#008: Windows 8 Performance on an 8 Year Old Laptop (Thinkpad X41)

I recently retired my good old IBM Thinkpad X41 tablet laptop and decided to experiment with Windows 8. The claim had been that the system requirements were even lower than Windows 7 and I wanted to see just how low that could actually be. In all fairness, I did purchase a 1.8″ SSD from eBay as the only upgrade on the machine (the original 4500 RPM hard drive had died). I was absolutely blown away by the speed of this machine with Windows 8 installed! I’m going to be installing Photoshop or Illustrator in the near future to see how well it performs with a heavy-duty drawing program while using the stylus and will be sure to post another video here. Mind you, Flash video and other processor-intensive operations are still fairly slow but basic computing is pretty good. This actually brought new life to a machine I had long since written off!!

UPDATE: I have since learned that Windows 8 doesn’t truly perform a shut down in the traditional sense –It still executes a hibernation. This means a longer time in the powering down phase since it is writing everything in RAM to the hard drive but it also means much faster startup times. I have long suggested doing this when using laptops due to their slow drives but the fact is that it makes sense no matter what you’re running. Microsoft has simply forced our hand to always perform a hibernation when powering down and never truly shuts down the OS like we have conventionally though…

Drilling Your Own Bore Well – Is It Feasible?

  During the summers there are times wherein we need more water that what’s usually supplied and we shouldn’t completely rely on the public sector for our water resources. Therefore, one of the best things to do in order to ensure that you and your home have enough water all the year round is to dig a well. However, due to the depleting water levels, a well isn’t going to be of much use today, instead it would be wise to construct a bore well.

How To Choose the Best Table Saw for Your Budget

If you are buying a table saw for the first time, it can be hard to know in which direction to go. Read here to learn about the different choices for table saws and how to choose a good one that fits your budget.

Learning How To Become Self Sufficient And Survive Off The Grip

There has been a recent surge in survivalists and preppers. Discover why and what is involved.

Common Gas Meter Issues and How to Solve Them

If you have something in your house that consumes a considerable amount of gas, there are issues that you may have faced which tend to be frustrating and even tricky to solve. If you have been lucky not to have faced these issues, you still need to be aware of them and how to solve them.

A Beginners Guide To Understanding Generators

With the recent hurricanes and floodings, the weather is becoming highly unpredictable. Which at times can result in hundreds of thousands of people being without power and a stable infrastructure. Therefore its understandable for many homes to be preparing for the worst and making improvements, especially those who live within danger zones and areas that are prone to flooding.

How Exactly Does A Diesel Generator Work?

Millions of people throughout the world, including home owners and businesses, not forgetting hospitals etc.. all benefit from using generators.

Power Tool Maintenance: Best Practices for Keeping Your Power Tools Performing Great

No matter how durable or high-performance our power tools are, they require a certain level of up-keep to maintain their functionality. By remembering the following few maintenance practices, you’ll increase the life of your power tools and keep them performing at their peak.

Diamond Tools – How to Use Them

How to use and select properly diamond drill bits. Explaining the difference in diamond drill bits available, usage, technology and pitfalls.

Buying Gas Control and Testing Equipment

Whether used for cooking or as a heating fuel for households, natural gas-the cleanest burning fossil fuel-has countless applications in everyday life; furthermore, it accounts for about 25% of the world’s energy consumption. The United Kingdom (UK) is one the biggest producers of natural gas and in 2011, held an estimated 9 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas reserves.

Time Savers for Every Contractor – Part 1 of 3: The Job Planning Phase

There are numerous differences between a good contractor and a great contractor. Aside from the simple fact of being knowledgeable in your trade there are a few main factors that will set the best tradesmen aside from the rest. When it comes to being the best in your trade, you need to be knowledgeable, good at what you do, and efficient. Whether you’re an electrician, plumber, HVAC, general contractor or the like, here are my tops tips to save time on any contracting job.

Time Savers for Contractors – Part 2 of 3: Getting the Job Finished in Record Time

As a contractor in the trades our brains are often a much more useful tool than our bodies. Sure we need to use the two interchangeably to complete any contracting job; however, we can definitely save time on any job site if we work smarter, not harder. Below you will find my best tips for getting a job done the smart way so you save yourself a lot of time.

Choose Auger Bits Wisely for Better Functionality

The auger is a machine that can make a hole in any material from one side to another by means of a rotating screw on the other hand a bit is shaped like an auger but without a handle used for wood boring and earth drilling. These drilling machines are available in various forms as wood drill, gun drill, dental drill, surgical drill, spade drill and so on and human lives are incomplete without them. Several activities are made by these auger bits such as tree planting, gardening, digging holes for fence post, holes for electrical and communication posts.

The Benefits of Using Titanium

Titanium is a very popular metal that is used for various reasons. It can withstand harsh weather conditions and is very resistant to corrosion.

You Can Have The Most Attractive Yard In Your Neighborhood

Yard services range from routine mowing and trimming to detailed maintenance such as insect control, weed elimination, and lawn feeding. These are required in order to have a beautiful green carpet of grass.

Four Major Types of High Pressure Cleaners

Businesses that provide or require thorough cleaning services need high pressure cleaning tools to get the job done. These cleaners are mechanical devices that are designed primarily to wash off dirt, grime, grease and other contaminants from the surface of machines, vehicles and buildings.