Q: I am buying a computer for my son at college. My son also likes to use streaming video and sound. The person at the store said the basic onboard graphics would burn out pretty quickly and I would need to add a video card. The dedicated card upgrade adds about $200 to the cost of the computer so I don't want the added expense if I can avoid it.
— Beth Winterbottom
A: Worst case, the onboard graphics won't burn out in some big flash of flame and smoke. So forget that. But it may not be capable of running some computer games, and there's a big performance jump in streaming video when you use a dedicated video card.
So I'd lean toward adding one. Shop around and compare prices. You should be able to find a better deal than $200.
Q: I have a laptop that I use at home and, for the most part, it stays on my desk. Would it be better for the life of my laptop battery if I removed it from the laptop and ran off the AC adapter?
— Ron Gastin
A: Batteries in modern laptops are much better these days. But experts think it is still smart to remove the battery when you'll be running the computer off house current for an extended period. Here's an excellent Web page that endorses that and adds several other ways to extend battery life : http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
Help from a reader
First, as a lifelong nerd, I always enjoy reading your column. Second, a recent question had to do with installing a wired or wireless network. I have both at home myself, but I've always had wireless connectivity issues with one PC located a good distance from my router.
I finally solved my problem by using (a powerline ethernet adaptor, which plugs into an electrical outlet). It's fast and I have no connection issues. This could be a solution for people wanting a home network without using wireless, or running cable all over the house.
Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/yxyc99
— William Herndon
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