Wireless Network Trouble Shooting

Writen by Eric Meyer

Wireless Network Trouble Shooting

1. Wireless Adapter – First check to see if your wireless adapter is on and working properly. If you are using a PCMICA wireless adapter ensure that the card is pressed completely in. If the wireless adapter card was not plugged in when you started your laptop you may want to restart your computer for a fresh start. If you are using a laptop with a built in wireless adapter. What Wireless Network – Check the bottom right hand task bar to see if you are connected to a wireless network. Many people are connected to the wrong wireless network with a weak signal or hardly any connectivity. You want to change your wireless adapter setting to choose Infrastructure access points only so you're not connecting to rogue wireless access points.

3. SSID and ME – Next check your wireless settings for the following: DO you have the correct SSID typed in, is your encryption key typed in correctly, does your wireless router and wireless adapter have the same security settings.

4. DHCP ME – If you don't have a manual TCP/IP address then your wireless router needs to have it's DHCP server turned on. Connected to your web interface and turn on your DHCP server. Next go to your wireless network icon in the bottom right hand corner and disable your wireless adapter and then enable it. This will renew your DHCP request to the routers DHCP server.

5. PING!- Next we will use a command line function called PING. Type "cmd" in the run box, this will bring up your DOS window. Now type in ping and then type in the TCP/IP addressof your default gateway. If you have not changed it your default gateway's ip address should be 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If you receive a reply then you know that you are connected properly to your router.

6. WWW…WHAT – Now try and surf the web. Go to google.com or another simple page. If nothing comes up then you might have a manually configured IP address with the correct DNS servers entered. Connect to your wireless routers web interface and check the status. You are looking for the multiple DNS server IP address. Copy these IP addresses into you adapters TCP/IP settings and hit ok.

7. Google ME – Once your DNS servers are entered you should be able to surf the net. If you still can't surf the net try restarting your computer and check you cables again to make sure you haven't missed something.

Sign up now for the most popular wireless networking news letter on the internet. Receive the inside scoop on wireless technology for the home and work place at http://www.wirelessninja.com

Flat Panel Monitors The Benefits Are Clear

Writen by Ellis Pullman

For those questioning the hoopla surrounding flat panel monitor, it may be easiest to simply go to your nearest electronics store and check them out for yourself. That will be your ultimate selling point. However if you'd like to whet your appetite a bit prior to considering making purchasing decisions here are some benefits of flat panel monitors.

You generally get more viewable space for comparable cathode ray tube monitors (those cubish shaped monitors). Other tangible benefits of flat panel monitors is that they offer greater focus, convergence, geometry, configuration features, better resolution, greater high density dot pitch making things like even fonts super clear, and more. They simply outclass cathode ray tube monitors in every way.

For those who are involved with multimedia professionally such as image and graphics editing, or even if you use multimedia applications such as watching home movies and pictures, flat panels provide a crystal clear view that cathode ray monitors simply cannot provide.

Those are just some of the benefits, your best bet is to simply get your hands on some flat panel monitors on display and see if they are worth your while. Don't be surprised if you like countless others make the switch as you fall in love at first sight.

Top notch big screen tvs products can be downloaded from the author's website.

http://www.flatpanelmonitorzone.com

Electronic Document Management Why

Writen by Kevin Calhoun

Irrespective of a company's size, most businesses have already adopted some sort of an electronic document management system, but they usually do not think of it in those terms. As a result, the system is often incomplete; it may include word processing, spreadsheets and a backup system for storage, but they rely on a number of manual paper document processes, as well. The documents may be distributed in a variety of ways, either by mail, fax, email or courier. The fact is that most companies already have a "hybrid" document management system consisting of paper and electronic documents which can be overcomplicated and include more costly manual processes than necessary. Any excessive expenses relating to documents are typically considered part of "the cost of doing business".

It is significant to note that these electronic systems were chosen because they increase productivity, and subsequently profits. But in this new age of technology, new tools are introduced on an almost monthly basis and many companies find they have acquired a variety of systems which have not integrated very well with one another. Of course, just to remain competitive and keep up with new trends, companies find they must continually research the newly emerging technologies and products, yet this can be overwhelming. So many variables must be considered, and often times executives may not be exactly sure how a new technology would be an advantage. It is at this point that some logical thinking might help, and the key question should be asked, "What is our goal?" The answer is usually, "Increase profits and streamline for the long-term".

It is essential that the goal is not forgotten when entertaining the thought of implementing new technologies, and it is likewise important to begin thinking in terms of enterprise document management because this title fully describes the concept of what was intended originally when the first computer was purchased. The concept of email, however, did not exist when that computer was initially bought, and as a result, it seems that the business world still forgets to include it today as an actual component of their document management systems. Yet each email message is, in itself, a document. A document is an instrument of communication. This instrument of communication requires a conduit or distribution mechanism, i.e., email system, just like other documents require fax, mail or an email system. Does it not make sense that the entire document creation, distribution and storage process be consolidated and managed simultaneously for maximum streamlining effect?

Because business document management needs have grown due to increased productivity following the advent of the computer, businesses have subsequently become reliant upon the computer. Most mid- and large-scale companies now employ their own IT staff, while the smaller companies outsource for their computer needs. The industry is enormous, and it is incredibly complicated and confusing to most business professionals born before 1970. Consequently, the prospect of analyzing the computer and document-related options for operational streamlining can cause most to suffer paralysis when it comes time to make a choice.

Meanwhile, even when a company is equipped with its own IT department, the staff is already working frantically just to keep up with the accelerating pace of business and the currently existing technology to deliver it. In essence, all businesses must attempt to balance their first line of business with the second and third lines: documents and technology. Upon coming to grips with this reality, three serious questions should be considered:

1. How much do Lines #2 and 3 cost just to maintain the first line of business?
2. How much more will be spent as all IT and document management costs rise?
3. How much more will it cost to increase profits and business with our present system, or with a better system?

"It's not as bad as it seems" Finding the answers to these questions can be challenging, but the payoff can be tremendous if approached realistically and with the anticipation of instituting a series of simple solutions to streamline business operations. When considering the current "cost of doing business" with a hybrid document management system, it makes sense to investigate what solutions are available and take advantage of any expertise available from consultants who specialize in examining processes and costs relating to documents. Many times, we need only to have our circumstances described in plain English and the various costs broken down into comprehensible categories before we feel comfortable in pursuing solutions. electronic document management consultant can also be helpful in presenting a series of recommendations with cost estimates which are likewise presented in plain English for business professionals rather than computer technology specialists.

"Full Integration can be affordable" Once again, what would a company's primary objective be in improving their total enterprise document management system? The answer, streamline for the long-term and increase profits. Sight of this goal should never be lost. When huge amounts of money and time have been invested in a hybrid system, it would make sense to consider retaining that initial investment and simply reinvest the dividends. Options may be available to retool an already existing system so that it performs at the highest potential. When possible, it could be suggested: adapt, don't scrap.

This message is especially significant for companies either facing the regulatory compliance issues mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or those attempting to manage the mountain of paper documents fundamental to certain industries, such as lending or insurance. These issues frequently appear to be problems relating solely to document storage, but the actual difficulties may arise from an earlier stage in the document lifecycle. An expert in enterprise document management may be able to analyze the current systems and conclude that additional physical or electronic storage is not as necessary as a solution implemented in the creation or distribution stages of a document's life. Thus, while investigating remedies for document management or operational streamlining, it might be that you already have everything you need, but you just haven't discovered the right approach or tool to make it all work at maximum efficiency.

Click here for answers to specific questions you may have regarding an electronic document management system for your company.

Kevin Calhoun is president of Cornerstone Communications http://www.cstoneindy.com a company committed to providing and promoting education resources for corporations seeking longevity. Cornerstone offers technologies and strategies for radically reducing the cost of doing business without suffering the pain of cutbacks and enterprise restructuring.

Some Things You Need To Know To Save Money On Inkjet Cartridges

Writen by Gregg Hall

If you're in charge of purchasing office supplies, either for an employer or for your own business, then you know that one of the largest expenses in this category is inkjet printer cartridges. No matter what kind of industry you're in, there is no shortage of reports, invoices, announcements, and other paperwork that needs to be printed out and distributed on a daily basis. As a result, you're constantly replacing the ink in one or more printers around the office, and the supply cabinet is always running low on spares. And of course that sends your monthly expenses through the roof, especially if you purchase your supplies from traditional stores. If you want to start saving money on your printing costs, you should consider ordering inkjet printer cartridges from an online retailer instead.

Online retailers typically offer you savings on inkjet printer cartridges in two different ways. First, you can save money on the same name-brand OEM products that you would be able to buy at any traditional office supply store. Online retailers have the advantage of not having to maintain a physical storefront, so their total operating costs are significantly less than traditional stores. Most of these retailers are happy to pass the savings on to their customers, knowing full well that they'll make up the difference through higher sales volumes.

A second way that you can reduce your printing supply costs is by ordering remanufactured inkjet printer cartridges. As the name would imply, these are recycled inkjet printer cartridges that do not have a brand name attached to them. Instead, the used products are thoroughly cleaned, inspected, and electronically tested to ensure that everything is in working order. Then, they are refilled with quality ink and sold to customers with compatible printers. The remanufacturing process has come a long way in recent years, and users report that these inkjet printer cartridges work just as well if not better than OEM products. And, according to an article that appeared on the USA Today website, remanufactured inkjet printer cartridges are often sold for up to 85 percent less than their OEM counterparts. So if you print lots of documents every day, you simply can't afford to pass over this option.

Office supplies such as inkjet printer cartridges will always be a necessary expense for any business, but that doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to paying high retail prices. The next time you need to purchase ink for your printers, order from an online merchant so that you can immediately enjoy huge savings.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Printer Cartridges at http://www.shop4inkcartridges.com

Three Must Have Accessories For Notebook Computers

Writen by Lynn Chan

An Optical Mouse

Notebooks are normally equipped with touch pads which can be awkward. There's no substitute for the mouse. Notebooks are predominantly used on a static, flat surface. With wireless broadband hotspots mushrooming all over the nation's transit locations, table tops have become as much mobile computing desktops as surfaces on which lattes sit. The touch pads on notebooks are also rather vulnerable to damage by static electricity, which is a common occurrence in aircraft cabins, carpeted airport lounges and offices and will become a big problem when you're on the road and lose the function of your primary pointing device.

A good optical mouse, be it wired or wireless must be able to track movement on varying tabletop surfaces. Optical mice traditionally had problems with glossy, transparent, or light-colored surfaces, but technology has advanced to a level that these problems are almost non-existent. Although wireless mice are the trend these days, stick to a wired optical mouse by virtue that it does not require additional power or equipment to operate; as in batteries or receivers for wireless ones. You don't need extra equipment in your already-overloaded and heavy notebook bag!

A Multi-Device Charger And Power Adapter Combo

Notebooks do come with their own AC-to-DC power adapters, but notebook owners typically carry a cell phone, PDA and digital camera in addition to the notebook. It's almost impossible to carry the charging devices of all these things. Do yourself a favor by getting a multi-device charging/power adapter. Some of them even have the capability to simultaneously charge and power an additional gadget or two, giving you an extra benefit of keeping your most-used gadgets well charged up for action.

Built-In Wireless (Wifi) Connectivity Or PC Card

Notebook owners are generally mobile information warriors. It is almost impossible to ignore the wireless revolution going around; WiFi and soon, WiMAX Hotspots abound wherever you go. Instant access to the Internet's unlimited resources and communicative offerings are just a little electronic card away.

If your notebook does not have built-in WiFi, get a PC card version which is often sold for less than $30 at computer stores. Plugging in a WiFi PC card means you can access the Web, read and send your emails, instant-message your colleagues,family,buddies, broadcast your vacation video/photos or company presentations, and retrieve company information on secure virtual private networks anywhere, anytime you are around a hotspot, in broadband speed.

Lynn Chan helps new owners learn about proper notebook care and use. To learn more, visit http://www.notebook-computer-infocenter.com. For a limited time, get the free tutorial "5 Days To A Healthier Notebook Computer" at http://www.notebook-computer-infocenter.com/
5days-to-a-healthier-notebook.html

How To Choose A Computer Mouse

Writen by Jason Kohrs

Computer Mice

Every computer user can hopefully identify their mouse and the importance it plays in the daily operation of their computer. Mice are nothing new and for the most part are nothing overly complex, but the average user may not be familiar with all of the options and technologies that may go into these little devices. This Tech Tip will take a look at some of the features of mice that people may take for granted, or may otherwise be unaware of.

Tracking Technologies

Mechanical mice - Mechanical mice were the first ones used on computers, and can still be found for sale, despite the advances of tracking technologies. These mice feature a hard ball on the underside that rolls as the mouse is moved, and rollers inside the mouse allow the physical motion to be translated to the pointer on the screen. Some "ball mice" are a bit more advanced and replace the internal rollers with optical sensors, but the same principle applies.

Mechanical mice require occasional maintenance to keep the ball and rollers free of lint and other debris, and with numerous moving parts there is always a potential for problems. The use of a mouse pad is recommended for these mice as they not only provide a clean surface to work on, but also provide the needed resistance for the ball to roll smoothly.

The precision of mechanical mice is not particularly good, and although they may be fine for typical desktop work, they were never quite up to the task of detailed graphics work or serious game playing.

Optical mice - Optical mice replace the whole ball/roller assembly of mechanical mice with a beam of a light and an optical sensor. The beam of light shines down on the surface below the mouse and the sensor uses the light to track the movement. The images included with the listing for this optical mouse (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HTM-39GWT&cat=MOU) provide a glimpse at the bottom of the mouse, where the light and sensor can be seen.

Optical mice have several advantages over mechanical mice. There are no moving parts to break or otherwise cause problems. The need for maintenance is greatly reduced as the bottoms have no openings or rollers to collect lint. Although mice generally aren't heavy, the elimination of the ball and roller mechanism allows an optical mouse to be much lighter than a comparable mechanical mouse. The precision of optical mice is also much greater than mechanical mice, and the resolution can go from the low hundreds to the high hundreds (as measured in dpi, dots per inch).

Another advantage is that the need for a mouse pad may be eliminated with an optical mouse, as they do best while tracking on any smooth, flat surface. A clean desktop is generally good enough, but those looking to take the precision of optical mice to the highest level may opt for a performance "mousing surface". There are several precision mousing surface manufacturers, such as XRay Pads (http://www.xraypad.com/) and FUNC Industries (http://www.func.net/), that design pads to appeal to game players and others who demand the best performance.

Laser mice - Laser technology is the latest and greatest in computer mice tracking, and takes the advantages of optical to a new level. Most of the attributes of a laser mouse have been described in the optical mouse section, except for one. Instead of a fairly wide beam of light, it uses an extremely narrow beam of laser light.

The Logitech MX1000 laser mouse may be the mouse for you if you are looking for extreme precision. According to Logitech, the laser technology used in the MX1000 provides up to "20x more sensitivity to surface detail—or tracking power—than optical."

Hard Wired Connection Technologies

Serial – Serial mice are fairly difficult to come by these days, as are the ports they need in order to operate. This technology is quite old and slow, and the popularity and convenience of USB has all but eliminated the need for this interface on your typical PC. But, there were mice that sported the 9-pin connection needed to connect to a serial port, and many PS2 mice used to include an adaptor for Serial ports.

PS2 - PS2 mice were the standard for a long time, as all motherboards provided two PS2 ports for connecting a keyboard and a mouse. USB technology has become so widely used that the slower and less convenient PS2 ports are on the verge of extinction with the Serial port. That said, not many mice are still sold that only support a PS2 connection, but there are still some available.

USB – Most mice can now connect via USB, and include an adaptor to be used on a PS2 port, as well. It seems that just about any mouse now uses USB to connect, whether it is a wired mouse, or any variety of wireless mice that we are about to look at.

Wireless Connection Technologies

Radio Frequency – The most common type of wireless mouse uses radio frequencies to communicate motion to a receiver that is connected to the PC. This generic wireless mouse (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=RF-M308-RC-USB&cat=MOU) operates on the 27MHz frequency and the mouse itself is powered by AAA batteries which are not included. As you move up the price scale of RF (Radio Frequency) wireless mice, the packages will generally include an integrated rechargeable battery, as does the Logitech MX1000 discussed previously. Other features of higher end RF wireless mice include extended range, greater precision, and a receiver that doubles as a battery charger.

Bluetooth – The Tech Tip on Bluetooth discussed the basics of this wireless technology, and how it was a good fit for 'lower speed' devices, like a mouse. Logitech and IOGear are two manufacturers offering products for Bluetooth users, in addition to more traditional mice. The Bluetooth mice are also battery powered, and use the 2.4GHz radio frequency to communicate with an included receiver/charger or other Bluetooth adaptor.

RFID – A truly unique approach to wireless mice has been developed by a company called A4Tech. The A4Tech ND-30 RFID wireless mouse must be used with the included mouse pad in order to function, but there are no batteries in the mouse, and no cords on the mouse to get in the way. It works by using electro magnetic induction between the pad (which is plugged into a USB port) and the wireless, non-powered mouse. You never have to worry about replacing / charging batteries, and the weight of the mouse is greatly reduced since the power features are no longer necessary.

Features

Buttons – Most mice (except for a Macintoch's) include at least two buttons. The use of these is fairly well understood, but other buttons may be featured on a mouse to further simplify common tasks. The Logitech MX 510 mouse features a total of 8 buttons which can be programmed to execute functions of the user's choosing.

Scroll wheels – Many mice now include a scroll wheel between the two main buttons which serves to allow up/down scrolling of documents and web pages. The scroll wheel may also serves as a third button on some mice, and clicking the scroll wheel will activate commands in many applications. More advanced scroll wheels are found on some mice that allow for left to right scrolling, which may be useful on a wide spreadsheet or large image.

Extra features – Many mice provide more than the basic functionality we have come to expect. Some provide a reduced foot print in order to make them more portable for use with a notebook computer. Some are designed for multi-tasking and provide an integrated flash memory card reader. Then, there are others that just look cool with a bit of a light show, or that actually keep you cool by including a small fan in the palm rest area.

Final Words

On the surface, computer mice are fairly simple devices that may not receive the attention they deserve by end users. Selecting a high quality, ergonomically designed mouse can do wonders for productivity and comfort, and the options available should allow anyone to find the right mouse for their personal preferences.

Jason Kohrs
How to choose a computer mouse, computer mouse use, and info on computer mouses.

Learn How To Diagnose Power Supply Problems

Writen by Otis F Cooper

The Power Supply convert's your regular household current into low DC voltage used by the computer. When this component fails,there is simply no activity going on wih your computer.Remember to do the easy troubleshooting first.Inspect the Power Supply for any damage.Double-Check all connections.

Learning how to check your power supply and how to replace it when needed can be a life saver if you're a computer buff or in business with the trusted PC.Don't take for granted the simple pleasure of turning on your PC and everything works just fine.

We turned on one of our computers recently and in about one hour,it just re-booted itself.And it continued doing so about 10 times a day until we found out the power supply was the culprit.Things to look for when your power supply is going bad or just dies on you are the following.

NO POWER TO THE COMPUTER

Here you must first check the wall outlet for power by connecting another device such as a radio or lamp to be sure power is present.If the computer is connected through a surge protector,check it as well.

If the wall out has power,check the power cable going to the PC to see if AC voltage is making its way to the system unit.Do this with the use of a multimeter.

If there is power,you will have to open the PC and check for power from the power supply to the motherboard.

When using a multimeter to check voltage,be sure you have a good ground for the black lead of the multimeter.

RE-BOOTING PROBLEMS

One main problem you may face with an ailing Power Supply is that it may re-boot the computer without any warning.All information is lost and it seems as though this happens at the worst possible time.

Booting errors when the computer first start's up is another indicator of this component going on the blink.

POWER DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS

When the power supply begins to fail,you may receive power at one device and not another.For example,the Hard Drive may receive power but the CDROM Drive has nothing at all.

Another headache with would cause re-booting is the intermittent power going to the drives or the motherboard itself.Follow the steps below to check your power supply should you experience some of the above problems.

CHECKING THE POWER SUPPLY

If the wall outlet,and the power cord are good,make sure the connection at the motherboard is secure.Then you may have to face the fact that the power supply itself is bad.If you have a Multimeter you can test the power supply output before purchasing a new one.Simply follow these steps.

Turn off the PC,but do not unplug it,open the system unit. Set the multimeter to read DC volts in the next range higher than 12 volts.Locate a power connector similair to the hard drive,or cdrom drive connector that is unused and turn on the PC.

You can also unplug a drive connector and use it as well.Turn on the PC and insert the BLACK probe into the power connector on one of the BLACK wires.Touch the RED probe to the YELLOW wire on the power connector.

The multimeter reading should be +12 volts Now touch the RED probe to the RED wire and the reading should be +5 volts.If no readings or different readings occured,you'll have to replace the power supply.If the readings were correct,you should check the P8 or P9 connectors at the motherboard. These connectors may also be named P4 and P5.To check these connectors,perform the following...

Insert the BLACK probe into P8 at one of the BLACK wires. Insert the RED probe into the P8 connector at the RED wire. The reading on the multimeter should be +5 volts

Check the power going to the Motherboard connections by inserting the RED probe into P8 at the YELLOW wire and you should get +12 volts.Leave the BLACK wire touching the black wire at the P8 connector.Check the BLUE wire and the reading should be a -12 volts.

Now move the BLACK probe to the BLACK wire on the P9 connector.Test the WHITE wire by inserting the RED probe and the reading should be -5 volts.Check the RED wires on the P9 connector and you should get +5 volts on each red wire.You won't get exactly 5 or 12 volts but the readings will be very close, such as 5.02 volts.

If the Power Supply is a couple of volts off,in either direction,such as when the RED wire should be reading -5 volts but it reads -8 volts,or if there are no readings,replace the power supply.

DO NOT remove the power supply from the system unit case when performing these tests.DO NOT perform these tests if you do not feel comfortable.Be sure to remove any and all electrical static build-up from your clothes and body BEFORE touching any parts inside the system unit.And NEVER open the power supply case for any reason,since high voltage may be present.

About The Author

Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and confidence of every computer user that is serious about knowing computers.Use his informative articles and videos to understand every aspect about the PC. Read more about his formula for pc training at http://www.ultimatepcrepair.com

allaboutpc@juno.com

Design Your Own Commercial Product With Microchip Dspic Microcontrollers

Writen by O G Popa

Suppose you feel a burning desire one day to start building your own commercial product and become an employer yourself. Sooner or later you will experience this, and I want to help you finding the "means" you need to implement your dreams into reality.

In terms of hardware I suggest exploring dsPIC microcontrollers running at 120 MHz. They are the top products built by Microchip to date, and you cannot fail with those ones--trust me. Particular to Microchip products, they are the easiest to work with, and this is encouraging news to beginners. Do not be afraid of working with electronics. Today, almost all parts we use are modules, and all you have to do is put them together in the right way, almost like in a Lego game. Of course, in time, and with a lot of dedication, you could become an expert!

For firmware you do not need to shop around too much, because you are going to find the right tool you need again at Microchip: the C30 ANSI C compiler. This is an excellent tool and it has a range of 22 dsPIC microcontrollers to date, but few tens new ones, more powerful, are going to be added in 2006 and 2007. The good news is you can try C30 before you buy it, and you have exactly 60 free working C30 days. This is a lot of good working time, and you need to use it at maximum. It is possible you are afraid of this firmware "thing". Don't be. It can be as simple as sketching a story on paper, only a bit funnier, when you use C to write firmware.

Well, it is the dsPIC processors we are talking about, particularly dsPIC30F4011, and you think, probably, it is very difficult to work with this one. Not so, my friend. In fact, this is the easiest option available in the entire World today. Learning hardware, firmware, and software design can be incredibly easy, beyond your wildest expectations, with the right tutorial book. You are going to discover that exceptional book I refer to in my home site. Have no fears my friend: the book is very easy to read, just like this article I present here.

The true beauty is, the book comes with a Hardware Companion Kit (HCK). Fact is, this is a Practical Design Project and all firmware and software programs developed are thoroughly explained, and working. Of course, the companion kit is recommended for beginners in hardware, firmware, and software design. For advanced levels designers it is not mandatory to purchase the companion kit. Here is another interesting aspect: the level of the book is beginners, medium, and even advanced designers. The amount of useful, practical, working examples it presents it is tremendous!

You do not need to be an expert to learn working with dsPIC microcontrollers. On the contrary, you could become a GURU in 60 days! All it takes is determination and little desire to learn. This is all! If you have what it takes than do it, my friend. Once you know the "how-to" you take charge: discover you commercial product and build it. We live in a free market World and everybody is welcome!

My advice is, look at the simplest things around you: a door, a window, a lamp, a bicycle, and so on. Think about adding useful intelligence to any of them. Our life is driven by hardware, firmware, and software today, but there are still thousands and thousands of unexplored avenues. If you keep on looking for them, you will discover your commercial product one day--I have no doubts about this.

Take for instance something very blunt, even vulgar: a hammer. You can easily design a tiny hardware module to count how many times it struck per day during the past year, and how hard was each blow. Next, you can design your intelligent hammer to "talk" to your PC and download the data it contains. This is not all, because once the hammer data is on PC it will be processed graphically, for statistical analysis, or for even more advanced analysis. Your "intelligent" hammer may even access a site on the Internet by itself and exchange data there. Mind this please: I describe here the blunt "Hammer Application"! For smarter ideas things may look way more interesting, and the book I mentioned teaches you everything you need to know to design intelligent control applications. Even more, you will discover in my home site few pages dedicated to basic electronics, and to many other exciting topics.

Anyway, it will take some time until you discover your beneficial commercial product. Meanwhile, you can enhance your resume and your technical aptitudes. The more you learn, the better prepared you will be when the right time comes.

O G POPA is Professional Engineer in BC, Canada. His home site is Corollary Theorems at http://www.corollarytheorems.com

Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Writen by Steve Valentino

The loss of electricity supply is technically called as power outage. It is specifically referred to as "brownout" when some power is lost but retained some voltage level, albeit not enough for the minimum level required by a certain system. On the other hand, it is called "blackout" when the power is completely lost.

When power failures occur, your appliances or any other electronic devices are the things that suffer most from the damaging. Your computer unit is featured with a power supply, a device that is used in generating electricity to keep it operational. The switcher technology of this device will convert the alternating current line into direct current input. This enables the computer to start functioning. However, once a power outage occurs it will stop producing power. As a result, the computer will end its operation. As mentioned, this occurrence is detrimental to your computer. If this incident continues to occur, it will suffer serious damage and require extensive repairs that could run into a lot of money.

Fortunately though, there is a device that counters the situation in the form of Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS. A UPS is a device used to protect computers and electronic equipment from the damaging effects of power outage incidents. It is a battery-driven power supply that is active even whenever sudden loss of power has occurred. There are certain types of uninterruptible power supplies with variety of capacities. There is a small unit type that can service a single computer in a home or office. There is also the kind that can provide protection to a business environment that runs with a big computer network.

Uninterruptible power supplies are necessary tools both in large business establishments with a wide network of computers and in a home/office with individual computers.

Power Supplies provides detailed information on Power Supplies, What Power Supply Do I Need?, Uninterruptible Power Supplies, DC Power Supplies and more. Power Supplies is affiliated with Welding Inverters.

Large Format Scanners

Writen by Damian Sofsian

It is generally accepted that the future of both storage and printing is digital. In case of text, it means scanning followed by conversion using optical character recognition. The development of large format scanners was impelled by the need for converting large drawings and images into digital format, as required in digital archiving, image acquisition, and customized reproduction. Other applications were realized in the areas of digital conversion of manuscripts, traditional art and fabric designs. Typical image widths range from thirty-six inches to forty-two inches, though widths of up to sixty-two inches are commercially available. Such scanners usually use several small format sensors to increase the format width and are available in color as well as black and white. The former are more expensive and are used only for more demanding tasks than ordinary data entry.

Charge-coupled device (CCD) has been traditionally used to capture the image. The earlier method of three-pass scanning, which used a different color filter for each pass, is being replaced by the single-pass method. A relatively new imaging technology using contact image sensors (CIS) is becoming popular for low-cost applications requiring less power and no warm-up. Though CCD scanners have a wider color gamut and a larger dynamic range, CIS scanners have better resolving power and higher geometric accuracy. This makes scanners using CIS ideal for digitalizing technical documents. These scanners are also more compact and easy to carry. However, owing to its better chromatic accuracy and better depth of field, CCD technology retains better image quality near an open spine and is thus suitable for scanning books, portraits, and paintings.

The choice of a large format scanner naturally depends on the application in mind, which dictates the type of the scanner, imaging technology, permissible thickness of the medium, resolution, width of format, speed, etc. Some of the leading manufacturers of large format scanners are Colortrac, Oce, Contex, Altek Corporation, ACTion Imaging solutions, ANAtech, CST, Vidar systems, and WideCom.

Large Format Scanners provides detailed information on Large Format Scanners, Large Format Color Scanners, Large Format Flatbed Scanners, Used Large Format Scanners and more. Large Format Scanners is affiliated with Home Theater Projector Screens.

Laser Printers Or Inkjet Printers A Buyers Guide

Writen by David Haysom

Should you buy an inkjet or a laser printer? Often people buying a new printer are confused about whether to buy a laser printer or inkjet printer. The short answer is it depends on what you'll be using it for, and how much you'll be using it.

Inkjet printers have a lower initial purchase cost but cost more to run because the ink is more expensive when measured on a per page basis. Laser printers cost more but their running costs are lower and they have a better print quality because in general they have a higher resolution (expressed in dots per inch - dpi).

If you want to print photos at home however, you are best to choose a photo quality inkjet printer.

Inkjets are great for home use and for photo printing. Lasers are good for high-volume applications, like offices, or for applications that need high print quality.

Inkjet printers transfer tiny droplets of ink directly to the page. A laser printer creates an electrostatic pattern on a drum that attracts ink powder that is subsequently fused onto the paper. This is more complex technology so means a higher price than for an inkjet printer.

If you examine the same page printed on both a laser printer and an inkjet, you will be able to see that the characters on the laser printer produced page are sharper. That said however, inkjet printers are getting better all the time in terms of the sharpness of printed characters.

Another aspect to consider is how heavily you will be using a printer. Printer manufacturers express the durability of a printer in terms of duty cycle in pages per month.

For example, a typical laser printer will be capable of a duty cycle up to 7,000 pages a month while a typical entry level inkjet printer is capable of up to 500 pages per month.

Some of the more recent inkjets provide excellent color clarity and brightness, and are very well suited for printing photographs.

While inkjet printers themselves are cheaper, their ink is more expensive per page printed. Ink cartridges need to be replaced fairly often if you print a lot, especially if you're printing pictures or photos.

The manufacturer's stated pages per cartridge measurements are very much dependent on what you printing. They are based on only a small percentage of the page actually being covered in ink.

Toner cartridges for laser printers have a higher unit price than inkjet cartridges, but have a higher capacity so that the cost per page is lower for lasers.

Article by David Haysom. David is the eCommerce Manager for OfficeRocket - an online store that specializes in providing New Zealand consumers and small businesses with laser printers, ink cartridges and office supplies at extremely competitive prices.

A Look Inside The Elusive Inkjet Industry

Writen by Niall Roche

The Inkjet printer industry is booming. Office supply companies report they make more money on ink sales alone than on printer sales overall. Due to increasing ink sales, many inkjet manufacturers have introduced innovative products and services to meet the demands of discerning consumers. Customers are now able to purchase refill kits that allow them to handle their inkjet needs at home, without having to purchase expensive new cartridges. Refill kits contain a syringe like instrument that injects ink into the cartridge.

In addition to ink refill kits, some printer manufacturing companies are also designing a chip that can detect when the cartridge is nearing the depletion level. On some models, this service will even report the number of pages left to print. Manufacturers believe this type of service will be beneficial to customers because it will enable them to know they are about to run out of ink, before it actually happens.

Despite the measurers that manufacturers have taken to lighten the financial burden on consumers who purchase ink products, consumers frequently try different strategies to conserve their ink. One of these strategiesis to produce bulk quantities in black ink, under the mistaken impression that this will conserve their more expensive color ink cartridges. Unfortunately, this strategy doesn't work because color ink is required to make black ink on some machines.

One strategy that will work is to realize that it takes significantly less ink to print a standard page of text than it does to print a color photo. In fact, a color photo requires 30 times more ink than a single page of text. So, use your ink wisely.Another way consumers can save money is in the quality of the printer they purchase.

Consumers frequently purchase printers based on the sales price, failing to realize that by the time they purchase printing supplies, like ink cartridges, it is cheaper in the long run to go with more expensive inkjet printer that has cheaper consumables. The initial cost difference can easily be made up by the difference in the cost of consumables.

In recent years, the inkjet industry has developed printers capable of printing faster than ever before. Some printers are now capable of printing out 20 pages per minute. Before consumers rush to purchase a printer with such lightning fast capabilities they need to give some consideration to the type of projects they will be printing. Some printers are perfectly capable of printing several pages per minute and maintaining print quality at the same time; however some are not. Take the time to shop around in the inkjet aisle to find the printer that will serve your personal daily printing needs.

With all these new changes in the Inkjet industry, it's important for consumers to take the time to research the many new services and products now on the market. This is the key to understanding the constantly evolving inkjet printer industry.

This article was provided courtesy of Inkjet Printables.com. On the website you'll find tons of useful information on inkjet cartridges and other inkjet consumables.

Benefits Of Compatible Printer Inks

Writen by Carla Weaffer

Personal computers along with inkjet printers can be found in many homes these days both for personal and home office use. As prices for inkjet cartridges can become quite expensive, it can be a wise consumer decision to look into purchasing compatible printer ink cartridges.

What are compatible printer ink cartridges? Compatible printer ink cartridges are refurbished printer ink cartridges that are compatible with Epson and Canon printers just for example. Purchasing compatible printer ink cartridges can be beneficial in several ways. There are very few consumer printer models that are not compatible with compatible printer ink cartridges.

The first reason that it is a wise consumer decision to purchase compatible printer inks is that it will save you money. Replacement cartridges that are produced by printer manufacturers can a lot of the time end up to be more expensive then the printer itself. If you were to do some comparison shopping you will see that compatible printer ink cartridges will end up costing less than cartridges produced by manufacturers. Consumers that buy inkjet refill kits can greatly extend the life of a printer ink cartridge, thus saving them money.

Ease of purchase is another excellent benefit to purchasing and using both compatible printer ink cartridges as well as inkjet refill kits. It is extremely easy for consumers to locate a retailer of compatible printer ink cartridges online at more reasonable prices then brick and mortar stores. Most consumers appreciate the convenience of this as they do not even have to leave their home to order a new printer ink cartridge.

If you use an inkjet refill kit you will be helping to reduce the amount of solid waste getting disposed of into landfills. In addition to that the use of inkjet cartridge refill kits are very convenient as you can often refill a cartridge several times with one refill kit. Using a compatible printer ink cartridge along with an ink refill kit can greatly increase the life on an ink cartridge as long as the cartridge is refilled before reaching the empty point. Also as most ink contained in quality compatible ink cartridges and ink cartridge refill kits is very good quality it would be possible to purchase a number of cartridges and store them for later use. Since the printer ink is of a quality you should not have to worry about stored printer ink producing a poor quality print job.

Many consumers are under the impression that using a compatible printer ink cartridge or an inkjet refill kit will void the warranty on their computer. This is not the case, as typically the use of compatible printer ink cartridges will not void the warranty on a consumer printer. Another concern of individuals looking to purchase a new printer is that it will produce a print job that is inferior to a ink cartridge. A quality compatible printer inkjet cartridge will produce a print job equal to that of a cartridge produced from a manufacturer, sometimes even better in some cases.

So when you are looking into purchasing a new printer, remember all the great benefits that go along with using compatible printer inks.

Carla Weaffer manages a business supplying Epson compatible printer inks. This article is brought to you in conjunction with Web Design Liverpool and UK Therapy Directory. It is free to republish within the boundaries of the terms and conditions of the source. The content and resource box must remain unchanged and all hyperlinks active.

Computer Monitors

Writen by Jason Gluckman

Your PC is incomplete without a monitor. A computer monitor is required for all desktop PCs, to see the characters and images processed by the computer using the graphic card.

Computer monitors are designed according to the display standards laid down by the industry. Occasionally these are called heads, when referring to several monitors used to display data using only one computer. Generally, the cathode ray tubes used for display screens are rectangular in shape, but circular and square screens are also popular

Present-day computers use a cathode-ray tube to display characters. This tube is made of glass and connected to a flat screen on one end, tapering to a narrow end on the other. A single electron gun is connected to the narrow end of the tube for a single-color monitor whereas three electron guns are required for multicolor monitors. The monitor emits light when the electrons strike the screen.

Although computers have become an integral part of our lives, using these machines for a long period of time can cause visual problems and headaches. The glare on the computer screen can strain the user's eyesight, especially when trying to read small characters on the monitor.

Call an expert immediately if your screen is flickering noticeably, and adjust the contrast balance between the text and the background. Eye specialists advise you take regular breaks from your work, and try focusing your tired eyes at an object twenty feet away from your work station.

Keep your computer monitor clean using a mild cleaner, and wipe it using a lint-free cloth. Close your eyes whenever you are tired, and don't hesitate to use eye drops to soothe your dry eyes.

Computer Monitors provides detailed information on Computer Monitors, LCD Computer Monitors, Flat Screen Computer Monitors, Cheap Computer Monitors and more. Computer Monitors is affiliated with Custom Desktop Computers.

Playstation 3 Vs Nintendo Wii

Writen by Victor Vargo

There will always, regardless of our time in space in the span of human history, be an open competition between those who believe in the old school and those who side with the new school. In other words, those that believe that there needs to be some traditional guidelines for how to be a success and those who believe you have to change all of the rules. While Nintendo has certainly been at the forefront of the gaming industry since its inception, few would argue that they have, "kept up with the Joneses" so to speak.

Nintendo is trying to change this fact with the introduction of their latest competitor in the video game industry, Nintendo Wii. However, those who are "new school" in the video gaming world will tell you that Sony has far surpassed Nintendo in the gaming industry to a point that the talk of a "competition" is almost comical. Regardless of where you stand on this argument it is always a good idea to know what everybody has to offer and in that spirit here is a small comparison of PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii.

• PlayStation 3 has introduced perhaps the most powerful processor in the history of gaming with their Cell Broadband Engine that will allow for awesome game play to jump start this edition of the PlayStation Empire. Nintendo Wii has a very good "PowerPC" that they have nicknamed "Broadway" that will allow for a good gaming experience. Nintendo stepped out and solicited the help of IBM for the production of the Wii processor, meaning that they are seriously looking to re-enter the video game wars.
• One feature of both the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3 that will both impress and excite gamers is the fact that both are backwards compatible, meaning that you don't have to throw away your favorite games from the previous console. PlayStation 3 owners will be able to play games from both the previous PlayStation consoles, while Nintendo Wii owners will be able to play Nintendo Game Cube games whenever they want.
• Both consoles are "always on" which means that any communication needed to get updates or make changes to your system will happen without you worrying about being logged on or retrieving important codes. Both use wireless router technology and are able to connect whether you are at home or even logged on.
• Perhaps the most exciting aspect of each console is the advent of new controller technology in both the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. The Wii will introduce a long and skinny remote that has motion sensors to pick up your movements and use them within the game. PlayStation 3 will be introducing the same type of technology to allow a more real and sophisticated experience for every user.

Victor Vargo is the editor of the PS3 Price Shopper Resource Guide which provides the latest Sony Play Station 3 news as well as in-depth comparisons of the PS3 vs Wii and the Xbox 360 vs PS3. Learn more at PS3PriceShopper.com.

What Is A Fuse And How To Test It

Writen by Jestine Yong

A fuse is a very thin wire, which either melts or vaporizes when too much current flows through it. The thin wire may be made of aluminum, tin-coated copper or nickel. The resulting open in the circuit stops current flow. In electronic equipment, most fuses are cylindrical glass or ceramic type with a metal cap at each end! The current rating also can be seen in one of the two metal end caps. There are two popular physical sizes: 1 – ¼ X ¼ - inch and 5X20mm. The 1 – ¼ X ¼ - inch size is used in many automobiles. You'll find both sizes in many electronic equipment, but the smaller 5 X 20mm has become more common. Fuses are available with current ratings from 1/500 Ampere to hundreds of amperes.

Purpose of Fuses

The purpose of a fuse is to open an electronic circuit when current flow exceeds a certain amount, determined by the rating of the fuse. Opening a circuit under high current conditions can save electronic components from damaged and prevents overheating, which could cause a fire.

Types of Fuses

There is two basic types of fuses: fast acting and slow blow. The fast acting type will open very quickly when their particular current rating is exceeded. This is important for analog meter movements, which can quickly be destroyed when too much current flows through them, for even a very small amount of time. Slow blow fuse have a coiled construction inside. They are designed to open only on a continued overload, such as a short circuit. The purpose of coiled construction is to prevent the fuse from blowing on just a temporary current surge.

Do not use a slow blow fuse in place of a fast acting fuse. It may not open fast enough to prevent components damage under a high current condition. It's not harmful to replace a slow blow fuse with a fast-acting fuse, but it will probably open up unnecessarily every now and then when the equipment is first switch on. A blown fuse can tell you something about your service problem. Often the glass case of the fuse appears clear, and you can still see the broken pieces of the fuse element. This means you have the kind of problem that causes a slow, gradual overload on the power supply. Some fuses even die of old age. But if the inside of the glass fuse is discolored, and there is no trace of the fuse element (the center connector), you know that the center connector was destroyed quickly and violently, using a lot of heat. The fault was a short circuit or other problem that caused a lot of current to flow very quickly.

Is some cases a fuse will open up fast enough when there is a surge so that other components aren't damaged. If this is the case, replacing the fuse with one of the same type and rating restores operation. Unfortunately, a high probability exists that if a fuse blew, something in the circuit it was protecting shorted out. In this case, a replacement fuse blows right away. The blown fuse can easily be replaced by a new one, after the overload has been eliminated when come into replacement. Use only the same current and voltage ratings as the original. The common type and current rating of a fuse in a monitor are slow blow 2A to 5A. When you buy replacement fuses, get several – you can easily use all of them while you're troubleshooting an elusive problem.

Testing Fuses

Turn the power off and remove the fuse from the circuit to check with a multimeter set to the lowest ohms range. Connect the probes to both end of the fuse. You may check the fuse while it still in circuit. A good fuse should showed continuity or read 0 ohm. A blown fuse is open which reads infinity on the meter.

Jestine Yong is a electronic repairer and writer. For more information about electronic repair please visit his website at http://www.noahtec.com

Your Common Problems Amp Solutions For Your Laserjet Printers Become Your Own Solution Provider

Writen by Joseph Mercado

Have you ever wanted you ever wanted your own troubleshooting guide for your toner cartridges?

Well here you go!

Your Toner Cartridge Troubleshooting Guide:

Below are some common problems that may show up during your printer usage. Here's what will happen and how to fix them:

•Dirty PCR (primary charge roller): A dirty PCR, which is located inside the printer, will cause vertical gray streaks down the test page or create a gray background on the entire page.

•Scratched Drum: This condition is indicated by a very thin, perfectly straight line that runs from the top to the bottom of the test page.

•Chipped Drum: A chipped drum will make a dot or series of dots that repeat three times per page. Any drum defects will repeat three times per page based on the drum circumference of 5.2".

•Light Damaged Drum: This condition will show up as a shaded area on the test print that normally should be white. Again, this will repeat three times per page.

•Bad Wiper Blade: A bad wiper blade will make either a gray line approximately 1/8" thick or shading across the entire page. In either case, there will be a film of toner on the drum surface.

•Weak Doctor Blade Spring: This will usually show as shaded areas on one or both sides of the page.

Machine Error Codes:

•32 Unsupported Print Cartridges: (Wrong chip, encoder wheel combination or bad chip). If this code appears immediately upon cartridge installation, there is either a bad contact or the chip is bad. If the machine cycles and then the message appears, the wrong encoder wheel is installed. In the T632 machines, this message will also show if the extra high yield cartridge is not installed.

•80 Scheduled Maintenance: The code appears when 300,000 pages have been printed.

•88 Toner Low: Add toner.

•200-280 Indicates various paper jams.

Taking Test Print:

-Printer Menu: Press the "MENU" key until "Utilities Menu" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."
-Press the "MENU" key until "Print Menu" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."

Font Sample:

-Press the "MENU" key until "Utilities Menu" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."
-Press the "MENU" key until "Print Fonts" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."
-Select either the PCL fonts or the Postscript fonts.
-Press "SELECT."
-The Print Menu page contains the printer page count, toner level, cartridge serial number, cartridge size, whether it's Prebate or not, and the cartridge type (Normal, MICR, or Label).

Changing the Printer Density:

-Press the "MENU" key until "Quality Menu" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."
-Press the "MENU" key until "Toner Darkness" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."
-Choose a number between 1 and 10. "8" is the default setting.

Changing the Printer Resolution:

-Press the "MENU" key until "Quality Menu" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."
-Press the "MENU" key until "Print Resolution" is displayed.
-Press "SELECT."

*Note: The options available are 300, 600, 1200 Image Q, and 1200 dpi (dots per inch). The 1200 Image Q is for bitmapped pictures. The printer's default is 600 dpi (dots per inch).

In description of, Joseph Mercado is known as The Internet Marketing Tyrant. He specializes in the consumable market involving studies on inkjet cartridges. Joseph is also a respected Marketing Innovator who seeks his own innovative mind to construct proven ink formulas designed to leave major impacts within this cartridge industry.

I'm a highly aggressive individual who is constantly seeking success. My assertiveness has brought me to a level of excellence within my marketplace. I've been driven to the point of non-failure and as a result I progress daily while conquering defeat; http://www.InkSecrets.com

Capitol Flag Displays

Writen by Jimmy Sturo

The Capitol Flag Program began in 1937, when a member of Congress asked that a flag be flown over the Capitol. The program now includes flags that are flown on national holidays and special events. Flags that are used to honor the work done by schools and civic organizations are also included in the Capitol flag program. Since these flags are always used to commemorate special events, they are considered to be unique and rare items.

A number of online companies and local shops offer Capitol flag displays. These displays are available in acrylic or glass with wood or metal bases. The transparent cases are semi-circular, pyramid and flat laid out shapes that allow a viewer to have an unobstructed view of the inlaid flag. The size of the flag determines the size of the display. A number of these artifacts are passed on as heirlooms. For this reason, the materials used to build the cases are sturdy and durable. A number of Capitol flag displays used in museums are specially tinted for added protection.

In recent times, the demand for Capitol flags has rapidly increased in comparison to supply, because many congressmen and senators order them to emphasize their state. The purchase price of Capitol flags includes flag costs, postage and handling charges and supplementary charges for set up. These high quality flags generally last for many years and come with a certificate of authenticity. The certificates provide a date and place detailing when and where flag was flown over the Capitol. In most cases, along with arranging Capitol flag displays, enthusiasts and collectors purchase a certificate case to go along with the flag.

Displays provides detailed information on Displays, Trade Show Displays, Display Cases, Magazine Rack Displays and more. Displays is affiliated with Industrial LCD Monitors.

Buying A Refurbished Pc

Writen by Dave Stewart

Refurbished desktop computers are essentially second hand pc's. Refurbished desktop computers come from two main sources, returns and trade-ins. These days the majority of manufacturers recycle their returned stock, whether they were considered faulty by the consumer or returned for other reasons. You may have also noticed other consumer electronics popping up on the market described as 'manufacturer refurbished', these products come from the same process as refurbished computers.

Simplistically when a manufacturer refurbishes a computer they;

• Clean the machine and peripherals


• Test each component individually to verify that they still function properly


• Format every hard drive, to remove any data stored on them


• Assemble the parts to form a 'new' refurbished system


• Test the system again, as a complete platform


• Install an operating system and hardware drivers

These systems are then put back on the market as refurbished systems, with a lower price tag reflecting this. So now you're wondering, should you buy a refurbished desktop computer? There isn't really a simple answer, it all depends on the individual system and your circumstances. By circumstances I’m referring to your budget and what you're going to use the system for. For information on determining what you need in a computer from what you're going to use it for check out http://www.discountdesktopreviews.com/articles/finding-a-cheap-pc.html . Once you have decided whether a refurbished system would suffice your needs, you then need to look at your budget.

For those running a tight budget, refurbished systems are a great way to save some cash when buying a new system. If, on the other hand you have more money to spend on a pc, you should consider the limitations and disadvantages of a refurbished pc.

A big limitation of refurbished computers, and all refurbished consumer electronics for that matter, is the inability to customize your purchase. When you buy a brand new computer, you have the choice to customize it to your needs. With refurbished systems they come as they are.

Another disadvantage of second hand systems is the fact that what you can buy, is constrained by what consumers have returned. If you're looking for a specific part or setup then you may have great difficulty in finding it in a refurbished pc.

Finally when purchasing a refurbished computer, you need to check whether it comes with a warranty and the specifics of the service or repairs.

About The Author
Dave Stewart

A Review Of Brother Laser Toners

Writen by Max Bellamy

Brother is right up there with HP and Samsung as one of the most sought-after brands of laser toner. The Japan-based Brother Industries was first famous for its sewing machines. It went on to produce all kinds of office equipment, such as machine tools, fax machines, label makers, printers, and other office equipment. They began making dot-matrix printers in the 1970s. In the 1980s, after HP blew up the market, Brother began releasing their own laser printers to consumers, and to other companies under the name of OEMed. Brother has a great reputation for printers and printing accessories.

You can buy new toner from Brother. There you will find plenty of personal, home, and small business laser toner cartridges and refills. You can also buy new toner refills in bulk, for middleweight to heavyweight business in need of massive amounts of toner on a daily basis.

One popular Brother laser toner cartridge costs about $34 from their website. This will yield about 2200 pages at 5% printing capacity. This percentage means that 5% of the page is assumed to be covered in ink. If you print a lot of photographs, that number will be much lower.

Be careful when buying Brother toner from third-party distributors. They will offer you lower prices under the umbrella terms of "compatible" or "remanufactured" laser toner cartridges. While some of these are perfectly reputable and suitable for a full range of printer uses, many others are below par. These phony cartridges will produce bad printing results and possibly damage your printer. Sometimes a third-party distributor might even package phony cartridges in real Brother packaging. You can find a list of authorized Brother retailers at their website.

Laser Toner Info provides detailed information about later toner cartridges and refills, as well as reviews of laser toner products. Laser Toner Info is the sister site of Brochure Printing Web.

Computers For Sale Updates

Writen by Nick P Bentley

Have you bought a computer yet? No, I'm not talking about that old Tandy set that's stashed away in the attic. I'm talking about a brand new computer. Something with Internet access and wireless connection capabilities. Okay, I'm probably going a tad too far with that spiel, but you do want to make sure your PC or Mac is up to par. This is the only way you can enjoy the latest technology.

Do you know where to browse in search of computers for sale? In fact, you probably have a few places near by that will sell them. Circuit City is a pretty decent place to start shopping for a PC. The first thing you need to determine is what you you will be using the personal computer for. If you're in search of the basics such as online access and sending emails, you won't have to spend too much. Nowadays you can pick up a Dell desktop deal for around 300 bucks. That will include the tower, monitor, keyboard, and sometimes a free printer.

It's time to browse the vast array of computers for sale. There is virtually no limit to what you can buy. Personal computers can do it all these days. Looking to burn CDs or DVDs? No problem. Want to have high speed cable Internet access? Done. Today's monster machines can do it all and they're smaller in size than ever before.

Best Buy is a perfect place to shop for computers for sale. They have a large selection ranging from Sony to IBM. Are you dreaming of a simple desktop PC or do you have your heart set on a mini notebook. They make these as small as a half an inch thick these days. But don't worry; they still pretty much do it all. Now you can even download your own tunes to the computer, and then burn them to a CD. This is perfect for those of us who want to spend less on music.

Have you browsed the range of computers for sale online? The World-Wide-Web has one of the largest selections of desktops available. Basically anything you could possibly be searching for that's related to computers is online. When you sift through the computers for sale online, you also ensure yourself of acquiring the best deals on both hardware and software. When it comes to personal computers, things are changing every day and getting cheaper at that.

For the latest in news, reviews and articles on online surveys and other online businesses.

Video Card Guide What You Should Know When Purchasing Video Cards

Writen by Donny Duncan

When choosing a video card, it is important to know what you're going to be using it for.

The cheapest route is to find a Motherboard with one built into it. This is sufficient for most users. If you simply don't want one built into your Motherboard, or can't find one, pretty much any cheap video card will do for everyday use.

If you're into gaming, there are a lot of factors that make a video card "gaming" quality.

Memory - Video cards have memory (RAM) built onto the card that it uses for its calculations. This is the primary selling gimmick when it comes to most video cards, but simply having a ton of memory on the card won't make it fast, it also depends on what kind of memory it is, DDR currently being the best. Another factor in memory is how many bits it runs at, the higher the better.

Interface - The interface is the technology used on the card to connect it to the motherboard. The motherboard has to support the interface of the video card you're using, or it simply won't work. There are a lot of different types of interfaces now, from PCI, to AGP, PCI Express, and there are also different variations of AGP, like AGP 4x, AGP8x, etc. The AGP interfaces are usually backwards compatible, but they are not usually forward compatible, so you can put a 4x card into an 8x slot, but not vice versa. These are also never cross compatible, so you can not put a PCI Express card into a regular PCI slot, or into an AGP slot.

Interfaces also regulate how fast the card can be. PCI is the slowest, then AGP scaling up to the various versions of AGP, and the fastest currently being PCI Express, which is used on most of today's high end video cards.

Other factors that you might want to consider that don't necessarily have anything to do with speed:

Resolution - How large of a screen the video card can display on. If you have a very large screen, you'll want a card that can display in a larger resolution.

Outputs - The kinds of connectors that the video card has to connect to a monitor. VGA is the most common, but is also the lowest quality. A lot of monitors, especially LCD monitors, support DVI now, which is a higher quality output. Some also have S-Video outputs, or possibly one of each, or multiples, which brings us to whether or not it can support multiple displays.

Multiple Display Support - Regulates whether or not the card can display to multiple monitors at once. Some cards will have multiple connectors of a single types, others will have several different types, it just depends on the card. While most cards with multiples of the same type will most likely support multiple monitors, the ones with several different types won't necessarily support multiple monitors. Windows XP has built in support for stretching your screen across multiple monitors, so you just have to find a card that supports it.

-------------------------------
This article taken from Computer Discounts Guide - Video Card Guide. View the website for more helpful guides.

Donny Duncan, the author of Computer Discounts Guide has been in the computer field for over thirteen years.

Aluminum Laptop Cases

Writen by Thomas Morva

A laptop is a very delicate instrument that has to be taken care of when traveling, and this is the reason people use laptop cases. One of the sturdier laptop cases is the aluminum laptop case. In fact, it is often considered a Fort Knox for your portable computer. Actually, a few years ago, owning an aluminum laptop case was quite difficult, as there were not many cases in production. However, nowadays the cost has shrunk drastically, while its availability has increased tenfold. So many people are opting for aluminum laptop cases.

An aluminum case is of course made of aluminum, sometimes with extruded aluminum frames. Most of the aluminum laptop cases come with grey ABS plastic pads on their bottoms to keep them from scratching desks. The handle of an aluminum laptop case is sturdy, with a comfortable molded plastic grip and a removable shoulder strap. For the safety of the laptop, the aluminum laptop cases usually have one or two combination locks. The inside of an aluminum laptop case has a lining with mesh and vinyl leather-look trim, some padded divider panels to separate the laptop from accessories, and also lots of pockets to hold necessary cables and discs. To keep the laptop fitted snugly into the aluminum laptop case, the bottom of the case has totally customizable Velcro-adjustable dividers.

The advantage of using an aluminum laptop case is that it gets reduced shipping costs in the event of shipping of the laptop. It is easy to handle in all weather, as it is both water- and dust-resistant. There is little risk of the laptop getting damaged if the aluminum laptop case falls. Aluminum laptop cases are recyclable, and are thus beneficial to the environment.

Laptop Cases provides detailed information on Laptop Cases, Aluminum Laptop Cases, Womens Laptop Cases, Leather Laptop Cases and more. Laptop Cases is affiliated with Mobile Computing Solutions.

How To Use A Usb Flash Drive

Writen by Damian Sofsian

The popularity of USB flash drives does not solely come from its convenient size and the amount of data it can store but also in its easy use. It is very simple to operate and use a USB flash drive provided that the computer you connect it to has all the installed drivers that support the device. However, if the computer does not have an existing driver, USB flash drive installer software is also very easy to install and operate.

The protruded "connector" of the USB flash drives is simply plug directly into the computer or to a plug which is directed to the USB port. The computer then detects the device and upon detection, a folder containing all the files in your USB flash drive would appear on the computer screen. Files can then be easily accessed and transferred to the USB flash drive simply by dragging these files or by copying them into the USB flash drive folder. After using the device, the user can simply detach the flash drive from the port and use it again similarly with other computers.

USB flash drives can be used with most computers as long as they have a USB port and the software compatible with the drive to make it run. A lot of the newer operating systems have pre-installed USB drive drivers, but for those with operating systems that are quite dated, USB flash drive makers also offer drivers which may be used with these systems. These are easy to install and to use, as well. The compatibility of the USB flash drives and the availability of drivers in order for it to run must be checked with the manufacturer before even purchasing your flash drive. However, almost all USB flash drives work well with most computers.

Using USB flash drives are even simpler and more accessible than CD-R or DVD-R, besides USB ports are more common than CD or DVD equipped computers. Also, files stored in the USB flash drives may be erased as often as the user wants it to and may be changed as well.

The novelty of USB flash drives have long gone, yet despite this, users still enjoy its power and portability.

USB Flash Drives provides detailed information on USB Flash Drives, How To Use A USB Flash Drive, USB Flash Drive Reviews, USB Flash Pen Drives and more. USB Flash Drives is affiliated with Promotional Mouse Pads.

Wireless Usb Vs Bluetooth

Writen by Preston Wily

USB is currently the industry standard If you spend any amount of time on a computer chances are that you have used a USB device, such as a mouse or a keyboard. There are currently more than 2 billion USB devices in use around the world.

Cables can be a mess When USB first became popular (around the year 2000) everybody loved the technology and embraced it. It was so easy to use and offered inter-compatibility with virtually every PC. As we became increasingly more reliant on USB for most of the devices that connected to our system the nest of cables behind the average computer continued to grow.

Enter Bluetooth Bluetooth was released a couple of years following the initial release of USB and grew in popularity because it offered computer users a way to connect precious devices to the computer without worrying about the tangle of wires behind the computer and the inevitable "creative" wiring options required to connect two computers and printers located across the room.

Bluetooth took off in Europe and Asia Bluetooth has become very popular in Europe and Asia. Not only is Bluetooth popular with computer users, but also cell phone users looking for a way to use a hands-free headset without worrying about hauling around another wire. For some reason the technology became very popular abroad, but many US computer and cell phone users had security concerns about the technology or were unimpressed with its relatively low speed for data-intensive applications.

We are on the verge of a revolution in connectivity Wireless USB offers the convenience of Bluetooth with the security and seamless integration of current USB technology. In addition, the first release of Wireless USB (aka WUSB) will allow you to use legacy USB devices wirelessly. Here's how it will work - you will plug a Wireless USB dongle into your desktop or laptop and then plug the Wireless USB hub into an external power supply - this could range from a few feet to several meters away. Then you could plug your USB devices into the Wireless USB hub and use them as if they were attached directly to your computer. This would be especially useful for a printer, scanner or any other device you might want to share with local computers but not necessarily over a network.

Differences between Bluetooth and Wireless USB The most obvious difference between Bluetooth and Wireless USB is the speed - empirically you will generally always see speeds less than 1 Mbps with Bluetooth. Wireless USB, on the other hand, is rated for 480 Mbps at 5 meters. Both technologies are slower at further distances, but Wireless USB should always be faster than Bluetooth. Another obvious difference between Bluetooth and Wireless USB is security - Bluetooth devices are highly susceptible to signal-hijacking wheras the security standard for WUSB is very strict and should result in a much more secure connection - this is very important for any application which may require the transfer of sensitive data or information.

Time frame on Wireless USB Wireless USB dongles and hubs are currently in production and should be available for purchase in the first quarter of 2006. A few manufacturers have already received approval from the FCC and other stanards organizations.

Is Wireless USB right for you If you can hold off a couple of months to try out a really cool wireless technology I highly recommend that you consider WUSB. It may take some time to refine the protocols and iron out a few bugs in the design but the wait should be well worth it.

Preston Wily is a product development manager for Sewell Direct, an online retailer of hard-to-find USB adapters. Sewell Direct is currently establishing relationships with manufacturers of Wireless USB peripherals and devices and plans to offer these products as soon as they are available.

Best Budget Desktop Computers

Writen by Marcus Peterson

Best budget desktop computers are necessary to get desktop computers of preference within ones budget. It will have all the basic features a desktop computer should have.

Best budget desktop computers basically come with four components. They are the monitor, computer case, keyboard, and mouse. It is available in two configurations - mini tower model and desktop model. The computer case appears vertical and stands in upright position in mini tower models. In desktop models, the cases are designed in such a way that it appears horizontal on desks. The monitors are large and graphic friendly in best budget computers. The computers can be used to read and write CDs and to play video games. Scanners, printers, and web cams can be connected with best budget models.

There are certain tips to keep in mind while buying best budget desktop computers. First, it is necessary to see the amount you have for computers. Next, decide the purpose. The computers may be used for educational purposes or office use or simply playing the latest video games. Desktop computers with flat monitors are well suited in rooms with space problems. Another important factor to consider is the processor. Even for budget priced desktops the processor should have capacity of about 1.4 GHz. It is better to have a built-in graphic card for best budget computers. Memory capacity and the number of media files needed for computers are selected according to the budget and usage.

Best budget desktop computers are not easy to get in recent days. This is because of the tremendous decrease in the number of companies that provide budget desktops. Budget computers without monitors are obtained at around 600 dollars. The computers with monitors need an additional pay of about 150 dollars.

Desktop Computers provides detailed information on Desktop Computers, Cheap Desktop Computers, Custom Desktop Computers, Used Desktop Computers and more. Desktop Computers is affiliated with Flat Screen Computer Monitors.

Cisco Pix Technology

Writen by Benjamin Hargis

Ciso PIX Security Appliance.

Cisco PIX Security applications can enforce policies on users and applications.

Cisco PIX can protect you from many different network and Internet based attacks.

Cisco PIX offers secure connectivity, using methods such as SSHv2 Secure Shell Two and VPN virtual private networks.

This is fairly easy to setup.

Cisco PIX can provide you with secure VOIP voice over internet protocol. IPSec or Internet Protocol Security IPSec can be setup for VPN's.

Cisco PIX Security appliances provide multiple layers of security. This hardware/software based solutions is designed to look for anomolies aka weird traffic thats not normal on your network, which could be an indication of a attack.

There is over thirty different engines looking for different attack signatures.

The current version is Cisco PIX appliance version 7.0

Here are some of the feautures:

You can rollback previous configurations in IOS.

QOS- Quality of Service

You can update software on the fly with bringing down the hardware. No rebooting.

VPN client security

Layer 2 transparent firewall.

This is really interesting 3G mobile security services.

You can configure the firewall to block instant messaging, point to point networking P2P.

You have the ability to block applications trying to tunnel thru your network with encrypted traffic.

Cisco PIX provide rich statefull packet inspection PIX can protect your voice, data, and video traffic.

Version 7.0 also supports IKE or Internet Key Exchange.

Everything can be managed from Cisco Adaptive Device Manger which can be console and web based.

Benjamin Hargis CEO Phuture Networks http://www.phuturenetworks.com
http://www.computersecurityadvice.com/

Professional Spy Stuff

Writen by Kingston Amadan

There are plenty of spies stuff around that is in use for amateurs and regular consumers. However, if one is serious about starting a private investigator business, or about offering professional surveillance services, it is essential to have some professional spy stuff. Clients won't take you seriously if you do not have the proper equipment. While it can be fun and useful to have some the smaller stuff, the truth is that there is plenty of high tech equipment, available at a reasonable price, that can help you get your professional business off the ground.

Professional grade listening devices are a must in any arsenal of professional spy stuff. These go beyond the pens outfitted with mics and get into some serious listening ability. Listening devices that can allow you to hear what is being said 300 yards away are ideal for many professional jobs. Simply hook your device into a high tech recorder and listen and record at the same time. It is even possible to use devices that cancel our background noise, allowing you to hear the object of your surveillance much clearer.

Another piece of spy stuff is some sort of night vision accessory. Many operations are done under cover of darkness, and it is important to be able to see without creating a light that could draw attention to your location. Night vision is not just about those goggles that you wear on your head; it is also possible to get binoculars and monocular that can aid you in seeing at night. The best devices do not rely on stars or the moon. This means that you can do surveillance in any kind of weather, no matter how cloudy or dark.

There is no reason why you can't have a professional business with professional grade spy stuff. There are plenty of Web sites that offer equipment at reasonable prices that are affordable to the start up surveillance professional. While such equipment will cost a little more, you will show clients that you can handle any job when you have professional equipment that proclaims that you only use the best when it comes to your spy stuff.

(c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: Spy Stuff.

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