» Computer Hardware

Classifying Different Kinds of RAM

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:05:21 +0000

I bet you often hear the term “RAM” when talks about computers arise. Well, if you have not the slightest idea of what it is, RAM is the accelerator of your PC. The computer depends on the RAM on how fast and how strong your computer will perform in every process. It is the RAM that acquires all functions and carries it out. The way your media player’s visualization goes, the speed of the games you play, and the open/close of the windows you access all depend on the RAM’s performance. To make it short, RAM is vital.

RAM has different kinds. Here are the types of RAM in chronological order:

• SD RAM – This stands for single data RAM. This is the oldest type of RAM. Most of these have gone obsolete and/or broken. Since the appearance of DDRs (double data rate), these have fled from the scene. Now that these are talks of the past, this should never be your least of concerns.

• DDR2 RAM – This stands for Double Data Rate 2 RAM. This has better speed, better performance, and better everything compared to SD RAM. This is still out in the market. Some computers still run on this type of memory. If you are a bit short on budget, then this option may be viable. Although saving up for a DDR3 will be much better.

• DDR3 RAM – This stands for Double Data Rate 3 RAM. This is the latest development of RAM. This is the fastest and strongest hardware that can perform a lot of tasks. If you are to have your first computer in a few weeks or so, you should avail of this as your RAM. That way, you become up-to-date with technology and thus will not experience setbacks from different software’s minimum system requirements for quite some time.

How to Choose a Barcode Scanner

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:03:44 +0000

In buying a barcode scanner, it is important to check first a few factors before buying the item right away. Here is a quick rundown of the characteristics you should check before purchasing a scanner:

• Scan Range – This is simply a choice between linear imagers or laser ones. Basically, it will be better to choose linear if the image’s distance is below 18 inches. If it goes the other way around, pick laser.

• Barcode Types – Most scanners have a general ability to scan certain types of barcodes. This is usually comprised of Codes 39 and 128 along with EAN/UPC. The latest linear image scanners have the best output in codes with higher densities in X-dimensions from 2 to 5 mil and between 10 to 20 mil up to 8 inches of barcode width.

• Environment – You should pick a scanner with a standard ABS plastic casing if you plan to use it only in retail application. But if you plan to use the scanner for warehouse applications, better get a harder casing which is more durable.

• Computer Screen Barcodes – Linear imagers are better options if you plan to scan more barcodes from the monitor rather than having these printed out.

• Performance – Of course the performance is the main factor for your judgment. This is the overall result of how the scanner functions. Here you judge the scanning zone, the range, and the neatness of the scanner’s job. Linear imagers are most suitable for flat surfaces, as these scan when the scanner’s nose detects the code. Some of these may scan within 2 inches, while some can go up to 18 inches.

These are the factors that one must check before making a purchase of barcode scanners. Be sure to consult this short list before making any purchases.

Choosing the Best CD-R

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 08:02:24 +0000

CD-Rs are vital nowadays that technology has become more and more advanced. But many CDs fail to be excellent in performing its job. There are cases of errors during recording or opening the recorded files; but it is worse when you know not just the money you have wasted, but also the data, time, and effort you have put in it.

Most often, such errors are caused by poor quality of the CD-Rs you acquire. Substandard procedure of manufacturing and low-quality anti-scratch coating is usually the case. Some CDs are even imbalanced that damages not only the disc itself but also the player/recorder.

This is enough reason for you to think about the CD-R you would buy. By now, you should realize that getting substandard CDs have the risk to be potentially dangerous to your system, particularly to your CD/DVD-RW drive. For sure, a new disk drive is more expensive than buying quality CDs right? So make it a habit to invest in quality and reliable CD-R brands such as JVC, Memorex, Everest, MPO, Taiyo Yuden, etc.

Moreover, you should consider the burning speed of your drive. The speed of the drive should match the speed capability of the disk. Take this as an example; a disk drive that has the capability to do up to 52-x should have a disk that can withstand the same capability. It’s as simple as that.

The labeling method should also be checked. Buy CDs that have blank faces if you have direct-to-CD type. Additionally, there are CDs that are made for other types of printing like thermal printing. Consider this factor.

For storage, place CDs in individual cases if you need them individually and you have to access them more often. But if you have more general CDs such as CDs of mp3s and movies, then getting a spindle will save money and space.

Making Printer Cartridges Eco-Friendly

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:02:00 +0000

Amidst these days of climate change, people have been brought to a state of awareness that the environment should be taken care of. It is about time that we move to a period of where we are environmentally aware of the consequences of our actions. This is why that even in the computer industry, manufacturers have started to become eco-friendly.
Printers fail to execute printing jobs when the toner level is lower than the operating level. The cartridge, however, will contain residues that may not be toxic, but is still considered to be a pollutant.

As there is still quite a huge number of computer users and owners who utilize printer cartridges, organizations and groups have risen and took on the liberty of providing people ways on how the printer cartridges can help preserve the environment. These groups are very helpful not only in saving mother earth but also in helping you save a lot of money.

You can make your printer cartridge eco-friendly too. One way of doing so is by purchasing compatible or recycled printer cartridges. This is very affordable if you will compare it to branded cartridges. You can buy such cartridges via the internet. However, if you wish, you may opt to buy from your manufacturers. Branded cartridges are of assured quality and printing will definitely be a lot better. Examples of brands that supply cartridges are HP, Dell, Lexmark, Epson, Brother, Canon, and other brands in the market.

If you are worrying about the safety of your printer with regards to recycled cartridges, then worry no more. Regardless of your manufacturer’s warning of reusing cartridges, your printer is actually safe even with recycled cartridges. That is, if the cartridge you got is perfectly compatible to your printer model. That way, you are guaranteed that the printer is safe.

Optical Digital Audio Cables

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:19:13 +0000

Regardless of what you are doing with your computer – whether chilling with your mp3s or playing your first-person shooting game – sound plays a vital role in enhancing your computer experience. We all know that rapid development brings about new technology every few weeks; which is why even in sound systems, conventional speakers have lost their charm with the emergence of powerhouse home theatre surround sound systems.

However, most people fail to understand the difference of “good” audio from “excellent” audio as not all people are audiophiles who are so conscious about the sound their speakers modulate. But, the sound could only be “perfect” if your cables are fit for the job you give them. Of course all of this should be attained with as less dollars spent as possible, which is why optical digital audio cables prove to be the best option around.

The cables are the ones responsible for the audio quality your speakers produce. So, sound quality relies on the cables regardless of the speakers’ size. Remember that the cables are the transmitters of the signal that the speakers just modulate. So, better cables mean better sound. Optical digital audio cables break this rule. These cables are clear and very resistant to interferences coming from surrounding-related disturbances.

Conventional cables usually have quite poor insulation – this is the problem with these cables. The poor insulation jeopardizes the sound quality of the speakers’ output because disturbances affect the cable. It is no question that the quality is good, but it definitely is not excellent. With the boom of home theatre systems, everyone wants perfect sound experience, which optical digital audio cables are able to augment. The bright side of this new invention on cables is the resistance in the cable to ward off outside disturbances from interfering with the audio transmission. It utilizes light to transmit signals. Additionally, it is not technical which enables the common computer owner to install it with ease.

Setting Up Small Networks

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:52:30 +0000

When you say “small computer network”, it means that it is a set of computers (two to ten units) that is interconnected. The advantage of this network is quite tremendous. By setting up home or office computer networks, you get to save on a lot of things, namely, resources, energy, and space. Plus, setting up one network can be pretty easy especially with the guidance of the Windows Installation Guide.

Primarily, the network should have a central device (aka server) which would be the heart of the whole network. The central device will be the main computer connected directly to the internet. Now when the computer has been selected and the wires are all set up properly and connected to their proper places, we should go to the central device and do the following steps:

Open the Start menu.
Right click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Go to Name.

After doing the four steps above, rename your computer with a new short name and then press change. After that, set up a name for the would-be workgroup of the network (in the workgroup box). The computer will then welcome you with a box saying the creation of the new workgroup. Reboot your computer.

Now that the central device is already selected and set up, you may now add the additional computer/s to be connected to the network. Here’s how it’s done:

Go to Network Locations.
Go to Install Home Network.
Click “This computer is connected to the internet through a home port or another computer”.
Describe the computer using the same workgroup name of the central device.
Activate “Common Use of Folders, Archives, and Printers”.
The internet connection will then be configured (wait until it’s done).
Create a network installment disk.

Then you will just have to redo the process again for all other computers to be included in the network.

Deciding Whether to Upgrade or Purchase A New Computer

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:54:04 +0000

To upgrade or to buy is a very important and oftentimes confusing question that computer owners ask themselves. Basically, either way can be advantageous. Either way can work well for you. The decision is vital, yet making the right move can be downright confusing.

A brand new computer is way more expensive than just upgrading the parts. However, a new computer will definitely have the latest technological development and will cater a service that will not be troublesome after a few years or so. However, not all purchases are very much wise. So deciding is really hard. Besides, the new computer will eat up more cash, but then will give the optimal performance every computer owner would want.

On the other hand, upgrading is a whole lot cheaper. Basically, you just buy new parts that would replace the obsolete once. This, however, improves your computer’s performance gradually. It does not guarantee a one-shot huge jump from your computer’s performance before and after as you replace only a few pieces. However, this may encounter troubles with wear and tear.

It’s a matter of weighing down priorities and which one to put first. If you have a pretty good income flow and you can afford a new one, why not buy one? However, if your computer is still pretty recent (say 3 years to 5 years), then there is less advantage because technology has not developed drastically yet. However, the wear and tear problem can be avoided by buying new computers. On the contrary, cash will be saved up on upgrading and can be reserved for newer and better parts.

Take your computer’s situation in consideration. If your computer is serving you for quite a long time, upgrading it will be more costly than buying a new one. Otherwise, just upgrade it. As long as you are not yet too outdated with technological development, stick to upgrading – unless you have the cash for buying a new PC.

The Purpose of Proper Speaker Placement

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:48:46 +0000

The placement of your computer’s speakers affects the whole mood of your experience. This goes not only in gaming but also in just simple playing of your mp3s. Here are a few reasons why it matters:

Quality – The primary job of your speakers is to produce sound that adds up to the totality of your computer experience. Thus, if you jeopardize this, then the main purpose of the speakers has already been invalidated. Basically, you would want your mp3s and game sounds (sound effects, background music, and ambient sounds) to sound as clear and as crisp as possible. So putting the speakers in proper place affects the sound quality. One mistake is putting your speakers towards the wall. It will seem illogical because the sound will just bounce off and later on will have its quality reduced. You want sound quality at its finest, so place your speakers properly.
Aesthetics – After considering the possible sound quality of your speakers, you should then consider the possible appearance of the speakers to your computer’s ambience. You would want to have your speakers placed somewhere that will add up to the computer table’s appearance that will invite you to sit down, work or play, and enjoy. That is one very important factor. The total appearance of the computer’s setup will be the mood setter whether you will work/play in either an enjoying or bored manner.
Space – This is the last important factor you would want to consider. The computer table is not only a computer table. In most cases today, the computer table also serves as the office table, study table, and gaming table. It can have a lot functions. Yet, the computer table cannot hold as much space as the dining table. Therefore, considering space would be a great choice.

Why is the Device ‘Not Recognized’?

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:46:49 +0000

The popup stating “device is not recognized” can be downright annoying. It is as if that you have broken your hardware but you actually have no idea what happened. Well, there can be multiple reasons why this error occurs. Here’s a brief overview of some reasons why the devices cannot be recognized:

Maybe the computer unit or the notebook has been shut down for a long time with the device still plugged in. At first this does not seem to be a problem – well, not until you get the popup. To be honest, it really is not much of a major problem. It’s just that when you shut the computer down for a long time without removing the device, the computer either: needs to be refreshed (from a minuscule lag) or needs to be reconfigured (because the Plug and Play function is not in routine with your system).
Maybe the computer is not in compatible mode. This may cause irregularities. Go to the Add New Hardware of the Control Panel. Switch the computer to “compatible mode”. (Note: This is not usually a solution for USBs as this is usually done with printers, etc.)
Maybe because of recent reformatting. One possible reason is because the computer has been reformatted and it has not been updated yet to a version of its operating system that supports the hardware.

You may resolve this by troubleshooting it yourself. If you think you are knowledgeable enough run the “Device Manager” (type “devmgmt.msc” in “Run”). The Device Manager, obviously, manages all hardware wired to your computer. This can be very useful especially if you have enough computer knowledge to resolve your computer’s issues. Otherwise, leave the problem to experts. Meddling with items in your computer that you have not enough knowledge about may break your computer down, so be careful in troubleshooting.

Wireless Speakers: Pros and Cons

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:30:38 +0000

Wireless speakers are a new innovation of the good old speakers we use for our auditory enjoyment. So if you hate wires, then you can get rid of some of them through this new innovation. There can be two types of wireless speakers. The first one is the radio type which uses radio frequencies to transfer sound. The other one is the infrared type which, as its name suggests, utilizes infrared technology.

The radio type can pass its frequency through walls as it uses the same concept as our regular radio does. However, the signal can be easily interfered by different frequencies especially if there are other appliances activated around (i.e. TV, radio, microwave, etc.). The infrared type, on the other hand, does not care about the number of appliances working simultaneously. However, its range is limited to the sight of the infrared. Thus, if there is a blockade between the speakers, then the sound will be weaker.

Wireless speakers are easy to set-up. It is very free of movement between the speakers (you can take it outdoors as long as it is inside the range of the signal). Typically, you are free of the worries of having your friends and/or family tripping down because of wires.

However, some wireless speakers are not totally wireless. Some still need wire to connect to power supply. If you don’t like this idea, then there are battery-operated wireless speakers. However, the batteries get drained easily and needs replacement every now and then. The frequencies can also be interfered regardless of the speaker using radio or infrared technology. The cost is also higher compared to the usual wired speakers. And lastly, despite the freedom of movement you get with these speakers, the freedom is very limited to the range of the frequencies (especially infrared ones).

» Computer Hardware

Classifying Different Kinds of RAM

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How to Choose a Barcode Scanner

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Choosing the Best CD-R

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Making Printer Cartridges Eco-Friendly

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Optical Digital Audio Cables

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Setting Up Small Networks

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Deciding Whether to Upgrade or Purchase A New Computer

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The Purpose of Proper Speaker Placement

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Why is the Device ‘Not Recognized’?

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Wireless Speakers: Pros and Cons

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