Christmas is next week and I know a lot of you to include your children will be requesting the latest and greatest technical gadgets.  Although, I am a huge fan of the Google tablets each tablet gives each user something specifically that they like.  A lot of people like Apple mostly for the name but also for the numerous apps that are available for those that love to watch videos that require Adobe Flash might prefer the Google (Android) tablets and there you have those that love to e-read the Amazon Kindle Fire might be their book fix.  But to each its own.



Here is a list of the best tablets according to CNET:


Best Tablet on the Market:

Apple iPad Air - $499 and up

Best Small Tablet:

iPad Mini - $399 - $445

Best Media Consumption Tablet:

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 - $379.00



Most Innovative Tablet Interface

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - $549 - $587

Best Productivity Tablet

Microsoft Surface Pro 2 - $899 - $1,028



Best Tablet Value

Barnes & Noble Nook HD - $149 - $189


If you would like to read reviews or product details you can visit any of these companies websites for more information.

Are you receiving an error message indicating that your hard drive is full or that you've reached your disk quota? Or you simply having trouble saving anything?

Your Local Disk C: stores all user profiles, documents, pictures, downloads and system files by default.

One way to add space is by Defragmentation.

Defragmentation is the process of reducing the amount of fragmentation or basically organizing the contents of your storage and it attempts to create space by contracting the files.

To look and see how much space you are using and/or have used:

1.  Click on start
2.  Click on Computer
3.  Under Hard Disk Drives you will either see Local Disk (C:) only or sometimes people have two which will take on the next letter of the alphabet will be Local Disk (D:)
4.  Your local Disk (C:) will display how much you are using compared to what you have free i.e. my computer has 142 GB free of 232 GB

For Windows 7 Users:

To begin Defragmentation:

1.  Click on start (circle with Microsoft logo) bottom left

you can type disk defragmenter and it will populate it for you.

2.  Under Disk:  Select the C:

3.  Then click Defragment Disk

Let it run its course and when its finish you can close out all windows and resume normal activity.

Computer running just a tadbit slow because you've run out of memory...well let me provide you with a simple option add more memory or what us techie call "RAM"

What is RAM?  Random Access Memory

It's a form of computer data storage in which it allows your data to be accessed at random.

Below is a youtube tutorial of How to Install/Remove Computer RAM

*But keep in mind if you are using Windows 7 32-bit you can add 6 GB of memory but Windows is only going to recognize 4GB.

There are many instances where an individual notices that something is wrong with their computer.  Sometimes, it could be the computer might just need a simple restart or a re-installement of its operating system i.e. Windows 7, Windows 8.  Now, if you don't have your software and license readily available this could cost you some out of pocket expenses but here are a few troubleshooting tips in case you think you might have a virus:

1.  Run computer in safe mode w/network by pressing/holding down F8 when you restart your computer

**Safe mode - it is intended to fix most if not all programs with the operating system**

2.  Once F8 and safe mode w/networking has been pressed it will boot up in safe mode.  You will be able to tell because the computer screen looks bigger to include the text

3. Click Windows icon (bottom left circle with windows logo)
 
4.  Click Control Panel

5. Click Programs and Features

What you want to do here is look for any software that looks unfamiliar also delete any toolbars (i.e. google toolbar, yahoo toolbar, aol toolbar) these are often pre-selected when you download various software.

You don't want to delete programs that are needed for the system to include any Microsoft Visual C++, Microsoft .NET, Intel programs, whatever model computer you have don't delete anything with that name (Dell, HP, Windows)

6.  Once all have been deleted, Run a virus scan

7. Double click on your anti-virus (McAfee, MS endpoint, AVG) and initiate a quick scan

8.  Once scan has been completed, if your anti-virus has detected any suspicious malware DELETE ALL

9.  Once virus scan is complete all malware has been removed or not found, Restart your computer.

If following these tips does not help, there is a possibility that the issue might need to be further investigated.  So consult your computer manufacturer or local IT personnel.