Establishing Criteria For Clients In The Computer Consulting Business

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

In the computer consulting business there are several ways you can best qualify clients to ensure you get the best accounts to help grow your business.

Proximity

The first thing to make sure of when looking for clients for your computer consulting business is that they are close to you, at least within a 30 to 60 minute drive from your location. Having a pool of potential clients nearby will help you make the most impact at networking events or any other marketing-related functions.

Client Size

Your best client targets in the computer consulting business will be those with 10 to 50 PC's. The customers need to be large enough to require a real server, which means you want to look for companies with 10 to 100 employees. The best company prospects will have $1 million to $10 million in sales per year. Knowing this information about prospects will help you with marketing in the future, especially if you choose to do direct mailings.

What Should Clients Have Available?

Most of the time, your computer consulting business' clients will have email domains of their own. You will want to spend time talking about how clients will receive and send emails when you meet with them. They will probably have a dedicated server of Internet access, so this will help you better figure out options and indicate that they have serious IT needs.

Are They Serious?

If you determine that potential clients for your computer consulting business have no dedicated server, Internet access or are using peer-to-peer or dial-up lines, they probably are not going to be able to use your services.

Any prospect you target should be making IT a business priority, and how entrenched he is in the IT world will determine whether or not he will make a good future client.

Copyright MMI-MMVII, Computer Consulting Blog. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg can help you get more steady, high-paying computer consulting clients. You can learn how too. Sign-up now for Joshua's free audio training program on the Computer Consulting Blog.

New Device Quotstretchesquot Time

Writen by Alex MacCaskill

Do you always feel short of time? Is 24x7 beginning to feel like 25x8? Who would not want an extra hour a day to deal with all those emails, voice mails and text messages from colleagues?

The answer may be at hand.

It may seem far-fetched, if not incredible, but after studying the effects of time on the local populace, scientists in Polegate, East Sussex, England, believe they have invented a new device that could provide a solution by actually stopping the passage of time for up to one hour a day.

This reporter tested the device and is now absolutely convinced that something astonishing is happening near the normally sleepy South coast of England.

BACKGROUND

Professor Heinz Siebenundfünfzig of the "Polegate Institute for Population Studies (annexe)", near Eastbourne, takes up the story.

'There is a common perception that time always seems to pass more quickly when people are enjoying themselves, "having fun", as it were. Conversely the belief is that time seems to pass more slowly when tedious, repetitive tasks must be performed, for example, at work.

We decided to investigate the foundation of this belief and to discover if there is any scientific justification for it. Our team of ten researchers spent six months without interruption observing people at their various places of work.

The same team then spent six months ensconced in places of recreation, such as bars and night clubs.

A "double-blind" testing approach was used in the bars and clubs to prevent the conscious or unconscious skewing of results. We then asked our researchers to compile their reports.

RESULTS

The results were astonishing:

1) The physical and mental effects of ageing actually seemed to be diminished, if not eliminated, by the subjects having even mildly enjoyable fun, comparable to watching a favourite television program with a box of chocolates at hand and one's feet kept warm by resting them on a dog's back.

2) By contrast brainless, drop-jawed tedium immeasurably increased the effects of time on our minds and bodies, comparable to the subject watching television shopping channels or any daytime television.

3) These effects were compared to a median level of just feeling "normal", such as the subject watching television news involving neither chocolates nor dogs.

The passage of time on a daily basis is therefore demonstrably "stretched". We measured this phenomenon with great scientific precision in extended tests and found a further strange effect.

EMAILS, TEXTS, VOICE MAILS

By asking people to deal with email and other messages from colleagues in a controlled environment called "FunZone", we could actually stop time completely by precisely one hour per day.

Quite why this should happen specifically when dealing with such messages we are still not sure, though several subjects did admit that ploughing through emails from colleagues about something in which they had not the slightest interest had always made them feel like giving up the will to live, thereby making time seem to pass more slowly anyway. Possibly "FunZone" merely accentuated the effects.

However, our next challenge was to prove even greater.

REAL-WORLD APPLICATION

How could the findings be of practical use to the general populace, since controlled environments are notoriously difficult to duplicate outside the laboratory? This lead us to further research and collaboration with some of the many time-space continuum engineering companies in the area to develop these findings and to exploit them commercially, if possible.

The brief: to develop a device that could duplicate the useful effects of "time-stretching". The aim was to make these devices easily available in public places, at work or at home. People could therefore pay to enter them and get the business benefits of saving an hour per day by dealing with their tedious messages without wasting time.

Stress would be reduced and productivity improved. Thus the "P-box" was created.'

THE DEVICE ITSELF

Professor Siebenundfünfzig let me test the device. The capsule is cylindrical in shape, about two metres in diameter, three in height; just large enough for one person of average height to sit down comfortably and dock a laptop computer (on one's knees, it must be said). The walls are painted a hazy purple, it is cosy and warm, with relatively low lighting. No external sound is audible.

Each person can spend up to one hour within any 24-hour period in this time-free environment. Just swipe your credit card (19.99 per hour including broadband access), boot up your laptop and connect.

PROBLEMS

One problem: the time-stretching effect is only produced, for some inexplicable reason, by the constant and repeated playing of a particular piece of music, namely Elton John's '"Candle in the Wind". In addition, this works only when accompanied by the display of a monochrome photograph featuring the local council leaders of whichever town the device is then located.

The Professor forlornly admitted that this could be a major barrier to the P-box's wider commercial adoption and that even a selection of John's greatest hits did not achieve the same effect, 'Not even "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" gets us anywhere near' he confirmed, wearily. In addition, no other type of picture makes the eyes glaze over in quite the same way.

TESTS

I found that the P-box does indeed seem to work, though my efforts to delete all those unwanted messages were hampered somewhat by the music which I cannot now stop humming.

Other minor operational issues during R&D have now largely been resolved. The Professor confirmed that a problem had occurred one day when the door to the P-box got stuck, trapping a colleague inside for over three hours.

The Professor gravely indicated the colleague in question, who now insists on wearing oversized glasses and stack-heeled shoes in a "flamboyant" manner, while reciting local council bylaws in an unwavering monotone.

In response to my question about whether people would just use the device to have a quick snooze, beer, or to fulfil other, less savoury instincts and lose no time by so doing, the Professor confirmed that only message-deletion creates the desired effect.

RULES

Some rules: customers must go to the toilet before entering and must never consume drinks or food due to the reverse-digestion effects when exiting the capsule.

'Very few people have mistaken the P-box for a public toilet during trials, though we do accept there is some similarity in design. Hence the door can be opened at any time following some initial accidents.

Time spent on tedious, live conference calls cannot be avoided by entering the device: only messages recorded before the time of entry can be handled.'

I also asked what happens to messages sent and received during the hour-long stay in the capsule. Apparently these are not updated until after departure from the P-box. There seems to be no easy way, therefore, to stop the constant drip-drip of messages into one's Inbox, other than getting people to stop sending them in the first place.

LADIES

Other details: ladies attempting to use the capsule as a way of delaying the onset of those tell-tale wrinkles will be disappointed, as time continues to pass outside the P-box during the one-hour session and any lessening of wrinkles in the P-box is compensated by increased ageing after exit. Apparently this can be uncomfortable and disconcerting for onlookers and domestic pets.

GENTS

Gentlemen who would like to peruse sports magazines or "exotic" literature should be aware that an automatic detector flags the carrying of such publications.

Marketing has started with the slogan, "Pop a capsule a day. Keep those emails at bay!" Other suggestions are welcome.

Devices are intended for airports, train stations and other public places. Certainly it is a real advantage to be able to keep things under control in the time before one's train is due, even if that is in the next few minutes, rather than offend other passengers on the train by the overuse of elbows and run the risk of someone spying over one's shoulder at vitally important messages.

Corporate use is discouraged, however, as it is feared that people would retreat in to P-boxes rather than attend key management meetings or seminars on ISO Quality Procedures and Processes.

AT A STATION NEAR YOU (NOT ANYTIME) SOON

Until the P-box device becomes generally available (or feasible), you can visit the site below to save at least an hour a day on your messages:

http://www.zapit.org

© Alex MacCaskill July 2004. All rights reserved.

Alex MacCaskill alexmaccaskill@zapit.org

Network Monitoring For Serious Ecommerce

Writen by David Leonhardt

In the real world, businesses come in every size, from self-employed entrepreneurs like me to mega malls like Wal-Mart.

On the Internet, companies come in every size, too, from a stand-alone ebook sales page with webmaster and owner all in one, to 300 pound gorilla like Amazon, with over a million pages requiring the entire population of a small country to serve as webmaster.

If your site is a single page, it is its own network. But if your site is any bigger, and you have plans to grow, it is a network or is fast becoming one. You need network monitoring.

Most ecommerce webmasters are at least somewhat familiar with website monitoring. Many use a website monitoring service or software to keep track of "uptime" and "downtime".

At your local shopping mall, serious business requires more than just knowing when the front doors are open and when they are closed. Serious ecommerce needs to know more than just when the site is accessible. That is what network monitoring is all about.

Chances are, your e-business owns one of the following, or uses one of the following remotely:

DNS servers: These are used to translate your site name, like www.mycompany.com, to the numbers called "IP addresses" that computers understand. If DNS servers are not working properly, end-users will not be able to find your site and will get an error. Usually only an external or remote monitoring service will detect such a problem.

An FTP server: File Transfer Protocol servers are used to help you exchange files with remote users. If you use FTP, a monitoring service can make sure it is always up and running.

POP3 and SMTP servers: These are used for exchanging emails. If you are using email, chances are you are using SMTP and POP3. If your SMTP server is down, everyone who sends you email will receive an error, stating that your mail server is down and cannot accept incoming email. To say that the impression this leaves your customers is bad would be an understatement. If your POP3 server is down, you will be unable to retrieve email from your mailbox. Once again, only external monitoring will prevent such a problem.

Firewalls: Many businesses use firewalls to protect their internal network from un-authorized traffic, such as spyware, viruses and sabotage by competitors. Furthermore, a firewall is your first line of defense. If your firewall goes down, your whole network may actually become inaccessible from outside. In other words, if you host your own web site and mail servers, those will become inaccessible to the outside world if your firewall goes down. Once again, remote network monitoring is required to detect that a problem exists and quickly get it repaired.

Internet connections: Users come to your network from multiple backbones, depending on the company they use to connect to the Internet and their location. It is important to ensure that your connection performs well for each user. A remote monitoring service can ping your networks from multiple locations around the world, thus testing most major routes to your web server or network. Before hiring a network monitoring service, check to see that they have both your customer geography and the Internet backbone layout covered.

Very few websites of any size and functionality are anything less than a complete network, and many networks rely on servers in different parts of the world.

A good network monitoring service can ensure, as a base, that all servers are properly functioning, that data can be sent to and received from each server, and that each function sharing the server responds as required. An advanced network monitoring service can even remotely monitor the temperature of your servers.

What you need to monitor depends on how extensive your network is. A network monitoring expert can help you determine what needs monitoring. If you own the servers, or are remotely hosted on dedicated servers, you most likely need everything monitored. If your site is hosted on shared servers, you might need fewer functions monitored.

About The Author David Leonhardt is a freelance writer and SEO consultant. Contact him at: http://www.SEO-writer.net He wrote this article for Dotcom-Monitor: http://www.dotcom-monitor.com Read more on network monitoring: http://www.dotcom-monitor.com/network-monitoring.asp Read more on website monitoring: http://www.dotcom-monitor.com/website-monitoring.asp david@seo-writer.net

History Of The Computer Machine Code Programs Part 2 Of 3

Writen by Tony Stockill

What components will we be using? We have mentioned Registers as being where data being worked on is stored. One of these is the Program or P register. This is essentially a set of flip-flops, one for each 'bit' of the instruction. Various bits of this register are then decoded to see what the instruction has to do, for example an add or a test for 0.

Other registers would be used to store data to be added, and for the result, they could also be for data to be sent to a disk or tape drive.

We will look at a simple program to calculate the area of a rectangle. We can use any dimensions using this program, we will use 3x4 for illustration purposes. For this example we only have 5 instructions we can use, an ADD, a SUBTRACT, a STORE, a BRANCH and a STOP. The stop isn't strictly a normal instruction, but serves the purpose here.

The program is in memory from location zero onwards and looks like this:-

(0)000 - 000 011 000 STORE
(1)001 - 000 100 001 STORE
(2)010 - 001 000 010 ADD
(3)011 - 010 001 001 SUBTRACT
(4)100 - 011 001 010 BRANCH
(5)101 - 100 000 000 STOP

The format for these instructions, or the way the bits are laid out, determines what the instruction does, and what data it uses. We are using a format devised for this illustration. For example here is an ADD instruction

001 001 010

The first three bits are the 'command', or what the instruction does. 001 is decoded as an ADD. The rest of the instruction tells us what to add. The next three bits are the address of the register to be added. The last three bits are the register to be added to. This instruction will take the contents of register 000 and add them to the contents of register 010. The result will be placed in register 010.

How do we get data into those registers 000 and 001? We have a STORE instruction. This time the format is:-

000 011 000

Once again the first 3 bits are the command - STORE. The next 3 bits are the data, decimal 3 in this case, the last three are where to store it - in register 0. We will put decimal 3 in register 0.

The SUBTRACT instruction is telling us to subtract a value, in this case 1, from the contents of register 1. The result goes in register 1. (An extra bit not shown here would tell the logic to decode the literal, or actual, value of 1 rather than the address of a register).

The BRANCH instruction is what makes programs capable of powerful things, it is a decision maker. The format is

011 001 010

The first 3 bits are interpreted as a BRANCH instruction and enable logic to decode the rest of the instruction. the next 3 bits are the address of a register to test, and the last 3 bits an address in memory to be used to get the next instruction if the test is not met. Various tests are possible, in this case we are testing for 'not 0'.

The STOP is used here for this illustration only, normally the program would continue.

Tony is an experienced computer engineer. He is currently webmaster and contributor to http://www.what-why-wisdom.com A set of diagrams accompanying these articles may be seen at http://www.what-why-wisdom.com/history-of-the-computer-0.html RSS feed also available - use http://www.what-why-wisdom.com/Educational.xml

Used Electronic Test Equipment Whats Different Between Used Refurbished Remarketed Amp Rebuilt

Writen by Robert Preville

According to the research firm Frost & Sullivan, the estimated size of the North American used test and measurement equipment market was $446.4 million in 2004 and is estimated to grow to $654.5 million by 2011. For over 50 years, companies and governments have procured used test and measurement instruments in order to realize a number of benefits including the need to:

• reduce equipment acquisition costs,
• replace discontinued testing instruments,
• circumvent lengthy new product delivery times, and
• conform to legacy standards and specifications.

Although there are many considerations when purchasing used test and measurement instruments, the quality of the instrument and reliability of the vendor should be at the top of the list. Used test equipment vendors deploy a number of bywords that represent the equipment they sell, including "refurbished", "remarketed", "reconditioned", "rebuilt" and, the obvious, "used". These marketing adjectives typically imply various quality processes and buyers of used test equipment should execute their due diligence prior to purchasing.

"Used" or "Remarketed" equipment often describes products sold with an "as-is" supposition. You might purchase used equipment from an end-user organization or auction company that is selling surplus assets. Products sold as "used" should be priced at the lower scale of the market spectrum and it is not uncommon for quality issues to arise with "used" equipment. It is likely that the instruments have not been tested and have an uncertain history. It is only prudent to purchase "Used" equipment if you have the in-house repair and calibration facilities/expertise and are able to procure the item at a cost low enough that the added expense of repair and calibration remains to be a positive, economical outcome.

"Refurbished and Reconditioned" are akin and are the most common presentment of used equipment from equipment dealers. Refurbished equipment is fully tested and calibrated to NIST standards to assure that they meet the original manufacturers' specifications. Refurbished equipment should come with all standard accessories and operating manuals. Malfunctioning internal components will have been replaced or repaired and the product will have been cosmetically cared for including painting and the replacing of face plates, button and knobs. Refurbished equipment is typically sold with a 30-90 day parts/labor warranty and is priced in the middle to high-end of the market spectrum.

Finally, some vendors advertised "Rebuilt" test equipment. Many instrument options are field-installable and can be built-to-order according to the customer's requirements. Some products can even be converted from one generation or version to the next by adding various components. There is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing rebuilt equipment and, in fact, if you can not find the exact product configuration you are sourcing, you should ask qualified vendors about the possibility adding those options. As with used and refurbished equipment, always exercise caution in choosing a vendor. Assure that the vendor is qualified or uses a qualified electronics laboratory to repair, calibrate and rebuild the products you seek.

Purchasing used, refurbished or rebuilt electronic test equipment is a great way for organizations to save 30-70% on their asset acquisition costs. Warranties and guarantees from used test equipment vendors are formidable. In select product groups, the original equipment manufacturers offer extended warranties in partnership with the vendors that are the selling those products.

Exercise caution and perform due diligence on your vendors. It is most effective to first identify a qualified used equipment vendor and begin a supplier relationship, as opposed to sourcing each instrument you need individually. If your qualified vendor does not have what you are looking for in inventory, it is likely that they will be able to locate it within 24 hours. By first identifying and working with a select few vendors, you will assure consistent quality and economical pricing with every used test equipment purchase.

Robert Preville is the President and CEO of Global Test Supply, LLC, a distributor of new and refurbished test and measurement equipment from manufacturers such as HP, Agilent, Tektronix, BK Precision, Instek, Promax and Rohde & Schwarz.

Microsoft Word 2003 Create A Radial Diagram In A Second

Writen by Ugur Akinci

Radial Diagrams show the relationships between a central unit and others linked to it radially.

You can create an amazing variety of fantastic-looking Radial Diagrams in Microsoft Word 2003 without using any external graphic programs.

1) Display your DRAW toolbar by selecting View > Toolbars > Drawing.

2) Place your cursor where you want to insert your chart or diagram.

3) Click the 3-spinning-balls icon on your DRAW toolbar. The tooltip message should read "Insert Diagram or Organization Chart."

4) From the Diagram Gallery window, select the Radial Diagram button on the Upper Right. The DIAGRAM Mini-Bar displays automatically.

5) Click the Insert Shape drop-down menu on the Mini-Bar to insert new radial elements linked to the center. To delete one, select it with your mouse and then press the Delete key.

6) Click the "Click to Add Text" label to add new text.

7) To move a specific radial element around relative to the central element, select and click one of the "Ball Icons" (Move Shape Backward, and, Move Shape Forward) on the Mini-Bar..

8) To reverse (mirror-reflect) the diagram, click the "double arrow" button on the Mini-Bar.

9) Click the Layout drop-down menu to fit the diagram to contents, expand the diagram, shrink the diagram, or resize the diagram.

10) To autoformat the diagram, click the Autoformat button on the Mini-Bar and select one of the available format templates.

11) Select a text wrapping option (if need be) by clicking the Text Wrapping button on the Mini-Bar and selecting one of the available options.

12) Switch to a different diagram by clicking the Change To drop-down menu on the Mini-Bar.

13) Experiment with other buttons on the DRAW toolbar for an infinite variety of different effects. For example, select a radial element and change its color by clicking the Paint Bucket button, or add drop shadows by clicking 3D button and selecting an option.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 companies for the last 7 years. In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI). You can reach him at writer111@gmail.com for a FREE consultation on all your copywriting needs. You are most welcomed to visit his official web site http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials. While at it, you might also want to check the latest book he has edited, PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS 2006: http://www.lulu.com/content/263630

Digitalcamcorders How Easy Are They To Use

Writen by John Gibb

When you first get a digital camcorder, it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out how to use it. Sure, the basics come naturally, but it's all too easy to make mistakes – and if you've just bought the camcorder to record something important to you, you don't want that to happen. Before you let yourself loose in the big wide world with your camera, here are a few tips to help you get started.

The most vital tip – and this will make a huge difference to the quality of your videos – is to steady the camera somehow. Shaky-cam effects might be fashionable with indie filmmakers, but they just make home movies look amateur. The best thing, of course, is to get a tripod, but if you don't want to do that then just improvise with whatever's available – tables, walls, anything.

While you're filming, make sure you flip out the LCD screen and take some time to compose the screen you want to see. A few seconds spent doing this can take away a lot of the fear that comes when you decide to watch the movie back.

By the same token, edit as you go – don't leave it all to the end. It's far better to arrive home with a finished film than to arrive with tens of hours of unpolished footage to wade through.

One tip that I've seen improve people's movies a lot is this: be visual. Instead of narrating the film, talking to the camera or using captions, film things that represent what you want to stay. Do brief exterior shots of transport and buildings, so that people know where you are as the film goes on, instead of you constantly having to tell them.

Finally, there's one beginner mistake that I really need to point out to you right now. Whatever you do, don't forget to take enough tapes, and a power adaptor! These things are always hard to get, and no matter how expensive or luxurious your camera is, it's useless without them!

John Gibb is the owner of digital camcorder sources For more information on digital camcorders check out http://www.digital-camcorder-data2k.info

Help My Printers Printhead Is Clogged

Writen by James Sodor

If your inkjet or bubblejet printer has clogged printheads there are 2 possible reasons:

1. Ink has dried in the nozzles; or
2. Foreign matter has blocked the holes in the nozzles.

If 1, it is important to note that although genuine inks have anti-clogging agents in their formulation, if you have not used your printer in a long time the ink will dry up in the printhead. With genuine inks a couple of head cleans will usually get the ink flowing again. If you are using refill or compatible cartridges more aggressive head cleans may be necessary. You may need printhead cleaning solution. The best way to stop ink drying in the printhead is to use your printer every week. Just print out a test page which will use black and colour.

If 2, this is caused by foreign matter in the ink - always from small unfiltered particles from refill ink or lower quality compatible cartridges manufactured in a dusty environment - or the printhead collecting paper dust from poor quality paper, or the printhead picking up muck in an overfull parking station.

What is a parking station? This is where the printhead sits when the printer is not printing, usually on the right hand side inside the printer. There is a small rubber cap here which sits under the printhead to protect and prevent it drying out. On most printers it also provides a cleaning function and there is a lot of waste ink in this area- so it is the perfect place to collect dust and muck. You can get a cotton bud in there and clean it by switching the printer off then on, and then when the printhead moves away from the parking station switch the printer off at the wall. You will then be able to access this area for cleaning.

If foreign matter in the ink has blocked the printheads and your printhead is fixed into the machine, put new original cartridges in your machine as this will usually dissolve any particles in the printhead. If your printhead is removable, take it out of the machine and sit it in about 5ml of very hot (not boiling!) water for a few minutes. Dry thoroughly and re-insert into the machine and do a couple of printer head cleans. Repeat until the nozzles are unblocked. Always use good quality inks or compatibles in your printer - original inks are always best.

If you open your printer and you can see a fine white powder inside the machine, this is paper dust. This is getting into the print nozzles! Always use good quality paper and once in a while use compressed air to clean out the inside of your printer (use a can of compressed air, not compressed air from a compressor - or you'll blow away the electronics in your printer!).

James Sodor has been an expert in the field of printers since 1999, and is now kept busy at http://www.whatcartridge.com - the world's largest free database of printers and supplies.

How Does Hid Lighting Work

Writen by Diane Newsom

HID, or high definition, lamps are typically required when high levels of light are needed to cover large areas. They are the lights you see at ballgames and theme parks, at stadiums and in gyms.

There is a high demand for HID lamps because of their efficiency on a wide scale and their ability to clearly cover huge areas. They come in several versions: mercury vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, and standard high-pressure sodium lights.

Mercury vapor lamps were the first commercially available high definition lamps (HID). They are swiftly becoming outdated by newer more efficient counterparts like high-pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps.

High-pressure sodium lamps generally emit a more yellowish light, but are available with whiter light. They are usually the most efficient, and thus most commonly used, type of HID light. Metal halide lamps produce a beautifully white, natural light, but are also less efficient.

How do HID lamps produce light?

High intensity discharge lamps produce light when the gases inside the fused alumina tube are heated to the point of evaporation. Tungsten electrodes are kept in the alumina tube, and when the metal elements begin to heat up, they strike the tungsten electrodes, creating an arc of light.

Similar to fluorescent lights, HID lamps need a ballast (a device used to start gas discharge in a lamp and limit the flow of electrical current) to even start producing heat. If they don't have the ballast, the reaction won't begin, and there won't be any light.

What are tungsten electrodes?

Tungsten is a chemical element that is known for its high melting point and robust physical characteristics. It is used widely in electrical applications like lighting because of these properties. It is a hard, non-alloy metal that ranges in color from steel gray to tin white. It is shaped, or "drawn" into the very thin metal wires you see inside a light bulb.

What applications are there for HID lamps?

There are numerous applications for HID. They are in high demand in areas that require lots of lights, like stadiums, football fields, warehouses, parking lots, roadways, sidewalks, and more.

However, they have come into habitual use in smaller areas as well, such as department stores, houses, indoor gardening, and a number of other applications. Because of their bright, natural light, HID lamps can also cause those extra bright headlights blinding you across the road.

They are such a powerful light source, in fact, that high definition lights have come into use on the airbus 380- super jumbo airplane.

Diane Newsom writes for the uk Lights. Please visit us for more information on website to buy HID Lighting.

One Small Step For Man One Giant Bill From Tech Support

Writen by Pete McFraser

Beaming data to the moon—it sounds intriguing, but is it really the answer to offsite backup?

Dozens of businesses were unable to recover from 9/11. Having all of their files and backup data in one location added incredible economic damage to the already tragic losses of life. Should businesses anticipate a graver disaster than that of the World Trade Center?

Jumping forward ten, maybe twenty, years... North Korea's nuclear arsenal builds to an astounding 50,000 warheads (more than the USSR at the peak of the Cold War), the ozone hole exceeds 15 million square miles, and the war on terror wages on. Nevertheless, it's business–as–usual back in the good old US of A. Investments grow, as does the price of gasoline and real estate. Cures for would–be–lethal diseases are on the brink of discovery, and space travel is available to anyone willing to pay.

Nobody saw it coming. Or more precisely, no one believed it would really happen. Astronomers warned of the day the asteroid would come. And it does.

Barreling through space at unheard–of speeds, the asteroid, aptly named "the end of days," smashes against the earth like a 400 billion ton hammer. Hundreds of thousands of lives are lost almost immediately. Dust and ash spread across the sky, and the earth whimpers as if the wind were knocked out of her. Over the coming months, the damage is addressed by the Red Cross like a troupe of girl scouts servicing the Normandy invasion. The economy is in shambles as consumer confidence falls through the floor...and then the basement.

Out of the smoke comes Dennis Laurie, CEO of TransOrbital. In a speech matched only by Sir Winston Churchill, or maybe even Morgan Freeman, he assures the world that rebuilding the economy is possible. The companies that had invested in TransOrbital by sending their backup data to the moon could fly past their competitors and reshape the new world. By retrieving data stored safely in space, these companies redefine the Fortune 500 and become the new leaders in the global economy.

Sound a bit hokey? That's the claim TransOrbital makes in a recent PC Magazine article. Laurie said, "September 11 caused people to think about what data backup really means, and there is also always the threat of a natural disaster here on earth, such as a small asteroid hitting the planet."

Would it really work—data centers on the moon? The plan is to build server-friendly environments that could provide the "atmosphere" necessary for self-healing servers. Small shelter-like structures that could keep a normal temperature, air pressure, etc. need to be built on the moon; currently, Tran Orbital is the only company with the licensing to do it. While they're up there, TransOrbital, using Hewlett-Packard technology, plans to make live digital images of the earth available on the web. They also offer to ship personal objects to the moon for safe-keeping for a small fee of $2500 per gram.

The proposal certainly has its fair share of skeptics. The biggest argument being that the likelihood of an asteroid hitting the earth is miniscule compared to one hitting the moon. Earth's atmosphere burns up most of the debris that would otherwise hit the surface, while the moon has no such protection. Others wonder about upgrading, repairs, and maintenance. As one reader put it, "At 75$ and hour and 30 cents per mile, that's one hefty bill from tech support."

Peter McFraser is a marketing representative of Exabyte, located in Boulder, Colorado. Learn more about how you can backup data with Exabyte's award-winning VXA backup drive.

Make 2006 Brighter With Yonah Amp Viiv

Writen by Samer Iqbal

The current age may be described as an age of machinery just because of modern technology. It has done wonders in the field of science, means of travel and communication and mechanical inventions.Great educationist of the world has considered this type of modern technology a part of education. For example the last decade brought the computers to the forefront and today we find computers being widely used in houses, factories & hospitals. Man is able to do several things which are thought impossible before some years. Here are some details of greatest inventions of Intel that will be launched in 2006.

Intel is likely to introduced a device with several flavors, Yonah (a dual-core notebook chip based on a new design)and another best device for home entertainment Viiv (designed to store music, record TV shows, so forth). Intel promised that in Yonah multiple applications can be run at a time.

"You will be able to do a skip voice call while playing video game"Keith Kresslin, Director of mobile platforms.

The Viiv PCs will come out in 9 countries first and spread to other soon after. Intel also plans to test the Viiv PC extensively for compatibility with other devices, such as handhelds and LCD TVs, and with services for downloading contants.These are great discoveries and stepping stones for us. These devices are based on scientific know-how and vast experience gathered over the years in scientific field and bringing facilities to the world of computer.

Intel Expected to give the guarantee of Yonah that it will perform 68% better than current Intel notebook chips. Computer with Yonah will also be better than PCs today at running many applications at once. Yonah is expected to consume only 3 watt of power on average less than the 4.2 watt average seen on current cutting-edge laptops.

The debut of Viiv PCs will also be seen in first quarter of 2006 which will contain several chips and software from Intel. Intel expect that these computer will be positioned as nerve centers for home entertainment, these are designed to store music, record TV shows, serve up family photos & videos and also allow people to pass movie to handhelds.

Eric Kim, the chief marketing officer at Intel said, "There is no unifying platform that puts these things together"

"It (Viiv) will play a role in the living room" RAID functionality will be included in Viiv PCs, so files can be back up in two or more drives. In the 2nd half of 2006, they will come with two bits of software.....Intel HUB connection technology & Viiv media server through this we can setup home network & make connection with peripheral devices, Executive said.

Intel said that TVs, Internet-enabled DVD players and other devices for Viiv compatibility, along with the Viiv certified content services, will be released in the second half of the next years.

These PCs will be quick resume.With this Yonah hit a button and the PC switches on "I don't need to wait anymore to turn on the PC and reboot" said Merlin Kister, a technology program manager for Viiv.

Owing to these new advance technologies, men are getting very close to understand that how life can be changed with the help of these numerous & innumerable blessing. It has best owed on mankind & Intel has given right efforts to help us to achieve success.

Samer Iqbal Educationist

Wireless Access Point 20 Second Hack

Writen by Eric Meyer

Placement of your wireless access points is the first layer of security for your wireless network. If your wireless access points can be physically touched by a passerby you have major problems.

The easiest way to hack a wireless access point is walk up to it and press the reset button. This will make it default back to an open network and poof you have keys to the kingdom

When placing your wireless access point the only thing you should be able to see is maybe the antenna. You can purchase access point antennas that look like ceiling panels or fire alarms.

If a hacker is in your building probing your wireless network he is going to look for access points. If he can determine the make and model of your access point he can search the Internet for default passwords and vulnerabilities for that access point.

Finally when placing your wireless antennas outdoors try and make them blend into the building as much as possible. You should use a wireless directional antenna that is flat against a wall rather than a Yagi antenna which screams look at me.

Wireless access points can be hacked in 20 seconds or less if they are mounted in the wrong place. The most secure wireless network is the one nobody knows about.

http://www.wirelessninja.com is the only website on the internet dedicated to simple and secure wireless networking. Learn the real secrets to securing your wireless network. http://www.wirelessninja.com has wirleess security tips that you won't find in any book or class. Is your wireless network simple and secure?

The Quickest Way I Know To Secure Your Pc Safety In 7 Easy Steps

Writen by Rogel Dias

Can You Prevent Spyware, Worms, Trojans, Viruses, ... To Work When You Switch Your Pc On ? I Can And I Do It On A Pro-active Basis.

Surfing Means More And More To Stay Invisible, To Be Clean From The Inside And To Prevent Installment Of Malicious Software (So Preventing Unwanted Communication From Inside To Outside And From Outside To Inside).

How do you stay invisible while surfing? Of course by installing a firewall. How do I get one free? That's the easy point.

You like to stay invisible. But are you? And how do you know? You could do a test from someone out there trying to get in. But who can you trust?

Suppose you are doing a test. Do you obtain objective and reliable information about your PC-vulnerability (for free)?

Now even if you stay invisible, you will visit websites leaving cookies in your PC and you will download software. By doing so you will get spyware, viruses, ...

How can you detect them and delete them? That's also the easy point: you have to install an anti-virus program and anti-spyware programs. Research on the internet makes it clear that you need 2 anti-spyware programs. Why 2? Because a great fish may be caught by the net but a small fish can swim through the holes. Using 2 makes the holes smaller. What are those 2 free programs you have to download?

Can you prevent spyware to install on your PC? Maybe, maybe not. There is one free software that might prevent it (but not with 100% guarantee).

And even then you need an additional freeware program to prevent a piranha to install itself on your PC (just enabling itself to start up whenever you switch your PC on). This freeware program is overlooked by many and gives you an additional feeling of relief and security. It gives you also a hint whether some new downloaded software is good or bad (and thus giving you the chance to delete it anyway before it becomes too malicious).

Now you owe it to yourself to maximize the safety of your PC for surfing. You need a firewall,an anti-virus software, 2 anti-spyware programs, one spyware preventing program, a trusty guard preventing installment in your startup files and even 3 musketeers. And last but not least do a safe test to get an objective idea about the vulnerability of your PC.

Everything is free. It only needs your attention. So look after the fully simple and logical steps in:

http://startwithoutadime.blogspot.com/2005/02/first-things-first-pc-safety_13.html

http://startwithoutadime.blogspot.com/2005/02/first-things-first-pc-safety-ii.html

After all, preventing a disease is better than curing it !!

About The Author Rogel Dias Finally. Discover A Lifetime Of Amazing Simple And Free Web Marketing Strategies, Tips And Resources. Subscribe to my Monthly Newsletter. Reply To My Survey And Receive A Free Software And Ebook! Go to http://startwithoutadime.blogspot.com CopyRight 2005 Rogel Dias, Antwerpen,Belgium

Computers Are Not Scary

Writen by Lucas Gentry

Do you remember when you were a kid, and saw your first automobile? To the older crowd, the answer might be yes. To them, the first automobile was most-likely an object of wonder. It wasn't necessarily a thing to be feared, just an unknown. It was something that you had heard of, but hadn't had any experience with it. It wasn't scary.

To most everyone else, you don't remember your first time you saw an automobile, because they've just always been around. You aren't scared of them because you are familiar with them. The youngest generation of youth feel the same way about computers.

Many of you may remember the first time you saw a computer. It was a strange thing that you weren't familiar with. To some of you, it was exciting. To others, it wasn't. But somewhere along the line, you decided that using a computer was something that only younger (or more "gifted") people should do.

We're past the age when cars are for only the most wealthy. Now, everyone has a car. In previous days, it was perfectly fine to walk everywhere. Some still do that, but most have learned to drive. In these days, there are still some who can "get around" just fine without the use of a computer, but most people use them multiple times in a week.

In the same way, however, that most people see cars, the younger generations see computers. Computers are not something to fear. They're only something that you're not familiar with. That doesn't make them bad. And it doesn't make YOU bad.

So in the same way you have gotten used to cars, go ahead and have some fun with computers. Play around. You won't break it, just like you didn't break your car the first time you got in it. Go for it! Have Fun!

For more articles and a Free Online Encyclopedia of Computer Stuff (geared toward people who aren't familiar with computers), check out http://www.christiannerds.com!

Apple Imac Educative

Writen by Jose Luis Valcarcel

IMac will sell educative Apple New iMac for the education will replace to the model eMac oriented the students, who Apple began to retire gradually the year by the end of The technological company/signature Apple Computer announced that iMac to 899 dollars will begin to sell a version of its personal computer, in an attempt to expand its presence in the educative market. Apple, well-known by its popular reproducer of music and videos iPod, indicated that new iMac will have a LCD of 17 inches.

The company indicated that the computer will count on a new microprocessor of Intel, the greater manufacturer of semiconductors of the world. New iMac for the education will replace the model eMac oriented the students who the company began to retire gradually the last year by the end of. The model iMac includes a screen of 17 inches (43 centimeters of diagonal), a Intel processor Core Duo, a videocamera iSight and a software iLife 2006 to make blogs (daily personal of Internet), podcasts (archives of to be sent sound) and Web sites.

Apple has been offering discounts to students and teachers from beginnings of the decade of 1980 to compete with its rivals IBM, Dell and Hewlett-Packard, among others, by the lucrative market of the educative personal computers. Around a 12 percent of the net sales of Apple of the 2005 they came from the educative market, that include primary and secondary schools, universities and individual buyers.

Port Forwarding What Is Port Forwarding

Writen by Edgar Lee

The term Port Forwarding is referred to the technique of forwarding a network port from one particular machine to another machine. This technique is usually applied when the receiving machine is behind a network router. By doing this, it enables users from outside the LAN (local area network) to reach a private user in the LAN itself. Now every machine on the internet has at least one IP address which is used to identify that particular machine or device. Every IP address is divided into many ports. The ports are there for the machines to communicate with each other, for example (computer A is sending some data to computer B), and therefore forwarding the port will also enhance the speed of the transmission between the two machines.

Now let's take a look at how the machines are connected to the internet when behind a router. The router is first connected to the internet which we will call it external IP. The router will then have its own internal IP address. (every machine/device will have at least one IP to identify them self). The router will then assign an individual IP address to every machine that is connected to the router. The router's IP address will then act as a gateway for all the machines that are on it's network. When a particular machine in the network wants to send data out to another machine in the internet, it will first pass through the gateway before the router sends it out to the recipient. The recipient however will not be able to tell who in the network is sending him the data as the internet will only show the external IP address here. Likewise, when another machine outside the network is sending data to a recipient inside the network, the data transmission will be transmitted to the external IP address and not directly to the intended recipient. The router will then decide which recipient should receive the data that is being transmitted. Fortunately, the NAT in the router will take care of most of the re-directing except for those programs which NAT are not designed to work with. This is where port forwarding comes into place. This simple process is just a way for users to tell the router which machine in the local network is the intended recipient and that the data should be directed to him. You will need to set up port forwarding rules for every port which you are using and any rules set up for a certain port will only work for that certain port.

One important factor to note is that a port can only be used by a program at any one time. For example, when computer A is using port 6000, it is using port 6000 on its internal IP address. If you have set up a port forwarding rule for computer A and port 6000, the external IP address's port 6000 is also in use. This means that you can only use port 6000 on one computer on the network at a time. Using port 6000 on two computers at the same time would violate the one program rule, and your data would get messed up.

This generally sums up the term Port Forwarding. Any comments can be directed to www.voip.com.sg/voip_feedback.html

Edgar Lee is a VOIP consultant in VOIP singapore (Voip Singapore). A Singapore company that has extensive experiences in cutting-edge IT solutions, VOIP singapore is your trusted partner when your organization needs VoIP, IP PA System, Systems Integration, Computer Telephony, Voicemail, or even specialized solutions such as Call Accounting software and SIP Servers

Is An Instant Background Check Even Possible

Writen by Stanley Alpin

Given that there are more than 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States and that information on U.S citizens is scattered across various databases all over 3,142 counties, it is safe to conclude that an instant background check is not possible at present. Yet, there are innumerable companies that purportedly offer instant background checks. These checks are offered at very low rates and sometimes are done free-of-charge. The apparent speedy dispensation of information and low cost are the main reasons that employers try out this option.

As of now the unavailability of a universal database on American citizens means that a background check can take time and requires a fair amount of follow-ups and co-ordination. Companies offering instant background checks have mushroomed because the demand for background screening has gone up and H.R departments are invariably stressed for time. However, what one needs to understand is that outsourcing background checks is a recent phenomenon and there are still no standards set regarding the extent of information to be mined and the manner in which the information should be construed.

Companies that opt for instant background checks often end up losing money instead of saving it. The cost of a thorough background check that covers criminal records, education, driving records, and drug tests is well worth the money spent because it is far less than having to recruit an employee all over again if a job-seeker once selected and trained turns out to have a record less than satisfactory. The costs that a company may face if an unqualified employee is made to leave include rehiring, retraining, loss in productivity, healthcare, as well as potential lawsuits.

Instant background checks may be possible if the database is on the residents of a limited area such as a county or even a state. In such a scenario, it can provide efficient pre-employment screening including social security number checks and employment credit reports. It is important to understand that in order to provide instant credit checks the databases need to be updated in real-time so that changes in an individual's records can be incorporated.

For instant background checks to become the norm, several technically innovative solutions will need to be implemented. These solutions would enable the installation of registration depots across the country that would contain records such as the name, date and place of birth, social security number, photograph, fingerprints, and driving records of individuals. This information would be fed to a central database that would be accessible from anywhere in the United States. An instant background check would not only help employers but also enable transparent business and help the government in curbing drug running and fraudulent activities.

Stanley Alpin recommends Background Check Guide for more information on ordering an instant background check.

Superhuman Senses How Wireless Sensors Will Keep You Safe Healthy And Successful

Writen by Bruce Kasanoff

You have superhuman senses, but you don't know it yet.

You can detect the presence of a tiny speck of anthrax in a vast public space, or count the fish in a 4,000 square mile area. You can hear a gunshot hundreds of yards away and use your super-powerful vision to zoom in on a criminal as he tries to escape. You can look in the eyes of a person you've never met, and tell me her identity.

Best of all, with every passing day, your superhuman senses grow stronger. You acquire new ones, too.

No, you didn't get bitten by a radioactive spider or exposed to gamma radiation. You're not a mutant X-Man.

You are just lucky enough to be alive during the birth of a new class of computers, called sensors. They are multiplying faster than chocolate stains at a nursery school birthday party.

In the time it took me to write this far, the human race deployed thousands of new sensors into the world. Some are old-hat sensors like burglar alarms and smoke detectors. But others extend and supercharge our senses in ways that seem ripped out of the pages of your favorite comic book.

If a tree grows in the forest and no one is there, does it make a noise? Sensors are being added to forests – often to study the behavior of wild animals – and the answer is a resounding yes.

Sensors called drifters have been floating on ocean currents for several years now, sending back information not only to researchers but also to elementary school classrooms. In the process, we are learning immense amounts about our oceans and climate.

Thanks to sensors, Air Force pilots in Colorado Springs now control drone planes that run bombing missions in Afghanistan; the pilots' biggest problem is coming home to a normal family life at 5 pm, after operating in a war zone.

Sensors extend your senses to see the very little, and the very distant. They can detect pathogens at the molecular level, and monitor the Earth – or other planets – over vast distances. Pictures from satellites show the impact of human development on places such as Mexico City, Las Vegas and the Amazon.

Never before have you – or any other human – been able to see in such detail how our world changes from one day to the other, or one year to the next.

Four big changes are impacting the growth of your new superhuman senses:

1. Sensors are increasingly becoming wireless, which means they can operate almost anywhere.
2. We are figuring out how to get sensors to use very small amounts of power, or even to generate all the power they need from their environment (i.e. solar power, or power from natural vibrations.)
3. Sensors are shrinking rapidly.
4. Sensors are being networked together.

Altogether, these changes mean that sensors will literally be woven into the fabric of our world.

Think of a new Internet of sensors, which will extend your senses in ways that are difficult to imagine. Do you know where your children are right now? Soon, your answer will always be yes.

In fact, it's already a mistake to think that Google only searches web pages. Through the web, you can already access millions of sensor readings, from radar screens and satellite imagery to sensor data from nature preserves such as Great Duck Island

If you have ever read a comic book, you know that gaining superhuman powers will change your life. Peter Parker didn't come home with new spider powers and go on with life as usual. These powers turned his life upside down.

Likewise, these new powers will change the course of human history. Quickly.

Sensors will reveal the truth about our history, environment, interactions, and universe. Just look at NBC's Olympic coverage, and you'll get an idea what I mean. They can now superimpose one ski racer's run over his competitor, so you can see precisely when and how one racer got the edge. No more vague generalities; we can now see 1/100ths of a second differences between two performances.

Knowing the truth excites some people, and terrifies others. Just ask Superman what it's like to have x-ray vision. Sometimes it's pretty depressing to know the truth.

Take a moment and look around. In less time than it will take the Yankees to win another World Series, sensors will be in your clothing, walls, pets, vehicles and body. Of course, you may be an early adopter, in which case all of these are already true.

The best technology firms in the world have a secret weapon. He's Bruce Kasanoff, a writer with a remarkable gift for making complex innovations easy to understand. Bruce turns techno babble into interesting and engaging stories. If you're looking for more proof of his abilities, check out Superhuman Senses or call Bruce today at (203) 341-9448.

Vbscript Send Email With Cdomessage

Writen by Shaun Vermaak

Some my feel that apart from it being a nifty trick, there isn't any real practical use for sending E-Mail from a script but lets imagine the following scenario:

You have a business critical server called "ImpServ01" that must be available at all costs. The following script can be setup to run every five minutes to check the availability of the server and email you if the server becomes unavailable. This example uses a SMTP server called "SMTP.YourDomain.com" and sends mail from "ImpServ01@YourDomain.com" to "Admin@YourDomain.com".

Option Explicit

Dim strComputer Dim colPingStatus Dim objPingStatus Dim objMessage

strComputer = "ImpSrv01"

Set colPingStatus = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}").ExecQuery("SELECT * FROM Win32_PingStatus WHERE address = '" & strComputer & "'")

For Each objPingStatus In colPingStatus

If IsNull(objPingStatus.StatusCode) or objPingStatus.StatusCode <> 0 Then

Set objMessage = CreateObject("CDO.Message")

objMessage.From = strComputer & "@YourDomain.com"

objMessage.To = "Admin@YourDomain.com"

objMessage.Subject = strComputer & " is unavailable"

objMessage.Textbody = strComputer & " is no longer accessible over the network."

objMessage.Configuration.Fields.Item("http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/sendusing") = 2

objMessage.Configuration.Fields.Item("http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/smtpserver") = "SMTP.YourDomain.com"

objMessage.Configuration.Fields.Item("http://schemas.microsoft.com/cdo/configuration/smtpserverport") = 25

objMessage.Configuration.Fields.Update

objMessage.Send

End If Next

Set colPingStatus = Nothing Set objMessage = Nothing

To attach a file to the E-Mail add the following line:

objMessage.AddAttachment "SomeDocument.doc"

Shaun Vermaak - www.ITtelligence.co.za

It Emergencies Use Them As Ice Breakers

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

When prospective clients have IT emergencies, you have an opportunity. In this article, you'll learn that two important factors come together during IT emergencies

How IT Emergencies Help You

First, the customer feels the threat of having neglected IT issues. Often a new, widespread, and deadly virus hits, and the customer discovers that renewing the anti-virus license was overlooked or there were no procedures for updating the virus definitions. Then there is the sudden business impact of having to put some IT project on the back burner.

Perhaps one the customer's main clients wants on-line access to the status of their account. All of a sudden, the project which was on the back burner it is now boiling over.

Secondly when you have saved the day, you have both access and creditability. You are there and they are ready to listen.

How and When Will You Fix IT Emergencies?

In responding to an emergency, it is important to remember that the emergency customer is looking for assurance that the "pain" will go away as soon as possible. This means solving the problem quickly--either with a clever workaround or a direct solution.

But what does "as soon as possible" mean? That is what they are looking for you to tell them.

Within an hour or two of arriving for IT emergencies, they expect you to be able to explain the problem and to demonstrate the ability to prioritize the situation with them in terms of their business needs. They're expecting you to know where to turn to find solutions and to be resourceful and demonstrate initiative.

Not All IT Emergencies Can Be Fixed Immediately

If you ever watched the TV show "ER," it's a lot of triage. It's a lot of figuring out what absolutely has to be done today, what has to be done this morning and what can wait till the next visit. Triage is also knowing what you can do quickly to produce results. It is not always fixing the hardest problem first and sometimes it is providing a clever workaround.

Technical problems that affect the entire company, like bringing up the LAN, tend to go up to the top of the list with issues that just affect one person tending to go the bottom list. But there are exceptions.

Sometimes Even One Computer Can Create IT Emergencies

If part of the technical problems involve only a single computer but this means the clerk cannot submit online information to ADP in time to make payroll, that may, indeed will, become a top priority. In this case, something as simple as arranging for a direct dial up connection that bypasses the LAN, can be the basis of a long lasting relationship, even if the LAN remains down for three more days.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consulting 101. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Joshua Feinberg, co-founder of Computer Consulting 101, helps computer consulting business owners get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too. Sign-up now for your free access to field-tested, proven computer consulting secrets at Computer Consulting 101.

Innovative Pest Control Tools Help The Professional

Writen by Chris Robertson

Today, a pest control technician has several pest control tools in his arsenal. Increasingly, pest control technicians are using an integrated approach in combating a wide variety of pests that range from mice, ants, and spiders to termites, cockroaches and beetles.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, pest control technicians "increasingly use a combination of pest management techniques, known as integrated pest management. One method involves using proper sanitation and creating physical barriers, for pests cannot survive without food and will not infest a building if they cannot enter it. Another method involves using baits, some of which destroy the pests, and others that prevent them from reproducing. Yet another method involves using mechanical devices, such as traps, that remove pests from the immediate environment."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics continues, "Integrated pest management is becoming popular for several reasons. First, pesticides can pose environmental and health risks. Second, some pests are becoming more resistant to pesticides in certain situations. Finally, an integrated pest management plan is more effective in the long term than use of a pesticide alone."

The reality, however, is that pesticides remain the cornerstone of the pest control technician's arsenal. Today, what's most notable in the field of professional pest management is the innovation taking place in pest control tools such as the dust applicator, wands, tips, and accessories.

The most advanced dust applicators are battery-powered units that are capable of applying both granules and dust. As such, they are so versatile that pest control technicians can use them for the majority of their work. These dust applicators have wands that allow for precise application to cracks and crevices - as well as large voids - without making a mess, and have enough power to blow dust up a 30-foot bee pole. The lightweight nature of these pest control tools belies the fact that the batteries will last a full day on the job, and require less than an hour to recharge.

Another refinement in innovative dust applicators is that they do not clog in humid areas and that they have clear canisters that can efficiently switch pesticides without contamination. Further, there are a variety of accessories available for dust applicators, including wands and tips, tip extensions, hose extensions, bee pole kits, belt hooks and carrying cases.

Just as pest management techniques have changed over the years, so have pest control tools. Today's dust applicator gets the job done efficiently and effectively.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Innovative Pest Control Tools or Majon's Engineering and Environment directory.

Talking Computers

Writen by Kadence Buchanan

Just a few decades ago, the possibility of creating talking computers was considered strictly in the realm of science fiction. But today, talking desktop computers are so commonplace that they hardly elicit any response from modern and sophisticated consumers.

It's really pretty simple, as any of the computer school-trained friends and acquaintances we have are wont to tell us. Computers talk simply because they are running software that converts text to speech, thereby allowing the computer to talk out loud through speakers or a headset. In short, it has speech recognition capability.

Hearing a friend explain all that to me the other day almost made me fall asleep. But flipping through the TV remote control this morning, I came across this very thing and I suddenly found if fascinating.

The entire process of artificially producing speech is called speech synthesis and the software system that achieves this is called text-to-speech or TTS. It has two parts: a front end and a back end. The front end takes input (in the form of text), converts this into linguistic symbols and sends them to the back end which converts these symbols into speech waveform through the computer's speakers.

The front end has two basic functions. First, it identifies all the numbers and abbreviations in the raw text and converts them into their spelled-out word equivalents. Then it divides the entire text into phrases and sentences and assigns different sounds or "phonetic transcriptions" to each word, complete with pauses and intonations. Meanwhile, the back end, which is often called the synthesizer, takes these transcriptions and turns them into actual sound output.

The other part, the back-end, takes the symbolic linguistic representation and converts it into actual sound output. The back end is often referred to as the synthesizer. The different techniques synthesizers use are described below.

Today, the challenge is no longer in reproducing speech, but in improving the quality of speech synthesis. In this regard, there are two key concerns: naturalness and intelligibility. The ideal speech synthesizer is both. Naturalness refers to how close the sound output is to a human being while intelligibility refers to how clearly the sound output is understood.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Computers, Science, and Education

Finding Cheap Toner

Writen by Jeff Lakie

Printer ink can be a real hassle both at home and in your office. This is especially true if the person in charge of your printers is not staying on top of restocking it. It can be time-consuming to pull of the old cartridges, take them to the office supply store, search through the endless piles of cartridges looking for a compatible one, and they can be very expensive to buy. Like going to the doctor, it is a necessary evil.

You can cash in on other people's reluctance at the amount of work and expense related with printer ink cartridge replacement. You can cash in by starting your own printer ink refilling or replacing business!

This is excellent job to do on the side, if you work a regular day job and don't want to quit, but soon you will probably need to quit your day job as you may have enough clients to work fulltime. Your printer ink business can make house calls, or office calls, in a vehicle stocked with the most popular kinds of cartridges as well as a supply of ink and syringes so that you can refill your customer's cartridges.

People won't mind paying extra to have you come to their office and do the work for them, especially if you are clean, quick, and efficient. And with the inexpensive cost of buying ink in bulk, you can probably get away with charging the same amount that they would pay in an office supply store and still make a killing! Then it's win-win for everyone: they don't pay any more, but save on the hassle and time, and you still make a boatload full of money because of what you saved on bulk ink!

You will need to find the popular brands and maybe make an arrangement with an online supplier for large bulk orders. If you order a lot, perhaps you can get an even greater discount. You will want to stock up your vehicle with supplies of cartridges as well as a portable desk and a stool so that you don't make a mess on your customer's carpets.

Using a cell phone in your "office on wheels" you can schedule appointments with people. You can offer an "on call" service for an extra price and provide emergency service for people who have a large print job with a printer that suddenly ran out of ink. And as a free, bonuses service, once you have provided someone with printer ink and got them up and running again, you can offer a discount on their next service and schedule them right then and there. That way, you'll be building up a guaranteed clientele as you go about your day.

It's easy to start! All you need are a few supplies and you can even work out of the back of your car. However, if you want to create a great impression, get a van with a sign on the side. Put a little workbench and stool in the back.

If you market your service is properly, before you know it you'll be the person to call when someone has need of more printer ink.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Printer Ink Information a website providing information on Printer Ink

Protect Your Home From Power Surges

Writen by Bill Prudehome

As our homes become filled with all sorts of technologically advanced devices we become more and more susceptible to electrical surges delivered over power, telephone, cable TV and satellite lines.

We invest in power bars and UPS back-up systems to protect this equipment, yet everyday people loose computer, television sets, appliances and other electrically powered equipment to power surges.

The North American power grid is overloaded and power surges accompanied with brown outs are happening more frequently.

Surge protection in power bars and other devices decreases in its ability to stop a power surge every time it does so. Depending on the specific devise you are using to protect against power surges the protection capabilities can be reduced by as much as 50% with each occurrence. As an example, if the protection was a 100 percent for the first surge, it could be reduced to 50 percent on the second, 25 percent on the third, 12.5 percent on the forth and so on. Very few devices advise that they have stopped a surge and hence your ability to know when to replace any surge protection devise is basically non-existent.

Quality independent surge protection devices such as power bars are not inexpensive and in many cases using one to protect a computer, appliance or other electrically powered device is not convenient because of location or just appearance.

Trying to protect all of the electrically powered items in your home using independent surge protectors is relatively impossible and if possible, it would be extremely expensive.

What Is The Alternative?

Numerous electrical manufacturers are now making "whole house" surge protectors. These devices are mounted on the incoming legs of the power feed, after the meter, and provide surge protection for all of the electrically powered items in a home or business. They are somewhat more sophisticated then power bars and most provide an indication that they have handled a surge and if they need to be replaced. Some of the manufacturers even provide a guarantee, that if a surge gets past their device they will be liable for the replacement of all damaged items.

As well, some of the "whole house" surge protectors provide connections for incoming cable TV and telephone lines.

If you live in an area that has frequent lightening strikes, poor utility voltage levels and brown outs, you should consider adding a "whole house" surge protection system to your electrical service.

For additional information on home electrical service or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters

The Evolution Of Technology The History Of Computers

Writen by Rebecca Blain

While computers are now an important part of the lives of human beings, there was a time where computers did not exist. Knowing the history of computers and how much progression has been made can help you understand just how complicated and innovative the creation of computers really is.

Unlike most devices, the computer is one of the few inventions that does not have one specific inventor. Throughout the development of the computer, many people have added their creations to the list required to make a computer work. Some of the inventions have been different types of computers, and some of them were parts required to allow computers to be developed further.

The Beginning

Perhaps the most significant date in the history of computers is the year 1936. It was in this year that the first "computer" was developed. It was created by Konrad Zuse and dubbed the Z1 Computer. This computer stands as the first as it was the first system to be fully programmable. There were devices prior to this, but none had the computing power that sets it apart from other electronics.

It wasn't until 1942 that any business saw profit and opportunity in computers. This first company was called ABC computers, owned and operated by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. Two years later, the Harvard Mark I computer was developed, furthering the science of computing.

Over the course of the next few years, inventors all over the world began to search more into the study of computers, and how to improve upon them. Those next ten years say the introduction of the transistor, which would become a vital part of the inner workings of the computer, the ENIAC 1 computer, as well as many other types of systems. The ENIAC 1 is perhaps one of the most interesting, as it required 20,000 vacuum tubes to operate. It was a massive machine, and started the revolution to build smaller and faster computers.

The age of computers was forever altered by the introduction of International Business Machines, or IBM, into the computing industry in 1953. This company, over the course of computer history, has been a major player in the development of new systems and servers for public and private use. This introduction brought about the first real signs of competition within computing history, which helped to spur faster and better development of computers. Their first contribution was the IBM 701 EDPM Computer.

A Programming Language Evolves

A year later, the first successful high level programming language was created. This was a programming language not written in 'assembly' or binary, which are considered very low level languages. FORTRAN was written so that more people could begin to program computers easily.

The year 1955, the Bank of America, coupled with Stanford Research Institute and General Electric, saw the creation of the first computers for use in banks. The MICR, or Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, coupled with the actual computer, the ERMA, was a breakthrough for the banking industry. It wasn't until 1959 that the pair of systems were put into use in actual banks.

During 1958, one of the most important breakthroughs in computer history occurred, the creation of the integrated circuit. This device, also known as the chip, is one of the base requirements for modern computer systems. On every motherboard and card within a computer system, are many chips that contain information on what the boards and cards do. Without these chips, the systems as we know them today cannot function.

Gaming, Mice, & the Internet

For many computer users now, games are a vital part of the computing experience. 1962 saw the creation of the first computer game, which was created by Steve Russel and MIT, which was dubbed Spacewar.

The mouse, one of the most basic components of modern computers, was created in 1964 by Douglass Engelbart. It obtained its name from the "tail" leading out of the device.

One of the most important aspects of computers today was invented in 1969. ARPA net was the original Internet, which provided the foundation for the Internet that we know today. This development would result in the evolution of knowledge and business across the entire planet.

It wasn't until 1970 that Intel entered the scene with the first dynamic RAM chip, which resulted in an explosion of computer science innovation.

On the heels of the RAM chip was the first microprocessor, which was also designed by Intel. These two components, in addition to the chip developed in 1958, would number among the core components of modern computers.

A year later, the floppy disk was created, gaining its name from the flexibility of the storage unit. This was the first step in allowing most people to transfer bits of data between unconnected computers.

The first networking card was created in 1973, allowing data transfer between connected computers. This is similar to the Internet, but allows for the computers to connect without use of the Internet.

Household PC's Emerge

The next three years were very important for computers. This is when companies began to develop systems for the average consumer. The Scelbi, Mark-8 Altair, IBM 5100, Apple I and II, TRS-80, and the Commodore Pet computers were the forerunners in this area. While expensive, these machines started the trend for computers within common households.

One of the most major breathroughs in computer software occurred in 1978 with the release of the VisiCalc Spreadsheet program. All development costs were paid for within a two week period of time, which makes this one of the most successful programs in computer history.

1979 was perhaps one of the most important years for the home computer user. This is the year that WordStar, the first word processing program, was released to the public for sale. This drastically altered the usefulness of computers for the everyday user.

The IBM Home computer quickly helped revolutionize the consumer market in 1981, as it was affordable for home owners and standard consumers. 1981 also saw the the mega-giant Microsoft enter the scene with the MS-DOS operating system. This operating system utterly changed computing forever, as it was easy enough for everyone to learn.

The Competition Begins : Apple vs. Microsoft

Computers saw yet another vital change during the year of 1983. The Apple Lisa computer was the first with a graphical user interface, or a GUI. Most modern programs contain a GUI, which allows them to be easy to use and pleasing for the eyes. This marked the beginning of the out dating of most text based only programs.

Beyond this point in computer history, many changes and alterations have occurred, from the Apple-Microsoft wars, to the developing of microcomputers and a variety of computer breakthroughs that have become an accepted part of our daily lives. Without the initial first steps of computer history, none of this would have been possible.

About The Author Rebecca Blain is a professional hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about how to build your own computer which you can learn about here: http://www.build-your-own-computer-tips.com

Introduction To Information Insecurity Part One

Writen by Alexandra Gamanenko

Disclaimer: In no event shall the author be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising out of your taking these advice seriously and following any of them.

1. You didn't make your computer. Other people made it for you; other people write programs for you to enjoy yourself. If something doesn't work, it's all their fault, not yours.

2. Never read anything about computers and software! How-tos are for fools, manuals are for dummies, articles are for nerds. EULAs are for overscrupulous blockheads – never bother looking them through before you download.

3. While choosing software to download: never ponder, hesitate, or compare programs. Don't search for reviews and lists. It's boring. Pick a program because: a) its name sounds cool; b) the pop-up ad says it's cool; c) you think you might need this program some day; d) just because.

4. While surfing the Web: if anything pops up, click on it. If it's offering to set your clock, click on "yes". If it says your computer is infected with spyware, click on "scan the system". If a pop-up ad claims it will help you get rid of pop-ups, believe it.

5. When using email: Open every message you get, especially if you don't know who it is from – it may be kind of surprise for you. Open all attachments – what if there's something interesting there? Click on all links in emails. What? Phishing? Shame on you – can't you spell properly?

6. Call "paranoid" those blokes who waste time on checking what they are actually going to download. Why should you do your homework? You are old enough not to bother with all this stuff. Background check? What's it?

7. Never follow anybody's advice. If someone says the program works and it is not free, it's likely he will get commission for advertising. It's all about viral marketing. Remember – All they want is to have your money.

8. Never mind all this hype about information security. If you don't know about something, it doesn't exist (even if it does, it isn't worth knowing about).

9. Don't trust statistics. NCSA and AOL found that 80 per cent of home computers were infected with spyware, while the IDC says it's only 67%. Figures vary so much – who to trust then? So don't bother.

10. Don't try to find out how things work. Learning is for kids. Being curious is for toddlers. (Curiosity killed the cat, you know). Know nothing of this tech rubbish and be proud of it. Techpeople are nerds – don't be one.

P.S. When your PC freezes, swear. Blame anybody but yourself. Buy help. Let others sort it out – it's their job.

Alexandra Gamanenko currently works at Raytown Corporation, LLC - a software developing company, which provides various solutions for information security Visit its website: http://www.anti-keyloggers.com

Popups 5 Ways To Stop

Writen by Jason Kohrs

5 Ways to Block Pop Ups...

Advertisers are constantly looking for any way to draw attention to their products. Although typical banner ads are still used heavily, they now seem to be almost invisible to the average web surfer. Pop ups and other intrusive types of advertising are now used to thrust an ad in your face that you have no choice but to at least acknowledge. Regardless of the nature of the ad, pop ups are a nuisance, and there are now many options available for keeping them off of your computer screen all together.

1. Internet Explorer on Windows XP with Service Pack 2 This summer's release of Service Pack 2 for Windows XP brought about a few significant changes to the operating system. One of the most noticeable was the addition of a pop up blocker to Internet Explorer.

The pop up blocker is integrated into the browser and can be customized by browsing to the "Tools" tab at the top of the program. Like many pop up blocker applications, personal preferences can be set to allow/block pop ups from certain sites, as well as providing customization for how the user is alerted to the fact that a pop up has been blocked.

For those using Windows XP, upgrading to Service Pack 2 is an excellent idea for your system's security as a whole, but specifically for the additional convenience of an integrated pop up blocker. For those with a Microsoft operating system other than XP, sorry, this is not available for you.

2. Alternative Web Browsers

There are other choices for web browsers available, and many have included a pop up blocker long before Microsoft decided to include one with Internet Explorer.

The Mozilla Firefox browser version 1.0 was officially released on November 9th. This browser has already received a great deal of acclaim and has become quite popular as an alternative to Internet Explorer. Firefox is a highly customizable web browsing application that includes an effective pop up blocker, tabbed browsing, and many other features not found in Internet Explorer.

Crazy Browser is another option that was released in 2002, which is not as much an alternative browser, as it is a skin for Internet Explorer. In order for Crazy Browser to run, a system must have Internet Explorer 5 (or greater) installed, as well as Windows 95 (or greater) installed as the operating system. The Crazy Browser application then takes the base functionality of Internet Explorer and adds features similar to Firefox, such as the pop up blocker and tabbed browsing.

3. Browser Tool Bars

A growing trend is for websites to offer a downloadable toolbar for use with Internet Explorer. Many of these toolbars offer unique features intended to enhance the user's web browsing experience in different ways, but they generally also include a pop up blocker. Although there are toolbars available from dozens of websites, Google, MSN, and Yahoo are some of the more reputable names with one available.

The installation of these toolbars is quick and easy, and the most difficult part may be reading the fine print in the license agreements.

Although these toolbars may do an excellent job blocking pop ups, they may also be retrieving data on your web surfing / search habits. If you feel a toolbar may be the right solution for you, stick with one from a trusted name, and just be sure to read the fine print.

4. Pop Up Blocker Software

Stand alone pop up blocking software is available from dozens, if not hundreds, of different sources. With various interfaces, and prices ranging from free to $30 (and higher), choosing one can be a difficult task. Many of the programs that are not available for free do come with a free trial download, so you can at least get a sense of whether the program is right for you before committing. Some of the options in this category include STOPzilla, Secure IE, Zero Popup and Pop Swatter, to name a few.

The main drawback to this type of pop up blocking solution is that you now have another independent application running on your computer. Although they are generally not resource intensive, why run a program to do something that can be handled by one that is already running anyway? Additionally, with so many reliable solutions available to eliminate pop ups for free, spending money on one is hard to justify.

Along with a dedicated pop up blocker, another recommended tact for eliminating pop-ups is eliminating spyware on your computer system. Some pop-up programs use accompanying spyware to target pop ups specifically to you and your web surfing habits. An excellent, free program for eliminating spyware of all type is Spybot Search & Destroy.

5. Internet Access Software from Select ISPs

Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) now incorporate a pop up blocker with the software they provide to subscribers for accessing the internet. Earthlink, Optimum Online, and AOL are just a few of the larger providers that add value to their packages by adding a pop up blocker. Bundling this functionality with the ISPs base software definitely makes things easy for the subscriber, as there may be no need to find one elsewhere.

In general, these blockers are effective, but are not the most feature rich and may have limited options for customization by the end user. One draw back with ISP provided pop up blockers is that some only work with their service. So, if you ever switch to a new provider, you'll need to be prepared to switch to a new pop up blocker as well.

Final Words

Pop ups are a fact of life on the internet, but that does not mean you need to put up with them. Among the five general solutions presented above, there are literally hundreds of options available for eliminating the clutter of pop up ads, allowing you to enjoy only the content you intended to see.

Jason Kohrs Computer Geeks tech tips and computer advice