AF TEST Blog

Refference

2008-03-16T03:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.answers.com/
http://www.webopedia.com/
And some other websites that I don't remember
And my personal notes
And the notes that my theacher give me
And my brain storage and processing system

COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER SYSTEM AND MODE OF USE

2008-03-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

HARDWARE is the physical part of the computer that perform specific functions, depends on the hardware device. The example is Monitor, it shows or gives out or display pictures so that we can easily control the computer.
SOFTWARE is a set of computer program that perform specific task. It is not visible, we only can see it through the monitor. Word Processor is the example of computer software.
INPUT DEVICE is the computer hardware device that send the data into the computer or simply to control the computer.
STORAGE DEVICE is the device that store or record digital data. The example of storage device is hard disk drives.
OUTPUT DEVICE is the device that gives out hard copy or sound or pictures form digital form. Printer is the example output device.

Functions Of OS

2008-03-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

MODE OF FUNCTION OF OPERATING SYSTEM

2008-03-12T08:37:00.000-07:00

Multiprocessing
Multiprocessing refers to a computer system's ability to support more than one process (program) at the same time. Multiprocessing operating systems enable several programs to run concurrently. UNIX is one of the most widely used multiprocessing systems, but there are many others, including OS/2 for high-end PCs. Multiprocessing systems are much more complicated than single-process systems because the operating system must allocate resources to competing processes in a reasonable manner.

Multitasking
Multitasking is a method by which multiple processes, share common processing resources such as a CPU. In the case of a computer with a single CPU, only one task is said to be running at any point in time, meaning that the CPU is actively executing instructions for that task. Multitasking solves the problem by scheduling which task may be the one running at any given time, and when another waiting task gets a turn. The act of reassigning a CPU from one task to another one is called a context switch. When context switches occur frequently enough the illusion of parallelism is achieved. Even on computers with more than one CPU (called multiprocessor machines), multitasking allows many more tasks to be run than there are CPUs.

Batch Processing
Batch processing is execution of a series of programs and data that are collected together in a batch before processing starts, without human interaction. Each piece of work for a batch processing system is called a job. A job usually consists of a program and the data to be run. Jobs are stored in job queues until the computer is ready to process them.

Real-Time Processing
Real-time processing is events simulated by a computer at the same speed that they would occur in real life or occurring immediately. For example, real-time operating systems are systems that respond to input immediately and display objects moving across the screen at the same speed that they would actually move. They are used for such tasks as navigation, in which the computer must react to a steady flow of new information without interruption. Most general-purpose operating systems are not real-time because they can take a few seconds, or even minutes, to react.

Multi-User
Multi-User allows two or more users to run the same computer and programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.

CATEGORIES OF SOFTWARE

2008-03-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

GENERAL PURPOSES APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Word processor
Word processor is a software used as the production, composition, editing and formatting of any sort of printable material. It has the function of tedious typewriter in digital form. The advantage of word processor over typewriter is that changes can be made without retyping the document and many more. It is normally used to make a document and letter.

Media Player
Media player is a software that playback multimedia files. It is used to play digital music, videos, movies and DVDs. Many media players use library system that is designed to organize, or catalog music into categories such as genre, year, rating or other. Most media player software supports an array of media formats, including both audio and video files. The example of media format is mp3, mpeg, wav, avi, wma and many more.

Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet is the software that simulates a paper worksheet. It displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting of rows and columns, each cell containing either alphanumeric text or numeric values. A spreadsheet cell may alternatively contain a formula that defines how the contents of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) each time any cell is updated. Spreadsheets are frequently used for financial information because of their ability to re-calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell.

SPECIAL PURPOSE SOFTWARE

Computer Aided Design
Computer Aided Design or CAD originally called Computer- Aided Design is the software that uses computer technology to aid in the design of a product, from 2D images to 3D solid and surface modellers. It is used to design an optimized product like architecture design. It is mainly used for detailed engineering of 3D models or 2D drawings of physical components.

Computer Simulation
Simulation is one of specialized in simulating, replace, represent or mimic the real situation digitally by using computer. It is usually used by pilots to simulate the real flight for test, and also used by armed forces to mimic the real battle situation.

Accounting Software
Accounting software is software that records and processes accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and trial balance. It functions as an accounting information system.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

High-Level Language
Programs were written in an English-like manner, thus making them more convenient to use. As a result, a programmer could accomplish more with less effort, and programs could now direct much more complex tasks. A translator is needed to translate the symbolic statements of a high-level language into computer-executable machine language; this translator is usually a compiler. There are many compilers for each language and at least one for each type of computer.

Machine Language
Machine language is the lowest level of programming language, machine language, represents data and program instructions as 0s and 1s, binary digits corresponding to the on and off electrical states in the computer. This is the only language the computer truly understands, all other languages must be translated to the machine language before execution. Each type of computer has its own machine language. Primitive by today's standards, machine language programs are not convenient for people to read and use. The computer industry quickly moved to develop assembly languages.

Assembly Language
Assembly languages are considered very low level that they are not as convenient for people to use as more recent languages. At the time they were developed, however, they were considered a great leap forward. To replace the 0s and 1s used in machine language, assembly languages use mnemonic codes, abbreviations that are easy to remember that is to add, to compare, to multiply, to store information in memory, and so on. Furthermore, assembly languages permit the use of names, like RATE or TOTAL, for memory locations instead of actual address numbers. As with machine language, each type of computer has its own assembly language.

COMPARISON OF VARIOUS OPERATING SYSTEMS

2008-03-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Windows Vista

Windows Vista is a user-friendly operating system that is developed by Microsoft Company. It is the new version of Windows that replace Windows XP. It was known by its codename "Longhorn" and it is Graphical-User Interface. Improved security was a primary design goal for Vista. Windows Vista contains many changes and new features, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and digital media between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, which aims to make it significantly easier for developers to write applications than with the traditional Windows API. User Account Control is the most significant and visible of these changes. User Account Control is a security technology that makes it possible for users to use their computer with fewer privileges by default. Windows is always used by almost all types and brand of computer. But, it still slow to start the computer and shutting down.

Mac OS X

Mac OS or originally named Macintosh is a Graphical-User Interface operating system that is developed by Apple Inc. The most obvious difference from Windows is the appearance. It is faster to start and shut the computer down. Mac OS X is the latest version operating system from this company that brought Unix-style memory management and pre-emptive multitasking to the Mac platform, which were incorporated into NeXTSTEP, the object-oriented operating system developed by Steve Jobs's NeXT company. The new memory management system allowed more programs to run at once and virtually eliminated the possibility of one program crashing another. It is also the second Macintosh operating system to include a command line (the first is the now-discontinued A/UX, which supported classic Mac OS applications on top of a UNIX kernel), although it is never seen unless the user launches a terminal emulator. This operating system is mostly used only by Apple product of computers.

SOME EXAMPLE OF COMPUTER HARDWARES AND ITS FUNCTION

2008-03-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

Scanner
Scanner is a device that analyzes and copies the images of printed text, pictures, handwriting or object and converts it into digital image or format. It is usually used to scan printed pictures and text. Some scanner provides OCR that can recognize the text of the scanned documents.

Modem
Modem or Modulator-Demodulator is a device that modulates an analog signal to encode it to digital information, and demodulates the signal to decode the transmitted information. Its function is to produce the signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to produce original digital data. It is usually used to connect the internet.

Hard Disk Drives
Also known as hard drives, it is a rapidly rotating platter with magnetic surfaces. It is a non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data. Normally, it is used to store data, digital pictures, software, digital music and many more. There are many types of storage device like pen-drives, floppy disk, but hard disk is the fastest in processing and the largest in term of space.

Utlity Software and It's Function

2008-03-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

1. DISK FORMATTING: To devide up the surface fo the disk into more easily manageable sectors. And to clear all the data in the disk.
2. FILE HANDLING: It is used to keep and manage the files and the data stored that the user saved or store on the disk.
3. HARDWARE DRIVES: It is used to control the communication between computer and peripherals.
4. FILE COMPRESSION: It compress or reduce the size of the data in the file to make more space in the disk size.
5. VIRUS CHECKER: it is used to check or scan the disk wheater there's any virus or not.

COMPARISON OF VARIOUS EMAILS

2008-03-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

GMAIL

Gmail provides more than 9030 MB of free storage and paid additional storage from 10 GB (US$20/year) up to 400 GB (US$500/year). Google has shared storage space that support both pictures and mail.

It can search wanted mail by using the search email button. The query string "has:attachment" will list messages that have an attachment. Queries like "filename:pdf" or "filename:xls" will show messages that have attachments of a specific type. Combine them with a label, like "sent:" and you will display all the PDF files that you have sent.

It also provides Google Help Center for full list of Search operators

The web interface to Gmail currently doesn't allow users to see their email message size or to sort email by size.

HOTMAIL
Hotmail (Windows Live Hotmail) features 5 GB of storage, patented security measures and Ajax technology. It’s available in 35 languages.

Hotmail uses Ajax programming techniques and supports the most internet browsers like Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Some of its features are keyboard control to navigate the page without using the mouse, advanced message search including structured query syntax such as "from:ebay", message filters, folder-based organization of messages, auto-completion of contact addresses when composing, contact grouping, importing and exporting of contacts as CSV files, rich text formatting, rich text signatures, spam filtering and virus scanning, support for multiple addresses, and different language versions.

There are 2 versions of Hotmail; Classic and Full Version. The "Classic" version keeps the interface and layout based on MSN Hotmail, and still benefit from the speed of Ajax technology. The "Full" version is more advanced user interface styled with Microsoft Outlook style, with a reading pane and drag-and-drop capability. Other features are available in both versions.

These are some features found in Hotmail but not in other webmail services:
It can play voicemails or MP3 music;
Variable colour schemes like default Windows Live "Blue Vapor" theme, or blue, red, black, silver, pink, green, purple or orange variants;
It integrates with other Windows Live services. Users can do instant messaging conversations with their contacts. Integration with Windows Live Spaces and Windows Live Contacts provides the contact information to keep them up-to-date, Windows Live Calendar is accessible upon completion as well as MSN Calendar;
The Security features include Trend Micro virus scanning, SenderID, SMTP Authentication, phishing heuristic detection, Bonded Sender, mailing list detection, and forwarding detection. It does not open the mail or allow access to an attachment until the user does it themselves. A "safety bar" above each message tells the user whether the sender is known or if the mail content is not safe;
The ability to check the spelling. Misspelled words are underlined in red and a right-click displays a list of suggestions, as in Microsoft Word.

YAHOO MAIL

Yahoo! Mail is available in 2 versions; The new Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Mail Classic.
The users are free to switch from one to another. Unlimited storage is available for all versions of Yahoo Mail.

The All-New Yahoo! Mail
The New Yahoo! Mail is a powerful interface (Full Ajax), very close to a Heavy mail client like Outlook (Drag and drop capabilities, Mail search, tabs...). All-New Yahoo! Mail runs on a variety of OS's and web browsers, and runs perfectly under Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox, but there’s a slight visual problem on the layout under Opera and Safari. It can integrate with Yahoo! Calendar and Messenger so the users chat with Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messenger contacts, Domain Keys, address auto-complete, Messenger, and more. Other Features are; SMS Messaging (Not all countries), Improved search facilities, Keyboard shortcuts.

Yahoo! Mail Classic
Yahoo! Mail classic is reliable and simple webmail. Mail Classic is an optional secondary User Interface for Yahoo! Mail. The AJAX interface is default, it is used for users who are unable to, or prefer the legacy style interface.

Features
• 10 MB attachments (20MB for long-time users)
• Protection against spam and viruses.
• Advertising is displayed on the screen while working with the e-mail account.
• Unactive account can be retrieved but all stored data such as email is lost.
• Users could add an alias username containing dot character.
• The Chinese version of Yahoo! Mail offers 3.5 GB quota and 20 MB attachments.
• Some users get features added if they are long time users.
• Users can use the software that simulates a POP3 server to which the e-mail application connects, like YPOPs! and FreePOPs.