CEdo510 Component Research Compilation John Sklar, Instructor. Fall, 2011

Graphics Cards •       What is a graphics card? The video card is an expansion card that allows the computer to send graphical information to a video display device such as a monitor or projector. •       What does a graphics card do? A graphics card allows users to view images, dvd videos, internet videos, or video games. •       Why does a computer need a graphics card? Without a graphics card, a user will not be able to see any visual display on the monitor. •       Where can a graphics card be installed? The graphics card can be installed in any empty PCI expansion slot or AGP slot. Go to this website for steps to learn how to install graphic cards. •       Once installed, you need to download the correct driver software to make it work. Most come with a cd. •       What can you connect to the ports of a graphics card? Graphic cards have various connectors that allow you to connect to another monitor, a camcorder, television, or any video device etc. •       Why should we consider an upgrade on a graphics card? If you are a serious gamer and would like to have clearer graphics and faster moving graphics, this should be a consideration. •       How much do graphic cards cost? The nicer and more recommended graphic cards can be expensive, costing several hundred dollars; however, some cost as few as thirty dollars. •       What specifications should we look for when purchasing a new video card? The criteria for which websites use to compare video cards differ; however, you can look at these three: memory bandwidth, digital resolution, and clock speed. •       How can you connect a computer using the graphic card to multiple monitors? Simply plug the monitor cord to the VGA port on the graphic card using a Y splitter. This allows you to have simultaneous display of the same image on two monitors.

Tablets Although there are many different tablets on the market at this time there are 5 that are forerunners in the market.  The iPad, Nook Tablet, Amazon Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the Sony Tablet S.   There are many similarities in these tablets and they all function at high levels but there are some differences as well. What makes them Tick? When looking at what made these tablets work they were all very similar.  They are basically mini-computers that can web-browse, play games, listen to music, watch movies, and of course use as an eReader.  The Apple iPad still is in the lead when it comes to speed and access but the others can hold their own. Books, Apps, and Productivity  Each of these tablets has some of their own features that are proprietary to their product.  Apple has their iTunes, Amazon has their own Android Store, and the Sony Tablet S can work with the PlayStation 3.  They all have an App available to read Microsoft Office Software, take notes, and calendar functions.  Many of the Apps are the same across the board but they all have their own spin on some of the Apps as well. Can a tablet replace my laptop?  In my opinion all of these tablets can do a lot.  For some they may replace the laptop but I do not think they are quite there yet.  Typing may pose a challenge with small screens and keyboards.  The Apps do not have all the functions of the full software available on your laptop.   

Mac Products (The real Alternative)1 My task was to tell about the latest and greatest from the wonderful world of Apple. There are so many phenomenal Mac products that it was hard to decide where to start, so I narrowed it down to a couple of the most new and interesting things that have come from the company. iCloud is Mac’s version of cloud computing, which allows users to save data on remote servers and access the data on virtually any Mac device. This service began on October 12, 2011 and gained over 20 million users in less than a week, no doubt because of the many benefits of cloud computing. Each free account automatically comes with 5 GB of storage, and any Apple product/content is stored for free. To add more storage, there is a price, though. For 10 GB more storage, it costs $20, $40 for 20 GB, and for 50 GB, $100. If one decides to use iCloud, they should be aware that they can manually set up what gets backed up to their account – so if for any reason the storage would appear to be almost full, a user could check out what is taking up the space and not back it up if they so choose. Some interesting applications on iCloud include: Photo Stream, which allows users to save the most recent 1,000 photos on iCloud up to 30 days (free of charge) and soon will allow users to view photos on Apple TVs, and iTunes Match, which allows customers to scan and match tracks in their iTunes music library with tracks in the iTunes Store for an annual charge of $24.99. iCloud is most beneficial for those who use multiple Mac products, as cloud computing saves time and eliminates the trouble of transferring data between devices.

Mac Products (The real Alternative)2 Mac’s latest operating system is OS-X Lion (all of Mac’s operating systems are named after big cats – mine is Snow Leopard). Mac users with older versions might wonder why they might be interested in upgrading to the latest version. The newest version brings some of the innovations found in iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system, which has really been stealing the spotlight from other operating systems like OS-X Leopard and OS-X Snow Leopard. Lion comes with more than 250 new features. An article I read online thought that Mac OS-X might be the tipping point to assimilate to something more like iOS. To upgrade an older operating system to OS-X Lion, it costs about $30, and the software can be applied to more than one computer, which is nice. The MacBook Air is probably one of the most interesting laptop computers available on the market. A new Mac laptop would come with OS-X Lion. The newest, most updated version of the MacBook Air has many improvements over older versions. The touchpad is not as noisy, and the keyboard feels better and is backlit. A major addition is that the computer now comes with Thunderbolt, which only uses one port to make the computer extremely fast. The starting price for a new MacBook Air is $999, which is somewhat pricey, but considering the improvement from the previous-generation MacBook Air, it’s a worthwhile buy. All in all, this computer is fast and gets the job done well.

Mac Products (The real Alternative)3 Just about everyone is buzzing with excitement over Siri, Apple’s personal assistant software for the iPhone 4S. Siri comes as a free application on the phone, which starts from $199. When using the software, a user only needs to verbally ask Siri a question, and the program will search for the answer. Siri can also complete tasks. For example, Siri can send text messages, set reminders, and be told to wake you up at a certain time each day. Some people wonder whether Siri is a novelty that will soon wear off, but there are certainly many things that Siri can help with on a daily basis. One thing that should be improved with the next update of Siri is that Siri should be able to read directions to you. For example, if Siri is asked for directions, “she” can only show you Google Maps directions – they cannot be read out loud like a GPS. Regardless, Siri is an amazing, very helpful program. (I wish I had it!) So, what is to come in the near future? There are many rumors, and it sounds as though we can expect overhauls of all major Mac products in 2012, such as the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iPhone, and iPad. The Mac Pro, which has been selling poorly, sounds like it will not be included in these upgrades. While not for sure, trustworthy sources claim that there will be two new versions of the iPad coming out in 2012; the one coming out in the later part of the year will have dramatic changes. Most of the products that will be rolling out towards the end of 2012 will be more “next-generation” models of their predecessors. If the rumors are true, I would suggest to consumers to wait until the end of 2012 to buy a new product if possible.

CPU & RAM You may wonder, what is a central processing unit? Well, according to the wikipedia it is "the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system." Microprocessors are smaller versions of old processors. Microprocessors have large numbers of transistors on them. The closer they are, the quicker the signals can be passed, therefore the quicker the system. There are three main components of the CPU, they are: the Control Unit (CU), the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), and Random Access Memory (RAM). You need all three of these things for the CPU to be able to do its four steps (processing): fetching, decoding, executing, and writing-back. These four steps are required to get instructions from a program, make sense of and follow those instructions and then store and/or share the information with the user. There are a lot of CPUs out there to choose from so the best thing to do is look at good lists on benchmark performance. Passmark Software has a large list of computers to choose from. RAM can also make a difference in your choice of a CPU. What is Random Access Memory? It is memory on a computer but the memory is not “set” in one place so your computer uses random searching of the memory to find the information you request. It is only a temporary storage place and it will “forget” what is in it if you disconnect the power on your computer. There are many different parts, or rather, types of RAM. The type most often used on computers is Dynamic RAM. It is actually less random than most RAM since it is read in small bursts when it’s searched. The size you want depends on what you plan on using your computer for. You can also use the speed to decide…comparing the nanoseconds required to access information is the most useful. The fewer the nanoseconds, the faster your computer can work.

Digital Cameras & Input Devices Input devices are defined as any tool that inputs/ allows information to be put into your computer.  Standard input devices including a keyboard, a mouse, and an internal microphone.  Other input devices can be purchased separately and can do a lot to enhance the usefulness or enjoyment of your computer. Digital Cameras and Camcorders are two optional input devices.  I personally own a Canon PowerShot A1000IS digital camera and a Canon FS30 digital camcorder.  I love both and use them frequently.  When choosing a camera there are some important features that you will want to consider.  A couple other input devices for your computer include a Scanner and a WebCam.  These days, many Scanners are included as a part of an All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier. 

Printers A printer is a peripheral, a machine connected to the system unit through the ports on a computer, which produces a text or graphics of documents stored in electronic form.  Most of the time people are printing on paper, transparencies, card stock paper, photo paper, and many more. The most popular printer used today is the inkjet printer.  It is used most because it is affordable to use.  This compact machine can print using inexpensive ink, while the machine itself can be cheap too.  This type of printer makes it easy for any household to own and use a printer.  It is also quiet and there is no need to warm up like many laser printers do The laser printer is most common in commercial uses.   A laser beam projects an image of the page to be printed onto an electronically charged rotating drum coated with selenium or organic photoconductors.  Dry ink, also known as toner, particles are then electrostatically picked up by the drum's charged areas.  The drum then prints the image onto paper by direct contact and heat, which fuses the ink to the paper. These printers are fast compared to their competitor, the inkjet.  The laser printer can print 12,000 pages per hour.  The fastest color laser printer can print 6,000 pages per hour. I chose two printers to compare and discuss.  One from each type, the inkjet and the laser.  The inkjet computer I chose was the Canon Pixma MX882 Wireless Office All-In-One.  It's cost, I thought, was affordable at $149.99 (amazon.com).  The other printer I chose was a laser printer named HP LaserJetPro CP 1525nw Color Printer.  This printer also had a 4 out of 5 star rating.  It has a built in ethernet and wireless 802.11 b/g/n networking so you can share printing with colleagues.  You can also print from anywhere in the world.  It lets you send photos or documents from any mobil device directly to your printer when using HP ePrint.  This machine is also compatible to iPads, iPhones, or iPod touches.  Unfortunately, the cost of the ink for this printer is over $200 for all four colors (black, cyan, yellow, and magenta) where the inkjet averages $50 for all four colors.

Storage Devices Hard drives are the main storage device (Workhorse) on a computer that contains all data files and software applications on a magnetic platter with a read/write head, actuator and spindle. Computers will not work without them, much like our body not functioning without our brain. They can be internal, external and are measured in GB (gigabytes), typically from 120GB – 1TB (terabyte The hard drive reads data by the components within the hard drive itself, on cylindrical platters, wherein the data is stored in tracks, by scanning these platters. The speed at which it scans, determines how quickly the data can be read and retrieved. The data needs to be kept compact in order for the hard drive to retrieve it quickly, which is one reason we defragment our hard drive. To determine how much hard drive you need would be to determine the size you currently own, what it’s being used for and how much space is being used. A typical hard drive ranges from 800GB – 2TB, with consideration to increase if your current hard drive is more than 75% full. Large photos need 1-2MG; a 2-hour movie needs 2GB, while advanced video games can use up to 5GB. What would your future need be? Additional storage can also be achieved by any and all of the following: External Hard Drive Add Internal Hard Drive Replace Internal Hard Drive CD (compact disk) Flash memory (thumb/pendrive) DVD (digital versatile disk)   Optical drives offer additional data resources and include the following: CD, DVD and Blu-ray

Wires vs Wireless 1)  A network interface controller, is also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network. 2)   An Ethernet hub, active, hub, network hub, repeater hub or simply the hub is a device for connecting multiple Ethernet devices together and making them act as a single network segment. The availability of low-priced network switches has largely rendered hubs obsolete, but they are still seen in older installations and more specialized applications. 3)  A network switch or a switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.  4)  Wireless:  telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected.  Wireless- The E-reader!  I explored the Nook and the Kindle.  Wireless - Tablets.  I explored the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Apple IPAD 2. What should we use?  Do I still need wires? How to get on the Internet at home/work? What you should use is a personal choice and one size of shoe does not fit all.  Do you still need wires?  At work you might still need wires because it is the company that you work for that decides what technology will be used!  At home, it is still a personal choice.  A friend of mine lives in an area where she said she cannot get WiFi.  John had mentioned that we could have a community WiFi, but that would loose money and jobs for companies that provide Internet services.  How do I get on the Internet at home/work? 

How the brain communicates with the computer Input devices allow an individual to give commands to the computer in an user friendly way. In ancient times of a decade ago, the keyboard and mouse were prominent. The keyboard, a familiar communicating tool from the days of the typewriter, uses the text to send signals to the computer. Mice, with or without tails, move the cursor around the screen of the computer to point to buttons, menus, icons, links, or text, The clicking mechanism gives power to the command for execution. The fingers are now becoming directly involved as pointer, clicker, pen in the many touchpad applications. Devices using the touchpad interface include laptops, iPad, Children’s tablets, computer monitors, and even stove tops. Trackballs, and Trackpoints are not as popular but still effective, performing as a mouse might but from a stationary point of view. There are pens and styluses, smartboards, Braille interfaces, voice activation and other adaptations for the handicapped that showcase the versatility that input devices may have. There are many ways to connect the brain to the computer. Just look around you. Added Thoughts:  I have been looking at input devices this entire week.  I found that we are using them constantly, such as remote controls for the TV, for the Samsung Document camera, the Smartboard, the buttons on the refrigerator, the coffee maker, the cycle selector on the washing machine, the controls on the gas pump, etc.  I wonder how we would get through a day without an input device?  They are as varied as the devices they power.