Connecting your home and office computers with a wireless network sure makes things convenient ...BUT the very feature that makes them so popular is also their biggest weakness! Anyone with the knowledge can intercept your signal and gain access to your network if it is not secure. The technicians at computerguyslive.com offer the following six easy steps to wireless security for your home or office.
1. Change the System ID: Devices come with a default system ID called the SSID (Service Set Identifier) or ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier). It is easy for a hacker to find out what the default identifier is for each manufacturer of wireless equipment so you need to change this to something else. Use something unique- not your name or something easily guessed.
2. Disable Identifier Broadcasting: Announcing that you have a wireless connection to the world is an invitation for hackers. You already know you have one so you don't need to broadcast it. Check the manual for your hardware and figure out how to disable broadcasting.
3. Enable WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): WEP encrypts your data so that only the intended recipient is supposed to be able to read it. As with all security measures there are ways around it, but by using encryption you will keep the novice hackers out of your systems. It is best to use 128bit rather than 40bit encryption (it is exponentially harder to crack).
4. Restrict Unnecessary Traffic: Many wired and wireless routers have built-in firewalls. They are not the most technically advanced firewalls, but they help create one more line of defense. Read the manual for your hardware and learn how to configure your router to only allow incoming or outgoing traffic that you have approved.
5. Change the Default Administrator Password: This is just good practice for ALL hardware and software. The default passwords are easily obtained and because so many people don't bother to take the simple step of changing them they are usually what hackers try first. Make sure you change the default password on your wireless router / access point to something that is not easily guessed like your last name.
6. Patch and Protect Your PC's: As a last line of defense you should have personal firewall software such as Zone Alarm Pro and anti-virus software installed on your computer. As important as installing the anti-virus software, you must keep it up to date. New viruses are discovered daily and anti-virus software vendors generally release updates at least once a week. You also must keep up to date with patches for known security vulnerabilities. For Microsoft operating systems you can use Windows Update to try and help keep your computer current with patches.
Following these steps will insure that hackers and hitchhikers don't surf on your wireless network, or more importantly, these steps help block unwanted access into your computer network, and your valuable data.
Wireless Network Security in 6 Easy Steps
FTP Hosting - The Burdens of Doing It Yourself!
Looking for an efficient hosting service to communicate with clients and sending files over the Internet? There are two options – either you can arrange your own hosting service or can register for a professional FTP (File Transfer Protocol) hosting service. If you select ‘do it yourself’’ process you have to configure your own server with the help of necessary hosting software and hardware.
To set up your own hosting service for the business process you need to install a hosting server, hardware and software to support digital communication. In the ‘do it yourself’ process you have to install a server and make it accessible via Internet. This type of server is known as ‘Live Server’ and differs from other internal servers.
Other entities of your business process can communicate with each other through this live server, which will act like an FTP Server. You have to develop the hosting service inside your company that will work like a professional FTP hosting service. Therefore it is essential to create separate FTP accounts for the clients. Here you have to configure the ‘live server’ in such a way that your network administrator can easily manage the folders and files.
Server
It is recommended to buy a server appliance that supports hosting solution managed through a web browser interface. Apart from general features of the server, there are several other features:
Processor Type
Hard Drive
RAM
Remote Management
Data Transfer Rate
Data Security
Operating System
Technical Support
Apart from these you have to select an operating system for the hosting server. In general people use Windows or Linux as an operating system. Hard drive space of the hosting server matters, if you have sufficient space in the hard drive of your hosting server you can efficiently store large files, which you want to share with your clients.
FTP Software
How can you transfer files without FTP software? It is recommended to buy FTP server that is compatible with the operating system of your server. If the operating system of your hosting server is ‘Windows’ then you have to install FTP software compatible with Windows operating system. However, some hosting servers come with in-built FTP support.
You have to install the software on the server to configure your own hosting server and user accounts. Select FTP software, commonly known as FTP Client Software, based on following criteria:
Efficient file transfer protocol with features like – ‘Server – to – Server’ and/or ‘Local computer to another local computer’.
User friendly site and file management
Automated file transfer with File Transfer scheduler
Secured connection with the facility of password protection
Firewall support
User friendly interface
Price of FTP software varies based on their features. For example, the price of FTP Performer 5 or 4 Power and FTP Broker are $397.00 and $425.00, respectively. However, you can manage FTP software at low cost. Serv – U, which is considered, as a popular FTP Server for Windows the pricing starts at $300.00 for a limited version!
Internet Connection
Finally you have to take the Internet connection from an authorized ‘Internet Service Provider’ (ISP). By taking Internet connection you can make your server ‘Live’, i.e., accessible by all. It is recommended to go for the option ‘dedicated line’ of an Internet Service Provider. Dedicated line will make your hosting server accessible round the clock. To ensure fast connection over the Internet, register for Internet connection that provides high bandwidth. The minimum requirement is 512Kbps.
Worried with the cost and complex process of configuring a hosting server for your business? FTP hosting service provides all the features of transferring large files over the Internet at reasonable cost.
FTP Hosting Service
FTP service provider will allocate server space on their server, where you can store the files to share information with your client. There are two components in FTP hosting service – FTP Server and FTP Client. FTP Client is a remote computer that connects with FTP Server through Internet. Each FTP hosting service provider comes with multiple hosting plans. You have to select a right plan that provides effective support to your business. Communications are done through private FTP accounts, which are allocated for a specified FTP server. Transferring files over the Internet, from one FTP account to another, is managed by FTP software. It is recommended to select an FTP hosting service that provides FTP software. However, you can also buy FTP software separately.
It is observed that the monthly or yearly cost of FTP hosting service is less than setting up a complete hosting server. The cost of configuring a live server depends on hardware and software, which you are buying to make the server active. On the other hand, you will find wide array of FTP hosting service at affordable cost. The selection of a hosting service depends upon the required components of hosting service. Therefore, make thorough research on the price and select FTP hosting service for your business process.
FTP Hosting - The Benefits Of Sending Large Files Via The Internet!
Still using FedEx or UPS as the medium of transferring files to your client? Try FTP hosting service, this is an authentic way to transfer files over the Internet. In this era of Internet technology it is necessary to implement advanced communication protocol in the business system to enjoy efficient client communication. You can contact with your client or vendor through World Wide Web within a few second therefore, it is necessary to implement a technology that can enhance the business process and can run over the Internet.
Limitations of FedEx and UPS
With the help of software you can compress large files and convert the in digital format. Problems arise when we select an odd option to transfer the digital file to someone else, located at remote place. Initially we think about UPS or FedEx as the medium to carry the files. FedEx Express is an overnight currier service that provides local as well as oversea delivery. There are two types of freight services available in FedEx – domestic freight and international freight. However, FedEx does not cover all remote areas and considered as less preferred medium of transferring digital files. UPS, on the other hand, comes with the facility of global transportation services. UPS service is available in 200 countries and territories. If you are looking for transferring movie or image files located at remote area then it is recommended to use FTP hosting service.
Consider a situation where you have to send an image file to your client who is located at other part of the globe. The pressure will go up if you fail to transfer that file via Email. It is better not to take any chance by sending the file via FedEx or UPS. Only FTP hosting service can ensure transmission of the file to your client in the right time. Compared to FedEx or UPS, the cost of sending files via FTP hosting service is quite less. Moreover. FTP hosting service ensures privacy of the content and restricts unauthorized people from accessing them. Hears interesting? Find the advantages of FTP hosting service.
FTP Hosting Service
File Transfer Protocol, commonly known, as FTP is a communication protocol that supports transmission of all types of digital files over the Internet, irrespective of their size. Since the cost of transferring files is less under FTP hosting service, therefore people are selecting this in their business process as an efficient medium to communicate with clients and vendors. Further, no need to understand technical details. The design of FTP hosting service is so efficient and secure that anybody can handle process.
Advantages of FTP hosting service
The cost of transferring items depends upon the distance between the locations, weight of the product and selection of shipment type. This calculation applies to both FedEx and UPS service. For FTP hosting service there is no additional fee to transfer files via the FTP server. It is not authentic to send digital files via UPS or FedEx and pay big money for the transaction process. Since FTP hosting services are available at limited cost (monthly or yearly rentals) therefore, it is recommended to use FTP for transferring movies or images.
Image files, multimedia presentations are large in size, compared to general text files. With FTP hosting service you can transfer them in a compressed file format. Advanced FTP hosting service comes with the facility of 128-bit data encryption. This will encrypt the content of the digital file and restrict third party to access the actual data.
The process of transferring digital files through FTP hosting service is user friendly. Initially you have to register for a FTP server. FTP service provider will allocate you space on their server and provide you FTP accounts to communicate with the client. The remote computer will act like FTP Client and allow you to upload large digital files (movie, graphic images and multimedia presentation) on the allocated space of FTP server. The recipient will need FTP account and the authorization to access the FTP site (allocated space on the FTP server). Client, through his/her FTP account can download the digital files in the local drive. The entire process of transferring large media files will require few minutes if there exist fast Internet connection and sufficient space in the FTP site.
‘FTP hosting service’ is an efficient, secure and cost effective hosting service designed for all users. Try a free trial of FTP hosting service and experience a smart way of transferring large files over the Internet.
Advanced FTP Hosting for Designers, Architects, Printers etc.
Irrespective of their business volume, companies are registering for FTP hosting services to make client communication efficient and secure. If you are looking for a smart option to send large files over the Internet then it is recommended to register for advanced FTP hosting services. Advanced FTP hosting service provides necessary support to transfer large digital files safely from one computer to another via Internet. Email service is not sufficient for business process to exchange vast pool of information, nor it is the right option to keep the information away from Internet predators.
FTP, commonly known as File Transfer Protocol, is an efficient communication protocol that serves all purposes of corporate communication. You can send large files irrespective of their format (text file, image file, audio file, video file, multimedia file, etc.) through Internet by keeping the privacy of the content. Advanced FTP service provider will allocate separate space in their server as you register for FTP hosting service. This space will remain private for your business and allow you to store information in the allocated space that you want to share with other.
Advantage of File Transfer Protocol
File transfer protocol comes with two major advantages – transmitting large digital files and securing the information. Large file size is the main barrier for sending digital information over the Internet. You can share information and transfer files in the following ways:
Sending files as attachment via Email
Uploading files on the FTP server to share with other parties
There is a drawback in the first option. Email does not always allow files, which are large in size. Moreover, a mail server doesn’t always support all files types. Some common file extension, which are restricted by the mail server:
‘.wav’, ‘.scr’, ‘.pif’, ‘.exe’, ‘.bat’, ‘.com’, ‘.lnk’, ‘.hta’, etc.
There is no restriction on file type in FTP hosting service. Therefore you can easily transfer files via FTP server.
Advanced FTP hosting services are the right option for Designers, Architects and Printers to share their files over the Internet. It is observed that image files are large in size and creates problem when sending them through Email. Designers or printers need to send layout or multimedia presentation in digital file format. Therefore, Advanced FTP is a suitable communication protocol to fulfill the business purpose of graphic artists and illustrators.
Printers, Architects and Designers need a communication protocol that can transfer their artworks as well as protect images and the multimedia presentations from unauthorized third party. If you are in printing and publishing or you are a designer, advanced FTP service allows you to transfer files protected by secret password. In other word, it can be said that you can transfer files by encrypting the content. This feature of advanced FTP hosting service comes with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or SSH (Secure Shell). You can store encrypted files in the FTP server and provide the password as a ‘key’ to the recipient to view the actual content of the file. Therefore, it is recommended to designers, architects or printers to use advanced FTP hosting service with added security feature for ultimate protection.
Transferring large files via advanced FTP
Graphic designers or architects take the help of advanced FTP hosting service to transfer large images, layouts or presentations to their clients. Digital files are uploaded on the FTP server through a remote computer that has access to the FTP site.
FTP hosting service provider’s will allocate you space on a server to store files. Moreover, they will provide you with option to create multiple FTP accounts for other users of your business process. Only the users who have the authority to access the allocated space can transfer files through their FTP account.
Remarkable features of FTP hosting service are:
Fast transfer with high speed connections
User friendly Control Panel to manage FTP accounts
SSL/TSL 128-bit data encryption
No upper limit of the file size
Suitable uptime
Remote monitoring
24/7 Technical Support
Advanced FTP hosting service comes with the feature – 128bit FTP encryption. This encryption feature is available in FTP hosting services that have security tools like – SSL or SSH. Users will encrypt the content of the file and upload that compressed file on the server. Another authorized user, who has the ‘key’, can download that file to his/her local drive. The recipient will use that key to decrypt the content.
How To Change Your Computer's Heat Sink
Everyone really want a fast hot computer when we want to do some business computing and when we want to play thos high speed games.But we don't want a fast and Hot computer in the literal sense.
Heat will destroy any computer component if not removed in time.And the CPU Chip is one of the main components of your system that produces heat.
The heat sink has the all important task of keeping the CPU Chip cool so it does not overheat.And there may be times when the heat sink will fail to perform its job and must be changed.
Changing the heat sink on your central processing unit or CPU chip is a simple job.And the best part is that you only need a small screwdriver,cotton swabs,and some rubbing alcohol.
To change the heak sink remember to think safety first.This means that you want to be sure you have clean hands,a clean work place,and removing all static charge from your body by touching a door knob or any other metal object.
Once you have a suitable work area and clean hands you should now have a clean suitable mind as well.Allow this task to be both educational and fun.To change the heak sink perform the following.
Step 1.Unplug the computer and remove the cover from the System Unit case.
Step 2. Find the CPU Chip and the heat sink will be on top.Find the wires that go to the motherboard and very carefully unplug them.
Step 3. Remove the old heak sink and cooling fan assembly.Most Pentium based computers will have two levers that lock the heat sink in place.
On older Pentium computers,the AMD Athlon and the Duron processor,look for a ZIF or Zero Insertion Force socket where the processor is mounted.
Gently release the clips by sliding a very small screwdriver blade underneath it and lift the heat sink off the CPU.Take great care here do you don't damge the cpu chip in any way.
Step 4. Once the old heat sink has been removed, clean away the old thermal paste using cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol.Allow time for the CPU to dry.
Step 5. Grab some thermal paste and squeeze a little onto the top of the CPU.Only place enough to have a thin layer between the CPU and Heat Sink.
Step 6. Before installing the new heat sink, clean the bottom off with some warm, soapy water. Check to be sure the Heat Sink is dry before installing it.
Step 7. Carefully line it up over the ZIF socket and processor if so equipped.If the computer have the newer Pentium or Athlon based chip,lock the two clips holding the assembly.
Step 8. With the CPU and heat sink firmly in place, now its time to re-connect the fan wires for the collong fan.Plug the assembly into the motherboard.
Step 9. Check,double check,and after that,check some more to be sure all connections are in place.See if the heat sink assembly is well secured in its socket.
Step 10. Now replace the system unit cover,plug any peripherals you disconnected.Start the PC and the computer should now realize it has a new device in its system.
Once the computer has been booted up,check to be sure the Operating System is working.If possible, look at rear of the computer to see if the fan is operating as it should.
The Central Processing Unit is not the only heat producing component in your computer.But since its the brains of any computer,you want to be sure the heat sink performs at its best.
Take the time to learn this procedure in detail by removing the case and looking at the heat sink in your own computer.Knowing how to perform this task can save you money should you need to change your heat sink in the future.
Sony Moved Into Laptops With The VAIO Brand In 1997
Sony was started in the aftermath of World War II, during the rapid reconstruction of Japan that gave birth to its world-leading electronics industry. The company originally had a Japanese name, Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (TKT), but the founder changed this feeling that a short, catchy name using the Western alphabet would work better if the company wanted international success (this was a rare practice at the time, and was considered a controversial practice in Japan).
The company immediately started innovating, building Japan’s first tape players and the first successful transistor radios in the world – they specialised in taking American inventions and making them smaller and better, and then exporting them all over the world. As Sony made transistor radios smaller and smaller until they were easily portable, sales boomed, all the way through to the end of the ‘50s. This got Sony enough money to invest heavily in diversifying and building more and more new products, and the rest is history.
Since then, Sony has had many notable products: the Walkman and Discman portable music players, the Minidisc music format, the Playstation video game consoles and even a robotic pet dog, AIBO. Today, Sony is a giant not only in electronics, but also in entertainment, with a movie studio (Sony Pictures), a record label (Sony Music), a video game division (Sony Computer Entertainment) and far more besides. Overall, the Sony Group of companies is one of the largest in Japan, and is also up there with the biggest companies in the world.
Sony moved into laptops with the VAIO brand in 1997, and again found instant success. Originally, VAIO was a brand of desktop and laptop computers, but Sony stopped making the desktop models after the laptops became a runaway success. They built a reputation for high-quality components, good bundled software, low weight and long battery life, making it the laptop of choice among many high-end Windows users.
Learn How To Set Up Your Domain Correctly
When setting up your web page there are more things to consider than the banners, font, pictures, forums, and colors you employ. In fact, one of the most important aspects of your web page is your domain name. Domains are important because they are the first thing people see in order to get to your site.
So, if domains are easy and catchy to remember then more people will visit your site because they will remember your domain name. If you do not have your own domain name, but do use one from geocities or your Internet service provider, you should consider changing immediately in order to make the most out of your web page and whatever products and services you are offering.
Registering domains is actually very easy and really does not cost much money in most cases. The cost depends on where you register the domain name, of course, and some could cost $100 while others are even free. Go ahead and invest a little bit of money on your domain name because it will serve you well.
When registering your domain name or domains, you should also check to see if there are other similar domain names available or the same name with a different ending such as .com, .net, .org, or the like.
The more domains you own that are similar to your own the more hits you will get on your site. So, if you can afford to, buy all the domain names possible. You can have the other domain names directed to your web page, so it really is the best option to get more hits than you would with just one domain name.
Another thing is that if you have already designed your web page or pages and simply need to buy anew domain name, you do not have to start all over and redesign your web page unless you want to. All you have to do is have your new host transfer your web page to the new domain name and as easy as that you will have a professional domain name attached to your already professional web page. However, you may need to be patient for a few days for the transfer to take place.
If you are interested in making the most of your web page then you will go ahead and buy a real domain name as soon as possible. This is the best way to get your web page noticed and to get returned in search engines as well. Do not delay, either, because the longer you wait means that someone else might buy the domain name you want. So, go ahead and buy your domain name and start making money.
The Value of an IP Address Tracker
If you ever heard of an IP address tracker? It sounds to me like something the post office might use. Actually, it has something to do the Internet world. Let me explain:
The World-Wide-Web is rather intriguing wouldn't you say? It basically allows us access to all these bizarre and foreign places. Sometimes we come across things that we not have seen. It's truly amazing to have all this freedom and access at our very fingertips 24/7. A great deal of less use this technological wonder to our advantage on a daily basis, it's also a good idea to know what you're telling the world about yourself. Are you leaving a trail behind? Is someone watching every move you make on the Internet? You may want to ponder this concept before your next surf down the Internet-highway. Our PCs do all leave their own fingerprints. This characteristic is called an ip address. Have you any idea what yours might be? More importantly, did you know that anyone can use an ip address tracker to find out who and where you are? 1994 - big Brother all over again.
Does the phrase ip address tracker mean anything to you? If you have any experience with computers at all you probably know what an IP address tracker is. The truth is if you use a computer daily, then you probably know that yours contains an ip address. It is a means by which your computer can be specifically identified. A unique fingerprint, if you will. You've probably been spotted by a web company and not even noticed. Trust me, they are watching you.
Just this morning I was checking my email, and a website for dating was advertised on my browser. I clicked on it just to see what it was all about and it turned out to be an ad for singles and dating in my area. Then it flat out informed me what my town was called and who was available in it. Frankly, I wasn't at all surprised that this information was known. However, that just goes to show you with the click of a mouse, that website tapped into my computer's identity. They must use some sort of ip address tracker.
Whenever we use the Internet's wonderful resources, we rarely concern ourselves with where we're going. It's just another adventure through net-land. While this is fine, you may want to consider what is being recorded. Are you accessing classified government files, or IRS tax histories? Okay, maybe that's a little on that James bond side of the equation. Nevertheless, you should remember that websites all over the Internet can identify you rather quickly with an ip address tracker. If you are interested in high-tech software, you can find products that provide you with an ip address tracker for your own personal use. It's all there, online
Computer Security Software
Computer protection software assists you in detecting unwanted utilization of your PC and exploitation of personal information. The info pulled out by unjust methods can be made use of to the hacker’s advantage and might give rise to enormous financial and privacy loss. These people will aim for the computer processor, hard disk area and also the Internet connection. They will contaminate as much of computers as they possibly can by distributing devastating viruses.
Corporations for instance Microsoft used up lots of resources and money to come about with affordable and effective computer protection software. Such types of software programs detect and prevent the wrong usage of the computer. Precautionary software holds back hackers from getting access to personal information, whereas detection software assists you in detecting any harm done by means of the obtrusive virus. In the present state of affairs, where we make use of computers in more or less every important activity like chatting, purchasing and investing, it has turned out to be of essence for us to get our computer protection software up to date on a regular basis.
You might think about yourself to be not sufficiently rich or important for hackers to select you as their victim, however these people might not be interested in your info in the end. They might make use of your computer to intrude into other systems. Making use of your phony identity they might make use of your email to get inside other high profile computer systems for instance government records or banks.
An apparently safe doing for instance playing a game of poker on the Internet might let these hackers get on to your computer’s trail. It is not at all a very pleasant notion that each and every one of your moves on the computer is being monitored closely; as a result it is desirable to acquire computer protection software.
Download or purchase the anti-virus items, which will give security for your computers. You will need to set up the most recent software, given that new viruses are being put up on the Internet on a daily basis.
Why Using Compatible Printer Inks And Ink Refill Kits Is A Smart Consumer Choice
Many consumers make use of a consumer printer in addition to a personal computer for a number of reasons. With the purchase of a consumer printer also comes the need to purchase replacement printer ink cartridges as the ink runs out of the cartridge you are currently using. Replacement printer ink cartridges that are purchased from printer manufacturers can often cause quite an expense for consumers. Many manufacturer-made replacement printer ink cartridges can even surpass the purchase price of the printer they are used with. This is why buying compatible printer inks is a wise consumer choice. There are many ways why using compatible printer ink cartridges can be beneficial.
The main reason that using compatible printer ink cartridges and inkjet refill kits appeals to many consumers is that it will save you money. Individuals will find that more often than not a compatible printer ink cartridge will be less of an expense than the purchase a replacement printer ink cartridge from a printer manufacturer. Inkjet refill kits is also a great money saving option for consumer printer owners that may be on a budget or those that just like saving some money. An ink refill kit can greatly extend the life of a printer ink cartridge if the cartridge is refilled before the ink cartridge is completely empty.
Another great benefit to purchasing an inkjet refill kit or a compatible printer in cartridge is that they are extremely easy to purchase. Most consumers very much appreciate that they can order a compatible printer ink cartridge online for a great price and have it delivered right to their front doorstep.
The quality of the print job a compatible printer ink cartridge can provide you with is another great reason to use compatible printer inks. If you have purchased a good quality compatible printer ink the quality of the print work should be equal to an ink cartridge purchase from a printer manufacturer.
If you are an ecologically conscious consumer you will appreciate that compatible printer ink cartridges and ink refill kits decrease the amount of solid waste dumped into landfills each year as the can be reused several times. Also if you wish to purchase compatible printer ink cartridges or refill kits in bulk if you buy a good quality ink you will not have to worry about the future print jobs you printer will produce as the ink should store quite well. This option is can be found to be a real money saver with a lot of consumers.
There are very few models of printers that will not work with compatible inkjet printers so you would not have to worry about limited choice when looking into buying a printer you can use compatible printer inks with. Deciding to use compatible printer ink cartridges instead of replacement ink cartridges from a manufacturer can provide you with high quality print work at a much more reasonable price. So keep all of this useful information about compatible printer inks in mind as soon as you begin shopping for a new printer or your current printer is in need of new ink.
Improved RSS Feeds
RSS feeds are a great communication medium, and when properly managed, web feeds can bring in significant Internet traffic. RSS feeds should contain compelling themed content with episodic titles that are united in common broad theme. Use RSS feeds as an online marketing and search engine optimization tool. Just as optimizing an HTML web page will increase exposure, so too will an RSS feed that is properly optimized and promoted. Use these simple tips to improve your web feed exposure.
Channel Title
The channel title in your RSS feed is one of the most important aspect. The channel title should be keyword rich and contain information related to the general theme of the RSS feed. In order to maximize compatibility with RSS readers, it is best not to include any HTML in the channel title. The channel title is a website visitors first glimpse at the RSS feed, so its important to make an impression and attract the interest of casual browsers. Additionally, many of the RSS feed directories and search engines use the information contained in the RSS feed's channel title and description to index the feed. In order for the feed to be properly categorized, it is important that the information contained in these fields be relevant to the contents contained in the feed. If included at all, the blog, brand, or company name should be at the end not the beginning of the RSS feed channel title.
Channel Description
The channel description field provides an opportunity to expand on the broad theme of the RSS feed. The channel description should contain related keywords and phrases, but it should be written to capture the interest of readers not search engine spiders. HTML can be used to decorate and emphasize specific text in the description field. In summation the channel description should provide a compelling overview of the RSS feed's contents.
RSS Feed Item Titles
The item titles should be 50-75 characters with spaces. In order to increase readability and compatibility with news readers, the RSS feed item titles should not be encoded with any HTML. Think of an RSS feed item title in the same way that you would a webpage title. The RSS feed item title is your opportunity to capture the interest of your reader. Really an RSS feed item title is nothing more than a headline. The most effective item titles are calls to action that grab the readers attention. Include pertinent keywords or keyword phrases in the items title and this will help any individuals doing deep feed searches for specific content.
Optimize RSS
Optimize all aspects of the web feed. While the feed should be optimized for search engines, using the same techniques a webmaster uses on a website, the optimization should not be at the readers expense. The content in an RSS feed is often what leads readers to click or not click through. Readers will judge RSS feeds on the quality of the content. This means that grammar and punctuation do matter. Consistent grammatical errors will reduce the writers credibility and the number of subscribers.
Anchor Text
Using RSS feeds, publishers have the unique opportunity to determine the anchor text that will be used to link to internal website pages. RSS feeds are often syndicated, and even more often compelling feed items will often be re posted by other publishers. With that in mind, when including links back to a website in the item description field, use anchor text that is a relevant keyword or phrase. Anchor text is one factor that search engines use in determining a website's ranking for specific keywords and phrases.
Number of Feed Items
Routinely prune the old items in an RSS feeds and archive the content contained in the feed to ensure that feeds load quickly in RSS readers. If you are using a third party service to host your feeds, keep in mind that FeedBurner will truncate or not display RSS feeds that it finds to be too large.
Heading Tags
If you are displaying an RSS feed as an HTML web page it makes sense to use H1 or H2 tags to display the RSS feed's item titles. If the RSS feed is optimized, the website will benefit from the keyword emphasis by using the header tags.
RSS Feed URLs
As with HTML web pages, the URLs contained in an RSS feed should contain keywords if possible. Use hyphens not underscores, to separate the keywords in the RSS feed's URL.
Add an Image
Consider adding an image to your RSS feed to enhance its appearance in an RSS reader. The image should be no large 144x400 and it is recommended that the image be 88x31. Most RSS readers will display the feed image above the feed contents, this is a great way to reinforce brand and establish brand recognition. Additionally you can add images to the RSS feed's description field. In all cases, it is important that the full URL to the image be referenced, because if the feed is syndicated it will report a broken image if its attempting to retrieve it locally.
Some of the RSS feed directories use the feed's website favorite icons to flag the RSS feed. The RSS feeds containing a favorite icon stand out from others in the directories so be sure to include a favicon in the domain's root directory. RSS feeds are a great marketing tool, but like web pages, they must be optimized so that you can reap the full marketing benefits. Taking the time to implement some basic optimization tips will steadily increase your RSS feeds exposure.
Getting Rid of Spyware
To do away with spy-ware, you need to be aware of what spy-ware is. Spy-ware is a program that is set up in your PC and it trails whatever you do, at any time you are online surfing the Internet. It then transmits info back to the starting place and displays to you banner advertisements, which are derived from what websites you surf. The majority of spy-ware is packaged in software that is free of charge, which you download from the Internet. You will be able to tell whether the software which you have has got spy-ware or not, since you will observe a banner ad in the web browser, which is not usually there, or else you will come across pop-ups presenting you services or products at any time you surf.
Spy-ware can fill up the computer’s memory and then force your computer to operate slower, and at last, will make the computer freeze. Hence to do away with spy-ware you need to locate it in your PC. A software that can assist you with this difficulty is Ad-ware. Perform a search for this software on www.Google.com and you ought to come across a website from where you can download it.
Run this software and observe what it comes across. Then start the computer once again and run the software once more and observe if it locates any extra spy-ware. If it finds a spy-ware yet again, then perform a search online on www.Google.com for “Spybot Search and Destroy”. Perform the identical steps and observe if you again have spy-ware. If you have it, then restart your PC in safe mode then start both the software once more. This time the PC will go through all the files and ought to locate other spy-wares, which could not be located previously.
After the software finishes running, reboot your PC, run them all over again, and then go online and look for up to date versions for the software. If up to date versions are obtainable, download them and re-run the software to find out and delete any latest spy-ware.
If you would like to do away with spy-ware and prevent it from coming back to your PC, you ought to purchase a spy-ware program CD from a computer store. After you have this you will be allowed to enroll to the facility that will give you up to date information. If the program deduces that a spy-ware is in the PC, it will make you aware and will delete the impostor.
You ought to make use of any of these techniques to locate and delete spy-ware since it will make your PC operate in an incorrect manner. In case you would not prefer to make use of one of these software and would not want to download programs from the Internet, then you ought to inform anybody else who utilizes your PC not to do the same thing also.
Antispam Organization Out There That's Fighting For You
There's an antispam organization out there that's fighting for you and could use your help.
CAUCE, the Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail, is an all-volunteer global entity that began as SPAM-LAW, a group brought together for discussion only. They put all their efforts into getting legislation passed that would help stop and penalize spam.
CAUCE has no treasury and no offices. Completely virtual, the organization exists on the Internet, in newsgroups, and online discussion lists. Donations are not accepted because the CAUCE founders and members believe that would necessitate having to respond to numerous lobbying regulations.
CAUCE is now soliciting members, however. While the grassroots of the organization began in the United States - in San Francisco - there are chapters in other parts of the world as well, such as CAUCE Canada, CAUCE India, CAUBE.Au, which covers New Zealand, Australia and all Pacific Rim countries; and Europe's EuroCAUCE. CAUCE can boast more than 20,000 members in the U.S. alone, with all states represented. Even American Samoa and Guam have antispam proponents who have jumped on the CAUCE bandwagon.
CAUCE makes use of their membership list and each member's individual information in one way only. They give that list to the relevant legislators to further the cause of antispam legislation. The purpose of this is to let these legislators know how many voters in their area are concerned about spam and the need for antispam legislation.
To join CAUCE you simple provide them with your full name and e-mail address, your mailing address, your congressional district, and choose a password.
If you don't know which congressional district you are in you can determine that by visiting http://www.house.gov/writerrep. Here you will be asked for your state and zip code. Not only will this tell you your district but it will also give you your legislator's name as well as a feedback form to write to her or him should you so desire.
CAUCE has been gaining national and international recognition as they battle for legislation to stop, curtail and punish spammers. As long ago as 1998, CAUCE went to congress to spur on antispam legislation, which did make it to the floor but was never passed. The latest attempt, again quashed, was a bill requiring spam tagging.
This bill would have forced convicted spammers to note on their messages some clue in the subject line that would tell folks that the message they received is from a convicted spammer. The law didn't pass, nor was it supported by CAUCE. CAUSE and legislators both agree that the law would have been spineless, lacking enforceability. They agreed that those who were already breaking the law by spamming were not likely to comply with some new law that said they had to notify people they were spammers.
The CAUCE web site, http://www.cauce.org, lists its hall of shame. Here you will find sites that have been known to send or support, or at least fail to block spammers. At this writing there are only six sites listed.
Checkouts & Security: Your Web Host Is Key
From a commercial site owner's perspective, the checkout is the most rewarding of all site pages. It's the reason the site was built - to generate sales. Smooth, hassle-free transactions.
Unfortunately seven out of ten visitors who place an item in their carts never complete the sale. Many times, the problem lies in the site's checkout - its look, feel, security and most importantly, its ease of use.
Your web designer and host should offer a tool box of checkout solutions free, or at preferential pricing. Your web host should also provide the server security you want and need.
What Do Potential Buyers Expect At The Checkout?
The same thing they expect in a brick-and mortar outlet. Convenience, no long lines, security and politeness. So, how do these visitors' needs translate to a site's checkout design?
Convenience:
Numerous payment options are a convenience. Naturally, any site must accept credit cards - the big ones, any way. But what about PayPal, electronic bank transfer or how about an old-fashioned, hard copy check or mail order? The more ways to pay, the more sales are made. And a one-click checkout option for regulars boosts sales even more.
No Long Lines
Clear, easy-to-follow directions on every check-out page. And limit the number of checkout clicks and checkout pages.
Security
And plenty of it. Buyers expect complete, secure encryption of their transactions. They want to see the padlock lower-right, the http s in the address box and an SSL secure logo. Or no sale.
Politeness
Checkout copy that's reassuring. The ability to back out to previous pages and a follow-up thank-you/confirmation e-mail are all ways of demonstrating commitment to customer care.
Checkout Apps
Checkouts are available as separate applications that simply bolt on to your site's back office. Some of these checkouts are open source, while others cost a few bucks.
osCommerce is an open source application that's under constant development by experts from the ecommerce community who volunteer their time to refine this free and fee-free software. It's a great option for start ups - simple interface, straightforward administrator's console and compliant with all site servers - a critical consideration.
MIVA Merchant 5 comes in at the other end of the checkout spectrum, providing numerous checkout options, a feature rich administrator console, sales metrics, visitor tracking and many more features.
Most web hosts offer open source checkouts as part of their applications libraries, a real money saver when first starting out. And upgrading to a more sophisticated checkout is easy for the site owner and the hosting service.
Web Hosting and Checkout Security .
If you've been in business on-line for a year, you have a great deal of sensitive data stored on your web host's server. Names, addresses, credit card numbers - a veritable treasure trove to any script-kiddie or cracker. The information collected during the buyer checkout process must be secure for the sake of your business and for the sake of your buyer's confidence in your enterprise.
Regardless of whether you opt for an open source checkout or spend big bucks on the out-of-the-box supermall edition, your web host should provide site security in several ways.
SSL Certification
In order the take credit card payments, sites must be SSL certified and receive an SSL ID code.
Any reputable site host supports SSL certified secure connections. So, if you subscribe to a shared hosting package, in which you share server space with other sites, you'll be able to use the host's SSL certification to accept credit card payments through your site. There shouldn't be a charge for this since the host must have the SSL cert any way.
Is There A Steel Cage Around Your Checkout?
If a site accepts credit cards and uses other payment options (PayPal, Paystation, etc.), it must be secure. Now, a site owner can (and should) install quality software on the business system, but that's just the beginning. What kind of security does your hosting service offer?
Sensitive customer data, names, addresses and credit card numbers, make small sites attractive targets to hackers. And since this sensitive data is stored on your business system and your host server, that web host better have state of the art security on its shared and private servers.
And not just one layer of protection - a firewall and virus zapper. To protect the business and keep check-out transactions private, web hosts require multiple layers of security to protect against a variety of digital malpractice: brute force attacks, wardriving, malware injections and other forms of server intrusion.
Today's most advanced (and reliable) security is capable of defending itself automatically, detecting suspect incoming data and diverting it before it even reaches the host server.
Sure, any site owner must locally defend against intrusion with top-flight malware protection installed on the office computer or network. But without a secure server, the doorway to the www is wide open and anyone can walk in.
Downtime
Another important feature to consider when searching for a hosting service is downtime. When an on-line enterprise suddenly finds itself off-line due to a server malfunction, you might as well close up shop until the problem is solved.
Regardless of what checkout application you employ, from low-cost open source to high-priced tools that do it all, a host that can't deliver reliable, consistent service is going to cost money in downtime.
What kind of reliability should you expect? 99% plus. That's right, almost perfect uptime. Today's technology makes 99% reliability achievable. And that's what any site owner should expect from a hosting service.
The Bottom Line? Your Bottom Line.
When looking for a web host to connect you to the www, it's essential that you and the host consider checkout options to determine that the package you select is compliant with the host's servers and other hardware.
A well-equipped host should offer a toolbox of useful applications including an open source (free) site design and management package. And as you grow, it's important that your host be able to upgrade your checkout app without any downtime. Remember, you may start out small but you'll grow, your business will process more and more orders and you want to make sure your host can grow right along with you, offering everything you need to expand your on-line empire.
For shared hosting accounts, you should be able to use the host's SSL certification to enable you to take credit card orders. This service should come as part of the hosting plan, not as an add-on.
Finally, learn all you can about the host servers' security. Look for multiple layers, hardware- and software-based firewalls, virus detection, spam shooters and other 'at the gate' features to keep intruders at bay.
Working with your web host, you'll be able to design and develop an on-line checkout that's simple to use, accessible to customers 24/7/365 and impervious to threats from the outside.
Then, it's time to hang out the 'Open for Business' sign.
Optimize Broadband & Dsl Connections
These settings allow you to boost the speed of your broadband Internet connection when using a Cable Modem or DSL Router with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Open your registry and find the key below.
Create the following DWORD values, as most of these values will not already exist you will need to create them by clicking on 'Edit -> New -> DWORD Value' and then set the value as shown below.
DefaultTTL = "80" hex (or 128 decimal)
Specifies the default time to live (TTL) for TCP/IP packets. The default is 32.
EnablePMTUBHDetect = "0"
Specifies whether the stack will attempt to detect Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) routers that do not send back ICMP fragmentation-needed messages. The default is 0.
EnablePMTUDiscovery = "1"
Specifies whether the TCP/IP stack will attempt to perform path MTU discovery as specified in RFC 1191. The default is 1.
GlobalMaxTcpWindowSize = "7FFF" hex (or 32767 decimal)
Specifies the system maximum receive window size advertised by the TCP/IP stack.
TcpMaxDupAcks = "2"
Determines the number of duplicate ACKs that must be received for the same sequence number of sent data before "fast retransmit" is triggered.
SackOpts = "1"
Enables support for selective acknowledgements as documented by Request for Comment (RFC) 2018. Default is 0.
Tcp1323Opts = "1"
Controls RFC 1323 time stamps and window scaling options. Possible values are: "0" = disable RFC 1323 options, "1" = window scale enabled only, "2" = time stamps enabled only and "3" = both options enabled.
TcpWindowSize = "7FFF" hex (or 32767 decimal)
Specifies the receive window size advertised by the TCP/IP stack. If you have a latent network you can try increasing the value to 93440, 186880, or 372300.
Exit your registry and restart Windows for the changes to take effect.
If you don’t want to edit the registry, here's a little TCP utility that is ideal...
http://www.broadbandreports.com/front/doctorping.zip
Corner Computer Desks
With the high price of office space today, getting maximum usage of all your space is essential. Placing your workstations on corner computer desks can efficiently use an overlooked are of that space, the corners. These desks are designed to fit into that underused space compactly while still allowing more than adequate room to perform the tasks needed on your computer. There are many attractive designs available that will add shelf space for storage of supplies for your computer as well. You can find corner computer desks at most office furniture stores and many web sites on the Internet.
When you shop for your corner computer desks to use those underutilized areas of your expensive office space on the Internet, you should stay aware of a few things. First is to look for the shipping costs and types of shipping available. What seems to be a great price on those corner computer desks may turn out to be much higher after adding the shipping costs onto the price. Some firms may offer you free ground shipping with your order and then take six to eight weeks to get your order to you. So look at the shipping costs and look for the method of how it will be shipped before sending your payment.
Payment methods brings us to the second important thing to stay aware of. When you place that order for those corner computer desks you want for your office, never put your payment information on any page that is not a secure page. You can tell a secure page from a regular page by looking at the page address on your browser. A secure page will start with https://. Regular pages start with http://. That extra letter is only used on secure pages and is a sign that you are dealing with a reputable dealer. If the site that offers the corner computer desks you desire does not have a secure page for your ordering information, it is risky to do business with them. You will be better off to seek your corner computer desks elsewhere.
Corner computer desks are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes. With a little searching, you can find them in select hardwoods and even in faux finishes to appear as select hardwoods. One model I noticed appeared to be a corner hutch until you opened the cabinet to see the monitor and pulled out the keyboard tray to type. Others have a minimalist style that just utilizes that underused area of your office in an efficient manner. The choices are endless.
Corner computer desks are available at prices to fit any sized budget. A quick search on the Internet will locate corner computer desks starting well below a hundred dollars with some of those prices including shipping. They may have to be assembled upon delivery. Start using that under utilized space in your office today by placing your workstations on corner computer desks. You will be happy that you did.
Computer Desk Plans
For a dedicated do it yourselfer, nothing brings more satisfaction than a well completed project. Building your own desk for your computer is a project worth contemplating if this is your hobby. A simple search on the Internet will bring in many computer desk plans to plan this project around. These plans come with parts lists and tools needed to make your planning of the project easier. The prices vary from no cost to a high of less than fifty dollars for the computer desk plans. You will be able to find computer desk plans in your local craft and hobby store as well.
A search for computer desk plans available at web sites on the Internet will turn up thousands of woodworking sites with plans available. The prices for the plans will vary with the method you choose to obtain them. Some sites will be happy to mail you a set printed on paper. Other sites will only have downloads available, leaving the printing all in your hands.
When making purchases from web sites on the Internet, always be sure that your order is done on a secure page. You can tell when a page is secure by looking at the pages address on your browser. Secure page addresses will always with https:// instead of the normal http://. If the order page is not secure, do not put any information on the page as it will be susceptible to hijacking. You can try contacting the owners of the web site to find a more secure method of ordering. The only time you should have shipping charges involved is when the web site is mailing a paper copy of the plans to you instead of you downloading the computer desk plans. On the sites I visited that had this option available, the shipping charges were reflected in the price of the plans.
Now that you have obtained the computer desk plans, the fun of starting the project begins. Finding a good lumberyard with reasonable prices for your wood will be easy if your choice of wood is pine or bonded plywood. If you want to make the desk out of select hardwoods, a little more effort will be required. You can get the wood in more or less bulk form and do the entire cutting yourself or have the lumberyard pre cut your wood to size. With precut pieces, you will still have to do all the finishing and assembly of the wood into the final state of your computer desk.
You have gotten your wood, cut it to size, sanded it to perfect smoothness and stained and sealed it against use. The final assembly will best be done in the location where you plan to use the desk. That way you will not have to move the desk after it is assembled. The feeling of satisfaction you experience every time you sit down at the computer, knowing that you built this desk with your own hands will make the purchase of your computer desk plans well worth the money you spend on them.
How to Choose your Compact Computer Desk
If you have a small office either at work or at home, then consider a compact computer desk. These desks are perfect space savers and are offered in a variety of styles and finishes. Wood compact desks are abundant as well as glass and metal computer desks made for a small office space. Compact desks are also very affordable starting at just over $50. Many compact desks are made to be mobile. Easy to move and lightweight, these slim line computer desks feature easy to adjust settings and specific areas for your CPU, monitor and laptop. Many of these work stations are offered in child sizes as well.
The finish or color of your compact computer desk is up to you. With a wide selection offered, it's easy to match your desk to any decor. When selecting your compact desk, make sure it has space for your computer, scanner, and any other components you will need to use at your desk. Check for rear cut-outs for cords and adjustable heights when choosing a desk to fit your needs. Look for a well built desk with sturdy legs, clean lines and no sharp corners. These desks are often streamlined and will offer a mouse platform since often they will not offer much usable table top space. A filing cabinet can slide under your new compact desk, further saving space and attaching a paper holder to your monitor will allow you to have even more space on your desktop.
Before purchasing a compact computer desk, you will need to know a few things. You will need to know the weight of your computer and the monitor. This will help when selecting a computer desk that will accommodate the weight of a large computer. Also, many compact desks feature an arm that will hold the monitor and can then swing out into view. It will be necessary to know the weight of your monitor to ensure the right monitor arm is available on the compact desk. You will need to know exactly what equipment you will need room for on your compact desk. Often a compact desk will have room for the CPU, the monitor, keyboard and mouse. Look for added features such as shelving for printers, fax machines, an area to hold papers and disks, and other equipment you may need such as a burner or speakers.
Before you leave your home or office to go desk shopping, make sure you measure your future desk space. Compact doesn't always mean as compact as you'd like. Decide if the desk will be pushed up against a wall and also how high the desk can reach. Can added shelving offer more space? Using a hutch on a compact desk is a great way to save space. If ordering online or purchasing from a store, learn what the shipping costs will be. Often a store will offer free shipping but if not, check on the weight of the desk. Just because it's compact does not mean it's light. Shipping can cost almost as much as the desk itself. Also make sure that your new desk has a warranty for workmanship.
Buying A Consumer Printer On A Budget
Almost every home today makes use of a consumer printer for educational, personal, work or home business related reasons. Buying and maintaining a consumer printer can get to be rather expensive however it is possible to purchase a consumer printer and not have it take a huge bite out of your budget.
First of all when considering your consumer printer purchasing options think of exactly why you are needing to purchase a printer. Are you going to be needing a printer simply to print reports and other projects for school? Are you going to be printing things like new recipes or colouring pages for your children? Perhaps you are looking into an inkjet printer to print marketing materials for a brand new home business. Some consumers need a printer for a combination of these reasons. Once you have a good idea of why you need a new printer you will have a better idea of which type of printer will best meet your needs.
Purchasing replacement printer ink cartridges for your consumer printer can lead to be quite an expense so many consumers are turning to the option of compatible printer inks and inkjet refill kits. A quality compatible printer ink cartridge is often less of an expense then a ink cartridge made by a manufacturer. Most compatible printer inks offer exactly the same print quality (if not sometimes a little better) as manufacturer cartridges. Compatible printer inks are a smart money saving option for those looking to purchase a consumer printer on a budget.
Comparison shopping is a very smart idea for those looking to purchase a consumer printer on a budget. Do not feel compelled to buy the first printer that you come across. The internet is a plethora of great options for purchasing a new consumer printer. Ebay can be a great resource for those seeking a printer or printer supplies at a great price. There are also many great online stores that offer printers, ink cartridges and other printer supplies for very reasonable prices.
Another thing to consider if you are on a budget while shopping for a consumer printer is that while a more expensive printer may take a large portion of your budget it could save you money in the long run as a less expensive printer could be more expensive to maintain.
If an inkjet printer will let you change the ink tank it can save you more money than printers that require just the ink cartridge to be replaced. If you are buying a multifunction printer keep in mind that if for example the copier fails the other functions might not be that far behind. This could end up costing a consumer a lot of money so carefully research the printer you plan to purchase before making your final decision.
These are just a few great ideas for purchasing a printer if you happen to be budget. Making sure that you do your research and shop around will help you find a wonderful consumer printer at an even more wonderful price.
Zone Alarm Security
Are you a computer geek? Hey, I don't mean this as an insult. In this day and age it certainly pays to be computer savvy. Heck, we all have to use computers in some aspect of our lives, whether we like it or not. This is the age of technology folks, and I think we can all appreciate that on many levels. Finally we can take care of our banking online. Furthermore, we don't even have to worry about grocery shopping if we're feeling a tad lazy. Delve into cyberspace and see how you can have your groceries delivered. How cool is that! Anyway, since we're all so into PCs, Macs and net-land, it also pays to protect what's yours. Now, when I say this I'm referring to all those hackers and crooks out there. They're constantly trying to penetrate your personal computer in order to steal your stuff. That's totally messed up, right? Well, have no fear. These days we have products such as the zone alarm security suite to keep them out.
Ever heard of the zone alarm security suite? This is a crafty innovation that was designed to help the modern individual with his/her computer security. Haven't you ever wondered who is watching or monitoring your behavior when you're surfing the web? You've surely heard the phrase "big brother is watching" before. Well these days it's certainly not just big brother. In more recent times we have to worry about infinite crooks and scam artists hacking into our systems. If you own a computer, then you're at risk. This is why you need the zone alarm security suite. With this wonderful new software, you can keep all those criminals out by blocking access to your personal computer and files. The last thing you want is some loser hacking into your bank account, attempting to steal your hard-earned cash. That's a truly terrible thought, isn't it?
I can recall a time when I spotted a random cell phone charge on my banking statement. I had to call my bank and sort things out. I found out that someone had hacked into my system somehow and charged my bank account. Doesn't the bank have a zone alarm security suite in place? Well, apparently not. Once the bank corrected the issue, I was out of there. I needed a bank that could truly watch over my cash.
Merging Two Or More Images In Photoshop – First Things First
Have you ever noticed how magazines, newspapers and some web designers are able to combine multiple photographs together to create cool collages of merged images? Merging two or more images into one image has become the standard. Everywhere you look you will see examples. Whether you are a web designer, graphic artists, or photographer you can benefit from the ability to merge photographs. Photo merging techniques will allow you to create original logos, advertisements, backgrounds for web sites, and much more.
If you have Adobe Photoshop then you already have everything you need to create amazing digital collages from multiple photos. Photoshop is the professional’s choice for digital photographic editing and manipulation.
Before you start merging two or more photographs to make a digital collage it is important that you spend a little time planning your final image. While technical knowledge in how to use Adobe Photoshop to merge photographs is essential don’t downplay the importance of planning your final image before you even start working in Photoshop. With that being said, the layers function in Photoshop is perfect for allowing you to experiment with different options.
The following are areas to consider when planning a photo collage image.
Choosing Photographs
The most important part of merging multiple photographs is as simple as choosing the right photographs for your photo collage. The photographs you choose can compliment each other in terms of a general theme or color scheme. Try using the eyedropper in Photoshop to check colors and look for complimentary colors.
Composition
Once you have chosen the right photographs for your photo collage it is time to think about your composition. Browse the Internet and look for example of digital photo collages and look for images that you feel are particularly effective in relaying the message intended by the advertiser or artist. Pay attention to the composition of the images. Consider what makes the images blend well together.
The great thing about Adobe Photoshop is that you can work in multiple layers which will allow you to play around with your composition before permanent placement.
Hewlett Packard Delivers Exceptional Color Laserjet Printing Technology
Hewlett Packard is a market leader in color LaserJet printing technology, providing personal and business solutions from handheld devices to powerful supercomputer installations. While its Color LaserJet HP 2550, HP All-in-one 2500L, HP 2550L, HP 2550LN and HP 2550N have been discontinued, the conveniently sized printers and refurbished models are still running strong.
The HP Color LaserJet 2500 series delivers professional, high-quality prints for a comparatively low price. The printer is ideal for home office, small workgroup, desktop or personal use, offering network capability and great results on small print runs. It’s compact body and sleek style sit unobtrusively within any environment. These dynamic printers are compatible with PC, Unix and Mac computers.
The Hewlett Packard’s 2800 series gives professionals and individuals wide formatting capabilities from a compact, desktop model. The HP 2800 series allows fluid printing on letter, legal, super B, tabloid, executive, statement, 8.5 x 13 and No. 10 Monarch envelopes, plus index cards. These models are study, delivering up to 12,000 pages per month.
One more step up, the HP 2820 All-in-one Color Laser Printer is Better Buys for Business’ 2006 Editors Choice, giving you the ability to print, color scan and copy. With much more power, this printer produces 20 full-color pages per minute, ideal for an entire wired network team.
Compatible supplies for the Color LaserJet HP 2550, HP All-in-one 2500L, HP 2550L, HP 2550LN and HP 2550N, the HP 2800 and the HP 2820 All-in-one models include:
For use with the HP Color LaserJet 2500 series:
HP C9700A: Black Laser Toner Cartridge
HP C9701A: Cyan Laser Toner Cartridge
HP C9702A: Yellow Laser Toner Cartridge
HP C9703A: Magenta Laser Toner Cartridge
HP Q3961A: Cyan Laser Toner Cartridge
For use with the HP Color LaserJet 2550 series:
HP Q3962A: Yellow Laser Toner Cartridge
HP Q3963A: Magenta Laser Toner Cartridge
HP Q3964A: Imaging Drum
Software Maintenance Contracts Offer Protection
Computer users everywhere are looking for software maintenance contracts that can help eliminate viruses. Personal computer users at home and at the office are susceptible to viruses that can entirely destroy systems and halt daily operations. The only way to keep them from happening is by implementing prevention plans like those provided by high quality software maintenance contracts.
Update Yourself on the Latest Viruses
New computer viruses appear very frequently and are so common and devastating that they often make headlines and halt businesses entirely, either because of infection or because they want to take preventative measures before disaster strikes. Many websites exist that give people ideas about how to avoid computer viruses. Ongoing software maintenance contracts can help take the guesswork out of keeping abreast of the latest viruses by providing help with research, information and professionals to take active measures to stop viruses before they start.
Take Professional Advice
The best advice offered by consultants obtained through software maintenance contracts is to delete mail from unknown senders immediately without opening, and to never open attachments you did not anticipate. Consultants recommend updating virus protection software on a regular basis, which means once a week to keep up with changes.
Not All Virus Attacks are Your Fault
Even those that take every imaginable precaution against computer viruses will get one at some point. Thankfully computer virus help obtained through software maintenance contracts is available to every type of computer user today. Looking for computer consultants that offer software maintenance contracts is as simple as an Internet search, and professionals can typically quickly take you through the process of fixing a computer with a virus. Prevention is always best, but your ideal option after a virus strikes is a trained professional that offers comprehensive software maintenance contracts.
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About The Author
Joshua Feinberg can help you grow your computer consulting business, the RIGHT way! Sign-up now for your free audio training program that features field-tested, proven Computer Consultants Business Tools at http://www.SmallBizTechTalk.com.
Why Choose a Core 2 Duo For Your CPU In Your New High End Computer ?
It must have been difficult for Intel to watch AMD's Athlon 64 and then the Athlon 64 X2 and FX pretty much take over the performance PC market, putting the once-untouchable chip giant into a position where its only competitive response was to cut prices. Those were dark days indeed. But now, with the release of the long-awaited codename "Conroe" -- the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors -- Intel looks set to start a new age of desktop domination.
Most onlookers expected Intel to take back the performance crown from AMD, but few anticipated the sheer magnitude of this victory, or the nearly flawless style with which Intel performed it. And the Core 2 Duo is just the first strike in this battle, as Intel is also planning preemptive Pentium D price drops and has revamped its single-core Pentium 4 and Celeron D lines as well.
The Conroe excels in three areas, which add up to the very definition of what a current buyer expects from a top-end desktop CPU. These factors are price, performance, and power requirements, and the 65-nanometer-process Core 2 Duo and Extreme have surpassed their AMD counterparts in each, completing the same type of triple play that AMD had turned on the Pentium 4 and Pentium D.
The question of who's got the best performance is not even up for debate: The 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800 is the fastest desktop processor on the planet, and the 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo E6700 is not far behind. Even the next-step-down 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 is an outstanding desktop performer that can outpace AMD's flagship Athlon 64 FX-62 in most tests.
Power and cooling requirements are also extremely low -- the Core 2 Duo line offers the lowest power draw of any dual-core processor, with the Core 2 Duo Extreme not far off. Prices are also extremely competitive. In fact, it's amazing that for such a competitive price , the Core 2 Duo E6600 can outrun AMD's entire desktop lineup. The lower-end Core 2 Duo E6300 and E6400 models are even more affordable, although their 2MB instead of 4MB of Level 2 cache mean their relative performance isn't as high.
Intel has accomplished this via a drastic shift away from the Pentium's NetBurst technology. Conroe's next-generation core performs more instructions per clock cycle (IPC), rather than having a longer and potentially less efficient pipeline that can be clocked into the stratosphere. Core 2 processors' 2MB or 4MB of 256-bit L2 cache feature what Intel calls Advanced Smart Cache, dynamically shared between the two cores for maximum efficiency rather than chaining half the cache to each core.
With IPC levels exceeding those of AMD plus clock speeds up to 2.93GHz and a 1066MHz front-side bus, Intel has moved well ahead in the performance game despite sticking with traditional CPU and chipset architecture rather than AMD's on-chip-memory-controller approach.
The Conroe design also reflects a need to keep power requirements and heat production down via various power-saving technologies. Since the basic architecture will be shared through all of Intel's processor lines (except the Itanium), including upcoming mobile CPUs, this translates into very power-efficient processing.
The Core 2 Duo and Extreme processors may offer industry-leading performance, but Intel's SpeedStep technology ensures that the chips can ramp down the multiplier and reduce clock speed to conserve battery power and/or lower core heat levels.
Moreover, new Intelligent Power Capability can go beyond slowing the CPU as a whole to turning various core functions on and off as required. These power-saving techniques don't get in the way of outright performance, as the Conroe instantly jumps back to top speed when required.
Through the use of technical expertise obtained through advanced CPU server technology and exprertise Intel has leapfrogged once again to a combination of power , low energy use and heat production and reliability especially since with advances in CPU speed can disabling and damaging hear.
The Core 2 Duo CPUs should be a major consideration in your next high end computer purchase.
Computer Repair Services and Market Segments
Computer repair services are critical to the industry. As a computer repair services provider, knowing your market segments can help you find customers that need your make this job even easier.
Determining Market Segments
When you are determining market segments, you should think about three factors. Answering three “w” questions - “Who?” “What?” and “Why?” - will allow you to concentrate on clients that are in most need of computer repair services. Creative approaches to marketing and sales will give you a much more targeted customer base.
Who Needs Services?
You can learn more about who the customer you're looking for is by thinking about geography, lifestyle and personality. The customer might live in a rural area or in a strong community. What is the customer's lifestyle? Find out what his hobbies, social activities, television viewing habits and other interests are. Lastly, what is his personality? If you understand a customer's habits, you can custom fit computer repair services to his needs.
What Kind Of Services?
If you offer computer repair services, think about pricing, delivery, packaging and features you will offer. Then help fit these with the needs of each market segment. Some segments might want a very cost effective repair service, while some might rather pay extra for additional features and benefits. If you know what each client needs, you will be able to deliver the best services.
Why Do They Need Services?
Computer repair services are most needed by those that lack knowledge of technology. Occasionally, however, clients might have computer knowledge but lack the time to deal with them personally. You should know what is causing each segment to seek your assistance so you can best satisfy specific needs.
Learning more about your market segments should be the primary focus when you are deciding how to offer computer repair services. Becoming intimately familiar with who the customer is, what services he needs and why he needs them will create a satisfied customer and good business.
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About The Author
Joshua Feinberg helps independent PC Support professionals get more steady, high-paying PC support clients. Learn how you can get more monthly recurring PC Support revenue with Joshua's free training recording now at http://www.PCSupportTips.com.
Virus Alertness Tricks
When talking about computer virus protection, anti-virus software, and firewalls, it is important to stress that no virus protection system is foolproof. Even top security computer systems have been infiltrated time and again by hackers and computer criminals simply by programming a virus. Files have been deleted, accounts and identities have been stolen, and confidential files have been accessed by these hackers. This is not to say that anti-virus softwares are useless, but to point out that these programs work and perform better with the users' assistance.
Computer viruses are programs that reproduce themselves and infect files and disks. They are spread and transmitted whenever files, disks, or programs are exchanged. Email attachments from known people, like your friends, professors, colleagues, or even your boss, can be virus-laden. The senders themselves may not even be aware that they're sending you a virus. Computer virus protection, anti-virus software, and firewalls are developed to help you identify the viruses, the infected part of your system, and the process by which the virus can be contained. But as pointed out before, they need your assistance. New programs are developed regularly, and aside from these, there are also new technologies put in use. With the improvements in technology, it is naive and erroneous to assume that viruses remain as they are. They are constantly changing, becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect. Most advanced viruses aren't detected until they have brought down and controlled entire systems. Hence, the first trick of virus protection is to subscribe to a reputable anti-virus software. Free software can detect and quarantine simple worms and viruses, but they would be hard-pressed to detect the more sophisticated kinds. Subscription requires minimal fees compared to the degree of protection your computer receives. This is especially advisable to companies and large businesses where several computers are joined in a network. Computers for home use and ones that aren't used for storing sensitive data can do just fine with free downloadable software.
Subscription automatically causes your computer virus protection, anti-virus software, and firewall security to update whenever it is possible. This is an advantage because you can keep up with the rapid sophistication of new viruses. The more updated your software is, the more efficient it is in catching the virus. Free software must be updated or replaced with new versions regularly. It is best to update your software whenever your software site alerts you of newer versions. Aside from these tricks, doing virus scans on files, disks, software disks, programs, and other applications must be second nature to you before opening or downloading. Keep back-up files of the data and files in your computer in case a virus caused them to be deleted. Regular rebooting and "clean up" of your system also minimize susceptibility to viruses. Computer virus protection and anti-virus softwares optimize their performance with your help.
Laptop Accessories In A Bag
Laptops, notebooks, and portable computers increase our working mobility. They allow us to work outside the office, at home, and ultimately, anywhere. However, for added and enhanced features, laptops often need accessories. But not just any accessory, these accessories must be portable and most of all, compatible to our laptops. This is why it is often a problem to find suitable laptop accessories even with the different brands and types available in the market. But this won't be a problem with the new accessory bundles.
These bundles are available and can be purchased with your laptop or you can choose to buy them as added items. These accessory bundles give laptop users much advantage. First, laptop accessories included in the bundle are carefully chosen from top brands and leading makers of laptop accessories. This means that you get top quality accessories without having to scour different shops. Second, the bundles are relatively cheaper compared to the total price of the accessories if you buy them individually. You get to save more money without sacrificing quality. Third, these accessories are guaranteed compatible with your laptops especially if you buy them together. These means that purchasing errors are minimized and that you avoid wasting unused, incompatible accessories. Despite this, there is no need to worry about incompatibility even if you buy your bundle separately from your laptop. Specialized bundles are sold to suit different laptops. The makers of these accessories understand that their products might not suit the system of other laptops, hence the creation of the special bundles. Accessory shops usually sell these bundles according to customer specifications (Apple accessories for Apple users). Other special bundles are sold to enhance specific features of your laptop. Entertainment bundles usually includes accessories to make your laptop like a virtual television or theater while security bundles include software protection accessories.
In addition, these accessory bundles extend the warranty of laptop accessories. If an individual accessory is sold, it usually has a warranty of a year, but if bought within a bundle, the warranty period increases for up to three years. Accessory bundles are usually sold with promos or added free items. Mice, docking stations, and even laptop cases or bags are usually included in these bundles for free or at least a very minimal price. Manuals and handbooks are also included in the bundles to give you and new users instructions how these accessories work together for efficient laptop function. In effect, you get quality products that boost your laptop's efficiency without exerting extra effort while saving a significant amount of money.
Computer Memory – A Vital Part of a PC
Any device that holds data for a computer for a short period of time is called computer memory. If you have spent even just a little time with any computer, you will hear about RAM, Hard Disks, or CD's and DVD's. All these are means to store the information from a computer. The capacity and speed of storage varies much in these kinds of memory.
The Central Processing Unit of a computer is connected to the main memory. This main memory component is useful in storing the data and programs that are currently being run in the CPU. In modern computers the random access memory (RAM), a solid-state memory, is attached to the CPU using a memory bus. A memory bus is also called an address bus.
In addition to RAM, there may be a cache memory also, which contains small chunks of information that is to be used by the CPU soon. The idea is to reduce the fetching time, and thereby speed up the working of the CPU. Cache memory increases the throughput of the CPU, affecting the performance of the computer. In general, the RAM is the most important part of computer memory. RAM is made from integrated semiconductor chips.
RAM and Other Types of Memory:
The primary characteristic that separates RAM from other types of memory is the fact that any memory location RAM can be accessed at almost the same speed in a random manner. This is vastly different from the accessing approach used in other devices like the sequential one, used in tapes etc. Some RAM chips are volatile, meaning that as soon as the power supply is switched off to these chips, they lose all the data.
Some computers use a shadow RAM as well, which copies data present in ROM to make data availability faster, thereby helping increase the computer's speed and efficiency.
Cost:
In earlier times, the cost of computer hardware was enormous, so whenever an upgrade was required, it was much cheaper to buy the parts and do an upgrade rather than to buy a new computer. This has changed. Now the cost of hardware has gone down, and it is easier to replace the whole computer than to buy a few parts.
This fall in prices is applicable to the desktop computers used by simple homeowners only. Replacing servers and high-end computers is still very expensive, so in the case where any new function or capacity expansion is required, it is easier and cheaper to replace parts such as computer memory.
RAM Configurations:
RAM chips are available in various configurations ranging from 128 MB to 1 GB for laptops and desktops. For normal usage, this much RAM is enough. If you wish to play many games, watch movies, or work on graphics, then you will need to have more RAM as all these applications are memory hungry. In such cases, buying a new system altogether is not a very logical solution. All the computers and laptops come with internal expansion slots that can be used to expand the memory.
An optimal amount of computer memory is essential, as unlike earlier times, our memory needs have grown. Normally, we have an email client, messenger, and music already running when we sit down to work on our computers. All of these have taken their share of memory already, leaving little behind for the application we want to launch for our work. These days 512 MB RAM is the recommended norm.
Computer Firewall - Your Vital Defense Against A Virtual Attack
If you’ve got some private info in your PC in any way and you connect to the Internet, then it is really very essential for you to think about the advantages of a PC firewall. A lot of people bolt their houses, bolt their cars, remain alert and lookout for their kids, and even then leave the private info, bank account, and different types of other info open to the elements and in danger by the use of their personal computers.
A cyber space assailment can be equally distressing emotionally and financially just like somebody making an unlawful entry into your house. They are permitted entry to confidential information which you might have shared off the record with offline friends or also online friends with whom you keep in touch with online, they will know the passwords for banking and financial accounts, they will be familiar with the place from where you obtain your coffee; they will be able to find out the place where your kids go to school. The info we keep in our personal computer is astounding with respect to personal safety nightmares and even then a lot of people make no effort to protect this info from snooping eyes by putting in an uncomplicated computer firewall.
A wonderful feature is that you can also come across computer firewalls that are free of charge obtainable online if you have an idea as to where to come across it. I very much advise spending money for a computer firewall even though if you possess modest understanding of the internal mechanisms of your computer. If you are going to protect your family’s secrets you might as well put in an extremely good quality program with regular updates with the purpose of doing so.
A computer firewall is not only a good thing to keep in your computer; it is also a very important defensive structure for your family and you. Bear this in your mind when selecting the finest computer firewall for yourself. Keep in mind that you would like to acquire a service, which will make updates available and carry on with the developing technology, which might just cause damage to your PC or pilfer your private information.
Your Firewall: How Does It Work?
The term firewall may not be new to you, but if asked why you need it and exactly how it works, very few of us will be able to provide an accurate answer. A firewall protects your computer and the files you are working on from unwanted users and programs, while you are logged on to the Internet.
Unprotected files may be attacked by hackers who, with the use of harmful codes and programs, gains access to your personal information and may go as far as stealing your identity and using your credit card information for his/her personal interest. So, what exactly does a firewall do?
A firewall brings an end to theft and also hinders potentially harmful programs from infecting other files. This explains the name of such a program too. Its work is akin to that of a firewall that checks the spread of fire from one area to the other.
A firewall makes a hacker’s invasion into your computer system futile because the latter can never access your passwords or your credit card information. The firewall software installed in your computer permits only useful data but bars all seemingly harmful data from accessing your system.
Good or safe data is what you get when you are visiting web sites and downloading photos or data files. Harmful data, on the other hand, is anything that keeps a close watch on what you do on the Internet without your knowledge. A typical example is the hacker program. Such programs are blocked by the firewall quite effectively.
With the enabling of computer firewall protection, anything that enters and leaves your computer is regulated. This is one way of preventing spyware and adware from attacking your computer network. Also, deadly programs on the Internet can be left out with the use of firewalls.
Laymen often believe that the anti-virus software installed in their computer allows protection against hackers too. The anti-virus should always be updated to check the presence of viruses but it hardly shields your computer against attacks by hackers.
No matter what type of connection you have, be it dial-up, cable, broadband or DSL, your computer is at risk every time you connect to the Internet. Hackers are always on the lookout to harm you and steal your identity.
A firewall protection is probably the most effective way to keep your personal information and identity away from the dirty hands of hackers.
I hope this article has given you a preliminary but a fair idea of what firewall protection is all about. Since you are in the know now, it will make you a more informed and educated Internet user.
