[HPFGU-OTChatter] DataVac

[P. Alexis Nguyen]

Carol:
> Does anyone know anything about PC vacuums? I want to remove the dust inside
> my PC case without just blowing it around the room. I understand that
> DataVac makes a small, inexpensive vacuum cleaner that won't cause static or
> demagnetize any components. Does anyone have one and are they worth the
> price? (I can get online one for under twenty dollars before shipping; I
> haven't checked local stores yet.) Any other brand that's just as good?

Ali:
I will say this (and elaborate more when I'm not taking a 5-min mental
health break at work):  I've done everything to my
laptops/harddrives/etc from using the air cans to PC vacs to actual
vacs.  The BEST (for me) has always been using the compressed air and
then vacuuming up the nasty dirt webs flying out.  I own a (or maybe
3) PC vacuum and they've always been left in various locales because
they were so useless that, in a rush, I only remember to grab the can
of air.  Your mileage may vary, but for serious cleaning, compressed
air may not be cheap (and ain't that a hoot that we're paying for
air), but it's worth the $6.  (Although maybe if I were more obsessed
about cleaning and do it more than once every few months, the PC vacs
might not seem so under-powered.)

Also, you can pick up good PC vacs for around $10/$15, too.  No need
to spend the $20 if you're willing to look around a bit.

~Ali, who is more than a little thankful that it's Friday at long,
long, long, long, long last