Widescreen 169 Highdef Oh My Heres The Skinny On Going Wide

Writen by Michelle Carey

That's ironic, considering the whole purpose of HD is to provide a clearer picture! Let's see if we can un-muddy the waters a little bit. The first thing to understand in the world of widescreen is that it involves two concepts that don't always come together: aspect ratio and resolution.

Aspect ratio refers to the width and height of the image, expressed as a ratio. That's all there is to it. The TV and computer screens you've seen all your life have a 4:3 aspect ratio. That means for every 4 units of width, you have 3 units of height. We don't generally talk about 4:3 aspect ratio in daily life because we've always differentiated these screens by their diagonal measurement: 27" TVs, 52" bigscreens, 19" monitors. When there was only one commercially-used aspect ratio, the diagonal was the only way to distinguish size.

While there have always been other aspect ratios floating around in various applications, no one cared until wider screens started showing up on laptops, monitors, TVs and as a label on DVD boxes. The most common widescreen aspect ratio is 16:9, which is (as you might have guessed) 16 units of width for every 9 units of height. In and of itself, a picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio isn't any better (quality-wise), it's simply wider.

Resolution, on the other hand, is all about the quality. It refers to the number of dots or lines that compose an image, and how it is expressed depends on whether you are talking about computers or TV. Computer resolution is expressed in number phrases or letters. For example, 1024x768 (also called XGA resolution) means that there are 1,024 pixels on every row and there are 768 rows, for a total of 786,432 pixels. TV resolution is expressed in the number of lines counted vertically followed by either an "i" or a "p". "I" stands for "interlaced", and it means that the screen draws the odd lines top to bottom and then goes back and fills in the even lines top to bottom. "P" stands for "progressive", and that means all lines are drawn in sequence. Standard definition TV is 480i, so it has 480 interlaced vertical lines. There are a number of HD resolutions on the market, such as 720p and 1080i.

It gets a little confusing when your start mixing aspect ratio and resolution. To keep it simple, remember that High Definition is always recorded in 16:9 but it can be displayed in 4:3. However, 16:9 aspect ratios are not always in a High Definition resolution.

Now we're ready to look at whether 16:9 is the right choice for your church. Here are some reasons to considers:

First, because they are wider compared to their 4:3 counterparts, they work great when you're dealing with low ceilings.

Secondly, 16:9 screens are a better match for our field of view, which is more left to right than top to bottom. This is more in line with our eye-flow and the way we read onscreen content. Third, everything is moving in the direction of 16:9. Eventually everything we want to display will be in a native 16:9 format. We're not there yet, but HD and/or 16:9 models of many of your primary system pieces are available now – such as your screen, projectors, and cameras. Your investment will not only meet your immediate goals, but also work for you in the future. If you're considering purchasing or upgrading to a system with this look, there is good, better and best way, and then, of course, there is the wrong way.

The "good" way would be to select one of our Widescreen systems. These use native 4:3 projectors with a 16:9 mode. Even though there are some drawbacks, this option allows churches who in the past could not afford to go this direction to take advantage of this cool new technology. This is good (but not great) because it works and because it is the most affordable solution we have found. The most important drawback is that most install projectors will say that they have a 16:9 mode, but it can be deceiving. You always lose some brightness and resolution when you do this, and not everyone will take that into account. Check with your Fowler representative before choosing this option to make sure you don't lose more than you gain.

The "better" way would be to invest in a Native 16:9 (WXGA resolution) projector.

This choice allows you to take advantage of the full resolution and brightness of the projector. Also native 16:9 projectors are much more user-friendly and require less setup.

The "best" way is to use a native High Definition projector with your 16:9 screen. There are a few large venue projectors on the market today with a native resolution of 720 vertical pixels. You need to be prepared to spend over twice the amount for a WXGA (1366x768) equivalent, and without a true digital HD system from front to back, you won't gain much from this investment in the short run.

Remember, there is much more to your projection system than just the projector and screen. Your mixing/switching options have to be compatible with the new 16:9 aspect ratios and you have to be sure that your cabling is of a high enough quality to handle the higher bandwidth of HD signals. Much of the content that we use is still formatted for a 4:3 screen. Some worship presentation software applications allow you to set your aspect ratio to either 4:3 or 16:9.

So you're ready to move towards a 16:9 screen… What now? Call Fowler and we can walk you through the options with you to determine the best solution for your ministry and your budget. Anything else… would be the wrong way!

To request more information about Fowler's Widescreen / Native 16:9 / High Definition Systems call Fowler at 800-729-0163 or visit email us at info@fowlerinc.com.

Fowler Productions has been helping churches with multimedia since 1992, about the time LCD projectors were being recognized as a new tool for presentations. From then until now, we have made a commitment to assist churches and ministries in presenting multimedia better. Fowler also assists corporate clients with projection. The company offers complete design and installation options along with audio and intelligent lighting. Fowler is a full service A-V dealer and authorized service center. Fowler was the first company to offer a worship presentation software as an alternative to Powerpoint. http://www.fowlerinc.com

Firewire Hard Disks

Writen by David Stone

Firewire is a technogy for transferring data between computers or their periphial devices like external hard disk drives. In the early 1990's Apple developed the technology that became Firewire. Its technical name is IEEE 1394, and there are a few updates that have improved transfer rates. The original was capable of about 100-400 Mb/s on a cable up to 14 feet in length.

Firewire made its debut on the PowerMac G3 and has since spread to many other products and computers. Its popularity was due to its simplicity and its great speed. USB was the closest competitor and it only claimed data transfer rates of about 12 Mb/s. The only problem was that USB had originally been made for all personal computers, not just Apple, and it had been out first so it was already in use. Firewire was widely used in the entertainment business and actually won 2001 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award in 2001 for the impact that it had.

Using Firewire for an external hard disk is a great application of the technology. The cord is relatively small so that portability can be maximized. Now, more than ever, we are sharing information and that means we need ways to carry it. A Firewire drive also offers an easy expansion to your current computer. Hard disks' failure rate goes up extensively when they are filled with data beyond 70% of their capacity. A problem with these types of disk drives is that you do need to supply the power. This adds another plug to your already cluttered power strip and the cord needs to be carried with it if you would like to use it on a remote computer.

Firewire is now a very fast transfer rate that has had a couple of updates since its emergence. The first was named IEEE 1384-1995 in 1995, and it was not improved upon until 2000 with the release of IEEE 1384-2000. The newest version, IEEE 1384b is capable of speeds up to 800 Mb/s and is the current standard in Firewire technology.

Find more information about hard disks at http://hard-disk-help.info

Affordable Multimonitor Solutions

Writen by Nathan Kartchner

Benefits of Multiple Monitors
There has been much ado as of late about the benefits of increased desktop space. Multiple studies have shown that more computer desktop space equals faster work, greater productivity, and increased employee satisfaction. Most computer users would agree that there's a certain amount of frustration connected with constant window switching and a miniscule desktop.

Technology for the Everyman
With plummeting monitor and multi-port video card prices, the possibility of having multiple monitors for your computer is no longer a rich man's fantasy. There are any number of affordable solutions and possibilities for those looking to reap the benefits afforded by increased desktop space.

Two Ports are Better Than One
Your first option is to purchase a multi-port video card that supports multiple monitors. Most new mid-to high end cards will have at least two out ports and will support two or three monitors, while some specialty cards will support up to four. Video cards come in a couple of flavors (DVI and VGA), so you can either scratch the high-def itch or use your old VGA monitor. Some may even have both types on the same card.

Two Cards, Better Than One?
Another possibility is to run two separate video cards off of your motherboard. There are some limitations to this option. First, both cards must have chips from the same manufacturer. That means that you can only pair up two ATi or two NVidia cards. Also, the two cards have to use a different type of slot (AGP and PCI, for example). The only exceptions to this are cards that feature special technology allowing dual video cards to be paired up, like NVidia's SLI technology, for example.

Add an Extra Port to Your Laptop
Laptop users have a different set of solutions. Most newer laptops come with some sort of video out option, so you can pair up your laptop screen with an external monitor to get an instant dual-monitor setup. If you're looking for more, however, the VTBook DVI PCMCIA card is a great option. This expensive, yet impressive solution creates an additional DVI-D port using your laptop's PCMCIA cardslot. This port can be split using special dual head cables, allowing you to gain up to 3 additional monitor outputs.

Split the Signal with the Matrox DualHead2Go
For those looking to go with something a little bit more economical, there's the Matrox DualHead2Go, a unique product that splits your signal externally, enabling multiple monitors with a completely external, hardware-based approach. This solution has been geared heavily towards business travelers who are looking for a way to experience the benefits of a multi-monitor desktop while on the road. One of the best features about this Matrox adapter is that it requires no hardware installation on the laptop itself, and the split video signal experiences absolutely no degradation or signal loss. Matrox has also included an online compatibility guide, so you can make sure it'll work with your setup before you buy.

Nathan Kartchner works in Product Development for Sewell Direct, an online retailer specializing in connectivity and audio/visual solutions, such as the Matrox DualHead2Go and the Splitronic Broadband Aggregator.

Printer Ink Refills

Writen by Ross Bainbridge

As the ink in the cartridges runs dry, the buyer has to look for sources to find a replacement to the spent cartridges. While it is recommended to use new original cartridges, the price of a new cartridge is a big discouragement to buy. Many buyers look to third-party vendors who sell compatible cartridges, remanufactured cartridges, refills for customer's cartridges and do-it-yourself inkjet refill kits.

Refilling empty cartridges with third-party vendor ink is the cheapest alternative to replacing empty cartridges. Refilling is done either by the third-party vendor or is done at home with a do-it-yourself inkjet refill kit.

Most of the cartridges can be refilled with printer ink specific to the brand model, provided the model number and the serial number of the cartridge is known. There can be repeated refills possible. The number of times a cartridge can be refilled depends upon certain factors. According to the third-party vendor, the printer should be not be used once the low ink warning is given. While removing the cartridge, the metal plate should not be touched and the cartridge should be placed in a plastic container with a piece of wet cloth attached to the side of the cartridge. The cartridge should be brought in for a refill as early as possible.

The other alternative is to refill the cartridge at home with a do-it-yourself inkjet refill kit. These kits come packaged with a syringe, bottles of printer ink for multiple refills, essential tools and instructions. Before refilling, an individual must read the instructions carefully. Improper handling can cause lot of troubles and even damage to the cartridge and the printer. While refilling color ink cartridges, care should be taken to see that the colors do not get mixed up. Unlike black printer ink cartridges, color ink cartridges require three or sometimes four types of color ink to be refilled, and so separate injectors must be used for each type.

Repeated refilling causes the cartridge to wear out and eventually become unusable. Also, it should be borne in mind that the refilled ink is not that of the original manufacturer, and is developed individually by the third-party vendor to meet the specific requirements of different brands and models of printers. In cases where microchips are integrated with the cartridges, the printer either refuses to accept the third-party refilled cartridge, or works with diminished functions.

Whether refilling directly from the vendor or shopping for inkjet refill kits on the Internet, the source should be checked for its reliability and credibility. Spurious inks give substandard prints and damage the printers.

Printer Ink provides detailed information on Printer Ink, Printer Ink Cartridges, Printer Ink Refills, Inkjet Printer Ink and more. Printer Ink is affiliated with Inkjet Printer Cartridges.

Industrial Monitor Prices

Writen by Kevin Stith

Buying an LCD monitor is a major investment and calls for analysis of your business needs and industrial environment as well as a thorough study of leading manufacturers. Based on your analysis, you also need to decide whether you want to opt for the flat panel display monitor or the touch screen technology.

Once all your priorities are in order, you can proceed to an online search to find manufacturers, models and pricing.

To compare prices, you first need to decide on a model. For this, you should keep in mind viewing angle, resolution, diagonal size, mounts and indoor or outdoor industrial environments.

Compact LCD monitors have revolutionized computer technology and their sleek styles and image quality have captured the imagination of those who demand value and expect optimum returns for money.

The price of LCD monitors depends on the technology you opt for. A touch screen monitor will be more expensive than a flat panel display. And, LCD comes in two technologies-the passive-matrix technology and the active-matrix technology. Active matrix technology is more expensive, so of course, LCD monitors based on this technology will be more expensive.

If you're on a budget, opting for a high quality 15-inch LCD monitor is a good economic decision. Compare prices and you'll find that the difference between a 15-inch and 17-inch monitor is minimal. Then you can decide on the resolution. Both 17-inch monitors and 19 inches monitors offer 1280x1024 resolutions.

Most companies offer online catalogues. Search for all comparative factors such as diagonal size, viewing angle and resolution and then compare prices to get the best possible bargain.

Industrial Monitors provides detailed information about industrial monitors, flat panel industrial monitors, industrial LCD monitors, industrial monitor manufacturers and more. Industrial Monitors is the sister site of Cheap LCD TVs.

Toner Refillable Cartridges For Copiers And Printers

Writen by Rachel Perrine

Refilling printer and copying cartridges appeals to me because of the cost savings, and as a way to reduce my contribution to the landfills. But I didn't really know the specifics of refilling cartridges. Today, I finally did the research to find out the details, and found some great sites with instructions and a way to order the products.

One site made an analogy: Throwing out your empty ink cartridge is like throwing away a tire that needs air. Thinking about it in those terms makes sense. Even though buying new cartridges was my only choice for years, it's great to discover there are other possibilities. And these new choices offer a win-win: they are less expensive and they make sense for the environment!

The process looks very simple. You choose a refillable cartridge that's compatible with your printer or copier. Next you order the ink kit for refilling, follow their instructions to refill your cartridges, and print!

I had planned to order a refill kit and cartridge until I did more research, and found a site offering recycled cartridges: http://www.myhardcopysolutions.com. This site described the potential dangers of refilling your own cartridges, including the possible ink mess and the possibility you could ruin your print head by using an improper formula for the ink.

They explain that there is no ink that can be used in every cartridge. Inks have different drying times, filtration levels, pigments, shades and viscosity levels.

This site also describes their process of cleaning, inspecting, reloading and then testing used cartridges. When you consider buying from a re-manufacturer, look at their processes to see how they compare.

After doing the research, I know that buying a re- manufactured cartridge is the best choice for me. It will save me the time and effort of refilling my cartridge, and eliminate the danger that I will ruin my print head by using the wrong ink.

The savings for refilling cartridges are incredible, and even buying pre-filled recycled cartridges showed a 60% savings for my printer. The sites I found typically advertise a 50 percent savings, so your printer or copier may need cartridges that result in more or less savings. In any case, though, in addition to saving money, either of these alternatives will also help the environment.

Rachel Perrine, entrepreneur and technical writer, contributes to Spots Toner, offering free information and resources for all your printing needs. Articles by Rachel are also found at FD Electronics and For Camera.

Thinking Of Buying A Canon Printer

Writen by Daniel Roberts

I like Canon printers. Indeed I believe that if Canon really got their marketing act together they could be number one. One reason for my belief is that unlike Epson, HP and Lexmark, Canon's background has been in the camera business. In that business films (now memory cards!) and cameras have been separate businesses.

To a certain extent (I believe forced on it by competition) Canon has appeared not to have succumbed to the temptation to sell the printer at breakeven, or even a loss, and to make all its money on supplies. Of course they still make most of their money from supplies - but they keep to the formula - higher original cost: lower cost of usage (see cost of usage in this issue of Incartekspressions.

They have also been nice to its dealers. Epson, and to a lesser extent Hewlett Packard have introduced many ranges of inkjet cartridges - often with 6 or 8 products, alarmingly regularly - it seems with every printer announcement. This means so many product lines (or SKU's as we call them in the trade). I say the trade suffers from "SKU indigestion" (a subject for Incartekspressions 6). Often the only difference is the hard coded identification chip. Canon, on the other hand very seldom changes its range of consumables. Until late 2005, there had not been a significant change on one range (the BCI-3/3e/5/6 - essentially interchangeable since around 1997 and one the lower end since the BCI-21, later 24 was introduced around 1994. There had been improvements to the ink - but not a change which meant stocking numerous lines.

Cost of ownership

To optimise cost of ownership then you should steer clear of being tied to machines where there is no alternative than the printer manufacturer's own brand of cartridge. I believe that the most healthy market is where there is a good supply of quality alternatives. Competition, and fierce competition amongst the alternative branded products has driven the cost of manufacture down - and for the larger sources - at good quality - quality that for most practical purposes means that 'the compatible is as good as the original'.

For Canon printers, for example a BCI3e or -6 cartridge costs around £7 (depending on source), whereas a compatible cartridge might cost £1.50. Just run the numbers through Froogle to see!

This advice is hardly surprising from the author of 'Brand Freedom Day' http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=65748

The chip is a swine!

When Canon When Canon makes a change in its cartridge design it is a radical one. On first appearance their new cartridges the PGi-5 and CLi-8 look similar to their cousins the BCI-3e and -6. Even the Recommended prices are the same. The difference is in the chip. To date there are no alternatives to the chip - and it seems that there will not be any for some time. (See - the Canon Chip race),

The result (a) there is less incentive to reduce the retail price: an original costs £9-£14 from the same source. AND THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE.

The result - Ink costs will be about eight times as much for the new printers.

Are then new cartridges worth the difference? You are the judge - but read the reviews on printers that are available with the older cartridges - and of the compatibles.

So my recommendation - buy printers which use the old cartridges whilst you can!

What are they?

Low cost printers and single function office devices have totally been superseded.

If you can find a Pixma IP4000 then buy it!

But I would recommend for anybody:

Home/office use - it is worth the few extra pounds (or euros or dollars) to buy one of the most versatile multi-function devices available. This is the Pixma MP780. I have one: it is fast - can print double sided, the results are good, even on ordinary paper, and I always use compatible cartridges! It can scan, fax, copy - even producing a PDF file. Typically available for £160-£180 (€230-€260).

A set of five cartridges costs £7.50 (compatible). Compare that with £60 for the chipped cartridges, and you will save the difference in cost in two sets of cartridges. For me that is two months.

Photo printing - here I recommend the IP 8500 - available for about £210/€300. Personally I do not have a unit (already having both an Epson R300 and R800). It was rated 'best buy' by Which? a few months ago. I picked up an opinion: Strengths: Produce prints an awesome quality, Separate 8 ink tanks, Fast and quite printing, Dual paper input sources Weaknesses: Pricey, Can print up to 8x10 photo, Ink tank a little bit more expensive ($9-$12 each). But I have told you how to get cheaper - and really good quality cartridges.

Buy NOW!

As I have said the IP4000 is now unavailable. How long the two I have recommended will be around, I don't know. Not more than a few months, I fear.

And:

Avoid the new ones: IP1600, 2200, 4200, 5200, IX4000, MP500, MP800.

If you have bought one then you might like to read the following blog:

I have new Canon 6600 printer that uses the CLI-8 series cartridges. I did refill them after they said that they were empty. The printer kept telling me to install a new cartridge with each print saying I had no ink, but let me print. After some 10 prints a message came up saying that I was using 3rd party ink and that my warranty was void. The message " replace ink cartridge" then went away and I was off and running with replacement ink. A small price to pay for cheap ink. The prints are great. It is a great printer with rebate at Circuit City it was $140.00. http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=85473&forum_id=40

Dan Roberts

Business Builder Incartek (Ink Cartridge Technologies Ltd) Affilitated to ICFBA (International Confederation for Business Advancement) daniel@incartek.com tel +44 7000 7000 44

Author of "What day is Brand Freedom Day?"

This is reprinted from my e-zine Incartekspressions (issue no 5)

About Incartek

Incartek specialises in the office products and computer consumables businesses identifying opportunities for you to grow your business and then supporting you in exploiting them. It is affiliated to the International Confederation for Business. Incartek has three patents (granted or pending) in the design of inkjet cartridges.

About Daniel Roberts

Dan Roberts is a well known figure in the European electronic supplies and peripheral products industries. As a consultant to it since 1987 he opened up distribution channels and provided strategic guidance to companies such as Kodak, Verbatim, Memorex, EMC2 ICI Imagedata , and various office products, remanufacturing and computer leasing companies.

Between 1996 and 2005 he suspended is consulting activities to direct Europe's largest master distributor of compatible inkjet cartridges – The Container Club.

Prior to 1987 he was Director of Product Planning for Unisys, and Director of Planning for the international operations of Memorex. In all, he has over 30 years experience in aftermarket dis

10 Things To Ponder Before Moving Your Office Network

Writen by Gregory Hudson

Moving the office network? How hard could it be? Anybody who's ever moved the office network knows the risks and challenges associated with this colossal task. This mighty endeavour is not merely a case of logging-off, shutting down and pulling the plug.

The move requires careful, systematic planning, forethought and a little luck. The following considerations provide valuable guide ropes for hauling serious office technology.

Think of the move as the evolutionary-growth to a better network

An office move can provide the perfect opportunity to re-evaluate your IT systems, introduce new technology and upgrade your equipment.

Consider the future of your company and the flexibility your network will need as your company expands. Assess your needs and work out exactly what you will need to add to provide for your future growth.

Hire a network specialist to fine tune your systems

Obtaining expert advice helps cut corners, taking the guesswork out of what equipment you'll need, design and implementation of the network and the difficulties associated with troubleshooting.

"We take great pride in our work. As a reliable, efficient and highly specialised IT company in London, you'll be afforded the peace of mind that with us, your computers and network are in the hands of professionals" says Andrew Cruise, Managing Director of Hypercubic.

You also get an idea of what the costs will be, including the benefits of on-going maintenance and support. Planning the installation process with a professional takes the load off your shoulders and many thorns out of your side.

Save on downtime

Install the new system over the weekend, this way there will be minimal disruption to the business. Think about how many emails, phone calls and enquiries you will be missing if you move during the week. If the installation takes longer, inform clients or users in advance so they know what to expect.

One businessman reported, "Before we moved offices, we sent an email to all of our clients informing them about the move and provided all our clients with contact details. Our manager received valuable business related calls via his mobile phone thanks to this pre-planning".

Moving valuable, sensitive equipment requires care

Moving several floor-standing servers or a couple of 42u racks may take more than a fat guy with a slipped disk. Depending on the size of the server lifting the equipment may require hoists, trolleys and ropes.

A removal truck is obviously an essential part of the office move, though extra care needs to be taken concerning packaging.

Prepare for impact

Your delicate robotics need to travel comfortably between cushioned barriers, preventing devices from jarring together. Wrapping the equipment in anti-static bubble wrap shields the equipment against magnetic fields, preventing the loss of valuable data.

Equipment should ideally be placed in computer crates. Each crate should be dedicated to one complete system that is labelled for easy identification.

Think seriously about Insurance

When it involves your bread and butter being stored in digital format, ensure you have a back-up plan in case something happens during the move. Most insurance companies offer various policies for insuring computers against theft and damage.

Find out if your new building has the facilities for your network

Be sure to conduct a site survey and evaluate what your network needs are. This helps to curb overspending on equipment and identifies the best possible locations for installing access points. It also ensures that cable runs meet the local building codes.

Things just work better when cabling is installed before the move

Before the move goes ahead, the new network's cabling and network infrastructure should be in place, conveniently ready for each labelled workstation crate to be placed next to the correct plugs, power leads and phone lines.

Power On: Booting-up the network

Expect a few glitches; problems are inevitable with a new network. Hiring a professional at this point is an invaluable asset. Installation support ensures that the company can deal with any unforeseen teething problems during the initial start-up period.

Lastly, don't even think about doing it yourself

Most companies, before seeking advice from professionals, go down the DIY networking route. Unless you have a qualified team, installing a network can turn ugly and about as frustrating as unravelling 3000 feet of fishing line with one hand.

Hypercubic is a London based IT Support Company specialising in the installation and support of computer networks. Their IT support technologies help save time and effort, especially when moving a network to a new location.

Flat Panel Monitors A Question Of Value

Writen by Ellis Pullman

Many people are turned off by the prospect of acquiring a flat panel monitor to replace their cathode ray tube pretty much based on the price factor. Of course this is certainly a valid reason as not everyone will have the budget at any given moment in time to purchase this item, which in many respects is not considered a "must-have" but a luxury instead.

This article hopefully will address the value of flat panel monitors beyond simply looking at the price. Even though flat panel monitors are becoming cheaper every few months, they are still on average more expensive than cathode ray tubes. But the question is, is it worth it for the price?

Well consider these factors and incorporate them (or not) into your own decision making process. LCD flat panel monitors generally will not flicker as much as cathode ray tube monitors. The dimensions of the flat panel also tend to be more consistent. As far as the physical value of flat panel monitors, they are clearly much more compact while provide a greater viewing area than their CRT brethren.

And beyond the desktop, flat panels save you on power and electricity as they are less likely to hog up as much resources. One other thing is that you are far less likely to experience screen burn where an image is seared into the screen after being left on for a long time.

Flat panel LCD monitors do not experience distortions around magnetic forces. They also tend to better output colors and other renderings. Most people get hooked on LCD flat panel monitors the moment they start using it.

Though this is far from comprehensive in terms of assessing the value of flat panel monitors, it should offer fodder for you in terms of deciding what the value of these features are TO YOU. Good luck and have fun!

Flat screen tvs pertinent products and services are accessible at my web page.

http://www.flatpanelmonitorzone.com

Buying A Plasma Or Lcd Tv Faqs

Writen by Philip Liu

This article focuses on frequently asked questions by buyers of plasma and LCD televisions.

Q: Does the "plasma" in plasma televisions need to be recharged or replaced over time?

A: No. The plasma gases are sealed in individual cells when they are manufactured. There is no way to recharge or replace the gases. However, plasma TVs, when used normally, will last you many, many years (up to 20 years) so you don't have to worry about the screen burning out for a long time.

Q: Are plasma and LCD TVs difficult to install?

A: While you may want to hire a professional electrician to help you with wiring if you are installing your plasma or LCD television on a wall, you can also easily place the television on a stand yourself and place it anywhere you like.

Q: Do plasma and LCD TVs give off radiation?

A: All electronic devices, including televisions, must comply with FDA guidelines (in the United States) and CSA guidelines (in Canada) on radiation emission before being permitted to be sold to the public. While there is radiation emission in the form of ultraviolet light, the amount is negligible and you are unlikely to be affected by it watching the television from normal distances.

Q: What are anamorphic widescreen DVD movies?

A: There are two common ways of recording wide format movies on a DVD: letterbox and anamorphic. Letterbox refers to a video played with horizontal black bars on the top and bottom of the picture. Anamorphic recordings are also commonly labeled "Enhanced for 16:9 TVs". Anamorphic recordings have over 30% more vertical resolution than letterbox format and elimates or significantly reduces the black bars found in letterbox pictures in order to fit to the screen size of 16:9 televisions.

Q: Do LCD's have a burn-in problem?

A: No. Unlike CRT and plasma TVs, liquid crystal displays do not use phosphor and thus have no problems with a still image becoming permanently stored on the screen. Instead, LCD TVs use a backlight on a colored, transluscent liquid crystal screen.

Q: Can I use a game console such as Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo Game Cube or Microsoft XBOX with my LCD TV?

A: Yes. If you intend to use a game console and/or watch standard TV broadcasts over cable, satellite or antenna, an LCD TV is a superior choice over plasma televisions. The repetitive image from games and unused black-filled borders will damage a plasma TV by burning a permanent image into the phosphor.

Q: Will leaving my LCD TV on cause the image to degrade?

A: No. Unlike plasma TV's, this LCD TV does not exhibit aging over time. The brightness of the image remains the same because LCD televisions use a florescent backlight.

Q: Can I mount my LCD TV straight into drywall or plaster?

A: No, drywall or plaster alone will not offer enough support. A structural beam or stud must be used as the anchor for the wall mount.

(c) 2005 Philip Liu - All Worldwide Rights Reserved

Philip Liu is a freelance author and publisher currently based in New York City. Philip publishes regularly on his websites dealing with cell phone reviews and news and plasma, LCD TV reviews and news.

Ram Cards

Writen by Ken Marlborough

RAM cards, or random access memory cards, are an easy way to add extra memory to a computer, but there are a couple of things to consider in order to avoid any inconveniences. Although adding RAM cards will definitely augment the memory of a computer, this is not the most cost-effective method of adding memory to a PC. All desktop computers have RAM sockets for adding memory without using up one of your PC card sockets. Furthermore, PC card RAM is often twice as costly as SIMM memory.

This is the only type of PC card that has to be present when starting up the computer, or the computer will fail to recognize and take advantage of the added memory. This means that users have to reboot every time they add or remove a RAM card. So the feasibility of RAM depends on the presence of appropriate slots in the hard drive. Flash RAM cards are typically available in 10 megabytes, 20MB, or 40MB sizes.

Flash RAM is used to make programs work extremely fast or to access data more speedily than from a standard hard drive. Even though it is random access memory, it works like a hard drive and has a great speed and capability. The card has a trickle-charge battery that keeps the memory refreshed even if the card is left unplugged for a long time. When the flash RAM card is plugged, the battery is recharged and the whole cycle can start again.

There are two downfalls of using flash RAM cards. The first is limited capacity that they offer as compared to hard drives. Typical hard drives for portable computers start at 250 MB, but the Flash RAM card cannot accommodate more than 40 MB, and this might create problems for the user. The other downfall is that these cards are very expensive, and a 40 MB card will cost around $1000.

RAM provides detailed information on RAM, RAM Memory, DVD RAM, DDR RAM and more. RAM is affiliated with Linux Mail Servers.

Wireless Vga Yes It Is Possible

Writen by Preston Wily

Nobody likes a cluttered desktop
OK, maybe somebody somewhere in the world likes a cluttered desktop, but it is the goal of most office workers to keep their work area clean and clutter-free. Many studies suggest that such an environment is conducive to creativity, brainstorming and productivity. Whether or not this is true, it looks bad and low-tech.

Wirless is hot
With the introduction of new Wimax standards (the underlying technology driving wireless USB and wireless FireWire, among other emerging wireless technologies) just about everything except the power supply and monitor are commonly found in a wireless format.

Welcome Wireless VGA
The limitation on a wireless VGA (adaptable to DVI or HDMI) is no more - retailers are now offering wireless VGA adapters capable of transmitting a wireless signal to your monitor. The monitor still requires a power adapter, but you now have the flexibility of locating your computer in another room or section of the office. This is very useful when dealing with a media center or a computer powering multiple remote displays.

Most vendors do not have residential permits for these devices...yet
Right now, unfortunately, these are not approved for residential use by the FCC. This problem, however, should be resolved soon so wireless VGA can be a reality in residential areas. For now remember that you need not be tethered to your computer while working in an office.

Preston Wily is the marketing director for Sewell Direct, an internet retailer of computer hardware and accessories such as a wireless VGA adapter.

Rack Mount Server Cases

Writen by Alison Cole

Rack mount servers are very commonly used across different parts of the world for a number of purposes, starting from the world of video editing suites, computer animations and other three-dimensional works. These rack mounts are also used through the installations at ISPs, in the field of telecom and other types of communication, and various database houses. These rack mount servers are designed to fit into an open PC or in a closed cabinet. Therefore, the role of the rack mount server is equally important to give your rack mount server support and stability for the equipment inside the racks.

Rack mount server cases come in a variety of sizes and shapes, just like the rack mounts themselves. The role of a rack mount server is quite a vital one, as the setting of the hardware equipment into a designed cabinet paves the way to protect it from external factors. Using the rack mount server makes it easier to protect equipment from the climate and also to attain the best of cable management.

These rack mount servers are available in various sizes depending on their height and configurations. The usual sizes are 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U, 6U, and 7U, as per the definition of the Electronic Industries Association (EIA). These are the usual sizes of the rack mount server cases and are generally used to describe the height of the cases, with a constant width of nineteen inches. These cases are available at various retail shops. But the best way to make a choice is only after research. This kind of informed approach can be used if one looks for a rack mount server cases on the web.

Rack Mount Servers provides detailed information on Rack Mount Servers, Rack Mount Server Cases, 1U Rack Mount Servers, 2U Rack Mount Servers and more. Rack Mount Servers is affiliated with Rackmount Computer Monitors.

Hippa Goes Mobile And Wireless For Hospitals And First Responders

Writen by Lance Winslow

It appears we need to further streamline health care and HIPPA now in effect is quite a nightmare trying to comply with and implement without making a mistake and possibly being sued as the trial lawyers testing the law. The Malpractice insurance rates may go up again. On one hand you have the 'know your customer" laws and on the other you have "privacy rules."

Usually when new laws and regulations come along they are never welcomed, they cause costs to go up, cause chaos and some smart entrepreneur comes along and solves the problems, we have seen this in Aviation, Communication, Trucking, Auto Industry, Mining, Marine, Construction, Education and let's face it, we have seen it in all sectors. The new regulation is no matter how well intended always a problem. These rules when enforced by mandate rather than implementation by free market pressures and desires of patrons tend to cause the worst problems as, they inevitably are prostituted by greed, back door deals and controlled whiners of a system. The whiners think they are to attain justice, but usually end up causing a worse problem upon themselves and the whole of the users of the system.

Today we have a chance to computerize the HIPPA issue and recently I had discussed this at length with the IT Think Tank President in Omaha, NE. They had a plan, which would take the PDA Wireless Device and put all the information, which would be available in the ambulance and to first responders.

It appears that there are several entrepreneurs and larger Software and IT people who specialize Medical issues. One project with a major player in the legal field is PocketMD (.com). The World Think Tank had asked about a mobile HIPPA solution for first responders and they have built in accommodations for privacy, particularly with the triple DES encryption. So the data is secured. This mobile application can also work in the battle space arena for quick response to personal and the data set will be two-way so it can give data on the patient and run the data and send back an answer. So this could be used for casualties or those nearby who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Nebraska IT Think Tank is looking into the "huge data base" application for the PDA. This would be a relational database (similar to a rubics cube) in which the PDA could make queries for medical information. Access to this information would be "compartmentalized" based on the hospital, physician, or other source of inquiry. This information would be well secured and protected. The whole project would run on an "ASP Model" - application service provider - that charges based on the type of access, amount of data transferred, etc. - a type of subscription model. They are also looking into "medical smart cards" with the PDA - one of the companies in Omaha has made some great products in that area. Privacy, insurance companies and ethics are all worked out by defining the "business rules" for access to the database.

There are several other areas of potential affiliation; dictation, charge capture, and medical reference database content. The wireless system is working on 802.11 - which does not have a very long range. There are specialized PDAs that come with different radio freq and capabilities. They had mentioned to me "I am like you - intrigued by the possible military apps - especially field services - procurement, targeting, etc." So far, the VA Hospitals have been the best opportunity for this test market so this will happen. They hope to have a private hospital pay for implementation soon. They are even working on one "user group" as a conduit for development - if the user group provides access to their members, we would provide a subscription plan for the software and equipment customized to their requirements - saving PocketMD marketing costs and saving the user group members a lot of money in the process.

President George W. Bush had made an interesting and unusual comment about this, unusual because no one realized he was so up on all this stuff. He said that streamlining these things, issues with HIPPA and Healthcare could be done through IT. Absolutely in our opinion, as long as everyone can agree on a standardized system like we discussed above, where everyone is on the same page. In our opinion PocketMD has developed the most robust software for use by physicians in a hospital. They have more features and better security than any on the market, yet there is a risk of becoming the "Betamax" in the "VCR" race. Companies such as MercuryMD and PatientKeeper simply have more marketing dollars. But either way I bet we find a way to take care of this HIPPA issue that everyone is on edge about sense the lawyers are lining up to sue and the HMOs and Private Hospitals are re-doing their entire method of doing business. The investors of PocketMD(PMD) are looking to take MD Tracker public, which for the medical industry looks like an interesting prospect.

PocketMD:

http://www.itsecurity.com/tecsnews/nov2003/nov108.htm

MercuryMD;

http://www.mercurymd.com/

PatientKeeper;

http://www.patientkeeper.com/

MD Tracker;

http://www.mdtracker.com/hard_soft_technology.html

There are many start-ups out there and now the investment bankers have stepped in and the free market system should fix it. VC is lining up to spend on these to fix the problem. There will be ROI expected from those who solve this problem and that will still slightly raise prices for health care and there will be some systems with issues, feature creep during programming and implementation costs and some failures. Some lawsuits, but in the end although the problems will be quite burdensome and much will be fought by the employees who do not like it as with any new system, innovation or change due to resistance of the status quo.

In the trucking industry they have mobile technologies we have been studying are mobile and work off data bases in the dispatch office. These similar systems with real time data, Video Cell Phones could save lives, monitor school buses, Rapid Transit Districts, Bus Stops, Airliners when used in connection with WiFi in the sky and passenger trains, trolley cars and trams.

The systems are so powerful and robust that it appears with such a system it could be placed on telephone poles and catch bad guys, which drove down a street in a Ryder rental truck with bomb material odors. They could be set up with sensors which could be triggered by infrared and could detect illegal migration, troop movement into areas, stick it on top of a Socorro cactus. Great for plant security, hook it to a sound non-lethal fire mechanism up the road 500 yards, and take out bad guys with remote button and/or force them to run back where they came from or risk burst ear drums and brain damage? These units could be put them on Sarge units from Sandia to patrol borders, infrastructures, military bases, important buildings and plants. Put them on UAVs, ATVs, UUVs and all kinds of stuff, even organic birds to track migration and give real time data.

But back to the IT solutions for HIPPA, yes in fact this is absolutely the way to fix this potentially disastrous problem caused by more regulations in the health care industry when they probably just need tort reform and less law suits and reality based systems with ethical people working in them. The problem is that the over all issues with ethics in America has permeated every part of civilization, so it should not be too surprising that up until now your medical records may have been available to more people than you might have wanted.

In the end HIPPA is here to stay and is a noble calling for privacy, even if there may have been other free market solutions to stop the data leak for privacy issues. This implementation is occurring and the entrepreneurs are solving the problem with their belief that anything worth doing is worth doing for a profit.

HIPPA is no doubt the greatest controversy other than the need for tort reform in Health Care Industry since the turn of the millennium. IT will assist in streamlining the internal systems, which are now dealing with the new HIPPA regulations, but it will take time to implement and ramp up. In the end patients will be happy to know their privacy is protected, even when it travels thru the wireless airwaves to mobile hand held devices.

Lance Winslow

Amd At Intels Heels Where Are We Heading

Writen by Sion Fletcher

Intel Corporation was founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation and is based in Santa Clara, California, USA. In 1991 Intel achieved the number one semiconductor market share ranking, and have clung firmly to their position ever since. Semiconductor technology progresses at a relentless rate, accelerated by a throw-away society and a technologically inclined generation. In a market where innovation and invention play such vital roles, it is a remarkable achievement for Intel to have kept one step ahead, retaining the crown amongst its competitors.

But who is there to compete against the CPU giant? Last year, Intel boasted impressive profit margins of 22.3%, leaving plenty of slack to cut prices in the face of competition. With the recent integration of Intel technologies by Apple, who chose to adopt Pentium CPU's for their workstations, it seems Intel's foundations are set ever more firmly in the uneasy ground of the semiconductor market.

AMD, Advanced Micro Devices, is an American manufacturer of integrated circuits based in Sunnyvale, California. It is the second largest supplier of x86-compatible, or desktop workstation, mobile and small scale server processors, following Intel. AMD is 15th among the worldwide top-twenty semiconductor sales leaders, generating revenues of $3.9 billion in 2005.

AMD once operated as a licensed second source manufacturer Intel processors, but in the face of growing popularity of the PC clone market, in 1986 Intel decided to free itself of ties to it's perceived competitors to start producing CPU's on its own terms. This action led to a prolonged and fierce legal dispute where AMD claimed Intel had violated their contract. The Supreme Court of California agreed, and forced Intel to pay over $1 billion in compensation.

In 1991 AMD released the Am386 processor, and followed with the Am486 in 1993. Both were competitively priced, undercutting Intel's equivalent processors. AMD quickly established a foothold in the semiconductor market, specifically in the desktop and workstation level, selling a million units of the former in less than a year.

More than a decade on and AMD continue to increase its hold of the semiconductor market share, pursuing its competitors with aggressive pricing and partnerships. Today, 24th July 2006, AMD announced the acquisition of ATI, a major supplier of desktop graphics cards, a transaction valued at approximately US$5.4 billion. As our processors play much more centric roles in our lives, it is not difficult to imagine a day where a personal computer sits along side, or even integrated into every television set. With such innovations as Sky+ opening up consumers to the idea of media centric computing in their living rooms, and subsequently their cars and their mobile phones, its clear why AMD sees potential in developing processors with integrated graphical functions and routines.

The mainstream semiconductor market is exciting to experience at either end, but as consumers we have only to gain from increasing the competition and demand, and the de-monopolization of the semiconductor market. New products from either side of such a competition increases innovation, and decreases the prices, which can only be good news!

Make Money Online at Fortunes-Today.com

Match The Right Color Ink Cartridge With Your Printer

Writen by Clive Jenkins

The sophisticated technology of modern time pushed forward the possibilities of the regular printers. If in the beginning of the printers they were used mainly for black and white documents, today we can enjoy the wonderful world of colors by printing anything with performing printers, some of them created especially for colorful documents. The manufacturers provided us with printers that can help us print our photos in our own home and still get the quality of the photos printed at a local photo center.

Especially when you print photos, the color ink cartridge might run out of ink very fast and you need to replace it if you still want to enjoy color printing. It is recommended that you refill your color ink cartridge when it is empty: it is a cheaper alternative than buying a brand new cartridge and you can contribute to the ecological balance in a right way by recycling the color ink cartridge. On the other hand, you might not be as lucky if you have a last generation printer because many of them do not allow refilling the color ink cartridge and you have to purchase a new one.

There are two types of color cartridges that can be used for color printing and they each match a certain type of printer and a certain type of printing heads. The single three- color cartridge is the oldest type of ink cartridge and you can find it on older printers and some of the new ones too. This color ink cartridge contains three separate rooms for each color: red, yellow and green or other group of colors and it has the size of three individual ink cartridges put together.

The individual color cartridges are very popular nowadays and they are used for printers such as Canon or Epson. Each color ink cartridge contains one specific color and you can purchase only the colors you use the most. Though, you have the choice of buying complete packages with the main colors instead of searching through different stores for a certain color. After you buy the individual color ink cartridge just add it to the right printer head and start printing. The advantage of new printers is that they can actually control each color ink cartridge with an intelligent system when you print.

There is so much more to know when choosing the right Color Ink Cartridge for your printer. To get extensive information on ink and cartridges why not check out http://www.recycleinkcartridgesnow.com For comprehensive and time saving advice on everything related to ink.

Buying Printers

Writen by John Gibb

Lately I have been receiving some questions as regards buying printers. I have decided to make a mini section based on this topic.

The question I have been asked on various occasions, is what printer would best based on the amount of printing to be done. I want to go over this based on my experience of using and supporting printers.

Let's set a few scenarios as examples. You want to print a few photos a week, print a few e books in the range of 100 pages each. You would also like to print a few projects at a few hundred pages each. Personally, I would use an inkjet printer for this. I would go for a middle of the range unit with a high dpi. For information on dpi, check out my http://www.computer-and-printer-reviews.com/printer-advice.html section. Now, in my experience, LaserJet's don't print out photos as well as high end inkjets because the ink jet uses a unique printer mechanism, which allows the quality photo printing. This is why you see many photo printers that are inkjets. So for this kind of usage I would go with an inkjet printer after doing some research on various sites. You can check out some of my reviews and guides on my http://www.computer-and-printer-reviews.com/printer-reviews.html if your interested in a few comparisons.

What about if you want to print thousands of pages per month, and you don't have the time to keep buying printer ink as often as the inkjets require? The LaserJet units can serve this purpose well. I am going to invest in a colour LaserJet in the coming weeks, due to printing a vast amount of documents. For example, yesterday I purchased three e books, all of which were around 200 pages each. My ink almost ran out on my inkjet after this. This wouldn't happen on a LaserJet. I would recommend a LaserJet to anyone who runs a small business from home. I believe they will come in handy for this type of usage. I treat mine as an investment rather than an expense.

To summarize, access your needs, look on various sites until you find something to suit your needs, and do come comparisons on specifications if you want to be more specific.

Some good sites for printer reviews are

www.tomhshardware.com – focuses on all computer hardware, including printers.

www.itreviews.co.uk – check out the printer section here.

http://www.laser-printer-reviews.org/ - focuses on LaserJet units.

http://www.steves-digicams.com - good for comparing photo printers.

John Gibb manages http://www.computer-and-printer-reviews.com The site dedicated to computers and printers.

Electronic Test Equipment

Writen by Alison Cole

Electronics is a vast field of study encompassing systems and technologies that control the flow of electrons and other types of charged carriers in various devices such as valves and semiconductors. The application of electronics is fairly widespread and is often the base for the growth of technology. Almost every new or old invention uses the concepts of electronics. Electronics is one of the primary branches of electrical engineering. To put electrical engineering into practice, a large number of electrical devices and equipments are required to test the workability and durability of complex electrical machines and systems.

Electronic test equipment is usually simple and cheap though there are compound electrical gears that are more difficult to test. Electronic test equipment is often referred to as test gear. These devices generate stimulus signals in order to receive responses from electronic gadgets referred to as Devices under Test (DUTs). By using these devices, the functioning of the DUTs can be proven and faults can be tracked and repaired.

Electronic test equipment can range from a simple light bulb to complex computerized and automated testing systems. There are different types of test equipment available for testing different devices. Basic electronic test equipments are used for simple measurement of the capacity of voltage and current in common circuits. Such test gear includes devices such as voltmeters, ammeters, galvanometers, ohmmeters, multimeters, power supplies, signal and pulse generators and oscilloscopes. These devices are usually digital and check simple prototypes. Certain advanced and less commonly used equipment such as clamp meters, electrometers, EMF meters, RF probes and logic analyzers are used to test the operation of higher and advanced components. Most test equipment used generate signals and hence are called signal-generating devices. Signal generating devices such as frequency synthesizer, function generator, pulse generator and signal injectors are used to generate signals for testing the working of electrical circuits.

Electrical test equipments have extensive use in fields such as aerospace, defense, automobiles and telecommunication. The use of these equipments helps in reducing the need for future quality assurance tests.

Test Equipment provides detailed information on Test Equipment, Test Equipment Rentals, Electronic Test Equipment, Used Test Equipment and more. Test Equipment is affiliated with Ultrasonic Cleaners.

Printer Ink Choosing The Right Cartridges For Your Needs

Writen by David Hickman

Introduction
This article has been written to help the existing owners of ink printers to identify the various choices available when selecting ink cartridges or ink refill kits for their printer. It is written in New Zealand, for NZers, and while the information may be useful in other countries, it is not intended for use outside New Zealand.

If you do not yet have a printer, or are thinking of buying a new one, please refer to the associated article, "Ink Printers - Choosing the right one for your needs"

Cartridges
With few exceptions your printer will use one of two types of ink cartridge:-

1.Print Head Cartridges
These are cartridges with the print head included so that every time you change the ink cartridge you change the print head. This type of ink cartridge is typically used by Hewlett Packard (but not always see below) Lexmark and now Canon have re-introduced these cartridges with some of their latest models.

2.Non Print Head Cartridges
These are just a plastic box full of ink - sometimes with an electronic chip mounted on it. These ink cartridges fit into a print head inside the printer and are typically used by Brother, Canon (but not always see above) and Epson.

3.Exceptions
Hewlett Packard have a split system in their "Business Inkjet" series with a plastic box ink cartridge and a separate user replaceable print head for each colour.

Options
You can significantly reduce the cost of printing by using alternative cartridges, refilled cartridges and ink refill kits.

The "Non Print Head" ink cartridges are freely available as copies, usually manufactured in Asia. You can get these ink cartridges refilled but new copy ink cartridges can be supplied at the same price as, or less than, a refilled ink cartridge.

Some of the "Print Head" ink cartridges, where patents covering the print head have expired, are also available as copies. Otherwise they are either commercially refilled or do it yourself ink refill kits are available.

If the "Print Head" cartridges are commercially refilled they must be individually tested by the refiller. Random testing is only reliable where the starting point for each item is identical, as with new products. Used cartridges provide differing starting points and therefore potentially different results even if they are all treated the same.

Ink refill kits are available to those who wish to gain the biggest price advantage. The best ink refill kits are really easy to use with two provisos. First the refiller must read the instructions before starting the refill. Second, the user must be happy about doing their own refilling. Refilling is more about the refiller's attitude than aptitude. A person who is nervous or unhappy about refilling should not buy a refill kit.

The quality of ink refill kits varies widely. The kit should have comprehensive instructions, a clip to hold the cartridge while you are filling it and the necessary ink and tools to enable you to fill the cartridge correctly. Refill kits are not complex but you should stay away from those that do not fit the above criteria.

These options give you a wide choice as to how you obtain your printer ink.

Finding your printer ink
Having decided to cut the costs of your printer ink by using one of these alternatives you must now find a source of supply. Be careful. The world is awash with printer ink and the internet has made it easy to buy.

Not all printer ink is created equal. You must use some basic principles or you may buy ink which will ruin your printer. These principles are generally true for doing business over the internet, regardless of the product you are buying, but are worth repeating.

When you look at the website do they display a physical address and genuine telephone number? Preferably an 0800 number so that you can telephone and talk to them. Do they have testimonials you can check? How long have they been in business? Do they offer a guarantee? Do they offer secure credit card processing?

Don't buy just on price. In this market there may only be a dollar or two between the highest and lowest prices but the inks could be as different as water and glue. So it's worth while doing some basic checking. Always remember that the dollar you save by buying on price alone could cost you your printer.

You want to put the ink cartridges in your printer and know that they will work, be true to colour and not react chemically with other inks. Buy from a reputable business that offers a comprehensive guarantee and you'll get these results.

About the author
David Hickman has been involved with computer printers, and ink and toner cartridges since January 1994. Visit Second Image to see how David and his team can help solve your printer needs.

Quality Recovery And Rework When It All Goes Wrong

Writen by Kent Walters

When Quality is the Target, but not the Result, what do you do?

While Quality may be the overarching goal of all production, stuff happens, resulting in non-conforming parts. This results in failure verification, rework, recalls, sorting, kitting, retest, relabeling and pipeline management, which are facts of life in the manufacturing, assembly and production world we live in.

So, when it all goes wrong, what do you do?

In a previous article in this series, we discussed the process. Briefly, you must:

1. Assess exposure and manage risk at each stage of the fulfillment process;

2. Figure out what went wrong (root cause);

3. Fix it at the factory and get it back on line ASAP;

4. Figure out what you're going to do about all the material in transit, at customer assembly and inventory locations, and already sold through to an end user.

Your people are the experts on your products and on your customers, so there is no way around these experts being intimately involved in root cause analysis and in figuring out what has to be done at the factory. You can hire consultants and/or facilitators to streamline the process to getting to root cause and solution, but the experts and management must take ultimate responsibility for parts 1, 2 and 3.

There is far more flexibility in the 4th part. This is the tedious, messy and time-consuming part of the job, and is generally not a core competency of the organization in trouble. Ultimate customer satisfaction depends on competent and rapid execution of failure verification, sorting, reworking, testing, labeling, packaging, pipeline management and crisis logistics.

Options and Alternatives: Most Project Managers and Quality Managers do not realize that there are companies that can take over the most tedious and frustrating parts of the recovery process. With that in mind, let's examine your options and their consequences:

1. Keep it all in-house (subtle, but potentially far-reaching negative ramifications) - The Good News: The people who are most likely to be familiar with the problem, the product and its quirks are right there, concerned and capable. The Bad News: The engineers, technicians, logistics personnel, production personnel, management and facilities all generally have full-time jobs that keep them busy 10 to 16 hours a day, just to meet set schedules and deadlines to keep the company moving on its projected path. It is these same people who are going to be tasked to take on this additional, unexpected and often significant workload at the expense of their current assignments. This tends to mortgage the company's future, but the urgency and necessity of getting though the crisis overshadows this concern for the moment. Everyone pitches in, does what it takes, and in the excitement, fails to look up long enough to consider, much less do, the sensible thing. The results of this approach are mistakes in the recovery and a hurried or unfinished release of the next project, each leading to additional crisis and continuing the spiral of missed product cycles, poor quality, low yields, and substandard product.

2. Write a check - Outsource parts of the crisis - This is almost universally unrecognized as an alternative, but from a business perspective, it is the only way to go. If you are in Quality Management or Project Management, your company expects you to make decisions that are best for the company and its bottom line. Often, you are so focused on getting the problem solved with resources you know and trust that you don't stop to consider the alternatives – especially the alternatives you are unaware of.

Early in my career, I was unaware that there were organizations that specialized in rework, or "Quality Recovery". I suffered terribly through many miserable reworks, often supervising a bunch of random unskilled temps in hastily set up warehouses with processes that evolved as the rework progressed. I remember that a task as simple as keeping track of labeled boxes, matching serial numbers on the box labels to serial numbers on the unit labels was unmanageable. I remember starting one rework three separate times because the assembly instructions were being interpreted in unpredictable ways by the operators, and we couldn't keep track of which units were done by which operator. I'm sure anyone with any time in the business can relate to these expensive frustrations.

Happily, there are companies who are really good at this tedious and high-risk stuff, and make it a high point of your relationship with your customer, in spite of the crisis situation. The customer memory of the pain is short, and the memory of the way it was handled scores big points because the rework was managed with the same level of competence and closure exhibited by your manufacturing process.

I was fortunate to stumble onto a couple of great Quality Recovery providers as I was confronted with a particularly bloody rework situation involving recurring firmware upgrades with confirming test, and with mandatory label tracking of the upgrades on pipeline inventory. I took a deep breath and decided I was going to take a half hour and look for help. I was lucky that day. While a crisis is never much fun, these people made it a lot less brutal, and as I analyzed the comparative burdened rates of my engineering and technical staffs, it was actually a less expensive route. Of course, I still had to pay the burdened rates at the same time I paid the recovery people, but then I was paying my burdened engineering rates for true engineering work that was making me a much higher return on the dollars (at least in theory) than working on unplanned rework lines.

Three very important questions as you approach parts 1 and 4 of the problem resolution process are:

1. Is this so small and straightforward that it won't take much from our regular duties? If the answer to this is no or unknown, the next question is:

2. How much of this project can we write a check for so we can stay on target on our existing programs and at the same time get credit for competent management of our rework/recovery liabilities?

3. Who will make us look especially good to our customer in this time of crisis through their core competencies in rework management and recovery activities?

Note that often, several layers within steps 1-4 in the problem resolution outline are happening in parallel, and it would be best to get your recovery specialist involved as soon as you have answered the first question as a part of step 1.

Cautions: It is critical that steps 1-3 of the problem resolution outline are completed by your people in a very complete way, or you will pay more for your recovery efforts than you have to, whether you do it yourself or outsource. The recovery efforts can be no better than the instructions and materials provided. If inaccurate or incomplete information is provided to the recovery organization from your team, their recovery efforts will be wasted until they either figure it out for themselves or you intervene with the appropriate amount of finished staff work.

Similarly, due diligence must be applied to your selection of a production/quality recovery/rework service. Let's face it, RESULTS are the name of the game. This is difficult to assess on your first trial, but there are indicators to look for: I look for the following attributes:

1. Response time – I was usually in a big hurry by the time I got to step 3. Customer reps were breathing down my neck, demanding a schedule and daily reports. I needed help FAST! My best recovery providers were able to get people, facilities and equipment in place, ready to train in four to eight hours.

2. Location flexibility – I often had material strung out across the US, and sometimes in pipelines in Singapore, Malaysia, Hungary, Scotland, Italy, Hong Kong, Korea, China and Thailand. Again, my favorite rework suppliers were able to accommodate me where I needed them to be in most cases, often within a day or two of my request.

3. A very lean corporate structure – this will tell you that the emphasis is on recovery management, which is where you need the real expertise. My three favorite providers had only three permanent employees – a President, Vice President and an administrative assistant.

4. Skilled Contract Labor – I'll again refer to my favorite folks - They have pools of previously tested skilled labor all over the US, Canada and Mexico. The real strength and core competency is in the ability to effectively set up, properly prep and manage these people.

5. Facilities – informal and formal relationships with several facilities in many locations and the ability to travel all over the world to set up similar operations wherever I needed them.

6. A well-defined compensation structure – While this might not seem important, I assure you that if your rework provider has to spend a lot of time recovering money from his clients, he is not going to be as focused on the actual core competencies that you really care about. Expect to pay in full upon completion. NOTE: Do not treat this like a normal supplier because this is not a normal supplier. This is the guy who can save you. If you treat him well, you will be treated well. Some providers require a deposit to get started, some set up an escrow account, some just need to be paid upon completion, and some work with combinations of these payment plans, depending on the nature and scope of work. Don't trot out the 30-60-90 discount program. It's really inappropriate, and you'll risk rejection by the people most likely to make you a success.

How do I go about looking for a good quality recovery service?

Start with your favorite search engine and try the following keywords: Rework, Quality recovery, Quality Rework, Quality repair, Quality problems

There will be a high percentage of very specialized returns for this kind of search that will have nothing to do with what you're looking for (ball grid array [bga], IR reflow, quality fender repair, etc.) but you'll be able to spot the possibilities by the description. This can be a little tricky because these Quality Recovery guys are not the best marketers on the planet. When you find a likely prospect, give them a call and run down the elements above with them. When you find the right guy, it will be well worth the effort.

If you have a logistics or kitting provider, like Banta or CTI, they will often accommodate you in certain situations. I have found them to be generally less flexible and less influenced by my urgencies, and generally a little more expensive than their leaner counterparts that specialize in this kind of work, but they have the advantage of already having an arrangement with you (payment channels, contracts, etc.), and they may have some of your non-conforming material inventory already in their facilities.

If you are thinking that this might be a good idea for your next emergency, don't wait for that next emergency to start. Find a rework provider and establish a relationship with him now. Get all of the payment arrangements worked out with your company so you are ready to focus on the emergency when it happens. Take some time today to make your life easier when that next inevitable critical situation rears its ugly head and stares you in the face.

Kent Walters is a former employee and manager for several major suppliers of complex electronic subassemblies to the big players in the computer industry (Compaq, Dell & HP). He was a technical and engineering manager for Conner Peripherals, Seagate Technology, IBM and Hitachi, following a long tenure at Hughes Aircraft in artificial intelligence and business systems analysis. Mr. Walters currently runs Technical Transfusion, a consulting service assisting many companies all over the United States on their technical support concerns, with a focus on hands-on technical support in the Houston, Texas area. See http://www.TechnicalTransfusion.com.

A Gift: One source the author will personally endorse (because they have saved his butt on numerous occasions for which he owes them big time) is MIH Management, Inc. - http://www.mihmgt.com. They follow the model outlined to the letter. If you can't use them for whatever reason, look at their website and use them for an example - look for someone who is singing the same tune. Other resources can be found at http://www.reworkinfo.com

Building A Computer The Greatest Challenge For The First Timer

Writen by Michael Quarles

When you open up the side of a computer for the first time, you may ask yourself "How could I ever build one of these?"

It is a maze of wires, circuitry, chips, and cables. Inside are boxes that hum, and LEDs glowing softly. For the beginner it all seems complex and intimidating.

If you have never built a computer before, your greatest challenge is to accept the challenge itself.

There really doesn't have to be any apprehension, though. As I have said in many articles, there are only 11 major parts in a computer. Most of them either snap together, or plug-in. The most complicated tool you'll use is a screwdriver. If you can follow simple instructions, you can build a computer in an afternoon.

These instructions can be found throughout the internet. There is an almost unlimited number of sites that devote part or all of their space to building computers. If you prefer the printed page, guidebooks can steer you through planning, buying parts, assembly, and loading your operating system.

If you fear plugging something in the wrong way and frying parts as a result, there's no need to worry. The plugs are keyed to connect together one way only. If there is any doubt in your mind, the wires are color-coded as well.

All the ports you'll be plugging things into on the motherboard are labeled, albeit with tiny letters. Motherboard manufacturers, like Asus, Abit, and Intel, send out fine manuals with their boards, with easy to understand diagrams.

The motherboards, and all the other parts you'll need are so widely available that competition is keeping prices down. In addition, manufacturers constantly bring out new models, driving down prices on merchandise that may have been issued only a few weeks before. So, it is possible to build a "dream machine" on a bargain budget.

Michael Quarles is the author of Building a PC for Beginners.

Buying A Notebook For College

Writen by Kadence Buchanan

Every year, before schools and college institutions begin their classes, students from around the country visit department stores and major electronics chains in an effort to get all those necessities that will allow them to complete successfully their studies. So, if you have recently been accepted to college and you are not exactly sure which your computing needs will be, buying a notebook computer is not a luxury purchase, but actually a necessity. In fact, anyone who has to cover frequent travel concerns, from college students to frequent business travelers, should possess a laptop, given the fact that it provides a mobile and light-weight computing experience for computer users around the world.

Recent research indicates that laptops are in fact used extensively as people need to own computer systems that are as mobile as they are. Buying an effective machine that can also be easy to carry around has increased considerably the laptop sales over the last decade, considering the lower manufacturer and assembly costs. Deals between hardware developers and software engineers have resulted in improved notebook systems that incorporate the ability of them being transferred easily from one place to another, as well as being able to compute much more than the main software functions, like reading and composing emails, operating spreadsheets, or using word processing applications. In fact, whether one needs to take work from one office location to another or do some work while onboard, today's laptops can accomplish almost any task.

But if you are still contemplating on whether or not you actually do need a laptop to perform your computer-related college work, it is useful to consider the vast capabilities of these travel-ready devices as well as your current needs and ability to operate them. Owning a highly portable workstation can provide you with entertainment, productivity and ease of use. Forget about long messy cords and mouse pads. Easy to navigate by just using your fingers, today's laptop models need no more than their rechargeable batteries or just an outlet to connect to their AC adapter and you are good to go.

Listening to music, playing games, watching videos, or writing a paper has never been easier. Laptop computers allow college students to manage their daily busy schedules instead of loosing time and effort. Some models offer screens that are only visible to the person that seats directly across them, eliminating the chances of one being able to visibly access your files and folders. Headphones and microphones, as used with desktop publishers are used to provide an efficient but considerate experience. Keep in mind that most of the available models come with software applications already in place making Internet browsing or working on a project a simple and easy process of starting up the machine. Finally, since laptop computers have become a mainstream device, many affordable models are offered in electronic superstores or are available to be ordered directly from the laptops manufacturers' websites.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Education, Science, and Employment

Coaxial Cable Definition And Uses For Communication

Writen by Kundan Upadhyaya

Coaxial cable is defined as two concentric wires, cylindrical in shape, separated by a dielectric of some type. One wire is the center conductor and the other is the outer conductor. A protective jacket covers these conductors. The protective jacket is then covered by an outer protective armor.

Coaxial cables are used as transmission lines and are constructed to provide protection against outside signal interference.

Coaxial cables are used primarily for CATV and other wide band and video application. Coaxial cable is called "coaxial" because it includes one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along the same axis. The outer channel serves as a ground. Many of these cables or pairs of coaxial tubes can be placed in a single outer sheathing and, with repeaters, can carry information for a great distance.

Coaxial cabling is the primary type of cabling used by the cable television industry and is also widely used for computer networks such as Ethernet. Although more expensive than standard telephone wire, it is much less susceptible to interference and can carry much more data.

Most common coaxial cable impedances in use in various applications are 50 ohms and 75 ohms.

50 ohms cable is used in radio transmitter antenna connections, many measurement devices and in data communications (Ethernet).

75 ohms coaxial cable is used to carry video signals, TV antenna signals and digital audio signals.

There are also other impedances in use in some special applications (for example 93 ohms).

It is possible to build cables at other impedances, but those mentioned earlier are the standard ones that are easy to get. Different impedances have different characteristics. For maximum power handling, somewhere between 30 and 44 Ohms is the optimum. Impedance somewhere around 77 Ohms gives the lowest loss in a dielectric filled line. 93 Ohms cable gives low capacitance per foot.

It is practically very hard to find any coaxial cables with impedance much higher than that.

To know more about Coaxial cable you can visit http://www.cable-telindustries.com

Hard Disk Recorders Are They Superseding Dvd Recorders

Writen by John Gibb

While some are convinced that DVD recorders are the future, there are also lots of people who think that they've already fallen by the wayside, to be replaced with hard disk recorders. This term refers to set-top boxes like Tivo and Sky+ that simply plug into your DVD and allow you to record straight onto their hard drives, no removable media required.

It is easy to see the advantages of this approach. Recording to hard drives is much faster and less error-prone than recording to DVDs. It allows you to easily view one channel and record another, or to use the 'instant playback' feature to start playing your recording while it's still recording – plus the much-mooted capability to pause live TV broadcasts. DVD recorders cannot do this.

Not to mention, of course, that you save money on buying DVDs. If you often record shows that you intend to watch once and then delete, you save yourself a whole world of trouble with hard drives compared to DVD recorders. It's instant to delete a file off a hard drive, but annoying to erase DVDs.

Another advantage of hard disk recorders is that they can scan through files much faster, allowing you to skip commercials far more quickly than if your player has to unexpectedly skip ahead on a disc and find its place again.

The best option is to get a hard drive recorder that is also capable of recording DVDs, for the times when you want to keep something forever. However, another good option, if you have a computer with a very large hard drive, is to get a hard disk recorder that can be hooked up to your computer and archive that way – much quicker than writing to DVD.

One of the best things about hard disk recorders is that, if you're a technical sort, you can even build one yourself, using free software such as MythTV and Freevo. Really, it's just a computer plugged into your TV.

John Gibb is the owner of dvd recorder resources For more information on dvd recorders check out http://www.dvd-recorder-sources-and-guides.info

Fax Server

Writen by Eric Morris

Computers with fax devices that manage receiving and sending faxes are known as fax servers. Fax servers allow one to send and receive faxes over the Internet. Fax servers are one of the most efficient channels of business transactions and communications. Although the use of the Internet to transfer data and documents by individuals and companies has increased in recent years, the use of faxes is not going to end soon since many companies depend upon faxes for transferring vital information.

Many companies still depend on faxing through conventional faxing machines. The use of conventional fax machines is decreasing, and more and more people are relying on fax servers for their faxing needs. The reason for this is that sending a fax through conventional fax machines is cumbersome, time-consuming, expensive and unreliable. There are two types of fax servers, ones that merge with a company's email server and ones that doesn't merge. Typically, smaller companies that don't use emails for their business use the fax server that doesn't merge with company's email server.

Appropriate fax devices such as a fax board, fax modem (Class 1 or 2) and ISDN card are required to send and receive faxes via email to a fax gateway. Once the required devices are installed, fax servers runs just like any other Windows 2000 system. Some fax servers can also fax documents created in Microsoft Word and spreadsheets created in Microsoft Excel. The use of fax servers eliminates the problems arising from busy signals, out-of-paper situations and misplaced faxes. Fax servers reduce long-distance charges. Additionally, faxes are received securely and automatically directly on a computer, so the information security is maintained since the faxes can be received in the respective mailboxes of the recipients, thus preventing information leakage. Fax servers are a good option to consider if the faxing requirements of a business are considerably high, to ensure a good return on investment on fax servers.

Fax Server provides detailed information on Fax Server, Fax Server Software, Internet Fax Servers, Network Fax Servers and more. Fax Server is affiliated with Fax Machine Reviews.

Lcd Flat Panel Displays Frugal Vs Cheap

Writen by Ellis Pullman

When it comes to shopping around for new displays, people wonder if it's frugal to purchase a flat panel monitor when they can purchase a cathode ray tube monitor for a much cheaper price. One thing to note is the difference between being "frugal" and being "cheap".

For arguments sake, let's say frugality is characterized more of balancing value and return on investment a product can provide you over time for your purchase decision, whereas cheapness refers mostly to price considerations, perhaps almost exclusively.

OK so now that I got that out of the way, I can flat out say it's more frugal to purchase a good quality reasonably priced LCD flat panel monitor display rather than a run of the mill cathode ray tube monitor. Of course some may disagree, and that's fine. But in the spirit of discussion...

LCD monitors may not necessarily cost you less in the short run compared with cathode ray tube displays, but let's consider what it does save you in the short run and even the long run.

1. Less flickering of the screen and better clarity results in fewer headaches as a result. This could amount to more productivity on your part and also a more enjoyable experience in front of the computer. Let's face it, we live in the digital age and computers are a core part of it. Why not make make the experience more enjoyable each and every second we are using it?

Let's not forget that they are generally brighter and can be experienced in high definition which is not always available with cathode ray tube displays.

2. Space considerations. By having a flat panel monitor you free up much of your desk space. By having a more clean and organized desk, you will be less prone to distractions from your immediate environment. Your sole focus will be on the task at hand (in theory). So in that regard, it's frugal because it again makes you more productive.

Now take those two basic advantages and stretch it out of the course of a year or two (or even longer). Is it a worthwhile investment to you if you can spend perhaps a hundred or little more on a flat panel and enjoy the benefits of a flat panel display versus saving a hundred bucks and opting a cathode ray tube?

Make haste onto the author's web page for good and useful content on flat screen tvs insider news today!

http://www.flatpanelmonitorzone.com

Cd Inkjet Printers

Writen by Seth Miller

Inkjet printers can now do more than just print documents and photos; they can also be used to customize CDs. Some inkjet printers are simply modified to be able to print on the surface of a CD.

Surprisingly, there isn't a significant difference between a standard inkjet printer and a modified CD printer. Only the paper carriage is adjusted to allow a CD to pass through. The ink cartridges and the print head itself are similar to those used in normal paper printing. CD inkjet printers can produce attractive designs and images.

Meanwhile, a special media intended for inkjet printers is necessary for excellent results. Printing on a CD will expectedly result in the ink not holding fast to the lacquer surface since a CD is a non-porous material, unlike paper. However, there are some brands of media that have an ideal surface for a particular printer.

When printing on CDs using an inkjet printer, there are some factors to consider, including durability, longevity, and the overall appearance of the image printed. These factors will all depend of the quality of the appropriate media used. The printer, ink, and medium (or CD) must be compatible with each other for best results. The type of CD will definitely affect the quality of the output.

Generally, customized CDs can last in short-term storage of up to ten years. Ink decomposition may cause damage on the disc itself as time passes. If the customized CDs are meant for long-term storage, it is recommended not to use inkjet printers.

In general, inkjet printers produce satisfactory results in customizing CDs. The printed image, however, may not be as vivid and detailed as when produced through silk screen or wax transfer since inkjet ink is prone to running or smearing when damp. Nevertheless, inkjet printers can create attractive, detailed, and relatively-long lasting customized CDs.

Inkjet Printers provides detailed information on Inkjet Printers, Inkjet Printer Ink, Inkjet Printer Cartridges, CD Inkjet Printers and more. Inkjet Printers is affiliated with Inkjet Printers.

How To Upgrade Your Pc

Writen by Alex Fir

Before you upgrade your PC hardware it's best to search all options and ask for advice. Only after this you can go and buy a new component. It's also useful to check if you really need an upgrade.

Do not upgrade your very old PC because it would cost a lot of money. It's cheaper to buy a new computer in such cases because they are easier to upgrade later.

Upgrading the hard drive:

The majority of people do not really need to upgrade their hard disk, unless they use it for playing a lot of music, movies, and games. A 20 GB hard drive is sufficient to keep new office and internet applications, and all your files and data.

A medium sized hard drive would be around 40 GB and the maximum would be around 60 – 80 GB.

Before upgrading your hard disk it's best to do a complete disk checkup including disk scan, defragmentation, etc. If you happen to be an average user and need more storage you can add an additional drive to the existing one. Before an upgrade, be sure to back up your files.

Upgrading the RAM:

RAM or Random Access Memory is the short-term memory of the PC. It keeps data that is being worked on now and may or may not be transferred to the hard drive that represents the long-term memory of the computer.

Current processors can perform an enormous number of operations per second. The hard drive, on the other hand, is significantly slower to handle so much information. This is where a high-speed RAM memory comes in. RAM needs a power supply to keep data. Once the power is turned off the data is lost.

Almost all PCs have 64 MB RAM and often 128 MB. If you want to run newer applications on your PC then you must upgrade to 128/256 MB RAM.

A lot of people who upgrade from 98 to Win 2000 discover that their computers lock up very often. This is because they don't have enough RAM.

CPU upgrade:

If you choose this upgrade, you will have faster execution of instructions but it leaves the RAM and hard drive capacity unchanged.

This sis the most cost effective upgrade and can increase the efficiency of your computer considerably. Seek a professional help before you take a decision.

Motherboard:

Upgrading motherboard is not such a good proposition unless you replace the CPU and the RAM as well to achieve greater performance levels. You upgrade the motherboard either because the current one doesn't support a faster CPU or the CPU requires a different socket. It could be very expensive. Think about buying a new PC.

Ports:

Ports are sockets at the back of your computer where you plug in external devices. Older PCs work on "parallel" ports. If you need to work a lot on peripherals such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, CD burners, and scanners then you need to upgrade to USB and Firewire ports if you are not using them already.

Both tend to be cheaper than the "parallel" and SCSI devices they replace. Always make sure that there are no compatibility problems with other devices in your PC when you plan to upgrade any hardware on your machine.

If you are planning to buy laptop computer visit Laptop Computer Center for the latest news and information.