Getting the Most out of Your Computer

The things that computers are capable of today are staggering, and every new generation of computers can do more amazing things than the next. That being said, new computers are also expensive, and when you buy one, you want to maximize your computer’s value. Here are some computer shortcuts and tips for making sure you get the most out of the computer you have.

1. Optimizing Computer Storage

   A computer that is bogged down with data is slow and unwieldy and also may prevent you from installing the new programs you need. The good news is that there are probably mountains of files just taking up space on your computer that you don’t even need. Delete those temporary files and uninstall those apps you never use. You might even want to delete those pictures and videos that you took absent-mindedly and have no real interest in.

   If you’re still hurting for space, you can always get an external hard derive and offload all those extra pictures, videos, music and other files that are chewing up storage space to it.

2. Optimizing Computer Speed

   It’s just a fact that your computer will slow down as it ages, but there are things you can do to speed it up. Clearing some memory as above is definitely one. The next is to make sure your anti-malware/spyware/adware programs are up to date and run them frequently.

   Other tricks you can do to boost speed are setting your energy settings to high performance, disabling some of your Windows visual effects that you don’t really need, and running the disk defragmenter.

3. Computer Tips for Gaming

   A gaming computer has special needs relative to other computers. It simply has to be fast and responsive, or you are not going to be able to keep up. If you’re a gamer, you should always be using the steps above to maximize storage and speed. In addition, hotkeys are critical. Know all the key combinations you need to get the results you want fast when behind the keyboard. Ergonomic and fast-response mice and keyboards are also critical elements in the gamer’s arsenal.

4. Know the Shortcuts Of Operating System

   There are plenty of tricks you can use to work on your computer faster using specialized typing commands. Some of them include using Ctrl/V to paste text and Ctrl/Shift/V to paste unformatted text, pressing Ctrl/Backspace to delete a whole word, using Ctrl/Z to undo anything and pressing Ctrl/Shift/T to reopen the tab you closed most recently.

5. Sell Before It Is a Paperweight

   Sooner or later, the time will come when you have gotten the most you can out of your pride and joy. When that time comes, you want to get out fast. Wait long enough, and your computer’s functions could become so obsolete that it has no retail value.