if you rarely work out of the office, get a desktop PC. If you need to work at home, on the go, or at client meetings, then go for a laptop. It’s worth noting that desktops are generally cheaper than laptops at similar specifications, have a longer usage life, and make for easier changing or upgrading of components. Laptops, on the other hand, are very portable due to their compact size, they consume less energy, and they offer a more flexible user experience.

Processor

If you want a computer that loads programs in a flash, completes tasks almost instantly, and runs smoothly at all times, then we recommend you invest in the strongest processors available. The performance of a processor is determined by its number of cores and speed, so the bigger the number, the better. These days, most users go for the latest octa-core processors, specifically if your tasks involve rendering high-definition images, animations, graphics, and analysis. For optimum results, get a processor with the higher number of cores.

RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) allows your computer to perform multiple tasks at once without a hitch. Just like processors, the amount of RAM your computer has will determine how fast it will run when you work on several programs simultaneously. Nowadays, standard computers come with at least of 4GB of RAM, with 8GB being ideal for most users — to navigate smoothly between tasks such as email browsing, Internet surfing, and working on word processing documents and spreadsheets.

Hard Drive

The bigger the hard drive, the more space you have to store files. If you plan on using your computer with no peripherals, you’ll want to choose a computer that offers the biggest hard drive. But remember that you can always purchase an external hard drive to transfer or store files if your current hard drive is running out of space. Another thing to consider in a hard drive is its spin speed. The average speed for a desktop hard drive is 7200rpm. The faster your hard drive disk spins, the quicker the transfer of data to and from it. And one of the fastest these days are solid-state hybrid drives (SSHDs), which combines solid-state drives and HDDs for seamless data access.

Operating Systems

Picking an operating system is a big decision when it comes to choosing a new computer. You’ll probably want to stick with an operating system you’re already familiar with, since it can take some time to adapt yourself to a new OS. Here are some of the popular options available on the market:

• Windows 10
• Mac OS X
• Linux
• Ubuntu

Most people will just go for either Windows or Mac OS, because the complexity of Linux and Ubuntu mean they are are not popular among everyday users.

Want more hardware tips and tricks? Get in touch with our technology experts today.