The first thing you need to do before beginning to install all your software on your shiny new computer is to do a basic software inventory before things get to complicated. There are a few steps to this, and this really only applies to Windows systems. Apple systems run pretty clean and lean, as do Linux systems. But Windows runs everything the factory tells it to, most of which you couldn't care less about.
In Windows, once your computer has booted and you are up and running, press Ctrl+Alt+Del (Control/Alt/Delete keys) and click Task Manager. Click on the tab for Processes. In the lower-left corner, it will give you a count of all the processes running. There will likely be a bunch. These are the kids hanging out in the hall doing a whole bunch of nothing most of the time, waiting on something to happen before they actually get to work. Necessary? Who knows, but this is how Windows works. I just say that you should get an idea of what is normal on your computer before you start dinking with it. If you're curious as to exactly what each of those programs are doing on your computer, I'll discuss exactly how to find that information in a later post.
Once you've got a good idea of what processes are running ordinarily, you can close the Task Manager.
Next, you should open the Control Panel. Usually, one goes to the Start button (or icon), and click Control Panel. Once you open it up, look for Add/Remove Programs or Vista/Windows 7 Programs & Features. Open this up and wait for it to populate. Once it finished filling up (and this may take a while, so be patient), you will have a good idea what comes with your computer. We'll come back later to see if we can pull anything off that list that isn't useful.
Your computer should come with a set of install CD's. If it does not, it likely comes with a service partition on the hard drive that is used to restore your computer to factory condition should something catastrophic occur. Personally I prefer the CD's, because if your hard drive fails, that service partition doesn't do you a bit of good. Most of the time, if they include a service partition, it will have a utility to allow you to create a set of CD's. I consider this as a definite must and it appears on my list of good ideas. Consult your manual*, or more likely, call your manufacturer to see which you should do. Be sure to salt those CD's away someplace easy to find, yet safe. Scratched or lost CD's are worthless if you have to rebuild later, and most manufacturers will charge you for replacements.
Once you have a good grasp of what came on your computer (and where you can get it if the computer needs to be rebuilt), we can move on to the next step.
* I consider consumer computer manuals to be one step below sales adds in the Sunday paper. At least you might find something good on sale in the sales add. The consumer computer manual is completely useless because you can't even spread it out to paint furniture on top of it in most cases. Kudos to those companies that do have the big spreadout ones. You know who you are.
Showing posts with label Rocket-Surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rocket-Surgery. Show all posts
Friday, December 18
Thursday, December 17
18. Picking the Right One: Ebay a-go-go
You can find a lot of good places to buy computers and computer equipment. There are retail stores, internet stores, and small, local companies who build them, among others. All of these are good alternatives because you can call someone if something goes wrong. In these cases, you'll have a warranty, you'll have some coverage in case the darn thing breaks. But if you buy the computer second-hand, like through regular users on Ebay, you're stuck with it. What you buy is what you get.
Now, there are are retail stores on Ebay. Dell has an Ebay branch, so does Lenovo, and a lot of other businesses. When you buy from those guys, generally you are getting a warranty of some sort, even if it's really short.
Small, local shops have businesses on Ebay, and you can generally get the same kind of deal, but they aren't necessarily local to you. If something goes wrong, you may not be able to get much help from them. In short, if you're going to spend a lot of money on a computer, make sure it's from a source that will help you if you need it.
I know that you have some protection on Ebay if the item doesn't work or isn't what was listed, but you'll still be out of your money until the matter is settled, and you're left without the computer you wanted. It's much easier to buy it from a retailer or manufacturer and will be much safer. If it arrives broken or wasn't what you purchased, they will work to fix the problem quickly. The same isn't true about everyone on Ebay, so be careful what you bid on.
Now, there are are retail stores on Ebay. Dell has an Ebay branch, so does Lenovo, and a lot of other businesses. When you buy from those guys, generally you are getting a warranty of some sort, even if it's really short.
Small, local shops have businesses on Ebay, and you can generally get the same kind of deal, but they aren't necessarily local to you. If something goes wrong, you may not be able to get much help from them. In short, if you're going to spend a lot of money on a computer, make sure it's from a source that will help you if you need it.
I know that you have some protection on Ebay if the item doesn't work or isn't what was listed, but you'll still be out of your money until the matter is settled, and you're left without the computer you wanted. It's much easier to buy it from a retailer or manufacturer and will be much safer. If it arrives broken or wasn't what you purchased, they will work to fix the problem quickly. The same isn't true about everyone on Ebay, so be careful what you bid on.
Wednesday, December 16
17. Picking the Right One: Computer Genres
Netbooks: The latest craze of the computing world is the mini-laptop, otherwise known as the netbook. Asus came out with the first successful model with their eee PC model, but several companies have joined the fray since.
These units are generally capable, but run minimal processor power, similar to tablets. Battery life on these units is exceptional. They are available in a variety of configurations and price points, most starting about $300 or less.
These are terrific for students or people on the go for there extremely small size. Most run about 8” to 10” (screen size) and are three pounds or less. They are not considered gaming machines because they, like the tablets, have minimal graphics cards to conserve battery life. I have seen someone install and run World of Warcraft on one, but it was so choppy it was basically un-playable, even with all the graphics turned to the lowest setting.
These would be a great choice for a small e-mail/blogging computer. It might not be so good for desktop-publishing because of the small screen acreage, but an external screen would fix that.
Minis/All-in-Ones: I'm going to cover both of these in one go because of their similarities. I consider these another niche-market device. Basically, these are extrememly small size format systems that often incorporate a screen, but not always. The Apple Mini is about the size of a paper-back novel and does not have its own built-in-screen, for instance.
Most of the time, these devices are based off of existing laptop technology, enabling them to have small desktop footprints. The main disadvantage of this is that most of the components can't be upgraded or replaced. Similar to laptops, about the only thing you can replace or upgrade with these will be the RAM or hard drive.
These are terrific for when you don't have a lot of desk or counter space. Some of these systems even have built-in touch screens and act a lot like tablets with a much better processor.
In the history of desktop computing, these have never really gone over well. If the monitor or another component goes out, the entire system is useless or hobbled until fixed. To get them fixed, they must be sent to a repair depot, so the wait is usually measured in days. They suffer from many of the same limitations as laptops as well as the obvious advantages of small sizes, but aren't really built for portability. If they suit your purpose, go for it, but they are not on my recommended list.
These units are generally capable, but run minimal processor power, similar to tablets. Battery life on these units is exceptional. They are available in a variety of configurations and price points, most starting about $300 or less.
These are terrific for students or people on the go for there extremely small size. Most run about 8” to 10” (screen size) and are three pounds or less. They are not considered gaming machines because they, like the tablets, have minimal graphics cards to conserve battery life. I have seen someone install and run World of Warcraft on one, but it was so choppy it was basically un-playable, even with all the graphics turned to the lowest setting.
These would be a great choice for a small e-mail/blogging computer. It might not be so good for desktop-publishing because of the small screen acreage, but an external screen would fix that.
Minis/All-in-Ones: I'm going to cover both of these in one go because of their similarities. I consider these another niche-market device. Basically, these are extrememly small size format systems that often incorporate a screen, but not always. The Apple Mini is about the size of a paper-back novel and does not have its own built-in-screen, for instance.
Most of the time, these devices are based off of existing laptop technology, enabling them to have small desktop footprints. The main disadvantage of this is that most of the components can't be upgraded or replaced. Similar to laptops, about the only thing you can replace or upgrade with these will be the RAM or hard drive.
These are terrific for when you don't have a lot of desk or counter space. Some of these systems even have built-in touch screens and act a lot like tablets with a much better processor.
In the history of desktop computing, these have never really gone over well. If the monitor or another component goes out, the entire system is useless or hobbled until fixed. To get them fixed, they must be sent to a repair depot, so the wait is usually measured in days. They suffer from many of the same limitations as laptops as well as the obvious advantages of small sizes, but aren't really built for portability. If they suit your purpose, go for it, but they are not on my recommended list.
Tuesday, December 15
16. Picking the Right One: Computer Genres
Tablets: This is one of those niche-market devices. While they are full laptops in theory, they're more like over-sized PDA's in practice. You might have seen one at your doctor's office.
These are generally low-end machines, power-wise. They have a screen that allows you to use it as a touch-pad with your fingers or a stylus (imagine a Nintendo DS). Of all the laptops, these are the most limited in options available, probably because there isn't a big market for them. They haven't been as well received as it was hoped by the hardware manufacturers. Apple recently unveiled their own model, so this may be changing.
These models are exceptionally portable. Once setup, the handwriting recognition is a great tool. They are not good for virtually any type of gaming as they have minimal graphics capability. This does lend itself to longer battery life, however.
There are some “convertible” machines that allow you to work ordinarily like a regular laptop, but allow you to flip the screen around and use it like a tablet. Most suffer from the same low processing power and lack of RAM the regular tablets do, though there are some very expensive versions on the market that offer more kick. Even those do not have good gaming graphic cards, so if that's your bag, I wouldn't recommend one.
These are generally low-end machines, power-wise. They have a screen that allows you to use it as a touch-pad with your fingers or a stylus (imagine a Nintendo DS). Of all the laptops, these are the most limited in options available, probably because there isn't a big market for them. They haven't been as well received as it was hoped by the hardware manufacturers. Apple recently unveiled their own model, so this may be changing.
These models are exceptionally portable. Once setup, the handwriting recognition is a great tool. They are not good for virtually any type of gaming as they have minimal graphics capability. This does lend itself to longer battery life, however.
There are some “convertible” machines that allow you to work ordinarily like a regular laptop, but allow you to flip the screen around and use it like a tablet. Most suffer from the same low processing power and lack of RAM the regular tablets do, though there are some very expensive versions on the market that offer more kick. Even those do not have good gaming graphic cards, so if that's your bag, I wouldn't recommend one.
Monday, December 14
15. Picking the Right One: Computer Genres
Desktop Replacements: This category is still a laptop, just a really BIG laptop. These units are designed to allow all the power of a desktop while offering easier portability. Basically these systems come in two flavors: engineering and gaming.
Both variants usually offer a ton of RAM, really big hard drives, generous high-resolution (hi-res) screens, and almost full-sized keyboards. The engineering type usually has a video card that is designed for modelling, using programs such as AutoCAD or Solidworks. These are great for designing things in 3D, but not really good for games.
The gaming variety usually comes with high-end gaming video cards which are designed for high-throughput. Both varieties will be the most expensive types of laptops available. Apple even offers their own types that are geared more for graphics and web design.
Desktop replacements aren't meant to be laptops in the strictest sense as they are conveniences for engineers and graphic designers to take on their powerful systems on the road. These things put out more heat than a small block Chevy. I wouldn't recommend working on one for very long with nothing between it and you but a pair of blue jeans.
As you can imagine, battery life is nothing to write home about and is usually measure in minutes, rather than hours.
Both variants usually offer a ton of RAM, really big hard drives, generous high-resolution (hi-res) screens, and almost full-sized keyboards. The engineering type usually has a video card that is designed for modelling, using programs such as AutoCAD or Solidworks. These are great for designing things in 3D, but not really good for games.
The gaming variety usually comes with high-end gaming video cards which are designed for high-throughput. Both varieties will be the most expensive types of laptops available. Apple even offers their own types that are geared more for graphics and web design.
Desktop replacements aren't meant to be laptops in the strictest sense as they are conveniences for engineers and graphic designers to take on their powerful systems on the road. These things put out more heat than a small block Chevy. I wouldn't recommend working on one for very long with nothing between it and you but a pair of blue jeans.
As you can imagine, battery life is nothing to write home about and is usually measure in minutes, rather than hours.
Sunday, December 13
14. Picking the Right One: Computer Genres
Standard Laptops: These are the most common of the laptop market. They generally range in size from 12” up to 17” (screen size). Laptops are mostly business oriented, though the market for the general public grows yearly. Apple makes some of the best laptops available with beautiful, crisp screens, great keyboards, and sturdy bodies. I'm a Lenovo Thinkpad fan myself. Dell is another popular manufacturer, though the list is nearly endless.
Most laptops come with decent processors. Hard drives tend to be smaller than their desktop cousins, and available RAM amounts tend to be much smaller because of the way the computers are designed. Hard-core gamers tend not to like most laptops in these configurations because they just don't have the horse-power you need to run the high-end games. The problem is especially the video card. Most laptops in this class tend to be for business/home use, and have no need for high-end graphics. Most modern video games require those graphics to play (or at least not look and play terribly). I'm not saying it's not possible, but it's not a good fit.
If you plan on doing mostly desktop publishing (ie.--word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.), these are a great fit. Laptops have really come down in price since the late 1990's and are now comparably priced to some desktops. The downside of these is that you really can't do much work on them yourself.
If it breaks, you're probably going to have to ship it to the manufacturer. Sure, you can probably replace or upgrade the RAM and the hard drive and CD/DVD, but those are likely the only components that you can replace without taking the whole she-bang apart. I do NOT recommend taking a laptop apart unless you really know what you're doing.
Laptops are available in just about every color imaginable now. Keyboards range from horrid to exceptional. There are different control schemes for mice, though most use the touchpad. I personally despise the touchpad because that's where my thumbs go when I'm typing. It really screws me up when my cursor jumps all over the screen as I'm typing a document. Lenovo business models come with a kind of “joystick” in the center of the keyboard as well. Some people hate this design, but apparently it's been popular enough for other manufactuers to start offering it on their computers.
Battery life on these types is as variable as the colors you can get for their cases. Some models offer 8 or more hours, though most will fall in the 2-4 hour range.
Most laptops come with decent processors. Hard drives tend to be smaller than their desktop cousins, and available RAM amounts tend to be much smaller because of the way the computers are designed. Hard-core gamers tend not to like most laptops in these configurations because they just don't have the horse-power you need to run the high-end games. The problem is especially the video card. Most laptops in this class tend to be for business/home use, and have no need for high-end graphics. Most modern video games require those graphics to play (or at least not look and play terribly). I'm not saying it's not possible, but it's not a good fit.
If you plan on doing mostly desktop publishing (ie.--word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.), these are a great fit. Laptops have really come down in price since the late 1990's and are now comparably priced to some desktops. The downside of these is that you really can't do much work on them yourself.
If it breaks, you're probably going to have to ship it to the manufacturer. Sure, you can probably replace or upgrade the RAM and the hard drive and CD/DVD, but those are likely the only components that you can replace without taking the whole she-bang apart. I do NOT recommend taking a laptop apart unless you really know what you're doing.
Laptops are available in just about every color imaginable now. Keyboards range from horrid to exceptional. There are different control schemes for mice, though most use the touchpad. I personally despise the touchpad because that's where my thumbs go when I'm typing. It really screws me up when my cursor jumps all over the screen as I'm typing a document. Lenovo business models come with a kind of “joystick” in the center of the keyboard as well. Some people hate this design, but apparently it's been popular enough for other manufactuers to start offering it on their computers.
Battery life on these types is as variable as the colors you can get for their cases. Some models offer 8 or more hours, though most will fall in the 2-4 hour range.
Saturday, December 12
13. Picking the Right One: Computer Genres
Desktops: I'll begin with the desktop because it's the old-man of the PC computer set. Generally a desktop will include some sort of box, called a central processing unit (CPU) that will sit on your desk or floor. The CPU is the guts of the computer. All the major hardware, such as the processor, RAM, and hard drive will be located there, along with all the accompanying paraphenalia. This unit will usually come with a monitor, though you might have to purchase this seperately. It will also come with a keyboard, mouse, and some cables. If you don't plan on having to be mobile with your computing, the desktop is a great solution. This is the easiest of the categories to work on yourself and to modify and upgrade after you've bought it. Generally, you can open the case and replace any component by yourself. This makes things exceptionally handy if a piece of hardware dies. You can generally buy replacement components at most major retail stores, such as Wal-Mart or Best Buy, not to mention the bajillions of places online.
Apple's desktop models are also easy to open and work on, though theirs isn't quite as friendly (even if they are dead sexy). You can easily violate your warranty with Apple if you do this, so be sure to read up on what's allowed and what isn't before you tinker if you're still under warranty. Of course, this holds true with some PC manufacturers as well (Yes, I'm looking at you, Dell).
One big advantage of the desktop market is the wide variety of components to personalize and customize your desktop. You can buy virtually anything you can think of to “bling” up your computer. There are cases made in almost any configuration you can imagine. You can get lights to light up just about anything in your case, from the fans to the wiring. You can order custom made cases with custom paint jobs. There are more flashing/bubbling/blinking/spinning thingamabobs than you can imagine for every variety of case. The variety is staggering, and makes a street-rod convention pale by comparison. Most enthusiats end up customizing their own “rig”. There are even competitions for customized cases much like car shows!
For hard core gaming enthusiasts, nothing really beats a desktop. You can get the most bang-for-your-buck out of a desktop, and it's really the only genre of computer you can build yourself.
Apple's desktop models are also easy to open and work on, though theirs isn't quite as friendly (even if they are dead sexy). You can easily violate your warranty with Apple if you do this, so be sure to read up on what's allowed and what isn't before you tinker if you're still under warranty. Of course, this holds true with some PC manufacturers as well (Yes, I'm looking at you, Dell).
One big advantage of the desktop market is the wide variety of components to personalize and customize your desktop. You can buy virtually anything you can think of to “bling” up your computer. There are cases made in almost any configuration you can imagine. You can get lights to light up just about anything in your case, from the fans to the wiring. You can order custom made cases with custom paint jobs. There are more flashing/bubbling/blinking/spinning thingamabobs than you can imagine for every variety of case. The variety is staggering, and makes a street-rod convention pale by comparison. Most enthusiats end up customizing their own “rig”. There are even competitions for customized cases much like car shows!
For hard core gaming enthusiasts, nothing really beats a desktop. You can get the most bang-for-your-buck out of a desktop, and it's really the only genre of computer you can build yourself.
Friday, December 11
12. Picking the Right One: Not all CPU's are created equally
Intel: Intel's processors are the defacto standard of the computer industry. I could go on for pages dealing with the various current processors available, but considering the speed at which these change it would be out-of-date before I finished. Intel's processors are what most software is written on and for. This makes them ideal for most uses. Considering this, they do tend to be a bit more expensive, but not prohibitively so.
AMD: AMD's processors used to be better than Intel's! Sadly this is not the case anymore. Intel has more resources (read: money) and has really outpaced AMD in terms of design. This is not to say that AMD processors are bad or that there are problems with them. AMD makes a great product and it's rare to find software that disagrees with them. Gamer's used to favor AMD processors because they were so easy to over-clock (set the chip speed beyond the factory specifications) and were so cheap compared to Intel. Sadly, this is no longer quite the case. While still less expensive, there isnt' as big a difference as there used to be, and Intel's are just as easy to over-clock these days. Bottom line: If you see a computer with an AMD processor, don't flinch away. It's fine.
Everything else: There are a few other players out in the market, but the odds that you'll actually run into one is staggeringly low. Most are for specialized applications or products, so you really don't need to worry about this. The exception to this would be Atom processors. You'll find these mostly in Netbooks. They're fine, just not very good for gaming. Of course, if you want gaming, odds are you won't choose a Netbook anyway.
AMD: AMD's processors used to be better than Intel's! Sadly this is not the case anymore. Intel has more resources (read: money) and has really outpaced AMD in terms of design. This is not to say that AMD processors are bad or that there are problems with them. AMD makes a great product and it's rare to find software that disagrees with them. Gamer's used to favor AMD processors because they were so easy to over-clock (set the chip speed beyond the factory specifications) and were so cheap compared to Intel. Sadly, this is no longer quite the case. While still less expensive, there isnt' as big a difference as there used to be, and Intel's are just as easy to over-clock these days. Bottom line: If you see a computer with an AMD processor, don't flinch away. It's fine.
Everything else: There are a few other players out in the market, but the odds that you'll actually run into one is staggeringly low. Most are for specialized applications or products, so you really don't need to worry about this. The exception to this would be Atom processors. You'll find these mostly in Netbooks. They're fine, just not very good for gaming. Of course, if you want gaming, odds are you won't choose a Netbook anyway.
Thursday, December 10
11. Picking the Right One: Not all CPU's are created equally
I'm not going to discuss speeds here, just types of CPU's. Speeds change so quickly that by the time I finshed typing this sentence, two new generations of processors just came out. I want to discuss current CPU types and what these mean to you. Let's consider families of processors then. For our purposes, there are primarily three: desktop, laptop, and mobile. Desktop processors will have names like “Extreme Edition” and will be generally the fastest for the consumer market. Laptop processors will be similar, but will likely have an entirely different naming convention. They'll generally be a bit slower, but will use a LOT less power, making them much better for laptops, since you spend so much time mobile. Mobile processors will be the bottom of the barrel in terms of speed, but the absolute best in terms of power usage. These processors are used in everything from cell phones to tablets.
There is some differentiation among these, and it mostly has to do with the amount of memory available on the processor that acts like extra RAM storage for speeding up the processor's ability to compute. Also, there is a difference in the computing power of the processors. You'll be able to find these in different grades. Generally speaking, the lower the model number, the less powerful the processor.
For example, I'll make up some model numbers to give you an idea.
Let's say that OfficeProcessors just came out with their new line of CPU's. The top of the line, the one they really want you to buy, will contain their highest number. We'll call this model X97. It runs at a speed of 3.4GHz (Gigahertz). They'll even offer it with more memory on the processor to make it even faster, and will call it their “Intense Edition”. This will be marketed to technophiles and gamers. Next, they'll have the same basic processor, just called X97. It'll be the same thing, just without the extra onboard memory. The one after that however, is called X95. It's the same basic processor, but it's missing even more onboard memory, and it doesn't calculate at quite the same speeds. So, in effect, it's a slower processor, even though it's running at the same speed, clockwise. They'll offer this entire line-up in several variations each, with different levels of speed. You might be able to get the X97 Intense Edition in 2.8GHz, 3.0GHz, 3.2GHz, and the ultimate, 3.4GHz. What's this mean to you? Basically nothing. Unless you are running programs of the type that are used to design space stations, or playing the absolute latest high-end games, that much “horsepower” is basically wasted. It means you can open your internet browser a bit faster, but not enough for you to really notice. You do want to make sure you get the right processor for your function, though. If you just want a computer to surf the Internet and send e-mail with, even the slowest one will be fine. But if you're going to play high-end video games or edit movies, you'll want a bit more. This is another one of the times I'll advise you to buy the best you can afford. Just don't let the hype fool you. Do a bit of research before you plunk down any cash.
Each manufacturer will basically have their own types of processors, and sometimes its hard to relate them to supposedly “equivalent” processors from other manufactuers. So, I'm going to tackle these by discussing each manufacturer separately.
There is some differentiation among these, and it mostly has to do with the amount of memory available on the processor that acts like extra RAM storage for speeding up the processor's ability to compute. Also, there is a difference in the computing power of the processors. You'll be able to find these in different grades. Generally speaking, the lower the model number, the less powerful the processor.
For example, I'll make up some model numbers to give you an idea.
Let's say that OfficeProcessors just came out with their new line of CPU's. The top of the line, the one they really want you to buy, will contain their highest number. We'll call this model X97. It runs at a speed of 3.4GHz (Gigahertz). They'll even offer it with more memory on the processor to make it even faster, and will call it their “Intense Edition”. This will be marketed to technophiles and gamers. Next, they'll have the same basic processor, just called X97. It'll be the same thing, just without the extra onboard memory. The one after that however, is called X95. It's the same basic processor, but it's missing even more onboard memory, and it doesn't calculate at quite the same speeds. So, in effect, it's a slower processor, even though it's running at the same speed, clockwise. They'll offer this entire line-up in several variations each, with different levels of speed. You might be able to get the X97 Intense Edition in 2.8GHz, 3.0GHz, 3.2GHz, and the ultimate, 3.4GHz. What's this mean to you? Basically nothing. Unless you are running programs of the type that are used to design space stations, or playing the absolute latest high-end games, that much “horsepower” is basically wasted. It means you can open your internet browser a bit faster, but not enough for you to really notice. You do want to make sure you get the right processor for your function, though. If you just want a computer to surf the Internet and send e-mail with, even the slowest one will be fine. But if you're going to play high-end video games or edit movies, you'll want a bit more. This is another one of the times I'll advise you to buy the best you can afford. Just don't let the hype fool you. Do a bit of research before you plunk down any cash.
Each manufacturer will basically have their own types of processors, and sometimes its hard to relate them to supposedly “equivalent” processors from other manufactuers. So, I'm going to tackle these by discussing each manufacturer separately.
Wednesday, December 9
10. Picking the Right One: Hardware is Ephemeral
Now that we've got the stickiness that is the OS market out of the way, let's talk about the shiny stuff.
Hardware is something your going to buy and feel bad about in 6 months.
Don't.
Hardware changes so fast that it's basically impossible to keep up unless you've got a really large bank account and a lot of time on your hands. Buy the best you can afford at the time and use it until it stops working or you can't run new programs on it. I used to try keeping up with just the news about what new hardware was available on the market, but it comes so quickly even that much effort isn't worth the time.
Let's talk about the gibberish on the outside of those boxes or ads that no one without a firm grounding in computer lingo understands.
Hardware is something your going to buy and feel bad about in 6 months.
Don't.
Hardware changes so fast that it's basically impossible to keep up unless you've got a really large bank account and a lot of time on your hands. Buy the best you can afford at the time and use it until it stops working or you can't run new programs on it. I used to try keeping up with just the news about what new hardware was available on the market, but it comes so quickly even that much effort isn't worth the time.
Let's talk about the gibberish on the outside of those boxes or ads that no one without a firm grounding in computer lingo understands.
- What it says:What it means
- HDD:Hard drive – Long term memory
- Gb, Gigabytes, Gigs, TB, Terabyte:A unit of measurement for memory. Basically, the bigger the better. This is used to measure the amount of memory a hard drive can hold, RAM can contain, etc. A Terabyte (TB) is 1000 Gigabytes (Gb) which is 1000 Megabytes (Mb). So, that song you just got from iTunes is 3.5Mb, just to give you a comparison size.
- GHz, Gigahertz:This is a measurement of speed. It tells you how fast a processor or chip is running. Again, bigger is usually better, but don't be fooled by this. There are different processors and not all are created equally.
- DDR#:If you don't know what this is, you can basically ignore it. It only matters to gamers and high end enthusiasts/professionals who need to know. It designates the type of RAM installed.
- DVD+RW/CD-RW:This one tells you that it has a DVD drive that can read DVD's, write new DVD's, handle the two types (basically any type of DVD-R media you buy will work), as well as working the same way with CD's. You'll see a lot of DVD/CD-RW, which means it can read DVD's, but not create new ones, but can do both for CD's. This is sort of important, so keep an eye out for it.
- 32-Bit, 64-Bit:This is an OS thing, read earlier on OS's
- RPM:Literally Revolutions Per Minute – this is how the speed on hard drives is measured. Usually it will be something like 5400rpm, or 7200rpm or higher. Told you these things were like record players!
Tuesday, December 8
9. Picking the Right One: 32bit vs. 64bit
You probably want to know what the deal is with this stuff. First, let me explain what it means. When this is referred to by an operating system or hardware setting, what they're really talking about is the “data buss.” Now, exactly what that is isn't really important. What it is that it does is.
The data buss is what moves the information around in your computer. This gets the information from your hard drive to your RAM to your processor, et al. When we say “bit”, think of it like a lane on a highway. With 32 bits, we have 32 lanes with which to drive down. Obviously, you're going to get less traffic jams on a 64 lane highway than you would on a 32 lane. While this is absolutely true, and that 64 bit systems hardware-wise are faster, it's not the gospel truth. In reality, 64 bit OS's aren't really what they're cracked up to be.
For example, Windows 64 bit versions are not nearly that efficient. Most Linux and the Apple OS are pretty good, but there are still issues. The BIG ISSUE is that there's not that much stable software for the 64 bit OS's. While this has been changing of late, it's still a problem. These OS's will run the 32 bit variants of softwares, but why would you pay for something you're not going to use? That's like building a 64 lane highway and only letting people drive on half of it.
If you need 64 bit processing and have specific applications (softwares) that run on it, great. Remember, buy for your specific function. But if you do not have any specific software applications that require 64 bit, don't bother. You can save yourself some money by sticking with the 32 bit versions.
Bottom Line: All OS's have their good points and their bad points. Pick one that fits your needs, and you'll be fine.
The data buss is what moves the information around in your computer. This gets the information from your hard drive to your RAM to your processor, et al. When we say “bit”, think of it like a lane on a highway. With 32 bits, we have 32 lanes with which to drive down. Obviously, you're going to get less traffic jams on a 64 lane highway than you would on a 32 lane. While this is absolutely true, and that 64 bit systems hardware-wise are faster, it's not the gospel truth. In reality, 64 bit OS's aren't really what they're cracked up to be.
For example, Windows 64 bit versions are not nearly that efficient. Most Linux and the Apple OS are pretty good, but there are still issues. The BIG ISSUE is that there's not that much stable software for the 64 bit OS's. While this has been changing of late, it's still a problem. These OS's will run the 32 bit variants of softwares, but why would you pay for something you're not going to use? That's like building a 64 lane highway and only letting people drive on half of it.
If you need 64 bit processing and have specific applications (softwares) that run on it, great. Remember, buy for your specific function. But if you do not have any specific software applications that require 64 bit, don't bother. You can save yourself some money by sticking with the 32 bit versions.
Bottom Line: All OS's have their good points and their bad points. Pick one that fits your needs, and you'll be fine.
Monday, December 7
8. Picking the Right One: Picking the OS
The final OS I'm going to discuss will be:
Linux.
Now Linux isn't a company. It's not even a group of companies. It is more like a community. And like a lot of communities, it's a bit scary to move into at first because you don't know if the neighbors are nice or if anyone down the street has kids.
If Microsoft is a 70's Caddilac, and Apple is a Mercedes, Linux is a high-school shop project car. It may not be pretty. It was engineered by committee, but it's over-engineered from the word go (at least parts of it are).
Linux is a collective name for a group of operating systems that decended from Unix. Linux is like Cool-Aide in that it comes in many, many flavors. It can be terribly bewildering just considering the variety of Linux distrobutions (called distros) available. Almost all are free, and the ones that aren't are really inexpensive, even compared to Windows.
I bring up Linux because it's becoming more main-stream. You can actually buy computers pre-loaded with Linux straight from major manufacturers. This is a pretty big deal. It's only been happening for a couple of years.
Before, you had to purchase a computer, remove the pre-installed OS, and then install Linux on your own, find or write drivers for you hardware, and hope it all works. Now manufacturers are shipping computers all configured, setup, and ready to use with Linux on them.
Linux is not for everyone. I would rate it for moderate to advanced users. Why? One, it's not compatible with all the software on the market. Sure, there are Windows emulators for Linux, but they're not 100% and you might have to fool around to get your software to work correctly. Two, there is so much power with Linux, if you put your fingers where you shouldn't, you can really mess stuff up.
Linux does offer huge advantages over the other OS's. The primary one is cost. You can save yourself a bundle of money by having a computer shipped with Linux versus Windows in some cases.
Linux runs faster than any other OS on the market. Even pared down to the bare-bones, you can't make Windows run as quickly or effeciently. There's simply too much overhead with Windows.
The downsides of Linux though, is what makes me think it's not for everyone. Besides what I said above, getting help for Linux can be frustrating. Linux is for your do-it-yourself types. If you like carpentry, you'll probably love Linux. I recently spent two days getting a program to run correctly on Linux, and I've got a fairly good idea of what I'm doing!
Linux can also be quite confusing, especially if you are used to Windows or Apple's OS. Things don't work the way you expect them to, and there can be a bit of culture shock.
I don't want to disuade anyone from using Linux. I think the best way to learn about computers is to break them and then fix them yourself. You won't ever learn anything if you let the 12-year-old next door fix it everytime it breaks. If you've never tried Linux, there are ways to give it a go without marrying it. You could use a “live CD” to try it before you buy it. In fact, I recommend it.
I'm just saying I don't think it's for everyone.
Linux.
Now Linux isn't a company. It's not even a group of companies. It is more like a community. And like a lot of communities, it's a bit scary to move into at first because you don't know if the neighbors are nice or if anyone down the street has kids.
If Microsoft is a 70's Caddilac, and Apple is a Mercedes, Linux is a high-school shop project car. It may not be pretty. It was engineered by committee, but it's over-engineered from the word go (at least parts of it are).
Linux is a collective name for a group of operating systems that decended from Unix. Linux is like Cool-Aide in that it comes in many, many flavors. It can be terribly bewildering just considering the variety of Linux distrobutions (called distros) available. Almost all are free, and the ones that aren't are really inexpensive, even compared to Windows.
I bring up Linux because it's becoming more main-stream. You can actually buy computers pre-loaded with Linux straight from major manufacturers. This is a pretty big deal. It's only been happening for a couple of years.
Before, you had to purchase a computer, remove the pre-installed OS, and then install Linux on your own, find or write drivers for you hardware, and hope it all works. Now manufacturers are shipping computers all configured, setup, and ready to use with Linux on them.
Linux is not for everyone. I would rate it for moderate to advanced users. Why? One, it's not compatible with all the software on the market. Sure, there are Windows emulators for Linux, but they're not 100% and you might have to fool around to get your software to work correctly. Two, there is so much power with Linux, if you put your fingers where you shouldn't, you can really mess stuff up.
Linux does offer huge advantages over the other OS's. The primary one is cost. You can save yourself a bundle of money by having a computer shipped with Linux versus Windows in some cases.
Linux runs faster than any other OS on the market. Even pared down to the bare-bones, you can't make Windows run as quickly or effeciently. There's simply too much overhead with Windows.
The downsides of Linux though, is what makes me think it's not for everyone. Besides what I said above, getting help for Linux can be frustrating. Linux is for your do-it-yourself types. If you like carpentry, you'll probably love Linux. I recently spent two days getting a program to run correctly on Linux, and I've got a fairly good idea of what I'm doing!
Linux can also be quite confusing, especially if you are used to Windows or Apple's OS. Things don't work the way you expect them to, and there can be a bit of culture shock.
I don't want to disuade anyone from using Linux. I think the best way to learn about computers is to break them and then fix them yourself. You won't ever learn anything if you let the 12-year-old next door fix it everytime it breaks. If you've never tried Linux, there are ways to give it a go without marrying it. You could use a “live CD” to try it before you buy it. In fact, I recommend it.
I'm just saying I don't think it's for everyone.
Sunday, December 6
7. Picking the Right One: Picking the OS
That brings us to the next big player:
Apple.
Apple is not a software company. Comparing them to Microsoft is something lots of people like to do, but it's not really possible. First off, while Apple's OS is first rate, it's not their business. Oh, and you'll hear “Mac” and “Apple” used interchangeably by everyone. The computers used to be called “Macintosh” computers (a play on macintosh apples). Many of them were even named Mac (ie.--Mac II, etc.), and even though Apple hasn't used “mac” in years, it still sticks. Just remember, when you hear “mac”, they mean Apple. You can't go out and buy just any piece of equipment and install the Apple OS on it. You have only one option to buy the hardware their OS runs on, and that's via Apple.
This is not such a bad thing. Apple generally uses first-rate hardware on all their systems. I can think of only a couple of instances of hardware problems plaguing Apple systems, and those were years ago. You will pay a premium for those computers, though. It's like buying a Mercedes. You get an absolutely first-class experience at the dealership and a fantastic piece of engineering excellence, but boy, you're going to pay through the nose to get it.
Apples are very expensive compared to comparable PC's. About the least expensive Apple new laptop will run you some bucks. You can purchase brand new PC's with comparable features for less than half that figure.
What you get for that money is an OS that is almost airtight. Since Apple doesn't have to worry about making their OS work with just about every piece of hardware on the market, they can create all the drivers themselves. That's right, they make the hardware and the drivers for it. This makes things much more seemless. What this means for you is that it works beautifully. Apple's OS is poetry in motion. It's exceptionally user-friendly, easy to learn, and forgiving of mistakes. Installing new programs is about the simplest thing ever. It's also extremely virus/malware resistant. These factors make it a fantastic first computer for anyone, if you can stand the price tag.
Apple's downside, besides the cost, is the lack of options. You can't go out and shop around to get a better deal. If you don't buy it from Apple, you're not getting it. And you have to buy it on their terms. There's not a lot of customization compared to the PC world.
Extra software, like games, is another weakness. Since Apple has something like 10% of the personal computer market, there is a similar status on the amounts of software produced for their computers. And since the software makers lack the volume you would see in the PC world, the prices for the software is higher, too.
You can get the Mercedes of the computing world with an Apple, but keep in mind it comes with the Mercedes price tag, and you really can't go to Autozone to get spare parts.
Apple.
Apple is not a software company. Comparing them to Microsoft is something lots of people like to do, but it's not really possible. First off, while Apple's OS is first rate, it's not their business. Oh, and you'll hear “Mac” and “Apple” used interchangeably by everyone. The computers used to be called “Macintosh” computers (a play on macintosh apples). Many of them were even named Mac (ie.--Mac II, etc.), and even though Apple hasn't used “mac” in years, it still sticks. Just remember, when you hear “mac”, they mean Apple. You can't go out and buy just any piece of equipment and install the Apple OS on it. You have only one option to buy the hardware their OS runs on, and that's via Apple.
This is not such a bad thing. Apple generally uses first-rate hardware on all their systems. I can think of only a couple of instances of hardware problems plaguing Apple systems, and those were years ago. You will pay a premium for those computers, though. It's like buying a Mercedes. You get an absolutely first-class experience at the dealership and a fantastic piece of engineering excellence, but boy, you're going to pay through the nose to get it.
Apples are very expensive compared to comparable PC's. About the least expensive Apple new laptop will run you some bucks. You can purchase brand new PC's with comparable features for less than half that figure.
What you get for that money is an OS that is almost airtight. Since Apple doesn't have to worry about making their OS work with just about every piece of hardware on the market, they can create all the drivers themselves. That's right, they make the hardware and the drivers for it. This makes things much more seemless. What this means for you is that it works beautifully. Apple's OS is poetry in motion. It's exceptionally user-friendly, easy to learn, and forgiving of mistakes. Installing new programs is about the simplest thing ever. It's also extremely virus/malware resistant. These factors make it a fantastic first computer for anyone, if you can stand the price tag.
Apple's downside, besides the cost, is the lack of options. You can't go out and shop around to get a better deal. If you don't buy it from Apple, you're not getting it. And you have to buy it on their terms. There's not a lot of customization compared to the PC world.
Extra software, like games, is another weakness. Since Apple has something like 10% of the personal computer market, there is a similar status on the amounts of software produced for their computers. And since the software makers lack the volume you would see in the PC world, the prices for the software is higher, too.
You can get the Mercedes of the computing world with an Apple, but keep in mind it comes with the Mercedes price tag, and you really can't go to Autozone to get spare parts.
Saturday, December 5
6. Picking the Right One: Picking the OS
Let's start with the 800 pound gorilla in the room:
Microsoft.
If you've been awake for the last quarter of a century, you'll probably be at least familiar with Microsoft. They're particular brand OS is called Windows, and has been throughout its various incarnations. They used to have something else, but there's no need to discuss it because it's built into Windows these days.[i] Windows has a very easy to use graphical user interface (gui), which is the tech way of saying, it's easy to use because you can use a mouse to point and click to do most anything you want. For the most part, Windows is very user-friendly. You'll hear that word a lot in computer circles. Companies spend fortunes on making things “user-friendly”. The upside, and admittedly it's a huge upside, is that Microsoft is so big and ubiquitous that most everything you can buy for computers was made to work with it. Most all the games you look at in stores, most of the desktop software you see works great on Windows and was designed to do just that.
That by itself is a huge advantage for you. Software is easy to get, and because so many companies compete for your money, relatively inexpensive.
Another large advantage to using Windows is that almost everyone knows it. Most businesses use Windows on their computers, so most likely you'll feel comfortable using it. Most of the computers you'll look at buying will come pre-loaded with Windows.
The downside of Windows is a biggie, though. Microsoft, by definition, is a software company. They really don't produce hardware, and they certainly don't produce computers. Windows is written in such a way to make it compatible for virtually every piece of hardware on the market. That is both good and bad. It's good because you can buy virtually anything and most likely it will work. It's bad in that Microsoft doesn't actually make the drivers for those products, and when they don't work, it can be a problem.
Drivers are programs that make your hardware interact correctly with the rest of your computer. If your drivers aren't working correctly, odds are that device won't work correctly either. That could be a large headache for you, because then you'll need to figure out if the problem is Windows or the drivers. From experience, each company will blame the other and neither wants to help. There is hope! I'll cover what to do in this circumstance later, but I just wanted you to be aware of it now.
Another large downside, if you'll pardon the pun, is the size of their OS. Every generation Windows seems to get bigger and bulkier. In large part, this is to keep it compatible with older software. Windows isn't picky about its roomies. It will talk to just about anything. Again, this is both good and bad. Good because it makes interoperability much easier Bad in that there are many, many, many holes in the software with which virus makers and people who want to steal all your information can drive trucks through. This can be fixed, but requires some work on your part. We cover this in more detail a bit later.
I'm not trying to scare you off Windows. By far, Microsoft has really improved the OS with almost each generation (there are exceptions in every family). It's a fantastic software in as much everything mostly just works. It has its problems, but as you'll see, so do the competitors.
If Microsoft were a car, I'd describe it as a mid-70's Cadillac. Incredibly powerful, bloated, rides like a dream, chugs gas like a frat-boy does Heineken, isn't the prettiest thing, but you're not ashamed to be seen using it.
Microsoft.
If you've been awake for the last quarter of a century, you'll probably be at least familiar with Microsoft. They're particular brand OS is called Windows, and has been throughout its various incarnations. They used to have something else, but there's no need to discuss it because it's built into Windows these days.[i] Windows has a very easy to use graphical user interface (gui), which is the tech way of saying, it's easy to use because you can use a mouse to point and click to do most anything you want. For the most part, Windows is very user-friendly. You'll hear that word a lot in computer circles. Companies spend fortunes on making things “user-friendly”. The upside, and admittedly it's a huge upside, is that Microsoft is so big and ubiquitous that most everything you can buy for computers was made to work with it. Most all the games you look at in stores, most of the desktop software you see works great on Windows and was designed to do just that.
That by itself is a huge advantage for you. Software is easy to get, and because so many companies compete for your money, relatively inexpensive.
Another large advantage to using Windows is that almost everyone knows it. Most businesses use Windows on their computers, so most likely you'll feel comfortable using it. Most of the computers you'll look at buying will come pre-loaded with Windows.
The downside of Windows is a biggie, though. Microsoft, by definition, is a software company. They really don't produce hardware, and they certainly don't produce computers. Windows is written in such a way to make it compatible for virtually every piece of hardware on the market. That is both good and bad. It's good because you can buy virtually anything and most likely it will work. It's bad in that Microsoft doesn't actually make the drivers for those products, and when they don't work, it can be a problem.
Drivers are programs that make your hardware interact correctly with the rest of your computer. If your drivers aren't working correctly, odds are that device won't work correctly either. That could be a large headache for you, because then you'll need to figure out if the problem is Windows or the drivers. From experience, each company will blame the other and neither wants to help. There is hope! I'll cover what to do in this circumstance later, but I just wanted you to be aware of it now.
Another large downside, if you'll pardon the pun, is the size of their OS. Every generation Windows seems to get bigger and bulkier. In large part, this is to keep it compatible with older software. Windows isn't picky about its roomies. It will talk to just about anything. Again, this is both good and bad. Good because it makes interoperability much easier Bad in that there are many, many, many holes in the software with which virus makers and people who want to steal all your information can drive trucks through. This can be fixed, but requires some work on your part. We cover this in more detail a bit later.
I'm not trying to scare you off Windows. By far, Microsoft has really improved the OS with almost each generation (there are exceptions in every family). It's a fantastic software in as much everything mostly just works. It has its problems, but as you'll see, so do the competitors.
If Microsoft were a car, I'd describe it as a mid-70's Cadillac. Incredibly powerful, bloated, rides like a dream, chugs gas like a frat-boy does Heineken, isn't the prettiest thing, but you're not ashamed to be seen using it.
[i] I'm referring to DOS, or Disc Operating System
Friday, December 4
5. Picking the Right One: What's the Function
If you've already have a computer, this section may be redundant to you. But if you think you'll need to purchase another one in the future, you might want to read on.
When you look to purchase a computer, your first instinct should not be to buy the flashy one with all the bells and whistles and cool case that lights up. Admittedly, I like flashy things that light up, but I do not let it sway my opinions on computers. Marketing departments know we like bells & whistles. They are well aware of our primal instinct for flashy things. Don't let them do it to you!
Before you purchase a computer, you really should ask yourself what are you planning on doing with it?
While computers are fantastic, powerful machines, not all are created equal. Not only do you need to look at the different brands, you need to look at the different sub-genre of each. I'm going to divide these into separate categories and discuss their strengths and weaknesses, but first, I want to discuss the differences between the various operating systems (OS), the software that makes your hardware work.
When you look to purchase a computer, your first instinct should not be to buy the flashy one with all the bells and whistles and cool case that lights up. Admittedly, I like flashy things that light up, but I do not let it sway my opinions on computers. Marketing departments know we like bells & whistles. They are well aware of our primal instinct for flashy things. Don't let them do it to you!
Before you purchase a computer, you really should ask yourself what are you planning on doing with it?
While computers are fantastic, powerful machines, not all are created equal. Not only do you need to look at the different brands, you need to look at the different sub-genre of each. I'm going to divide these into separate categories and discuss their strengths and weaknesses, but first, I want to discuss the differences between the various operating systems (OS), the software that makes your hardware work.
Thursday, December 3
4: How Computers Think
Your computer has a brain that we call its processor. This is an abbreviation of “micro-processor”. Basically the processor is a chip with something like a gazillion transistor-type thing-ies on it that allow it to perform complex calculations based on certain conditions. This little do-dad, usually the size of a large stamp, is the pinnacle of modern engineering in my book. We're talking about generating a series of electrical switches that are measured in nano-meters.
While this device allows your computer to “think”, the processor contains little to no memory of its own. The computer has two devices to handle memory. The analogue to human short-term memory is called RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM holds the information that's waiting to be used at that moment. If you're computer loses power while something is sitting in RAM, when you turn it back on, it's gone (and that is where your presentation went).
When the computer needs to remember things for longer periods of time, it puts them on the Hard Drive. The hard drive is a series of cool metallic disks in stacks inside a box. Inside this box with those disks is something that looks and acts remarkably like an arm on a record player. It is the read-head and picks up the information off the disks. Information is written to these metal disks by using magnetism. Basically, if a part of the disk has a slight magnetic charge, the computer will read that as a “1”. If it has no charge, it's a “0”. This is important because computer are binary, meaning they only understand 1's and 0's. Which is why computers don't think in terms of grey, everything is black and white to them, 1 or 0.
There are a few other odds-and-ends concerning what passes for thinking in a computer, but they're inconsequential to our discussion. Now you've got the general idea. Data comes from the hard drive to the RAM and then goes to the processor. The results are passed back and forth, depending on what's needed, and then the output goes where directed. Usually your screen or a piece of paper or a file on the hard drive. That's it. No more mystery.
Wednesday, December 2
3: How Computers Think
I'm going to keep this section in the simplest language I can. Unfortunately to discuss computers intelligently, you've got to understand some basic jargon. Just like you've heard of a fuel-injector on a car, you'll need to have an idea what someone is talking about when discussing RAM. You may not be able to point to either, but you'll get the gist of what they're talking about.
One of the coolest ideas in computing is the idea that we can build thinking machines. This goes back for centuries. Medieval inventors tried it. Chinese geniuses gave it a go. Everyone seems to have had a try at a thinking machine at one time or another. The concept is one of the cornerstones of the entire science fiction genre. This concept is known as AI (always big letters denoting Artificial Intelligence). Now your average computer absolutely does not have anything to do with AI. Remember, your computer is a tool, not a thinking, feeling, intelligent being. You can't hurt its feelings. It won't pout. And it never loses your big presentation out of spite. It is an incredibly complex system of programs, however. Complex systems tend to generate complex behavior. So, even though your computer doesn't think, sometimes you can almost hear it chuckling under it's fan exhaust right after your e-mail for the last eight years mysteriously vanishes.
I promise you, it is absolutely not a personal attack on you by your computer.
One of the coolest ideas in computing is the idea that we can build thinking machines. This goes back for centuries. Medieval inventors tried it. Chinese geniuses gave it a go. Everyone seems to have had a try at a thinking machine at one time or another. The concept is one of the cornerstones of the entire science fiction genre. This concept is known as AI (always big letters denoting Artificial Intelligence). Now your average computer absolutely does not have anything to do with AI. Remember, your computer is a tool, not a thinking, feeling, intelligent being. You can't hurt its feelings. It won't pout. And it never loses your big presentation out of spite. It is an incredibly complex system of programs, however. Complex systems tend to generate complex behavior. So, even though your computer doesn't think, sometimes you can almost hear it chuckling under it's fan exhaust right after your e-mail for the last eight years mysteriously vanishes.
I promise you, it is absolutely not a personal attack on you by your computer.
Tuesday, December 1
2. The Magic Black Box: Perceptions & Reality
What makes your computer so special? Honestly, it's not the hardware. Your cell phone and iPod are at least as complex. Your car likely has many things in common with your computer as well, right down to liquid crystal displays (LCD's) and microprocessors. The difference between your computer and these items is all software. As a rule, you generally don't introduce random bits of code into your car's computer system. You do download items on your cell phone or iPod, but these are strictly controlled either by your cell phone company or by Apple. Conversely, if you're an Apple computer user, your computer is easier to maintain for the exact same reason. Apple is very aggressive about what code gets run on their systems. This is both a boon and a bane that we'll discuss a bit later.
When I think of the code running on a computer, I get a bit dizzy. There are literally millions of lines of code interacting on your computer. This stuff has to be written in such a way that it doesn't end up stepping all over itself. Each of those bits is a program competing for resources, written by different people at different times with different goals. The miracle of it isn't that software doesn't crash, but that it doesn't crash more.
You may think of your computer as a word processor, a device to interact with the Internet, a multimedia tool, a repository for your MP3's, or a cool box to play games on. The truth is, no matter how you use it, it's all of those things and more. That's the brilliancy behind computing. Sure, it's a tool, but it's a powerful, universal tool! Imagine if carpenters had hammers that could be used to screw in nails, tighten nuts, scrape paint, loosen pipes, and sand wood. That'd be a pretty cool tool, wouldn't it? Well, that's what you have at your disposal. Probably the single most adaptable tool mankind has ever devised. And that's freaking cool.
I'd talk about the history of computers and how we reached this level of awesome, but honestly who cares? There are huge volumes of information about any esoteric part of the history of the computer you want to read. We won't even begin to discuss it because we're here to talk about your computer and how you can use it and fix it when it needs it.
When I think of the code running on a computer, I get a bit dizzy. There are literally millions of lines of code interacting on your computer. This stuff has to be written in such a way that it doesn't end up stepping all over itself. Each of those bits is a program competing for resources, written by different people at different times with different goals. The miracle of it isn't that software doesn't crash, but that it doesn't crash more.
You may think of your computer as a word processor, a device to interact with the Internet, a multimedia tool, a repository for your MP3's, or a cool box to play games on. The truth is, no matter how you use it, it's all of those things and more. That's the brilliancy behind computing. Sure, it's a tool, but it's a powerful, universal tool! Imagine if carpenters had hammers that could be used to screw in nails, tighten nuts, scrape paint, loosen pipes, and sand wood. That'd be a pretty cool tool, wouldn't it? Well, that's what you have at your disposal. Probably the single most adaptable tool mankind has ever devised. And that's freaking cool.
I'd talk about the history of computers and how we reached this level of awesome, but honestly who cares? There are huge volumes of information about any esoteric part of the history of the computer you want to read. We won't even begin to discuss it because we're here to talk about your computer and how you can use it and fix it when it needs it.
Monday, November 30
1. The Magic Black Box: Perceptions & Reality
Computers are simply marvelous inventions. They sit on our desks happily churning away, day-in, day-out in order to make things easier for us. How many of us really understand what's going on inside those little black boxes? Most of us can confidently list some of its contents: wires, plastic, probably some metal, maybe a couple of precious gems, a fairy, and most likely a gremlin or two. It's what makes all those things work together (or not, as the case may be) harmoniously where our knowledge suddenly hits a brick wall.
I'll spend a lot of time in these articles comparing computers to cars. Both are near and dear to my heart, and both have a lot in common. As the joke goes, thank whatever benevolent deity that Microsoft never went into the car business*. Both cars and computers are iconic, both are complex, and while most people can use them, it generally takes someone professionally trained to be able fix them or use them to their fullest.
The average person knows the following about their car: You put gas in it when it needs some, you change the oil regularly, you keep decent tires on it. If you fail to do these things, the car will sooner or later quit going or become dangerous to use. Common sense, right?
When is the last time you thought of computer maintenance? Computers require maintenance just like your car. If you don't manage its upkeep on occasion, it will either quit working or become dangerous (to your data and possibly others') to use. While this might seem obvious, how many people actually do it? Most people never consider maintenance on their computer. Part of this is the fault of the computer/software companies that have marketed computers as appliances or consumer electronics. A computer can be many things, and it is far more complex and requires more from you, its owner, than your TV or refrigerator.
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*Via Snopes.com
At a computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: “If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.”
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release (by Mr. Welch himself) stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason at all, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left-turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, and you would havde to reinstall the engine.
4. When your car died on the freeway for no reason, you would just accept this, restart and drive on.
5. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought “Car95” or “CarNT”, and then added more seats.
6. Apple would make a car powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads.
7. Oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single “general car default” warning light.
8. New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt.
9. the airbag would say “Are you sure?” before going off.
10. Occasionally, for no reason, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key, and grabbed the radio antenna.
11. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of road maps from Rand-McNally (a subsidiary of GM), even though they neither need them or want them. Trying to delete this option would immediately cause the car's performance to diminish by 50 percent or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department.
12. Every time GM introduced a new model, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
13. You would press the “start” button to shut off the engine.
I'll spend a lot of time in these articles comparing computers to cars. Both are near and dear to my heart, and both have a lot in common. As the joke goes, thank whatever benevolent deity that Microsoft never went into the car business*. Both cars and computers are iconic, both are complex, and while most people can use them, it generally takes someone professionally trained to be able fix them or use them to their fullest.
The average person knows the following about their car: You put gas in it when it needs some, you change the oil regularly, you keep decent tires on it. If you fail to do these things, the car will sooner or later quit going or become dangerous to use. Common sense, right?
When is the last time you thought of computer maintenance? Computers require maintenance just like your car. If you don't manage its upkeep on occasion, it will either quit working or become dangerous (to your data and possibly others') to use. While this might seem obvious, how many people actually do it? Most people never consider maintenance on their computer. Part of this is the fault of the computer/software companies that have marketed computers as appliances or consumer electronics. A computer can be many things, and it is far more complex and requires more from you, its owner, than your TV or refrigerator.
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*Via Snopes.com
At a computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: “If GM had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.”
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release (by Mr. Welch himself) stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:
1. For no reason at all, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left-turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, and you would havde to reinstall the engine.
4. When your car died on the freeway for no reason, you would just accept this, restart and drive on.
5. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought “Car95” or “CarNT”, and then added more seats.
6. Apple would make a car powered by the sun, reliable, five times as fast, and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads.
7. Oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would be replaced by a single “general car default” warning light.
8. New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt.
9. the airbag would say “Are you sure?” before going off.
10. Occasionally, for no reason, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key, and grabbed the radio antenna.
11. GM would require all car buyers to also purchase a deluxe set of road maps from Rand-McNally (a subsidiary of GM), even though they neither need them or want them. Trying to delete this option would immediately cause the car's performance to diminish by 50 percent or more. Moreover, GM would become a target for investigation by the Justice Department.
12. Every time GM introduced a new model, car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
13. You would press the “start” button to shut off the engine.
Rocket-Surgery: Self-Help for the Average Joe
Rocket Surgery: (1) The most difficult thing ever (2) A play on words with “rocket science” and “brain surgery”, both considered very difficult tasks that ordinarily take specially-trained professionals to perform.
Most people consider buying, working on, and using computers like “rocket surgery”, something that takes either a professional, or someone with special knowledge. Sadly, we should know this isn't true.
Most businesses use computers in almost all aspects of their business today. Almost everyone, from the rocket scientist to the truck driver, from the doctor to the retail clerk, use computers in some form during their daily activities.
Why is it then that so many people, who otherwise appear to be complete competent in their day jobs, get completely flustered when it's time to buy a new computer or work on theirs when it breaks?
This will attempt to get you past that barrier of “rocket surgery”, to a place where you will know what you need to know to make intelligent, informed decisions on computer matters.
Most people consider buying, working on, and using computers like “rocket surgery”, something that takes either a professional, or someone with special knowledge. Sadly, we should know this isn't true.
Most businesses use computers in almost all aspects of their business today. Almost everyone, from the rocket scientist to the truck driver, from the doctor to the retail clerk, use computers in some form during their daily activities.
Why is it then that so many people, who otherwise appear to be complete competent in their day jobs, get completely flustered when it's time to buy a new computer or work on theirs when it breaks?
This will attempt to get you past that barrier of “rocket surgery”, to a place where you will know what you need to know to make intelligent, informed decisions on computer matters.
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