Sunday, October 24, 2010

light anti-virus programs?

I'm using a machine that has only 384MB. And now working on a laptop that has like 228MB (or something like that).

I'm wondering what anti-virus program I should use to put on these machines that won't hog the precious resources (I know, I should actually increase the memory but..)

Anyway, I found this page via Yahoo (via this google search) that answers the question better than I could.

The conclusion?

If I would to compare between the few giant antivirus brands such as Avast, Avira, Norton and Kaspersky, I’d say that Avast is the lightest of all.

That's a little disappointing because I use Avast on my 384MB machine and it often thrashes to memory when running firefox.

Well, let me run a compare on the laptop which currently has AVG 8.5 installed.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

recycling or donating your old computer

[4/21/13] Recycle at Best Buy

[2/27/13] Recycling for Education

[11/8/12] Before you throw the old computer monitor away, think again. E-waste recycling options in Hawaii are now expanding.

Goodwill Industries of Hawaii and Dell International are partnering up to offer Dell Reconnect — a free recycling program for unwanted computers or computer equipment of any brand and condition.

The first Dell Reconnect in Hawaii takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 on the corner of Ward Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard (across from Ward Warehouse). The first 100 people to donate their e-waste receive a special gift.

Dell Reconnect's goal is to keep used computers and computer equipment from landfills in the U.S. as well as to educate residents of the importance of proper computer recycling.

Items that Dell Reconnect will take for recycling include: computers (both laptops and desktops), keyboards, printers, scanners, computer monitors, USB accessories, computer cords and computer mice.


[4/24/12] More locations.  (I notice the place where I recycle on King Street (near Tamashiro Market) is listed, but I didn't notice any place to drop off computer equipment.)

[10/29/11] From a tip from Sue, RRR Recycling, at least in the Kaimuki location, has an open bin where you can dump your electronic waste (old computers, monitors, printers, TVs, etc.). The bin is actually handled by T&N Computer Recycling (which I assume is a different company), which handles electronic waste for the State, City & County, and the Federal Government, but has apparently put out this bin as a public service.

[8/10/10] The University of Hawaii wants your ewaste.

The college system is again planning to offer free collection, disposal and recycling of electronic waste — computers and accessories, televisions, cellular phones and other such items.

The ewaste can be brought to any one of six UH campuses on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island between October 27 and 30.

The service will be free to Hawaii residents, nonprofit groups, small to medium-size businesses, and all local, state and federal government agencies.

***

Everyone who has no-longer-useful electronics is encouraged to participate, said Larry Wiss, communications officer for information technology services at the University of Hawaii. "It's very important that people take advantage of this program. It keeps all the contaminants from entering our waste stream." Some companies ship e-waste to Third World countries, but the equipment collected during this drive will be sent to "one of the few recycling companies licensed under our new recycling law. ... It's guaranteed environmentally safe," he said.

California-based computer maker Apple Inc. approached the university with this disposal program idea.

[10/15/08] Coming up in a couple of weeks, we'll all have the opportunity to recycle our electronic waste thanks to the University of Hawaii's "Education & Government eWaste Disposal Days 2008"

[2/18/08] Another site is myboneyard.com

[2/11/08] Costco and Greensight had teamed up to allow you to trade in or discard your old electronic equipment

[10/20/07] Rather than simply trashing your PC, it should be disposed of responsibly. The Honolulu Department of Environmental Services lists recycling options throughout the state. Consider donating usable computers to organizations such as Hawaii Computers for Kids, Ohana Komputer or Aloha Computers for Education in Samoa.