PC Tools is free spyware detector, AV and Firewall.... you can get some of it free via Google Pack
PC Tools is free spyware detector, AV and Firewall.... you can get some of it free via Google Pack
Keith - Administrator
The problem with all of these security and spyware programmes is the amount they slow down your pc. I've got virus checkers, bot detectors, anti spyware, just about everything going installed on my machine and when you take into account the performance needed to run all of these, I dont think PC's are actually any quicker now than they were 10 yrs ago when all I had was a basic version of McAfee or Norton
Someone recommended a key stroke blocking prog the other day, I installed it, but it kept causing IE to crash if I had 2 webpages open. I've uninstalled it now and everything is fine again
I used Norton for years and never had any problems, but the bean counters at work decided to save money and didn't renew the licences, so we have to use a variety of free or cheaper programmes now, none of them are as good as Norton
I still run Norton and nothing else on my own PC's
The trouble is Norton will get slagged off as it was always a big hogger of resources and nigh impossible to uninstall, people keep saying that now and it simply isn't true any more.
I used to love nod 32 but I now prefer Norton and have basically been bench testing it on my own pc for over a year and I have found it fantastic.
Please remember I am a newsgroup user so exposed to all sorts of nasties but nothing has gotten through Norton at all:xxgrinning--00xx3
Even my previous favourite nod 32 is not as good as the new Norton.
I've been using this PC since 2003.
I've only put a bigger graphics card in it and added an extra hard drive.
I use Mozilla Firefox.
The old girl still runs fine.
Last november my Acer 5520 decided to die, so i sent it away to be repaired, £170, 2 new motherboards and 4 months later I have it back and it is running sweet, well...... apart from the dvd drive not being recognised anymore.
But because i could not be without a connection, my parents decided to buy me a new laptop fro birthday/christmas present. I added to what they gave me and got a new Toshiba i5 Core Satelite L650 It is running window7 and i am really pleased.
I have formatted my old Acer, so will let the little lady have it, even though she has one already, it is so slow it is painful.
I think the Sony's are great too, I did look at them but the £££ was a bit hot for me. I am happy you are pleased with it Alan, nice to have a big screen to look at fish and bikes right ??
If you want your dreams to come true ...... first you have to wake up
Joe snap , we have a T43 bought second hand on ebay with a really gorgeous 1400x1050 screen, mint condition for 160 quid, my main laptop is a T61 that I got for for 250 quid, great laptop!
I have an issue with the T43 though the old Fujitsu IDE disk I fitted has been having trouble spinning up sometimes which is a real pity, it failed on me a day before I was due to come home, I will need to take one of my other old 2.5" IDE drives over next time I go to the Phils and rebuild the OS.
You can get some decent systems on Ebay, although these days you should be looking for a dual core for less than £200, with at least 160GB HD and 2GB memory.
Keith - Administrator
Yep that's true, I did an awful lot of research before buying though.
My T61 is dual core came with 2GB RAM and 250GB drive, I upgraded the RAM and disks to a total of 8GB RAM (64 bit OS) and 1TB of storage for less than an extra 130 quid, great machine now
The thing about the Lenovo's is the fantastic keyboard, best in the business in my opinion.
Overall condition of mine was superb, really hope it last me a good while.
About 600GBP, including "free" Norton security for a year, from Comet. Not being an expert, I preferred to see and try the laptop for myself, rather than order on the internet.
Here's another advantage to readers of my posts - I don't need to increase the font size now I'm not using the netbook
As for looking at fish and bikes, yes, that's better on the 15.5" screen, so also is beautiful scenery from the Philippines, all of which are unaffordable for the time being .
I think you made the right choice to get a larger device. If your on the regularly a netbook will probably cook itself. They are really made litterally to switch on here and there to quickly browse the web and check your emails not all day jobbies.
As I speak the Dell I have on for the last two three hours is warm to touch even with a clear air ways for all the fans.
HDD and Laptop batteries are often excluded from warrnties on PC's due to the fact they faill far more than other devices.
I have known of both HDD's and Laptop battries faill often but rarely other parts just like that..
More expensive Laptops possibly like the ones you have will have special motion sensors to detect if a laptop has been dropped and will park up the HDD to minimise damage. In a netbook that is unlikely due to the overall cost and size..
I think you made the right choice to test the device in person
Something you use so often like say a laptop or a mobile you should make sure your comfortable using
As for Anti virus make sure what ever you use is set up correctly and updated as often as possible Sure some do this or that better than others etc. But you should be ok unless you live like Les mentions on some of the more minefield like sites ie newsgroups, torrents or...
One of the best ways to check your AV is doing ok is to now and then run other AV's via there online services..
http://www.eset.co.uk/ThreatCenter/OnlineScanner/
http://www.kaspersky.co.uk/virusscanner
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/
in fact i got bored ofgoogling so just google the ones below for whatever is your taste.
All online scanners which are free and can re assure you your own AV is doing what its doing
Free Symantec Norton Online Antivirus Scanner
BitDefender Antivirus Scan Online
eTrust Antivirus
PC-Cillin Antivirus
F-Secure Online Antivirus Scan
McAfee Antivirus
Panda ActiveScan
Kaspersky Free Online Antivirus Scan
Nod32 Antivirus
Computer Associate Virus Scanner
Free Windows Live OneCare Scan
Panda AntiVirus
Oh lord why did you make so many clothes and shoe shops
iv had my sony vio about 3 maybe 4 yrs now, solid n heavy, i dropped it still working, but minus 1 damaged usb slot , only got the 1 that works now, as it only had 2 slots,came with vista ,(vista was a big let down used a lot of resorce slowed things down) i upgraded ram and installed 7 very nice no complaints,, security software i dont pay, for years and i highly recomend, avast antivirus, pc tools firewall,
note that all antivirus and firewalls do let some monsters past, such as trojens worms ect , they not perfect, i use emisoft anti malware has to be updated and start manualy , but its a good extra it has been good to me , taken out the odd worm that nothing else seemed to be able to, and any trojens , i recomend this highly a free version, another usful tool is windows live one care online safty scanner, free to use, again very good, always make sure java and other such programs are up to date so they do not become a securtity risk,windows scan will check them for you
The Lenovo and IBM machines were the first laptops I ever had that had the hard disk protection system regards bumps knocks and drops, love it works really well.
I thought a lot of these Netbooks started out with solid state drives (SSD)? I know they are using regular HDD's these days and the larger SSD's are really expensive, would be one solution though!
Many thanks to everyone for reading and posting here. Today my Dell notebook was returned by courier, 12 days after it was collected. I was called in advance, it was delivered at 10 am, and Dell have just called to confirm all is well.
They replaced the hard drive, and also the keyboard, free of charge with no explanation as to why both needed replacement, or attempt to suggest it was my fault. A complete cosmetic and functionality inspection was performed (at least the boxes were ticked!).
From now on the netbook will only be used as "back up" to my Sony Vaio. I consider myself lucky the netbook was still within warranty (2 years ending this coming April).
Just for interest, Comet put me under enormous pressure to take out their own cover for the Vaio, 2 years would have cost 150 GBP. I declined, and my friends who know more than me (not difficult) tell me that was the correct decision.
If only replacing defective human body parts were so easy, but how long is our warranty supposed to last ?
I got a 3 year warranty on my Dell for the price of 1 year
Keith - Administrator
extra warrentys are always expensive , over priced, the sales reps i believe earn good commision on a warrenty sale,more mark up for that than the computer,
i think any item bought under£1000, is not worth paying the high price of extended warrenty, i say no
You don't have to buy a warranty at point of sale, you can buy a 3rd party one cheaper later.
Keith - Administrator
Oh lord why did you make so many clothes and shoe shops
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