Do You Need the Latest Computer Hardware?

Computer salesmen love to talk you into buying the latest computer hardware. Think before you leap! You do not have to get the latest PC hardware to have a fully functional computer. The average computer user, who only uses his PC for doing homework or surfing the Web, will find all the computing power that he needs in an average computer with a basic configuration.

Back when computers were a commodity, this PC myth held some truth. The computers that first came out were very inefficient and slow compared to the ones that we have now. During the olden days, purchasing and installing the latest computer components gave PCs a noticeable boost on speed and performance. Read the rest of this entry »

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Computer Hardware Recycling – A Challenging Task on the Face of Earth

E waste is one of the most serious issues that has engulfed the whole world. The obsolete computers, if not treated properly can become a major source of toxins and carcinogens. Rapid technology change, low initial cost and even planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast growing environmental concerns across the globe. Though many countries boast of technical solutions but in most cases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied. E waste comprise 2% of America’s total trash and 70 percent of overall toxic waste. In the United States, an estimated 70% of heavy metals in landfills come from discarded electronics.

Recycling is one of the most effective ways to prevent the hazard of e waste. Many material used in the construction of hardware can be recovered and recycled. Reuse of tin, silicon, iron, aluminum, and a variety of plastics – all present in bulk in computers – is possible and can reduce the costs of constructing new systems. Electronic devices like including audio-visual components (televisions, VCRs, stereo equipment), mobile phones and other hand-held devices, and computer components, also contain valuable elements and substances that are suitable for reclamation. Powering and cooling computers is an increasing contributor to global warming and the power it consumes also contribute to a negative effect on the environment. Read the rest of this entry »

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Computer Hardware Network Security

The term global village has become more realistic than fictional after the widespread use of the internet in all countries in the world. What the internet does is effectively computerizing the globe. Like many other things, the internet provides good and bad things. The consensus is that the good things far outnumber the bad things. But the questions posed regarding data security are serious ones. Since more and more institutions such as military, diplomatic, and financial institutions are relying on the internet or some other kinds of network for transferring data and streamlining the process, the number of people who try to misuse such data is also on the rise. To prevent this various kinds of data security measures are adopted by network administers. A majority of the data security measures are related to software applications. Computer hardware network security options are also used.

To understand the importance of data security, consider the case of a bank that has branches all over a country. For streamlining the operation, most of the banks set up a private network or a network connected with the internet to transfer financial data. A person with sufficient software and hardware knowledge can sneak into this network without permission and change the data according to his or her will. Such people are nicknamed hackers. In the case of a bank, since change of data means change or loss of money, implementation of state of the art security measures for protecting the data is absolutely essential. Read the rest of this entry »

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