Some tech advice is so common that no one really stops to think about
where it came from. It's just repeated from tech to tech, tech to user
and user to user as gospel.But technology keeps evolving at a fast pace. So, is advice that's years or even decades old really still good today? Could it even hurt modern technology?
That's what we're going to look at. From "reboot" to "more is better" to "just hit it," I've got the real scoop on seven common tech tips. Some are still true, but there are a few false ones you might believe.
Let's start with one you've heard if you've ever dealt with tech support of any kind. It's so simple.
"Did you try rebooting it?"
If you've ever gone to tech support with a problem, this is probably the question they immediately asked. Rebooting seems like their solution to every problem.And in many cases, rebooting is the best solution. It gives your gadget a chance to refresh itself and shake loose any errors that might have piled up. Click here for a more in-depth look at why rebooting works.
Verdict: True
"Leave it unplugged for 30 seconds"
This is another tech support favorite. They'll tell you to turn off a computer or unplug a modem and leave it off for 15 to 30 seconds. Is that delay really necessary?Your modem - and most of your tech gear - contains capacitors. These hold a charge for at least 10 seconds after the power is off. Most people wait 30 seconds or more to make sure the capacitors discharge completely.
While there's a charge, your gadget's RAM is still active. That means whatever problem you're trying to fix isn't wiped out. If you plug the gadget in right away, the problem just comes back.
So, while it may seem weird or unnecessary, you should always wait after you unplug.
Verdict: True
"Don't shut down your computer at night"
Some people will tell you to never shut down your computer. They believe that the more you turn it on and off, the more likely you are to damage it.While this was true in the early PC days, it's not a problem now. Your computer won't get wear and tear from frequent shutdowns. In fact, you can actually save power and money on your electric bill.
However, that doesn't mean you have to shut down every night. So, how do you know whether or not you should shut down once you're done surfing? I'll give you my guidelines in this must-read tip.
If you want the benefits of shutting down without the hassle of rebooting, learn about your computer's Sleep and Hibernate modes.
It isn't just computers that you can turn off. Find out if you should shut down your smartphone and tablet regularly.
Verdict: False
"Just press the power button to turn off your computer"
Turning off modern computers is quite a process. You have to go to Start>>Shutdown. Then you have to wait for it to do who knows what before finally turning off.Some people prefer to just hit the power button (on modern computers you have to hold it for 5 to 10 seconds for a hard shutdown), or flip the Off switch on their power strip. It's much faster.
In the old days, hard shutdowns weren't really a problem. In fact, in the days of DOS and Windows 3.1, that's how computers were shut down normally.
You don't want to do that with modern operating systems, however. They do a lot of work in RAM, which requires constant power. When a computer shuts down, it takes time to make sure everything important is safely on the hard drive.
If you just kill the power, you might lose important data. You could even cause operating system errors down the road. I recommend shutting down the right way. Only kill the power if your computer is already frozen.
Verdict: False
"You must have a screensaver"
Who doesn't love screensavers? They can be a great expression of your hobbies and interests. They're even moving off of computers and onto other gadgets. In fact, I use a great photo screensaver on my HDTV.Originally, however, screensavers were meant to literally save your screen. Old-fashioned CRT monitors would burn in if left on the same image too long.
Today's LCD and LED monitors don't have that problem. Unless you have a dinosaur of a monitor, you don't actually need a screensaver. Now, they're just for fun.
Tired of the default screensavers? I know a site that will give you a cool screensaver you'll really love watching.
Verdict: False
"More is better"
The history of technology is a race for "more." Cars need more horsepower, more legroom and more trunk space. Planes need more speed, more carrying capacity and more altitude.Digital technology isn't any different. Back in the '90s and '00s, computers needed more processor speed, more RAM and more hard drive space.
For digital cameras, we needed more megapixels. Even now, we want smartphones with bigger screens and faster cellular.
"More" makes it easy to decide what to buy. And manufacturers and marketers love "more" because people will always buy the next bigger and better product.
But more has kind of had its day. In many areas, technology has outgrown the needs of the average person. Any inexpensive point-and-shoot camera takes fine pictures. Any budget computer is usable for most tasks. The list goes on.
The key these days isn't "more," it's balance. If a gadget has one great spec but skimps on everything else, it's not a good deal.
Decide your budget and what you need the gadget to do. Then buy based on that. You might be surprised how much money you can save.
Need some advice? I'll help you shop for the right specs for your budget with buying guides.
Verdict: False
"When it doesn't work, just hit it."
In the olden days, when computers and other electronics had lots of potentially loose connections, this absolutely worked.Today, it probably won't do much to fix a problem. But it certainly feels good to show that gadget who's the boss!
Verdict: If you feel like it
