BD Tech Spot Info

TIPS & TRICKS Chrome has come a long way since its first beta was released in 2008. Currently sitting at the top of the desktop and mobile market share charts,  Google’s browser  is flexible, feature packed, and cross-platform. But for all its popularity Chrome is also notorious for its habit of consuming a lot of RAM and draining battery life on laptops. The reason for this has to do in part with something called  process isolation , which is meant to make Chrome more stable and secure. By separating every tab, plugin, and extension into its own process, if a single plugin or website crashes it doesn't bring down the whole browser. Likewise, by this same logic, if an attack takes place in one tab, it’s harder for it to access data on another tab. This is why you see a lot different entries for Chrome when you open up Task Manager on your computer, and since the browser needs to duplicate some tasks for every tab, it all adds up. Certain plugins and extensi...

There are many reasons why you might need to find your motherboard’s brand and model number. Looking to update drivers or the BIOS are the most common ones, but you may also want to check compatibility with other hardware, discover specifications, or are just looking for an identical replacement. And with OEM PCs and laptops, it's not always as straightforward as checking the box of your motherboard's box. Native Method Probably the quickest and easiest way to discover your motherboard model is by using Windows' own System Information utility. Windows 10 users can access this menu by going to Start and typing "System Information" and selecting the application. Alternatively, hit the Windows key + R to open the Run window, then type “msinfo32” and hit Enter. Those still using Windows 7 (which as of writing is almost double the number of people running 10) can use the Run command above, or within the Start menu and click on All Programs > Accesso...

Chrome’s New Tab page can be rather handy if you frequently visit the same sites although as with most software, its default configuration may not be ideal for all. Google has baked in some basic customization options for those looking to personalize the new tab page and there’s plenty more manipulation to be had if you venture into the world of extensions. By default, the New Tab page shortcuts are populated based on recently visited websites. Removing a site from the list is as easy as hovering over the thumbnail and clicking the “X” in the top right corner. In the event you remove a site by accident, simply clicking “Undo” or “Restore all” will undo the last edit or start you over fresh. It goes without saying that simply closing out a thumbnail will not impact your browsing history (hence why thumbs can be recovered with a single click). Go Blank or Add a Default New Page If you’re worried about having your browsing history show up on the New Tab page, you can always ma...

Free Apps to Install on a New Windows PC Shortlist of essential apps, so you're ready to go You just bought a new Windows laptop, built a new desktop, or are simply clean installing on a new SSD. Gotta love the smell of a fresh new machine, but now you have to get back to productivity zen by recovering your files and installing programs. Not sure which ones? Well, let us help. We've compiled a list of essential programs to get you started. From browsers to productivity tools and lots of suggestions for the areas in between, and as usual with a special emphasis in great free options you can download right away. Browsers Windows 10 offers Edge which is a serviceable browser, nothing wrong with it but you'll rarely find power users favoring it over Chrome or Firefox. The default choice for most is indeed  Chrome , a great browser that is very extensible. Although it's been suffering from some performance hiccups as of late, Google is hard at work correcting tho...

Optimize Your Network and Avoid System Downtimes Businesses increasingly rely on their networks to move data, provide communication, and enable basic operations. Performance loss or system outages can seriously impact the bottom line of your business. Continuous network and server monitoring enables you to find problems and resolve them before they become a serious threat to your business: Avoid bandwidth and server performance bottlenecks Deliver better quality of service to your users by being proactive Reduce costs by buying bandwidth and hardware based on actual load Increase profits by avoiding losses caused by undetected system failures Find peace of mind: As long as you do not hear from PRTG via email, SMS, pager, etc. you know everything is running fine and you have more time to take care of other important business. Your Entire Network at a Glance PRTG Network Monitor covers all aspects of network monitoring: up-/downtime monitoring, traffic and usage moni...