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| Personal Computer Training |
Computer Up-dates |
Is Microsoft's new operating system for you? Windows Vista is in the final stages. Have you downloaded RC1 yet? Make sure you have a decent download limit on your broadband connection. Along with the new Office 2007 with is totally different from the old office. If you must try them, you better think about a new pc with 1GB ram min ideally 2, 3.6GHz Dual Core CPU is a definite advantage, big hard drive a must. And then the fun begins trying to get all your hardware drivers for Vista, what fun that is. I think its just a lot of windows dressing and stuff which we don't need, a control freaks dream, anyway time will tell for more info click here
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I have been running Microsoft XP Media center for a few months now on a 42" Plasma screen. It's, its own system. I have found even some of the MS Windose add-ons will not work with it namely defender beta 2. It looks like and feels just like XP, comes with Media Center which controls all your photos, videos and music files in a large icon based screen format that seem to work quite well. It seems to work with my compro digital TV card too. Mind you I haven't tested it with a lot of different programs as I use it to record TV programs which your standard 1 hour program take about 3GB of hard drive space in digital quality. For more Info click here |
| If Microsoft's latest offerings leave you a little cold, like they have me. Have a good look at some of the latest Linux Desktop systems available. The are surprisingly good, easy to install and work with most hardware. I have been using Ubuntu for last couple of years and its great. For a start its free like a lot of the linux desktop systems, they even send you the CD free of charge. You don't have worry about viruses or adware programs as they don't target linux greatly yet. I have been using a Pentium 3 1GHz system with 512M of ram and 40GB hard drive which works just fine. The standard system install is great, full desktop environment with Open Office 2.0, Firefox Browser, Evolution (Outlook Express) E-mail tool, Burning software, PDF reader and you can create PDF's with Open Office which operates like Word, Excel and Powerpoint opening and saving in the respective formats. |
To go wireless or not has been question ask a lot. Well my preference has been for a long while not to bother greatly with it. Security has always been the main thing stopping me, although it has improved in the latest router. A few weeks ago it got the better of me and I lashed out a whole $75 for the Netgear WGR614 wireless router. The installation was different from what I was use to, it was very easy process as long as you followed the on screen instructions to the T. Once installed it was easy to configure via a browser, 1st setting the defaults to your only settings and changing wireless security with your key words. Overall the device is easy to use, but I find you have cycle the unit all the time as it losses the wireless connection. For more info click here |
| Office programs, yep, what to write a letter to a friend or create a simple home budget, well you can go out buy MS Office Premium for grand odd. What's that I hear you say, you don't a have spare grand to splash out on Office, well then you better have a good look at Open Office suite of programs. Open Office is file compatible with Word, Excel and Power Point, so there is no problem working at home on documents or spreadsheets from work. I've been using Open Office for 2 years odd now in Linux and more recently the Windoze version. One of the best features is the ability to save your files as pfd's without the need for the $500+ Adobe Acrobat V7 creator. |
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