Welcome
to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, April 18, 2010
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Job-Hunting - Job
Scams
Featured Computer Term: The Top 30
Internet Terms for Beginners: 2.
Browser
This Week's Topic: What is
Twitter?
Question: Desktop PC Buying Guide:
Choosing the Right Desktop PC
Websites of Interest: Earth Day;
Underwriters Laboratories; Primary Games; New York State Smokers' Quitline
**********************************
Special Feature: Job-Hunting
- Job Scams
The
following article is from the Federal Trade Commission.
http://ftc.gov/jobscams
If
you are looking for a job, you may see ads for firms that promise results. Many
of these firms may be legitimate and helpful, but others may misrepresent their
services, promote out-dated or fictitious job offerings, or charge high fees in
advance for services that may not lead to a job.
To
Do
Before
you spend money responding to placement firms or completing placement
contracts:
Reject
any company that promises to get you a job.
Be
skeptical of any employment-service firm that charges first, even if it
guarantees refunds.
Get
a copy of the firm’s contract and read it carefully before you pay any
money. Understand the terms and conditions of the firm’s refund policy.
Make sure you understand what services the firm will provide and what
you’ll be responsible for doing. If oral promises are made, but
don’t appear in the contract, think twice about doing business with the
firm.
Take
your time reading the contract. Don’t be caught up in a rush to pay for
services. Stay away from high-pressure sales pitches that require you to pay
now or risk losing out on an opportunity.
Be
cautious about purchasing services or products from a firm that’s
reluctant to answer your questions.
Be
aware that some listing services and “consultants” write their ads
to sound like they are jobs when they’re selling general information
about getting a job.
Follow
up with the offices of any company or organization mentioned in an ad or an
interview by an employment service to find out if the company is really hiring.
Be
wary of firms promoting “previously undisclosed” federal government
jobs. All federal positions are announced to the public on www.usajobs.gov.
Check
with your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General’s
Office, and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed
about a company with which you intend to do business. You also may contact
these organizations if you have a problem with an employment-service firm.
**********************************
Featured Computer Term: The Top 30
Internet Terms for Beginners: 2. Browser
Whether
you are brand new to using the Internet, or you've been using it for years,
there are thirty important terms that are absolutely worth learning. Join us
for our ongoing series on Internet terminology, where, with the help of Paul
Gil from about.com, we provide definitions and information on the Top Internet
Terms for Beginners.
This
Week: 2. Browser
A
browser is a free software package that lets you view web pages, graphics, and
most online content. Browser
software is specifically designed to convert HTML and XML into readable
documents.
The
most popular web browsers in 2010 are: Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet
Explorer, and Safari.
Read
more about browsers here:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/020109.html
In
our next edition: http and https
Please
visit our Newsletter Archives to review the terms we’ve already covered:
http://computerkindergarten.com/30internetterms.html
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation
of? Email it to info@computerkindergarten.com
and we'll put the term and its definition in an upcoming newsletter.
**********************************
Today's Topic: What is
Twitter?
Question: What is Twitter?
Answer:
Here
is a good explanation from Paul Gil and Susan Gunelius
of About.com.
http://netforbeginners.about.com/bio/Paul-Gil-7508.htm
http://weblogs.about.com/bio/Susan-Gunelius-39478.htm
"Microblogging" has caught fire in ways that no one
could have foreseen. It has become a way for business employees to send
real-time updates to each other. It is a way for hobbyists to follow their
favorite celebrities. Amateur journalists can report from war-torn countries by
using their cell phones. Families can text-update each other on an ill member
in the hospital.
Twitter is a free
micro-blogging tool that allows users to publish short messages (140 characters
or less) through their computers and mobile phones. Twitter launched in 2007
and nearly 1 million people were using it within one year of its debut.
People
who use Twitter write short messages, called Tweets, which they publish either
publicly (for all Twitterers to see) or privately
(for only certain Twitterers to see). Typically,
users will sign up to follow other users whose Tweets they enjoy. For this
reason, Twitter can be a great tool for networking, relationship-building and
promoting blogs.
Businesses
also use Twitter to promote products and services and offer real-time customer
service. Twitter provides an excellent source of free publicity.
In
our next edition: Get Started with
Twitter in Three Easy Steps
**********************************
Question: Desktop PC Buying
Guide: Choosing the Right Desktop PC
I
am in the market for a new computer.
Do you have any tips?
Here
is some good computer shopping advice from Nate Ralph of pcworld.com.
Today's
modern desktop PCs offer a wealth of options: You can go for a PC with a fixed
retail configuration, or you can customize your system by stepping through a
sometimes dizzying array of choices from a configure-to-order vendor. The
resulting array of components is no longer wrapped up in a beige box, but in a
colorful shell of highly variable shape and size, differentiated by
indecipherable naming conventions.
Presented
with so many possibilities, you need to narrow the field by considering what
you want to use your new desktop for. Are you an avid photographer looking for
a speedy but cost-effective platform for editing high-resolution photos? If so,
you will benefit from buying a machine with extra RAM and a discrete graphics
card. If you have acquired an extensive media collection, and want an
inexpensive and compact way to pipe it to your HDTV, a compact PC tailored
toward media sharing and playback may be your best bet.
Whatever
your needs, you can find a desktop configuration to fit the bill.
Desktops
fall into three major categories, each with its own range of price and
performance: compact PCs, all-in-one PCs, and classic tower PCs (which we
subdivide into budget, mainstream, and performance categories). Each style of
machine has different strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the one that is
best for you depends largely on how you plan to use it.
Once
you have picked the appropriate desktop category, our guide to PC
specifications will help you pick a machine that delivers the performance you
need, while staying within your budget. And when you're ready to buy, check our
shopping tips for advice on how to get the most from your investment.
Compact
PCs
As
the smallest members of the desktop computer family, compact PCs often omit
features to deliver computing power in a space-saving package. The combination
of energy-efficient components, quiet operation, and small size makes compact
PCs ideal for people who want a nonintrusive machine. A typical compact PC
costs between $300 and $600, though the price goes up as you add upgrade
options.
Compact
PCs tend to be equipped with notebook or netbook
components, such as Intel Atom processors. This limits their usefulness in
tasks that demand lots of processing power, but it makes for quiet,
energy-efficient operation. Not all compact PCs are created equal, however, so
pay attention to specifications when shopping. Some compact PCs are configured
for as low a bottom-line price as possible; others are packed to the gills to
deliver optimal performance in a compact system.
When assessing smaller PCs, keep an eye on the ports. The smaller the
footprint, the fewer features you can reasonably expect, and that includes
fewer connectivity options. Though you will get a VGA port and (on average) six
USB 2.0 ports, many compact PCs also offer HDMI--an asset for home-theater
setups. The typical hard drive size is 320GB, though 250GB is also common and
we have seen compact system carrying up to 1TB (for a $100 upgrade premium).
All-in-One
PCs
All-in-One
PCs are self-contained: components are mounted behind a display, with screen
sizes ranging between 18- and 27-inches. With no cords to manage or peripherals
to juggle, setting up your new all-in-one PC can be as simple as pulling the
machine out of the box and plugging it in.
With
their compact size and integrated displays, all-in-one PCs can generally be
placed wherever you have a spare power outlet. Some all-in-ones also offer a
rather distinct perk: Touchscreens. With support for multitouch gestures worked into Microsoft's Windows 7,
all-in-ones offer a clever way for users to interact with their media, while
still getting a full-fledged PC.
All-in-one
components vary from brand to brand, but you can expect to pay more for an
all-in-one than for a similarly equipped desktop; again, some models target
buyers on a tight budget, while others load up on performance-oriented system
components (at a higher price, of course). For example, low-priced machines
like the MSI Wind Top AE2010 use notebook or netbook
processors and integrated graphics. You will get reduced performance to match
the reduced price tag. If you have a larger budget, you can opt for a model
like the Sony VAIO L117FX/B, which includes a quad-core processor (most often
seen on full-size desktops), to deliver superior performance, and offers a
large 24-inch screen. You will be paying in the area of $2000 for those
high-end specs, however.
Many
all-in-one PCs come with a wireless keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth support, and
Wi-Fi connectivity. This reduces cord clutter to a minimum--an important
consideration in spaces where an attractive décor or efficient use of space
is at a premium.
Budget
PCs
A
budget tower desktop carries standard desktop components, but can cost as
little as $300 if you select older hardware or inexpensive, low-end processors.
Typically, these PCs are minitower systems, with fewer drive bays than a full
tower has. The Acer Veriton X270, for example, offers
an older Core 2 Duo processor but delivers relatively speedy performance for
just $500. Beware models that come equipped with AMD Sempron
or Intel Celeron processors, as those CPUs' performance drawbacks will cancel
the advantage of their low cost.
Inexpensive
tower desktops usually incorporate low-powered, integrated graphics rather than
discrete graphics cards. As a result, your entertainment options may be
limited. High-definition media playback suffers on models equipped with older
Intel-based integrated graphics; and if you are interested in gaming, you will
be hard pressed to tackle anything more demanding than Flash-based offerings.
Machines equipped with Intel's Core i3 processor build improved integrated
graphics performance right onto the chip; though they still will not be
adequate for video games, they will support satisfactory high-def media
playback.
Budget
PCs generally offer at least 320GB of storage space and at least 2GB of RAM,
but permit few upgrade options beyond adding RAM or a larger hard drive. They
rarely leave much room for expandability inside their cases, either. Still, if
you need a machine for nothing more than word processing, e-mail, and
occasional DVDs or online videos, these machines should suit you just fine.
Mainstream
PCs
Higher
up in the desktop chain, you will find machines aimed at mainstream users.
These PCs start in the vicinity of $800, and carry at least 500GB hard drives
and about 4GB of RAM. Powered by dual-core and lower-end quad-core processors,
they deliver better performance than budget desktops, without breaking the
bank. Consider the Gateway FX6800-01e: For just over $1000, this machine
features a quad-core Core i7-920 processor, and an ATI Radeon
HD 4850 graphics card.
Photo-editing
applications stand to benefit from working with multicore
processors, and entertainment enthusiasts will appreciate the improved gaming
performance and stutter-free HD media playback that a discrete graphics card
helps deliver. Many of the machines in this category include a Blu-ray drive, either standard or as an optional extra. And
if your video editing needs are modest, you probably can find a machine in the
mainstream price bracket that has enough power to handle your creative
projects.
Performance
PCs
Occupying
the high end of the spectrum are performance desktops. Such PCs generally start
at a little over $1500, with some outliers--like the Maingear
Shift-- hovering in the range of $7000. Most performance PCs are full tower
systems, equipped with a slew of drive bays and expansion slots. Designed to
tackle challenging tasks, they come equipped with the latest and greatest Intel
and AMD dual- and quad-core processors, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and at least one
discrete graphics card. Some performance desktops include multiple graphics
cards to deliver improved graphics performance.
Performance
desktops are suitable for users who need a lot of processing power to get their
work done--professionals who do extensive high-resolution photography or video
editing, and gamers who are willing to pay for top-of-the-line visual effects.
Traditional
PC manufacturers like HP and Dell sell performance machines, but so do smaller
boutique PC makers that specialize in highly configurable custom machines,
tailored to your needs and budget.
In
our next edition: Desktop PC Buying
Guide: The Specs Explained
**********************************
Websites of Interest:
Earth Day
This
year the world will be celebrating the 40th Earth Day on Thursday, April 22.
http://www.earthday.org/
Underwriters
Laboratories
UL
is a safety certification company that has been testing, verifying and
inspecting everyday products for over 115 years. The average home has more than
128 products with the UL Mark on them. The Safety at Home site has a series of
informative tips and articles to help you and your family stay safe.
http://safetyathome.com
Primary
Games
Fun
site for kids featuring free educational games, coloring pages, crafts, and
more.
http://www.primarygames.com/
New
York State Smokers' Quitline
This
website provides information and help for anyone who wants to quit smoking.
http://www.nysmokefree.com/