Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Clean your expensive LCD, TFT, and HDTV screen properly


I use my notebook computer a lot and drag it from place to place, including my night classes. I wipe the screen off occasionally, but lately I notice that it has some scratches and marks that don't seem to come off. -GS

In the old days (2-3 years ago) you could clean your glass CRT monitor with a piece of dry, lint-free cotton cloth. But the LCD screens on newer desktop computers and notebooks have a much more sensitive display surface that is likely to get scratches from dust particles or fingerprints if you use a cloth alone to clean them.
Of course, you could use expensive LCD monitor cleaner solutions or monitor wipes that are available. In fact, Ask Yahoo and Answerbag offer some other options. But, if you have some vinegar on hand, then you already have much of what you need to clean your monitor. Here's how:


  1. Turn your monitor off so you can easily see the dirty areas of your screen.

  2. Dilute the vinegar with distilled water [1:1] and spray or drip the liquid onto a microfiber (or cotton) cloth, not onto the LCD screen. (Tap water can be used, but it might leave white marks on the screen.)

  3. Using light pressure, wipe the screen in one direction from top to bottom.

Be sure that the LCD screen on a notebook is dry before closing it. This method should apply to HDTVs, projection TVs and Plasma TVs you might have at home, too.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

USB Flash drives that keep your data private: Sandisk Cruzer Biometric, Corsair's Flash Padlock

Removable USB Flash drives for your computer are nothing new. With increasing storage capacity and falling prices, it's easy to shuttle around tons of important photos, presentations, spreadsheets and documents. The trouble is that the more you carry, the more you risk if you misplace a drive or leave it plugged into a public computer somewhere. Whether you transport sensitive data, figures or passwords, or want to add a strong layer of security in the event of loss, here are two recommended products.

Sandisk Cruzer Biometric USB Drive - At about $30 street, this is a 1 Gb capacity removable drive that uses built-in fingerprint identification technology to restrict access to the designated user of the unit. PROS: robust protection at a low cost. CONS: Two-piece design can be inconvenient to carry and use. Can't be shared among a team if that's your interest.

Corsair's Flash Padlock USB Flash Drive - At about $30 street for the 1 Gb capacity/$40 for the 2 Gb capacity, this newer approach allows the user to program in a PIN, much like an ATM machine. PROS: Robust protection at a low cost. Larger capacity options. Lock/unlock indicator lights. Auto locks when unplugged. CONS: None.

Tip: If you plan to use this hardware with Windows Vista, visit the manufacturer's site for compatibility information.
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