A Buyer’s Guide to Getting the Right UPS

Why do you need a UPS? A Universal or Uninterrupted Power Supply protects your equipment against the following power related issues:

- Power Surges - When the voltage temporarily increases
- Power Drops - When the voltage temporarily drops
- Power Blackouts - When the power supply is cut off

Each of these situations can potentially crash or turn off your equipment. The potential loss to your business or company can be catastrophic. For this reason, UPS systems are the right safeguard.

There are Three types of UPS system that you can currently purchase.

The first type is the Offline or Standby UPS. This is the simplest type of UPS system available. The Standby system allows the computer to run off the mains power supply until there is one of the three issues mentioned above. When it detects this, it reacts and switches to its battery supply until the threat to the supply has been removed.

The second type is the Line Interactive UPS An affordable way of protecting against 5 main types of power problems, power failure, sags, surges, brown outs and line noise. Change over to battery supply is done in milli-seconds ideal for budget conscious users Suitable IT Applications: Office environment PCs, workstations, small servers, rackmount applications and network devices. Similar in operation to the Off-Line system provides basic power protection. This design offers low-grade voltage regulation by bumping the mains voltage up or down, typically known as buck and boost. This feature: Improves the quality of ac mains to the supported load, reduces the number of transfers to and from battery mode, reduces the number brief power interruptions to the load when switching to and from battery mode, thus improving the life expectancy of the battery.

The third type of UPS system is the On-line Continuous UPS. The most dependable solution to your power protection needs. Online UPS provides against 9 of the most common power problems: Power failure, sags and surges, Brownouts, line noise, Spikes, frequency variations, switching transients and harmonic distortion. Suitable IT Applications: Critical servers, small networks, routers, hubs, Server rooms, networks, Data centres, Server farms, Communication and broadcasting, Offshore, Marine, Medical, and Industrial Applications. Best technology for use with generators. This option offers the highest level of protection and reliability. The inverter is always on and supplies the supported load with clean regulated power. All incoming power is converted to dc via the rectifier and then the inverter converts back to ac No interruptions to the load when switching to and from battery mode. The incoming power is always fully conditioned. Constant voltage and frequency regulation means far less switching to and from battery, which in turn means conserving the battery life and increasing the reliability of the UPS.

Standby UPS is usually used in homes and by small businesses. Larger organisations or companies that need a very stable and consistent source of secondary power (in the case of any of the above three power issues) use Continuous UPS systems. Standby systems tend to be cheaper than the Continuous UPS systems, but Continuous systems are the more reliable type of UPS. If you have a room full of servers, you’d need to maintain a constant supply of electricity, even the slightest break in power could harm business or lives. A continuous UPS is required for this type of user.

The type of UPS system that you choose depends upon the demands that you need to place upon it. Whilst the cheaper UPS Standby systems may be cost effective, the short power delay involved in the switchover from mains to battery may cause some disruption to your PC or Telecoms systems. There is a small chance that the fraction of time it takes to switchover might cause some kind of data loss, which may result in loss of business, a lapse in security or danger to your employees.

However, even with the best Continuous UPS systems, the battery will not last forever. It’s important to have a UPS that won’t just turn itself off when the battery reaches nil. If the data on your PC is vital to your business, then it’s worth investing in the type of UPS that will also safely store your important data and turn off the network operating system before the battery is empty. This protects your network and the vital data on your machines.

iPods are a small devices, basically designed to play music and video. Though they are very easy to use, they have their own share of problems and issues and at times you get worried with their troubles and find no solution for that. But there are some minor problems that you can combat with and keep your iPod performance remain the same. Here, you can find some common problems and their simple solution that you can handle yourself.

There are chances when your iPod stops to response and just freezes. Thousands of questions come to your mind in a moment and you think of getting it fixed as soon as possible. The simple solution to this problem is to restart it. If the it does not start check the hold switch to ensure that it is off even though it appears to be so. Or you can put into a power adaptor to charge it. Restore the latest software updater that is compatible with your with your player to mount iPod to the computer. If it does not work the battery may need to be drained completely. If the it is more than 18month old, the battery may be dead and should be replaced.

There are situations when the it does not mount or appear in iTunes or the iPod software utility. Make sure that the music player is not plugged into a low-powered USB port, as it will not be recognized in such situation. Always plug it into a high-power USB port or FireWire USB. iPod requires almost all the power that a FireWire delivers. If it is on the chain of devices connected to the FireWire, it will not be able to get sufficient power. Or check the device whether it is locked up. Another way of making it respond to the computer is to restart the iPod.

At times you will find your iPod displaying a folder with an exclamation mark when it starts up. Your music device may be running out of power, charge it. Update the latest version of the iPod updater that is compatible. Many time the incompatible software can not cooperate with the music player and displays various difficulties. The appearance of the symbol may be due the reason that the hared drive of the device was formatted with an in incompatible utility.

Sometimes a battery with an exclamation point appears on the iPod screen. It is the indication to charge the battery from a working power source; the battery may be out of juice. Check the music player if it is locked up. If it is, reset the iPod.

In the first three generation of computer, if you start the built-in scanning test of the iPod you will notice the symbol of a spinning disk and magnifying glass. Plug it into the power source as it may drain the battery quickly while scanning. If you are not interested to continue the process, just reset it.

If you are getting the picture of a power adaptor and wall plug on your iPod, be sure that it needs to be plugged into power outlet. This problem arises if the music device is inserted to a USB port or un-powered FireWire port. The sad iPod icon symbolizes that it is broken and all the data stored in it is lost; you need to repair your iPod immediately. Many people complain that their new iPod displays black screen after using it for ten minutes. It may be a defective unit or has got overheated.

If your favourite iPod does not cooperate and gives you unnecessary troubles, it is surely a matter of concern. Simple problems can be handled anyways. If the symptoms seem somewhat complicated and perplexing, rush to the nearest iPod repairing centre.

Quad core computer contains four processors and can be considered a part of multi core processors family. There is hardly any doubt that the performance of quad core computer is much faster than that of dual core computers. However, the performance of quad core computer depends upon the type of programs that run and the algorithms used in those programs.

There is a popular misconception that the quad core computer runs four times faster than the single processor computers. It does work, but for programs that are designed to perform on quad core computer. The codes written in those programs allow the processor to accomplish four different tasks simultaneously. Games such as Gears of War or Crysis which require multiple tasks like audio, physics benefit or AI to run simultaneously can be played through the multi-threading processors of quad core computer.

Performance wise quad core computers are faster in multitasking and parallel programming. For instance, multiple virtual machines can be run with four processors. Hardware virtualization, high-end video game playing provision, video and photo editing, audio transcoding, data folding, 3D rendering, voice recognition facility, the options are so many to choose from in quad core computers. You can run virtual studio on XP, work on Photoshop projects on core OSX install or do any other programs in lunux distro. You can also run XP virtual machine on top of XP. You will be able to run the maximum amount of virtual machines that ESX 3 is capable of running. However the number of Virtual machines you run depends on the memory space of your quad core computer.

While talking about quad core computers, it is worth discussing about certain models of the quad core family. The Kentsfield is the first quad core desktops range from Intel. Its High performance model was Core 2 Extreme QX6700 and mainstream brand was named as Core 2 Quad Q6600. Currently Intel has brought two other models: the Core 2 Extreme QX6850 and the Core 2 Quad Q6700. Of these two, the Core 2 Quad Q6700 is just a modification from the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 adorned with a locked core multiplier.

Actually the Core 2 Q series processor of Intel is nothing but combination of two completely distinguishable Core 2 Duos packaged into a single-socket CPU. The L1 and L2 caches are different to the two individual Core 2 sets. Front side bus architecture is used to communicate with a unit of external memory controller of the north bridge. The initial Core 2 Q6700 shows an effective 1066MHz FSB clock speed with a bandwidth of 8.5GB/sec and the Core 2 Extreme QX6850 can go up to 1333MHz having bandwidth of about 10.7GB/sec.

Having said about the things that you can do on a quad core computer, the question that is being currently debated on is whether these quad core computers are a real need for this hour. For example, same performance and speed can be achieved with a dual-core CPU of Core 2 E6850 as with the Core 2 Extreme QX6850. So why you any user opt for quad core series which are expensive than the Core 2 computers? It is a fact that for general purpose use, today, Dual core or Core 2 is best economical option. Actually quad core computers were not designed for general users. It is for high end users who want to use complex algorithm programs, run parallel programming, multithreading as well as multitasking simultaneously.

However, with the advent of more complex coding programming, quad core computer is expected to be in demand in near future. In fact, computer manufacturers are positive about a significant growth of quad core computer users with in a year or two.

HP printers always make it to the top of the printer lists, which is not a surprise. The HP roster of printers is one of the best and the widest. HP offers three main categories of printers, all of which target specific groups of printing needs. They have simple printers for home and everyday use, while there are special large-capacity printers that are optimized for photo printing. Their three main printing series are the DeskJet, the OfficeJet or the LaserJet for office printing, and the Photosmart series for special photo printing. They also have standard printers as well as multi-purpose printers that work as scanners, copiers, and even fax machines. These full-powered machines are highly optimized for business printing needs. But aside from these, HP also produces large-format printers for architectural printing as well as for professional graphic printing. With all these great printers, it’s no wonder that HP is largely successful.

HP Printers: The Big Advantage

Sure, HP printers are not the only printers out there, but they do have one great advantage: the Hewlett Packard name itself. The name itself lends a certain image to whatever products they produce. This image, however, is not to be taken for granted. Anyone can tell you that HP is a brand closely associated with quality, and that’s something that years of excellent product manufacturing can bring. HP has been around for years, and it has never failed consumers once. A lot of consumers looking for trustworthy products often find the assurance that they need from this brand. Now, several years after the company started out, Hewlett Packard is now unquestionably one of the greatest names in the electronic devices industry, serving a wide range of industries and meeting various consumer demands. They have great products, especially when it comes to computers and printers. Their products also always make appearances in ratings and get raving reviews even from professionals. The HP name alone is enough reason to feel assured that the product you’re buying can answer your printing needs.

Well-Appreciated Features from HP Printers

HP printers are well-known not only for the quality of their printers but also for the great and highly beneficial features of their printers. These features help enhance your printing experience and make your life all the more convenient. One of the top features they offer is the multi-function capabilities of their printers. By fitting various purposes such as scanning, printing, copying, and faxing into one machine, printers from HP successfully cater to various needs without any hassle. HP also supports a wide variety of papers of all types and all sizes. Special photo papers and large-format papers can be supported by certain models. Computer-less printing direct from the printers is also possible. Hewlett Packard printers are also well-known for being economical in terms of per page printing cost as well as in energy consumption, with a lot of models certified for Energy Star.

HP Printers According to Ratings

HP products are not just efficient and great; they also fare well in ratings. Most consumer and expert opinions have nothing but praises for printers designed and produced by this reliable brand. Consumers are especially delighted with the wide variety of printers that the company offers, which provides them with a lot of options and heightens their chances of landing the printer that fits exactly what they need. As for experts, the best factors about these printers from the top brand are their high-powered performance, their quality, and their durability, which helps them stay in users’ homes for a long time. Some must-try products from HP include their Photosmart photo printers and their powerful OfficeJet printers. Experts also treat these products with great respect, seeing as that they are one of the permanent members of the industry.

No matter what types of problems you are experiencing you can learn how to speed up your computer today. Is your computer constantly freezing up or kicking you off the internet? Are you frustrated with it and does it seem as though purchasing a brand new one seem like the only thing that is left to do? Well this article may be the most important read that you do; we may be able to save you thousands of dollars or the payments of getting a brand new system.

First of all you have to understand that your PC is no different than your automobile in the fact that it requires certain maintenance to keep running smoothly and efficiently. If you fail to provide the maintenance then you will notice that your system will become slower. The answer is not always that you need a new computer; while you may need to get a new computer you still should learn what it takes to keep a computer running efficiently.

Even if you get a top of the line PC; in a couple of months it will be outdated because technology seems to change so fast. So you want to learn how to speed up your computer today. One of the most important things that you can do for you computer is to clean out the registry.

The PC registry is the back bone to your system; it is where all the files, programs, software and everything else that you have ever downloaded onto your computer is stored. If your computer is a couple years old; then most likely you have downloaded several files and programs onto your computer. Well what you may not be aware of is that your PC registry can only expand so far. As you continue to add programs and software to your computer; then it causes it to expand too much.

Eventually the only choice your computer has is to become slow and stagnant. When I was experiencing computer issues I notice that when I took the time to clean out the systems registry; my computer was running at least 75% faster than it was before I cleaned it out. If you have never cleaned out the registry; then you may want to perform this task and you will discover that you will be back online in no time.

Before you run out and purchase a whole new system you want to make sure that you clean out the registry and do some of the steps above as this may increase you computer’s performance. You can also visit our site below and get some other valuable information that will help you get the most of your system.

Procuring genuine IT hardware products from a reputable source is vital to ensuring that networking products can be supported, will provide the correct functionality, compatibility and life span guarantees, and that it will be covered by warranty.

Thousands of networking products are produced abroad in the Far East each year and flood the world market looking identical to authentic products. The scale of the problem was recently highlighted in the case of a New York hardware reseller who netted $10m passing off as genuine bogus Cisco networking equipment. His two and a half year prison sentence and $2.2m fine shows how seriously this problem is taken and the cost of dealing in bogus kit.

However, the huge potential reward is a big temptation to some unscrupulous dealers. It is often not possible to establish whether hardware is the real thing by simply looking at them, or indeed by using them, as the fake branding and functionality is so convincing. This causes problems for both the hardware manufacturers and their potential customers, as very often the product’s origin only becomes evident when a warranty issue arises, leaving customers angry and disgruntled and manufacturers frustrated and helpless - not to mention out of pocket. In fact, millions of pounds are lost every year through fake product flooding into the European and US markets - both in terms of revenue for manufacturers and of productivity, resale value and associated costs for users.

But it transpires that the risks to purchasing bogus kit could be even greater. There is a potential to configure networks to spy on businesses from the very heart of their information systems and it has emerged that, incredibly, counterfeit networking kit was being used by the US military which could have posed a possible significant national security threat.

So how do you avoid buying phony kit?

You can buy through approved or certified partners. These are dealers who comply with the relevant conditions. In addition, you can expect that the manufacturer will fully support the products you buy from here. There is a drawback with these approved partners: they are usually the most expensive place to buy product.

However, it is still possible to obtain networking products at favourable prices, yet still benefit from professional support and services - look for resellers who can offer both. There are very professional organisations who deal in IT hardware who are not necessarily restricted by the limiting terms of business imposed by manufacturers. These companies can supply perfectly genuine and legal hardware at much lower prices which, for a large organisation, can make an enormous impact on the IT budget and even on profitability. Additionally, a few companies offer refurbished hardware which is very much less expensive, but in most circumstances as fit for purpose as new hardware, fully functional and supported.

Many organisations are needlessly missing out on high quality products at a fraction of what they have paid, simply because the fear of bogus equipment is so great. There can be significant cost benefits to using a hardware dealer who is not necessarily authorised and who can supply a mix of new and refurbished genuine networking kit.

Choosing a supplier who is prepared to support the products he sells, and who offers services around those products, is a good way to establish a company’s credibility. An all singing, all dancing website does not prove a company has integrity, but a long-established website can be significant and this can be verified through Google. Customer recommendation is a good indication of whether a company does sell genuine product. In addition, look for a dealer who sells a range of networking products and is completely independent. You are more likely to be sold products that are perfect for the job you need them to do rather than products the dealer happens to sell.

If you travel to other countries frequently, then you realize what a hassle it is to take small appliances or electronics with you due to voltage differences. One country might use a standard of 110 to 120 volts while another might have a voltage range of 210 to 230 volts. In these cases, voltage converters (often called voltage transformers) can help solve the problem and save you money when traveling.

Voltage differences can make it difficult to take along needful items such as hairdryers, irons, electric shavers, alarm clocks, and even entertainment products such as DVD players, VCRs, or TVs. All electrical products require a certain amount of voltage to operate. Most manufacturers develop products based on the standard voltage for the particular country where the items will be sold. Without the proper voltage, these items are useless in other countries.

Even code free DVD players (region free) do not always have the correct voltage for where you are traveling. Though these might be designed for PAL or NTSC formats, this doesn’t mean the voltage will match the standard range for the country you plan to visit. To enhance your entertainment even further, you might also want to take along a multisystem TV, which will possibly require a voltage converter.

What is a Voltage Converter?

A voltage converter is a device used to increase or reduce the amount of voltage going from an electrical item to an outlet. It allows for the use of a product from one geographical region to another region when the standard voltage ranges differ. Some voltage converters double the amount of voltage (step up) while others cut it by half (step down). Many converters today can do both.

When buying a voltage converter, find out the standard voltage of the hotel where you plan to lodge. You’ll need to know the voltage of your electrical appliance as well as the voltage of the outlets in that particular country. A step up voltage converter will convert the voltage from 110 volts to 230 volts. A step down converter will convert the voltage from 230 volts to 110 volts. Converters are labeled to display their capabilities, such as “110V to 220V Converter.”

Voltage converters also vary by the amount of wattage, which can be more or less with different types of appliances. Non-heating items and electric shavers require only a 50-watt voltage converter while items that heat up (such as curling irons, clothes irons, and hair dryers) will likely need at least a 1600-watt converter.

If you plan to take with you a multisystem TV or a multisystem LCD TV, you’ll need a voltage converter that is more powerful than the wattage indicated at the rear of your TV set. This is because TVs create a surge when turned on and this could damage the converter. Remember - always turn your converter to the correct voltage before plugging it in!

Check the wattage needed for other larger electronics such as your region free or code free DVD player, VCR, computer, CD player, or even a camcorder. When buying a voltage converter, be sure to get other accessories you’ll need with it such as plug end adaptors (for various types of outlets in other countries). You might also want to invest in a universal surge suppressor. Some brand names for voltage converters include Simran, Regvolt, Travelarts, Tripplite, and others.

Electrical problems should be the least of your worries when traveling! A voltage converter can save you time and money when traveling. You can take along all your favorite electrical items and avoid buying new ones when you arrive at your destination. Go online for affordable voltage converters or transformers, multisystem TVs, code free DVD players, and more.

WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) isn’t new technology (the WiMax forum was created in 2001 to promote the standard), but it’s only recently that it has made people sit up and pay greater attention. According to Robert Morrow, a retired Air Force Academy electrical engineering professor, WiFi and cellular data are on the way out because the future belongs to WiMax. There are others, however, who are not quite as glowing in their praise of the emerging WiMax technology, and who believe that it will prove too expensive to have any real practical value.

In an article for LiveScience, Morrow explains why he believes WiMax is the way of the future. Even though WiMax will not be free, as WiFi is, it offers uninterrupted service. Its reach is longer than WiFi’s (several kilometres as opposed to several metres) and its signal is stronger, although this is dependent on the distance from base station antennaes. In theory, users should be able to stay connected online all the way across the United States without losing signal once, a feat which is currently impossible even with mobile phone technology. This is because WiMax is compatible with a range of digital cellular service providers, and not just with one or two.

While WiMax doesn’t currently enjoy wide spread use, Morrow believes that within the next 2-5 years it will be commonplace in all major US cities, and that in 5 years time, it will be sold with all laptops, or none of them. Which seems rather contradictory, but he says that WiMax’s ultimate success will depend on how quickly laptop vendors will add WiMax modems to their products.

David Jarvis, a South African telecoms entrepreneur, is one those people who still believes in the power of WiFi. At the 2007 WiWorld Conference, Jarvis said that WiFi is still a more affordable alternative to WiMax. According to Jarvis, a WiMax base stations costs around $35,000 (£17,703) to build, while a WiFi station costs a mere $2,500 (£1,264). The CPE price of WiFi is also lower, $250 (£126) vs. $350 (£177) for WiMax. Other factors favouring WiFi include its already widespread adoption and the fact that it’s available in commonly used wireless devices.

The Wireless Access Providers’ Association of South Africa (WAPA) has compiled a list of reasons why Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) prefer WiFi, such as the tried and tested capability of WiFi. WiMax has yet to prove itself capable of living up to expectations and to justify the price increase from WiFi. In addition, the use of both technologies in the Far East has shown that WiFi is superior to WiMax as a business model.

Pakistan, however, is throwing its weight behind WiMax, as it has constructed the largest WiMax network in the world. Wateen Telecom, in conjunction with Motorola Hardware, has installed the network across 17 cities in Pakistan.

While the debate between WiMax and WiFi rages on, some experts in the telecoms industry believe that both technologies can exist alongside each other, with each sharing an equal piece of the telecoms pie. They predict that those who are expecting a major battle between the two will be sorely disappointed, as the future is rosy for both of them.

Recommended sites:

http://www.livescience.com/technology/080603-wireless-future.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX

It is inevitable. I call it digital inertia. It builds up within any computer from the moment it is assembled, sold and fired up for the first time. All computers, no matter how fast, how furious, become lumps of porridge within a few months. Some last longer, but the build up of digital dust mites and laziness is something none of us can avoid. Our speed demon has become a horned turtle and we always ask ourselves what happened? We find ourselves turning to our technologically inclined friends and asking “How to speed up my computer?” There are a lot of factors involved, but I’ll tell you some sure fire ways to speed up your computer in 1 hour.

Over time, because of its dedication to keep up to date, you will realise your program task bar is full of programs, some of which you have no idea how they got there in the first place, and some of them you haven’t even used past the first ‘fire it up and test it’ phase. All these programs after a while end up putting a lot of clutter in your memory, because over time, the information gets fragmented and Windows has to constantly re-fragment the information, seeking it out from hidden digital cul de sacs, weaving it together for a program launch. Defragment your disk! It will take you less than an hour - maybe more if you have the entire Guggenheim museum stored in your hard disks. You will notice a 50% increase in speed, guaranteed. Other than Windows disk defragmenter - there are plenty more efficient and speedier, full featured defragmentation programs out there for you to use.

Another reason for the gradual decline in speed could be that a PC is overloaded with information. Take a look at your start-up programs and the programs you have running in the background. Are they essential? A full featured anti-virus program cuts quite deep into the virtual memory. Scrutinise all the programs you have and delete and uninstall the ones you don’t need - especially the ones that are using up precious memory. Just press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and run through the processes tab - a lot will be revealed to you. If, by chance, you need all those programs, then don’t fret - upgrade your memory. Buy an extra stick of RAM if your PC is overloaded with your high memory programs.

Optimise, optimise, optimise. I can’t stress this enough. There are so many programs and registry cleaners out there on the internet that help to clean out the registry, all loose floating files in hidden temp and system folders and any digital stragglers choking the otherwise fine machinery of your speed demon computer. A program like this does everything from A-Z, sniffing out all possible sectors of your computer, including that all important brain box of a registry that basically controls EVERY aspect of your computer. Keep it up to date and clean - that makes the difference between a running computer and a stuttering computer.

So, there you have it, sure fire ways to speed up your computer. Of course there are so many other ways and so many different sectors that need addressing, but these are some of the common and major issues plaguing PC users the world over.

By now, hardly anyone is unaware of the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and that the symbol is a pink ribbon). It all began in 1985, when the two founding members of NBCAM (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month) spent a week distributing brochures, talking to reporters, and testifying before a congressional committee about the need for easy access to mammography.

These days, it’s a huge, international movement, and all over the world you can partake in walks and races to show your support, and hopefully raise some money for research. In several countries, major buildings are lit up in pink to draw attention to the cause: the Empire State Building in NYC, the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, The Taipei 101 Tower in Taiwan, and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai are just a few. If you’re in New York City on October 2nd 2008, check out Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street - the entire store will be lit up in pink. And should you happen to be in London on October 16, you’ll have the chance to see the Tower of London illuminated in pink.

But even if you don’t have the time or ability to travel or set out on a 2 or 3-day walk, there is an easy and fun way to help support breast cancer research - shopping! There are many, many companies who will donate a percentage of the price of their products ranging from cookies to cruises. But since I have a thing for pink electronics, I thought we’d focus on that here.

Sony’s VAIO notebooks are not only cute and high performing - when you buy a pink VAIO SR laptop in October, Sony will donate $75 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Cables Unlimited, makers of the absolutely adorable KaBling series of pink, crystal-adorned cables and speakers, sponsors the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and every KaBling purchase you make helps. Cables Unlimited says they are planning to expand the KaBling line to include even more products, so keep your eyes out for that.

Ebags have an entire site dedicated to bags that support the cause, and they donate 10% of everything you buy on that site, year round, to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Check out the many laptop sleeves - I especially like the bright pink one with a large, red poppy on it for MacBooks (for those of us who have been waiting for a pink MacBook for a loooooong time now… well, we’re still waiting), or the Designer Sleeves, which come in 20 different designs. Two are pink, one camouflage and one a fuchsia “heart explosion”. Other designs include a peace sign, leopard pattern and various photos.

I can’t help but love the classic pink Komen Leather Tote offered by Mobile Edge. It has an interior protection compartment for your laptop, a detachable accessory pouch, fits under airline seats and comes with a lifetime warranty. Just like Ebags, Mobile Edge donates 10% of the price to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.

If you’re not in the mood to shop but still want to help out, sign up for Windows Live Hotmail or Windows Live Messenger. It’s free, and every time you use either one, Microsoft donates a portion of the advertising revenue to Susan G. Komen For The Cure.

As you can see, there is plenty you can do to help without even leaving your desk. For a complete listing of products supporting breast cancer research, go to the websites of NBCF, BCRF and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Happy shopping!