Here are some ways that you can make your Windows computer run faster so that InfoTouch runs faster, too.
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Add lots of memory, especially if you run multiple applications at the same time. Memory chips are cheap these days and it's the fastest and easiest way to gain an instant boost in performance. We suggest 1GB or more.
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Reduce the number of applications running on your computer. If you scan your email only 3 or 4 times a day, why keep your email client running all the time so it hinders the performance of all the other applications? Same with Word, Excel, an Internet browser, MP3 player, or other applications. If your taskbar looks like the one below, then you have a LOT of applications running -- each of which is sapping power from your computer!
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Add a video accelerator card to your computer. Many computers today have embedded video controllers built into the motherboard, and these use "shared" memory -- the memory is shared with applications and the computer's main processor chip actually does all the video work, too, in additional to all the other data management tasks. A dedicated video accelerator card has its own video processor and memory to do all the work of painting the screen displays, and this removes the task from the main processor chip which can then specialize on managing the data only. Cost is anywhere from inexpensive ($75) to "you-gotta-be-kiddin'-me" (mucho$).
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Turn off your virus-protection software when you don't need it. If you need it for protection from Internet attacks, that's a different story, but do you really need to be "on-line" all day long? If it's not necessary, log out of the Internet, turn off the virus software and enjoy the amazing speed increase you'll see. Just remember to turn the virus protection on again before you check your email or go on the Internet.
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Network users - replace your 10mbps network with a 10/100. If your system runs through a network, you may notice a 300-500% increase in performance by upgrading an old network to a new one. You'd need to replace the network interface cards as well as the network hub. You'd probably want to replace the hub with a switch (they're faster). Doing this may also require replacement of your network wiring because the network can only run as fast as its wiring structure will let it. You may want to consult with a network specialist before you jump into this project because modern computers often have 10/100 capability built-in; all you may need to replace is the central hub/switch, keeping the cost well under $100.
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Defragment your hard disk. This is one of the really low-cost options (zero $) that can make a 5-10% improvement in performance. Since Windows 95, a defragmenting tool has been built right into Windows -- all you have to do is run it periodically.
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Replace the hard disk with a faster one. This isn't for everyday users -- transferring everything from one computer to a new one often isn't easy to do. But it's one way that you can sometimes buy an increase in performance. If you have, for instance, a 12ms IDE hard disk and changed to a 4ms SCSI, you'd notice the change right away. You'd also notice that your bank balance dropped by a few thou. But for power-hungry users, it's another option.
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Replace the computer's processor chip. This may be a bit more drastic than the other options and really begs to be done by an expert. You can't often pop one chip out and another one in like you might a light bulb. But if you replaced your 800 mhz Celeron with a 3.0ghz P4, you wouldn't believe the difference in speed. In fact, the combination of more memory and a faster processor chip is an unbeatable combination.