Funny Stuff is all around

Computers and the Internet have come a long way in the last 20 years or so.

Up until Microsoft came out with Windows, not a lot of people had home computers, and business computers were not that commonplace except for the larger companies that had the big IBM’s and the like.

I recall when I purchased my first computer in about 1993, it had Windows For Workgroups installed on it, and it was a lot different from the present day computer and current versions of Windows. It also cost me around three times what a much more powerful machine costs today.

The Internet and email were just getting started good, and were not even very popular or very much used by most people. I recall telling one of my golfing friends, who was a very successful business man, about my encounters with the internet, and he assured me that it was just a fad and would never amount to a hill of beans.

When I first got the computer, I was so uneducated on using a computer that I didn’t even know how to turn the darn thing on and off correctly. Every night, I would push the on-off switch and turn it off, and later when I pushed the same switch to turn it back on, it would very rudely inform me that it was having to run scandisk because I did not shut Windows down properly. I thought to myself, you stupid machine, how else to turn you off and on except with the on-off switch?

Well, as time passed I started to learn a few things about how to use a computer, even how to turn it off and on, and also about how to use Windows and all of its features. I didn’t really use the computer all that much though, more just a toy than anything else.

I later upgraded to Windows 95, and thought it to be much improved over the
older version. A couple of years later, I purchased a new Pentium computer with
Windows 98. At the same time, I really started to get serious about using the computer, and
also email and the Internet. I found out I could do my banking online, I
could locate and order products over the Internet, I could search for information over the Internet, and from that point on I was hooked.

I began to think about actually learning how to create my own web site, just to see if I could. I purchased some books about 4 inches thick and began to study HTML, and after a few weeks of trying to figure out what looked like Greek to me, I managed to create a super bad looking web page. Boy, was I proud of myself!

I decided there must be an easier way to learn computer skills, and started buying those hot new “eBooks” that everyone was selling like hotcakes. Most of them were pure junk, but a few were worth the price, and made learning a little easier.

I kept thinking, though, that there should be a better and easier way to
learn some of those highly technical skills that I wanted to learn. I needed
someone that knew the skills already to give me some “one on one” training, and I
wanted it to be visual, like things were taught in school, and not just reading out of a book or eBook.

That’s when I discovered how-to tutorials, where someone with knowledge of the subject actually sat down at their computer and recorded screen shots showing exactly what steps they used to accomplish a specific task, and I could sit at my computer and watch them do it. Now we’re on to something. This is my way of learning!

I began to purchase video tutorials and after several years of learning from them, I think that I have become fairly adept at many computer and Internet skills that would never have been possible if I had tried to do it reading dull boring 4 inch thick books.

I now routinely create web sites using HTML, or with Wordpress or Joomla. I have built several ecommerce sites, several blogs, and all thanks to video training versus written word training.

A person can purchase video tutorials on all kinds of subjects. When I bought my how-to tutorials, it was a matter of paying for them, downloading them, and storing them on my computer. In a lot of instances I would be finished with the tutorial in a few days or weeks, and never really need it after that. In some instances though I would go back and watch the video again every few months.

A person can still buy video tutorials, download them, and store them on their hard drive, if they wish, or they can simply “rent”video tutorials, use them for a set period of time, and not actually own them. It is usually at a much lower price to “rent” video tutorials than if they purchased them. The choice is entirely up to the customer.

There are many, many video tutorials available on the Internet, covering a very
wide variety of subjects, and I recommend them highly for anyone wanting to learn new or specialized computer and Internet skills.

To see a short sample of a video tutorial, check out the video below.

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Many people will play computer games without any knowledge of how much work went into the game. True, a lot of thought and creativity had to be employed in order to make the game work, but the game also required a good deal of computer programming and knowledge of different computer programming languages in order to make the game not only feel real, but look attractive as well. There are many sides of computer game programming, so if you are interested in computer game programming and may want to take up courses in the future, take a look at this list.

The Different Sides of Computer Game Programming
The game physics programmer is someone who directs how a game uses physics in order to look correct and feel correct. In most cases, a computer game will not completely simulate the physics of a real world, but some important aspects of physics may have to come into play for some games. For instance, wind resistance might be important to dogfights, while the fluid but retarded movements of some characters in water might be needed for a role-playing game.

The artificial intelligence programmer is the one in charge of developing the logical sequence of the game itself. For instance, when a game involves finding a path, employing strategies, or giving rise to enemy tactics, an artificial intelligence programmer may be called in to make a game smart – in other words, to make the game think on its own. In general, the computer language used for artificial intelligence programming is simpler than other languages, and it can be shared with the game’s players.

The graphics programmer uses a series of codes and algorithms in order to provide graphics in the world of the game. In the modern age, a graphics programmer has to work in a three-dimensional environment, and should therefore have knowledge of calculus, vector math, and other algebra concepts that may be needed for specializing in rendering such images. There are only very few graphics programmers, and they may usually demand high wages for their work. More about Computer Game Programming.

So you want to learn computer programming. You’ve made a good choice. Computer programming is a very exciting field of study. In fact, it has experienced some impressive growth over the past 10 years and shows no sign of stopping. It is one of the few disciplines that experts say will survive for the next couple of centuries. It’s dynamic, very challenging and quite rewarding either as a job or as a personal pursuit. If learning computer programming is your goal this year, here are some things you might want to know about this field:

What You Should Know About Learning Computer Programming
The word programming is sometimes alternated with coding. Quite simply, it is a job that requires writing the source code used by computer programs. To become a computer programmer, you must learn the techniques on how to write this code. Since computer programs vary in design and function, so will the manner with which their source codes are written.

This is why computer programming cannot be used to refer to a single computer language. It is, in fact, a term that refers to many different computer languages. If you want to learn computer programming, take a pick among languages such as COBOL (old but still reliable), FORTRAN (still used in many engineering applications), Java, HTML/XML, Visual Basic, C/C++, PHP, Perl and Python, among others.

What you’ll be learning

It would help if you have a basic knowledge of computer operation just before you come in for classes. However, there are many introductory courses on computer programming where students are not required to have a background in computers. The only drawback is that you’ll start from step 1, literally. Try to familiarize yourself with computers first before taking a beginner class in computer programming.

Your first courses in programming school will usually consist of an overview of the computer programming industry – its history, pioneers, groundbreaking developments, etc. You will then be introduced to the fundamentals of the discipline, including its theories, definitions and basic concepts. This is done to ensure that you have a good foundation in the language you will be specializing in.

Once that’s done, your instructor will begin teaching you programming itself, such as how to write commands and queries. Your ultimate goal as a computer programmer is mainly to write a series of very detailed instructions using a language that a computer can understand and execute. During the course of your learning, this is exactly what your instructor will teach you. More about Learning Computer Programming.

Dual Core, Quad Core, 64 – Bit computing? Will the advances in computer technology ever come to an end? Lets take 64- bit computing for example. The problem here is many retail consumers don’t even begin to understand the benefits.

And in the case of IT managers and Computer Support staff, do they really need 64-bit operating systems on their or their users Pc’s or do they really need specialist CAD workstations?

Whilst many firmly ignored the advent of the arrival of a commercially available 64-bit systems because of driver support under Windows XP, now that Vista is firmly entrenched (there’s no getting away from it) IT support staff and business owners really do need to understand what this means to their power users as opposed to ignoring it which many still are.

This is not a knock at IT support staff in general because typically when they are managing a corporate or even a small business environment they are more often driven to provide efficient IT management across the board to a fixed budget which can be counter productive.

Rarely will they be tasked or have the remit to increasing business productivity. So more often than not hardware supply is aimed at office user level and if an employees needs are greater tough, there pleas for better equipment will be ignored!

I can say this through years of experience of seeing this lack of understanding in IT support departments in both small businesses, multi-nationals and government bodies, and even in some very large IT support corporations.

Equally where there is an understanding or even a willingness to listen, there is often lack of interest to do anything about it as it will upset the status quo or will be an extra drain on the IT budget that has not been provisioned for.

Specialist users have specialist requirements and there needs do need to be addressed, as companies have to work hard to recruit these software specialists and if they feel that their input is not being taken seriously they’ll start looking for a better employer.

In most environments getting a project to market a week or a month earlier can impact success by putting if not thousands, tens of thousands on to bottom line profitability.

Equally being as a little as a week late can incur serious and costly contractual penalties in many businesses.

If your business or the business you support is involved in Digital Content Creation (DCC), Mechanical CAD (MCAD), Electronic Design Automation (EDA) etc. then it is vital (if you care about beating the competition) that you understand your IT policy may be seriously undermining the productivity and effectiveness of the business.

Any good business owner will understand the return on investment that an increase in productivity or a reduction in costs and penalties will give them. And given a reasonable justification why would they not want the business to be more profitable?

If you have specialist users in the business and you have not done so already then, you need to break down the IT budget to meet the needs of two very different types of users to make sure you can effectively support the business.

So why then do so many companies expect their designers and specialist to perform when they are restricted to using hardware that in many cases is less powerful that that used by their children to surf the internet?

Quite simply for company bosses it is more often than not a simple case of a lack of understanding or a lack of information!

Often where IT support staff are told there is nothing else in the budget they will accept that and do the best they can given the restrictions. But bear in mind their focus will then be about minimising costs (which sometimes can be a bad thing).

If you tell them that there is nothing else in the budget unless there is a justification for investment, then IT support staff will naturally focus on providing the most efficient and productive IT environment, and will not be afraid to come forward with positive and productive ideas.

64 – bit computing does not offer much for the mainstream user, but for business the technology can be vital to success, so the message if clear. If your unsure ask the experts and don’t second guess, it could cost a business a small fortune.

For computer support in Nottinghamshire visit Computer repair Nottingham

With the launch of the windows 64-bit operating systems firmly behind us many business owners and IT managers are still a little confused and are still asking what this means for them.

And in the case of IT managers and Computer support services staff, do they really need 64-bit operating systems on their or their users Pc’s or do they really need specialist CAD workstations?

Whilst many firmly ignored the advent of the arrival of a commercially available 64-bit systems because of driver support under Windows XP, now that Vista is firmly entrenched (there’s no getting away from it) IT support staff and business owners really do need to understand what this means to their power users as opposed to ignoring it which many still are.

If your business or the business you support is involved in Digital Content Creation (DCC), Mechanical CAD (MCAD), Electronic Design Automation (EDA) etc. then it is vital (if you care about beating the competition) that you understand your IT policy may be seriously undermining the productivity and effectiveness of the business.

Any good business owner will understand the return on investment that an increase in productivity or a reduction in costs and penalties will give them. And given a reasonable justification why would they not want the business to be more profitable?

If you have specialist users in the business and you have not done so already then, you need to break down the IT budget to meet the needs of two very different types of users to make sure you can effectively support the business.

So why then do so many companies expect their designers and specialist to perform when they are restricted to using hardware that in many cases is less powerful that that used by their children to surf the internet?

Quite simply for company bosses it is more often than not a simple case of a lack of understanding or a lack of information!

If you have specialist users in your business and have not made special provision for them here are some key points to consider:

1. Investment in proper CAD workstations in all but the rarest cases is fully justified, you only need to find out to what level.

2. Minimum requirements mean just that, minimum productivity, minimum life span minimum performance. The question you need to ask is what is the best specification for the software applications that this Cad Workstation will be running for the next 2 years?

3. Engage the help of your software specialist reseller, they will have first hand experience of your requirements and should be your trusted advisors. Heed the advice as your business will make far more from your investment than they will from the small return they get from hardware these days.

And finally try and set your desktop refresh to a maximum of 2 - 3 years if appropriate for you power users.

Their workstations can be effectively re-deployed within the business and will still have a good life as office based machine so you can get a further return on investment for your business hardware.

Information courtesy of Hampshire computer support

For most people, a computer is essential in their day-to-day lives, whether for business or personal reasons (or both). That being the case, the need for effective security software to counter spyware, spam, and other malicious programs is imperative. This urgency for computer protection also includes the need for a firewall and the knowledge of how itactually works.

A firewall is a computer program built for security. A good one will help prevent the loss of information on your computer from a computer virus, and better yet, to prevent the unauthorized distribution of your personal information and data to other computers for thieves who are anxious to use that information in a harmful way.

The use of a firewall program is not just recommended; today it is an essential. The benefits of a firewall far outweigh the occasional inaccessible web site that it deems dangerous. Its use is similar to a security guard for your important information. The software evaluates probes to and from your computer to determine whether they are safe. They don’t get in or out without the approval of the “guard.”

A firewall is extremely helpful because it only permits certain packets of information from infiltrating your computer. Those packets must meet certain criteria according to settings you have in place. If they don’t, the information is then blocked and you are notified with a prompt on your computer asking for your authorization.

A firewall is very detailed in the way it works. It identifies the source of the packet of information and where it is going, while at the same time recording it for the future so that by “memory” it will allow or disallow the information in a quicker fashion the following time. This helps with faster connection to other computers and web sites because they are already recognized and allowed through the Internet passage.

Firewalls are built-in “guards” that help to keep your computer safe and running well - and you don’t even need to feed them! If you do not have a firewall you are simply asking - no, begging - for dangerous information to come into your computer that can easily wipe out your data, programs, and other pertinent files, both business and personal.

If you do not have one, purchase and install a firewall on your computer as quickly as you can to save yourself many future problems. Some effective versions are even available without cost.

Options to protect your computer are plentiful. Some of the best protection for your precious data is available at a very low cost - frequently free. Avail yourself of these opportunities and spare yourself heartache later.