Month: April 2015

Zillions of emails are sent globally each year. The email has become a very important means of communication since the 1970s when it was first introduced. It is increasingly becoming more popular than the traditional mail which involves post offices, postmen and mailboxes.

Email stands for electronic mail. It is a very fast and convenient means of sending and receiving messages. The recipient usually receives the email immediately the sender sends it. A byline for email would probably be ‘mail at the speed of light.’

The Workings of Email

In many ways, the email is just like the traditional mail except for its speed and transport means. Using the traditional mail, a sender writes the recipient’s address on the outside of the message and posts the message by sliding through a postal slot located anywhere nearby, or a postal drop box along the road. A postman collects the message from the drop box and takes it to the post office. At the post office, the message along with other messages, is sorted and arranged per destination and then taken to the nearest post office to the recipient’s address. There, at the second post office, the postman takes the message and slots it into the recipient’s post office box which is sometimes located at the post office or at the individual’s home or office. The recipient obtains the message by accessing the mailbox.

Email Protocols

In the email system, the server operates like the post office while the post office box may be likened to the user’s device such as computer or smart phone. Two major email methods of delivery (protocols) exist. They are POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).

POP3

POP3 is very similar to the traditional mail system in that once the original mail leaves the post office (read server) and enters the recipient’s mailbox (read inbox), there is no copy of the mail at the post office (server).

IMAP

IMAP however, presents a very interesting phenomenon. Unlike the serial delivery method of the traditional mail and POP3, IMAP somehow copies all the clients/devices attached to an email address. Using the traditional mail, the representation of this method would be if the postman decides to make a copy of the mail that would be retained at the post office and also makes a copy of the mail for wherever the recipient goes such that a copy of the message would be sent to the individual’s office mailbox, home mailbox and any other forwarding address the individual leaves at the post office.

And just like in the traditional mail that the recipient accesses the mail by using a key to open the mailbox, the recipient also uses a key (password) to access his/her inbox in the email.

While IMAP may be desirable because of accessibility of messages whenever and wherever, security may be an important limitation. However, POP3 presents a likely one time read of messages. This reduces the security risk but at the same time, restricts accessibility. Either way, use of one over the other may be a matter of preference rather than benefits or limitations.

When it comes to fluorescent light bulbs there are two main types you will be able to see pretty much everywhere: T8 and T12. Obviously, they are different, but most people think that their differences are just in the name – but that is definitely not the case. Each one of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is worth looking into each one of them in order to know the difference between them and make the correct decision.

What is Their Size Difference?

When it comes down to T8 and T12, size does really matter. One of the primary differences between these two is the difference in size that the bulbs have, and the difference their bases have. In length, they are incredibly similar, but the numbers after the “T” are referring to the diameter of the bulb. This means that the T8 has a diameter of eight eights of one inch, and the T12 has a diameter of twelve eights of one inch.

Typically, the efficiency of a lamp can be determined by its size, and the smaller the lamp, the bigger the efficiency. This means that out of these two, the T8 is more efficient, but the T12 is bigger. Depending on the usage you are going to give these fluorescent bulbs, one might be more appropriate than the other.

How Does Energy Usage Differ?

When we’re talking about light bulbs, we need to look at the energy usage as well. Not only does a better energy usage provide the user with a better overall experience due to a significant cost control effectiveness, but also due to the fact that lower energy usage is good for the environment.

And when it comes to energy usage, the T8 bulb is 32 watts, while the T12 bulb is 40 watts. This clearly means that the T8 is a more efficient light bulb to use and due to a federal act, a lot of buildings have to use the T8 bulb instead of the T12 preferably due to energetic efficiency.

What is Their Light Output?

This is the key question that you need to ask yourself when you are buying a light bulb – does it give me enough light? We’re here to compare the T8 and the T12 fluorescent light bulbs and the truth is that, between these two, there is a very small difference. So small, that the human eye isn’t able to detect it at all.

The T8 light bulb puts out a little bit more light than the T12 light bulb, but once again, the difference is incredibly small. Light output is measured in lumens, and the T8 bulb producers approximately 2600 lumens, while the T12 bulb produces approximately 2520 lumens. You might not know the value of a lumen, but by the number reaching 4 digits and the difference being only of 80 lumens, you can clearly tell that the light output isn’t too different.

There is, however, another faction to consider when it comes to light output. Over time, and just like every other material object we know in this world, light bulbs begin to lose the intensity and brightness of the light they put out – it is just natural. After around 7,000 hours of usage, the bulbs tend to decrease. The T12 bulb tends to decrease by around 20 percent, while the T8 bulb only decreases by 10 percent – half of the decrease the T12 bulbs have. This means that, over time, the T8 fluorescent light bulb is a better choice when it comes to light output.

What is Their Longevity?

We’ve seen that the light output of the bulbs decreases over time, and that takes us to the topic of longevity – how long do the bulbs last? After all, you won’t want to have to replace them too soon, since it is a painful task to have to go the store get a new bulb and replace it, especially for the modern person who is always busy.

Turns out, the longevity of the bulb is directly related to its light output decrease. The bulbs tend to start decreasing their light output after around 7,000 hours of usage and even though that sounds like a lot, it is not an eternity (unfortunately). After that period of time, they start to lose quality, but most people only replace their light bulbs when they really stop working.

The decrease that the bulbs have in brightness is so low, however, that it is usually not visible to the naked eye at first and people usually only notice that the bulb had been losing properties after they replace it with a new one. Either way, the recommendations that manufacturers put out there is that the bulbs should be replaced every 6 to 12 months in order to maintain the quality.

If you’re wondering about the amount of time required before replacing a bulb, let’s put it into perspective: a bulb that keeps on running for around 10 hours a day will only need to be replaced after around two years and unless you sleep with your lights on, yours will last a lot longer.

To sum it all up, the T8 light bulb is going to last you a little while longer than the T12 light bulbs since they lose properties at half the rate the others do, but that isn’t a big factor according to what manufacturers recommend, since they both start losing qualities at the same time – the time that manufacturers tell you to replace the bulbs in order to get better quality.

You want a new printer but are not sure about whether to get an inkjet or laser printer because you don’t the difference. Businesses are people are normally faced with this dilemma when buying a printer. Many buyers work under minimal budget obligations and it is quite normal to consider initial purchasing costs and space limitations. However, it is important to consider the long-term operational costs associated with each printer.

The differences between inkjet and laser printers is normally categorized into segments like speed, cost, maintenance, networking facilities and space. It is also equally important to understand the different technologies used in the manufacture of ink cartridges and laser toners as they influence the cost.

If you don’t the difference between inkjet and laser printers, not to worry! The process of buying a printer for your home or business shouldn’t be a heartache. This article will explain your options as well as how they will affect your pocket both in the short-term and long-term.

Laser Printers

Laser printers utilize heat to combine powdered ink on to paper. It doesn’t bleed on the paper, and for that produces sharp and very crisp results. They are the best printers for printing lengthy documents with lots of words. They are also very fast and will bring out very clear text. They are also good for image printing, but not highly recommended for high quality or commercial printing.

Major points include:
1. Speed
2. Heat
3. Very clear documents
4. Ideal for text

You can also check for sites like Amazon for good customer reviews and ratings.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers on the other hand spray small, microscopic ink dots on the paper. The ink is absorbed into the paper and slightly bleeds. You can get special paper that doesn’t bleed as normal paper. An inkjet printer can be used to print word documents, but they won’t be as sharp and crisp because of the bleeding. Bleeding is actually useful for images because this is where gradients really work.

They are a good choice of you are looking to print photos and images the most. Majority of photo printers are actually inkjets with a couple of additional features.

Major points include:
1. Ink bleeding which is bad for text but great for photos.
2. Microscopic dots.
3. Ideal for photos.

You can also check for sites like Amazon for good customer reviews and ratings.

Cost of Ownership

Inkjet printers tend to be slightly cheaper than laser printers. The same applies for the printers themselves and the toner/ink. However, inkjet printers cost more per page because they are less efficient. For this reason, inkjet cartridges will be cheaper, although you’ll need to buy them on a regular basis.

1. An inkjet printer is slightly cheaper.
2, Inkjet cartridges are cheaper.
3. A laser printer is more efficient.
4. A laser printer cartridge will last longer, meaning you’ll visit the store less often.

Black & White Vs Color

You can buy black and white or color versions of inkjet printers and laser printers. Keep in mind that laser printers cost more, so color laser printers will even be more expensive. The upside is that you’ll refill your laser way less frequently.

How About All In One Printers?

When you buy all in one printers, you’ll still need to choose between inkjet and laser. They both use different technologies. Inkjet and laser all in one printers typically offer faxing, scanning, copying and printing features.

Can The Printers Connect To My Home Wi-Fi?

Both these printers have Wi-Fi capabilities, but it’s not all of them with such capabilities. You’ll need to pay special and detailed attention each time you purchase a printer to make sure that it will be able to connect to your home network, if you want that.

Difference in Printing Speeds Between Inkjet and Laser Printers

While laser printers may lose out on their counterparts in terms of price, they are however much further ahead when it comes to printing speed. Users in need of large printing volumes prefer to purchase laser printers. Laser printers to be better suited to simple office work than inkjets. The cheaper laser printer has the ability to print about 10 to 15 pages a minute.

Inkjets are normally classified on their speed of quick printing or draft mode, which is ideally suited for proofreading. An HP Business Inkjet 2800dtn, a fast printing color printer with the ability to print at speeds of 21 pages per minute black, and 15 pages per minute, color mode. The speed does however drop significantly when printing top quality black text or printing quality photos.

Which Printer Should You Purchase For Your Home Network?

Both these printers print text and photos. However, you need to think about what’s more important to you, or what you’ll be using the printer for.

If you intend on printing text documents, then you should go for a laser printer. If you are however interested in printing high quality photos, then you should go for an inkjet printer.

If you are on a minimal budget, you may want to consider an inkjet printer as this may be your best option. If you don’t mind spending a bit more, then a laser printer will prove to be more expensive initially, but it will save you lots of money in the short and long-term future.

After everything has been said and done, the rest is up to you on which printer you will buy. Always go for one that will suit your needs and requirements.

Plasma screens were once the peak of the HDTV. Okay, to be fair, for a while they were the only way to watch television in HiDef. Initially, LED technology was not affordable to the average consumer, so even once LED’s hit the main stream, they were slow to build the vast reputation they have today. In point of fact, the LED has arrived so comfortably within the consumer price range and across a wide spectrum of budget devices, Plasma viewing is just not holding the ranks anymore.

LED Technology

That doesn’t make it less than the LED technology, it makes it more expensive to use than the more than capable counterpart. Plasma, in many ways, is already becoming nostalgia, with the flood of LED products on the market. But what makes the two HD platforms unique of the other? The main difference is in the way the screens are lit. One uses what have been called liquid crystals and the other uses something that looks in many ways like the tiny colored bulbs on the Light Bright you may have had as a child.

LED screens are lit using light emitting diodes (or led), which is a 2 lead semi conductor light source. Plasma screens use CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent) lights to create crystal clear detail and brilliant color. During the inception and adaptation phases of each, Plasma was the evident forerunner. But then something in the engineering and size of the individual diodes changed. LED technology was gaining ground, getting more advanced… Becoming something fantastic and equivalent to the early leader. With something better to offer in the long run.

LED is carried on a variety of devices now and has proven to be more than a cost efficient alternative to the old style. The use of LED’s as the technology changes is finding other economic advantages as well. The radiance that the diodes produce is becoming less and less a source of energy burning as they become engineered to operate more greenly. Not that they were unfriendly to begin with, but it is clear that LED architects have labored to create these light sources to do more with less.

Plasma Screens

The cold cathode of Plasma screens is not electrically heated with a filament. It proves extremely efficient and is used in a wide array of lighting in both commercial and domestic applications. The LED has provided a shape-able foundation that can be modified and molded into countless generations of upgraded efficiency. With only two major home theater companies still making Plasma TVs, it won’t be much longer until we retire the format completely, sending it off with a toast, in memory of its days in the sun.

The Ultrabook is a trademarked brand by the magnificent minds of Intel. It’s based on a similar design as its predecessor. Both the Notebook and Ultrabook designs are considered a categorization or class of computer. The spec differences between them are also what divides their categories. The lighter and more mobile Ultrabook has been described as a sub-notebook.

The Unique Design of an Ultrabook

The slimmer, sleeker appeal of the Intel design is only the beginning of the points that separate the Ultrabook from its heavier forefathers. While different brands of notebooks use a wide variety of processors, the Intel brand uses the Core processor, making it unique in form and function. Whereas any standard can be set for an individual brand of notebook, the Ultrabook has only one standard. And Intel has set the bar high. The quality, dependability and ultra portability of the new design is fast making it a preferred choice by business professionals on the go.

The Ultrabook is really the next step in the evolutionary process of personal computers. It cuts the weight and bulk of the traditional notebook without sacrificing function, battery strength and life, or compatibility with necessary daily tasks. It would seem that the Ultrabook has shown up with its gloves on, ready to push out the old format in many ways.

Standing Notebooks

But it isn’t for everybody, not yet. In many ways, it can do everything a standard notebook can do, better. But there are those particular arenas that would still prefer the classic. Mainly, this can be found specifically in screen size, oriented debates. However, for the vast majority of individuals with a thousand things in their schedule and less time in a day than is necessary, the Ultrabook seems like a wise investment. Things are going to move in the direction that Intel has taken with this incredible advance in industry standard. They have led the way once again into a new era of tech.

The Ultrabook has come into its own, with a multitude of choices that the traditional notebook or laptop just doesn’t offer. The hybrid capability of some Ultrabooks is a powerful force to reckon with. Being able to manipulate the setup of the hardware, or choose a touch screen option makes what you can do worlds apart from the old, faithful, clam shell design. And while the system of the slimmer machines may heat up more with prolonged use. Students will find the features of the smaller platform to be amazingly useful.

Ultrabooks are currently quite a bit more expensive than notebook competitors with the same specs. But given everything taken into account and the future applications for the Ultrabook, it seems that the investment into a new dawn of daily use technology may prove fruitful. The notebook is not being challenged by the onset of the Ultrabook, instead it is being replaced by it.

The Pentium trademark is a brand name given to a line of processors developed by Intel. At the point when the line was designed, it served as Intel’s “mid range” of units. It is widely accepted that, along the spectrum of machines offered by the tech corporation, Pentium was in between the Core technology (being on the high end) and the Celeron series of processors. The Celeron branding from Intel was introduced as a budget friendly processor on the low end of the company’s devices.

What Is a Pentium Processor?

Pentium processors are typically used in machinery capable of more power, to operate at higher speeds. Other qualities of the processor include a larger memory and storage capacity. Celeron was offered with either x86-64 or IA 32 technology. On these systems, many features were intentionally locked so the cheaper processors would not be bogged down as easily. CPU’s using this lower class of processor were often denounced for being slow or “quirkie”. And while that may seem the case, especially these days with processors operating on completely different levels, the original Celeron units, offered a solid budget category processor in comparison to others on the market.

The Celeron Processor

While the use of Intel’s Celeron processors is still quite frequent, more users in the budget range have the ability to purchase higher quality processors. The Pentium series has created a user base of many millions. The price of the processors have dropped significantly as the availability of features has been dramatically increased. Today, Pentiums are one of the most widely chosen processors due to their excellent performance and affordability. 2014 marked the twenty year anniversary of the Pentium brand. To earmark the occasion, they released a new design as an edition to the line.

New Designs and Technologies

The newer designs of Celeron are created using the same platform as the Core line, with about 2/3s of the all around capabilities. Their micro-processors have been and are currently used in thousands upon thousands of devices aimed at the budget minded consumer. The technology in the “lower” series of processors has grown vastly in capability since it’s foundation and with units becoming cheaper and more efficient all of the time, there is not a likely end to the improvements and quality of the Intel standard.

Pentium and Celeron, both lines are improved on a regular basis. With Pentiums, however, the improvements have appeared in a more drastic fashion. Adding new features and advancements with more frequency and on a larger scale, over time. Pentiums have the advantage over Celerons in four main categories. Clock speed. Cache memory. Core. Bus speed. In some of these areas, the performance of the Celeron is half, to two-thirds of the Pentium processors’.

DSL is a form of high speed internet. Other forms would include Cable, Fiber or Satellite. DSL (or Digital Subscriber Line), is provided through telephone wires. Digital data is passed from a source to it’s recipient by way of a cable into the home or facility that are at the end point. High speed internet covers the various ways digital data is transferred at a rate quality higher than previous standards. It was a welcome change in the flow of information to the average consumer, who up until the point of high speed digital internet, was limited in the tasks and functions they could perform.

What Sets These Services and Speed Apart?

Improving data rates, the “broadband” connection allows a greater amount of information at faster speeds than the dinosaur “dial up” connection could provide. DSL moves data in a specific high speed format, which is what makes it a category of the broader term. The bit rate of a digital subscriber line for the average consumer varies between 256kbits to 100MBits delivered to an individual recipient. High speed has been defined as having 256kbits or higher to be considered “broad band therefore qualified as “high speed” .

DSL has been considered to be the “dominant technology” in the high speed delivery options. Other versions of high speed , such as some of the cable and fiber formats, cost more to produce equal or often less access speeds. This “dominance” has been achieved by DSL because of the way the technology operates. carried through high frequency waves, in a sense “compacting” the information into a more efficient delivery system. It costs suppliers and providers less to produce this transmission of data, than it does other mediums, where it takes a more exclusive infrastructure to pass information.

More providers choose DSL over any other form of high speed delivery method. So, it is more widely available to consumers than the others. But that is not all it has as an advantage. According to third party lab analysis, DSL has been claimed the most reliable of the services. In addition to it’s more reliable connections, it seems that the form of data delivery provided by the DSL format serves as a better platform for upgrades. If that is the case, providers of DSL see the longevity that exists within the digital delivery design. In reality, the relevance of DSL to high speed is, what Steven Spielberg is to . He didn’t create the stages or the town, but he sure seemed to own it for a long time. DSL didn’t create high speed it was just the method used to show the providers the right way to get it done.

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are like the student and the master, going head to head. Though in this case, the student can’t ever outperform the master, because there can be only one AutoCAD, which has been around since 1982 as a desktop application. If you plan to operate on any professional level and be able to perform tasks that meet industry standards with ease, then your only choice is AutoCAD. It’s unfair to try and stack these two up side by side because they are in two different leagues.

AutoCAD LT

AutoCAD LT was first offered in 1993 as a cost effective alternative to the original design. However, in cutting the price of the program, some significant traits of the more capable software are lost. The loss of so many options and features is staggeringly notable. If you are looking for something to sketch design, or if you are just starting out, the LT version would be just fine. Similarly, a student or teacher might find this version useful or acceptable for classroom use. But that is where it’s applications stop, in any real way.

How Do They Differ

One of the first and most obvious differences between the original and newer edition programs is that the LT version does not allow for 3D design. There is simply no platform available on the light version for applications having to do with this type of work. So, if your project involves 3D design or 2D to 3D crossover layouts, you need to use the father program.

Tools and Applications

The express tools that are available on the full version are not supported on the LT format. If you’ve never had them, it may mean nothing, but once you have used them it becomes an apparent loss to not have them as a possibility. The abridged program doesn’t allow for the standards checking feature that the parent software utilizes. Thus making it difficult to abide by industry standards when drafting.

The customizing options available on the full AutoCAD software make it possible to arrange the tools and applications into an effective format specifically to the user. The junior programs customizing features are nearly nonexistent. The more capable AutoCAD, also offers network licensing, giving the user the ability to connect with other hardware. With the lighter counterpart, there is no network sharing, so if you have multiple stations for your work, you will need multiple licenses.

Parametrics is another area where the LT version falls short. You cannot create parameters with the light application. That is a problem if you are designing for a finished product. At least, it makes the task more difficult.

There is no profiles option available on the streamlined version of the program. This makes some applications a chore and completely eliminates others. The reference manager is an area that there is some question as to why it is not simply included on the LT format. It is useful but not necessary in either format.