ce magazine febuary 2018 issue

Michigan City Indiana
Febuary Vol. 6
How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC Windows 8.1
Reasons why you should have a
PayPal account
Think Your Data is Safe? Think Again
The 6 Most Common Network Problems
Understanding and Dealing with the Windows 10 Privacy Issue
What To Consider When Buying a New PC or Server For Your Company
1

Thanks to all who contributed to CE
Magazine. Have an article you would like
contribute? You can mail it to:
CE, P.O. Box 8619
Michigan City In 46360
Or E-Mail it to
computerease@juno.com
CE Magazine® is part of OtherSide Ministries ©
all rights reserved
Founder & Chief Editor
Peter Nadal
Editor
Pamela Kennoy
Art & Design
Peter Nadal
Our Writers
Rodrigo Esperanza : Nomar Shaw
Diane G : Big Poppa
Outside Sources On This Month issue
computer.org
NewsUSA
Corporate Computer Services Inc
Techsupportaler.com
In our February Issue Vol. 6
6 Hey Pete! How to refresh, reset,
or restore your PC
10 Reasons why you should have a
PayPal account By Rodrigo
12 Biz Cards board!! Hey its free
13 Secret Scroll Tip
14 Think Your Data is Safe? Think
Again By NewsUSA & Rodrigo
16 The 6 Most Common Network
Problems By Anna Johansson
19 Understanding and Dealing
with the Windows 10 Privacy
Issue by V. Laurie
21 What To Consider When Buying a
New PC or Server For Your
Company
By Corporate Computer Services
30 Cheap vs. Frugal by Nomar Shaw
32 Come a Long Way Baby!
Front Cover
Red Tone Sunrise by Mnth
fonts by Peter Nadal
Original Computer-Ease logo ©
2

3

Welcome and thank you for reading CE magazine;
Our adds and classifieds space is on the table and once we get the prices
figured out it will be launched, the tentative date were shooting for is June.
Got a business card, post it on our Biz Card Board, it’s free and if you
have it on your computer send us a copy to computerease@juno.com . If
you had id made by outside source put it in a envelope and send it to
Compute-Ease, Po Box 8619, Michigan City In 46360, we will scan it and
get it on the board.
Tax season is on us and if you do your taxes on your computer do make
sure its virus & spyware free, if you do not know how to do that then get
hold of your local tech and have him/her check it and give you a clean bill
of health. Remember hackers are at its highest and you have to be careful
were you go when you or your kids surf the internet.
On upcoming issues we will include some articles on DJ’ing and Karaoke
software and using your computer with Dj equipment.
Any comments or questions we will gladly answer it on our next issue.
Peter Nadal
4

Public announcement by Forest Manor Neighbor watch
5

How do you do that!
How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC
Applies to Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1
If you're having problems with your PC, you can try to refresh, reset, or restore it.
Refreshing your PC reinstalls Windows and keeps your personal files and settings.
It also keeps the apps that came with your PC and the apps you installed from the
Windows Store. Resetting your PC reinstalls Windows but deletes your files,
settings, and apps—except for the apps that came with your PC. Restoring your PC
is a way to undo recent system changes you've made.
If you want to back up and restore your personal files using File History, see Set up
a drive for File History If you want to restart your PC, see Shut down (turn off),
sleep, or hibernate.
Before you start to refresh or reset your PC
In most cases, once you start to refresh or reset your PC, it’ll finish on its own.
However, if Windows needs missing files, you’ll be asked to insert recovery media,
which is typically on a DVD disc or thumb drive. If that happens, what you’ll need
depends on your PC.
If your PC came with Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, you’ll need the discs or
thumb drive that came with your PC. Check the info that came with your PC to see
if your PC manufacturer provided these discs or media. In some cases, you might
have created them when you first set up your PC.
If you upgraded your PC to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 with a DVD, use that
disc. If you don’t have Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 media, contact Microsoft
Support.
6

Hide all
Refresh your PC without affecting your files
If your PC isn't performing as well as it once did, and you don't know why, you can
refresh your PC without deleting any of your personal files or changing your
settings.
Note
If you upgraded your PC from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and your PC has a
Windows 8 recovery partition, refreshing your PC will restore Windows 8. You’ll
need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after the refresh has finished
Warning
Apps you installed from websites and DVDs will be removed. Apps that came with
your PC and apps you installed from the Windows Store will be reinstalled.
Windows puts a list of removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.
To refresh your PC
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC
settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the
mouse pointer down, click
Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
2. Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.
3. Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, tap or click Get started.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.
7

Remove everything and reinstall Windows
If you want to recycle your PC, give it away, or start over with it, you can reset it
completely.
Note
If you upgraded your PC from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and your PC has a
Windows 8 recovery partition, resetting your PC will restore Windows 8. You’ll
need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after the reset has finished.
Warning
All of your personal files will be deleted and your settings will be reset. All apps
that you installed will be removed. Only apps that came with your PC will be
reinstalled.
To reset your PC
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC
settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the
mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
2. Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.
3. Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Note
You'll be asked to choose whether you want to erase data quickly or thoroughly. If
you choose to erase data quickly, some data might be recoverable using special
software. If you choose to erase data thoroughly, this will take longer but it makes
recovering data less likely.
8

Restore your PC to an earlier point in time
If you think an app or driver that you recently installed caused problems with your
PC, you can restore Windows back to an earlier point in time, called a restore
point. System Restore doesn’t change your personal files, but it might remove
recently installed apps and drivers.
Notes
System Restore isn't available for Windows RT 8.1.
Windows automatically creates a restore point when you install desktop apps and
new Windows updates, if the last restore point is older than 7 days. You can also
create a restore point manually at any time.
To restore your PC to an earlier point in time
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the
mouse pointer down, and then click Search.)
2. Enter Control Panel in the search box, and tap or click Control Panel.
3. Enter Recovery in the Control Panel search box, and then tap or click Recovery.
4. Tap or click Open System Restore, and then follow the instructions.
9

Reasons why you should have a
PayPal account
from Rodrigo Esperanza
I have had PayPal oh good 11 years and never regretted
especially when purchasing goods online. So, if you are an
online buyer you need PayPal for its convenience and
especially safety, the following article says it better then I could. Do give it some
serious consideration!
Article by Technology
Even if you don’t sell stuff online, having a PayPal account can save you time and
aggravation. Once you have one, you can buy things online more securely and
exchange money with friends in seconds. Here are five reasons we believe everyone
should have a PayPal account.
1. It’s FREE
Who can argue with FREE? There’s no catch. PayPal makes money on the money
in your account, like any bank, and by charging transaction fees for online sellers of
goods and services. If you are not an online seller, there’s no cost to you.
2. It’s CONVENIENT
All you need is an email address or mobile phone number to transfer money
almost anywhere in the world. Let’s say you are out to lunch with your friends or
coworkers, and one of them forgot cash at a cash-only restaurant. You have spare
cash, so you fork up some for them. Now you are stuck being a nag for the next 3
days to get them to repay you, because they are always the one to forget. Instead,
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now that you both have PayPal accounts and the app on your phones, they can
instantly send you the amount they owe. There is no need to feel uncomfortable
asking for your money back.
And, the next time YOU are the one that forgets cash, you can send the money to
them instantly. The only thing you need to do is connect your savings or checking
account to your PayPal wallet, so it can withdraw what it needs to pay your friend.
3. It’s FAST
Pay with a few clicks. Not only can you exchange money between friends and
family quickly, but it also makes checking out at many online stores a cinch.
There’s no need to enter all of your financial information over and over again on
Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You simply log in with your email and password
and pay. It’s that easy. All you have to do is connect one or more credit cards to
your PayPal wallet. It even lets you select which card to use at checkout.
4. It’s SECURE
Connect multiple payment methods. Safely link up your bank account and credit
cards so you don’t get stuck re-entering your card details multiple times. When you
pay for goods or services, they automatically protect eligible transactions and claim
to use the latest anti-fraud technology.
5. It’s SMART
Many ways to pay and collect money. If you own a small business, there are many
free tools to use. Easily collect money at your jewelry parties by swiping credit
cards using a FREE PayPal Here device on your phone or tablet, take advantage of
email invoicing to bill your clients, or collect funds online by establishing a
PayPal.me link you can share on your site. That’s all in addition to their iOS and
Android apps.
If you find yourself exchanging money with friends or family members, start
simplifying your life and go to paypal.com to sign up.
11

Send your biz card in pdf to computerease@juno.com or mail to Computer-Ease,
Po BOX 8619 Michigan City In 46360
12

Secret Tip Scroll
For windows 10
1: Go to the “Windows Logo” down on the left and right click on it.
2: Select Control panel and click on it (left click)
3: When control panel opens click on “Network and Internet”
4: Now you will have 3 options go to the 3 rd option “Internet Options”.
Move your curser to “Delete browsing history and cookies” and click on it
5: Internet properties window will open, look half way down and you’ll see
“Browsing History” click on the box that says “Delete browsing History” if
it is not checked. And if you want you can select the Delete button a
second window will open, go to the bottom of that window and select
Delete
6: When done you will be back to the Internet properties window, click on
apply (down on the right of the Internet properties window) then OK.
Close open window
From now on IExplore (aka Microsoft Edge) will clean itself out when
you close you internet explore
13

Think Your Data is
Safe? Think Again
Share |
(NewsUSA) - Sponsored News –
No matter who you are or what business
you are in, you're vulnerable to a cyber
attack. That's the unfortunate reality of the
times we live in.
Think you're immune? There are millions
of cyber attacks in the United States every
year, with big companies like Home Depot, Adobe Systems, Sony, Citigroup,
Target, Facebook, Evernote and The New York Times taking the biggest hits and
falling victim.
And like Fortune 500 companies that seemingly have the resources to battle data
breaches, small businesses are just as exposed, if not more so. According to a
Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report more than 70 percent of the businesses
in the study that were breached had fewer than 100 employees. Those breaches
result in huge losses. Trend Micro found that "cybercriminals steal as much as $1
billion a year from SMBs in the United States and Europe, alone."
Which begs the question: If both large and small companies and the U.S.
government can be compromised (even with security protocols in place), then what
does that mean for individuals?
It's a question that Dr. Robert Short, chief technology officer and chief technical
scientist of VirnetX, struggled with and finally answered in the form of Gabriel, a
set of secure encrypted communication apps derived from a CIA-sponsored
Department of Defense project.
"The genesis of Gabriel really was trying to solve the problem of how you make
security transparent to the user. The means to automatically create a secure
connection whenever a secure connection is needed to wherever it is needed, and
create it on demand," says Short. "That has always been the vision behind Gabriel."
14

The difference between Gabriel and other products, says Short, is that users do not
have to transmit data to or store data with any third party, including VirnetX. In this
way, data is stored only on their own devices. Essentially, users maintain control of
their own data.
Gabriel users also have secure, encrypted (spamless) email, text messages, free
voice and video calls and picture or file share with other trusted Gabriel users in
their network -- all directly from their personal device.
Gabriel runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Mac OSX. For more
information or to download Gabriel go to gabrielsecure.com, the App Store or the
Google Play store.
Rodrigo Esperanza Opinion
If you run a business and your finances permit it then I would
say go for it, it’s good investment. The price is very reasonable for
a heavy duty antivirus, go to http://www.gabrielsecure.com
15

y Anna Johansson
The 6 Most Common Network Problems
(And How to Fix Them)
Networks have been indispensable in improving business productivity and
communications, keeping devices (and the people who use them) connected with
each other, even over great distances.
However, managing a network is difficult—even for experienced IT professionals.
Since they rely on so many different variables, all working functionally in unison,
it’s easy for one small error to result in a system-wide issue.
Fortunately, most network problems can be easily resolved—so long as you’re able
to identify the root causes for those network problems. So what are the most
common network problems that arise, and how can you address them?
Is This a “Real” Network Problem?
First, you’ll need to determine whether this is a ―real‖ network problem, or whether
it just appears to be a network problem. For example, if there’s a specific app that’s
resulting in slow connections or errors, it could be a problem with the app itself—
not the actual network.
The best way to determine the difference here is to use packet sniffing software to
ferret out the main root of your problem. From there, you can use diagnostic tools
or your own investigatory findings to figure out what’s really going on (and correct
it).
The Most Common Problems
These are some of the most common problems you’re going to experience:
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1. Slow internet. Slow internet is the bane of every worker’s existence. It could
be caused by a number of problems. For example, your router may not be
working properly, you may have too many devices attempting to access the
internet at once, a specific app might be drawing too heavily on your total
bandwidth, or your internet provider itself may be experiencing service
delays. Unfortunately, the only way to address these potential issues is to
investigate them and attempt to fix them, one by one, until you find the root of
the problem.
2. A signal without a connection. Occasionally, you’ll see a signal from a
router, but your device won’t be able to connect to the network. There are two
potential causes for this; first, your device might be out of range of the router.
Move the device close to the router, and see if you can connect then. If you
still can’t connect, there’s probably a problem with the hardware. You may be
able to replace the network card you’re using, or update the drivers associated
with it, but in some cases, you’ll need to replace the hardware entirely.
3. Periodic outages. Few networks operate perfectly 100 percent of the time, but
if you’re seeing periodic total outages—a complete inability for any devices to
connect to the network—you have a problem that requires action. There are
many root causes here, but you may be seeing a NetBIOS conflict (especially
if you’re using an older system). If you disable WINS/NetBT name resolution,
you may be able to clear things up. You could also try renaming computers
and domains to resolve the issue.
4. IP conflicts. Windows usually makes sure that there’s only one IP address per
device that has access to the network at any given time. In rare situations,
however, two devices may end up with the same IP address; when this
happens, one device will usually be ―blocked,‖ which prevents the device
from accessing protected files. To make matters worse, it can cause lag for all
connected devices—not just the ones with the IP conflict. Avoiding this
problem is relatively easy if you reconfigure your DHCP setup to exclude
static IP addresses. This should reconfigure IP addresses so that all machines
can access the network without issue.
5. VOIP quality issues. Issues with voice calls—including delays, interruptions,
and quality issues—can be caused by many variables (including some of the
ones listed above). However, you may be experiencing a network stutter.
Install jitter buffers, which create small caches or packets of VOIP
information, to ensure a smooth stream of information from one point to
another. You could also install new playback codes—preferably ones with
17

packet loss concealment as a main feature. While you’re at it, update your
drivers.
6. Connections with limited access. If you have a connection with limited
access, you’re likely receiving a Windows error message that’s caused by a
technical glitch. Windows has released updates that should prevent the
majority of these errors from occurring, but if you encounter this situation,
your best bet is to do a hard reset of your network router and the device trying
to connect to it.
These IT problems might give you a headache, but they shouldn’t last long if you
know how to diagnose and resolve them. Keep your best IT professionals nearby,
watch carefully for any interruptions in service, and keep tinkering until you can get
things running again.
18

Understanding and Dealing with the Windows 10
Privacy Issue
Submitted by v.laurie
There is no doubt that a system with the default settings in Windows 10 sends out a
constant stream of information to Microsoft. Even if you disable the raft of privacy
settings pointed out in a previous article, it seems there is still information flowing
out to Microsoft servers. Reactions to this monitoring vary widely. Some people are
more than a little disturbed by what they see as intrusive Microsoft spying. Others
are blasé, accepting this sort of thing as standard procedure on the Internet.
Whatever your feelings may be, it is worth understanding the issues and knowing
what security measures are available. Here is a collection of essential information
that will help you understand the processes involved and what can be done to
protect your privacy.
1. Microsoft Privacy Statement
This is the company statement of Microsoft’s privacy policies. Among many things,
it says, ―And we use data to help make the ads we show you more relevant to you.‖
2. Windows 10 feedback, diagnostics, and privacy: FAQ
Some information about the information sent by the Windows 10 diagnostics
function. As far as I can tell, this function cannot be totally turned off.
3. Windows 10 privacy FAQs
A collection of additional FAQs on various Windows 10 privacy settings.
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4. Even when told not to, Windows 10 just can’t stop talking to Microsoft
Peter Bright’s analysis of the Internet traffic between Windows 10 and Microsoft.
He notes that disabling the Windows 10 privacy settings still allows information to
be sent to Microsoft.
5. All you need to know about privacy and settings in Windows 10 and
Microsoft Edge
Windows Central survey of the privacy settings in Windows 10 and the Edge
browser.
6. What Windows 10's "Privacy Nightmare" Settings Actually Do
Lifehacker survey of the functions of the various Windows 10 privacy settings.
7. 30 Ways Your Windows 10 Computer Phones Home to Microsoft
Detailed analysis of how Windows 10 sends information to Microsoft.
8, Windows 10 Tips, Tricks and Tools to enhance your privacy
Bleeping Computer forum thread on some possible ways to increase privacy.
9. 6 free tools that stop Windows 10 from spying on everything you do
A list of freeware to help with the privacy settings in Windows 10. This reference is
for information only and does not constitute a recommendation by Gizmo. Use of
any of this freeware is at your own risk. Personally, I prefer to configure all my
security settings manually.
10. Thread on privacy in Windows 10
Very informative discussion in Gizmo’s Freeware Forum. Worth reading by anyone
concerned about privacy in Windows 10. The present article is based to a large
extent on information found there.
11. (Added later) Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools
Survey at gHacks of seven different privacy tools.
20

What To Consider When Buying a
New PC or Server For Your Company
By Corporate Computer Services, Inc.
You've decided to purchase a new personal computer (PC) or server for your office.
Perhaps you've hired a new employee who needs a workstation, or you've decided
it's time to get a server so you can have one central location for your data. Whatever
the case, one question haunts you: Where do you start?
There are so many choices, it can be a full-time job to sift through all of the
information and determine what you need. Whether purchasing a PC or server,
there are two main options: Buy a "white box" (also known as a clone, or a "generic
version") or buy a brand name.
While each has pros and cons, it is widely known that clone computers are harder to
support and require more time to repair than brand name computers. It's one thing if
you like to tinker and have all the time in the world to configure a computer, but it
is another thing to run one's business on someone else's hobby.
Of course, determining which brand name computer to purchase is another matter.
Some helpful guides to check out are Consumer Reports and Computer Shopper
magazine at your local newsstand for reviews on various brand names.
Since every business' specific requirements are different, no single article can tell
you what to get for your office. However, we can provide tips to get you started in
the right direction. For specific recommendations regarding what hardware and
software you might need, seek advice from a professional IT consulting firm.
Important Considerations for PC and Server Purchases
1. Find a reputable brand name which uses reputable hardware
manufacturers.
Most brand name manufacturers come with great warranties, online support
resources and service agreements. While you hope you won't need them, it's
nice to know there are provisions for service and replacement parts if
necessary.
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2. Flexibility.
As your company grows, you will likely need to expand your network and
capabilities. Find out how flexible the products are and if they will be able to
grow with you and your business.
3. Compatibility.
How will your new PC or server integrate with existing hardware, software,
etc? You may discover you need to invest more than you thought you would
initially. Don't be afraid of this conclusion. It is better to know now what you need to
grow your business than to find out later that what you hoped to be able to do is stunted because of
insufficient hardware.
When do I need a server?
Knowing when it's time to buy a new PC is fairly cut and dry. Knowing when/if
you need a server can be harder to determine. Mike Carpenter, Director of IT
Services, at Corporate Computer Services points out some indicators that suggest
you may need a server:
Do you have more than five workstations?
Are your backup's dependent upon daily intervention?
Are your critical Operating System and antivirus updates dependant upon
daily intervention?
Are your critical files located in different locations of your network?
When you make network changes do you need to do this at each workstation?
Do you want your files/data to be secure and only accessible to those whom
you specifiy?
According to Kim Komando, host of the largest talk-radio show about computers
and the Internet, it's time for a server when you answer "yes" to any of the
following questions:
Are there snags in your workflow?
Do two or more people use the same database?
Would operations slow down or stop, even for a small amount of time, if one
computer were to crash?
Do you or your employees need access to email and files on the road?
As for the advantages of a server, she highlights the following:
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Disaster Recovery, Antivirus, Email, User Administration, Data and
Network Security can all be centrally managed. This makes network
administration easier and thereby less expensive to maintain.
The server can be the primary backup point. Instead of burning data files
on disks, you can quickly move them across the network.
You can host your own e-mail. This allows you to have your own domain
and unique e-mail addresses. An e-mail address of
john.doe@johndoeinsurance.com is more professional than
john.doe.insurance@igotafreeinternetaccount.com. Also, most e-mail software
allows you to maintain network-wide address books, mailing lists and
calendars.
You gain more control over all that annoying spam. An employee who
opens an infected attachment could easily infect all of your computers. But
when hosting your own e-mail, you can filter it so that the good stuff comes in
and most of the bad stays out.
You gain a higher level of security. By requiring computer users to log in
and authenticate on a domain, the server dictates who has access to what.
You can deploy new software applications more easily through a
network. You also can standardize your applications and versions, and make
better use of the software you have.
Now that you know whether you need a PC, server, or both, it's time to address
hardware and software considerations for each. It is important to understand what
functions you need your computer or server to perform in order to determine which
hardware and software you need.
Hardware and Software Considerations for PCs
You may see a brand name PC advertised on TV or in the mail with a price that
seems too good to be true. It probably is. Most likely, the price does not include
necessary hardware and software configured for a networked office environment.
Below is a list of some basic things to consider when purchasing a workstation
(PC):
Is this for home or the office?
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What role will this workstation (PC) serve?
Are the tasks to be completed by the workstation (PC) basic or complicated?
What operating system do you need?
Depending on its role and purpose you will need to select the appropriate hard
drive size, ram, video card and monitor size.
If your computer is to be part of a network, you will need to make sure it has a
network card.
What tasks do you need to perform: word processing, spreadsheet
calculations, photo editing?
At what level do you need to do the above tasks, basic or advanced? This
might determine the specific application you need.
There are many other accessories and peripherals that require some
consideration such as:
a. Do you need to burn/view CD's or DVD's?
b. Do you need to be able to scan or print from this workstation(PC)?
c. Do you need to connect to a financial institute? You may need a modem.
d. Do you need to connect more than one monitor to this workstation (PC)?
For clarification of some of the terms listed above, please check out
www.whatis.com.
The definitions you will read in the following sections are credited to this website
which is described as a "self-education tool about information technology,
especially about the Internet and computers. It contains over 4,500 individual
encyclopedic definition/topics, a number of "Fast Reference" pages and learning
tools."
Consider the following with regard to components, peripherals and speed:
1. Processor and Speed: Essentially the brain of a computer, a processor is the
logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a
computer. Instructions are the orders given to a processor by a computer
program. The term processor has generally replaced the term central
processing unit (CPU).
2. Hard Drive Memory: In a personal computer, a hard disk drive (HDD) is the
mechanism that controls the positioning, reading, and writing of the hard disk,
which furnishes the largest amount of data storage for the PC. Although the
hard disk drive (often shortened to "hard drive") and the hard disk are not the
24

same thing, they are packaged as a unit and so either term is sometimes used
to refer to the whole unit. Are you storing information primarily on this
machine or your server? How many programs do you have and what hardware
and RAM requirements do they demand?
3. RAM memory: RAM (random access memory) is the place in a computer
where the operating system, application programs, and data in current use are
kept so that they can be quickly reached by the computer's processor. RAM is
much faster to read from and write to than the other kinds of storage in a
computer, the hard disk, floppy disk, and CD-ROM. However, the data in
RAM stays there only as long as your computer is running. When you turn the
computer off, RAM loses its data. When you turn your computer on again,
your operating system and other files are once again loaded into RAM,
usually from your hard disk.
RAM can be compared to a person's short-term memory and the hard disk to
the long-term memory. The short-term memory focuses on work at hand, but
can only keep so many facts in view at one time. If short-term memory fills
up, your brain sometimes is able to refresh it from facts stored in long-term
memory. A computer also works this way. If RAM fills up, the processor
needs to continually go to the hard disk to overlay old data in RAM with new,
slowing down the computer's operation. Unlike the hard disk which can
become completely full of data so that it won't accept any more, RAM never
runs out of memory. It keeps operating, but much more slowly than you may
want it to.
4. Monitor: Does your job require you to have a screen that has a high
resolution or will a lower resolution suffice? For word processing or
spreadsheets and lower screen quality is adequate, while the highest resolution
is preferred for graphics work.
5. Video Card: An integrated circuit card in a computer or, in some cases, a
monitor that provides digital-to-analog conversion, video RAM, and a video
controller so that data can be sent to a computer's display.
6. Speakers and Sound: If audio editing, music and production is your
computer's primary purpose, choose speakers that assist you in doing your job
best.
25

7. Printers and Scanners: Printers vary in size, speed, sophistication, and cost.
In general, more expensive printers are used for higher-resolution color
printing. An inkjet printer sprays ink from an ink cartridge at very close range
to the paper as it rolls by. A laser printer uses a laser beam reflected from a
mirror to attract ink (called toner) to selected paper areas as a sheet rolls over
a drum.
Printer resolution (the sharpness of text and images on paper) is usually
measured in dots per inch (dpi). Most inexpensive printers provide sufficient
resolution for most purposes at 600 dpi.
Having more than the minimum amount of memory is helpful and faster when
printing out pages with large images or tables with lines around them (which
the printer treats as a large image).
8. CD Writers: A CD-ROM (Compact Disc, read-only-memory) drive is the
mechanism that reads and writes computer data to CD-ROMs. A CD-ROM is
an adaptation of the CD that is designed to store computer data in the form of
text and graphics, as well as hi-fi stereo sound. Because of the larger programs
most computers use, most pc's now come with a CD-ROM drive as opposed
to a floppy disk. Most computers now have the option of coming with a CD-R
drive, a recordable version of the CD drive. Though you need a CD-R to
record to. You can store up to 600MB on one of these CD's.
9. Modem: "Modem" is an acronym for MOdulate-DEModulate. A modem is a
device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone
lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information
transmitted over telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves. A
modem converts data from analog to digital and vice versa (modulating and
demodulating), thus enabling two computers to communicate with each other
over a phone line.
10. Network Card: A network interface card (NIC) is a computer circuit
board or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be connected to a
network. Personal computers and workstations on a local area network (LAN)
typically contain a network interface card specifically designed for the LAN
transmission technology. Network interface cards provide a dedicated, fulltime
connection to a network. Most home and portable computers connect to
the Internet through as-needed dial-up connection. The modem provides the
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connection interface to the Internet service provider. Will this computer be
part of a network, or will it stand alone?
11. Operating System: An operating system (sometimes abbreviated as
"OS") is the program that manages all the other programs in a computer. The
other programs are called applications or application programs. The
application programs make use of the operating system by making requests
for services.
Check your software requirements to see what they recommend as optimum to
run the programs you need to run your business. Is that the one you
want/need? Will it be compatible with the other operating systems in your
office?
12. Application Programs: Examples of application programs include
word processors; database programs; Web browsers; development tools;
drawing, paint, and image editing programs; and communication programs.
Application programs use the services of the computer's operating system and
other supporting programs. Making sure your application programs are
compatible with the operating system of the operating system and existing or
planned hardware must be considered at the same time.
Hardware and Software Considerations for Servers
Much like the brand name PC advertised on TV or in the mail, if a server has a
price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately advertised prices
do not include necessary hardware and software configurations required for most
servers.
Below is a list of some basic things to consider when purchasing a server:
What processor and speed should you have?
How many processors should you have?How many network cards do you
need?
What server Operating System do you need?
What level of redundancy do you need, RAID1, RAID5?
Should your hard drives be SCSI, IDE, SATA?
Do you need redundant power supplies?
Do you need an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?
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How much storage space do you need?
What backup hardware and software should you use?
How many users are on your network?
What is the role of this server, file and print, database, application?
How many employees do you need licenses for (assuming each employee has
a workstation)?
What software packages will you need in addition as complements to your
operating system?
1. RAM: Having more RAM for a server is of the essence. Skimping here will
cause frustration as all the people in your office use the server for retrieving or
storing information simultaneously.
2. RAID: RAID (redundant array of independent disks; originally redundant
array of inexpensive disks) is a way of storing the same data in different
places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple
disks, operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. How
critical is the data that you are storing on your server? Do you want to ensure
that it will not be lost?
3. Backup Hardware: Backup is the activity of copying files or databases so
that they will be preserved in case of equipment failure or other catastrophe.
Backup is usually a routine part of the operation of large businesses with
mainframes as well as the administrators of smaller business computers. For
personal computer users, backup is also necessary but often neglected. The
retrieval of files you backed up is called restoring them. How are you backing
up your data in the event of a hardware failure?
Please note: Most servers do not come with an operating system or other necessary
software components.
Conclusion:
"Business owners often suffer from 'sticker shock' when a PC or server is
configured for them," says Mike Carpenter, Director of IT Services at Corporate
Computer Services. "Unfortunately, they are used to seeing advertised prices for
bare bones systems that will not accomplish their goals. The systems advertised are
not realistic examples of what is necessary for business today, and part of our job is
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to help clients understand the investment they are making for the long term when
they purchase the equipment they need."
In the end, it is better to do your research than end up with a computer or server that
does not satisfy your business requirements
________________________________________________________________
Locate your nearest VA Medical Center
A public service add from CE Magazine
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By Nomar Shaw
We all look for great deals when we are in the market for a new computer and we
will try to get as cheap as possible or is it we are been frugal with our hard earned
cash? And the answer to that is to both, so, I did some online pre-shopping and no
E-bay. The fallowing links will take you strait to the site
1: TigerDirect click on link
TigerDirect is our (CE Magazine) no.1 choice for computer shopping, they great
deals especially refurbished computers that off lease. Give it look-see
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2: Amazon Click on link
Don’t over look office max/office Depot, Walmart and Walmart online Click link
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Come a Long Way Baby!
Apple's first Mac computer launched thirty years ago today. the company is
celebrating in typical Apple fashion, but we think 1984 was a great year for
other reasons
Steve Jobs unveiled the first Mac Computer thirty years ago today at an Apple
shareholders meeting in Cupertino, California. Today, the company is celebrating in
typical Apple fashion, with a beautifully designed yet incredibly gushing interactive
timeline complete with equally "inspirational" video interviewing Mac owners
throughout the years.
The Original Apple Mac, otherwise known as the Macintosh 128K and made
famous by the Ridley Scott-directed 1984 Superbowl advert, cost $2,495 when it
first went on sale on the 24th of January 1984. It had a Motorola 68000
microprocessor, 128 KB of DRAM, a 9in, black and white CRT display with a
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fixed 512×342 resolution and a 400 KB, single-sided 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
which contained the operating system. Users would have to swap out the disk in
order to run programs, as there wasn't enough memory to contain the OS and the
program at the same time.
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Computer Magazine From The Past!
34

Just when had the money for that
Laptop you wanted!!
SpaceBook 17 i7 720QM 8GB RAM DDR 1333
Dual 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 HD LED-backlit display screens
Intel Core i7 1.73Ghz 720QM Quad core processor
Genuine Windows 7 Professional
8 GB DDR3 1333Mhz memory
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M GPU 1333Mhz video card
500 GB SATA II 7200rpm hard drive
DVD dual (DVD +/-rw) super multi DVD drive
Intel pro wireless (802. 11b/g/n) networking
6-in-1 media card reader
Built-in 1.5W speakers
Order the SpaceBook 17- Intel i7 720QM and 8GB RAM for $2,399 at gScreenLaptop.com.
Thank for reading CE Magazine Chow For Now
Nanomites!
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