Top Computers for College Students

These were the tips on selecting the best computers for college students. The above configurations were minimum that should be present, because as time passes by more advanced features will be added to laptops or desktops. So, it is wise that you select a product which is loaded with some extra features, so that you don't have to replace the old laptop or desktop within a short period of time.

Dell Studio 15: This is one of the most practical and best laptops for students, as it has got it all. It comes for a price of USD 900. It looks good, has a Core 2 Duo processor, in built 2 mega pixel camera, decent battery life, and a good sound system.

Sony VAIO VGN-FZ280E: It is thin and light, has a Blu-ray compatible writer, Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, and a large 250 GB hard drive.

Apple MacBook: The Macbook is a very good looking laptop, and the prices of this laptop starts at USD 1299. It has a Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, and a 160GB hard disk capacity, which also includes nVidia GeForce 9400M graphics card and a 13 inch display.

Assembled Desktop PC: If you are thinking of buying a desktop PC, then assembling a computer is the best deal for you, as you can pick the individual features you need installed in the machine. Make a list of the must have configurations and other requirement like WiFi, extra USB sockets, extra large hard disk, etc. Talk to a couple of computer stores who assemble desktops, and get an estimate.

Dell XPS One: If you don't want to go for an assembled computer then consider this desktop. Dell XPS One comes with a large 20" high definition wide screen monitor. It has a Core 2 Duo processor, 320 GB hard disk and an ATI Radeon graphics card, with a DVD-RW or Blu-ray optical drive.

iMac: Another good choice of desktop computer is the iMac, which comes with a screen of 20 to 24 inches high resolution monitor. It has a sleek design, and a Core Duo 2 processor up to 3GHz along with nVidia or ATI Radeon graphics card.

This were tips on selecting the best computers for college students. So, select any of the above models which suits your budget, and meet the configuration requirements of a computer that you want.

General Tips on Buying a Home Computer

Here is some technical information that can be a helpful guide to buying a home computer.

· There are various operating systems, such as the Windows Vista and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, which allows a user to avail the facilities of a television through a computer.

· The processor could be a Celeron or a Sempron, if you want to purchase one at an affordable price, or you could want a high-end one, like the 64-bit Pentium 4 or Athlon CPU.

· The memory should be selected according to the operating system; hence, faster the hertz of the memory, better the performance. So, why not go in for a 1 GB of RAM with the Windows XP home operating system.

· The hard drive should have at least 60 GB or more memory, as there are more downloads in a house computer.

· You can choose a CD-RW drive with a DVD writer which is able to burn most things onto your disks and choose a dedicated graphics board after considering your needs.

· For the computer monitor, you can go in for a LCD or a flat panel, which might be expensive but takes less space, or you could even go for a cost-effective option like a 17-inch CRT, which comes for $50.

· There are new desktops made especially for home users that come with a modem and a network interface or even both together, or you can opt for a broadband connection.

· You can also pick accessories, such as a headphone and a microphone with an easy to connect jack.

· Make sure of the amount of memory, PCI slots and drive bays available for upgrades.

· Additional software is provided for home users with the purchase of computers.

Some More Tips
Buying a home computer is expensive, so you should make sure that you are getting your money's worth. Always check the different kinds of warranty that they offer and choose the one that is the longest. Make sure that you are aware of how to use the computer, before you purchase one.

If you decide upon the use of the computer, then it will be easier to determine the minimum requirements. Inquire about the helpline and technical support that the dealer offers and also check on the quality by reading reports and other publications. A salesman will always try to charge the highest selling price, if the customer is not knowledgeable about the product. So, make sure that you are aware of the inventory of the accessories that come with the computer. Now, the process of buying a computer for your home use will not be as difficult, with these tips on buying a home computer available to you.

Different types of Computers

Following are some important types of computers.

Analog Computers: These are almost extinct today. These are different from a digital computer because an analog computer can perform several mathematical operations simultaneously. It uses continuous variables for mathematical operations and utilizes mechanical or electrical energy.

Hybrid Computers: These computers are a combination of both digital and analog computers. In this type of computers, the digital segments perform process control by conversion of analog signals to digital ones.

Mainframe Computers: Large organizations use mainframes for highly critical applications such as bulk data processing and ERP. Most of the mainframe computers have the capacities to host multiple operating systems and operate as a number of virtual machines and can thus substitute for several small servers.

Microcomputers: A computer with a microprocessor and its central processing unit is known as a microcomputer. They do not occupy space as much as mainframes. When supplemented with a keyboard and a mouse, microcomputers can be called as personal computers. A monitor, a keyboard and other similar input output devices, computer memory in the form of RAM and a power supply unit come packaged in a microcomputer. These computers can fit on desks or tables and serve as the best choices for single-user tasks.

Desktops: A desktop is intended to be used on a single location. The spare parts of a desktop computer are readily available at relative lower costs. Power consumption is not as critical as that in laptops. Desktops are widely popular for daily use in workplaces and households.

Laptops: Similar in operation to desktops, laptop computers are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use. Laptops run on a single battery or an external adapter that charges the computer batteries. They are enabled with an inbuilt keyboard, touch pad acting as a mouse and a liquid crystal display. Its portability and capacity to operate on battery power have served as a boon for mobile users.

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs): It is a handheld computer and popularly known as a palmtop. It has a touch screen and a memory card for storage of data. PDAs can also be effectively used as portable audio players, web browsers and smart phones. Most of them can access the Internet by means of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication.

Minicomputers: In terms of size and processing capacity, minicomputers lie in between mainframes and microcomputers. Minicomputers are also called mid-range systems or workstations. The term began to be popularly used in the 1960s to refer to relatively smaller third generation computers. They took up the space that would be needed for a refrigerator or two and used transistor and core memory technologies. The 12-bit PDP-8 minicomputer of the Digital Equipment Corporation was the first successful minicomputer.

Supercomputers: The highly calculation-intensive tasks can be effectively performed by means of supercomputers. Quantum physics, mechanics, weather forecasting, molecular theory are best studied by means of supercomputers. Their ability of parallel processing and their well-designed memory hierarchy give the supercomputers, large transaction processing powers.

Wearable Computers: A record-setting step in the evolution of computers was the creation of wearable computers. These computers can be worn on the body and are often used in the study of behavior modeling and human health. Military and health professionals have incorporated wearable computers into their daily routine, as a part of such studies. When the users' hands and sensory organs are engaged in other activities, wearable computers are of great help in tracking human actions. Wearable computers are consistently in operation as they do not have to be turned on and off and are constantly interacting with the user.

These were some of the different types of computers available today.

CRT Monitor vs LCD Monitor

There are hosts of differences between LCD and CRT monitors with regards to various features and specifications. Know what differentiates these two major monitor technologies.

  CRT monitor                                                             LCD monitor

 









Size and Weight

LCD monitors win over CRT monitors when it comes to physical size. LCD monitors are small, light and require less space. CRT monitors, on the other hand, are big, bulky, heavy and acquire large spaces. LCD monitors can be easily maneuvered between computers, if due to any reason you change monitors. CRT monitors are incompatible for small desks and small places.

CRT monitors are also not easily portable. On an average, a 17 inch CRT monitor weighs around 40 pound and a similar LCD monitor would weigh close to 15 pounds. When it comes to size, the viewable area on a monitor matters. A 17 inch CRT monitor will provide a viewable area of around 16.1 inches whereas a 17 inch LCD monitor will provide complete viewable area, that is 17 inches.

Picture Quality

In general, picture quality in both the CRT and LCD monitors differs slightly. New models of both monitors provide good color display. LCDs lag behind in providing a maximum range of color displays unlike CRT monitors. In terms of sharpness, an LCD running at its native resolution or fixed resolution is better than a CRT monitor that can give unclear edges.

Viewing Angle

CRT monitors can be viewed from any angle while LCD monitors can show different views depending on your angle of viewing. At some angles, the picture may be blurred, faded and unclear in LCD monitors.

Price
LCDs are long term investments and profitable one, though expensive. In the recent years prices of both these monitors have gone down and they're well within the reach of consumers. Since LCD monitors have captured mainstream market of computer monitors, the production of CRT monitors has gone down, drastically.

Power Consumption

CRT monitor power consumption rate is much higher than LCD power consumption rate and this is one of the major CRT monitor problems in the long run.

How to Check RAM on Windows XP

Users of Windows XP have many ways that they can use to check the RAM on their machines. Computer manufacturers have made this a highly simple task so that everyone knows how to check RAM speed as and when they please. This makes a lot of future installations and purchases simpler. Here are 3 ways of how to check RAM on Windows XP.

· Click on the 'Start' menu and wait for the Start menu window to pop up. Right click on 'My Computer', and then click on 'Properties'. Choose the tab that says 'General'. You will be able to view the RAM on your computer here.

· Click on the 'Start' menu and then select the 'Run' option. In the dialog box that opens, type in 'DXDIAG' and then press enter. Your system configuration will open up in the subsequent window that comes.

· The 3rd option for you is to follow this trail of instructions. Click on 'Start' menu, go to 'Programs', go to 'Accessories', go to 'System Tools', and then go to 'System Information'. You can also view your computers RAM and configuration from here.

How to Check RAM on Vista

How to check RAM on Vista is not very different either. You can follow the same methods of clicking on 'Start' tab and then either selecting 'Run' and entering 'DXDIAG' and hitting enter, or you can right click on 'My Computer' and select 'Properties' and then choose the 'General' tab to view your computers configuration. Another path for you to follow is select the 'Start' orb, then go to 'Control Panel' and select 'System Maintenance' in the Classic View. Now select 'System' and then check the system category to view the information about your computers configuration.

How to Check RAM on Mac

People using Apple Macintosh computers also wish to check their RAM for the same purposes. The method is primarily the same, but the options and the items to select are obviously different. Try out this method on how to check RAM on Mac.

· Click on the 'Apple' menu, and then select one of 'About This Macintosh' or 'About This Computer'. Now you need to select the 'More Info' button to get more information and to get what is known as the System Profiler screen. In the subsequent screen that opens you have to search for the 'Hardware' option on the left column and then select the 'Memory' tab. You will now be able to view details about your systems configuration and see how much RAM you have.

Different types of Computers

Following are some important types of computers. 

Analog Computers: These are almost extinct today. These are different from a digital computer because an analog computer can perform several mathematical operations simultaneously. It uses continuous variables for mathematical operations and utilizes mechanical or electrical energy. 

Hybrid Computers: These computers are a combination of both digital and analog computers. In this type of computers, the digital segments perform process control by conversion of analog signals to digital ones.

Mainframe Computers: Large organizations use mainframes for highly critical applications such as bulk data processing and ERP. Most of the mainframe computers have the capacities to host multiple operating systems and operate as a number of virtual machines and can thus substitute for several small servers.

Microcomputers: A computer with a microprocessor and its central processing unit is known as a microcomputer. They do not occupy space as much as mainframes. When supplemented with a keyboard and a mouse, microcomputers can be called as personal computers. A monitor, a keyboard and other similar input output devices, computer memory in the form of RAM and a power supply unit come packaged in a microcomputer. These computers can fit on desks or tables and serve as the best choices for single-user tasks.

Desktops: A desktop is intended to be used on a single location. The spare parts of a desktop computer are readily available at relative lower costs. Power consumption is not as critical as that in laptops. Desktops are widely popular for daily use in workplaces and households.

Laptops: Similar in operation to desktops, laptop computers are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use. Laptops run on a single battery or an external adapter that charges the computer batteries. They are enabled with an inbuilt keyboard, touch pad acting as a mouse and a liquid crystal display. Its portability and capacity to operate on battery power have served as a boon for mobile users.

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs): It is a handheld computer and popularly known as a palmtop. It has a touch screen and a memory card for storage of data. PDAs can also be effectively used as portable audio players, web browsers and smart phones. Most of them can access the Internet by means of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication.

Minicomputers: In terms of size and processing capacity, minicomputers lie in between mainframes and microcomputers. Minicomputers are also called mid-range systems or workstations. The term began to be popularly used in the 1960s to refer to relatively smaller third generation computers. They took up the space that would be needed for a refrigerator or two and used transistor and core memory technologies. The 12-bit PDP-8 minicomputer of the Digital Equipment Corporation was the first successful minicomputer.

Supercomputers: The highly calculation-intensive tasks can be effectively performed by means of supercomputers. Quantum physics, mechanics, weather forecasting, molecular theory are best studied by means of supercomputers. Their ability of parallel processing and their well-designed memory hierarchy give the supercomputers, large transaction processing powers.

Wearable Computers: A record-setting step in the evolution of computers was the creation of wearable computers. These computers can be worn on the body and are often used in the study of behavior modeling and human health. Military and health professionals have incorporated wearable computers into their daily routine, as a part of such studies. When the users' hands and sensory organs are engaged in other activities, wearable computers are of great help in tracking human actions. Wearable computers are consistently in operation as they do not have to be turned on and off and are constantly interacting with the user.

These were some of the different types of computers available today.

Different Types of Computer Viruses

There are Different Types of Computer Viruses could be classified in (origin, techniques, types of files they infect, where they hide, the kind of damage they cause, the type of operating system or platform they attack) etc.

Computer Virus is a kind of malicious software written intentionally to enter a computer without the user's permission or knowledge, with an ability to replicate itself, thus continuing to spread. Some viruses do little but replicate others can cause severe harm or adversely effect program and performance of the system. A virus should never be assumed harmless and left on a system. Most common types of viruses are mentioned below:

Resident Viruses

This type of virus is a permanent which dwells in the RAM memory. From there it can overcome and interrupt all of the operations executed by the system: corrupting files and programs that are opened, closed, copied, renamed etc.

Direct Action Viruses

The main purpose of this virus is to replicate and take action when it is executed. When a specific condition is met, the virus will go into action and infect files in the directory or folder that it is in and in directories that are specified in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file PATH. This batch file is always located in the root directory of the hard disk and carries out certain operations when the computer is booted.

Overwrite Viruses

Virus of this kind is characterized by the fact that it deletes the information contained in the files that it infects, rendering them partially or totally useless once they have been infected.

The only way to clean a file infected by an overwrite virus is to delete the file completely, thus losing the original content.

Boot Virus

This type of virus affects the boot sector of a floppy or hard disk. This is a crucial part of a disk, in which information on the disk itself is stored together with a program that makes it possible to boot (start) the computer from the disk.
The best way of avoiding boot viruses is to ensure that floppy disks are write-protected and never start your computer with an unknown floppy disk in the disk drive.

Macro Virus

Macro viruses infect files that are created using certain applications or programs that contain macros. These mini-programs make it possible to automate series of operations so that they are performed as a single action, thereby saving the user from having to carry them out one by one.

Directory Virus

Directory viruses change the paths that indicate the location of a file. By executing a program (file with the extension .EXE or .COM) which has been infected by a virus, you are unknowingly running the virus program, while the original file and program have been previously moved by the virus.

Once infected it becomes impossible to locate the original files.

Polymorphic Virus

Polymorphic viruses encrypt or encode themselves in a different way (using different algorithms and encryption keys) every time they infect a system.

This makes it impossible for anti-viruses to find them using string or signature searches (because they are different in each encryption) and also enables them to create a large number of copies of themselves.

File Infectors

This type of virus infects programs or executable files (files with an .EXE or .COM extension). When one of these programs is run, directly or indirectly, the virus is activated, producing the damaging effects it is programmed to carry out. The majority of existing viruses belong to this category, and can be classified depending on the actions that they carry out.

Companion Viruses

Companion viruses can be considered file infector viruses like resident or direct action types. They are known as companion viruses because once they get into the system they "accompany" the other files that already exist. In other words, in order to carry out their infection routines, companion viruses can wait in memory until a program is run (resident viruses) or act immediately by making copies of themselves (direct action viruses).

FAT Virus

The file allocation table or FAT is the part of a disk used to connect information and is a vital part of the normal functioning of the computer.

This type of virus attack can be especially dangerous, by preventing access to certain sections of the disk where important files are stored. Damage caused can result in information losses from individual files or even entire directories.

Worms
A worm is a program very similar to a virus; it has the ability to self-replicate, and can lead to negative effects on your system and most importantly they are detected and eliminated by antiviruses.

Trojans or Trojan Horses

Another unsavory breed of malicious code are Trojans or Trojan horses, which unlike viruses do not reproduce by infecting other files, nor do they self-replicate like worms.

Logic Bombs

They are not considered viruses because they do not replicate. They are not even programs in their own right but rather camouflaged segments of other programs.

What is a Computer Virus?

Computer viruses are a major problem for computer users worldwide. It has individuals and even governments worried. Major efforts are going on to tackle it.

What is a Computer Virus?

A computer virus is a man-made program or code that can cause damage to your data and software on a computer. It is able to replicate usually without knowledge and permission of the computer user.

How does it spread?

They are spread unknowingly from one infected computer to another via emails and instant messaging.

Types of Computer Viruses

Trojan horse- These are programs that claim to do one thing but actually do something else (usually damaging activity).

Resident virus- These dwell in the RAM memory and work by overcoming and interrupting all of the operations executed by the system including corrupting of the files and programs that are opened and closed.

Direct action virus- This has a main purpose of replicating and taking action when it is executed. The batch file of this virus is always found in the root directory of the hard disk.

Overwrite virus- These are characterized by the fact that they delete the information that is contained in the files that they infect, and this renders the files as being partially or even totally useless once they have been infected.

Boot virus- These affect the boot sector of a floppy or hard disk.

Macro virus- These infect files that are created using certain applications or certain programs that contain macros.

E-mail virus- These can infect your desktop email system. They proliferate through e-mail messages and usually replicate by automatically e-mailing copies to all entries in your e-mail address book.

Worm- These are programs that are able to replicate on their own over computer networks. It scans a network for computers with same security hole that it can exploit to infect that machine, scan other machines for that security loophole, and continue replicating itself independently.

One should use licensed anti-virus software to protect one's computer from computer viruses.

Different Types of Memory Cards

Since the last 10 years or so, there have been many different types of memory cards introduced in the market. These memory cards are small storage devices that are easily portable. These are solid state cards, that is, no movable parts, perfect to be used in different devices, like digital cameras, music players, cell phones, etc. Let us take a look at some of the types of computer memory cards.

Compact Flash Memory Cards
Compact Flash or CF memory cards were created by SanDisk way back in 1994. These computer memory types has a memory controller and a flash memory chip. This chip was contained in a miniature casing that is 42.8 mm wide and 36.4 mm high. This makes it smaller than a matchbox. According to the dimensions, there are two types pf compact flash cards available that includes:

· Type I Compact Flash cards - 42.8mm x 36.4mm x 3.3 mm

· Type II Compact Flash cards - 42.8mm x 36.4mm x 5.5 mm

Memory Stick Cards
The memory stick. also known as MS or MS cards are one of the types of computer memory cards that were created by Sony and SanDisk in partnership in January 2000. These memory cards are based on NAND flash memory circuits and are really very small in size. They are just about 21.5 mm x 50.0 mm x 2.8 mm and weigh just 4 grams. One can access data by connecting the memory stick card with an edge connector of 10 pins. There are two types of memory stick cards available:

· 'Normal' Memory Stick

· 'Magic Gate' (for protection of copyrighted documents)

Multimedia Cards
Multimedia card (MMC) are types of memory cards that were created by SanDisk and Siemens together in 1997. These memory cards were based on a combination of read only memory (ROM). It is therefore used for applications and flash memory for read/write. These cards are very small and come in size of about 24.0 mm x 32.0 mm x 1.4 mm and weigh about 2.2 grams. One can access data by connecting the card with 7 pins. There are two types of multimedia cards based on the different voltages:

· Multimedia cards 3.3 V that has a notch on the upper left hand corner

· Multimedia cards 5 V that has a notch on the upper right hand corner

Secure Digital Memory Cards
The secure digital or SD cards are computer memory type cards created by Matsushita Electronic, SanDisk and Toshiba in January 2000 together. This card is designed keeping in mind the latest electronic audio and video devices. It is based on the NAND type flash memory circuits. It is just 24.0mm x 32.0mm x 2.1mm in size and weighs 2 grams. The SD cards come in three formats:

· Standard SD cards

· MiniSD card - This is a 21.5 mm x 20 mm x 1.4 mm card for digital cameras, mobile phones

· MicroSD cards - This is a 15 mm x 11 mm x 0.7 mm card for mobile phones and smaller devices. This is the smallest type of memory card available.

SmartMedia Cards
Toshiba and Samsung have created the SmartMedia memory cards together. It is based on the NAND type flash memory circuit. It is 45.0 mm x 37.0 mm x 0.76 mm in size and weighs 2 grams. It has become obsolete today and is found in older devices that needed memory cards larger than 128 MB.

xD Picture Card
The xD picture card or eXtreme digital are types of computer memory cards that were made by Fuji and Olympus in August 2002. It is based on NAND type flash memory circuits. This memory card is just 20.0 mm x 25.0 mm x 1.7 mm in size and weighs only 2 grams. They are used mainly for digital cameras and are being replaced by SD cards.

Computer Memory Types

There are many computer memory types and subtypes which are categorized depending upon their role in the computer system. However, in this article we have focused on the most basic types of computer memory

Memory is one of the most important things that is incorporated into computers, be it laptop computers or PCs. There are various computer memory types installed, depending upon the actual need for functioning and specifications of the system. The computer memory relates to the many devices and components that are responsible for storing data and applications on a temporary or a permanent basis. It enables a person to retain the information that is stored on the computer. Without it, the processor would not be able to find a place which is needed to store the calculations and processes. There are different types of memory in a computer that are assigned a task of storing several kinds of data. Each has certain peculiarities and capacities.

Basic Computer Memory Types Explained

Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is a location within the computer system which is responsible for stacking away data on a temporary basis, so that it can be promptly accessed by the processor. The information stored in RAM is typically loaded from the computer's hard disk, and includes data related to the operating system and certain applications. When the system is switched off, RAM loses all the stored information. The data remains stored and can be retained only when the system is running.

When the RAM gets full, the computer system is more likely to operate at a slow speed. The data can be retrieved in any random order. Generally, there are two types of RAM; namely Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM). When many programs are running on the computer simultaneously, the virtual memory allows the computer to search in RAM for memory portions which haven't been utilized lately and copy them onto the hard drive. This action frees up RAM space and enables the system to load different programs.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

This type of memory is active, regardless of whether the system is turned on or is switched off. It is a kind of permanent non-volatile storage memory. As the name 'read only' suggests, the contents in it cannot be changed or modified. It is an integrated circuit which is pre-programmed with important data that should necessarily be present for the computer to carry out its normal functionalities.

Cache
Cache is a kind of RAM which a computer system can access more responsively than it can in regular RAM. The central processing unit looks up in the cache memory before searching in the central memory storage area to determine the information it requires. This rules out the need for the system to search for information in larger and bigger memory storage areas, which in turn leads to a faster extraction of data.

Computer Hard Drive

These devices are important data storage components that are installed in the CPU. Their memory ranges widely, and a user may choose the memory depending on the data needed to be stored and accessed. Nowadays, hard drives having a memory capacity of 120 gigabytes to 500 gigabytes are normally used.

Flash Memory

This is a non-volatile kind of memory which is intended to contribute to portable storage and a convenient transfer of data from one computer to another. The data in it can be erased and re-programmed as per the user's requirements. It only has a specific number of erase and write cycles that it can withstand, after which it creates a tendency to lose out on the stored information. Memory cards and USB flash drives are some modes of this type of memory storage.

Computer Motherboard Parts

In the modern computer, the motherboard or the primary circuit board (PCB), is the heart of the machine. The computer motherboard is the device that is solely responsible for ensuring that all the devices and components of the machine are connected to the microprocessor. These devices, that the motherboard powers and regulates, are storage devices, hard disks, graphics cards and sound cards. All these devices, without which the machine cannot function, are either inbuilt in the motherboard or are connected via computer motherboard slots or sockets.

Simply put, it is the motherboard that ensures that each of these computer motherboard components are powered and communicate with each other effectively. The first motherboards that were invented had very few computer motherboard components, and the only things present on those motherboards were the processor and slots, to connect other devices. But today's machines have motherboards containing a wide variety of features and tremendous potential for future upgrades. Read more about computer buying.                                        

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot
Normally, the number of PCI slots on the motherboard could be anywhere between 1 and 6. The peripherals like graphics cards, sound cards, ethernet cards, modems and DVD recorders are attached here, and the slots are 32 bit slots.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) socket
This socket is the home for your computer's processor. There are 2 types of sockets that are commonly used by the major processors (Intel and AMD), these are Pin Grid Array (PGA) and the Land Grid Array (LGA).

Motherboard Battery Compartment
When you shut your system down, your data is stored in a battery on the motherboard. This computer motherboard battery is placed inside the battery compartment that is present on the surface of your motherboard.

RAM slots (DIMM and SIMM)
These are the slots that hold the RAM chips of your computer. They are usually of two types - DIMM (Double Inline Memory Module) and SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module). Memory chips of different sizes can be attached here.

Power Connector
The motherboard requires the power to function properly and this power supply comes from the main power connector. There are usually two main types of connectors - 20 + 4 pins (when there are two connectors on the same motherboard), and the 24 pins.

Apart from these computer motherboard components, the following are computer motherboard parts that have specific purposes for connecting to hardware devices. These connectors show up on the back panel of the computer, once the entire machine is assembled and mounted.

PS/2 Connectors
Every motherboard contains two PS/2 connectors, one for the keyboard and one for the mouse.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port
There are many of these ports across the back panel. They are used for connecting external devices like USB flash drives, external hard disks, ipods, mp3 players and cameras.

Game Port
This port is mostly used to connect the devices that are used for gaming purposes, like joysticks.

Display Connector
This port is used to connect the computer monitor of the machine to the back panel.

Sound Card Connector
Your sound devices like headphones and mics are connected here. 

This computer motherboard information should illuminate the many purposes of the various computer motherboard parts that are standard requirement for every computer to function properly.

What is a Motherboard

A computer motherboard is nothing but the circuit board or the circuit which controls the entire functioning of the computer.A computer motherboard is the soul of your computer. This is where the most important entity, your computer processor, is embedded and the connection to all computer peripherals goes.

Without a motherboard, we wouldn't be able to play games, watch movies, listen to music, and do any kind of work on our computer. It is the backbone of the computer. Let's know more on motherboards.

A motherboard is the most important component in the CPU. It is a piece of hardware that is a circuit, and is flat and rectangular in shape. It consists of the computer's micro-processing chip with many components attached to it that play a very important role in the operation of the computer system. It is a circuit on which everything is connected to something. It has many other names like main board, system board, and logic board and also 'mobo' as an abbreviation. It has many ports and slots which can be used by other computer hardware peripherals. Components like RAM, CPU, hard disks, optical drives, disk drives, video and sound cards are all plugged into sockets on the motherboard, directly or via cables. It functions crucially in the transfer of data and information to all the connected peripherals. It is also used in many other electronic devices such as televisions, mobile phones, clocks and so on. All motherboards may not be compatible with every peripheral. The motherboard manufacturers should be able to provide the consumer with information about the type of products compatible with the motherboard.

Role of Computers in Education

Computers have changed the way we work, be it any profession. Therefore, it is only but natural the role of computers in education has been given a lot of prominence in the recent years. Computers play a vital role in every field. They aid industrial processes; they find applications in medicine; they are the heart of the software industry; they play a vital role in education. The uses of computers in education are manifold. Here, we shall discuss the important facets of the role of computers in education.

The computer technology has a deep impact on education. Computer education forms a part of the school and college curricula, as it is important for every individual today, to have the basic knowledge of computers. The advantages of computers in education include an efficient storage and rendition of information, quick information processing and very importantly the saving of paper. Know more about the importance of computer education.

Computer teaching plays a key role in the modern systems of education. Students find it easier to refer to the Internet than searching for information in fat reference books. The process of learning has gone beyond learning from prescribed textbooks. Today, aspirers can satiate their thirst for knowledge by means of the Internet. It is easier to store information on computers than maintaining hand-written notes. To know more on the subject, read about textbooks versus computer teaching.

Online education has revolutionized the education industry. The computer technology has made the dream of distance learning, a reality. Education is no more limited to classrooms. It has reached far and wide thanks to the computer technology. Physically distant locations have come close to each other only due to computer networking.

Computers facilitate an efficient storage and effective presentation of information. Presentation software like PowerPoint and animation software like Flash and others can be of great help to the teachers while delivering information. Computers can turn out being a brilliant aid in teaching. Computers facilitate an audio-visual representation of information, thus making the process of learning interactive and interesting. Computer-aided teaching adds a fun element to education.

Internet can play an important role in education. As it is an enormous information base, it can be harnessed for the retrieval of information on a wide variety of subjects. The Internet can be used to refer to information on various subjects to be taught to the students.

Moreover, computers facilitate an electronic format for storage of information, thereby saving paper. Homework and test assignments submitted as soft copies save paper. Electronically erasable memory devices can be used repeatedly. They offer a robust storage of data and reliable data retrieval. The computer technology thus eases the process of learning.

A life without computers would seem almost unimaginable for many. The importance of computers is evident today and having the perfect know-how of computers can only propel one's career in the right direction. Today, computers are a part of almost every industry. They are no more limited to the software industry. They are widely used in networking, information access, data storage and the processing of information. So why not introduce computers early in education? Introducing computers early in education lays the foundation of most of the major competitive careers. Computers play a significant role in one's personal and professional life.

Uses of a Diving Computer

Scuba diving computers provide assurance so you can focus on the view not worry about you safety.

Scuba diving is an excellent way to spend some of your free time. It can provide you with a lot of excitement and open up a whole new world of adventure. If you like to dive then you should know about all the scuba gear that is available to you. This includes the scuba diving computer. There are many scuba diving computer uses that can make your adventure a lot more enjoyable. Any diver that is experienced already knows just how much this diving accessory can benefit a dive.

Scuba diving is considered to be a very safe and fun recreational sport as long as you follow all the safety guidelines. The reason that a scuba diving computer is so great is because it can be used to supply you with a lot of the information needed to keep you safe. It can keep your data updated on things such as dive times and decompression times and depths. Staying up to date with this type of information is very fateful. These computers come in a lot of different styles. Some can be mounted to your boats while others can be carried with you on the dive. It all depends on what you would like to have.

If this will be your first scuba diving computer, then you will need to decide which one will be best for you. To do this you need to determine what type of diver you are. For instance, is this something that you do on a regular bases or only when you take a vacation. Or you a beginner that is just learning how to dive or have you been diving a few times before but not very often? Is this something that you want to employ further or just do as an occasional recreational sport? These questions will help you decide what type of scuba diving computer you need to purchase. If you already own one and are trying to upgrade, this will make a difference in what you should look for as well.

The scuba diving computer is an excellent accessory but it is not meant to replace your dive tables. Regardless of how reliable scuba diving computers are they can still malfunction therefore, you need a backup system. Without something to compare your dive computer to you will not know if there is a problem or not. Still a scuba diving computer is a great way to improve your diving experience. It is fateful that you take time to understand and know exactly how your diving computer works. You do not want to depend on something that you do not fully understand. Although scuba diving is as safe as any other recreational sport

Uses of Computers in Hospitals

The invention of computers started the revolution of Information Technology (IT) in the world, bringing modern concepts into the world. In the past few decades, offices, factories and business adopted computers to enhance their performance. The next were the households to adopt the computers as their new form of entertainment. Today, computers, along with Internet technology are being introduced into hospitals to enhance the performance of the medical facilities that are dispensed. In the following paragraphs some important uses of computers in hospitals have been described. Apart from that the advantages of using computers to advance health care have also been discussed.

Uses of Computers in Hospitals: Medical Data
Every day hospitals and clinics which are attached to it churn out enormous volumes of data regarding patients, ailments, prescriptions, medications, medical billing details, etc. Such medical records, are now a days recorded into medical billing software. Such mammoth databases are known as Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Electronic Health Records (EHR). These databases are operated by a set of computers and servers, and come in handy during medical alerts and emergencies. The concept of EHR is a bit broader than the EMR, as the database is accessible from different clinics and hospitals. Thus, a patient's medical history can be retrieved from any hospital by medical practitioners.

Uses of Computers in Hospitals: Medical Imaging
'Tests' are medical procedures where specified components of the human body are scanned. A test can be as simple as a regular blood test or it can be a complex CT scan. This process is often referred to as a medical imagery. In order to increase the precision of such procedures, computers have been adopted and integrated into the testing equipment. The Ultrasound and the MRI are the best examples where computers have been adopted, in order to make the process faster and precise. Thus medical tests and tools have become more advanced as a result of the use of computers.

Uses of Computers in Hospitals: Medical Examination
Many systems are underway for the development of medical monitoring which will help humans to properly monitor their own health. In many cases doctors and surgeons also use sophisticated computer aided equipment to treat their patients. Such systems and procedures include, bone scan procedure, prenatal ultrasound imaging, blood glucose monitors, advanced endoscopy which is used during surgery and blood pressure monitors. Basically these medical tests and tools provide significant convenience to medical practitioners. You will find that major laboratory equipment and heart rate monitors have already been computerized in many hospitals.

Advantages of Computers in Hospitals
There are significant advantages of using computers in hospitals. The importance of computers in hospitals has also increased drastically due to the fact that the procedures have to be speedy to cater to a larger population and the medical services have to be more precise.

To sum up, the advantages of computers in hospitals can be summarized as follows:

· Precise 'tests' and medical examinations

· Faster medical alerts, which are more accurate time-wise

· Enhanced data about a patients medical history

· Precision in diagnosis

· Precision in billing

· Automated updating of medical history

Use of Computers in the Medical Field

A computer has become an essential commodity in every hospital. Everything is computerized today, from open heart surgeries to X rays to various clinical tests. Everything is carried out efficiently and effectively by the computer. There are many advantages of computers that make it a must have by every medical professional. This article tells you about the use of computers in the medical field that would help you understand the wide array of computer applications used across the medicinal practice.

Computers in the Medical Office

There are various uses of computer in medical field as it plays a vital role in every medical office. It contributes a lot to the hospital administration where all the administrative processes are computerized. For example, staff records, recording incoming and outgoing time of the staff, the holiday records of the staff, etc. It is difficult to keep track of such things manually but with the help of computers, the task is simplified and is less time consuming. In most of the offices, accounting is also computerized that helps you keep the daily record of the financial transactions of the office. It also reduces the chances of money related frauds as all the data is stored properly that can be used for future reference. There are a lot of other types of use of computers in the medical field. Computer also helps in recording the names and contact details of the doctors and associated people. It is useful when it comes to recording the medical history of the patient, such as, previous treatments, tests, diagnosis, and symptoms, etc. Such information comes handy for the doctor in case of emergencies and when a new treatment is to be designed. The patients can also avail to computer counseling with the help of computers. Today, the bills are computer generated and hence, the chances of miscalculation are less. Apart from this, to avail the online transaction facilities computer is essential.

Use of Computers in Medicine

Use of computers in the medical field is also associated with the research and inventions in health sector. Various research studies are carried out with the help of various applications in the computer. For example, studying certain cells, micro organisms, bacteria, etc., is easily possible with computer. It helps you save all the related information that you can refer to, whenever required. One can also create electronic presentations of certain diseases or treatments that are useful to understand by the junior or trainee doctors so that they can prepare themselves for small and uncomplicated operations by taking guidance from senior doctors via web conferencing. In seminars and paper presentations on the health related topics, computerized presentations create more impact on the audience. It also helps the audience understand the the issues well. With the help of computer networking, doctors across the world can communicate with each other about new inventions and unique health conditions, etc. All the countries are conducting research studies and this information can be mutually shared by the medical fraternity with the help of computers and internet technology. The computer makes the world smaller and brings people together.

Uses of Computers in Hospitals

Computers are widely used in all the hospitals for numerous purposes apart from administration, accounting, billing, and appointments. It literally helps doctors in performing various surgeries, especially laparascopic surgeries are possible because of computers where doctors insert the medical tools and small camera and conduct an operation with the help of computers and monitors. Many high tech surgical machines and instruments are endowed with small computer systems so that every surgical process is recorded and monitored to avoid complications. Many clinical imaging processes are conducted and examined with the help of computers, such as X ray and CT scan, etc. Computers also play a vital role in conducting various clinical and biological laboratory tests in hospitals that help in correct diagnosis of the disease. Many critical patients who's heart rate, pulse rate, and brain readings, etc., need be recorded and monitored continuously, are observed through computers. Its virtually impossible for humans to note down every movement of the internal organs of the patients but computers do it with ease. Importance of computers in medicine has grown so much that many patients who need to be provided with life support system are also governed by the special computerized system only. Such is the impact of computers on a medical practice.

Importance of Computers in Medicine.

Computers are the excellent means for storage of patient related data. Big hospitals employ computer systems to maintain patient records. It is often necessary to maintain detailed records of the medical history of patients. Doctors often require the information about a patient's family history, physical ailments, already diagnosed diseases and prescribed medicines. This information can be effectively stored in a computer database.

Computers can keep track of prescriptions and billing information. They can be used to store the information about the medicines prescribed to a patient as well as those, which cannot be prescribed to him/her. Computers enable an efficient storage of huge amounts of medical data.

Medicine comprises vast base of knowledge. Computer storage can serve as the best means of housing this information. Medical journals, research and diagnosis papers, important medical documents and reference books can best be stored in an electronic format.

Many of the modern-day medical equipment have small, programmed computers. Many of the medical appliances of today work on pre-programmed instructions. The circuitry and logic in most of the medical equipment is basically a computer. The functioning of hospital-bed beeping systems, emergency alarm systems, X-ray machines and several such medical appliances is based on computer logic.

Computer software is used for diagnosis of diseases. It can be used for the examination of internal organs of the body. Advanced computer-based systems are used to examine delicate organs of the body. Some of the complex surgeries can be performed with the aid of computers. The different types of monitoring equipment in hospitals are often based on computer programming.

Medical imaging is a vast field that deals with the techniques to create images of the human body for medical purposes. Many of the modern methods of scanning and imaging are largely based on the computer technology. We have been able to implement many of the advanced medical imaging techniques, thanks to the developments in computer science. Magnetic resonance imaging employs computer software. Computed tomography makes use of digital geometry processing techniques to obtain 3-D images. Sophisticated computers and infrared cameras are used for obtaining high-resolution images. Computers are widely used for the generation of 3-D images in medicine.

Computer networking enables quicker communication. Computers and Internet have proved to be a boon in all the spheres of life. In the field of medicine, computers allow for faster communication between a patient and a doctor. Doctors can collaborate better over the Internet. Today, it is possible to obtain experts' opinions within seconds by means of the Internet. Medical professionals sitting on opposite sides of the globe can communicate within minutes by means of the Internet. It is due to computer networking technology that network communication has become easy. Medical practitioners can discuss medical issues in medical forums. They can exchange images and messages in seconds and derive conclusions speedily. They can seek advice and share knowledge in a convenient manner over the Internet.

The importance of computers cannot be stressed enough as computer technology has revolutionized the field of medicine.

Computer Uses

The uses of computers is universal. Computers are used in applications ranging from running a farm, diagnosing a disease, and designing to constructing and launching a space vehicle. Because the development of computers has been largely the work of scientists, it is natural that a large body of computer applications serves the scientist. The articles included herein relate to the uses of computers today in business, science, education, schools, hospitals, medicine, health care, military, agriculture, law enforcement, at home and in our everyday lives.

Use of Computers in the Medical Field

We rarely think of use of computers in the medical field, but computers are extensively used for various advantages. To know more about use of computers in medical practice.

Use of Computers in Business

The wide spread use of computers in business organizations, has successfully provided a certain ease, speed and accuracy to the way in which modern businesses run. To know more about the uses of computers in business.

Uses of Computers in Hospitals

Of late, computers are being included in hospitals and medical clinics throughout the world. Some uses of computers in hospitals and clinics have been described in the following paragraphs. To know more about the advantages of such advanced systems in hospitals.

Use Of Computers In Education

The use of computers in education sector has increased greatly over the past few years. In this article, we shall study the benefits of computers in education. 

Advantages of Computers

Computers have affected every aspect of our day-to-day life. Let's look into the advantages of computers.

How has Computer Technology affected our Lives

Computer technology has brought about a dramatic change to our daily life. How has it affected our lives.

Role of Computers in Education

What is the role of computers in education? What are the benefits of introducing computers early in education.

What are Computers Going to be Like in the Future

Have you thought about the future of computing? Have you imagined what computers in future are going to be like? Let's try to find out.

Importance of Computers in Medicine

What is the importance of computers in medicine? How can computer technology be harnessed in the medical field.

Importance of Computer Education

Computers find a wide variety of applications in different spheres of life. With an increase in their widespread use and their ever-increasing popularity, computer education has become the need of the day. To know more about the importance of computer education.

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3)

Specifications Type General Purpose, Multimedia Processor Family Intel Core i3 RAM 4 GB Storage Capacity 500 GB RAID No Graphics Card ATI Radeon HD 4670 Primary Optical Drive Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW Operating System Mac OS X 10.6 More

Features
The new entry-level iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3) comes with a dual-core Intel Core i3-540 processor. Thanks to Hyper Threading, the Core i3 is a dual-core processor that acts like a quad-core, since it can process four streams of data at once. The system also has 4GB of 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 500GB, 7,200rpm hard drive, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (both 2.4GHz and 5GHz), and a DVD-burning SuperDrive. Support for 5GHz Wi-Fi is necessary in crowded apartments and dorms, where the cacophony of routers may interfere with your WiFi signal.

Users can order more memory pre-purchase (up to 8GB), but that's the only internal option on the $1,199, entry-level model. You'll need to trade up to a more expensive $1,499 model to order a faster processor, better graphics, larger hard drive, etc. You can add other external options during the ordering process, including a wired mouse and keyboard to replace the wireless ones, the Apple IR Remote, Apple Software (iWork, Final Cut Express, etc.) and the new Apple Magic Trackpad ($69) (stay tuned for our review). Apple is also the Apple Magic TrackPad as an $69 option (stay tuned for our review), as well as a $29 battery charger with six extra rechargeable batteries to power all your wireless peripherals (mouse, keyboard, trackpad).

The iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3), like the new Apple Mac mini (HDMI) ($699 list) supports new SDXC cards in its SD-card reader. This means it could theoretically read a 2TB SDXC card sometime in the future, though those cards currently tap out at a still impressive 64GB.

The iMac's 1080p HD screen makes it a great PC for watching HD videos online and from the iTunes store. The iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3) still lacks a Blu-ray option, but you can buy a third-party USB HDTV tuner that works under Mac OS X. You could perceive the lack of TV tuner or Blu-ray as a drawback, but there's also the argument that the iTunes Store is one of the better, extensive sources of HD videos and TV shows on the planet. In any case, the iMac is a great base station for your iPod/iPhone/iPad and all your iTunes-organized entertainment (music, videos, and apps). It doesn't have to be said that the Mac is free from bloatware, as usual, there's none on the system.