April 22, 2007 • 3:36 am 0
Desktop vs. Laptop
The main consideration in choosing between desktops and laptops is the purpose for which you will use it. Obviously, if you want to bring it around with you, the laptop is the obvious choice. But for the past decade, the desktop has ruled over the laptop primarily because of its features and its price. Read the rest of this entry »
Filed under: Technology, Tips and Advice
April 20, 2007 • 1:04 am 0
PC vs. Apple
The popularity of the PC is based on its affordability, the range of available software, flexibility and the ease of upgrading its outdated or defective parts. Apple, on the other had, has a loyal following and is known for its no-nonsense approach to giving its users the a product that delivers whether it be the iPod, a laptop or a desktop, Apple makes sure that it will not fail its users. The choice, back in the days, was simple. If you wanted to play games and install various popular applications, go for the PC. If you want to tinker around with the parts, go for the PC. If price is an issue, go for what? Go for the PC. If you don’t want to think about compatibility issues, say it with me, go for the PC.
However, things have changed. With Apple’s decision to dump its PowerPC processor chip and go with Intel, it has opened a new door for consumers. Not only did Apple become more competitive with regards to hardware specifications, but it now gives the PC user the option of getting an Apple system and installing a different OS for use with the software that they are accustomed to. Price is also now becoming less of an issue considering that Apple/Mac systems already come with reliable and useful software. PC users, especially those who get the most affordable system packages, usually have to buy the software separately which, in the end, jacks up your total expenses, not to mention is somewhat cumbersome.
In choosing which system to go for, you still have to ask the same questions. If you want to play games and install various applications, you can now do it on both the PC and Apple. If you want to tinker with the various components, I’d say stick with the PC. If you’re thinking about compatibility issues, Apple’s choice of going with Intel processors allows you the benefit of getting the best of both worlds with regards to OS which means compatibility issues with regards to software is a thing of the past. If price is an issue, consider this: the cheapest PC systems can sell for as less than P 20,000.00 but does not include any OS and software, and more often than not, it is underpowered, not because of its processor, but because of its other components. The cheapest Mac system, the Mac Mini sells for as less than P 40,000.00. It does not include a monitor and keyboard, but is already installed with an OS and various applications; and it is guaranteed to meet your needs. So, the choice is yours. You can get yourself a system that initially is affordable, but you will need to buy other components and software to make it work the way you want it to (with the occasional headache of it not working the way you want it to) or you can get a Mac which, out of the box, will already work (with the exception of the Mac Mini line that requires you to purchase your own keyboard, mouse and monitor).
Filed under: Technology, Tips and Advice
April 18, 2007 • 12:56 am 0
As a famous poem goes, two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and long I stood looking down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth. We are again, at this point in time, at a crossroads in the world of technology where particular innovations of the past are fast becoming obsolete and new inventions are now becoming mainstream applications. Today, the most traveled road may not seem to be the best option anymore, and the one less traveled by is becoming the more popular choice. Let us take a take a look as far as we can down both roads and make a wise choice today on which one to take towards tomorrow.
Portable Storage
Far the past decade or so, the most used portable storage is the 3.5” diskette that replaced the floppy disk which, during its time, was the only option for portable storage. The emergence of optical media such as the CDR and CD-RW also made an impact as it provided greater capacities in a more versatile device compatible not only to computers but also to other optical media playing electronics such as CD and VCD players at an affordable price. Other manufacturers such as Iomega opted to create their own portable storage media which gain some popularity as well. With the launch of the Zip disk and Zip drive, Iomega offered consumers simplicity of using the 3.5” diskette with larger capacities starting from 100MB to as large as 2GB depending on the Zip disk. However, Zip disk usage is limited to the Zip drive.
New media such as the flash drive and new optical media storage DVD-R, DVD-RW, Blu-ray and HDD are becoming more popular as the days go by. Flash drives not only offer greater capacities at more compact and portable sizes, but they are also becoming more affordable with a 1GB flash drive selling for less than a thousand pesos. The new optical media not only offer GB capacities, but are compatible to new technologies that are sure to be part of everyday lingo when the day comes (and I’m sure that day is not far away). The only down side to the new optical media storage, for now, is that since it is still relatively at the early stages of development, they are rather expensive as compared to CDR and CD-RW, and is limited to specific players.
The choice here is not that difficult, but not as simple as well. The days of the 3.5” diskette are obviously numbered, evident with the choice of some PC manufacturers and Apple to no longer include a diskette drive with their latest desktops and laptops. The question with regards to which optical media storage to choose is a bit more difficult. If you want to invest in more storage and future technology, go for the new media. If you want to be versatile and flexible, choose the CDR/RW or the DVD-R/RW since most computers today are already using DVD-ROMS. If you do choose the Blu-ray and HDD, you are sure to have greater capacities and access to tomorrow’s technology today, but I doubt if it will be compatible with everyone’s system, thus limiting its usage other than your own devices.
Filed under: Technology, Tips and Advice
