Sanders Media

This is an oft asked question. In years past, you could easily make a case for buying a new computer every 2 years. This was especially true if you used it for audio, video or graphic design. Now, upgrading the individual components of your computer is a viable way to go. Even though technology improves so fast, computer components are better able to handle future upgrades. For instance, even though there are newer CPU chips with 4 or more cores, few applications are able to utilize more than 2 cores.

So, before you start looking at buying a new computer, check to see if a simple memory upgrade would speed up your machine. If you need a larger hard drive, it would be much cheaper  to add an extra internal hard drive. These types of upgrades will extend the life of your computer, and save you some money.

‘Tis the season to make wish lists. Instead of a list of presents I want, I am going to list technological innovations I would like to see very soon. 

1. Longer Battery Power: Most of us have run into this problem. We’ll have this great device, only to run out of power. With mobility the rule of the day, I would have hoped this would be solved by now. One interesting solution on the horizon is fuel cell batteries. You fill up the batteries, instead of changing them. It’s kind of like refilling your car. 
2. Truly Green Automobiles: Okay, I admit it. This looks obvious. Regardless, it seems we merely trade one carbon footprint for another. I just hope the currently declining fuel prices don’t lull us to sleep. We must generate our own energy.
3. Real Choice In Home Entertainment: For a long time, we could only choose between over-the-air and cable for our television. Of course, in the last decade, we’ve had the added choices of Directv or Dish Network. I would love a la carte programming. Since so many networks have come to being, it only makes sense that we would be able to pick and choose our own programming.
4. Faster Broadband: It seems to me content offerings are advancing faster than the technology that delivers them. Even though my entire network is wireless “N”, my XBOX 360 still slows down while streaming video. Without a wired connection, most of us are left with a subpar choice. 
5. Near-Limitless Storage: I used to think, “I could never fill up a 20gb hard drive.” Now, 120gb seems too small. Many of us have large media libraries. Since computers are becoming our entertainment hubs, it is tiresome to have to pick and choose what we add to our libraries.

These are just a few of the things I’d like to see come around in the next year. I’ll talk about more as the Christmas season progresses. Happy Holidays!