Discount Computers

Let’s face it. Network technology isn’t sexy. Most people don’t
sit around debating the various forms of network technology that
exist today and think to themselves ‘wow, this is what I want to
do in my spare time.’ The fact of the matter is that computer
networks can be as boring as watching paint dry. And when it
comes to the underlying technology of these networks, the only
people you might be find debating the various pros and cons are
true geeks.

Media converters are no different. And before you think that you
can spend the rest of your life using copper connections to
maintain your network, think again. Let’s look at the top 2
reasons why you might need to invest in a quality media
converter. And yes, we’ll try to make this as interesting as
possible. Here we go.

1)The real reason why you need a media converter is simple:
distance. Copper has intrinsic limitations where it’s only
really good for about 300 feet (or so the popular opinion is).
After that you need to add some fiber to make the network really
powerful (or at least make it operational). The real reason for
copper’s distance limitations probably has something to do with
copper’s inherent physical properties, but regardless, a media
converter will extend copper’s effectiveness when paired up with
fiber.

2)Save some money. Who doesn’t like to save some money here and
there? I certainly do. If you want to redo your network
completely and save a whole bunch of money, there is no reason
why you should completely wire your office (or building) in
fiber from the start. As attractive an option as having a
business that is completely fiber (the coveted ‘fiber to
desktop’), if you can save substantial money by investing in a
simple media converter, it will be more than worth your while.

There is more to media converter story than meets the eye at
first glance. Get informed about media converters before you
take off and invest your hard earned money. A media converter
can make a lot of sense in the right situation.

About the author:
Tim Jeffries is author of “The Media Converter
Guide.” Get your copy at http://www.bobsmediaconverter.com.

I’ve been asked this question so many times I thought I’d put my
thoughts down here for you to read. Let’s start by pointing out
a couple things first. First off, depending on where you live,
you may not have a choice of access. Satellite may be your only
choice, which makes this null and void. Don’t fret, satellite is
better than any dial-up and the contract lengths are generally
12-14 months in length. It will cost a bit more, given the extra
equipment involved, but it certainly beats dial-up (if you can
afford it).

Ok, on to the two major broadband access methods, cable and DSL.
When I’m asked this question, I usually follow it with questions
of my own.

1st. What type of internet surfing do you do? Are you a gamer,
shopper, email user, web developer, music downloader, online
video watcher, video editor or casual surfer?

2nd. How many computers will you have connected to the internet
at one time?

3rd. Do you plan on ‘leveraging’ your broadband investment for
home security or VoIP? (Voice over Internet Protocol is a method
of making and receiving your phone calls using your broadband
connection.)

When making your decision keep in mind that cable access,
generally, cost more. The higher cost comes with the benefits of
more speed. Up to 6 meg download, or the amount of information
you can receive ‘down’ from the internet.

Loading web pages, listening to music online or watching video
online are all impacted by your download speed. DSL is about 1.5
meg down in comparison. Not only does this impact ‘your’ surfing
behavior, but if you plan to have more than 1 computer access
the internet at the same time, keep in mind you’re ’sharing’
this connection. Sharing the connection means sharing that
download ‘pipe’. (your internet connection) Uploading to the
internet (file attachments in email, uploading web pages, etc.
impact your upload speed. Cable upload speeds are around 384K
while DSL is around 128K.

If you wish to leverage your investment in broadband by using
VoIP, keep in mind that DSL is provided through the copper wires
of your phone line. Having VoIP as a primary phone line without
local phone service is very, very rare. This type of access is
called ‘naked DSL’ and is not very common. We hope this will
change in time, but for now, check with your local phone
company. If you plan on leveraging your investment, check first.

So the answer to the question Cable or DSL is really all about
your usage and what you’re willing to pay. Yes, cable is more
expensive but it also comes with the additional benefits of
faster speed and the ability to leverage your investment using
VoIP as a primary phone service.

Lastly, when I’m asked what I personally use at home? I use
cable broadband access and VoIP phone service. I’m very pleased
with both and don’t plan on changing any time soon.

If you’re still unsure which is right for you, there are many
web sites out there to provide you with additional information.
Our site can help you as well so we hope to see you there!

Happy surfing.

About the author:
FullService
Broadband provider. We provide unbiased and informative
information on broadband and communication products and
services. Our free service is possible through Try Right Technology, Inc.

Computer

New computers come with two new power settings that may be
unfamiliar to many people. The settings known as “sleep” and
“hibernate” may sound fun and playful but can actually be
powerful tools to extend the life of your computer, give your
laptop a longer battery life, and waste less energy. Let’s take
a look at how to get the most use out of these new settings.

Let’s say you’re going to lunch, a meeting, or going to run some
errands, but will be coming back to use your computer in a few
hours. You might want to turn your computer off so it doesn’t
waste electricity, but your “computer guy” (or girl) told you
it’s dangerous to turn your computer on and off all the time, so
what do you do? This would be a perfect time to use the “sleep
mode” on your computer. When you tell your computer to go to
sleep, it turns off the monitor, stops the disk drives and saves
its current state into memory. When you return, just touch your
mouse or keyboard and your computer quickly wakes up, and you’re
exactly where you left off.

What if you’re going to be away from your computer for a longer
period of time but will be coming back relatively soon? This is
when you should use the hibernate mode. Think of hibernate is a
deeper state of sleep. In hibernate mode your monitor is shut
off, hard disks are stopped and your state is saved. A major
difference between sleep and hibernate is power consumption. In
sleep mode your computer is in a very low power state, and can
wake up quickly. In hibernate mode your computer isn’t using any
power so it takes longer to warm up.

Some other tips you should keep in mind are always save your
existing work before going into sleep or hibernate modes.
Occasionally the computer will fail to wake up and you will lose
any unsaved data. Laptop owners should also remember sleep uses
power and will eventually drain the battery.

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About the author:
Eve Larson writes news and computer tips for tablet pc’s,
laptops and desktop computers on her website http://www.tabletpc.6ln.com , where you can read more tips or subscribe to her blog.