As far as I am concerned, the cursor that I need on my computer is a simple tool that enables me to see just where I need to type. Notice that I used the word ‘need’ to describe it because that is what it is – an essential, functional item that enables me to be more productive. Now, I know that there are scores of bored and weird computer programmers sitting out there with nothing better to do, but I can for the life of me imagine why anyone of them could have come up with an invention as stupid as the animated cursor.
Each time I see an animated cursor, it makes my blood boil. Maybe I should explain myself on that one. You see, my little nephew, who pretends to have been born with radical computer skills visited me once. And in the brief while that he asked for my permission to check his mail on my home computer, he had managed to change the desktop settings, hide all my files and folders and worst of all, managed to replace my beautifully functional cursor with an animated cursor.
Now I’m no luddite and hence managed to change the rest of the things back to their original shape and form. But the animated cursor really troubled me. And I couldn’t even use the blasted thing. It was a whirling wheel that didn’t allow me to point at anything at all. I mean, how does one point with an animated cursor in the shape of a circle? And with a job like mine that entails drawing complex diagrams, I could barely use the confounded animated cursor.
Ever since, I’ve had a healthy distaste for animated cursors of all kinds. And each time I see someone else with an animated cursor, I’m sorely tempted to rip their computer apart and knock them on the head, all the while saying, ‘how come you manage to point with that animated thing?’ Think about it. An animated cursor comes in all sorts of shapes except one that is conducive to helping it do what it is supposed to! I must admit though that I did come across one that was very pointed. It was shaped like a sword. But in general, in order to be animated, these cursors take the most confounded shapes. I’ve even seen one shaped like a dog for heaven’s sake.
While I am sure that there are a lot of people who do enjoy these animated cursors, I’m pretty sure that I’ll never learn to love them. Unless it is effective and functional and not animated. Which would make it unlike any animated cursor I’ve ever seen!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Accounting programs
There was a time when small businesses, especially mom and pop stores could get away without maintaining accounts of any sort. In fact, the sole reason why they were classified as mom and pop stores were because the business was run in an ad hoc manner. But with increasing number of people opting for small businesses and the entrepreneurial initiatives being fostered by governments worldwide, these businesses to have come to represent a large part of the gross domestic produce of countries worldwide. This is where the need for complete accountings programs surfaced and which is why, it has become a big issues for all businesses.
There are various accounting programs structured to cater to the needs of all kinds of businesses. While the smaller stores use standalone accounting programs and smaller, single user license versions of the more popular accounting programs; the larger stores need to use a comprehensive suite of accounting programs. Be that as it may, the fact remains that all businesses, large or small, need to use accounting programs of some sort in order to streamline their operations and to comply with governmental regulations.
One of the simplest accounting programs available in the market today is Microsoft Money. While most computers bought in the United States of America come pre loaded with this accounting program, it is applicable only for personal finance calculations or maybe small business needs. But as accounting programs go, it is fairly well designed to cater to the needs of smaller businesses. Which explains its popularity in terms of number of users who use it as their primary accounting program.
A slightly more evolved accounting program is something that has come to be branded and sold as Tally. Like the name reveals, this is an accounting program that caters to the needs of smaller businesses, where the accounting operation is primarily a function that tallies stock (either available or sold) with the cash available in the machines at the counter. That’s not all. An accounting program like Tally comes with a customizable interface making it scalable for a variety of business operations. So smaller businesses even in the services sector are able to use it to streamline their processes.
Today, the wide array of accounting programs available in the market make it easier for businesses not only to organize themselves, but also to comply with local, national and global requirements. Every business thus can adopt and deploy the best practices that make globalization beneficial to one and all.
There are various accounting programs structured to cater to the needs of all kinds of businesses. While the smaller stores use standalone accounting programs and smaller, single user license versions of the more popular accounting programs; the larger stores need to use a comprehensive suite of accounting programs. Be that as it may, the fact remains that all businesses, large or small, need to use accounting programs of some sort in order to streamline their operations and to comply with governmental regulations.
One of the simplest accounting programs available in the market today is Microsoft Money. While most computers bought in the United States of America come pre loaded with this accounting program, it is applicable only for personal finance calculations or maybe small business needs. But as accounting programs go, it is fairly well designed to cater to the needs of smaller businesses. Which explains its popularity in terms of number of users who use it as their primary accounting program.
A slightly more evolved accounting program is something that has come to be branded and sold as Tally. Like the name reveals, this is an accounting program that caters to the needs of smaller businesses, where the accounting operation is primarily a function that tallies stock (either available or sold) with the cash available in the machines at the counter. That’s not all. An accounting program like Tally comes with a customizable interface making it scalable for a variety of business operations. So smaller businesses even in the services sector are able to use it to streamline their processes.
Today, the wide array of accounting programs available in the market make it easier for businesses not only to organize themselves, but also to comply with local, national and global requirements. Every business thus can adopt and deploy the best practices that make globalization beneficial to one and all.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Advanced Monitors Systems For Latest Computer
A computer monitor or the Visual Display Unit is a very important part in a computer. This is where the displaying of images, data etc from the computer is done. There are various types of computer displays available in the market nowadays. Apart from the CRT displays that used to be the most used until few years back, there are Flat Panels and LCDs that are available now.
There are quite a few things to be considered before buying a computer monitor. The size is one of the factors to be considered. Sizes come from 15", 17", 19" and 21". The larger the display size, the greater the expense. A 17" is ideal where the computer is used for a considerable amount of time of more than 2 hours. For graphics art and such things, the monitor required should be 21" as it would prove useful. One thing to be noted is that even though the size of the screen could be 15", 17" etc the viewable size need not be the same. It would be definitely less than that, according to the manufacturer.
The resolution is the next thing to be considered. This is the clarity with which the picture is seen in a computer monitor. This can depend on the size of the monitor. The resolution is measured in Pixel counts. It is required to be cautious while following the ads from the manufacturers as they might give ads that are impossible to happen, for example a resolution of 1600x1200p for a 15" monitor! The ideal resolutions for a 15" screen is 800x600 or 1024x768, for a 17" screen 1280x1024, 19" screen 1280x1024 and for 21"screen 1600x1200. This is the maximum of resolution capacity by the respective dimensions.
The refresh rate also has to be considered while buying a screen. This is the number of times the screen is redrawn. The recommended refresh rate comes to 75MHz, for a standard monitor. The controls are the next thing to be noticed. Controls are the way the different aspects or features of the computer are controlled. Adjustment of different features of the monitor has to be possible, for strain-free watching and working.
There are various advantages and disadvantages in both CRT monitors and LCDs. While CRTs are quite reliable and have a longer life, they occupy lot of desk space and also are not as clear as the LCDs, who save a lot of desk space and also are not as heavy as CRT monitors, but LCD monitors have to be taken utmost care in order to have a long life. In short, monitors are of various types and forms. It depends on the user to choose the monitors according to their need and necessity
There are quite a few things to be considered before buying a computer monitor. The size is one of the factors to be considered. Sizes come from 15", 17", 19" and 21". The larger the display size, the greater the expense. A 17" is ideal where the computer is used for a considerable amount of time of more than 2 hours. For graphics art and such things, the monitor required should be 21" as it would prove useful. One thing to be noted is that even though the size of the screen could be 15", 17" etc the viewable size need not be the same. It would be definitely less than that, according to the manufacturer.
The resolution is the next thing to be considered. This is the clarity with which the picture is seen in a computer monitor. This can depend on the size of the monitor. The resolution is measured in Pixel counts. It is required to be cautious while following the ads from the manufacturers as they might give ads that are impossible to happen, for example a resolution of 1600x1200p for a 15" monitor! The ideal resolutions for a 15" screen is 800x600 or 1024x768, for a 17" screen 1280x1024, 19" screen 1280x1024 and for 21"screen 1600x1200. This is the maximum of resolution capacity by the respective dimensions.
The refresh rate also has to be considered while buying a screen. This is the number of times the screen is redrawn. The recommended refresh rate comes to 75MHz, for a standard monitor. The controls are the next thing to be noticed. Controls are the way the different aspects or features of the computer are controlled. Adjustment of different features of the monitor has to be possible, for strain-free watching and working.
There are various advantages and disadvantages in both CRT monitors and LCDs. While CRTs are quite reliable and have a longer life, they occupy lot of desk space and also are not as clear as the LCDs, who save a lot of desk space and also are not as heavy as CRT monitors, but LCD monitors have to be taken utmost care in order to have a long life. In short, monitors are of various types and forms. It depends on the user to choose the monitors according to their need and necessity
Virus Threats Devloped For Latest Computer Systems
Computer Virus threats are neither surprising nor new on the Web. They are stepping towards newer technologies such as VoIP and instant messengers. With advancement in the features available on the Internet, hackers continue to drive malware. This underlines an importance of being aware and secure when traversing the Web. Antivirus Installation is must in each and every computer attached to Internet.
Predictions for top security threats in 2008 are:
• Increase in Password Staling Websites: There will certainly be a rise in the number of attacks seeking to capture a user's ID and password by displaying fake sign-in pages. Online services will primarily be targeted to spread virus and malware. As opposed to this, the attacks on ISPs are likely to decline, while those aimed at the financial sector will move with the same pace.
• Increase in Spamming: Spamming will continue to grow, accounting for 40 per cent of the total spam received as compared to 10 per cent a year ago. There has been a significant rise in the incidence of image spam and others such as pump-and-dump stocks, pharmacy, and degree spam.
• Increase in IM Attacks: Instant messaging client is gaining wide popularity among Internet-savvy. They are always in search of better messengers to communicate on the web. Since instant messengers feature a number of exclusive features such as file transfer & webcam support, the virus attacks on these applications may increase in near future.
• Increase in Online Gaming Attacks: Online gaming is both the source of entertainment and money for several companies which allow their registered members to buy virtual goods to continue the game. The computer virus attackers may try to target these virtual goods to make real money.
• Increase in Windows Vista Attacks: The attackers and hackers generally seek to take advantage of flaws present in the operating systems. Since Windows Vista, the latest version of Microsoft Windows is believed to be affected by critical vulnerabilities, the hackers may try to inject virus into the affected systems.
• Increase in Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks are expected to be one of the top 10 threats in 2008. With growth in number of incidence of using copies of original websites to trick the users to get their sensitive data, the phishing attacks can increase.
Predictions for top security threats in 2008 are:
• Increase in Password Staling Websites: There will certainly be a rise in the number of attacks seeking to capture a user's ID and password by displaying fake sign-in pages. Online services will primarily be targeted to spread virus and malware. As opposed to this, the attacks on ISPs are likely to decline, while those aimed at the financial sector will move with the same pace.
• Increase in Spamming: Spamming will continue to grow, accounting for 40 per cent of the total spam received as compared to 10 per cent a year ago. There has been a significant rise in the incidence of image spam and others such as pump-and-dump stocks, pharmacy, and degree spam.
• Increase in IM Attacks: Instant messaging client is gaining wide popularity among Internet-savvy. They are always in search of better messengers to communicate on the web. Since instant messengers feature a number of exclusive features such as file transfer & webcam support, the virus attacks on these applications may increase in near future.
• Increase in Online Gaming Attacks: Online gaming is both the source of entertainment and money for several companies which allow their registered members to buy virtual goods to continue the game. The computer virus attackers may try to target these virtual goods to make real money.
• Increase in Windows Vista Attacks: The attackers and hackers generally seek to take advantage of flaws present in the operating systems. Since Windows Vista, the latest version of Microsoft Windows is believed to be affected by critical vulnerabilities, the hackers may try to inject virus into the affected systems.
• Increase in Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks are expected to be one of the top 10 threats in 2008. With growth in number of incidence of using copies of original websites to trick the users to get their sensitive data, the phishing attacks can increase.
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