Clean your computer In times of pandemic of the new coronavirus, the first tip needs to be this: sanitize the equipment. First of all, unplug the PC and remove all peripherals, such as mice, keyboards, flash drives, among others. If possible, wear gloves during the procedure. Notebook manufacturers recommend never using abrasives or other cleaning substances other than a simple combination of 30% water (preferably distilled, without minerals) with 70% isopropyl alcohol. That is, each 100 mL should have 30 mL of water and 70 mL of alcohol. Care must be taken not to confuse it with alcohol 70: consumers should prefer isopropyl, which also kills viruses in general and is the most suitable for electronics. It is important not to spray anything directly on the computer, either on the screen or on the housing. Instead, deposit the liquid on a soft cloth, such as a microfiber, and gently wipe the lid. In the display, make circular movements without forcing the LCD. The same goes for the keyboard, but only after removing the dust that remains between the keys: for this, it is recommended to use a clean brush or turn the notebook upside down to drop the debris. It is also important to clean the mouse with the same care. Clean the system Computers tend to get slow over time, especially if they are not used very often. To ensure good performance, start by downloading pending system updates through Windows Update on Windows 10 or in macOS settings. Then, run cleaning software like Advanced SystemCare and Ashampoo WinOptimizer to identify useless items and remove them to free up space. Just two precautions are required: read the installation screens to avoid getting unnecessary apps and uninstall the utilities after running the scan to avoid intrusive notifications. With e-waste properly deleted, check that the hard drive has enough free space to work. In general, the operating system informs you when the storage is full: Windows, for example, issues a warning on the file explorer “This computer” screen. Programs like TreeSize can help you discover what takes up the most memory on your PC and what can be deleted. Test camera and sound hardware Make sure your computer’s camera, microphone and speaker are working well before you need to make a video call. The simplest way to test is through Skype’s native tool. Open the program, which comes pre-installed on Windows 10, or download the desktop version for older versions of the Microsoft system or for macOS and Linux. Click on the menu next to the name to access the settings and search for the item “Audio and video”. The webcam image should appear on the screen, as well as the visual response of the sound capture below “Microphone”. Below, click on “Test audio” to check if the sound is being played normally by the computer. In each section of the settings, note that there is a menu at the top where you can choose the default camera, microphone or speaker. Use these menus to set up an external device, such as a webcam, headset or speaker. In an emergency, you can use apps like the DroidCam Wireless Webcam to transform using your phone as a webcam. However, if the notebook has a defective camera, microphone or speaker, it is best to use video calling apps directly on the smartphone, such as Skype, Zoom Cloud Meetings and Hangouts Meet. Connect another screen Having another screen can be interesting to improve productivity in the home office. Monitors connected to the notebook via HDMI, for example, help maintain correct posture during the workday. In the absence of a monitor, it is also possible to use the TV, as long as a healthy distance is maintained, at least 1.5 meters for 40 ”screens and 2 meters for 50 inches. In the absence of an appropriate cable, it is worth using devices such as Chromecast to mirror the notebook screen via Wi-Fi. Some smart TVs from brands like LG and Samsung also allow the notebook screen to be transmitted via the DLNA protocol. Use a good mouse A good mouse can be instrumental in working well at home, especially in tasks with spreadsheets, presentations and audio, video and image editors. Using the laptop’s trackpad for extended periods can strain your hands a lot and still hurt productivity. Prefer ergonomic, lightweight models with a long battery life. If your budget allows, invest in a good wireless gamer mouse, as this type of accessory is always good for work too. Another option is to opt for inexpensive models also without cables, but that work with USB adapter and common batteries. In that case, you may want to invest a little more in rechargeable batteries to save money in the long run. Turn off notifications Turn off Windows or Mac notifications to avoid losing concentration. In Windows 10, click on the message balloon in the right corner of the taskbar and select the Focus Assistant shortcut. Leave the option “Alarms only” to be notified only if you create a reminder yourself. On the Apple computer, click the icon to the right of the top bar to open the side panel and swipe up to see the “Do Not Disturb” key. In both cases, it is also possible to set a time for alerts to be automatically disabled. Use apps and get organized to avoid distractions Installing the Work Mode or Block Site extensions in the browser to limit the times when social networks can be accessed is an interesting tip for not being distracted. When activated, plugins prevent the opening of sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube during working hours. In spite of this, the user can always unlock everything he wants: the tools only serve to discourage continuous access and improve performance. Another option is to use additional workspaces to separate personal tasks from those pertinent to the job. On the PC, use the Windows + Tab shortcut or click on the multitasking icon in the bottom bar to open the activity overview. Click on “New workspace” to create another environment and drag documents and programs from one place to another. The same can be done on the Mac: drag up with three fingers on the trackpad and create a new desktop to organize tasks. Configure QoS on the router The QoS feature found in some routers can improve Wi-Fi performance when it comes to work. The function can, for example, dedicate a larger bandwidth of internet to a specific computer or task, reducing the speed of secondary devices, such as video game consoles or smart TVs. The feature is an interesting alternative to ensure, for example, that an important video call does not suffer from crashes and falls even if children are playing or watching videos on Netflix.
