The HP Touchsmart computer

This diverse portfolio of projects is standard fare at Lunar, where John, an engineer-designer who would look at home as the bassist in an indie rock band, rallies the troops to create award-winning designs that have included everything from the Zootr to the ULTRA II SD PLUS flash memory card and a green version of San Disk's ImageMate Reader.

Lately, John says, the company's focus has been on best practices in sustainability, both within the company and in the designs they create. The group recently published the "Designer's Field Guide to Sustainability," and John regularly speaks at industry conferences on the topic.

All that's just fine, but as John noted recently on , the company's blog, "As designers, we have a panoply of motivations. We want our clients to be happy, for their products to sell in the millions, for our peers to admire us, for our work to matter to people, to make a difference in the world. But now I realize all that is meaningless. What we really want is for our work to be featured in the music video at the top of the charts. Check it: Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas uses the HP TouchSmart PC to frame their hypnotic vision of the future."

Set Up a Computer

Setting Up a Desktop Computer

Monitor and Computer Case on Desk Step 1
Unpack the monitor and computer case from the box. Remove any plastic covering or protective tape. Place the monitor and the computer case where you wish on the desk or work area.

Think about where you want your desk or work area to be located, and where in that area you want your monitor, computer case, and other hardware. Be sure to place your computer case in an area that is well ventilated and that has good air flow. It is important that the computer stay cool, as overheating is a concern, especially if you plan on leaving your computer turned on for long periods of time.

Monitor Cable Step 2
Locate the monitor cable. With PC computers, the ends of the monitor cable are often blue.

Monitor Port on Back of Computer Case Step 3
Locate the monitor port on the back of the computer case, and on the monitor. You may have to look under the screen to locate the port on the monitor. These ports are also called VGA ports and are usually blue.

Note: While blue VGA ports are common, monitors can be connected with other ports, such as the beige DVI port. Read the owner's manual if you have any questions about the type of monitor port your computer uses.

DVI Port

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Setting Up a Desktop Computer (cont.)

Monitor Port Under Monitor Screen Step 4
Connect the cable into the monitor port on the monitor. The pins on the cable fit the port in a specific way, so line up the cable connector and the port. Be careful not to force or bend the pins. If you have misaligned the pins, then they will bend very easily without much resistance.

Once the pins in the cable connector are pushed into the port, turn the plastic-covered screws on each side of the cable to secure it to the monitor.

Monitor Port on Back of Computer Case Step 5
Connect the cable into the monitor port on the back of the computer case. Like with the monitor, be careful not to misalign the pins with the port. Once the pins in the cable connector are pushed into the port, turn the plastic-covered screws on each side of the cable to secure it to the computer case.

PS/2 and USB Ports for Keyboards Step 6
Unpack the keyboard and locate the PS/2, or keyboard, port on the back of the tower. Plug the cable on the end of the keyboard into the PS/2 port. If the keyboard has a USB connector, locate a USB port on the back of the case and connect the keyboard.

Keyboard with PS/2 Connector

PS/2 and USB Ports for a Mouse Step 7
Unpack the mouse and locate the PS/2, or mouse, port on the back of the computer case. Plug the cable on the end of the mouse into the PS/2 port. If the mouse has a USB connector, locate a USB port on the back of the tower and connect the mouse.

USB Mouse

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Setting Up a Desktop Computer (cont.)

Audio Ports Step 8
If your computer uses external speakers, locate the bank of audio ports on the back of the tower and connect the speakers. In this example, the speakers are located in the monitor so speakers do not have to be connected.

The audio ports are often confusing. If your computer has color-coded peripherals that match the colors on the back of the computer case, then connecting the audio components is generally very easy. If the peripheral does not have a color-coded cable, then remember that the speakers will always go in the green port. Headphones connect to the pink port, and various other devices will connect to the blue port, which is the Line In port.

Additionally, many devices, including headphones, now come with USB connectors. In most computers, the USB ports are located directly above the bank of audio ports.

Plug Power Supply Cord into Computer Case Step 9
Plug the power supply cable into the back of the tower, and then into a surge protector power strip.

Power Supply Socket on Monitor Step 10
Plug the second power supply cable into the monitor, and then into the power strip with surge protection. The power supply port may be located beneath the screen on the monitor.

Power Supply Cable Plugged into Power Strip
Step 11
Plug the power strip into a wall outlet, and turn the power on to the monitor, tower, and any external speakers.

It is not a good idea to plug the computer directly into a wall outlet, due to the possibility of electrical surges. A power strip with surge protection is a good investment because it helps protect your computer from this. Some warranties may even exclude electrical damage, so a power strip is really important. Additionally, special power strips with noise filtration can be purchased if interference from multiple appliances is an issue.

You have other sources of protection, like an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which not only protects your computer from surges, but also serves as an alternate source of power in the event of power loss. As these decrease in price, some home users are finding a UPS a worthwhile investment.

Set Up Complete

Your basic computer hardware is now set up. You might be ready to start working, but before you do, spend a little time arranging your workspace. It needs to promote your productivity, but also be arranged in way that is comfortable and promotes health. The design and arrangement of our computer equipment is not simply a question of what looks nice, but how it can impact our bodies. Computer ergonomics is the science of equipment design and how specific equipment usage and placement can reduce the user's discomfort and increase productivity.

For example, to decrease injuries associated with the soft tissue in the wrists, keep your mouse at the same level as the keyboard and do not use wrist pads while typing. Additionally, to decrease eye strain and neck injuries, position your monitor screen so that your eyes are level with the top of the screen. There are numerous other guidelines regarding chair height, equipment placement, and more that can help you create an efficient and comfortable work area.

Basic Computer Setup Complete

Visit the U.S. Center for Disease Control website for more information about computer work area ergonomics
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After the Hardware...

Part of Windows Setup Wizard The computer box is empty, but your computer isn't fully set up yet. If you are working with a new computer, the manufacturer usually includes a guide to help you with the next steps.

Here are some of the things you can expect to do when you turn the computer on for the first time.

Customize Windows
Once you turn on your computer, you will be prompted to customize Windows to meet your needs. You will have to enter your product key, make decisions regarding the region and language settings, set the computer's date and time, and other administrative-type tasks.

Network Decisions
If you have a home network, you should probably select the typical installation setting, which is best for beginners, and enter a domain name. If you aren't connecting your new computer to a network, you'll be able to skip these steps.

Printer
Automatic Updates
The Windows installation wizard will complete the install process. You will be prompted to decide whether you would like to turn on automatic updates. This is up to you, but if you think you may forget to seek out updates, it is not a bad idea to have them prompted automatically.

Register Software
At the end of the installation process, a dialog box will appear that asks you how you connect to the Internet. You need to provide this information so that Windows can be activated and your copy of the software registered.

Connect Other Devices
Once Windows is running, you can connect your printer and other devices. Each printer and other peripherals install differently, so review the related instruction manual before connecting a device. For example, a printer from company A may require software to be loaded before the printer can work, while a printer from company B may simply require the device be plugged into a USB port.

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Challenge!

• If you have a desktop computer that is already set up at home, take a look at it.
• Look at the monitor cable and see where it connects to the computer case and monitor.
• Locate the power cords for the monitor and computer case.
• Locate the bank of audio ports.
• Do you have a USB or PS/2 mouse?
• Do you have a USB or PS/2 keyboard?

S.M.P.S (Switch Mode Power Supply)

The case is almost universally sold with the power supply installed and included in the price. You can build a PC on a workbench without a case (technicians often do this when testing parts), but it takes up a lot of space, interferes with the radio, and is awfully hard to pick up and move in one trip. The function of the case is to house all the parts that make up your PC, provide ventilation for the heat they generate, and protect the local environment from radio frequency interference.

All electrical devices that produce radio frequency emissions are required by law to be certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as no interfering with assigned broadcast frequencies. Computers produce a lot of radio frequency "noise" in the FM radio band and higher, but at very low power levels. Normally, if a computer in your home interferes with a radio or television, moving it to another room or even just changing its position by a couple feet will fix the problem.

Computer parts are sold as being FCC Class A or B approved. Class A is for business use, the Class B rating meets more stringent limits for residential use. Assembling a collection of approved parts is no guarantee that the completed computer would pass an FCC test suite for one rating or the other, but as a home hobbyist, you aren't required to have your computer tested. However, if you decide you love building PCs so much that you want to go into business selling thousands of them, you'll want to buy partially assembled or packaged systems that come with an FCC approval sticker.

Power supplies are equipped with a 115V/230V switch, so they can be set to 230 volts for Europe and most other regions of the world that don't use the U.S. standard 115 VAC distribution system. Just a few years ago, this 115 or 230 volts was wired directly to the switch on the front of the PC, like the switch on a lamp or a toaster oven. However, in all new PCs, the high voltage never leaves the power supply. The switch on the front panel is really just a logic switch that closes a circuit on the motherboard, which tells the power supply to come on at full power. The power supply is always providing a trickle of current to the motherboard to enable this "wake up" logic, whether the signal is generated by the power switch or by incoming traffic to the modem or network card.

ATX Power Supply

The second function of the power supply is to generate a cooling airflow for both itself and the other parts in the case. This fan in the power supply is thermion source of noise coming from most PCs. The manufacturers of the newest high-speed components often recommend that you include additional fans in the case of increase the cooling airflow. The most common location of a single additional fan is at the bottom of the front of the case, to draw in air. A second fan can be added under the power supply at the back of the PC to exhaust more hot air. The goal is always to increase the airflow through the case, not just to blow hot air in a circle, so don't install several fans to draw air into the case and none to exhaust it, or vice versa.

Can Flash Drives Still Make A Flash Business Gift?

About a decade ago, a sleek new device started appearing in offices and universities across the country. Some called them flash drives, some called them memory sticks, but whatever their name, they were set to change the way data is carried and transferred forever, paving the way for MP3 players, IPods and digital photo frames along the way.

When they first hit the market, flash drives were quite the exclusive item, boasting huge memory sizes and a technical edge over their rival the floppy disc. In the business world they became executive items that were only owned by those at the top of the company and therefore became extremely popular as business gifts, especially at the peak of the economic boom time.

A lot can happen in a decade, especially when technology is involved, and swift advances in the size and quality of the internal flash memory in the devices soon led to prices tumbling, pushing flash drives into the mainstream. The affordability of flash drives has increasingly led to them becoming extremely popular as promotional items, with companies choosing to get their brand noticed by handing out memory sticks adorned with their logo.

With flash drives now becoming a commodity, are they still valuable and effective as executive business gifts, used to reward and incentivise staff and thank customers? Or does their relatively cheap price now make them redundant as business gifts?

To answer this, we can look at the flash drive's predecessor and all time leader in the promotional stakes, the humble pen.

The promotional pen has become integral in the promotional world, reaching the point where almost every home and business in the country will have at least one giveaway pen adorned with the logo of a bank or insurance company.

Promotional pens have become so popular because of the ease in which they can branded coupled with their high practicality, meaning that they will be frequently used and increase the visibility of the brand.

Despite the fact that pens are incredibly popular as promotional items however, there is also a premium sector in the pen market, appealing to gift buyers and executives who want a high quality pen that reflects their personality and status. Although the concept behind a pen is pretty straightforward, the message that it can send out can make a big difference to the way somebody is perceived.

In a business environment, someone is unlikely to pitch to the directors or enter an important board meeting wearing a pair of scruffy trainers, just as they wouldn't enter the same environment using a chewed freebie pen with the logo of a local charity on it. At certain times, especially in the business world, the right pen is more than just a writing implement, it is part of a person's image.

The same can be said of flash drives. As well as promotional flash drives that are becoming increasingly popular, executive flash drives exist that will be more appropriate for certain situations and will make outstanding business gifts. Flash drives made from high demand materials such as silver and carbon fibre can add a certain amount of style and sophistication to a flash drive, putting them at a different level to the cheaper, plastic promotional drives.

Just as pens have a promotional level and an executive level, flash drives can also appeal to the mass promotional market and the executive level market. There are now flash drives for every occasion, and whether you're thinking about Christmas or a little further down the line, executive flash drives still make effective business gifts that are suitable for any occasion.

Diamond Heart Jewelry: Check For Imperfections

The round brilliant cut is seen as the gold standard for diamond cuts. Designed to maximize the potential of a diamond's brilliance, this cut is also known as the most improvident, with over half of the raw diamond disposed of to get to this ideal shape. Not to say that diamonds should exclusively come in this shape only. In fact, the diversity of diamond cuts adds to their overall appeal.

And diamond heart jewelry is as desirable as it gets. Heart cuts have a lot in common with the pear cut, but vary in height and width. The heart cut retains some brilliance found in the round brilliant cut, but also exhibits the diamond's other qualities, like clarity. Bear in mind that this shape was not invented casually. The heart cut is essentially the pear cut with a cleft added in.

Admittedly, diamond heart jewelry is not for everyone. Some people may feel that it is too juvenile to use in their wedding rings. Still, it is hard to question the romantic appeal of the heart shape. Since it is a relatively new cut, there are less regulations in making heart cut diamonds compared to round brilliant.

In comparison, with round brilliant cut diamonds, your primary concern really is just the brilliance of the piece. Diamond makers improved on Tolkowsky's Ideal Cut, the original standard for the round cut. Thanks to advances in the science of refraction and manufacturing technology, they're able to utilize a raw diamond's potential to reach maximum brilliance.

It is crucial that you do a quality check before you acquire any diamond heart jewelry. Particularly, you need to check that it does not have any blemishes, cracks or other imperfections. Some imperfections are not visible to the naked eye, but still alter the diamond's value. These imperfections do become apparent under the microscope, and are considered when the finished diamond is graded and priced.

If you prefer to get more value for your investment, you should watch out for enhanced diamonds. These are treatments performed on diamonds after they have been cut and polished, to remove these imperfections. Government regulations require that any enhancements be disclosed to potential buyers. These treatments diminish their value and are only performed on seriously flawed diamonds.

It is vital that you do a quality check before you obtain any heart jewelry. In particular, you need to confirm that it does not have any blemishes, cracks or other imperfections. With round brilliant cut diamonds, your primary consideration really is just the brilliance of the piece. You should be on guard for enhanced diamonds. These are treatments performed on diamonds after they have been cut and polished to excise these imperfections and reduce their value.

The Benefits of Yoga for the Physiological Level

Increasing flexibility. Cure and prevent Arthritis - The yoga poses (asanas), act upon the various joints of the body, including those joints that we never really use. By practicing yoga poses we can experience a remarkable increase in the flexibility of the joints, ligaments and tendons. Yoga is exercise and relaxation combined and this is the perfect anti-arthritis formula. Yoga's slow-motion movements and gentle pressures, reach deep into strained joints. Also, the easy stretches in conjunction with deep breathing exercises relieve the tension that binds up the muscles and further tightens the joints. 

Cure and prevent back pain - Back pain is the most common reason to seek medical attention in the West. Yoga has consistently been used to cure and prevent back pain by enhancing strength and flexibility.

 Massaging to all the internal vital organs of the body - Research has shown that yoga poses are the only form of activity that massages all of the internal glands and organs of the body and this promotes good health and well-being.

Complete detoxification - Yoga poses (asanas) helps to gently stretch the muscles and joints allowing the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps to flush the toxins out of the body. This leading to benefits such as delayed in ageing, providing energy and a remarkable zest for life.

Excellent toning of the muscles - Yoga practice can stimulate the muscles that have become flaccid and weak.

Provide balance in the nervous system - yoga is a great form of mediation in motion and that can balance the nervous system.

Reduction of stress - Because yoga practice is a slow and gentle form of exercise combined with breathing exercises, it can relieve body stress.

Cure and prevent respiration problems and asthma

Various studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of yoga for patients with respiratory problems. Physicians have found that the practice of asanas in combination with breathing exercises and meditation makes the treatment of asthma more effective. It has also been proved that asthma attacks can usually be prevented by yoga practice, without resorting to drugs. Patients who practice yoga have a better chance of gaining the ability to control their breathing problems. With the help of yogic breathing exercises, it is possible to control an attack of severe shortness of breath without having to seek medical help.

High Blood Pressure (hypertension)

The yoga postures, yogic breathing (pranayama) and the deep relaxation techniques (yoga nidra), which are basic components of yoga, have a major role to play in the treatment or prevention of high blood pressure and reduce the need for high blood pressure medication for people suffering from it.

Pain Management

Concentration during yoga postures, breathing exercises, deep relaxation techniques and meditation can also help reduce pain. Yoga is believed to reduce pain by helping the brain's pain centre regulate the gate-controlling mechanism located in the spinal cord and the secretion of natural painkillers in the body.

Weight Reduction

Yogic practices that reduce anxiety tend to reduce anxious eating. Regular yoga practice can help in weight management, for the reason that some asanas stimulate sluggish glands, to increase their hormonal secretions. There are specific asanas, such as the shoulder stand (Sarvangasana) or the fish pose (Matsyasana), which are targeted on the thyroid gland. This gland has a great effect on our weight because it affects the body’s metabolism rate. Fat metabolism is also increased, so fat is converted to muscle and energy and we have better muscle tone and a higher vitality level.

Also, the practice of “yogic breath” (yogic deep breathing) increases the oxygen intake to the body cells, including the fat cells. This causes increased oxidation or burning up of fat cells.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/the-benefits-of-yoga-548787.html

Packard Bell EasyNote Butterfly

Acer’s European arm Packard Bell launches the new EasyNote Butterfly m 15.6-inch latpop PC. The stylish notebook PC has a thin and light design at just 1-inch thin. With a 6-cell battery, the Butterfly m can run for up to 8 hours. The Windows 7 device is based on Intel CULV processor.

 

Packard Bell EasyNote Butterfly m Specs:

• Intel CULV Processor
• Max 4GB RAM
• ATI Radeon HD 4330 512MB Graphics Card
• 640GB Hard Drive
• 15.6-inch 1366×768 LED-backlight LCD Display
• Bluetooth 2.1
• WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n
• Stereo speaker with Dolby Sound Room Technology
• HDMI port
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Starting Price: Euro 599