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Tech News & Commentary
Richard in Purcellville, Virginia listens via the Podcast and is calling in via the App sent us the following question: “My HP Elitebook laptop has a tendency to shut itself off in the middle of tasks. It has a relatively new battery and gives no battery warnings. It just goes dead. I thought it might be a heat problem because the fan runs loudly and the laptop is pretty hot to the touch, so I pulled the keyboard off and cleaned it as best I could but the problem still occurs.”
Richard, You’re probably right about your computer overheating, especially since the fan is trying really hard to keep it cool and it still feels 
hot to the touch. However, cleaning it may not be enough to keep it cool.
There is a long list of reasons why your computer may be overheating, maybe the fan is being extra loud because it’s not working very well, your computer may be running some program or driver or service that is failing in some way and eating up your CPU and forcing the computer to work extra hard to try to keep up, have you installed any new software recently?
Your problem may just stem from some piece of hardware malfunctioning, so backing up is probably a good idea, do it now while you still can in case the issue is more serious than you think.
To help determine whether it’s software that’s running your processor so hard, try starting the computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, and in the search box type MSCONFIG and press enter. When MSCONFIG loads, choose the Boot tab and then Safe Boot. Click OK and let it restart your computer. You won’t be able to use it very well in safe mode, since it’s a very minimal, diagnostic state for Windows.
But you can let the computer run for a while. Maybe even do something disk intensive like running the disk defragmenting tool. If your computer can run in safe mode without firing up that loud fan and it doesn’t feel as hot to the touch, then whatever is causing your problem is indeed likely to be software.
If such is the case, then it’s a matter of going through the startup commands on your computer, finding out what is loading, and shutting off the things you do not need. MSCONFIG can help you with that, or there are utilities like CCleaner that bring all the startup options into one convenient list where you can disable and/or delete anything you want.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
“This Week in Tech History” Weekly Feature with Chris Graveline
Steve listens to the Podcast and is calling via the App asked us: “I listen on the app. I travel a lot and it’s like having a friend in my head. My 17 year-old has an iPod and goes through headphones like you wouldn’t believe. The earbud kind. Wondering if you recommend some that are a little more sturdy or durable. With a reasonable price in case he does tear them up.”
Steve, You should probably have a look at earbuds designed to workout with, those are usually expected to take more of a beating and built accordingly.
We’ve tried Yurbuds, their in-ear line range from $29 for the regular Inspire, to about $99 for the Limited Edition Inspire. They’re supposed to be for athletes, so part of their appeal is the shape that keeps them from falling out during your workouts but, those same workouts mean that you’ll likely tug on them a little during use, so their cables are better lined and reinforced too. For the price, they may be worth a try. In fact, Dave gave our newest intern, Michael a pair and he runs and jumps and does some extreme sports stuff … and they don’t fall out of his ears.
This may fall outside the range of what you consider reasonably priced, but $99 Klipsch Image S4i is a ruggedized model for use outside, they are made to take a beating, they can take snow, rain, according to their own description “the concrete jungle” so, if you’re willing to make a bigger investment, they may work very well for your son, if he’s… less that careful.
Earbuds can be a pain in a neck by breaking easily. They just need a little love and care. You might also look into Skullcandy’s Ink’d 2 headsets. At a cheaper price of $20.99, these seem to be pretty durable and have decent quality sound.
We should also mention that Apple’s most recent resdesign of their earbud headphones, something they call “Ear Pods,” produced what is a very comfortable and securely fitting shape that is snug in the ear without causing any discomfort. They have the advantage of a volume control that would be supported by his iPod, they also function as a headset when used with an iPhone, and they sell for just $29.99. They aren’t in any way ruggedized, however, so if you’re looking for something to actually take some abuse, you should stick with what we’ve recommended above.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
Guest Segment:
Kate Drane, Design, Technology & Hardware Lead – Indiegogo
Helps individuals, groups and non-profits raise money online to make their ideas a reality through crowdfunding.
CEA Update with Danielle Cassagnol
Want a look at what may be the country’s highest-tech home? Danielle Cassagnol with the Consumer Electronics Association explains in this week’s CEA Update.
Jolene in Jefferson City, Missouri listening on KLIK asked us: “MyVCR died, and I’m going through VCR withdrawals, What I need to know is can I purchase a DVR myself or do I have to go through my cable company?”
I’m glad you asked because VCRs are so … yesterday! You can purchase a DVR yourself, but it might still be a better idea to go through your cable company anyway.
A DVR is more than a device, it’s a service as well, someone needs to make that programming guide that you use to set the shows you want to record, and someone needs to keep it up to date, and you will be charged for that service whether it is by your cable company or by a 3rd party company like TiVo.
If you’re going to be charged the same either by a third party or by your cable company, you might as well go with your cable company just for the fact that if anything happens to your DVR, or if in a couple of years you decided to get a 4K DVR or any kind of new technology, they probably won’t make you pay $500 for a replacement.
If you were still using a VCR, you’re gonna love your new DVR regardless of how you get it though.
If you do choose to purchase a third party DVR, say from TiVo for example, you will need something called a CableCARD from your cable TV provider. This is the interface between the third party DVR and their cable system. Your cable TV provider is required to give you this free of charge by the FCC.
However, these cards generally lack the ability to provide two-way communication with your cable TV provider, which means that the On Demand service from the cable network would not be available. That’s a tradeoff that many people don’t want to make. Good luck!
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
Product Spotlight: Gazelle.com
Len in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania calling in via the App sent us the following comment: “I’d like to put out a challenge. If it’s possible – two weeks in a row – you could stop using the word “plethora”. Even if you can do it for two shows, or one show, or one hour. I know it’s nuts, but it’s an obnoxious word.”
Len, we’d love to, but there are a plethora of reasons why we cannot.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Other World Computing (OWC): Nuguard KX phone cases for Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 4/4S and 5
Phone Halo: StickR TrackR — Find any object you attach it to with your smartphone
PURE: Jongo Wireless Adapters — Allows you to stream all your music wirelessly to your home audio system.
Tylt: A plethora of USB charging cables for iPhone and Android phones and iPhone battery cases.
“Into Tomorrow”: Microfiber Screen Cleaning Cloths with Dave’s cartoon on them, for all your smartphones, tablets, TVs, camera lenses and computer screens.