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Firewire vs USB

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

To the end user, Firewire (also known as an IEEE 1394 interface) and USB appear to perform the same function.  Firewire and USB share a number of characteristics but differ in some important ways. They are both a method of transferring data between devices and PCs, whereas firewire has the additional capability of connecting 2 or more devices together without the intervention of a PC.  This capability is known as “Peer-to-Peer.”  Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) uses a “Master-Slave” architecture in which the computer dictates the data flow.  This adds additional system overhead resulting in slower data rates.

The key difference between Firewire and USB is that Firewire is intended for devices that are data intensive, i.e. camcorders, DVD players and digital audio equipment.  The new USB specification known as SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) can have data transfer rates of up to 4800 Mbit/s whereas the latest Firewire 800 can transfer data up to 800 Mbit/s.

Over in my article “The Future of USB – It’s 3.0.”  I detail the differences between the three versions of USB.  For Firewire, there are specs for Firewire 1600 (1.6 Gbits/s) and Firewire 3200 (3.2 Gbits/s), but there has been few details regarding new hardware to support these specs.

/doc

Filed Under: What is... Tagged With: ,

32 Bit VS 64 Bit

August 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

First, what’s a bit?  A bit, or “binary digit,” is basically how a computer stores and makes references to data, memory, etc. A bit can have a value of 1 or 0. A 32 bit processor can handle numbers as large as 4,294,967,295 while a 64-bit machine can go up to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615. This means that your computer can use larger numbers, and be more efficient with smaller numbers.

The main differences between the 32-bit and 64 bit versions of Windows relate to memory accessibility, memory management, and enhanced security features.

One of the greatest advantages of using a 64-bit version of Windows is the ability to access physical memory (RAM) that is above the 4-gigabyte (GB) range. Physical memory greater than 4GB is not addressable by 32-bit versions of Windows.  Depending on the version of Windows you are using, a 64-bit version of Windows supports from 1 GB of RAM to more than 128 GB of RAM. The ability to address more physical memory lets Windows minimize the time that is required to swap processes in and out of physical memory. Therefore, Windows can manage processes more efficiently. This memory management feature helps improve the overall performance of Windows.

You cannot simply upgrade your OS to the 64 bit version.  You must completely reinstall.  But before that, you have to verify that all of your hardware devices are compatible with the new environment and that their manufacturer offers 64 bit drivers.  Also, to take full advantage of the new OS, you must obtain 64 bit versions of your software.  Your current 32 bit programs will still run, but they will not be running as efficiently as if they were 64 bit.

It’s inevitable that eventually, all processors intended for desktop PCs will be 64 bit.  But unless you are running highly CPU-intensive applications such as CAD or high end video editing software, you should probably stick with a 32 bit version of Windows and concentrate on making it faster through additional memory, quicker hard drives, etc.

/doc

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The Future of USB – It’s 3.0

August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

There’s a new USB coming and it’s 10 times faster. 

USB (Universal Serial Bus) has been around since 1996.  The original specification was 1.0 and it allowed for data transmission speeds of up to 12 Mbits/second.  This new technology played a big part in eliminating Parallel and Serial devices from your PC.  USB 2.0 was introduced in 2006 and it allowed for transmission speeds up to 480 Mbits/s which, even today, was enough to accomodate most data transfer needs.  But with the ever increasing amounts of data that we need to move around, we needed a boost. 

USB 3.0, nicknamed “SuperSpeed USB,” promises up to 4,800 Mbits/s (4.8 Gbits/s) transfer speed.  Additionally, it will be able to provide 80% more power for connected devices and will offer power management features where either the PC or the device can initiate a powersaving mode.

The physical changes that define USB 3.0 are the addition of 4 more wires which serve as 2 additional send/recieve pairs operating as the SuperSpeed channel. USB 1.0 and 2.0 only had 4 wires.  These 2 new pairs will work in conjunction with the original send/receive pair which allows for backwards compatibility.  Devices with the new USB 3.0 specifications should be hitting the shelves in time for Christmas 2009.

/doc

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Safe Surfing

August 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

My PC would be of little value to me if I couldn’t explore the internet.  But the internet is filled with nasty places that want to do harm to both you and your PC.  With a little knowledge and preparation, you can have a PC that can provide maximum enjoyment with minimal risk.  Here are the 3 most important thing you must have for safe surfing:

- Updated Antivirus Program
- Updated Windows Defender
- Updated Common Sense

1.  Anti Virus Program
Links are provided on the main page to two great, free antivirus programs.  The main reasons I like these so much is that they don’t consume a lot of system resources and they are continuously updated.  It’s basically a set and forget situation for ether one.

A quality antivirus program makes sure that your PC can detect and remove *most* threats that come your way.

UPDATE:  Read about Microsoft Security Essentials here

2.  Windows Defender
Windows Defender protects your PC against spyware, malware and adware which can cause your PC to run erratically or even crash by detecting and removing known spyware from your PC.  It also features real-time protection which works while you are online.  Windows Defender updates itself very frequently through the Microsoft Update process.

Windows Defender is included with Vista and WIN7.  It is available for XP here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en&mg_id=10134

UPDATE:  Read about Microsoft Security Essentials here

3.  Common Sense
You have to keep your eyes wide open to all possible sources of attacks on your PC.  Threats can come from almost anywhere, but are mostly concentrated around certain types of sites.  Sites to be cautious of are:

Online Gaming sites
File-Sharing sites
Social Networking sites
Adult content sites
etc.

Be careful when any window pops up asking you to click something. One of the most pervasive techniques that hackers use is to pop up a window that says that your PC has a virus and that you must “click here” to remove it.  And when you click it, you open youself up to whatever is lurking.  Sometimes, there will even be a button that looks like a common ‘close’ button, but in reality is another gotcha.  To be safe, use the keyboard shortcut Alt-F4 to close the window safely.

Sometimes, even popular programs contain an option to also install a companion or affiliate program that can slow down your PC by monitoring your browsing habits in order to suggest similar sites that might interest you.

If you practice safe browsing habits and have good anti-virus/anti-spyware protection, the chances of your being attacked are greatly reduced.

/doc

Filed Under: Online Safety Tagged With: , , ,

Windows Defender

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Windows Defender is your first line of defense against the bad guys. 

Introduced in January of 2005,  Windows Defender is Microsoft’s free anti-spyware application.  It is included free with Windows Vista and Windows 7, and is available as a free download for Windows XP. 

It was announced in December of 2008 that Windows Defender is being discontinued and will be replaced by a new application known as Microsoft Security Essentials (MSSE).  MSSE is currently in Beta release and is expected to be released in November of 2009. 

More info on Windows Defender:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/glenn_windefender.mspx

 

/doc

Filed Under: Online Safety Tagged With: ,
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