Seagate FreeAgent Go 250 GB 2.5" USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

Product Description
With the FreeAgent Go, you can turn any PC into your PC. The instructions make it easy to transfer a copy of your web browser, favorites, passwords, IM client and contacts, e-mail client, cookies, settings and files to the drive. With that done, simply plug the FreeAgent Go into any PC with a USB 2.0 port. The FreeAgent Go will transform that PC into a copy of your home PC. While in use, all of your actions are stored on the FreeAgent Go, so when you disconnect there is no trace of your personal data on the borrowed machine. The FreeAgent Go will even synchronize its data with your most frequented PCs, so its always up to date. The FreeAgent Go is a great way to not only take your data, but your entire desktop environment with you wherever you go. 5400 RPM USB 2.0 Connectivity PC Compatibility - Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, XP Pro, and Vista Mac Compatibility - Power PC G3, G4, or G5 processor running OS X 10.3.9 (or higher) or Intel Core Duo or Core Solo processor running OS X 10.4.6 (or higher) (FreeAgent Go software and drive formatting works only with Windows, but can be reformatted for Mac using Disk Utility) 5-Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty Unit Dimensions - 0.7 (h) x 4.8 (w) x 3.9 (d) Unit Weight - 6.4 oz.

If you find yourself working from multiple computers but needing constant access to your own software, e-mail and digital files, the Seagate Free Agent Go Portable Hard Drive is for you. More than a simple portable back-up and storage solution, the Seagate Free Agent Go lets you take your favorite software, Web browser, IM client and contacts, email, cookies, and personalization settings wherever you go--safely and securely. Not only does this portable hard drive synchronize your data with just about any computer you want to work from, more importantly it features the latest encryption software to protect your content, leaving no trace of your last session on the borrowed computer. With the Seagate Free Agent Go, you have the best of all worlds--a convenient portable back-up solution and a virtual desktop in a pocket-size package.

Product Features

• 250 GB portable hard drive connects to your computer via USB cable
• 5400 RPM spindle speed for speedy performance
• Protect against unauthorized use with encryption for sensitive files; Leave no trace of your last session on a borrowed computer
• Keep your most current data with you - synchronize data from your most frequented PCs
• Includes portable drive, Free Agent software (preloaded) and electronic documentation, USB 2.0 cable, and a quick start guide; 5-year limited warranty

Technical Details

• Capacity (GB): 250
• Interface: USB 2.0
• Spindle Speed (RPM): 5400

Powerful storage device with a sleek new design. Compact size makes it great for on-the-go travel.

Take your favorite music, photos, or programs with you anywhere you go.
It’s all about having your desktop environment and latest files with you - when and where you need them. Designed for mobility, the sleek compact design easily fits into your shirt pocket, briefcase or backpack. We provide the USB cable that’s not only the interface connection, but the power source – no additional power cords are needed. And the unique espresso brown finish with molten amber illumination is just icing on the cake.

High-Speed Synchronization and Security
Whether you have vital company data or personal files and programs that you need to access, the Seagate Free Agent Go protects your most valuable information via drive-level encryption that provides a more robust solution than most software encryption on the market today. Delivering high-end protection against unauthorized use with encryption for sensitive files, this device keeps your data safe while you're on the go.

And not to worry, your Free Agent Go portable hard drive saves all of your private information on itself, not on the computer you’re using. That means there’s no trace of your last session to tempt the next person on a borrowed computer. It also provides strong file encryption to protect your content, and lets you sync your files from several PCs.

With the Seagate Free Agent Go, virtually any computer can temporarily become yours. The software/drive combination allows you to move files or other content quickly via USB 2.0, allowing transfer rate of up to 480 MB/sec for USB. The drive's high-performance spindle speed of 5400 RPM gives you the high-speed performance you need to back your data up quickly and safely. The sleek and slim design of this hard drive--only 0.7 x 3.9 x 4.8-inches (H x D x W)--and a weight of less than four pounds means that you can carry practically your entire desktop with you as you make your rounds from computer to computer.

The Free Agent Go software and drive is formatted to work out of the box with Windows operating systems--including Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000--but the drive can easily be made Mac-ready in a few minutes with Mac OS X's Disk Utility. The unit features a sophisticated touch point power on/off switch. Plug in the USB 2.0 cable to a PC and your personal desktop environment launches automatically. To help eliminate even the slightest bit of worry, we’ve included technical support and a five-year limited warranty.

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LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ 301199U 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 RAID System

Product Description
Marketing description is not available.ormous capacity and a transparent, built-in RAID 0 array with no configuration for fast FireWire 800 speed. Easily share data among the widest range of user platforms with this triple interface, plug and play hard drive. Store presentations, archive image banks, work on large-scale audio/video projects, or chain FireWire devices and iLink DV cameras. Its LaCie shortcut button conveniently launches any application (backup, music, slideshows, etc.) with just one push. Advanced features for professionals include triple power management, a 32MB cache, a thermo-regulated progressive quiet smart fan, and EMC Retrospect advanced backup and data restoration software for Windows and Mac users.

The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ 301199U 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 RAID System is a powerful drive that's optimized for media professionals working with high-definition audio, digital video editing, SD video and 2D/3D imaging. Designed by Neil Poulton, the Big Disk Extreme+ offers a compact, lightweight storage solution ready for some heavy-duty action.

The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 RAID System offers:

• USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800 interfaces.
• Built-in RAID 0 performance with FireWire 800 speed with no configuration required.
• Flexible design that can be stacked, rack-mounted or daisy chained.
• Heat-dissipating body and advanced cooling system for cool performance.

The drive features USB, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800 connectivity.

Product Features

• Powerful 1 TB drive optimized for professionals working with high-definition audio, digital video editing, SD video and 2D/3D imaging
• FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces
• LaCie's trademark "Shortcut Button" for quick back-ups or application launch
• Includes FireWire 800 to FireWire 800 (9-to-9 pin) cable, FireWire 400 to FireWire 400 (6-to-6 pin) cable, hi-speed USB 2.0 cable (USB 1.1 compatible), and external power supply
• Measures 6.8 x 1.7 x 10.6 inches (HxWxD); weighs 5.5 pounds; 3-year limited warranty

Technical Details

• Model Number: 301199U
• Capacity: 1 TB
• Interface: 2 x FireWire 800 (9-pin) ports, 1 x FireWire 400 (6-pin) port (compatible with iLink, DV), 1 x USB 2.0 port (compatible with USB 1.1)
• Data transfer rate: FireWire 800: up to 800 Mbps (100 MBps); FireWire 400: up to 400 Mbps (50 MBps); USB 2.0: up to 480 Mbps (60 MBps)
• Burst transfer rate: FireWire 800: up to 80 to 90 MBps; FireWire 400: up to 35 to 40 MBps; USB 2.0: up to 30 to 34 MBps
• Average seek time (write): Less than 10 milliseconds
• Rotational speed: 7200 rpm
• Cashe: 32 MB
• Power supply: AC power cord (included)
• Cooling system: Thermo-regulated progressive quiet fan
• System requirements (PC): Windows 2000/XP/Vista; Intel Pentium 500 MHz processor or higher; 128 MB RAM (512 MB recommended); available FireWire 800, FireWire 400 or USB 2.0 port
• System requirements (Mac): Mac OS 10.2.8 or later; Mac G4, G5, Mac Intel 500 MHz processor or higher; 128 MB RAM (512 MB recommended); available FireWire 800, FireWire 400 or USB 2.0 port
• Operating temperature: 41 to 95 degrees F / 5 to 35 degrees C
• Operating humidity: 5 to 80 percent, non-condensing
• Dimensions: 1.7 x 10.6 x 6.8 inches / 44 x 272 x 173 millimeters (W x H x D)
• Weight: 5.51 pounds / 2500 grams
• Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
• What's in the Box: Disk Extreme+ 301199U RAID system, FireWire 800 to FireWire 800 (9-to-9 pin) cable, FireWire 400 to FireWire 400 (6-to-6 pin) cable, USB 2.0 cable (USB 1.1 compatible), external power supply, LaCie utilities CD-ROM (user's manual, quick install guide, software), drive stand

The Shortcut Button can back up your data or launch any application with a single button push. View larger.

Big Disk Extreme+ Triple Interface
Featuring high-performance storage (1 TB of total disc space), high capacity and a user-friendly quick backup feature for data safety and recovery, the Big Disk Extreme+ packs a powerful 1-2-3 punch. Its capacity, combined with ultra-fast transfer rates, make it ideal for data-hungry applications or sharing and archiving large-scale video projects.

This versatile storage solution offers a terabyte of storage, along with FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces. This triple-interface solution gives professionals the versatility needed to work in almost any environment. Professional users working with very large, resource-intensive files can take advantage of the high throughput of the FireWire 800 (with burst transfer rates up to 90 MB/s,) as well as the universal compatibility of USB. This makes the Big Disk Extreme+ especially convenient for video editors working in SD/HD, or for quick individual workstation storage in a small business setting.

LaCie's trademark "Shortcut Button"--the blue button in front of the drive--can be used to launch any utility--such as music, slideshows, or video--with a single push, or back up your valuable data. The Big Disk Extreme+ also includes EMC's Retrospect Express software for automated backups that will give you even greater peace of mind.

Convenient and Easy to Use
The Big Disk Extreme+ is a hot plug and play solution that offers built-in RAID 0 performance (with FireWire 800 speed) that requires no software configuration or drivers. Expandable via FireWire with other FireWire hard drives, the Big Disk can also be daisy chained with peripherals such as CD-RW, AIT or DV cameras. In fact, several Big Disks can even be daisy chained to the same computer and combined together to further increase capacity, speed or security via FireWire.

For extra convenience, the drive also features a power-saving three-position switch that allows for customized "Triple Power Management" -- "auto" for energy efficiency; "on" for instant access; and "off" for complete data protection.

Heat-Dissipating d2 Design by Neil Poulton
Designed by world renown designer Neil Poulton, the Big Disk Extreme+ boasts a sleek, handsome metal body that's ideal for naturally dissipating the system's internal drive heat. Its unique design actually draws heat away from the internal drive toward the external casing. The casing absorbs heat and will take advantage of its large surface to further dissipate the heat away from the drive. The Big Disk Extreme+ also includes an advanced cooling system with a thermo regulated, progressive quiet fan that keeps the drive safe and prolongs its life and reliability.

Engineered with a compact 5.25-inch 1U form factor to fit seamlessly into most work environments, and more compact and lightweight than RAID towers, the Big Disk Extreme+ can be placed in a space-saving upright position with the included drive stand, or can be stacked, rack-mounted and even daisy-chained with other drives (via FireWire) to increase capacity. An optional LaCie Rackmount Kit can be used to incorporate the drive into a standard 19-inch computer equipment rack, and the drive can also be placed in the optional LaCie Desk Rack (also sold separately).

The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ measures 6.8 x 1.7 x 10.6 inches (HxWxD), weighs 5.5 pounds, and is backed by LaCie's 3-year limited warranty.

About LaCie
Established in France in 1989, LaCie is a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple and Linux users. With offices and plants in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie develops and manufactures external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology.

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Western Digital 500 GB My Book Essential 2.0 - USB 2.0 External Hard Drive WDH1U5000N

Product Description

Are you running out of hard drive capacity? Do you need to archive some important digital documents, photos, or music? This elegant external hard drive, reminiscent of a book, is the perfect solution. It takes no more space than a paperback book. Collect two or more and they nest neatly together like volumes on a shelf.cent of a book, is the perfect solution. It takes no more space than a paperback book. Collect two or more and they nest neatly together like volumes on a shelf.

Product Features

• Includes - External hard drive, USB cable, AC adapter and Quick Install Guide
• Smart and energy efficient - Turns itself on and off with your computer
• Saving and organizing your digital photo collection
• USB 2.0 Serial Bus Transfer Rate - 480 Mbits/s
• System Requirements - Available USB port, Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later

Technical Details

• Capacity (GB): 500
• Interface: USB 2.0
• Spindle Speed (RPM): 7200
• Buffer Memory: 16MB
• Average Seek (msec): <8.9
• Track-to-Track Seek Time (typical read, ms): 2.0
• Data Transfer Rate on USB 2.0: Up to 480 Mb/sec
• Temperature, Operating (°C): 5 to 35
• Temperature, Nonoperating (°C): -40 to 65

Western Digital has released v2.0 of the My Book Essential external hard drive series, redesigned for late 2007.

The Essential series is the value line from Western Digital's external hard drive product line. Featuring a USB-only connection, the drive is targeted to price-conscious users who need lots of extra storage space, but don't need multiple connectivity options (USB, eSATA, Firewire).

Slightly reduced in thickness from its predecessor, v2.0 is about the size of an epic paperback novel only a few inches deeper. It weighs in around two pounds.

Gone is the green lighted circle which used to represent the power switch on older v1.0 drives - v2.0 uses a blue-lighted vertical drive activity indicator which alternates on and off when the drive is being accessed.

But also gone is the power switch itself. The latest generation of external drives from a variety of manufacturers including Western Digital and Seagate are now omitting them as a cost-saving measure. The My Book powers up upon plugging in the power and/or the USB connector. The drive is configured to power down after 10 minutes of inactivity or sensing the computer has been turned off.

Another substantial change is also becoming common with external drive models - doing away with the standard USB cable and replacing it with a USB-mini. The included cable, around three feet in length, may be too short for some applications, and be prepared to have some longer USB mini connector cables on hand if you want to extend the reach. Seagate has gone the same way.

Setting the drive up takes well under five minutes, from removing the shrink wrap on the box to actually seeing the drive on your desktop. The box comes with a very brief manual, a power cord (with a horizontally aligned transformer which may or may not be a good thing depending on where you plug it in), a USB cable, and the unit itself, wrapped in a protective plastic sheet.

The drive is pre-formatted using the FAT system, which creates a single partition of 465 gigabytes. The FAT file system assures the drive will function on multiple platforms. The drive will prompt you to install some minor diagnostic software and some Google tools you likely already have considered - Google Toolbar, Picasa, and Google Desktop (which indexes your hard drive and uses the Google search engine to help you find files.) For the latter, consider Copernic Desktop Search 2, which is free and offers superior search performance and better tools.

Most Windows and XP users will want to reformat the drive to the NTFS file system, which will support those 4+ gigabyte files FAT will not. You can easily reformat the drive under XP by clicking your way through Control Panel ("->" means you should click on this option) -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Storage -> Disk Management. It takes at least an hour to complete the reformat, and be aware the tools included on the drive will be erased so consider backing them up somewhere else if you care about them.

V2.0's redesign features a very shiny, smooth surfaced external case. I fear it will readily show fingerprints and scratches, so be extra careful when handling it.

As with the earlier model, no internal fan is apparent and heat dissipation is absolutely critical to the longevity of any hard drive. Some manufacturers have skimped on this, such as Seagate with their FreeAgent series which has had a high failure rate, but v1.0 Western Digital My Book drives have also historically not fared well either. Consumers want these devices to be nearly silent, and the tradeoff is product design that omits what is often the single most important component to guarantee a longer drive life - a cooling fan.

Although both series of drives seemed to get equally warm to the touch (but not uncomfortably hot), the single most important concern I have about Western Digital's entire My Book product line is drive longevity and data integrity. The last version of this product had scores of complaints about drive failures, almost always resulting in partial or total loss of your data. Most seemed to either fail during the first week of use or right around the first anniversary of purchase.

Different hard drives, depending on design, can generate more or less heat. It's not possible to tell precisely what model hard drive is being used in v2.0 (and whether it's an upgrade in quality from the earlier model), but perhaps Western Digital will have noticed the relatively high number of drive failures from its earlier product line and has used a different model for v2.0. Time will tell.

Both versions of the My Book series seem to offer adequate ventilation on the top, back, and bottom of the unit. Airflow will be very important to allow the heat from the hard drive to dissipate. In any external case without a fan to move air through the unit, or a heat sink to collect and bleed off the heat from the drive, the temperature inside the case will easily exceed 120 degrees, if not much higher if you reduce or block any of the ventilation holes. The higher the temperature, the sooner your drive will fail.

As with all USB external drives, the time spent transferring files back and forth will be much longer than experienced using an internal hard drive. The My Book series is best suited as a backup method to store copies of your important data in case one of your primary hard drives should fail. When powered down (which happens when the drive has not been accessed for around ten minutes), there will be an additional delay when attempting to access files from it, because the drive will need to spin-up (allow around 5-10 seconds for this).

As to the product's quality and longevity, as this is a new product line there is no easy way to guarantee whether this will prove a completely reliable product. But historically, external drives of all kinds tend to live shorter lives than internal drives, and Western Digital's warranty for this model remains one year. For $25 you can extend the warranty for two additional years from Western Digital's website.

But remember, it doesn't matter how long the warranty lasts if your data is gone because of a drive failure. No warranty will cover the costs to recover data from a failed drive (which can easily exceed $1000 with no guarantee of success). Do not rely on any hard drive to protect your most precious files alone. Every hard drive fails eventually. Instead, consider using the My Book Essential as a hard drive backup of your primary drives. Or if you need to rely on an external drive for day to day use, consider purchasing a second unit and using that to backup the first in case catastrophe strikes.

You can also prolong the life of your drive yourself by keeping it cool. I have a small inexpensive desk fan set on low blowing across my stack of external drives which does a good job. I also keep papers off of the drive, away from the sun or any heat vents.

Also pay attention to the sound your drive makes - it can be an early indicator of imminent failure. A whining or grinding sound (like a power saw off in the distance) is a clear danger sign. Loud clicking sounds when the drive is accessing data should sound a red alert that your drive is about to die. And should you encounter "delayed write failures" or other errors increasing in frequency as the drive ages, you should begin planning its replacement. Unfortunately, sometimes drives suddenly fail with no warning, so please create a backup strategy today before you lose up to 465 gigabytes of your files tomorrow.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that Western Digital has corrected the flaws from the first version of this product line. It's too bad the power switch is gone and they've switched to the less common USB-mini connectors, but as long as it keeps my data safe and secure, I can live with the changes.

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The XP Firewall Isn't Enough

You might think you don't need a firewall because windows XP has one built in, but read on for a plain-english explanation why this isn’t enough.

Before broadband and cable connections were common most people didn't need a personal firewall because they weren't connected to the Internet for extended periods of time.

Every computer that connects to the internet has an IP address. This is like a sort of phone number, and is issued either to an individual computer or to a "gateway" that connects a private network to the 'net.

Domestic dial-up internet connections normally use a system called Dynamic IP Addressing where people are issued with a sort of "new identity" every time they connect, so it's difficult to find and attack an individual computer - Dynamic IP addressing is a bit like having your phone number change every time you use the phone, which makes it difficult for the bad guys to find you.

But the longer you keep a particular “phone number” the more chance there is of someone finding you and that is why high-speed always-on connections need handling with care.

In particular, with "always on" DSL and cable connections you are connected for extended periods of time which give the attackers more chance of finding you if you've got an unprotected connection.

In these days of identity theft and with more and more security holes being uncovered in commercial software it is vital that you have a good firewall if you use a high-speed connection.

You may already have a firewall, either in a device called a "Broadband Router" which goes between your computer and the Internet or the very basic firewall built in to Windows XP Service Pack 2 and you might think that’s all you need.

But there's another reason that you won't have thought of.

Basic firewalls will tell you, and hopefully protect you if someone is trying to get in.... but they won't tell you if something is trying to get out!

That's right! Certain spyware and viruses can gather your personal information and send it out of your machine without you knowing.

A good firewall will spot these attempts to send stuff out and will warn you, quite possibly before your Antivirus or Spyware application notices the problem. Which gives you time to get the problem fixed.

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Learn How to Erase Hard drive Completely

You definitely need way to erase your hard drive completely.

Your hard drive is being used within your computer to record all the things that you are doing on the web? If you are worried about the websites that you have visited, the movies you have watched or the things that you have downloaded, you need an effective way to erase your hard drive completely.

But how?

Unfortunately, even reformatting your hard drive will not completely clean out your hard drive. You can still be at risk of this collection of data to be found and used against you. In fact, there are government agencies waiting for you to mess up so they can collect this data and use it against you. But, there are ways to erase your hard drive completely.

The program called Evidence Eliminator can help you by completely erasing everything that is located on that little black box inside of your computer. It will erase things so well that it can never be found again. No other method is available to do this type of work. If you are allowing yourself to be watched by your boss, government agencies or even your friends and family, then you are at risk of being put in jeopardy.

Even authorities with a microscope can not recover files that were once on your computer once you use Evidence Eliminator.

With this easy to use bit of software, you will never have to worry again about your privacy and whatever you are doing on the web. Become safe again with the use of Evidence Eliminator.

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Wireless Networks: How Do They Work?

Wireless networks use radio waves instead of wires to transmit data between computers. Here's how:

The Binary Code: 1s and 0s

It's well known that computers transmit information digitally, using binary code: ones and zeros. This translates well to radio waves, since those 1s and 0s can be represented by different kinds of beeps. These beeps are so fast that they're outside the hearing range of humans.

Morse Code: Dots And Dashes

It works like Morse code, which is a way to transmit the alphabet over radio waves using dots (short beeps) and dashes (long beeps). Morse code was used manually for years via telegraph to get information from 1 place to another very quickly. More importantly for this example, though, it is a binary system, just as a computer system is.

Wireless networking, then, can be thought of as a Morse code for computers. You plug in a combined radio receiver and transmitter, and the computer is able to send out its equivalent of dots and dashes (bits, in computer-speak) to get your data from here to there.

Wavelengths And Frequencies

You might wonder how the computer can send and receive data at high speed without becoming garbled nonsense. The key to wireless networking is how it gets around this problem.

First, wireless transmissions are sent at very high frequencies, which allows more data to be sent per second. Most wireless connections use a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz (2.4 billion cycles per second) -- a frequency similar to mobile phones and microwave ovens. However, this high frequency produces a wavelength that is very short, which is why wireless networking is effective only over short distances.

Wireless networks also use a technique called "frequency hopping." They use dozens of frequencies, and constantly switch among them. This makes wireless networks more immune to interference from other radio signals than if they transmitted on a single frequency.

Internet Access Points

The final step for a wireless network is to provide internet access for every computer on the network. This is done by a special piece of wireless equipment called an access point. An access point is more expensive than a wireless card for 1 computer, because it contains radios capable of communicating with around 100 computers, sharing internet access among them. Dedicated access points are necessary only for larger networks. With only a few computers, it is possible to use 1 of them as the access point, or to use a wireless router.

Industry Standards

Wireless equipment from different manufacturers can work together to handle these complex communications because there are standards which guide the production of all wireless devices. These standards are technically called the 802.11. Because of industry compliance with these standards, wireless networking is both easy to use and affordable today.

Wireless Is Simple To Use

If all this talk of frequencies has you worried -- relax. Wireless networking hardware and software handle all of this automatically, without need for user intervention. Wireless networking, for all its complicated ability, is far simpler to use than you might expect.

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A Guide To Basic Computer Terminology

It would be a good idea to read through them before purchasing a computer because these are things you should know about first. If you already have a computer then these computer terms can help you know what to do if your new computer equipment is unfamiliar. Also, this computer terminology can help you if you have to call in for technical help.

Cache: Cache is another type of memory kindred to RAM. The computer uses cache to quickly move data between the RAM and the CPU.

CD-ROM Drive: Most new computers now come with a CD-ROM drive as standard equipment. A CD-ROM drive reads data from a disc. These CDs look like a music CD, but hold data instead of music. CD-ROMs also contain games, dictionaries, recipe files, and lots of other things that you can load onto your computer.

CPU: The CPU, or central processing unit, is the brains of the computer. Most new Windows based programs use a Pentium processor or a AMD Athlon XP. New Macs use a different type of CPU called Power PC.

Disk Drive: Virtually all computers come with a disk drive that can read and save information on portable diskettes, also called floppy disks. You can use floppy disks to save information or to load new software onto your computer.
Hard Drive: The hard drive is also called the hard disk. You'll probably never see it because it is nestled inside your computer. It's the computer's electronic filling cabinet, and it stores the computer's operating system, files, programs and documents.

Keyboard: Just like a typewriter keyboard, this device is the primary way of inputting data into the computer programs.

Memory: This is the circuitry or device that holds information in an electrical or magnetic form. There is read-only memory (ROM), which is information primarily stored on a disk, and random-access memory (RAM), which is chip-based storage inside the computer. Memory is typically measured in megabytes (MBs).

Modem: This mechanism connects a computer to a phone line so information can be sent from one computer to another or the user can access an on-line service or the Internet. In view of the popularity of the Internet, a modem is now considered basic equipment and comes on practically all-new computers. Most modems come with fax capabilities.

Monitor: An output device that allows you to see what you are doing (it is what you are looking into right now to see this). Most computers come with 14 or 15-inch monitors. This size is good for most people's needs. Larger 17 or 21-inch monitors also are available, but may cost more. Myself, I prefer the 17-inch.

Motherboard: The motherboard is the circuit board that everything in the computer plugs into. The CPU, RAM and cache all plug into the motherboard.

Mouse: The mouse is another input device that makes getting around in your computer easier. It is a handheld object that is good for doing tasks such as moving and pointing to objects on the screen, and can replace the function and control keys of the keyboard. (If you need a lesson on how the mouse works and how to use it click here for a tutorial.)

Printer: A printer is an essential part of the computer if you want a hard copy of your work. There are four types of printers on the market: dot matrix, inkjet, bubble jet and laser. The dot matrix is the most basic. Most inkjets and bubble jets can print color and graphics, and a laser printer offers the best resolution at the highest speed.

Scanner: A scanner is a useful accessory to have if you are working with lots of artwork or photos. This device can copy written documents, pictures or photographs directly into your computer. There are three types of scanners: handheld, hopper-feed and flatbed.

Sound Card: This device allows your computer to reproduce music, sounds and voices. Make sure you have a sound card if you're planning to play multimedia games.

Video Card: The video card is the part of the computer that sends the images to the monitor.

Well there you have it, a quick course on computer terms. I hope it has helped to guide you in your purchase of a new computer; or to help you with the one you have.

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Why I Need Anti Virus Software For My Computer?

If you’ve recently purchased a computer, or are just learning about using email and the internet, you may have heard about computer viruses and anti-virus software.

You may be wondering if this is something that you should be concerned about, and if so, what you should do about it. This article will attempt to answer these questions for you.

First, you may be wondering just what a computer virus is. Basically a computer virus is one of many types of small programs that install themselves on your computer without your consent. Usually they enter your program through an email, or while you are browsing a website.

When these programs run, usually without you knowing, they can cause all types of problems with your computer. Some viruses can be mildly annoying, slowing down your computer as they use your computer’s resources for another purpose.

Others can be very dangerous, collecting your personal information and sending it to another party, or damaging your hard-drive.

True to their name, viruses are able to use your internet connection and email program and send themselves to the computers of other people you know, spreading themselves just like a contagious disease.

Because of this, just like the health of your body, when it comes to computer viruses, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is much easier to prevent viruses from entering your computer than it is to get rid of them and cure your computer once it becomes infected. This is why Anti-Virus software is important.

Once you realize that you need anti-virus software installed and running on your computer, you’ll have to choose which one to purchase and install. This can be a complicated process, but here are some tips to make it a bit easier.

First, check your computer to see if it came with anti-virus software. Many new computers are shipped with anti-virus programs already to go on them, you just need to turn them on. Check your instruction manual to see if this is the case with your computer.

Once you have your anti-virus installed and running on your computer, be sure to contact the software’s support if you have any questions. It is also important to keep your software updated.

Many of these programs will automatically update themselves when you are online. This is very important since new viruses are always appearing and you want to make sure your computer is protected.

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Tips For Keep Your Computer Running at Maximum Performance

This article will focus on two problems that impact the performance of your computer and will then explain what you can do about it.

Problem #1: Computer Hard Disk Files
Your computer is always writing information to your hard disk, no matter what you do. Your computer attempts to keep all file information in the same location on your hard drive. As you add and delete files, blank spaces are left between your files. As you add new programs or files, your computer tries to use these blank spaces.

Over time, this reading and writing of files can affect the way your computer performs. The files eventually become scattered in multiple locations on your hard disk rather than in the same location. This requires your hard disk to work harder and do more reading/writing than is necessary. It will slow down your computer by as much as 200% and causes increased wear and tear on your hard drive.

Problem #2: Spyware
If you use the Internet, at some point you will download a file or software program onto your computer. Sometimes you will know something is being downloaded to your computer. Other times you will have no idea. (Although this article will not talk about small files called “cookies”, you may want to look up information on this subject. Cookies are written onto your computer from the Internet.)

Free computer programs (often referred to as Freeware) are a big hit on the Internet. Every day thousands of users download these “free programs”. Although there are some great freeware programs, these programs often have advertisements or tracking code associated with their use. The term “Spyware” refers to programs that gather information about your computer and (Internet) surfing habits without your knowledge. This information is then sold to a third party company as a means of generating revenue.

The problem with Spyware is that it also impacts the performance of your computer. It can make your computer very sluggish and unresponsive.

Three Steps to Improved Computer Performance
Now that we’ve discussed two problems that affect the performance of your computer, let’s discuss three things you can do to get your computer performance back to normal. You should do these three steps in the order presented.

Step #1: Delete Spyware
The first thing you should do is to delete spyware files or programs from your computer. To do this, you can use a free software program such as Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition from LavaSoft. To get the program, go to www.download.com and search for “Ad-Aware SE” (without the quotes). Select “Download Now” and follow the installation instructions. Once the program is installed, you can scan your computer for spyware files. Then, you can select and delete them from your computer.

• Note #1: Always be sure to use the “Check for updates now” option to keep your program current.
• Note #2: You need to be aware that when you delete spyware files, some of those “free” programs you downloaded may not continue to work correctly. If you have a program you’ve downloaded and want to continue to use, check very carefully what you select to delete from the “Scanning results” once the scan has been completed.

Step #2: Clean up your Hard Disk
Once the spyware is removed, you need to clean up temporary and unwanted files from your hard disk. To do this on your windows PC, select the start option in the lower left hand corner of your computer screen. Then, select the program option. Under the program option, select “Accessories”. Under the “Accessories” option, select “System Tools”. From the System Tools option, select “Disk Cleanup”.

Step #3: Defrag your Hard Disk
Once all the spyware and temporary files are removed, you need to defrag your hard disk. This process simply rewrites your computer files so they are no longer scattered all over your hard disk, but are written in the same location for quick sequential access.

You can select “Analyze” to have the program check out the hard drive and see if it needs to be defragged. The program will prompt you at the completion of its analysis. Use the defragment option as prompted.

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How Spyware Blaster Can Protect Your Computer

By browsing a web page, you could infect your computer with spyware, adware, dialers and hijackers. These, unwelcome guests, are some of the fastest growing threats on the Internet today. It is important to protect your computer and one of the most powerful software products, available for this, is Spyware Blaster, a program created by Java cool.

How are you affected?

A spyware program will record every keystroke and e-mail as well as every web page you visit and every chat session. Some spyware programs will try to take control of your homepage, search page and other browser settings. Some may silently download themselves onto your computer. Others may pose as legitimate programs and persuade you to download them.

Private and confidential information extracted from a user's computer may be put on the Internet before he can realize that he is a victim of these malicious programs.

A Microsoft program called ActiveX is used to download software from websites for supporting legitimate services like file viewers or games. ActiveX can also be used to download spyware, hijackers, dialers and ad ware.

Spyware Blaster can make it difficult for these ActiveX programs to run on your computer. It can also protect your computer from certain cookies while running Mozilla based browsers like Fire fox.

The major anti-virus software product manufacturers have ignored the risks of spyware, hijackers, dialers and adware till now. Due to this, users have little knowledge of the software products that can be effective in detecting and eliminating them. One of the most powerful products available to provide security from spy ware is Spyware Blaster.

Spyware Blaster

Spyware Blaster is a freeware that offers effective protection from malicious Internet downloads. It disables malicious ActiveX controls that are already present and prevents downloads of malicious ActiveX controls from a web page. Its current database contains 822 items against which it provides protection. About 100 of these are tracking cookies, used by advertisers.

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Computer Hardware Preventive Maintenance Software

Computers often break down at the worst of all times. These problems can be averted, or at least minimized with preventive maintenance.

Several methods of keeping computer hardware in good working order deal with the external components of the computer, such as the keyboard and monitor.

For example, it is important to keep the processor away from excess heat and moisture. There are also computer hardware preventive maintenance software programs that can help with the upkeep of other internal aspects of a computer.

While it is rare to find a CMMS that works on all of a computer’s hardware, many different programs can be utilized simultaneously. Some computers have periodic automatic updates available that can be downloaded and used to improve the computer’s performance.

Other software programs, known as disk defragmenters, manage hard drive space so that software programs take less time to access. Programs known as hardware diagnostic utilities can check the computer’s hardware components and alert the user about any potential failures.

Since some new hardware will not always work on all computers and could cause existing hardware to malfunction, it is important to have a CMMS program to ensure that the new hardware is compatible with existing hardware.

Antivirus programs are another important component of computer hardware preventive maintenance software. Computer viruses have become increasingly common in recent years and can render a good computer useless. While computer viruses mainly attack software programs, they can ruin hardware as well.

Several manufacturers make reliable antivirus software. A couple of well-known companies are Norton and McAfee. As with much preventive maintenance software, these programs are usually available for a free trial period before the user must pay a subscription fee.

Computer hardware preventive maintenance software is necessary to keep computers in good working order. This software manages aspects of computer hardware that would be difficult and time-consuming for even the most computer savvy users.

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How to Increase Your Computer Speed Fast

I'm sure you've come across tons of articles and even suggestions from some of your friends on how to get your computer to work faster. Its really not that hard to increase your internet speed. I'm going to make it real simple for you and you don't need to be a computer geek to make this work.

The first thing you need to remember is to never, and I mean absolutely never download programs especially free software without reading the fine print.

Most free computer software will bombard your computer with spyware which will eventually bring your internet speed to a screeching halt! If your computer is already infected with spyware you can download the leading spyware remover called ad-aware which will scan your computer and remove spyware and tracking cookies from your computer.

Another way of making your computer and internet connection faster is by clicking on start, then run and typing in msconfig. Go to start tab and remove any program except your antivirus software and any other program which you must have start when windows starts.

This tip will increase your computer start up time dramatically!

Step number 3, and I do this almost on a daily basis is to clean up your internet cache. Go to your control panel which you can access from your start button and click on internet options.

Go to temporary internet files and clear your history. I would recommend that you also set internet history to a maximum of 2 days. Next step is to delete your temporary internet files including offline content.

Last step is to delete cookies. Be careful though because deleting your cookies will also delete useful information from your computer. You can read a how to on cookies here www.howstuffworks.com/cookie.htm.

These steps are the basics you can take which will speed up your internet connection immediately. I would also recommend doing a virus check on your computer on a weekly basis.

If you don't have antivirus software, get it! You'll be happy you did. Just one virus can wreak havoc on your computer! Make sure you test your internet speed whether its broadband or dial-up, before and after you take these simple steps so you can compare if these steps you've taken have worked.

Taking these basic steps will make you a happy surfer and will restore your faith in the World wide web!

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