| While I do not consider myself a "computer | | | | screen. When virus protection is a must, I've |
| professional," I often find myself poking around | | | | found Nod32 to be a consistent option. It protects |
| my clients' computers. Since productivity is so | | | | your computer from viruses and has little impact |
| closely tied to technology, I'm often investigating | | | | on computer speed.o Too little RAM - For the |
| the little hiccups that are costing business | | | | unfamiliar, RAM is the virtual workspace for all |
| executive's big money. | | | | your programs. The number of programs you can |
| Sooner or later, I hear some form of this | | | | run effectively at the same time is limited by how |
| question: "Why has my computer been running | | | | much RAM you have. Too little RAM, and pretty |
| slow?" This is not an insignificant issue. If | | | | soon everything will begin slowing down. Anything |
| computer slowdowns rob you of just 2% of your | | | | under 1 GB is too little these days. With RAM |
| overall work time, and you work 40 hours per | | | | upgrades so cheap, I recommend you shoot for |
| week, then you are losing an entire work week | | | | having 2 GB of RAM installed. Many would call this |
| (41.5 hours) every year just twiddling your | | | | overkill, but I call this planning for the future.o The |
| thumbs waiting for your web browser to start up! | | | | computer is just plain old - For business purposes, |
| There are many potential problems that can | | | | plan on retiring your computer every 2-3 years. |
| make your computer have a case of the | | | | While it is possible to stretch out the life of any |
| doldrums. However, here are the top five culprits | | | | computer to up to 5 years, the cost of doing so |
| for you to examine:o Too many programs running | | | | (when lost time and productivity are considered) |
| in the background at startup - If you are running | | | | is far greater than simply budgeting for regular |
| Windows look on the bottom right-hand corner of | | | | replacements. Consider a computer leasing |
| the screen. If you see lots of little icons there, | | | | program or having an outsourced IT provider set |
| then you have a lot of programs running in the | | | | you up on a replacement and upgrade schedule.o |
| background. Personally, I only have two | | | | Confusing "internet speed" with "computer speed" |
| background programs running. (The easiest way | | | | - Occasionally I see people complaining their |
| to shut down programs from automatically | | | | computer is slow, but really it is the internet that |
| starting is using a little program called msconfig.)o | | | | is the problem. In some instances, your internet |
| Bloated virus scanner - Unfortunately, the big | | | | connection will slow down as more and more |
| name virus scanners such as Norton or MacAfee | | | | users are added to the local network. This is |
| also have a big reputation for slowing down your | | | | especially true when using a cable internet |
| computer. This is because nearly every file you | | | | connection, which "pools" the resources in a local |
| want to look at gets passed through the | | | | area. It may be time to upgrade your service or |
| anti-virus program before appearing on your | | | | switch to a new service provider. |