How to save Money on Computers

2006-12-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

How to Choose an Antivirus Program:

It is quite possible you are inundated on a daily basis with spam mail and unwanted pop-ups which advertise the latest in spy-ware and antivirus protection. As un-amusing and counterintuitive as it may be, competition and the effective differences between competing antivirus application developers is so tight, that even the manufactures of antivirus programs are willing to exploit your computers weaknesses to advertise their solutions.

The sheer size and efficiency of the internet as well its billion-plus users makes new computer viruses more dangerous and virulent than ever. Viruses can literally spread around the globe in only minutes, effecting thousands of unprotected and unprepared users and businesses virtually instantly and simultaneously. The need for antivirus protection is of paramount concern for virtually all PC users.

First Things First: What IS a Computer Virus?

To be considered a true computer Virus, a program needs the ability to replicate itself and trigger its activity at specified events. A computer virus is just one of three types of programs known as “maliceware”. “Maliceware” are applications designed to damage, delete or steal your information, hijack your computer and even damage or destroy your computers hardware. The three types of “maliceware” you need to concern yourself with are Viruses, Trojans and Worms. Most antivirus programs are designed to detect and defend your PC from all three threats.

What Does an Antivirus Program Do?

Antivirus programs take two common approaches to recognize threats to your computer.

1. Signature Detection: Via Signature Detection an antivirus application scans your computer, drives and storage devices for files that contain a code it recognizes as a virus variant.

2. Activity: An antivirus application will monitor the activity on your computer for suspicious behaviors i.e. modification of system files or folders and unauthorized connections to the internet to name two.

Signature detection generally requires the manufacturer of an antivirus application to obtain a copy of a specific virus and then reverse-engineer it to obtain markers relevant to its programming. These markers are then loaded into your antivirus software via updates. Signature detection is a sound methodology for detecting and protecting against computer viruses, however it can be rendered useless when faced with a virus for which is has no definition.

Antivirus applications that scan for potential computer virus activity can be more useful at detecting the latest threats than those reliant on signature detection. It is important to note that because many applications perform the same activities as a virus – writing and changing system files for example – a user can quickly become inundated with numerous and unnecessary warnings by antivirus applications that utilize this method for detection.

Most of today’s “solid” antivirus programs utilize a combination of both signature detection and virus activity to protect your computer against threats.

How to Choose the Antivirus Program that is Right for You.

If you try surfing the web for insight into what is the best antivirus program or manufacturer, you will quickly find yourself neck deep in a sea of advertisements which profess themselves to be legitimate and impartial evaluators of the available programs. The truth is, of the major manufacturers, no one solution can provide for all of your potential needs. They all have instances where they are not as effective as the competition at detecting or eliminating a specific infection or threat. There are many good Antivirus applications and manufacturers all vying for your business, be it for personal or business use, and choosing the correct application or manufacturer for your computer security can generally come down to a few simple questions.

How at Risk are You?

Asking yourself this question is perhaps the first and most important step toward choosing what degree of protection you need, and how much money you are willing to spend, on Antivirus protection. Risk generally equates to your computers exposure to outside applications, files or connections. If you were to operate a computer that would never come into contact with any program or file not manufactured by a secure source, then you have virtually no need for an Antivirus application. Simply put, if you never plan to connect your computer to the internet, download files with it or upload “at risk” files from outside data sources, you should have no need for Antivirus software.

If you are a casual user who perhaps connects to the internet on occasion through a temporary or dial up connection and only download or upload files and programs from reasonably secure sources, your need for an antivirus program is clear, however, your risk may be minimal. In this situation the types and range of protective applications can be kept to a minimum; a basic antivirus program designed to regularly scan your hard drive for infections should offer you the protection that you need. There are many good antivirus programs that will fit this need available as shareware - a free download - throughout the internet.

Now, if you are like what I would consider to be the majority of today’s computer users, you are a high risk user and need a wide variety of the most up to date antivirus programs available. If you have a broadband internet connection which keeps your computer connected to the internet 24/7. If you regularly upload and download files and applications from random and un-trusted sources, you need to invest in very thorough security for your computer. High risk users should invest in an antivirus program that offers real time scanning of all incoming and outgoing connections or files, a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC via an open broadband connection, a pop-up blocker that prevents your computers web browser from being hijacked and adware scanners that detect pop-up, spy-ware, tracking and redirection software.

Are you Purchasing for Business or Home?

Antivirus software manufactured for business and home can be two very different applications both in cost and effectiveness. Home versions generally cost less and come with fewer options than business based antivirus programs. Generally the home user does not need the added functionality built into business versions and as such, I would not recommend that a home user invest in an antivirus solution designed for business.

Good antivirus software designed for business is focused on security, both from external and internal threats, as well as ease of maintenance. Most corporate versions of antivirus applications allow for a central point of control over entire networks. Protection can be divided between internet or application servers and individual PCs. New software updates are generally “pushed” from a central application server through the entire network, allowing for simplicity and assure-ity of a network’s protection. Most times, corporate versions of antivirus applications do not allow individual users within a network to make changes to their protection settings; this is of key importance when considering overall network security and stability.

As a business purchasing a corporate class antivirus suite, it is important that your protection extends to each individual user that will access your network. Exchange/mail and internet server protection is a must, as well as protection for mission-critical file and application servers. It is a good rule of thumb for IT managers within corporate environments to assume that all their users will do everything within their power to infect corporate equipment with viruses and threats. Though this most certainly is not true, assuming that users know how to protect themselves or their corporate computer environment from infection is in most cases professional suicide for the IT manger in charge.

Antivirus software for business is generally loaded with more options than software built for home, and as such is often times much more expensive on a whole. Usually business antivirus programs come as a server based application. Clients, or additional licenses, are purchased for each computer or user that connects to the antivirus server.

With Regard to the Antivirus Program Itself:

Determining the true quality and effectiveness of an antivirus program can sometimes come down to how often the manufacturer releases updates to the program. New viruses are introduced to the web on most certainly a daily, if not hourly basis. The best antivirus manufacturers release updates on a daily basis and often offer updates to their programs on a real-time, as needed basis. The ability for an antivirus software manufacturer to release constant, and relevant, updates to their programs should be of great concern to the user. Not having the latest updates can almost be as dangerous as having no protection at all.

Other Important Factors to Consider:

1. The programs compatibility with your current set up and operating system? – If you are still using Windows 98 and you are purchasing an antivirus software manufactured in 2006, chances are it is not compatible with your computer.
2. How much in the way of system resources does the program use? – Just like all applications and operating systems, antivirus applications will use your computers processing power, memory and storage space to function. Keeping this use to a minimum will help to keep your computer operating at peak performance.
3. What kind of protection does the software offer? – Does the program offer protection against multiple threats such as Worms and Trojans? Will the program scan incoming and outgoing text messages and e-mails?
4. Cost – How much will the protection cost you over the life of your usage? – Most antivirus programs require that you subscribe to their service and then purchase updates on a yearly basis. The costs of these updates can vary widely between manufacturers and should be considered when making your final decision.

Answering these questions truthfully though an honest assessment of your PC usage will help to guarantee that you invest the proper amount of money and time into ensuring your PC and data are safe and secure.

Copyright 2006 www.hcditrading.com Brad Calli

2006-09-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

A guide to PC memory:

When it comes to improving the performance of your PC, purchasing additional RAM is perhaps the least expensive yet most effective route a person can take. While the solution appears simple, the dizzying array of memory available for purchase today can make the actual decision process problematic for all but the most tech-savvy individuals. A very wide selection of differing RAM types are available for purchase today, SDRAM, EDO, RDRAM, and DRAM to name a few. Knowing how to determine what RAM types are compatible with your current PC setup and what RAM choice will give you the greatest performance are key to making the correct decision.

The purpose of this guide is to give the reader a general understanding of what RAM is, what types of RAM exist, and how to decide what RAM would make the best purchase choice.

What is RAM?

The acronym RAM stands for Random Access Memory. RAM is where data is stored within your PC so that said data can be accessed by your PC’s processor, or CPU. RAM should be considered as temporary memory within your PC, in order for RAM to maintain its data storage it must receive a continual pulse of electricity. Any data that exists solely within a PC’s RAM will be deleted when the PC is shut off or loses power.

PC’s utilize several common technologies to store data internally on a more permanent level than RAM. These storage mediums include ROM - Read Only Memory, Hard Drives – which store data magnetically in a permanent – or depending on your usage – semi-permanent fashion, CDRWs, DVDRWs, Floppy Disks and Tapes. All of these data storage methods can be considered more reliable than RAM data storage, however none of them offer the speed of data access that RAM does.

RAM stores data that is essential for a PCs immediate operation and does so in an extremely fast and reliable way. RAM allows for a PC to operate at speeds that would be unachievable if it were replaced by more permanent data storage mediums. Think of RAM as a “fast lane” on an expressway. RAM allows for a function or application’s most important data to have the fastest possible access to the processor. RAM exists as a “fast lane” for data that needs immediate attention by your PCs CPU. As such, the more RAM your PC has accesses to, the more “fast lanes” that are available for your PC’s functions and applications to access your PC’s CPU, the faster your PC will perform.

Types of RAM

SDRAM, DDR-SDRAM and RAMBUS are the three major types of RAM, or PC memory, in use today.

Modern RAM

Before the introduction of SDRAM, PC memory operated asynchronously from a PC’s Clock Speed. This asynchronous operation would create data bottlenecks within a PC itself and slow overall performance. Clock speed is the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions; every computer contains an internal clock that regulates the rate at which data is processed and synchronizes a PC’s individual components. As it stands to reason, the faster a PC’s clock speed, the faster a PC’s CPU can process data. Before RAM was synchronized to operate at the same speed as the rest of a PC’s components, a PC’s CPU would be would be forced into the occasional delay while waiting for the RAM to be available to accept data. In theory, as long as SDRAM operated at the same speed as the system clock, it would be available to the system on a regular and consistent basis – thus eliminating data bottlenecks. By regulating RAM and tying its performance to the system clock, memory manufacturers have been forced to increase memory performance to match PC clock speeds.

SDRAM:

SDRAM – Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory - was the natural result of the PC industries search for better RAM and PC performance.

SDRAM is available 66, 100 and 133MHz speeds, known as PC66, PC100 and PC133 respectively. 66MHz RAM, in theory, would perform 66.6 million cycles per second and would be compatible with a 66MHz clock speed. Generally memory is considered to be backward compatible, so a pc with a clock speed of 100MHz could accept a memory module with a clock speed of 100MHz. The drawback being that the memory will only operate at the 100MHz speed.

SDRAM is no longer the memory of choice for modern PC’s, however, due to the many PCs still on the market that utilize SDRAM, it is certain that memory manufacturers will continue to produce this memory for some time. SDRAM has been in the marketplace for some time and as such is widely available for purchase as a used yet guaranteed product. This used availability offers the buyer the opportunity to save a great deal of money on its purchase, yet sacrifice a bare minimum with regard to reliability as RAM has no moving parts and is generally very durable and long lasting.

DDR–SDRAM:

DDR and DDR2 – Double Data Rate SDRAM – was again a natural result of the PC Industries search for better RAM and PC Performance. DDR memory has been available since the late 1990’s and is a great leap forward in RAM performance. Essentially, DDR RAM achieves its improved performance by transferring data to the processor twice, instead of once in the case of SDRAM, per clock cycle. Theoretically, a RAM module that refreshes the processor twice per clock cycle should equate to twice the performance offered by SDRAM. In reality DDR does not truly offer twice the performance of SDRAM, however it is a signification improvement over the older standard.

Types of DDR and DDR2 memory that are available include PC1600 – 200MHz, PC2100 – 266MHz, PC2700 – 333MHz, PC3200 – 400MHz, PC3500 – 433MHz, PC3700 – 466MHz, PC4000 – 500MHz, PC4200 – 533MHz and PC4400 – 566MHz. The first number represents the maximum memory bandwidth, in megabytes, that a RAM module can provide per second. The second number, MHz, is the clock speed that the module is compatible with. As with SDRAM, the memory is backward compatible, a PC2100 chip with a 266MHz clock speed with work with a PC with a clock speed of both 266MHz and 200MHz.

DDR and DDR2 memory are the current standard in the PC industry and will continue to be manufactured for some time. As with SDRAM, DDR and DDR2 types have been in the market for some time and are available as used or refurbished. Both used and refurbished DDR memory can offer substantial savings when purchased while giving the user similar reliability to new product.

RAMBUS:

RAMBUS – RDRAM – was developed by the RAMBUS Corporation and can be considered to be a proprietary version of RAM as only the RAMBUS company manufacturers it. RAMBUS is a high-performance version of RAM generally found in high-end business class PCs. Today very few manufacturers use the RAMBUS standard as DDR and DDR2 memory offers similar, and in some cases better performance. RAMBUS memory can be found in speeds of PC800, PC1066 and PC1200. Generally you can purchase RAMBUS PC800-() the () will contain a number that references the chips speed in nano-seconds, i.e. PC800-45.

Memory and Performance:

While adding more memory does not ensure faster performance, not having enough memory will guarantee slow downs. Having plenty of memory installed on your PC helps to ensure that your PC operates at its peak speeds and efficiency. Adding memory almost always results in a performance boost, especially if you run larger applications or multiple applications simultaneously. It is important to note that if you triple your current installed memory you will not see a three-fold boost in performance. You will almost always see some gain in performance, but you will go a long way in eliminating slow downs.

It will always be my contention and a good rule of thumb that you can never have too much memory. Maxing out you configuration with memory will help to guarantee the peak performance of your PC.

How to Choose Memory:

Choosing memory is dependent on several factors. First is the consideration of compatibility. Whether you are building a new PC or simply adding memory to an existing system, it is of key importance that the memory you purchase is compatible with your motherboard. Most motherboards accept a specific standard of memory, SDRAM, DDR, DDR2 or RAMBUS. To determine what type of memory that your PC will accept, you can either consult your motherboards owners’ manual, or, if this is not available, inspecting the motherboard for brand and model number will allow you to go online and determine the compatible memory type.

Generally a motherboard that accepts SDRAM will accept memory modules that have a higher rated speed in MHz than what is specified by the board’s manufacturer. For example, if your current motherboard has a clock speed of 66MHz and accepts PC66 SDRAM, you can install either PC100 or PC133 RAM chips. The board will only utilize the memory at its maximum speed however, so a PC133 SDRAM module will only operate at 66MHz speed. It is important to determine what RAM speeds – MHz – that your board is compatible with before making a purchase.

You should also consult either you owners manual or online documentation to determine the maximum memory that your board will support and physically inspect the board to determine how many available memory slots there are. Generally you will want to use the largest and fastest RAM chips that your board will support and fill all available slots with matching memory speeds. For example, your board has three available slots and currently one is in use by a DDR PC2100 266MHz RAM module. You discover that your board will accept DDR RAM up to PC2700 333MHz speeds. If you were to fill the remaining to slots with PC2700 memory, your memory would only function at the speed of the slowest RAM module, in this case 266 MHz.

New vs. Used:

Due to the sheer amount of memory manufactured within the last years, you will find an abundance of used memory for sale. When it comes to getting the most for your money, it should be noted that purchasing used memory is a great way to save money while getting similar reliability and performance as compared to new. RAM has no moving parts to speak of and as such is highly durable and reliable.

Spend some time researching prices between new and used memory modules. If you can purchase used or refurbished modules from vendors who will offer warranties, you may be making a major mistake spending that extra money on new RAM.

A little research on your part can help you to not only ensure that you see the maximum performance out of your PC set up, but also go a long way toward saving you money both in the short and long term.

Copyright 2006 www.hcditrading.com, Brad Calli

2006-09-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Desktop Processors, A Brief Guide:

The Stone Age:

If you are like me, you have spent the majority of your life in the PC Age. I can remember toying with the very first Personal Computers. In those days you were generally required to write your own programs in BASIC and your code or programs were stored to either a cassette tape, or, if the program was small enough, to a 5 ½ floppy. I spent many a day playing true gaming classics like Oregon Trail or a two-dimensional Star Trek game played with the up and down arrow keys on a keyboard. One thing is certain; PC performance has increased virtually exponentially since their inception.

As I write this guide, I am surrounded by a faint glow that comes from my well loved Macintosh Color Classic PC, which at the time of its manufacture, came with an “oh so powerful” 16 MHz processor and an 80MB Hard Drive. I was so impressed with my Mac when I purchased it; it had a small but bright color screen built in, a hard drive, and a 3 1/4 inch floppy drive. Thanks to Al Gore I could hook up a 1200 baud modem and access a world of ASCII websites via the “Internet”. I truly viewed my Macintosh as a portable PC, it was relatively light and easy to tote around and I took it virtually everywhere I could. Today my Macintosh is still functional, however the only real purpose it serves is as something of a curiosity to any visitors I may have under the age of 25.

What a Difference a Decade Makes:

I am writing this guide on a Dell Latitude Laptop which I purchased a mere 13 years after the Macintosh. My Laptop is far from the latest and greatest in portable technology, yet it is hundreds if not thousands of times more powerful than my beloved Macintosh.

We all recognize that Personal Computers serve many functions in our lives, from reducing complexity, to entertainment, the list is virtually endless and their impact on out lives truly astonishing. Central to the seemingly unreal advancement in PC performance over the last 2 decades is the processor. Processors or CPUs as they are commonly called are present in virtually any electronic device that you touch today. Whether you are looking to upgrade your current PC or buy an entirely new system, you can quickly become confused by the sheer range of processors that are available and the terminology associated with said Processors.

The purpose of this guide is to give you a basic understanding of CPUs and to help you make a good decision when deciding on what CPU is right for you. This guide is not meant to be a technical dissertation; its goal is to provide very general information and designed to give you, the reader, a general understanding of what a processor is and to help you make a good decision when it comes time to purchase. If you are more technically oriented, I would suggest the many tech-detailed guides available elsewhere online.

First Things First: What is a CPU?

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, and even after many years of refinements in PC technology, the CPU is still the central part of your computer's operations. A CPU manages the flow of data throughout your entire PC. The role of a CPU is to manipulate (process) data that passes through your PC, reading it from your PC’s devices, manipulating it as required, and then sending it out to storage or display devices.

Physically, a CPU is comprised of millions of microscopic transistors which are etched onto a layer of silicon via chemical and lithographic processes. Transistors themselves are exceptionally simple devices that store binary (on/off) values, and it's from these on/off states that more complicated processes can be performed. Modern transistors are extremely complex; a CPU such as AMD's Athlon 64 FX-55 is comprised of just fewer than 106 million transistors. A dual-core chip such as Intel's Pentium Extreme Edition 840, that transistor count jumps to around 230 million.

Simply put, the CPU is the brain of your PC. All of your PC’s functions rely on the CPU and all functions interact with the CPU on a constant basis.

Deciding on a CPU that meets your needs isn’t simply a matter of price point. There are an extreme number of processors available for purchase today and they can range in price anywhere from $2.00 to $2,000. CPUs are the central component of a PC’s processing power; however they are a part of a whole. There are many components within any individual PC and they all must “plug” into what is known as the PC’s motherboard. To put it simply, the motherboard is the component of the PC that integrates a PC’s individual components, the CPU being one of them. When upgrading a PC or constructing one at home, it is important that the CPU you choose is compatible with the Motherboard. I will talk in more detail about determining the compatibility of a CPU with any given motherboard later on in this guide.

When purchasing a CPU you should consider the capabilities that you're looking for in a processor, and the types of software you're likely to run on your machine. It's much better to make the right choice and get a PC that's ideal for your chosen applications than end up with something that sounds good on paper, but can't run the core tasks you need.

The Two Major Brands: AMD and Intel:

Intel and AMD offer us a wide range of CPUs and the two companies' products are in direct competition. AMD and Intel CPUs are capable of running the same PC software and are not software specific or proprietary in nature. The primary differences between these processors are technical in detail that for the purpose of this guide will be considered inconsequential.

You will generally find that pricing in the CPU market is very competitive and, generally speaking, Intel chips are more expensive than comparable AMD processors. On the higher end, Intel offers the Pentium 4 in numerous configurations with names to match. Terms or names that you may see tied to the Pentium 4 include Hyperthreading, Extreme Edition, Dual Core and Intel Duo. Intel Processors come in both 32 and 64 bit versions. AMD was the first CPU manufacturer to offer a 64-bit CPU and come as both the Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX. The Athlon FX and the Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition are competing chips for power users.

You may have heard of 64-bit processing, it is available in both manufacturers CPU lines. The primarily advantage that 64-bit processing has over 32-bit is in the amount of data that the processor can address. 32-bit chips can handle around 4 gigabytes of data while a 64-bit chip can handle 16 BILLION gigabytes – quite a difference. 64-bit processors can run most 32-bit applications but require a 64-bit operating system to function properly. At this stage, 64-bit processing can be considered as something of overkill as a 32-bit processor, especially one that is dual core, can efficiently run the majority of today’s software applications.

Both Intel and AMD offer budget versions of their processor, Intel’s offering being the Celeron – a striped down version of the Pentium. AMD’s budget offering is the Duron; both Budget chips again offer similar performance and pricing.

Hyper-threading VS Dual Core:

Most of Intel’s Pentium 4 processor support a technology called Hyperthreading. Hyperthreading allows the processor to be utilized virtually as two processors as one. This technology can give a boost to performance; however it should not be confused with Dual-Core processing. Hyper threading utilizes software to create two “virtual” processors out of one in an effort to allow for multiple applications to be processed simultaneously. A Dual-Core processor, such as Intel’s new Extreme Edition physically contains two separate processing units on one chip and offers far greater performance.

Naming Conventions:

Manufacturers methods for naming their processors can be very confusing for the average user. Until recently Intel simply used the clock speed of the processor, for example 3.2GHz Pentium 4, while AMD uses names based on the processor's supposed capabilities. For example, an AMD XP3000+ may have a clock speed of 2.16GHz but in practice it performs more like a 3GHz processor. Intel which for years used clock speed to define its processors has moved to a new 3-digit naming convention. Intel processors will now start with a 3, 5 or 7 - each group representing the type of processor and the motherboard that it is compatible with.

Sockets and Pins:

Simply put, Sockets and Pins are terms used by manufacturers to define the compatibility of a processor and motherboard; a description of a processor should always contain what socket type it is. Motherboards designed to utilize an Intel Socket 478-pin processor for example, will not accept an Athlon Socket A processor, and vice versa.

Front-side Bus:

The front-side bus (FSB) is the interface between the CPU and the main system memory and determines the fastest type of memory your system can use. The faster the FSB the quicker data can be passed between the CPU and the memory.

Cache memory:

Cache Memory is memory that is added directly to the processor. Manufacturers add this memory as a way to eliminate potential data “bottlenecks” and to speed the CPUs handling of information. Cache does this by storing frequently used data directly on the CPU itself. Greater Cache generally means faster and better overall performance.

Upgrading:

Most users PC’s can be upgraded from their current configurations. Often times you can save yourself hundreds of dollars by performing a little research about your existing PC. Many times PCs can accept much faster processors than were included originally by the manufacturer. A little research on the subject can go a long way toward saving you money and extending the life of your PC.

If you are interested in upgrading your PC you can generally determine rather easily if your existing PC will accept a more powerful processor than it originally came with. A little research into the exact model number of your PC and the PCs motherboard will allow you determine what processors are compatible with your existing PC. Many tools are available online to help you determine what processors are compatible with your existing motherboard. Often accessing your motherboards manufacturers’ website and researching your specific model will give you all the information you need to determine what processor is right for you.

How to Choose the Right Processor:

Determining what processor is best for you requires that you take an honest account of your computing practices. If you are a power user and use your PC for high end gaming, demanding applications or video editing you should look toward the latest and greatest processors available. You will want to pay attention to Speeds, Cache and Front Side Bus speeds and purchase the best CPU you can afford.

If you are a standard home or business user and require your PC to handle tasks such as word-processing, e-mail, photo editing and internet access, it would be a waste of money to invest in a high-end CPU.

The following links are available as a manufacturer tool to help you determine the matching chipsets for any given processor: Intel http://indigo.intel.com/mbsg/ and AMD http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_869,00.html

By doing your homework and making an honest assessment of your computing needs, you can be sure that the processor you choose will be the processor you want and need.

Copyright 2006 www.hcditrading.com, Brad Calli

2006-07-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

You are faced with a great many options when choosing a monitor for your computer. Used monitors come in many forms, ranging from used, to seller refurbished, manufacturer refurbished and third part refurbishment and de-branding. There are also two major monitor models in the market, CRT or LCD.

CRT also known as cathode-ray tube, the technology used in most televisions and computer display screens. A CRT works by moving an electron beam back and forth across the back of the screen. Each time the beam makes a pass across the screen, it lights up phosphor dots on the inside of the glass tube, thereby illuminating the active portions of the screen. By drawing many such lines from the top to the bottom of the screen, it creates an entire screenful of images. LCD or liquid crystal display, a type of display used in digital watches, many portable computers and computer display screens.

LCD displays utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.

The primary real world difference between these monitors is their size. CRTs take up significantly more desktop space then does their much thinner LCD counterparts. CRT monitors can often be found at highly aggressive pricing; often times a 21" CRT can be purchased for less than 1/4 the price of the equivalent LCD. CRTs can be more expensive to ship, generally produce more heat than an LCD monitor and require more desktop space. Being that CRTs have been in the market for many years, they are often very reliable and cheaper to repair than LCDs.

Regarding monitor conditions and quality, a used monitor is just that, used, perhaps cleaned before resale. Any existing defects including screen burns, scratches, dents, and bruising are left unprepared. These monitors can often be found in excellent condition and often at a very aggressive price but generally do not come with a manufacturer warranty.

A reseller refurbished monitor is returned to as close to possible new condition by the reseller. The pricing of these units are usually aggressive and generally come with a reseller warranty.

Factory refurbished monitors are returned to new condition by the original manufacturer and often come with a full factory warranty. Factory refurbished monitors are generally priced higher than used or reseller refurbished equipment, but their higher pricing does not always guarantee a higher quality product.

A factory refurbished and de-branded monitor is a monitor that has been returned to like new condition by a third party factory. Often times these factories have agreements with the original manufacturer that require them to de-brand this equipment, in other words, to remove the original manufacturers name from the unit. These units will range in price but are often of very high quality.

Whatever your needs, http://www.hcditrading.com/ can supply a monitor to meet them.

www.hcditrading.com currently carries Dell 17", Dell 19"and Dell 21" CRT Monitors, including the following Dell Models:Dell M782 / Dell E770S / Dell E771A / Dell E771mm / Dell E771P / Dell E772C / Dell E772P / Dell E773C / Dell E773S / Dell M781P / Dell M782 / Dell M783S / Dell P793 / Dell M782 / Dell E770S / Dell E771A / Dell E771mm / Dell E771P / Dell E772C / Dell E772P / Dell E773C / Dell E773S / Dell M781P / Dell M782 / Dell M783S / Dell P793

We also Carry Dell 15" LCD, Dell 17" LCD, Dell 18" LCD, Dell 19" LCD, Dell 20" LCD and Dell 21" LCDs including the following Dell Models: Dell 1703FP / Dell E171FP / Dell E173FP / Dell E176FP / Dell 1800FP / Dell 2001FP

If you do not find the model that you are looking for, please feel free to contact us as our supply changes often and we can source products for our customers.

Copyright © 1995-2006. Brad Calli www.hcditrading.com

2006-06-23T09:01:00.001-07:00

Memory Matters:

When purchasing a computer it is important that you spend time researching what kinds of memory - RAM - the computer takes.

A prime example of this is the difference between a Dell Optiplex GX240 and GX260. On the outside they are very similar machines priced nearly the same for the same configurations. Some research will tell you that the GX240 uses SDRAM which is considerably more expensive than the DDR memory that the Dell GX260 uses.

Be sure when purchasing one of these computers that you are comparing apples to apples, a GX240 with 256 ram for less than an equivalent Gx260 is not as good of a deal as it might first appear.

A little research on your part can go A LONG WAY toward saving you money in the long run.

2006-05-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you for coming to our blog. In the days ahead hopefully we will be able to help you understand how you too can save money on computers.

To Begin with we believe you should start with a new or used Dell Computer. We consider them to be the best and by far are the most desirable to the majority of our customers. Keep in Mind we have limited knowledge of there reliability because we have only sold or serviced about 100,000 to 200,000 computers. Our favors are precisions and optiplex series. We also have high regards for latitude series.

Thank You