DELL STUDIO 15 LAPTOP

Studio 15 LaptopGet creative and stay connected with the new StudioTM 15 laptop. Its Hi-def, 15.6¨ LED widescreen design is multimedia-rich, and with a choice of colors the Studio 15 is easily personalised to fit your style.
Up to Intel® Core™2 Duo processors: A breakthrough in notebook performance
Hi-def 16:9 aspect ratio LED display
Personalise with a choice of 5 colors or a unique pattern
Surround sound with subwoofer and built-in wireless card
Optional backlit keyboard and Blu-ray DiscTM

LAPTOP LINUX

Linux, also known as GNU/Linux, is a free, UNIX-like operating system, developed originally for home PCs, but which now runs on practically every hardware platform available including PowerPC, Macintosh, DEC Alpha, Sun Sparc, ARM, Mainframes, and many others. Linux aims for POSIX compliancy to maintain maximum compatibility with other UNIX-like systems. With millions of users worldwide, Linux is probably the most popular UNIX-like OS in the world.
The Linux System
The central nervous system of Linux is the kernel, the operating system code which runs the whole computer. The kernel is under constant development and is always available in both the latest stable release and the latest experimental release. Progress on development is very fast, and the recent 2.6-series kernels are simply amazing on all counts. The kernel design is modular, so that the actual OS code is very small yet able to load whatever functionality it needs when it needs it. Because of this, the kernel remains small and fast yet highly extensible, in comparison to other operating systems which slow down the computer and waste memory by loading everything all the time, whether it is needed or not.
Linux systems excel in many areas, ranging from end-user concerns such as stability, speed, and ease of use, to serious concerns such as development and networking. Nowadays, Linux even offers a wide variety of free and commercial productivity packages such as the OpenOffice suite which can import and export files from other platforms, including Windows and MacOS.
Stability
Linux has long been praised for its stability--Linux boxes are known for running months or even years at a time without crashing, freezing, or having to be rebooted. Linux users sometimes poke fun at other, less stable operating systems, by way of screensavers like BSOD (Blue Screen of Death, which displays crash screens from various other platforms).
Linux is extremely secure compared to other platforms. Viruses and Trojan Horse programs are practically non-existent. Linux servers practically run the World Wide Web, so one cannot argue that there are so few malicious programs for Linux because it represents an insignificant number of target machines.
Speed
So much of the web is built on Linux that the acronym LAMP has emerged. LAMP represents Linux, Apache (web server), MySQL (database) and PHP (web application language). This acronym may need to be changed eventually due to the rapid growth of PostgreSQL, Ruby, and Java on Linux web servers.
Unlike some commercial operating systems, no free Linux distributions impose any artificial constraints on how you use the operating system. There are no arbitrary limits to the number of user accounts you can create, the number of simultaneous connections your Linux-based web server can handle, or arbitrary limits any other Linux resources.
Linux machines are known to be extremely fast, because the operating system is very efficient at managing resources such as memory, CPU power, and disk space. NASA, Sandia, Fermilabs and many others have built very powerful yet inexpensive supercomputers by creating clusters of Linux boxes running in parallel. Clusters of Linux systems have been responsible for rendering the graphics for movies like Shrek, Titanic, and many others.
Many high-profile organizations have adopted Linux. For example, visit the NOAA (the National Weather Service at you can thank Linux for the weather reports you will see online.
Graphical Interface
Linux has dozens of different, highly configurable graphical interfaces (known as window managers) which run on top of Xorg, a free implementation of the X Window System. The most popular complete desktop environments at present are KDE (the K Desktop Environment) and GNOME (the GNU Network Object Model Environment). These offer the point-and-click, drag-and-drop functionality associated with other user-friendly environments (for example, Macintosh). Both can be configured to look and feel like other environments such as Windows or Mac, and KDE is remarkably extensible. Even complex tasks like system administration, package installation, upgrading, and network configuration can be done easily through graphical programs. Almost all programs that work with one window manager work with all the others, so you don't need to feel like you must pick your favorite desktop environment based on your favorite applications.
Xorg now supports 3-D windowing environments such as Beryl and Compiz for amazing visual effects, and most people won't have to upgrade their computers in order to take advantage of these enhancements.
Software Development
Programmers often find that the Linux development environment is second to none--a good thing for end users who depend on these software developers to provide free software. Nearly all development software for Linux is free and covered under the GNU Public License, which guarantees that it will always remain free. Linux systems come standard with C and C++ compilers and an assembler, and usually include Pascal, FORTRAN, compiled Java, Perl, Python, and BASIC implementations as well. In addition, modern languages like Ruby and classic languages like LISP are all available, fully functional and completely free.
Linux runs two of the most popular development environments, Eclipse and KDevelop, and you can use these environments to with just about any programming language available. These two development tools support web application development, but there are additional free/open source highly sophisticated development tools dedicated to building web applications.
In addition, the source code for nearly any Linux program is freely available (and often included by default). This not only means that bugs are discovered and corrected almost immediately, but development of software proceeds at a much faster pace than one finds even at extremely successful commercial software houses. This phenomenon is called Open Source and is the subject of much discussion and amazement in the business world, the computer world, and the press.
The Open Source nature of Linux also makes it ideal for embedded and specialized systems (routers, cell phones, multimedia entertainment centers, point-of-sale systems), because there's no limit to what you can do to customize Linux for your special needs.
Networking
Networking comes naturally to Linux. Probably all networking protocols in use on the Internet are native to UNIX and/or Linux, so one can expect that UNIX and Linux would network better than any other platforms. Setting up a network on a Linux machine is surprisingly simple, because Linux handles most of the work.
A large part of the Web is running on Linux boxes, especially because of the Apache Web Server which dramatically defeated its commercial competitors, proving the effectiveness and viability of the Open Source approach.
Productivity
Productivity software availability has exploded in recent years, and commercial developers have been producing excellent software for the Linux platform. The Firefox browser, Opera, and Mozilla are freely available (with some licensing restrictions) as well as the OpenOffice productivity suite, KOffice and a host of others, which often come standard on Linux distributions. Many distributors package commercial software with their distributions, and many commercial producers offer free downloads for Linux. Linux productivity packages can usually read and write files from productivity packages on other platforms; Linux has always been at the leading edge of compatibility and openness.
Linux happily coexists on the same machine as other operating systems including Windows or Mac OSX, and Linux easily accesses the files stored by other operating systems. You can use one of many virtualization techniques to run Linux and Windows or any other operating system (even another version of Linux) on the same machine, simultaneously. You can run many Windows programs on Linux via Wine, or commercial helper products such as Crossover Office or Cedega, both of which even support the popular game Word of Warcraft! There are countless Linux distributions which run beautifully from a CD or DVD without the need to install the operating system. This makes it possible for new Linux users to see if they like Linux without erasing their old OS or having to buy another computer.
Longevity
The open source nature of Linux guarantees it is here to stay, and the amazing growth of Linux over the past years bears that out. Best of all, as long as you stick with a truly free/open source operating system like Linux and truly free/open source applications, you can never get locked into depending on any particular vendor. Linux puts you in control of what you do with your software, how, when and if you choose to change or upgrade it.

COMPUTER CHEAP INTEL COMPUTER INTEL CORE 2 PERFORMANCE REVIEW

It has finally happened, Intel will be putting to rest the long standing Pentium branding for their next generation of desktop microprocessors in favor of a totally new line-up simply called Core. However, this isn't just a re-branding exercise for Intel. The Core processors mark Intel's first true major revamp of microprocessor technology since their launch of the NetBurst microarchitecture with the Willamette core Pentium 4 back in the year 2000 and before you know it, we're already at Core 2. Now we're getting ahead of ourselves. Considering the major gear shift at Intel to bring about this day, let's take a brief recap on the chain of events that have lead to the development of the new Core processors.AMD's sharp rise in market share from their hugely successful Athlon XP, Athlon 64 and dual-core Athlon 64 X2 processors in the past two years has been a rude awakening for Intel. AMD was even making inroads into the server market with their Opteron products and went as bold as to openly challenge Intel's dual-core Xeon on both performance and power consumption fronts in 2005 - a challenge which Intel chose to ignore resulting in defacto bragging rights for AMD for a period of time.Intel of course has not been sitting idle all this while and we've seen a huge effort in promoting their next generation microarchitecture over the past year, which was basically Intel telling the world 'Wait and see, we'll be back and then we will rock!'. Intel officially unveiled the revolutionary Core microarchitecture early this year at IDF Spring 2006 in San Francisco and wet our lips with a preview of the enhanced power saving features (if not the performance) with the launch of the Core Duo (codenamed Yonah) dual-core mobile processor

ONE OF COMPUTER LEADER MICROSOFT CORPORATION

Microsoft was founded in 1975 by William H. Gates III and Paul Allen. The pair had teamed up in high school through their hobby of programming on the original PDP-10 computer from the Digital Equipment Corporation. In 1975 Popular Electronics magazine featured a cover story about the Altair 8800, the first personal computer (PC). The article inspired Gates and Allen to develop a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair. They licensed the software to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the Altair’s manufacturer, and formed Microsoft (originally Micro-soft) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to develop versions of BASIC for other computer companies. Microsoft’s early customers included fledgling hardware firms such as Apple Computer, maker of the Apple II computer; Commodore, maker of the PET computer; and Tandy Corporation, maker of the Radio Shack TRS-80 computer. In 1977 Microsoft shipped its second language product, Microsoft Fortran, and it soon released versions of BASIC for the 8080 and 8086 microprocessors.
Microsoft Corporation, leading American computer Software Company. Microsoft develops and sells a wide variety of software products to businesses and consumers and has subsidiary offices in more than 60 countries. The company’s Windows operating systems for personal computers are the most widely used operating systems in the world. Microsoft has its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.Microsoft’s other well-known products include Word, a word processor; Excel, a spreadsheet program; Access, a database program; and PowerPoint, a program for making business presentations. These programs are sold separately and as part of Office, an integrated software suite. The company also makes software applications for a wide variety of server products for businesses. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) allows users to browse the World Wide Web. Among the company’s other products are reference applications; games; financial software; programming languages for software developers; input devices, such as pointing devices and keyboards; software for personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cellular telephones; handwriting-recognition software; software for creating Web pages; and computer-related books.Microsoft operates the Microsoft Network (MSN), a collection of news, travel, financial, entertainment, and information Web sites. Microsoft and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) jointly operate MSNBC, a 24-hour news, talk, and information cable-television channel and companion Web site.

HOW TO WORK COMPUTER RAM

Similar to a microprocessor, a memory chip is an integrated circuit (IC) made of millions of transistors and capacitors. In the most common form of computer memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a transistor and a capacitor are paired to create a memory cell, which represents a single bit of data. The capacitor holds the bit of information -- a 0 or a 1. The transistor acts as a switch that lets the control circuitry on the memory chip read the capacitor or change its state.RAM stands for Random Access Memory. This means Information can be retrieve and store by the computer at any order. RAM gives your computer a temporary place to process electronic data. This means that, RAM chips continue to store information only as long as computer has electrical power. In other words, when you shut off your computer, all the data stored in RAM are lost.All actual computing starts with the the CPU (Central Processing Unit).The chipset supports the CPU and contains several controllers that control how information travels between the CPU and other components in the PC.The memory controller is part of the chipset and establishes the information flow between memory and the CPU.A bus is a data path that consists of parallel wires and connects the CPU, memory and other devices. The bus architecture determines how much and how fast data can move around the motherboard.The memory bus goes from the memory controller to the computer's memory sockets. Newer systems have a frontside bus (FSB) from the CPU to main memory and a backside bus (BSB) from the memory controller to L2 cache.For the PC to get information...The CPU sends a request to the memory controller to memory and gets a report back of when the information will be available. This cycle can vary in length according to memory speed as well as other factors, such as bus speed.
Residing on the motherboard, the system clock sends a signal to all components, just like a metronome ticking. Each click of the clock represents a clock cycle. A clock running at 100Mhz represents 100 million clock cycles per second. Every action is timed by the clock where different actions require a different number of clock cycles.Many people assume that the speed of the processor is the speed of the computer. Most of the time, the system bus and other components run at different speeds. Because all information processed by the CPU is written or read from memory, the performance of a system is dramatically affected by how fast information can travel between the CPU and memory. Therefore, faster memory technology contributes greatly to the overall system performance.Cache memory is a relatively small amount (normally less than 1 MB) of high speed memory and resides very close to the CPU. It is designed to supply the CPU with the most frequently requested data. It takes a fraction of the time, compared to normal memory, to access cache memory.The concept is that 20% of the time, what is needed is in cache. The cache memory tracks instructions, putting the most frequent used instruction at the top of the list. Once the cache is full, the lowest need is dropped.Today, most cache memory is incorporated in the CPU. It can also be located just outside of the CPU. Cache that is closest to the CPU is labeled Level 1, the next closest Lever 2, etc.Interleaving is a process in which the CPU alternates between two or more memory banks. Every time the CPU addresses a memory bank, the bank needs about one clock cycle to reset. The CPU can save processing time by addressing a second bank while the first bank is resetting

COMPUTER HARD DISK

In any computer system the hard disk is considered as the secondary memory device that is used for the primary data storage. The primary memory is obviously the RAM. But as the RAM is the primary memory it cannot be used for the purpose of the permanent data storage. Hence a secondary memory device is necessarily needed for the purpose of the data storage in any computer system. Apart from hard disk drive the tape storage media can also be used as the secondary storage device. But the hard disk drive is the most popularly used secondary memory device. The main reason for this is the access speed and the reliability of the data it can offer. In the case of the tape drives the access speed is much low and the data transfer is comparatively low than the hard disk drive.
Since the primary memory that is the RAM is a non volatile memory hence it cannot be used as the permanent memory storage device. Hence the hard disk or the need for as a secondary memory device is needed in any computer. The primary function of the primary memory is to load the programs so that the CPU – Central Processing Unit can easily and speedily access and execute the instructions. The primary memory can only boot the computer system; but it the hard disk drive that is responsible for the loading and the proper functioning of any operating system. The operating system is a necessary for the computers to run to the expectations of the user. Hence the hard disk is a must for the loading of the hard disk drive. The importance of the primary memory is that it is a compulsion that is necessary for the start up of the computer. A computer can start up even with out a hard disk. But since there is no operating system that is present in the computer hence it is not possible to load the operating system. The computer will display a message usually in such a situation stating that “Disk Boot Failure”.
The information that is required to boot a computer is stored in the hard disk boot sector. Also the importance of the hard disk drive is to store the backup of the data or any information that is created by the user. Apart from the hard disk drives the other storage devices like the optical disks that are the CD ROM, DVD ROM etc can be used for the purpose of the backup of the data or user information. The floppy disks can also be used for the backup of the data. The hard disk specification should also match the expectations of the computers; that is the storage capacity and access speed.
The internal organization of the any hard disk drive consists of the following four parts primarily. They are as listed below: the Platters, the Head Arm, the Chassis, and also the Head Actuator. The hard disk drives are also available in two different types that is the internal and also the external hard disk drives. The internal hard disk drives are used for the storage of the data in the computer case. There are not portable and usually are inside the case. The external hard disk drives are portable can be connected to other computer systems as well. There is a hard casing over the hard disk.

COMPUTER PEN DRIVE

Sometimes referred to as a jumpdrive, the pen drive is a portable USB flash memory device that can be used to quickly transfer audio, video, and data files from the hard drive of one computer to another. With a construction that is small enough to fit into a pocket, the pen drive derives its name from the fact that many of these USB drive devices resemble a small pen or pencil in size and shape.
Pen drives are classified as NAND style data storage devices. Equipped with a large amount of memory capacity, the pen drive is considered to be an improvement on both the older floppy drive disks and the more modern compact disks that are often used to copy data and reload the files on a different hard drive. Even a pen drive with a relatively low storage capacity tends to provide plenty of space for a number of files. The types of files that can be loaded onto a pen drive are all the common types that can be housed on any hard drive. This makes it possible for persons to copy photos, spreadsheets, word processing documents, movie clips, music tracks, and just about any other type of file.
Utilizing a pen drive is a simple task. One end of the drive is equipped with a USB connector at one end. The connector is inserted into the USB port on a desktop or laptop and activated. Once the pen drive is in place, it is possible to drop and drag files into the memory of the drive, or forward the files to the drive. The process is no more difficult than attaching files to an email or copying files onto a disk.
Because there are several different operating systems in common use today, there are various types of levels of the pen drive that are configured to work with each system. Even persons who are using an older operating system can usually find a pen drive that is compatible. As long as the desktop or laptop is constructed with a USB port, and the pen drive is compatible with the operating system, the pen drive will provide practical and easy transmission of data from one hard drive to another one in a matter of minutes.

COMPUTER THUMB DRIVE

Computer users have long complained that 3-inch floppy disks are too unstable, the ZIP drive not practical and CD-Rs not portable enough for data storage. The technology geeks solved this problem in ingenious fashion: the thumb drive. IBM came out with thumb drives in 1998, as a solution for replacing the less stable floppy disks. Their use caught on quickly, and as portable data storage has become more of an issue, thumb drives or flash drives skyrocketed in popularity. They can now be seen hanging on lanyards around the necks of computer users everywhere.
A thumb drive is portable memory storage. It is re-writeable and holds its memory without a power supply, unlike RAM. Thumb drives will fit into any USB port on a computer. They will also "hot swap," which means a user can plug the drive into a computer and will not have to restart it to access the thumb drive. The drives are small, about the size of a human thumb - hence, their name - and are very stable memory storage devices.
Some users see their lack of compatibility with Windows 98 as a drawback of thumb drives, since so many users are still running the operating system. However, most thumb drives come equipped with software that will install a Win98 driver on the computer, enabling the user to connect a thumb drive. Installing the software takes about 60 seconds. Thumb drives also pose security threats, since they are easily concealed. Users could copy proprietary information to them, or upload hacking software from them, all undetected by the system administrator.
However, system administrators can also upload anti-virus software to an infected computer from a thumb drive, for instance, without risking the system servers. Their write speeds and read speeds only really come into play when users are running large applications from them. When the user is saving text documents or photos, for instance, these speeds are not nearly as important. Most thumb drives also have millions of re-write cycles and will store data for ten years before they need replacing.
The thumb drive is available in storage sizes of up to 8 gigabytes. Most people, however, will find that sizes of 256 megabytes to 512 MB will do nicely. If the person is storing mostly text, with few images, then an even smaller thumb drive may meet the need.
A thumb drive is available anywhere computer supplies are sold. They range in price from about US$15 to $200 or so for a large-capacity drive. They are stable, versatile, durable and portable data storage devices. As such they are ideal for almost any computer user who wants safe, long-term storage for a low price

COMPUTER SOFTWARE FREE PDF WRITER

By now, most everyone has noticed that PDF files have become the prevailing format for secure and reliable distribution of electronic documents.
So how do you, the normal person, create these handy files without paying an arm and a leg? I have found a great and easy answer. CutePDF writer. I admit, it’s not as full featured as the pay version by Adobe, but for the savings, I can do without those features anyways.
Like with the MS Office products, it appears that the more you pay for the program, the more “features” you will never use in your life. I know someone somewhere would have a use for them, but at least for me, they just slow me down and make the product cost more then it’s worth.
I personally like the way CutePDF works, no interface to deal with, no configuration. Install and go. I like plain and simple.
When you get the product installed, to create a PDF all you have to do is print. That’s all. You have a webpage (I know this one is at the top of your list) that you want to convert, go to file print and select the CutePDF Printer. You can use this converter for any application you can print from. For the price you can’t beat it.

COMPUTER MOVE FAST

One question I get asked a lot in my field is how do I move around so fast on the PC. Without meaning to, I seem to make people feel like they are moving in slow motion when I am opening, closing, copying, pasting, etc.
To be honest, I can type very quickly. But in addition, I know a lot of shortcut keys for the common applications we use. This comes from my time as a bench tech many years ago. In the days of serial and bus mice, we didn’t always have users bring in their mice for their system when they dropped them off. Sometimes we had a spare mouse, but now always. So we went to plan B. Keyboard commands.
I have decided that not only are they helpful for IT staff that can be in a hurry and dragging the mouse around does slow us down sometimes. But it can make users that have to do a lot of these common functions over and over again more efficient. Isn’t that the point of computers? I am including an overall common Office products PDF also a seperate on for each: Excel, Outlook and Word. I have even put together some helpful key commands for Windows. These are not all inclusive, and if you know of anymore that you use, please let me know.

COMPUTER INTERNET... THE GOLD MINE...

With the advent of the internet and the ease of which information can readily be downloaded and compiled you would think that more people would realize that the public domain is a source of wonderful wealth that can be tapped into for huge profits.I have spent the last 4 years "discovering" little known secrets of this information that is readily available to those who know where to look. Or should I say "prospect". That's exactly what it is. It's Mining. When you mine the internet, you are not mining little rocks in a quarry or dredging a cold river looking for that elusive nugget of gold. You are searching for the gold of the future, and of the past. Information becomes your ore. You now become an information prospector. A "Millennium-Age Gold Miner."
The tools of your trade are much different today than in the days of old. Your "pick-axe" has evolved into your mouse, and your "gold pan" is your hard drive. Your computer is the dredge and your internet connection is your "claim". In the old days when a prospector found gold he would drive a stake in the ground and this would become his claim. You are doing the same thing when you sign the contract for your internet connection. You are staking a claim to the largest source of wealth in the world. Public Domain Information.You transcend the boundaries of the physical world by entering a realm in which it is possible to find riches in the deepest recesses and crevices of the web. The public domain is the undiscovered country of the information age. It's mysteries are deep as oceans and it's knowledge as expansive as the universe. The public domain now becomes ultimate natural resource.Information has always reigned king since the beginning of time. There are millions of us who know not the sheer power and value of the information that is freely available to anyone who knows where to look.The new millennium, and the information-age is very much like the GoldRush of 1849 in which hundreds of thousands of people rushed westward in a stampede of gold seeking pioneers. Some were young, some old, some in between, but all sought a common goal. Gold. Only this time it is different, the gold we seek in this age is information, and it's not mere thousands, but hundreds of millions people who are on this new quest blazing new trails and forging great new paths to wealth.Information is abundant and widely available. You can mine this gold at anytime, from any place in the world. You do not have to travel vast distances facing the perils of the land to stake your claim. All you need is a computer and a connection to the web. From anywhere in the world you are able to seek out, find, download, and refine your treasure from the warm and cozy comfort of home.Never before, in the history of man have you been able to procure such wealth so quickly. You are able to locate information on any subject in an instant, and your results are displayed before you faster than you could have ever imagined.Your "gold pan" quickly become full of the valuable information-ore. Each time you find a nugget it motivates you to find more. You become entranced with the new found riches and it almost becomes obsession. The desire to find more pulses through your veins like a hot drug, steadily increasing your craving for more. The more you find the more you want.
It the realization becomes obvious that you have "Gold-Fever" and now you can't stop searching for more information.This is what the public domain is. It's an internet goldmine chock full of free information ready for the taking.Stake your claim!
Happy Mining.

COMPUTER BACKUP......BUT WHERE TO...

We all know we have to backup regularly, but those backups
files can get huge. Add that to your existing your files and
your notebook computer hard drive seems to have shrunk
overnight. No matter what size hard drive you have on your
notebook computer, space is a premium. Besides, it's not
exactly a good idea to store your backups on the same hard
drive since you can't retrieve it -- rather defeats the
purpose of backing up don't you think? So what do you do,
what are your options?
Backup to an external hard drive. This is probably the
quickest, most cost effective option. You can often get a
removable drive on sale or with rebate for a low price too.
You can get one with hundreds of Gigabytes of space too. They
can be easy to hookup to your notebook computer. However, do
remember that they are hard drives and hard drives can fail.
You may find the external backup fails before your notebook
computer does.
Online backup. This is actually a good idea because physical
disasters can happen to your home. And when that happens, you
will always have a copy in a place not affected by the
disaster. This is why businesses usually have one backup in
the premises and one (or more) off premises. The good thing
about online backup is, it's accessible from anywhere with an
internet connection. So if your notebook fails when you're
away from home, you can still retrieve your data.
Many of these services are reasonably priced and they provide
you with everything you need to get the backups safely
transfered. But because your data will be on someone else's
system, choose a reputable company, one who is not only
established but takes customer data confidentiality very
seriously.
Network attached storage. This would make more sense if you
have several computers. They allow you to not only backup
several computers' data into one location but also ability to
share or retrieve files from that central area. You can also
achieve a similar effect equipping an older computer with a
large hard drive and use it just for storage or backup.
Backup to CD or DVD. This is considered the safest for long
term data integrity. External drives and network storage can
still crash and prone to virusses. CD's and DVD's are also
inexpensive. But backing up to disks daily is chore as you'll
find yourself having to manually pop in the disks. It becomes
even more hard work when you have a lot of files and your
backup spans several disks. The other problem with this
method is, backup utilities that come with your operating
system cannot backup to a CD or DVD drive. So you'll have to
fork out extra cash to buy a third party backup software that
will.
No backup solution is one hundred percent and what you choose
of course will depend on how you work. If your data is really
important to you, try not rely on one backup source. Create
two separate sources if you can afford to, just in case.

computer 21st century career.........

When it comes to modern career development, one thing we can all count on is change. With the advent of technology, telecommuting, and E-commerce, how work is performed is in a state of reinvention. Self-employment and small business development will become more the norm than big business. And career changes will be more frequent due to rapidly changing organizations and industries. Finally, the line between one’s personal and professional life will become even more blurred. Since the modern world of work is rapidly changing to keep up with the demands of our fast-paced lives and lifestyles, here are some characteristics of what the new work contract will look like:
§Seeking more meaning from work.
§Equating “career success” with personal satisfaction over paycheck or status.
§Everyone will need their own “name-brand.”
§Increased use of technology.
§Finding work that needs doing.
§Changing in the way management and leadership is conducted (less arrogance at the top level, more power on lower levels).
§Increased need for networking and self-marketing.
§Lifelong “trying on” of various roles, jobs, and industries.
§Creating a plan that is flexible, and continually assessing the “fit” of the work.
§Increased representation of women and minorities in the workforce.
§Changing career fields numerous times in a lifetime.
§Self-responsibility: Everyone knowing they have to chart their own career direction.
However, the 21st century career also offers many advantages:
§More career opportunities for everyone.
§Freedom to choose from a variety of jobs, tasks, and assignments.
§More flexibility in how and where work is performed, i.e. working from
home or telecommuting.
§More control over your own time.
§Greater opportunity to express yourself through your work.
§Ability to shape and reshape your life’s work in accordance with your values and interests.
§Increased opportunity to develop other skills by working in various industries and environments.
§Self-empowerment mindset.
§Allows you to create situations or positions where you can fill a need in the world that is not being filled.
§Opportunity to present yourself as an independent contractor or vendor with services to offer.

COMPUTER SPEED UP YOUR PC'S PERFORMANCE

Windows Vista introduces a new concept for adding additional performance to a running system. Windows ReadyBoost™ lets people use flash memory on a USB2.0 drive, SD Card, Compact Flash, or other memory form factor to provide additional memory cache—memory that the computer can access much more quickly than it canaccess data on the hard drive. Insert a USB 2.0 memory drive with at least 512 MB capacity. When prompted, click use this device to speed up my computer.

COMPUTER DISPLAY CONTROM PANEL APPLETS IN ACASCADING MENU

Maybe you'd like to bypass the Control Panel altogether. If so, you can force Windows to display Control Panel applets in a cascading menu when you choose Control Panel from the Start button, as shown to the right.To do this in Windows XP, right-click the taskbar and choose Properties --> Start Menu. Choose the Start menu radio button, click the Customize button next to it, and choose the Advanced tab. Under the Control Panel heading, choose Display as a menu. Click OK twice.In Windows Vista, right-click the taskbar and choose Properties --> Start Menu. Then click the Customize button next to the Start menu item, scroll down to the Control Panel heading, and select Display as a menu. Click OK twice

COMPUTET UNLOCK THE SUPER SECRET ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT

Deep inside the bowels of Windows Vista, there's a secret Administrator account, and it's different from the normal administrator account you most likely have set up on your PC. This Administrator account is not part of the Administrator group. (Confused yet? You should be.) It's a kind of superadministrator, akin to the root account in Unix, and by default it's turned off and hidden. (In describing this hack, we'll always use the capital "A" for the secret Administrator account, and a lowercase "a" for a normal administrator account.)In versions of Windows before Windows Vista, the Administrator account wasn't hidden, and many people used it as their main or only account. This Administrator account had full rights over the computer.In Windows Vista, Microsoft changed that. In Vista, the Administrator account is not subject to UAC, but normal administrator accounts are. So the Administrator can make any changes to the system and will see no UAC prompts.Turning on the Administrator account is straightforward. First, open an elevated command prompt by typing cmd into the Search box on the Start menu, right-clicking the command prompt icon that appears at the top of the Start menu, then selecting Run as administrator -- or just use the shortcut you created in the previous hack.Then enter this command and press Enter:Net user administrator /active:yesFrom now on, the Administrator account will appear as an option on the Welcome screen, along with any user accounts you may have set up. Use it like any other account. Be aware that it won't have a password yet, so it's a good idea to set a password for it.If you want to disable the account and hide it, enter this command at an elevated command prompt and press Enter:Net user administrator /active:no

COMPUTER MULTIPLE SESSIONS

Multiple Session CD-R discs were first implemented by Kodak to allow CD-R disks to be written to until the CD is completely full. You must have a XA-compliant or XA-ready CD-ROM drive to read all the sessions on a CD-R disc. Otherwise, your access is limited to the data in the first session recorded.

COMPUTER CD-R ABCs

A CD-R (Compact Disk-Recordable) is a special type of CD which is coated with a photosensitive organic dye which allows a user to record information to a special type of cd for backup and duplication purposes. Once the CD-R disk is placed within the computer, the recording process begins; the laser heats and the dye reveals the areas to diffuse light just as a regular CD would. The CD-R drive does not actually create pits on the CD, instead the burner creates reflective sections on the CD causing the computer's CD-ROM laser to interpret it as a pit. Because of this method of creating a CD, CD-R drives are only capable of recording to the CD once. This unfortunately means if you encounter errors or do not complete the recording process, the CD may become useless.
CD-Rs are a low cost solution for backing up software. Each CD-R can cost from $3.00 to $10.00 and are capable of holding up to 650 MB per CD-R disk (74 minutes of music / up to 99 audio tracks) or larger. While tape drives are a low cost solution per MB when compared to a CD-R disk, tape drives are linear-access devices which can become time consuming if you wish to only recover one / few files. With a CD-R, you can browse the CD and choose individual or multiple files and restore them immediately.
Once a CD-R disk is finished recording, the CD will be able to be used in any standard CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD drive. There were issues with reading CD-R disks in the first revision of DVD.

COMPUTER BUSINESS START -HOW TO SUPPORT

Starting a computer support business is something that with some experience and training almost anyone can do. As a person owning an independent computer support business as well as a website to help others that support home users I thought it would be nice to point out the steps needed to start a business helping home computer users as well as some of the skills needed to get started.
There are four steps to getting the business started.
Business licenseEvery area is different but the legal aspect is always important and lends credibility to your business. Get your business license and also get insurance in case something goes terribly wrong, like lost business data that gets pinned on you.
Business cardsOf course you need some kind of a calling card. I know a small businessman who years back worked out that his business increased $1 per month for every business card he gave out. Go to Staples or Office depot as they have low prices for 500 or 1000 cards with some customization.
FlyersThe bulk of your business will come from flyers that you post up in various places. Put up flyers wherever possible. I have gone to supermarkets, bulletin boards at large businesses as well as small and Real Estate and mortgage offices. Your best success will come in offices where a lot of independent people work with their main computer being at home not supported at their work.
Computer softwareThere is no way around this. Over time you will find great software for diagnosing problems as well as for fixing problems. Two of my favorite CDs for support are the Ultimate Boot Disk as well as the Windows Ultimate Boot Disk. Both of these are free CDs to download and include a great many pieces of freeware that will help you out. These two Cds are self booting which is nice but you may also create a disk over time that has software you can run right out of Windows.
WebsiteA website is critical. You do not need something really slick but you do need a site for marketing as well as so that people can contact you or direct others to contact you. The basic info on the site should be your email, phone number, services you offer and maybe a menu of services that you offer. You will find that you do not have to prove how much better you are than everyone else because word of mouth can move very quickly.
There are also some skills that are very important to have to get your business started:
Strong windows skillsThis can not be overstated. The person that has a strong knowledge of how the various parts of Windows work is the one that can diagnose and fix the problem fastest. Although you want to have a lot of billable hours you want to be sure that you are not fiddling around looking for a fix as your clients will lose confidence in your ability and you will feel bad about taking so long to fix a problem. Keep up with great message boards like the ones at http://www.neowin.net/, as well as others that have a lot of fixes. Also it is important to know the Windows boot process and how the local group policy works. I hate to say it but I have learned more from supporting my mom's computer over the years for free than I have learned from my own machines because she is not nearly as careful as I am in operating a computer. Remember that most users are not going to have any idea how their computer broke so your own probing questions are often better than just diving straight in and troubleshooting. Lastly know what each of the processes does on a running PC and have a good feel for what to make of errors in the error logs of the machine, these are always invaluable. You can get diagnosis of errors from the logs at http://www.eventid.net/ .
Virus knowledgeKeep up with the latest viruses and how they are affecting computers. A very small number of viruses account for a great percentage of the infections out there and once you isolate how a virus has wreaked havoc the faster you can get rid of it and get the machine up and running properly again. I use http://www.sarc.com/ as well as the Internet Storm Center for this kind of information. When you get a customer set up with anti virus pick a favorite like Norton or McAfee instead of a free virus scanner so that the user does not have you to blame if they get reinfected by viruses. Use good quality control by setting up a realistic upgrade and weekly scan schedule based on the user's computer habits.
Spyware knowledgeThis is a really tough one. I keep up with spyware just by searching on the net and trying to find the resources that people are using to get rid of spyware. Also as you use products, especially free ones for fixing PCs like adaware or Spybot you will get a good chance to see what people are getting infected with regularly. I used to see Bonzi buddy a lot but now it is more aggressive spyware that forces you to fix in safe mode as you lose your regedit. Whenever you are getting a customer up and running though it is a best practice to have them use Spyware Nuker or one of the other pay products instead as then you do not have to worry about being the only point of failure if a computer gets reinfected.
Registry knowledgeNo one expects you to know the registry inside and out but be sure that you are very proficient with the current user and local machine hives of the registry as that is the most customizable portion of the registry. Also take note of keys that are being affected by various spyware and viruses. Quite often I will find unasked for extras in the filesystem that stop me from using the regedit command but I have had luck using regedt32 or going into the registry from safe mode. Again the better you know the registry the better off you will be when fixing problems.
Hardware knowledgeI have an A+ certification from years back and I am sure that this gave me a great grounding as hardware has changed over the years. You have to be able to at minimum be able to build a PC from scratch as this will give you knowledge of each component of the computer, teach you about BIOS upgrades and drivers and where to find them. There are so many sites on the internet which specialize in each component of a PC that Google will be your best bet for finding information. Another great resource is Maximum PC as they always have up to the minute news on cutting edge hardware as well as software. A couple of good sites that I frequent are http://www.tomshardware.com/ and http://www.lockergnome.com/
Staying up to date with the latest newsThis one should go without saying. One of the best ways to start a day in my eyes is to use my Maxthon browser add-on (I know I should have converted to Firefox already but no I haven't!) and open up http://www.neowin.net/ http://www.activewin.com/ http://www.pcmag.com/ http://www.wired.com/ http://www.cnet.com/ http://www.incidents.org/ http://www.internettrafficreport.com/
MarketingOne thing that I have only touched on so far is marketing. After you have the skills down the most important thing you can do is market your business. There are a few things besides flyers. You can do sneaky things like leave a couple of cards at the local bookstore in the computer section, send support type articles to the local newspaper and hope to get them published, and finally strike up computer conversations in the line at the local grocery store. In the more mainstream marketing methods you should join the local chamber of commerce, volunteer to do computer work with local charities, put ads in any local newspapers especially the free ones, and be sure to get together with other people in the industry

COMPUTER CODE PROGRAMES HISTORY

In previous articles in the History of the Computer series we looked at adding, counting, and memory etc. But what are we going to do with these components? How do they all tie together? What is the connection between Windows or a form you fill out for the Government, and the bits of a computer we have looked at?
We are looking at general purpose commercial computers here, which means that, within reason, anyone can buy a computer and use it for their business. For example an oil company might use it to analyse survey results carried out in the South Atlantic. An Airline could use it to schedule freight shipments between Caracas and other South American Airports. The same computer could be used to run a bank's ATM network. All of these could simultaneously run what we may consider the most important program, the Payroll!
How do these users get 'their' system to run their business on the same computer as another user with an entirely different business?The answer of course is - software. But what is software?
You could ask different people in IT this question, and get different answers. A programmer working in Java sees a different aspect of software from an analyst working on the operating system. A different view again is seen by the design engineer making sure the computer follows its instructions.
The difference is in the level of separation from the 'works'. The java programmer does not need to consider how the computer knows when it has finished multiplying two numbers. He doesn't even know that it is multiplying, or even what type of computer his program is running on. The analyst is aware of how the computer handles the 'bits' and uses this knowledge to make the operation more efficient.
We are concerned here with how the computer carries out its task, rather than how someone might wish to use it, but it is interesting to know what may be relying on its smooth operation.
A program consists of a series of commands to the computer to perform various tasks. As we have seen, the computer works in '1s and 0s', so its no good feeding a java script on a card into the slot on the front of the machine, like you may have seen in early black and white movies! There are other programs, like compilers and interpreters to reduce the 'code' the programmer writes to 'machine code'.
Different proprietary systems, like IBM or Univac, had different architecture - hardware design (and different operating systems to make them work). However the principle is the same. We will look at a small program to see how the computer would handle it.
In Part 2 we will look at how a machine code program is made up to instruct the logic.

COMPUTER SPEAKERS INSTALL

In this article we will discuss installing computer speakers. When you have purchased your required computer speakers, they will normally come with a CD driver disk for installation. It is a good idea to use the CD because you will likely get a sound program which will enable you to select the best features for your speakers resulting in optimal performance. For example in one of our sound programs, we can alter bass settings, sound themes and so much more.
Once we have the installation disc that comes with the computer speakers. Simply insert the CD in to your computers CD drive. You will then find a setup program load up. Hit install or English setup, or whatever is required and follow the on screen instructions. There is nothing difficult about installing computer speakers. When the setup program asks you to plug in your speakers, do so at the prompt, making sure they are powered on and ready to go.
Make sure you plug the speakers wire in to the right port in the back of your computer, Although this may sound like common sense, many people plug there speakers in to the microphone slot and complain there speakers are broken, or wonder why they simply don’t work.
Once the installation program is complete, you will likely need to restart your computer for the hardware and software changes to take effect and be added correctly to your computer. Once you have restarted the computer, your new computer speakers should be up and running, however you may want to go in to the sound program under programs. In here, you will be able to adjust various speakers’ settings until you get the best possible sound for your computer speakers. Once you have adjust the sound setting, try sticking on a movie or a computer game, and see if the sound is suited to your liking. It is worth spending some time getting to know your sound program so you can set different profiles for different occasions. For example, if Sunday is your day of music, then you may want to set a profile with settings specific to that. If another day is for gaming or movies, you will likely want or have different sound settings for the best sound experience for gaming or movies.
Be sure to check out our website below for everything relate to computer speakers. We offer the latest news and articles relating to computer speakers.

COMPUTER CD AND DVD

Optical drives have progressed a long way in the past few years, and you can now easilypurchase DVD writers that are capable of burning 9GB of data to a disk for an insignificantamount of money. Even if you don't plan on watching or copying DVDs on your computer, it isstill worth purchasing a burner for their superior backup capabilities.When purchasing a DVD writer, you will want one that is capable of burning both the '+' and '-'standards, and they should also be Dual Layer compatible. This will ensure that you can burn toalmost all recordable DVDs currently on the market (the other major format, DVD-RAM isalmost unused, for the most part, so don't worry about it).

COMPUTER CPU(PROCESSOR)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the heart of your computer as it performs nearlly allfunctions that require extensive processing power. Therefore, it is very important that youchoose a suitable CPU for your function as the choice of CPU directly affects the speed andstability of your system.Before we can explain differences between CPUs, you must first be familiar with certain CPUproperties.•Clock Speed, measured in Gigahertz (GHz), or Megahertz (MHz) on older systems is thenumber of calculation cycles that your CPU can perform per second. Therefore, a higher clockspeed generally points toward a faster system. But not all CPUs perform an equal quantity ofwork per cycle, meaning two CPUs at the same clock speed can potentially perform at verydifferent levels.•IPC, or Instructions Per Cycle is the amount of work a CPU can do in a cycle. This varies withdiffrent properties of the CPU.•Front Side Bus Speed (FSB) is the rate at which the CPU communicates with the motherboardFront Side Bus components in MHz. A larger FSB value shows that your CPU is able tocommunicate with other components on the motherboard (and thus your system) faster.•Interface: CPUs must connect to motherboards via a series of connectors. It is VERYimportant that your CPU interface is a COMPLETE MATCH to your motherboard CPU socketotherwise you would be wasting money on a piece of spare silicon.•Bit-Rate: Most modern CPUs are of the 32-bit system which work fine with most modernoperating system and hardware. Higher end models are the 64-bit system which may allowfaster CPU processing capabilities due to the larger band-width, but not all operating systemsare compatible with the newer 64-bit format -- they will still run, but without a majorperformance boost.•Hyper Threading (HT): Hyper-threading is a new technology of parallel processing whichinstead of one single core, your CPU is able to have separate cores working on different taskswhich greatly speeds up the system speed. However, Hyper Threading technology requires amotherboard that supports Hyperthreading technology which are generally very expensive. Andof course the software you use has to be optimized for Hyperthreading to give more speed.•Manufacture and Model: There are two main manufactures of CPUs Intel and AMD, eachhaving advantages and disadvantages that would be explained below.•L2-Cache: the amount of Memory dedicated for the CPU in MB, generally, the larger the L2cache, the faster your system would run. However, L2 cache uses a lot of transistors, and thelarger the cache, the transistors needed, which consums more electricity, and outputs more heat.•The Core of the CPU is the heart of the CPU. Often several cores will be marketed under thesame name, so look at what core you are buying.Now, one of the most common mistakes of choosing a CPU is by ignoring the fine print ofCPU specifications while relying completely on the clock speed. CPUs specs are written in full,I give a brief explanation of the spec, eg.Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz LGA775 FSB800 HT L2-2MBModel: Intel Pentium 4Clock Speed: 3.2GHz (=3200MHz)Interface: Land Grid Array 775L2-Cache: 2MB (=2048 kB)Other Spec: HT technologyThe consumer logic for processor speed may be misleading because many consumers think thatclock speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or megahertz (MHz) is equal to systemspeed. While the higher the clock speed the CPU is able to do cycles more frequently and itdoes have a fundamental effect on speed, it is not the sole factor as the number of calculationsper cycle is different for each different manufacturer and model.Intel classifies its CPUs using a series of numbers. 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx and 7xx of which 7xxbeing the highest end products. Generally, the higher the number, the faster the CPU and themore expensive. usually, models and ratings correspond.•3xx Series: Intel Celeron (L2-128KB)•4xx Series: Intel Celeron D (L2-512KB)•5xx Series: Intel Pentium 4 / Celeron D (L2-1MB)•6xx Series: Intel Pentium 4 / Pentium 4 XE (L2-2MB)•7xx Series: Intel Pentium 4 XE•8xx Series: Intel Pentium D•9xx Series: Intel Pentium Dthe number followed by suffix J signifies XD technologyeg.Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz L2-1MB with HT --> Intel Pentium 4 530JAMD CPUs are even more confusing in classification. The AMD Athlon CPU rating are NOTof the actual clock speed but rather the equivalence bench mark performance corresponding toa comparason to the AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.0Ghz. The conversion Table is as follows,AMD Athlon 1500+ = Actually runs at 1.33 GHzAMD Athlon 1600+ = Actually runs at 1.40 GHzAMD Athlon 1700+ = Actually runs at 1.47 GHzAMD Athlon 1800+ = Actually runs at 1.53 GHzAMD Athlon 1900+ = Actually runs at 1.60 GHzAMD Athlon 2000+ = Actually runs at 1.67 GHzAMD Athlon 2100+ = Actually runs at 1.73 GHzAMD Athlon 2200+ = Actually runs at 1.80 GHzAMD Athlon 2400+ = Actually runs at 1.93 GHzAMD Athlon 2500+ = Actually runs at 1.833 GHzAMD Athlon 2600+ = Actually runs at 2.133 GHzAMD Athlon 2700+ = Actually runs at 2.17 GHzAMD Athlon 2800+ = Actually runs at 2.083 GHzAMD Athlon 3000+ = Actually runs at 2.167 GHzAMD Athlon 3200+ = Actually runs at 2.20 GHzIn choosing different manufacturers and models, the CPU would generally be dictated by theway you intend to use your computer. AMD CPUs are generally less expensive than Intel CPUsof the same clock speed but there are great differences in the CPU architechture. Intel Pentium4 is specifically designed to optimise clock speed while the number of calculations per cycle isreduced. Therefore, benchmark tests of the speed of the AMD Athlon XP 3000+ isapproximately the same as Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz. Most gamers prefer AMD CPUs becauseof cheaper price for a faster speed, however, graphic designers and professionals prefer IntelCPUs due to their Hyper Threading technology.You may wish to purchase a high end AMD64/emt64 processor, which provides support for64-bit operating system (eg. Windows XP Professional 64-bit Edition). A 64-bit system is veryefficient in handling large amounts of RAM. A 32-bit system efficiency drops beyond about512 to 864MB of RAM, and becomes significantly less efficient beyond 4GB of RAM. Mostprocessors for gaming range in about the 2.8Ghz-3.2GhzA 64-bit processor is currently an expensive investment as most applications run on the 32-bitsystem. However, there is no doubt that the 32-bit system would gradually be replaced by the64-bit system when the prices fall over a few years time. It is unlikely that the 64-bit systemwould completely replace the 32-bit system within 5 years but Linux users might find a greatimprovement in speed when a 64-bit processor is used.Smaller processors are generally preferred for overclocking, as they run cooler, and can achievehigher clock speeds. Retail CPU's come in a package containing a HSF (Heat Sink Fan),instructions, and a warranty, often 3 years. OEM CPUs do not include these.The current CPU speeds and advantages change frequently, so for up-to-date comparisons, youmay want to check a website that specializes in Hardware reviews, such as Tom's HardwareGuide or Anandtech. A good, current (as of 14 February 2006) beginner's explanation can befound at [1]CPU CoolingCPU cooling is very important and should not be overlooked. A less than average CPUtemperature prolongs CPU life (up to more than 10 years). On the other hand high CPUtemperatures can cause unreliable operation, such as computer freezes, or slow operation.Extremely high temperatures can cause immediate CPU destruction by melting the materials inthe chip and changing the physical shape of the sensitive transistors on the CPU. Because ofthis, never switch on the computer if your CPU has no cooling at all. It is an extremely stupidthing to do, the scenario of 'I'll just test whether my CPU works!' as by doing so, you wouldfind that the CPU fries in less than 5 seconds and you will be off to buy a new one.Most CPU installations use forced-air cooling, but convection cooling and water cooling arealso options. For traditional forced-air cooling, the heat sink and fan (HSF) included in mostretail CPUs is usually sufficient to cool the CPU at stock speed. Overclockers might want touse a more powerful aftermarket fan, or even try water cooling because they need additionalcooling ability given the increased heat of overclocking.HSFs with decent performance are usually copper-based. The cooling effect is enhanced if theHSF has heatpipes. Silent (i.e. Fanless) HSFs are there to provide users a nearly silent cooling.Many retail heatsink+fan units have a thermal pad installed, which transfers heat from the CPUto the fan helping diffuse the heat created by the CPU. This pad is usable only once. If youwish to remove the fan from another CPU so that you can use it on your new one, or need totake it off for some reason, you will need to remove it, and apply a thermal paste or anotherthermal pad. Note that some of the cheaper pads can melt in unexpected heat and may causeproblems and potentially even damage if you are overclocking. In either case, thermal paste isusually more effective, just harder to apply. If you plan to do any high performance computing,or removing and replacing the HSF, often thermal paste is suggested. If you are planning a longterm installation a thermal pad is suggested. Non-conductive thermal pastes made up of siliconare the cheapest and safest.Silver-based thermal pastes sometimes perform better than normal thermal pastes, and carbonbasedones perform better still. When applied improperly both can be conductive, causingelectrical shorts upon contact with the motherboard. A thin properly-applied layer will usuallyprevent this problem, though some pastes can become runny when they get hot. Users shouldalso beware that many "silver" thermal pastes do not actually contain any silver metal.For quiet operation, start with a low-heat (low number of watts) CPU. Processors made byVIA, such as the VIA C3, tend to produce low amounts of heat. The Pentium M givesperformance that is on par with many of the desktop processors, but gives off more heat thanthe Via processors. You can also underclock your CPU, giving up some unneeded performancefor some peace and quiet. Another option is to choose a large copper heat sink with an open finpattern. However, true fanless operation is difficult to achieve in most case designs. You canposition a case fan to blow across the heat sink, or mount a fan on the heat sink. With eitherchoice of fan placement, choose a large and slow fan over a small and fast fan to decrease noiseand increase air flow.Some low-noise CPU cooling fans require special mounting hardware on the motherboard. Besure that the cooling fan you choose is compatible with your motherboard.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the heart of your computer as it performs nearlly allfunctions that require extensive processing power. Therefore, it is very important that youchoose a suitable CPU for your function as the choice of CPU directly affects the speed andstability of your system.Before we can explain differences between CPUs, you must first be familiar with certain CPUproperties.•Clock Speed, measured in Gigahertz (GHz), or Megahertz (MHz) on older systems is thenumber of calculation cycles that your CPU can perform per second. Therefore, a higher clockspeed generally points toward a faster system. But not all CPUs perform an equal quantity ofwork per cycle, meaning two CPUs at the same clock speed can potentially perform at verydifferent levels.•IPC, or Instructions Per Cycle is the amount of work a CPU can do in a cycle. This varies withdiffrent properties of the CPU.•Front Side Bus Speed (FSB) is the rate at which the CPU communicates with the motherboardFront Side Bus components in MHz. A larger FSB value shows that your CPU is able tocommunicate with other components on the motherboard (and thus your system) faster.•Interface: CPUs must connect to motherboards via a series of connectors. It is VERYimportant that your CPU interface is a COMPLETE MATCH to your motherboard CPU socketotherwise you would be wasting money on a piece of spare silicon.•Bit-Rate: Most modern CPUs are of the 32-bit system which work fine with most modernoperating system and hardware. Higher end models are the 64-bit system which may allowfaster CPU processing capabilities due to the larger band-width, but not all operating systemsare compatible with the newer 64-bit format -- they will still run, but without a majorperformance boost.•Hyper Threading (HT): Hyper-threading is a new technology of parallel processing whichinstead of one single core, your CPU is able to have separate cores working on different taskswhich greatly speeds up the system speed. However, Hyper Threading technology requires amotherboard that supports Hyperthreading technology which are generally very expensive. Andof course the software you use has to be optimized for Hyperthreading to give more speed.•Manufacture and Model: There are two main manufactures of CPUs Intel and AMD, eachhaving advantages and disadvantages that would be explained below.•L2-Cache: the amount of Memory dedicated for the CPU in MB, generally, the larger the L2cache, the faster your system would run. However, L2 cache uses a lot of transistors, and thelarger the cache, the transistors needed, which consums more electricity, and outputs more heat.•The Core of the CPU is the heart of the CPU. Often several cores will be marketed under thesame name, so look at what core you are buying.Now, one of the most common mistakes of choosing a CPU is by ignoring the fine print ofCPU specifications while relying completely on the clock speed. CPUs specs are written in full,I give a brief explanation of the spec, eg.Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz LGA775 FSB800 HT L2-2MBModel: Intel Pentium 4Clock Speed: 3.2GHz (=3200MHz)Interface: Land Grid Array 775L2-Cache: 2MB (=2048 kB)Other Spec: HT technologyThe consumer logic for processor speed may be misleading because many consumers think thatclock speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz) or megahertz (MHz) is equal to systemspeed. While the higher the clock speed the CPU is able to do cycles more frequently and itdoes have a fundamental effect on speed, it is not the sole factor as the number of calculationsper cycle is different for each different manufacturer and model.Intel classifies its CPUs using a series of numbers. 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx and 7xx of which 7xxbeing the highest end products. Generally, the higher the number, the faster the CPU and themore expensive. usually, models and ratings correspond.•3xx Series: Intel Celeron (L2-128KB)•4xx Series: Intel Celeron D (L2-512KB)•5xx Series: Intel Pentium 4 / Celeron D (L2-1MB)•6xx Series: Intel Pentium 4 / Pentium 4 XE (L2-2MB)•7xx Series: Intel Pentium 4 XE•8xx Series: Intel Pentium D•9xx Series: Intel Pentium Dthe number followed by suffix J signifies XD technologyeg.Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz L2-1MB with HT --> Intel Pentium 4 530JAMD CPUs are even more confusing in classification. The AMD Athlon CPU rating are NOTof the actual clock speed but rather the equivalence bench mark performance corresponding toa comparason to the AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.0Ghz. The conversion Table is as follows,AMD Athlon 1500+ = Actually runs at 1.33 GHzAMD Athlon 1600+ = Actually runs at 1.40 GHzAMD Athlon 1700+ = Actually runs at 1.47 GHzAMD Athlon 1800+ = Actually runs at 1.53 GHzAMD Athlon 1900+ = Actually runs at 1.60 GHzAMD Athlon 2000+ = Actually runs at 1.67 GHzAMD Athlon 2100+ = Actually runs at 1.73 GHzAMD Athlon 2200+ = Actually runs at 1.80 GHzAMD Athlon 2400+ = Actually runs at 1.93 GHzAMD Athlon 2500+ = Actually runs at 1.833 GHzAMD Athlon 2600+ = Actually runs at 2.133 GHzAMD Athlon 2700+ = Actually runs at 2.17 GHzAMD Athlon 2800+ = Actually runs at 2.083 GHzAMD Athlon 3000+ = Actually runs at 2.167 GHzAMD Athlon 3200+ = Actually runs at 2.20 GHzIn choosing different manufacturers and models, the CPU would generally be dictated by theway you intend to use your computer. AMD CPUs are generally less expensive than Intel CPUsof the same clock speed but there are great differences in the CPU architechture. Intel Pentium4 is specifically designed to optimise clock speed while the number of calculations per cycle isreduced. Therefore, benchmark tests of the speed of the AMD Athlon XP 3000+ isapproximately the same as Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz. Most gamers prefer AMD CPUs becauseof cheaper price for a faster speed, however, graphic designers and professionals prefer IntelCPUs due to their Hyper Threading technology.You may wish to purchase a high end AMD64/emt64 processor, which provides support for64-bit operating system (eg. Windows XP Professional 64-bit Edition). A 64-bit system is veryefficient in handling large amounts of RAM. A 32-bit system efficiency drops beyond about512 to 864MB of RAM, and becomes significantly less efficient beyond 4GB of RAM. Mostprocessors for gaming range in about the 2.8Ghz-3.2GhzA 64-bit processor is currently an expensive investment as most applications run on the 32-bitsystem. However, there is no doubt that the 32-bit system would gradually be replaced by the64-bit system when the prices fall over a few years time. It is unlikely that the 64-bit systemwould completely replace the 32-bit system within 5 years but Linux users might find a greatimprovement in speed when a 64-bit processor is used.Smaller processors are generally preferred for overclocking, as they run cooler, and can achievehigher clock speeds. Retail CPU's come in a package containing a HSF (Heat Sink Fan),instructions, and a warranty, often 3 years. OEM CPUs do not include these.The current CPU speeds and advantages change frequently, so for up-to-date comparisons, youmay want to check a website that specializes in Hardware reviews, such as Tom's HardwareGuide or Anandtech. A good, current (as of 14 February 2006) beginner's explanation can befound at [1]CPU CoolingCPU cooling is very important and should not be overlooked. A less than average CPUtemperature prolongs CPU life (up to more than 10 years). On the other hand high CPUtemperatures can cause unreliable operation, such as computer freezes, or slow operation.Extremely high temperatures can cause immediate CPU destruction by melting the materials inthe chip and changing the physical shape of the sensitive transistors on the CPU. Because ofthis, never switch on the computer if your CPU has no cooling at all. It is an extremely stupidthing to do, the scenario of 'I'll just test whether my CPU works!' as by doing so, you wouldfind that the CPU fries in less than 5 seconds and you will be off to buy a new one.Most CPU installations use forced-air cooling, but convection cooling and water cooling arealso options. For traditional forced-air cooling, the heat sink and fan (HSF) included in mostretail CPUs is usually sufficient to cool the CPU at stock speed. Overclockers might want touse a more powerful aftermarket fan, or even try water cooling because they need additionalcooling ability given the increased heat of overclocking.HSFs with decent performance are usually copper-based. The cooling effect is enhanced if theHSF has heatpipes. Silent (i.e. Fanless) HSFs are there to provide users a nearly silent cooling.Many retail heatsink+fan units have a thermal pad installed, which transfers heat from the CPUto the fan helping diffuse the heat created by the CPU. This pad is usable only once. If youwish to remove the fan from another CPU so that you can use it on your new one, or need totake it off for some reason, you will need to remove it, and apply a thermal paste or anotherthermal pad. Note that some of the cheaper pads can melt in unexpected heat and may causeproblems and potentially even damage if you are overclocking. In either case, thermal paste isusually more effective, just harder to apply. If you plan to do any high performance computing,or removing and replacing the HSF, often thermal paste is suggested. If you are planning a longterm installation a thermal pad is suggested. Non-conductive thermal pastes made up of siliconare the cheapest and safest.Silver-based thermal pastes sometimes perform better than normal thermal pastes, and carbonbasedones perform better still. When applied improperly both can be conductive, causingelectrical shorts upon contact with the motherboard. A thin properly-applied layer will usuallyprevent this problem, though some pastes can become runny when they get hot. Users shouldalso beware that many "silver" thermal pastes do not actually contain any silver metal.For quiet operation, start with a low-heat (low number of watts) CPU. Processors made byVIA, such as the VIA C3, tend to produce low amounts of heat. The Pentium M givesperformance that is on par with many of the desktop processors, but gives off more heat thanthe Via processors. You can also underclock your CPU, giving up some unneeded performancefor some peace and quiet. Another option is to choose a large copper heat sink with an open finpattern. However, true fanless operation is difficult to achieve in most case designs. You canposition a case fan to blow across the heat sink, or mount a fan on the heat sink. With eitherchoice of fan placement, choose a large and slow fan over a small and fast fan to decrease noiseand increase air flow.Some low-noise CPU cooling fans require special mounting hardware on the motherboard. Besure that the cooling fan you choose is compatible with your motherboard.

COMPUTER CHOOSING THE PARTS

Before you jump onto the web and start spending lots of money on expensive computer parts,there are two important questions you should answer which will guide your purchases:1. What are you going to use your new computer for?2. Will parts be available to use from your old computer--or do you want to reuse parts fromyour old computer?(Often, you will either want to hand your old computer down to someone else, in which caseyou must keep it functional, or it may be so old that you don't want to use any parts from it,because they will slow down your new machine too much.)What Operating System am I going to use?Before you buy components, be sure that they are supported by the operating system you planto use. Almost all current, commonly available devices have drivers available for currentversions of Windows (generally, anything 2000, XP or newer); if you want to run an alternativeoperating system, you'll have to do some research -- many alternatives have extensive'Hardware Compatibility Lists'.Windows hardware support listsMost processors and motherboards based on the i386 or x86_64 architectures are supported byWindows XP. Put more simply, this means all available consumer processors (especially fromAMD or Intel).For other hardwareMicrosoft Compatible http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx/BSDs hardware support lists•DesktopBSD, see FreeBSD 5.4/i386 http://www.freebsd.org/releases/5.4R/hardware-i386.htmland FreeBSD 5.4/amd64 http://www.freebsd.org/releases/5.4R/hardware-amd64.html•Dragonfly BSD http://wiki.dragonflybsd.org/index.php/Supported_Hardware•FreeBSD http://www.freebsd.org/platforms/•NetBSD http://www.netbsd.org/Hardware/•OpenBSD http://www.openbsd.org/plat.html•PC-BSD, see FreeBSD 6.0/i386 http://www.freebsd.org/releases/6.0R/hardware-i386.html

COMPUTER SILENCING

In contrast to overclocking, you may prefer to silence your computer. Some high-performancePCs are very loud indeed, and it is possible to reduce the noise dramatically. Note that quietercomputers sometimes run slightly hotter, so you need to monitor carefully what you do.Usually you can't overclock and silence at the same time. Main sources of noise are: Fans(CPU, case, power supply, motherboard, Graphics card), and Hard disks. One should be able tosit next to the computer, and hear birdsong from outside

COMPUTER FANS

The noisiest part is usually the CPU fan: the Intel-supplied fan-heatsinks are particuarly loud,although they do provide good cooling. Some BIOSs allow you to slow the CPU fan downautomatically when it is not too hot - if this option is available, turn it on. Also, you can get 3rdparty coolers, which are designed to be less noisy: for example, those made by Zalman. Noisypower-supplies simply have to be replaced with quieter ones. The case fans can be sloweddown by using fan-speed controllers, or resistors (but beware of ensuring sufficient cooling).Motherboard and lower-end graphics-card fans can usually be replaced with a small passiveheatsink. Large diameter (120 mm), high quality fans are much quieter than small diameterones. After a few weeks, dust and debris can accumulate on fan blades. Keep them clean toreduce noise and increase efficiency.

COMPUTER HARD DISK

A 'resting' hard disk is generally quite quiet compared with any fan, but increases dramaticallywhen it starts 'churning', as when you open or save a file or perform a virus scan. A goodsolution is to mount it on rubber mounts. But do ensure good cooling of the hard drive: runninga hard drive moderately hot can reduce its lifespan to under a year! Some mounts are designedto provide both extra cooling and silencing, such as the heat-pipe coolers. Spinning the HDDdown when not in use will also reduce noise, but it can reduce the life of the drive by increasingthe number of landings and take-offs performed by the read/white heads.A software tool created by Maxtor exists which can adjust a hard disk's noise/performance ratioto what your system requires. The technique is called acoustic management. However, onlycertain drives currently support this feature. You can read more on this topic here and get thetool here.Completely silent computers will need to use solid state memory like flash ram or eeprom. Thisis more expensive and has less capacity than a normal hard drive, so it can't be considered amainstream solution. At the moment, hard drives are the only practical option except in veryspecialised circumstances. However, there are plenty of options for reducing the noise output ofhard disks.

COMPUTER RANDOM ACCESS MEMRORY(RAM)

The amount of RAM you use is dependent on the purpose that you want to use it for. Olderversions of Windows and Linux will run comfortably, though slowly at times, on 128 MB.Some newer operating systems such as Windows XP require 256MB of RAM to runcomfortably. Many people now have 512 MB or more for better performance. Users of moderngames and graphics software, or people who may wish to host Internet services such as a Website, may want 1 GB or more.Another thing to consider when choosing the amount of RAM for your system is your graphicscard. Most motherboard-integrated graphics chips and PCI Express graphics cards marketedwith the "Turbo Cache" feature will use system memory to store information related torendering graphics; this system memory is generally not available at all to the operating system.On average, these graphics processors will use between 16MB and 128MB of system memoryfor rendering purposes.The actual type of RAM you will need will depend on the motherboard and chipset you get.Most current motherboards use DDR (Double Data Rate) RAM. The Intel 915/925 chipsets useDDR2 RAM. Chipsets that use dual-channel memory require you to use two identical (in termsof size and speed) sticks of RAM. Your RAM should usually operate at the same clock speedas the CPU's Front Side Bus (FSB). Your motherboard may not be able to run RAM slowerthan the FSB, and using RAM faster than the FSB will simply have it run at the same speed asyour FSB. Buying low-latency RAM will help with overclocking your FSB, which can be ofuse to people who want to get more speed from their system.If you are upgrading from an existing computer, it is best to check with a user group to see ifyour machine requires specific kinds of RAM. Many computer OEMs, such as Gateway andHP, require custom RAM, and generic RAM available from most computer stores may causecompatibility problems in such systems.RAM have different bandwidths, ie 400, 533, 600, 733, 800, the current trend is moving fromDDR2-400 RAM to DDR2-533 RAM as it is more efficient. Higher end models are veryexpensive unless you find it worth the investment.Labeling of RAMRAM are labelled by its Memory Size (In MB) and clockspeed (or bandwidth).•SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) is labeled by its clock speed in megahertz (MHz). Forexample, PC133 RAM runs at 133MHz. SDRAM is nearly obsolete as nearly all motherboardshave withdrawn support for SDRAM. It is now superceded by the more efficient DDR RAM.•128MB SD-133 = 128MB PC133 RAM•DDR RAM can be labeled in two different ways. It can be labeled by approximate bandwidth;as an example, 400MHz-effective DDR RAM has approximately 3.2GB/s of bandwidth, so it iscommonly labeled as PC3200. It can also be labeled by its effective clock speed; 400MHzeffective DDR RAM is also known as DDR-400. There is also DDR and DDR2 labelled as PCand PC2.•256MB DDR-400 = 256MB PC 3200 RAM•256MB DDR2-400 = 256MB PC2 3200 RAMDDR RAM has two versions DDR (also DDRI) and DDR2 (or DDRII)•DDR supports DDR-100, DDR-200, DDR-300, DDR-400 (mainstream) and DDR-533 (rare)•DDR2 supports DDR-400, DDR-533 (mainstream) and rare/expensive DDR-600, DDR-733,DDR-800, DDR-933, DDR-1066