by Jaye Sonia
Well bazaarites, it is April already and that means our outdoor social lives are about to jump into gear. For starters, it is finally warm enough to fire up the BBQ, invite a few friends over, and lounge around the pool. Of course, before we do that, we need to clean house (and goodness knows that we geeks tend to accumulate our fair share of gadgets). Lucky for us, spring is the best time for cleaning.
So, while I’m tempted to review some of the neat gadgets that just came out, I think it might be better to just talk about getting rid of the old before we discuss acquiring the new! So, without further adú, here’s my super awesome geek cleaning tips for 2012!!
1) Defrag, Compress, and Organize! Let’s face it. We collect all sorts of things. Because of their relative intangibility, we tend to collect files in massive amounts – especially when they’re music and movies. So, if you’ve been avoiding the cold winter months with a wave of media input, consider cleaning it up. Set aside a few hours, make a pot of coffee, and unplug your Internet connection (because face it, if you don’t, you’ll just end up checking your friends’ Facebook status). Most importantly, get to work! Comb through all your devices, in order, and discard all those files you don’t need. If you intend to keep any of it, make sure you back it up on an external device. If you do have files you share with more than a single person, consider setting up a DropBox or other cloud-based account, too.
2) Clean up your act!! Once you’ve cleaned your devices up, clean your office/diwaniya/bedroom/game room! Comb through your spaces with a vengeance and be ruthless in your execution! Have you used that old 4.0-megapixel camera in the last year? If the answer is no, it’s probably time to discard it. (Of course, if you have, we need to talk). Still sporting a video camera from when they filmed E.T.? Yeah, toss that right out. Yeah, it’s probably time to get rid of that old desktop, as well. If you’ve got a smart phone (and face it, all of us do), there’s a good chance you can use it to do a lot of the things you once bought other devices for. So, have a look around. If you can swap out an older device for an App (like your GPS device), it might be a lot simpler to do so in the long run.
3) Give it away, give it away, give it away now!! If you have something you’ve been planning to get rid of, don’t just toss it (unless it’s that video camera from when they filmed E.T.). Instead, share the love and give it to someone less fortunate than you. If you’ve got an old phone, an old tablet, or even and old desktop, look at your local community and see who might need it. Chances are, there is someone in your immediate environment that could benefit from a hand-me-down or two. So, if you have a harris or maid that is less fortunate than you, consider giving them some of those old gadgets. Not only will you build a stronger community, you’ll also earn some cool karma points (which are a little like experience points, but for real life…)
4) Swedish Kung-Fu. Don’t be afraid to drop a few dinars on some new shelving, either. Once you’ve cleaned up your act (and hopefully gotten rid of duplicate cables, plugs, and other accessories), complete the psychological process of tossing out the old by acquiring something new. Put up some new paint, move the furniture, and place all of your awesome new gadgets in a single, well-lit location. Showcase your geek pride!
5) LAN PARTY!! Having accomplished all of the above, it’s time to roll out the red carpet! Invite your friends over for an afternoon of gaming, movies, or just conversation! If you’re one of those people with a big space and who loves gaming, consider a LAN party or dinner & games night. If you want something a little more intimate, consider a night of tabletop or board gaming with the family, instead.
Well, those were my super awesome geek cleaning tips for 2012. I don’t know if you’ll be able to use them, but I sure hope you can! Of course, if you have your own tips you’d like to share, consider sending them in! Goodness knows I’m only one geek, after all!
