Building Cheap Computers in 3 Easy Steps

Building Cheap Computers in 3 Easy Steps

by: Nicky Pilkington

Just a decade ago, the only people who put computers together were those individuals who possessed an extensive technical background. Advancements in technology have eliminated some of the complexities in how computers work. This change has resulted in average people who have a basic understanding of computers being able to build a system themselves. Whether you are interested in building computers to establish a new hobby or to start a business, you can so in only a few easy steps and on a shoestring budget. The first step in building cheap computers is to determine the route you want to use to build systems. You basically have three choices when considering building cheap computers: build a system from scratch, expand on a bare bones computer, or upgrade an existing system. Building a system from scratch can be a rewarding experience. However, it is not for everyone. If you are impatient or are intimidated by mechanical tools, you are better to choose one of the other two options. Regardless of the method you choose, you will follow three basic steps: 1. Plan 2. Assemble 3. Test The planning phase of your project involves determining the specifications for the computer you want to build. Once you know this information you can start shopping for parts that meet those specifications. Your main considerations should be hard-disk, memory, and CPU (central processing unit). The harddrive is important because it determines how much information you are able to store on the computer. While you could build a computer with a harddrive smaller than 2 GB (gigabytes), it is not recommended. The harddrive and memory work together. The amount of memory you place in your computer will directly affect how the system is able to complete the different processes that you request when using the system. If you have no idea what size hard-drive and the amount of memory you need, you should consider the type of operating system you intend to load on the system. You can consult the manufacturer of your hard-drive or review the information on Cheap-Computer-Guy.com, which features a list of minimum harddrive and memory requirements for various operating systems, and use this information as a guide. The equipment presented in this article includes the basics of a computer system. Of course, nowadays people want far more than the basics and you undoubtedly feel the same way. There are optional components available that you may want to add to your systems, which include CD or DVD drives, a modem or other communication component for Internet connectivity, or a video graphics card. Once you have decided on the specifications of the computer you want to build, you are ready to assemble the system. In addition to detailed information about the parts you will need to build your computer, cheap-computer-guy.com includes step-by-step instructions for assembling a cheap do-it-yourself computer. When you have finished assembling the computer, you will then need to test to make sure that the system boots and that all components are functioning properly. Once you have completed all these tests you will have built your own cheap computer. About the author: You can find detailed information about planning, assembling and testing computers at the Cheap-Computer-Guy.com website.

Broadband TV a World of Choice

Broadband TV a World of Choice

by: Roger Overanout

Broadband television is a means of providing TV programs via the Internet. It is possible to view live terrestrial television channels, but it is more practical to us it to see programs that have already been transmitted, so avoiding the need to set your video recorder. To get Broadband T V you need a broadband connection and a computer or special set-top box. Broadband Television is being hailed as the biggest change in the way we watch television since it was first invented. Over the coming years broadband television is expected to completely change home entertainment, it will allow viewers a vast choice from all over the world not just the programs they watch but how they watch them. Broadband television has only become practical because of the huge growth of high-speed Internet connections. More than 50% of all connections to the Web now make use of broadband. Today's standard bandwidth of 2 MB would give an adequate service, but television industry experts say 8 to 10 MB is the minimum needed for a full broadband TV service. There are two main types of service that are being developed, standard television channels that will replace the traditional services we have today, and video on demand, where views can choose programs from the service providers archives. Perhaps this will cut down on the level of repeats that are shown at present. Apart from the need for greater bandwidth, the greatest stumbling block for broadband TV is thought to be the big film companies, the big studios seem to be reluctant to provide films and shows because they have concerns that it may affect revenues from DVD and foreign sales. The major benefits of Broadband TV will be a much greater choice of programs, the possibility of more interactive services, potentially viewers will be able to direct their own programs choosing the camera angles etc that they want, and it will also enable people to make and transmit their own programs so opening up the possibility of local community television. Roger Overanout About the author: For more tips and information about all aspects of Broadband please visit www.broadbandcenter.info

Broadband Review

Broadband Review

by: Robert Michael

The Uses Of Broadband Broadband is a high-speed Internet connection that provides a large bandwidth. It is considered a very quick connection. It is an "always-on" type of connection and can transmit data at a much faster rate than your usual dialup connection. Broadband also has the added advantage of not tying up your phone line, which means you can use the both the Internet and telephone at the same time. Broadband can be provided from a variety of sources, including over the top of your phone line as in ADSL or on dedicated line such as Cable or ISDN. Typically, low-band Internet access is running up to 56kbps using a dial-up modem. Mid-band Internet is described as dialup access that operates at 64kbps or 128kbps. Standard broadband starts at 512kbps, which is about five times faster than dial-up service. Broadband is also available at 1mbps, 1.5mbps and 2.2mbps. There are companies that offer broadband at 4mbps and 8mbps. The maximum possible for cable is around 26mbps and 24mbps for ADSL. These speeds are not sold commercially because the cost to upgrade the telephone lines to be able to transmit data at these speeds is very high. Downloading and streaming music and video is very quick with broadband. There are a lot of websites now that are designed especially for broadband users. They have intense integrated graphics, flash and video. Broadband is also popular for online gaming. Game consoles like Xbox and PS2 have broadband support included. You can then subscribe to different types of gaming packages from your current ISP, which makes it possible to play Xbox and PS2 games live with other gamers over the Internet. Actually, online PC gaming has been going on since the Internet came into use, but in the past it was difficult to do. Slow and jerky response from your computer made it hard to play, and you always had to keep an eye on the time. Now, with the faster speeds of broadband, it has become much easier and is quickly gaining in popularity. Some games are now being released that require an Internet connection to play. The growing popularity of broadband has made it necessary for most providers to put a maximum limit on the amount of music, video and other data you can download. This limit can vary greatly, from as low as 1 GB up to 30 GB. Extreme users can get unlimited downloads if they wish. However, exceeding your ISP's download limit usually results in having a limited connection or no connection at all. One of the possible futures of broadband is Internet Television. The current bandwidth, which is the amount of data you can send and receive, is not wide enough to provide an image that is of comparable quality to that of your standard television. The ever- increasing broadband speeds will make Internet Television a reality. Since you can currently download clips from the shows, music videos and other content you like, it will soon be possible to do it legally in real time. Another use of broadband is online telephony. This is software that allows you to use your computer as a telephone and talk to people from anywhere without any extra cost. It is becoming commonplace, and has a higher quality or recording than a traditional telephone line. With the increase in the speeds of broadband, it may soon replace your television and telephone, and will find its way into every home. The success of broadband is making the Internet a great resource that's easy to use and fun to access for a variety of needs. About the author: Robert Michael is the owner of Best Broadband Review which is a great place to find Broadband Links, Resources and Articles. For more information go to: http://www.bestbroadbandreview.co.uk http://www.bestbroadbandreview.co.uk© Copyright 2005

Broadband ISP Comparsion

Broadband ISP Comparsion

by: Robert Michael

The Search for the right ISP The search for the right ISP includes a number of factors. Cost is obviously important. So is the quality of the connection. Other features that are included can also be good. It is also important to know if it is available in your area. There are a variety of ISPs to choose from. Because of this, it is important to choose the best ISP for you. For most subscribers, cost is the most important thing about an ISP. Even though cost is a big issue, many people are not willing to have the poor quality and voluminous advertising that comes with free ISPs. With free ISPs not worth considering, most people then begin looking at lower cost ISPs. As with most things, if there is a lot of flashy advertising, the ISP is probably going to be more expensive. Lower cost ISPs tend to have less advertising. A good way to find them is by searching on the Internet. Even if the price is right, you don't want to go with an ISP that has a weak connection. This can be a recurring problem with ISPs that use cable or phone lines. It can also be a problem if your ISP has too many people trying to access the Internet at the same time, usually during peak times. This happens mostly with dial-up ISP's that do not have an adequate number of phone numbers. It is also smart to make sure that the tasks you do online are compatible with an ISP you are considering using. AOL users sometimes experience problems with some websites and Internet tasks. This is a result of the AOL program being so dominating. Many frequently visited sites have a listing of ISP's that have difficulties with the site. However, this tends to apply to sites that feature music, video and graphics effects but it doesn't usually apply to straight text sites. The features offered by an ISP are an added bonus. Do some research to find the ISPs that address your needs. If you don't want the hassle of pop-ups you will want to look at ISPs that offer pop-up blockers and virus protection. Most parents have concerns about their children surfing the web. If so, you will want a feature that blocks adult sites. All ISPs offer a variety of features, and often come up with new ones, so finding one that is suitable for you is really not that difficult. Always check for availability. It would surprise some people to know that there are ISPs that are not widely available. Free and low cost ISPs are notorious for this problem. You also need to make sure they have a local number in your area, because if not, you could be hit with costly long distance charges. Also, if the ISP doesn't have enough local numbers, you can find yourself not being able to connect during peak hours. About the author: Robert Michael is the owner of Best Broadband Review which is a great place to find Broadband Links, Resources and Articles. For more information go to: http://www.bestbroadbandreview.co.uk© Copyright 2005

Broadband Internet Saves Money

Broadband Internet Saves Money

by: Daymon Hoag

Most people look at the bottom line cost of broadband Internet when deciding the cost versus the benefits of Internet service. It's time to take a closer look. A good place to start is VoIP, also known as broadband phone service. The reasoning behind this being, the lower phone rates offset the increased of cost Internet service, essentially paying for the rise in cost in Internet access. The cost effective possibilities are endless. Downloading movies instead of going to the video store also puts your broadband connection to work, (the legal way of course). You'll save gas, time, and it is usually just cheaper. It has been rumored, Microsoft, in partnership with Time Warner Cable, is working on an Internet TV service called IP TV, and is due to launch in 2006. With computers having the capability of using an LCD TV screen as a monitor, or stream media to the TV, one can imagine the financial benefits of this technology, but only if you have broadband. The examples listed are likely the most common ways to save a buck or two with broadband. Internet telephone and Internet TV are just a couple examples of new technology for broadband to come. by now it should be fairly clear to most people that faster surfing and downloads are only the very basic of benefits to broadband users. Most dial up users won't switch to high speed Internet because they believe it's too expensive. Sure the basic subscription is more, but there are literally hundreds of ways to offset the higher cost of broadband Internet service. In most cases, the benefits of high speed Internet far outweigh the cost. In closing, let me just say the next time you are looking for somewhere to go or something to do with your broadband connection, try looking for ways to put it to work for you, and save some money. About the author: Editor at Cheapest Service http://www.cheapest-service.com

Broadband Availability

Broadband Availability

by: Robert Michael

Getting broadband Getting broadband service is easy with a little research Broadband Internet services are much more common today, in contrast with the dial-up days of the late 1990s. The fact is that greater amounts of information need to travel at greater speeds over the Internet. There are also a greater number of telecommuters every year, so the demand for broadband Internet has gone far beyond the boardroom and has turned up in the home office. Clearly it is more important now than ever to know how to find good broadband services. Getting broadband service is actually not difficult. It is similar to getting other types of Internet service. There are lots of providers out there, and lately, a large share of the phone companies are getting into the broadband provider business, as well. But finding a service provider requires that you do some thorough self-evaluation first. It is extremely important to think about what you will need from your broadband service before starting the search for one. The needs of most people that work from home are fairly simple. Most of them need Internet access that is speedy and reliable. They will probably need to transport documents, or transmit some graphics to and from clients or employers. Their needs will not usually encompass transmitting complicated graphics or videos. If they do have more complicated needs like this, it is a good idea to seek out higher bandwidth service. After giving some thought to the kind of documents that that will be send and receiving if they plan to only deal with documents that are not graphic intensive, it makes sense to invest in a smaller bandwidth at a lower cost. The money saved can be spent on other things for their business or work. After doing this necessary needs evaluation, it is a good idea to check pricing options from at least three different broadband providers. Another good idea is to ask users of each provider about their experience with that provider. All broadband providers talk about how great they perform, but the proof is found in the people who use their services. Once you have matched your needs with the best price and best service program, the decision is yours whether you want to go ahead and purchase the broadband service. It is interesting to note that chances are pretty good that spending a few dollars more a month for broadband will make you wonder how you ever got anything done with dial-up service. Another important factor to consider when looking into getting broadband is whether there are providers in your area. Even now, in some places, there are providers who do not have the necessary infrastructure in place to give you their service yet. So while you may be getting great recommendations about a certain provider from a friend, you may still have to wait until their service is available in your area. This has been especially true for cable companies that are getting into broadband Internet services. While they would like to expand their infrastructure more rapidly, some parts of large cities have had to wait longer to get the same broadband service. About the author: Robert Michael is the owner of http://www.bestbroadbandreview.co.ukwhich is a great place to find Broadband Links, Resources and Articles. For more information go to: http://www.bestbroadbandreview.co.uk © Copyright 2005

Be Prepared Before Buying Software

Be Prepared Before Buying Software

by: Christopher Curtis

Before you go to the store to buy software write down your computers specifications. You'll need the type and speed of the processor. How much ram your computer has. What kind of video card? How much disk space is available? Usually, these things are easy to find on your computer. On Windows you can navigate to "Programs >Accessories >System Tools." Then click on "System Information" and you should see a summary containing your computers operating system, processor, and memory information. Next click on the plus sign to expand the "Components" category. There under "Display" you will find your computers video card specifications. You may also need to know what kind of sound card is installed. Select "Sound Device" to see the name and manufacturer of this device. Under "Storage" you can select Drives to check how much available disk space you have. This will be labeled "free Space." Other information you may need, depending on the type of program, are network and modem specs. Once You have selected a piece of software make sure that it is compatible with your computer. Most software programs come on CDs now and will include their minimum requirements somewhere on the packaging. They may require that you have a special video card or adapter. It may require that you have a particular type of processor, so make sure that your computers processor is equal or better. Make sure you have enough ram to run the program. Usually, they will give a minimum and a recommended amount, but I have always found that it is best to go with the recommended amount. Another thing to take into account is pricing. Sometimes you can save a lot of money by purchasing an earlier version of a particular piece of software. Just make sure that it has all the features that you want and that it is compatible with your computer. The best place to look is on the Internet. You can compare pricing without having to run all over town. Go to your favorite search site, and search for the software that you are looking for. Sometimes you can buy online for less, but make sure you check the shipping costs. About the author: Chris Curtis is the owner of C-Double Web Development and has been doing web design and development since 1997. He began offering affordable web hosting and design in 1999 when he started his own business. http://www.c-double.com