Before we start, here are a few terms you may need to know:

Mb/Gb: measures of storage; in this order, a megabyte (1,000 kilobytes) and a gigabyte (1,000 megabytes).
RAM: Random Access Memory. The temporary storage location for a computer.
Hard disk: the drive that stores your files.
Processor: the "heart" of the computer. Data that is pumped into it is routed to wherever in the computer it is needed. (Please note that I will not be recommending any AMD processors in my article, below; this is because, in my experience, they are unreliable.)
Ghz: measure of processor frequency; higher means faster (well, there is some debate on that, but it is generally accepted that a higher number is faster).

Also note that I may recommend values with a "~" in between them. For anything with that value, the lower end is better suited for your need and less costly; the higher value will work better and last longer, but will be more expensive.

Can you give me a basic rundown?

There are way too many factors for getting a new PC to just give a basic rundown. However, I can at least tell you this much about PC's: if you don't know much about PC's, go with a manufacturer's PC's. I recommend Gateway highest out of all of them; I have good experiences with their tech support and with the performances of their PC's. Hewlett-Packard (HP) is also a very reliable PC manufacturer. The worst choice would be Dell. Their computers are built sloppily and their tech support is more likely to not assist you in a moment of need.

However, if you're technically proficient, you should try to build your own PC. I'm going to cover that in a later article posted here. But the advantage to that is that your PC's performance is going to be much better due to the missing manufacturer crapware that negatively affects the performance.

Or, there's a third option, for those who want to do a little more work: contact a local PC builder. I'm one in my area; PC builders get parts from wholesalers, meaning that the parts are cheap. They don't install crapware on your PC. And most importantly, they won't overcharge you for a good PC.

What specifications do I need for a sturdy at-home PC?

I would recommend something that's not high in specifications, if you're not going to be using it for very intensive applications (running Internet Explorer or checking your e-mail, and maybe typing up word documents, for example; the occasional online game works as well in this package). Here's a sample build:

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core, 2.0~2.4ghz.
RAM: DDR2, 1~2gb.
Hard Disk: 80~100gb, any speed.
Graphics Card: go with an onboard card, don't buy a separate adapter.
Sound Card: go with an onboard card, don't buy a separate adapter.
CD/DVD Drive: just get a CD writer/DVD reader. You'll be able to make your own CD's and watch DVD movies on your PC.

How about a PC for business use?

I'd recommend to follow almost the exact specifications as above, but go with Windows Vista Business instead of Home Premium, and maybe to get a hard disk that is slightly larger (120~150gb) so that you can hold more files.

I need a PC that can handle home media. It's not quite a gaming PC.

This would be a good thing for those who use digital media quite a bit. To complete the package, I'd recommend (if you don't already have one) a TV that has a DVI (white; its shape is like a rounded parallelogram) or S-Video (black, round, small) on the back of it so that you can watch movies on your TV that are on your computer.

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium.
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, 1.8~2.4ghz, or for better performance, Intel Core 2 Quad at 2.33ghz.
RAM: 2~4gb, PC6400 (if you don't know what that is, then don't worry).
Hard Disk: 120~200gb (more towards the 200 if you want to store movies on your PC), at a speed of 7200RPM.
Graphics Card: any card that has a DVI port or S-Video port in back so that you can use your PC and TV in conjunction.
Sound Card: you don't necessarily need a separate sound card, but for best sound quality, get a Turtle Beach Riviera (uses the PCI standard port), which can handle surround sound.
CD/DVD Drive: go with a CD writer/DVD reader for writing CD's and reading DVD's on your computer, or get a CD/DVD burner if you want to be able to make your own DVD's.

I need a low-level gaming PC...it doesn't have to handle multiple games at once.

You might need to learn your terms better. Gaming PC's require some special specifications for the equipment used. I can try to define them better, but in reality, you may want to use Wikipedia or a Google search to figure out better what you need.
The term I'll introduce here is latency. Latency is the time between when data is received and when it is written to the memory. Latency configurations usually look like this: X-X-X-XX (where each X is a number). Lower numbers are better when dealing with latency.

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.66~3.0ghz for standard performance, Intel Core 2 Quad 2.44~2.8ghz for improved performance, or Intel Core 2 Extreme (Dual or Quad) at 2.93ghz.
RAM: 4gb of PC6400 or above at a latency of 5-5-5-18 or better (lower).
Hard Disk: 250~500gb at a speed of 7200 or 10,000 RPM.
Graphics Card: an EVGA GeForce 9500 GT, which supports 512mb of onboard memory (so that your standard RAM isn't touched by the graphics card, for better performance) or better.
Sound Card: anything goes, unless you have a surround sound configuration, in which case I recommend a Turtle Beach Riviera (for good performance, up to 6 channels of sound) or a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE (for best performance; it supports up to 7.1 channels of surround sound, and is actually quite inexpensive). Do not, however, just go with whatever is built into your motherboard.
Multimedia: CD/DVD burner, hands down. Unless you want to watch Blu-Ray movies or play Blu-Ray games on your PC, in which case I'd recommend a Blu-Ray reader (which is very expensive, so watch out).

I'm a gamer that needs it all. I mean, ALL. What are the specs I need?

Despite being a geek, I'm no gamer. Well, maybe on occasionally, but no WoW or any of that. I really wouldn't know. But I can put together a PC with all the best parts. Note that this will be, hands down, EXPENSIVE. So if the regular gaming PC I've specified above cuts it, take that. If not, then read on.

Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate.
Processor: for great performance, a Core 2 Extreme Quad at 3.2ghz or for ultimate performance, a Core i7 or Core i7 Extreme Edition at 2.66~3.2ghz.
RAM: 8gb of DDR3, between PC12800 and PC15000, with latencies close to or lower than 7-7-7-24.
Hard Disk: 1tb (that's a terabyte, or 1,000 gigabytes), at a speed of 10,00RPM.
Graphics Card: actually, you'll want a two-pack of cards for best performance. My recommendation would be the PNY XLR8 GeForce 9800 GTX, which has 1 GB of GDDR3 memory between two cards. It can be found at TigerDirect.
Sound Card: see what I said in the last computer category for sound cards.
Multimedia: CD/DVD burner, Blu-Ray reader.

Final thoughts.

Finding a computer with these exact specs is a hard job. You'll need to call around to a lot of manufacturers and ask each for a custom PC; many of them can't customize to exactly what you need. Especially when we're talking about gaming PC's (unless you call Alienware, but they'll charge you thousands for a PC as good as the last one I describe).

For gamers, you'd more than likely want to build your own computer, both for cheapness and so that you get EXACTLY what you need from a PC. Not to mention that processors in manufactured PC's won't overclock (getting your processor to operate at a higher frequency than the default, which also helps gamers a lot).

In the near future, I'll be writing a guide to building your own PC. It's a lot simpler than you'd expect, actually. But for now, enjoy your new PC. I hope it works the way you want.

Vista, overall, with all the hating and bashing of Microsoft going on, is completely and underrated. While the new interface takes a little bit of getting used to, things are much easier to access once you know your way around, and while some people aren't a fan of Aero, the visual appeal is just another thing that makes this operating system useful, effective, and flashy.

And while those messages asking you to confirm just about every action are annoying, they do make Vista more secure than XP, making it worth it any day. In my experience, Vista is a great Operating System to have, and despite some flaws, which presumably will be resolved in the next Windows OS, Windows 7, it is quick, effective, and allows you to get things done easier.

All those people complaining of performance decreases from XP are completely over exaggerating those drops in speed, which are barely noticeable, and will not affect your daily life at all. A fast computer will still be fast, and a slow computer will still be slow, whether you have Vista or not. Such is life, and you can't do anything about those things.

Those of us who are power users may complain that Vista reduces the amount of control put into the hands of the user, but that is hardly true at all. You can customize Vista to the same extent as you can in XP, only you have to navigate a slightly different interface to do so. The average person who doesn't know that much about computers would be better suited to these more welcoming interfaces, and it is simply a move in the direction of the better good.

So, lay off Microsoft. They're only doing their job as best they can, and sippin' on the haterade isn't going to change anything. What we can do is state our opinions, and in a free market, they simply must comply with the will of the people to stay afloat.

A few of us were around long enough for the last big leap in Windows Operating Systems. With the release of Windows NT, Windows ditched the 16-bit environment in favor of a fully 32-bit operating system. We may very well see the same thing with the release of Windows 7, which is slated to be fully 64-bit. With the recent plummet in price of RAM, it is now possible for the average computer user to be able to afford 4 GB or RAM, or more. However, this extra RAM is no use on a 32-bit operating system, as it does not have the bits to read more than about 3 GB or RAM. This glass ceiling of memory usage is now an impasse to further increases in performance, and to be able to read more RAM requires a 64-bit operating system. However, with the current software market, there are multiple obstacles to effectively using a 64-bit operating system, since most commercial software is written for 32-bit operating systems only. The market will not develop 64-bit software unless they are required to, which requires a full migration to the 64-bit architecture by OS manufacturers such as Microsoft.

And that is exactly what they are going to do, with the advent of Windows 7. With Microsoft putting pressure on the market, software companies will be forced to shift along with the new market to maintain their customer base. Unlike Vista, it is intended to be an incremental update, improving backwards compatibility with devices, and improving performance. Visually, it will look largely the same as Vista, but will have a leaner kernel, with features added by the user a la carte.

With the leap to 64-bit computing, we may well see new developments that were never possible before, with performance taking another great leap, with the glass ceiling of RAM usage shattered.

Though both the PCs and the Macs retain the feature of running an operating system, the operating systems that can be installed on each computer vary. An operating system is a collection of software that runs the computer while it is on. Nearly any operating system can be installed on a PC, including Windows and Linux. The only operating system that cannot be legally installed on a PC is the Mac OS. The Mac OS comes in several versions, and a new version is released nearly every year. Most PCs include an operating system pre-installed. Macs come pre-installed with Mac OS X, a series of Mac OS operating systems that have been used since September 13, 2000. The current Mac OS X version is Mac OS X 10.5.4 Leopard, and a future version of Mac OS X is planned for release sometime during the summer of 2009. Through the assistance of Boot Camp, a program that has been included with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and will be included in future versions, users are allowed to install different operating systems onto their Mac through the creation of partitions on their hard drive. Just as an operating system is a form of software, security programs are also a vital form of software for a computer.

Security is another issue between the PCs and the Macs. Both PCs and Macs have the ability to log onto the internet, and when they have fully accessed the internet, they can be easily bombarded by viruses, spyware, and adware; which are all harmful to a computer, whether it is a PC or a Mac. PCs never come with security software, and the Windows operating systems do not include security. Macs, however, have built in, high-level security that is built into Mac OS X because the operating system is coded in Unix, a form of coding language. Along with software differences, PCs and Macs have differences in hardware.

Hardware-wise, Macs and PCs are very different. The most noticeable design feature on the Mac is a glowing Apple logo. Macs usually have a glowing Apple logo on the lid of notebooks or the side of desktops. The design of a PC varies by the company that developed it. Ever since Apple has started using the PowerPC G4 Processor platform, they have started to use more environmentally-friendly materials in their Macs, such as aluminum and glass. Most Macs these days are made of aluminum, and have a glass monitor. For one to upgrade the hardware of a PC or a Mac is not uncommon. Hardware upgrades allow computers to run faster and more efficiently. Most upgrades on a laptop are for RAM, yet on the Apple MacBook, upgrading the hard drive, normally a difficult feat on a PC, is easy. Apple's professional desktop, the Mac Pro, contains no visible internal wires, and there are very few situations where a screw driver is required for an upgrade. Though the PC and Mac are very similar and different in scores of ways, they have made a great impact on the world today.

Computers have been the scaffolds for world-changing innovations since their creation, and they impact the world greatly. I could never imagine the world without computers, and the introduction of PCs and Macs has only opened a door of opportunity for the world, and although they are very different, they have created the path for more advanced technology, and will send mankind further into the future.

Looking back at those times, I can’t help wishing that I knew the little details and facts about using computer systems for the first time like I do now. So I thought of those people who really would love to learn how to use a computer system but didn’t know how very easy it was. This thought brought about the birth of this article.

Eight facts any computer beginner should always remember

There are no keys you can press on your keyboard that can destroy your computer system.

Know how to conduct simple computer repairs. Knowing a little of computer A++ could be an added advantage to you.

It pays to learn how to handle a pc now the before the dead lines, which is when you really need the knowledge (like your job interview).

Be calm when operating your p.c. If something isn’t working or has gone wrong, step back and relax. Take a moment to recollect your thoughts before you go back to the system. Things will eventually work out fine if you are less agitated.

People learn or acquire new skills t different rates. Just because some people have learned faster than you doesn’t men that they re more clever than you. Work at your own pace and you will eventfully learn better like that.

Remember that you re more smarter than any computer system, no matter how complex. Your brain would always be more superior to any computer ever made. Humans made the computer, computers didn’t make us.

Everybody who uses computer including bill gates was once a beginner too, (including your "almighty computer instructor")

It is perfectly normal to feel nervous and intimidated when you eventually start to use a computer system. Computer may be complex to understand at first but so also was your mobile phone or automobile. But with constant practice and the zeal to learn, you will find your computer system very easy to use and understand. Just simply follow this principle: one step at a time.

So the next time you're in front of any computer system remember, that you're more smarter than any computer system ever created. We created the computers, computers didn’t create us.

First of all, a few of my friends have become very mislead by the idea of Linux in general, and I don't blame them. In itself, Linux is a kernel, but let's not go into details. Linux is more than one OS, it's a lot more. What people use is actually called a Linux distribution, or a Linux distro. A distribution is an OS made with the Linux kernel, that's pretty much all you need to know to become confused. Basically, it's like a Toyota car. There are many kinds of Toyota's, like the Tundra, or the Prius. However, although the designs are entirely different, it's still a Toyota engine underneath. Every Linux distro is different, but underneath, they are all build around the Linux kernel.

You can find information regarding pretty much every distribution on a site called www.distrowatch.com, a nice site which also has a hit counter list displaying which Linux distro's site is most visited. However- this can be very confusing to the newcomer. My first observation while coming to this site was the the first distro listed on the hit counter. It was Ubuntu. Anyone who has gone online searching for "Operating Systems" on Google has probably stubled upon Ubuntu. Known to fellow Linux users as "The Behemoth," it's probably the most loved or hated distro on the planet. If you asked a random person what Linux was, they'd probably respond to it by saying, "Oh, you mean Ubuntu!" But that is not true at all. Ubuntu is just another distro that has gained world-wide popularity. Because of this popularity, many users only compare Ubuntu to Windows Vista and Mac OS 10.5 Leopard. In this article, we are not comparing a single distro, but what all the distros have to offer.

First of all, the main aspect of Linux is the fact that it is practically immune to viruses, malware, spyware, adware, and the like. I've known more people that switch to Linux because of the issue of viruses than I have people switch to Macs. Maybe it's just the advertising that Linux does, "No viruses!" but it seems to be working! Plus one point for Linux! However, Mac users will also argue that they get far less viruses than Windows users. This is true, although Mac computers are also easier to hack. There is no option in the installation of Leopard that allows an encrypted harddrive, which is more important than you think, but in the Ubuntu advanced install, there are numerous options for security. Plus 1/2 a point for Mac users! Now Windows- tsk tsk tsk! This is one thing that Windows users always get annoyed about. Although the advent of a virus checker on Internet Explorer 7 downloads does bring down the virus count down some, even with all the various virus and malware protecters, Windows computers are still the easiest to hack, and to get accidental viruses on. 0 points for Windows...

Mac- 1/2, Linux- 1, Windows- 0

Next up on the list of features- ease of use. This is the only part of Linux that always seems to break it down. Linux tends to be more difficult to use- I don't disagree with that part. But the paradox is that Linux also has the best documentation, better than Windows and Mac has put together. If you're smart enough to search your technological woes on Youtube, you will come to the greatest list of search results ever. This is especially true for Ubuntu users. The Ubuntu Forums has a reputation to be the most active forums page ever. If you post a question on the forums, it will be answered within 2 minutes. Trust me- I've tried it. Now Windows and Mac- they have no official forums to request help, so if you have a problem, Vista will give you this response- "Windows has not found any solution to this problem." If you have a Mac, you don't even get that little useless response- you get squat. Another plus for Linux!

Mac- 1/2, Linux- 1, Windows- 0

The next major feature of operating systems is drivers. The ability to use everyday technology with a computer is huge, especially with the advent of the iPod. Linux does pretty poorly on this section of the test. Windows is the main contender, with Mac trailing behind. Windows has the most drivers ever, just do a quick search on Google for any driver you need, and *poof,* it's there. Linux barely has any other support for drivers other than posting a request on the forums. For wireless drivers, however, Linux has a tool called NDis Wrapper, which uses Windows drivers to enable your wireless card. Macs have no such thing. On a Mac, you can ONLY use Mac software and equipement. Sorry, that's all, folks!

Mac- 1/2, Linux- 2, Windows- 1

This is the time that we talk about eye candy. Macs have been known for having the most eye candy, but I have to disagree. I believe the order is such- Linux > Windows > Mac. The newest Mac Leopard operating system has done little to look better, despite the dock. However, Linux has a fancy bit of software called Beryl, or Compiz-Fusion. This makes your desktop look amazing. I'm not just talking about regular amazing, I'm talking about italisized amazing. Take a look at this video, showing EVERYTHING in terms of eye candy you can do with Vista, and then comparing it with Linux.

When you minimize a window in Linux, you can select it to look like fire burns straight down it, or rain to fill it all up. With Vista and a Mac, it just minimizes in an animation. When you use the dock on Linux, when you drag an icon into it, it literally bounces using a physics engine. Linux also has this feature called "multiple desktops," which Mac has just recently shamelessly copied. It enables you to have more than one "screen" at a time, for example- you could have one screen with Firefox browsing the latest videos on Youtube, and another with iTunes up and running, playing your favorite tunes. You can seamlessly switch between these two "screens." When you do, a nice cube appears, and spins to your desired "screen." No such animation for Macs, just a simple screen displaying your "screens." I think Linux really deserves some points for this- it's pretty much alone in this field.

Mac- 1/2, Linux- 4, Windows- 2

That pretty much sums everything up! I do believe that Linux is a strong competitor, and many experts say that by 2020, Linux will have taken over Windows. Viva La Linux!

Image source: Michael Tan

At the first glance, I mistakenly took it as the sound card, network interface card, TV tuner card or any sort of cards. I could hardly guess what this thing was, and finally someone told me that this is a masterpiece of a Japanese company. It is known as PCI Disk Card which is inserted into the PCI slot of a computer or a laptop. It is indeed a magical imagination. Such invention really makes me wondering the unique as well as the creativity of the Japanese imagination.

Isn't it strange from its aluminum appearance? It looks like mosquito spray.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

What's this? Can you guess? Perhaps you will think that it's a mosquito spray as what I've thought of while looking at this bizarre stuff. I'm sure that you haven't seen something like this so-called USB anti-mosquito spray elsewhere. Now, something makes you doubt about this. Where got USB anti-mosquito spray, never heard of it before. If not, is this an USB exploding device? No, impossible, its line is too short to have even burnt your hand when you light it up. Then, what on earth is this crazy thing?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

Well, this is actually called USB sound card with its external appearance fully coated in aluminum. It was a product of Hercules Audio which is named as USB External Soundcard. This is cool, right?

Is this a blue hoop or a life buoy? What's its connection to IT?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

Crazy! What's this? Is this a blue hoop or a life buoy? Impossible, a hoop or a life buoy will not have two-legs attached at its bottom. Instead of saying it's a two-leg appliance; it seems more like two wooden rods. You will never know what this thing is by just judging from its external appearance. I'm certain that you'll have problem to guess for this thing if I decide not to tell you the answer. Well, this is a stereo headphones launched by a company called Tube. Though it may look small, it has 5.1-channel audio capability to enhance its performance. It's indeed shocking to know that it has 6 built-in speakers. Due to its extraordinary audio capability, it will cause you about 150 Euros.

Is this a product from an alien planet?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

I'm sure that every one of you may have watched science fiction movie of Minority Report 2002 directed by Steven Spielberg and starring by Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow, and Lois Smith. You would come across with numerous technologically advanced gadgets in this movie, but this gadget with a blue semi-translucent cap attached on its top is somewhat looks like the film projector in the science fiction films. Now, you will be amazed to learn that this is a high-tech product of a Caller Display invented by Olympia InfoGlobe, and it is a model of OL 3000 caller display device. Whenever there is an incoming call, the caller ID (or calling number identification) will be automatically displayed on its screen.

What're you saying? A golden ladybird is used for a computer?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

This golden ladybird gives me a good feel to look at it. Though it's not made of the pure gold, it's manufactured with an excellent artwork to give you a delicate and sophisticated sensation.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

It's not for MP3 as you couldn't find a headphone slot to fit its plug into your laptop or computer. If not, what's this? Please guess, dear friend! Hmm, this is a U-beetle or in a simple word, U-dish. It's attractive and yet strange, right?

What's this stuff then? Its transparent body is packed with many “top secrets.”

(Image source: Michael Tan)

A first touch on this stuff made me thinking that it's a USB hub. However, this couldn't be a USB hub as its circuit is designed to be more complicated than the USB hub. As this gadget has a D-Sub interface, then it must be a graphic card. However, this guess is not true. The graphic card is an important part of the computer, it couldn't be connected externally. Even for a modern computer nowadays, there isn't any standard I/O interface that could meet the data transmission speed in this manner. The next possibility guess is that it's a screen. Again, it's incorrect as the screen will require more than one D-Sub interface but this device only has one. In fact, this is an external graphic card designed by the Japanese. A bit incredible …….Well, this stuff is not manufactured for you to play games; rather it's a dual mode, enabling multiple displays with different contents via a computer or a laptop. I don't think it could meet the requirement for 3D data processing speed, as it uses USB 2.0 interface so its speed is far behind the former mentioned earlier.

Besides showing time, what can this stuff do?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

You need no my answer and you'll tell me that this is a watch. You're right! This is a simple designed watch judging from its external appearance. Of course, its function is to show time. But, wait, my friend; don't make this as your final conclusion. Let me telling you that this is not just a watch, it's a product resulted from a micro-electronic technology. Not only it's a watch, but it has a close link to a computer. Now, at this point, you may challenge me for talking rubbish here.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

This thing is not hard to guess instead. If you keep yourself abreast with the IT news, I'm certain that you'll know that this is a U-watch. Again, this is a U-disk which is cleverly made convenient and portable for you to bring along elsewhere but it has a limited capacity for data storage.

Is this an insect of Y2K?

Image source

I can't imagine that this gigantic insect got to do with a computer. It's amazing to find that it's a computer's mouse. When you lift up its wings, it doesn't show you that it's a mouse. Instead, it looks like a housefly or any types of insects with a typically known six legs.

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

It's regarded as an insect of Y2K. Because of this invention, I've to accept the fact that human thinking is complicated and beyond the imagination. Needless to say about this Y2K's insect, could you imagine that your computer hardware is invented as the smelly toilet ball as listed in Desmonrock21's article entitled Gizmo: Cool Computer Case Mods 2. Gosh, stink, it gets me vomiting to look at those disgustingly designed computer products!

Oops, something totally unknown!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

Now, my brain is poor enough to guess what this device is. It's not appearing to me as a computer's mouse. If I was not told that it's a mouse, probably I'll mad at guessing at it. And, I may never be guessed it right, I believe.

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

As shown in the above picture, its usage is very easy.

Is this a UFO?

Image source

This pumpkin-like computer product is designed to make it looks attractive as well as delicate to indirectly show the beauty in the art of the modern computer technology. The wooden treasure box which is attached with the pumpkin part looks very antique indeed! This product was on display in the exhibition of the Pentium 4 E3 in 2002.

Run, run! It's going to explode!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

Wow, this explosive looks grand and elegant! Is this going to explore, I doubt of it. It's so beautiful. Incredibly, you couldn't imagine that it's a computer's mouse. I couldn't figure it out what's the feel when touching on it to move the cursor around the computer's screen.

Yuck, a strange human hand!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

Yuck, a strange human hand to be your computer's mouse?! I hope this is just a nightmare but it happened to be a real fact that I've to accept while sitting in front of the computer. This hand looks so disgusting and I'm not going to touch on it. I believe that it'll bring a bad luck for me. Could you examine it closely? This strange human hand even comes with a look-real fingernail and some hair on top of its surface. Now, what do you feel? It's hilarious and bizarre though!

Yuck, another scary human body part!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

The scary story about the designs on the mouse not only stops on a human's hand, but it also extends to the human's mouth. Look, the mouth is attached with two rows of teeth; one is located on the upper jaw, while the other one is located on its lower jaw. Whoever will want this to become his or her mouse? It's so disgusting to look at!

This is a computer and not a Christmas house. Can you believe your eyes?

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Oh, I'm confusing with this device. I couldn't believe my eyes that this is a computer. Its design looks very attractive, but you can't eat the butter spreading over its top roof. While looking at this computer, it reminds me that the Christmas is around the corner.

Hey, are you kidding with me? This is a computer, you said?

Image source

This is a WMD computer, an abbreviation of its name: Weapon of Mass Destruction. From its name, you might judge that its killing power must be very scary and destructive. Why the inventor wanted to design the computer in this manner? Perhaps, the inventor just wants to show its greatest ability in terms of speed, capacity, and its operating systems. Anyway, this design is indeed hilarious!

Wow, what an odd-looking computer!

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Hey, is this really a computer? Where's its CPU (processors)? Its main MOD systems are all attached to the surface of the wall, can't you see? Its motherboard, drivers, hard drives, graphic cards, and even its power cords are all hung to the side wall of the cupboard. I guess this inventor do this to avoid removing out parts of the components too often from his computer. Or else, he must be the weirdest person who feels comfortable to look at the computer in this crazy and illogical manner. See, the label pasted onto the side wall “Intel Outside!” Such a cool and ridiculous bastard!

Wow, what a good idea to have a microwave oven bake your programmes.

Image source

Do you want a microwave oven to bake your “programs?” Interesting stuff indeed! You'll get interested with this cool stuff, I'm sure. It's completely a perfect microwave oven ever designed to become a computer. This computer was displayed in CES Exhibition in 2003. This microwave oven is equipped with a liquid crystal display door. To operate this computer, you just press either its button located from the right side of this image. Its main operating system is “grilling” inside once the power button is pressed. Cool stuff though!

Do you want some cute animals running around your computer?

(Image source: Michael Tan)

Pets such as dogs, cats, hamsters, and etc. no longer will they sit on your lap, palm, or sleep beside or under your table. They are now active enough to run around parts of your computer.

(Image source: Michael Tan)

It must be enjoyable watching these cute animals or pets crawling along the cables, USB flash drive, power cords, external disks, U-disks and other computer's components. The addition of these computer by-products will definitely refresh your feeling while sitting in front of a computer or a laptop.

These are very creative designs!

(Image source: InTozgc.com)

This luxurious car designed mouse will definitely add in a sense of fashion while contributing a constructive design to the IT world. It's so nice and beautiful that I'm going to have one as my new computer's mouse. It can move just as smooth as the sport car could move along its track.

Is anyone hungry here? Would you like some fast food or Japanese delicacies?

In the past, a USB flash drive was shaped into either a rectangular or a square shape. Its shape was limited to a fundamental pattern and design. But, nowadays, the USB flash drive has shaped into a strange, wield and extraordinary pattern to increase its sale in the market. The design of USB flash drive has appeared as a fast food menu that will definitely capture the computer user's attentions worldwide.

Hamburger, Pizza, and Hotdog Menu

(Image source: Korean Monthly Technology Magazine, March 2007)

These USB flash drives take a theme of a fast food menu. They can be ranged from hamburgers, pizzas and hotdogs that you are familiar at any fast food outlets. As their appearance are manufactured in a framework resembles to hamburger, pizza, hotdog and sandwich, and thus they sometimes tempt people to eat them. Presently, these types of USB flash drives have a capacity up to one gigabyte.

A strange Menu of KFC

(Image source: Korean Monthly Technology Magazine, September 2007)

This is not a real set of KFC menu, it is a strange design of USB flash drive. If you examine it closely, you will find that the rice is actually a USB 2.0 Hub with four openings. Each opening is connected to a chicken, pudding and prawns. They are furnished with a ready boost facility with their capacities up to one gigabyte.

Octopus Sushi Menu

(Image source: Japanese Monthly Technology Magazine, January 2006)

The main design of these USB flash drives is an octopus (or tako in Japanese). If you do not examine them closely, probably you will be perceived to believe that they are real octopus. The manufacturer made them so real to give people a convenience feel of their completeness. When you pull out the head of the octopus, you can see the body of the USB flash drive. Of course, the other part of its body is a protective casing for the USB flash drive. When you insert this USB flash drive into the slot of the computer, the body of the octopus will shine or glister in blue light. It is fun and interesting to look at, isn't it?

Sushi Menu

(Image source: Japanese Monthly Technology Magazine, January 2006)

These USB flash drives are shaped into a Japanese cuisine or Sushi menu. Sometimes, you may come across a variety type of Sushi found in a Japanese restaurant which includes kappa(cucumber), California Roll, makizushi (rolls), inarizushi(toppings stuffed into a small pouch of fried tofu), Chirashizushi(scattered sushi), temarizushi (ball-shaped sushi with a filling of fish) and omelette. These USB flash drives have a capacity as big as one gigabyte.

Hmmm, this one looks rather odd!

(Image source: Jackson)

Not everyone will prefer to have their computer designed in a conventional manner, some computer enthusiasts may prefer to have their computers looking weirder than others to show that theirs stand out to be more striking and extraordinary. Despite of this perception, they started modifying their computers in this weird manner as what you see in the above picture is one of the examples. What's your opinion? Do you like this skeleton's computer? Tell me your idea, perhaps someone is going to modify his or her computer in a rather odd manner than all the stuffs I've managed to list here.

I really suggest organizing your files before making the switch to Ubuntu. It will make the process much faster. Move all of your files into one location (ie: a backup folder), once you have done that; you will need to convert unsupported file types.

Many types of music files cannot be used on Ubuntu without additional software for legal reasons. The following file types are not supported by Ubuntu by default: mp3, wma, aac, and RealAudio. Although, these files my be used if you install additional software. If you do not want to install additional software, you will need to convert them to a supported file type. I would suggest converting them to “oog vorbis.” OOG Vorbis is a lossless format which provides outstanding audio quality.

Also, many types of video files cannot be used on Ubuntu without additional software, due to legal restrictions. The following video formats are not supported without additional software: wmv, RealAudio, DivX, and QuickTime. You would need to convert these files.

Many office files are not supported by Ubuntu. There is an Office program built into Ubuntu, this supports Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

Ubuntu supports all major image types, and you can even use PSD files with Gimp.

You will need to call your ISP (Internet service provider), and see if you need any additional information to set up your internet connection on Ubuntu.

You will want to save your bookmarks from Internet Explorer, Opera, and FireFox. You can import both of these into FireFox once you install Ubuntu. You will also want to write down your email settings if you use POP3, SMTP, or IMAP.

Once you have collected everything you need. You can burn the information to a CD, or DVD. And, if you have a supported removable device, you can store it on there.

And, that's all you need in order to start using Ubuntu! If you would need any additional help, you can ask questions on the Ubuntu Forums.

Thanks for reading, and welcome to the open world.

Windows has conditioned us to run updates and download the latest drivers but with Linux you only have to add software if you want. Drivers or software are not required for it to run at its' best. Linux is flexible in many ways because you can put in the software you want instead of install all the component. By not running all the software and updates than Linux uses less disk space. If a hard drive is almost full than Linux still could run because it doesn't take much to run the system. Linux is really a hassle free operating system and the time we use for updates would be time that businesses could use elsewhere. Businesses worry about the security of their systems especially with windows.

Linux is one of the most secure operating systems we have. That means the system is hack free and if I owned a business that would be important. The reasons that the system is secure is that all the software and downloads are free so that your credit card doesn't have to go over the internet. The administrator has the option of letting his employee have access to the files he wants. Instead of an employee hacking into the computer and getting important information the employer can block their access to that file. He can also see who is on the network and how long. It's real nice with payroll and to see what his employees are doing. The cost of Linux is not even comparable to windows.

Windows cost us a lot of money with all the downloads and buying of newer software or the licenses to run the software. But as for Linux, the software is GNU (General Public License) which means that you can start working right away without the worry that the trial period will be over soon. It is much more stable than windows because we never need to reboot Linux to maintain the performance. In the business aspect, time is money and rebooting a lot will cost time and money. The licenses that we pay for on windows usually are for only a single computer while Linux software can be distributed on as many computers as you like without costing a dime. Businesses that use Linux would be Pizza hut, Chucky Cheese and I'm sure there are more. With business that is high volume customers like in the pizza business than Linux would be perfect and hassle free. You would think with all the money that the pizza businesses are saving with Linux than the cost of pizza would be real low.

As you can see, Linux is a better operating system than window or at least cost less. The cost of software and Licenses sure do add up but with Linux you will never have that. Your credit card or important information will never go over the internet. Linux can run for long period of time without being rebooted unlike windows. If I were a business owner than Linux would be the way to go but the most difficult thing is to teach the employees how to run Linux.

Microsoft lovers were rubbing their hands with glee recently as it was discovered that there was a problem with the much vaunted security of Linux. Although this problem relates to only one variant of the open source operating system, namely Debian based distributions such as the very popular Ubuntu.

So, what is this error you wonder? Well it seems at if there has been a problem with the OpenSSL package that provides secure communication between clients and web and email servers. The problem is such that a simple patch will not resolve the problem as the keys generated by this program will also all need to be replaced, no small task!

What I found the most interesting in this whole occurrence was they hysteria that it created in the forums and chat rooms! Microsoft fans for once had something to dig their teeth into and they did just that, as they should, they have been talking quite a bit of flack of recent with the disappointment of Vista. I sat back and smiled with amusement at the back and forth between the Microsoft and Linux camps thinking to myself "it had to happen sooner or later".

To be honest I have been expecting such an event. As Linux grows in popularity so will the scrutiny that it undergoes and I for one hope that it can stand up to it. Yes, I use Linux and I have been for a while. I do not shout about it from the rooftops like some other Linux users because I feel that it is a personal choice of someone what OS they wish to use and who am I to make that choice for them? I did not choose to use Linux due to security but simply because I find it has better performance, more robust and I don't have to re-boot as often. I am quite willing to put up with one bug every 10 years for that as well!