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Just What Is A P.C. Anyways?

Just What Is A P.C. Anyways?

The question often arises – “Just what is a PC”?

Many people would immediately answer that the term “P.C.” Stands for “Personal Computer”. In fact the term P.C. does stand for “Personal Computer”. Many, especially Apple Macintosh users, would define and argue that a personal computer as any small computer system purchased and used by an individual. Indeed one could make a point that many devices used by individuals today without any question or thought such as cellular phones and calculators are indeed dedicated personal computers as well. This is all true yet Cell phone, calculator owners or Apple Macintosh computer users would refer to their electronic device as a P.C.

Calling something a P.C. implies that is something much more specific than just any personal computer or electronic tabulating or communications device. One thing that the term P.C. implies is that the P.C. had its origins in the first I.B.M. (International Business Machines) P.C. that was introduced to the computer market in the year of 1981.

The computer market leader, the behemoth computer company I.B.M. did literally invent the P.C. I.B.M. literally invented the P.C. and set the standards and formats of the P.C. which lie with us even today. However the I.B.M. P.C. did not emerge from I.B.M. like the Ten Commandments from the Lord at Mount Sinai. The P.C. did evolve from precursors. Generally it is accepted that the direct historical origins of the P.C. began with MITS Altair first introduced in 1975 – 11 years earlier. These Altair kits were just that, nothing more than a kit of parts for the electronics enthusiast to assemble themselves. The Altair setup was a kit for hobbyists to assemble. Indeed the product was little more than a set of flashing lights. There was basically nothing in the way of product support. Many of the Altair kits were never even assembled.

The significance of the I.B.M. project was that the computer market leader- the marketing behemoth of the time – I.B.M. both set the standards for a small Personal Computer and gave it stamp of approval. Previously IBM’s emphasis was on large mainframe computers. This is where I.B.M. emphasis and most importantly its profit lay. Some would even say the real purpose of the I.B.M. P.C. development project was not to create a Personal Computer product and set standards for the P.C. to come, but rather to prove that this rigid, top down management Style Company could devise a product in less than a year and ½.

Previously all IBM products were devised exclusively in house by IBM, with only IBM designing and manufacturing the products and with large profit margins. What made this situation different were the time frames. In order to complete the project the IBM team went outside of IBM, outsourcing in today’s terms. Off the shelf products, which met the I.B.M. PC specs and standards were utilized. Furthermore third party software – such as the operating system dos was utilized rather than proprietary IBM software. This was the first step towards the open source software of today.

Previously the small business and computer software market was fragmented into many small different pieces. There may have been a market for software but for which computer type – Commodore, Apple, Sinclair etc etc etc. Because of the stamp of approval given by I.B.M. to personal computer and the resulting standardization and volumes of IBM PCs software developers could now write and sell product to a large identifiable market.

The reality is that IBM clearly designed and created the first PC in 1981 and controlled the development and evolution of the PC standard for several years afterwards that IBM lost control of the PC standards by 1987 when they introduced their PS/2 line computer systems. The IBM PS/2 line was an attempt by IBM head office to reign in the computer market back to IBM with a somewhat proprietary IBM hardware computer rather than more open standards.

Up until the point the industry had shared standards with I.B.M. The many companies that produced P.C.’s literally copied IBM’s systems right down to the chips, connections and shapes (form factors) of the computers, cases and circuit boards.

For the most part what was in that I.BM? P.C. could be readily purchased as parts from 3rd party or even original manufacturers. Even though the prices for parts may have been higher than what I.B.M. paid when they bought hundreds of thousands there was a good profit margin and profits to be made even by small time computer assemblers. I.B.M., had stuck to their standard profit margins when releasing the I.B.M. PC. Even people like Michael Dell ( originator of the now market leader Dell Computers) , could start out screwing together and setting up computers in his college dorm room and still make a good profit while selling his clone computers at a hefty price reduction compared to the real I.B.M. P.Cs. IBM’s marketing response to the nattering disturbance of these small time P.C. clone makers was the message which was especially directed at the most lucrative business end of the market ‘You Can Never Go Wrong Purchasing I.B.M”

What changed the equation was when IBM released this I.B.M. PS/2 line and tried to change the market back to its profitable control. By now there was more than enough inertia – both in the personal computer market, market size, profit, computer component suppliers and manufacturers. The die was set and the market could not even by swayed by the giant I.B.M. Corporation.

The term “P.C” or “Personal Computers “ refers not to just any small personal computer but the computer models which a descendant and direct line from the original IBM Personal Computer which was developed and sold by I.B.M..

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Ergonomics At Work Osha Is On The Job

Ergonomics At Work Osha Is On The Job

The French poet Charles Baudelaire observed back in the 1800s, “Inspiration comes of working every day.” Most people do work every day, and unfortunately it’s not only inspiration that comes of it. Repetitive stress injuries (RSI) are also the result of every day tasks performed again and again while operating a computer. Relief is in sight, however, thanks in part to a particular government agency. This organization is raising awareness and promoting solutions 24/7.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a mandate to protect employees from being hurt in the workplace. James Hodgson, Secretary of Labor, established OSHA within his department in 1971. This was in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, legislation he helped author. For the first time in U.S. history, the government stepped in to make sure that workers were as protected as possible from illness, injury, and death on the job. And OSHA had its work cut out for it. Construction, chemical, and agricultural workers were among the many who needed better safety standards in their industries.

But as computer use rose, and the related RSI grew, OSHA turned its attention to this new problem. In recent years, OSHA has developed a four part program designed to reduce injuries and illnesses associated with computer use on the job. The four parts are

Guidelines, Outreach and Assistance, Enforcement, and the National Advisory Committee.

Guidelines are recommended practices that are developed for specific tasks and industries. These are voluntary, not mandatory. Employers use the guidelines to identify and modify risks in the workplace. Implementing these practices reduces injuries related to the way people do their jobs.

The Outreach and Assistance component of this program is aimed at businesses of all sizes. OSHA wants companies to take a proactive stance when it comes to preventing RSI. To help employers, OSHA designed an extensive array of tools that educate, analyze, and train people regarding the ergonomics of their jobs. Available to the public for free on the OSHA website, the computer workstation portion of the Ergonomics eTools is a comprehensive guide to proper computing techniques.

Included in this section is:

Good Working Position (talks about every part of the body and what the best placement is for preventing RSI)

Workstation Components (all the technology and furniture you commonly use is listed here with possible hazards, solutions, and tips)

Checklist (a great way to evaluate how you’re doing ergonomically while you operate a computer)
Work Process (focuses on the physical movements of computer use, with hazards to watch for, more solutions, and tips)

Workstation Environment (information about factors people often don’t think about such as lighting, ventilation, and glare)

But Outreach and Assistance is more than the Ergonomic eTools. It has industry guidelines, cooperative programs, ergonomic analysis info, and success stories. It even has a checklist with tips for new purchases. It is chock full of valuable information for everyone from the individual computer user to the captains of industry.

OSHA persists in its campaign to help employers and employees prevent Repetitive Stress Injuries. If the folks at OSHA have their way, inspiration will be the only result of long hours of work in front of a computer. Baudelaire would approve

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Fix Computer Free: The 7 Commandments

Fix Computer Free: The 7 Commandments

Do you become glassy-eyed when technicians spout computerese? Can’t they just speak in plain, simple English when they fix computer snags? Here is hope. Read on.

Should you beware of geeks preaching fast fix computer free?

Do you have computer problems? The most common is the slowing down of the system. Fix computer experts say this is the easiest to tackle. They list down 7 commandments to successfully rev up an arthritic unit. Don’t despair. It’s all in simple English! People want to know what’s wrong with their computers and how to fix computer free of hitches, so open the door to the geeks bearing tweaks. They will save your day.

A free fix computer guide everybody would die for

Whether you like it or not, or pretend not to know, your electronic playmate will eventually encounter problems. This is the most dreaded part of owning a PC which becomes your better half – for better or for worse, till glitch do you part. But will you allow it? Of course not. A frantic call to a fix computer service shop will be the order of the day.

This fix computer free guide is good for slowing PCs. This may be caused by a lot of things – downloading big files like games and images and adding those very important dictionaries. There are also other reasons and these are very simple, like improperly plugged cables. Imagine that.

1. Restart your computer. Surely, this is basic and everybody has gotten the hang of this. Close all files and go to the main menu. Click shut down computer. You are immediately given multiple choices: Shutdown computer, restart computer, or log off. Click restart and run scan disk. In most cases PCs come to life again with just a restart. There is built-in software that revives the PC. Sometimes you will encounter a frozen case. This means your computer just won’t shut down. Unplug it and let it rest. After 30 minutes (just to be on the safe side), plug it back in. It will work fine.

2. Check your computer cables. Are the cables in their proper sockets?

3. Check the computer wires. Are they all plugged into the outlets?

4. Are the outlets in working condition? Better be careful about this, though.

5. Remove peripherals, such as mouse, keyboard, scanner, and external hard drives, and reset the computer. Observe if the computer gains speed without these excess baggage. Listen if there are strange sounds. Check the lights. Are they on?

6. When you unplug your unit take a peek inside. Are the cards and the wires properly installed? A practiced eye may spot any irregularity. Don’t worry, in time you’ll make perfect. Double check the wires before you turn the PC on.

7. Check out any missing Windows devices. This is another reason for your PC’s reduced speed. It is missing something. Go to the Start menu, settings, and then the control panel. Click the Device Manager tab. If you see an exclamation mark, then it is missing a system. You can delete this drive by right clicking it. Also reboot the system when you’re through.

Remember if you have installed any software. Try thinking back if the problem started then. If it did, uninstall this software and test the computer’s speed. Reinstall Windows. This may be the clue. There is no need to reformat your PC, unless you really have to. Use your installation CD and double click the setup.exe file.

If all these 7 commandments do not work, then seek the fix computer expert or the geek bearing tweaks.

Taking Care of Your Computer – 7 Useful Tips

Taking Care of Your Computer – 7 Useful Tips

There are many reasons why you should take care of your computer. Number one, is that it’s a major investment for most people and you would probably like to keep it running for as long as possible.

There are various things that you can do to help prolong the life of your PC, both hardware and software wise. It’s always a good idea to keep your computer clean. A clean computer runs faster and lasts longer.

Here are some ways to clean and maintain the software (your operating system) on your pc.

1. Run the defragmenter utility, at least once every month or two. In Windows XP this can be done by going to your Start menu, then All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, then select Disk Defragmenter. The defragmenter will help ensure that your files are located at the right place on the hard drive and should boost the overall speed of your computer.

2. Clean up old files. When you install/uninstall software frequently it can leave many unwanted files in temporary and system folders. In Windows XP, you should run the Disk Cleanup utility once and a while to clean things up. This utility can be found by clicking the Start menu, then All Programs Accessories, System Tools, then select Disk Cleanup

3. Scan for viruses. Viruses can cause your computer to be slow or not work at all. You should always have a good virus scanner installed and keep it up to date. Some well known virus scanners are Norton, McAfee, and AVG.

4. Scan for other malware. Other malware can include spyware, adware, key loggers, and Trojan horses. These pieces of software can get installed without your knowledge when you install another program or visit a website. They can cause your PC to slow down considerably. Spybot Search & Destroy and Adaware are two well known malware scanners.

Here are some ways you can keep your hardware running smoothly.

1. Clean out the dust. Computers are notorious for accumulating dust. Every once and a while you should open it up and clean it out. This can be done with a vacuum cleaner or a can of dust remover.

2. Keep your PC cool. You should always make sure that you keep your computer in a well ventilated area. By doing this you help keep the PC cool and, therefore, will prolong the life of your hardware.

3. Buy quality hardware. When you buy new components for your PC try and get good quality parts. If you get components from respected manufacturers you can be sure that you will get good technical support and the parts will be well made and not cause problems with other hardware.

Theses are just a few little tips to help you keep your computer running for a long time. There are many other things that can be done but by following these few tips you can be sure that you will reduce future computer problems.

Computer Programming Degrees Ideal For Women

Computer Programming Degrees Ideal For Women

Computer programming degrees have come a long way in the last two decades. The typical image of a geek with thick glasses and a pocket protector hunched over a computer keyboard has faded in the wake of the incredible boom in computer programming careers. Today’s programmers can be successful members of cutting edge teams, independent contractors setting their own hours and executives developing new code and languages that sell for millions of dollars to corporations. There is no longer anything typical about being a programmer, except that males still dominate the field. Over eighty percent of individuals with a computer programmer degree are still men.

It’s a shame that more women haven’t entered the field, but in the last few years this has begun to change. This is a good sign for the industry and for women. The industry can benefit a great deal from the unique perspectives of women, and women with computer programming degrees can have successful, high-paying careers that will take them places.

Why a Woman Should Get A Computer Programming Degree

Most young women don’t initially consider a computer degree when considering an occupation, but this is a mistake. These jobs have several things going for them that make them perfect for many women:

1: Most programming positions are in an office environment. It’s a professional job with few physical demands and, for the most part, regular hours.

2: There is flexibility for women with families. Many of today’s programmers work for themselves as independent contractors, so a woman can work full-time or part-time depending on her family’s needs.

3: The salary for programmers typically begins in the ,000 range and can reach the six figures.

4: Colleges and universities are actively seeking women with computer programming degrees to add to their staff. This gives women another career option that also offers flexibility.

5: Women who become computer programmers usually excel in this field. One theory is that their tendency toward linguistic skills enables them to write cleaner, simpler code with fewer errors.

6: Social skills combined with computer programming skill translate to a quick move up the corporate ladder; female programmers may have an edge over men when it comes to “playing well with others.”

What’s Responsible for the Upswing?

Why are more women pursuing computer programming degrees after years of being obviously missing? It’s impossible to know, but one reason may be that the mystery surrounding this field has simply faded as the demand for talent has grown. The “old boys” network is no longer so entrenched in any professional area and programming is no exception.

Another theory is that the first generation of computer programmers (primarily men) now have children who are entering college. Many of these male programmers have daughters they may be encouraging. These women are more likely to follow in the footsteps of their parents, and a generation ago there weren’t a lot of role models in the fledgling industry for young girls.

Whatever the reasons, computer experts are happy to note that after a twenty-year reduction in the number of women in the profession, female enrollment in computer programming courses is on the upswing. They hope that more women will pursue computer programming degrees in the coming years.

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