Thursday, July 30, 2009

Faktor Yang Membuat G-Chrome Menjadi Cepat

Para pengguna internet, tentu sudah mengenal beberapa macam browser. Masing-masing browser punya keunggulan sendiri.

Namun, sejak beberapa bulan terakhir ini, kita dibuat takjub oleh browser baru buatan Google. nama browser ini tidak lain adalah Google Chrome, atau sayalebih suka menyebutnya G-Chrome.

Apa yang membuat G-Chrome ini begitu dikagumi (khususnya oleh saya) ? Menurut saya, setidaknya ada 2 hal. Pertama, dari segi kecepatan, sedangkan yang kedua dari segi kemampuannya yang membuat seolah-olah browser ini begitu "ringan" ketika dijalankan untuk membuka halaman website.

Faktor apakah yang membuat browser ini begitu cepat, bahkan dapat mengalahkan para "seniornya" ?

Hal ini tidak lain karena
G-Chrome memperoleh tambahan kecepatan dari mesin lain. Maksudnya ? Jadi beginih, G-Chrome mempunyai mesin utama yang bernama webkit, yaitu sebuah HTML Rendering Library.

Mesin ini pertama kali dikembangkan oleh Apple sebagai dasar untuk browser Safari buatan mereka. Mesin rendering ini berfungsi untuk menampilkan halaman website dalam browser seperti halnya halaman yang dibangun dengan bahasa HTML. Webkit ini dibuat dengan pemrograman yang ramping, serta memory load yang optimal, sehingga menawarkan kecepatan yang lebih baik.
HTML adalah bahasa pemrograman yang digunakan untuk membangun internet, tetapi ternyata tidak cukup hanya itu, ada elemen lain yang digunakan untuk pembangunan internet juga, yaitu javascript.


G-Chrome membutuhkan tenaga yang sangat besar untuk menjalankan aplikasi berbasis web. Browser ini mengambil tenaga yang dibutuhkan dari VB Javascript Engine yang dikembangkan oleh Google dan dibuat lebih optimal untuk kecepatan dengan cara khusus.

Engine ini menyiapkan sebuah hidden class yang bertugas untuk mengumpulkan obyek-obyek yang sama. Akibatnya, jika
G-Chrome membuka suatu situs, bila terdapat obyek-obyek yang diperlukan tadi, maka aksesnya akan lebih cepat.

Ada lagi keunggulan lainnya. Ketika browser
G-Chrome ini menuliskan data ke harddisk (contohnya disimpan dalam cache), ternyata browser ini akan membuat proses sendiri. Dengan begitu, walaupun harddisknya lambat, tidak akan berpengaruh terhadap kecepatan browser.

G-Chrome juga mempunyai sesuatu yang baru, yang tidak dimiliki oleh browser lain, yaitu Prefetching DNS-suatu fungsi yang berjalan di background dan menerjemahkan link yang diteruskan menjadi alamat IP ketika membuka sebuah situs.

Itulah sebabnya, ketika browser ini membuka suatu link,
G-Chrome akan dapat menghemat waktu dalam pencarian alamat pada DNS server.

Ketimbang Vista, Windows XP Lebih 'Seksi'

Jakarta - Windows XP rupanya lebih dicintai pengguna PC (komputer) untuk sistim operasi. Lebih dari sepertiga komputer baru bersistem operasi Windows Vista di-downgrade ke XP, baik oleh pembeli ataupun vendor PC.

Dari survei yang digelar perusahaan riset Devil Mountain Software Inc., terungkap bahwa 35% dari 3.000 PC yang dikapalkan dalam enam bulan terakhir di-downgrade ke Windows XP.

"Komputer ini di-downgrade oleh para penjual seperti Dell atau HP, atau di-downgrade oleh user setelah mereka membeli komputer," ujar Chief Technology Officer Devil Mountain Software, Craig Barth, yang dikutip detikINET dari Computerworld, Senin (25/8/2008).

Barth menambahkan, prosentase tersebut hanyalah estimasi saja namun sudah cukup menunjukkan tren yang terjadi di kalangan pengguna PC.

Microsoft sendiri menyediakan licensing agreement di mana user diperbolehkan men-downgrade sistim operasi Vista Business dan Vista Ultimate ke Windows XP Professional. Demikian halnya dengan Vista Enterprise bisa di-downgrade juga ke XP.

Vista memang kurang mendapat sambutan hangat dari konsumen karena alasan kompabilitas hardware dan software. Vista juga diklaim terlalu lamban dibanding Windows XP dalam hal loading aplikasi, menyalakan dan mematikan komputer.

Sumber : http://www.detikinet.com/

Hati-hati ! Ada Worm Yang Menyerang Perangkat Penyimpanan USB

Hati-hati terhadap virus terbaru yang saat ini sudah muncul !!! Virus ini menginfeksi perangkat USB dan ditujukan untuk menyerang jaringan Ethernet perusahaan.
Sebetulnya sih, Microsoft sudah memberikan patch yang dapat melindungi dari serangan yang dilakukan melalui Ethernet, namun belum ada patch yang diperuntukkan untuk melindungi dari penyerangan yang dilakukan melalui perangkat USB. Hanya antivirus saja yang dapat mencegah serangannya.

Jutaan komputer telah terinfeksi oleh
worm jenis baru baru-baru ini. Worm ini bernama Downadup, Conficker atau Kido. Kebanyakan komputer yang diserang adalah komputer perusahaan.
Worm ini terhitung ganas dan menyerang pada “lubang” pada system operasi Windows. Adapun celah yang diserang adalah layanan services.exe. Setelah menginfeksi, worm tersebut akan membuat file DLL baru pada system folder Windows dengan 5 buah huruf yang disusun secara acak. Lalu worm tersebut akan membuat sebuah registry yang akan menganggap file DLL tadi adalah sebuah layanan, sehingga DLL tersebut akan berjalan secara otomatis setiap kali komputer melakukan restart.
Setelah berhasil melakukan hal-hal tadi, worm tersebut akan membuat sebuah server http, dan mendownload malware dari situs yang berbahaya.
Sementara ini langkah yang ditempuh oleh perusahaan adalah menggunakan pacth dari Microsoft serta menghapus malware pada komputer yang terinfeksi. Satu lagi, adalah mencegah penggunaan perangkat penyimpanan USB.

Google Chrome Versi 2

Pengembangan G-Chrome telah sampai pada versi 2, tetapi perubahannya tidak terlalu signifikan. Walaupun demikian, ada banyak hal baru di Chrome 2,0, antara lain :
1. form autocomplete, salah satu fitur yang paling jelas hilang dari awal rilis.


2. full-page zoom, yang bisa merubah uukuran gambar dan obyek lain, jadi bukan hanya teks Ternyata untuk menggunakan fasilitas zoom ini bisa dilakukan melalui shortcut lho, caranya begini : Ctrl (-) untuk mengecilkan/ zoom out, Ctrl (+) untuk memperbesar/ zoom in dan Ctrl (0) untuk menormalkannya lagi.

3. autoscroll dengan cara menekan tombol tengah mouse di salah satu halaman dan langsung menunjukkan arah.

4. Profil merupakan cara untuk memisahkan Chrome dari pengaturan dalam berbagai kategori yang berbeda. Disini anda dapat :

1. membuat profil pekerjaan dengan situs sendiri
2. menandai (boorkmarks) serta menjelajah history dan profil untuk proyek pribadi anda
3. fitur yang paling hebat di G-Chrome ini adalah anda tidak perlu menutup browser untuk mengubah profil anda, yang anda lakukan hanya membuka jendela baru dalam profil yang terpisah.
4. Dukungan untuk Greasemonkey script (atau user-skrip). Untuk mengaktifkan fitur percobaan ini anda perlu mengklik-kanan pada shortcut G-Chrome melalui desktop, pilih Properties dan pilih add enable user skrip pada Target Field. Untuk saat ini, anda perlu menempatkan script di c: \ script, tetapi lokasi ini akan berubah jika anda ingin membuat script berikutnya.
5. Perbaikan penting lainnya antara lain : updates untuk WebKit dan engine V8 JavaScript ,implementasi yang lebih baik untuk keamanan browsing (malware/phishing protection), dan kode baru untuk jaringan protokol HTTP.

Kumo, Search Engine dari Microsoft

Siapa yang tidak kenal Google, atau Yahoo ?

Ya, kedua nama itu merupakan Search Engine / Mesin Pencari populer yang menguasai sebagian pasar Internet di bidang pencarian.
Tapi, tahukah anda kalau Microsoft, si pembuat Windows juga diam-diam sedang membuat Search Engine untuk menyaingi search engine yang sudah ada dan rencananya akan dilaunching sekitar 40 hari lagi ?

Nama search engine yang akan diberikan sementara ini adalah Kumo. yah, mungkin namanya masih akan berubah lagi (belum final).

Tampilan awal kumo menunjukkan adanya penggabungan search engine yang lebih menitikberatkan pada penjelasan area query pencarian, sehingga hasilnya akan menjadi lebih detail.

Microsoft Akan Merilis Office 2010

Kalau kita bekerja di kantoran, hampir bisa dipastikan, dalam mengerjakan tugas kita, biasanya menggunakan aplikasi Microsoft Office.


Seperti yang kita ketahui,
Microsoft dalam jangka waktu tertentu selalu mengeluarkan paket Office, misalnya Ms. Office 97, Ms.Office 2000, Ms.Office XP, dsb. Nah sekarang, ada berita terbaru dari Microsoft. Mereka akan segera merilis Office 2010. Jadwal pastinya sih masih dirahasiakan. Cuma ada prediksi, bahwa Office 2010 akan dirilis sekitar tahun depan pada kuartal pertama.


Ada bocoran yang akan menyertai peluncuran Office 2010. Aplikasi terbaru itu akan sedikit berbeda dari versi-versi sebelumnya. Pada produk terbarunya ini,
Microsoft akan mengembangkan software ini dengan berbasiskan operasi web.

Maksudnya, para pengguna akan dapat mengetik dokumen dalam sebuah web browser. Jadinya, Office 2010 ini dapat disinkronkan dengan internet, tentu saja secara online.

Tampaknya Office 2010 ini ditujukan untuk menyaingi Google Doc, sebuah aplikasi dokumen yang dilakukan secara online dan gratis.

Peluncuran Bluetooth 3.0

Siapa yang tidak kenal Bluetooth , ayo angkat tangan ? Ya, Bluetooth biasanya identik dengan salah satu jenis koneksi.


Selama ini kita menggunakan Bluetooth versi 2.0. Sekarang ada kabar gembira, Bluetooth Special Interest Group telah meluncurkan Bluetooth 3.0 serta spesifikasinya secara resmi. Koneksi nirkabel ini berkecepatan tinggi. Kecepatan tertinggi Bluetooth 3.0. ini bisa mencapai 24 Mb per detik ! Jika dibandingkan dengan pendahulunya, Bluetooth 2.0 hanya berkecepatan maksimal 3 Mb per detik.

Kemampuan tinggi yang dimiliki Bluetooth dikarenakan teknologi wireless ini mampu menembus protokol radio 802.11 atau yang lebih dikenal dengan sebutan WiFi. Bluetooth 3.0 diklaim memiliki konsumsi energi yang sangat kecil, tidak seperti pendahulunya.

Kemungkinan teknologi terbaru ini baru dapat dinikmati oleh produk-produk untuk konsumen sekitar 1 tahun ke depan.

Microsoft Merubah Setting Default Internet Explorer

Bagi anda pengguna Internet Explorer (IE), ada berita baru untuk anda. Baru-baru ini Microsoft telah merubah cara proses instalasi sebagai respon akibat tekanan dari uni Eropa atas klaim anti-trust.

Raksasa software ini mengatakan dalam sebuah posting blognya bahwa mereka sedang mencoba untuk membuat pilihan bagi para pengguna browser default ini lebih eksplisit lagi.

"Tujuan dari setup IE ini adalah agar para pengguna IE dapat mengontrol setting ketika sedang melakukan instalasi Windows dan hormati default yang sudah ada. IE tidak akan pernah diinstal, atau menjadi browser default secara eksplisit tanpa izin.

Sebagai bagian dari perubahan, para pengguna yang menginstal IE 8 dan mempunyai browser lain yang sudah ditetapkan sebagai standar akan disajikan dengan munculnya pop-up baru yang akan menanyakan apakah mereka ingin mengubah default browser ke IE.

Microsoft telah lama mempunyai masalah dengan Uni Eropa melalui bundling IE yang dikatakan “tidak adil”. Pada bulan Juni, Komisi Eropa mengkritik Microsoft yang berencana untuk menawarkan versi Windows tanpa IE 7.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Getting on to the plane with children

You got the tickets and all the relevant paperwork is in order, now you have to get everyone to the airport. The first time people fly can be exciting or a little stressful. If your children are old enough to understand what's going on, telling them what to expect will make things run more smoothly. Warn them about pressure changes and the need to yawn to adjust the pressure in their ears. Most airlines allow children under the age of two to fly free as "lap children" but it is always safer for all children to have their own seats. Many airlines will make unsold seats available for this purpose. That way, babies and the really young can be strapped into seats not unlike those used for car travel. Accidents are very rare, but with their own seat belts and harnesses, the chances of injury through air turbulence are reduced to almost zero. Many airlines will allow you to bring your own FAA approved seats or use a small stroller. Liaise with customer services to see what arrangements are made before you board.

Remember all the new rules about carrying liquids and gels on to airplanes. Now start planning. One of the problems with longer flights is dehydration so having plenty to drink is a must. Are you going to pack extra food and snacks or rely on whatever the airline serves? Again, check the rules to see whether you are allowed to bring prepacked food from home or must buy it in the secure area (at higher price) before boarding. Then you need all the wipes, ointments, and changes of clothes in case of "accidents". Now think about the length of the flight. Although some airlines have those little screens built into the backs of seats, you might want to consider taking something they find entertaining - toys, books to color or read - anything to help reduce boredom is a good thing. Walking them up and down the aisles is exercise and breaks up the monotony. Letting them run around shouting is going to get you in trouble. Finally, if you stay calm the children will probably follow your example.

Traveling anywhere with children is a challenge. Being shut up inside a plane is a real test of patience. But, if you get all the planning right, the results of a happy holiday make the whole thing worth the money. The pleasure will be all the greater if you were flying with really cheap plane tickets. All the fun and those extra dollars in your pockets as spending money... So make sure you do get the best value in a package with cheap plane tickets and great hotel rates, perhaps with a rental car thrown in and good travel insurance. Sometimes, bundling everything up into one package makes for the biggest savings. Then, make the final decision. How are you going to get everyone to the airport? Long-stay parking rates can be high. It may be better value to take a bus from the city center if you have everything packed so it's easy to carry.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Fujitsu M2010

Fujitsu M2010
Fujitsu M2010 : Angle Fujitsu M2010 : Front Fujitsu M2010 : Top

While other companies are launching two to three netbooks at a time (some even more), Fujitsu has been waiting patiently for its opportunity to enter an increasingly crowded field. And now the time has come. The M2010 has one of the most vivid and color-rich 10-inch widescreens in the business, and the infinity-symbol design is easy on the eyes, but it isn't without flaws. I can forgive the 89 percent keyboard, since this netbook is aimed at classrooms and at kids, whose hands are presumably smaller than mine. The $449 (direct) price tag and low battery scores (with its three-cell battery), however, may be tough sells.

Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation

http://www.computers.us.fujitsu.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $489.00 Direct
  • Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
  • Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
  • Processor Name: Intel Atom N270
  • Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Weight: 2.5 lb
  • Screen Size: 10.1 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  • Storage Capacity: 160 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11a/g
  • Primary Optical Drive: External

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Lenovo IdeaPad S12

Lenovo Ideapad S12
Lenovo Ideapad S12 : Angle Lenovo Ideapad S12 : Front Lenovo Ideapad S12 : Closed

For netbook makers, the first instinct is to vie for the lowest prices, but they are bound by what's considered the norm for netbooks—a 10-inch screen, an undersized keyboard, and minimal features. There are only a handful of netbooks that push beyond these boundaries in an effort to draw in the sophisticated netbook users—if there's such a group. The Lenovo Ideapad S12 ($500 direct) is arguably the best 12-inch netbook available, besting the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, Samsung NC20 (21GBK), and HP Pavilion dv2-1030us. Its 1,280-by-800 resolution, superb full-size keyboard, and an ExpressCard slot are sophisticated netbook components. But its price, well, that will raise eyebrows in a different way.

Lenovo

http://www.lenovo.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $500.00 Direct
  • Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Netbook
  • Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
  • Processor Name: Intel Atom N270
  • Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Weight: 3.5 lb
  • Screen Size: 12 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  • Storage Capacity: 160 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11g
  • Primary Optical Drive: External

Viliv S5 Premium

Viliv S5 Premium
Viliv S5 Premium : Angle Viliv S5 Premium : Antenna Viliv S5 Premium : Front

The Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) of old—like the Sony VAIO VGN-UX180P, the Vulcan Flipstart, and OQO model 02—have all retreated into the digital afterworld because of their gravely impractical form factors or too expensive price tag. PC makers haven't given up on the concept, though, as Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)—handhelds made specifically for surfing the Web and watching videos—are waiting on deck to replace their forefathers. Their mission: To fill whatever tiny space there is left between smartphones and the ever-growing netbook category. One such device, the Viliv S5 Premium ($800 list) is described as a MID, as it lacks a physical keyboard and a big enough screen that would have otherwise placed it in the netbook category. Dynamism is one of the few Web sites that imports this handheld device from Korea. Aside from the full blown operating system and internal 3G (and GPS) capability, the S5 illustrates why MIDs will have to jump over mountain-high hurdles to gain acceptance: The haptic keyboard is frustrating to use, the resolution is too high on a 4.8-inch screen, and $800 is way too expensive for a stripped down netbook.

Yukyung Technologies Corporation

http://www.dynamism.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $800.00 Street
  • Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value
  • Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
  • Processor Name: Intel Atom Z520
  • Processor Speed: 1.33 GHz
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Weight: 14.4 oz
  • Screen Size: 4.8 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500
  • Storage Capacity: 32 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11a/g
  • Primary Optical Drive: External

Alienware M17x

Alienware M17x
Alienware M17x : Angle Alienware M17x : Front Alienware M17x : Closed

Most hardcore gamers couldn't care less about how a gaming laptop looks. Give them the fastest processor and most powerful 3D graphics card and let them get on with the show. While most gaming laptop manufacturers would agree (they would buy the bulkiest bare-bone chassis from a Taiwanese factory and customize it with their own parts), Alienware is the one company that goes against the grain. The Alienware M17x ($4,850 direct) is now the benchmark of gaming laptop designs, as its frame is completely covered in aluminum metals—a look reminiscent of an all-terrain vehicle. Even after focusing much of its attention on design, Alienware didn't forget about its processing roots: An Intel Extreme Quad core processor and the ability to switch between a low-powered and a ridiculously powerful Nvidia graphics card deliver a gaming punch like no other. Yeah, it'll cost you a bundle, but we're still giving it the Editors' Choice in the gaming category.

Alienware Corp

http://www.alienware.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $4,850.00 Direct
  • Type: Gaming, Media
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9300
  • Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Weight: 17 lb
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 280M GTX
  • Storage Capacity: 1000 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11n
  • Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW DL with Blu-Ray

HP Pavilion dv3-2150us

HP Pavilion dv3 (2150us)
HP Pavilion dv3 (2150us) : Angle HP Pavilion dv3 (2150us) : Front HP Pavilion dv3 (2150us) : Right

Shrink the system and bulk up the battery: It's not rocket science, but it's a winning recipe for portable PC design. HP does it with the Pavilion dv3-2150us ($849.98 list), which reduces the company's desktop-replacement media-center platform—complete with infrared remote control—to a 5-pound, 13.3-inch form factor and adds a long-lasting 9-cell battery. It's not as slim and elegant as our Editors' Choice Acer Aspire 3935 (6504) or Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, but it works, and it's reasonably priced to boot.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $849.98 List
  • Type: General Purpose, Media
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T6500
  • Processor Speed: 2.1 GHz
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Screen Size: 13.3 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
  • Storage Capacity: 500 GB
  • Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW

HP Pavilion dv6-1230us

HP dv6-1230us
HP Pavilion dv6-1230us : Angle HP Pavilion dv6-1230us : Front HP Pavilion dv6-1230us : Closed

The HP Pavilion dv6 1230us ($799.99 list) is a tale of two laptops. On the one hand it has all the flashy exterior of the other models in HP's venerable Pavilion line of laptop computers. On the other, it is, at best, a modest laptop with just enough processing power to perform the baseline tasks required of an "entertainment" laptop. Unfortunately when compared to other multimedia laptops the 1230 comes up short.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $799.99
  • Type: Media
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P6500
  • Processor Speed: 2.1 GHz
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Weight: 7.12 lb
  • Screen Size: 15.6 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 945 GM
  • Storage Capacity: 320 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11n
  • Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW (Plus Minus)

HP Mini 5101

HP Mini 5101
HP Mini 5101 : Angle HP Mini 5101 : Front HP Mini 5101 : Closed


HP is hot on the heels of Acer for the top spot in the netbook category. But let's not kid ourselves: Even though HP is very aggressive in pricing, the current Mini 1000 and even the newest Mini 110 (1030us) haven't been able to keep up with the latest netbook trends. Their 92-percent keyboards are dwarfed by the full size ones of other netbooks like the Toshiba mini NB205 and Samsung N120 (12GBK), their decorative patterns are years old, and the mouse buttons are bound like wings to the sides of the touchpad. Change is on the way, though, as the new HP Mini 5101 ($425 direct, as tested) addresses many of its predecessor's shortcomings. The new netbook's sleek metallic frame, a near-full size keyboard, and properly positioned mouse buttons are huge steps forward, but you'll have to wait a while before opting for the additional features.

Hewlett-Packard Company

http://www.hp.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $425.00 Direct
  • Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value, Business, Netbook
  • Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
  • Processor Name: Intel Atom N280
  • Processor Speed: 1.67 GHz
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Weight: 2.9 lb
  • Screen Size: 10.1 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  • Storage Capacity: 160 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11n
  • Primary Optical Drive: External

Sony VAIO VGN-FW390

Sony VAIO VGN-FW390
Sony VAIO VGN-FW390 : Angle Sony VAIO VGN-FW390 : Front Sony VAIO VGN-FW390 : Left

The Sony VAIO VGN-FW198UH was one of the first laptops to showcase a 16:9 aspect ratio display, a beautiful 16-inch widescreen that fit the lines of the 1080p format to a T. (It's a format that's commonly paired with high-end LCD panels.) But as the field of 16-inch laptops grew, so did the bargains that reflected a new shopping trend in this troubled economy. That said, the latest in Sony's FW series, the VAIO VGN-FW390 ($2,099 direct), lacks the pricing aggression of its peers, as this configuration crosses over the $2,000 mark—and few laptops, right now, cost this much. In its defense, though, the FW390's pricey 128GB solid-state drive and a high-end processor had something to do with this anomaly; and there are ways to get the FW390 down to a respectable price and still get a free Blu-ray reader upgrade in the process.

http://www.sonystyle.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $2,099.00
  • Type: Gaming, Media
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T9550
  • Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
  • RAM: 4 GB
  • Weight: 6.3 lb
  • Screen Size: 16.4 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650
  • Storage Capacity: 128 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11n
  • Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW DL with Blu-Ray

Falcon Northwest Fragbook DRX

Falcon Northwest Fragbox DRX
Falcon Northwest Fragbook DRX : Angle Falcon Northwest Fragbook DRX : Closed Falcon Northwest Fragbook DRX : Back

If you're shopping for a Falcon Northwest gaming laptop, there's no middle ground: Either go for broke or leave the website. Consider the Fragbook DRX ($6,449 direct, starting prices around $4,000); the money you'll have spent by the time you trick it out could avert several foreclosures. This 12-pound tank is one of only a handful of boutique laptops that have enough cooling fans to run a 3.33-GHz, Intel Core i7 975 processor—the top-of-the-line desktop processor, no less. Surround the CPU with an excellent supporting cast—an nVidia GeForce 280M GTX graphics card, 6GB of memory, and three internal hard drives (one of which is an 80GB SSD), and its competitors can only watch helplessly while they get pulverized in performance tests.

Falcon Northwest

http://www.falcon-nw.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $6,449.00 Direct
  • Type: Gaming, Media
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Processor Name: Intel Core i7-975
  • Processor Speed: 3.33 GHz
  • RAM: 6 GB
  • Weight: 12 lb
  • Screen Size: 17 inches
  • Screen Size Type: widescreen
  • Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 280M GTX
  • Storage Capacity: 1080 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11n
  • Primary Optical Drive: DVD+/-RW DL with Blu-Ray

Friday, July 24, 2009

WHAT IS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE AND WHY DO I NEED IT?

Written By: Dean Erickson

Anti virus software is important for your computer's (and your) wellbeing and the Internet can help out with some free utilities.

How long have you been on the Internet? And you don't have any Antivirus software? That's certainly a big risk. Antivirus software utilities are expensive? Yes, it is true. Many of these programs are expensive, but they are absolutely essential.

Once installed on your system, and if kept properly updated of all virus definitions, an antivirus software utility will scan all files and separate the suspicious from the safe. It will alert you if a file is infected and either delete it or quarantine it so it cannot cause havoc with your machine. That way you system is constantly protected from the destructive behaviour of viruses. You will not be at risk of infection and, since a virus replicates itself, you will not risk infecting your friends.

Still, if your budget is too limited to include some of the heavyweight antivirus solutions such as Symantec's Norton, McAfee or Kaspersky, there are some free options available if you know where to look.

You basically have two options when it comes to free antivirus protection. You can use a free antivirus software package or you can do an online virus scan. Choosing an online virus scan is basically a good introduction to a product. Trendmicro.com scans your hard drive for free using its House Call antivirus software program. You allow the program access to your hard drive. It scans, locates and clean your infected files, if any, but won't collect personal information or log you IP address.

Do a quick web search for Free Online Virus Scan to bring up some other websites that offer the same service.

You ultimately need to install good antivirus software right on your computer. The most important thing that such software does is real time scanning. This means that whenever you download email or enter a website it is scanning the files and programs you may be downloading and checking to see that they are virus free. If a virus is detected the software will warn you right away, before you open the file and infect your computer.

There are options. If you type Free Anti Virus Software Downloads or Free Antivirus Utilities you'll bring up various results. Products like ClamAV, AntiVir Personal Edition, AVG Anti-Virus software, avast!, BitDefender are all free. As with any antivirus software utility you need to keep it updated regularly of all virus definitions so that it can do its job properly. The utility needs to be informed of the all active viruses so that it knows how to protect your system.

A virus seeks out users with a slack awareness of their computer's security needs. Be informed. Do a virus scan today.

About the Author

Journalist, and web site builder Dean Erickson lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of free-spyware-removal-finder.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

The Seven Golden Rules Of Data Backups

Written By: Keith Edmunds

Backups of company data are carried out for two main reasons. The first is to cater for those times when a document is inadvertently deleted or damaged and you wish to recover the original document; the second is as part of a disaster recovery plan in case something catastrophic happens to your computers (e.g., victims of a fire or theft).

Backups cost time, money and effort to implement, and they are of no value right up until the time you need them. This means they tend to be given a low priority, but ultimately they may easily represent the difference between your business surviving and failing. In this TipSheet, we look at the most common mistakes businesses make with backups.

1. Backup often

Re-entering data is tedious and frustrating. Backing up your company data once a week means that the most you should ever have to re-input is one week's worth Backing up your company data once a day means the most you should ever have to re-input is one day's worth. Frequent backups lessen the impact of data loss.

2. Don't keep any volatile data on desktop PCs

In many organisations, documents are kept on the hard drive of desktop PCs. It is unlikely that this is backed up regularly, if at all. A PC can easily be replaced: last week's quotations may not be so easy to replace. In particular, check that email is not stored on the local hard drive (this is very common in small to medium size businesses). All documents, spreadsheets, email, etc should be kept on a central server, which is in turn backed up regularly.

3. Automate the backup process

Backups are tedious to do. At 6:30pm, most people would prefer to set off home or join colleagues in the bar rather than stay in the office to find the correct tape and start a backup. Automating tedious tasks means they get done.

4. Monitor the backup process

While automating backups is agood idea, do check that they are running correctly. Make sure new files are being backed up; make sure the files of new users are being backed up. A quick check once a week could avert a much more serious problem later.

5. Keep backups offsite

If your business premises suffer a fire or flood, it is likely that backup media will be lost as well. Fireproof safes only protect media for a given time, typically one hour - if you use one, check the manufacturer's specification. If you always keep your backup tape in the server then when it is stolen the thief will probably throw the tape away. It's worth nothing to him, but it could represent bankruptcy to you.

6. Produce a "backup recovery" manual

A major disaster is not the time to try to remember how to recover data from your backup media. Have an idiot-proof, step-by-step procedure written - with a copy stored off-site - detailing how to reinstate your company data.

7. Test the recovery procedure periodically

Without warning, give the backup recovery manual to a member of staff and see how long it takes them to recover data. Many organisations never do this! No one involved with creating the manual or the backups themselves should be involved in the test. The results of the test should be analysed and the manual updated accordingly. A recovery test should be carried out at least twice a year. This proves both that the backups themselves are usable, and that your organisation understands how to use them if necessary.

Keith Edmunds has been helping companies get the most from their IT investment for over twenty years. He is the Managing Director of Tiger Computing Ltd (http://www.tiger-computing.co.uk) and may be contacted at keith.edmunds@tiger-computing.co.uk

Top 5 Backup Tools You Can Pick Up For Pennies

Written By: David D. Deprice

1. Acronis True Image 8.0 - 25% Off Special
www.deprice.com/acronistrueimage.htm

Based on the exclusive Acronis Drive Snapshot disk imaging technology, Acronis True Image allows you to create an online system disk backup without reboot to keep the system productive. The product provides the fastest bare metal restore dramatically reducing a downtime and your IT costs.

2. Genie Backup Manager - 3 Day Sale
www.deprice.com/geniebackupmanagerhome.htm

GBM is perfect for users of all computer comfort levels. Novice users will find it easy to create their first backup job in matter of minutes, thanks to an intuitive wizard-driven user interface, while advanced users will appreciate advanced features such as Email notification, Self executable backup sets, scripting, and 128-bit AES encryption.

3. AISBackup - Reseller Exclusive Offer
www.deprice.com/aisbackup.htm

AISBackup only physically backs up new and changed files since the last backup. It backs up virtually all open files and additionally opened exclusive files from local FAT drives. Restore options include: Complete Windows systems, individual files and folders, right click and 'open' from backup or 'Save as' from backup. Comprehensive restore destination and duplicate file options enable disaster recovery or cloning Windows to new drives and partitions.

4. Backup4all - Low - Price Shock
www.deprice.com/backup4all.htm

Backup4All performs all four fundamental backup types: full backup, differential backup, incremental backup and mirror backup. Using the wizard you can easily set up any backup configuration you wish. You can define powerful file filters and schedule your backups any way you want. Once a backup is performed, you can see what files have been changed since the last backup using the explorer-like tree view or you can read the statistics about the next backup execution. You can use the context menu from the tree to run standard actions associated with the file type.

5. Handy Backup - Underselling Undersellers
www.deprice.com/handybackup.htm

Handy Backup is an easy-to-use program designed for an automatic backup of your critical data virtually to any type of storage media including CD-RW devices and remote FTP servers. You can use Handy Backup to make a reserve copy of any valuable data on your system. Special addons are provided to facilitate the backup of MS Outlook, system registry and ICQ files. Restoring is as easy as clicking a button, but you can also use a number of advanced options. The program can be also used to synchronize files between two computers on a network.

About the Author

David D. Deprice sells backup software for pennies on the dollar at http://www.deprice.com/utilities.htm

How about using a PC without virus-scanner?

Generally, an Antivirus or continuous virus scanning slows down your PC, therefore if you follow some simple steps, you can able to run PC without an Antivirus.

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the knowledge of the user. It can be delivered via, internet or a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. They can be spread by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.

To fight with these viruses, there is Antivirus software, which mainly prevent and remove computer viruses, including worms and Trojan horses. They also detect and remove adware, spyware, and other forms of malware. But, they create some problems. If it is of the type that scans continuously, antivirus software may cause a significant decline in computer performance. Also, there could be some commands for a decision, the user may not understand. Further, we have to pay annual premium for the software.

So can we go for using our PCs without using virus scanner?

The answer is, "yes, you can." But to remain virus and spyware free, you will need to adopt some precautions and stick with them. There are five simple steps, if you follow, can beat the virus attack.

I. Clean Software

If a PC is free from antivirus software, then it should have legitimate and clean software. That means pirated copies of programs that can be downloaded through various sites or on newsgroups, borrowed from friends through file sharing, or found on shareware and freeware sites all should be denied for the PC. As there is no scanning, so a file you download online is not as easy to check for viruses as it would be if you had an antivirus program installed.

II. Remote Scan

In offices or home, if user has more than one PC, he can install antivirus software on one while leaving the other machine without antivirus software. And through network connection, he can check individual files or entire drives remotely.

Also, with free online virus and spyware scanning tools, for e.g., Trend Micro's House Call and Eset's Online Scan will perform a scan of your computer right from the Internet. These types of scan might not remove any viruses or spyware, but they will at least tell you about the threats in your computer.

III. Built-In Protections

In today’s PC, there has some malware protection already built in the computer. Even before your computer loads your OS, it launches the code found in your system's BIOS (basic input-output system), which initiates the hardware Relevant Products/Services in your PC and enables you to identify the components you have. The BIOS could be accessed by pressing F2 or Del during boot-up, which is an optional boot sector protection mechanism. If you enable this, you will protect your PC against boot sector viruses without ever installing a single antivirus too.
Also, various browsers provide some security tools, including anti-phishing filters or lists of web sites that are known carriers of harmful software. Further, Microsoft’s Windows Defender, formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware, is a software product to prevent, remove and quarantine spyware in Microsoft Windows. It is included and enabled by default in Windows Vista and Windows 7, and is available as a free download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

IV. Web Sites

To check the inflow of any virus/infection, you have to stay away from the sites that are frequent carriers of spyware, which includes many sites that claimed to sell anti-spyware software. Also, check the visits to various X-rated or gaming sites if you have no spyware or antivirus protection.

V. E-Mail with Care

You have to keep an eye over various e-mail messages from unknown sources, if it contains an attachment. The majority of malware contracted through e-mail comes in the form of attachments that the sender tries to get the recipient to open. Just delete it. You can also built-in e-mail checker or onboard antivirus tool to check the email before opening up.

About Author

Content writer

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-amarpreet97-12539.html

Firefox 3.5 : What's new?

The release of Firefox 3.5, the open source browser came as a formidable challenge to the Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8. In June, Firefox has a 22.5% market share according to web metrics company Net Applications, behind Internet Explorer's 65.5%. Though Internet Explorer's share has been declining for some time, the slide has accelerated over the last year since Firefox released version 3.0.

The new features of the Firefox 3.5 are:

Performance
Firefox 3.5 includes the TraceMonkey javascript engine, which gives the browser dramatically better performance than ever before. Firefox has always been fast, but this is the fastest Firefox ever (more than twice as fast as Firefox 3, and ten times as fast as Firefox 2), meaning Web applications like email, photo sites, online word processors and more will feel snappier and more responsive.
Firefox keeps your memory usage under control. The XPCOM cycle collector continuously cleans up unused memory. Plus, hundreds of memory leaks have been remedied.

Security & Privacy
The new web browser protects you from viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware. Also, it is designed to protect users' privacy online and provide greater control over their personal data. A new feature called as “Forget This Site,” which can remove every trace of a site from the user’s browser.
Further, it has private browsing, anti-phishing feature with parental controls. Firefox integrates elegantly with your antivirus software and has pop-up-blocker.

Customization
With over 6,000 Firefox add-ons, you can choose to download and install for a browser that works your way. Manage online auctions, upload digital photos, see the weather forecast in a glance and listen to music all from the convenience of your browser and add-ons Manager.
Beyond Add-ons, you can add new search engines, change toolbar preferences, display different sizes, shapes and styles for your browser’s navigation buttons and more.

Personal
New enhancements for Firefox 3.5 give you greater control over the ‘Awesome Bar’ and include privacy settings. You can label a site with names or categories that are meaningful to you. For example, you can label the site www.itvoir.com with the “news” tag as well as the “information technology” tag.

Productivity
Whether you use Windows Vista, Mac or Linux, the browser seamlessly integrates with your computer’s environment. An elegant new zoom feature lets you swoop in and see entire web pages.

Search
Search the web in record time with smart keywords. Searching the Web is a breeze with the search box inline, just to the right of your location bar. Search for a word or phrase on an open Web page. Highlight text before using the feature and finder opens pre-filled with your selection.

Universal Access
With a new graphics engine, Arabic, Persian, Punjabi and other script languages now render in a remarkably seamless way. Site designers and developers can create custom fonts that will be displayed and rendered properly even if you do not have the font installed on your computer.
Firefox speaks your language like no other browser on earth. It has over 70 different translations, from French and Chinese to Finnish and Czech.

The Cutting Edge
With offline browsing, you have information at your fingertips. Certain enabled sites may allow applications like your Web-based email to stay connected.
Firefox 3.5 automatically corrects color images that have the color profile data included. It is the first browser to support open video and audio formats, allowing practically limitless new ways for sites to display rich content.

Live Support
You can chat with knowledgeable Firefox community members who troubleshoot via company’s live chat site. A link at the top of your browser takes you to a support site with the answers you will need.

About Author

content writer
Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-amarpreet97-12539.html

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Dell Inspiron Mini 10v

Dell Inspiron Mini 10v



The Mini 10v is everything you want in a mobile companion and more. With its compact and lightweight design, this netbook helps keep kids, teens, bloggers and travelers connected from just about any location at any time, whether on the couch or on the road. Available in seven stylish colors, the Mini 10v is designed for simple and quick Internet access coupled with a flair for personal style.

Dell, Inc.

http://www.dell.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $299.00 Street
  • Type: Value, Netbook
  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home
  • Processor Name: Intel Atom N270
  • Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Weight: 2.5 lb
  • Screen Size: 10.1 inches
  • Screen Size Type: standard
  • Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 945 GM
  • Storage Capacity: 160 GB
  • Networking Options: 802.11g