FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 027 (15/10/96)

BUGS OR BALONEY?

The issue of computer virus has for some time now received media publicity amidst an alarming array of anti-virus software, for both business and home PC users. How should the hype be interpreted? Can you offer any advice as to the real threat, fact or fiction, as it does appear that most scares amount to very little.

S.T., Witney

A

The risk of catastrophic damage to your PC system from a computer virus is minimal, providing you use standard-issue, tried and tested operating software and applications, plus take a few sensible precautions. The chances of ‘infection’ increase as soon as you start to load programs or data of uncertain origin, download obscure software from bulletin boards, the Internet and other on-line services, or connect your machine to a network.

Very few stand-alone PCs ever become infected with the headline-grabbing virus’s, that corrupt data and wipe hard-disc drives, and it’s important to remember that no virus is capable of damaging hardware. If you avoid putting software into your machine you’re not completely sure of and carry out a regular backup of data you would not want to loose, then you really need have no worries.

HOW GREEN IS MY PC?

I use my PC for around six hours each day and It occurs to me that it’s probably consuming a fair amount of energy. Has anyone worked out the annual running costs of a typical PC, and is there any way would-be purchasers can tell if one model is more energy efficient than another? Incidentally, my own system comprises an Olivetti Envision P75, used with a Samsung 14-inch monitor, Canon BJ210 bubblejet printer and US Robotics modem.

M.G.G., Chingford

A

Let’s use your system as an example, though the Envision is a little unusual as it has a ‘standby’ mode. It is rated at 77 watts when running, and 20 watts in standby. Assuming 6 hours use per day, 250 days a year (allowing for holidays etc.) then  6 x 77 x 250 = 115,500, that’s 115.5 kilowatt-hours or 115.5 ‘units’ of electricity for the time it’s switched on, and 131.4 units (20 x 18 x 365) if you leave it in standby, giving a grand total of 246.9 units per year. The monitor consumes 80 watts, only when it’s switched on; over a year that amounts to another 120 units (80 x 6 x 250 = 120,000). The printer and modem use very little power, though both have mains modules that remain connected to the mains, so we’ll be fairly pessimistic and say they account for another 20 units of electricity a year between them. Rounding up all the numbers that comes to something like 390 units a year. The average cost of electricity in London is 7.3 pence per unit, multiplied by 390 that is £28.47, plus VAT at 8%, so your computer costs you around £31 per year to run. If you switch it off, rather than use the standby mode you will save almost £10 a year.

A lot of PCs and monitors have energy-saving modes, that shut down the screen, and stop the hard disc drive spinning when they’re not being used; lower-power processor chips and ancillary devices are also helping to reduce energy consumption, though it’s not always easy to tell from the specs, which machines are the most frugal. Maybe if more people asked about energy consumption, manufacturers would give it a higher priority.

HP SAUCE

I brought an ink cartridge for my Hewlett Packard Printer from Escom. It turned out to be faulty; obviously Escom cannot help anymore, and I’m fed up with the robotic voices on HP’s expensive ‘0891’ helpline. Do you have an address for their Customer Services department?

D.J.N., Thanet

A

Send the cartridge, along with a short covering note, with your details, to: Customer Relations Group, Hewlett Packard Ltd, Cain Road, Bracknell, Berks, RG12 1HN. They assure us it will be replaced by return.