You’ve probably seen the word “Linux” online or heard your local computer technician yapping about it at one point or another. But what exactly is Linux? What makes people think it’s so darn cool?

It all began with Unix, or rather the dissatisfaction with the way that Unix worked that pushed a young Finnish student Linus Torvalds to create his version inspired by Unix that he called “Linux” in 1991.

Other programmers around the world worked on the finished piece, and strengthened the final product, creating different versions – known as distributions – with added features and capabilities. Of all those variations, the three most popular are currently Mint, Manjaro, and Ubuntu.

Linux works on the principles of open source, which means that the source code – lines of code that make up the framework of any computer program – is freely available to anyone to modify or improve upon. So instead of there just being a room full of developers on software, there’s a worldwide network working to improve and maintain open source software like Linux.

It’s a little-known fact that Linux runs the majority of the largest servers in the world. Popular sites like Facebook, Amazon, and Google are all hosted on Linux servers. In fact, if you use an Android phone, you’re really using Linux, as Android is based on a Linux foundation.

Some people use Linux as their primary desktop operating system, rather than the standard Windows or MacOS. The main reason they’re using it would be that Linux offers a higher level of privacy and security. Most Linux users are also huge supporters of the open source community and by choosing this operating system they’re directly supporting the community.

While being slightly obscure, Linux is really the most widespread computer operating system being used in the world today.

Are you ready to give Linux a try? No Ware Computer Repair can get you all set up!

We all love knowledge! Those little bits and bytes of information we can share to the ears of others.

This week we decided to do something a little different, and our crack team of researchers gathered a few computer trivia facts for you to add to your mind’s database, and perhaps win a round on trivia night or a game of Trivial Pursuit against your significant other.

Without further ado, Grand Junction‘s own No Ware Computer Repair presents, 10 Random Computer Facts!

1. 00000000 – this was the password for the computer controls of nuclear missiles of the US for total 8 years!

2. Funnily enough, one of the most successful people in the world, Bill Gates, was a college dropout. More commonly known as the founder of Microsoft, Bill dropped out of Harvard University just two years after entering in 1973.

3. The first Apple computer ever made by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak was made from old parts they collected for free from the people they worked with, and did not have its own monitor. In fact, if anything, it looked a lot more like an old typewriter.

4. The first two computer games to be released in the United States were called Asteroids and Lunar Lander in 1980, they were incredibly simple, but they were gateways into the ever-growing popularity of the role-playing games in the nineties.

5. Though your teachers may have told you to never use Wikipedia as a source when writing essays or papers, around 50% of all Wikipedia vandalism is caught by a single computer program with more than 90% accuracy, and it’s becoming increasingly more accurate with each passing year. Of course, you probably still shouldn’t use Wikipedia as a source…

6. “Black hat” hacking is actually a major criminal industry, even though it’s not as easily detected as burglary or something else along those lines. Approximately 70% of malware authors are said to work under contract for organized crime syndicates. That makes it somewhat of an illegal corporate empire right under our noses.

7. It’s probably easy to pay those hackers seeing as only ten percent of the world’s money is tangible, whereas the rest of our currency is online in computers. Kind of terrifying isn’t it?

8. Something else a little terrifying, but also exciting – “Sophia” is Hanson Robotics’ latest and most advanced robot to date and a cultural icon. She has gone onto talk shows and traveled worldwide to show off her technological advancements. She learns every day, and recently acquired citizenship in Saudi Arabia.

9. Computer programming is presently the fastest growing occupation up to date. It’s also probably one of the safest jobs you could ever get, aside from maybe eyestrain and finger cramps.

10. The majority of computer users likely use Windows as their preferred operating system, but did you know that nine out of ten of the world’s super computers actually run on Linux? Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon are all powered by it too. Linux is a secret superstar.

So, there you have it! 10 random facts about the world of computers! May you use this knowledge in good health. Stay tuned to the No Ware Journal as you never know when we will gather more for the curious mind to process!

The Internet isn’t the only place viruses can be lurking, waiting to cause harm to you and your family.

The keyboard you tap away at on a day to day basis could be absolutely riddled with germs and bacteria. Not only that, but your other computer peripherals like your mouse, touch pad, touch screen, or stylus can easily collect dirt and grime with just a short time of use. Studies done with spectrum lights have shown that most of the same germs and bacteria that can be found on a toilet seat, public water fountain, and even the bathroom doorknob, can also be found on your mouse, keyboard, touch pad and, especially your touchscreen.

When it comes to cleaning your computer equipment; which you have already spent a good bit of money on, you should definitely exercise caution. These aren’t just like your kitchen counters or the occasional buildup of grime in the shower, so harsh cleaning chemicals won’t do the trick; if anything they’ll probably do more harm than good.

Though most of your peripheral cleaning can easily be done with just a dust cloth, or a can of compressed air – to get at those cookie crumbs and pizza crust chunks stuck between the keys – we strongly advise against the use of most household cleaning agents. The best bet is rubbing alcohol, 90% if you can find it, white vinegar, or a strong ammonia-based window cleaner.

Never spray the peripheral directly, always spritz or pour a little on a dry cloth, you want the cloth damp, not wet. Too much fluid can cause unnecessary drips, that may damage components.  Remember, you are washing computer parts here, not a dirty plate after Thanksgiving dinner.

Soft cloths are best used when de-germing more fragile peripherals, like your touchscreen. When cleaning don’t apply too much unnecessary pressure, this can cause the touch components of a touchscreen to squish, or one of the connections on your keyboard to short out or even get stuck in the forever typing position. The idea here is to let the cleaning solution do the work, not elbow grease.

If your keyboard or mouse have a large buildup of dirt and grime, use a cotton swab or Q-tip to get within the smaller cracks and crevices. You can also take a bowl with a small amount vinegar or alcohol, dampen the Q-tip – squeezing out the excess liquid –  and then gently clean those crevices.

Mice, touch pads and touch screens have the tendency to get incredibly mucky which can ultimately makes things short out, not connect, and thereby cause them to not work to their full potential. Simple sanitation wipes can do the trick, but sometimes even these have too much liquid, best to squeeze out the excess before tackling any peripheral with it.

Your computer is a working machine with a fan and parts that move constantly, dust buildup makes them slow down and eventually stop altogether, which leads to an inefficient, slow moving device. Giving the inside of the case a good compressed air spritzing is just good household hygiene. Air borne pathogens can easily get caught is the dust bunnies of a fan to come back later to infect your family.

Cleaning the components of your computer can seem a little risky, so if you’re unsure about what you’re doing and think you need some assistance, feel free to call or drop by No Ware Computer Repair in Grand Junction, CO anytime!