ffective SEO in a Post-Panda Market: The Rules Have Changed

Like any business, Google’s objective is to provide their users with the ideal experience - that means delivering the information the user is searching for without forcing them to wade through page after page of fluff and garbage. If your ranking has taken a post-Panda nosedive, don’t throw in the towel just yet. Your site can be salvaged, but you’ll have to change your M.O. - no more keyword stuffing, article spinning, or other lazy techniques if you want to show up early in search results.

The Not-So-Secret

Of course, search engines are driven by algorithms. Most of old SEO techniques were based on tricking said algorithm, but Google’s Panda update made that very hard to do. The changes to the algorithm itself are very secret, but here’s one change that’s not - search engine results are now being evaluated by real, live people. Across the U.S., there are scores of evaluators who actually lay eyes on a page and rate how well it answers the search query according to a detailed rubric. Old-fashioned SEO, especially when clumsily done, will almost always get flagged as spam because it doesn’t offer value to the reader.

Out: Keyword Stuffing
In: Organic flow of words

Stop thinking in terms of a single keyword - start thinking of related terms. For example, instead of packing your article with the most possible references to "lose weight fast", use other related phrases like "weight loss", "diet", "exercise" and "fat loss". If your content is written organically, these phrases will pop up naturally. A keyword should never disrupt the flow of a sentence or produce an awkward-sounding phrase.

Out: Article Spinning
In: High-quality, journalistic content

Sure, it’s much quicker to send an article through a spinner, but that almost guarantees your page won’t ever see the light of day. Instead, you need well-written, informative content with listed quality references. The perfect length seems to be about 500 words or so, and pictures, as always, help a lot. Use only primary references to appear more authoritative.

Out: Endless Affiliates
In: Helpful links only

If another site provides information you think your readers could use, link to that page. Otherwise, stop with the affiliates. Google’s new algorithm catches sites with huge affiliate lists and filters them down toward the bottom of the stack. Use social media to advertise your site and gain exposure instead of relying on others’ cast-offs.

Out: General Information Sites
In: Authoritative sites

Other than personal blogs, every website must have a niche. No one site can claim to be an authority on interior design, finance, appliance repair and celebrity hi-jinks. Pick a topic and stick with it, and become the go-to site for anyone needing information on that topic. Choose your topic based on high-ranking trends instead of personal interest if you must, but use authoritative references for every fact you write.

Out: Landing Pages
In: Meaty, informative content

When the user clicks onto your page, he wants to see what he’s looking for immediately. Don’t take him to a list of links, or the only thing he’ll click is the "back" button. Google knows this, and so do those page evaluators we talked about. Don’t get thrown away as spam.

Basically, SEO in the post-Panda world means you have to step up your game. No more cheating, and no more gaming the system. Your stuff has to be honestly good if you want search engine referrals. End of story. If it sounds like too much work to you (and it’s a lot of work), count on running a ghost site because this ship has sailed. By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

How Does Intel Turbo Boost Work?

When a processor is tweaked without add-on hardware to run faster than its base configuration, the result is that instead of processing x number of instructions per second (for which the original design was built), it is now capable of handling x+n instructions per second. In simple terms, it's going to process much more and therefore, faster than what it was built for. Intel's trademarked Turbo Boost Technology enables higher performance by making available an increased processor core frequency, provided some dependency conditions are met. Unlike manual overclocking by manipulating clock speeds on the BIOS, dynamic overclocking is automatic and is based upon constantly evaluating if the dependencies are met, commonly referred to as dynamically assessing headroom. Let us explore these dependencies in detail and find out how the Intel Turbo Boost Technology works.

Working of Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Processor Dependencies
Unlike overclocking which causes overheating of hardware making it prone to damage, Intel Turbo Boost is a technology built into the design of the processor versions that support it. The biggest benefit of this design is faster performance without exceeding the electrical and thermal specifications of the core, thus conserving energy when it is not needed. However, the increased core frequency is constrained by the following factors.

• Estimated processor power and current consumption
• Estimated processor temperature
• Number of active processor cores (they dictate the maximum frequency)

If the current application workload isn't keeping all cores fully busy and pushing right up against the chip's Thermal Design Power (TDP is the maximum amount of power the chip can withstand with help from the cooling systems) limit, Turbo Boost can increase the clock speed of each core individually to derive more performance out of the chip. Under the above constraints of TDP, the processor can increase its clock speed in steps of 133.33 MHz. All active cores in the processor will maintain the same frequency. Whatever power the other two or three cores would have consumed can be redirected over to the active cores, allowing them to run at higher speeds. The highest performance state when requested by the Operating System, activates the Intel Turbo Boost Technology. The operating configuration, platform design and workload parameters dictate how long the Intel Turbo Boost state will be maintained. Under ideal conditions, the technology positively influences the performance of both multithreaded and single-threaded workloads.

Advantages of Dynamic Overclocking
Intel Turbo Boost Technology being a dynamic feature that kicks in when certain conditions are met, the user cannot predict when the system will switch to the "turbo mode". However, it still provides a solution such that there's no compromise involved while choosing a dual core or quad core processor. Dual core processors have greater clock speeds because, the more number of cores in quad core meant increased power consumption and caused overheating. One had to make a choice also between applications that favored dual core or quad core. However, with Intel Turbo Boost, any idle core would go into a lower power state and the active cores would be dynamically overclocked thus eliminating compromise! A new version of Core i7 processor has a feature that enables operation at base clock speed when the system is battery-powered but switches to Turbo Boost, doubling its clock speed, when plugged in.

How to Use Turbo Boost Technology
The important thing to know is that Intel Turbo Boost technology will work only on the following supported processor families.

• i7 mobile and desktop processors
• i7 processor extreme edition
• i7 mobile processor extreme edition
• i5 mobile and desktop processors

In the above processors, the Intel Turbo Boost Technology is enabled by default. A BIOS switch can be used to disable it, however, this is not recommended. There are no further settings available for the user to intervene in the operation, activation or frequency specification of the Intel Turbo Boost Technology. An optimized version of the original Intel Turbo Boost Technology, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 is incorporated in 2nd Generation Intel core processors, providing even more performance. To view the Turbo Boost in action, you may download a tool known as the Intel Turbo Boost Technology Monitor. The Intel Processor Identification Utility will enable you to view the highest Turbo Boost frequency on the supported processor.

If you're only using your PC for Internet browsing, working on a few word processing and spreadsheet applications and mostly just checking your email, you might not find much use for the Intel Turbo Boost Technology although you may prefer it to manual overclocking. However, if you're mostly working with HD media or video-intensive applications, 3D gaming or multitasking compute-intensive applications, then this on-demand performance technology that intelligently allocates extra processing power to match workload, is as futuristic as it gets.

Traditionally the playing field of gaming enthusiasts and power users, overclocking has found its way into modern-day processors for good. Preset processor clock speeds seem to have become a thing of the past. Adaptive performance of processors to suit the demands of the user in a dynamic and flexible way seems to be the future. By Preeti Sunil

Cloud Computing Vs. Grid Computing: How Do They Differ?

Grid computing was something everyone talked about as "the next big thing" until it was replaced by the term, cloud computing. As some technology enthusiasts predicted, cloud computing did not spell the end of grid computing. It still exists outside the world of buzzwords and news bytes. Before we delve into how they differ, let us quickly refresh our minds with their definitions.

Grid Computing

The concept of grid computing is not new. In a way, it is nothing but parallel or distributed computing; however, the difference lies in the scale and complexity! So imagine parallel processing at a level where instead of sharing one or more resources, each and every computing resource is shared among all the computers within the network (as if they form an interconnected grid). Now imagine that the grid can consist of several different authorized heterogeneous systems, even owned by different organizations! It would be like a huge supercomputer with unmatched processing power, memory capacity and data storage capacity suitable for the most complex computations, but really it is just a network of interconnected computers. As far as the user of a grid computer is concerned, he/she is just using the local computer (now a supercomputer owing to the grid links) unaware of the links contributing to the power and enormous complexity of the network grid or cluster to which that machine belongs.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing in fact evolved from grid computing and belongs to the same paradigm of load sharing within virtualized resources and providing on-demand computing power in a dynamically scalable fashion. Just as it sounds from their definitions, both cloud computing and grid computing are overlapping concepts. The key emphasis with the Internet-based cloud computing paradigm however, remains in achieving economies of scale in terms of the computing infrastructure utilization. Cloud computing is a buzzword today, mostly because of its commercial viability with regard to businesses being able to offload overburdened IT infrastructures with value-added capabilities. Now you might wonder, if both grid and cloud computing share the same vision of achieving greater computing scalability, are they just fancy technical jargon describing the same technology? Not really. So, how do they differ? Let us study the points of contrast between grid computing and cloud computing.

Grid Computing Vs. Cloud Computing

	Grid Computing	Cloud Computing
Business Model	Typically, grid infrastructures are accessed by multiple, heterogeneous organizations or project teams that typically share a common goal and need access to a virtual supercomputer to work on a single task or a single set of tasks. However, the users or project sponsors would have to bear the enormous cost of setting up and maintaining and monitoring the grid. When compared to accessing a cloud infrastructure that charges only as per consumption of resources, the set-up costs of a grid along with the cost of ownership of resources (like network administration, maintenance staff, etc.) are likely to be phenomenally high.	A customer accessing a cloud infrastructure or service will pay the cloud provider on a pay-per-use basis. The business model relies on optimizing utilization such that the cost makes sense for the customer as well as brings profits to the provider. We can perhaps associate it to the use of utilities such as electricity, gas, etc., or purchasing in bulk, but only when there's a requirement or demand. The benefit is in achieving economies of scale. It's independent of whether the task requires computational power or increased storage capacity. The customer is ideally not involved with the building or maintenance of the cloud infrastructure or services. This feature of abstraction is common to both grid computing and cloud computing.
Computing Model	Grid computing does not have universal standards with regard to configuration of systems and software. Some software and most algorithms and codes require major restructuring in order to use all the benefits of "parallel processing" available with grid computing. Even data communication protocols are grid-specific. Since most resources are being shared, network congestion control, fairness in allocation, reduction in latency, etc., are factors governing the development of grid protocols. Standard protocols are just not agile or flexible to support grid infrastructures.	Cloud computing has a more commercial focus and is therefore, more flexible when compared to the grid model. For example, expansion of a business requiring more resources is as easy as informing your provider to avail their seamless and mostly automated expansion services. Even writing a new code etc., becomes less time-consuming with the use of generic software. Existing protocols such as Web Services (WSDL, SOAP), and some advanced Web 2.0 technologies such as REST, RSS, AJAX, etc., can be utilized in cloud-based systems.
Security	We have already seen that the grid infrastructure comprises diverse configurations and platforms. Hence, the security for such a system would be a consideration right from the setting up of the grid. Important factors considered are authentication (single sign-on), authorization, credential, conversion, auditing, and delegation. Typically, a grid infrastructure has operational autonomy which ensures greater security controls and protocols. However, providing a security layer to a grid infrastructure is a time-consuming process.	For obvious reasons (relative homogeneity of cloud systems), cloud security models are relatively simpler and less secure than that of grid computing. It is a matter of mutual understanding where the provider ensures protection of the customer's data and applications. Private cloud (where the infrastructure is dedicated to a single customer) and community cloud (cloud infrastructure shared between a finite set of multiple customers) are effective ways to restrict access to authorized, limited number of users. Cloud infrastructure typically use Web forms (over Secured Sockets Layer (SSL)) to create and manage account information for end-users. Encrypted communications ensure secure identity and password management.
Some Potential Issues	- Is there a possibility of lesser complexity in building grids? - Is there a possibility of developing ubiquitous standards for grid infrastructure?	- Does the cloud provider have a disaster management and recovery mechanism in place to deal with loss of customer's data? - Is there a backup/contingency plan in case of disasters to ensure business continuity? - What if the cloud provider exits the business or is acquired by another company, what happens to the customer's data and cloud operations?
Examples	- The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is one of the leading organizations running major grid computing initiatives including analyzing chemical compounds in the search for potential drugs for diseases such as avian flu. - SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) @Home project is one of the earliest grid initiatives that downloads and analyzes data from radio telescope. Participants simply need to download and run a program to join the grid network.	- Salesforce.com, Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon EC2 are famous cloud providers in the public domain (they provide services to anyone who needs them over the public Internet). - Other service providers include the open source AbiCloud, Elastichosts and NASA's Nebula platform.

From the above discussion of contrasting factors between grid computing and cloud computing, it is clear that it's not a simple matter of choosing one over the other. The trade-offs involved relate to which functionality is most suitable over the other. It seems as though cloud computing is more suited to businesses looking to derive value out of their IT operations in a streamlined fashion. The agility that comes with utilizing services from the cloud complements its scalability. The grid computing paradigm on the other hand, has been the traditional arena of funded scientific research although there are emerging instances of its use in biomedical, financial and industrial research. It now finds applications in weather modeling and weapons test simulations. In fact, web serving (serving requests of website content from users located all over the world) is an example of a commercial application that benefits from the grid infrastructure.

Both computing paradigms are revolutionary; however, they're both still immature. Their scalable properties are as promising as is their ability to provide on-demand resources. However, both are struggling to battle their inherent weaknesses and emerge as viable commercial options for businesses. Experts across the board agree that while cloud computing will not replace grids, they might merge and few even imagine the possibility of a World Wide Grid! By Preeti Sunil

How to Tweet Tolerably

Okay, so you jumped on the Twitwagon and decided to begin narrating your life in 140-character blocks. That’s great (welcome to the 21st century), and I’m sure your friends are champing at the bit - but that doesn’t mean you can just Kutcher up the Twitterverse and expect to gain fame and fortune.

The great thing about Twitter is that it can be whatever you want it to be - a diary, a marketing platform, or just a way to stay in touch throughout the day. You are late to the party however, so there are certain unwritten rules established within the community (who can be as unforgiving as the rest of the internet). Breaking the rules doesn’t get you penalized in any official way, but it makes you an annoying feed-clog that people will unfollow, fast.

Don't Tweet the Minutiae

Hold the play-by-play. Nobody needs to know that you have a #headache, or you’re drinking a venti latte at #Starbucks, or that you lost your #keys. Your tweets should be interesting to others, so install a filter between your brain and your Twitter finger. Process your thought for a second - if somebody else tweeted this information, would you shrug and move on, or would you retweet it? If it’s the shrug, don’t bother.

Don’t Flood Feeds

Just as bad as tweeting things nobody cares about is the over-tweeter. Nothing will get you unfollowed faster than sending several dozen tweets per day. If you really have that much to say, Twitter isn’t the right platform. Start a blog or at least a Tumblog and use that as a platform for your expositions on the topic of the day. Hey - you could still use Twitter to promote the blog.

Keep the Private Stuff Private

Again, part of this rule falls under the minutiae bit (the TMI sub-clause) - nobody needs to know the details of your tampon usage or just what was in Junior’s diaper this morning. Ever. Unless they’re a doctor, and you’re sitting on the exam table in front of them. There are things though, that although not terribly disturbing, are not really for everyone’s eyes. In these cases, use the Direct Message (DM) feature to send a message to the one person your tweet concerns.

Don’t Steal Thoughts

Occasionally, you will find humor, wit and wisdom on Twitter. Share it with your friends by all means - but give the creator credit. Use the Retweet (RT) function to quote verbatim, or paraphrase and acknowledge the source with a via. While we’re on the subject of credit, if you tweet something you heard somewhere, credit the source with a HT (Hat Tip) to lend credibility (or not) to your statement.

Don’t Just Collect People

Sure, you want to follow your favorite celebrities, and all your friends, and your various Twitter-aware family members, and the strangers who have recognized your brilliance and followed you (that’s only polite, right?), but seriously. If you follow a thousand people, and each of those people tweets only once every day, that’s a thousand tweets in your feed. Every single day.

That’s a part-time job, and you don’t get paid, and most of it is boring. Celebrities and companies who have huge swathes of followers actually hire people whose only job is to keep the Twitter thing going. Lots of those tweets are actually written by some intern, not the actual person. So follow out of genuine interest, not obligation - and don’t feel bad about unfollowing someone who’s proven to be less interesting than your curiosity supposed.

Feeling confident? These are only the very basic rules that keep Twitter from being irritating - there are hundreds of tinier, stickier rules for the various subsets of users. Get your feet wet before you scare yourself off with the rigidity of this supposedly "anything goes" platform. Your followers will let you know when it’s time to hone the focus. By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

Liquid cooling systems have been used to cool cars since eons and seemingly, it also happens to be the way

to cool your computer. Yes, it is true that computers today are designed to emit less heat, but integrated circuits are integrated circuits; they are bound to radiate heat in generous proportions. The joys of overclocking are way too many to be caged under the restriction of heat generation. Having yawned over air coolers, it is time to move on to a slicker option - that is liquid cooling.

Components of a Liquid Cooling System

The liquid coolant comes first, and a popular option is distilled water. Chemical additives (antifreeze solutions) give it that snazzy color and help lower the temperature of the water, increasing its effectiveness. An interesting variant is liquid nitrogen. With a boiling temperature of -196°C, it beats water in every aspect. But the recommended use of liquid nitrogen is strictly for smaller overclocking sessions. A reservoir is the tank that stores the coolant. You need a pump that helps the liquid to flow smoothly. This pump is available in variations that help you fix it outside the reservoir, or submerge it. The radiator is used to absorb the heat from the coolant and dispel it outside the unit. The tubes connect the reservoir to the water blocks. Water blocks are attached to the CPU, or if you wish, to the chipset and the GPU. These blocks hold the cool liquid, and their base is made of metal. Position them on top of the part that needs cooling, and apply a layer of thermal paste in between to accelerate heat transfer.

Here's how it works. The reservoir contains the coolant, which is pumped to the cooling block attached to the CPU and/or GPU. Having cooled the part, the heated liquid will flow through the outlet, back into the reservoir to be re-cooled for the second cycle. Before you begin, note that there are two methods of cooling.

• The internal method, as the name suggests, has the cooling system installed inside the PC case. Your PC case must obviously be big enough to accommodate all the components and avoid any cramping.
• The external method is the exact opposite, so you'll have to deal with a system that will be eating up a lot of space on your desk, and will seem tedious for those of you who keep shifting their computers. It is, however, perfect for extremists who are looking to push all boundaries.

How to Install a Liquid Cooling System

Having understood the components and the working principles, let's look at the step-by-step instructions to install a liquid cooling system for your PC.

Draw a Design
As mentioned before, an ideal way to create a cooling system is to customize it. What works for a computer can't necessarily suit another. So, the very first step would be to gauge your requirements and draw a basic design that covers all your needs.

Attach the Radiator and Reservoir
The radiator is installed on a large fan grate, just like a regular fan case. All you need to ensure is that the fans blow the hot air outside the PC case. The reservoir is next. You are free to install it inside the case on top of the drive bay, or outside. You must keep your refilling convenience in mind.

Install the Cooling Block
The cooling block sits on a support bracket behind the CPU. You must now remove the motherboard and detach the heat sink from it. Install the mounting units that will hold the cooling blocks for the CPU and the chipset. Clean the area of any residual thermal paste. Before you mount the cooling blocks, you need to decide if you want to attach the pipes right away or after. Be very cautious when you mount the water blocks, make sure they sit nice and easy, as applying extra pressure can cause damage. Similarly with the GPU, you must remove the heat sink before installing the water block. You have to start connecting the pipes as per your design, keeping the direction of the flowing coolant in mind.

Bring in More Pipes
Cooling the CPU remains a priority for most, but here we're looking at a scenario where you would be cooling the chipset and the GPU too. If you have one pipe that takes the coolant to every part, the one that is last in line will perpetually receive heated liquid, and this is unfortunate. Ideally, separate pipes should lead to every component, negating the risk of the last part being heated instead of cooled.

Final Touches
As you're done with the installation, it is time to fill the reservoir with the coolant of your choice. Follow the instructions meticulously, avoid spilling or over filling at all costs. In any case, keeping a stack of tissues is a good idea for emergency mopping. Now start the system and monitor the flow of liquid. Air bubbles can cause problems at this stage, so you need to sway your PC slightly to get rid of them. If it all appears to be dry, it is time to boot your computer.

What Makes Liquid Cooling Special

Liquid cooling scores on the grounds of excellent thermal conductivity and high heat capacity. With a heating capacity that is four times that of air, water as a coolant, wins hands down. Unlike air, when you have a substance that sops in the heat without heating itself too much, you don't have to think too much before installing it. But before you get down to installing a system like this, it would be prudent to keep certain factors in mind.

• For starters, a liquid cooling system is expensive. These days, they thankfully come in kits, a far cry from the times when one needed to source individual spares that matched the computer's specifications.
• Maintaining a system like this requires a great degree of dedication as liquids and electrical devices are not the best of friends. With so many components in place, you need to watch out for trouble.
• If you happen to be one of those ill-fated ones who have any liquid spill on the motherboard, the entire nerd community's sympathies would rest with you.
• A cooling system is unique to every PC, and the user is in the best position to configure the one that suits it best. While the CPU is the undisputed heat generator, it would be a good idea to include the GPU and the motherboard chipset as well.

All said and done, liquid cooling rules and it is instrumental in keeping your PC happy even when it's overworked, sans the whirring fans.

Installing a liquid cooling system would, once upon a time, win you a place in the upper echelons of geekdom. The availability of ready kits has dimmed the significance of it of late, but a true geek always reaches out to the customized versions. Also, new age processors are not furnaces like they used to be. But for those who overclock, a liquid cooling system is a blessing, and a 'quiet' one at that. By Renuka Savant

Best Performance Upgrades for a Laptop

The good thing about the 21st century is that there are a number of gadgets available to suit almost our every need. But the bad thing (at least for some of us) is that within a few months of buying the latest gadget, you realize there's a new improved version of it in the market making you feel like you should have waited some more. Mobile phones and laptops are perhaps on top of the list of gadgets that are improvized within a few months or weeks of their latest releases!

Do you love your laptop too much to trade in for a newer version but wish you could spruce it up a bit? Let us check out some of the best performance upgrades for a laptop you could do to boost its performance and make it almost as state-of-the-art as the latest version to hit the market!

It is important to note that your manufacturer's warranty will be deemed void with many of the following upgrades. It is best to ensure that you have used up your warranty period before carrying out these upgrades, unless you're confident that your laptop can handle a few nips and tucks.

Laptop Parts that May be Upgraded
Battery	If you're frustrated with the battery life on your laptop and find the replacement from the manufacturer pricey, search online for a compatible one instead. And while you're at it, purchase one with a higher capacity that is sure to last longer. This is sure to be one easy upgrade; however, your manufacturer is less likely to be too pleased with your choice. You'll have a choice of number of cells while buying a battery such that a 9-cell battery will have more capacity than a 6-cell battery. Go for the maximum cells your laptop model can support to match your gaming and video requirements.
Hard Drive	You will need to purchase a hard drive and run some programs to replicate the existing hard drive. It is almost as simple as it sounds. Typically, you would be able to purchase hard drives online with the installation kit. Depending on whether you need to double or triple the existing storage, purchase one from a reliable vendor. The kit typically comes with instructions or you could refer to the vendor site for the installation steps. All you'll need is a USB cable to plug the drive, run the installation that will clone your existing drive contents on the new drive and finally boot up your laptop with the new drive. You can either add on an external hard drive or swap your existing drive with the new one and use your old hard drive as a backup external drive! That should take care of your storage needs for a couple of more years. Anything from 160 GB up to 1 TB should be good enough, while a spin of 5400 RPM works for most laptops. You may upgrade to a drive with 7200 RPM, but remember that more the RPM, more the heat (though more the RPM, faster is the data transfer speed), so weigh your options.
RAM	Memory capacity is another relatively hassle-free upgrade that you can do. Purchase RAM modules that suit your requirement the most, whether you want to add on to the existing capacity or replace the memory entirely. You should be able to easily find new modules that match your old ones, in case you're looking to tag on to the existing memory capacity of your laptop. Depending on your laptop model, the memory slots would be located either on the underside or below the keypad. Unscrew the chip (usually labeled as M for memory) to replace with the new chip. Assemble again and boot up your laptop. The new RAM or additional RAM should be detected automatically. Using DDR3 you will be able to scale to higher clock speeds and go for a 1600MHz speed for better performance, if you have a compatible laptop model.
Processor	A laptop requiring a processor upgrade puts into question your real intentions for doing so as opposed to buying a new laptop; however, if you're ready to rise up to the challenge, this also may be possible. Remember that you're treading into complex and super-geeky turf! If the processor chip on your laptop is one of those soldered parts, you may well be disappointed unless you're comfortable with desoldering and then soldering the new chip back on. On the other hand, if the chip is accessible and removable, another compatible processor that's more powerful may be easily possible. You must be warned that this is not going to be easy though. Typically, your manufacturer will be delighted to upgrade your processor with a compatible replacement; however, they will certainly charge for the parts and labor. You must weigh the pros of upgrading the processor chip vis-a-vis purchasing a new laptop. However, if you're the brave geek who doesn't care about the manufacturer's warranty, by all means get the micro screwdrivers and replace the processor chip. No doubt there's a risk, but if it pays off, you'll be glad that you can do without the latest mean laptop in town. Motherboard compatibility is a major "if" even if you find the ideal chip that sits in the socket somehow!
Graphics/Video Card	Moving on to a bit more complexity with regard to upgrading, and this one's sure to render the manufacturer warranty invalid. Now that you have upgraded storage capacity and memory, the next important thing that will surely please the gaming freak in you is a graphics card that matches up to them. The reason for this upgrade is that the card itself is likely to have its own memory and enough processing for the mind-blowing graphics such that your laptop performance (or lack of it) does not matter. For added satisfaction, check out the prices of laptops designed purely for better gaming experience and you are sure to find the graphics card upgrade even more tempting! However, here's the bummer, check if you can replace the graphics card at all! An integrated graphics chip may be tough to replace, unless you are one of the lucky few to own a laptop (mostly alienware or custom-made) that allows you to replace the graphics card. Fret not, for there's a ray of hope with graphics cards that can be docked externally (usually detected by the operating system as an external video device). Depending on how old or new your laptop is and if it has the required slots, plugging an external graphics card may be relatively easy.

Things to Remember Before you Upgrade

✔ Refer to your laptop manual for instructions on disassembling and assembling.
✔ Switch off your laptop and let it be unplugged and powered off for at least an hour before disassembling.
✔ Wear an antistatic wrist strap and ground yourself at all times to guard against electrostatic discharge.
✔ Ensure to take a backup of your data on an external drive before you open up your laptop.
✔ Be gentle while handling the fragile electronics within as they're prone to breakage.
✔ Keep a digital camera/mobile camera at hand and take snapshots of the assembly frequently for referring while assembling the parts back.
✔ Hold the screws in labeled paper cups and hold the electronic parts such as processor chips in antistatic bags, so that you don't misplace them.
✔ Even a small electrostatic discharge can damage the electronics in the laptop chassis.
✔ Ensure that upgrades do not add to the heating issues of your laptop, even if it does add an accessory that will prevent or reduce heat like cooling pad.

Some Cheap Performance Boosters

If you have figured that you really don't need to do all the complex upgrades but still wish your laptop performance can be shot up a few notches, the following tips may be helpful.

• Use a performance monitor utility to keep tabs on your CPU, disk and memory loads. This is where you will get the earliest signs of a need for an upgrade.
• Does your laptop boot in time enough for you to soak into a warm bath and come back? Check your startup list and remove unnecessary application from automatically loading at startup.
• If you have wondered about the use of the Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter utilities, take the hint from their names! The Disk Cleanup deletes temporary files and suggests deletion of unused program files and the Defragmenter consolidates file (much like organizing your wardrobe) for faster access.
• Similarly, a registry cleaning utility will also help improve laptop performance.
• Regularly scan your laptop for spyware, viruses and malicious applications. Keep the antivirus software updated.

If your laptop performance does not improve even after you have tried most of the options listed here, then well, it may be time for grabbing the wallet and ordering a new laptop. If you're a gaming enthusiast, you may be better off buying a desktop or laptop that has been manufactured for the extreme gaming experience rather than upgrading a less powerful laptop. Ensure that you check with the manufacturer about upgrade possibilities with your new purchase. By Preeti Sunil

Pros and Cons of Internet Dating

Internet dating is huge, and it’s no secret why. It’s a simple Your parents’ generation relied upon set-ups and chance encounters to find "the one", but the Internet has expanded your search to include potential suitors from around the globe. Sure, a larger pool increases your odds of success, but it may not translate into finding a mate if you let it go to your head. The trick is in the approach.

Pro: Success is Common

Internet dating works - eHarmony claims to be responsible for over 500 weddings per day, and that is just one of the hundreds of dating sites. Beyond the biggies like eHarmony, Match, Plenty of Fish and OKCupid, there are niche dating sites that cater to just about any social subset you may be a part of - some even cater to married folks. Rather than take your chances with strangers in a bar, you can rest assured that because you were matched based on something, you have at least one thing in common.

Con: Many Facets of Success

The term "success" as applied to dating means different things to different people. Some see marriage as the ultimate goal, while others just want to expand their social circle and go on some fun dates. Be upfront with yourself, and be honest on your profile - don’t say you’re looking for a soulmate if you have no intention of settling down. Also, be aware that not everyone is as honest as you are, so don’t become too emotionally invested until you know the other person’s intentions for sure.

Pro: It’s Safer

Most Internet dating sites allow for online communication within the system itself, so you don’t even have to give out your email address until you feel comfortable with the other person. Many people refrain from sharing a phone number until several emails have been exchanged, and the first date may take place after several weeks or more of conversation. This allows you to establish a certain level of comfort with the other person - unlike "real life" dating, where you exchange phone numbers almost immediately, before you know very much about the person.

Con: Still Not Entirely Safe

No matter how careful you are and no matter how slowly you take things, there is always a risk in meeting someone new. People lie, especially online. In most cases, a person’s dating profile is like a resume - embellished, but basically the truth. The picture may be taken from a good angle, the wit and charm may be the product of numerous rough drafts instead of spontaneity, but the essence of the real person comes through. There are, however, a small number of people who flat-out lie. Most lies are relatively harmless - they may be married or have kids, for example, but a psycho stalker would never identify himself as such in his profile. Always meet in public places at first, preferably as part of a group. Safety first.

Pro: You Can Find Your Perfect Person

Your dating profile will reach a huge number of eyeballs. As such, it behooves you to be specific about what you’re looking for. Sites that only show you people who match your criteria feel like bespoke tailoring - you place your order for the perfect person, and they deliver. Sites that allow you to browse through all available profiles are more like off-the-rack shopping - you may find something that looks nice, but it probably won’t fit exactly right. Being specific about what you’re looking for helps separate the wheat from the chaff - the people who read your profile will self-select to an extent, so the cream will rise to the top and you won’t have to wade through a zillion profiles to find the one girl who can spell and doesn't make fish-face.

Con: There’s No Such Thing as Perfect

The problem with being specific about what you want is that people tend to have unrealistic expectations. When faced with an Internet-sized dating pool, you may be tempted to look for the millionaire brain surgeon part-time rocket scientist/underwear model who breeds puppies, loves to shop and owns an island. Surely, with all the world to pick from, that person must be out there, right? Well, yes. But that person has no trouble finding dates. And who’s to say that this dream-mate who looks perfect on paper isn't an obnoxious jerk in real life? While you’re holding out for Mr. or Ms. Absolutely Perfect, you’re missing out on a bunch of Pretty Darn Awesomes along the way.

So go ahead, fill out your profile, and jump into the worldwide dating pool. Be fearless but cautious, honest but not needy. You might kiss a few frogs, but your prince (or princess) is out there somewhere. By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

Does more RAM Mean Better Performance?

Wondering why your just-bought computer is trudging slower than a tortoise? You're among scores of others who are equally baffled by the annoyingly slow performance of their new device. Well, welcome to the strange world of computers where 'new' may not always mean 'fast'.

Rotten luck, that, especially when you've purchased the device in the hope of owning a faster one. But hope floats in the form of extendable RAM, and the general consensus is that it ups the speed noticeably. Or does it?

Well, since we've entered this strange world of computers, we can't take things for granted anymore. While extending the RAM may do a world of good, this rule may not hold true every single time. So, good things first? Here we go ....

Rooting for RAM

Do You Multitask?
As a human, you've got to be greedy, and a part of that reflects in our computer usage. Multiple programs open simultaneously, with several tabs within those can take a toll on your computer performance. Upgrading your RAM will address these woes. Software upgrades of operating systems will be hassle-free with the added space, and the new features that come with it will function smoothly.

Do You Create?
With upgraded memory, you'll have a better video editing experience. Video files eat up a lot of space, and the enhanced memory comes in handy here. Add to that, a fast processor, and Photoshop will work faster, as will Outlook and Firefox. Creating multimedia presentations will become effortless with an upgraded RAM, as graphic programs eat up a lot of space. The difference in the performance will be yours to see.

Do You Surf?
Racy Internet connections are a godsend; but do you know what, in the actual, makes your pages load faster? A RAM upgrade, of course! This is how it works - with more free space available, thanks to a RAM upgrade, your computer will utilize this space instead of crowding the hard drive, which ultimately mean faster browsing. Expect better visuals too, with faster flash displays.

Do You Share?
If your computer is part of a shared setup, a RAM upgrade will lead to smoother networking. You will notice a marked improvement in your printer's performance too. Clear, high-resolution prints need not be sourced from outside anymore. More memory space means that you don't lose time while images are buffered, which translates as printer efficiency. Also, RAM upgrades enhance networking setups overall.

So, it all seems hunky-dory so far. But going back to that part where every rule has its exception, let us begin considering those.

Hold That RAM

Is there anything like too much RAM? Strictly in terms of regular users, yes there is. If you happen to be a power user, there is little chance you would be needing to know all this anyway. As a regular user, you could be wondering if adding RAM always leads to better performance. The simple answer is 'no' and here's why ...

⇨ While more RAM does make your computer performance efficient, it wouldn't matter much to a person who is sparingly using space-hogging programs. For instance, if you're running a single program of 200 MB at a time, the size of your RAM would be immaterial. But let's say, you're one of those who opens 8 applications of this size simultaneously every time; an upgrade will bring you tremendous relief.

⇨ If you don't consider yourself a power user or a gaming freak, that humongous 8 GB upgrade won't make a difference to your computer. Going through your Task Manager will give you an idea of your computer's memory usage, which is the best way to decide if you really need that RAM upgrade or not.

⇨ Does more RAM help gaming? This is slightly tricky. With RAM, the definition is not all-encompassing. Your graphics card holds the key to this as it includes the video RAM or the VRAM. The VRAM stores the high resolution structures, and this is what is crucial. Certain games have specific requirements, so make sure you follow those. While upgrading RAM would help with switching within programs, an increase in FPS can be brought about by a good graphics card.

⇨ There will be times when you do an 8 GB upgrade, and notice that your software doesn't even register it. The reason behind this is that the 32-bit version of certain software are not equipped to use more than the 4 GB limit. So if the 8 GB usage is justified according to you, ensure that you have the 64-bit software version running. Don't forget to check if the RAM you are installing is compatible with the motherboard, a quick net search should lead you to compatibility guides.

To sum it up, more RAM will definitely make for a better computing experience for heavy users. And with memory upgrades being dirt cheap, installing extra RAM seems like a very attractive proposition indeed. Go ahead and smash that hourglass for good. By Renuka Savant

How to Use QR Codes Creatively

Creative QR codes were first noticed in Japan, where companies thought of using these mini bar codes to get closer to their customers. It wasn't long before the 'mobile tagging' craze took over, and today, we can spot some really innovative uses of QR codes that definitely help you to expand your customer base. To some, it may seem like a passing whim, but statistics proving the caliber of the QR codes as an effective marketing tool, tell a different story. QR codes have been around for more than 15 years now; long enough to tell you that they've been tried and tested.

How could you work them to your company's advantage, then? There are several ways to do that, and a few of them are listed right here.

Creative Uses of QR Codes in Marketing

Offer Goodies	Yes; it is the oldest trick of the trade. Rewarding your customers with freebies is a fabulous marketing tool. It could be a promotional offer that includes slashed rates of the product or a membership or even future discounts. Run these codes as a part of your print medium advertisements and/or plaster it across your store and watch your fan base multiply.
Choose your Spot	The most obvious spot for advertising is a purchased product. You're assured that it stays with your consumer, so why not make use of the product's part to make your company visible? QR codes can be printed on product labels, price tags or product bags. It is a clever spot to put a QR code on, and you don't even have to buy advertising space. Embed information about your company, special online offers or priority deals.
Store Displays	Your company may have an online presence, but aren't you overlooking a very obvious spot to market it 24x7? Display windows in your store are sure to be arresting, but why exclude customers who happen to view them beyond your working hours? A QR code displayed here, lets you get in touch with someone who is interested in your product, but may not necessarily return.
Outdoor Displays	Be brazen at public places, conventions, fairs or seminars and put forth your company's profile in a "subtle" QR code. Even better, embed your company's logo into the code (shouldn't be too difficult, but ensure its functionality), so that you arouse enough curiosity without revealing too much information. Put up QR codes on banners, employee t-shirts, visiting cards, etc., which will ensure visibility.
URL Access	QR codes that direct the user to the shopping page's URL will be a sure-fire hit. Do make sure that the page is mobile-friendly, or else the entire purpose of the QR code would be wasted. Likewise, you could use QR codes to connect with Facebook or Twitter, and be liked or followed instantaneously. However, pulling this off might be slightly tricky as people who are looking for more information may consider it misleading.
Creative Glimpse	Restaurant menus can include QR codes next to popular dishes, which lets the user connect to a URL that allows them to view the preparation. QR codes are also used in art galleries where they are strategically placed next to the exhibit. Scanning them gives you inputs about the artist and the exhibit as well. In fact, each business can have their own list of things that they want their customers to know about.
Treasure Hunts	Although it won't suit all products, organizing a treasure hunt through QR codes is an excellent way to engage potential customers. And what could be better than to have a prize at the end of it? As mentioned before, it can be bothersome to organize, but well worth a try for a new product from a recognizable brand.
Create a Buzz	QR codes can be so designed that they make phone calls and send messages to your company. Just be sure that your customer service department is capable of handling inquiries and feedback, or at times, brickbats too. While this does not really qualify as a marketing tool, you can spread some exclusive offers so that the customer does not think of it as a meaningless gimmick.

QR Codes Gone Waste

An innovative marketing tool it certainly is, but overenthusiastic usage of the QR code really kills its very purpose. This is how QR codes can be completely mismanaged. (Hint: Location, location, location)

✘ A subway is the worst place to place a QR hoarding. Unless the underground has Wi-Fi, placing a QR advertisement makes no sense at all, as the idea is to engage people with information on the go. We can't expect people to save our QR image and scan it sometime later.

✘ QR codes in in-flight reading material is a dubious one indeed. Seriously, a QR code is not something that is cherished; it is just a ticket to more information. And unless the viewer gets immediate access to it, (impossible when he's flying) you'd rather not print it at all.

✘ QR codes on billboards that are high up there, completely miss the point. People are not interested in craning their necks to take a picture of something they may not even want to know about. The key is easy accessibility.

✘ When QR codes appear on buses or trains, one does wonder who put them there and why; unless they really wanted those buses and trains to break down, so that the frustrated commuters and random pedestrians could then scan it.

✘ It would be a sin to let your QR code get entangled in the Android/Apple face-off. Create a code that is flexible for both, so you make sure that it does not leave out either smartphone user.

QR coding is a contemporary communication tool and you can think of several ways to integrate it into your marketing plan. It definitely is cost-effective, and according to many, it is the ultimate marketing medium of the future. By Renuka Savant