Computers and Technology Knowledge

Computer Repair Franchises Buying An Existing Business

2009-03-03T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

Existing computer repair franchises are typically available immediately and are a good option for professionals looking to start a new business in the computer industry. Before deciding to buy a completely new franchise or an existing computer repair franchise, as a prospective business owner you must learn about all the issues involved in buying existing franchises so you don't risk being surprised by the unexpected down the line.

Advantages of Existing Computer Repair Franchises

Computer repair franchises already in existence already have an established performance history. Because of this, you don't have to spend precious time evaluating business potential and can focus on looking at actual earnings. The franchises you want to buy will have a good reputation in their communities and already have loyal clients.

When you buy existing computer repair franchises, you also don't have to worry about finding a location, negotiating a lease or stocking your store with equipment. Similarly, there is no need to hire new employees because the business already has a well-trained staff. With many elements already in place, buying an existing franchise will help you start business much more quickly.

Disadvantages of Existing Computer Repair Franchises

You should investigate an existing franchise before you buy it. Why is the franchisee leaving? If it is for reasons other than retirement, a career change or other issues of that nature, the franchise might not be worth the investment. Perhaps the location isn't making money anymore. Regardless, thorough investigation is necessary.

As a prospective owner, you need to look through all renewals. Sometimes your purchase will only be good for the remaining time on the agreement while other franchises offer new renewals. Also look at lease renewals to make sure they will be renegotiable when your time is up.

Considering advantages and disadvantages of purchasing existing computer repair franchises will help you make the right decision about whether to buy them. They can be good investments if they are profitable and have a good reputation.

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

Joshua Feinberg helps small business computer consulting firms get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too. Sign-up now for your free access to a one-hour audio training program on Small Business Computer Consulting Tips.

Computer Training Learning Basic

2009-03-02T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Michael Russell

I was one of thousands of people, back in the 1980s, who thought that computing was some sort of black art. It just seemed so clever that one could enter letters or numbers, which were then manipulated by some sort of unseen thought process.

I found the whole idea fascinating and I wished that I had attended the sort of school progressive enough to teach computer programming, although I thought that it would take a much superior brain than mine, to make a computer do those amazing things.

At that time, I had a friend who was something of a whiz with computers, to the extent that he could decipher huge dumps of paper covered with nothing but ones and zeros, and he persuaded me that it wasn't too late to learn and that the whole process was really very logical and simple.

As a result of my friend's faith in my abilities, I signed up for an evening class in BASIC programming. BASIC is an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, which is a high level programming language. In other words, it uses English words to formulate its commands as well as strings and mathematical expressions, rather than binary machine code, as used in low-level languages.

With some trepidation, I set off to my first class. I expected to be surrounded by either very technical or very academic types, but it wasn't so. The class was a cross-section of about twenty people, men and women, young and not so young, mainly of the non-technical variety.

The lecturer made it all seem so simple. After all, the most important thing that BASIC requires is logic. IF, THEN, ELSE may sound complicated but it's just as it sounds: if a certain thing happens, then do one thing, but if not, do something else. For example:

IF A = B

THEN A = 0

ELSE B = 0

ENDIF

Having discovered that BASIC wasn't rocket science, I never looked back. In fact, I became so engrossed in my end of course project that I nearly forgot to do normal things like eating and sleeping.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Computer Training

An Overview Of Computer Networks

2009-03-01T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Michael Russell

My second degree, or should I say my second go through inside the education system was in networking. I'm a certified Novell and Microsoft engineer, not that I'm all that excited about the fact. Networking is actually pretty mindless work once you learn it. It's pretty much do it by the numbers based on what the customer wants. After you hook everything up the software installation is pretty straight forward. My 16 year old daughter could do it or as GEICO would say, a caveman could do it.

In this article I'm just going to cover the basics of what a network is and the types of networks. I'll go into more detail in later articles.

A network is simply a means for computers to speak to each other, or communicate with each other. With a network, computers can receive emails from each other, send files to each other, instant message each other and a variety of other things. This is something that we take for granted today but there was a time when networks were not so sophisticated and not all that efficient either.

There are basically two types of networks.

The simplest network is a LAN or Local Area Network. This is where all the computers in the network are located in one place such as an office building. Within this type of network you have 2 ways to connect.

The simplest way is peer to peer. This is where 2 or more computers are hooked up directly to each other. In other words if you have 5 computers you would have computer 1 hooked into computer 2 which would be hooked into computer 3 and so on. In this type of connection each computer is dependent on the other. So if computer 3 would go down then computers 1 and 2 would not be able to communicate or exchange information with computers 4 and 5 and visa versa. That is the main problem with a peer to peer network. Also in peer to peer networks the write process between computers leads to data corruption problems. This is not something they teach you in school but something you learn from experience.

The more common type of LAN connection is client server. This is where all the computers in the network are connected to each other via a central computer. This kind of connection does require more work in set up but is more efficient, carries data better and if one computer goes down the others aren't affected. However, should the server go down then all the computers on the network would be affected as far as their ability to get information from the other computers and the server itself. They, however, would still be able to do work locally on their own such as with a word processing program, unless the word processing program was located on the server. Then it would not be available. Usually, however, most applications are installed on each computer. What is most commonly lost when a server goes down is the ability to retrieve data that is common to everyone in the network, say an in house database of all employees.

The second type of network is a WAN or wide area network. This is where several LAN networks or even single computers are connected to a much larger network. A perfect example of a WAN is the Internet. This is where users from all over the world can interact with each other through email, chat rooms and instant messaging. WANs are enormous to say the least and are very intricate in their design, requiring hubs from all over the world to stay connected. One hub goes down and it can affect connections for millions of people though there are protocols instituted to reroute connections if a hub does go down.

The above is a very simplified overview of computer networks. In future articles I'll go into detail on the hardware and software required to set up these networks and some of the finer points. Stay tuned.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Networking

Computer Training Keeping Your Computer Running At Its Best

2009-03-01T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Michael Russell

Keeping your computer running at its best requires one to maintain all aspects of the computer, all the time. Besides being a cautious user, there are many other ways to keep your computer running fast, whether it is old or new. This does not require any upgrading of computer hardware, only maintaining everything within the operating system. The following applies mostly to Microsoft-based operating systems.

Assuming you already have adequate virus and spyware protection, run these applications on a regular basis. If you are running low on free memory and CPU usage, it would be a wise decision to use Microsoft's "msconfig" application, which is built into most operating systems by Microsoft. Clicking the start menu and selecting "run" can access this application. With the prompt window up, you just type in "msconfig" and you are ready to go. For Windows 2000 users, you will have to download this program from somewhere, just "google" it and you will find it easily. When the application pops up, click on the startup tab and uncheck all unnecessary programs that are scheduled to startup on every reboot. Doing this will ensure that no physical or virtual memory is wasted on services that are not a necessity at the present time.

A standard maintenance wouldn't be complete without a disk defragmentation. You will want to run a disk defragmentation once a month. Many people make the mistake of running the defragmentation in normal mode, but to get the best results, you will want to reboot in safe mode before running the application. In addition to running the disk defragmentation in safe mode, you might want to run the disk cleanup application as well. This program will eliminate temporary files, including temporary files from the Internet. There are programs out there such as "CleanUp!" that will remove temporary files more effectively. Running a program such as this will often free up a decent amount of space on your hard-drive as well.

The best sequence to follow for a maintenance run of the computer would be to start out with a spyware scan and a virus scan. After those are complete, restart the computer in safe mode and run disk cleanup. When the disk cleanup is complete, you should then run the disk defragmentation, which usually takes the longest anyway. After all of those are complete you should be able to restart normally and be running topnotch. But if you are still running low on resources, then I suggest upgrading hardware and perhaps purchasing a stick of memory that fits best to you computer's specifications. Upgrading the processor is a much more difficult process and you would have to make sure of what your motherboard supports.

Keeping in mind that operating systems use different amounts of resources, so it is suggested to change that if it is an option for you. Desktop and folder setting can also play a role in how quick everything opens. It probably isn't too late to use Windows 98 for owners of older computers. You shouldn't have to be forced into using an operating system you do not wish to use, but it appears that day is coming soon.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Computer Training

How To Troubleshoot Your Computers Mouse

2009-02-28T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Otis Cooper

The Motherboard is the largest component in your PC and the Central Processing Unit is its brain. But when your input devices go on the blink, you're shut down for awhile. When Computer Mice problems come, we don't panic as fast when we cannot access our hard drive.

When you grab your Mouse and either click or roll the buttons and nothing happens, your computing fun stops. Even though the mouse is a little input device, you will wish you understood its every aspect when it dies.

When input device failure occurs, the problem may lie with the computer's hardware,the mouse, the OS or Operating System. Let's take a look at what you should check when mouse failure occurs. If you need help with mouse components, www.ultimatepcrepair.com contains photos of every component in the computer.

When the mouse dies, you should be able to perform the same functions with the keyboard. It may be a little closer but you won't be shut down completely.

NO MOUSE MOVEMENT

First...If the mouse has no movement, first look at the mouse connection at the rear of the computer.Be sure it is plugged in completely.

Second...remove the plug and inspect for connectors or pins that may be broken or bent. The connector is color coded with green being that of the mouse.

If your mouse uses the USB or Universal Serial Bus connector, check the connectors for any damage and be sure it is plugged in.

MOUSE STOPPED DURING OPERATION

Should your mouse quit in the middle of computing, save your work immediately. Press the ALT key to access your program and save your work.

Check the connection in the rear to be sure it has not worked itself loose.If the connection is tight, inspect the mouse components for dirt.

Remove the retain and trackball inside the mouse. Clean the Ball with a mild solution and be sure all residence is removed.And clean the Ball Cavity with a cotton swab. Replace the ball and secure it with the retainer.

Connect the mouse to the system unit and boot the the computer. Try clicking a program to see if the mouse works. If the mouse fails, check the device driver for the mouse.

MOUSE POINTER MISBEHAVING

This problem may be the result of your computer be affected by a virus. Use your Anti Virus software to scan your sysem for viruses.

You can go to http://www.free-av.com to download a free version of anti virus software if you don't have anti virus software installed on your system.

A corrupt device driver can also cause the mouse to misbehave. Check the device driver by opening the Control Panel, and open the System folder.

Select the device driver tab and use the down arrow key to scroll down to the mouse.Expand the mouse to see if the driver is installed.

If you see a yellow icon, the mouse has a problem and you can try to re-install the device driver.First uninstall the mouse from Windows and reboot the PC.

After the system reboots, the operating system will find the mouse and re-install the driver.If you have a wireless or USB mouse, re-installing the special software may be in order.

A misbehaving mouse may occur when you install another device on your system. If this happens, the mouse and new device may be conflicting with each other by using the same address.

Unplug any hardware you installed and uninstall any software recently installed. See if the mouse operates properly.

Use the System Restore utility to set your computer back to a time when the mouse was working as it should. The Registry can be the culprit of the mouse behaving badly.

You can connect your mouse to another computer to verify it is bad. If the mouse works on another system, check the problems mentioned in the PC's operating system.

MAINTAINING YOUR MOUSE

To keep the mouse performing at its very best,you should take the time to clean the components of your mouse.Regularly clean the mouse, both inside and out.

Clean the outside of the mouse with rubbing alcohol. This solution is best since it does not leave any residue.Take the time to clean a small area first, to to certain any damage to the plastic will not occur.

The components inside the mouse to be cleaned are the Rollers, as well as the Ball.These two parts are the most important to be kept clean and always take great care in doing so.

Carefully take apart the mouse by turning the retaining ring counter clockwise to unlock it. Remove the Ball and clean it with warm water and not alcohol.

The rollers inside the mouse cavity can be cleaned with alcohol by dampening a Q Tip and wiping the rollers gently.

With clean hands, insert the ball back in the mouse and replace the retaining ring. Now enjoy your mouse and should it cause any problems, you're armed with the knowledge of how to diagnose and repair most problems

Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and confidence of every computer user. Use his informative articles and videos to understand all about the PC. Read more in depth articles for pc training and repair at www.repairarticles.com

Consumer Electronic Industry

2009-02-28T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Thomas Morva

The electronics industry is one of the most dynamic industries around today. This is because you can expect that newer, faster and better models of various electronics products appear in the market at least every few months. This is because the manufacturers of these products invest heavily in research and development of newer and better models of their products because they believe that doing so would give them an edge over their competitors. However, this phenomenon has made it harder for consumers to purchase electronics products because apart from being afraid that what they will buy will be obsolete in less than a year, they are also apprehensive to buy products that may have features that may be too complicated for them.

Buying the right digital camera

One of the best examples of a product that enjoys a high turnover rate in terms of the development of new models and features is the digital camera. This is because manufacturers of this highly popular product come out with new models almost every six months. Given this, the current models of digital cameras in the market can be expected to have more features and better capabilities than some of their early predecessors.

However, this has also contributed to a certain level of confusion among consumers on which model they should purchase. For some, they always go for the most advanced models available as they are assured of some of the best features, however, some people may find that buying the most advanced models would only leave them with features they do not really need. Given this, it is clear that the high turnover that digital camera models exhibit also has the potential of alienating some consumers because of certain apprehensions they may have in purchasing newer models. In a way, consumers are placed in suspended animation, where they may just end up always waiting for the next model.

One of the best examples that show the dynamism of the electronics industry is the digital camera because their manufacturers constantly develop newer models. However, just like any other electronics product, this phenomenon of coming up with a newer model every few months can have the opposite effect of alienating consumers as they become more afraid of buying products that would be rendered obsolete by these newer models.

Consumer Electronics provides detailed information on Consumer Electronics, Wholesale Consumer Electronics, Consumer Electronic Industry, Consumer Electronics Stores and more. Consumer Electronics is affiliated with Security Cameras.

Why Rent A Computer

2009-02-27T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by John Beagle

If you are out of town you might need to rent a car, a hotel room AND a computer.

When your car or computer breaks down, you need a temporary rental replacement or perhaps you just want to impress someone... you can rent a fast new car or a computer that would impress your client or your date.

People confuse computer renting with leasing. Renting is short term in nature and is very flexible. You can extend the rental or cancel at any time. Leasing, like buying, can't be cancelled without a 'severe penalty' once you have committed. Leasing is a fixed arrangement. Renting is totally flexible.

Use the same analogy for renting cars as for renting computers. You wouldn't rent a car from Hertz® or Avis® for three years, would you? You might lease a car for three years from GMAC® or a lease a computer from GE Equipment Leasing®, but you wouldn't be able to rent one for a day or two from those companies.

There are many more reasons to rent computers, projectors, and plasma displays than you might think.

For example, classroom computer training. Computer rental companies can setup an entire classroom of computers and let you focus on your training program and not the hardware. Rental companies like have everything you need and a backup plan if something unexpected happens.

Conferences go more smoothly when you deploy the services of a rental company to handle the installation of sound systems, computers, large plasma flat screens, lcd projectors and other technology. Renting allows you to focus on your event and not hardware issues. Let the numerous hardware issues get handled by hardware rental experts.

Convention displays are really impressive with 42" Flat Plasma Display Screens. Try lugging one of those from your home office. Renting plasma displays is a much better idea.

Temporary offices can be setup with rental computers, printers, copiers and fax machines. They will be configured to your company specifications and installed at any remote destination. Rentacomputer.com has setup temporary offices in hotel rooms, trailers, warehouses and convention centers. Temporary offices have been setup for State and Federal Supreme Courts, television networks covering presidential conventions, movie studios setting up at remote locations, and corporate mergers and takeovers.

Traveling executives won't have to lug portable computers through airports or other public transportation facilities. Executives can have technology preconfigured and tested, waiting at their final destination! Traveling with technology is one hassle that can be easily avoided with the laptop computer rental option.

Special projects can be expedited with specialized technology such as color or high volume printers, copiers and extra computing horsepower.

Temporary employees need temporary technology. Rentacomputer will coordinate the installation and removal of computers, printers and other technology for any period of time specified. If you hire temporary employees, hire temporary technology too.

John Beagle is a writer for Xponex Web and Media Services

Visit Rentacomputer.com for more infomation on computer rentals.

History Of The Computer Flipflops A Basic Counter

2009-02-27T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Tony Stockill

We looked at the Binary system, and basic computer logic elements, in previous articles, "It's a binary world - how computers count" and "How computers add - a logical approach".

Now we can combine two parts of these articles to look at a counter. Another common logic element in a computer is a counter or timer. This can b to count items going past a sensor on an assembly line, or possibly a count-down timer. For example, if you have a late model washing machine it will have a simple computer using a count down timer to give 10 minute wash cycle, etc.

There are several types of counter, nearly all of which use a basic element of electronics, the Flip-Flop. And you thought they were rubber shoes English people wear to the shower or the beach. (At this point Australians say "I thought they were called thongs").

OK back on topic. The flip-flop is as old as electronics, and is a classic example of the binary system. It has two possible stable states, A or B, and can be 'toggled' from one state to the other, just like a 'push-on, push-off' switch. It was originally made with two vacuum tubes (or one, for example a double triode).

It normally has two outputs, one being the complement of the other. That is,if one output(A) is a logic 0, the other(B) is a logic 1, and vice-versa. The input, or Toggle(T) is at logic 0 until a pulse from a sensor, for example, comes along. This pulse takes the logic state to 1, then back to 0. The toggle effect, causing the Flip-Flop to flip, is actually the CHANGE from 0 to 1.

In logic terms the flip-flop is made up using AND and OR gates, in logic cicuitry it is just a 'black box' labelled FF. Several FFs may be grouped into yet another black box, a counter, timer, or multivibrator.

We can make up a Truth Table, which we have used before. If you recall, a truth table tells you what the Output will be for all possible Inputs.

TRUTH TABLE for Flip Flop - Toggle (C)hange,- Outputs A and B.

INITIAL STATE
T B A
0 1 0 'A' output is 0

PULSE #1
T B A
C 0 1 'A' output is 1

PULSE #2
T B A
C 1 0 'A' output is 0

Now we string some flip-flops together to make a counter. Say we have a sensor on a beer bottling machine, which has to count 5 bottles before switching the feed, we need to count up to 5, or 101 in Binary. We will need 3 flip-flops, for binary bits 0,1 and 2, corresponding to decimal bit value of 1,2 and 4.

We will take the A output of the 3 flip-flops to a decoder black box, which we can use to detect when we get to 5, then switch the feed. The B output of flip-flop 0 is passed to the toggle input of flip-flop 1 via an AND gate, so the next pulse from the sensor (which goes to all 3 flip-flops) at this AND gate will toggle the flip-flop, depending on the value of the B output, 0 or 1. Similarly the B output of flip-flop 1 goes to the toggle of flip-flop 3 via an AND gate.

Our 3 Flip-Flops now come up with a truth table like this:-

INITIAL STATE
FF2 FF1 FF0
TBA TBA TBA
010 010 010 'A' outputs 000 - 0

PULSE #1
FF2 FF1 FF0
TBA TBA TBA
C10 C10 C01 'A' outputs 001 - 1

[The (C)hange flips FF0 (always). FF1 & FF2 are blocked by the AND gate which needs a 0 input from the previous FF 'B' output AND the pulse change.]

PULSE #2
FF2 FF1 FF0
TBA TBA TBA
C10 C01 C10 'A' outputs 010 - 2

[The (C)hange flips FF0 (always). FF1 flips beacause the 'B' output from FF0 is a 0 when the Pulse arrives. FF2 is blocked as before.]

PULSE #3
FF2 FF1 FF0
TBA TBA TBA
C10 C01 C01 'A' outputs 011 - 3

[FF0 flips, FF1 is blocked again,as is FF2.]

PULSE #4
FF2 FF1 FF0
TBA TBA TBA
C01 C10 C10 'A' outputs 100 - 4

(FF0 flips, FF1 flips, FF2 flips.)

PULSE #5
FF2 FF1 FF0
TBA TBA TBA
C01 C10 C01 'A' outputs 101 - 5 count complete!

[FF0 flips, FF1 and FF2 are blocked.]

This counter can count up to 111, 7 decimal, it then resets to 0. A couple of interesting points to note are:-

1. FF0 flips every pulse. FF1 flips every 2 pulses. FF2 flips every 4 pulses etc. These facts can be used to make up a divider, which can be cascaded. For example the 4 pulse output can go to a second counter which also gives a 4 pulse output, totalling 16. This can be expanded to make up a decadic counter by decoding a count of 1010 (10 decimal) and using this to toggle the next counter, etc. What about 60 and 12 for your digital watch?

2. Look at the 'B' outputs from the counter. In sequence the values are:- 111, 110, 101, 100, 011, 010 (7,6,5,4,3,2 decimal). See the pattern? That's right - a countdown timer! We'll be using this in a later article.

Tony is an experienced computer engineer. He is currently webmaster and contributer 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.

Wired For Wireless

2009-02-26T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Brenda Fleen

Individuals and businesses who seek mobility and convenience would need to invest in the best *wireless technology* out in the market today. It would be wise to get hardware that could be used with or without a plug especially for jet setters who travel to every undiscovered nook of the globe, restless twenty-something nomads who enjoy the freedom of changing zip codes every so often, and those whose livelihood depend on being on the road a lot. Times are changing fast and lifestyles are morphing at almost the same pace. So update your shopping list, man your online shopping carts, and get ready to launch your life on the fast lane.

When scouting for a laptop that will probably spend a lot of its time on the road with a fearless traveler such as yourself, you will need a totally durable, relatively affordable, and globally hailed brand of hardware. Additional perks wouldn't hurt either so make sure that what you're getting is capable of giving you what you need and more. The Dell Inspiron 9300, a 17" UltraSharp wide screen beauty, could just be what you're looking for to replace your age old desktop computer. In this day and age, it is almost impossible to find a notebook that has inimitable power and value for your money. It is relatively cheaper than its other leading rivals, which just brings stress from buying decisions down to a minimum. Aside from its non-TrueLife and non-glossy LCD, I personally think that nothing else can top the model when it comes to price, GPU power, and specs - not even other portable models from Dell. Suggested retail price for this item is at $1,399 but you can get it much cheaper online. Without a Dell online discount coupon, you could still get the notebook for only $1,235.80 at www.compudirect.com.

Digital cameras and webcams have solved countless of file-sharing concerns ever since they came to existence. They made it easier for everyone to capture, store, and send photo images and video via the world wibe web. Now you can attend an important meeting or catch up with a long lost friend even when you're out of the country. They also make tasteful presents to colleagues and relatives - it tells them that you care and that you'll always be around to see what's been up with them. I bought a Logitech QuickCam for my notebook late last year. So far it hasn't let me down and I don't think it will anytime soon. The Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe is compact, cost efficient, and has high quality software and hardware, making it the most practical and intelligent choice among other mid-level performance webcams. It has a built-in mic, smart face tracking capabilities, automatic gain control, and 640 x 480 resolution capturing good quality images. It also comes with other amenities such as rubber clip adjustment pad for slimmer screens and a neoprene travel case to keep it secure when it is not being used. Originally priced at an already affordable $60, zipzoomfly.com will ship it free for an all-in package cost of only $47.99.

Last but not the least, what good are top wireless gizmos and gadgets if you don't have wireless internet connection? The Apple AirPort Express Base Station With Airtunes has saved my skinny behind countless of times. The genius little plug creates wireless internet connection that can be used on the Mac and the PC. There are no crazy snake-like cables or separate power supplies to distract you from your work so it's easy to tag along and keep - a great example of technology on the go. Once you plug it in, you can check your MySpace account, update your blog, or browse through *online computer courses* while pretending to listen to your professor in class. The wireless compact device is around the same size of an iPod Mini and it includes a mini stereo port which you can use to connect universal sound systems to your computer. Save $10 when you buy it from www.macconnection.com.

Start making cyber noise with these "wired" wireless gadgets. It would certainly drive you to be your best wherever in the world you may be. With wireless technology the world does not appear to be so big anymore.

For more valuable information on discount shopping, discount travel, please visit http://www.shoppersdiscount.com

Tivo Is Just A Dvr How Direct Tv And Others Packaged A Product For Success

2009-02-25T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Nick Smith

TiVo, the poster child of technological advancement for companies like Direct TV, is really nothing more than a middle-aged woman in a designer dress - with plastic surgery. The technology behind TiVo is really just a tweaked DVR, or digital video recorder. Other companies have it; but no other company has built as successful marketing package around their product as has Direct TV with TiVo.

What is TiVo, um, I mean a Digital Video Recorder?

Digital Video Recorders capture video in a way similar to old video recorders, but they do it digitally. Watchers can "pause and rewind live TV" because the speed and response time of DVRs, like TiVo, provide for a virtually seamless transition from live TV to recorded material. Based on user settings, up to 80 hours of television can be recorded. This can include your favorite show each week, or you can record everything you watch to make sure you don't miss anything. Remember, every DVR can do this, not just TiVo.

The difference is the way Direct TV has partnered with TiVo and positioned it for success in the highly competitive market of satellite television and accessories. The true success of TiVo's marketing strategy lies in the fact that many people believe it is a unique product.

With product lines in competitive markets, positioning and packaging is king. Direct TV touts TiVo in nearly every major marketing campaign they put together. They offer discount TiVo technologies to new customers who are willing to commit to a one-year contract. My guess is that if you have ever heard of Direct TV and seen any advertisement they have produced, you have been exposed to the TiVo name and features.

Have You Ever Heard of Tevas?

The three strap sandals that have come in and out of fashion over the last few decades are now known almost universally as "Tevas." Chalk up a point for the company Teva that created and marketed their sandals extremely successfully. When was the last time you had jello (actually a name brand of gelatin desert), or used a Kleenex (trademarked name for a tissue)? Do you ask for a "Coke" no matter what flavor of soda it is? The list goes on and on, including the most recent tendency to refer to all DVR technology as "TiVo."

What are you going to do about it?

If you own a small business or operate one out of your home, you might not be running your own unique product line. But if you do, what are you doing to package it and position it for success? Consider doing the following:

Name your product or service. It may sound silly, like naming your car "Betsy" or "Lechuga," but a name is an essential part of successful repackaging. This is what TiVo did when they renamed their DVR technology. Rather than call it a car wash, try something like "Dirty Mike's 15-Point SuperClean." Maybe five years from now people will say they need a "superclean" instead of saying they need a "carwash." Keep reading below for legal considerations.
Before you start using a new slogan or title, double check to make sure another company does not already own the trademark or copyright. The last thing you want to do (or pay for) when you own a small business is a lengthy legal process over something you could have avoided had you done the research.
Get legal protection for your products, names, and slogans. At the same time you are doing your research, register your trademarks, copyrights, and where appropriate your patents. Registering your intellectual property with the government will go a long way when it comes time to stop others from infringing on your company name or intellectual rights.

Nick Smith is an internet marketer specializing in online advertising. For more information about TiVo and DVRs, visit I-Satellite.

Putting The Boomers Out To Pasture

2009-02-24T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Tim Bryce

"The Baby Boomers will be more remembered for the problems they left behind as opposed to anything they accomplished during their tenure."
- Bryce's Law

As we all know, the Baby Boomers are regarded as those people born following World War II, I believe it is from 1945 to 1960. This generation has seen a lot: the space race, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the USSR, and eleven U.S. Presidents, just to mention a few. In the area of Information Technology, they actively participated in the transition from mainframes to client/server computing, the Internet, and an unprecedented number of technological developments, including cell phones, cable, video enhancements, etc. They were there during the MIS movement of the 1960's and 1970's, they helped invent the packaged software industry, and spearheaded e-commerce.

As they are entering their 60's, the Boomers are now approaching retirement, and we are already seeing them rapidly fade from view in I.T. departments. For example, I.T. is now considered a young person's game dominated by workers in their 20's and the manager (the "old man") in his early to mid 30's. In contrast, Boomers are now generally regarded as dinosaurs who are slowly being put out to pasture. They haven't completely left yet as they still possess valuable knowledge about legacy systems and are blessed with certain skills required to maintain such systems, e.g., Systems Analysis, Technical Writing, COBOL, ISPF, CICS, TSO, IMS, ROSCOE, MVS, etc. They are hardened veterans who still enjoy their work but are growing weary of the changes in the corporate landscape, such as short-term planning, outsourcing, and the development of disjointed systems by the spirited younger workers. Inevitably, the Boomers are often asked to clean up the mess left behind by such projects.

The transition from the "Greatest Generation" to the Baby Boomers in I.T. was relatively smooth, with the veterans mentoring the Boomers and guiding them on their path towards succession. However, the transition from the Boomers to Generation X (those born between 1965-1976), Generation Y (1977-1994), and Generation Z (those thereafter) has been much more turbulent. I attribute this to three reasons:

1. The change from mainframe to PC based computing - the technologies were perceived as dramatically different and, as such, companies left one set of workers behind to tend to the mainframes, and hired a new generation oriented to the PC's. Regrettably, there was little common ground between the two. Whereas the two groups should have been working together all along, a polarization of the two groups ensued instead.

2. Changing socioeconomic conditions which affected family dynamics, such as having both husband and wife working full-time jobs and letting family responsibilities slip through the cracks. This led to changes in our morality and other cultural differences whereby the younger generation doesn't have the same set of interests or priorities as the Boomers.

3. An increasingly competitive global economy which has forced a change in the pace and priorities of business.

This has all resulted in several changes in orientation and perspective. For example, instead of long-term planning, quick and dirty solutions are now considered the norm; e.g., if something cannot be done in 30 - 90 days, its not worth doing. This emphasis on speed versus craftsmanship has led to questionable quality, poor service, and repetition in work effort (which is why systems and software produced today are considered "disposable"). These changes in orientation also created a spirit of competition as opposed to cooperation, independence as opposed to teamwork, and a decline in corporate loyalty. Such attitudes are not limited to I.T., and can be found throughout a business as well as our society in general.

So what will be the Boomers' legacy? A rise or fall in our standard of living? Viet Nam or the war on terror? Our growing dependency on foreign oil? Our fascination with gadgets? What?

Frankly, I believe their legacy will be the generation gap they helped create. I consider this rather ironic since they liked to grouse about the gap between their fathers and themselves. But the "Greatest Generation" did a better job of transferring the reigns of power than the Boomers ever did. The divisiveness between the Boomers and Generation X/Y/Z is so substantial, that even if the Boomers tried to coach or mentor, Gen X/Y/Z probably wouldn't heed their advice. This has led to a major hiccup in the transference of management and systems knowledge. Consequently, Gen X/Y/Z is much more reactive as opposed to proactive in their management style, which will be felt for years to come. How many 9-11's or Hurricane Katrina's do we need to suffer through before we learn how to plan and adapt to changing times? For example, the patchwork systems being implemented by companies today will inevitably lead them to lose their competitive edge tomorrow. Executives are only now beginning to realize how weak their corporate systems are and how ineffective their companies will be in the years ahead. This is what has triggered the latest attempts to reinvent systems theory, but I fear it is too little, too late.

So, as the Boomers begin to ride off into the sunset, do we thank them for their efforts or do we open an express lane for them?

Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida, a management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management (IRM). Mr. Bryce has over 30 years of experience in the field. He is available for training and consulting on an international basis. His corporate web page is at: http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/

He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com

Rfid Uses For Aircraft Carriers

2009-02-23T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Can you make an RFID system for ordinance on an Aircraft Carrier? We believe so. The RFID tag would be o the weapon during its manufacturing a shipping stage so you do not lose weapons. In the case of the Navy it would be accounted for in an inventory control system all the way until it is loaded on an aircraft and shot of the carrier. By doing this it would place an instant order to the maker of the weapon to make another one. Real time logistical controls. There is a lot to the procurement and logistical process and more can be done to do better.

http://www.carwashguys.com/finite.pdf

Remember their are all kinds of other issues to deal with. The RFID tag reader would be under the aircraft while on the catapult hook up area would also signify that the ordinance has left the ship. Since they cannot land back on the ship with ordinance it would signify expended. For ordinance which is allowed to land back on the ship they would not marked sold until they left the aircraft. Likewise 20 mm shells would be sent to the aircraft inventory control system and it would be sent to reader on the plane, which would be downloaded. Every 100 shells would be marked by RFID Tag. An enemy killed by a 20 mm shell would rather die by a specially marked bullet than an ordinary one, so you are doing them a favor as you send them to their final destination to meet Allah? In other words the enemy does not care so that factor is null and void of debate.

On a tank the reader could be on the end of the barrel as the ordinance leaves it is accounted for. If the tank is destroyed and crew is lost then the net centric system marks it destroyed and 3 more people are enlisted into tank school, a tank is ordered and the ordinance order for it's supply cancelled until the date of delivery for the replacement tank. You see. Sounds morbid? Not really it is reality based logistical chain. War is hell. So if you are going to have a war, get it over with as fast as possible and by all means be sure to win it.

Clauswitz agrees and Patton said an army moves on it's stomachs, yes it does and that goes for the fuel, armament, weapons and people. RFID tags streamline systems. I am most certainly not justifying the killing of one's own species, but if this is to occur, let's get it done right with the least amount of anguish. The devil is in the details, your supply chain can kill you much faster than the other side. Just like a prize fighter who is out of shape, stayed up too late drinking the night before or a marathoner who did not load up on complex carbohydrates in the days leading up to the event, if you want to win, be prepared to go the distance. Just a thought. Have drawings and schematics and much more on this idea.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Demanding Environments Require Special Computer Solutions

2009-02-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Aldene Fredenburg

Computer technology has invaded every aspect of our working and personal lives; the jobs are rare that don't require some exposure to computers and other electronic devices. The problem is, some environments aren't exactly computer-friendly.

Imagine what plunking a computer down in a car wash would do to delicate memory chips, or what the effect on a hard drive would be located in a machine shop, where powerful chemical solvents hover in a fine mist throughout the environment. Yet computers can and do exist and function well in such environments, thanks to tech companies specializing in creating computing equipment and peripherals designed for rugged use. Water- and dirt-proof keyboards and numeric keypads, flat panel monitors designed for a variety of lighting conditions, and tough, indestructible optical pointing devices provide reliable use in demanding situations.

If your company needs computer systems that will be used in something other than a normal office environment, take a look at your surroundings. Is the environment extraordinarily wet or dry? Does the air include lots of dust or chemical solvents? Will the employees who use the equipment necessarily have soiled or greasy hands because of the work they perform? Is it likely that some of the peripherals will be exposed to rugged use or frequent impact?

If you examine the special requirements of your workplace in terms of computer hardware, you will probably find that there's a high-tech company who has anticipated your needs, and has the perfect selection of computers and peripherals for you.

Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com

Scalability Testing 7 Tips For Improvement

2009-02-21T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Mark Trellis

Systems that work well during development, deployed on a small scale, can fail to meet performance goals when the deployment is scaled up to support real levels of use.

An apposite example of this comes from a major blue chip company that recently outsourced the development of an innovative high technology platform. Though development was behind schedule this was deemed acceptable. The system gradually passed through functional elements of the user acceptance testing and eventually it looked like a deployment date could be set. But then the supplier started load testing and scalability testing. There followed a prolonged and costly period of architectural changes and changes to the system requirements. The supplier battled heroically to provide an acceptable system, until finally the project was mothballed.

This is not an isolated case. IT folklore abounds with similar tales. From ambulance dispatch systems to web-sites for the electronic submission of tax returns, systems fail as they scale and experience peak demands. All of these projects appear not to have identified and ordered the major risks they faced. This is a fundamental stage of risk based testing, and applies equally to scalability testing or load testing as it does to functionality testing or business continuity testing. With no risk assessment they did not recognise that scaling was amongst the biggest risks, far more so that delivering all the functionality

Recent trends towards Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) attempt to address the issue of scalability but also introduce new issues. Incorporating externally provided services into your overall solution means that your ability to scale now depends upon these external system operate under load. Assuring this is a demanding task and sadly the load testing and stress testing here is often overlooked.

Better practice is to start the development of a large scale software system with its performance clearly in mind, particularly scalability testing, volume testing and load testing. To create this performance testing focus:

1. Research and quantify the data volumes and transaction volumes the target market implies. Some of these figures can be eye openers and help the business users realise the full scale of the system. This alone can lead to reassessment of the priority of many features.

2, Determine the way features could be presented to users and the system structured in order to make scaling of the system easier. Do not try and have the same functionality you would have for a single user desktop solution provide an appropriate scalable alternative.

3. Recognise that an intrinsic part of the development process is load testing at representative scale on each incremental software release. This is continual testing, focusing on the biggest risk to the project: the ability to operate at full scale.

4. Ensure load testing is adequate both in scope and rigour. Load testing is not just about measuring response times with a performance test. The load testing programme needs to include other types of load testing including stress testing, reliability testing, and endurance testing.

5. Don't forget that failures will occur. Large scale systems generally include server clusters with fail-over behaviour. Failure testing, fail-over testing and recovery testing carried out on representative scale systems operating under load should be included.

6. Don't forget catastrophic failure could occur. For large scale problems, disaster testing and disaster recovery testing should be carried out at representative scale and loads. These activities can be considered the technical layers of business continuity testing.

7. Recognise external services if you use them. Where you are adopting an SOA approach and are dependent on external services you need to be certain that the throughput and turnaround time on these services will remain acceptable as your system scales and its demands increase. A smart system architecture will include a graceful response and fall-back operation should the external service behaviour deteriorate or fail.

About The Author
Mark Trellis is an experienced consultant working in performance testing, scalability testing and load testing. For further information visit: http://www.acutest.co.uk or http://www.acutest.co.uk/performance-testing.html

Why Choose Refurbished Laptops Over New

2009-02-20T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by M Johnson

First and foremost refurbished laptops have the same quality and performace of a new laptop, but they have one major advantage- cheap price! It's possible to save over half the retail price by buying refurbished. The fact is most people only use a laptop computer for the portability and to operate a few applications. The need for every known piece of technology wrapped up into one high priced mobile computer isn't there anymore.

Refurbished laptops offer the best value for your dollar. Below you can see what refurbished laptops can do for you:

Portability- Take them anywhere. Most refurbished laptops weigh between 5-8lbs. Easily carry them in a backpack, case, or a simple laptop bag. It's like having your desktop computer with you at all times.

Discount Price- Why spend all that extra money on the "latest thing". Technology moves so fast that by the time a new laptop is paid for there is already a new and improved model. Trying to keep up is impossible and not really necessary. Our cheap refurbished laptops are less than 6 months old and have very high quality standards. They also come with advanced mobile technology so you can relax. They will function as new, and will come with today's useful features.

Connect to the World- You can connect to your family, friends, co-workers, business clients and more with ease from anywhere in the world. Getting online is now better than ever. You can connect via Wi Fi, DSL, Cable or dial up. The internet is getting faster and easier to connect to and you'll be able to do it from virtually anywhere!

No Wires- This is the best part about refurbished laptops. If you have a desktop computer at home, or at the office you know it's impossible to take it with you. Wires, the bulky weight, the need for a plug-in outlet just makes desktops too hard to move from place to place. Well, now you don't have to worry about that. Laptop computers are built and specifically designed for maximum portability. Lightweight and no wires make these the best choice for almost everyone.

Take up Less Space- When a desktop computer just isn't feasible, then your best choice possible. Cheap laptops function just like a full size computer, but without the size. The technology is ever advancing and you get the best of both worlds. You get a great computer and when you buy refurbished laptops you get a great price. Perfect for home, dorm, school, office, traveling, the list goes on and on.

Refurbished laptops maybe a little older than a new one, but the savings can be awesome. Compare buying a reconditioned laptop computer to buying a used car. Used cars have all parts replaced that need to be and run just like new, but because they have a few miles on them they cannot be sold as new anymore. Refurbished laptops are the same way.

If you are looking to save money and still get the quality you are looking for consider refurbished laptops.

Online Crazy Deals specializes in mobile computing including new and refurbished laptops. Making your dollar go farther without sacrificing quality is our main goal. To learn more visit http://www.onlinecrazydeals.com .

Printing The Prepress Model

2009-02-20T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Michael Russell

The print media has long been the way that advertisers, newspaper proprietors and the general public have communicated with each other. Printing is only the end product of this continuing process. The pre-press area of printing is really the preparation and design part before an page has "been put to bed" and before it comes anywhere near a printing press.

I mentioned the print media in my first paragraph. This has become a slightly overworked and generalised term, but with the advent of the internet and other electronic forms of communication, the title is, in fact, reasonably accurate.

The attraction of a page of type is obviously determined by what is on it. This usually takes the form of typefaces - collectively known as fonts - they used to be called founts in their early days - and images (pictures). The design of these usually determines how much the page is going to be read. Though it probably isn't something the reader thinks about consciously, the designer most certainly would.

Fonts broadly fall into two categories, serif and sans serif. Serif typefaces are the fonts that have the squiggly bits, a good example of these are the typefaces which are usually used to produce wedding invitations and the like. Sans serif typefaces mean "without serifs" the French word for without being "sans". We used to call this "block writing" in schooldays if memory serves me correctly! Enough of the history lesson, let's move on!!

To make a page look attractive, it is responsibility of the person composing the page to use the correct balance of typefaces. This person, in years gone by, was called a Compositor. Because of his training, he was skilled in the craft of composing types to look attractive in the printed word. I think today we call them either typographers or graphic designers - the principle is still the same though.

Fonts were made in type foundries - in the lead era of printing - for centuries. One of the major influences in type design was the Bauhaus in Germany in the 1920s. They made an incredible contribution to all forms of design at that time - including wallpaper design. One of the more famous typefaces of that era was Gill Sans - a quite beautiful non-serif font.

The age of digital fonts is with us now and there are many fonts which are just as beautiful as their old-style counterparts. Digitised fonts in my opinion though, do tend to carry too much space to the left of the figures, particularly the figure one. This tends to unbalance the look of a page. There are differing styles of fonts, which seem to stretch both horizontally and vertically whichever takes your fancy. Naturally, all these type of fonts may be changed and altered electronically with the software available through the design industry nowadays.

Our target, whether two hundred or two years ago is still the printing press and, although we appear to have revolutionised the way we prepare our pages, the methods in their time and place, were equally practical. It is a matter of opinion - depending on your age group - which you think is the more efficient.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Printing

Souped Up Computer Cases

2009-02-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Peter Stewart

The computer case is just the box that the computer stuff is housed in. For all intents and purposes it does very little. It doesn't have to spin around, open or close too often or do many other things.

However a well made and designed case can make very obvious and pleasant differences for your computing experience. Although most cases will do for the very run of the mill, everyday computer, a better case can benefit you in many ways.

Looks are probably the first thing that you would look for. At the very least you will have to look at your case, so it should look good. Many cases, even really cheap ones can come in many different colors and styles. Of course looks are important, but that is an easier thing to decide than the more unseen details that can effect the design. We will look at those in details, so that apart from a good looking case, it will be functionally good too.

Construction of the case will mean the difference in how much of a beating the case can take, how sturdy it is and how easy parts are to put in. Most cases utilise aluminum of thin steel. Very cheap cases that use aluminum are often very flimsy because the aluminum is more expensive and so they keep costs down by making it thin. Under $50 don't expect much. Might be fine if it's never transported or knocked. More expensive cases for $150 and up are aluminum. They are constructed from tough, thick aluminum, because of this, they are heavy, which is an easy way to tell if its strong or not. Avoid aluminum, except for more expensive cases.

Fans on the case keep air flowing through the computer, pushing cooler air into it and sucking the warmer air created by the CPU and other parts out. Modern computers have become hotter as they've become more powerful so they need more air passing through. Unfortunately the answer of more fans makes more noise. Cases can often take up to 4 80mm fans. This will provide enough air going through. Sometimes you can use less, if not none, for underclocked or light load computers. An option that I like is 120mm fans. They move twice as much air as 80mm fans, but with the same noise, to 2 120mm fans will move as much air as 4 80mm ones, but produce half the noise. Cases need to be made to take 120mm fans or modified yourself.

Thumb screws instead of screws that need a screwdriver are a cheap extra, but can make the opening of the computer that much less hassle, requiring one less screwdriver to be used.

Another extra to be considered are mounting brackets for hard drives and optical drives. Instead of having to open the case to take out the drives, brackets are included. The brackets are attached to the drives with the normal screws and then the drives can be slotted in and taken out without tools. Useful if you take them out a lot, I don't, so it's not high on my priority list.

Something that effects convenience is the positioning of the USB ports and sound plugs. There are always the standard ones on the back of the computer, but the other ones on the case can be just about anywhere. Most common is on the front, but there are some that position them under a flap on the top. On the top is okay, but if your case is in a closed area with something over its top they will be inaccessable. See if the position in convenient for where you will keep your computer.

So in summary, look for...

Looks
Construction quality (aluminum or steel)
Fans, both size and positioning
Thumb screws
Mounting brackets for drives
USB, sound, firewire plug positioning

Peter Stewart is a computer enthusiast, his interest in computers and focus on practical down to earth advice inspired his two websites.
http://computer-buying-guide.com - Practical buying tips
http://computer-reviews.net - Fair and honest reviews and opinions

History Of The Computer Codes For Data Transfer Part 1 Of 3

2009-02-18T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Tony Stockill

We have seen, in the History of the Computer series, how machine code is used to operate a computer so that it can use 1s and 0s to interpret a program's intentions. But what about a code for human communication with the computer? We can variously write and read to and from different media, such as paper tape, magnetic tape, disk or teletype, but we need some means of converting English (or another language) into a form which can be carried on these media.

You may recall the old Western movies where the James gang shoot the telegraph operator so he can't call the Marshall for help. Or the movies about the '29 Wall St crash where the tycoon reads the bad news on the ticker tape and promptly leaps out of 32nd floor window. Both of these are early examples of a code being used on a medium. In this case morse code on the telegraph, and an analog code produced from a keyboard at the transmitting point, also sent by telegraph. The ticker tape, so called because of the noise made by the printing mechanism, carried the Stock Code, as used in today's stock market, and a quote.

A later code used for paper tape, the baudot code, named after the French inventor, Baudot, was a five bit code, punched across the tape, giving a 1s and 0s pattern to make up the 26 letters of the alphabet. The tape was an inch wide and came on big reels. A sprocket hole was punched in the tape so that it could be moved through the reader.

As we know from our look at binary codes, 5 bits will give us a total of 31 characters (1+2+4+8+16) plus zero. With 26 being used for the English alphabet, the other characters are used for Carriage Return, Line Feed, etc. These are needed to operate the typewriter used to print out the information. Another character, Bel was used to ring a bell on the typewriter to alert the operator.

Later a Shift character was incorporated, similar to the Shift key on a typewriter, so that following characters would indicate numbers. Another shift code would switch back to letters. This Baudot Code was used on teletype machines to transmit data from one location to another. This was later accomplished by first punching the tape, and then transmitting it by feeding it through a 'high speed' reader. These speeds were gradually increased as the technology improved, and were generally expressed as the 'Baud Rate', roughly equivalent to bits per second, also named after Baudot. Most problems came from punching errors and synchronising transmitter and receiver.

In part 2 we look at how codes are used in computers.

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

Server Downtime What Downtime How To Never Have Server Downtime

2009-02-18T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Wes Tafoya

Technology: Secrets on using technology to save large sums of money, increase profits and increase employee productivity.

Part Ι

What IT companies will not (can not) tell you. The 100% business continuity solution.

Technology - Without it, the business world would collapse. Unfortunately, with technology it can also be expensive. Our purpose is to explain to you some how to eliminate a main expensive component of your IT part of your business Downtime. A seemingly unsolvable and major setback for business and Administrators alike that has many times caused of businesses to

1. file bankruptcy within six months of a crash

2. loss of clients/patients

3. loss of thousands if not millions of dollars annually

4. loss of jobs and inadvertently causing an organization to downsize

5. loss of data and the enormous cost to repair that data if that is possible

6. and most importantly, the enormous stress on the company and the techs who work so hard to attempt to keep your systems online.

What are the solutions? Well today's standards would ask you to buy an overpriced cluster solution that still only gives 99.9% up-time. That still almost nine hours of down time. My company, BeechTek has talked to many clients using cluster solutions and one thing they honestly admit that they have no idea the system will even kick in if there is a situation that calls for it. We are not including the scripting, management, hardware cost, multiple Operating Systems (OS) and applications, amongst other factors. There are many "solutions" which is a joke when you are the one responsible for your systems staying up.

"Well that is all that is available right? I mean, we can't afford to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars like the big companies for a state of the art systems." The truth is even big corporations are loosing incredible amount of money, data security and their best technicians are still at a loss trying to engineer a workable solution.

This is where I come in. I feel for business and especially the techs. These guys are the heartbeat of companies and they still get very little respect and even less pay for their brilliant resolve. However, you would be shocked at companies that are too close-minded and terrified of change. Personally I do not lose any sleep if a company doesn't use our technology their competitors will and we can reduce their operating cost, increase their production rate in many cases both, in many situations by over 50%!! One company will only use IBM hardware. I laughed, "you will spend over $12,000 a month on new hardware, downtime and expensive solutions because of . . . .why??" Do not misunderstand me, I respect IBM and all my competitors. If your hardware vendor has you sold into thinking that its better to have downtime other than save thousands and thousands of dollars that can be used to expand your business you are perfect bed mates. I'm sure any intelligent person would agree it doesn't sound intelligent!

I am sure you know this but technology utilized properly should make your company much more capital in return. After all, is the purpose of investing in any technology also the same reason why you invest in the first place, to make money? To the degree and quality one outflows his time, money etc. will be proportionate to what he inflows. While this universal basic philosophy of life holds true, competence, ingenuity and the ability hold your ground and succeed separates those who succeed and become powerful and those who do not. With this said, in intelligent hands, technology can do amazing things but in the wrong hand's it can destroy a business and even lives. However, we all agree it takes money to make money but let me show you some ways to help you with all of that. Here are some ways to profit using technology.

Let us take a server. Although IT companies will never admit it, they count on two things to happen.

Downtime

Servers go down and this is very common. We all agree downtime (the time the server is down or inoperable or inaccessible) makes an IT company lose money, lose clients and even can inadvertently cost lives, we have all agreed on that. We also we have agreed that repairing any data loss and the other problems associated with downtime, to financial loss and bad PR from losing clients (and lost clients) because you could not service them when they needed it is very, very bad.

Well I have some great news for you!

There are a couple of very workable solutions for mission critical servers that we found about that is very affordable.

1. While there are many servers that claim to be fault tolerant, I only found one that is truly a 100% FT server! I am not talking about a mirrored disk or a HD RAID but the whole box. We found a server that does not have one single point of failure! Imagine a whole box that is Fault Tolerant! We also have a written guarantee of 99.999% up-time!

2. Your client needs and can have 99.999% up-time at 100% availability. What does that mean? It means that you will have more chances on winning the lottery then having your server go down. Most redundant and "protected" servers have at the best 99.9%. This is a cluster solution also. This breaks down to about 8hrs and 45 minutes. WOW! That is bad and the accepted standard. Not for my company and if your company has just as much critical data that can't be down this obviously isn't a good solution. So our 100% Fault Tolerant Server will save you thousands if not millions of dollars, precious time and greatly increase employee production. Most importantly it will secure you clients faith in the ability of your company. As far as I know there isn't anyone that wants to hear "sorry, but we can't service you cause our servers are down." But I could be wrong!

3. Active upgrade you can test the patches, updates and upgrades before you install. If those new updates are suspected to cause problems, you can "rollback" to the previous setting. How much money and time will that save you? Let us just say that most companies spend thousands of dollars every year to have a special department just to test patches, updates and upgrades not to mention repairing a down server if those updates do not work. Do not forget although you need to reboot to install these updates your client still has 100% availability!

4. The NEC Fault Tolerant server supports many Operating systems (OS) through virtualization if needed. If needed you can also have multiple OS's on one server via a virtual environment instead of buying a multitude of additional servers. These machines will even automatically reboot the OS/application in an attempt to get the software back online. Again, there is still 100% availability!

5. Remote management Lights out computing; Are you vacationing in France? With remote management you will be instantly notified when a clients FT Server is having issues. Note: To this date there have never been any reports of these servers having any problems.

6. These also are all hot swappable HD's.

7. These servers run a little more expensive then a regular server but far less than a cluster solution.

8. There are many additional benefits and features that are very impressive but my job isn't to sell you it's to educate you that downtime is yesterdays news. The technology is unbelievable, it's new and it works. Of course unless you like yeaterdays gear you will need this to get ahead.

With this said, how much is it to you to finally eradicate downtime?? Do you really want you competition to have this technology before you? Can you see that putting your resources from slow, expensive and unreliable servers to the right equipment will let your techs work on the other important projects (other than downtime)? Do you understand that financial resources you could use for expanding your company and most importantly the restored faith your clients will have in you?

Good luck!

Wes Tafoya
BeechTek.com

Wes Tafoya is the Vice President for BeechTek. Unfortunately man of the big companies do not offer real workable ideas and solutions. You can sell companies anything or you can find out what they are going through. So with research and help from Gargantua companies like NEC and others, BeechTek strives to introduce America to solutions unknown in America. If you want to succeed - you need to be ahead of everyone else-are you ahead? Call us today for a presintation or a web cast.

How To Make My Own Layout

2009-02-17T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Emma Drosy

Making your own layout is not all that difficult what with all those templates and help available on the net. You just have to have a good idea of what you want and also where to look for the best help.

Before you start making your own layout, here are a few things that you need to keep in mind, if you want your layout to be effective.

Make your layout attractive but simple. This means that you will have to select your background, color, images and other visual aspects with care, so that you r site looks attractive, but at the same time ensure that your site is not too complicated. Select the colors and images in such a way that there are pleasing to the eye and easy to look at.
Make sure that your layout allows for easy and intuitive navigation. No matter how good your layout, if your visitors don't understand your site and can't find their way around easily it's going to flop.
Provide as much help as you can to make life easier for everyone.
Your site layout should not be too cluttered. Make sure that there is plenty of white space and the layout is well organized.

Once you are clear about the layout, the next thing is to get it translated into a site. Remember that these days one need not be an expert to make a layout on one's own. Forget about programming, you need not even know what HTML stands for. All that you need to know is what you want. You can get all the help you want in terms of layout building tools, templates, ready made images, layout ideas and a lot more. All for free - that is unless you are in the mood to spend. You can get a lot more ideas from paid sites.

So get going with your very own layout. It isn't half as difficult as you might have thought. Good luck.

How to Make a Myspace Layout made easy!

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Cant I Just Do My Cd And Dvd Duplication At Home

2009-02-16T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jason Cole

You've just created an mp3 audio album that you want to make CD copies of, or maybe you have a collection of home video clips you'd like to burn to DVD and pass out to your friends. As far as you know home CD album duplication and DVD duplication require just a couple of things; a computer with a burner, CD-Rs and/or DVD-Rs, and the proper software. I have all that, so why can't I just go ahead with my home CD/DVD duplication project? Here are a couple factors to take into consideration before you jump into your disc duplication project.

1. Speed/Volume
With your home set-up, you can burn CDs and DVDs one at a time, and you have to reload the burner manually. This is fine if your disc duplication project only consists of 1-10 pieces. (CDs or DVDs) Considering that burning one disc at 24x speed takes between 3-5 minutes, to burn a large amount of discs, you're going to have to have a lot of time set-aside. Professional disc duplication facilities use multi-drive, auto-loading machines that can burn up to 8 discs simultaneously. This cuts down on the total cost of your CD or DVD replication package, and saves you the headache.

2. Quality
In addition to a certified maximum burn speed, CD-Rs and DVD-Rs all have physical parameters and properties that must be taken into account. To get the absolute best quality out of your CD album duplication or DVD disc replication project, you must follow certain guidelines. The guidelines are explained in the "Red Book" of audio, one of a set of color-bound books that contain the technical specifications for all CD and CD-ROM formats. Most professional CD / DVD duplication / replication houses follow these guidelines, and will produce better quality discs more often than not.

By all means, this article should not stop you from duplicating your CDs and DVDs at home. This is just here to educate you a little bit more about what the big guys are doing, and why it costs a tad bit more to get your discs duplicated by them.

Jason Cole and http://www.DiskFaktory.com offer great tips and information regarding CD DVD Duplication, in addition to providing excellent CD and DVD duplication services. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.diskfaktory.com/tips/CD-duplication-tutorials.asp

Data Mining

2009-02-15T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Ross Bainbridge

Data mining is the retrieving of hidden information from data using algorithms. Data mining helps to extract useful information from great masses of data, which can be used for making practical interpretations for business decision-making. It is basically a technical and mathematical process that involves the use of software and specially designed programs. Data mining is thus also known as Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) since it involves searching for implicit information in large databases. The main kinds of data mining software are: clustering and segmentation software, statistical analysis software, text analysis, mining and information retrieval software and visualization software.

Data mining is gaining a lot of importance because of its vast applicability. It is being used increasingly in business applications for understanding and then predicting valuable information, like customer buying behavior and buying trends, profiles of customers, industry analysis, etc. It is basically an extension of some statistical methods like regression. However, the use of some advanced technologies makes it a decision making tool as well. Some advanced data mining tools can perform database integration, automated model scoring, exporting models to other applications, business templates, incorporating financial information, computing target columns, and more.

Some of the main applications of data mining are in direct marketing, e-commerce, customer relationship management, healthcare, the oil and gas industry, scientific tests, genetics, telecommunications, financial services and utilities. The different kinds of data are: text mining, web mining, social networks data mining, relational databases, pictorial data mining, audio data mining and video data mining.

Some of the most popular data mining tools are: decision trees, information gain, probability, probability density functions, Gaussians, maximum likelihood estimation, Gaussian Baves classification, cross-validation, neural networks, instance-based learning /case-based/ memory-based/non-parametric, regression algorithms, Bayesian networks, Gaussian mixture models, K-Means and hierarchical clustering, Markov models, support vector machines, game tree search and alpha-beta search algorithms, game theory, artificial intelligence, A-star heuristic search, HillClimbing, simulated annealing and genetic algorithms.

Some popular data mining software includes: Connexor Machines, Copernic Summarizer, Corpora, DocMINER, DolphinSearch, dtSearch, DS Dataset, Enkata, Entrieva, Files Search Assistant, FreeText Software Technologies, Intellexer, Insightful InFact, Inxight, ISYS:desktop, Klarity (part of Intology tools), Leximancer, Lextek Onix Toolkit, Lextek Profiling Engine, Megaputer Text Analyst, Monarch, Recommind MindServer, SAS Text Miner, SPSS LexiQuest, SPSS Text Mining for Clementine, Temis-Group, TeSSI®, Textalyser, TextPipe Pro, TextQuest, Readware, Quenza, VantagePoint, VisualText, by TextAI, Wordstat. There is also free software and shareware such as INTEXT, S-EM (Spy-EM), and Vivisimo/Clusty.

Data Mining provides detailed information on Data Mining, Data Mining Tutorials, Business Intelligence Data Mining, Web Data Mining and more. Data Mining is affiliated with Offshore Data Entry.

Review Of The Apple Ipod Shuffle

2009-02-15T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Bradley James

Introducing the mini iPod Mini: the iPod Shuffle

The iPod shuffle is basically a smaller version of Apple's extremely popular iPod and iPod Mini. The shuffle is much smaller than the iPod (about the same size and weight as a pack of gum), but holds fewer songs as a result. You can now purchase either a 512MB iPod shuffle, or one with a full 1GB. Keep in mind that the regular iPod can now hold up to 40GB, so it has quite a bit more storage. The shuffle though is designed to be a super-mobile, light-weight device that you can wear around your neck and take just about anywhere. You are limited to about 10 CDs worth of songs that play in a random order on default. Below you will find some more information about the device, including a manufacturers description and review.

Information Direct From Apple

Time to mix things up. Meet iPod shuffle, the unpredictable new iPod. What will it play next? Can it read your mind? Can it read your moods? Load it up. Put it on. See where it takes you.

Random is the New Order
Welcome to a life less orderly. As official soundtrack to the random revolution, the iPod Shuffle Songs setting takes you on a unique journey through your music collection -- you never know what's around the next tune. Meet your new ride. More roadster than Rolls, iPod shuffle rejects routine by serving up your favorite songs in a different order every time. Just plug iPod shuffle into your computer's USB port, let iTunes Autofill it with up to 120 songs and get a new experience with every connection. The trail you run every day looks different with an iPod shuffle. Daily gridlock feels less mundane when you don't know what song will play next. iPod shuffle adds musical spontaneity to your life. Lose control. Love it.

DJ Your Day
If you favor cycling to a hip-hop soundtrack and snowboarding to a little electronica, Autofill iPod shuffle from a specific iTunes Playlist and roll. Download an album from the iTunes Music Store and listen to it in order before you Shuffle it into your collection. Or just drag and drop individual songs from iTunes onto iPod shuffle. With Play in Order mode, you manage the music. If things take a turn for the predictable, never fear. Turn iPod shuffle over, flip the slider to Shuffle and mix on the go.

Goes with Everything
iPod shuffle weighs as little as a car key and makes a tuneful fashion statement. Just throw the included lanyard around your neck and take a walk. Or run. Or ride. There's nowhere your skip-free iPod shuffle can't go, and with up to 12 hours of continuous playback time, it keeps going as long as you do. A neat little cap protects the USB connector, and those signature white earbud headphones tell the world you love to listen in style. You can even make your iPod shuffle splash-proof, arm-hugging, and longer-running with optional accessories. Ready for anything from a Transatlantic flight to a weekend at the beach, the iPod shuffle makes the perfect, low-maintenance pal.

Touch of Genius
Good things really do come in small packages. The controls on the iPod shuffle feel as intuitive and easy to use as those on every iPod model. Play, pause, skip, repeat, shuffle and hold at the touch of a thumb: The circular, ergonomic controls and one-click slider make it simple to listen without looking.

The Music Store in Your House
Add to the iPod shuffle mix with songs downloaded from the iTunes Music Store. Browse and preview more than one million songs, then buy what you want, 24-7, from the comfort of your Mac or PC. With the iTunes Music Store and iPod shuffle, you'll always have music at hand...literally. The smallest iPod yet, iPod shuffle fits neatly in the palm of your hand and looks just plain neat around your neck. Prepare to make friends and influence people when you wear it biking, hiking, snowboarding, dog-walking and anywhere else that could use a great soundtrack.

That includes off-the-beaten-path spots where you may need to play, pause, move back, skip forward, shuffle and turn up the volume without looking. Luckily, iPod shuffle pays due respect to its elders with a thumb-friendly, circular control pad that puts the 'go' in ergonomic.

Plug-and-Playlists
iPod shuffle makes syncing a piece of cake. Cupcake, even. Use the optional Dock to connect to your computer or just plug iPod shuffle directly into a USB port on any computer. Then drag and drop individual songs, Autofill your favorite playlists or Autofill your iPod shuffle with a random sampling from your music library. Since iPod shuffle automatically charges while syncing, it stays ready for your next adventure.

Our First Look at the Shuffle

First of all, the iPod shuffle is a very simple looking device that follows the same style as the famed iPod. It really is the size of a decent pack of gum, easily worn around the neck as Apple proposes, or in your pocket. The connection to your computer could not be easier; all you have to do is hook it into your usb port like you would a regular usb memory stick. You can then copy onto the shuffle any songs or groups of songs you would like. For those of you who already own and iPod, you will be happy that the device takes AAC files, as well as MP3. Once on the shuffle, the songs begin to play out in random order. If you want to hear a particular song, you have to keep hitting forward until you reach it - there is no display on the device to show you what songs are coming up. This is one of the very few downsides to the music player.

The music sounds really good, even with the headphones it comes with. The music did not skip once, substantiating Apple's anti-skip claim. It would have been nice to see an FM tuner feature, but then again, it was designed to be a simply device without the bells and whistles that make other similar players $100 more expensive. Also, the battery life is just about 12 hours, which is about 5 hours less than the industry average. Most of the time this is not a problem, however, since it is so easy to recharge (it even recharges while you are loading songs onto it).

The fact that the songs play randomly on the device is going to be seen differently by different people. It can be somewhat liberating not to have to worry about which song you will hear next, or in what order you will hear a group of songs. In fact, it's just like mindlessly listening to the radio, except that you only hear songs you like, and there are no commercials - two really good things! If you want more control over your songs, or you really need to see where you are in your play list, then a regular iPod may be the better choice. But for those who want a simple, light-weight, spontaneous alternative to the iPod, the shuffle is just about the best choice.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on Apple iPod shuffle , please visit our iPod Shuffle webpage.

Tips For Choosing The Right Computer Desk Furniture

2009-02-14T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Morgan Hamilton

Computers play a huge role in modern living. People worldwide spend hours seated before their computers for either work or entertainment purposes. However, spending so much time on your computer can cause health problems especially if you are forced to do so in an uncomfortable position. Its important to find computer desk furniture that won't harm you. Do not keep on using a desk that puts you in an unnatural position every time you use your mouse. A desk that sets your keyboard too high can cause an injury to your wrist that can develop into Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Computer desk furniture is available in retail furniture stores, home stores, department stores, and at office supply stores. Computer workstations are sets that often come with computer desk furniture like desks, chairs, and bookshelves. This station offers you spaces were you can conveniently place your monitor, keyboard, CPU, and a storage space. You can buy the pieces separately if you find that a workstation becomes inadequate for your needs.
You can find pieces that you need or mix and the match the pieces until you put together a set that is suitable for you. You can also find computer desk furniture online through the Internet. Although purchasing online may include shipping costs, you can find sites that offer free shipping. They will then deliver the furniture to your home where you can assemble it yourself.
You can choose from a variety of colors and wood type when you purchase computer desk furniture. Some of the wood used are natural but most are made out of a type of pressed wood. The natural wood costs more but they are also more attractive. Since the humidity of your area might warp the wood so it is important to find a type of wood that will match the climate of your home.
It's also important to maintain your computer desk furniture by polishing the wood regularly. Durability and safety are issues you should keep in mind, especially if you have children at home. Possible dangers like sharp corners should be inspected before making any purchase.
If you're not satisfied with the computer desk furniture that is available on the market, you can have it built specially for you. It may cost more than buying ready-made pieces, but if you can afford it you can have one that built exactly the way you want it.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning computers. Get more information by visiting Computer Desk Furniture

Making Wholesale Electronics A Family Affair

2009-02-13T16:00:00.003-08:00
Writen by Chris Robertson

These days, it seems that each person is helping himself or herself to a different slice of the digital pie. There's no doubt that the consumer electronics market is booming, and there's no end in sight. Yet, although it might seem that our lives revolve around various electronic gadgets, in my family, each person has a preference for a certain type of electronics - something that captures his or her imagination and simply won't let go. Luckily for our family budget, we've been able to find sources for wholesale electronics, so that we can indulge each person's preferences.

My youngest son, for example, would be hard-pressed to give up his video game consoles. Although he has other interests, his video games bring him an extraordinary amount of pleasure. Solving puzzles, creating new worlds, collecting objects, and defeating enemies give him such joy. He goes so far as to think up new characters and activities for game sequels, even sketching out what new realms might look like. For a school project last year, he designed and wrote a 24-page puzzle book (crosswords, anacrostics, word searches, and so forth) based on Pikmin, one of his favorite video games.

My older daughter, on the other hand, couldn't care less about video game consoles. Like most teenagers, music is her thing. She was enthralled with her mp3 player for about a year, but when she received an iPod for her birthday (purchased at wholesale, of course!), the mp3 player began collecting dust. Whether tucked into her pocket or her pocketbook, her iPod goes with her everywhere.

Although my husband enjoys video games, he prefers portable video game consoles. He especially favors his PSP, although his Nintendo DS also gets a workout. His true passion, however, is the digital camera. He was an early adopter of the technology, and his wholesale purchases have been keeping pace with the evolving technology. He's currently using a 7-megapixel digital camera, and is waiting for the prices to come down a bit before moving to a single lens reflex digital camera.

As for me, I've been enchanted with DVD players for years. My affections have turned to DVD player-recorders, and I delight in programming my DVR to record my favorite shows, to learn my viewing preferences, and to copy episodes onto DVD.

Wherever the future of electronics us, my family is ready. As long as we can continue to find wholesale electronics, we will delight in whatever devices come along.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Electronics Website and Majon's Electronics directory.

Remain Calm Despite Tempting Computer Prices

2009-02-13T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Bryan D. Applegate

Everyone has seen the drastic drop in computer prices in the past seven to eight months. Large and small companies alike are luring you and your buddies in with lower-than-ever prices and best-ever rebates and incentives. You must ask this: Why is this happening?
Three years ago, some important person predicted the arrival of a one hundred dollar computer; is this it? No. With all the SEC lawsuits and investigations, are companies scared to make money and have now decided to lose money just for giggles? No. What we're seeing until about Q2 2006 is a massive, industry-wide yard sale.
Thankfully, this yard sale is not filled with junk. In many cases, you can find great computers and peripherals for about one-third their original prices. But there is a catch. As good as some of this stuff is, there's superior stuff on the way and the yard sales are companies doing Spring Cleaning. Retailers just can't put the new stuff next to the old stuff on their shelves... Eating the cost is smarter business for them.
Massive changes to computers and their physical guts haven't occurred for about five years. From 1993 to 1999, it really was a frustrating affair as guts and pin-configurations changed almost every two months. Intel tried this, Intel tried that, RAM was this way, then it was that way and your new computer in 1995 was seriously outdated in 1996.
In 2000, Intel sat on Pentium merely increasing its power and RAM squatted on a standard that allowed us all to upgrade our 2000 computers even four years later with little fuss. That lack of change helped us forget "the old days." Now, revolution is coming in fits and starts once again. RAM is changing physically, video cards are finally changing after almost a decade, processors are blasting into space physically and mathematically in the way they compute.
Upgrades of whatever, wonderful computer you buy today for cheap will simply be physically impossible. We are at the end of a long-time era. The birth of the next-era stuff will have pitfalls and growing pains but it will be the NEXT-ERA regardless. If you buy now, prepare to be depressed in March 2006.
Intel doesn't make a 64-bit processor yet; it keeps breaking itself in testing. Programs and software are shifting to 64-bit requirements. AGP video cards have been locked at 8X speeds where their Next-Era prodigy can already boast four times the bandwidth (far more potential), but currently similar speeds i.e. 'growing pains', and today's RAM burns to a crisp when pushed to 1 Gigahertz speeds where tomorrow's RAM is already physically prepared for the bigger heat and numbers in speed. Finally, ever bought a Microsoft Windows disk?
At $400 a pop for full versions, that's nearly buying half the computer again. Next-Era machines will have XP's successor, "Vista", built in. Vista's release has been kindly delayed to allow the Spring Cleaning. If you deserve to be frustrated and short-changed, run out and buy a new computer right now. If you game, are a power user, enjoy full functionality and/or don't want a pet dinosaur taking up four cubic feet of desk space, you are super-duper well-advised to remain calm and stay seated until Q2 2006 when Microsoft Vista springs into existence announcing that the yard sale is over.
Bryan tutors happily and regularly with Dinarius, Inc. making sure that people know what they need to know to be better. More free lessons and advice can be found at Dinarius.com

Types Of Batteries

2009-02-12T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Jeff Anderson

Are you confused by the terms thrown around on batteries.such as Magnesium or Zinc-Carbon? We will walk you through a brief definition of each type of Alkalinee Batteries. Types of alkaline non-rechargeable batteries include:
Zinc-Carbon. Zinc-carbon cells, also known as "Leclanché" cells, were the first widely used household batteries. Rated at 1.5 volts per cell, they are much lower in cost compared to alkalines, but also have a lower energy density. Available in AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt sizes, common applications are toys, remote controls, flashlights and other household items. Zinc-carbon cells, also known as "Leclanché" cells, were the first widely used household batteries. Rated at 1.5 volts per cell, they are much lower in cost compared to alkalines, but also have a lower energy density.
Zinc-Chloride: Heavy-duty zinc chloride batteries (ZnCl2) are the result of technological advances in zinc carbon battery manufacturing. A powdery mix serves as the cathode component of the zinc chloride battery. The mix is made of manganese dioxide (the active ingredient), carbon black (for electrical conductivity and moisture absorption), and zinc chloride electrolyte (which assists the chemical reaction).
Magnesium batteries - have twice the service life of a zinc cell of equivalent size. It is able to retain its capacity during storage due to a protective film that forms on the surface of the magnesium anode. The cost is competitive.
Alkaline-manganese Dioxide - These batteries were developed in the early 1960s and still hold a strong position in today's market. Alkalines are a very popular, multi-use premium battery. Rated at 1.5 volts per cell, they are available in the common AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt sizes. They have a very good shelf life and are excellent for high drain rate applications, such as electronics applications. Alkaline batteries can deliver 50-100% more total energy than conventional carbon zinc batteries of the same size, making them popular for consumer applications.
Silver Oxide Cells: commonly found as button cells that power small electronic devices such as watches, calculators, hearing aids and other small specialty devices. Rated at 1.55 volts per cell, their advantage is small size, high energy density and long shelf life. Hope this summary helps.next time - you will be a battery expert!
About The Author
Jeff Anderson knows his batteries. He knows what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid. Let him guide you to finding out more about batteries. Contact him at or visit the blog at his site www.summitbatteries.com.

Vibration Measurement

2009-02-12T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Elizabeth Morgan

Vibration measurement is done to create the data that's necessary in drawing a meaningful and significant conclusion from the system being tested. The said data can be very helpful in reducing as well as eliminating the vibration. Among the devices used in a typical vibration measurement system are transducers, preamplifiers, and processing and display apparatus.
The transducers are generally used in vibration measurement and analyses since they are responsible for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. They do this by generating an electrical signal, which is a role of mechanical vibration. The velocity pickups and accelerometers installed or connected to the vibrating structure are considered transducers.
Velocity pickups generate an electrical output signal that is proportional to the velocity of the vibrating device. Since the vibrating mechanism's velocity is naturally cyclical, the sensitivity of the velocity pickup is expressed in peak milli-volts/cm/s. It is, therefore, a magnitude of the voltage created at the stage of optimum velocity. The natural frequencies of the equipment are very low, and they are tuned to calculate the vibration frequencies that are more than the pickup?s natural frequency. These velocity pick ups are considered helpful transducers since they are sensitive but strong enough to resist intense industrial atmosphere.
The accelerometer is a device that produces an output signal. The size of this electrical signal is proportional to the acceleration of the vibrating mechanism. Accelerometers possess good sensitivity qualities and a wide, helpful frequency range. Though small in size and light in weight, accelerometers are capable of calculating the vibration at a certain point without generally loading the vibrating apparatus. Moreover, accelerometers can easily work with electronic integrating networks to achieve a voltage that's proportional to displacement or velocity.
The next apparatus that's useful in vibration measurement is the preamplifier. Consisting of one or more stages, this equipment has two very significant functions. One purpose is to amplify the vibration pickup signal that's generally weak, and the other is to serve as an isolation tool or impedance transformer between the processing and display apparatus and vibration pick up tool.
The equipment intended for processing and displaying the vibration data is normally some kind of spectrum analyzer. The said analyzer can be a simple device that provides the rms equivalent of the vibration displacement, or it can be the one that essentially gives an instant analysis of the whole vibration frequency range. These analyzers are perhaps the most important device in vibration measurement. Usually, they are either a constant-percentage-bandwidth or constant-bandwidth kind of tool. They typically feature some kind of graphical display to give comprehensive frequency information.
Vibration Testing provides detailed information on Random Vibration Testing, Shock And Vibration Testing, Vibration Analysis, Vibration Control and more. Vibration Testing is affiliated with Wire EDM Machines.

Scalability Testing 7 Steps Towards Success

2009-02-11T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Mark Trellis

Systems that work well during development, deployed on a small scale, can fail to meet performance goals when the deployment is scaled up to support real levels of use.
An apposite example of this comes from a major blue chip company that recently outsourced the development of an innovative high technology platform. Though development was behind schedule this was deemed acceptable. The system gradually passed through functional elements of the user acceptance testing and eventually it looked like a deployment date could be set. But then the supplier started load testing and scalability testing. There followed a prolonged and costly period of architectural changes and changes to the system requirements. The supplier battled heroically to provide an acceptable system, until finally the project was mothballed.
This is not an isolated case. IT folklore abounds with similar tales. From ambulance dispatch systems to web-sites for the electronic submission of tax returns, systems fail as they scale and experience peak demands. All of these projects appear not to have identified and ordered the major risks they faced. This is a fundamental stage of risk based testing, and applies equally to scalability testing or load testing as it does to functionality testing or business continuity testing. With no risk assessment they did not recognise that scaling was amongst the biggest risks, far more so that delivering all the functionality
Recent trends towards Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) attempt to address the issue of scalability but also introduce new issues. Incorporating externally provided services into your overall solution means that your ability to scale now depends upon these external system operate under load. Assuring this is a demanding task and sadly the load testing and stress testing here is often overlooked.
Better practice is to start the development of a large scale software system with its performance clearly in mind, particularly scalability testing, volume testing and load testing. To create this performance testing focus:

Research and quantify the data volumes and transaction volumes the target market implies. Some of these figures can be eye openers and help the business users realise the full scale of the system. This alone can lead to reassessment of the priority of many features.
Determine the way features could be presented to users and the system structured in order to make scaling of the system easier. Do not try and have the same functionality you would have for a single user desktop solution provide an appropriate scalable alternative.
Recognise that an intrinsic part of the development process is load testing at representative scale on each incremental software release. This is continual testing, focusing on the biggest risk to the project: the ability to operate at full scale.
Ensure load testing is adequate both in scope and rigour. Load testing is not just about measuring response times with a performance test. The load testing programme needs to include other types of load testing including stress testing, reliability testing, and endurance testing.
Don't forget that failures will occur. Large scale systems generally include server clusters with fail-over behaviour. Failure testing, fail-over testing and recovery testing carried out on representative scale systems operating under load should be included.
Don't forget catastrophic failure could occur. For large scale problems, disaster testing and disaster recovery testing should be carried out at representative scale and loads. These activities can be considered the technical layers of business continuity testing.
Recognise external services if you use them. Where you are adopting an SOA approach and are dependent on external services you need to be certain that the throughput and turnaround time on these services will remain acceptable as your system scales and its demands increase. A smart system architecture will include a graceful response and fall-back operation should the external service behaviour deteriorate or fail.
Copyright Acutest 2005
Mark is an experienced consultant working in performance testing, scalability testing and load testing. For further information visit: http://www.acutest.co.uk

Preparing For A Career In Information Technology

2009-02-11T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by John Gall

So you want to work in the Information Technology field? In this article i'll provide some advice to those seeking employment in this field. Keep in mind these are my opinions, others may agree or disagree.
Mechanic or Engineer?
The first question to answer is which direction do you want to go? Typically there are two types of IT Staff. Those who administer and and those who create. What do I mean by this? Ask yourself if you'd rather sit in a cube and write software, create and maintain databases and develop applications, or would you rather install software, manage an e-mail system or create a network or remote access solution.
The two areas are usually comprised of employees with very different mind sets.
The administrators tend to follow a career path that goes something like this. IT Intern or PC Technician performing break/fix tasks on PC's. As they advance they may manage the larger rollout of operating systems or software applications. Keep in mind the focus is on more mechanical or problem solving tasks. Later in their career they may move on to network or server administration. The larger the impact of a mistake the further up the ladder in their career. Eventually they may manage a team of other administrators or perform some consulting services.
The engineers typically come from computer science backgrounds. They may have learned programming of various languages in college. The particular language is not important only the fact that they are creating or maintaining applications for systems and databases rather than focusing on the workings of the system its self. Many of these employees are introverts. They would prefer to work within their group and make a cube or office their home. The administrator would be perfectly happy being "visable" within the company.
Education
First let me say that a four year Bachelors degree is valuable to anyone seeking employment in the IT industry. Not sure what direction you want to go? Get a basic Business BA because it will teach you how a business operates and get you the open door to most job interviews. More accurately it will prevent you from being excluded simply because you do not have a degree. If you are the administrator type i'd also recommend a basic BA unless you find a program that has the current skills you are seeking. Mainly a variety of desktop and server operating system and networking skill path focusing on TCP/IP , DNS, WINS, DHCP and routing.
If you are on the applications path than a Computer Science major is going to get you headed in the right direction. Often companies hire right out of college because they have been teaching login and application development for decades.
Those looking into administration can count on resuming their education either by self-study using technical books, certification paths, home built networks and lastly for those with the money private non-accredited coursework at various ATEC's
Once your in your in. Until your in your way out....
When I got into this field ten years ago I took a pay cut to move from my sales position to my PC Technician position. This is because it is VERY difficult to get hired if you've never been hired. There are so many great applicants that there is no reason to take a chance on someone who only can tell you what they know. Multiply this statement X 10 with the economic downturn after the dot com boom. So get whatever resume worthy experience and references you can as fast as you can. To land even the most entry level job you'll need it.
How to get experience?
Internships are a great way to get in the door anywhere. These are positions that everyone understands and they are the mark of a hungry student. If you can get an internship (preferably paid) at a company so much the better. If you can't start volunteering for any organization that will take your skills. Churches and schools or charity's are a good start. The key is to get something on your resume that says you've been in the business.
Self Employment
The IT world is great for the self employed. For those who want to accept side work there are many ways to find it and you can do as much or little as you want. When your first starting out why not perform PC Technician or entry level web or application development and get paid? Individuals are more likely to hire you for a few hour of work and you'll gain business skills and have yet another thing to add to that resume. Remember the key is to walk into your first interview as if you've been in the biz.
Conclusion
In closing keep in mind, know your direction, get an education, and its never too early to start building that resume. Good Luck!
About The Author
John Gall works as a full time IT Manager in Minnesota and is self employeed as a Consulant for Gall Consulting http://www.gallconsulting.com; jgall@gallconsulting.com

Cheap Computers

2009-02-10T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Jay Moncliff

What form of computer do you use? I personally enjoy a Mac Ibook G4. This baby does everything I want it to and more. It's great the way they make them so pulverization compact and they weigh less than fivesome pounds. Engineering is a dream these times, and it's only getting better. You can literally buy a notebook computer that's a mere half in midst, but yet still multitude a high degree of g. It's truly awe-inspiring. As you know by now, folks about the world savour the benefits of computers in their very own place. In fact, if you still don't have a PC or Mac, then you're in all likelihood somewhat out of the eyelet. Well folks, now days you don't have to hand-to-manus struggle iron with giant computer costs. There is a immense spectrum of cheap computers to choose from. What are you await for for?
When it come up up up to our home computers, many of us would have trouble acquiring on without them. There are just so many animal comforts that come up from Internet entree. The World-Wide-Web cary grant us the ability to do our revenue enhancement without paper, hold our depository financial institution business relationship from home, and order groceries and have them delivered. Wow, now that's ideal. The capital thing now times is the fact that computer virgin mary leontyne damage have come up down significantly. It's feasible to purchase cheap computers and not girl out on the finer features. I can remember just back in 98 when I purchased a monumental Gateway desktop computer, and paid like 1600 bucks for it. What a rip-off! These days we would all laughter at such a price tag on such a second-rate PC. I mean it didn't truly have whatever great or exclusive. A 15 in monitor, tower, keyboard, mouse, and 13 gigs aren't expression much. Heck, I only gave a grand for my Apple notebook that has piles more characteristic and 60 gigabytes of memory. Man, did things alteration. Thank God for cheap computers! Hence, if you're new to home computers, then I would suggest acquiring online. Although superstores such as Best Buy and Electric Car Electric Circuit City are great for browsing, I still think the most apropriate trade are found in cyberspace. Now, I recognize that you may not have a computer in order to browse for cheap computers, but one of your buddies or home members surely does. Get on Google.com and search for the lowest prices on PCs. Dell is one of the finer companies that offer specials on packet business deal. You can get the entire setup for around 300 pearl buck. Now that's a lot better than 1600. Yes indeed, the net is loaded with cheap computers now days.
Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://computer.w3portal.info. Updated site focusing on the latest Cheap computers, resources. Get the latest alerts and articles in his site: Computers.

You Dont Need To Pay For It

2009-02-09T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Lee A. Smith

IT Support has never been such a minefield. With new technologies always entering the marketplace it is now possible to have a corporate-standard IT system without having the financial headache of purchasing a server or even software such as Microsoft Office. For one small monthly payment, companies with 1-50 users can have their whole IT infrastructure based in a secure location, safe in the knowledge that should their office be burgled, damaged or even burned down, the only thing required to be reconnected to your office system and data is a new PC, Laptop, Thin Client or any internet-connected terminal such as in Internet Cafes. This is perfect for disaster recovery.
As your IT system is centrally managed in a safe and secure hosting environment, your IT support requirements are minimal or non-existent due to the power of remote IT support where an IT engineer or technician can actually "take over" control of your mouse and keyboard actions from anywhere in the world. This is a very crucial factor as you can even be taught and shown how to perform a particular task and it also removes the usual time-delay involved when requiring "hands-on" IT support. With a remote desktop your life will be much easier.
There are a great many advantages with remotely-hosted IT & network systems and another great benefit is the fact that you can literally work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. You could be working on a train via wireless or 3G, sending and retrieving documents via Blackberry devices or PDAs, catching up with work on the beach, the list is just endless. As access to your data is mobile, you do not have to worry about synchronising data and carrying data on USB flash drives etc, this all saves you time and ultimately money and the freedom and mobility you will gain from such a system will only benefit your company and it's staff, allowing for home-working and emergency access 24 hours a day.
Microsoft licensing is a major change that has occurred over the past 18 months and it is no longer necessary for companies to spend vast sums of money on hardware, software and server-related network support. In fact, companies no longer have to pay large sums of money for Microsoft Office, Adobe, Kaspersky and a growing list of software suppliers thanks to a change in the way licensing can be paid for. A great benefit of this is that you can pay monthly for a software product and receive free upgrades when new releases or patches become available.
Lee Smith writes articles for many businesses and websites and has a passion for the Internet, IT, Computers and the communications industry. You can view this and more articles at: IT Support London, IT System, Disaster Recovery

History Of The Computer Core Memory Part 3 Of 3

2009-02-09T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Tony Stockill

OK, now how does it work? We have said how we can store a 1 or 0 in a core by flipping it from one state to the other. The core can be magnetised in one direction or the other, clockwise ,or counter-clockwise, 1 or 0. We start with a clear memory, all bits in all addresses set to 0.
To write a 1 in address 0 we would need to write a 1 bit in bit 0 of address 0000 0000 0000. All other bits would be zero. We would need to enable address lines X-0 and Y-0 by passing a small pulse through them, each pulse being half the size needed to flip the magnetic field. The one point where the two address lines pass through the same core would therefore cause a flip, as the sum of the two address line pulses is sufficient for this to happen.
On each plane we have a 'write inhibit' wire passing through all cores in that plane. To write a 1 bit we do not use this wire, however to write a zero in the other bit planes we pass an 'inhibit write' pulse. This pulse reduces the effect of the two address lines, such that there is insufficient current to flip the magnetic field, and the value remains at zero.
No other core will flip as we need all three components, two address lines, plus no 'inhibit write', pulse to flip the magnetic field, if required. The addressed core is the only one to have both address wires active, and so is the only one which will flip for a one bit, or remain at 0 if the 'inhibit write' pulse is present.
Now, how do we read this data? As mentioned above we have a sense wire, which passes through all cores in each plane. We use the address lines as before to select one core in each plane. If the core is set to a 1, it will flip to 0, the change in magnetic field will induce a pulse in the sense wire, which will be read as a 1 bit. This action is similar to a generator, where a changing magnetic field induces a current in the coil. If the value is zero, it will remain so.
This type of read is called a 'destructive readout', because the location which was read is now all zeros. For this reaon, the data is written back to the location in the next memory cycle. A subsequent write of data will also require a prior read, to set the state to all zeros.
Core memory has one big advantage over the 'chip memory' currently in use, in that it is non-volatile. This means it retains its data even if power is removed. A computer may be restarted after being powered off, with all data intact. You may be familiar with the term NVRAM, typically used in the BIOS or preset data in your home PC. NVRAM stands for Non Volatile Random Access Memory, In this case it is a bit of a cheat, as it needs a battery to maintain the data when power is removed. (BIOS means Basic Input Output System, the subject of a later article.)
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

All About Dvd Part 2 The Mess With Formats

2009-02-08T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Artem Chlegov

Getting familiar with recordable DVD formats
Probably everyone nowadays had a need to transfer information between several PC's or make a backup copy of favorite movie. Recordable DVDs (DVD-Rs) serve this purpose very well, but it could be quite hard to get familiar with all the different types of them. While in CD era there were only two formats, namely CD-R for recordable and CD-RW for rewritable disk, for DVD it is not that simple. The fight between manufacturers to enforce their own formats led to the mess of the biblical scale. Besides DVD-R and DVD-RW, in most shops it is possible to encounter DVD+R, DVD+RW and even mysterious DVD-RAM. And there is no guarantee that your DVD drive will be able to work with newly purchased disk.
In this article we will try and help users to get familiar with this mess.
DVD-ROM
(DVD Read Only Memory). Generic factory-printed DVD. All mass-production DVDs with movies, software etc are printed on DVD-ROM.
DVD-R
(DVD-Recordable - pronounced as "DVD Are" or "DVD Dash Are"). This is the first format for recordable DVDs. It was developed in 1995 by Pioneer and was approved by DVD-Forum as a main standard for recordable DVD. Basically, this formatis direct analogue of CD-R but with bigger capacity and, respectively, smaller track size. As with CD-R, record is made by altering the structure of organic polymer in reflective layer with powerful laser. DVD-R can be recorded only once, but it is compatible with most DVD players and computer DVD drives. Properly stored and unscratched DVD is believed to remain readable for hundreds of years.
Initially DVD-R was only single-layered, but recently double-layer DVD-R DL (dual layer) becomes available. They are also known as DVD-R9, however, they are still uncommon and they can be recorded only on newest models of DVD burners. Trying to record these disks in non-compatible drive can actually lead to the DVD burner damage.
There are two types of DVD-R disks: DVD-R Authoring (DVD-R (A)) and DVD-R General (DVD-R (G)).DVD-R (A) type of disks appears first and was used only for professional needs. This type of disk allows recording of anything, including hidden area and keys, which means that It can be used as a master-copy for mass-production.
Devices and disks compatible with DVD-R(A) are professional equipment and therefore very expensive and uncommon.
DVD-R General (G) is much more common. It was developed later specifically for the needs of common users. This type of disks does not allow making a full copy of protected DVD - no keys will be recorded and resulting disk simply will not play. On the other hand, there are lots of devices and blank DVD-R son the market for this type of disks, and they also quite inexpensive. DVD-R (G) devices can read DVD-R (A) disks but cannot record anything on them.
Unlike CD-R, DVD-R shave a special copy protection called CPRM, which stands for Content Protection for Recordable Media. Each blank DVD-R has inerasable encrypted entry (lead in) in hidden area of the disk, which contains information about type of medium and manufacturer. When backup copy of protected DVD is made, copy program will re-encode the information again, but this time using this hidden information, so twill not be possible to copy the resulting disk again as it will require hidden information from specific medium. This type of copy protection also supported by other DVD-Forum formats, namely DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.
DVD-RW
DVD-RW (DVD ReWritable) was also developed by the Pioneer and essentially is the same DVD-R with only difference that reflective layer's state can be transformed by the laser more than once. The specifications for DVD-RW states that each DVD-RW medium should withstand up to 1000 rewriting cycles. The reflectivity of < b>DVD-RWs is much less then of DVD-R and some DVD drives can mistake them for dual-layer DVD. For this reason DVD-RW are compatible with only approximately 70% of existing DVD players.
Early models of DVD-drives required DVD-RW to be finalized in order to read it properly; however, with the appearance of new drives this is not necessary anymore in most cases. It is also not necessary to write at least 1 GB on a disk. Files of any size, no matter how small can be recorded now.
Dual layer DVD-RW, called DVD-RW DL with capacity up to 8.54GB of data is about to appear soon. Currently it is being developed by Ricoh; unfortunately, it won't be compatible with current DVD-drives and for this reason is unlikely to ever become popular. Besides, high capacity Blue-Ray and HD DVD are also coming soon.
DVD+RW
Despite the decision of DVDForum, DVD+RW (DVD ReWritable, pronounced as DVD plus R) format was founded and promoted by coalition of developers called DVD+RW Alliance. First version of DVD+RW, presented in 1997, was able to hold only 2.8 GB of data (compared with 4.7 for DVD-RW). These disks also weren't compatible with normal DVD players and, basically, all of these were the reasons for DVD Forum not to accept this standard.
later developers managed to improve both flaws but even after this, DVD+RW didn't become a standard. As a result, DVD+RW can only reviewed a potential alternative to DVD-RW. However, DVD+RW is not without some pleasant features that DVD-RW misses:
1. Lossless linking technology allows editing of the recorded disk on sector level, which means that, unlike in DVD-RW, there is no need to rewrite whole disk when only certain parts of it needs to be changed.
2. DVD+RW format has better facility for error handling. If certain sector wasn't recorded properly, it is rewritten again, more carefully. Also during the process of disk creation DVD Burner is able to determine the address of sector that is being recorded, so if the record process is interrupted, it is possible to resume it from the same position where it stopped.
3. DVD+RW format supports EasyWrite(Mt. Rainier) technology, which in conjunction with special software such as DirectCD or InCD allows using DVD+RW medium as a normal floppy or hard drive via Explorer or other file manager. The support for EasyWrite also will be included in new Microsoft Windows Vista as a standard option.
4. In addition to everything above, maximum writing speed for DVD+RW is about twice faster than for DVD-RW.
However, DVD+RW format also has some drawbacks.For example, DVD+RW is less compatible compared to DVD-RW, and the probability of running into incompatible DVD drive is higher, no matter what the press-releases and advertisements claim. Compatibility becomes even bigger issue for old DVD drives.
DVD+RW and DVD+R have a special protection system designed for them, called VCPS (Video Content Protection System for DVD+R/+RW). It has all the features of CPRM (which is for DVD-RRW) and also supports limitations in copying of protected digital broadcasts. However, such innovations are usually welcomed only by movie and video producers and generally provide only nuisance for users.
DVD+R
Although it might seem strange, DVD+R was introduced by the same DVD+RWAlliance later than DVD+RW, namely in 2002, which is the reason why it is possible to encounter DVD drives that can work with DVD+RW but are totally incompatible with DVD+R. The introduction of DVD+R was more of a step back for the developers, as the only thing they have to do to create DVD+R is to change the substance in reflective layer of DVD+RW from rewritable to the one that support only one cycle of writing. Due to this, DVD+R is actually missing some of useful features of DVD+RW, such as improved error handling. There is also dual layer version of DVD+R, called DVD+R DL or DVD+R9 (actually, it appeared earlier thanDVD-R9). In general, DVD+R does not differ much from DVD-R.
DVD-RAM
Initially DVD-RAM (DVD-Random Access Memory) was developed for back-up storage, but later it's capabilities in handling video became evident, so now there are many home DVD-RAM camcorders and DVD-RAM recorders which are aimed to replace VHS.
Although DVD-RAM format was developed by Panasonic in compliance with DVD Forum, it is much different from DVD-R and DVD-RW. The chemical part of the process is essentially the same as in DVD-RW, but the logical part more resembles the operation of hard disk drive. From the very beginning DVD-RAM is divided into several sectors. Data is recorded not in circular track as in normal DVD and CD but is directed in certain sector, without particular order. During reading of the disk this allows to find the desired file fast and easily by addressing appropriate sector. Besides, this layout allows reading and writing information simultaneously. Interestingly enough, DVD-RAM does not require any special software for recording; it can be accessed in the same manner as normal hard drive or floppy disk.
Although DVD-RAM can withstand more writing cycles (about 100000) than DVD-RW, it is substantially more fragile and have to be handled with much greater care. For this reason many DVD-RAMs are being sold in special cartridges, however, if disk is single-sided, it can be removed from cartridge temporarily as some DVD-RAM recorders have normal CD tray instead of cartridge loader.
Some DVD-RAM disks are actually sold without any case at all. These disks require extreme caution during use.
However, despite being extremely fragile, DVD-RAM has most reliable error checking. If error is discovered during burning process, data is simply recorder in different sector; while in any other DVD format disk will become completely unreadable.
Speaking of compatibility, any DVD-RAM recorder will have no troubles reading DVD-R and DVD-RW formats. However, only few drives will be able to read DVD-RAM format. Unfortunately, DVD-RAM is much less common compared to other formats of recordable DVD's and therefore the price for both drives and disks is still relatively high.
DVD+VR, DVD-VR
DVDs can be recorded in two modes - Video Format and Video Recording Format (DVD-VR). First one is compliant with DVD-Video standard and is compatible with any equipment (this format is used for factory DVD-Video disks and for video data on DVD-R). DVD-RV mode can be altered after recording and does not require copy to hard drive in order to edit disk contents. It is possible to add, cut and delete video data for the disks written in DVD-VR mode, it is also possible to add more chapters or change menu. This can be done for both DVD-RW and DVD-RAM (for DVD-RAM it is actually the only available mode).
For DVD+RW there exists slightly better version of DVD-VR called DVD+VR. Some of the positive differences from DVD-VR are the possibility of creation of full-fledged menus up to 30megabytes in size, while DVD-VR can only generate standard play-lists. It is also possible to delete data from DVD+VR anytime, while in DVD-VR it has to be done only prior to recording of new data. And the most important thing - DVD-VR disks can only be played on DVD Burner or home DVD Recorder, while DVD+VR can be viewed on any device capable of reading DVD+RW.
Not long ago the selection of preferred format was an important question, as after selecting, for example, DVD-R compatible device the user have to live with the fact that the device won't be able to read or write DVD+R. It was also dangerous to use DVD-RW or DVD+RW as a floppy to transfer data, because, unlike CD-RW, there was a chance that there will be incompatible drive in other computer.
Luckily enough, these problems are now gone.
Summary
After the appearance of first multi-format device on the market, any modern DVD drive now supports almost all of available formats, and the selection of desired type of DVD can be made several times a day, depending on particular task. The only sad thing that the mess with DVD formats was sorted too late, as completely new formats of disks are already emerging.
Artem Chlegov is a editor and writer for DVDSoftwareGuide.com - a DVD software review website.

Computer Franchises Preparing For A Franchise Expo

2009-02-08T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Joshua Feinberg

You can find computer franchises by going to franchise expositions, but you have to prepare for them in order to minimize being overwhelmed by the options and narrow down your search. Since exhibitors go to these expos in order to sell their franchise, you need to prepare to know exactly how to find a franchise that will fit your needs and abilities. Attending a franchise exposition is a fantastic method by which to familiarize yourself with the options available to you.
Your Maximum Investment
The first bit of preparation involved figuring out how much you can invest so when you get there you know what computer franchises are even within your realm of possibilities. You will know not to waste precious time talking to a sales person if his franchise fee is outside your budget and will be able to move forward to those that are affordable.
Proof Of Earnings
Some computer franchises will brag about high earnings and profits at expose to lure you. While some might be telling the truth, some might be exaggerating to get your attention. If you insist on seeing proof of their earnings, you will find out quickly the truth of the matter and be able to move onto another franchise if they cannot provide legitimate substantiation.
Write It Down
Franchise expositions offer so many computer franchises that it can be easy for you to forget all the details. If you take careful notes on each option you find, you will be more easily able to review your choices after the expo is over. Taking brochures and pamphlets is also a good idea, along with obtaining contact names and numbers in case you have questions afterwards.
The Offer
Don't be pressured into signing contracts or giving deposits at the expo itself. You need the time after the expo to interview franchises outside the excitement of the expo and get general feedback and opinions. You also would be wise to hire an attorney to look carefully through contracts and the disclosure document to make sure it is in order. Since computer franchises are a giant investment, you need to know the computer franchise you choose is absolutely right for you.
When attending a franchise expo, you need to be both informed and objective. If you know what to expect beforehand you will be able to make the right decisions during and afterwards.
Copyright MMI-MMVII, Computer Consultants Secrets. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}
Joshua Feinberg has helped thousands of computer consultants around the World get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too get more steady, high-paying clients. Sign-up now for Joshua's free Computer Consultants Secrets audio training.

Directory Assistance Please Directories In The Computer World

2009-02-07T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by James Monahan

Directories, in computer science parlance, are the listings of files, documents, and other directories within a file system. Most people think of directories as electronic folders that contain various files.
A directory is one of the first concepts anyone learning computers encounters aside from files. He or she soon learns that these files are all contained in a listing called the directory.
Who could forget the early DOS days when the command of choice was "dir c:\"?
A directory contained inside another directory is called a subdirectory of that directory. Together, the directories form a hierarchy, or tree structure. Organization of file systems into such makes for a more organized hierarchy.
It allows the files to be grouped according to the owner's desire, and presents a more organized alternative to just having all the files dumped into one listing.
Microsoft Windows and the Mac OS use folders to represent directories. This helps the user to visualize the directory as a folder that contains many papers and documents. The papers and documents represent files in the system.
With this tree hierarchy Windows and MacOS supports, one cannot just simply access a file from any point. He or she must access the file using a path.
For example, if the user is currently browing folder x, the only files he or she can access are the files listed in that folder. To access files found in folder y, the user must traverse the path from one directory to its subdirectory until he or she finally accesses the folder or directory that contains the file needed.
Historically, and even on some modern embedded devices, the file systems either do not support directories at all or only have a flat directory structure. This means subdirectories are not allowed.
There is only a group of toplevel directories that containing files. This is similar to just having one directory for all your files.
The topmost directory in a file system is called the root directory. These directories contain other directories that are fittingly called subdirectories. The subdirectories may also contain subdirectories. This can go on and on indefinitely.
Depending on how an operating system supports directories, filenames in a directory can be viewed and ordered in various ways. They can be viewed and sorted alphabetically, by date, by size, or as icons in a graphical user interface.
The word directory is also used in computing and telephony with a different sense: a central repository of information related to management of a computer or a network of computers.
This includes data on applications, hosts, users, network devices, security credentials and more. This kind of directory, as opposed to a conventional database, is heavily optimized for easy reading.
Everybody who uses computers uses directories. Only, he or she may not notice it, or may not be aware of how this concept works. Most people make the most out of the directory concept by using it to organize their files.
If all their files were just dumped in a root directory, they would waste much time just trying to sort out the files that they need.
The concept of directories is constantly evolving. Even now, software developers and researchers are constantly devising ways to make organizing and sorting their files and directories easier. And as this researching continues, users can only gain from the tools directory management brings.
James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of InfoTyphoon.com and writes expert articles about directories.

Alternatives For Doing Your Own Printing In Color

2009-02-07T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Nicky Pilkington

When you have color printing needs, your first choice is probably a professional printer. Nowadays, the advancements in technology have made it possible for you to create print jobs in color that rival those of professional printers. Depending on the type of color printing you need, there are essentially two paths you can take to create your own color masterpieces.
The first option for printing in color from home is to use a color printer that connects to your desktop or laptop computer. You first need a computer or access to one. The computer needs to have printer software. There are numerous applications on the market that provide templates to help you with printing in color. These applications are generally inexpensive. You will also need paper that is designed for printing in color. If you will be doing a variety of printing in color, a good choice is a pack of paper that includes various sizes and styles. For example, paper that works best for color photographs is generally glossy. On the other hand, if you are planning to create a brochure, invitations, or business cards, paper that has a matte finish is probably a better choice.
Finally, you will of course need a printer. The type of printer you need depends on the type of printing in color you will be performing. Color laser printers offer the best quality, but this type of printer is only an absolute necessity when you need the best quality such as when printing full-color catalogs. For basic color needs an inkjet printer will do the trick. Be careful, not all ink jet printers that offer printing in color are the same. Your best bet is an inkjet printer with 4800 x 1200-dpi. This will enable you to print the best quality. Even if you don't think you will need such high-quality color printing, you may need to do so later in the future.
Your second option for doing your own printing in color is to purchase a commercial printing press. A printing press is the best option when you want to print large quantities of a project in color. You may not have considered buying your own printing press because they are generally very expensive. Brand new printing presses can be very expensive. The inexpensive option is to purchase a used printing press. There are a number of ways that you can find used printing presses. The Internet is a popular choice because you can conveniently and quickly search for what you want. You may want to search Ebay, one of the top shopping resources on the Internet. Other options such as your local newspaper or auctions are great resources, but you will need to do a little legwork.
Like using a home printer, you will need a computer to produce the layout of the document that you want to print in color. When you are ready to print the document you just need to create your plates that will act as your printing template. Once you create your plate you can print as many copies as you need. The only disadvantage of buying a printing press is that if the machine malfunctions it may cost you some money to have it repaired.
Regardless of the option you choose, you can accomplish your personal color printing needs and do so without spending a lot of money.
PrintingGraphicDesign.com helps to home and business users with their printing needs, from photographs and business cards to tee-shirts and posters PrintingGraphicDesign.com can help you find the best printing solution.

Tea Co2 Lasers Their Development And Application

2009-02-06T16:00:00.003-08:00
Writen by Jim Morin

Transversely Excited Atmospheric (T.E.A.) lasers have been in general industrial use for laser marking operations starting approximately in the early 1970s and late 1960's. The T.E.A. Co2 laser has been used extensively for laser marking and laser etching in many industries and on many different types of products. The T.E.A. Co2 laser has been used extensively in the dry food and pharmaceutical industries for laser marking and laser etching of buy dates, product expiration dates, lot numbers and serial numbers.
T.E.A. Co2 laser marking is achieved via the use of a mask or stencil. As the laser beam passes through the stencil, the outline of the mask or stencil is laser marked or laser etched onto the product. Changing the laser mark requires changing of the mask or stencil. In the past this was accomplished by an operator who manually changed the mask or stencil. This process continued until the introduction of automatic mask changers or time clocks several years after the introduction of the T.E.A. Co2 laser. Generally speaking, the use of T.E.A. Co2 mask lasers is limited to applications where the laser mark does not require frequent changes and the laser mark can be altered infrequently. Examples include, once at the end each shift, once a day, or after a long batch processing run of products. Automatic time clock modules are available but generally increment the time only every 15 or 30 minutes.
The T.E.A. Co2 laser requires the use of an external laser gas bottle generally consisting of the following components and approximate % combinations:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) (around 10-20 %)
Nitrogen (N2) (around 10-20%)
Hydrogen (H2)
Helium (He) (The remainder of the gas mixture)
The gas mixture flows though the laser by use of an internal fan assembly inside the laser head. The medium is combined with an electrical discharge that excites the atmosphere and generates the laser beam. This gas mixture is a consumable of the T.E.A Co2 laser marking or laser etching process. For spark gap driven T.E.A. Co2 lasers a dry air or nitrogen supply to the spark gap is also required.
T.E.A. Co2 lasers employed for laser marking and laser etching are generally air cooled except for the highest speed operations where water cooling may be required. T.E.A. Co2 lasers generally used in industrial laser marking and laser etching applications are capable of laser marking or laser etching up to 90,000 parts per hour. Generally T.E.A. Co2 lasers used in industrial laser marking or laser etching applications produce power levels from 2.0 joules to 5.5 joules depending on the internal configuration of the main capacitor size and rating coupled with the reflectivity of the laser font optic.
T.E.A. Co2 laser produce a very high peak power, up to 10x the peak power of continuous wave Co2 lasers and therefore are extremely useful for Co2 laser marking and laser etching of products that can be difficult for Co2 lasers such as some plastics and resins. With some materials, laser marking and laser etching with T.E.A. Co2 lasers will produce a visible color change to the product. Laser marking and laser etching sealed beam RF excited Co2 lasers will only produce an etch with no color change. The T.E.A. Co2 lasers can produce the change in color for some products along with a laser etch due to the high peak power produced by the T.E.A. Co2 laser pulse.
T.E.A. Co2 lasers have been used extensively up till now for laser marking and laser etching of discrete electronic components such as T0220's and SOT23's. The T.E.A. lasers produce a white or blue appearing laser mark on the component when the laser beam interacts with a 'laser friendly' ink on the surface of the component. In many of these applications the T.E.A. Co2 laser is coupled with a component tester. If the component passes the test a laser mark is applied. If the component fails the test the part is rejected from the line.
The newest generation of T.E.A. Co2 lasers has very high repetition rates and are used extensive in the Kapton industry for laser drilling purposes.
T.E.A. Co2 lasers generally operate in the infrared light spectrum at 10.6 and 9.4 micrometers. Generally rear optics in the laser cavity are 100% reflective to an extent causing self generated laser beams inside the electrode gap and laser head. The front optics in industrial applications vary between 40% to 70% reflective based on the material being Co2 laser marked, laser etched or laser drilled.
An important advantage of the T.E.A. Co2 laser is that laser light wavelength can be changed from 10.6 micrometers to 9.4 micrometers. This is achieved with the change of the font optic coating. The use of laser light at 9.4 micrometers is very important for Co2 laser marking of certain plastics such as PET or PETE and producing readable color changed Co2 laser marks on bottles. Generally speaking T.E.A. Co2 laser front optics in industrial applications are geranium coated though sometimes zinc selenide is used. Mirrors for turning the laser beam are gold coated and the laser beam profile can approach sizes of approximately 1" x 1" depending on the gap of the electrode set.
Jim Morin writes for Worldwide Laser Service Corporation a company that specializes in T.E.A. Co2 lasers. For more information visit http://www.wlsc.com

Computer Graphics

2009-02-06T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Sharon White

Before speaking about computer graphics let us define what this concept stands for. Computer graphics is the area of visual computing, where both to generate visual imagery and to mix visual information copied from the reality. Further this concept will be revised deeply. The term 'computer graphics' as used in this context refers to a set of computer applications which can be used to produce images and animations which would have been impossible with the technology available only a few years ago. What computer graphics are? In the popular press, computer graphics sound wonderful. They mirror real life, if anything they are better. Computer users no longer have to struggle with arcane and cumbersome user interfaces. Everything will be intuitive. Unfortunately it's not that simple. A recurring theme within discussion of this technology is that while there are some aspects of Computer Graphics and Virtual Reality which are easy there are some which present a host of new design problems. When we look at a TV screen or movie, it is much the same as looking through a window - except that the scenario and unfolding events are typically distant in place and time. When we look at a computer screen it is much the same, except that the scenario and events are now not 'real' but computer generated: the environment we are looking at is 'virtual', it is a representation of the real world (Slater and Wilbur, 1995). To visualize is to bring something as a picture before the mind. This is exactly what the visualization software and hardware systems are trying to achieve.
For years, various visualization tools have been developed to help scientists to have a better understanding of problems of their concern. These tools can be used to create something as simple as 2-D images such as graphs, or it can be used to generate complicated 3-D images (Jean et al, 1991). Advances in computer hardware technology have led to an increase in the power available to computer users. Major software houses have kept pace with these advances developing software which utilizes the technology available. Many engineers are now familiar with three-dimensional CAD systems and use them routinely in their work place. Many specialized software/CAD packages have become available dealing with particular aspects of the minerals field, such as geology, mine design or land reclamation. These packages also offer a range of features such as advanced graphical user interfaces, full three dimensional modeling and solid modeling options.
These systems will continue to change as photo-realistic rendering and Virtual Reality options become more widespread. The term 'computer graphics' as used above refers to a set of computer applications which can be used to produce images and animations which would have been impossible with the technology available only a few years ago. To produce high resolution computer graphics a three dimensional geometry is defined using conventional CAD software. A range of texture maps are then applied to create solid three dimensional objects (texture maps are the computer graphics equivalent of applying patterned wallpaper over an object). Lighting conditions are then defined and objects are viewed from a range of different camera positions. If enough time and effort is put into creating these worlds the images produced can be difficult to distinguish from photographic images. A more advanced feature available at the higher end of the graphics market is the ability to create sequences of rendered frames and thus display these as an animation, or film.
The article was produced by the member of masterpapers.com. Sharon White is a senior writer and writers consultant at term papers. Get some useful tips for thesis and buy term papers .

Digital Libraries Societies Collective Memory

2009-02-05T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lance Winslow

Human IQ in the modern carbon bi-pod brain is an interesting study. Indeed, it is failry obvious that we are not all created equal despite our very similar DNA. As modern humans all races are less that .5% different, yet we notice a big difference in IQ throughout the world. But even the IQ experts cannot agree on how to pin-point IQ or even which mile marker and theory to use.
Have you ever noticed that those people with the best memories tend to learn the fastest? If not you surely have noticed that they appear to be smarter when talking with them. Does someone who has a lot of facts in their head appear to us to be more intelligent? That in its self should be a complete sign of intelligence, as many have not been exposed to such information and therefore did not take in its equivalent. The reason we seem to equate the intelligence of an individual to memory may actually be more correct than we think, as they have more to draw upon in reasoning and use the knowledge to help them reason.
Does this mean that the faithful servant side of the brain is to be fully developed so it can assist in the learning? Probably and it is a definite advantage to which few could disagree. This advantage in the individual can also be corresponded to the whole. Fore large groups of varying observation, knowledge and insight working seamlessly together have a far better range of information to come up with the best possible solution to a given problem.
By using knowledge and experience this way we can leverage this to prevent failure through understanding results. Those who do not learn from their mistakes, tend to keep from making them. Those who remember the lessons learned from their mistakes successes tend to reason better thru analyzing of their mistakes and trying to figure a way around their problems.
Now then, let me tell you why a society needs digital libraries hooked to all civilizations for faster advancement of the human species as a whole or as one. If you had a problem that needed solving for the betterment of your civilization and you had all the world's knowledge at your finger tips; that is to say a computer hooked to a system like a World Wide Digital Library, then you would have enhanced your personal knowledge and memory by a million fold. This could help your intelligent quotient at the speed of computer and that coupled with the speed of thought is a major component needed to take mankind to the singularity of an all-knowing, never ending being in this dimension. I would like you to think on that for a bit.
Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Laptop Accessories Must Haves

2009-02-04T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Andrew C.

After spending over a thousand dollars for a laptop, you'd think you've done enough damage on your credit card. Your laptop is your business partner, your secretary, and your investment all rolled into one. It'll be a wise idea to get a few laptop accessories to enhance its performance. I'm not telling you to go ahead and buy every gizmo and gadget that promise better laptop performance. In truth, there are only a few laptop accessories every business traveler must have.
First stop: a protective laptop bag. Get this first before buying other laptop accessories. In fact, get this together with your laptop. This baby will protect your thousand-dollar business buddy from spills, scratches, and falls. Plus, carrying your laptop in a sleek case looks more professional than your college backpack. Laptop bags range from cheap $25 bags to a hundred dollar leather case. Whichever one you get, consider the quality and not just the price. Check for waterproofing, shock absorbing capacity, and pockets for added convenience.
If your laptop came with its own software, don't think that you're all set. Check if the installed software matches your business needs. If not, install a new software and keep the installation disk in your laptop bag. It's good to bring it always because you never know when you'll need an emergency re-install. Without the software disk, you'll be a sitting duck. An actual USB mouse is often overshadowed by other laptop accessories. Your laptop has eraser nubs and trackpads which are convenient when working in vehicle. However, for stable surfaces like in a cafe or conference room, a mouse pad is more suitable. By using an actual USB mouse, you refrain from blocking the screen each time you adjust or operate your presentation. Even though you think you won't use it, keep it handy.
Most laptops today come with Ethernet ports. But even if your hotel provides Ethernet connection, it is useless without a suitable cable. So include internet, phone, and modem cables in your laptop accessories list to avoid being caught off-guard. Your thousand-dollar laptop may look sleek the first time you use it. But over time, finger oils and dust can make it look grimy. Stash some disposable and lint-free cloth to wipe the surfaces of your laptop. Make sure the cloths are not abrasive to avoid scratching your laptop. For file storage, keep USB drives and blank CD-Rs handy. These are also handy for situations other than file storage. Suppose you delivered an excellent presentation and an executive of your client company requested a copy. Instead of emailing him a copy, you could burn him a copy instantly and give him the CD. Choice laptop accessories are not limited to protecting your laptop. Most protect your professional image and business as well.
For more details about computer bags and laptop bags, please visit http://www.computer-bags.net

Apple Computers Compatibility With Windows Applications

2009-02-04T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Yina Dong

In the early days there was little compatibility between Apple applications and Microsoft Windows applications. However, much has changed over the years, and many applications can be seamlessly shared between the two operating systems. This is especially true of the Max OS X Tiger which enables not only the sharing of files, but can co-exist peacefully on the same network. Sharing printers, scanners and other peripheral devices between Macs and PCs is now almost a non-issue, while there are still the occasional user who has problems sharing files between PCs and Macs, the difficulties have mostly be resolved. It is expected that within the next few years, there should be problems at all.
Best of all, in today's highly wired world, where electronic mail is a way of life, now even email can be shared across Mac and PC platforms with minimal fuss. Apple started on the road to compatibility in 2003 when they resumed installing PC Compatible Cards into their systems. This was done in partnership with Dell Computers.
With so many businesses using Microsoft Windows, it was only natural that Apple made their systems compatible so that users could work across platforms. Nowhere is this compatibility more appreciated than in the freelancing world where clients and freelancers need to quickly and efficiently exchange files. The introduction of Intel processors in the current lines of Apple Computers has cemented this compatibility relationship across multiple-platforms.
Prior to this, users of Mac applications had to use third party software, like Stuffit Expander and Conversion Plus, to be able to access and work on files created with Microsoft applications. Also, the current generation of Macs now has Mac compatible Windows application suites which include everyday Windows applications, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Office for Mac can be used between Macs and PCs with no problem.
Click here now to find more observations from Yina.

Wifi Wireless Systems In Robotic Factories Case Study

2009-02-03T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Lance Winslow

With all the WiFi hacking going on these days and the widespread use of wireless systems, is it wise for Factories to run al their robotic equipment off WiFi systems? Sure encryption would prevent most problems, but materials and parts are expensive and one robotic mess up is a real problem. You have a complete assembly line shut down, because of some two-bit hacker.
Did you know that there are some WiFi security analysts, which purposely "war drive" to find holes in systems in corporations and then use this knowledge to go to the company and sell them Wireless Computer Security Services? Can you imagine if you did this type of sales technique you might find your self explaining what you are doing to the police when the company called them for fear you were a hacker rather than a IT Security Solutions Provider.
In a Robotic Manufacturing Plant it is of concern that such people are out there, even if semi-good intentions. It might be smart to scramble signals leaving the building and watch out for insiders with hand helds. Indeed, even with a WEP setup, you might find yourself in a problematic situation from a hacker or electronics guy who is getting laid off and losing their job in the factory to a robot and completely disgruntled. (see movie; iRobot, A.I. and read Issac Asimov).
Human nature, revenge is a powerful motivation of humans, watch out on that one, Unions can do some pretty criminally irresponsible things. A factory of this type could use a scrambler system between walls, and windows or double paned with air or music running thru them. Still there are many pointer type units you can buy for direction sound attainment and you know the hackers have those too, if they do not make them just to test the range like they did recently at Defcon Hacker Convention in Las Vegas. This is something to think of too and a robotic factory electronic computer IT engineer must be thinking here. Are you? WiFi security is not a luxury it is a necessity, think on this.
Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Large Format Document Scanners

2009-02-02T16:00:00.003-08:00
Writen by Damian Sofsian

Document scanning is the first step in upgrading to electronic document management, which promises enormous storage capacity, high security and easy retrieval of office documents. Large format document scanners come in a wide variety, and choosing from them according to your need is as demanding yet worthwhile task. Most document scanners are of flatbed type. They come in color as well as black and white. Black and white scanners are much cheaper and would suffice for much of the day-to-day office document management. A duplex scanner can handle pages with one or both of their sides printed. Document scanners with video card interface are available for processing bar codes or patch codes or for increasing the quality of scans.
The speed of the document scanner is an important factor and is expressed in inches per second or meters per minute; some scanner speeds are also expressed in sheets per minute. Some of the high-end document scanners also have the capability to print the documents they scan.Document scanners are rated for a duty cycle in number of pages per day. This is the number of pages that the machine is designed to handle per day and should not be exceeded in order to ensure maximum life. The parts of an overloaded scanner wear out much more quickly. So a scanner of optimum duty cycle should be chosen for maximum economy.
Though most document scanners are of the flatbed type, with the document lying stationary on a glass pane, vertical scanners, in which paper is fed through the top and moves downwards past the sensors, are also popular. Some of the newer scanners are equipped with the revolutionary iJet technology, which allows the user to take printouts from a large format printer connected directly to the scanner. It also lets the scanner be connected directly to an existing LAN without an attached host PC.
Lanier, Canon, Visionshape, Fujitsu, Vidar, ACTion Imaging, Contex, IDEAL and Oce are among the leading manufacturers of large format document scanners.
Large Format Scanners provides detailed information on Large Format Scanners, Large Format Color Scanners, Large Format Flatbed Scanners, Used Large Format Scanners and more. Large Format Scanners is affiliated with Home Theater Projector Screens.

The Butterfly Effect Part Ii Inside The Chinese Firewall

2009-02-02T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Charles Spencer

This is the second part of my series on the Internet in China. I recently returned from a year teaching at a Chinese University. During my time in China, I had the pleasure of getting to know the state of the Internet in China, both directly and indirectly, through my own use of the Internet and the classes. In my last article, The Butterfly Effect Part I: Microsoft, Security, and the Developing World, I dealt with the effect of pirated software and security and its impact on development. In this article, I would like to cover my experience of the Chinese Firewall from the inside and the way we contribute to censorship in China.
Scanning Chinese networks the old fashion way with nmap or similar tools struck me as a bit impolite and potentially illegal. Being on the other side of the wall, I was not going to push my luck too much. However, part of my teaching duties involved several classes on research writing and basic computer skills. This gave me access to a very effective network testing tool. Basically, several hundred average Chinese University students. To get an idea of what the average Chinese experience of the outside Internet world was like, I could simply assign my students to retrieve various information from the Internet and wait for their reports. For example, if a site was not reachable from inside China, I would be quickly inundated by emails and questions from panic stricken students trying to complete their homework assignments.
My total number of students was well over a 1,000 for the length of the school year. I could also add to this all the miscellaneous students, staff, and public seminars where I simply referred them to my teaching website (hosted outside of China). That would bring the number to something like 2,000 people. About 100-200 in any given week where engaged in some sort of Internet related project for my classes. My own modest teaching site received a little over 5,000 hits in my time in China. So, through my classes at the University and other schools in Eastern-Central China, I was able to run a sort of ongoing distributed human scan of Internet connectivity in China.
My informal survey results: Of course there is always a few students that would, for one reason or another, be incapable of connecting; however, when a site could not be accessed at all, I would see my student red flag go up quickly. Normally, within about 24 hours of giving an assignment it would be obvious that something was wrong. My own Internet connection provided to me by the University, as far as I could tell, seemed completely unadulterated and functioned as it would in any Western country. This included access to many news sites in Taiwan and Japan. For example, I could access the Gutenberg library, but my students could not. News sites such as BBC, and occasionally CNN, were completely unaccessible by me or the students. The Google search engine seemed to do some strange things. Both my students and I were able to download, and watch live, the entire U.S. presidential debate on C-span's website. Later, we were able to download the transcripts in both English and Chinese; including the segments where Bush directly criticized China. These were the same transcripts and video that I later used to teach debate class at the University. On my own Linux computer, I had no problems connecting to bank websites in New York with 128 bit SSL; or connecting by SSH to computers in the United States and South America. I also frequently used Skype to make encrypted phone calls to friends and family around the world; Granted, the quality of the connection was at times so poor as to be unusable. This I would take to be more an issue of distance and network quality than censorship. Bittorent and FTP functioned normally, including Linux sites hosted in Taiwan and the United States.
The most surprising source of censorship in China:
There were several instances where the red flag on my human Internet scanner went up to an unusual high level. Students reported 100% failure. After investigating the problem, I discovered that it was not a firewall restriction or China's own network failure, but foreign networks and servers outside of China blindly blocking larger parts of China's networks from connecting. This included one incident that basically cutoff service from China to most of Europe and the United States.
An often overlooked aspect of our fight against Spam and malicious activity is our own contribution to censoring the Internet in China (also by extension other developing nations). What seems to have been missed is how we, as systems administrators and security professionals, also are contributing to the great firewall of China. Here is how it works for those unfamiliar with the process: Millions of unlicensed, unsecured, and unpatched Microsoft desktops across China are turned into zombies networks by the bad guys. Those bot/zombie networks attack servers with Spam and malicious activity outside of China. Systems administrators around the world cutoff traffic to their network by blocking large blocks of IP addresses in mainland China. The average user inside China attempts to connect to websites outside China on those networks and fails. This failure to connect, both inside and outside China, is then attributed to the government sensors and the mystic of the firewall is reinforced. The effect is that the Chinese firewall, if only in part and inadvertently, is being reinforced by Western democratic countries and companies protecting their systems from China's infected computers.
Granted, that this is a very effective method of protecting networks. However, it would seem rather hypocritical of us to cheer for Open Source, the free flow of information, and criticize the Chinese Governments actions; while at the same time, with a couple dozen key strokes, we restrict millions of people from accessing information they so desperately need to further their development. Yes, we need to, and should, cutoff the spam and bot nets from the Internet; however, it needs to be done with more of a scalpel and less of a howitzer.
Overall, the restrictions on the Internet in China are first and foremost a function of networks that are overwhelmed by such a rapidly growing user base. One estimate puts the NEW Internet users in China at over 10,000,000 people a month. Even this is perhaps a low figure. Many of my own students never used the Internet until they came to the University. In addition, thousands of inexperienced systems administrators struggle to manage computer systems built and documented for the English speaking community. Secondly, the restrictions on the free flow of information are a function of the network security environment in China. Millions of compromised computers attacking networks inside and outside China, and our inevitable security response to them. Finally, I would list the real efforts of the authorities to restrict information. The reality is, China simply does not have the computing power and expertise to effectively regulate all of the traffic on the Internet. The volume of white noise alone insures this fact. The most effective control methods the authorities have is the simple psychological intimidation associated with showing an ID to use a computer in a public Internet cafe. I might remind the reader that using a computer in a public libraries in the United States also has similar conditions attached.
There are very real controls on the flow of information in China. What needs to be understood is the practical reality for millions of Chinese to access information is far less terrible than what it is made out to be in Western Press, at least on a Political level. Increasingly China is becoming more politically open, if for no other reason than it is a prerequisite for a market economy to function correctly. This will take time. However, on a technical level, the restrictions are far worse than what is recognized outside of China. Because, in the final analysis, not being able to connect is as bad as not being allowed to connect.
Charles Spencer in the founder and of Spencer Global International Consulting with members in more than 10 countries in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. http://www.spencerglobal.com
Charles Spencer is also editor and Chief designer of All Southern Chile (http://www.allsouthernchile.com), a development project of Spencer Global International Consulting to promote the South of Chile in English to the World.

Refills For Half The Price

2009-02-01T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Catherine Pulsifer

I stood in the line up at the store and noticed a new booth displaying refills for printers. The cashier noticed me looking at the booth, and she quickly said, "They are just new here." I asked her if she had ever used their services, and her face lit up. "Oh yes" she said, "I saved over $20.00 I used to buy new print cartridges for my ink jet printer and I would pay an arm and a leg for them. Now, I just get the cartridges refilled at a fraction of the price." But, the question running through my mind was, does it work? It was as though she could read my mind. Before I could ask the question, she said, "It works just as good as a new cartridge; there is no difference in the printing." I paid for my purchases and thanked her for her help.
I then went over to the booth selling the refills. The employee was very helpful. I asked her a series of questions, and she basically told me, that millions of cartridges are thrown away each year and end up in landfill sites. The cartridges can be refilled with ink, and give you the same quality as if you had bought a new cartridge. She said the cartridges do eventually wear out. Usually after the second to third refill, they are no good. What amazed me the most was the difference in the cost. For the type of printer I have, it cost close to $40.00 for a new cartridge, but refilling it only cost me $18. Half the price!!
I came home intrigued by this new discovery. I am always looking for new ways to be more frugal - getting more for my money. I researched the Internet and found there are many organizations that have programs in place to accept your old cartridges. They recycle them. In Canada alone, less than 5% of the millions of cartridges are ever recycled. It takes at least 2 ounces of oil to produce a new inkjet cartridge, and the plastic used in many cartridges takes centuries to decompose. When I thought of the millions being thrown out filling our landfill sites, and the cost of new vs. refilling, I decided to give it a try.
When my ink ran out, I took my old cartridge in and had it refilled. It works great. The one downside is that some manufacturers of printers will not warrant your guarantee if you use refills vs. new cartridges. I purchased my printer over 5 years ago, and it is not an expensive one so I am not concerned over the warranty as it has probably expired long ago.
So, if you want to save money, and you want to help reduce the amount of cartridges going to landfill sites, have your ink cartridges refilled before you buy a new one! A great way to be frugal - getting more for your money!
If you are concerned about your warranty on your printer and would prefer to buy new cartridges don't throw out your old one. Donate your empty ink cartridge to the many organizations now willing to recycle them. You will be practicing reduce, recyle and reuse which will help our environment!
Catherine Pulsifer is one of the editors of Stress Relief by a Simple Life Where you will find stories, thoughts, poems and inspirational quotes on simplicity, frugal living, free craft projects, stress and more.
note to publishers - please use the text "Stress Relief by a Simple Life" when linking to http://www.stresslesscountry.com Thanks!

Employment Background Check

2009-01-31T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Stanley Alpin

Employment background checks are becoming increasingly common these days. The reasons for this include the fact that negligent hiring lawsuits that result from the actions of an errant employee can damage a company's credibility and lead to hefty fines; companies have become more selective in their choice of employees following the threat of terrorist activities; accepting a resume at face value has resulted in many companies wasting time and money due to frequent hire-and-fire situations. Also, more companies are now conducting employee background checks as information from databases all over the world is available online. Employers are not bound to conduct an employment background check in all cases; however, federal and state laws make employment background checks compulsory for jobs that require interacting with children, the infirm, and the aged.
Information that can be included in an employment background check includes driving records, details of past employments, criminal records, military records, educational records, character references, and drug test records. However, background check companies that provide information to employers have to abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which regulates the type and amount of information that an external agency can provide to an employer. Bankruptcies that are more than 10 years old as well as civil suits and records of arrest more than seven years old cannot be reported. FCRA regulations vary with the state and agencies that carry out a pre-employment background check need to ensure that they comply with the state regulations.
Employment background checks can be conducted by companies in-house or can be outsourced to third parties that may include private investigators, H.R firms that screen applicants, and data brokers who are established online. Outsourcing an employment background check has its advantages but if a third-party is conducting a background check, consent from the applicant is required and under FCRA regulations the applicant should be provided with a copy of the investigations. If the employment background check is conducted in-house, the employer is not bound to obtain the applicant's consent or apprise him in detail of the reason for rejecting his application.
Stanley Alpin recommends Background Check Guide for more information on ordering an employment background check.

Who Knew Intel Cuts 1000 In Management

2009-01-31T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Nan Wood

The computer and chip makers have had their problems in recent years. Intel, in an effort to become more efficient, is cutting management jobs. The competition is stiff and fewer personal computers are being sold.
According to Chuck Mulloy, Intel's spokesman, this is an action in a continuing effort of their broad structuring announced in the earlier part of the year. Analysts are suggesting more cuts as Intel's executives look closely at operations.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc., a smaller rival company, is challenging the supplying of microprocessors, which is Intel's core business. Since the demand for PCs is slowing and AMD is taking away business, Intel is focusing on cost reducing and eliminating inefficiencies.
Paul Otelli, CEO of Intel, announced the plan to sell a division that makes chips for cell phones and other devices. This will of course, increase cash flow while decreasing expenses. Since this division was losing money and not able to effectively challenge the entrenched competitors, it is at the top of the elimination list.
Intel grew rapidly in the last five years. Managers were hired at a faster pace than the overall increase in employees. So a reduction in this area should remove layers and improve communications.
Who knew that the environment in which computer technology evolves would change this much in a short period of time.
Nan is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional with an interest in technology. Visit Technology

Fiber Optic Connectors

2009-01-30T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Elizabeth Morgan

Compared to even a few decades back, communication has become a vital part of our lives. The world's social, economic and political system is dependent upon its ability to communicate and transmit both voice and data information. Networks of optical fiber span continents and circle the globe making this communication possible.
Rapid advances in fiber optics technology have made traditional wiring obsolete and unsuited for transferring complex data like images. Fiber optical connectors have replaced them, as they are small and transparent. They are as thin as wires and are able to transfer data via beams of light.
Fiber optic connectors comprise of a ferrule, connector body, cable and coupling device. The end of the fiber is mounted on the end of ferrule. It is bored through the center thus cladding the fiber. This often induces scratches on the fiber. Some types of fiber optic connectors are biconic D4, ESCON, FC, FDDI, LC, loopback, MTP, RJ, MU, SC, SMAand ST.
Fiber optic connectors can be installed by various methods depending on the connector types. While connecting, one has to make sure that the ends have a smooth finish and is free from defects such as hackles and fractures. It is essential to remove the coating of the fiber and connect the connector by applying epoxy or by crimping. Subsequently, the fiber end has to be given a good optical finish by cleaving and polishing. Any impurities such as dirt change the geometrical propagation patterns of light and cause scattering.
Fiber optics connectors are considered safe, as they are not affected by electromagnetic fields. They are low weight and have high electrical resistance. These connectors are cost effective and are usable even by untrained personnel.
Fiber optics connectors have low data losses over long distances and have a high transmission capacity. It is no wonder that the era of telecommunications and networking has extensively adopted fiber optic connectors. The primary market for fiber optic connectors is the optical network application. Optical networks transmit voice and data across the country and around the world. The rapid expansion in the use of the Internet drives the optical market, including fiber-optic connectors.
Connectors provides detailed information on Connectors, Electrical Connectors, Fiber Optic Connectors, USB Connectors and more. Connectors is affiliated with Wire Mesh Conveyor Belts.

Computer Repair Services

2009-01-29T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Thomas Morva

Computer repair services are best fitted for offices and other important business firms where there are quite a number of machines. There are countless companies and service providers who repair computers for industries and offices.
Computer repair services can be classified under the following heads:
(a) Organizations who render technical support to offices and homes.
(b) Online courses on computer repair services to help an individual gather information about the computer and acquire knowledge on various aspects of both the software and hardware.
(c) Organizations as well as various websites also provide support by sending various compact discs and DVDs
There are also IT technicians seeking work who will work with businesses who their services, this is handy if you don't need a full-time IT staff but still require occasional service. Simply go to the website, punch in your ZIP code, and computer repair will immediately list technicians in your area, including their rates, hours, ratings and reviews.
Computer repair services are readily available in local computer repair shops. But there is a risqué factor involved in hiring someone local who may not have the necessary expertise to get the computer fixed correctly. Therefore, it is always advisable to call an experienced and reputable computer repair service provider to get the best of services. Most computer repair service providers are diligent and solve any sort of technical problems with great dexterity. They specialize in delivering leading edge solutions for the technology side of your business or home. Most also offer IT outsourcing, network support, service contracts, computer repair, printer repair and related technology consulting services to small and medium sized businesses.
Computer Repair provides detailed information on Computer Network Repair, Computer Repair, Computer Repair Services, Computer Repair Software and more. Computer Repair is affiliated with Computer Part Supplies.

Clutter Here Clutter There Clutter Everywhere

2009-01-29T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Katharine Silvia

Top 5 little known tricks to improve the performance of your PC.
1. TAKE OUT THE TRASH
Just because you don't see it lying about doesn't mean it doesn't need to be emptied. If you use your computer daily you should do this at least twice sometimes 3 times every day.
2.Get rid of uneccessary e-mail messages.
This again is another simple but over looked memory drain on your system.
Especially if they contain personal information.
You want to focus on,
* Sent Items - Yes that means love letters
* Deleted Items - Sad but most don't.
* Junk Email - Absolutely.
3. Delete unused programs.
This one can be tricky if your relatively new to computers. If you know Exactly which programs you use and the ones you don't, I recommend you do this.
Go to Start--> control panel-->Add remove Programs.
The longer it takes for your programs to appear you have to many. Plan on making a list of your most used programs before this step, I mean all the ones you can think of. Then compare them against what you "actually" have on your system. You in for a shock I guanty it.
4. Clean your cache.
This is HUGE. This is the Toxic waste dump of every temp file you have ever downloaded onto your system. For example, your visiting Aunt Marry's website and can't really see the pictures of her and her kids, so you enlarge it, well that is a temp file and it is now lurking on your hard drive. GET RID OF IT.
If your using IE go to the toolbar click on
Tools-->Internet Options--> Select the General Tab and click Delete Files.
5. Delete your cookies.
This one wont increase a tremendous amount of speed; however not wanting Sallys shoe store knowing you prefer pink, only gets you pink shoe coupons in your email, which you have just cleaned. There is a downside be warned so read what they are.
Now I am put together a videos, of this series to continue where we have left off. If you are interested please send me an email @
report@ask-compgeek.com
Or visit my website and sign up there.
http://www.ask-compgeek.com
Thank you
THANK YOU
=============================================
Katharine Silvia
Computer User since 1993
http://www.ask-compgeek.com
=============================================

It Audits How Long Do They Take

2009-01-27T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Joshua Feinberg

Keep IT audits to within a half a day as a starting point. If there's more exploratory work that needs to be done, that should be an added fee and done at a later time.
Keep IT Audits Short and Sweet
Generally within four hours on-site for IT audits, you usually figure out exactly what's going on, what should be done next, how to prioritize it, and what hardware and software and services, peripherals and other similar items they need to buy.
You'll obviously, know that you're going to be proposing a bunch of follow-up tasks, so there's plenty of time to come back and go into more depth after IT audits. When the meter isn't running, don't sit down at keyboards and do something that could end up getting you in hot water!
Your Timing Checklist
The way to keep IT audits limited to 4 hours is by coming up with a dozen or so different areas that you will look at. In that four hours, there's no way that you're going to be able to hit every PC or every issue. Here is how to allocate the timing.
o Half hour to an hour on a primary server.
o If they have a secondary server, maybe another 15 or 20 minutes,
o A few minutes on LAN hub infrastructure,
o Looking at routers, CSUs, DSUs, DSL routers, hub switches in blocks of 10 or 15 minutes, making some general notes as to how it looks on visual inspection and some things you may notice with LADs or surge protection
o Half hour to 45 minutes on a couple representative PCs
What are Representative PCs?
Who are the most important PC users in the company? Ask your main company contact. They will point you in the right direction. They might say something like, "Bob, he's the one that takes care of all the billing and accounts payable. You should definitely look at him. And you should definitely look at mine because I'm the owner of the company."
You should be able to look at two to four PCs and get a pretty good idea as to what's actually going on there with configurations, drive mappings, network protocols, whether they're in relatively good shape or whether they're a complete mess.
The Bottom Line about IT Audits
From IT audits, you should get a pretty good idea as to what the hottest priorities are, what should be addressed within the next week or two, what should be addressed in the next month or two and then what should go into more long-range planning.
Copyright MMI-MMVI, Small Business Computer Consulting .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}
Joshua Feinberg has helped thousands of small business computer consulting firms get more steady, high-paying clients. Now you can too. Sign-up now for your free access a one-hour audio training program featuring field-tested, proven Small Business Computer Consulting Secrets.

Building A Computer Is It Right For You

2009-01-26T16:00:00.002-08:00
Writen by Ryan Griffith

The parameters used to be a little more clear. You could easily save money by building your own computer. All you needed was the basic know-how, the time and initiative, and wah-la! You had a good computer at a better price than you could buy new.
But things have changed over time. As technology improved and prices dropped, suddenly the the savings benefit seemingly dwindled away. However, that is not always the case and there are still many excellent reasons for building your own computer!
Customize to Your Needs
By building your own computer, you can customize it exactly to your needs. Whether you're into gaming, video production, audio recording, autocad, or just general word processing and internet surfing, you can build a computer specifically suited to your task.
Easier Upgrades
By using non-proprietary, quality parts, your new home-built computer will be much more easy to upgrade than its store-bought counterpart. Many retail computers have proprietary components that are tied together in such a way as to make part replacement or upgrade difficult. Your customized computer should be easy to work on, repair, and upgrade for a good while.
Learning Experience
Building a computer is a great learning experience. You get to see firsthand just what all the parts do and how they work together. Not only is it educational, but it's great fun too! And you get the satisfaction and pride of having a tangible result of your labor at the end of your project.
Drawbacks of a Retail Computer
There are a number of reasons why most store-purchased computers today are inferior to a custom-built machine. Retail computers often come with bundled software packages that are average at best. The quality level of much of the software is quite low, and most of it is probably unnecessary. It's often poorly-written proprietary software (specifically written for that computer manufacturer) and is usually infesting every nook and cranny of the computer, slowing down performance and taking up storage space.
Much of the brand-name software included in these bundles are basic versions and even trial versions. If you need quality software (and who doesn't), you're most likely going to have to buy it separately anyway.
Many of the computer components are also proprietary, making repairs and upgrades difficult. Sometimes off-the-shelf components just won't work well or at all with a retail computer. And they are often not designed for much room to expand or upgrade.
Warranties
One argument for purchasing a computer from a retailer is to obtain a good warranty. This has some merit, but keep in mind that redeeming warranties is usually not a walk in the park! You may also be without your machine for a while during the time it is being repaired or replaced.
Individually-purchased components most likely also come with a warranty, so if one fails there may be recourse for replacement. The warranty issue probably is about equal with either method you choose.
Partial Upgrade vs. Replacement
An alternative to building a computer from stratch is to perform a major upgrade. This should be cheaper compared to total replacement, and can still give you an excellent machine well-suited to your needs. You must already have an upgradeable computer though, and it needs to have a few key components which you can build around. Perform a cost/benefit analysis and determine which method would best serve you.
A Personal Experience
In the late '90's, my Win95 Pentium 100 (retail purchased) desktop computer was getting pretty inadequate. It was virtually non-upgradeable, there was no room for expansion and key components (motherboard, case) were getting obsolete. So I purchased a custom built computer (tower only, no monitor or peripherals) from an experienced friend, and it served me well for a number of years.
Several years later I got into audio recording and upgraded to larger hard drives. I also purchased a larger monitor.
Last year I made significant upgrades, specifically centered around my needs for audio recording. I purchased a new case and motherboard while utilizing my existing hard drives and all peripherals. Down the road I'll upgrade further to more hard drives (the new motherboard is SATA compatible) and a new flat panel monitor.
You can see that over the years I kept my computer system relatively current and meeting my needs for less than I would have spent in complete replacement for a comparable machine. I've had fun and learned a lot in the process, too.
Not only that, but I took the case and motherboard I replaced, bought some used large hard drives from a friend, and turned my old computer into a backup machine. You can see how much flexibility custom computer building can give.
What's Right for You?
That's something only you can decide. But if you have the interest, a willingness to learn, a need for customization, and the desire for a solid, quality system, I believe you're a perfect candidate to build your own computer!
Ryan Griffith is the webmaster of Build-My-Computer.com. He loves his home computer network and thinks more people should build their own computers!

What Do I Do With All These Ugly Cables

2009-01-26T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Mark Boehm

So you have worked hard to get everything just right with that great stereo system or home theatre system in your arsenal of Audio/Video equipment. Everything looks great except for all those wires, what to do with all those wires. It is a problem that most of us will encounter even if you are not working with a home theatre system or audio system.
There are video cables, audio cables, speaker cables, cables for cables. Your Audio
System or other types of electronic equipment look great, but all those wires just hanging around look awful. Somewhere in our home there are wires that we would like to hide or at least make them look more appealing to the eye.
So what is the answer to all of this? Cable raceways may just be the answer you are looking for. If you have all those cables and wires running along floor and walls without any type of organization, then cable raceways may be a way to eliminate those unsightly wires.
Cable management solutions include items like cable raceways, cinch straps, hook and loop cable tie rolls, cable ties and cable tie mounts. All of these items make addressing your nest of wires so much easier to deal with, but cable raceways offer a great way to run long lengths of wire while making them pleasing to the eye.
Cable raceway systems generally come with straight lengths of raceway up to six feet. Then to make your bends there are inside and outside elbows. You can also purchase raceway splices which allow you to connect additional lengths of straight raceways.
Cable raceways come in a variety of sizes like 1.6", .8" and 1.25 "and other sizes. Depending on the type and size of the wire you will be running will help you determine which size of raceway works best for you.
Cable raceways generally come in the color of white, but do offer the capability of being painted. The raceways are generally attached to wood moldings, floors and in some cases ceilings. With the use of double sided tape, the cable raceways are easily attached to these surfaces, making them quite easy for most people to install.
One item I would advise on using is a cable raceway tool. It is specifically made for cutting cable raceways and provides a nice even cut every time. It is available for a minimum amount of dollars spent and will save you many hours of aggravation, especially when making long runs of cable raceways.
There are of course many other cable management solutions available when addressing the problem of multiple wire runs, but cable raceways in many instances are a very affordable and eye pleasing method of cable management.
Mark Boehm is the president of M-B Electronics. He has over 25 years of experience in the Audio Visual and Electronics Industry. You can contact him by calling 800-872-9456 ar e-mail him at etbinc@comcast.net
Visit here for more information on Cable management solutions or Cable raceways.

How To Resolve Cable Dsl And Dialup Modem Problems

2009-01-25T16:00:00.001-08:00
Writen by Otis Cooper

When it comes to diagnosing the modem and any other computer problem,always start with the most obvious first.Modem problems may be repaired as fast as re-booting the computer or can be as complex as resolving hardware conflicts.
First remember to check for the most obvious signs of trouble,such as loose connections at the rear of the computer for external modems.
Internal modems may have their retaining screw at the expansion slot loose are missing.Phone line connections may simply be inserted in the wrong connector.
Nearly all internal modems are inserted into the PCI or Peripheral Component Interconnect slot in the system unit.
NO POWER AT THE MODEM
For Internal Modems,first try inserting the modem in a different PCI Slot.Reboot the computer and click on Start,Control Panel,and click the Phone And Modems icon if you have Windows XP as your operating system.
Then click on modems,properties,and look for the statement "This Device Is Working Properly". You can click on Diagnostics and run a test to see if the modem has power as well.
External modems can be checked for power by inspecting the adapter plug to see if it is plugged in completely.Look to see if any indicator lights flashing and be certain you are using the adapter for your modem.
Be sure the surge protector or wall outlet is providing power by plugging in a lamp or a radio.If the radio works,the culprit may be the adapter or the external modem itself.
If you purchased the modem in your town,you may have the chance to return to the store and ask the technician to test it with a known good power adapter.You can been replace either the adapter or modem.
MODEM DISCONNECTS OFTEN
If your modem,whether internal or external,is working but disconnects from the Internet very often,without warning,check to be sure your call waiting option is not enabled.
Another culprit that cause this headache is line noise.This noise and interference can be caused by such things as loose wiring.
Poor waterproofing,old wiring,worn phone jacks are some causes that will result in line noise. Make sure no other equipment is using the same line that your modem is on.
Be sure other devices as your fax machine, answering machines or even security alarms are not sharing the same line as your modem.
Other PCI devices may be causing conflicts with your modem.Clicking the Control Panel ,and clicking the modem icon will show the message "This Device Has A Problem" or somthing similar if there is a conflict.
Windows will offer ways to resolve the conflict. Take the time to carefully follow instructions tocorrect any conflicts that may be present.
Loose data lines for Internal modems and loose or damaged connectors for External modems can cause data lost as well.Visual check and double check these connections.
MODEM IS PRESENT BUT WILL NOT WORK
The external and internal modem must have device drivers installed before they will work. Bad or incorrect drivers can cause the modem to disconnect as well as not work at all
If you noticed that the device driver was either missing or corrupt in the modem icon,follow the instructions to update the device driver.
If some cases,you may have to completely remove the old modem from thw Windows Device Manager.
Once it has been removed from Windows, reboot the computer and Windows will detect the modem and automatically re-installs the the device driver.
If your modem came with an installation cdrom or diskette,use the software the disk rather than the one in Windows.
Once you are up and running,the first thing you should do is to visit the modem's support web site and search for any software patches or updated drivers to download.
COMMON BROADBAND PROBLEMS
The most common high speed internet problems whether its dsl or cable connections are not being able to log on and poor signal.
If the Cable modem often reboots,you should check to see if your signal indicator is strong.If the signal seems good,electronic signal from mobile phones and other devices nearby may be interfering with the signal.
Stop and look behind the cable or dsl modem to see if the connections have worked themselves loose or have come off completely.Be sure the connections have not be damaged in any way.
The modem is connected to an Ethernet card which will receive and send signals to the computer.Look at the rear of the card and see if the green indicator is on.If not,there is a problem with the card installation or the card may be faulty.
If the ehthernet card in the computer become loose, your high speed Internet reception will be interruppted. Place a finger on the ethernet card and try to move it. If you can,open the system unit case and tighten the card.
If the ethernet card has become loose,it may be a good idea to remove it and inspect the yellow contacts to be certain they are not dirty or damaged.Power will not transfer to the card should this be the case.
Other causes may be the main wiring to the modem may be faulty.The vacuum cleaner or the power tools your son is using in the garage may be causing the problem as well.And we cannot omit the idea that the cable or dsl modem themselves may be faulty.
While you're learning about your computer,understand the modem at every level and do so now while it is still in good operating order.Print or write down modem and all troubleshooting tips.
Put these troubleshooting tips in a binder or at least in a safe place so you can refer to them should your PC fail to boot.Knowing about your computer takes time and effect but you be glad you took the time should your system goes on the blink.
Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and confidence of every computer user. Use his informative articles and videos to understand all about the PC. Read more in depth articles for pc training and repair at http://www.repairarticles.com.

Wirelesss Networking Security 5 Reasons To Use A Radius Server

2009-01-24T16:00:00.003-08:00
Writen by Eric Meyer

1. Wireless Authentication - This is a huge part of why wireless networking is so secure, you know exactly who is accessing your LAN. With out a RADIUS Server anyone who has happened upon your passpharse has open access to your WLAN. IF someone steals your passphrase some how they won't be able to access your lan because they still need user creditials.
2. Wireless Policy - You can set any number of policies you like but my favorite is limiting the time and days that users can access the wireless network. Most often if a hacker is going to try and crack your network it's going to be at night, so don't let users authenticate at night or on the weekends.
3. DMZ or Subnet - You can assign wireless clients to a subnet that is locked down or keep them in a DMZ. If a hacker starts probing the network he won't be able to see much.
4. Limit Access time - You can limit your access time of wireless clients. If a hacker can't hack the LAN he might try to hack the wireless clients, kick idol users off after couple hours.

5. Per user or group Control - You can give specific users certain access or you can give whole groups different access policies. A common senerio is that you have contractors or out of town sales employees visiting and need temporary access to the wireless network. You won't want to let them have the same access that the normal employees do so limit them as needed.

I will be posting a tutorial soon about how to setup a wireless RADIUS server

Join the most popular wireless networking newsletter on the internet http://www.wirelessninja.com Don't miss out on the fastest wireless routers ever http://wirelessninja.com/?page_id=7

Overview Of Http

2009-01-24T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Chris Inga

If you have been using the internet for a while, you have probably typed into your browser something that starts with "http:" and ends with ".html", hit "Go", watched your modem lights flicker on and off, and a couple of seconds later you are magically looking at page of todays news or a page of pictures. Let's try and take some of the magic away ...

I thought about calling this article a "Geeks view of HTTP"; I am not going into the nitty gritty, but rather present a sketch of how a geek might see something like HTTP, how they can think something like HTTP is simple, and why they are not trying to make things complicated just for the sake of it!

--* Layers *--

The background to the sketch is that computers are full of layers. Programmers and designers think in layers, because organizing in layers makes it easier to build things.

You don't need to know what or where the layers are in your computer, or where one starts and another stops, but it is helpful to remember that they are everywhere because that is how geeks organize things.

--* Specifications and Protocols *--

Specifications and Protocols are the things that are the mostly likely cause of all your computer frustrations ... but they are a necessary evil. A wise man once said that any specification longer than one line will have ambiguities and be a source of problems. There are lots of specifications and protocols in everyday life. An example of a protocol is when you are driving and see a red light you slow down and stop until it turns green. The specification of this protocol is the rule that is (probably) written down in the road-rule book. But we don't need to read the road rules, it is just common sense to know to stop for a red light. Of course we all know the words computers and common sense don't belong in the same sentence, and that is why there are so many computer specifications and they are generally so long and detailed.

A common sentiment is "you really need to spell things out for a computer". I think this is a bit misleading. It isn't the computer that needs things spelt out, it is the programmers and designers who build the higher layers who need to spell things out for other programmers creating other higher layers.

If one programmer ignores the rules of a specification, or doesn't know there is a rule to follow, the result can be the same as if a driver runs a red light ... a crash.

--* Connection *--

I have finished with the background of the sketch, and now I am going to draw a picture of a couple of boats in a bay, each with a two- way radio. I grew up around boats and always liked listening into the chatter on the two-way radios. The following conversations are from my memories of growing up, but the ideas are probably the same for cb and other forms of radio.

The first boat we will call "Rock n Roll" the second "Jazz". There was only one channel, and I noticed that there was a protocol that everyone seemed to follow (except on Sunday afternoons) to keep things orderly. I don't know if this protocol was written down anywhere as a set of specification rules or was just common sense. If Jazz wanted to call Rock n Roll they would wait until they heard the current conversation end with an "Over and Out". They would wait a couple of seconds and then say something like "Rock n Roll, Rock n Roll, this is Jazz, do you read me, over". If someone on Jazz was listening, they would say "Rock n Roll, this is Jazz, go ahead, over". Bingo!, they have a connection.

The same kind of thing happens when you type an address into your web browser and hit "Go". Your computer is just moving a bunch of numbers to the modem. To keep things simple, lets ignore that the modem is converting those numbers into sounds, and pretend that it is those numbers that are traveling out along your phone line. The reason sending numbers out along your phone can work, is that at the other end of the line is your ISP's computer. This computer, and all the other computers on the internet, have layers written by programmers and designed by computer architects, that follow strict and detailed specifications of what to do with the numbers coming out of your computer.

This sounds complex (and the details are!), but it is just the same as the person on Rock n Roll knowing to wait until they heard "over and out" before calling Jazz, and saying "over" at the end of each sentence. If no one followed these protocols the channel would have been chaos, everyone trying to talk over everyone else. In the same way, if your computer and the other computers on the internet did not follow the specifications, the fact that your computer sends out some numbers over your phone line would be as useless as it sounds in the first place! ... but, if the rules are followed, it works.

I am not going to go into the actual details of these specifications, but you have probably seen the acronyms; TCP/IP and DNS (and a heap more!)

--* HTTP *--

Lets say that someone on Rock n Roll knows there is a football almanac onboard Jazz which will confirm the score of a particular game and settle an argument onboard Rock n Roll. When Rock n Roll hears Jazz say "this is Jazz, go ahead, over" they know they have a connection to Jazz and can start a conversation. Rock n Roll might say "Jazz can you get me the score of the 1987 Superbowl, over", and Jazz comes back with the answer finishing with an "over". Rock n Roll might ask for another score, or might ask for the list of players, or might just say "thanks, over" and which point Jazz would say, "See ya, over and out".

--* http://Jazz/SuperbowlScore1987 *--

That is really what HTTP is doing. The connection has been made at lower separate layers which are handling the numbers traveling out of your computer and moving them to the computer you are connecting to. HTTP is a fairly simple specification that allows one computer to ask another for some information (by naming it), and for that information to be returned. It doesn't say anything about where that information comes from; as far as the HTTP specification is concerned, somebody could be sitting at the other computer typing in the response. However, usually the information that is asked for is the name of a file, which is a bunch of numbers on the hard drive. Those numbers get moved from the hard drive into memory into the modem and back to your computer.

Thats it! That is the essence of HTTP.

The point is, to see why a geek can think something like HTTP is simple you need to think in layers like a geek. Thinking in layers is not some kind of zen like discipline for them, they probably do it without even being aware of it as that is what their tools and languages encourage. If a programmer was writing an HTTP program they may write something like:

LowerLayer connectTo: "Jazz".

LowerLayer send: "GET SuperbowlScore1987".

LowerLayer out.

The programmer who writes this is not thinking about the details of how the connection is established or how the message is sent. They may have no idea! When they are working with HTTP they just assume the lower layer works. If they, or you, do want to understand the lower layer, then put HTTP out of your mind and read up on the TCP/IP and DNS layers and specifications (have fun, and have a good supply of coffee ready).

Similarly, they are not trying to understand how the information that is received is displayed so nicely in your browser. That is a higher layer and yet another specification (HTML).

I hope you enjoyed reading this article, it has taken an unusual perspective of HTTP! If you want to read up on the details there are a number of good articles on the web and the HTTP specification itself.

About The Author

Chris Inga is the programmer of the Nici picture downloader software for windows which uses the HTTP protocol to download pictures from the web. See http://www.nicisoft.com for more information; pictures@nicisoft.com

The Butterfly Effect Part I Microsoft Security And The Developing World

2009-01-23T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Charles Spencer

Much has been made of the argument in Open Source circles about the benefits that Open Source offers developing countries, as opposed to expensive or pirated versions of Microsoft. Some of the more common arguments run, contra-Microsoft, that the expensive and proprietary software that runs on Windows is holding back the developing world. Most imply, directly or indirectly, that somehow Microsoft is haggling with poverty. That is, school kids in China, Pakistan, and Guatemala are being denied access to modern education and technology via the proprietary licensing schemes of MS and the Software that runs on it. So it might be. However, what seems to escape such poverty calculations is the true impact of network security and viruses on developing countries and the impact on the World in general. Specifically, the impact that computer security has on development when networks are based on pirated, outdated, or generally insecure software. The largest and most obvious case would be China.

My experience in China:
I recently completed a year teaching English, Computers, and Philosophy at a Chinese university. Around the university, a copy of Windows, on the street, cost the same as a copy of Red Hat Linux or about $1 US. Of course, most Windows software is similarly priced. You can literally find 1-10 guys on every neighborhood block selling copies.

The official university computers also had hot copies of Windows installed in every classroom. In fact, I am not sure I encountered a licensed copy of Windows in my entire year in China. This possibly includes most of the new computers with Windows XP installed at the factory. The Microsoft certified laser stickers are copied almost as frequently as the software. This is in spite of the official best efforts by Beijing to legitimize its entry into the WTO, and promote the use of Linux on government computers.

However, after 10 years of traveling and working in developing countries, I did not consider this so terribly unusual. The World over, hot copies of Windows are the standard in developing computer networks. It was only the very public nature and acceptability of it that seems different in China. As for the social acceptability, it seems to be more a function of Chinese culture than the state of technology or some sort of official public policy. One hazard of being a hardcore Open Source advocate, and coming from a tech world where the software is free (or mostly free), is that in certain respects it tends to make you a bit too comfortable with the concept of software piracy.

What opened my eyes to the true danger of pirated copies, was the first day I entered a classroom, with my 30 gig portable USB drive. My poor little hard drive, that had been kept safe, sound, and innocent behind a Linux firewall, and never mounted with anything but Linux, was suddenly exposed to the reality of computing in China. It was a virgin drive in the Windows Red Light district of a Chinese university. I had spent so much time on only Linux systems, that I had forgot what it was to battle Viruses and Spyware with every click of the mouse. I no sooner plugged it in, then a complete ecosystem of viruses promptly installed themselves to every directory on the drive. At that moment, it occurred to me that I had never seen a copy of a virus scanner or a firewall like Norton or Trend Micro alongside any of those copies of Windows or the latest Hollywood movies.

I also had at that moment a captive audience of more than a hundred Chinese students. So I went about taking an informal survey of how many students knew about viruses and virus scanners. My students where at first confused in the sense they thought they did not understand my English. I then carefully explained what a virus was, and what a virus scanner does. After rebooting to a Mandrake Move CD, I even dissected a virus on the overhead projector for them.

Once I was convinced they understood the English word and concept, I asked them again. This time, I received more of a confused look in the sense of 'why would you waste the money'. I repeated this with all my classes at the University. In total, I asked about 1,000 students over the course of the school year, and received more or less the same answer from all of them. They simply did not have antivirus software, or would not buy them if they did sell them. I am aware that companies like Trend Micro are moving into the Chinese market; however, I believe it will be hard to sell virus software in China for a long time to come.

After that first class, I returned home and turned on my Internet connection to confirm what I suspected. My Linux firewall, connected via ADSL, was being bombarded by thousands of viruses and worms. In fact, it was hard to distinguish any legitimate traffic from all the white noise of worms and viruses. Many, like their biological counterparts such as polio, are rarely seen in the West; and A few, like Asian bird flue, have not yet been monitored or detected in the West. I am aware of at least one case of a virus that started life in a Chinese University stealing term papers, later being modified to gather classified documents from companies in England.

The Implications:

It seems a better part of the already limited bandwidth and resources of China are being consumed by infected windows computers. Let me multiply this times an estimate 10,000,000 (official) new users of the Internet a month in China. From personal experience, I can say with a great deal of certainty, although perhaps not to the extent of China, the Internet in most developing countries is in a similar state. In such developing technological environments, the consumption of valuable resources is in many ways far more of a barrier to development than the simple dollar cost of Microsoft based software.

Consider just a few of the implications. If just 50% of all Internet and computing resources are consumed by malicious activity in a country or region, and it appears to be far more than that in most countries, then the country must devote that much more resources to its development. According to an official Chinese Central Government report, over 80% of all computers in China have been penetrated. Similar studies in the West, have reported upwards of 90% percent of the computers in developed countries. Granted, it depends on how and who reads those types of reports; but the very idea that those are the numbers we are talking about is food for thought alone.

What is of a more critical consideration is the impact on any economy and society at large. How easy is it for Hospital in Guatemala to clean up a computer database after a virus outbreak, as opposed to say a hospital in New York or Paris? How many people do not get treated for real viruses because the hospital spent the money treating digital viruses? As for the implications for the Internet at large, we only need to chant our liberal mantra a little louder about how no one can control the Internet to really see the dark side of things. I will just site the very active issue of the impact of zombies and bot nets on the World.

Our responsibility:

Thus, I would say, that in our rush to help countries develop with food aid, economic aid, and such, that we also lend relief in the areas of technological aid. The obvious, and affordable solution: (drum role please) Linux and Open Source solutions. However, simply carpet bombing the developing world with Linux will not be sufficient. It will require the support of the developed countries and experts to aid in the training and deployment of Open Source solutions. As another Western IT worker in China pointed out, what is often overlooked outside China is that most systems administrators in China never even touched a computer until a few years ago. Further, if I may remind the reader, that poorly deployed servers and software, of any sort, are just as dangerous as Windows. The true doomsday scenario would be networks of millions of zombie computers running on fast, versatile, and stable Linux platforms across the developing world.
On the other hand, I would say that Microsoft in its rush to lock out the developing countries with disabled operating systems, restrictive licenses, and jack-booted copyright enforcement might not be such a bad thing in the long run; however, it is up to the Linux and Open source community to fill the vacuum that we so strongly advocated. Both Nature and the Internet abhor a vacuum.

Chales Spencer is the founder of Spencer Global International with members in 10 countries across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. He currently heads up IT projects for SGmedia, the IT division of Spencer Global.
http://www.spencerglobal.com

Charles Spencer is also currently the editor of http://www.allsouthernchile.com, a development project for the promotion of Southern Chile in English.
http://www.allsouthernchile.com

History Of The Computer Cache Memory Part 2 Of 2

2009-01-22T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Tony Stockill

(Times and speeds quoted are typical, but do not refer to any specific hardware, merely give an illustration of the principles involved.)

Now we introduce a 'high speed' memory with a cycle time of, say 250 nanoseconds between the CPU and the core memory. When we request the first instruction, at location 100, the cache memory requests addresses 100,101,102 and 103 from the core memory all at the same time, and retains them 'in cache'. Instruction 100 is passed to the CPU for processing, and the next request, for 101, is filled from the cache. Similarly 102 and 103 are handled at the much increased repeat speed of 250ns. In the meantime the cache memory has requested the next 4 addresses, 104 to 107. This continues until the predicted 'next location' is incorrect. The process is then repeated to reload the cache with data for the new address range. A correctly predicted address, when the requested location is in cache is known as a cache 'hit'.

If the main memory is not core, but a slower chip memory, the gains are not as great, but still an improvement. Expensive high speed memory is only required for a fraction of the capacity of the cheaper main memory. Also programmers can design programs to suit the cache operation, for instance by making a branch instruction in a loop take the next instruction for all cases except the final test, maybe count=0, when the branch occurs.

Now consider the speed gains to be made with disks. Being a mechanical device, a disk works in milliseconds, so loading a program or data from disk is extremely slow in comparison, even to core memory - 1000 times faster! Also there is a seek time and latency to be considered. (This is covered in another article on disks.)

You may have heard the term DMA in relation to PCs. This refers to Direct Memory Access. Which means that data can be transferred to or from the disk directly to memory, without passing through any other component. In a mainframe computer, typically the I/O or Input/Output processor has direct access to memory, using data placed there by the Processor. This path is also boosted by using cache memory.

In the PC, the CPU chip now has built-in cache. Level 1, or L1, cache is the primary cache in the CPU which is SRAM or Static RAM. This is high speed (and more expensive) memory compared to DRAM or Dynamic RAM, which is used for system memory. L2 cache, also SRAM, may be incorporated in the CPU or externally on the Motherboard. It has a larger capacity than L1 cache.

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

Ad Hoc Definition

2009-01-22T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Marc Keller

We have all heard the term ad hoc. What does this word actually mean? How do I use it properly? I have been asking these same questions for years. However, today I have decided to solve the mystery and find the ad hoc definition. I did what every inquisitive scholar does and looked it up on google. Here is what I found on the ad hoc definition. Directly translated from its Latin origin, ad hoc means "for this"the term is generally used to imply that something is intended for a particular situation or purpose. Hence, an ad hoc committee is one that is formed to handle a particular issue. Something that is ad hoc or that is done on an ad hoc basis happens or is done only when the situation makes it necessary or desirable, rather than being arranged in advance or being part of a general plan. Interesting, huh.

So now that we have the ad hoc definition let's see if we can use it in a sentence that will impress your friends. For example, "On an ad hoc basis, Congress has placed ceilings on military aid to specific countries". In this case ad hoc is used as an adjective meaning improvised or impromptu. Now I suggest trying to make up a few of your own sentences and explain the use of ad hoc in each sentence. This will help you use the term in more impromptu occasions. While this has been a good ad hoc definition in general, ad hoc takes on a more precise meaning in different applications. In truth, the ad hoc definition is exactly that: ad hoc.

Common terms using this word are found in the IT industry and include: ah hoc network, ad hoc query, ad hoc surveys, ad hoc testing, ad hoc report, ad hoc analysis, and ad hoc protocol list. Actually, ad hoc has several specific applications in the world of Information Technology. The ad hoc definition as used in; ad hoc networks, ad hoc reporting and ad hoc testing has a very precise meaning pertaining to the Information Technology Industry.

When it comes to computer networks, ad hoc is typically associated with wireless devices. When a connection is established between two or more computers without having a base station, they have formed an ad hoc network. The ad hoc definition still holds in this case because the connection is not permanent but rather has been formed temporarily to meet a particular need. Ad hoc reporting, also called ad hoc querying, refers to a system that permits users to customize a data query from a database instead of limiting them to preset, "canned" options. Since the results of the query are dependent on the specific query submitted, they are created for the specific moment, ad hoc.

For software development companies, the ad hoc definition applies most frequently to testing. Ad hoc testing is a type of quality control testing that operates on randomization rather than on a fixed technique. Each test is created for a specific purpose it wasn't grabbed off a shelf. If you are developing software and don't have the time or resources to invest in properly testing it, Software development companies provides a host of testing services, including ad hoc testing.

My thirst for knowledge was been momentarily quenched with a sweet glass of ad hoc definitions. Ad hoc is a versatile term that properly used will impress your friends, and Information Technology group. Good luck in expanding your vocabulary and understanding of IT terminology.

Mark Keller is a Client Specialist with 10xmarketing.com, an internet marketing company. For more information on ad hoc definition visit http://www.aculis.com/testing/ad_hoc_definition.html at Aculis.com.

Reasoning Without Data

2009-01-21T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Some believe that there is no point in reasoning without data. Others cannot accept this and instead get by on reasoning based on intuition and even simply the belief that they should instinctively know. Many of the greatest theories in the world have come thru very little data or none at all. So many of these theories of past periods are later proven with data in subsequent future periods, thus proving you can reason without data.

Speaking from my own point of view and often working on intuition I believe that it is dangerous for innovation and the forward progression of the species to accept the notion that there is no point in reasoning without data. Often, I myself have no data for many of the concepts that I come up with. Indeed this may not mean they are always correct, in fact although many of my concepts or innovation could be said to be outright brilliant, some completely irrelevant, while others absolutely and utterly worthless. Of the ones, which are brilliant most are derived on "gut instinct," perhaps maybe based only slightly on observation and experience. If you work in a job, which requires innovative decision making; you may have enjoyed the same scenario. I have noticed that some of my best innovations that come from just thinking out in the blue in hindsight of the innovative thought in fact could not have been reasoned with data, for many times no data exists or worse of they are contrary to popular belief of current data.

So with this said, it might be reasoned without data that nothing completely out of the blue or a revelation type event in a completely new concept can ever be created if we do not allow ourselves to think and reason without data. Because no data has been created on something we do not know, to prove it would work or not work? If these folks who say you cannot reason without data really believe that it is not possible, then we ought to move them out of the way, as they are a barrier of nay Sayers which are impeding the forward progression of mankind. If they were right, and thank god they are not, then we would never create anything new at all. Think on that.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Read This Article If You Want To Know What A Uav Is

2009-01-20T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

You have probably heard of the term UAV, it is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. It is a plane that flies by its self. Think of it as a Remote Control "RC" model airplane only it can be full size. The military has operated "Drones" or aircraft without pilots of almost four decades and many an aircraft has been used in this way as target practice for missile practice.

Today UAVs have so many different shapes and sizes. Some are for combat and some for surveillance. They are not just used in the military either. They can be used to scout fires, track drug traffickers or even survey the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina. The commercial uses are endless and there are endless types of unmanned vehicles today.

There are Unmanned Ground Vehicles UGVs like the ones in the DARPA Grand Challenge when they drove vehicles through the desert with no people in them autonomously, without remote control, fully autonomous. Vehicles like this might prevent soldiers dying from roadside bombs or patrol the US Borders, Power Plants or Military installations.

Then there are also AUV or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, like submarines with no people. Some look like mini submersibles, some like small submarines and even some look like fish or sharks? Pretty cool, you will certainly wish to search this and learn all you can about AUVs.

Next up is MAV or Micro-Air Vehicles some are very small with wing spans the width of a mere piece of paper and some of these researchers are out to out do Moore's Law making mini insects that fly and they will be able to fly through debris for earthquake survivors, thru tree branches, windows and maybe even rotating fans. Can you believe it?

This new technologically advanced age of robotics will growing in the future and you owe it to yourself to learn all you can about these rapid advances. Think about it.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Reasons Why The Ipod Needs To Evolve Or Die

2009-01-20T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Dhruv Kumar

Since its launch, the iPod has become one of Apple's major products and sources of income. It has, arguably, been one of Steve Jobs's biggest successes after his return to Apple.

At the Macworld Expo keynote speech on January 10, 2006, Steve Jobs reported sales of over 42 million iPods in all, and 14 million in the first quarter of 2006. The iPod's market share accounts for about 75% of the mp3 player market. Calling it a runaway success wouldn't be too far from the truth.

All this may soon change, as the iPod is bound to take a hit in sales, unless it evolves with the changing needs of consumers.

The day consumers saw the entry of mobile phones with inbuilt mp3 players, all standalone mp3 players were issued a warning of things to come in the future. However, they still faced no real threat as these mobile-phone-cum-mp3 players just couldn't match the capability of a standard mp3 player. Sound quality wasn't as good, storage space was limited, and they were too expensive to realistically affect the mp3 player market.

But now, with hard-disk based phone-cum-mp3-players invading world markets, they may ring a death knell for iPods and the like. Soon, within the next year, if not today.

These so-called convergence devices not only have mp3 players, they also come equipped with digital cameras of fairly decent merit, some PDA functionality, 3G/EDGE, WiFi, etc. making these packages increasingly attractive to consumers.

Although these devices are right now rather expensive, costing about $600-$800 a piece for a (unlocked) 4GB hard-disk based version, they also have a slew of features missing in standalone mp3 players like the iPod. Most come equipped with integrated digital cameras (>2.0 megapixels in most cases), PIM facilities and 3G/EDGE (service provider dependent), and of course mp3 players running off of a hard disk. With dipping technology prices, these devices will become increasingly more affordable to consumers throughout the world, hence eating into the iPods pie, particularly damaging the Nano's marketshare.

Another advantage that these devices have over standalone devices is their single-package form factor, which enables users to carry a combination of 3 devices while populating just 1 pocket. And you only need to charge one devices instead of hooking up 3 devices to the power supply. Neat. All this makes it much more convenient for users to effectively utilize the vast range of functions present in these devices.

How often have you thought that you'd like to click a pic, but couldn't merely because you weren't carrying a camera? Haven't you found yourself wanting to listen to a particular song, but, once again, couldn't because you weren't carrying your mp3 player? All these problems will be things of the past with these convergence phones: this problem will vaporize as these phones are bound to be in your pocket at nearly all times (after all, how many of us would leave our homes without a mobile phone?). What this means is that you have all your coolest devices built into one, with you, at nearly all times, allowing you to use all these features whenever you want, wherever you want. Neat, once again.

Phones like the upcoming Sony-Ericsson W950 and the Nokia N91 are examples of such devices.

The Nokia N91 comes equipped with a 4GB HDD, 2MP camera, Symbian OS 9.1 and a slew of PIM features. It can be purchased for about $650 (unlocked). It's (and other similar devices') main advantage over the iPod is its vast range of functions, as well as the previously mentioned single-package form factor.

The moment devices like the N91 are available between $400-$450, they're bound to eat in to the market of standalone mp3 players, in particular the iPod Nano. At present, the 4GB iPod nano costs a cool $250. A lot of people wouldn't mind paying an additional 150 dollars to get these convergence devices, with a whole range of other features.

I'm not saying that the iPod will die I'm saying it's going to be hit hard by such devices, some time next year but it will eventually die unless it evolves (the concept of survival of the fittest). These new convergence phones just make much more sense than standalone mp3 players.

But, as seen in the past, Apple is a particularly robust and sound company, with strong fundamentals. It might quite easily be able to steer the iPod clear of any danger by releasing such a device of its own - that would be a coup of its own.

However, partnerships like the Motorola-Apple partnership yielded nothing, and had a minimal impact on the music player industry. Apple has to take this up more seriously, and, hopefully, independently. Maybe the Apple-Softbank collaboration will yield better results in making a proper mp3-player-phone.

And I'm also not saying that the iPod alone will be hit. All standalone mp3 players await the same fate. That of a shrinking market.

In any case, the iPod either needs to evolve, incorporating other features like a camera/phone, or face a shrinking market for stand-alone mp3 players and eventually die. Only the fittest will survive in this world of cut-throat competition. It remains to be seen whether the iPod is fit enough.

See the author's personal blog at Tech Quotient

An Ounce Of Prevention Protect Your Pc From Spyware And Surf Safe

2009-01-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Maureen Arnold

Spyware and Adware programs are the latest tools in the insidious world of information farming and computer hacking. The terms Adware, Spyware and Malware are typically used in an interchangeable manner by many end-users of PCs, but in truth, the definitions of the programs are different.

Spyware programs and applications are often downloaded unbeknownst to the end user, and installed in the computer's hard drive. These applications then (as their name implies) spy on the user, transmitting surfing habits, sites visited, demographic information and more to the company that inserted the program. A tremendous concern about spyware is not only breach of privacy for the end user, but a growing trend in identity theft, credit theft and other forms of illegal usage of the information harvested. Spyware programs are rife among sites that employ shareware downloads, such as Kazaa, Bonzi Buddy, Morpheus and other shareware sites.

Adware applications are generally applications that come bundled in with a software program in order to encourage the consumer to purchase more products, upgrade to a pricier version or to test out other programs.

Malware programs are programs designed specifically to destroy or bring harm to a PC and its functionality. Malware includes the typical viruses, Trojans and worms that are typically protected against by anti-virus programs such as Trend Micro's PC-Cillin.

While most end users typically employ some type of anti-virus shield, an alarming number of PCs are vulnerable to a spyware or adware program. Specialized programs exist which will shield computers from these specific threats. These specialized programs protect the end users in two ways. First, they protect the end user by employing a scanning technology similar to an anti-virus program. They will scan the PC and identify and remove and existing spyware on the PC. The second functionality is real-time protection, which prevents the re-infestation of the cleaned PC from any additional programs by notifying the end user of potential threats and preventing insertion of malicious code into the registry or other programs and downloads.

Most Spyware protection programs are downloadable from the internet, and several of them, such as NoAdware (downloadable at www.spybreaker.com">), offer a free scan of the end-user's PC before purchase. An ounce of prevention, though, is worth a pound of cure, though, and I highly recommend downloading a spyware protection program before your information gets hi-jacked.

www.spybreaker.com">Protect Remove Spyware, Adware & Toolbars

The New Generation Of Apple Computers

2009-01-18T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Yina Dong

Despite losing ground to Microsoft and clone PCs, Macs still have a strong following, especially since an Apple Computer rarely becomes affected by viruses. Also, Mac enthusiasts, especially those in the design and journalism fields will attest to the power of the Macintosh in these environments.

Apple Computer is still adding new lines to the brand. Also, they once more revolutionized the computing industry a few years ago when they came out the the iPod.

iMac This is the Company's leading desktop computer, and the popular iPod was developed along with it. The introduction of the iMac in 1998 was directly responsible for Apple Computer's rising profit margins.

Power Mac This is Apple's high end personal computer; it is also referred to as a Power Macintosh.

MacBook The current Apple MacBook laptops come in three models, 1.83GHz, and two 2.0GHz, one white and one black; all using Intel Core Duo processors and equipped with 13-inch monitors. These replaced the previous PowerBook laptops.

MacBook Pro This is the high-end version of the MacBook, designed especially for business and other professional applications. There are currently three models available, two 15.4-inch models, a 2GHz and a 2.16GHz version, as well as a 17-inch 2.16 GHz model.

Mac Mini This PC is similar to the very first Apple I; the Mini Mac is the lowest price Mac on the market. This Mac is available in two versions and comes without a keyboard, monitor or mouse. They also use Intel processors.

Xserve Apple's contribution to the server business, Xserve, was first released in 2002. The Xserve can be used in a wide number of applications.

iPod This portable media player was another in a line of innovative designs from Apple Computer. This device has undergone various improvements since it was first introduced in 2002, the latest being the addition of video capabilities. Many now act as external flash drives as well, allowing the storage of photos and videos in addition to music.

Apple computers have come a long way since they were first introduced and continue to fire the imagination of Mac users worldwide.

Click here now to find more observations from Yina.

Computer Training Your Gateway To The Competitive It World

2009-01-17T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Thomas DeReyna

Computers have been long since introduced among mankind; and it was not so long after people adopted it and became iconic as they are now. Most residence, nowadays, own a set or two of computers; varying from desktops, laptops, notebooks and the sophisticated palm versions. Computers have opened the Information World; and Information Technology now dominates most aspects of living from the outskirts of business districts to the desks of those rendering public service in the government, from the armed forces to the school grounds.

Amidst these overwhelming innovations, though, there are still those who're left with their simple beliefs and lifestyle; not even knowing how to perform a simple operation in a personal or desktop computer. And if you're among them, there's still time for you to catch up and start computer training.

Computer training will help you get familiarized with computers, its applications, dynamics and the technologies incorporated with them. You will be assisted by the knowledge you'll acquire throughout your journey while living in the computer age.

Advantages of Computer Training

Since your everyday life will mostly involve the use of computers and other digital facilities; it will do you better to gain proficiency with each of them. Computer training will arm you with the knowledge you need in operating computers and the things associated with it such as hardware, software and computer applications.

Most jobs and employment opportunities nowadays also require proficiency in computer and IT matters; most computer and IT-related careers commands high salaries and an employee's marketability largely depends on the diversity of his/her computer skills. Thus, being acquainted with every aspect of computers through computer training will give you the edge and high possibility of getting hired especially in multi-national companies.

Also, the business sectors and other aspects of society have evolved along with the evolution of computer technology; and most business establishments run their entities with computers. It is advantageous to have systematic business processes like staffing, accounting, filing and other transactions made possible with computers; thus, if you're planning to start-up a business or wants to establish your business, it will help you a lot if you're aiding your daily business routines with computers. Hence, the need for you to undergo computer training for improved business handlings.

Computer Training Schools

Computer training is mainly divided into several divisions of learning so as to have organized learning process; these are mainly hardware, software, networking and web development. Other computer training will also include basic computer safety, maintenance and troubleshooting. And you'll learn all these in computer training schools and centers.

There are many schools and training centers that offer computer training and educations; they mostly offer certification courses or degree programs. Here are few tips on how you can find good schools for your computer training:

- Consider the size of the class. It is better to enroll in a computer training course where there are fewer students for the instructor to attend to; you'd be given more attention and guidance through the learning process in this case.

- Look for a school that offers enough training facilities. It is better to learn computers through hands-on process, thus, it would be better if each student is provided a computer. It is also good to learn in a more conducive place.

- The school you're planning to attend for computer training should be certified so you'll be assured of the quality of teaching that you'll get from them. And they should issue certificates for your training; you can use these as proof of your computer studies.

- Your school should also have convenient location and scheduling. Especially for those who are already working and needs certification, you should find schools that offer classes in your most convenient time and are located in a more accessible area.

- Lastly, you must look for computer training schools that offer reasonable training costs and fees. There are also available financial aids that may help you out.

There are also many programs and software available on the Internet that can aid you with your computer training; thus, you can have self-taught computer training at home in your most convenient time.

Thomas DeReyna is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides a news blog.

Why Every Company Needs A Fax Server

2009-01-17T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Chris Norwood

Every day more and more businesses of all sizes and types are developing or refining their strategy to transmit, store and retrieve their business documents electronically. And while the majority of all electronic document transmission is primarily conducted via email, or downloaded from the internet, smart organizations realize a critical part of this strategy also involves the handling of their inbound and outbound fax traffic.

Every company needs a fax server for the following reasons:

Competitive necessity. The faster business documents transmitted by fax, either sent or received, reach the proper destination the higher probability of increased organizational efficiency.
Increase employee productivity. Fax Servers allow users to send/receive faxes from their computers without leaving their desks. These faxes can be sent either from thin, thick or internet based fax client (Microsoft Internet Explorer) or email application such as MS Outlook/Exchange, Lotus Notes, Novell Groupwise. The most common operating systems used are Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows 2000.
Minimize consumable costs such as paper, toner. The typical fax transaction first requires the document to be printed to a printer and delivered to a fax machine via sneaker net. Documents that are transmitted via fax server start electronically as word processing documents and end electronically as digital images at the recipients' destination.
Documents transmitted via fax server are recognized as legal documents in a court of law. Once a document has been transmitted by fax, information about the fax transmission is recorded during the process, including date/time of transaction, duration and total # of pages.
Improve Customer Relationships and Find New Opportunities. Fax documents are always read or at least perused. If the information on the fax properly addressed to a particular recipient or addresses an immediate business need, there is a good probability of some sort of response. Many fax savvy organizations use fax for newsletters, press releases, billing, product announcements and expedited contract delivery.
Try the following: Go into your existing customer database and choose an existing client. Send a fax concerning a new product release or update directly to his or her attention. In addition, within the fax, provide multiple methods of return correspondence i.e. email, website, telephone and a deadline for response. Chances are you will receive some level of response faster than email!
Email Alternative. While sending emails is extremely reliable and common practice, it has its draw backs when dealing with loan applications, purchase orders and signed contracts. Business conducted with these types of documents typically occurs via fax machine or fax server.

Technically, what do Fax Servers do?

Fax Servers compliment all business units in one form or another. They convert documents from their native format into Black and White Tiff G3 or DCX format. These tiff documents are then sent over the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or IP (Internet Protocol). Fax Servers can integrate into any application, Email system, ERP, CRM or operating system in the world. They can interrogate raw text from any AS400 or Host based output system and convert it into a legible formatted document (either PDF or Tiff). Some Fax Servers can also send email, act as middleware, fax enable websites, operate as a back office application or be used in an ASP service bureau model.

Summary

Fax Server technology has been around since the late 1980's. Even though all fax servers are not created equal, there are fax servers available for every platform i.e. Microsoft Windows, Unix, Linux. The most reliable fax servers primarily support intelligent fax cards such as Brooktrout, Eicon, Pika Technologies or Natural Microsystems. Depending on your organizations needs, infrastructure and budget, there is a fax server solution out there for you. If you are entire organization is sending or receiving more than 20 pages of fax per day, ROI cost justification can be 3 months or less.

TargetFax Document Imaging - Chris Norwood has been in this industry for over 13 years and is currently the Business Development Manager for One Touch Global Technologies. One Touch Global Technologies is a Platinum Solution Provider, Specialized Software Developer and Systems Integrator for several of the leading fax server and document management technologies on the market. Chris may be reached directly at cnorwood@otgt.com. http://www.targetfax.com

Build Your Own Computer Or Buy

2009-01-16T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Ron King

Just look inside a computer case. At first glance, all those wires and components can look terrifyingly complex. And thinking about putting them all together by yourself may seem impossible.

Not to worry! Even though they are the products of advanced technology, the various pieces of a personal computer (PC) fit together with simple connections. If you can use a screwdriver and follow simple instructions, you can build your own PC.

Don't be intimidated by the task of connecting the computer components together. Many of the internal connections are molded so that it is impossible to fit them together the wrong way. If you have ever assembled a child's toy, you are more than capable of assembling a computer.

Advantages Of Building Your Own

You are probably asking yourself why anyone would bother to build a PC. After all, you can buy a cheap computer in almost any retail store.

If cost is your only consideration, you probably are better off buying one of those cheap machines. But if you have any special requirements for software or hardware, you'll benefit from the total control over the type and quality of components you get from building your own PC.

You can save some money, too. Although you probably can't match the price of the cheapest preassembled PC, once you begin adding on the inevitable customized hardware, the costs go up anyway. Suddenly building your own computer starts looking cheaper. And don't forget--those super-cheap PCs are bare-boned systems. Unless you need a computer only for basic word processing and e-mail, you will probably have to upgrade anyway.

Building your own PC can be a great learning experience. You will gain a better understanding of how the various components work together, knowledge that can be useful for troubleshooting. If your computer ever breaks down, you may be able to pinpoint the problem and fix it yourself, saving money on expensive repair bills.

You are virtually guaranteed to get the best computer when you build your own system. Big retailers often use cheaper OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) components to cut down on costs. Components like these can compromise the performance of a computer system. Although you can buy OEM components yourself, the trade-off in reliability and stability is usually not worth it. Brand name components are just a bit more expensive, but are well worth the cost.

Disadvantages

The major disadvantage in building your own PC is that you don't get a system-wide warranty. For example, if a malfunctioning motherboard fries your memory chips, you may not be able to get compensation for the damaged memory. If something like this happens with a store-bought system you could probably get the whole computer repaired under the warranty.

However, if you buy all your components at the same time from the same retailer, you are more likely to be compensated for this kind of situation.

Time is, of course, a factor. But it is educational time. And if you enjoy tinkering at all, it counts as fun time as well.

The Bottom Line

Building your own PC has a lot to offer. You'll be assured of getting the best components available, which translates to the best and most reliable computer for your money. You will learn about computer components and how to choose parts with the best performance. When it comes to servicing your computer, you may be able to solve and fix the problem yourself.

Oh, and one final advantage. The bragging rights of telling your friends that you built your own computer. Priceless!

About The Author
Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit http://www.build-computer-now.com to learn more about this fascinating subject. Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Computer Projector Rentals

2009-01-16T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Eric Morris

Computer projectors have become indispensable for company presentations. The audio-visual impact alone really drives a difficult point home.

Most computer renting companies also provide computer projectors. However renting a computer projector can be complex as projectors are custom-designed for different operating systems and even processors. Before renting, a company will ask what computer will be used: iMac computers use different types of projectors than IBM. The resolution and the video card of the computer also matter in the final output on the projector.

Another factor is the room size and lighting. Rooms that cannot be darkened would preferably need a LCD screen. LCD screen would also Plasma monitors would suffice if the assembly will be small. The size of the monitor would also depend on the size of the room and how far the people are going to sit from the display. Sound quality is also affected by the size of the room.

Before renting a projector, inform the renting company whether videos are to be shown or just slides and transparencies.

Computer projector renting companies usually setup the entire audio-visual equipment when a rental order is placed. Get the whole thing checked, for video and sound quality. Also try out the projector before hand, especially if there are laptops to be used. The renting company also undertakes the dismantling of the unit after the program is completed.

Renting companies allow their projectors to travel with the business if necessary. For portable projectors, insist on a case to pack the equipment. Also the projector itself should be lightweight, not weighing more than 10 pounds.

Costs of renting computer projectors are tax deductible if they are used for business. Companies may pay for them using checks or their company credit card.

Computer Rentals provides detailed information about computer rentals, laptop computer rentals, computer projector rentals, desktop computer rentals and more. Computer Rentals is the sister site of Nature Screensavers.

Quotspybot2bsearch2band2bdestroyquot Who Else Wants An Explanation

2009-01-15T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jack Smersh

SpySheriff Activation Code- Warning! 29 Adware PC Removal Spyware Programs Are Fake!

"Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy". OK, I said it again. But, what does it mean? Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy is they way your computer files will read after a spyware program has scrambled your data.

For example, it will happen after you enter the SpySheriff Activation Code or SpySheriff Activation Key when installing the fake SpySheriff anti-spyware program.

It's also a literary device to wholesomely represent profanity. It is what you'll utter after your system is infected with spyware as in saying, "Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy"!

Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy is what your bank account and credit report will look like after SpySheriff or other spyware have stolen your personal information, Social Security Number and passwords.

COMING CLEAN ABOUT "Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy"

OK. OK. I'm making a little joke about what Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy really means. Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy is actually the FREEEE Spybot Search and Destroy when written in clear text. The "%2B" is HTML for a blank space between 2 or more HTML file names.

However, I'm NOT joking about spyware stealing your personal information and possible identity theft.

As you read each word in this article you will sink deeper and deeper into the thought, "I've got to do something fast about the spyware on my computer".

29 ADWARE PC REMOVAL SPYWARE- FAKE ANTI-SPYWARE PROGRAMS

There are a minimum of 29 Adware PC Removal Spyware Programs that are fake. There may be hundreds.

This means you are risking your personal data and normal computer operation if you download just any old spyware program from XYZ website.

These fake anti-spyware programs like Spysheriff and SpyFalcon purport to find spyware on your computer. They then entice you to download and install the fake anti-spyware program. The fake program opens the door to real spyware.

Use only those anti-spyware programs that have well reviewed by the major computer magazines.

THE REAL WORLD

Recently a client presented me with a laptop infected with a variant of SpySheriff. After booting up, the normal Windows XP wallpaper was replaced with a stridently worded blue screen error message.

The message stated, "Warning Spyware Threat Detected! System Error #1752". At the end of the message there were two hyperlinks to click on to remove SpySheriff.

What do you think my client was saying about now? You guessed it. She was saying, "Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy"!

There was also a red dot in her System Tray on the Windows Taskbar. This was another symptom of SpySheriff and its clones. Had my client clicked on it and entered the SpySheriff Activation Key she eventually would have unleashed a Pandora's Box of spyware on her system.

Did my anti-spyware weapons fix my client's laptop? Unfortunately, I never got to use them because she also had 15 viruses. The viruses corrupted the boot sector of the hard drive and resulted in a "Missing Operating System" error.

I won't bore you with the bloody repair details.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Are you beginning to see you have to take action on the spyware menace now? Of course you are.

And as you absorb this information you'll feel the need to get one anti-spyware program to start. The best thing to do is talk to your local computer professional.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Let's summarize. You like playing Russian Roulette if you don't have anti-spyware tools. You're just asking for spies inside your computer. About eighty per cent of all PC's have spyware according to industry estimates.

Spyware on your computer is like having an electronic bug in your physical home or office.

Do not download and install the fake anti-spyware program SpySheriff. Do not input the SpySheriff Activation Code when prompted. Ignore my advice and you'll be saying naughty things like "Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy"!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jack Smersh is a self-confessed spyware killer. Who else wants to kill the spyware on their computers? Protect your privacy. Stop the theft of your identity with right weapons. Click Here Now ==> Spyware Remover. Hankering for more info? Get the full version of this article. Click Here Now ==> Spybot%2BSearch%2Band%2BDestroy.

It Service Contracts Essential Recurring Revenue

2009-01-14T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

Professional companies need consultants that offer IT service contracts, not simply those that handle emergencies on an as-needed basis. If you don't offer on-going IT service contracts, you end up with either too many people calling you, or not enough. IT service contracts allow your clients to get the most out of their IT investments because it helps them implement long-term fixes and plan for the future. They can also make your life easier by providing a schedule and a plan for dealing with the needs of your customers and bring you a source of dependable revenue.

Recurring Revenue

The best companies will request IT service contracts to handle their many needs. Your success or failure in the future will depend upon the service you provide through these contracts and will in turn determine their importance to your business. One-shot deals and simply relying on emergency work and spot-checking will leave you both frazzled and uncertain.

You can use recurring revenues obtained through dependable IT service contracts to help build your business foundation. There is no way to determine how long your company will last unless you implement this type of revenue into your business plan from the very beginning.

It Service Contracts Are Essential

Once you start to use IT service contracts as part of your major business plan to provide recurring revenue, you need to start thinking about whether or not you want to get involved with clients that don't want to sign long-term clients. The ones that do are asking specifically for your services, and want to develop a relationship with you that will last into the future. Their investment will be essential to building and growing your business, and will help you plan what shape and form your growth will take.

Copyright MMI-MMVII, Computer Consulting 101 Blog. 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 businesses get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too. Sign-up now for your free access to these field-tested, proven business strategies on the Computer Consulting 101 Blog.

Getting Back To Basics Creating A Logo From Start To Finish

2009-01-14T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Bernard Peh

When I began my career in the graphics industry, almost 17 years ago, I would approach the design of any new logo by first taking out a pad of paper and a pencil and sketching out basic ideas before diving into any real concept creation. As computers and design software became more and more a part of the design process I tended to find myself heading to the computer immediately to put together my ideas. This only tended to result in a lot of time spent staring at a blank computer screen. As my business expanded and time became a more precious commodity I began to head back to my early days and approached my designs again with a pencil and paper before sitting down at the computer. This not only gave me more free time but helped me to increase the profitability of my business. The following is an outline of the design process I now take whenever I am creating a logo for a client. I hope it will inspire some of you to take pencil in hand prior to sitting down in front of the computer.

Core Practice Partners is a leading international expert in Labor Management for companies that don't work a traditional "9 to 5" schedule. Their clients have included such industry leaders as Kraft, BMW, and General Electric. Their approach to creating solutions for their clients is unique and their desire was to have a logo that was both professional and creative. They approached my company with a few ideas of their own, but were very uncertain whether the look they truly wanted could be achieved. I first set up a phone conference with their president, John Frehse, to discuss the goals he had for the logo and how he wanted to be perceived by the clients he serviced. After our initial discussion I sat down at the drawing board to rough out some ideas for the logo. This is the normal approach that I take in the designing of any logo. It allows for the creation of many concepts within a short period of time and dramatically decreases the amount of time spent producing the initial concepts to be presented to the client.

Once I had 6-8 rough ideas conceived I then scanned in the designs and used them as templates for the creation of computer generated concepts. I typically place them in the background and insert text and graphics over the top. Once the groundwork has been laid in I then remove the sketch from the background and add the finishing touches.

The initial presentation to the client contained anywhere 4 concepts that I felt worked best with the impression they were looking to achieve. These first ideas were presented in black & white. I have found that clients will initially lose interest in a concept if the colors are not to their liking. On more than one occasion I have seen ideas rejected solely on the basis of the colors used without the client giving any regard to the overall design presented.

Once a concept was chosen by the client the design was revised, if necessary, and then rendered in color and resubmitted to the client for approval. There are usually 6-8 color renderings for the client to choose from, in this case there were 8. Most of these featured colors from the same palette (warm, cool, etc.) and there will be perhaps one or two ideas that could be considered "outside the box". It is these additional color options that will either direct the client towards the preferred palette or will illicit a sense of excitement from the client about color choices they never imagined would be appealing. This can be one of the steps where a real sense of creativity can be injected into the design process.

The client immediately accepted one of the designs and now the only step left was to finalize the project. I provide most of my clients with a CD that contains their logo design in a number of different formats. Some designers may feel this enables the client to take the design and use other sources for the rest of their design work, but I have found that this merely gives the client a sense that they have recieved something concrete and if I have done my job correctly and have fulfilled all their desires then they will certainly use my services again.

As it turned out in this case I was hired by Core Practice Partners to design their stationery as well as numerous marketing materials. The logo of a company is an integral part of their brand identity. By establishing a good relationship with a client in this critical step towards creating the brand that will become their public presence you can build a solid foundation to creating a long term position as their designer of choice.

More images and details could be seen at http://www.sitecritic.net/projectDetail.php?id=8/

Sitecritic.net Web Site Reviews is formed by a group of web addicts, mainly volunteers from all over the world. Our goal is to create a community of web designers and developers who share the common interest in bringing out the best in creatiing effective web sites.

Voice Recognition Technology

2009-01-13T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Kevin Stith

You probably have heard about voice recognition that allows you to "talk" to a computer, so that it can convert your speech into text. It has been around for more than fifty years now. Developments in voice recognition technology through the years has made it possible for a computer to recognize continuous speech, several voices and various speech patterns and even different languages.

There are three ways that voice recognition technology can meet your needs: command and control, dictation and text-to-speech capability.

In this kind of technology, your voice works as the input device. By uttering a command, you can navigate menus, toolbars and activate different applications. Likewise, you can also dictate words through a microphone and let the computer convert them into text instead of typing them through the keyboard.

Text-to-speech features in computers using voice recognition technology allow the computer to read the text that you have typed. The computer use "synthesizers" to produce sound similar to a human's speaking voice. It then uses filters to imitate sound variations resulting from differences in the position of the tongue, shape of the lips and length of the throat, among others.

Even when this technology allows a computer to recognize human speech, digitize it into phonemes and words, "analyze" the words based from their context and synthesize speech from text, the computer does not actually understand what you say. Understanding how human speaks would refer to a field of artificial intelligence that is called natural language processing.

While it is true that speech or voice recognition technology has y gone a long way since its conception in the 1920s, it has not yet achieved one hundred percent accuracy. Even the best-known software available in the market has not provided its users a very reliable and accurate solution to typing problems.

However, continuous efforts to develop this technology are being made, and this gives hope to a large number of people using this technologyphysically disabled and normal people alike. Who knows, just few years from now using the keyboard may just be a history in the world of computers.

Voice Recognition provides detailed information on Voice Recognition, Voice Recognition Software, Free Voice Recognition Software, Voice Recognition Technology and more. Voice Recognition is affiliated with Funny Voice Mail Messages.

Robotic Factories Require Dedicated Oversight Indeed

2009-01-13T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Behind every automated robotic factory, there are dedicated professionals who must maintain, upgrade and watch the systems. A smooth running manufacturing plant is the key to success and efficiency is the key. Most modern day factories have developed some incredible processes and are adamant about maintaining a "Zero Lost Units" goal. It is paramount to them. So much so that the 24-hour factories over work the dedicated humans watching over them, many in fact complain that there is not a lot of time to do any more than eat and sleep and watch the machines get it done.

Does this sound very "Black Belt" Six Sigma; GE to you? Well it is, as ISO protocols and all have become the name of the game. Incidentally my uncle started "Six Sigma" and GE borrowed it for their buzzword. You cannot imagine how much could be lost with a downtime problem with such a factory, ouch. In some cases such as auto assembly lines the costs of an outage can be millions per minute?

Recently in talking with a gentleman in China who said that when an employee messed up on a stabilizer for a Boeing Product in the factory, they took them out back and shot them; so much for "Zero lost units" and oh yah, that and those onerous OSHA standards? Will robotic factories in the United States allow our companies to compete with that cheap Chinese Labor? You would never shoot a robot in a factory, as they cost millions of dollars. Of course some poor factory worker might go ballistic after losing his job to a robot and try to? If our factories can compete with China this way there could be an incredible leveling of the playing field and trade deficits. Their currency floating change in policy recently for instance could help us sell more cars there? Meanwhile adding 10% to their currency, now it is pegged to a bunch of currencies. It will have an affect on many industries here in the United States.

The Union Employees may take an initial hit in jobs, but in the end the only way for us to compete with the cheapest labor rates on the Planet is to make robotics our mainstay. It will keep our economy healthy and thus provide additional jobs in service and retail, while keeping our trade deficits in line with some sense of reality. But it takes a lot of great smart people to run robotic factories and we need more of them. We need more students going into robotics and the computer sciences that run them. We need to work on this as a major national priority now. Think on this, think computer robotics.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Computer Projector Rentals A Guide

2009-01-12T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Marcus Peterson

Any meeting or conference requires a computer to handle inputs like data, graphics, video and audio. Computer as a multimedia application has properties comparable to standalone players for VCD or DVD. With the integration of IT and the Internet into the audio visual industry, computers have become an indispensable item of equipment. They are a common product line in the inventory of a/v rental companies.

To have a meeting with computer aided presentation of data, graphics and video, one needs to have a projector that is compatible with different makes of computers such as IBM and Mac. For instance, an iMAC computer has different requirements than other systems. The accessories that come with computer projectors are audio and video cables, speakers and screen.

The type of screen is decided by the number of members in the audience. If it is a small gathering, a 27" monitor may be used. For large gatherings, a flat screen display or a plasma monitor with 50" monitor may be used. If it is a notebook computer, the laptop must be activated to have the output to the projector. Depending on the number of the people, importance of brightness, contrast and resolution, an LCD projector would be a good fit for the occasion.

The important factors an event manager must consider before choosing the a/v system are the room size, lighting conditions, the inputs that will be displayed, the resolution and clarity of the visual images and screen size. Depending upon the requirements, the rental rate may vary from $300 to $500. Also, the rental companies provide value added services such as complete solutions to manage the event.

Computer projectors are used by corporate houses and universities for business presentations and seminars. They can be booked by phone or online. Most rental companies deliver the systems the previous day. The major manufacturers of computer projector systems are Hitachi, 3M, Compaq and Canon.

Projector Rentals provides detailed information on Computer Projector Rentals: A Guide, DVD Projector Rentals, Film Projector Rentals, LCD Projector Rentals and more. Projector Rentals is affiliated with DLP Projectors.

It Emergencies Are Icebreakers

2009-01-11T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Joshua Feinberg

IT emergencies provide excellent opportunities for consultants that can lead to future business. The first thing a client will feel when an emergency crops up is the dire consequences of neglecting IT issues. Something like a deadly computer virus can make the customer realize he forgot to renew his anti-virus license, or that he had no procedures in place for updating viruses at all. Because of a now desperate situation, the customers' important clients might not be able to get online access to their account; or perhaps the customer has to put an important project aside to handle the immediate issues. Suddenly, your customer desperately needs you, and this is your chance to gain access to their business and credibility for the future.

When And How Can You Fix Emergencies?

When you respond to an emergency, you have to keep in mind that your customer is trying to gain peace of mind that the pain of the emergency is going to go away immediately. You have to be prepared to control the issue quickly.

Clients in IT emergencies want you to be able to explain their problem and show them you understand why it is important to their business needs within an hour or two of arriving on site. They expect you will know both where to go for solutions and how to take initiative to get them implemented.

Not Every Repair Can Be Immediate

Like any hospital emergency room, a lot of IT emergencies are about triage. Triage involves knowing what can be quickly done in order to produce tangible results. Handling IT emergencies well does not always mean fixing the hardest problem first, and often actually is about providing a workaround that will get systems operational.

Technical issues that are critical to the operation of an entire company are first priority, and those affecting one person typically (though not always) go beneath those in the hierarchy of importance.

One Computer It Emergencies

Sometimes part of a company's technical issues might surround a single computer, but one that is critical for important tasks such as submitting payroll or others that are a top priority for the company. In this case, you need to address this as a critical situation and come up with solutions that will allow important functions to continue even if it takes a few days to fix the larger problem.

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

Joshua Feinberg has helped thousands of computer consultants around the World get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too get more steady, high-paying clients. Sign-up now for Joshua's free Computer Consultants Secrets audio training.

Vibration Control

2009-01-10T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Elizabeth Morgan

Vibration can cause loosening of components or relative movement between elements of the specimen. Consequently, it can create unpleasant and intolerable noise, operating defects, wear, and physical deformation and can usually lead to fatigue and failure of the mechanical components. This is the chief reason why vibration control is extremely important. Vibration control may involve either source alteration or vibration isolation, or a combination of the two these two techniques.

In controlling vibration, it is necessary to first check to determine if the level of vibration can be lessened by means of source alteration. This can be achieved by turning the source into something more rigid and firm from a structural stance, replacing or altering some components, balancing, or enhancing dimensional tolerances. The rigidity as well as the system mass can be attuned so that the system's forcing frequency does not agree or coincide with the resonant frequency. The said process is called detuning.

It is also possible to use a decoupling technique. This process involves a reduction of the amount of coupled resonators that thrive between the source of the vibration and the receiver of interest. Although the mentioned techniques can be employed in the construction or design, they are frequently used as method of correction. But in the application of the said procedures, it is vital to make sure that they don't cause other problems or failures.

Isolation can also be done in control of vibration. Vibration isolators can be classified into three general categories: elastomeric mounts, metal springs, and resilient pads. When correcting a design, make sure that the isolators to be used are attuned to guard against the lowest frequency that the machine can produce. Also, the isolation equipment should trim down the transmissibility at each frequency included in the Fourier spectrum of the forcing function.

Metal springs are the commonly used vibration isolators. These isolators are advantageous since they can resist to environmental aspects, they don't have the tendency to creep or drift, they allow optimum deflection, and they are ideal for low-frequency vibration isolation. Elastomeric mounts, on the other hand, are primarily made up of natural and synthetic rubber materials. This type of isolators is generally used to isolate small mechanical and electrical equipment from high-forcing frequencies. Isolation pads are also good vibration isolators. They may include felt, fiberglass, and cork. These isolators are offered in sheets, and they are easy to mount and use.

Vibration Testing provides detailed information on Random Vibration Testing, Shock And Vibration Testing, Vibration Analysis, Vibration Control and more. Vibration Testing is affiliated with Wire EDM Machines.

The Truth About Printer Paper

2009-01-09T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Bill Smith

Contrary to popular belief, the quality of your printer paper can have a serious impact on the quality of your printer output. You can buy the best printer in the word feed it lousy paper, and you'll get lousy results. Most consumers just purchase the cheapest paper they can find at Staples, which is normally just copier paper. Sure, this will work fine for text print outs. Try printing images or pictures on this paper. not very crisp, right?

Image quality on your print outs is largely dependent on the brightness of the paper and the absorption capacity of the paper. Smooth paper is best for brightness since it reflects the most light directly back to the eye. Coarser paper tends to diffuse light in all over, really weakening the amount of light that makes it back to your eye. The end result is an image with less brilliance.

The second factor that plays a huge role in paper quality is the absorption potential of the paper. With cheap paper you tend to see ink bleed or run. Rather than nice tight graphics, you get blurred images. Coated paper is really the way to go here. It prevents the paper from absorbing the ink. For true, high resolution photo printing, coated paper is required. You'd be surprised how much the paper actually has to do with the end resolution of the print out. The right paper can sometime double the resolution of your print out.

Bill Smith is a printer expert. Visit http:/http://www.buythebestbuy.com for more information about printers and ink cartridges.

Is An Ipod The Best Mp3 Player Choice

2009-01-09T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Chris Galloway

Apple is incredibly dominant in the mp3 player market - it has over 80% of the US market for example. Why is this?

Firstly because iPods still lead the way for music playing capabilities - they just sound great. Secondly, the iTunes is the best music management software. On top of that, the iTunes music store is the easiest to use and has the greatest choice.

And last but certainly not least iPods are just such amazingly sexy devices!

There are currently 3 iPods in the model range.

iPod The latest iPod is often called the 5G (standing for 5th generation). It is a lighter, thinner design (10 percent thinner than the fourth-generation 30GB iPod), available in white or black.

It comes with a choice of 30GB or 60GB of internal disk storage. This means you can keep about 7,000 or 15,000 songs respectively, plus up to 150 hours of video (on the 60GB iPod).

The 5G iPod has strengthened its support for photos and video with its 320 x 240-pixel, 2.5-inch QVGA color display. You can use the optional iPod A/V cable to play videos and photo slideshows with music on your TV.

You can also use the new Apple Remote with an optional iPod Universal Dock to control your music, videos and slideshows. There is of course a huge range of third party accessories with similar capabilities to the Apple ones - sometimes even better than Apple's and often at lower prices.

In summary the iPod is still better than the competition, but its video capabilities are not yet complete. For example it is slow at transferring photos directly from a camera and it is not yet a fully capable portable video player.

You cannot convert your own video content for iPod playback - iTunes gives you an unhelpful error message if you try this. To get videos ready for the iPod, Apple says you need to buy an add on called QuickTime 7 Pro, although free software to do this is now starting to appear.

iPod nano Apple's tagline for the nano is "impossibly small" and it certainly is incredibly small and light. It is currently available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB sizes, which hold about 240, 500 and 1,000 songs respectively.

The nano has a 1.5-inch colour display, so you can view album art as you play your music, or browse up to 25,000 photos on the 4GB model.

Because it is so small and light, Apple emphasises the nano's wearability. You can easily wear it around your neck or keep it on an armband.

iPod shuffle The shuffle is the entry level iPod model and is even smaller than the iPod nano - about the size of a pack of gum and weighs less than a car key.

The shuffle doesn't have a display so its playlist control is fairly basic - play, pause, skip, repeat, hold and shuffle (random).

It is easy to hook up to a computer - just plug it directly into a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port, or use an optional Dock. You can sync a specific iTunes Playlist, or drag and drop individual songs or albums from iTunes into the iPod shuffle. The shuffle also automatically charges during syncing.

Summary Apple still holds a clear lead over other mp3 music player vendors. The iPods sets the pace in most aspects - storage, packaging and even price. There is a huge 3rd party add on market that gives the iPod owner a wide choice of accessories.

Apple has now made a strategic move into video and it looks like it will also dominate in that space.

Really, from the position it now has, Apple has to make big mistakes or just get complacent to lose its #1 market position.

The author is a hi-fi enthusiast who likes to take his music with him wherever he goes. Get the facts about the best accessories for your iPod from http://www.youripod.info

How I Created A Pr6 Authority Website Part 2

2009-01-08T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Anthony Fallon

And so we arrive into May with the site ready for launch. I'm all geared up, I have the site, the content, The link directory, the purchased Links, The articles, I've done my keyword research I've set up my Google Adwords Account for some instant traffic.

Now we're into May and every day I'm looking at the Stats to see how much traffic is coming in. In total I had 1774 total visits by the end of May of which over 900 were unique visitors giving a ratio of just under two visits for every visitor. Just as important Googlebot had hit the site 1900 times in the second half of May over a hundred and fifty visits on average every single day to index the content I was putting on. I was well impressed.

June. Still no page rank on the site but through my mastermind group at Content Desk I learned that Google only updates every three months or so. So I continue monitoring the traffic. It's in this month I see the enquiries arrive. The total visitors for the month more than double to over 4000 as do the number of unique visitors. It's during this month that I start to test various site monetisation methods learned through Content desk and start to see revenue from all the hard work put in. In addition I learned about press releases and prepared a big release to generate even more traffic for the site but that would have to wait until July. Because at the end of June I was introduced to Social Bookmarking A young wiz kid from Thailand, Sean Wu had developed a method of generating high PR links back to your website at no cost by bookmarking with the ever growing popularity of the Social networking sites and he distributed this information through the Content Desk membership. So that was June wrapped up. A very successful month with indexing and backlinks to the site growing at a tremendous rate. As at the end of June there were 16,000 backlinks to the site. I thought that was excellent but the end of July I saw the number of backlinks take off exponentially.

July. Quite a shock this month - income and revenue from the site was up but visitor numbers dropped below 4000, then I remembered that people with normal jobs took holidays at this time of the year so I didn't feel too bad. But I think it would have been a lot worse if I hadn't done my press release during the month. I honestly didn't expect much from the press release because I made the assumption that very few people would be interested in my story

My Press release stats were as follows. Reads 87,195 This number tells you how many times your press release was accessed from our site and other distribution points where we have the ability to measure traffic. This number does not include the number of journalists who have received your release through email. In addition there are online distribution points that we currently have no ability to track. This number does include RSS measurements.

Estimated Pickup 1,039 This number estimates the number of times your press release was accessed by a consumer / media person. This does not tell you how many times your story appears on other websites, blogs, or in the media. It simply attempts to estimate interest in your release.

14 This is the number of times that someone has printed your press release. We measure this by the number of times that the "printer friendly version" link is pressed. In reality, only a small percentage of users actually click this link before printing a release.

PDF Downloads 60 The number of times your release was downloaded as a PDF document. PDF Downloads may be reflected in "Reads" and "Estimated Pickup" statistics.

As part of the Press release I even did a podcast just for the experience. You should produce a press release at least once a month.

With the holiday season in full swing perhaps I should have saved the release until September and gave up the traffic. You live and learn.

I can't remember the exact timing but it was at the end of July I received My PR6 page rank from Google. Page Rank (often denoted PR) is a quantity defined by Google that provides a rough estimate of the overall importance of a web page.

And so we enter August with a high page rank and plenty of traffic that's generating revenue. Does the education stop there? No! August has brought me RSS Feeds, Content Press, PheedPress, subdomains for Authority sites and a complete overview of RPM. Research, Publish, Market.

Wash, Rinse and Repeat.

If you made it this far I hope you've enjoyed my journey in setting up my first Authority Website - and if you can take one thing from this it's that you should ignore all those advertisements that promise a lot for very little effort. To be successful you need to surround yourself with successful people and form or join a mastermind group. This is a loose quote from the 1930's book think and grow rich by Napoleon Hill it's still relevant almost eighty years on. Read it!

As for my successful PR6 Authority site you will have to visit our site to get the link

Anthony Fallon is an Internet Consultant and Publisher. He can be contacted through his website www.warringtonwebworks.com

Computer Sales

2009-01-08T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Ken Marlborough

Computer sales are on the rise. Research has shown that in the United States in 2005, personal computer sales rose 35%, and revenue increased 11%. This is compared to Thanksgiving 2004, when PC's sales increased only 7 % and revenue actually decreased by 3%. Notebook and desktop computers were the most impressive sellers during Thanksgiving week due to strong "Black Friday sales," according to Current Analysis. Black Friday sales occur on the day following Thanksgiving. Several manufacturers of computers benefited during this time including HP, Gateway and Toshiba. Windows and Apple computers made a respectable showing as well. The most popular computer sold in this time period was the Notebook. It led the way in sales, overselling desktops computer by 4%. Still, desktop computer rose 23% year-over- year compared to 2004.

s far programs and service goes, there is more home and entertainment software available for Windows computers than for Macs. However, Macs repeatedly score at or near the top in tech support and reliability. In fact, statistics show that Apple is rated more than 20 points ahead of all the other computer manufacturers for technical support.

Whether to by a PC or a MAC is a big question asked by many. Just keep in mind that PCs use Widows OS and are built by numerous brands including Gateway, Dell, Acer, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, etc. Macintosh computers are in a class by themselves. The myth that MACs crash more than PC is unfounded because of those name brands that manufacturer PCs, several have been known to crash. Others did prove to be invincible the key is there is more than one manufacturer.

As far as programs go, MACs do run fewer programs than PCs, but you can put Microsoft Windows on MAC computers and run them.

Computer Sales provides detailed information on Computer Sales, Online Computer Sales, Laptop Computer Sales, Computer Hardware Sales and more. Computer Sales is affiliated with Computer Projector Rentals.

You Mean Youve Never Had A Rogue Program On Your Computer Ever

2009-01-07T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Andrew Kleijn

If this is you, then you are either a security expert or extremely lucky! Unfortunately, it is becoming all too easy nowadays to get infected by spyware and malware. In fact, at any one time, around 90% of computers are infected with some form of rogue program, be it spyware, malware or adware. It is the single most common problem that support staff to the end user and businesses, have to deal with. These spyware programs can have lots of often devastating, effects on your computer, ranging from pornographic popups, to complete identity theft. Some of the nastier infections including programs that often say they will rid you of spyware (AND their rogue program) for a fee! Not only are these programs annoying, but they can slow your computer, destroy important information, render your computer completely useless and in extreme cases, lead to your identity being used to run up incredible debts in YOUR name!

Of course, the most important thing to do would be to protect yourself from ever getting these kinds of spyware nasties in the first place, There are a lot of freely available programs already available. A firewall, antivirus program and some spyware/adware checking program should be the FIRST things you install on your computer before venturing anywhere further on the internet. Of course, this advice could already be too late for you....

In this case I would recommend using some of the free resources available. One very good source of such information is the many forums and communities set up to defeat these programs from gaining any foothold in the ever increasing internet user list. Forums, such as that found at http://forum.securitycadets.com, have been set up to freely help those that have spyware/adware etc on their computer and want expert advice on removal, safely and cleanly. These people are experts in their field and dedicate themselves entirely for free, to help those that are maybe not so 'aware' about rogue programs. You can use the freely available tools and programs they recommend (all checked, all approved, all SAFE) to run scans, diagnostics and clean anything untoward from your computer. These people were often once victims themselves, and are determined to help others from falling foul as well.

They will also assist you in securing your computer for the future to prevent reinfection. These forums and their volunteers are also one of the best places to find out about any new rogue programs that you should be aware of.

In conclusion, if you are an internet novice, or even a computer expert, forums such as SecurityCadets.com are a one-stop place for all security related programs, advice, help and news that every internet user should be aware of. And somewhere you should bookmark now, in case you should be 'unlucky' enough to need their help, advice and support one day!

[I go by the name AndyAtHull and are unemployed currently. I own my own security site http://www.securitycadets.com and for http://forum.securitycadets.com for users to come for FREE help]

Link Exchange Tips And Tutorials

2009-01-06T16:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Satyendra Singh

With so many bleeding edge marketing and promotion methods coming into practice these days, it's easy to forget the basics - this tutorial will assist you in developing a link exchange campaign that will get noticed. A few good manners go a long, long way - an old concept but very applicable to modern Internet marketing and web site promotion strategies. Website Promotion?

When you first launch your site, the chances are that traffic will not start flowing immediately, and perhaps never - it's not just how your site looks or operates that will ensure it's success or failure. According to numerous sources I've come across during my research, the average web site only receives around 3 unique visitors a day!

So how do you get well above this average? A lot of begging and pleading to begin with! Many web masters and site owners leave a lot to be desired in their approaches to marketing and promoting their sites -especially in terms of reciprocal link exchanges.

Web masters are busy people

Don't expect an answer straight away and harass the site owner with countless follow up emails. Leave it for at least 2 weeks before second contact and ensure that the second note is equally as polite as the first. Read the site

Ensure you take a good look over the site you wish to link to you, be familiar with it's content and mention some of the content in your request for a reciprocal link exchange. Identify the common theme between the sites. If the site has a "Submit your URL" page, ensure that you use it and read the guidelines for submission carefully.

to prevent "Link Abuse", we have some basic linking rules:

1. We will keep an active link to your site alive as long as a link to Beer on the Wall is active on your site (we monitor links regularly)

2. We will only link to the same domain that is linked to us.

3. We must be able to find our link from your Home Page with minimal difficulty.

4. We do not support "Link Farms" or sites that have an excessive number of external links on the same page.

5. We do not link to offensive, illegal, or pornographic web sites.

6. If any of our graphics are used, they should be uploaded to YOUR server and not linked to ours.

7. You should have your own domain - we normally do not link to free sites like geocities, angelfire, aol, etc.

8. Please do not request a link until you have placed a link to Beer on the Wall on your site and it is available for review.

Some Tips to Link exchange

inbound links can improve your rankings in the search engines by raising your link popularity or doing link exchange, increasing your website traffic, and providing a valuable resource for your website customers and visitors. Here are some link exchange tips to get you started:

1. link with websites that will bring you targeted traffic. Targeted traffic means visitors and that will be interested in your products or services.

2. your link title should be brief and free of long sentences.

3. Try to keep your link description brief (aim for 200 characters or less).

4. Do not capitalize all letters in your link title or description.

5. Do not give the webmaster a deadline on when they should reciprocate. Webmasters are very busy people and it may take from 1 to 60 days or more. Be patient and in the long run you will receive more quality link partners!

6. Never remove a link partner from your site once they have agreed to exchange links with you and placed your link on their site.

7. Do not request link exchanges from sites that are unrelated to your website. For example, if you have a candle website, don't exchange links with a pharmaceutical website. This will not benefit your customers or visitors and the search engines may penalize your website for this.

8. Let the webmaster know that you have indeed visited their site and explain to them why a reciprocal link exchange with your website would be beneficial.

9. Be sure that your link pages are search engine friendly. Link pages are easier indexed if they have no more than 25 links per page.

10. Complete your website before requesting reciprocal link exchanges. Most webmasters will not link to a site where most of the pages are "under construction".

11. Do not give misleading information in your link exchange request. Most webmasters are not going to believe it and your request will most likely be ignored. For example, don't claim that your site receives 100,000 unique visitors a day unless your site really receives that many.

12. It is best to categorize your link partners. For example, you might want to have a home and garden page, a home improvement page, a candles page, etc. This is a much better way or organizing your links for both your visitors and your link partners. If you just have one huge page of links in no order, most webmasters will not approve your link exchange request.

13. Make sure your links page is linked and visible from your home page.

14. If your site is family friendly, do not add link partners that offer services or products that are not family friendly.

15. Be aware of free-for-all link programs and link farms. These are sites that basically offer nothing but unrelated links and end up collecting and sharing your email address, which results in a lot of unwanted SPAM in your inbox.

By: Satyendra Singh (SEO Executive), E_mail: ss_mail20@yahoo.co.in, Link Exchange Tips

Typography And The Use Of Stylized Fonts

2009-01-06T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Debbie Jensen

"[Typography is] the art of printing from moveable type, including the skilled planning of typeface and size, composition, and layout, to make a balanced and attractive whole" (Google Online Dictionary).

Movable type had to be set by hand for over 400 years prior to typewriters and computers. It wasn't until the late 1800's when automated type-setting became available. It is clear that Gutenberg's movable typeset had a huge impact on communication throughout the world.

Typography has advanced to the point that an artist can choose from a wide variety of fonts for written communication or design elements. Typography is everywhere; it is seen on artistic layouts used for publications and found on functional computer-based products such as telephones, remote controls, and microwaves.

Since today's software can turn typography into "outlines" as in Illustrator; or in Flash, the fonts can "break apart"--this too, was advancement for typography, because the Internet recognizes *digitally converted fonts* as artwork and not as typography. Digitally converting typography to artwork is important to today's technology, because artistic or unknown fonts (not digitally transformed to artwork) do not have to be converted to default fonts by end users' computers.

Since decorative typography creates shapes in layouts, it can be arranged to be a focal point or used to create texture. When decorative typography becomes the focal point, it goes way beyond what graphics can do in visual communication. In most circumstances, graphic designs play second best to decorative typography especially in layouts, because decorative typography becomes part of the written communication. Generally speaking, the written word is easier to comprehend when comparing to graphic elements and editorial illustrations; and most often, graphics are usually not as precise as we want them to be. Even though a picture is worth a thousand words, misinterpretations of graphics are probably more apt to occur when compared to straight-forward written communication.

When stylized fonts harmonize with the intended meaning behind them, they can give a stronger punch to what is being communicated. Stylized fonts can clarify or confuse the meaning of the written word, so be careful with your choice of fonts in your layouts. No doubt about it, the art of typography is an art unto itself! (revised 2/13/2006)

Debbie Jensen, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Photographer http://www.debjensendesigns.com

What To Look For In A Replicationduplication Quote

2009-01-05T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Shirley Ho

With so many replication / duplication companies out there right now, almost everyone shops around before making a final decision. When comparing quotes from different companies, there are several things to look out for to make sure you are comparing apples with apples. All too often customers are receiving quotes that are in reality completely different things. In order to make an informative decision, read the quotes carefully:

1. No of colors on-disc printing

Almost all projects require full color printing these days. If your disc design calls for full color images or illustrations make sure the quote includes 'offset printing' and 'full color'. Simply '3-color silkscreen' is not the same. Silkscreen printing does not print well for images and the low-resolution produces pixels and lines. Many customers ended up paying extra to 'upgrade' their printing to offset in the middle of production. So avoid the troubles ask for offset printing.

2. Over-runs

In manufacturing we always produce extra discs and inserts to avoid any shortages on the final count of of units produced. Discs that do not pass QC tests and inserts that are torn are thrown out. In general 10% more are produced. Therefore at the end there are usually more actual units produced than ordered. Many companies charge customers on these over-runs, for example, on an order of 1000 cds, if 1050 cds are actually produced, customer will be paying for 1050 cds, not 1000. Find out if over-runs are included in the quote.

3. Packaging options

If your project requires cases and packaging, make sure they are included in the quote. The most common packaging option is amaray case, jewel case, custom-printed jacket, mailer and wallet. There is also generic paper sleeves, slim jewel case, cardboard mailer etc. If it does not require any packaging it is called bulk discs. Look for these exact terms in the quote, if you are not sure find out. Dfferent packaging can cause many, many price differences.

4. Shipping cost and time

Normally shipping cost and time is not included in the quote. So do not assume that the price includes shipping to your location or turnaround time includes shipping. Many customers find out at the end and are forced to upgrade shipping.

Conclusion:

Every company has its own terminology and pricing structure, that is why it's so important to read the quotes carefully so you can make an intelligent choice. The time spent will be very well paid off!

Shirley Ho is the co-founder of Hellman Production, a CD/DVD duplication replication specialist in Los Angeles. For more tips visit http://www.hellmanproduction.com and http://dvdduplicationhelp.blogspot.com

Dvd Backup Which Way Is The Best

2009-01-05T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Artem Chlegov

DVD disk is a quite fragile medium and even despite special protection layer on each disk it is still very easy to damage.

Unlike VHS tapes, even dropping the disk or putting it in its box in the wrong way sometime might be enough to scratch it and get reading errors as a result. Taking in account that some collectors- or limited-edition DVDs can cost a fortune, it does make sense to make a backup copy and prevent the loss of the favorite disks. All that it takes is a PC, DVD-Recorder drive and special software.

There are many ways to backup DVDs and the choice between them depend entirely on users preferences. If you have a good home cinema and prefer to have best available quality, backup copies are best to be made on DVD disks. It is rather easy to do if the original disk is single-layered (DVD-5), but in case of double-layered (DVD-9) disks it becomes much more difficult; and unfortunately, most movies are recorded on such disks.

It might seem that double-layered recordable disks (DVD+R DL & DVD-R DL) are the best solution for this problem. However, this solution is not available to everyone as double layered disks require special DVD-Recorder drive that can handle them, and these drives are not too common yet.

Fortunately, special software (such as free DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink combo or commercial CloneDVD utility) allows copying double-layered DVD on two single layered disks. And if shuffling disks in DVD player is not an option, it is possible to squeeze double-layered disk on one single-layered DVD. Of course, this would involve some reduction of image quality and stripping of bonus materials, but such reduction will hardly be noticeable on most TVs. And most bonus materials are useless anyway.

You don't want to cram DVD backups on your shelves? In this case it is possible to save all DVD backups on your hard drive by using exactly same programs. The only requirement here is the size of the hard drive; obviously, it should be big enough to store all data. In this case, should anything happen with original DVD, it will always be possible to restore it from hard drive.

But what if you don't have any home cinema and you prefer to watch movies on PC? In this case you won't actually have to record anything, as it is possible to watch movies from DVD backups on your hard drive at any time (this will require DVD player software, such as PowerDVD or WinDVD). If your hard drive is not too big, it would make sense to repackage movies from MPEG-2 (which is a standard for DVD video) to some format with more advanced compression such as MPEG-4 (AVI, DivX, Xvid, Mpeg-4). All that it takes is special ripper software, such as BitRipper, AutoGordianKnot, SmartRipper and others. As a result of such conversion the movie can be shrinked to fit standard CD, which is 5 times less than the original. And by using smart compression techniques it is possible to keep video quality pretty close to the original one.

However, after recording DivXMpeg-4 movie on CD or DVD in most cases it will be possible to watch it on PC only, as MPEG-4 capable DVD players are not too common. Of course, there are certain programs that can convert Mpeg-4 back to DVD, but such double conversion is highly unlikely to improve quality. Apart from that, most users usually strip multi-channel sound during DVD -> Mpeg-4 conversion and keep only stereo. As a result, watching DivXMpeg-4 encoded movie on the home cinema doesn't make much sense and won't be particularly satisfying too, especially if the movie is rich in sound effects. Mpeg-4, however, will suit old classical movies best, since they usually have mono or stereo sound initially; and classics remain classics regardless of quality.

Summary

It should be quite easy for you now to choose most appropriate backup method. If you prefer maximum quality available, full DVD backup on one double-layered or two single layered disks is your choice. If you still prefer quality and have a home cinema, but can sacrifice a little of image - backing up DVD on one single-layered disk will suit you well.

And if you prefer to keep and watch movies on your PC, same backup programs that you use DVD backup will allow you to create a copy of DVD on your hard drive. In case if your hard drive is not big enough to store full DVDs and you don't have anything that resembles home movie theatre, the most sensible thing would be to convert DVD to Mpeg-4 format.

Artem Chlegov is a editor and writer for DVDSoftwareGuide.com - a DVD software review website.

The Need For Help Desk Tracking Software

2009-01-04T16:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Kent Pinkerton

Companies that use help desk software note the many benefits of having it. Flexibility in web-based programs and the ability to effectively organize and manage trouble tickets are two of the most prominently praised features. Many businesses are now realizing the importance of help desk tracking software. They've learned that effectively managing consumer issues can create a loyal customer base. Help desk tracking software is a vital component in help desk technology. Your competitors know the benefits of help desk programs. In order to stay abreast of current trends and customer expectations, you should too.

Help desk tracking software allows your company to deliver effective and timely responses to customer trouble tickets. By using a ticket-tracking program, you can prioritize and manage all incoming and outgoing responses. Tracking software also allows customer and technical support personnel to check the status of queries they have already submitted.

The ticket categorization feature of many help desk tracking software programs is also very helpful. Most programs allow the user to organize incoming tickets on the basis of category, channel and priority. Instead of having technicians spend countless hours sifting through emails, tracking software successfully manages the tickets. This means more time for your personnel to spend working tickets, and a more productive workday.

Effectively managing trouble tickets can set your company at a higher standard than your competitors. Customers in today's world want instant access to their questions and many expect and rely upon 24 hour support 7 days a week. Help desk software can also compile a list of the most frequently asked questions so that your customers can find solutions to their problems without contacting a technician. Quality customer and technical support is valuable to your business strategy, and ignoring this need can mean loss of business. Help desk tracking software is one among many ways to better manage your inbound service inquiries.

Help Desk Software Info provides detailed information on help desk software solutions, including IT help desk software, web-based help desk software, free help desk software, help desk tracking, help desk support software, and reviews of help desk software programs. Help Desk Software Info is the sister site of Recruiting Software Web.

Peer To Peer File Sharing How It Works

2009-01-04T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Peter Nisbet

Peer-to-peer (or P2P) file sharing systems connect users (called nodes) directly together. Some are true networked systems while other contain an element of the client-server structure. That is they contain an element of the original Napster centralized server system where clients are fed by a central server. Examples of this are the original Napster (Napster is now a 'pay for music' site) and OpenNap which replicates the original Napster functionality.

It was the central server which eventually destroyed the Napster system sins, once the server was forced to close, the whole system ceased to function. The P2P systems are now much more widely used. In these every user can be connected to every other user who is logged on. When you download music or movie files you can be doing so from you next door neighbour, or someone on the other side of the world. You have access to literally millions and millions of files: everything on the other users' hard disks in fact, and everyone has access to yours. There is no central server, so the system cannot be shut down.

Examples are eDonkey, which is combined with Overnet, the FastTrack network and the Gnutella network. Software which operates on these networks is:

Limewire and Bearshare who both use the Gnutella network. Morpheus which uses all three networks. Kazaa and eMule which operate on the eDonkey/Overnet networks and Ares with its own network. Microsoft has its own system in WinMX, but it is reputed to be complex and has its limitations.

There is also BitTorrent. This has a following among those interested in sharing audio-visual files such as Movies and TV shows. The original and official BitTorrent client tends to monopolize a connection so that other internet business cannot be carried during downloading though this has been resolved in an alternative free version

BitTorrent is different form of P2P file sharing. With normal systems such as the Gnutella system, you will typically download a complete file from one source. In some cases the software allows you to download the one file from a number of contributing sources, thus speeding up the process. With BitTorrent, on the other hand, you download different bits of the file from a number of different sources (each file is split into about 1,000 pieces). This not only speeds up the transfer of large files around the network, but also allows you to upload a file at the same time as you are downloading it.

Brian Dessent likens it to a book. A group of people round a table each have different pages of a book. They want to get the whole book, they let each other know what pages they have and what they require. Eventually the pages are passed around till a whole copy is obtained. If there are any pages missing, someone is available with the whole book (called a 'seed') who can supply what is missing to complete the book

Invented by programmer Bram Cohen, BitTorrent is therefore different to any other kind of P2P network. It works differently to other systems in its search facility: it has none! Users must first carry out a web search to find the file they require. There are , however, several BitTorrent search engines on the web such as BTBot and TorrentSpy.

In addition to simultaneous downloading from multiples sources which is common with most of the modern P2P applications, eDonkey2000 also allows sharing of file segments where the file size is larger than 9.8M. As with BitTorrent, this allows you to upload a file while you are still downloading it so that the more popular files can be very rapidly distributed round the network. The problem with this is that sometimes the whole file cannot be found, and you are left with part of the file which you must complete at later date. This cannot happen with traditional P2P systems such as Gnutella (e.g. Limewire and Bearshare).

Free Downloading

The P2P networks such as Gnutella and BitTorrent are free. Many companies will try to charge you for downloading the software, but they are taking advantage of your ignorance. However, you should be careful when selecting the free software.

The majority of free download programs comes with bundled adware and spyware (also free of course!). An example of adware is the pop-ups which appear on your screen and are devilishly hard to remove. Sometimes the only way is to switch your computer off and on again. Spyware sits on your computer and send back messages to advertisers as to what you are doing or watching so that ads can be customized to your preferences.

At its nastiest, spyware can copy your credit card and banking details. It can also record keyboard clicks which allows all sorts of Big Brother activities. Employers can find out what you have been logging into all day, strangers can identify number strings which could be credit card and bank account details, including your passwords and login details. All very nasty, so beware of free downloads.

Spyware and adware can be removed using software similar to anti-virus programs. Beware of the free versions, however, since they can put their own adware and spyware on which, naturally, are not removed during the cleaning service. You are better to use reputable paid software

However, back to download systems.

So, while most P2P software is available free, I would go for the paid version. The payment normally has the option of a one-off lifetime payment of up to around $39, though frequently less. This covers maintenance of the site and 24/7 support. The software itself is free. It also generally ensures that the software is free of adware and spyware.

Peter Nisbet is a graduate research chemist with a great interest in audio-visual file formats and codecs, and legal file sharing. Read about his views on the legal and so called illegal aspects of P2P on http://www.legalandfree.com. If movies are your thing, try http://www.online-free-movies.com where you will learn about file formats, codecs and a lot more.

2006 Robotics Industry Predictions And Trends

2009-01-03T16:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

One of the fastest growing fields is that of robotics. In 2006 this trend will continue as it continues to get a financial boost from military research and development funds, as well as orders for new equipment. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV robotic aircraft have been one of the fastest growing robotic sectors, partly due to the changing battlespace and Future Fighting Force Military Roadmaps, but also largely due to logistical issues, Iraqi Freedom and the surveillance needs in the War on Terror.

Also leading the field in robotics is a push from NASA, which extends all the way down to the elementary and high school level with contests, which challenge our youth to think outside the box and come up with new innovations. After our 2005 Hurricane Season robotics were also discovered to have extremely useful advantages in search and rescue and environmental remediation. Again in the Pakistan quake robots were employed to look for survivors.

In 2006 we will see a trend of better-designed robots from companies such as iRobot, as the robotics market touches the consumers in their own homes. In manufacturing, warehousing and logistics there is little areas where robotics will not cut costs and thus help corporations with increased efficiency, increased shareholder value and increased year over year net profits.

One emerging trend is prosthetic devices and the integration of man and machine, as these devices end up closer to the "Six Million Dollar Man" than any potential hardship or handicap for the individual. We will see much more of this in 2006 and the consumers, businesses and government will continue to look towards robotics to solve the most important issues which challenge mankind. Think on it; think robotics.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/