Monday, September 29, 2008

How To Upgrade Your PC

Before you upgrade your PC hardware its best to search all options and ask for advice. Only after this you can go and buy a new component. Its also useful to check if you really need an upgrade.

Do not upgrade your very old PC because it would cost a lot of money. Its cheaper to buy a new computer in such cases because they are easier to upgrade later.
upgrading the hard drive:

The majority of people do not really need to upgrade their hard disk, unless they use it for playing a lot of music, movies, and games. A 20 GB hard drive is sufficient to keep new office and internet applications, and all your files and data.

A medium sized hard drive would be around 40 GB and the maximum would be around 60 80 GB.

Before upgrading your hard disk its best to do a complete disk checkup including disk scan, defragmentation, etc. If you happen to be an average user and need more storage you can add an additional drive to the existing one. Before an upgrade, be sure to back up your files.

Upgrading the RAM:

RAM or Random Access Memory is the short-term memory of the PC. It keeps data that is being worked on now and may or may not be transferred to the hard drive that represents the long-term memory of the computer.

Current processors can perform an enormous number of operations per second. The hard drive, on the other hand, is significantly slower to handle so much information. This is where a high-speed RAM memory comes in. RAM needs a power supply to keep data. Once the power is turned off the data is lost.

Almost all PCs have 64 MB RAM and often 128 MB. If you want to run newer applications on your PC then you must upgrade to 128/256 MB RAM.

A lot of people who upgrade from 98 to Win 2000 discover that their computers lock up very often. This is because they don't have enough RAM.

CPU upgrade:

If you choose this upgrade, you will have faster execution of instructions but it leaves the RAM and hard drive capacity unchanged.

This sis the most cost effective upgrade and can increase the efficiency of your computer
considerably. Seek a professional help before you take a decision.

Motherboard:

Upgrading motherboard is not such a good proposition unless you replace the CPU and the RAM as well to achieve greater performance levels. You upgrade the motherboard either because the current one doesnt support a faster CPU or the CPU requires a different socket. It could be very expensive. Think about buying a new PC.

Ports:

Ports are sockets at the back of your computer where you plug in external devices. Older PCs work on parallel ports. If you need to work a lot on peripherals such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, CD burners, and scanners then you need to upgrade to USB and Firewire ports if you are not using them already.

Both tend to be cheaper than the parallel and SCSI devices they replace. Always make sure that there are no compatibility problems with other devices in your PC when you plan to upgrade any hardware on your machine.

Select the Computer That's Right For You

These days, it seems a computer is almost as necessary an appliance as a refrigerator. Once thought of as a luxury or a device solely reserved for business, the home computer performs many necessary functions that keep daily life running smoothly.

Paired with an Internet connection, the home computer closes the gaps of communication between family and friends, helps keep finances balanced, and serves as an invaluable tool for organization and education. It isn't just for video games anymore!

That said, it is important for a family on a budget to choose the computer system that is best for them. When shopping for computer systems, one should not get carried away by unnecessary bells and whistles if they are not needed to perform the business and personal computing tasks that need to be done.

So when you are out shopping for your next, or first, computer, take the following into consideration before you commit to a purchase:

Functionality - What do you need a computer to do for you? Do you have a student in the home who needs to compose term papers and reports? Do you wish to keep track of family finances and pay bills via the Internet? Do you operate a home-based business that requires a computer to maintain long-distance communications with clients?

Depending upon your business, the platform you use can make a difference. In education, for example, teachers and administration lean toward one particular platform over another due to the increased functionality for making graphs and flowcharts, presentations for overhead projection, and spreadsheets for tracking grades.

For the graphic artist, it is important to choose a platform compatible to advanced graphics software. A writer may need a specific platform that can easily transfer documents to be read by editors, agents and publishers. Whatever your profession, it is always a good idea to consult with others in the field to determine the platform best suited for your needs.

Speed - How often do you use a computer? Do you fire it up once a month when the bills are due, or maybe a few times a week to check e-mail from family and friends? Are you a die hard user, and literally have to leave it on all the time for business or other projects. Do you require a powerful Internet connection to transfer large files to and from clients, or is a standard dial-up account suitable for what you do?

Some may argue faster is better, particularly if you are a heavy Web user who prefers to download sites without constantly checking your watch. However, high-speed modems and tons of memory may not be necessary for all computer owners. If you fall into the category of occasional user, you likely don't need the expense of a mass connection package if you only surf the Web on occasion.

Determine how much time in the week is spent on the computer and on the Internet as opposed to your other priorities and work out a connection and memory package from there. Don't feel you have to keep up with the Joneses as far as speed is concerned. Sometimes it is best to take things slowly.

Software - What kind of software do you need? Do you need a word processor for everyday correspondence and reports? Do you need graphics software to edit photos and images? Do you need accounting software for bookkeeping purposes?

Some platforms and speeds work well with some software programs, so if you have a specific task in mind for your computer you should consult with a knowledgeable sales representative to help you choose the right system for you. Don't allow anybody to sell you what you don't need. If you have no use for an advanced program like Photoshop but would like a program to sort photos from a digital camera, don't let anybody convince you to spend the extra money.

Consequently, if you need a program like Word but don't need other office peripherals, shop for the best suited package for you. If you are an educator or student, look for discounted or specialized software for your needs.

Shop smartly when you prepare to take home a computer. Learn what each system does and how well it runs programs. If you have something specific in mind, ask a sales clerk and weigh all payment options before making a decision. A computer is a good investment for any family to have, so make it a good one.

Finding Better USB Mass Storage Solutions

The USB Mass Storage Device Class (USB MSC) is a set of computing communications protocol that runs on the universal serial bus (USB). The electronic hardware that stores information and support a protocol to send and retrieve the information over a hardware interface is a mass storage device. A mass storage device typically stores information in files.

Some of the devices that practically implement the USB Mass storage devices are external hard drives, CD and DVD reader and writer drives, various digital audio players and portable media players, gaming systems and mobile phones. Most of the current mainstream operating systems support USB Mass storage devices and therefore USB mass storage is versatile enough for a wide range of peripheral devices. Every USB communication is between a host and device, USB host is a PC and the host controls the communication. USB mass storage device contains USB device controller hardware and program code.

A USB device controller enables a USB mass storage device to share its data with other computers. Programming and designing a USB mass storage device involves a variety of interfaces, protocols and structures. Every USB Mass storage device supports two interfaces. First a USB device interface to enable the device to communicate with other USB host and secondly an interface between the device’s micro controller and CPU and storage media.

A USB mass storage device should implement four protocols namely, Generic USB protocol (every USB device should respond to requests sent by the USB host and other events) and USB mass storage protocol (every USB mass storage device should detect and respond to request specific to USB mass storage class), SCSI commands (USB hosts access mass storage device through commands developed originally for Small Computer Systems Interface-SCSI) and media specific protocol (the storage media’s controller typically supports a command set for accessing the contents of the media).

Reading and writing data to a USB mass storage device also involves understanding media structure and file system. Media structure is the information about the logical blocks, which are nothing, but the storage area in drives. File system such as FAT 16 or FAT 32 should be implemented if USB mass storage device reads or writes files on its own rather than through USB hosts.

USB mass storage supports three bus speed, low speed – with a bandwidth of 800 bytes per second and useful for keyboard and mice, full speed – to transfer data up to 1.2 mega bytes per second and a high speed – to transfer data at over 30 megabytes per second. It is recommended that USB devices support USB 2.0.

USB mass storage has four types of transfer and they are used for enumeration for control transfer, printer and scanner data for bulk transfer, mouse and keyboard data for interrupt transfer and real time audio and video for isochroous transfers.

Building Cheap Computers in 3 Easy Steps

Just a decade ago, the only people who put computers together were those individuals who possessed an extensive technical background. Advancements in technology have eliminated some of the complexities in how computers work. This change has resulted in average people who have a basic understanding of computers being able to build a system themselves. Whether you are interested in building computers to establish a new hobby or to start a business, you can so in only a few easy steps and on a shoestring budget.

The first step in building cheap computers is to determine the route you want to use to build systems. You basically have three choices when considering building cheap computers: build a system from scratch, expand on a bare bones computer, or upgrade an existing system. Building a system from scratch can be a rewarding experience. However, it is not for everyone. If you are impatient or are intimidated by mechanical tools, you are better to choose one of the other two options.

Regardless of the method you choose, you will follow three basic steps:

1. Plan
2. Assemble
3. Test

The planning phase of your project involves determining the specifications for the computer you want to build. Once you know this information you can start shopping for parts that meet those specifications. Your main considerations should be
hard-disk, memory, and CPU (central processing unit). The harddrive is important because it determines how much information you are able to store on the computer. While you could build a computer with a harddrive smaller than 2 GB (gigabytes), it is not recommended.

The harddrive and memory work together. The amount of memory you place in your computer will directly affect how the system is able to complete the different processes that you request when using the system. If you have no idea what size hard-drive and the amount of memory you need, you should consider the type of operating system you intend to load on the system. You can consult the manufacturer of your hard-drive or review the information on Cheap-Computer-Guy.com, which features a list of minimum harddrive and memory requirements for various operating systems, and use this information as a guide.

The equipment presented in this article includes the basics of a computer system. Of course, nowadays people want far more than the basics and you undoubtedly feel the same way. There are optional components available that you may want to add to your systems, which include CD or DVD drives, a modem or other communication component for Internet connectivity, or a video graphics card.

Once you have decided on the specifications of the computer you want to build, you are ready to assemble the system. In addition to detailed information about the parts you will need to build your computer, cheap-computer-guy.com includes step-by-step instructions for assembling a cheap do-it-yourself computer.

When you have finished assembling the computer, you will then need to test to make sure that the system boots and that all components are functioning properly. Once you have completed all these tests you will have built your own cheap computer.

WebCam Chat - Experience The 'Real' Effects

Think this - you are far away from home, from your near and dear ones, missing them day in and day out and always longing to get back to them as soon as possible. Well, real life may not allow you this reunion so quickly. But, webcam chat can bring about a virtual union for you. You can talk to your loved one and see them. This new generation chat is now fast emerging as a great tool to bridge distances and get closer.

What is webcam chat?

Webcam is a small camera attached to your computer. It transmits video images. It needs the other person to also have a webcam so that when you are chatting with somebody using webcam facilities, both of you can see and hear one another. It's a great way to personalize communication via internet. Being able to see one another gives you the feeling of actually being with each other in person.

Webcam chat Vs conventional chats

Although webcam chat may seem to be quite similar to conventional video conferencing, some differences exist. Video conferencing uses phone lines to transmit signals. Webcam chat uses Internet platforms and tools like the Instant Messaging (IM) system. It facilitates multi usage - any two persons can log into the same IM program and go ahead with private video chats in separate windows that appear on the screens of the computers of both the persons. Most webcam products have the necessary tools included such as microphone and earphones. Once you've installed the webcam software you will then need some webcam chat software, available online for free or a small subscription.

The advantages of webcam chat

The most important advantage of this chat is that it helps you to overcome distance and feel closer. You may have had to make the decision to stay away from home for various reasons. It may be a study program in some other country or a job some distance away. Today's dynamic business environment requires you to be constantly on the move. You are away from your children, your home and your friends. And it's not always possible to just get on a plane and say 'hello'. There are many limitations. Webcam chat is your best solution. You can talk to your loved ones, see them, experience their experiences to some degree, and share your best moments using webcam enabled chat. Distance is now no barrier - you have overcome it, at least virtually, with webcam chat.

The disadvantages of webcam chat

Like any online system, webcam chat too has its disadvantages. The main one relates to privacy. Whatever may be the temptation, you are wise to avoid chatting with strangers. The web camera can allow an unknown person to peek into your privacy. Also, be careful allowing children to use the web camera. They may unknowingly fall into the traps of a cunning outsider and get into sharing private information. Ensure that children get your permission before entering into webcam chatting. It can even be possible that the other person has taken a quick inventory of your house by using the webcam tool. Do not exchange your IM address with people you do not know. Often, this erodes your privacy. It is best not to get involved with free webcam chat networks as they provide no security, quality of images is poor, and you will get flooded with advertising. Join up with one of these networks that will provide you with the necessary additional software. Two well known ones are Yahoo and MSN.

Summary:

Webcam chat is fast emerging as a popular tool to interact with others live through voice and picture transfer over the Internet. You can talk face to face with people by using this great facility.

Shopping For Low Cost Computers

Computers are today our basic requirements. When we work we need them to connect with other people, retrieve information and control manufacturing units. At home we chat, play games, use them for interactive activities like pod casting and for watching movies etc. There are lots of places you can shop for computers, if you are planning to either replace an existing one or buy a new one. One resource for low cost computers is Dell.

Dell is a leading US-based computer hardware company, Dell Inc. Dell has over 63,700 employees the world over. Dell's operations span development, manufacture, support and marketing of personal computers, servers, data storage devices, network switches, personal digital assistants (PDAs), software, peripherals, etc. The location of Dell headquarters is in Round Rock, Texas, USA.

In 2005, Forbes 500 ranked Dell 28th among the largest US companies revenue-wise. Dell topped Fortune magazine's annual list of the most admired US companies the same year. The company's press releases in January 2005 revealed increased international sales for the first two quarters of the fiscal year 2005. An ominous article "It's Bad to Worse at Dell" appeared in the November 2005 edition of BusinessWeek, predicting decline in earnings and sales and a pessimistic third financial quarter prediction. Faulty capacitors on motherboards of the Optiplex GX270 and GX 280 had already been acknowledged by Dell at a loss of $300 million, which CEO Kevin Rollins partially blamed a low-end PC focus on.

Around 2004, a Dell Dimension desktop PC was marketed with different brand names for different consumer segments. OptiPlex, Latitude and Precision were for medium and large business clients, advertising durability, reliability and functionality. The Dimension Inspiron and XPS brands are ideal for consumers, students and small offices due to value, performance and expansion. The recently re-introduced Dell XPS targets the gaming segment. Silver instead of black cases is used for Dell XPS desktops. Non-computer products started with the portable digital audio player, Digital Jukebox or Dell DJ, apart from USB keydrives, LCD tvs, Windows mobile PDAs and printers.

Brand names for product ranges include OptiPlex for office desktops, Dimension for desktops, Latitude for commercial laptops, Inspiron for consumer laptops, Precision for workstations and high-performance laptops, PowerEdge for larger corporate servers; PowerVault for direct-attach and network-attached storage (NAS), Dell EMC for storage area networks, XPS for enthusiast/high-performance systems and Axim for PDAs utilizing Microsoft's Windows Mobile.

Microsoft Windows XP is Dell's current choice for most new computers along with Red Hat and SUSE for servers. Bare-bones computers minus pre-installed software have considerably lower rates. Licensing contracts with Microsoft ensures availability on request only, with a FreeDOS disk included. A Windows refund is issued after a regular retail price sale.

Dell's Windows comes with substantial software. There have been accusations of spyware and instructions to technical support team to avoid de-installation. Dell made no secret of an offer to Apple for a future Intel version of Mac OS X but the latter chose to run OS only on Macs, declining to license Mac OS X to Dell.

People Search - How To Find Anyone In The World

Whether you are trying to complete your family tree or would like to get in touch with a long lost classmate from elementary school, an online people search is the best way to go about it. Although plowing through hundreds (or even thousands) of records may seem daunting at first, the rewards of a people finder search, once successful, are truly fulfilling. (Besides, think of how much more difficult it will be if you had to conduct a manual search!)

Why Do A People Search?

Conducting a people finder search could be for any number of reasons. Some people have used online people finder search facilities to look for a parent, child or sibling they have never met due to adoption, war and others.

For some individuals, a people finder search is also one of the best ways to do some networking. You can build connections with other people based on mutual acquaintances or similar hobbies and interests. You can also use these newfound connections to further specific goals and aspirations that you may have.

If you just met someone new, running a people search on them could also give you an idea of what they are like based on their background. This is especially helpful for employers who are trying to get information on job applicants and for entrepreneurs who are entering business ventures with new partners.

People Search - There's Nothing Faster Than an Online Search

Conducting an online people search is probably the most practical and efficient way to go about it in a world that has become increasingly connected through the Internet. Knowing a few simple details about the person you are looking for is the best way to start; it can be an old address, phone number or simply a general idea of where this person used to live.

An online people finder search is the fastest method because you will not have to look through outdated records located in far flung places. It's also the most cost-effective as you don't need to travel nor deal with any private detectives.

There might be a lot of restrictions to accessing data is stored in libraries, clubs, government offices and other similar institutions but an online people finder search is usually free for all. Furthermore, you can conduct your search in complete anonymity so you don't even have to offer any reason or excuse to conduct any particular search.

The technology of an online people search also allows you a lot of freedom to filter your search and make it as specific as it needs to be. This saves you a lot of time from chasing after false leads or having to read tediously through pages of documents.

There are a myriad of people finder search websites on the Internet today, some even tailor-made for specific purposes such as looking for a military buddy or an old friend from church. As such, that long-anticipated reunion of yours could turn out to be sooner than you think.

If You Need More Traffic To Your Site, Try These Free Methods

Starting a business can be very expensive, with the cost of inventory, office supplies and advertising. Many people pay a lot of money to build a website for their company with the hopes of attracting the millions of Internet users to increase their sales. The biggest problem with this method is that the competition on the World Wide Web is fierce and it's hard to make your website stand out from the rest.

It's also difficult get a premium spot in the search engines that will allow your site to come up at the top of the results list when people are searching for your product type. There are companies that offer ways to increase your visibility on the Internet but they can be very costly and many business owners do not have the excess revenues needed to employ their services. There are ways to drive traffic to your website without any cost at all and increase your chances of successfully building up a clientele.

One way to accomplish this is by using the endless amount of forums that the Internet offers. These are places that are designed around a specific interest and people gather there to discuss them. It is extremely likely that there is a forum that has your type of product as a theme. For example, if you are selling auto parts, then you can access a forum that caters to car restoration enthusiasts. You can join several of these forums and start making contact with the members by making posts and starting conversations. Once you become more familiar to that community, you can talk about your business and supply a link to your website.

Another way to capitalize on forums and online communities is by creating a newsletter. The newsletter should contain informative articles about the type of product that you are selling. These articles should portray you as an expert in your field, so make sure that they contain lots of information that the people who read them can use. It can also contain coupons or special offers and should always include a link to your website. Try to get people in the forums to subscribe to your newsletter by supplying their email address. Now you have a growing list of potential customers that you can target on a weekly or monthly basis. Eventually, some of them will visit your website and hopefully make a purchase.

You can also try a marketing strategy that entails link exchanges, to get more traffic. This works by exchanging a link with another company that shares your field and you can locate companies willing to do this by searching under, "link exchange programs" on the Internet. Find one that has a product in the same field as yours, and exchange links with them. If you sell exercise equipment then look for a company that sells diet plans. By exchanging links, you will both be able to gain customers that you may not have been able to otherwise.

Legal Action Against Spyware

The United States House of Representatives recently passed the Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act, or the SPY Act. The act requires any company that may be installing spyware in your computer to first make the user aware of its presence. Failing to give PC users the knowledge that spyware is being installed will cost the violator up to $3 million in fines.

Unfortunately for internet users the Act will not do very much against protecting internet privacy. Much of spyware works by piggy backing its way in with the approved download of other programs. In the license agreement spyware makes itself known, following the stipulations of the Spy Act, but most users do not read through an entire user agreement, they simply click "I agree." Because of this spyware will be able to remain a prevalent internet threat.

It should also be noted that most spyware threats originate outside of the United States, making it difficult to stop them if the Act is breached. The Spy Act will most likely have as little of an impact at the Spam Act to control junk email did.

For advertisers spyware is a lucrative business, especially because the average computer is infected with nearly 30 spyware applications. Most likely the spyware epidemic will not be controlled until international regulations are set up and enforced. Until then users should download, install and regularly use some sort of anti-spyware software

Purchasing Spyware Software-Avoid the Scams

With the demand for anti-spyware tools continuously on the rise because of the constant release of new and more invasive spyware scams, computer users may find themselves falling victim to malicious software downloads while searching for the right spyware removal tool. Several spyware removal software programs have been identified as fakes, but not before many computer users were drawn into the trap.

Spyware Assassin claimed to be a spyware removal tool released by MaxTheater but underneath the claims to remove malicious spyware, the program was found to be a fake. The tool offered users a free scan that of course detected spyware, whether it was there or not because there was actually no real scan taking place. Once the results from the scam scan were presented to the user it was advised that they immediately purchase the entire program to rid their computer of the malicious "spyware." Recently, however, the Federal Trade Commission uncovered their scam to make money off of false spyware tools.

An even sneakier spyware scam was put on by Seismic Entertainment Productions who used tactics to infect user's computers with actual spyware and then advised those users to purchase Spy Wiper or Spy Deleter to remove the spyware. Any of these fake software programs are obvious reasons why computer users must learn to research the credibility and background of a program before purchasing or downloading.

If a company bombards you with aggressive advertising for their product or pushes you to take immediate action by offering scare tactics, it is best for users to steer clear of that product. Any company, especially new or young companies that claim perfect results or all around protection is something to look at with caution. No spyware tool can offer users complete protection and any one that claims they can is using irresponsible advertising.
Computer users should also remember not to purchase or download a spyware program based on their name. The name is not a depiction of what the product offer.

When searching for a legitimate spyware tool spend time researching the program and company's background and avoid believing everything the advertisements tell you.

How Spyware Gets to your Hardrive

The average internet user's computer is very likely to have some sort of hidden spyware infection that is slyly monitoring their internet activities.

Thousands of spyware applications exist making it difficult for users to avoid the threats when using the internet for numerous purposes. While online you could become infected with spyware by downloading games, music,
screensavers, pop ups, pictures, emails, freeware and shareware.

A spyware or adware infection can slow down your computer, sometimes causing it to crash because advertisers bombarding you with pop ups and monitoring your activity are using all the system resources. Spyware programs latch onto computers to track your uses and acquire personal information to be sent out to intruders, all done without your permission or knowledge.

Legislators are now looking into making laws that would protect internet users from the privacy invasive software. Consumers must beware of spyware because it can uncover and take advantage of your personal information including credit card numbers, passwords, social security numbers and more. Malicious operators can hack into your computer and take control which could cause more permanent, serious damage to you and the computer.

If you are wondering what spyware may be latching onto your computer try downloading spyware scanning tools that can detect and eliminate malicious codes such as spyware. Spybot, Pest Patrol and ZoneAlarm Pro and popularly used removal tools.

Find People Online In Seconds

Are you looking for someone? An old friend? A business associate? The Internet makes it simple to search for people. The numerous services like yellow pages and people search engines make it a snap to locate people on the World Wide Web.

There are many services that help you locate people. In North America, entering a telephone number into Google can give you details on the person you are looking for. In fact, there are Google cheats that help you tap in and use the full potential of the world's largest search engine for your purposes. Yes! Google can help you locate your friend!

Consider using the lookups online you will be able to find all kinds of information with a reverse phone directory. If you're trying to find someone's address or phone number, you will often find that this is the cheapest and the fastest way to go about finding someone. In most cases all you have to do is type in someone's phone number, and you'll discover who belongs to that phone number and what their address is (if they're listed, that is).

The yellow and white pages are always an option as well. These are available and run by many companies. This might be your best bet if nothing works. These are well kept and if you entered the required data right, then the job could be done in just a few seconds.

If nothing else works, there is always the specialized search engine that helps you locate people alone. This type of search engine only looks for people across the net and nothing else. True, Google can bring up some results but these might not be relevant and it may waste valuable time. But there are various other search engines that are specialized in locating people. Just go to your google and type in "find people". You will be presented with numerous results.

When you log on to a free people search web site you will notice that almost all of them require you to fill out some online forms. These forms are required in order to facilitate your search request. Be careful in filling up the form. Give accurate and precise information regarding the person you are searching for in order to acquire a correct search result.

So we can clearly, see, that getting lost with Internet around is difficult. People can be located and friends need not be lost. IF you forget some one by mistake, then there are always options to bring their details back to your mind. These services are not completely precise yet but as time passes, they can only become better to use and easier to understand.