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Computer Systems
What can a computer do for you?
• Play games.
• Download and listen to your favorite music or even make your own.
• Watch movies from the Internet or make your own feature film.
Hard Drives are measured in Gigabytes (GB). They are used to store all of the programs
and files on your computer. The bigger the Hard Drive the bigger the filing cabinet
People who need bigger Hard Drives or Hard Drives with more space have large files
like video files (Mov’s), music files (MP3’s), picture files (JPG’s) and others. In order for your computer to see
all of your valuable information stored on the Hard Drive you need something called Ram.
Ram
The best Ram analogy is the surface of a desk. In order to see the files in your filing cabinet
you need to take them out of your filing cabinet (Hard Drive) and place them on you desk
(Ram) in order to see each page of information separately.
If you have more Ram then you need a larger desk surface that can fit more pages of infor-
mation. More pages of information mean fewer trips in and out of the filing cabinet!
Ram is usually measured in Megabytes (MB) but a computer can have more than 1 Gigabyte (GB) of Ram
Computer users that need large Ram like to work with pictures, music or have many computer programs run-
ning at the same time, kind of like having a desk full of paperwork.
If you are running low on Ram it will significantly slow down your computer because it is similar to constantly
opening and closing a filling cabinet (Hard Drive) looking for and returning information that it needs and
doesn’t need.
CD/DVD Drives are optical based. They use a laser to read and write the information on
the disks.
CD disks are great for storing music as most CD players read CD format. They can also be used to store infor-
mation. To help you understand how much information can be stored on a CD disk I will use a digital camera
file.
An average digital camera image will end up being around 1-2 megabytes (MB) once transferred to your com-
puter. A CD disk can generally hold 700 Megabytes (MB), therefore approximately 450 images can be stored on
a CD. Not bad for around 25-50 cents!
DVD disks are great for storing large files like movies and can also store other types of information. Using the
same digital camera example a DVD can hold around 3000 images. This is because a standard recordable DVD
can hold 4700 Megabytes (MB), which by the way is the same as 4.7 Gigabytes (GB). All this for around 50
cents!
There are many types of CD and DVD formats available. I would suggest talking to your computer sales person
about which is best for your needs. For example, some common formats are:
Memory Cards
I wanted to touch base on this last media type many digital cameras and MP3 players use
Flash Memory and also because digital cameras and MP3 players are popular right now. We
are seeing many computers include slots for Flash Memory. Flash Memory readers (some-
times included with a printer) can be added to a computer via a USB port but it is nice to
have it already integrated in a computer.
First, what is a CPU? A CPU is the main brain for the computer and like people; some are
faster then others (being fast uses a lot of energy!). Some CPU’s may not be as fast, but
can do more things at one time (this is called multitasking) or they may be super efficient
and use very little energy (Great for a Laptop that uses a battery).
CPU’s can be found in all kinds of devices other then computers such as; PDA’s, Cell Phones, Video Gaming
Systems. If it calculates information, it needs a CPU of some sort.
You may have heard of a few of these CPU companies like: IBM, AMD, Intel, and Motorola to name some of
the most popular ones.
Again, I recommend that you advise a computer sales person help you find the most suitable CPU for your
needs as the list of possibilities is large! (P4, Athalon, Centrino, Celeron, Power PC, G3, G4, G5)
Notice how GPU and CPU look similar? That is because they are very similar
except that a Graphics Card (GPU) specifically only calculates Graphics In-
formation.
(Hint: the G in GPU stands for Graphics and the C in CPU stands for Computer)
In some cases the Graphics Card (GPU) in a computer can be more powerful then the actual CPU! New com-
puter games and programs are requiring more detail and realism then ever before. People who need a powerful
Graphics Card would be Gamers, Video Editors, Animators and generally anyone that requires 3D horse
power.
Computer Connections
Here are some descriptions to help you find where these cables go!
Power Cable
Usually there is what is called a Three Prong input on the back of a desktop computer
that supplies power. This is the same type of cable found in many other household elec-
tronic devices (thick black and wider at the ends). If you have a laptop then they usually
have a power converter that has a Transformer unit built into the cable either at the wall
plug-in or part way in the middle of it. (often referred to as a Wall Wart)
Video Port
This is for your monitor or computer screen. There are several variations of this; the most com-
mon is referred to as a VGA port. Other common ports are DVI, ADC, and S-Video.
Ethernet Port
This port is for connecting your high speed Internet when using a cable modem or ADSL
modem. It is also used for networking multiple computers together and looks like a phone
jack but is bigger and wider. It is sometimes referred to as a Cat-5 cable.
Phone Port
This port connects a dial up Internet connection, fax, and answering machine features of your
computer.
USB Port
This port a very versatile., You will learn to love and appreciate this port because you can plug
almost anything into it that is USB based, for example: Mice, Keyboards, Printers, Scanners,
Speakers, Microphones, Cameras, External Hard Drives and Web Cams to name a few. There
are two USB formats, USB1 and USB2. USB2 is much faster then USB1 and allows very high
speed information transferring which is great for external hard drives and video applications.
PS2 Port
This is an older port and is used mainly for mice and keyboards that do not have the newer
USB connections.
Parallel Port
This is another older port that has been around for a while and is being replaced
by USB. It can still be found on some printers and external drive devices.
Operating Systems OS
Microsoft’s Windows XP
Microsoft is the Big-Dawg in this arena and they produce Windows XP. This Operating
System is on most new computers and has the majority of available software programs, gen-
erally geared towards business and gaming. The main downside to Windows XP is that it’s a
target for computer viruses because of Microsoft’s dominance and success.
Apple’s OSX
The next major player is Apple’s OSX. Apple’s claim to fame is its user friendliness and
ease of use. OSX software programs are geared towards creativity and efficient use of time.
There may not be as many programs available for OSX but the ones that are available work
extremely well and are usually high in quality. One main advantage for OSX is that Com-
puter Viruses which can wipe out a Windows XP machine will not affect an OSX machine.
The down side being that some programs are Windows only and will not run in OSX.
• My advice is to keep up to date with your current OS of choice, but just behind a new release.
What I mean is this; Keep your OS updated using the built in auto updating software but do
not be too eager for new major version updates or you may be in for some grief while all of
the bugs get worked out.
• Many people also use them to take a copy of their daily email with them so
that they can read and respond to email at any opportune time.
• Some PDA’s have built in cellular phone capabilities and some cellular
phones have PDA features.
• Some can even be used wirelessly for Internet surfing and chat.
Popular Formats
Palm
Palm was the first company to make the PDA a household name with its Palm Pilot. Not
only do they make the actual PDA but also have their own OS (Operating System).
The Palm platform has a huge selection of programs that can be purchased or downloaded
that will accommodate almost any PDA user’s needs. Palm is credited for efficient use of
memory and CPU power.
Pocket PC
Pocket PC is a Microsoft OS (Operating System), Microsoft does not make computers or
PDA’s. Other companies like HP, Toshiba, Samsung, and Dell make the actual devices that use
the Pocket PC software.
One advantage of Pocket PC is compatibility with Windows, Wireless connectivity and fast,
powerful CPU for multimedia tasks.
Blackberry
The Blackberry is quickly becoming the PDA designed for staying connected. It uses a
pager like system called the RIM network, emailing is instantaneous and always on. It also
doubles as a full-featured cellular phone.
Blackberry is best suited in situations where connectivity and low cost solution are required
to stay in touch via Cell Phone and email..
First, the big screen and large keyboard of a Computer offer the best environ-
ment for inputting and viewing all of your information. Once you have every-
thing in your PC, all you need to do is Connect your PDA and computer to-
gether with the included cable/software and in most cases within a few min-
utes. All of the time consuming valuable information is transferred magically to
your PDA.
The best part is once they are Synced you can enter or edit information like a phone number on either device
and that information will be updated to the other paired device without having to enter it twice.
Other documents like pictures, movies, spreadsheets, and Word files can also be selected for Synchronizing
back and forth from PDA to PC and vice verse!
PDA Pros
The PDA is small and portable and it will fit into a pocket. It has many of the same features of a full size PC but
with a lower cost. PDA’s are great solutions for limited Internet, email, and word processing needs.
PDA Cons
Smaller viewing screen means less information visible at one time. Small keyboards are less efficient for enter-
ing large amounts of data. One option is to get a portable foldable keyboard accessory.
Cell Phones have evolved tremendously even to the point that everything a PDA can do
some Cell Phones can also do. Most new Cell Phones have built in Calendars, Address
Books, Games, MP3 players, Cameras, and even Internet browsers.
I believe that we will see Cellular Phones, PDA’s, and even Laptops start to share more and
more of the same capabilities blurring the line that separates them. Even at this time, some
PDA’s and Cell Phones are hard to tell apart.
In the Urban jungle a GPS combined with a detailed map and relevant surrounding
data combine to give you pinpoint realtime directions to just about any attraction you
may be interested in getting to. In some cases a GPS may be built into a devices but
can also be added later to a PDA, computer, stand alone navigation system, and even a
Cell Phone.
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Computer Monitors
Why is this?
• LCD monitors are lighter and small and therefore takes up much less
space on your desk.
• LCD monitors use much less energy then CRT computer monitors,
CRT are the old style thicker TV looking type.
• CRT monitors can sometimes be better for photos and games because
refresh rates and color depth are very good on a CRT.
When purchasing an LCD Monitor, here are some things you should
consider
Refresh Rate
Faster refresh rates will make motion morel fluid for movies
and games.
Contrast
Higher contrast will give you better black and white levels
for richer picture quality.
Brightness
Not all LCD monitors are equal, some have brighter lamps
in them for a brighter image.
Video input
Some LCD monitors have high quality DVI in ports for video.
If your computer has this DVI video port then you definitely
want to mach your LCD monitor up with DVI to maximize
quality.
Aspect Ratio
Do you want a regular 4x3 screen or do you want the Widescreen? The current trend in Laptops is to go Wide-
screen. Desktop computer monitors seem to be staying primarily with 4x3.
TV Tuner
You can even use your LCD computer monitor as a TV if it has a built in TV Tuner, this is useful when you
want your computer to double as a TV.
HDTV Widescreen TV
If you don’t like those ugly bars on the top and bottom of your screen then you need an HDTV but be aware
that even HDTV’s will display bars if the movie is in a true 16x9 format. It all depends on how the producer
decided to crop the movie.
In the US a standard TV signal will display 525 horizontal lines of resolution and in Europe it can be up to 625.
HDTV displays 720p or 1080i Horizontal lines of resolution and because of it’s wide viewing format it displays
even more Vertical lines of resolution, up to 1920!
The HDTV wide viewing format is excellent for watching movies in their original cinematic mode.
Many Digital Cable and Satellite systems are now offering HDTV formatted receivers. Even gaming consoles
like the Xbox and PlayStation are gearing future games for HDTV.
• Plasma
• LCD
• CRT
If you are in the market for an HDTV there are many great retail
outlets that have all of the different varieties of HDTV’s setup
side by side so that you can compare what looks best to you and
if the added cost is worth the added quality.
• Make your Computer Game Explosions and Car Crashes come alive.
• Connect your MP3 player to your stereo for an all day music marathon.
• Create the perfect Audio Mood for a romantic evening at home with that someone special.
Sound Systems have had many names over the years, Stereo, HiFi System, Ghetto Blaster to name a few.
These are all names for variations of Sound Systems.
Lets talk about some of the main components of a Sound System and
what they do.
The Amplifier
What does an Amplifier do? It takes a very quiet signal or Sound and
makes it much louder. For instance the signal or Sound coming out of your
headphone jack on an MP3 player Sounds great in your headphones but if
you connected this directly to a pair of Speakers then it would barely be
audible. This is because your headphones are right beside your ear so they
only need very small Speakers that require less power. Regular Sound Sys-
tem Speakers are much larger then headphone Speakers and need a larger
or more amplified signal to power them.
Amplifiers are found in virtually all Sound Systems and are rated in watts of power, more wattage means more
potential volume from your Speakers. Amplifiers can be found in analog and digital form, digital Amplifiers
are becoming more and more popular because they are smaller, lighter and more efficient then their analog
counterparts.
The Receiver
At the heart and soul of a Receiver is the Amplifier, but to get the most
out of an Amplifier you need to add inputs and outputs. Adjustment knobs
for volume, tone, bass and panning, radio tuners, stereo and surround
Sound options.
Inputs and outputs get Sound signals in and out of your Receiver. Some
possible inputs and outputs are: CD, VCR, cable TV, DVD, auxiliary,
front and surround Speakers, subwoofer.
Speakers
Speakers create Sound waves, the Sound waves we recognizer as
Sound. Speakers have to recreate Sound waves for high and low fre-
quencies to give us the experience of realistic and believable Sound. In
most situations, Speaker size dictates what kind of frequency it can rec-
reate. Large Speakers recreate low Sounds and Small Speakers recreate
high Sounds. For this reason it is best to have a Speaker system that in-
corporates both large and small Speakers for a full range of Sound.
• As with Home Sound Systems, Car Sound Systems share many of the
same features with the exception of using 12 volts rather then 120 volts.
One of the best parts about a PVR is you can pause your live program and take a bathroom or snack break. You
can even fast forward through annoying commercials. Try that with a VCR!
For a computer, there are two main types of PVR’s. Internal and External.
Internal PVR’s Work very well because they become a part of your computer system
and usually have excellent price verses performance features. The down side to an In-
ternal PVR: it can not be used with a Laptop or Computer that does not have an avail-
able PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect slot.
External PVR’s typically use the FireWire or USB 2 ports found on newer com-
puters. Both of these external ports are fast enough to transfer the video to your
computer for viewing and recording and can be used with laptops and other com-
puters that do not have an available PCI slot. Cost verses performance of an exter-
nal PVR can be a bit more then an Internal one.
All PVR’s give you the ability to record with different quality levels just like a VCR. Higher quality settings
mean you will need a faster computer with more hard drive space which means less recorded media that will fit
on your hard drive. You can customize this to your computer systems speed and available hard drive space.
Digital Pictures
What can a Digital Camera do for you?
Digital Cameras allow you to see instantly the Picture you just took, usually on a small 1 to 3 inch LCD
screen. You can then decide if the Picture is worth keeping or delete it right on the Camera.
Once you have filled up your memory card or finished a day of taking Pictures you can easily transfer them all
to your computer for large scale viewing, organizing, editing, and printing.
A computer is not even necessary as many photo printers have memory card slots specifically designed to insert
your cameras memory card for viewing and printing. These same memory cards can also be taken to many
photo labs where they will be transferred to CD and printed just like film. Best of all, unlike film, a memory
card can be used repeatedly.
Digital Cameras are best paired with a computer. The computer will allow you the most flexibility by using
applications/programs designed for Digital Images.
Organization Programs enable you to view and categorize your Pictures to easily find and view in a Digital
Photo Album.
Editing Programs allow you to make changes to improve your Picture’s appearance.
For instance
• If there is too much space around a subject you can remove the space by cropping the image.
As a rule of thumb
• 2 Megapixel cameras will make reasonable 4x6 prints.
If this type of high quality photography interests you, I recommend speaking with a sales specialist who can
pair you with the best camera for to meet your needs.
• Card slot type, SD cards are the most affordable and common
and can be used in many types of digital devices, where as
other types like Sony Memory Sticks are proprietary and
more expensive.
• Bottom line. Today’s inexpensive point and shoot Digital Cameras are able to take excellent
quality photos that will meet the expectations of most everyone. They make viewing, editing
and sharing a breeze when used in conjunction with a computer and/or a photo printer.
Always make sure you backup all of your photos and of course, other important documents. It
is not if but when disaster will strike. Some possible situations that can cause you to lose your
important memories are: lost or stolen computer, faulty hard drive, fire or water damage and
the number one cause... Human error!
Digital Movies DV
• Capture still images onto memory cards the same way a digital
still camera does.
Another advantage is the ability to transfer the digital information over a FireWire/iLink cable to your computer
without any loss of quality. Once it is on your computer it can be edited and perfected and then either trans-
ferred back to the Camcorder or burned to a DVD for viewing on your TV. You will need to pair your camera
with software that is able to edit in the same format, in this case DV.
HDV or High Definition Camcorders are now on the market and give even higher resolution (1080i like
HDTV) than a regular DV Camcor-
der. HD software would also be
needed to edit in this format.
Note: An Analog Camcorder can also be used to transfer Video to your computer but you will need a Capture
Card or interface that can input a regular analog source and convert it into the digital source needed for com-
puter viewing and editing. This is a conversion from analog to digital; and will result in quality loss lower than
a DV Camcorder is normally capable of.
Webcams
• Take pictures and movie clips for email and later viewing.
A Webcam for the most part is very much like a digital video camera/still
camera. One exception is that unlike your digital camera or DV camera, a
Webcam usually needs to be hooked up to your computer to work. This is
because most Webcams do not have a battery or on board storage, they rely
on the computer for this. Webcams are also designed with mounting systems
so that you can set them up on a computer monitor or in just the right posi-
tion on your desk.
Do Webcams take as good pictures or videos as a dedicated digital camera or DV camera? Not really, they are
limited by the speed of your Internet connection so making the quality higher would also put to much demand
on your Internet connection.
Most Webcams come with their own software, you can also use your Webcam with programs like MSN Mes-
senger for video conferencing.
• Take hours, even days of Music/recorded Audio with you almost anywhere.
One of the most successful Digital Music devices that falls into this category is
the iPod.
The iPod is Apple’s solution on how to make a Portable Music Player that
stores all of your songs and keep them organized in your iPod and computer us-
ing Apple’s iTunes software.
An iPod can hold upwards to 15,000 songs, they come in several formats from
very basic models to models that have huge drives and can store and view your
pictures and Videos as well.
Of course, many other companies sell Portable Music Players, one thing to be
aware of is the file format that they use.
• The most common file format of this type is MP3. MP3’s have been around a long time and can take a stan-
dard CD song and convert it from its 50-60 megabytes size down to 3-4 megabytes. This is very important
when trying to get as many songs stored on your computer or portable MP3 player as possible. Even though
the files are much smaller then their original CD files, they sound almost as good. Most people are not even
able to tell them apart!
• Another popular file format is AAC (this is the default iPod/iTunes choice), which is a newer file format,
than MP3 and has the ability to create files the same size as MP3’s but with greater sound quality.
• The last most common file format used primarily on Windows based computers is WMA. This is Microsoft’s
proprietary format that and is pair with their Windows Media Player software.
When purchasing a portable Music/Audio player you need to consider the software and formats you are plan-
ning to use for that the portable Music/Audio player to be compatible.
For example, an iPod can not play WMA files, the solution is to convert your WMA files to either MP3 or
AAC so they can be used in iTunes with your iPod.
Some people do not want to sacrifice size for quality and would prefer to save their songs in an uncompressed
format.
File formats designed to retain the original high quality of a song or audio file are WAV and AIFF
• Computer Programs
Computer programs take advantage of today’s very powerful systems that can turn your computer into a pro-
fessional Recording Studio. When going with this option you will have to consider different configurations
that include Audio Cards and choice of a Software Program. There will be some initial setup with this choice.
• My favorite setup is a powerful laptop with a good quality external Sound/Audio Interface.
The best part is its portability. I can use the entire screen to view and edit my songs as well as
use my laptop for many other non music/Audio related tasks.
Applications
A simple analogy would be to compare a computer Application to a Program on a TV, you can have the best
TV, but if you do not subscribe to a cable or satellite service then you are probably not getting good value. Not
everyone needs the same Programs-Applications, some need very few and others require many. This is similar
to a persons TV viewing needs, basic cable is great for some but not all.
• Word Processing
• Internet Browsing
• Internet Chat
• Picture importing-organizing-editing
• Gaming
• Data Base
When looking to purchase an Application-Program you need to be aware of a few things. Firstly, what operat-
ing system OS will I be using? Secondly, Do I need to be compatible with other people using a similar Pro-
gram? Just because two Programs are geared towards the same purpose does not mean they save files in the
same format. A good rule of thumb is to avoid the bargain Programs. They may seem like a good deal but you
may find them inadequate later on and end up purchasing a higher quality Program requiring you to relearn it’s
new format-features.
Generally speaking, better Programs can be found for most operating systems and share the same file formats,
this makes sharing and sending files from one computer to another very easy, even if one is a Mac and one is
PC.
Word Processing
•Write a Letter.
•Design Newsletters.
•Make a Presentation.
•Organize Data.
Desktop Publishing is also a form of Word Processing but usually refers to the design and print-
ing side and in most cases depend highly on Graphics. Desktop Publishers incorporate a combi-
nation of writing, graphics and design to create virtually all of the media we see in today’s print
like magazines, newspapers, posters, books, manuals and even Web-pages to name a few.
Most of the business world is using Microsoft Office for Word Processing, Microsoft Of-
fice has definitely set the standard for Word Processing but not everyone needs all of it’s
features. If your needs are basic and you will not be presenting or working with data then a
program like Microsoft Works would be a great inexpensive, yet still compatible choice.
There are also many other programs similar to Microsoft Office that can do most of the same
tasks and use the same file formats. For example: most Apple systems come with a version of
AppleWorks which is Apple’s easy to use Word Processing application that can do most of what
Microsoft Office’s Word Processing suit does. Apple Works can even read and write Microsoft's
Office files so computability is not an issue.
As with any program, make sure you consider whether you need to have full compatibility
with others so sending and reading files with friends, family or business associates will go
smoothly. Even different versions of the same program may not be fully compatible.
• INTERNET
Find information on anything you can imagine 24/7.
Buy-Sell-Shop-Auction from the comfort of home.
Monitor bank accounts and pay bills without a teller.
• EMAIL
Instantly send messages and files anywhere in the world.
Check your e-mailbox from any Internet connected computer.
Avoid postage and paper related management.
• NETWORKING
Connect to the Internet with or without wires.
Connect and share information with multiple computers at home-business.
Connect phones and video cameras to the Internet via your Network.
So an intersection (Hub) without traffic lights (Router) would cause a pile up of cars (Data).
Most consumer Routers have built in Hubs so all you would need is the one device to complete your Network.
So how does the Router manage all of the traffic going thru it? It assigning a unique address to each computer
so information can be directed specifically to it. A great analogy is to compare the Internet to a major highway,
the Router connects the roads to the highway and all of the (Computers) represent houses within a subdivision
controlled by the Router. Each house (Computer) with its own address.
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The most effective way to keep out unwanted Guests is to use a Firewall. A Firewall is similar to a gate like in
our Subdivision analogy. The Firewall or Gate keeps hackers and snoops out. Firewalls can be either software
based (Using your computer OS software settings) or hardware based (a physical device). A Router has the abil-
ity to be used as a hardware based Firewall by turning on this feature.
How did we get the Internet? It was developed in the 60’s for use in
Military and Scientific information sharing and at that time was called the
Arponet. In the 70’s email was developed using the @ sign to link a users
name with an address. In the mid 90’s the Internet went public, this is
when the World Wide Web explosion all started.
How do we tap into this Internet Network? This is done through an ISP (Internet Service Provider). The most
common and efficient way is by using a Cable Modem or DSL Modem. Both of these connections are consid-
ered high speed and will utilize the Ethernet Port (RJ45) on your computer if using a wired type of connection.
It is also possible to connect to your modem wirelessly by using a wireless modem or also by adding a wireless
Router. (For more on this go to the chapter on WiFi)
If you want to keep the cost down and do not need a fast Internet connection then you can opt for a regular dial
up Internet Service Provider (ISP). In this case, you use the regular phone-modem port on your computer and
plug directly into the same phone jack that your home phone uses.
Most of us are now aware of what the Internet has to offer and if you are reading this document, you more than
likely have been using the Internet to some degree for email and Web browsing.
Email is also a great tool for business; speeding up the whole process
and making it possible to archive all of our information for later refer-
ence. Sometimes it can all be overwhelming, many people spend hours
a day replying to personal and business related email. Do not forget to
go outside for some fresh air!
Email also brings the threat of virus attach so always be aware of what you are opening, it may not be what it
seems? With all of the welcome email, you will also receive the inevitable Junk email, most email programs
have filters that try to weed out as many of these uninvited solicitations. A good rule of thumb is never open an
email if you do not know the sender.
• Give you more access to Internet Connections even away from home.
• Wirelessly Control, Sync and send Info between Phones, PDA’s, Computers, Printers and other Devices.
What makes WiFi a bit different is that unlike a cordless phone that needs
it’s paired base station to work, a WiFi equipped computer can detect WiFi
Base Stations/Routers and pair with them as needed. This makes WiFi very
flexible, it can be used at home, business, airports, cafe’s and other hotspots.
WiFi uses the same RF Radio Frequencies that many cordless phones use, primarily 2.4 Gigahertz. In some
situations, you may have to play with the channels on your phone or WiFi system to prevent them from interfer-
ing with with each other. The most common WiFi types are 802.11B and 802.11G, B being older and slower
then G but both being able to work on either network. If you have an 802.11B WiFi device don’t be concerned
about its speed limitations; it is still faster than most Internet connections can achieve. The main advantage to an
802.11G device is its ability to send and receive information between other computer systems almost 4 times
faster then an 802.11B device can. WiFi typically has a range of up to 150 feet indoors and 300 feet outdoors
which can be extended with the proper antennas.
Once you get used to the freedom of having a Wireless enabled computer it is hard to go back to a wired one.
Just try going back to a corded phone and see how long you last!
Bluetooth is designed so that once devices are paired to each other, they will automatically connect
when they are within range. Just imagine being able to have your cell phone in your jacket pocket
and still be able to open up your laptop and surf the Web using your cell phones Internet capabili-
ties over BT. The same can be done with a GPS (Global Positioning System).
Other advantages of Bluetooth are low power consumption, compatibility and ease of use.
VoIP works by linking your phone to your Internet connection. It does this by using a
special Router that allows you to plug in a standard analog phone. The Router then
converts the analog information into digital information which can then be sent over the
Internet to another VoIP or standard phone.
You are actually using VoIP when talking to friends and family with programs like
MSN Messenger or Skype. These programs take advantage of VoIP technology and can
even do it free when tapping into an available Internet connection and computer.
What is the main difference between MSN, Skype type VoIP and other dedicated phone based VoIP systems?
Dedicated VoIP systems allow other people to call you at a specific assigned phone number just like a conven-
tional phone. With MSN and Skype accounts you can only be contacted to your computer via your user name
and only from another computer based caller. This is not always practical for home or business?
VoIP Pros
• Greatly reduced or eliminated long distance charges.
• Dedicated phone number that is portable and can be used anywhere a high-speed Internet con-
nection is available.
• Have the option of choosing a phone number from a different geographical area for business or
family related reasons.
VoIP Cons
• If your Internet goes down, so does your phone.
• AIO’s take up less space on your desk with less complicated cables.
Printers. The two most popular printing technologies are Ink Jet-Ink Based and Laser-Toner Based.
Ink Jets are usually less expensive and more versatile then a Laser Printer but can cost more per page when
Printing in bulk and will also take longer to Print then a laser. On the other hand Ink Jets will Print amazing
photo quality Prints that rival the quality of a photo lab. High end photo Printers can even turn out poster size
photo Prints that look like they where Printed professionally at a fraction of the cost.
Laser Printers are fast, inexpensive per page to operate and are designed to Print large quantities with little or
no interaction or maintenance needed. Laser Printers can also print in color but are best suited for color flyers
and brochures rather then photos. Initial cost of a Laser Printer is higher then an Ink Jet but the price gap is
closing. If you have a home business this is a great choice for cost effective Print marketing!
AIO’s come in both Ink Jet and Laser with pricing ranging from Dirt Cheap to Go Get a Bank Loan. AIO’s
will generally not have all of the high end features of a dedicated Printer or Scanner, for the majority of cus-
tomers there will be more features than you will need with excellent overall quality. Most Printers and AIO’s
usually have the ability to Print right form a digital camera using the built in card reader slots.
Stand alone Scanners take up a very small market because of the success of AIO’s that have scanners built into
them. If you have very specific photo negative or slide Scanning needs then you may want to consider a dedi-
cated stand alone Scanner because of the high DPI (Dots Per Square Inch) scanning ability which is vital for
small images that need to be magnified many times their original size for viewing and Printing.
A Console Gaming System is a computer designed with one purpose, to Game. Many of the internal compo-
nents are the same as an actual computer but have a more limited usage that generally only includes Gaming
functions.
Why are Console games so popular when you can also use your home computer for similar Games? Ease of
use is a huge advantage to using a Console Game. There is virtually no setup or configuration needed, this
means instant uninterrupted Gaming pleasure. When Gaming on a computer system you have to consider if it
is fast enough for the Games requirements, you may even need to purchase a higher quality graphics card or
your Game will not run fast enough. Computer Games usually also involve more in depth setup and settings
adjustment to customize the Game for your computer system.
In general Console Gaming takes place from the comfort of your couch and can even take advantage of your
large screen HDTV and sound system. On a computer it is usually done from your computer desk and chair. I
would rather be on my couch kicking back with some friends!
Console Games tend to stay current for several years before a major redesign happens. There is less pressure to
upgrade as often for the latest and greatest and you will get more from your investment.
• Microsoft's XBox
XBox is known for its superior graphics and excellent XBox Live game play.
(XBox Live is a subscription based Internet Multiplayer option)
PlayStation 2 has a great selection of Game Titles, is well priced and is backwards
compatible with earlier PlayStation 1 Games giving you more selection.
Game Cube seems to focus more on Game Playability rather then over the top graph-
ics. Game Cube also features more children suitable Games than the other systems that
target an adult audience.
As a final Note. If you love gaming and find it hard to break yourself away form your Gaming Console, then
you may want to consider an ultra small Portable Game Station like Sony’s PSP or the Nintendo DS. You can
put either one in your pocket and play them any time you want.
Computer Systems
Processing
CPU Central Processing Unit
GPU Graphics Processing Unit
MHz Megahertz
GHz Gigahertz
Memory
GB Gigabyte
MB Megabyte
Ram Random Access Memory
Rom Read Only Memory
HD Hard Drive
CD Compact Disk
CDR Compact Disk Recordable
CDRW Compact Disk ReWritable
DVD Digital Versatile Disc (formerly Digital Video Disc)
DVDR Digital Versatile Disc Recordable
DVDRW Digital Versatile Disc ReWritable
Video
VGA Video Graphics Array (640 by 480 pixels; 1.33:1 aspect ratio)
SVGA Super Video Graphics Adapter (800 by 600 pixels; 1.33:1 aspect ratio)
XGA eXtended Graphics Array (1024 by 768 pixels; 1.33:1 aspect ratio)
DVI Digital Visual Interface
HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface
S-VIDEO Separated Video (same as Y/C, Luminance and Chrominance)
Connections - Ports
USB Universal Serial Bus
Cat5 Category 5 UTP Cable (used for connecting computer networks)
RJ45 Registered Jack - 45 (8 wire connector used in networking)
PS2 Personal System 2 (IBM PC and a connector format)
WiFi Wireless Fidelity
802.11B Wireless LAN Equipment Standard update (2.4GHz band, nominal 11Mbps data)
802.11G Wireless LAN Equipment Standard update (2.4GHz band, nominal 54Mbps data)
802.11A IEEE Wireless LAN Standard (IP over Ethernet, uses 5GHz band, nominal 54Mbps data)
BT BlueTooth (wireless personal area networking technology)
Audio -Ports
RCA Radio Corporation of America
SPDIF Sony-Philips Digital Interface Format
COAX Coaxial Cable
Software
OS Operating System
OSX Macintosh Operating System X (Apple Computer, Inc.)
XP Experience (Microsoft Windows XP)
UNIX Uniplexed Information and Computing System
LINUX Linus Torvald's UNIX (flavor of UNIX for PCs)
APP Application
GUI Graphical User Interface
WYSYWIG What You See Is What You Get
Cellular - GPS
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications (cellular phone technology)
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
TDMA Time Division Multiple Access
GPS Global Positioning System
JPG Graphics file type/extension (lossy compressed 24 bit color image storage format developed by the Joint
Photographic Experts Group)
GIF Graphic Interchange Format (file extension)
TIF/TIFF Tagged Image File Format (graphics/image file format/extension)
BMP Bitmap (file name extension)
PICT Photoprotective Iron Chelator Technology
PNG Portable Network Graphics (graphic file standard/extension)
PDF Portable Document Format (Adobe Acrobat)
PSD (Adobe) Photoshop Data file (Extension)
DV Digital Video
HD High Definition
HDV High Definition Video
MOV QuickTime Movie (file extension)
AVI Audio Video Interleaved
MPG MPEG format file (file name extension)
MPEG4 Motion Picture Experts Group 4
WMV Windows Media Video
ASF Advanced Streaming Format (Microsoft file extension)
FPS Frames Per Second
SD Secure Digital
MMC Multi Media Card
CF Compact Flash (solid state memory technology)
XD Extreme Digital (memory card used by Fuji Film and Olympus)
Devices
AIO All in One
PDA Personal Digital Assistant (electronic handheld information device)