Tiffany has a question about setting up a computer for her children and asks: “Do you know of any software packages to automatically turn back my computer when my kids are done using it?” Tiffany, there are a couple packages which allow you to do just that. I’m going to talk about SteadyState, a free title and will outline how it works.
Microsoft produces SteadyState specifically for turning back computers used in a kiosk or café type of environment. SteadyState is free software which can be downloaded and installed on machines running Windows XP and Vista. Although their documentation does not list 7, I would assume it to run as it does on Vista.
SteadyState should be installed on a virus free installation on Windows – preferably on a clean installation. Once the system is just the way you want it and all your settings are in place, you can download and install the SteadyState package. Any changes to the computer after SteadyState is running will be reversed after the computer is powered on.
I suggest setting up a shared folder or small data server where your son can put his data. Again, when the computer turns off he will lose all data he’s added to the machine. A shared folder can easily be setup on another network computer. Directions to do so can be found on the internet.
One of the many benefits of this type of software is the ability to undo anything that ails the computer without having to bring it to a shop. You can also limit various components of the system which you don’t want him accessing; such as control panel options. Because SteadyState was designed with public access computers in mind, it will make an excellent solution for your kids’ computer.
Dan is following up an article I wrote a couple weeks ago and asks: “What do you think the future of computers is? Should I wait to purchase one?” Dan, computer technology will continue to evolve and get better. I believe the answer to your question is only one you can make. Whatever you purchase today will be outdated tomorrow.
Currently, quad core technology is the standard. Both AMD and Intel manufacture quad cores, with eight core processors in the works. Just a year or two ago, dual core processors were the rage and the best consumers could get without spending a ton of money.
Using memory as an example, I’m going to provide a brief timeline with regards to speed. Ten years ago the bus rate of memory was 100MHz. Five years ago the bus rate was 333MHz. Last year the standard was 800MHz. Today, the standard bus rate is 1666MHz. Bus rate is the speed at which memory can transfer data. I plotted a quick graph and it looks like memory speed is increasing exponentially.
I believe technology will never plateau for any great length of time. Manufacturers are always trying to outdo their competition and make their product look more appealing to consumers. It’s my belief that computers purchased ten years ago are still as functional as computers purchased today. New machines may be a little more efficient; however, the outcome is still the same.
The decision to purchase a computer now is only one you can make based on your necessity. You will never be ahead of the curve unless you decide to spend upwards of $5,000.00 or more. We recently priced the newest technology for a customer and watched his jaw hit the floor as I handed him an estimate for $12,000.00.
Tech-Tip of the week: If you are experiencing problems with you operating system you should keep a pen and paper log of the problem and when it happens. This will make diagnosing your issue much easier.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can e-mail him at Jeromy@LocalComputerWiz.com or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)