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Saturday, June 1st, 2013

If you enjoy streaming movies, TV shows, or even sports on your laptop, you know that the smaller screen is one of the trade-offs for online streaming. But this is quickly changing. Now you can have a big screen laptop without all the wires and cables. Laptops with WiDi, or Intel Wireless Display, can connect to a receiver connected to your TV.

Connecting Laptop To TV Wirelessly With Windows 7

With Intel WiDi:

1) Plug the receiver of your wireless detection device into an outlet. Connect the HDMI cable attached to the receiver into your TV. Make sure the TV input is set to HDMI.

2) If your laptop has built-in WiDi, press the WiDi button.

3) If you do not have a WiDi button, open Start and search for “Intel Wireless Display.” Select your receiver and connect.

Connecting Laptop To TV Wirelessly With Standalone Wireless Adapter

If you do not have built in WiDi, you can purchase standalone adapters, which will allow you to wirelessly transmit the display signal to the TV:

1) Plug the receiver of your wireless adapter into an outlet, and connect the HDMI cable to your TV. Set the input on your TV to HDMI.

2) Plug the transmitter device into your laptop.

3) Click Start and search “Connect to an External Display.” Select your wireless adapter from the drop down menu.

Need Professional Help?

If you are having issues with connecting your laptop to your TV wirelessly with Windows 7, use TalkLocal. We will quickly connect you with high-quality, local IT technicians who will be ready to help you when you need it most. And best of all — our service is free!

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

Do I Need Active Release Chiropractic Therapy Or Deep Tissue Massage?

Saturday, June 1st, 2013

Those who suffer from pain will look for any method to relieve it, but which method is right for your pain? If you are experiencing muscular or joint pain, here is one central question to ponder: Do I need active release chiropractic therapy or deep tissue massage?

The following facts about each may help you make your decision, but ultimately, a professional will be able to best determine which treatment fits your situation.

Deep Tissue Massage

– As the name implies, it focuses on deep, muscular tissue.

– Works through the kneading and applying of pressure to the soft tissue over a period of time to relax the offending muscle.

– Has been shown to relieve headaches, stress, tension, while increasing flexibility and circulation.

– Side effects include nausea, headache, and soreness similar to the sore feeling after a workout.

– While many experience positive results after treatment, some only experience temporary relief from symptoms and need continuous treatments.

Active Release Treatment

– Focuses on connective tissue that may have been damaged due to injury, over-working, or repetitive movements.

– Works through the stretching, manipulation, and tension of the soft tissue.

– Has been shown to relieve headaches caused by shortened, taught muscles, to relieve TMJ, sciatica, and reoccurring sprains and strains. Has also been shown to successfully treat carpal tunnel and other peripheral nerve entrapment disorders.

– May cause pain or discomfort during the first few treatments, but pain will subside shortly after treatment.

– As long as adjustments to the patient’s lifestyle after treatment are followed, it is very unlikely that symptoms will reoccur.

Get A Professional’s Advice

While both methods of treatment have been shown to help similar ailments, only a professional can determine which one will be best for you. To find one, check our TalkLocal’s free service. We will connect you with a qualified chiropractic professional in minutes who will know the answer to your crucial question: Do I need active release chiropractic therapy or deep tissue massage?

Posted in Chiropractors | No Comments »

Ideas For Remodeling A Basement: Lighting

Saturday, June 1st, 2013

Finishing your basement is a dream come true for some homeowners. You’ll finally have your man cave, crafting room, or your movie suite. Then comes the realization that, while fixing up the lighting, you have no idea what to change.

Some ideas for remodeling a basement include different lighting effects that may prove to bring a unique touch to the room. Here are some examples.

Typical overhead lighting: Depending on how large your basement is, if you’re looking for overhead lighting that can illuminate the whole room, you’ll probably need florescent lighting. Florescent lighting is usually brighter than regular lighting, lasts longer, and saves about a third of the energy. These can also be installed throughout the ceiling of your basement to make the whole room light up according to your needs.

Stand-alone floor lamps: Especially if you’re looking to have a workstation or a movie room in your basement, investing in multiple stand-alone floor lamps can offer a unique and stylized lighting scheme for your basement. You can wire the electrical outlets to control the lamps with a single on/off switch or leave them all operating individually. This can provide extra light near your work station or the proper mood lighting for a movie.

Decorative hanging lights: These add another level of aesthetic value to your basement. You can pick a color scheme and then pick some decorative hanging lights to match. Whether you are interested in the Chinese hanging lanterns that offer a soft glow with a beautiful look, ceramic light fixtures with color schemes and patterns, or even something as simple as Christmas lights hanging around the ceiling, picking out decorative hanging lights can add more or less lighting as you see fit.

Always Be Cautious When Working With Electricity

You can always bounce your ideas for remodeling a basement off of a professional electrician to see if they are feasible. Once you figure out how you want to light your basement, you may need a professional to help you do it. TalkLocal can connect you with the local electricians that can get your basement lighting set up the way you want it.

Posted in Electricians | No Comments »

Closed In Porch Designs

Friday, May 31st, 2013

As the weather warms, many of us want to be able to enjoy the outdoors. After the long months of being cooped up for the winter, we tend to forget the side effects that come with warmer weather: sweltering sun, insect bites, wind, and rainstorms.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to enjoy the warmth, wildlife, and fresh air without experiencing all of those side effects of summer, while simultaneously adding curb appeal?

A closed in porch is one viable solution. Depending on your climate and personal preferences, here are some ideas for closed in porch designs.

Closed In Porch Designs

– If you live in an area that experiences cold winters, you may consider a mostly glass enclosed porch. Leave some panels with screens that can be replaced with glass in the winter time. This way, you can enjoy the sunlight and winter wildlife from the warm comfort of your porch. In the summer, remove the selected glass panels with screens and enjoy the warm breeze.

– If you live in a mostly warm climate and enjoy an old-fashioned look, consider installing full-length shutters. These are popular in places such as Louisiana. When opened, they allow for the warm breeze and sunlight to shine through, creating a feeling of southern hospitality. They can be closed to shut out blowing rain.

– Consider using refurbished or Bamboo blinds and curtains. These are a great way to not only protect the environment but also add features to your porch that will blend with the outside flora and fauna. It will help create a more “outdoors inside” feel.

– If you are simply looking for an economical way enjoy the outdoors in decent weather, without worrying about insects, consider installing screens or mosquito netting around the porch.

Closed In Porches Can Be A Great Addition To Your Landscape

A professional handyman can help you determine which closed in porch designs will be best for your home and budget. TalkLocal can help you find one in your area for absolutely no charge. Our service is fast, and we will only locate qualified individuals for you.

Tags: closed in porch, porch, screen porch
Posted in Handyman | No Comments »

Ideas For Remodeling A Basement: HVAC

Friday, May 31st, 2013

Whether it’s going to be a man cave, craft room, movie theater, play room, or any other of the limitless possibilities for remodeling a basement, you want your finished basement to feel comfortable year round. Installing an HVAC, or a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning unit, is one of the ideas for remodeling a basement becoming more and more popular because of the benefits it offers.

Some fun facts about ideas for remodeling a basement that include an HVAC unit:

– HVAC systems traditionally combine a furnace or another type of air conditioning unit with a duct or pipe system for distributing the output. This is all controlled by a thermostat, which allows consumers to set the temperature at which they want the room.

– There are some rules and regulations to follow when installing an HVAC unit in your basement. There is an organization called the ACCA (The Air Conditioning Contractors of America) that sets these rules and regulations to insure that everything is done properly and safely. Don’t worry, though — The ACCA publishes manuals to help you figure out what size HVAC unit you need and what regulations you need to follow.

– There are four typical types of HVAC units: split systems, hybrid heat split systems, duct-free split systems and packaged systems.

> Split system: Is the most popular type of HVAC unit. With this, the machinery is both inside and outside of your home.

> Hybrid heat split system: Tends to be more energy efficient than its split system counterpart. It includes a heat pump, allowing for electric heat in addition to gas heat.

> Duct-free split system: If you can’t use a conventional duct system, you’re going to be looking for one of these. This is perfect for places where a duct system is not installed.

> Packaged system: Best for places without the space for another type of HVAC system.

Getting Help With HVAC Systems

Picking the HVAC unit for your home and basement is essential to living comfortably all year. When dealing with heating and cooling, it is important to utilize the services of only qualified professionals. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to finding one in your area, turn to TalkLocal. We will track them down for you in lightning-fast time.

Posted in Heating and Cooling | No Comments »

Best Laptop Brands 2012

Friday, May 31st, 2013

In 2012, technology tied in with laptop computers continued to evolve. Laptops got smaller, thinner, and brighter, all while computing power increased.

Some manufacturers managed to stay up with the times, producing some of the most useful laptops on the markets. Others fell behind. Here, we will investigate the best laptop brands 2012.

Apple

This might not be a huge surprise to users, as Apple has slowly transformed into the standard for laptops and other high-tech gadgets. Touting products like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, everything from the design of their laptops to the technical support that services them have been rated highly by users and the media.

The MacBook Air was particularly a huge seller with it’s ultra-thin design that featured a screen which displayed eye-popping graphics. This helped carry Apple to be at the top of the best laptop brands of 2012.

Hewlett Packard

While we’re on the topic of trusted brands in laptops, let’s not forget HP, which had another stellar year as one of the best laptop brands of 2012. Like Apple, the company has been around for a long time, and users are starting to realize they can trust HP products. The company did not dash the hopes of their users as they scored well by critics.

Many users might argue that Apple is the superior laptop for multimedia use, but this was not the case in 2012. Riding high with the help of its Beats Audio technology, HP became the top laptop for multimedia. The company’s HP Pavilion Series was also a hot seller in 2012.

Lenovo

For the last two years now, Lenovo has inched its way to the top of the laptop industry, just under Apple. This is not a surprise to Lenovo users, who have noticed that the company offers plenty of innovation, but keeps their products at a very affordable price. For every Apple product, there is a Lenovo product to match, including its ThinkPad X1 Carbon to counteract Apple’s MacBook Air.

Choosing The Right Laptop

If you are trying to decide which type of laptop you want, or if you need it repaired, make TalkLocal your first stop. We are able to connect you with service professionals in your area that can help with such issues. Try out our free, easy service.

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

How Do I Fix A Broken Window?

Friday, May 31st, 2013

Many of us have been there before. Whether it was through any fault of our own, something strikes a window and breaks it. You are left wondering: How do I fix a broken window?

While professional help (at a cost, of course) certainly does not hurt, there are ways you can repair a broken window. Below is one general process that might be the answer to your predicament. Use this step-by-step process to repair a single pane of glass in a window.

How To Fix A Broken Window

1. Remove the window with the broken glass. Lay it on a flat surface so it’s easier to work with. Using gloves, a towel, or rag, remove the broken pieces of glass and dispose of them carefully.

2. Remove any compound that was once surrounding the pane of glass. This might require a blade or other tool. Glazing points are likely installed where they were once holding the glass in. Remove the glazing points.

3. Measure the frame where the glass will be installed. Record these measurements and bring them to a home improvement store to cut glass in the right dimensions. You will want to instruct the person cutting the glass to subtract about an eighth of an inch off the dimensions of the frame so that the glass is smaller.

4. Put caulk on the edges of the frame so it provides a seal when the glass is installed.

5. Lay the glass pane in the frame. Use glazing points to secure the glass in frame. Use at least two glazing points. The larger the glass, the more points you will want to use.

6. Use a glazing compound to secure the glass in the frame. Use a blade to cut the compound evenly or remove any that might be left over.

7. Install the window back in its place.

Still Wondering How Do I Fix A Broken Window?

This method does not work on every window. If you discover a broken window in your home and need help, contact a window replacement specialist through TalkLocal. We scour your local area to find qualified help. We take care of all the searching for you while you can sit back and wait for results.

Posted in Window Replacement | No Comments »

Difference Between A Real Estate Agent And Broker

Friday, May 31st, 2013

When you are in the process of purchasing a home or property, you can plan on being hit with a lot of jargon you do not necessarily understand. This is normal. After all, we are not all real estate experts.

Learning about the difference between a real estate agent and broker is some very basic knowledge that can get you headed in the right direction.

What Is A Real Estate Agent?

Part of learning the difference between a real estate agent and broker comes with learning the basic duties of each. A real estate agent, for example, is someone you will be working with a lot, so it is best to know what they specialize in and what sort of powers they hold in their respective field. You can think of a real estate agent as a sales person of the real estate industry. These professionals are authorized to act as an agent for the sale of a home or piece of property.

The qualifications and criteria a real estate agent must meet in order to be deemed a legitimate professional varies from state to state. However, all real estate agents must undergo extensive training and a good deal of education to be qualified to advise clients and facilitate transactions.

What Is A Real Estate Broker?

Real estate agents are not allowed to operate independently — they must work under a real estate broker. The broker is the one in charge and manages all of the individual real estate agents. This helps the agents because it takes some of the liability off of their shoulders. If an unhappy buyer or seller tries to sue a real estate agent, the legal action must be directed at the broker.

Brokers have to endure even more intense training and more thorough education to achieve their status. However, M\most would argue that it pays off. Each agent that works for a broker pays the broker a portion of their sales commission. In addition to this money, the broker does not have to share their commissions.

Real estate agents and brokers are both qualified to handle the purchase or sale of your home or property.

Need To Contact Either One?

Now that you know the difference between a real estate agent and broker, and you find yourself needing to contact one, turn to TalkLocal. We can connect you with either in a matter of minutes. Quality help has never been so accessible.

Posted in Real Estate | No Comments »

Cost Of A New Dishwasher

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

A dishwasher is a precious commodity in the homes of many people. Not only is the task of washing dishes made easier, it is also made faster with the help of a dishwasher. This becomes painfully obvious when this important appliance acts up.

Many people who are shopping for a dishwasher have the same question: What is the cost of a new dishwasher?

The cost of a new dishwasher depends on the type you buy and its features. Here are some of the most common features that are offered with new dishwashers, and how they can affect the price.

Energy-Efficient

Energy efficient dishwashers can be somewhat expensive. Since they save you money over time on your water and electric bills, they can be well worth the extra money, and often pay for themselves in just a few short years. If you are thinking about buying an energy-efficient dishwasher, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $600.

Size and Capacity

Dishwashers come in several different sizes and have different load capacities. If you have a large family, or prefer to wash a lot of dishes at one time, you may want to buy a dishwasher with a large capacity. You will need to choose a size based on where you want to install the dishwasher. Many are installed under cabinets or between the sink and another kitchen appliance. Large dishwashers and those with large capacities are more expensive than standard ones. Expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $800 for a larger size appliance.

Cosmetic Features

Some dishwashers come in different colors, have stainless steel buttons, knobs, or racks, or have other special cosmetic features. Any time you purchase a dishwasher that is not a standard model, you can expect to pay a little more money. This brings the question ‘What is the cost of a new dishwasher’ into a different perspective. You may find yourself paying more for cosmetic features that look nice but do not make the dishwasher any more convenient. Depending one which features you choose, these dishwashers can be pretty expensive. You may find yourself paying anywhere from $500 to $1,000 for a dishwasher that has a unique design or special appearance.

Be A Savvy Buyer

If you are wondering ‘What is the cost of a new dishwasher?’, you are not alone. Thousands of shoppers ask themselves this same question every year. When you are shopping for your dishwasher, set a budget and choose the features you need over the ones you want. This will help keep your new appliance affordable. If you need additional help, or are seeking a repair technician to service your dishwasher, rely on TalkLocal to help.

Posted in Appliances Repair | No Comments »

How Often Should An AC Filter Be Cleaned?

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

When the warm weather months come along and you want to beat the heat, your air conditioner can be your best friend. If working properly, an air conditioner can keep your house at a comfortable temperature, assuming it has enough power. In order to keep your air conditioner functioning properly, you have to maintain it. That means changing the air filter. When the air filter is dirty, the air conditioner cannot operate at its full power and could even cost more to run. So, how often should an AC filter be cleaned? That depends on the type of filter and air conditioner you have.

HEPA Filters

HEPA filters can become blocked very easily, and when this happens, they do not allow clean and cool air to leave the air conditioner. If your air conditioner has a HEPA air filter, you should check it every month. If you notice your filter is dirty and clogged, it’s time to change it. HEPA filters are the best, which means they collect the most dust and dirt and need to be cleaned the most often.

Electrostatic Filters

Electrostatic filters are the popular choice for many people because they are affordable and work well. You should check your filter every three months to see if it needs to be changed. Most electrostatic filters will need to be changed every three to six months, depending on how dusty or dirty your home is.

Electronic Filters

Many air conditioners have electronic filters in them. Electronic filters will rarely get clogged to the point that they will prevent the cool air from escaping. They can, however, get so clogged that they cannot filter out any more dirt or dust and blow it back into your home instead. Electronic filters should be cleaned every six months, or more often if your home is extremely dusty.

No matter what type of air conditioner you have, it is important to keep your filters clean. When filters are unable to work properly, they can allow dirt and dust to spread through your home. This can cause allergies and illnesses.

Is Your AC Not Working?

Hopefully this answered: How often should an AC filter be cleaned? Make sure to change your filter to keep your air conditioner working like new. If you encounter any problems with your air conditioning system, TalkLocal can help you find someone who can address your issues immediately. Log on to our website and give our free service a try. You will be glad you did.

Posted in Heating and Cooling | No Comments »

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