Articles written by Mike Stanley

What is Helium

About me - Mike Stanley

Everything you need to know about me. I didn't come from a broken home, wasn't abused, wasn't poor, wasn't rich, I didn't do drugs or join a gang. My mother was a teacher, and my father was a contractor, and my sister turned out normal... well...

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Computers & Technology > Computers & Technology (Other) The impact of our use of computer lingo on our lives: 1 of 5
How many of us are guilty of telling someone to just "Google" it? The computer world isn't the first industry to affect how we speak, but it is the latest, and probably the most influential to do so. Of this influence, the Internet portion is most likely where the largest part of the lingo comes from. The Internet is shaping ... More..
Computers & Technology > Virus Protection & Maintenance Essential software everyone should have on their laptop: 5 of 24
Although this article is about essential software for laptops, most of this will probably also apply to desktops as well. I prefer to call this, "Essential software for computers." When most people buy a new computer, it usually comes with Windows installed on it. Having worked mostly with Windows in my career, I tend to focu... More..
Computers & Technology > Internet Security & Safety (Other) The basics of home computer security: 4 of 18
Not everyone holds degrees and certificates in the computer sciences. However, there are benefits to expanding your knowledge of computers for the sake of security. A lot of people assume that their computer came from the store fairly secure, but in reality, default setups from the factory are rarely anywhere near secure. Fi... More..
Computers & Technology > Operating Systems Deciding between Microsoft Windows and GNU/Linux: 3 of 13
The age old question of Windows or Linux has sparked many debates among the tech savvy. More and more you see less technical users arguing over it as well. With the economy in decline, people began to think more closely about how much to spend on computers. But is Linux really a cheaper way to go? The decision behind which O... More..
Computers & Technology > Operating Systems Is Windows Vista worth the upgrade?: 11 of 44
For many of the people running the older Windows XP operating system, thoughts of upgrading may have crossed their minds. The first thing that comes to mind is should I upgrade to Windows Vista? The short answer to this question is no. You might be thinking if I'm one of the many that hate Vista, and you'd be wrong. I have Vi... More..
Computers & Technology > Hardware (Other) Introduction to computer hardware: 3 of 12
Computer hardware is sometimes seen as mysterious by non technical people. Some find it hard to imagine just how those electrical pulses come together and give the computer a life of it's own. However, the same principles that drives animals and humans to do what they do, also drives computers. People use logic to determine... More..
Computers & Technology > Computers & Technology (Other) The difficulties of learning Visual Basic: 1 of 4
Is learning Visual Basic really all that hard? For someone that has never written a line of code, the world of programming may seem somewhat magical. The thought of throwing together some characters and mathematical operators and creating a functioning application may seem rather daunting. However, in reality, Visual Basic i... More..
Sports & Recreation > Outdoors & Sportsman (Other) The best ATV trails in Georgia: 1 of 1
Having moved to the northern part of Georgia where the fall colors decorate the rolling blue ridge mountains a few years ago, I have had the chance to explore a couple ATV trails. I have loved running off road since I was young, and often went mud riding in truck and on ATVs growing up. All a part of growing up southern for m... More..
Computers & Technology > Computers & Technology (Other) Introduction to virtual instrumentation: 1 of 1
Computers have transformed almost every aspect of our lives in recent years. Increasingly they are used to help us in banking, buying, and paying our bills. In industry, computers have a much more expanded role as they are used for all that plus controlling the processes that earn them a paycheck. Instrumentation is used to ... More..
Computers & Technology > Hardware (Other) Why you should not put RAM that is too slow in a computer: 1 of 1
This is a common issue I have seen in computers. A lot of people assume that buying memory sticks that are larger in capacity will instantly make the computer faster. While installing higher capacity RAM in a computer can increase performance, the main benefit of larger capacity is in how much more can run at the same time. H... More..