Monitors

Choosing a computer monitor ( also a display or screen) is a serious business, because this it the thing you are going to be staring at for hours on end. If it’s too small, dull or flickery you could end up straining your eyes. When selecting a monitor, the choice will be between a standard CRT model, which has a cathode ray tube like a traditional TV set. or a flat LCD liquid crystal display, as used on notebooks. CRT monitors are extremely bulky compared to their flat screened cousins,but they are cheaper to buy, but this is also changing with the prices becoming more online with CRT monitors. LCDs generally have quite a limited angle of view, as you move to your left or right, the image will become harder to see. On the other hand, LCDs look neat, take up less space, consume much less power and emit far less brain-melting radiation. Despite all the techie stuff, the most important thing is how comfortable you feel in front of a screen, does it seem bright and sharp enough? Are lines crisp and curves smooth? And remember that bigger isn’t always better, you may find that a smaller screen is easier to work with. << back

Scanner

A scanner is a device that allows your to copy photos and printed documents into your PC so that you can email them to friends, create archives or just mess around with them using a graphics applications (photoshop etc). The more points the scanner uses to represent an image, the higher its resolution, this is quoted like the printer, as a number of dots per inch (dpi) There are even printer that double up as scanners. The all in one printer and scanner are becoming more popular, not just because of space saving, but also they provide good value for money. Many come with lcd screens that allow a user to use them with out a PC, especially with SD memory cards. But the most popular type is the A4-size Flatbed scanner, which is as easy to use as a conventional photocopier, you place your document on the flat glass scanning bed, close the lid, pressed the button and off it goes. Flatbed scanners are inexpensive and are regularly included in PC bundles. Cheap or thrown-in models are fine for most tasks, but versions offering higher quality are available. As with other devices, try to see a scanner in operation before you buy it to be sure it produces a good image and isn’t excruciatingly slow. << back

Surfing the Internet

Practically all new PCs used to ship with a built-in Modem, but this has become less common and even on the Dell website the modem has to be ordered seperately. so if you are still using dial up you will have to include a modem. But more and more PC users use broadband which use either an USB connection or wireless. Don,t forget if you are still using a modem you will possibly need an extension cable to reach a phone socket. You don’t need a hightspec computer to surf, but if you plan to get into online phone and video conferences, Check out Skype, streaming audio and the like, a slow machine will prove frustrating.

PCs vs Macs

One thing that you have to decide before you buy a new computer is whether to go for a PC or a Mac. But beware-this subject carries a lot of emotional baggage, and you’re likely to find yourself on the receiving end of an impassioned rant if you request the opinion of either a PC or Mac devotee. This website only deals with PCs, but for those of you who aren’t sure of the difference, or haven’t yet decide which way to jump, here,s the low-down. PCs are manufactured by an endless list of firms, but they all run the same programs and work in the same way. They account for the vast share of the personal computing market, and they practically all use the Microsoft Windows operation system. Macs, on the other hand, are made by a particular company-Apple-and generally run the Mac O/S operating system. It used to be the case that PCs and Macs were almost completely incompatible: they ran different software , and you couldn’t easily move information from one to the other. These days most popular programs are available for both,and it’s not usually a problem to send information-by email, disk or any other means-from PC to a Mac or vice versa. A Major difference between PCs and Macs is what you actually get for your money. A Mac generally costs about 30 percent more than a Pc of the equivalent spec, and the advertised price may not even include a monitor or a floppy drive, let alone a printer and scanner-thought you don,t always have to go for Apple -make devices when expanding your kit. Macs have for a long time been favoured in certain industries, including publishing and graphics, so if you intend to work within these areas, you may want to go with the Apple crowd to save yourself the stress of compatibility glitches.

• Ok figured its about time i updated on Mac stuff…
• plenty of windows software now available that is compatible with macs, so i will list some of the more popular links below to access, if any mac users want to download them..
• Here is the link to download the Mac Version of Yahoo Messenger which i find works very well on the Mac, and even allows the user to use their build in web cams on the Mac notebooks…
• I also have a link for Msn messenger for the Mac, but don,t work as well and won,t allow the use of the web cam
• This is a great site for Open Source for Mac..enjoy

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  Last updated: Jan 14th, 2008
  Created Sept 5, 2006