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Human beings are scaling new heights day by day. Markets are becoming more and more complex and competitive. Companies launch new products, market them, but even then are not sure if their product will match the taste, need and pocket of the consumer. This is because numerous brands are associated with a single commodity. Some companies try to win the consumer’s heart via a low price while a few others offer an impeccable quality at significantly good amount. But at the end of the day what matters to the consumer is how the products minimizes the labor, enhances the work and its durability. This article will shed light on some of the eminent and world’s top quality products called ‘Ergo Products’. There are a wide variety of ergo products. They range from keyboards, mice, armchairs to keyboard stickers, footrests, foot switches etc. The ergo products one amongst the largely used ones nowadays . The reason being their consumer friendly nature and their troubleshooting strategy.

1. The first and foremost widely used ergo product besides many others is the ergo keyboard. These keyboards come in different shapes, sizes and colors. For instance there are Ergo Flex Keyboards, Comfort Track 35 PM, Evolution Desktop, Pace Keyboard and so forth. These keyboards provide different advantages and come in varying but affordable price range.

The main and basic advantage of the ergo keyboards is that they are designed in such a fashion that they reduce the threat of various problems that may afflict those who work on online for hours together. They are made keeping in mind the excess strain on user’s arms and hands while working. Quite often the extra exertion results in chronic disorders such as tennis elbow, tendinits and the like. These disorders are mainly read under the name of CTDs i.e. cumulative trauma disorders. It is not just the posture of the hands that is distorted but also the entire body that gets uncomfortable due to it.

So, the ergo keyboards are mainly concerned with safeguarding you against the musculoskeletal (MSD) ailments. The large list of ergo users have revealed that how these keyboards have enhanced their work proficiency and comfort. Their feather touch keys and other comforts make the work easy and stress free for the users.

2. Ergo products focus on the all round health of its users. This is made evident by the uniquely designed and convenient ergonomic chairs. Two most popular ergo chairs are the Salli Saddle Chair Classic and the Salli Saddle Chair Twin. Both these are at the same manageable price of $ 345. Some of the few of the many advantages of the ergonomic chairs are the –

* The height of these chairs can be adjusted according to that of the person seated on them. This enables the person to have the ground support even with a small height.

* The depth of seat can also be altered to allow shorter as well as taller people take the backrest support.

* The backrest height can also be adjusted as suitable to the user.

* There are facilities if accommodating the lumbar support to prevent the frequently occurring problem of flattening of lumbar spine.

* What more, even the height and width of the padded armrests can be modified to met the comfort of one’s shoulders and upper arms.

3. Last but not the least are the super beneficial ergonomic mice. There are again different kinds of these. The Graphical Tablet, Quill Mouse, Zero
Tension mouse and the Evoluent Vertical Mouse to name a few. The mice have the merit of giving total relax and minimum exertion to the user’s palm, fingers and forearms. With these ergonomic mice you can bid goodbye to the aching palms and tired fingers. A simple touch or clicking the button will do maximum of your work and will save you from the trouble of rotating the mice here and pressurizing your forearm.

This is not all for the ergonomic products. There are many others that have not been mentioned and perhaps cannot be enumerated in a single go. A lot of information is available online regarding them.
So waiting for what…go “ergo”..!

When you work in an office, it’s important to lock your workstation every time you step away from your computer. A pain, but a security measure. You wouldn’t want someone sending a nasty-gram in your email address, would you? Here’s a faster way to lock a workstation without going through the CTRL+ALT+DEL route.

On the desktop (Window+M), right-click an empty area and select New > Shortcut.

Copy and paste the following into the location box:

rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

Name the shortcut “Lock workstation” or whatever you prefer and click Finish. Click on it and the PC stands guard until you return and enter the correct password.

FYI: rundll32.exe is already in the path.

A reader wrote in, “Firstly, I’m not totally sure how creating an icon is any easier than the ALT+CTRL+DEL option. Pressing those keys then hitting space I would say is more often then not going to be quicker than finding your desktop and clicking on an icon. However, if you are looking for a quicker way to lock your computer. Perhaps you should try Windows + L.”

I responded saying the ALT+CTRL+DEL option requires selecting Lock Workstation. Since we have to lock our workstation so often, I find clicking an icon faster. However, the Windows+L will work for keyboard fans. However, I checked Windows+L and it didn’t work on my work computer.

Getting a new PC is exciting and a pain. It’s exciting because you get a faster processor, more storage and all the latest stuff even though it’s outdated as soon as it hits your desk. The pain comes with re-installing all of your programs, re-customizing your preferences for programs, applications, and Windows, and transferring data to the new PC.

It can be simplified by using a bootable external drive or something similar and letting it load everything on the new PC. However, if you are like me, you probably had a few problems here and there that couldn’t be found and fixed. So it’s better to start with a clean slate.

I am getting a new PC at the office and my hard drive crashed on my laptop. There’s nothing I can do about the laptop, but I kept it simple since it’s a supporting computer rather than the main PC. I often used a remote application to connect to my desktop from the laptop. Therefore, the laptop had few loaded programs and data. I did try to make a backup of my user profile before the crash, but it was having too many problems and the backup didn’t happen.

As for the work PC, here are the steps I took to prepare for moving to a new computer with the limited resources I had.

• Ensured all my work was on the network server. I kept backups of important files on the hard drive as a safety measure after my past experience.
• Deleted everything that I put on the hard drive.
• Made backups of data files such as the password manager’s file.
• Took a screen shot of my Windows desktop, so I can rearrange things on the new PC to closely match the way I had things on the old PC.
• Used Belarc Advisor to create a print out of what’s loaded on the machine.
• Changed my password to a temporary one that’s nothing like my original so support could get in when I wasn’t at my desk.
• Copied the properties of specially-made shortcuts like the one I use to lock the computer with one click.
• If you use Outlook, make notes of your preferences and options. Mine didn’t get transferred.
• If you use the Office toolbar (typically on the side or top of the screen), add the programs and folders back in based on the screen shot you took earlier. I could not remember how to change the icons in the toolbar, so here’s how: right-click on the icon you wish to change, select Properties, and Change Icon.
• Print the list of fonts loaded on your computer if you’ve added additional fonts.

So you bought a new computer but you don’t have serial ports?

It’s surprisingly common these days - you find an awesome machine that does everything you want it to do, but then you get home and find out that amongst the lightning-fast processor and terabyte hard drive, you’re missing something - a serial port.

Most laptop manufacturers have killed RS-232

In an effort to enforce newer standards, such as USB and FireWire, many laptop manufacturers have let serial ports fall by the wayside. They don’t take into account the millions of people and businesses that still require serial ports for one application or another.

Add a true serial port with a USB adapter

You can use a USB to Serial Adapter to easily and quickly add a serial port to your laptop. The nice thing about the adapter is that you can use multiple adapters on one machine (using a hub or an add-on card) and dynamically set the COM assignment.

Various serial devices requiring some type of serial port

Many PDA’s, GPS units, routers, printers, fax machines, etc. still require serial ports. A lot of these devices are moving to newer standards, most notably USB, but many still operate on legacy technologies (serial or parallel) because of the difficulty in rewriting drivers for the newer standards.

There is something good about esr meter because besides electrolytic capacitor it can be use to measure other type of capacitors such as the non polarity capacitor. From esr meter specification, it is usually mentioned only checking the electrolytic type. When i began to experiment with the Dick Smith ESR Meter i found that it have the capabilities to check other type of capacitors as well.

However it is limited to checking capacitor in the higher value only such as .1uf(104), .22uf(224), 1uf(105) and etc. Lower capacitance value don’t get any reading from the esr meter due to it can only read until 99 ohms. Perhaps other esr meter such as the B & K esr meter have the range to check it.

You will even be surprised to see that the dick smith esr meter can check the non-polarity capacitor in-circuit (without removing the cap).

True case example-Monitor came in with display jumping horizontally. You can see a bunch of horizontal black lines across the top display (picture). From experienced it will tell you that vertical section have problem. I begin to troubleshoot the vertical section. Supply voltage checked ok, vertical driver and oscillator IC replaced, all components connected or nearby vertical driver and oscillator ic have been checked ok. By the way I used digital capacitance meter to check the non-polarity cap and esr meter to check the electrolytic cap. The problem is still there and can’t be solve!

When i use Dick Smith ESR Meter to compare the esr value of a non-polarity capacitor located near the vertical driver ic, i noticed that there is a big different in the esr value. The good esr value for a .22uf non-polarity cap is between 6.5 to 7 ohm but the spoilt one have a value of 14 ohm! Almost double the value, that’s why the display jump. The good thing is i discovered the culprit while the capacitor still in the circuit which mean this esr meter can check non-polarity cap in-circuit. However my recommendation for you is to solder out one leg and check unless you already have the experienced in checking components on board. Replacing the cap solved the display problem.

Conclusion-In order to accurately test a non-polarity capacitor, besides checking the capacitance value and using analog meter to check the charge and discharge to see if it has develop any short circuit when under load, you are also required to check the esr value as well.

Before you upgrade your PC hardware it’s best to search all options and ask for advice. Only after this you can go and buy a new component. It’s also useful to check if you really need an upgrade.

Do not upgrade your very old PC because it would cost a lot of money. It’s cheaper to buy a new computer in such cases because they are easier to upgrade later.

Upgrading the hard drive:

The majority of people do not really need to upgrade their hard disk, unless they use it for playing a lot of music, movies, and games. A 20 GB hard drive is sufficient to keep new office and internet applications, and all your files and data.

A medium sized hard drive would be around 40 GB and the maximum would be around 60 – 80 GB.

Before upgrading your hard disk it’s best to do a complete disk checkup including disk scan, defragmentation, etc. If you happen to be an average user and need more storage you can add an additional drive to the existing one. Before an upgrade, be sure to back up your files.

Upgrading the RAM:

RAM or Random Access Memory is the short-term memory of the PC. It keeps data that is being worked on now and may or may not be transferred to the hard drive that represents the long-term memory of the computer.

Current processors can perform an enormous number of operations per second. The hard drive, on the other hand, is significantly slower to handle so much information. This is where a high-speed RAM memory comes in. RAM needs a power supply to keep data. Once the power is turned off the data is lost.

Almost all PCs have 64 MB RAM and often 128 MB. If you want to run newer applications on your PC then you must upgrade to 128/256 MB RAM.

A lot of people who upgrade from 98 to Win 2000 discover that their computers lock up very often. This is because they don’t have enough RAM.

CPU upgrade:

If you choose this upgrade, you will have faster execution of instructions but it leaves the RAM and hard drive capacity unchanged.

This sis the most cost effective upgrade and can increase the efficiency of your computer
considerably. Seek a professional help before you take a decision.

Motherboard:

Upgrading motherboard is not such a good proposition unless you replace the CPU and the RAM as well to achieve greater performance levels. You upgrade the motherboard either because the current one doesn’t support a faster CPU or the CPU requires a different socket. It could be very expensive. Think about buying a new PC.

Ports:

Ports are sockets at the back of your computer where you plug in external devices. Older PCs work on “parallel” ports. If you need to work a lot on peripherals such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, CD burners, and scanners then you need to upgrade to USB and Firewire ports if you are not using them already.

Both tend to be cheaper than the “parallel” and SCSI devices they replace. Always make sure that there are no compatibility problems with other devices in your PC when you plan to upgrade any hardware on your machine.

You are working and trying to print out important documents when you discover that you are out of ink. This would have been a big drawback in the past. Most printers years ago used daisy wheels or ribbons to print documents. The evolution of printer cartridges should be looked at.

1984 saw the introduction of inkjet printers and printer cartridges. Now changing ink cartridges and printing documents was much easier. Finally, after years of changing ribbons and adding toner ink to reservoirs within the computer. The dot matrix printing method used ribbons. The industry found new ways to make printing easier and convenient.

Drop on demand is when the ink is squirted onto the paper through tiny nozzles. The quantity of ink dropped on the page is determined by the software driver as is which nozzle fires and when. By the year 1990 inkjet printer cartridges were generally accepted. Inkjet cartridges can print on almost anything including fabric, film, and almost any size piece of paper.

A popular choice for printing is the inkjet printer and they are used in a multiplicity of worldwide settings. All brands of printers use a particular type of ink cartridges. An identification number is given to each cartridge and the models it can be used in, is generally listed on the package. There is such a wide variety of cartridges, you will need to check your manual to see which is the right cartridge for you.

You can save money by getting inkjet refill kits and refill the cartridges yourself. These kits are not liked by everyone since the quality of printing isn’t as good and sometimes the cartridges when reinstalled fail to work right. Some retailers and manufacturers have reconditioned and refilled cartridges available. Compatible cartridges are made according to the exact specifications of the original manufacturer.

A compatible cartridge cannot be found for every inkjet cartridge. When choosing a printer find out what kind of cartridge it will use. The type of cartridge will be determined by the type and quantity of printing you will need to be doing. Check with retailers, on the Internet, and manufacturers about the printer you are looking at. The Internet offers discounted cartridges.

Use your search engine to find inkjet cartridges or printer cartridges. Many websites offer amazing discounts. To find the best deal for you, some research will be need to be done. When purchasing them pay attention to the top of the cartridge. A list of the models the cartridge can be used in, is on the side of the box. The timeline below has some really interesting facts. This is a terrific list of answers for a trivia game. There was a lot of hard work that went into creating the ink cartridge as we know it.

It is easy to see why cartridges are so expensive. An old wine press was used by Gutenberg in 1452 along with moveable type and oil based ink to build the first printing press. Martin Luther made extensive use of the printing press as he began the Protestant Reformation. The typewriter was created in 1714.

Although schematics done by Mills were discovered, there is no proof that any typewriters have were actually made. In 1874 Christopher Sholes, Samuel Soule, and Carlos Glidden, made the “qwerty” so named for the first five keys on the top row of the keyboard. A typewriter was developed in 1894 by Franz Wagner that is similar to the ones that are made today.

The design he created let typissts watch as they were typing. Paper, in the past, would go through a roller while you typed and you couldn’t see what you had typed until you were done. The Underwood made by John Underwood in 1897 was the prototype typewriter.

Charles Carlson developed the first dry writing method developed in the United States called electrography in 1939. The Haloid Company for the first time in 1949 developed electrography for commercial use. When the Xerox 914 came out in 1949 other businesses were forced to update their communication systems. Xerox first introduced dry (laser)printing in 1969 by Gary Starkweather.

Xerox released the world’s first business laser printer the Xerox 9700 in 1978. 120 ppm (pages per minute) was the rate of speed it could copy documents. In 1979 the IBM 3800 was capable of printing out 20,000 lines per minute. Use of toner cartridges became passe in the 1980’s. The first home-based desktop laser printer was released in 1984 by Hewlett-Packard.

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The process of adding USB 2.0 ports took no time and the backup system is mighty fast. If you add USB 2.0 ports with a PCI port card, then you’ll still have your USB 1.1 ports, so whatever is plugged into those can stay.

Rob Foster from the UK sent me a port PCI USB card since he had a few extras. Thanks again, Rob. When installing hardware or devices, most situations require loading the software FIRST before doing anything else. This one didn’t - so be sure to check this out before attempting to put the card in. Before starting the process, be sure you have an open PCI slot, a standard slot that has one big connector with a small one behind it.

Turn off the computer, if it is not already. Take off the CPU case. How this is done depends on the CPU. If you lost or misplaced the manual, I’m sure your computer manufacturer has info online. Google it, if needed. Slide the PCI card into the open PCI slot.

At this point, you can cover up the CPU, but some people leave it off until turning on the computer and checking all is OK. When turning on this little feller, it found the new card right away and worked. I didn’t even have to run the software. The card came with four USB ports, one of which holds the backup system. It took under two hours to back up the computer (get size), faster and easier than the tape back up.

Well, it only took a year or so to get around to adding the USB 2.0 ports as that’s about how long the back up system has been sitting here taunting me.