Universal Serial Bus (USB )

Q: What does USB stand for?

A: It stands for Universal Serial Bus

Q: What Is USB?

A: USB is a specification that allows computer peripherals to be attached to the outside of the computer. It eliminates the need to install cards into dedicated computer slots and reconfigure the system. USB is really an ultimate plug-n-play specification that no switches or jumpers are required to configure. One of the top benefits from USB is that users can install hardware without needing to reboot their computers. USB allows up to 127 devices to run at the same time on the bus, with hubs connecting to devices to the bus. The USB also provides a much higher transfer rates than the traditional RS-232 or parallel-port devices.

· One standard connector type - "one-size-fits-all."
· Hot insertion and removal - now you can attach and detach peripherals while your system stays up and running.
· Chain devices together - USB allows some peripherals to incorporate "hubs" that serve as connection points for other devices. This lets you use more than one USB-compatible device at a time.
· Automatic installation - when a USB-compatible peripheral is connected, PCs with USB automatically install and configure the necessary drivers and system resources.
· Separate power cord not required - most USB devices get their power through the USB bus (connection) itself, so only one cable is needed.
· Faster - USB transfers data 10 times faster than traditional serial ports.

Q: What devices support USB?

A: Almost any I/O (Input/Output) device can be used with USB. They include Mice, Keyboards, Joysticks, Scanners, Monitors, Zip Drives, Telephones, Cameras and Printers.

Q: What is USB 2.0 and will it replace the original?

A: USB 2.0 runs at a whopping 480 Mbps and features complete backward compatibility with the original USB. USB 2.0 will most likely not completely replace its predicator because, simply, a keyboard or mouse doesn’t need 480 Mbps bandwidth. While peripherals won’t utilize 2.0, it will be great for web cams, digital cameras, etc.

Q: How fast is USB?

A: USB is designed to run at 12 Mbps with a sub-channel running at 1.5 Mbps.

Q: I have Windows 95, Can I still use USB?

A: The original Windows 95 cannot use USB no matter whether you have USB or not. You need to have Windows 95 OSR 2.1 (Service Release). If not you can download the supplement for Windows 95B.

Q: Will I need special software to run USB with other Operating Systems?

A: No, what you need is Windows 95B ,Windows 98, Windows 2000, or MacOS 8.5 (found in iMac and G3 systems). The operating systems pretty much cover the software side. If you got a USB device, either the operating systems have the necessary drivers or the manufacturers ship with the required software/drivers for the hardware.

Q: I don't have USB, Can I add it to my PC?

A: You must have an available PCI slot to install USB PCI card. OS requirement is Windows 98 or Windows 95 OSR2.

Q: Is USB support stable?

A: Good question. USB is a relatively new specification, Windows 98 was really the first OS to have what Microsoft considered full USB support. Unfortunately while the majority of USB devices work fine, Windows 98 did have many USB related problems.

Monitor

The monitor is a television-like box except it is used in a computer for display. You can't use the computer at all without a monitor. The monitor is different from the television is many ways. It is flatter compared to the television. Television refreshes the screen by interlacing while the monitor is using non-interlaced functions. Monitors uses pixels to display, making it finer and better to display text.

Larger Resolution, Smaller Display

One thing you should know, since monitors measure by pixels, you should always set the resolution right. A larger resolution uses smaller pixels, making everything smaller but you have a larger view. The default is 640x480 but most prefer 800x600. For larger monitors, you can decide on 1024x800 or 1280x1024. Also remember, since there are more pixels, the higher the resolution, the slower the screen refreshes.

Decide On A Screen Filter

Although computer screens are just 30% of the radioactivity from the TV or less, you still might want to consider a screen filter. It helps filter up radioactivity. Never settle for a cheap screen filter. A lousy one won't filter the screen - it just darkens it. Always make sure that it won't make everything look dark. Some good screen filters provide a wire to clip it at the back of the casing to lose the radioactivity.

On the other hand, you should also make sure you don't need one. Here are a few points to guide you.

• Your computer (& monitor) is placed under a bright place and can balance with the brightness of the monitor
• Your monitor is anti-glare and non-reflective.
• Your monitor produces little static and radioactivity.
• Your monitor produces clear, crisp and not-too-bright images.
• You won't have problems staring at the monitor for a long time.
  If your monitor fits that criteria, you can forget the screen filter.

Blink Your Eyes!

This is not actually a hardware tip, just to let you know how important it is to blink your eyes. Your eyes don't actually get strained staring at the monitor, just loses moisture and making the eyes dry. It has been proven that people staring at the monitor for a long time has the tendency to blink less than the normal rate. Make an effort to blink your eyes. If not, try eye moisture drops.

Degauss

Degauss is a very important function that helps you restore your monitor when colors are distorted or you noticed weird colors at the corners of your monitor. This is cause by magnetization that can be caused by jerking the monitor, shifting to a different direction or moving it across the globe (different magnetic field). The degauss control removes magnetization from your monitor.

Use the degauss control lightly. You should only degauss if you see color purity problems. Otherwise, don't use it. Too much degaussing stresses the circuitry components and overheats the large coil around the CRT. If possible, when the display clears up, shut down the monitor/computer for a while to let it cool down.

Take Control

When your monitor comes, modify the factory default setting of your monitor! Get more colors or brightness. And stretch the screen to the fullest! Although this may sound trivial, a lot of people just think it's alright to follow the original setting, losing valuable screen space, you will be surprised to know how much bigger you can stretch the screen. A bigger display is always better.

Free space to keep

How much free space should you maintain on your computer’s hard drive? Most experts recommend that at least 20% of the drive be kept available.

The extra space is used to store temporary files by applications you use, defragmentation programs, and new files and programs you’ll undoubtedly add as you use you computer.

When you can no longer keep at least 20% of your drive free, it’s time to think about upgrading a larger drive.

Access the BIOS

On the inside, every PC is built around the motherboard. The circuit board does not get much publicity, but it’s important, since every other component in your system attaches to it.

You can configure the way that your motherboard interacts with other components in your system by reading about your computer’s BIOS setup program, which is usually available by pressing Del or F2 as your computer boots up.

Spend some time reading about your motherboard in your computer’s documentation.

When Flash cards die

You’re on holiday and you’re taken hundreds of photographs with your digital camera. Suddenly, it freezes and an error-message appears on screen. Your memory card is corrupted.

Don’t panic. Immediately remove your memory card from the camera (don’t even think of formatting it) and keep it in a safe place.

While your PC may not be able to read data from your card, data-recovery software can (try Google or go to www.datarescue/photorescue/ ). In most cases, you can actually recover up to 90% of the photo on your dead memory card.

Keep It Cool & Quiet

For most people, the standard cooler that comes with the computer is good enough. But for those who want a really quiet computer, it is worth looking at third-party cooler that keep the processor cooler and yet run quieter.

Two coolers that have recently gained recognition are Scthye Ninja SCNJ-IIOOP and the Zalman CNPS 9700 LED. However, users should make sure that the coolers are compatible with their processor and motherboard and will fit in their casing before purchasing one.