Notebook or Desktop Computer — Which Should You Choose?

Notebook or Desktop Computer — Which Should You Choose?

On TV and in the movies, we see a lot of portable computers being used in homes and offices. Does that mean that’s the trend? Is that what you should get?

Portable computers cost more, so unless you really have the need for one, you get a lot more computer for your money with a regular desktop PC. The main thing is portability. If you need a portable computer, get a laptop. (“Laptop,” “portable,” and “notebook” all refer to the same thing, by the way). Otherwise, a desktop computer is a better buy, and better ergonomically.

The Price Difference

You might wonder why laptops cost more than desktop computers with comparable features and power. That is largely because it is more expensive to manufacture laptops and their parts. For portable computer components, factors such as compactness, the amount of heat they generate, their weight, and power consumption are more important than they are for desktops. Those factors add to their manufacturing costs.

Space Requirements

While laptops are certainly compact, a desktop computer with a flat panel monitor can take up almost as little space. While called a “desktop” computer, the computer itself is most often kept on the floor. That leaves just the monitor, keyboard and mouse on the desk, which is really very similar in footprint to a notebook computer.

A great way to further reduce the space taken up on the desktop computer is get a keyboard drawer to hold the keyboard and mouse. That way, they slide out of the way under the top of the desk when they aren’t needed.

Be Mindful of Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging things so that people can interact with them more comfortably and safely. The basic ergonomic principals for computer use tell us that, 1) the keyboard should be as close to your lap level as possible (assuming you touch-type), 2) the monitor should be about arm’s length in front of you, and 3) the top of the monitor should be at about your eye level. Try achieving that with a laptop computer! Two words: im-possible.

It is obvious then, that a desktop computer is much better ergonomically than a laptop is. For prolonged use, especially, you’re much better off with a desktop computer.

And Don’t Forget Usability

Another aspect of ergonomics is usability. Because of size constraints, laptops also are lower on the usability scale than desktop PCs are. For one thing, laptop keyboards lack the separate groupings of the different sets of keys with space between them. For another, there are fewer keys on a laptop’s keyboard, so some of them have to perform double duty. On a standard keyboard, you don’t have to deal with that.

Screen Resolution

Computer monitors — the bulky ones, anyway — can be set at different resolutions. In other words, you can change the fineness of the image on the screen. The range is typically 640×480 — that is 640 pixel across and 480 pixels up and down — to 800×600, 1024×768, or even higher. At 640×480, the icons and such appear quite large; at 1024×768, they are substantially smaller. The most common resolutions today for desktop computers are 800×600 and 1024×768.

Something They Don’t Tell You

Laptop displays, on the other hand, have a fixed, or native, resolution. You can change the setting, but then the images and text don’t look good. While people tend to think that bigger numbers are better, a higher screen resolution may not work as well for you. It may make everything too small to see comfortably.

Remember, the laptop’s screen is smaller that a desktop’s. While a typical desktop computer screen is 17″ or so a laptop’s is usually in the range of 12″ to 15.” That is a big difference. Make sure you can see everything clearly before choosing a high-resolution laptop.

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Firm Offers Internet Users New Means to Listen to Music

Firm Gives Web Users New Method to Listen to Songs

An on the internet advertising and also innovation services firm is offering Internet individuals a brand-new, very easy method to listen to music on their computer systems.

Centale Inc. just recently introduced its Songs as needed program, a patent-pending algorithmic search online application that permits you to make use of Microsoft’s Windows Media Gamer as an immediate link to search the Internet for millions of sound and also video clip files and also listen to or see them without needing to make the effort to download and install any documents.

It has a modern appearance and performance and switch-skin modern technology that will certainly interest the countless individuals listening to as well as purchasing music via the Internet, said Patrick T. Parker, chief executive police officer and also chairman of the openly traded company (OTC BB: CNTL).

The application has been authorized by Microsoft as a main plug-in “power toy/utility” for the Windows Media Player.

” Our team believe our acceptance by Microsoft as an official plug-in verifies our innovation,” Parker claimed. “It will certainly provide a considerable circulation network for our Music on Demand as well as bring listening pleasure to countless people worldwide.”

According to Nielsen// Internet-.

Rankings, greater than 200 million Americans make use of the Internet. According to the Church Bench Net & American Life Task, there are even more than 500 million desktops in the UNITED STATE Fifty-six percent of Web customers watch video clips or pay attention to audio clips; 34 percent pay attention to songs at a Web website; as well as 25 percent download songs files.

It is reported that 2.2 million individuals subscribe to digital music solutions, contrasted to 1.5 million estimated by IFPI’s Digital Songs Report released in January. The industry expects this fad to proceed as the suppression on illegal electronic music solutions rises.

In addition to its Songs as needed program, Centale’s product consists of the Driver EV direct-to-desktop advertising and marketing tool, customized browsers, instant carrier applications as well as screensavers.

Freight Broker Software

Freight Broker Software

Freight broker software is derived from the larger field of trucking software. Large trucking companies began developing trucking software in the 1960’s when mainframe computers became more widely available and affordable. Large LTL carriers such as Roadway Express and Red Ball were pioneers in the field. It is a little known fact that the trucking industry created E.D.I. (electronic data interchange) during this time frame. Early trucking software was custom built and run on company mainframes at the large carriers. As with so many other fields, trucking software for small or medium sized companies did not begin to materialize until after the introduction of the I.B.M. personal computer in 1980. Trucking software can be as simple as software used to calculate point to point mileage or complex enough to manage virtually all functions of a trucking company or freight brokerage.

Freight broker software addresses two basic functional groups; dispatch operations and accounting. Much of the available freight broker software is sold with these functions as modules that can be purchased separately. Which modules are purchased is usually driven by the size of the broker looking for the software. Very small brokers can manage dispatch on paper. Accounting functions at this level are well served by software packages such as QuickBooks or Peachtree. Brokers that get to 20+ loads per month can usually begin to see the value of having one or more of the freight broker software modules.

Freight broker software designed for the accounting functions is the least likely of two to be offered as a stand alone product since it depends upon the other for data. Payable functions can be derived from dispatch operations data such as which carrier went where. Invoicing and receivables are also derived from dispatch operations data as in which customer sent what where. Freight broker software designed to integrate with the over the counter accounting packages such as QuickBooks can ease the transition for many small brokers.

Freight broker software designed for dispatch operations is the most likely of the functional groups to be offered as a stand-alone product. It is also arguably the most important of the two functional groups. It is the most important because it can have the greatest impact on customer service. Accounting functions are internal; dispatch operations touch every customer the broker has in one way or another. Freight brokers should recognize that this type of software can make the difference between success and failure. Dispatch operations is all about getting the right drivers with the right equipment in place to services the customers’ needs and take advantage of opportunities that arise. Managing those resources is important but the best dispatch software also gives dispatchers and managers tools to monitor work in progress and communicate effectively with customers.

The internet has given rise to two interesting new developments in the field of freight broker software; software as a service and networking as a new functional group. Software as a service is delivered via the internet by subscription and has the following advantages:

No large upfront investment as in traditional buying of software.
No new hardware costs. Your existing network, internet connection and browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer are all that are needed.
Pay as you go. This type of software is often available month to month without a contract.
Maintenance and upgrades handled at the web server with little or no bother to the user.

Networking as a functional group is a new development made possible by the internet. Dispatch software can now be extended onto the customers’ desktops. Brokers and shippers can collaborate to give and get the data that they need to get the job done. Customer service is greatly enhanced with true real time communications and the customer as a larger part of the process. TDNweb.com is an example of this new breed of dispatch operations software.