Review of HP, Sony, and Compaq Laptops

So do you prefer to call them laptops or do you prefer to call them notebooks. I am partial to notebooks as I never keep them on top of my lap. Jokes apart, purchasing a new notebook computer is really tough.

If you were to read the ads then each computer sounds better than the cat’s whiskers. But when you look close, they all look similar. At least the similarly priced ones tend to be similar. So, is there really a difference between one laptop and another? Or should I say one notebook and another?

To answer this very question, I am going to look at three popular computers that are currently on sale and compare them. The read can then take this to be the starting point and evaluate many other options to find the one that works best for them.

First of all, let us consider the HP Pavilion DV6426US, a machine that I powered by the Intel Core Duo Processor T2450. This multithreaded architecture based micro processor is well optimized for multi-tasking based performance. The fact that this notebook comes installed with 1 GB RAM should help run many of the contemporary popular applications at a good speed. It has a 160 GB Hard Drive which is nothing spectacular, but should do the trick in most cases. And the bundled operating system is the Microsoft Vista Premium. And I really like notebooks that come with an integrated WebCam. This HP laptop sure has one of those. In the absence of such a webcam, attempting Video IM becomes a serious pain.

Second let us consider the Sony VAIO VGN-FZ140E/B. This laptop too is powered by a Duo Processor, in this case the Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7100. It beats the HP one in terms of RAM, as it comes with 2 GB RAM. Its hard disk is bigger at 200 GB. So, if Freud was right and size does matter then, well, this one has the bigger Hard Drive. The duo-core multithreading micro processor will deliver performance similar to the HP machine. This laptop comes with Microsoft Vista Home Premium.

Finally let us look at the Compaq Presario F572US. Like both the previous machines, this one too has a 15.4″ screen. Though it has a dual-core micro processor, the Compaq uses the AMD Athlon 64 Processor TK-53 and not an Intel based processor like the other two I wrote about. Also it has 1 GB RAM like the HP machine. Where I think it scores lower is in its hard disk capacity, a mere 80 GB. It also comes with the Microsoft Vista Premium.

All in all, the machines have pros and cons. I have not listed prices here, as they would change faster than I could type them out. But, make sure to look at the prices too.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/hardware/review-of-hp-sony-and-compaq-laptops.html

Basics Of A Pen Drive

A Pen Drive is a compact, removable storage device just like a floppy disk or a CD. Instead of the floppy device or the CD ROM that are used for reading a floppy disk and CD respectively, a pen drive can be plugged into the USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port of a computer. The USB connectivity makes the pen drive easier to use and data can be transferred faster to and from the pen drive.

Different Manufacturers have named Pen Drives they manufacture differently. Today, a pen dive goes by the names of thumb drive, USB flash drive, Jump Drive, Traveler`s Drive, USB key drive, USB memory stick and many others!

These pen drives are small, inexpensive, almost ubiquitous and extremely handy. They are available largely in the range of 1 to 8 GB which makes them of great use and has made floppy disks and CDs look like useless storage mediums.

The credit of inventing the pen drives goes to IBM. It was invented in 1988 to replace the floppy disks, but IBM never patented it. IBM contracted in M-Systems to manufacture the Pen Drive and the patent is now owned by them.

The pen drive is a modern floppy disk. The main difference is that a floppy disk has moving parts which makes the data stored on the drive vulnerable to loss. A pen drive, on the other hand is a solid state device i.e. it has no moving parts. This makes it possible to almost completely seal the pen drive making it dust-proof and the common magnetic fields. Hence, a pen drive is a much safer option for storing important data.

The latest operating systems like (Windows XP, Linux and Mac OS 2) can recognize these pen drives and mount them automatically. Once it is connected, recognized and mounted by the operating system, it appears just like any other partition of the hard disk except it is named as removable storage.

The pen drive can be removed any time after it is un-mounted (safely remove hardware in case of Windows) and can be re-plugged into the same or a different machine to be used again. A pen drive`s most important use is to transport data and files from one machine to another. For e.g. one can simply copy all the word processing documents, images and spreadsheets to the pen drive, carry it along and copy the files on his/her home computer and work on it at home.

Some users have found the pen drive useful in moving their internet browser History, Cache, Cookies, and other transient data. This improves their privacy and security as no traces of the work done on the machine is left on the PC. Once copied to the drive, the files can be made more secured by encryption or any other method of security.

The pen drives can also be used to store operating systems to boot the computer. This makes them popular for repair and diagnostic work. Instead of carrying tools and maintenance software applications on CDs, a pen drive can be used which is faster and can be manipulated easily in case the software is upgraded or is no more useful.

A pen drive is one of the most economical mobile medium for data storage in terms of cost per unit storage space. They are really light-weight and robust in nature which has made it a big hit and a very important and indispensable tool for a large number of users.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author’s name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/hardware/basics-of-a-pen-drive.html

Network Training for Successful Network and System Management

Many of the details pertaining to network management have to do with the security issues surrounding the computer network of a company. There are many issues that have to do with the security of a company that uses computers as one of their main forms of communication with the outside world. This communication via the Internet means that individual computers, as well as the entire network, are at risk when ports to the outside computer world are opened.Network training gives people the skills that they need to maintain a secure system and keep track of the computer network. With secure network management the communication network of a company can be managed and maintained.

The number of network management positions within a company will be determined by the size of the company. The larger the network of computers the more system administration will be needed to keep track of all the system tools and computers. Studies show that companies without any type ofnetwork management in place will soon be plagued with issues of down time as their computer system fails to run efficiently. Studies also show that hiring a computer technician without propernetwork training can lead to an inefficient system as well. As more companies rely on their computer system for communication with their clients and customers, the importance of adequate and superiornetwork management will increase.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/networks/network-training-for-successful-network-and-system-management.html

Creating a Fool Proof Data Archive System with a Magnetic Tape Library

Most businesses have laws and regulations for how long specific data must be stored, but still many companies don’t have a tape drive, tape libraries, secondary storage or any plan for archiving data. Even if your industry doesn’t have specific requirements, keeping a well documented business information library is a safe bet. Recently, the residential building company Urban Renaissance Agency realized that it had lost archived building plan data for 555 (31%) of its condos due to “insufficient storage measures.”

The mistake not only made the news, but will cost the company millions to recover. Data storage tends to be one of those problems that many individuals and businesses don’t act on until a loss happens. Most people agree that backing up data is important, but feel the process will be too difficult and the issue stays below the radar until a crisis occurs. On the contrary, it’s surprisingly simple to back up, store, and recover data using a tape backup drive and magnetic tape libraries to build a foolproof information archive system.

A tape drive is a very reliable method of recording and archiving data. Using a magnetic tape cartridge, the tape drive scans all of your computer’s files and copies them onto the tape. Businesses might choose to backup files daily, weekly, or monthly. The process can be set up to be manually run or to automatically update at a certain time of the day.

The most important functionality of a tape library is that you have a record of ’snapshots’ as data appeared at regular intervals throughout history. This means if a customer has a dispute over a contract or a policy from last year, you can pull a tape from your tape library and find the piece of data exactly as it looked one year ago.

Another benefit to storing your data on tape is that cartridges can be stored off site and/or in fire and flood proof containers. More often than not, secondary storage is usually found in the same building as the original data, and often in the same location as the server. With a tape backup drive, once the tape is made the tape cartridge can then be stored anywhere. Because the tapes are there for reference and not part of daily use, they can easily be locked away and stored in disaster and theft resistant safes.

Tape drives come with a variety of options including file cataloging features; a comparison feature that will check the data on the drive against a current document, and are available in a variety of speeds. The tapes you’ll use to build your tape libraries will vary as well. It’s recommended to discuss your options with a data storage specialist who can help you build a system around your budget and your unique business needs.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/networks/creating-a-fool-proof-data-archive-system-with-a-magnetic-tape-library.html

Computer Networking Fundamentals

A computer network is a collection of two or more computers with communication between them through a medium. The communication medium can be through radio waves, wires, infrared, optical fibers etc.

Computer network is an integral part of our daily lives, with the most important reason being that of communication. The use of computer networking is to share resources like fax machines, printers, modems, files etc., and its other uses are database server, computer server, email, chat, internet etc. The computer to which the resources are attached is called the server and the other computers that access the resource are called clients. In peer-to-peer computer networks there are no servers.

The sharing of fax machines, printers, and modems amongst many computers and users reduce the operational cost. A database on a computer network is a very important application as it stores and runs many important data and jobs. Emails and chats can be used for instantaneous communication and sending of files on a computer network.

The computer networks are classified, depending upon the size, as Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) and Personal Area Networks (PAN). The topology (topology is the way the computer networks and network resources are connected) of the networking can be classified as Bus Network, Ring Network and Star Network.

The networking hardware basically consists of wiring, network cards and a hub. Computer network cards are required so that one computer can understand what the other computer is “talking”. Network cards have a unique MAC address to identify computers on a computer network. Hubs connect all the computers in the network. Hubs can also be used to connect to other hubs to increase the size of the computer network. Two computers can be connected using Ethernet cards or phone lines or power lines for communication, with hardware kits available at roughly a cost of $100.

As the number of computers in an office or a home increases, so do the number of cables, so wireless networking is a viable solution. In wireless networking radio transreceivers or infrared signals are used to communicate between computers and devices. Examples of wireless networking include Wi-fi and Bluetooth technology, though there may be security issues involved in wireless networking. However there definitely is a stronger preference towards wireless networking nowadays among consumers.

Computer networks have added a new dimension to the 21st century. Today the cyber world is much faster and wider than the real world. This has all been made possible due to computer networks. Computer networks have revolutionized business, communication, travel, research, defense, society and almost all human endeavors. The evolution of computer networks has helped the technological revolution take a big leap forward.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/networks/computer-networking-fundamentals.html

What is a Virtual Private Network?

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a way of using the Internet to provide remote users with secure access to their network. Data is scrambled as it’s sent through the Internet ensuring privacy. In other words a business which may be located in New York can use the company’s network to send encrypted information to different branches of the business located in other parts of the country.

Information doesn’t have to be sent office to office either. An individual choosing to work at home can have all of the same amenities (programs, email, etc) as working in the office, thanks to a VPN. Because all data is scrambled prior to being sent, and decrypted once it reaches its destination, there’s no fear of interception since only authorized users can view theinformation.

With a VPN, data is carried over the Internet through a process called tunneling. Tunneling is when a package is placed within another package before it’s encrypted and sent to its destination. The path in which the packet travels is called a tunnel.

A firewall can be set up to prevent a barrier between a private network and the Internet. The firewall can be set up to only accept certaininformation and also reject packets containing unwanted information. For purposes of security, the firewall should be set up prior to installing a VPN.

The Benefits of a VPN are:

- Increased Productivity
- Improved Security
- Lower operational costs
- Simplified Network Topology
- Opportunities for Global Networking

While there are plenty of pros to setting up and using a Virtual Private Network, there’s also a con or two. For instance, someone with in-depth knowledge of network security and dealing with VPNs will have to be on staff or specialized training will be required to ensure things run smoothly. Also, different vendors might provide different technologies so not all networks may be compatible. For sure there are kinks to be worked out. Once they are however, it would be worth it to look into Virtual Private Networking for your business – especially if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Source: Free Articles

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/networks/what-is-a-virtual-private-network.html

Server Host: Where Does My Web Page Go?

For those of you who don’t really understand where or how your web page is sitting on your hosting server, this is a basic over view of how it works.

A server is basically hardware and software and protocol. We will go over these three basics of your hosting server.

Server hardware.

Server hardware is so similar to your old PC hardware that the price of server hardware has come down considerably. Down enough that it’s tempting for a lot of us to host our own server. But that’s a whole different article. All a server is:

Very fast processor.
A large amount of RAM.
A vast amount of Disk Space.
Connection to a T1 line (access to the outside world).

The hardware is housed in very large office buildings. There are many racks of servers filling these climate controlled rooms. Most of theserver host brag of their 99% or better uptime. This is very impressive and another reason to use a server host. How often have you re-booted your PC in the past?

Software. (Operating system)

There different operating systems on the market. Most likely the software on your server is running Apache on Linux, an open source product. Servers need to be secured and an open source application is more likely to be less buggy and more secure then their larger competitor Microsoft. These servers use an interface for you to access and configure them, a control panel. Some control panels are more complicated then others. Depending how technical you are, this is a point of concern when picking aserver host.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/server-host-where-does-my-web-page-go.html

Server Host: Where Does My Web Page Go?

For those of you who don’t really understand where or how your web page is sitting on your hosting server, this is a basic over view of how it works.

A server is basically hardware and software and protocol. We will go over these three basics of your hosting server.

Server hardware.

Server hardware is so similar to your old PC hardware that the price of server hardware has come down considerably. Down enough that it’s tempting for a lot of us to host our own server. But that’s a whole different article. All a server is:

Very fast processor.
A large amount of RAM.
A vast amount of Disk Space.
Connection to a T1 line (access to the outside world).

The hardware is housed in very large office buildings. There are many racks of servers filling these climate controlled rooms. Most of theserver host brag of their 99% or better uptime. This is very impressive and another reason to use a server host. How often have you re-booted your PC in the past?

Software. (Operating system)

There different operating systems on the market. Most likely the software on your server is running Apache on Linux, an open source product. Servers need to be secured and an open source application is more likely to be less buggy and more secure then their larger competitor Microsoft. These servers use an interface for you to access and configure them, a control panel. Some control panels are more complicated then others. Depending how technical you are, this is a point of concern when picking aserver host.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/server-host-where-does-my-web-page-go.html

Patch Management Software

The widely publicized attacks and vulnerabilities to software system have lead to the development of patch management. It discovers and defenses your system against vulnerabilities. Many organizations with pro-active security patch management in place are not affected by these attacks, as they get the information in advance of the attack.

Patch management software allows you to scan, detect, assess, and remediate any security vulnerability on your network. The software identifies the threat and provides you with tools to remediatevulnerabilities and install missing patches. Patch management software determines footprints, perform vulnerability analysis and reports, and define domain, machine and location inventories. The advantages of patch management are – documentation, defines domain, establishment and link speed between locations.Patch management software has become one of the fastest growing segments of software market, as they are designed specifically to test and deploy fixes for software defects and alter any securityvulnerabilities . Patch management tools don’t just automate rolling out patches but help to prevent many problems. Sachs Consulting offers patch management solution that is cost effective and reliable.

Depending on the number of systems in an organization and the seriousness of their operation, the workflow elements of a patch management tool becomes important due to its ability to deliver the patches. The first part of the patch management process is to determine the vulnerable system. Next step is to make sure that the patches will work and they won’t break other software. Finally the patches come out of the machine. Patch management tools also ensure that the new systems on the network, such as mobile users connecting from a laptop, are quickly brought up to proper patch level. And if a patch turns out to cause more problems then the vulnerability it fixes, patch management tools help to remove or roll back the offending fix. However, the first line of defense for the average network agency is still well enforced user policies and standardized system. Patch management can at least help system administrators to keep focus on those while taking the grunt work of patch management off their hands.

You can get all necessary details about database patch management and the software at www.sachsconsulting.com.

http://www.articlecircle.com/computers/patch-management-software.html

Network Marketing Success – What You Need to Know?

There had been a lot of people who are into marketing but only a few got the network marketing success that they wanted. This is because some lack the knowledge of the factors that would help them succeed. Here are the important factors that you need to know for you to succeed in the network marketing world.

One factor is the product and the service that you have. If you have a product or a service that is considered to be “in” then you have the bigger chances of succeeding. Products and services that are outdated may not gain the attention of prospect customers.

Another key is defining and finding your prospective customers. This is one key that you should know because even if you are offering a high quality product or service but you do not have the target people to promote it to, you are bound to fail. It is important that you call the attention of your target market for them to know that your business exists and you can achieve the network marketing success that you dreamed of.

The next key is to keep track of your prospects and customers. You would know at what stage in sales your customer is in. Constant communication with your prospects and your customers would greatly help in succeeding in network marketing.

Keep this in mind and you would surely have the network marketing success that you wanted to have. Try these strategies out and see where this can bring your business with out any serious investments.

http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-marketing-articles/network-marketing-success-what-you-need-to-know-1453381.html