Zotero, the free citation manager for students, teachers, and more

• March 3, 2014

Citing sources is one of the most tedious parts of research, academic or otherwise. You’ve done the legwork, but proving it to your readers seems to take more effort than the writing and searching! Once upon a time, websites like EasyBib or Citation Machine were the cutting edge for people trying to expedite the process. With the advent of a widely available, free citation manager like Zotero, those seem like things of the past. 

What should you look for when buying a laptop? Part 2: technical specs

• March 3, 2014

This is Part 2 of our two-part series on buying a laptop. Part 1 covered some of the basics: operating system, size, form factor, and user types.

Everyone gets a little overwhelmed when looking at the “technical specifications” section of a product listing. Even when you have a pretty solid grip on interpreting things, it can be hard to keep everything comprehensible in your mind. To finish our laptop buying guide, we’re going to show you which features to hone in on and how to interpret them.

How do processors work and which processor should you buy?

• March 1, 2014

Some people say they don’t really matter, some people say it’s the most important part of the computer. You look at the name and numbers and don’t have the slightest clue how to make sense of it. They are rather complicated and their marketing does not make it clear which you need. However, some research can save you from making a dire mistake.

Why use a VPN (virtual private network)?

• February 28, 2014

Many people have never heard of a virtual private network, more commonly known as a VPN. Some tech enthusiasts have heard about them, but don’t happen to be worried about government spying, and haven’t conceived any other uses for a VPN. Whether you are completely new to the concept or have been thinking about it for a while now, GettingThingsTech has some answers for you.

What should you look for when buying a laptop? Part 1: OS, size, and types of use

• February 27, 2014

Buying a laptop can be a stressful process for even the most seasoned veteran buyer. If you aren’t an expert, things can be even more overwhelming. You might resort to paying more than you need to just to be sure you get something that works. A cheap laptop may come with an unexpected problem or shortcoming. Let’s take a step-by-step look at the many considerations that go into being happy with a laptop purchase. Some, but not all, of these suggestions apply to desktops, which we’ll look at on a later date.

Share Wi-Fi from your hotel or college dorm: Connect your XBOX, PS4, Roku, or other devices to college/university or hotel Wi-Fi

• February 27, 2014

Did you bring your Roku or Chromecast on your trip, only to find out you could not get it to connect to your hotel’s internet? Were you really excited to play some multi-player on your new XBOX or PS4 at college, but you can’t get it to recognize your dorm’s wi-fi?

You may be able to create a wi-fi hotspot of your own to share that internet with your devices.