Internal and External Ports

The Dell Vostro 430 has a lot of external and internal ports.
The Vostro has 10 external USB ports and two internal USB ports. It has a DVI output for video. It has two headphone outs, and microphone ins one on the back and the other on the front. It also has a serial PS/2 for keyboard and mouse, and RJ-45 Ethernet. And a dell 19 in 1 media card reader. These are plenty of all the inouts and outputs i could possibly need. Since most of my media storage is with a USB card or a micro SD cards.

Computer System: Storage

Of course there are several options of potential storage space on this PC from 500GB to 1TB. The 1TB (7200RPM) is a great option because it doesn't increase the price of the PC by much and allows for ample storage space. I use a great deal of memory to store my music, videos, podcasts, and applications. They also offer a secondary hard drive for the PC. I don't believe I need a secondary hard drive as 1TB would be plenty to store everything I need. Although, I would like an external hard drive of 1TB to back up my computer files on a regular basis in case of a crash or virus penetration. This 1TB hard drive is an upgraded option for this PC.

Computer System: Ram

Stating once again that price isn't a big factor in the purchase of this new PC because I plan on using this PC for personal use and buisness eventually. I selected the 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHZ - 4DIMMs for the RAM on on this PC. I selceted this ram because of its fast clockspeed and its multiple channels to process information simoultaniously. This will benift me greatly in running multiple applications at one time and be able to access information quickly.

Processor and Motherboards/Buses

This computer is an investment that one day I would like to help me make money. That being said price really isn't that big of an issue. The processor I choose is the Intel Core i7-870 w/vt (2.93Ghz 8mb L3 cache) I like this processor because of the large cache space this makes for a high performing computer. I don't pay much attention to the clock speed on processors because it sometimes makes the processor look slower than it really is. And to go along with all this cache space is a 4gb dual channel DDR3-SDRAM 1333mhz . I don't think this is too much I will be running some complicated applications and multiple ones at that so I do believe it is necessary to upgrade.

Base configuration, Form Factor

I choose the the Vostro 430desktop. When I purchase my new computer I want a high performing PC that can run multiple applications at one time. Perferably a two screen monitor set-up. I would also like a Pc that runs the new Windows 7. I plan on opening up my own buisness within the next few years and purchaseing a computer is a big investment so performance is a must. I would also like to run a dual-monitor setup. I choose the Vostro because it has 3Gigs of sdram and it has the quad core power processor. I feel like this would be a good place to begin.

Social Networking

I am currently using facebook as my social networking providor. Although your not just limited to one social networking I havent opened up any accounts on twitter or myspace. I really don't use social networking as much. I know a few social networkis I wouldnt join is BlackPlanet.com I think I don't fit the requirements, Elftown this social networking site is based on sci-fi and fantasy-not really something I am interested in. Most social networking sites are specified to a particular area, but some such as facebook, myspace, and twitter are general sites where you can discuss pretty much anything. I think this is why these sites have grown to their sizes. Facebook tops off at 350,000,000 users. Of course above all these three have the most integration with other web-sites because of their popualrity that alone is a good benifit. Depending on where life takes me will decide which other social networking sites I would join. All these sites are useful in a way because you get to interact with individuals and discuss ideas with peers. Currently the only uses that i use this sites for is my school work such as this site and facebook to interact with my peers. Those social sites work and fit my needs for now. Withen an ever changing world my needs might change and i purse some other social networking sites.

E-mail Platforms

I currently use Hot-mail as my main e-mail. I have been thinking about changing over to google though. trying to integrate all my accounts into one main provider. Google mail has many features that are not provided by hotmail, although many features are the same. Such as a spam filter. A feature that I like is the search method with google mail. this allows you to search through your messages to find a particular message without scrolling around the inbox. The particular storage size of google is 4GB now far exceeding hotmails. Google also offers purchasable storage; as does hotmail. My main reason for wanting to change is that I already have a google account and I would like to be with all one provider. Eventually in the future I would like to use Outlook, maybe when i can afford to pay for it. That day might come when I own a business if my own and many features that outlook has would fit the needs of that.

Internet Browser and tools

I currently use internet Explorer 8 as my main internet browser. I am quite familiar with the functions and set-up. Their are several otherkinds of internet browsers out their such as AOL, Firefox, Safari, and Google chrome. a comparison of these browsers are available at HTTP://internet-browser-review.toptenteviews.com/ I have chosen to use internet explorer 8 becuase it fits alot of what i need. Easy access to search bar, favorites lists, tabbed browsing, security, pop-up blockers, good start-up speed, etc.

Media Applications

There are several Media applications out there sucha s editing tools and music/video players. Personally i don't use any of the editing software such as Avid, and windoes publisher. I do use windows media player to play most of my music files and videos downloaded onto the PC sometimes quickplayer. Winamp is also available online and i know many people who prefer to use this media player over others. It is available for free online from winamp.com. I have heard of image viewers and editors. I don't really use these applications much but adobe is one of the most widly used applications i also use adobe when transferring documents via e-mail as attachments. There are also several Video editing software avalabile, such as Sony creative software, Windows has their own version and there are many others available. Most of this software is used for editing home movies publishing them etc. Personally I don't use these softwares much, but hope to get into them at somepoint.

Productivity Suites

There are several Productivity suites available to my use. Such as smart suite, Star Office, System suite 8, and Microsoft Office professional 2007. For my new personal computer i choose to use Microsoft Office professional 2007 because I am quite familiar with the software and its functions. The cost of this software various depending on the types of applicaiton it contains. Personally I would choose the standard version of Offics 2007. Simply because the available applications fit the needs of my current lifesytle. I need to be able to create presentations for school and work using powerpoints, I keep track of my work inventory using excel, type papers using microsoft word, and send and receive e-mails using outlook. The rest of the applications are pointless to me and those systems can cost as much as $600. The standard set-up costs around $239.00.

Pop-up Blocker and Web filter

If you are already using Internet explorer 8 than there should be a pop-up blocker already installed within this software for free. Since I already have choosen to install Norton 360; this software comes with a pop-up blocker and a web filter integrated into the software. This software costs around $50 a year. I have explained through previous blogs why I have choosen this software over others. Mcafee also offers their own version of a web-filter and pop-up blocker seperate from their main virus protection software. This costs around $30 a year and I didn't choose this because it is not integrated with their main virus protection, which in-turn drives up the cost of the overall software protection. Norton protects against all possible phishing and mal-ware that could possibly harm your computer, really both of these softwares do. it regualry updates itself allowing the user to protect the PC from new forms of malware and spyware and other types that can slow the processing of information on the pc when useing the internet. Norton also offers the use of form-fill when ordering products on-line. which i like alot. They also offer a security to block people from accesing personal and financial information off your PC.

Spyware/Malware

For my personal computer i have selected Norton 360 as my virus protection and spyware/Malware protection. This software offers extensive support in these areas. They regulary update their software and send the updates to you. The cost is around $50 a year to keep updated. The software only works if you keep the account open with them and pay. Thats one downfall, but you never have to worry about not being protected. I don't really like to choose the free spyware/malware protection becasue I don't belive they are as trustworthy as the ones that you pay and they don't regularly update themselves to protect against new attacks. This software also comes with a web filter. (hints the name 360, it covers all degrees of possible infiringment on your computer) I decided to steer clear of using mcafee I don't like the fact that you have to install severall different forms of the softare to cover all your bases on the system. This in turn drives up the cost of the software overall; ranging from $50 to $75 a year. If you install all the different kinds of software though you can cover all the bases in protecting your system, but you have to access these through different windows which i don't like. Thats why i choose Norton 360.

System Software: Virus Protection

Norton Anti-virus is the current virus protection that I use. They offer a number of different protection softwares such as Noton 360 and Norton anti-virus. These softwares are not free although they do offer a free trial period. I currently use Norton 360 on my PC and like it alot even when I build my new PC I will probabbly remain with this software it offers unprecidentied service and covers a wide range of virus protection. Such as internet security, Anti-phishing, Anti-spyware, Identity protection, bot protection, Start-up protection, and Internet back-up files.
AVG- antivirus is free virus protection that you can DL. It offers the very basic virus protection needs for basic PC users. You'll get a combined antivirus and antimalware engine, LinkScanner, and e-mail scanning.
Avast is another free virus protection but still only offers limited protection form havkers, spyware and antispamming software.
McAfee is not free based virus protection software. This software or at least the McAfee total protection offers a lot of different protections. Such as Firewall software, spyware, spam filters, online file backup, and anti-malware software.
Like I mentioned Earlier I have selcted the Norton 360 because of the unprecidented coverage of areas that it offers. Although I may be as some would say a basic PC user I want my PC to be as protected as much as possible because yoou never know when your status will change or when you will use information that you want to keep out of other peoples hands.

System Software: Operaqting System

There are several different versions of windows that are compatiable with my PC.
Windows XP all versions:
Windows Vista all versions:
Windows 7 all versions:
I currently use Windows XP Home Premium. This OS meets all my current computing needs for school, work and entertainment. I have also installed windows office 2007 on the PC and the operating system handels it brilliantly. I didn't select vista because of the glitches and talk that people said it waasn't as good as XP. I would like to try Windows 7 I haven't had an oppertunity to but i like alot of their features. Such as the split screen when working on two projects at the same time. I didn't select the buisness or ultimamte versions of theses systems because they are beyond my needs. I don't need to access my PC from multiple computers and I don't currently run my own buisness. When I build my new PC I would like to Install Windows 7 on it mainly for the new features I mentioned earlier.

Internet Sources: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Good......http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/



What does the URL tell you?
That the website is written by a educational institute

Who is the author? And, how current is the information?
The author is The University of virgina and there are many authors that contributeds and verified information on the site. The copyright is 2009

What indicators are there that it is quality information? That it is published by an educational institute and that it is backed by associations and unions.

What do others say or think about this resource?
It has won many awards as to http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/project/project/awards.html

What's the purpose and intent of the resource? Are there better sources available?
The purpose is to get an idea of GW's life from a collection of papers he wrote or that were written about him. There are a lot of good internet sites about GW and this is one of the best.



The Ugly........http://www.marksquotes.com/Founding-Fathers/Washington/



What does the URL tell you?
That this site is a commercial site written by anyone other than an educational institution

Who is the author? And, how current is the information?
The author is unknown and the copyright information is 2001-2004.

What indicators are there that it is quality information?
I don't see any backing institutions or associations that back the website.

What do others say or think about this resource?
This information couldn't be found.

What's the purpose and intent of the resource? Are there better sources available?
The purpose of this website is to list several quotes by george washington on a singal page or site. This is a good site but due to its lack of credentials information would have to be verified through other websites before use.

All the news that fits

According to CIA World Fact Book There is 1.604 billion internet users according to a (2008) census. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html

We are all allowed to publich information on the internet through our own certain blogs etc. Of course this is up to the host of the website and if we host our own. factual information should always be double checked by the author and what site he might be posting that information to. I inquired most of my information just by looking over the search criteria. http://www.google.com/search?q=Who+is+allowed+to+publish+information+via+the+internet%3F&btnG=Search&hl=en&sa=2

Wikipedia (Part 1)

I use wikipedia often to find commen knowledge about a subject within a general area and than explore my search further to other informative websites. I belive wikipedia can be used as a reilable research search for subject matter, but his/her search should explore more areas of information than just wikipedia. Wikipedia is a good source to find common information about subject matter but not a source I would accrediadate to. I belive the website should be used within a educational program in the same manner listed above.

Searching the internet effectivley

First Search - Thermoacoustics
308,000 results

Second Search - thermoacoustic refrigeration
62,000 results

Thrid Search - "Thermoacoustic refrigeration standing wave"
7,180 results

Fourth Search - "Thermoacoustic refrigeration standing wave" Penn State
1,090 results

Information security awareness

Are you absolutely certain your personal computer has virus protection software running? If yes, what virus protection software do you use? Yes, I use Norton Anti-virus software I keep it regularly updated and run checks on my computer regularly in search of corrupt files. I don't DL files through any P2P file sharing.

How strong is your password? My password strengh is great!

Does your computer have a firewall active? If your machine is running a firewall, what kind is it? What's the name of it? No, I don't run a firewall on my computer.

Are you absolutely certain your personal comptuer at home has ad/malware protection software running? If yes, what software are you using? Yes if this is simalriy to spyware than my computer runs it and its part of my norton securilt package.

Do you forward to friends and families strange photos, stories, please for help or security warnings? If yes, how often do you check to see if the messages you forward are true or valid? Most spam mail I delete without even opening I don't think its worth the chance to forward any of this useless mail to anyone.

Do you know what phishing or social engineering is? No I do not. Kind of an idea I do use facebook though.

Do you monitor your online image? Are you absolutely certain your social network profiles are private? Do you ever do vanity searches on the internet? Yes, i keep my profile on facebook only viewable to those who are my friends. I have never run a vanity check online and don't really know how. i check my credit report regularly throughout the year for any fraud.

Do you have a backup of your data? If so, where do you keep that backup? No I don't keep back-up files yet. i haven't had any use to all thats on my computer is school and music. My music is backed up through the company I use ZUNE. I plan to open my company soon in the next year, so i imagine I will be backing up files regularly than.

Personal Computer Use Profile

I use my computer for mainly personal and school related projects. Sometimes I use it for work only when I need to obtain information about a piece of equipment and usually that uses internet explorer. Most the time Im online I like to download music from zune and get online useing internet explorer. I also use all the microsoft applications such as powerpoint and word for school, sometimes spreadsheet. I know how to use a basic virus protection software. I use norton anti-virus and it seems to keep my computer pretty clean. I would like to learn how to use CAD software a little more throughly on my computer. I know how to add more hardware such as RAM and harddrive space.

What computer literacy means to me (revisited)

After doing more reaserach and reading the book chapter. Computer literacy means more than just knowing how to use a computer, but how efficient you can be in utilizing the technology to benifit you in the best posibble way. It allows and individual to make educated decisons based on information found to purchase items, working on school projects, and Being computer literate allows you to avoid viriuses and hackers that can damage your computer and knowing basic information about a computer allows the user to get the most out of his hardware.

What computer litralcy means to me.

Being Computer literate to me means being able to interact adicuatly using technolgies and programs developed for the coming times. I would consider myself to be somewhat computer literate I can interact ificiently by using windows and other programs developed for school and buisness work. Online interaction has become more commen and I have also taught mysef to change with the times. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. It depends all on how computer literate can you be? I don't know how to adjust alot of the settings on my computer most installations of programs I couldn't do without the assistance of an installation wizard and for the more complex networking I also find hard to understand simply because I havn't persued to conquer these tasks on my own. You can learn alot of things about yourself when you try pass or fail. Really never even blogged before I started this site besides facebook. But really being computer literate means understand your computer not just the programs that get you to the internet site your searching for but understanding how to adjust them to make things easier for you. How to adjust your settings and where to go to find information or at least where to look.

Hey

Hey Im here and ready for the class! My name is Wesley Williams and I just finished Vocational school for my employment to be a refrigeration technician. I am currently trying to get my associates of science degree here at LSC and plan to continue my education in engineering. I am a father of a great 2yr old little boy. I certainly wish to here from all of yall feel free to share a little about yourselfs and post links to your personal websites as well.