The Pocket Yoga is a concept netbook by Lenovo that looks like it has been exactly designed to fit in a pocket and Lenovo claims it as a back pocket notebook dedicatedly for males. However, it is still just a concept, but the dazzling ultra-widescreen and touch sensitive display has really made the notebook an extraordinary piece. Additionally, the display can flip around when you want your notebook in a tablet mode. The keyboard is deigned keeping the ease of use in mind for the users. The belt clasp system is another noticeable feature since the belt will be able to turn into a mouse.
Portable workbooks with various features and brands are ever-increasingly popping up everyday and designers are still looking to introduce more functional gadgets. Smartbook is a concept design by Freescale who has specially made six prototypes with a wide range of features. These modular mini-notebooks are based on ARM processors and emphasize on enhanced super-long battery life in order to fit in different usage patterns. These compact smartbooks, with brilliant look, durable made and great functionality, will meet the growing need of handy ultra-portables with all the required attributes and ambience. These concepts didn’t get a hardware version yet but are expecting to adapt quite a big part of portable gadget markets.
Looking to buy a new desktop personal computer system? This guide covers many of the basic items to examine when comparing desktop computer systems so that you can make an informed purchasing decision। Due to the changing nature of the PC Hardware industry, this guide will be periodically updated. Links are provided below each topic for a more detailed discussion on that subject.
Processors (CPUs)
Processor choices are a bit more difficult now than they were before। It is still really a choice between an AMD and an Intel processor. The difference really comes in how many cores there are in the processor and its relative speed. Each company now has a performance rating system that isn't really easy to compare. Due to the complexity, its best to refer to my links below for a more detailed explanation of CPUs for budget and uses.
Memory (RAM)
Most desktop computers now use a type of memory called DDR2। DDR3 is now finally making its way to PC systems but it is more expensive. In terms of amount, it is best to have at least 2GB of memory in the system and preferably 4GB. Memory speeds can impact performance as well. The faster the memory, the better the performance should be. When buying memory, try to buy as few DIMMs as possible to allow for future memory upgrades if needed.
Hard Drives
Hard drives really boil down to size and speed। The larger the drive and the faster, the better the performance and capacity. In a desktop, it is best to have at least 500GB or more of storage space these days. In terms of speed, they are pretty much all running at 7200rpm now. A few high performance 10,000rpm drives are available. Most drives use the Serial ATA interface now for ease of installation.
Optical Drives (CD/DVD/Blu-ray)
Most systems sold now feature DVD burners, even the budget systems। It is best to make sure that you get a multiformat DVD burner that can support both the +R/RW and -R/RW formats. Speeds should be 16x for the recordable speed. Dual or Double Layer media support is also a common feature although less likely to be used due to media cost. Options also include LightScribe or Labelflash support for burning labels directly to compatible media. Blu-ray is an option for those wanting to use their PC for the high definition video format.
Video Cards
Video card technology seems to change every three to six months। If you aren't really doing any 3D graphics at all, then integrated graphics may be just fine. Beyond this, there are a wide selection of cards. Things to consider include performance, the amount of memory on the card, output connectors and the version of Direct X supported. Those looking to do any gaming should really consider a Direct X 10 card with at least 512MB of memory onboard. Pretty much all new systems will use the PCI-Express graphics standard.
Extrenal Connectors
Many upgrades and peripherals to computers now connect through external interfaces instead of internal cards। Check to see how many and what type of external ports are available on the computer for use with future peripherals. Look for systems that have both USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 or FireWire ports. It should have at least six USB 2.0 connectors and one FireWire ports. Many times media card readers that support various different flash memory cards for peripherals are also inlcluded.
Monitors
What good is a desktop PC unless it also has a monitor? Previously users would need to choose between a CRT or LCD monitor, but LCDs are pretty much the standard now because of their reduced size and power consumption. The real issue is more about size and cost of the LCDs. The price difference between 19-inch and 22-inch models make 22-inch the best overall value although 24-inch models are quickly dropping in price. Most all screens use the wider 16:10 format but some are now being released with a near 2:1 ratio best suited for movie watching.
Windows 7 will be released around late October or early November. Based on what I have researched, it will be released at exactly October 22, 2009. Windows 7 Release Candidate can still be downloaded on Microsoft’s website. However after the release of the Windows 7, the Windows 7 Release Candidate will not be able to receive updates from Microsoft and support.
Windows 7 have greater features than Windows Vista. And based on people’s review on Windows 7 Release candidate, it is just like Windows Vista however the speed is like Windows XP. Here are some of the Top Features of Windows 7:
* Desktop – Introducing improved taskbar previews, bigger icons, pinning, and creative ways to personalize.
* HomeGroup – Takes the headache out of home networking, so it’s easier to share files and printers.
* Jump Lists – Speedy access to your favorite pictures, songs, websites, and documents.
* Snap – A quick (and fun) new way to resize and compare windows on your desktop.
* Windows Live Essentials – Must-have software for your PC—free! Get Mail, Photo Gallery, and other favorites.
* Windows Search – At last, searching your PC is as simple as searching the web.
* Performance improvements – It’s designed to sleep and resume quicker, be less memory hungry, and spot USB devices faster.
* Full 64-bit support – Windows 7 makes the most of powerful 64-bit PCs, the new desktop standard.
* Power management – New power-saving features are designed to help laptops run longer.
* Easier wireless networking – Windows 7 gets you online quicker, so you can work anywhere.
* Windows Media Center – Watch, record, and pause live TV (additional hardware required).
* Windows Touch – With Windows 7 and a touch-sensitive screen (additional hardware required), you don’t always need a keyboard or mouse.
I appreciate now Windows have totally realized that Windows Vista is really a memory hug Operating System. What I heard from my friend, this Operating System can run on an old Personal Computer. That means that Windows 7 is really fast and reliable Operating System. I still wait until it will be released so I can use the full features for Windows 7.
I have seen for many non tech PC users its a real headache as with ever growing PC / Windows vulnerability threats, How can one protect their windows ??
To many, it seems a really huge task with so many heavy computer terms, such as Malware / SpyWare / BOTs / Browser hijackers / Adware / Worms, Virus, and so on…
What really threatens your PC ??
To sum up the question the one word answer is Malwares and malicious softwares… Any software which is designed to harm your PC is called Malware… All this names, Virus, Worm, Spyware, Adware, BOTs, Spam, etc are all malwares…
Where as, when a software design to carry out certain tasks, which may harm your PC but is not deployed with that intention can be called a malicious software…
For example IP sniffers, or PORT scanners…
So what do these terms mean ??
Virus / Worms>> They are the most nasty ones… They are designed with purpose to deleting information on your PC and to harm your PC… Virus / Worm used to be a major threat in computer history, these softwares were mainly designed by students to test their ability… Computer studies shows us that all major virus writers were teenager, good student and without dates meaning frustration and having a lot of time in hand…
These virus writters didn’t have any financial benefit for their work… They did it mostly to prove point…
However in recent times, the AIM has evolved, we don’t find any virus coming from those scattered computer students with aim to prove something… its now a complete industry…
Virus writing is now organised crime… Todays worms, viruses are more keen on disabling your computers defenses or to take control of it to let the Spywares to their JOB and then use your PC and contact information to infect many other on the Network (Internet / or Local)…
Spywares>> They are the primary concern of all security professionals… These softwares are designed to infect a PC to steal information from it, such as your Email ID and its password, contact information, financial information and then use your Internet connection to transmit these data to its creator…
Spywares dont target all of your digital data, the main purpose is to find and obtain data which can help to earn money from it… For example the financial data, such as, your credit card information, bank account details, if you work in a higher post of a valuable company then those details…
In todays world, Spywares cause more damage than any other malware…
Adwares>> Once again the aim is to earn money with this malware… As it sounds this type of software are used for advertising needs…. Advertising sector is also one of the highest to spend money on forcing product to people…
Adwares infect your PC and would use it to throw up unwanted advertisements…
Often the Spyware / Adwares are identified as TrojanDownloader or TrojanHorse !!
Spam >> What is a spam ?? On technical term, Spam is a piece of unwanted information given shown or given forcefully to you via a source of communication… SPAM is every where, originally started as unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE)it is now under every communication means… Every day we receive unsolicited commercial communications as Email / SMS / Phone Calls / IM Chats / Blog messages / Forum Posts / even by mail !!!
Aim of this is also advertisement of a certain product…
One may wonder why is it called SPAM ?? as technically its unsolicited commercial e-mail which leads to UCE….
One story believed by many, in US, back in late 1930, one company named Hormel Foods Corporation launched a new item called SPAM which was canned, precooked meat… To sell this product the company lead an advertisement campaign in which they filled all the residential letter boxes with their pamphlet of SPAM… As it was unwanted, therefore the story ended up in this mean…. Read more on wiki
Web Fraud>> This is mainly done not at your PC rather via mean of the above mentioned threats but at server end… For example you receive an email from your credit card company asking you to visit a certain web page to enter your credit card number and banking password and such details… 10 out of 10 times you can be sure that this is a spam which is trying to get information for web fraud… as no Credit Card company would ever ask any customer to do so…
So the big question, How do one protect him / her self from this threats ??
I would try to list few basic steps on Guide to windows protection from Online threats… The main factor which will protect you from these threats, is a better knowledge about the threats…
In above I have tried to provide simple facts with as easy technical details as possible… However feel free to read more on the subject to gather more knowledge !!!
Next is, after you get a Windows PC / Notebook or you install Windows, try and follow bellow basic tips…
Avoiding malwares…
Get your self a good Antivirus software which can be free or paid software… Few free options are AVAST / AVG, where as paid solution would come from Kaspersky / ESeT (NOD32) / Symantec (Norton)…
The trick is, what ever AVS you use, always keep the auto protect turned on and try to keep the Antivirus always uptodate by downloading and installing latest updates for the software… Most of the mentioned AVS (AntiVirus System) would have auto update feature…
Install an antispyware software… To save your self from Spyware / Adware threats you may obtain and install AntiSpyware solutions… For example though its a free software but still Spyware Search n Distroyis one of the best anti-spyware among all… For information Windows Vista comes with its own Antispyware solution called Windows Diffender !!!
Use a firewall to avoid Adwares and such infection…. Windows Vista comes with inbuilt host based firewall, therefore by default you have a protection how ever you may use any 3rd party option also with it…
Most of the major security software companies would have product called Internet Security !!! For example Kaspersky Internet Security…. This products contain solution for all your security needs, like an antivirus, antispyware, adblocker, firewall, antispam….
Therefore for your ease you may purchase an Internet security… Few recommended would be Kaspersky / Norton / NOD32 Internet Security….
Always update your Operating system and other softwares…. If you are an windows user then make sure, you visit Microsoft Update service to obtain all updates for your Windows and other Microsoft products… and onwards make sure you keep the auto update on !!! Also if you use 3rd party browser such as, Firefox, Opera, make sure you update them also on reguler basis… !!!
In one short sentence, to protectyour PC / Notebook/ Windows based system, get your self an Antivirus / Anti Spyware / Firewall, or a all in all Internet security, and keep them up to date along with your Windows…
If you just follow these basic steps, you can keep your PC / Notebook free and protected from any threats… !!
How about Web Frauds… How do you actually protect your self from Web Frauds ??
As I said earlier, the main fact which will save you from many problem is more knowledge on the subject !!!
Mainly with web frauds, what is targeted is your confidential data, for example, bank account details, Email / e-banking password and details, credit card info…
So identify the email or message which is asking you for these details, as I said your bank (what ever it is) will never ask you for your personal details over email.. When ever you are about to use your confidential banking data, make sure you are on either in the bank’s own web site (look up on your address bar) or in a trusted web site which as proper SSL certification (https://www.website.com)… Most of the times the fraud web site may look same as the original banks web site, but Usually the URLs (the address) are different…
So the bottom line is, never input any confidential information on a unknown web site, and even on a known site, enter only if you find the address as https:// ….
Hope this few steps would help you to keep your self safe from online security threats… !!!
If you are searching for an easy to use color printer that prints great quality photo prints, all at a relatively low price, then you’ll love the HP PhotoSmart p1000 ink-jet printer. The PhotoSmart p1000 is a great printer if you’re looking to print photos from your digital camera. You’ll enjoy the built in memory card slot that this printer has-you can completely bypass the computer if you just want to print out some of your digital photos. Photo printing enthusiasts will also enjoy using the special 4 X 6 inch paper tray that the p1000 has. Unlike most printers that specialize in photo printing, this printer also does a great job printing text. Do be aware that ink cartridges for the HP PhotoSmart p1000 are pretty costly and also keep in mind that there are quieter and more compact color printers on the market. But if size or noise isn’t an issue, then hurry up a buy this printer while they are still being made.
The terabyte race for consumer desktop hard drives has been on for a long time, now the first generation of drives is here. On April 25th, Hitachi announced that it would begin shipping the Deskstar 7K1000, their latest series of consumer hard drives, weighting in at 750GB and a monstrous 1000GB (1TB). The 1TB version which we are reviewing today is slated at $399, a serious price tag for this colossal amount of storage.
The Deskstar 7K1000 represents a milestone for Hitachi and for the hard drive industry as a whole, as it is the first drive to offer a 1 terabyte capacity. Honestly, I expected that it would be Seagate who would deliver the first 1TB hard drive since they were the first to reach the 500GB mark. However, Hitachi has not simply grabbed five 200GB platters and stuck them together to create a 1TB hard drive. Rather, there is much more to the Deskstar 7K1000, such as its Serial ATA II interface and the massive 32MB memory buffer. This is also the first desktop Hitachi drive to feature PMR technology (Perpendicular Magnetic Recording).
Perpendicular recording is said to deliver up to 10x the storage density of longitudinal recording, on the same recording media. There was some interest in using the system in floppy disks in the 1980s, but the technology was never reliable. Today, there is renewed interest in using it for hard drives, which are rapidly reaching their fundamental limits.
Current hard disk technology with longitudinal recording has an estimated limit of 100 to 200GB per square inch due to the superparamagnetic effect, though this estimate is constantly changing. Perpendicular recording is predicted to allow information densities of up to around 1TB/sq. inch.
Depending on how you see it, this 1TB Hitachi is realistically a 935.5 GB hard drive. Operating systems such as Windows use the binary approach to measure capacity. Hard drive manufacturers measure capacity using a decimal system instead, which means a single kilobyte equals 1000 bytes (the binary approach measures one kilobyte to equal 1024 bytes). Hard drive manufacturers have been using the decimal system as a form of advertising because it allows them to claim larger capacities. The issue of whether or not this is ethical can be argued, but these days it has just been accepted the way things are.
