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Today, I was going through my personal archive of technology magazines and blogs, to find out the best baby (hardware in geek’s lingo) for money, for my friend and owner of this blog. After searching for a while, I was able to make the list of A-things available in the market, that can help one do the basic computing tasks, and casual gaming with the ease. Soon enough, this idea struck to my mind, to share the same information with everyone, so that no one spend their money foolishly and end up with an idiot box instead of PC.

So, I started making out what are the general requirements of a beginner programmer, or for your grand-dad, or your mom, for a PC. I figured out that the basic work that everyone does is, watching movies or listening songs. Apart from that, maintaining tasks list, viewing photos, keeping documents, surfing are other few basic activities. A beginner programmer also needs to use Oracle 9i, or Visual Studio, or some JDK on their system. These programming requirements seems heavy and costly. But, after going through the requirement specifications of these development kits, I figured out that these tasks can be done easily on a basic PC too.

Also, as my friend stated, and every one else look forward to, is that whatever amount of money they are spending on hardware, doesn’t matter much. All that they need is a PC which is jack of all trades. It should be good looking, having better ergonomics (for keyboard, and mouse), and should also play all the latest games. So, obviously budget is supposed to be big enough. Although, if one is not interested in movies, and games, budget can be somewhere around 25000Rs., but since we are looking for a budget-do-all PC, I started off with a budget of 35000Rs., with a margin of 3k. And so, begins my hunt for the list of better hardware, and choosing the best buy. Since, we are on for a budget PC, I never opted for a better performance hardware, but for a best-bang-for-the-money baby.  And this is what I came up with:-

• Monitor :- In case, you are not interested in movies, and gaming, you can opt for any CRT monitor of 15-17inches. I would recommend the LG e700sh - 17inch Flat CRT, which costs around 5,500 bucks. But, in case, you like watching movies, or want to play games too, then an LCD screen is the better option for good picture quality and lesser space requirement. I would personally recommend AOC 917VW - 19 inch LCD priced at 9,500Rs.
• Keyboard And Mouse :- No questions asked. Just one recommendation. Logitech Multimedia Combo priced at 800Rs. is the best choice considering ease of use, and sturdyness. I personally used it for 2 years, for all my gaming needs, before selling it for 500bucks. Seriously, best buy for your money.
• Motherboard :- The most important and most neglected component of your CPU. If you go ahead and buy the best processor and RAM in the market, but using an age-old motherboard, then you have got serious problems. Your best-in-class processor and RAM are of no use, in case motherboard is not good enough. So, save money for it, even if that means cutting costs on other components like RAM, DVD-Writer, etc. The other point to be considered is that we rarely upgrade our motherboard, atleast not more than once in 2 years. So, expansion slots, no. of USB ports and other slots are important aspect. Here, my choice is Asus M2N-MX, which costs a little less than 4,000Rs. Its good, having enough ungrade option to future proof your system, and is really dirt cheap.
• Processor :- So, we came down to the core part of the system. I preferred AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+, which costs 3,600Rs. Intel processors offer a lot better performance at this time, but considering the higher prices, they are a serious NO for any budget PC.
• RAM :- Considering the current scenario, and the upcoming trend, going for 2gb RAM is a good thing, if you can increase your budget by 2,000 Rs. Else, best choice is Kingston 1GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM. This sweet baby costs just under 1500Rs. which is quite a steal for the price, considering its performance.
• Hard Disk Drive :- Considering current memory space requirements of everything from your documents to games or HD movies, this is a major component to check out. Best buy would be Hitachi DeskStar 7K160 SATA, which costs just around 3,200Rs. People used to ask how does a faster hard disk can be useful. It really depends on usage, means the amount of data one used to save or load at regular intervals. The other point is that hard disk serves as a virtual RAM. So, all memory hungry processes like, Visual Studio, demands better hard drive. Although in case of very tight budget, you can opt for another brand or model, which may costs some 500rs less, but will decrease the performance by 10% too.
• DVD - Writer :- A faster DVD reader is a good choice. It rarely increases your budget by 200rs or so, but can dramatically affect the performance, in case of accessing DVDs for gaming or playing movies directly from the DVD. Although, it rarely counts, so to help reduce the budget, one can opt for cheaper ones, but at their own risk. I would personally prefer Samsung SH-203, which costs just 1,200Rs. Quiet cheap huh..
• Sound Card :- This one is simply an optional component. Only recommended in case you want to play games too, or in case you are a serious audiophile. For all others, onboard sound card is the best option. But in case, you love music, or gaming, and looking for a 5.1 speaker set, then Creative SoundBlaster Live 5.1 Card will be the best companion of your beloved speakers. But still its a matter of choice.
• Speaker set :- Now, this depends on a lot of choices. Are you ready to spend some extra cash,  for surround sound, or just happy with a 2.1 speaker set. Both has their own advantages. 5.1 sounds better, but needs better hardware and more space, and a whole lot of painstaking setup time. So, I selected the best buy in both segments. For 2.1 speaker set, one can opt for Altec Lansing BXR1121, which costs 1250Rs. and is a good choice. But if you love gaming, or if you have already opted for a sound card, then go for Altec Lansing VS3251 which is priced at 4,300Rs. Again a matter of choice.
• PC Case :- An equally important part of a good PC. If your system is running at 60+degrees, then you have got serious cooling issues to deal with. Also, performance will drop too, and chances are you may end up, harming other computer parts. Risking critical parts of your system for just some 500 bucks is non-sense. So, opt for one which provides better cooling options. Else you may have to look for aftermarket cooling solution to bring down the temperature below 50degrees. Zebronics Lava with 450watts power supply, is highly recommended.
• Graphics Card :- Kindly go for it. Although you can give it a miss, in case you are planning to stick with onboard GPU. But a drop in performance is obvious, and is much of an impact in case of watching movies. I would say, spend 2,000 odd bucks, and buy atleast the cheapest one, but go for it. Its worth every penny. For those who loves to do some casual gaming too, here is a choice. If you have opted for 17inch monitor, or low settings didn’t bother you much, then, you can opt for Sparkle GeForce 8400GS, which costs just 2400Rs. And the best thing is it can easily run Windows Vista with Aero and other effects turned on. But, sadly it gives just 5fps, in Crysis, and 9fps in NFS Prostreet, for medium settings and 1240p resolution. Although it can manage playable frame rates in lower resolution. But still its advisable to go for slightly bigger budget, in case you want the latest of the gaming action. I would recommend Asus EAH2600XT which is priced at 5600Rs, and atleast 2.5 times faster then the Sparkle GeForce 8400GS. It manages to get 26 FPS for Crysis with medium settings at 1240p resolution, which is best one can get for this price range.

OK, so the list is done. Well, it is just 1k more than our budget. But as I said, if you opt for a tighter budget, the optional recommendations are also listed. And in case, you have way too tight budget, or you need it just for surfing and maintaining tasks list, and nothing else, then try Asus Eee PC, which is really a steal for the money.

Finally, I hope that this post would have helped you searching for the best components. If yes, then do comment, else kindly tell me what else you need to know. Also, if you can find something, that’s better than the listed items, then do tell me too.

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Well, fairly speaking its not an idea that struck my mind. I was surfing through archive of one of the programmer’s blog, and found this post. According to that post,

It’s unbelievable to me that a company would pay a developer $60-$100k in salary, yet cripple him or her with terrible working conditions and crusty hand-me-down hardware. This makes no business sense whatsoever. And yet I see it all the time. It’s shocking how many companies still don’t provide software developers with the essential things they need to succeed.

So true. I personally calculated myself, the cost of increasing infrastructure quality (read, better system, and better facilities) can be recovered in just a month, provided that it efficiently increases one’s productivity by atleast 10%. And then, the fact that better infrastructure leads to better state of mind, which means better productivity again. Not just me or other developers think this way, but whole gaming industry is running according to these principles. And no one can deny the fact that it is the fastest growing sector in IT industry.  I know it sounds ridiculous according to the managerial concept that those HR guys learn in their IIM classes. But sometimes you just have to think outta box to make sure you are the leader.

Anyways, to adhere to this bill, is totally a matter of choice of the HR. We can just hope for the same. By the time, we should just make a list of what changes can seriously affect the productivity and hence should be included in this bill.

P.S. - Few of them are my own thoughts and few are from other developers all across the world.

So, here is the list.

• Every programmer shall have a bigger workspace :- Well, easily this is one thing that can radically change the time required to search for a pad or pencil, while you are busy discussing the issues with your clients. It happened to me a lot of times. Dropping the pad, while looking for a whiteboard marker is not something that’s rare.
• Every programmer shall have two monitors :- Although increasing the number of monitors, reduces the amount of free space available on your desk. But it really helps to open multiple windows at times, and thus can save the time used for switching to help window every now and then, and coming back to code window. Also, it helps decreasing the frustration of accidentally closing a window while minimizing it.
• Every programmer should have better PC :- Programmers deserve the rights to work on best in class hardware, as they are the persons using computers for half of their life. And other point is that no one loves to wait for a program to compile or for a application to load, looking at those silly progress bar or status bar.
• Every programmer should have comfortable chair :- I should say I personally prefers bean bag, but if chair is comfortable, that’s good enough. After all, we have to sit on that chair for too long, and I don’t think your brain will work, if you are feeling pain in your arse.
• Every programmer should get enough of coffee and snacks :- Every other day, a programmer works for more than usual time schedule. So, enough of coffee, and snacks can always help him keep going for hours. Oh yeah, if s/he is a smoker, providing enough of smokes can be a good option too.
• Every programmer should get better mouse and keyboard :- At work, I just like most of the programmers, use a sticky keyboard, and a scroll mouse, and I really feel this is an important point for consideration.
• Every programmer deserves his own space :- What if some one keep on nitpicking on your just-a-draft webpage, saying that it doesn’t look cool? No one likes it, right. So, does the programmer. But, sadly managers just don’t understand. They keep on asking you to tell them how much percentage of task you have done to complete the homepage structure of the website. It simply hurts.
• Every programmer should have fast Internet connection :- In case, you don’t have offline help, its very important. I can still remember those days, when I was stuck on some stupid syntax error, and googling for same, took 15 minutes of my time, thanks to that silly 54kbps connection I have got at my desk. Just by increasing the speed to 256kbps, this time could have reduced to 5 minutes. And if you consider the fact that you encounter same situation every hour, that accounts for 15% of your productivity.
• Every programmer should have rights to ask “Why?” :- How many times you have felt as a programmer that something you are working on is not properly justified? That the spacing between two textboxes can be decreased by 10% to make the page look better and to fit more information? I felt it almost every day when working on a enhancements project. And then, you have got no right to ask why you just can’t do it. Is it because, some stupid jerk called Business Analyst didn’t thought of it first. I know it sounds crazy. People who have got no idea about coding, defines the way we should code, and we can’t even argue on that.
• Every programmer should have access to all the documentation, books and Google :- Why does the managers think that being a programmer, you should know every thing about your programming language, and environment used? Why can’t I just use Google to look for an answer, when I am stuck?  And do you know about any manager who have crammed every single management principles,he learnt from the business school?
• Every programmer should be given full right to wear any outfit :- I am never able to understand how can one’s outfit affect his work. One reason is that I have to wear professional outfits for those daily meetings, I may attend. But then, if I am supposed to attend those meetings, why the hell we need those managers for?

So, here is the list of points what developers think, should be included in their rights. I would definitely love to hear about other points that you think, should be a part of this bill. Well, till that time, I am off to file a petition to the programmer’s union about this bill. Oops, i forgot, i don’t even know about any union as such. Do you??? Do you even care about your rights????

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Google once again tops the top web brands in United Stated of America. Google attracted more then 120 million users while Yahoo holds the second place with approximately 113 million users.List of top 10 brands is as follows

1. Google.
2. Yahoo.
3. MSN/Windows Live.
4. Microsoft.
5. AOL Media Network.
6. YouTube.
7. Fox Interactive Media.
8. Wikipedia.
9. eBay.
10. Apple

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New figures from Net Applications shows that Microsoft’s Windows Vista shares in last one year leaped more then 355% and in the same year Apple’s operating system share gained more then 32% of operating system market share. Net Applications reports that the Mac had 7.94% market share in June, up from 6.03% a year ago. Going from a little more than 6% to just under 8% may be a big gain when measured as a percentage of growth. But when seen in absolute numbers, it’s not particularly impressive.

Vista, by way of contrast, showed far more explosive growth. In June, 2007, it had 4.54% market share. In June, 2008, it had reached 16.14%; more than a 355% gain. Those numbers are substantial not just in percentage terms, but in raw terms as well. Apple would sell the first-born children of most of its employees if it could ever get to a 16% market share.

For a chart of overall operating system trends, according to Net Applications, click here. For a chart that includes version numbers, click here.

Source: PCWorld.

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According to Top500, More then 85%  of world’s supercomputers run on Linux operating system. The open source operating system powers no less then 427 supercomputers of world including the world’s fastest supercomputer. Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 and Windows HPC 2008 (which have now reached Release Candidate 1 stage) combined account for just 1% of the Top500 supercomputers, running on just five systems.

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Microsoft Most Reputed Company in India According to Global Market information and insight group TNS, Microsoft is the most reputed company in India followed by Infosys, State Bank of India (SBI). Intel, Maruti Suzuki and TCS. List is as follows

1. Microsoft (Technology)
2. SBI (Financial Services Sector )
3. Maruti Suzuki (Automobile sector)
4. Reliance (Engineering and Infrastructure)
5. Nestle (FMCG).
6. Reliance Communications (Telecom)
7. Hindustan Petroleum (Petroleum Sector)
8. Ranbaxy (Pharmaceutical )
9. LG Electronics ( Consumer Durables)

According to Muder Chiba, ED, TNS India

As companies become valued beyond last quarter’s financial results and as corporate valuation shifts from a focus on physical assets alone, building and retaining corporate confidence becomes key.

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A computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions.

There are a lot of terms can be found over the internet related to computer. All type of computer have processor, Memory, keyboard, mouse and screen to display output. But their is a significant difference how people or organizations use computes for their usage. We can divide all type of computers to 10 categories.

Personal Computer (PC) : A personal computer (PC) is a computer whose original sales price, size, and capabilities make it useful for individuals, and intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator. People generally relate this term with Microsoft’s  Windows Operating system. Personal computers generally run on Windows, Mac or some version of Linux operating system.

Desktop: Desktop computer is just another version of Personal Computer intended for regular use from a single use. A computer that can be fit on a desk can also be called as desktop.  Desktop computers comes in different form vertical tower cases to small form factor.

Laptop: Laptop computer , Laptop or Notebook all are same. Laptop’s are generally small mobile computers run on a single main battery or from an external power supply that will served as to run the laptop as well as charge the battery. Laptop contains all the components of computer but all these are optimized for mobile users.

Personal Digital Assistants(PDAs): A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a handheld computer, also known as small or palmtop computers. Newer PDAs also have both color screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones (smartphones), web browsers, or portable media players. Many PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks (WWANs). Many PDAs employ touch screen technology.

Workstation: A computer that has a more power resources like Processing Power, Memory and additional capabilities to perform special task refers to as workstation. Workstations are often optimized for displaying and manipulating complex data such as 3D mechanical design, engineering simulation results such as for computational fluid dynamics, animation and rendering of images, and mathematical plots.

Server: A server computer is a computer dedicated to running a server application. A server application is a computer program that accepts connections in order to service requests by sending back responses. Examples of server applications include web servers, e-mail servers, database servers, and file servers.

Mainframe: In early days of computing Mainframes are big computers that can fill the entire room or entire floor. Mainframes are mainly used by large organizations for critical applications, such as consumer statistics, ERP, and financial transaction processing.

Minicomputer: Minicomputers are lie between the Mainframe computer and small Personal Computers. Minicomputers also refereed to Mid-Range Servers.  Minicomputers are more powerful but still compatible version of a personal computer.

Supercomputer: A computer which, among existing general-purpose computers at any given time, is superlative, often in several senses: highest computation rate, largest memory, or highest cost. Predominantly, the term refers to the fastest “number crunchers,” that is, machines designed to perform numerical calculations at the highest speed that the latest electronic device technology and the state of the art of computer architecture allow.

Wearable : Wearable computers are computers that are worn on the body. They have been applied to areas such as behavioral modeling, health monitoring systems, information technologies and media development. Government organizations, military, and health professionals have all incorporated wearable computers into their daily operations. Wearable computers are especially useful for applications that require computational support while the user’s hands, voice, eyes or attention are actively engaged with the physical environment.

Thanks to wikipedia and Answers.com

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My friends send me a real good email that I am sharing with all internet users

Men

1. All men are extremely busy.

2. Although they are so busy, they still have time for women.

3. Although they have time for women, they don’t really care for them.

4. Although they don’t really care for them, they always have one around.

5. Although they always have one around them, they always try their luck with others.

6. Although they try their luck with others, they get really pissed off if the first woman leaves them.

7. Although the woman leaves them they still don’t learn from their mistakes and still try their luck with others.

Women

1. The most important thing for a woman is financial security.

2. Although this is so important, they still go out and buy expensive clothes and stuff.

3. Although they always buy expensive clothes, they say they never have something to wear.

4. Although they never have something to wear, they always dress beautifully.

5. Although they always dress beautifully, their clothes are always just ‘an old rag’.

6. Although their clothes are always ‘just an old rag’, they still expect you to compliment them.

7. Although they expect you to compliment them, when you do, they don’t believe you.

Source: Mail Send By My Friend Shekhar

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The annual RQ shows that Google is NO:1 among the most visible companies to American consumers. List of top 10 companies is as follows

1. Google

2. Johnson & Johnson

3. Intel Corporation

4. General Mills

5. Kraft Foods

6. Berkshire-Hathaway Inc

7. 3M Company

8. The Coca-Cola Company

9. Honda Motor Co.

10. Microsoft

About the Annual RQ

The Annual RQ is an assessment tool that captures perceptions of corporate reputations across industries, among multiple audiences, and is adaptable to countries outside the United States. The RQ provides information critical to the strategic decisions that companies make every day.

RQ research evaluates stakeholder perceptions across 20 attributes that are grouped into the six dimensions of reputation:

• Products & Services

• Financial Performance

• Workplace Environment

• Social Responsibility

• Vision & Leadership

• Emotional Appeal

Source Harris interactive Annual RQ

Download List of The 60 Most Visible Companies in America

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The hard drive is the one of the most important components in a computer. If your computer’s hard drive dies, then there is no replacement available for you and for home users there is not much in terms of budgets for backup computer hard drives. This why you as a administrator of your computer system consider the hardware that you purchase . Here is a quick run through of what to look at when setting out to purchase to those hard drives.

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