Amid all the doom and gloom of the recession some solace can be found in the arrival of the new “netbook” computers priced at well under €500. This month’s article should help you understand the pros and cons of these new machines.
Netbook Overview
Netbooks are designed primarily for Internet related functions and are aimed at the light duty computer user. Their primary role is to provide internet browsing, email and light duty office functions. They are not suitable for ITunes or music users, nor are they capable of storing or playing dvds/cds.
Advantages Of Netbooks
Netbooks have the following advantages over traditional computers.
Speed: Netbooks typically boot and are available for use in less than 1 minute. Netbooks do not use traditional hard disk drives and the operating system and data are stored on the build-in non-volatile memory which is quicker than traditional hard drives.
Size/Weight: The Netbooks are much smaller and lighter than your traditional laptop. Screen sizes are 9” and 12” inch and they easily fit in a standard briefcase.
Durability: With no moving parts the Netbook can take much more punishment than a traditional laptop. The Achilles heal is the screen which is exactly the same as a traditional laptop so don’t be mislead into thinking you can throw these units around.
Cost: With prices starting at as low as 250 euro you can get yourself online and browsing quite cheaply.
Maintenance: Netbooks come in two flavours Windows XP Home or Linux. The Linux models are virtually impervious to virus attack so if you purchase one you will save on anti-virus software and are much less likely to be hit by spyware infections. The caveat with Linux is that Windows based programs will not work under Linux. The Linux models are cheaper than the Widows versions and if you just want to browse the internet and send some email then opt for the Linux version.
Disadvantages Of Netbooks
Screen Size: The 9” and 12” screen sizes may be too small for those of you with poor eyesight. Even those with good eyesight will find using the 9” models tiring.
Expandability: Netbooks use non-volatile memory to store both the operating system and your data and as such you do not have much capacity for storage of your data. You can add an external hard drive if you desire but these cost around 90-120 euro.
Functionality: Netbooks have neither the storage capacity nor the processing power to handle large volumes of music or video. Because they are not equipped with either a cd or dvd drive you’ll need to purchase an external CD/DVD player if you want to play or use cd/dvds on your netbook.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Make Calls For Free On The Internet
This month I will explain the process of using your pc to make free calls over the internet. With a little planning you could save a ton of money off your telephone bill using this technology.
Hardware You Will Need
Your computer must be equipped with sound output (Speakers or a headset) and a microphone to make calls. You can also purchase a special phone which hooks directly to your pc for around €30. Most webcams have a built-in microphone but the quality may not be the best. The quality of the telephone calls will be determined by the speed and reliability of both your and the called parties broadband and the quality of the sound hardware used. If you don’t have the necessary hardware the suppliers of the software will sell you the hardware but you will find you can get a better deal elsewhere.
Software You Will Need
There are many products now providing this service including Skype, Oovoo, Voipstunt and MSN. The most popular seems to be Skype but some of the less popular products may suit you better. Oovoo, for example, provides three way video conferencing which you may find more attractive but be aware this requires that all parties have good high speed broadband connections and webcams.
What it Costs
Calls made pc to pc are free. To call your friend they must have the same software installed as you. Thus you can’t use Skype to make a pc call to an Oovoo user. When you download and install the software you pick a unique id and this id serves to identify you and enable others to call you using the free service. With Skype and Oovoo there is no limit to the amount of time you can talk on the free pc to pc service. You are only charged when you make a call to a landline or mobile using the service. Be aware that the quality of calls made to landlines and mobiles can be very poor at times and in some cases you will hang up due to the poor quality. The cost for making non-free calls is very inexpensive. Skype for example charges 2 cent a minute to call USA phones from Ireland.
Conclusion
With little or no investment you can save yourself some serious money on your telephone bill but be aware that you should use these services as an additional option and not as a substitute for a regular landline or mobile phone. These products should never be relied on for emergency services.
Need Help Setting Up Your Sound Hardware ? Vist My Help Pages. Click Here
Hardware You Will Need
Your computer must be equipped with sound output (Speakers or a headset) and a microphone to make calls. You can also purchase a special phone which hooks directly to your pc for around €30. Most webcams have a built-in microphone but the quality may not be the best. The quality of the telephone calls will be determined by the speed and reliability of both your and the called parties broadband and the quality of the sound hardware used. If you don’t have the necessary hardware the suppliers of the software will sell you the hardware but you will find you can get a better deal elsewhere.
Software You Will Need
There are many products now providing this service including Skype, Oovoo, Voipstunt and MSN. The most popular seems to be Skype but some of the less popular products may suit you better. Oovoo, for example, provides three way video conferencing which you may find more attractive but be aware this requires that all parties have good high speed broadband connections and webcams.
What it Costs
Calls made pc to pc are free. To call your friend they must have the same software installed as you. Thus you can’t use Skype to make a pc call to an Oovoo user. When you download and install the software you pick a unique id and this id serves to identify you and enable others to call you using the free service. With Skype and Oovoo there is no limit to the amount of time you can talk on the free pc to pc service. You are only charged when you make a call to a landline or mobile using the service. Be aware that the quality of calls made to landlines and mobiles can be very poor at times and in some cases you will hang up due to the poor quality. The cost for making non-free calls is very inexpensive. Skype for example charges 2 cent a minute to call USA phones from Ireland.
Conclusion
With little or no investment you can save yourself some serious money on your telephone bill but be aware that you should use these services as an additional option and not as a substitute for a regular landline or mobile phone. These products should never be relied on for emergency services.
Need Help Setting Up Your Sound Hardware ? Vist My Help Pages. Click Here
Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.You can contact him via email at help.desk@reidyonline.com or at these telephone numbers 041.988.7526/087.797.0740.
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