Specialized Computing Blog

The new Apple iPad has gotten a ton of hype leading up to the release of it. Is it as good as the company claims? Will it really bring about the death of laptops, as many believe? Here are eight of its notable features, to help you decide for yourself:

#1) Long-lasting battery

The company says the average lifespan for the battery is about ten hours. However, many people say it’s really longer than that. Some claim you can get it to go eleven hours or more.

This will save you a lot of money if you use mobile devices often. This enables you to watch five two-hour long movies before needing a replacement.

#2) Speakers

The quality of the sound is pretty good, even when turned up loud. Many were worrying the sound clarity would be subpar like a lot of mobile devices, but this really isn’t the case.

It’s not as crystal clear as a quality television. However, when considering the size of the iPad, it’s pretty decent.

#3) Screen width

The screen is 9.5 inches wide, which is quite large when compared with other mobile machines. While it’s obviously not as big as a laptop, 9.5 inches is easily big enough that you won’t have to strain you eyes when watching the screen contents.

It’s even sufficient for more than one person to comfortably view it at the same time. So if you have friends that want to see a movie, you are in luck.

#4) Cool temperature

If you are familiar with Apple laptops, you probably dread holding them on your lap for a long time. As the system heats up, they tend to become extremely warm, which makes holding them very uncomfortable. However, the iPad stays cool even after hours of use.

#5) Third party applications

The iPad can use third party applications without needing the use of modifications. In other words, it’s more adaptable than many expected.

#6) Storage space

Even the least expensive iPads contain sixteen gigs of room. This is more than anticipated.

#7) Tiny size

It’s very easy to carry around, weighing in at one and a half pounds. So you can easily carry it in your pocket without it being a burden.

#8) Built-in dictionary

The iBooks application has a dictionary that provides fast explanations of words when browsing the net. And it’s also capable of finding specific words within e-Books, which is a rather advanced feature.

The bottom line is, the iPad does have some neat features and it’s shaping up well. It may not be time to throw out your other mobile devices yet, but that time just moved a few steps closer.

Which came first, hardware or software? This is a rather difficult question, seeing as how hardware doesn’t do much of anything without having software installed on it, and software can’t do what it is programmed to do without the hardware to host it. So, what exactly is the difference between hardware and software, and why are their functions so different?

Hardware

Hardware is defined as a device with the task of storing and running installed software. The hardware is the physical piece of machinery, such as the hard-drive, mouse and keyboard, video and graphics cards. These devices serve as the host system for the software. Hardware is changed far less often than software.

The reason it is called “hardware” is because the physical device in not readily created, modified or erased on the CPU. These devices are hard put and usually consist of wiring and solder to hold them in place. Everything about the name speaks to what the devices are like; hard wired, hard to make, hard to install and hard coded with instruction. The easiest way to think of hardware, is that it is the part of the computer that you can physically touch.

Software

On the completely opposite hand, software is the program aspect of the computer. It cannot be physically touched and is easily created, wiped out and replaced in an instant. Software is the programming that allows you to perform the specific task you need to complete.

Software holds the collection of instructions that enables users to issue a set of commands and have the computer respond with a certain result. Programs are examples of software, like PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, Skype, and even your Internet. Basically, anything that you can point and click at on your screen is tied to some type of software.

Hardware and Software Must Work Together

It is only when hardware and software come together, that things begin to happen. Without either of the two, you have an expensive paperweight or a group of coding that cannot live up to its purpose because there is no host to help display the outputs. Software makes it possible for hardware to work and the user to interact with the software. For example, it is software that runs the mouse programming, which allows the mouse hardware to click on and interact with the software on the computer.

Software developers cannot show off their skills and talents without the hardware developers keeping up with the latest and greatest improvements. It is an ever-changing reality that pulls one behind the other. Hardware becomes useless if it out-paces software and vice versa. Only until the two entities start working together, can any lasting improvements be made and advancements can be covered in leaps and bounds. So, in the world of which came first, it doesn’t matter since one is completely useless without the other.

Next week, we’ll look at the different types of memory your computer uses…

How Does This All Fit Together?

Let’s put this all together. Here is an example of how a server works and helps organize the jobs sent to it from a network experience.

For instance, in an office of 100 people, there may be multiple printers that have different printing capabilities, various file storage options, different levels of staff and different roles of varying importance. Let’s say that 15 people send a job or task to the server within a few minutes of each other. The server analyzes each job based on information such as IP address, proximity to the server and order of importance in processes. The server determines first, who has priority ranking – is the job coming from the CEO, the accounting department or sales? Then the server determines what resources the job requires – color printing or black and white? The server then can choose to send the CEO’s print job to high quality printer; the accounting department’s spreadsheet to the regular black and white printer; and, the sales department’s presentation to the copier.

Think about all the steps that are involved in any business small or large. The server organizes all the computer related tasks for the most efficient use of resources and speed. Depending on the size of the business, there may be many servers both on and off site. When a server goes down, all the technology related tasks become disorganized and things slow down or don’t function at all. The next time you are at the store or call your bank and they say “Sorry, we can’t help you, the server is down” you will now know that it is more than a convenient, technology based excuse to not do what you want them to.

Next week, we’ll look at what’s known as “Virtualization”…

Servers

How many times have you heard the term “the server is down” or “the server failed”? Most likely many! In today’s technologically savvy world, we have all become familiar with the term “server” but few people outside the Information Technology world truly know what it means or can describe accurately describe it. Servers are everywhere today from the grocery store, to our workplace to our schools, it’s time to be in the know!

What is a Server?

A computer server is a Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a network that manages the resources available to the computers attached to that same network. There are different types of servers; some can multitask between different sets of data and others can be dedicated to a single type of task, such as printing or file storage. Servers can be both on-site or off-site.

A computer server takes the task you are trying to accomplish and sends up the request to be processed. Computer servers have to put tasks into order of importance and many times, this is a first-come-first-serve basis. However, tasks can also be ordered by type of job, company department or individual positions within a company.

When a computer related job (task) is required, the server is the first line of contact. A job may be document printing, copying, faxing, file storage, data processing and more. It is the server that assigns each job to the most appropriate resource, gives it a priority ranking and places it in queue. This queue is designed to order computers into a tiered level of importance. If there were no organization, the server would get overloaded trying to process all of the requests at the same time and the result would be an inefficient, slow or broken system.

How does the server know what which jobs to process first? The server assigns the jobs based on a set of rules that the administrator of the server has set up. For instance, in many companies, priority may be given to particular staff or departments. Any jobs coming from the CEO’s office could be assigned top priority and be processed before any others. Servers also assign jobs based on available resources. For instance, it will send the color print jobs to the color printer, a fax to a fax machine and copies to a copier.

Finally, servers also organize tasks based on efficiency. A server can recognize when one resource is being utilized and send a job to another resource to increase overall efficiency. A good example of this is a large print job. If one printer has been assigned a large (100 pages or more) print job and a small 2 page job comes through, rather than assigning it to the printer printing the large job and make the requestor wait, the server will assign it to a free printer.

Next week, we’ll look at how this all fits together…

One of the more common as well as important computer hardware is the printer. Computer printers come in different sizes as well as with different added features. Choosing the right computer printer would be dependent on what your printing needs are.

Computer printers are made to serve a variety of different printing needs. From the ordinary home user to a corporate office, different needs call for different printers. Here is a guide to help you look for the right type of printer for your own needs.

Home Use
People who use a computer printer at home usually look for one that can do a variety of functions. From printing documents to digital photos, a computer printer for the home should be of the general purpose type. With budget considerations, most home printers should be the ones that can get the job done but wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to have and use.

Good examples for such types of printers should be entry level laser or ink jet printers. Laser printers offer better quality documents, but is usually a bit more expensive.

The ink jet printer, has great digital pictures and is less expensive to buy.

For Writers
Writers usually go for printers that can print page after page of text at a faster rate since that is what the next novel may require – pages upon pages of text filled prints. Not only that, such prints should also be easy on the pocket in terms of cost per page. For this type of printing needs, the laser printer should fit right in quite easily. Not only would a laser printer offer to print hundreds of new pages at a faster rate, they are also cheaper in terms of expense since the cost less to operate than ink jet printers.

For Photographers
For photographers who require clear and quality photo prints, the best choice would be an ink jet printer. This type of computer printer offers the best quality image prints. For the amateur photographer, a basic ink jet photo printer would suffice. But for professional photographers who look for highly detailed and professional quality photo prints, they would most likely look for top of the line ink jet printers. Highly sophisticated computer hardware such as printers usually offer added functions and features that include color management tools, more sophisticated ink sets as well as quite an added number of supported photo paper.

Choosing or buying computer hardware components can be an easy task to those who are knowledgeable when it comes to computer and technology. But for those who are not really into techie and Information Technology (IT) stuff, choosing computer hardware is a major and grueling task.

For those who are not really into technology and computer stuff, some simple research about features, their usefulness and their prices would do them good before making their final decision.

One of the best sources of information when it comes to choosing or about computer hardware in general is the Internet. Here, there are thousands of web sites where you can find seemingly countless information on this stuff. Before starting your research, get an idea in your head (and on paper) of what you want and what you need to use this for.

Another resource materials when it comes to computer hardware are magazines. These are great sources of information because the feature articles are more extensive and reliable when compared to the articles online. If you have a friend who is an IT specialist, a computer engineer or somebody who is knowledgeable about computers, you can also ask them.

When it comes to computer hardware, the most important part is knowing the names components. These include monitor, motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), RAM Memory, expansion card, power supply, CD-ROM Drive, hard disk, keyboard, and a mouse. Knowledge on each component is very important so you would know their functions as well as the importance of knowing which type or kind do you need.

When you buy computer hardware components, make sure that you pay utmost attention to your need not just on the brand. Although good brands may serve as your guide, you can opt for lesser known brands for as long as you know the quality that you need.

Whether you are choosing a new video card to come with a new computer, or whether you are buying a new card to upgrade an old system, it helps to know a bit about them to help guide you towards what you need.

What is a video card? It is the component responsible for the pictures that you see on the computer screen. Every computer these days comes with a video card, but a good video card is essential for gamers, graphic artists and those who watch TV on their computers. Before getting just the basic video card or the top of the line one, know how to shop for one.

There are many accessories mentioned when you buy a computer. The sales associate may ask about what you plan to do with the computer to help you determine the type of video card you will require.

A video card has three basic criteria for choosing one.

• Price
• Speed
• Resolution

Video Card vs Graphics Card

You may hear people talk about video cards and graphics cards. They are similar in what they do. Video cards are more useful to gamers. A gamer wants to have the greatest amount of memory on their video card so that they can play faster. Certain games take up a lot of space and no one wants to have technical difficulties just as they are about to slay the giant beast.

Video games have advanced beyond the huge rectangular blip that was the ball in the Atari table tennis game. Resolution is important but some gaming worlds are so advanced that faster play is more of the essence.

Graphics cards are desired more by graphic artists and those using CAD. Here, attention to detail is essential in your designs so that is what will be the main consideration here. The same goes for the casual user who surfs the Web.

Price

Video cards range from moderately expensive to quite expensive. A website surfer won’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a video card, but a graphic designer might to suit their job needs. Cheaper doesn’t mean inferior quality, just fewer bells and whistles. That’s okay if you are not into gaming or computer design.

Not sure what all the letters mean? Talk to someone at your local computer store who can help you choose your video card wisely.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply open up your brain and add more space so you could remember everything? Oh well, you can’t do that but you can add more memory to your PC or laptop if the need arises.

When you buy a computer, it comes with a certain amount of memory already loaded. This storage is where you can save files, applications, music, videos, pictures and anything else you’d like.

Maybe you have noticed that your computer is running slower than usual. You have used Disk Defragmenter to combine files and get rid of others that you don’t need. A computer that still runs slow may need a memory boost.

When you need more memory, it’s not that hard to find. The quickest way is to check with your manufacturer. Most name brand computers have websites where you can find everything you need with a few clicks.

Let’s use Dell for example. On the bottom of a Dell laptop or on the Dell PC tower is your service tag number. With that number, you can access all of the information about the computer that they built for you. Now, you can find out which memory options you have for that model.

Memory comes in different configurations depending on the age of your computer. It doesn’t require an expert, but you will need to pay attention to the instructions carefully to get it right. For a laptop, the memory can usually be inserted in the underside of the device.

Before adding the new memory into your computer, be sure that the device is turned off and everything is unplugged before beginning. Working on a kitchen table away from carpeted flooring is best to avoid problems with static electricity and be sure that you are grounded to avoid shock and damage.

Read all instructions before beginning. There are dedicated slots for memory expansion in both devices. Before you purchase a new computer, see if it is more feasible to add memory for better performance.

Good computer maintenance is one way to keep your laptop or desktop working like new five years from now. Many people don’t think about maintenance until something catastrophic happens, but you have the good fortune to be thinking about it now. One part of the maintenance process is keeping your computer running at top speed. (Not only will this help your computer stay healthy, but it will help you continue to enjoy using your computer!)

There are many reasons that computers begin to run slow: viruses (or more commonly now, adware), not enough memory, too many applications & software bloat (goes along with insufficient memory) and/or a lot of files. Whatever the reason, something needs to be done so you don’t have to work at a snail’s pace.

One easy way address slowness is to run a hard drive defragmentation, or defrag. Defragging is a process where your computer finds a way to free up space on your hard drive. This may mean deleting temporary files that are no longer needed, rearranging and reorganizing to create bigger blocks of free space and generally helping to improve performance. Defragmenting your computer is a good first step when performance is not at its best, and is especially useful when your hard drive is reaching its full storage capacity.

Performing the operation once a week is more than enough for those who use their computer every day and create a lot of documents and files. For the average computer user with a computer less than 3 years old, once a month or every 3 months is just as effective.

This tool can be set up on a schedule so that it works behind the scenes (like Santa at Christmas or the Easter Bunny hiding eggs every year). Schedule maintenance operations at low-usage times like early in the morning or in the middle of the night, when you are not on your computer in order to keep them from slowing you while you’re trying to work.

Your computer comes with a defragmentation tool.

Windows: Most Windows users will find it listed under “Disk Defragmenter” in either Accessories or System Tools.

Mac: If you are a Mac user with Mac OS X, your computer is automatically optimizing your disk space so you don’t need to worry about doing this yourself, but if you have previous versions of Mac OS, you can find what you need in the Disk Utility program.

Happy defragging!

Are you experiencing headaches when you work on your computer all day? It could be the screen. If you suspect that the screen may be causing your head to pound, here are some suggestions to cut down on the blinding glare.

For office workers and home business owners, the computer is a necessity. Whether it is a laptop or a PC, you rely on it to conduct your business. So, what can you do to stop the eyestrain.

Tip #1 – Unplug your laptop or find the dimmer keys. By default, most laptop screens are set to be brighter when it runs on AC power. A good laptop battery can run free of AC power for six or eight hours. Even a four-hour battery will serve you well. So, simply unplug. The screen is now dimmed since it is using the battery.

Alternatively, find the dimming/brightening keys on your laptop. This is usually a combination of an ‘Fn’ (function) key and another key. Then adjust the screen luminosity to be similar or just slightly brighter than the environment you are currently in.

Tip #2 – Use lamps and overhead lighting to compensate for a too-bright screen. When your work area is well-lit, there will be less contrast between your foreground (the screen) and the background (the wall/floor/window, etc, behind your screen) which means your eyes don’t have to work as hard.

A desk lamp can compensate for the low light and help reduce the eyestrain. If there is a sunny window behind your screen, consider rearranging your office or using a combination of blinds or curtains to soften the light and dim the background.

Tip #3 – Invest in a glare filter. For PCs the filter is made into a bracket that fits over the monitor screen. For long hours spent on the computer, your eyes won’t become strained and cause headaches. Using the filter all the time will benefit everyone who uses the computer.

For laptops, glare filters fit on the edges of the screen frame or directly on the screen. They can be removed when you are done working. Some glare filters even incorporate privacy so that no one can see what you are doing on your laptop unless they are directly in front of the screen.

Now you don’t have to wear your sunglasses indoors when working on your computer. You’re now equipped with something even better: Three solutions to stop the headaches and still get your work done. Or not. Your choice.