Google's nearly two-hour Gmail outage yesterday was the result of a miscalculation regarding the capacity of its system, the company said late on Tuesday.

Gmail (Google Mail) was down from about 12:30pm PDT (8:30pm BST) Tuesday 2nd Sep 2009 to about 2:30pm PDT (10:30pm BST), affecting millions of Gmail customers who depend on the service for everything from fantasy football roster updates to business-critical information. The problem was caused by a classic cascade in which servers became overwhelmed with traffic in rapid succession.

According to Google, the problem began when it took several Gmail servers offline for maintenance, a routine procedure that normally is transparent to users. However, the twist this time around was that Google had made some changes to the routers that direct Gmail traffic to servers in hopes of improving reliability, and those changes backfired.

"As we now know, we had slightly underestimated the load which some recent changes (ironically, some designed to improve service availability) placed on the request routers — servers which direct web queries to the appropriate Gmail server for response," Google explained in a post to its Gmail blog late Tuesday.

"At about 12:30 p.m. Pacific a few of the request routers became overloaded and in effect told the rest of the system 'stop sending us traffic, we're too slow!' This transferred the load onto the remaining request routers, causing a few more of them to also become overloaded, and within minutes nearly all of the request routers were overloaded," wrote Ben Treynor, vice president of engineering and site reliability czar.

Google fixed the problem by allocating traffic across the rest of its prodigious network, a luxury that it enjoys given the resources it has put in place to operate the world's leading search engine. But what's next?

Google said it would focus on making sure that the request routers have sufficient headroom to handle future spikes in demand, as well as working out a way to make sure that problems in one sector can be isolated without bringing down the entire service. "We'll be hard at work over the next few weeks implementing these and other Gmail reliability improvements — remains more than 99.9 percent available to all users, and we're committed to keeping events like today's notable for their rarity," Treynor wrote.

Several Google Apps customers who use Gmail for internal email at their businesses and organisations did not return calls on Tuesday seeking information on the degree to which they were affected, making it difficult to know the magnitude of the failure. However, Google has put an awful lot of time and money this year behind promoting Gmail as a back-end email software alternative to products from Microsoft and IBM, and embarrassments like this will not help it sell the service to other organisations.

"We know how many people rely on Gmail for personal and professional communications, and we take it very seriously when there's a problem with the service," Treynor wrote. "Thus, right up front, I'd like to apologize to all of you — today's outage was a Big Deal, and we're treating it as such."

This article was originally posted on CNET News.

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Will Mars Look as Big as the Moon on August 27? Nope

Written by Fraser Cain

Every year around this time, an email circulates across the Internet speculating that on August 27th, Mars will look as big as the Moon in the sky. And every year, I go ahead and debunk it. Here'sa link to last year's version. Once again, I'd like to inoculate all my Universe Today readers, to make sure you understand what's going on, and you're prepared to explain to your eager friends why this non-event isn't going to happen.

Say it with me. Mars won't look as big as the Moonon August 27th.

This strange hoax first surfaced on the Internet back in 2003. An email made the rounds with the following text:

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

There are a few problems with this. The first problem is that the email doesn't actually mention the date; it just says August 27th. This means it can live on for years and years, going around and around the Internet, forwarded by gullible people to their friends.

The second problem is that it's wrong. Mars isn't going to be making a close approach on August 27. The close approach this email is discussing happened back in 2003. It did indeed get closer than it had in at least 50,000 years, but this was a very small amount. On August 27th, 2003, Mars closed to a distance of only 55,758,006 kilometers (34,646,418 miles). The Moon, by comparison, orbits the Earth at a distance of only 385,000 km (240,000 miles). Mars was close, but it was still 144 times further away than the Moon.

Instead of appearing as a huge red orb in the sky, Mars looked like a bright red star. Observers around the world set up their telescopes, and took advantage of this close encounter. But you still needed a telescope. And if you read the email carefully again, you'll see that it's trying to explain that.

There's an extra paragraph break. The last sentence of second paragraph is hanging. It says, "At a modest 75-power magnification ", but there's no period. The next paragraph starts up with the text, "Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye." In other words, if you put one eye into the telescope and looked at Mars, and kept your other eye looking at the Moon (which isn't actually humanly possible), the two orbs would look roughly the same size.

Mars and Earth do come together every two years, reaching the closest point on their orbits – astronomers call this "opposition". And we're in one of those years. But it's not going to happen on August 27th. Instead, we'll make our opposition on December 18th, 2007. At this point, Mars will be 88.42 million km (55 million miles) – further away than its 2003 opposition.

NASA is taking advantage of the upcoming opposition, and will launch the Phoenix Mars Lander in August. The spacecraft will make its shortest possible journey to reach Mars, arriving early next year.

And by next July, it'll be time to write this article all over again.

Source: http://www.universetoday.com/2007/07/25/will-the-mars-look-as-big-as-the-moon-on-august-27-nope/

THE BARABUS TKR - WORLD'S FASTEST CAR STILLS, WALLPAPERS

View world's fastest cars

The Barabus TKR is the fastest supercar ever released. It is an Italian built car. The Barabus TKR has a twin-turbo 6.0 liter V8 engine.
The most notable feature of this car is its speed itself. It can touch a speed of 60 mph in just 1.67 seconds! This speed is achieved because of the body and chassis which is made of carbon fibre. In a age where a 1-60 mph time of 4 seconds is considered supercar category, the 1.67 seconds of Barabus TKR is incredible. The top speed of Barabus TKR is 270 mph.
The price of Barabus 1005bhp TKR is £360,000. The Barabus TKR will take its debut in the British Motor Show, London.
The Barabus TKR is an apt competitor to the Bugatti Veyron, which costs about £600,000.

View world's fastest cars

SSC ULTIMATE AERO- WORLD'S 2nd FASTEST CAR

The SSC ultimate aero has a top speed of 257mph. The 0-60 mph time is 2.7 seconds. It possess a twin-turbo V8 engine with 1183 bhp. The base price of SSC ultimate aero is $654,400. Tested in March 2007 by the Guinness world records, the SSC Ultimate Aero took the lead as the fastest car in the world beating SSC ultimate aero. But now Barabus TKR has taken the place.

BUGATTI VEYRON - WORLD'S 3rd FASTEST CAR STILLS

The Bugatti Veyron was the worlds fastest car till The SSC ultimate Aero overtook it in March 2007. It has a top speed of 253 mph and 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds. It possess an Aluminium, Narrow Angle W16 Engine with 1001 hp. The base price is £600,000 ($1,700,000) which is the highest price tag.

Maruti Swift Glam Limited Eddition features & specifications

New Features of Maruti Swift Glam

• Integrated Audio System
• Keyless Remote Entry with buttons on the key fob.
• Rear parcel tray
• New Design wheel covers
• Beige Upholstery
• Dual Tone dashboard
• Body coloured outside rear view mirrors and door handles.

Maruti Swift Glam Limited Eddition features

• Body Color Bumpers
• Tachometer
• Dual Trip Meter
• AC without Climate Control
• Power Windows
• Remote Central Locking
• Remote Boot
• Remote Fuel Filler
• Rear Wiper
• Rear Defogger
• Dash Integrated MP3/FM Music System
• Fog Lamp

Maruti Swift Glam Limited Eddition Specification
Car Name:Swift Glam
Model:Limited Edition
Car Body Type:Hatchback
Segment:B+ Segment
Top Speed:160
Fuel Consumption Highway: 13.00 kmpl.
Fuel Consumption City:15.00 kmpl.


Maruti Swift Glam Engine Specification
Displacement:1298cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 valves
Engine Type:Petrol
Maximum Power:87 Bhp @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque:113 Nm @ 4500 rpm

Dimension & Other Specification
Length:3760 mm
Width:1690 mm
Height:1530 mm
Seating Capacity:5
Tyre Size:185/70 R14
Suspension:MacPherson strut, torsion beam, coil spring
Turning Circle:4.70 mtrs.
Boot Space:232.00 ltrs.
Steering:Power
Brakes:Front Disk, Rear Drum
Gears:5 Manual
Ground Clearance:170.00 mm
Kerb Weight:1010.00 kgs.
Fuel Tank:43.00

Maruti Swift Glam Limited Eddition launched in India

Maruti Swift Glam Limited Eddition Review

As an answer to Fiat Grande Punto & Hyundai i20,Maruti Suzuki India launched an upgraded version of Maruti Swift,Swift Glam In India.New Maruti Suzuki Swift Glam limited edition is only available in the petrol variant.

The Limited Edition Hatchback with 1298cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 valves petrol engine is capable of producing a max power of 87 Bhp @ 4000 rpm and a max torque of 113 Nm @ 4500 rpm.

New Features of Maruti Swift Glam

• Integrated Audio System
• Keyless Remote Entry with buttons on the key fob.
• Rear parcel tray
• Beige Upholstery
• New Design wheel covers
• Dual Tone dashboard
• Body coloured outside rear view mirrors and door handles.

SWIFT GLAM ON ROAD PRICE (expected) :Rs.537028

SWIFT GLAM available colours

• Goldsmith Black
• Noble Arctic White.

SWIFT GLAM Top Speed:160

SWIFT GLAM mileage details

• Highway : 13.00 kmpl.
• City : 15.00 kmpl.

NEW MARUTI KIZASHI 2010 SPECIFICATIONS, STILLS AND PHOTOGALLERY

Maruti Kizashi 2010 is the 1st maruti car in the D-segment to be launched in India. Maruti Suzuki has announced its release in 2010. The kizashi had 3 successors:Kizashi 1(2007) which was exhibited at the Bologna motor show, Italy. Kizashi 2(2008) which was exhibited in the Sao polo motor show, Brazil. Kizashi 3(2008) was exhibited at the Sydney autoshow.
Kizashi is the 1st D segment sedan in India with 4 wheel drive. The Kizashi has a 2L petrol engine. The Kizashi is expected to be launched bu the middle of 2010.

Specifications

Being a IT graduate or a post gratudate is still worth!!!!!

INDIA TODAY

Mon, Jun 15 11:22 AM

The slump may have dented the golden software industry a bit, but in the long run it still remains your ticket to good

money. To woo the best of the breed, IT giants like Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys are willing to

shell out Rs 3-4 lakh per annum as a starting salary.

Multinationals like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo go up to Rs 6-7 lakh per annum in addition to some delectable perks

- foreign travel and a great work environment are just some of these.

Although giants like Infosys and Wipro offer many challenging avenues for computer science engineers, most Indian

companies are not the most preferred employers.

'These companies use already existing technologies to develop a solution thereby posing no great challenges, unlike

a Yahoo or Google that routinely develop technological solutions themselves and thus offer aspirants immense scope

for original work,' says Pankaj Jalote, Microsoft chair professor, department of computer science and engineering,

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi.

While a B.Tech in computer science could fetch great salaries and job openings at international firms, a master’s

programme does not enjoy the same popularity among students.

To woo more students, institutes have started offering a variety of electives which make these programmes

specialised and industry-oriented. M.Tech courses that are applicationoriented are usually preferred over MS

courses, which operate more in the realm of concepts.

'M.Tech in India has more course work (project work) than thesis compared to MS,' says Jalote. On the other hand,

MS is a programme that naturally gravitates towards PhD as it requires more independent research work. A PhD in

computer science engineering is highly desired by most companies operating in the space.

The fact that these are in short supply means better salary packages in comparison to the B.Tech and M.Tech/MS

students. There is a demand for over 200 PhDs in a year. Of these, almost a hundred can be readily absorbed in the

corporate sector. Packages offered to them range between Rs 8-10 lakh per annum.

With more research labs being set up in India, there are a lot of challenges floating around. 'PhDs get to do

interesting work unlike many B.Techs. The interest in PhD programme is on a rise,' says Manindra Agarwal, faculty,

computer science engineering department, IIT-Kanpur.

Subhash Rao, Director, HR, Cisco India, says, 'Since the focus today is on product-oriented innovation, there is

tremendous scope for students who build on their theoretically acquired skills and knowledge. Aligning these to the

industry requirement would be of prime importance to their growth.'

Career options: Software companies and independent labs. The focus is on product-oriented innovation.

Starting Salary: Rs 3-4 lakh per annum

Institutes...

* Aligarh Muslim University; www.amu.ac.in

* IIT (Chennai, Delhi, Kharagpur, Mumbai, Roorkie, Kanpur, Guwahati); www.iit(m/d/kgp/b/r/k/g)ac.in

* National Institute of Technology (Durgapur, Rourkela, Warangal, Calicut, Bhopal, Jalandhar);

www.nit(dgp/rkl/w/c/jsr).ac.in

To get the more in this check out India Today..

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Nokia Launches E75 in India

Nokia launches its latest E-Series handset E75 in India. Nokia E75 will be available for Rs. 26, 299 in two colours - silver black and red. 

Nokia E75 Key Features 

Form: Side slider with Full QWERTY keyboard 
S60 3rd Edition 
Dimensions: 111.8 x 50/80 x 14.4 mm 
Weight: 139 g 
Full keyboard + number keys 
High quality QVGA display 
Size: 2.4" 
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA) 
TFT active matrix (QVGA) 
Easy email set-up and Support for email attachments 
3.2 megapixel camera (2048 x 1536 pixels) 
8X digital zoom 
Autofocus 
LED flash 
Integrated A-GPS 

No free coffee and internet for IBMers from May 1

IBM worldwide has begun cost cuts in order to battle the effects of the global financial crisis and will scrap office amenities such as tea and coffee, and even company-funded home internet access.

From May 1, IBM will cease to reimburse Internet access for staff working from home. Direct pay corporate managed and contracted home Internet services will also be scrapped. 

"IBM will cease the reimbursement of home internet access for employees," The Australian quoted the company, as saying in an email to staff. 

"Secondly, over the next several months the provision of some office amenities, including tea and coffee supplies, will be phased out. Where it makes sense, our intent is to replace this with user-paid vending machines at selected sites." 

IBM said the expiring home Internet policy was developed in the 1990s, when home Internet was not the norm. The cost-cutting measures would allow IBM to continue workforce programmes including a salary bonus pool, a single-cycle salary review later in the year, funding education to support revenue generation and continuing to invest billions in research and development, it said. 

IBM Australia declined to reveal how much money it expected to save from the cost-cutting initiatives. 

IBM reported a 12 per cent gain to $4.4 billion in net income for the fourth quarter of 2008, but slipped 6 per cent in revenue to $27 billion when the recession hit technology spending. 

In January, IBM sent layoff notices to more than 2800 people in its sales and software groups in the US. The latest round of job cuts at IBM was announced last month, when industry sources said another 5000 IBM workers in the US would lose their jobs. 

Google Polishes Up Android 1.5 Dev Kit

Google is offering a sneak peek at the software developer kit for Android 1.5, the next version of the mobile operating system. Soft keyboard support is among the new feature possibilities. This kit and future kits will also include tools for past versions as well, making it easier for devs to build apps that work on older versions of the software.

Application creators can get an early look at the software developer kit (SDK) for Android 1.5, the next version of the mobile operating system, according to Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) .

Based on the "Cupcake" branch from the Android Open Source Project, the SDK has application programming interfaces (APIs) for new features, including soft keyboards. Android phones with the new operating system could challenge the iPhone.

Google has also changed the developer tools as well as the structure of the SDK so that it includes multiple versions of the Android platform. For example, the new SDK includes Android 1.1 and 1.5.

Google, however, has in some ways been relatively slow to crack the mobile phone market, and competition and politics could make things tough for Android.

Android 1.5 SDK Features

The preview release of the Android 1.5 SDK is based on the Cupcake development branch, a private branch of the Android Open Source Project. Most of the Cupcake source code is already available as open source  now, Google spokesperson Carolyn Penner told LinuxInsider.

The Android 1.5 SDK is based on a new Linux kernel, version 2.6.27.

While Android 1.5 has not yet been finalized, meaning it could be changed, perhaps its most impressive feature currently is its on-screen soft keyboard, which works in both portrait and landscape orientations.

"The soft keyboard is the biggest feature that will make a difference to developers," Yankee Group analyst Carl Howe told LinuxInsider. "That means you can have a pure touch device, unlike the Android G1, which has a fold-out keyboard."

Taking On the iPhone?

Through its support for accelerometers, its stereo music capabilities, and its video capture features in the 1.5 SDK, Android could close in on Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL)  iPhone, according to Yankee Group's Howe.

The 1.5 SDK includes accelerometer-based application rotation capabilities, which opened new doors for device design when the iPhone introduced them.

Through Bluetooth  A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), the Android SDK 1.5 offers Bluetooth support for essentially high-quality music stereo headsets, going beyond what the iPhone offers. "They're stealing a march on the iPhone by offering a music headset with high-quality stereo," Howe said. "The iPhone's Bluetooth support [is] very much oriented towards a phone headset."

However, the iPhone will support A2DP in the next version of its operating system, expected to be released summer.

"The soft touch keyboard, accelerometer support and video capture will make Android phones more complete and worthy competitors to the iPhone," Howe said.

Leveraging Google

Users can batch actions, such as archive, delete and label on Gmail messages. They can also upload videos to YouTube  and photos on Picasa.

In addition, users can view their Google Talk friends' status in the Contacts, SMS, MMS, Gmail and e-mail applications.

Changes to the SDK

Future releases of the Android SDK, including 1.5, will include multiple versions of the Android platform, Google said. The latest SDK, for instance, includes both Android 1.1 and 1.5.

This lets developers target different versions of the platform from one SDK so they won't have to develop applications twice. Future Android SDK releases will also let developers install SDK add-ons to access extended functionality from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), carriers or other providers, Google said. SDK 1.5 has an add-on which provides support for the Google Maps API. That API was embedded in the core SDK in earlier versions.

Google warns that APIs for Android 1.5 have not been finalized and that some changes could be made before the final release, scheduled for the end of April. It asks developers not to release applications based on this early-look SDK.

Eating Others' Dust?

When announcing Android in 2007, Google said that the first mobile phones would hit the market in late 2008. So far, only T-Mobile USA  carries an Android phone, the G1, in the United States.

One reason is because carriers don't want to be shut out of the earnings, IDC analyst Will Stofega told LinuxInsider "The operators are very worried about what happens in terms of revenue; they don't want to just collect data charges and not get a good cut of the share of profits from mobile handsets," he explained.

Another reason is the huge earnings potential for mobile platforms. "This battle over the mobile phone platform is one of the holy wars of computing," Jim Ready, chief technical officer and cofounder of embedded Linux operating system vendor MontaVista, told LinuxInsider. "Sales are driven by applications -- remember there's been 1 billion downloads from the Apple App Store -- so there's a maniacal focus on the platform." 

Axis Bank charges list for salary account type: SAPPL

The below mention charges levied in salary a/cs by Axis Bank  These are the revised charges that no one was informed before hand even statements are not properly reached at the addresses. For Account type:SAPPL Balance Requirement No Minimum Balance requirement for month on month salary credits Non - maintainence Charges NA  ( applicable only if the account is not receiving the salary for 3 months and the average balance as per the SBEZY scheme code are not maintained ) Cheque Book  One cheque book free per quarter; thereafter charged @ Rs 50/- per cheque book ( 20 Leaves ) International Debit Card Free Master card for primary account holder only for the first year. Annual Charges of Rs. 95/- plus Service Tax from Second Year onwards Demand Drafts At Axis Bank Locations No charges upto Rs 25000/- per month.; Above rs 25000/- charged @ Rs 2.5/ 1000 Outstation Cheque Collection of charges on outstation cheque clearance @ Rs 2.50/1000 + out of pocket expenses at AXIS bank locations.  Branch Transaction 3 free transactions per month. Beyond 3 transactions @ Rs 50/- per transaction irrespective of whether Average quarterly balance is maintained or not.  Anywhere banking (same City Other than Base branch Cash Deposit )  3 free cash deposits per quarter. Above 3 deposits, charges @ Rs 50/- per transaction.  & Free cash desposit upto Rs 75000/- per quarter. Beyond the limit charges @ Rs 4/1000 with minimum of Rs 100 Anywhere banking ( Other city ) cash deposit on number of transactions  1 transaction per quarter free. Second & Third Transaction @ Rs 100/- and Fourth transaction onwards charges @ Rs 200/- per transaction.  Anywhere banking ( Other city ) cash deposit on amount of cash deposit.  Deposits above Rs.75000/- will be charged @ Rs.4 per thousand with a minimum charge of Rs.100/-. Anywhere Banking ( Cash Withdrawal ( self / third party) ) Upto Rs.50000/- per day free. Beyond limit charged @ Rs 2.50/1000 Intersol Clearing Charges (only debits):  10 free transactions per quarter up to a maximum of Rs. 2 lacs.  11th - 20th cheque/quarter charged @ Rs 100/- per instrument 21st and above charged @ Rs 200/- per instrument If Amount exceeds Rs.2 lac per quarter charged @ Rs 2.50/1000 Stop Payment Transactions Rs.100 per instrument and Rs.200 for a series of cheques beyond three instruments. Cheque Return Charges Inward Clearing - Rs.350, beyond third instrument Rs.750 per instrument Outward clearing cheque return Rs.100 per instrument Outstation - Rs.100/- per instrument No Salary Credit Charges  Period under consideration for non credit of salary : 3 months  and we are charged under Branch Transaction parameter. :(

How To Choose Between a Laptop, Notepad or a Desktop Computer

Most people seem to prefer to purchase a laptop/notebook computer these days instead of the more traditional desktop computer. The problem is that users are not always aware of information they truly need to make that all-important purchasing decision. We have tried below to provide you with a reasonable summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Laptop v's Notebook

Most people refer to their portable computer as a �laptop', whilst this is not technically the correct term in a lot of cases. Here we examine the difference between the �laptop' and �notebook' definitions.

In the late 1980's and early 1990's portable computers became widely available. They were all called �laptops' and they were heavier than we have become used to. Prior to this the only portable computers were very large �suitcase' style machines which were quite heavy. As these laptop computers became smaller during the 1990's the term �notebook' computer began to emerge. Most portable computer manufacturers will now refer to their product as a �notebook' rather than a �laptop'. The term �notebook' has partially replaced the term �laptop' because these �heavier' machines are no longer being made.

Traditionally, a �notebook' computer would have most of these features: -

Ultra-light and very low profile (ie. thin)

4 hours of battery life -

No internal floppy drive -

Minimal graphics subsystem -

Maximum 14" TFT screen -

Integrated modem/network connections -

Smallest possible keyboard (retaining functionality) -

Low power consumption processor

The problem with a notebook computer is that, in order to have a high specification, they come at a cost. Many �notebook' computers cannot actually be used on your �lap', so they cannot really be described as a �laptop' � this is because the main cooling air fan inlet is on the bottom. Comspec would suggest that when you are actually intending to use your notebook computer on your knees, then you should place a small board (even a tray) underneath it.

�Laptop' computers realistically do not exist anymore, they are being referred to as �desktop replacement' computers. They are designed to offer desktop performance, but still be portable. Traditionally, a �laptop' computer would have most of these features: -

14" to 17" TFT screen -

Nvidia GeForce or ATI Radeon graphics subsystem -

I nternal DVD-ROM or DVD-RW drive -

Large full-featured keyboard -

2 hours battery life -

Upgradeability (within some restrictions) -

Integrated modem, network and Wi-Fi capabilities -

High quality integrated audio/speaker system -

Low power consumption processor

Most people, however, still refer to their �notebook' as a �laptop' and numerous retailers still call them �laptops'. The terms are used interchangeably and could be used either way. Because of the advances in portable computing, the definitions have become fuzzy and it is a matter of opinion as to which you call your computer.

Laptop/Notebook v's Desktop

The portable computer should not realistically be used as a �replacement' for a desktop computer � it is purely a �portable' solution. Some retailers are misleading (I hope not intentionally) customers by telling them the laptop they are selling is a straight replacement for a desktop. I have even heard one salesperson say that the desktop computer is now obsolete and the laptop s the new computer.

The advantages of a desktop computer are: -

More powerful -

Higher storage is available -

Easy to upgrade or repair -

More resistant to theft -

Less prone to component failure -

Components are less expensive -

Components are not always specific to any machine -

More overall performance per pound cost -

Multiple monitor support is standard on some desktops

The advantages of a laptop/notebook are: -

Portability makes them very useful -

Access to wireless networking in public places

There is no real comparison on performance between a laptop and a desktop computer. The laptop has a couple of fundamental problems to overcome which limit it. The first of these is size , the smaller the machine the less room to put components. The second is heat , the laptop is small, giving less room to circulate air to cool components. Because manufacturers are constantly fighting against these problems the laptop will never truly �replace' the desktop.

A major number of laptops are �proprietary' meaning that their components are not interchangeable. If you want a component for your laptop you will usually have to stick to the same manufacturer to get it. The design of laptops changes so often that parts are not always easy to get. Here are a few other important factors which you need to be aware of regarding laptop/notebook computers:

1) Their processor usually runs at a reduced speed when on battery power

2) The cost of repairing a laptop/notebook can be much more than a desktop. Labour is more intensive and the parts are always more expensive.

3) The hard drive in a laptop is smaller than their desktop cousins. This means that, whilst laptops are being supplied with larger disks, the desktop computer is still the number one choice for users with large storage needs.

4) The laptops/notebooks which are being offered for sale in the 300-500 price bracket are usually not what we would describe as business' machines. They are built to a lesser specification and their upgradeability path is small to non-existent.

5) Anyone who relies on graphics or sheer power for gaming is forced to go the desktop route to gain the specification they require.

So, to summarise, Comspec does not recommend that you avoid laptops, but you should realistically only buy one if you are happy to trade performance for portability. The portability aspect is very important  if you do not need it, then always go for a desktop computer. The debate will go on as the industry develops, but the purpose of this article is simply to give you, the user, a heads-up on this political' debate.


------

Choosing the right computer to buy, can sometimes be a difficult decision. Offering Free Help and Advice How2begin.com hopes this article written by Mark Anderson Comspec Computers. will help make the choice a little easier.

Regards,

Nimit