The Elusive Practice of Search Engine Optimization

Autor: eyecaredr
The process of search engine optimization is plagued with unscrupulous scammers, spammers and deceptive practitioners. This is referred to as Black-Hat Search Engine Optimization, and it hurts the search engines as well as the users who query them. Black-Hat techniques employ techniques that trick the search engines with thousands of meaningless articles loaded with keywords carefully chosen to draw traffic, and generate quick revenue. In addition to link farms that artificially inflate the importance of an otherwise irrelevant web site. Some black-hat hackers attempt to negatively influence competitor's rankings by exploiting various search engine vulnerabilities. All these practices dilute the true value of legitimate web sites, and realize only short term gains. Gradually search engines started recognizing these techniques, and have taken proactive approaches. Algorithms have been developed to uncover and ban sites that employ those practices. Search Engine Optimization is a long term goal that requires astute and careful planning. White-Hat optimization is the ethical means to this end.

"Give the public what the public wants", this is the mantra of any successful search engine. If a user places a query, and receives very relevant data, the user will most likely return for future inquiries. The objective of white-hat optimization is to provide the user with a content relevant search result. White-hat search engine optimization is the practice of improving the design and content of websites to draw more search engine traffic in an ethical manner. Content is king, it is important to have content that's relevant to your visitor's expectations, otherwise they will just hit their back button. It is important that your pages are well structured, using descriptive page titles and other page text. Further, keyword rich inbound links must be built, and submitting original articles will accomplish this goal.. Providing fresh new content will assure repeat visits with the opportunity to expose more products to your users. White hat SEO techniques can take some time to implement however their results tend to last for a long time.

As the web continues on its exponential growth path, the need for better search engines becomes more vital. These are the challenges that face the search engines, as well as the experts that contribute to their success. Search engine optimization is an art that requires skill, and creativity, a synergy of original content, efficient marketing, and site analysis. These are the foundations for a successful search engine optimization campaign.

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A Review of The World is Flat from an IT Perspective

Autor: tmcco4316

Not long after "The World is Flat, A brief History of the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas L. Friedman came out, I read the book. I found the theme of the book to be an excellent theme for a web site, especially in internet marketing. My web site specializes in self-publishing, marketing, research and freelance writing, and uses Friedman's comments to emphasize ways to market and reach customers.

I started to see other reviews of the book The World is Flat from a variety of sources. One of those sources was Processor Magazine. This book review was done by Dean Takahashi, July 1, 2005.

Processor Magazine is described on their web site as follows: "Processor is a leading trade publication that provides products, news, and information key data center employees can trust. Processor's format provides a comprehensive display of corporate equipment and services, including storage, communications, and servers. You'll also find product announcements, marketplace information, and other articles designed to keep data center and IT employees up-to-date with the latest news that matters most.

Published weekly, Processor is distributed to data center managers and other computer buying decision makers throughout North America."

I find the review in Processor to be unique in the sense that this is a trade publication specifically for IT employees. It is some of these employees that are being "out-sourced" from American companies to those overseas. How can they feel about the premise made by Friedman that: "the flattening of the globe, where U.S. professionals will compete against educated rivals in other countries who are willing to work for much smaller salaries."

The review by Processor Magazine notes: "For many IT managers, Friedman's explanations of technologies may come off as pedestrian. But he delivers his argument with immediacy and a breadth that can only come from someone who has traveled the globe and met with government leaders and captains of business."

After reading the book and reading this and other reviews, I fully agree with the article when it notes: "Until you see what Friedman has witnessed, it's hard to adsorb just how fast globalization is transforming the rest of the world and why 3 billion people across the globe are now ready to compete for your job."

Still Friedman notes that in reacting to this "flattening", "Don't build walls." His solutions for small, medium and large companies are more progressive.

Small companies need to act large. They need to "tap the tools that can make them global, such as using UPS not only to ship computers but to repair them as well."

He states that "Every company needs to collaborate." Further he states about outsourcing: "If you outsource, do it to innovate and grow faster, not just to save money and fire more people."

About individuals, he says: "The flat world will create more jobs for everyone. But knowledge workers have to strive upward, if your job as an illustrator is threatened; provide higher-level service as an illustration consultant."

However, as the Processor review notes: "Friedman warns there is a quiet crisis in the United States, driven by the decline of its science, engineering, and manufacturing competitiveness."

Further the Processor review states; "Friedman describes his meetings, whether he's sitting across the table from India's top outsourcing executive or dining with a venture capitalist in Palo Alto. He plays golf in downtown Bangalore, India, when his partner tells him to aim his ball at IBM or Microsoft. That's an apt metaphor for what enterprising young Indians are doing to American industry."

In reading both the book and the Processor review, I agree that Friedman has a unique perspective. The Processor review notes: "He [Friedman] shows familiar technical issues from a global perspective that weave in social, political, and cultural analysis.
Friedman has looked at these forces closely and can dissect them from multiple points of view. U.S. IT professionals may see offshore-crazy executives as Benedict Arnolds, but if they could see what Friedman has seen in his global travels, they might understand what to do in response to globalization. Better to manage it then to stand in its way."

One statement that is both haunting and ominous, as noted by the Processor review; "Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates tells Friedman that today he would rather be born a genius in China than an average guy in Poughkeepsie."

The Processor review notes the following Key Concepts in Friedman's book:

The barriers to entry are leveling across the globe. Globalization's pace is accelerating and threatens to overtake anyone not ready for it.

It isn't always clear who is exploiting whom. It some aspects, both parties benefit. Knowledge workers must move up the value chain.

The flat world will bring bigger markets than everyone can exploit.

I would recommend this book to any IT or technical professional that is concerned about job security, future job prospects or where the corporate world is headed. Often, outsourcing and job loss due to global competition tends to make us feel like victims. Friedman's book The World is Flat portrays this new globalization or flattening as a new force to be reckoned with and to be managed. However, as Friedman portrays it, we are not victims, but we do need to be smarter in the ways we approach the new global markets and look at our society, culture and business.

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Find a Fish Tank Screen Saver Today

Autor: infoserv

Does your computer need to be spruced up a little bit? When your screen saver comes on, are you greeted by a plain black screen or the windows icon that came with your computer? Doesn't this get to be boring? Wouldn't you like to add a little life to your screen saver?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then it is time for you to change your screen saver. One of the most popular screen savers available is the fish tank screen saver. The fish tank screen saver is downloaded a thousand times a day. People are looking for a way to spruce up their day. And if you are a fish lover, what better way to do that than by bringing your aquarium to your computer screen. Fish are so enjoyable to watch. By having a fish tank screen saver, you will brighten up your day.

There are a couple of places that you can find a fish tank screen saver. First off, do not overlook the obvious. A lot of computers nowadays come with tons of screen saver options. Your computer may already have a fish tank screen saver available. If this is the case, all you need to do is go in and change your settings. This process takes all of about 20 seconds and is not hard to do at all.

If your computer does not come equipped with a fish tank screen saver, you should be able to find one available for download. Go to your favorite search engine (mine is google) and type in "fish tank screen saver." This will bring hundreds of fish tank screen savers to your computer. All you need to do then is find the one you like best and download it. Most downloads are free, but sometimes you may be charged. Most of the sites that charge for downloads offer the best in screen savers. If you are looking for the top of the line fish tank screen saver, you may want to look into purchasing one. Take your time to decide because many of the free ones are also very good.

A fish tank screen saver is a great way to spruce up your computer. Get yours today, and bring your aquarium to your computer and bring your computer to life! Especially if you use your computer to work, a little fun mixed in never hurt anyone.

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Asset Management For Web Developers

Autor: hunter

When building large scale database driven web applications which require the development effort of numerous individuals and interoperating teams as well as networked access to a central repository of assets in the form of PHP code, HTML documents, images, source code, media files, and documentation it can help to organize the workflow by keeping track of data and intellectual property assets using specially designed asset management software applications that allow for a meta searchable database of digital media and a check in/check out system to allow multiple designers to work together without doubling up on the same task.

Asset management software isn't just for enterprise class development anymore. SOHO users will find software such as Canto Cumulus asset management software to be scalable to even the needs of a small design house with only 3-4 developers.

No matter what kind of web development you are doing, proper asset management is key to an organized workflow, especially on projects that depend on numerous individuals and teams and requires the document to "change hands" and allow for the scrutiny of the entire team during every phase of design and development.

Asset management solutions allow for a more disciplined approach to portfolio cataloguing and media library organization, which can help developers contemplate their creative palette and visual media assets more thoroughly and completely when selecting templates and production from the company's supply of IP.

If you find that your design team is having trouble maintaining a manually organized library of content and intellectual property and you want to have a library witch allows for rich meta tagging and highly organized searching and browsing, you should research investing the time and effort into setting up an asset management solution for your company today! The time and effort you put into an asset management system today pays off ten fold through more efficient workflow and library management.

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Burning DVD's: The Storage Revolution Is Here

Autor: ajames

Entertainment is a prime source of our relaxation. By this, I mean television and film. If you're one of the three people who refuse to indulge in cinema, then you're missing out. The technology we have today is ideal for any movie spectators. As we all know, VHS is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Just like with cassette tapes, the compact disks are taking over. DVDs are becoming more prominent everywhere we go. It's even possible to rent them online and never have to leave your home. How convenient is that? No more rewinding, no more filthy VCR heads to clean; it's a dream come true. With the madness of DVDs these days, more and more people are taking advantage of their home computers. The digital versatile discs can be downloaded to our laptops with the push of a button. We can actually create DVDs of our own.

My brother has the most extensive collection of DVDs of anyone I know. I believe he has close to a thousand at this point. He's always emailing me his latest list of titles in alphabetical order. I can barely even sort through them all. That's a lot of choices. He typically wants to know if I crave any new flicks. Since he already has the DVDs, he can easily download them to his laptop, and then create DVDs to pass on to me. This is a pretty choice way to get entertainment if you ask me. Free is always good. I currently have about 30 different titles that he's made for me. So much for paying 15 bucks a pop. This seems to be a common trend these days. Many people will buy and share. Whether they create DVDs or CDs, they save money when they trade around. You can pick and choose your music these days by song. You don't want the CD? No problem, you can buy individual songs online for typically about a dollar a piece, and then create your own CDs.

If you're not up to snuff with the whole Internet process, it's time to hop online. Many of the computers we purchase today have the ability to burn DVDs and CDs. You should definitely take advantage of this feature. This is a wonderful way to create the mixed CDs of your choice. If your buddy has a cool new DVD that you've been wanting to check out, have them burn a copy for you. In order to create DVDs, you simply need some blank disks, which run rather cheap. Burn whatever video or music you please. This is only a sample of the innovations yet to come.

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Help Desk: The Solution To All Your IT Nightmares

Autor: ajames

Technology such as the Help Desk covered in this article are rapidly changing our world in many ways and becoming more affordable for the average person. Its worth mentioning however that better technology is actually properly defined as simply a better way of doing something we already do with whatever process we have at hand. Rather than thinking of better technology in terms of computers, hi tech gadgets and such, for example anytime we find a way to get to work 5mins faster than before we have found a better technology to improve our lives in some respect.

Where do you go if you have a problem with your satellite television or broadband service provider? Whom do you call if your have a problem with your computer's installation system or if your printer just died on you before a major presentation? Who is the one person who can quickly help you stop that whining noise and smoke that your lap top is generating right in the middle of the conference call you are having with your boss? If you are like me, the auto dial function on your telephone will have the number of your friendly global help desk!

According to me, the help desk is the best invention of man in the twenty first century. The computer and all the electronic gadgets are over hyped. Technology changes much before it becomes affordable in the first place. And gadgets and gizmos are flooding the marketplace like never before. If there is anything at all that has remained consistent through all the tumult, it has been the ubiquitous help desk.

The concept of the help desk started off as a service offering, provided by makers of new IT products and services to clients, who were still unfamiliar with the new age technology. But as users have gotten more savvy, the products and services too have become even more complex. Which makes the role of the help desk even more important. Take Windows itself. This simple operating system started off as Windows 1.0. It grew over the years to become Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, 97, 2000 and now XP. Obviously, each new version has seen the features increase. And each passing year has seen more users start taking up desktop computing as a real option.

**Running Commentary** - Its interesting to note at this point that the cost of paying for Help Desk support is going to range in price quite a bit and you really need to first identify your needs and wants and when you go shopping make sure you don't overspend for features you want but don't really need. As technology so quickly becomes obsolete 1. many of the features will become obsolete 2. later models will be cheaper if not superseded by a later model with newer features and 3. are you going to actually have time to read the whole manual and understand how all the features work ? (I know I never figure out all the features of any new gadget or gizmo I buy)

This has only meant more work for the people at the Microsoft help desk. As the versions increased and the features expanded, the conventional help desk too expanded to become much more than a mere service offering. Software products and services almost being on par made the quality of the after sales service a critical component in the competitive marketplace. And the help desk, being at the forefront of this arena, has had to adapt and evolve.

So, the typical help desk of today is staffed not just with people who can familiarize you with products and their features, but also specialist engineers and technicians who can troubleshoot your problems and provide you with the correct solution, often within the duration of a simple telephone call. And since the business demands skilled professionals who come with an innate understanding of technology, better prospects have emerged for IT professionals.

In fact, in keeping with the global outsourcing trend, most help desk jobs have moved to countries like India and China where there is no shortage of skilled manpower, and the quality of the professionals is assured. The beneficial cost structures have also contributed to this trend. For like I mentioned earlier, the products may evolve and newer versions may come up. But unless the help desk remains an integral part of the service offering, there will be no exponential increase of market share.

To wrap up our article about Help Desk I wish you luck in putting your new technology to use in your home/work life. In the last 20 years I have seen so many examples of new technology come and go I cant help feeling excited about what I'm going to see in the next 20 years. Although many people seem to feel a sense of foreboding about new things changing their lives in a negative way I must confess that I don't have this fear at all (at the ripe old age of 40 anyway). I understand that new and changing technology is not only inevitable but in fact is opening up more opportunities for us all than ever before in our history and we should only feel threatened if we choose to cling to the past and somehow expect the rest of the world around us to do the same.

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Benefits of Digital Linear Tape Drives

Autor: infocus

In our world where data is power, large companies put a high priority on their data back-up and data storage. Unfortunately, this kind of data storage is typically very expensive and impractical for the small home PC user. Luckily, with the introduction of two new formats of digital storage that are now available, there is a solution. With the DLT or Digital Linear Tape and the LTO or Linear Tape Open, the need for data storage has far exceeded past levels (as compared to previous had 8mm or DDS backups).

1. Recent Boost In Performance

The Digital Linear Tape or DLT systems have been available for use to everyone since 1985, and recent increases in both speed and capacity has given this technology a new lease on life. In fact, they have been the leading technology in the past several years for small to medium-sized systems. The only competitors for DLT were DDS or DAT tapes. The advantage of DLT tapes above these two leading competitors is that the tape heads had a tendency to drift that meant technicians had to constantly monitor them to ensure storage. Unlike DLT reliability that is based on a straight up and down recording mode.

2. Super DLT

A newer version with higher capacity and improved features is called Super DLT (SDLT). Super DLT uses a new recording format, but it also maintains a limited form of backwards compatibility with previous iterations of DLT. It incorporates the ability to read older tapes, although it cannot write to them. This means it would probably be quite useful in allowing organizations to maintain their present archives in a useable form. This would mean that there can be a very big saving both in time and money for companies because older tapes don't have to be re-recorded onto newer ones.

4. Tremendous Boost In Speed And Capacity

With the introduction of Super DLT earlier this year, the capacity has soared as much as 110 gigabytes on one cartridge, at a speed of 10 megabytes per second. A tremendous boost in performance was seen with the speed of backup doubled, and capacity more than doubled, the technology is now capable to handle large systems and networks that DLT previously couldn't handle. Competing technologies can offer very fast backups, but the tapes themselves contain very little data - hundreds of megabytes as opposed to the hundreds of gigabytes that DLT offers.

5. Linear Tape Open

Another technology that has recently emerged that is comparable, if not a bit more advanced than DLT is LTO or Linear Tape Open. A consortium product from Seagate, IBM and Hewlett-Packard. LTO can put 100 gigabytes on a cartridge and can store data at speeds up to 15 megabytes per second. But there are a lot who still prefer to use the more known and reliable Super DLT. There are very cautious system administrators who don't wish to try LTO, one technician even said that DLT is a more than acceptable choice: Thirty million cartridges and a million tape drives can't be wrong. Of course, LTO can't be totally neglected. Of course, Super DLT uses a good deal of new technology as well, so even though LTO is a completely new technology, it has able to pave a nice pathway for it that may help establish itself for future preference.

6. Long Life

These kinds of storage media are guaranteed to last for 30 years of data retention under very specific environmental conditions; however, mishandling can easily damage these storage devices for example, dropping or improper packaging during shipment may easily damage or destroy the device's capability to store data properly. With today's ever increasing demands for storage capacity because of our need to protect and store our data, it is possible that there is going to be more pressure on hardware developers to produce a lot more faster and bigger storage and backup devices to back up, store, protect and retrieve important data be it business or personal. Now both medium and small size users are given a choice: Super DLT, based on generations of thorough development and refinement, or LTO, a new technology from a high-powered and stable group of advance technological companies.

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The Invention of the Atomic Clock

Autor: stevegink

Louis Essen was born in 1908 in a small city in England called Nottingham. His childhood was typical of the time and he pursued his education with enjoyment and dedication. At the age of 20 Louis graduated from the University of Nottingham, where he had been studying. It was at this time that his career started to take off, as he was invited to join the NPL, or National Physics Laboratory.

It was during Louis's time at the NPL that he began working to develop a quartz crystal oscillator as he believed they were capable of measuring time as accurately as a pendulum based clock. Ten years after joining the NPL Louis had invented the Essen ring. This was an eponymous invention which took its name from the shape of the quartz which Louis had used in his latest clock and which was three times more accurate than the previous versions.

Louis soon moved on to newer areas of research and began to study ways to measure the speed of light. During World War II he began to work on high frequency radar and used his technical ability to develop the cavity resonance wavemeter. From 1946 it was this wavemeter which he used, along with a colleague by the name of Albert Gordon-Smith, to make his lightspeed measurements. It has been acknowledged recently that Louis's measurements were by far the most accurate to have been recorded up until that time.

During the early part of the 1950's Louis began to take an interest in research which was being carried out at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) in the United States of America. He learnt that work was being carried out to invent a clock which was more accurate than any other. The American scientists were using the idea of maintaining a clock's accuracy by using the radiation emitted or absorbed by atoms. At that time the Americans were using a molecule of ammonia but Louis felt that this was not working as well as if they were using different atoms, such as hydrogen or caesium, and so he began working on his own clock using these materials instead.

1953 saw Louis and a colleague, Jack Parry, receiving permission to develop an atomic clock at the NPL based on Louis's existing knowledge of quartz crystal oscillators and other relevant techniques he had learned from the cavity resonance wavemeter he had previously designed. Only two years later Louis's first atomic clock was running, Caesium I, designed by the UK scientists. Development in the United States had all but stopped due to political difficulties.

Louis continued to work on his atomic clock and by 1964 he had managed to increase the accuracy of the atomic clock from one second in 300 years to one second every 2000 years! The continued success of Louis's work resulted in the definition of a second being changed from 1/864000 of a mean solar day to being calculated as the time it took for 9192631770 cycles of the radiation in an atomic clock.

Louis Essen died in 1997 and before his death had been honoured with, amongst others, an OBE and the Tompion Gold Medal of the Clockmakers' Company.

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How to Automate Web Applications and Web Sites Quickly and Easily by Recording Web Browser Activity

Autor: mjtnet

We've all heard the latest buzz word, Web 2.0. Whatever you think of this new moniker the fact is that most of us are using web sites and web applications every day and their use is growing. Many applications that once belonged to the desktop are now running on the web - email, banking, calendars and scheduling applications are common place. We now even have web based word processors, such as Google Write. Many business applications are also moving to the web, and businesses are realising the benefits of subscription based services and centralised support and are running their sales order processing, invoicing and payroll systems on web technology. Many companies are using web technology in-house to support their enterprise, and users are now using applications running within their web browser, rather than traditional desktop applications.

Traditional scripting languages, batch tools and automation solutions are inadequate for automating these new web based applications. Macro recorders and automation solutions which automate desktop applications by simulating user activity are incapable of driving web browser based functionality primarily because web sites and web applications are dynamic. Not only do they change frequently due to a single centralised source, but objects don't necessarily always appear in the same relative position on the page. Web pages can be resized, moved and scrolled up and down. A new approach to scripting web sites and web applications is required.

Fortunately Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser provides a scripting interface and a Document Object Model (DOM). The Document Object Model exposes all the tags and attributes of all the elements beneath the page. Via the scripting interface the properties and methods of these elements can be modified. So, for example, links can be "clicked" and form elements can be filled in and submitted. So scripts and programs can be written to automate Internet Explorer and drive web applications.

However, you need to be a good programmer to understand how this all works. Not only do you need to understand the Document Object Model, but to write a routine that uses it you need to understand HTML. To determine names of elements and form fields etc., the HTML source of the page needs to be pulled apart, dissected and analysed. You need to understand programming technologies in order to build the routine. Even developing such an automation script in VBScript isn't for the faint hearted.

What is needed is a tool that records what you do in Internet Explorer, analysing the objects you click on and fields you complete as you go. WebRecorder, from MJT Net, is one such tool. WebRecorder is like a tabbed browser. As you navigate through pages, click on links, select radio boxes and drop downs and complete form fields it identifies the objects and builds a script as you go, using simple to understand code.

For programmers, WebRecorder reduces effort and speeds up development. For less technical users, WebRecorder records web activity which can be played back accurately later.

WebRecorder creates straightforward code that anyone can understand, and can be used with Macro Scheduler, a well known Windows automation tool.

Another web recording tool, is WebAction from Copasetic Software LLC. This works slightly differently in that it installs itself within Internet Explorer as a Browser Helper Object. WebAction records activity in Internet Explorer and creates internet macros which you can play back. However, macros cannot be edited and will not run in other scripting environments, so this tool is focused more for basic macros and is less flexible.

Web macro recorders and scripting tools are ideal for automating routine tasks in modern web sites and web based applications, or for automatically transferring data into or out of web applications and interfacing them with traditional solutions. These tools can also be used for automated testing of web sites and web applications and offer easier, speedier development over traditional scripting languages.

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The Evolution of Data Processing

Autor: Gordon_petten

Data Processing has changed greatly over time. While one can track the beginnings of the modern analytical computer to Charles Babbage (1791-1871), we really saw the beginning of modern day information systems during World War II when they were used as code busters. After the war, few anticipated how much computers would affect our lives. Early on even IBM thought that there would only be a handful of companies that would need a computer.

In those days, computers were massive systems based on vacuum tubes and core memory. With the advent of the integrated circuit, computer architectures took a giant leap forward. The mainframe systems of the late 1980's evolved into Client/Server applications of the early 1990's. In parallel, the Internet grew from a few engineer and research systems to a World Wide network. It wasn't until an Al Gore authored bill allowing commerce to be carried out over the Internet did things really start to change. Every business, every organization, had to carve out a space on "The Net."

The ubiquitous nature of The Internet made it the perfect way for business to have a global reach while maintaining a local presence. Soon, application vendors were making Internet based applications. Today, solution providers are exploiting service oriented architectures and BPEL to provide more agile environments in which to do business.

Today, combining Internet access with massive, inexpensive compute power, data processing has been transformed from an ancillary function of accounting departments to mechanisms by which organizations can transform and enhance their internal processing while integrating their interactions with customers and suppliers.

The key to modern day data processing is not simply the automation of some manual process. Today, business realizes that data processing, information systems, change the very processes that are used to run the business. They not only do same things more efficiently, the do thins differently.

In the past an order was printed and sent to a supplier. The order was received and, if the item was in stock, it was shipped. Items not in stock were placed on back order. Today with Supply chain integration, the entire supply chain is integrated into one network. Warehouse management software notifies suppliers when stock levels drop and order are placed. The suppliers themselves use data mining and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software to predict ordering patterns and anticipate customer needs.

Even how businesses interact with their customers has changed. In the past, businesses used mass marketing to appeal to the greatness number of possible customers. Today, we have mass customization where businesses on a group basis provide customized goods and services.

No, this is not your father's data processing. No longer is the world of data processing a pocket-protector clad engineer's world of spinning tapes and punched cards. Today, data processing and data entry affects all our lives in ever new and more exciting ways.

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What Does PDA Stand For? Just What Are PDA's Anyway?

Autor: ronhelor

One of the most common questions among those shopping for PDA's is what does PDA stand for? A PDA is also known as a personal digital assistant, and that term describes its function pretty well. A personal digital assistant is designed to help the user get more done and be able to work smarter no matter what their job. So I would say that PDA equals GMD, Where GMD stands for getting more done.

When shopping for a PDA, it helps to think about the question what does PDA stand for. A PDA should function as your assistant, helping you to get the most done with the least amount of trouble and effort.

There are many manufacturers of personal digital assistants (PDA's). Some of the most popular models of PDA's are the palm and the iPAQ. The palm is made by Palm One corporation and the iPAQ is made by HP. No matter what type of PDA's you are shopping for, it is important to make sure they contain the features and specifications you are looking for.

Let's have a quick look at the elements of a good PDA, and what you want to look at when you go out to get yourself one:

1. Maybe one of the most important elements of any PDA is its memory capacity. The memory capacity of today's pocket pc models is much better than previous models, and increased memory means that more programs can run at the same time without degrading the performance of the pocket pc. I would say that with today's demands of software, don't even think of going with less that 32 MB Installed memory to start with. Of course, this can be expanded if future needs arise.

2. Another important thing to look for is a strong processor. Again, the processor chips available for today's pocket pcs are much better and much faster than those made just a few years ago. A fast processor means that the PDA will function much more smoothly and not bog down as more programs are opened. It's recommended you aim for the 624 MHz processor, such as the one installed on the iPAQ hx4705. If you have a modest budjet, a 312 Mhz will do OK too.

3. Battery life is another important consideration when looking at the various models of PDA's. A PDA with a dead battery is a useless PDA, so it is important to not only choose a PDA with a long battery life, but to carry a spare battery and a good charger as well. Today's batteries are getting better and better, as the new Lithium Ion (Li Ion) PDA batteries are becoming more popular. These batteries are made using a new technology which makes them last %40 longer that the old Nickel Cadmium batteries. They are also a lot lighter in weight. Which makes them a perfect match for a PDA. The downside to the Lithium Ion PDA batteries is that they are more expensive, but in my opinion - this is a worth while investment.

So all you have to do now is to choose a PDA that meets your need. Good luck.

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PDA Anti Virus - Do We Really Need Them And How To Find The Most Suitable?

Autor: ronhelor

Just a few short years ago a PDA anti virus was not necessary. The viruses, worms, Trojan horses and the like were the concern of PC owners only. But as we all know things in the online world change very fast, and these days all PDA's surf the web frequently. The popularity of PDA's and the ease of access to wireless surfing at wi-fi hotspots is a blessed phenomena. But while this is a good development, new throats enter the arena. Today's worlds of pocket pc's is as dangerous as the regular PC's. Numerous viruses, Trojan horses and key loggers are speeded each day, thus forcing PDA owners to arm themselves with the proper protection.

Let's take a look a few of the treats that have immerged in today's PDA environment:

1.If you are surfing the web, there are types of viruses and Trojan horses who "know" how to penetrate your PDA and do their worst. You therefore need proper protection from infected files, just like any PC user who surfs the web, downloads files, reads emails etc. The rule of thumb is : if a PC needs this protection, than a PDA user needs it too.
2.If you are surfing and downloading emails wirelessly, than you need even better protection. If the information you beam and receive in not encrypted, a hacker can read your e-mails and attachments, see what websites you visit, and even worse, steal your personal and financial information. A hacker can even illegally download copyrighted material or launch attacks using your identity. This calls for a Wireless Home Network Security protection system which makes sure all the information you send from your PDA in encrypted, so no hacker can reach it and grab it form thin air. The McAfee or the Caspersky products are recommended for this matter.
3.If you are using your PDA to access sensitive material like your bank account, you need to be extra careful and make sure both your communication and your PDA itself are secured. Don't rely only on the security measures that the bank's website have because they are rarely enough to stop a really good hacker.

Just like in the PC world, You need to stay updated and on top of things. You'll want to update your anti-virus every day through the live update option that most anti-virus software products have. This will ensure your PDA has maximum protection. Always remember that it's better to take care of this in advance as it's always more painful and expensive to revive a computer that was taken by a virus.

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HP iPAQ 1910 Pocket PC - Complete Review Of This PDA. What Sohuld You Watch Out For?

Autor: ronhelor

The HP iPAQ 1910 Pocket PC is among the simplest and cheapest of the iPAQ models. You can get your hands on one of these for only $140 at Amazon). But we all know the old saying: "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap". So maybe the urge to buy a cheap PDA is not the best thing to do? I'll leave the final decision to you, but before you go ahead and make that decision, lets' take a closer look at some of the pro's and con's of this device. This will give us more details and will help us make a better decision.
Let's take a look at what this PDA can offer you:

1.This PDA is very light and compact only 4.23 ounces, and only .50 inches thick. It also has a slick appearance which makes it a bit of a fashionable item. If looks and convenience matter to you - this PDA will take care of that part easily.
2.The Windows CE Operating System is great for games and multimedia uses. If you like and use all the entertainment stuff on your PDA, this device will give you a lot value for your money. On the other hand, if you're more of a business man, you may want to get yourself a Palm One device. The Palm OS is much more of a business oriented system.
3.This device has only 1 expansion slot instead of the usual two that come with most iPAQ's. I can only guess this was down in order to keep the price low, but this can be quite a problem if you intend to expand the abilities of your PDA...
4.The Processor of this PDA is a 200 MHz Intel PXA 250 processor. This can work out find to begin with, but may be a problem if you start running too many applications on your PDA. Pay attention to the amount of software you install
5.The build in memory capabiolities are 64 MB RAM, 16 MB flash ROM. Again, this is fine to begin with, but experience shows that within a year or two most people need more and more room. It is possible to purchase and start using a 64MB SD card, so the memory problem can be addressed much easier than the processor.
6.The battery in a Removable/rechargeable 900 mAh Lithium-lon, which is a great battery, according to all reports. It has a very long life span, and can support your iPAQ during hours of operation.

So, to conclude, I would say that the HP iPAQ 1910 Pocket PC is a good buy for people who need a very basic iPAQ, and don't expect to use too much memory and processing power. The cheap price makes this PDA a good alternative to many people who have lower demands from their PDA.

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Advanced Techniques For Unclogging Print Heads

Autor: economy1

WE will begin with the simple easiest methods and then get into some of the ways the professional printer tech gets them unclogged.

Dealing with a clogged print head can be frustrating but this is no time to get into a hurry. Cleaning solvents can take many hours to do the job. And remember your trying to save the life of a printer. If all fails you printer may be ready for the printer graveyard. I'm talking about printers with the built in print heads here. It's probably best to explain the different types of printers now.

There are two rough categories of printers one with the print head built into the printer. For example Epson some Xerox and Canon .The other are Hp and Lexmark, which have the print heat built into the cartridge.

On most of the printers with built in print heads it is a major job to remove the print heads so all of our cleaning methods are with them left in the printer.

Most of the clogs that occur while you are printing aren't severe. The ones that are in many cases tough are when the printer has been sitting for a long time without being used. In this case the ink can dry as hard as a rock.

The first thing to do is to run the print head cleaning cycle 3 to 5 times. If you don't know how to do this check your manual or check online for a manual if you don't have one. After running the cleaning cycles, check the print out for the slightest change for the better. If it's getting better let it cool for a few minutes and continue. If it stays the same or gets worse move on to the next method.

Epson recommends running the cleaning cycle several times then printing a test page. Don't print a test page after each cleaning cycle on a tough clog. It does waste more ink this way but is necessary when you have one that is badly clogged.

If you still have problems its time to move on to more advanced methods. On Ebay you can purchase a Cleaner Called E.K.S. in small quantities. I'm in no way affiliated with this company by the way. Just type in Epson head cleaner and it will come up. This cleaner will work for all other brands also. I recommend that you keep some of this on hand if you have this type of printer.

Normally if you open the printer cover you can't move the print heads around. So here's what we do. Turn on the printer and watch the print heads move around while they are still moving unplug the power cord. Now you can move the print heads back and forth with your fingers. Take a piece of paper towel and cut out apiece about 3 inches long and 1 and a half wide. Fold this accordion style until you have a strip about one half inches wide. This isn't critical.Put some of the head cleaner on the paper towel and lay the paper down flat and move the print head until it's over the paper. You may have to work at this there's not too much extra room to get the paper under there. The wet towel will stay moist for several hours and keep the head wet with solvent. This is one of the most powerful ways of getting the job done.

Check the towel every few hours and if it's dried out apply a little cleaner with a syringe. Let it sit at least overnight for a real stubborn clog. Leave the printer cartridges out because it can wick all of the ink out of the cartridge. Apply a little of the solvent to the little pins that go up into the cartridge to keep this area wet also. Use the cleaner sparingly as you don't want to get this cleaner down onto the circuit boards. This would cause a short and maybe ruin the printer.

When you get ready to run a print test remember that it may take awhile for the print head to get filled with ink so it might not print on the first tries even if it's unclogged. There is one other method that techs use. Get a short length of one-eighth inch clear plastic tubing at a hardware store. Hook this onto a syringe. Slip the plastic tubing over the little pins the ones that go into the cartridge. Then push in on the plunger to try to force air through the print head. Always push the air through don't try to suck air through by pulling on the plunger.

If the printer is under warranty you could just send it back for repairs instead of going through this. But if not under warranty it will probably cost you more than it's worth to send it to the factory, as they will many times replace the print heads. If you don't have any of the recommended cleaner and it's an emergency you might try a solution of 50% distilled water and 50 % ammonia. Well good luck I hope this helps.

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Do Not Compromise When Buying Computer Printer Ink!

Autor: kalisekj

You should not compromise when you have to replace computer printer ink. You have to get the ink that your printer requires. As you know the computer printer ink is expensive, but you will get what you pay for definitely. In fact you are going to damage or ruin your printer by using or trying to use an inferior ink.

Even you can use generic printer cartridges that are much cheaper than their brand name. You have to use at the end of your printer. In fact, some printers wont accept generic cartridges at all, and for some of those who do, the quality is inferior. Beside to that you can void the manufacturers warranty for your printer if you are going to use a generic printer ink cartridge. In fact for further information you have to read the terms of your warranty.

You should not rely on the cost of the ink cartridges before you purchase a printer that you need to ensure and you should not do not compromise on computer printer ink without investigate. In this way, you will be prepared for the cost when it is time to replace the ink cartridges. You should not purchase a printer whose cartridges are more expensive than the printer itself. No doubt you will save money in the long run by doing your homework.

There are some printers which are intentionally sold at very cheap in order to ensure repeated ink cartridge sales. In fact it will make more sense to spend more on a quality printer. You should replace ink cartridges which are not expensive.

You need to ensure that the ink quality is acceptable to you if you are considered to purchase ink. If possible, try to see a sample from the printer. However this is a major purchase to get a quality printer. Then you will be happy to replace the ink cartridges as the need arises.

You can usually get the quality ink for less if you can buy them in bulk. If your printer uses both a color cartridges and a black, you likely use more of one cartridge than the other. If you are going to shop in bulk, just buy the one you will use most.

The original cartridge manufacturers will generally give you the better quality prints out of any others alternatives. They are the most costly, however.

If you buy cartridges in bulk do not forget that they do dry out. All ink cartridges have a best before date on the box. If they sit very long before you use them, the ink will dry out which means your bulk savings will disappear out the window.

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How To Find Cheap Computer Printer Ink Online

Autor: kalisekj

Do not be amazed! There are many websites that providing any kind of computer printer inks at various prices. In fact you can get these computer printer inks not only at your favorite office supply stores but also you can purchase thousands products from thousands of computer printer inks online. There are some special online stores like brick and mortar stores. But you need to aware yourself when you are in the market for computer printer ink or other office supplies.

There is some provision like you can be delivered or pick them up from your local office supply store as you can purchase your printer ink or other supplies online. If you wont have to stand in a long line or look for the product to pick them up, internet will be the best way to look for the product. You may get lucky and have them brought to your door for free as there are some of the office supply stores offer free shipping with a certain dollar amount in purchases.

If you want to get a good deal on computer printer ink online then anyone can access a website and sell ink cartridges. Any how there are several decent websites that do sell computer printer ink. You may be familiar with most of them already. But if you are not familiar with one of them you need to utilize good common sense when you are searching a website.

You should keep looking if there is no contact information at the website; you need to skip over and fid out other one. In fact the reputable website will offer contact information in the form of a physical address, telephone number and email address for customers knowledge. You have to learn the websites return policy also. In fact no one is interested to take back a computer printer ink cartridge that has already been opened. Make sure that what you have received the package and it has the wrong with that and also be sure about the return policy.

There are a lot of computer printer inks which comes in cartridges and last for so many sheets. In fact there is no given time a cartridge will last unless you print all the time the same amount. But you will be able to gauge for how long a cartridge will typically last. There are color plus black printer ink cartridges which are available in the printer inks market. This will depending upon you and what it is you are printing or you may want the both.

Also, you should use common sense while you are looking for on any website that you need for before making a purchase. Even you should not forget to check with the Better Business Bureau and read the feedback also.

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Need Parts For Your PDA? Here's How To Get Them The Easy Way

Autor: ronhelor

If you've owned a PDA for more than a few days, you may have come to that point where you need a few accessories, or even parts. I would divide the parts you may need to three categories:

1.You need accessories. These are the basic, non essential goodies that are accompanying your PDA, like a nice leather case, a spare battery, a data/recharge cable, a recharge cradle and the like. These can be described a "nice to have items" that many PDA owners like to get for their pocket pc. They are usually cheap items.

2.The second category it for the more expansive items, that expand your PDA's abilities. These can be any memory expansions, memory cards such as an SD card, GPS system addition or a commercial software you want to add and the like. These items call for a more serious attention than the accessories as they cost a lot more and you should dedicate some thought as to choosing the right item for your needs.

3.In the third category I'll include all the absolutely essential parts you need to get if your PDA has a malfunction. This can be a replacement ROM memory, a replacement mother-board, a new screen if yours was broken, etc. These items usually cost quite a bit and there is always the option of declaring the PDA as a total loss and getting another one instead of repairing it.

OK, so now that we covered the 3 different types of parts you may need for your PDA, what can we do to get them for the minimum price and best results? Here are a few valuable tips that were learned by me and others. In many cases - they were learned the hard way.

1.Start with a research first. Always look for a few Internet forums about your PDA and ask around about the item you want to get. People there are passionate about the topic and in many cases will be happy to give you their 2 cents about every item you wish to get. Continue your research at Amazon.com where people submit impartial reviews about almost every item available on Amazon.

2.Find the real "Market Price" - look for your item or similar items on ebay.com. The good thing about ebay.com is that you can get a feel fore the market and see how much the items are being sold for - new, used and refurnished. You may not want to actually buy on ebay.com, but you certainly can get your price research done there. You can also ask the merchants any questions you may have and grow your knowledge.

3.Decide where to buy the item. Many people will shop online, and many others prefer to buy off line at a regular store. At a regular store you enjoy the advantage of actually seeing the item before you buy it, and in many cases you get to go home with it, and don't have to wait for it to arrive a few days later. But buying offline in many cases adds to the price. If you want competitive process, and you've done your research, you may want to shop online at eBay, Amazon, or a site like pdaparts.com that specializes in PDA parts and accessories.

Whether you buy online or off, make sure you do your research right, even if it's only a 10 minute research. It can save you money, time and frustration.

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How You Can Save Money When Buying Computer Printer Ink

Autor: kalisekj

Buying computer printer ink repeatedly is necessary if you are using a printer a lot. You may find yourself spending too much money if you are buying computer printer ink quite often. You need to think how you can save money on buying computer printer ink. However when you are purchasing ink for your printer there are a many ways to control on your savings.

You have to consider the value packs instead of single packs while buying computer printer ink. In fact you have to spend a bit more money on the value packs of computer printer ink when you are purchasing computer printer ink; you can save several dollars on each cartridge too. However buying bulk proves to be cheaper in the long run like anything else sold in these days.

Already I have mentioned that you should not rely or compromise the quality of the ink while you are buying for your computer printer. In fact by this doing you can save yourself a bundle. For instance, if you are buying ink refills may sound good at the time. But thing is that how far it is true? Printing quality is severely reduced when a consumer uses ink refills and the process of refilling the cartridge get messy. That is why you should go for a better quality ink cartridges on the Internet or at your different local stores.

However you have to pay a few extra dollars but you can save quite a bit of hassle down the road. In fact, you have to consider recycling your ink cartridges when you are finished with them if you want to save a few dollars on computer ink. Several companies are there to refill your cartridges as you send across to them. By this doing you can get back a few dollars on your initial ink purchase in return. The cartridges that they get can later refill and sell by them.

Buying Bulk Computer Printer Ink:

You can also save your money in buying bulk computer printer ink cartridges and refill kits. In fact you have to find out the best deal to get such ink cartridges and refill kits. Do you know you are saving money without compromising quality when buying bulk computer printer ink?

Manufacturer Filled Cartridges:

Advantages: Usually you can get the discounts for 4 or more cartridges of same type. You can use most the bulk buy ink if you do have both a color and a black cartridge. You can use black for document printers and for photo printers it will be color. You will get a better quality ink which has a long lasting if they are first-filled cartridges from the manufacturer.

Disadvantages: While you are seeking the ink option, bulk-buying computer ink will be the most expensive option for you, but you can still save plenty of money in buying this. They do dry out like the refills when they sit in the packages. But due to higher quality packaging they wont dry as fast as refills. Shipping is usually higher for these than the same number of refilled cartridges.

Remanufactured (Refilled) Cartridges:

Advantages: You have to consider buying the cartridges that are already filled with ink in bulk if you do not want the hassle and mess of refilling your ink cartridges. All most all inks are in form of recycled cartridges. You can save lot more dollars on the refilling cartridges without the mess to you. You can get these inks both in color and black ink for Canon, Epson, Lexmark and Hewlett Packard printers. There are also many different brands which can vary in availability and reliability.

Disadvantages: Shelf life of ink once its in the cartridge is less than ink in the bottle. While you definitely do not want to unwrap a cartridge until you are ready to install it, its drying out in the cellophane wrap. These are more expensive than the kits to refill cartridges yourself.

Do-It-Yourself Refill Kits:

Advantages: The most advantage of this kind of cartridge is Cheap. You can refill your cartridges by a bottle of ink many times. There will be no chance of evaporation or absorption. So you should not be worry about that. In fact the plastic bottles wont allow the ink to evaporate or be absorbed.

Disadvantages: The disadvantage of this cartridge is you will have to refill more often. There are many of the printer cartridges which are especially low-cost models, require special tools to refill or else it can not refill at all. Another disadvantage of this cartridge is the messy in fact you can not use this handy.

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PDA Handheld Accessories Make Your Portable Computer More Useful

 Autor: ronhelor

The many PDA handheld accessories available today can make any handheld computer more useful and fun. No matter who you are or how you use your PDA, chances are you will be able to find the perfect PDA handheld accessories for your PDA's.

When looking at PDA handheld accessories, reviews can come in handy. Reviews of various handhelds and PDA's often include a discussion of which accessories are essential and which ones can safely be skipped, or are "nice to have".

So what are the essential a accessories for a handheld PDA?
Here's a short list of accessories you don't want to do without:

1.An extra battery - Believe you me, it is NOT a good experience to be left with a dead PDA because you forgot to recharge the battery. This can happen often (more often than we think), so having an extra batter in your bag or your can is a good idea. A good idea is to buy a good new battery as your "prime" battery (try the new Li Ion type), and as an extra back-up battery use the old NiCd battery you probably got when you bought your PDA.
2.Recharging cradle/cable - these can save you a ton og time. Some recharging cables act also as data cables, and you can use the time you take to synchronize your PDA with your PC to recharge the PDA.
3.A good PDA case - This is essential to protect your PDA. Your pocket pc probable gets pushed into pockets and bags quite a few times a day - so it can use the protection. A good leather case doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg and will also provide an elegant look.

Ok, so these are essential accessories. Now, what about the "nice to have" ones?

1.An external keyboard iscan be very important accessory for some people. Many people dislike the stylus and touch screen that comes standard with most PDA's, and an external keyboard certainly makes data entry a whole lot easier. This is nice to have unless you type a lot of data to your PDA. Then it becomes an essential.
2.Many people like the convenience of having a digital camera integrated into their handheld computer, and that is an important consideration for many people as they compare PDA's.
3.A built-in cell phone is another handy feature to look for when shopping for a PDA. Many of the newer models of PDA's, such as the Treo, are integrated with a cell phone. This saves space and time for many people who used to carry around a PDA in addition to a cell phone.

No matter what accessories you decide on for your new PDA, you will find many accessories to choose from that can make your PDA experience both fun and productive. It's important that you only invest in accessories that meet your needs and comfort and not spent too much on things you don't really need.

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How Inkjet Cartridges Changed the World

Autor: ajames

Before inkjet cartridges became such a part of every home, school and small business office, many things were done differently and much, much more expensively! Let's take a minute to look at the many ways that low-cost inkjet cartridges and printers have changed every day life for millions around the globe.

There are young executives coming into business today that don't really know that once upon a time, a professional-looking resume was not something that a person printed at home on their own computer and printer that uses inkjet cartridges. Back in the old days, people went to a business that owned an expensive laser printer to have them print their resume, and farther back, resumes had to be typed on typewriters, every letter perfect the first time since no correction fluid was acceptable on a professional resume! It was a very costly and time-consuming process, to say the least.

Prior to the advent of inkjet cartridges, a small home business that wanted a brochure for their company had to go to a graphic artist and have a color layout developed which would then be sent to a professional printer. The resulting product was very attractive, but also out of the financial reach of most small businesses; especially those just starting out that truly needed the promotional materials. Today, a small home-based business simply purchases an inexpensive personal printer that uses inkjet cartridges and special brochure paper. The design is created, using templates available in many home office software applications, and the brochures are printed quickly and inexpensively, allowing the business to hand out many more brochures and become more successful thanks to the inkjet cartridge.

Once, long before inkjet cartridges, business cards were something that only the business executive or wealthy person had printed. The process required a long wait for the finished cards to be delivered and the expensive was great. Today, laser cut business card papers and inkjet cartridges and printers make it reasonable for anyone to have a personalized business card-style card to give to others when they wish to share their address, phone number or email address. The myriad designs allow each person to express their personality on their cards with little time, effort or expense involved.

Digital cameras combined with inexpensive inkjet cartridges have completely changed the face of home photography. No longer does a camera's film have to wait for development. No longer does a hobby photographer have to pay for photo prints they don't like or which are out of focus. No longer does that same photographer have to pay a huge price to get a perfectly printed glossy or satin ready-to-frame picture from the portraits or other photos taken. Instead, each picture is reviewed in advance on the home computer or camera and inkjet cartridges specially made for the finest photographic printing ensure the top quality output. For casual use, the same photos can be printed on any home printer that uses a color inkjet cartridge on plain or photograph-quality paper.

The list of ways inkjet cartridges have changed the world is vast. These few points only scratch the very surface of the changes we've seen thanks to low-cost, high-quality inkjet printing technology.

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Data Recovery after a Virus Attack

Autor: Guest

Malicious Programs

The cyber world out there is fraught with malicious programs, ready to sabotage your computer systems, once they get an opportunity to do so. Imagine a situation in which your computer suffers a virus attack, resulting in the loss of all the precious data, meticulously collected and saved over a long period of time. Will it make any considerable difference to you and your life? I am sure, it will. Most of the times, people fail to take precautions, regarding inoculating their computers against malware, thus exposing their computers to virus attacks. This casual approach regarding data security often has the potential to create big problems, at times. Three prominent computer programs that have the ability to wreck havoc with your computers are Viruses, Trojan Horses and Worms. Viruses are basically parasitic malicious programs, that have the inborn ability to duplicate themselves and often piggy-back a benign program, so as to propagate and infiltrate. A Trojan Horse, often called a Trojan, is a camouflaged program, which pretends to be something else. It may often lie dormant in your computer system for days, waiting for the appropriate opportunity to execute its nefarious designs. Worms are malicious micro programs. Unlike viruses, they do not rely on other programs to spread. Worms take advantage of the security holes in the computer systems and networks. Once you are hit by a malicious program, the results may vary from a simple blinking of a message on the monitor to deletion and erasing of important files and folders. The important applications may get damaged and the computers may lie exposed to possible data or password thefts. Hence the most urgent question is what to do in case of a malware attack? How can one save one’s precious data in such a scenario?

What to Do When Trouble Strikes

One thing to be kept in mind is that a malware strike is a crises situation, which demands a quick response on the part of the user. Any delay or fumbling may multiply the damage exponentially. As soon as you notice the problem, immediately report it to the IT security wing of your organization, if it has one. In case you do not have any IT security department, you can follow a simple procedure to respond to a possible malware strike. If your computer is connected to a network, immediately disconnect it. The malware may easily and rapidly spread from the host computer to the other computers in the network. Thus it becomes mandatory to urgently quarantine the infected hardware. Next try to back up all the intact data on a CD or any other portable storage device. However, it is not a certainty that the backed up data is free from any infection and is harmless. Try to identify the malware threat that has infected your computer. Then proceed to extract that malicious program, using antivirus software, designed specifically for the given threat. Due care aught to be taken that your antivirus software is updated on a regular basis and has the necessary patches required to deal with the threats under consideration. The chances are that the malware strike may have damaged your operating system. If it is so, you may need to reinstall your operating system using the restore CD that you received with your computer. It may be mentioned that this may lead to the loss of all the applications that you have installed in your computer or the important data that you have saved in it. Thus take care that you have all the requisite tools and information at hand, while reinstalling your operating system. Finally install the antivirus software in your computer and initiate a complete scan of your computer, not leaving a single file or segment. The chances are that you may be able to restore your computer to its previous state, using the given procedure. However if you fail to do so, you may require the services of some expert, who specializes in data recovery.

Further Precautions

You must learn from you experience and religiously back up all your important data in the future. A good back up plan will safeguard you against any malware strike and keep your valuable data intact under all circumstances. Invest in some authentic antivirus software and take care that it gets regularly updated with latest virus definitions and patches. Change all your passwords after a malware strike, as some malicious programs can steal passwords. Establish a strict protocol regarding computer usage and unexceptionally scan all the suspicious e-mail and downloads.

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RAID Data Loss and Data Recovery

Autor: shafa

Redundant Array of Inexpensive (or Independent) Disks with the acronym “RAID”, coined by a research group at UC-Berkeley, is a general term for data storage that combine an array of drives collectively to act as a single logical unit. They provide increased data reliability and/or throughput depending on the option or scheme. It is disk subsystem where a set of two or more drives (or discs) with a specialized disk controller contains the RAID operating function. The use of RAID can enhance performance and/ or is endowed with error tolerance.

RAID was developed basically for servers and stand-alone disk storage systems, but can be used on workstations like the desktop PCs. Desktop PC can have RAID added to its system by installing a RAID controller board and additional IDE or SCSI disks. More and more RAID functionality are being built on the motherboard.

Most Small to medium enterprises have gone in for RAID-configured data storage on their servers. RAID even though is very tolerant to faults; does fail sometimes. It may happen due to component failure that includes drive failures, missing partitions, controller failure etc. Data can be lost from RAID due to computer virus and worm damage, bad parity or drives out of order. But the most common cause is user error that often leaves the data unusable and corrupted.

RAID data recovery is very different to hard drive recovery as RAID is a more complex media device. It is more difficult and complicated to retrieve missing data due to drive order, parity, rebuilds, drive synchronization etc. There are six different levels with different way to spread data across multiple hard discs with specific use optimization at each level. It is essential to understand these levels for RAID data recovery.

Most RAID data recovery processes include certain steps like:
• Numbered drives
• forensically sound images of each drive are taken (exact bit by bit copies – including the blank or ‘white’ areas including the redundant drive or drives are taken)
• People in charge of recovering data reconfigure the data into a ‘virtual RAID’ on their multi terabyte server (Like HP Dual Xeon, 4Gb RAM, 8Tb SATA Storage, rack mounted, backed by UPS, backed up with a further 4Tb of storage)
• A list of files are made to be checked by the user to see if all the files he needs are there
• Copies of the data are made to a new drive or drives either external or internal as per the client specification.

The RAID data recovery is achieved through using the latest state-of-art technology, tools and techniques. However, it is ultimately the effort of the recovery experts and the software coders that differentiates between success and failure. An excellent perception and sense of pattern recognition are essential for recovering the missing data from complex RAID configurations

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Will CDs Go the Way of Floppy Drives – Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

Autor: Guest

In 1980, Sony introduced the 3.5 inch floppy disk that you now see on PCs. The floppy disk stores 1.5 MB, but still uses the same basic technology of the 1970s. Although it cannot compete with the vast storage capacity of the CD, many are still using floppy disks, and PC owners are offered an optional floppy drive. After all, floppy disks are cheaper than CDs, and they seem much more user-friendly to those who are technology-shy.

Also, in the 1980s, the CD or compact disk was invented as a result of the collaboration between Philips and Sony. Its initial function was to replace the unwieldy vinyl records of the time.

However, the CD slowly but surely began to replace floppy disks because of its higher data storage capacity. So, in this age of DVDs, is the CD going the way of the floppy disk, destined to be used only by the next generation of technology –shy users?

CDs Face the Music
In the music arena, at least, the CD is no longer hot. Plunging CD sales are forcing music stores to shut down. DVDs are taking over with their capacity for higher storage (some DVDs can store seven times more data). Says Roy Trakin, Senior Editor of the California based ‘Hits’ magazine, “The CD is turning out to be a transitory sort of item. The future of the CD may be in its enhanced content -- in a hybrid CD DVD and the more upscale formats like DVD audio and super audio CDs."

So it is seems that all is not yet lost for the CD which is poised to evolve into the Super CD.

On the other hand, David Miller, a consultant for a research group in Britain, says that the inexpensive CD single has a bleak future. It hasn’t had a chance to establish itself because instead of hoarding audio CDs, people prefer to download the music they want from the internet. There is another view on this subject of downloads. Some experts say that CDs will remain because many consumers do not feel that they own the music they download onto their hard drive.

Surely, this trend in the music industry is going to have an impact on the availability of the CD as a storage medium. There is still quite a way to go, since, as the experts say, there are an estimated 1.5 billion CD players in the world, and new media will take some years to establish itself.

And in the case of DVDs, he says that the new DVD-ROM offers much more than the consumer needs for storing games, movies and text. In his words, "The technology is ahead of the application."

So, once again, the case for the CD-ROM is not entirely lost, especially if it can evolve into something that can store a higher density of data, for the fact is that, currently, a large data backup requires many CDs.

Quick and Portable
CD technology offers many benefits for the corporate world. CDs and CD drives are highly portable, and this is important, as the idea of lugging around a magnetic tape drive is highly impractical. Compared to tape cartridges, CDs are lightweight, and relatively durable.

What’s more, every notebook computer comes with optional or built-in recordable CD drives. Whether you are transferring large amounts of data, video, or image files from one system to another, CDs are perfect. You can write them in three minutes flat.

An Inexpensive Medium
CDs are cheap. When purchased in bulk quantities, CDs cost a fraction of a cent per megabyte, and that’s not all. The prices of drives keep falling. Plus with all the big multinational companies that have put their names on CD technology, you can be sure that support will always be around tomorrow.

CD-R or CD-RW?
While you can only write data into a CD-R once, a CD-RW today can take a 1000 rewrites! So, unless you have backups elsewhere, it makes sense to store your most precious data on CD-R so you have less chances of losing the data.
And if you find it difficult to believe in the decade-long or century-long guarantees that sometimes come with CDs, make sure to check up on your discs every few months to determine whether your data needs re-backing up.
So, hold on to your CDs. They will survive for many years to come.

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