The Online Actos Blog

With the steadily evolving nature of the technology sector, a new model will become available in the marketplace quicker. Compact computing systems have become crucial for leading a modern lifestyle. “Mini laptops” or “netbooks” as these items are typically described as have become gradually more well-liked by people. These computing units have become available in abundance in the market over the past couple of years, and with a lot of options offered to end users; it has now become an extremely overwhelming situation to choose a gadget to obtain without carrying out some sort of analysis.

Netbooks are extremely portable, extremely lightweight, and are wonderful to acquire as an added mobile computing system, as opposed to being used as a desktop computer system replacement. These technological products are amazing for using emails; browse on the internet, basic document editing, flipping through electronic books, and listening to music. Still, as these computing items have a smaller display screen and lower resolution, you definitely cannot expect to make use of it as a full sized computer item.

Because of their characteristics netbooks are very liked among; business professionals, commuters and students alike. They make use of the netbook as a support system while moving from one place to another.

If you are a professional, a netbook could help you with some of the vital activities; work on an important document or presentation, web browsing or type some quick notes when at an exhibition. You can also carry it with you to meetings, demonstration of a new product or sales pitches. This gadget will help you to utilise your busy schedule more efficiently.

If you travel on a frequent basis then you will need to look for a portable computer that is light to carry and also small in size so that you can carry it without any problem, but without negating on the ability to work or remain connected to the World Wide Web. One more significant feature for people who travel on a regular basis is that they would need to look for a battery with a long lasting life so that they can utilise the opportunity to work without any unwanted break.

A netbook is also a very useful computing system for students as this system can be used in classes and seminars. Students would need to look for a product that is robust enough to be used whilst on campus, but is also inexpensive to purchase.

There are various characteristics you must bear in mind when purchasing a netbook. For instance, these machines do not contain a typical processing system found in a normal desktop computing system; so you would be unable to run advanced computing applications on these computing systems. Yet, if you keep all these points in mind then it is highly likely that you will be able to procure the right product for your needs.

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Icron Technologies Corporation (trading under the stock symbol ‘IT’) is a leading designer, producer and seller of original USB (Universal Serial Bus) extension and problem fixing for markets across the world. Previously USB range was just around sixteen feet, a limitation that Icron has overcome; the range these days can be stretched to around 1.24 miles. Together with other big hardware companies, Icron is a member of the USB Implementers Forum. It is not particularly astonishing that Icron’s ExtremeUSB extension tech product was the only example presented that came through and gained that community’s praise and endorsement. Such skill speaks for itself; the quality of Icron’s wares can be assured.

Icron has developed enough to be able to supply many areas of the tech industry. What connects point-of-sale (POS), industrial automation, and PC to TV connectivity? The revolutionary USB extension tech, of course.

The benefits to industry and commerce will be excellent if the tech can be made more available. Therefore any firm should easily be able to obtain Icron’s USB wares.

Branded or private-label USB Extender products, OEM integrated computer hardware and programmer kits are some of the formats available when purchasing Icron’s ExtremeUSB kit. Re-designation can also be performed on the Ranger and Rover products. For ease of use and efficiency, there are different preferences that allow USB extension. In recent months, Icron has built upon the capacities of ExtremeUSB in the form of the WiRanger Cable Free USB 2.0 hub, the first incarnation of a wireless USB hub with 802.11g tech. The majority of USB hub products — unlike the WiRanger — don’t supply a combined package with cable-free capacity and an in-built industrial radio. The WiRanger wireless USB 2.0 hub is a four-port hub and dongle set that allows rapid high speed wireless connectivity with an upper limit reach extending beyond 30 m. All of these elements combined make the WiRanger one of the choicest and most convenient devices available. Do not however forget or ignore Icron’s other USB devices. Finishing up, Icron has a well-deserved reputation for excellency — the tech of USB is now suitably sophisticated for them to function in hitherto unsuitable areas. For Icron, USB development and perfection is a goal to work for.

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First a little history….
In 1938, the first invention that would lead to the laser printer and toner cartridge was patented. The process, knows as “electro photography”, used a dry printing method, not that different than today’s laser printer. It was 1948, however, before the commercial application of electro photography because available.

In 1959, the first automatic reproduction machine, the Xerox 914, which used a dry printing process. In 1978, the fine tuned technology was applied to the computer printing needs of business and private citizens. Physically large and with a large price tag as well, the Xerox 9700 laser printer that used a toner cartridge wasn’t affordable by individuals except the wealthy.

Everything changed in 1984 when Hewlett Packard began to market the “LaserJet” printer. This printer came with a replaceable toner cartridge that was not difficult to change, although it could sometimes bit a little messy. The really problematic part was that people who used the LaserJet had stacks of expensive but empty toners stacked in the storage room or wherever they could find to store the toner cartridges.

This problem was quickly resolved by environmentally aware designers by re-manufacturing the laser toner cartridge. This significantly reduced the cost of using laser printers.

What’s happening today?….
Nowadays we have the luxury of having a laser printer on our desk at home if we want that type of printing. The as well as the initial outlay for the printer has become quite affordable and provides a unique, very professional looking print out.

Today, laser printers are manufactured by many companies and the price tag is only slightly more than the common ink printer (though colour laser printers are still quite expensive the gap is getting smaller). The laser toner cartridge costs have been reduced so that it is reasonable to use the laser printer at home as well as at the office. In fact the toners are usually much cheaper when you take into account the larger number of pages you get for the amount you pay (the industry uses the terminology ‘cents per page’ or CPP)

Basically there are 2 types of cartridges, originals and non-originals and there are 2 types of non-originals being compatibles and remanufactured (this goes for inks also as does the information below). Otherwise known as non genuine, after market this is how they work:-

- Compatibles are actually a brand new cartridge manufactured to work in the same way (without breaking the trademark, copy protection laws) as the same original cartridge with the same machines. The benefit you gain from these is obviously cost savings with at times massive savings up to around 50%. The downside is they are not as environmentally friendly as remanufactured toners and there are the occasional failures and complaints about lower quality (though failure rates for the top companies making these are within industry norms and not significantly higher than those of the original manufacturers themselves)
- Remanufactured toners however are a little different as they take an empty original (it should have only been used ONCE) and fill it with toner. As long as you buy from a reputable retailer it will have also been checked to determine if parts need to be replaced as well as toner refilled. You also get good cost savings as you do with compatibles but the environment wins out big time as you helping ‘close the loop’ by reusing an empty original. Once again the same applies as above with quality and failures (both negligible in my experience as a retailer in this industry).

NOTE: Its worth making a special note here that disposing of empty toners is a problem worldwide as the plastic they’re made of takes so long to break down and the toxicity of the toner inside. In many countries today there are programs available where you can get rid of your empties without just throwing them in the bin. In fact if you hunt around you’ll probably find a company will pay you for them as they need a constant stream of empties coming through so they can remanufacture them.

Something to keep in mind….
When purchasing a re-manufactured laser toner cartridge, be sure to read the box carefully and ensure you are selecting the right toner cartridge. The first time you purchase a re-manufactured toner cartridge, the box may look entirely different or very plain because these inexpensive toners are often not packaged in fancy, colourful boxes like the name brands. But then they don’t cost what the name brand toners do, either.

The bottom line….
If you use a reputable retailer for your home/office supplies they should have a clear policy in place not only about faulty toners but what happens if a cartridge has somehow caused damage to your machine (this would be very unusual by the way). Under these circumstances this policy should give you a full warranty to have the equipment repaired ASAP at no cost to you.

With my clients when they ask what I suggest I always recommend they try a non-original to see for themselves the quality etc. In any case the trick is to be able to make an informed choice with someone you trust so at least if something goes wrong the people you bought from haven’t skipped the country.

Andrew James runs an successful online business based in Melbourne, Australia and regularly writes articles for the benefit of his clients and others.

The Cartridge Specialists

www.cartridgespecialists.com.au

info@cartridgespecialists.com.au

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The refresh cycle of the core product lines by Microsoft has started last year with the launch of the long-awaited upgrade for the client and server versions of Windows. The release of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 may be considered important milestones in 2009 but for Microsoft partners, this is just the calm before the storm.

Windows is the foundation of everything that the software giant offers and the upgrades have provided a lot to build on. And with the release of the Windows Server 2008 R2, it has shipped a greatly improved version of Exchange Server 2010, its core e-mail server platform. The new hosting services platform features enhanced storage capacity, improved unified messaging and an improved Outlook Web Access client, among others.

And here comes the icing on the Microsoft cake. As we go into 2010, expect more key upgrades for SharePoint, Office, SQL Server, BizTalk and a couple of components of Dynamics among others. These products are going to build on the new Windows versions. Most of these new releases will also be designed to interact with one another which open cross-selling opportunities. For instance, the introduction of the new interface for Outlook and the latest Office 2010 release are going to enable a couple of features that can be found in the Exchange Server 2010.

But perhaps there is no other product that offers more ties to other new offerings by Microsoft than SharePoint. Whether we’re talking about the new release for SQL Server, Visual Studio or Dynamics, partners are all taking about the product’s connectivity features with SharePoint.

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Replacing or repairing a chipped windscreen can be a simple or tedious experience of possessing a car, depending on the approach you take. Windshield replacement is not an easy process; it demands strength, a stable hand, and a willingness to follow instructions carefully.

All cars are different, most of the time, taking out a windscreen requires loosening the urethane that supports it in place, then lifting it out its position with caution. Once this step is done, using the a utility knife the left over urethane must be cleared away to make room for the new windshield. The new windscreen is then affixed into position, and secured with bolts. The most important step is to make sure that the new urethane seal is applied the right way, because any leakages can cause wind to enter the car, totally ruining the experience of driving.

You do not always need to replace your windscreen if it has a chip, it may be feasible to repair it instead of replacing it. Windscreen repair is a considerably easier procedure. Repair kits can be found in nearly every auto parts store, and involves sealing off the chip with resin. The resin dries clear, and once the process is finished, it is almost impossible to tell that the windshield was ever chipped off. Windscreen repair kits can be unreliable when used to fix large cracks, however, and can sometimes make the problem worse, demanding a replacement. This job is often better left to professionals.

If you decide to let a professional deal with your windshield problems, you may be delighted to find that very often you do not need to bring your car to the garage. Many companies offer mobile repair services, which can be completed in a matter of an hour or less, even if the windshield requires to be replaced completely. Mobile windshield repair services are able to perform the service at the comfort of your own home, or at work, making it an extremely convenient one.

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With the impressive performance of the new Windows 7, it shouldn’t be surprising to find Microsoft looking to bury Windows XP. After all, the operating system may have served us well but it has already been around for about a decade. Clearly, the technology provider would rather consumers purchased new machines with Windows 7.

Windows XP was bound for retirement a few years back but Microsoft had to resurrect it in order to address the demand for cheaper, smaller and low power machines such as netbooks.
But Windows 7 has been found to run almost as efficiently on netbook hardware and dedicated servers as Windows XP. And while consumers still have the option to pick netbooks that have Windows XP in them, Microsoft will cease offering the OS to netbook manufacturers as early as next year.

Given the chance, the old OS would be shelved sooner. According to Don Paterson, Microsoft Netbook chief, while Windows XP is going to be available for a while longer, it might not enjoy as much market share once the holidays come around. He adds that Microsoft is going to implement heavy marketing campaigns for Windows 7 and not its predecessor although that Microsoft ever conducted much marketing for Windows XP as far as netbooks are concerned is still questionable.
The company just made the old OS available, Paterson says. And because of this, consumers who are more familiar with Windows as compared to Linux naturally opted for Windows XP netbooks.

If PC makers stopped providing netbooks with Windows XP on them, consumers will just start to move on and use Windows 7.

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Offering secure public Internet access is not as easy as it may seem. As the IT manager for a mid-sized public library, it’s become apparent to me that creating a secure network of library workstations for use by the public is more important than ever before. System administrators have the responsibility of protecting the library’s networks and systems, while ensuring quality and speedy service to all patrons. Offering public Internet access requires a dynamic security plan that is constantly under revision, taking into account the technical changes of the times. Traditionally, the software options available for help in this regard come at a significant price, often forcing libraries to spend thousands of dollars securing their computer rooms.

Sold per module or license, many of these software solutions offer a variety of features, but often fall short of actually securing the workstation. Plagued with stability issues, it’s not uncommon for many of these security solutions to crash and leave an administrative-level desktop open for public use. After test-driving a seemingly endless amount of pro-active protection software packages, the PC’s I administrate were still accumulating spy ware, browser hijacks, and tracking cookies on a daily basis. That is, until I came across the completely free software solution that actually does what others claim to — tightly secure any and every Windows 2000/XP Pro workstation.

The Public Access Computer Security Tool is a complete software security system designed by, and offered freely through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Designed for any public access computer that runs Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, it helps keep workstations secure by restricting public access to the machine, and creating customizable profile environments to meet patron needs, without compromising the ever-important administrative access to the terminal.

So how does the Public Access Computer Security Tool work? By utilizing three separate layers of pro-active security restrictions (system restrictions, profiles, and profile restrictions), patron access is limited to a desktop completely configurable by the Administrator, and locked down at the policy level. This results in a computer environment that performs flawlessly, despite the “heavy use” factor that’s become synonymous with the public access computing world.

After installing and configuring the Public Access Computer Security Tool on our library’s ten public access Internet machines, the days of spy ware, instant messengers, and search bars are now behind us. I’m confident our public access terminals are now properly secure. Stability is not an issue any more; the operating system itself is reconfigured to disable access to sensitive parts of the machine. There’s absolutely no way for patrons to intentionally or accidentally disrupt the functioning of the computer, as they are limited to the software we’ve given them access to.

Best of all, libraries on the tightest of budgets can use the Public Access Computer Security Tool for every public access terminal in the building, and not owe a single dollar. The software is completely free and requires no license/registrations. As an IT administrator, if you’re shopping around for public access solutions, I suggest you check out the Public Access Computer Security Tool. Further information and links to downloading the tool at available at: http://www.pacomputing.org/PACTool/pactoolhome.aspx.

Jim Frank is the Head of Computer Services for the Berwyn Public Library. He can be reached by emailing jiminberwyn@gmail.com. A support forum for the Public Access Security Tool can be found by visiting http://www.securepc.org. (NOTE TO EDITORS: This article may be edited for publication in your newsletter or on your website, but must include the author’s name, and the title of the article.)

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Want to knwo what I’ve been up to for the last few weeks? Here it is. This shouldn’t bore you - it’s meant to be engaging and useful. Energize your camping trips and feel secure while you’re gone.

Gear

We went up to the mountains to camp a while ago. My family is important to me - we needed to make sure everyone was safe in the country. The web makes it so much faster and easier to find the right camping tents for a camping trip. Timing was everything - the tent had to ship the same day or we couldn’t make it. The website I used was really helpful. Tent arrived as expected. It only took a few days for shipping. We ended up having a beautiful camping experience - lot’s of hiking. Had a blast!

Security

So…I had to protect my house while we were gone. Got a home security alarm. We’re a young family and are starting to accumulate some valuable things. You know it feels like such an invasion just to think about theft. Monitoring a security system is the way to go. It’s a tiny bit more expensive, but much safer we think. Installing the security system was a breeze. We are more willing to leave the house now for long periods of time. More vacation here I come!

Enregize

Hiking everywhere and cooking your own food for an entire week is tiring! Whoever was the genius that packed the efusjon drinks deserves…another efusjon drink. Not only are children exhausting and worthwhile, taking them camping triples the effect. Glad to have efusjon nearby. The ‘a’ team at efusjon has a home at STartup4less.com. Go check ‘em out. Get in before it’s too late - get on the ‘a’ team at efusjon. Get in on the opportunity now!

Until next time, I’m out. Hope these work out for you!

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Buying a new computer is an exciting event for most people. Many consumers find it fun to unpack and put together their new PC, expecting it to look clean and flawless. But many are disappointed when they find tacky Microsoft and Intel stickers cluttering an otherwise sleek design.

The stickers either fade and peel themselves off over time-making the computer look even worse-or the consumer has to delicately and painstakingly peel off the stickers by hand in order to make the obtrusive logos disappear.

Finally a company with some influence is doing something about it. Dell, the PC giant, is having talks with both Microsoft and Intel about omitting vicarious advertising from its machines.

Dell doesn’t care that other companies’ logos are seen on their computers as much as it cares about saving some extra dough. For them, putting the stickers on each computer takes a lot of time, and therefore money, especially considering Dell is the world’s largest PC maker, currently supplying more than 16 percent of the worldwide PC market. As the Chinese and Latin American markets continue to grow, putting those pesky stickers on each machine becomes what Dell has called “a significant bottleneck.”

Certainly Intel and Microsoft are going to fight to keep their logos on every machine they power-including Dell’s-so stay tuned. But perhaps our days of picking off pesky logo stickers are numbered.

Jonathan Munk writes articles for major Logo Design companies such as LogoDesign.com and LogoWorks.com.

Visit LogoDesign.com, an excellent resource for Logo Design news, articles, tips and information.

Read what USA Today says about LogoWorks

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The Blu-ray Disc belongs to a new generation of optical discs capable of staging high density data. Blu-Ray technology is based on a blue-violet coloured laser. The blue laser operates at a wave length of 405 nm, while older technology such as DVDs and CDs are based on red and infrared lasers that works at 650 and 780 nm. Since the wave length is shorter with a blue laser, the new Blu-ray technology makes is possible to store much more information

The advantage with the Blu-ray technology is that the laser beam can be focused much more tightly at the surface of the disc. Tight focus means that a smaller spot will be produced on the surface on the disc, and when the spots become smaller there will naturally be room for more information on each disc. The minimum spot size of any laser depends on a naturally accruing phenomenon called diffraction. The narrow beam of light sent out from a laser will always diverge into a wider beam eventually, due to the natural diffraction of waves. Diffraction will also occur the waves meet an obstruction. By reducing the wavelength of a laser, we can affect the diffraction.

In Blu-ray technology, the diffractions is also affected by the fact that the lens used to focus the light has a higher numerical aperture than the lenses found in ordinary DVDs - 0.85 instead of 0.6. Blu-ray technology based appliances are also equipped with a dual-lens system of supreme quality, and the cover layer has been made thinner in order to prevent unwanted optical effects. All this makes it possible for a Blu-ray laser to focus on much smaller spots. The optical improvements are accompanied with a new method for encoding data which makes it possible to store even more data on the Blu-ray disc.

The standard for Blu-ray technology has been developed as a joint venture between several major manufacturers of PCs and consumer electronics, including Sony and Philips. The group is called the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). The first Blu-ray recorder was launched in Japan in 2003, by Sony. Today, Samsung, JVC, Matsushita (Panasonic) and LG Electronics are all examples of companies using Blu-ray technology in their products. Hewlett Packard has announced that they will release desktop PCs equipped with Blu-ray technology in late 2005.

The main competitor for the Blu-ray technology is the HD DVD format which is also capable of storing more information than a normal DVD. The Blu-ray technology does however allow for more information per layer than the HD DVD format - 25 GB compared to 15 GB. The Blu-ray technology will on the other hand most likely be more expensive to support, at least initially, which can make the HD DVD a tempting alternative. In a Blu-ray disc, the data is stored extremely close to the surface. This made the first Blu-ray discs extremely vulnerable to scratching and many users preferred the tougher HD DVD discs. Since 2004, all Blu-ray discs are coated with a clear polymer called “Durabis” which makes them much more durable. According to the developers of Durabis, the TDK Corporation, a coated Blu-ray disc will work even after being attacked with a screwdriver.

Paul Colbert of Blu Ray World is an author of various articles relating to new technology and innovations. All content may be used freely but may not be altered in anyway without prior written consent by webcashflow LLC and a link back to Blu-Ray-World.com must be given.

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