High-Speed Internet - Cable Versus DSL

Introduction to Cable and DSLIf you're looking for life in the fast lane, and are interested in delving into the world of high-speed internet access for your home or office, there are two main contenders:
DSL
CableThe services are similar in that they'll offer you super-fast Web surfing; at least three times as fast as dial-up. They'll also allow you to download files, stream video or send sizable emails multiple times faster than dial-up. So, you can finally send those pictures of your kiddies to mom and dad.
Differences Between Cable and DSLBut, there are differences between cable and DSL that may affect which of these services you select.
Cable Versus DSL on BandwidthWinning the bandwidth or speed battle is usually 'Cable' modem Internet services. Cable download speeds are up to 2 times faster than DSL. But cable services can slow down significantly if many people are accessing the Internet at the same time in the same area. Basically, the same cable line often connects to many households in your neighborhood, so if you and your neighbor are both using the service at once, your speed may suffer and become more sluggish. That's also the reason why cable modem services may not always be as secure as DSL.
Cable Versus DSL on SecuritySince cable uses a shared line, anyone in your neighborhood could potentially access the same local area network or LAN that you use, and be able to click on your Windows Network. That means they could see your personal information or even download copies of your data. Make sure to put the proper security measures in place - like a firewall and anti-virus software - no matter which service you decide on.So, winning the battle over best security, definitely DSL!
Cable Versus DSL on InstallationWhen it comes to installation, cable has a leg up. All you have to do is call the cable guy and get the new line installed and then you connect the line to your modem. It's as easy as hooking up your VCR to your television.With DSL you'll need a phone line and it may require you to take multiple steps on your computer after you install the DSL modem that the phone company provides. You may also be required to put filters on all of your additional phone jacks.
Buy Cable or DSLThe last thing to consider is cost. DSL tends to be less expensive than cable. With DSL, look for package deals through your phone company that may also reduce your phone bill. Here's the catch with cable modem services, if you don't subscribe to cable then you may have to pay an additional monthly fee for the service. But cable subscribers should also search for package deals. The champ in the cost arena is DSL.Again, you can't go wrong with either service, and not all cities or locations offer both so your choice may be limited to one or the other. But, my pick for the overall winner in what is a very close match? CABLE. I'm Brett Larson, About Gadgets.

Are you tired of your slow modem chugging along and taking 3 hours to download the latest and greatest software updates? You don't have to face that problem anymore in most areas of Little Rock! High speed Internet access is available and most of your friends probably already have either cable modem access or DSL. Southwestern Bell says DSL is better than cable. Comcast says it's faster than DSL. What do you do? Who do you choose? I've had both running and am here to dish the dirt on the two major broadband Internet providers in Little Rock.
Good news about both:
Cable or DSL Internet access will both free up your phone line so you can make calls and surf the Internet at the same time. They will also both make downloading things like music and video quicker. Both can be configured for wireless access at your house and both can connect multiple home computers to one Internet connection.
Is it available?
First things first, you may not have a choice. DSL is location specific. You have to be close to the central office (or a DSL hub). If you're not, you're just going to have to choose a cable provider, like Comcast. Luckily, most areas in Little Rock have access to a DSL hub. Which is Faster?
Speedwise, I find both basic accounts are comparable. Speed of the DSL is relative to line condition and distance from the central office. Cable modem speed is less dependant on location. In my experience, if you have a good DSL connection the speed will be more stable than a good cable connection. Either way, both are FAST.
The basic account on Comcast offers 4 Mbps/384 Kbps. The basic account on SBC offers 1.5Mbps/384Kbps. Those are the "top speeds." I rarely acheive those speeds when I test my line. Both companies also offer enhanced accounts with even more speed. Which is Easier?
In the ease of use department, Comcast is king! You turn on your computer and you're online. You have to "connect" to Southwestern Bell DSL unless you modify your setup a bit. That is an inconvenience, but it's not that big of a drawback. The connection rarely times out. If you keep your computer on, you can basically be online 24 hours a day. I've left mine on for a week before disconnecting with no problems. How about the Install?
This will depend on the situation. If you have a security system or bad wiring, DSL will be hard to set up by yourself. Even the SBC technicians refused to install mine over a security system. If you don't have any special circumstances, you won't even see the tech. They send you a package in the mail with phone line filters that just plug into place and you're set.
Comcast also has self-install kits but cable can be a bit tricky to install. For best results, the modem should be on a main cable line instead of a branched line. If you've had cable for a while and have it in many rooms in your house it could be difficult to find a satisfactory cable. To make things more difficult, splitting a cable with even a high quality splitter can make connections less stable. The best choice is to have a technician install a new, dedicated line for your modem. They normally charge a fee for this but it's an investment worth making. Which is Cheaper?
Price is the next biggest factor. SBC normally has specials running (currently $14.95 if you sign a one-year contract) on the service. Modems and routers are purchased for about $99-149. The self install kit costs vary.
Comcast charges $42.95/month for current cable customers. Their enhanced service with faster speeds is $10 more. You can either buy a modem or rent it for $7 a month. The self install kit is $29.95 plus shipping. Professional installation is about $100.The Bottom Line
I like both and I really can't tell that much of a difference. Comcast seems more user friendly and they have an idiot proof "member center" where you can setup new things on your account, talk to tech support, test your connection, etc. No matter what you choose be sure to tweak your settings or you'll lose lots of speed. Have fun and be sure to check out this site when you get your super fast connection!

A wireless access point

A wireless access point (sometimes called an "AP" or "WAP") serves to join or "bridge" wireless clients to a wired Ethernet network. Access points centralize all WiFi clients on a local network in so-called "infrastructure" mode. An access point in turn may connect to another access point, or to a wired Ethernet router.
Wireless access points are commonly used in large office buildings to create one wireless local area network (WLAN) that spans a large area. Each access point typically supports up to 255 client computers. By connecting access points to each other, local networks having thousands of access points can be created. Client computers may move or "roam" between each of these access points as needed.
In home networking, wireless access points can be used to extend an existing home network based on a wired broadband router. The access point connects to the broadband router, allowing wireless clients to join the home network without needing to rewire or re-configure the Ethernet connections.
As illustrated by the Linksys WAP54G (compare prices) shown above, wireless access points appear physically similar to wireless routers. Wireless routers actually contain a wireless access point as part of their overall package. Like wireless routers, access points are available with support for 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g or combinations.

A wireless network adapter allows a computing device to join a wireless LAN. Wireless network adapters contain a built-in radio transmitter and receiver. Each adapter supports one or more of the 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g Wi-Fi standards.
Wireless network adapters also exist in several different form factors. Traditional PCI wireless adapters are add-in cards designed for installation inside a desktop computer having a PCI bus. USB wireless adapters connect to the external USB port of a computer. Finally, so-called PC Card or PCMCIA wireless adapters insert into a narrow open bay on a notebook computer.
One example of a PC Card wireless adapter, the Linksys WPC54G (compare prices) is shown above. Each type of wireless network adapter is small, generally less than 6 inches (0.15 m) long. Each provides equivalent wireless capability according to the Wi-Fi standard it supports.
Some notebook computers are now manufactured with bulit-in wireless networking. Small chips inside the computer provide the equivalent functions of a network adapter. These computers obviously do not require separate installation of a separate wireless

A wireless print server allows one or two printers to be conveniently shared across a WiFi network. Wireless print servers for home networks generally are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties.
Wireless print servers offer the following advantages:
Allows printers to be conveniently located anywhere within wireless network range, not tied to the location of computers
Does not require a computer be always turned on in order to print
Does not require a computer to manage all print jobs, that can bog down its performance
Allows administrators to change computer names and other settings without having to re-configure the network printing settings.
A wireless print server must be connected to printers by a network cable, normally USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. The print server itself can connect to a wireless router over WiFi, or it can be joined using an Ethernet cable.
Most print server products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete the initial configuration of the device. As with network adapters, wireless print servers must be configured with the correct network name (SSID) and encryption settings. Additionally, a wireless print server requires client software be installed on each computer needing to use a printer.
The Linksys WPS54G (compare prices) 802.11g USB wireless print server is shown. Print servers are very compact devices that include a built-in wireless antenna and LED lights to indicate status.

A wireless game adapter connects a video game console to a Wi-Fi home network to enable Internet or head-to-head LAN gaming. Wireless game adapters for home networks are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties. An example of an 802.11g wireless game adapter appears above, the Linksys WGA54G (compare prices).
Wireless game adapters can be connected either to a wireless router using an Ethernet cable (for best reliability and performance) or over Wi-Fi (for greater reach and convenience). Wireless game adapter products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial configuration of the device. As with generic network adapters, wireless game adapters must be configured with the correct network name (SSID) and encryption settings.

A wireless Internet video camera allows video (and sometimes audio) data to be captured and transmitted across a WiFi computer network. Wireless Internet video cameras are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties. The Linksys WVC54G (compare prices) 802.11g wireless camera is shown above.
Wireless Internet video cameras work by serving up data streams to any computer that connects to them. Cameras like the one above contain a built in Web server. Computers connect to the camera using either a standard Web browser or through a special client user interface provided on CD-ROM with the product. With proper security information, video streams from these cameras can also be viewed across the Internet from authorized computers.
Wi-Fi Internet video cameras can be connected to a wireless router using either an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. These products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial Wi-Fi configuration of the device.
Features that distinguish different wireless Internet video cameras from each other include:
resolution of the captured video images (for example, 320x240 pixel, 640x480 pixel, and other image sizes)
motion sensors, and the ability to send email alerts when new activity is detected and captured
ability to timestamp images
built-in microphones and/or jacks for external microphones, for audio support
types of WiFi security supported, such as WEP or WAP

A wireless range extender increases the distance over which a WLAN signal can spread, overcoming obstacles and enhancing overall network signal quality. Several different forms of wireless range extenders are available. These products are sometimes called "range expanders" or "signal boosters." The Linksys WRE54G (compare prices) 802.11g Wireless Range Expander is shown above.
A wireless range extender works as a relay or network repeater, picking up and reflecting WiFi signals from a network's base router or access point. The network performance of devices connected through a range extender will generally be lower than if they were connected directly to the primary base station.
A wireless range extender connects wirelessly to a WiFi router or access point. However, due to the nature of this technology, most wireless range extenders work only with a limited set of other equipment. Check the manufacturer's specifications carefully for compatiblity information.

Apple_Computer

Apple Inc., (NASDAQ: AAPL) formerly Apple Computer Inc., is an American multinational corporation which designs and manufactures consumer electronics and software products. The company's best-known hardware products include Macintosh computers, the iPod and the iPhone. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system, the iTunes media browser, the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software, the iWork suite of productivity software, and Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products. The company operates more than 250 retail stores in nine countries[4] and an online store where hardware and software products are sold.

Established in Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976 and incorporated January 3, 1977,[5] the company was called "Apple Computer, Inc." for its first 30 years, but dropped the word "Computer" on January 9, 2007[6] to reflect the company's ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers.[7] Apple has about 35,000 employees worldwide[3] and had worldwide annual sales of US$32.48 billion in its fiscal year ending September 29, 2008.[2] For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States.[8] In 2008, Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States

pple was established on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne,[10] to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. They were hand-built by Wozniak[11][12] and first shown to the public at the Homebrew Computer Club.[13] The Apple I was sold as a motherboard (with CPU, RAM, and basic textual-video chips)—less than what is today considered a complete personal computer.[14] The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 and was market-priced at $666.66.[15][16][17][18][19]

Apple was incorporated January 3, 1977[5] without Wayne, who sold his share of the company back to Jobs and Wozniak for $800. Mike Markkula provided essential business expertise and funding of $250,000 during the incorporation of Apple.[20][21]

The Apple II was introduced on April 16, 1977 at the first West Coast Computer Faire. It differed from its major rivals, the TRS-80 and Commodore PET, because it came with color graphics and an open architecture. While early models used ordinary cassette tapes as storage devices, they were superseded by the introduction of a 5 1/4 inch floppy disk drive and interface, the Disk II.[22]

The Apple II was chosen to be the desktop platform for the first "killer app" of the business world—the VisiCalc spreadsheet program.[23] VisiCalc created a business market for the Apple II, and gave home users an additional reason to buy an Apple II—compatibility with the office.[23] According to Brian Bagnall, Apple exaggerated its sales figures and was a distant third place to Commodore and Tandy until VisiCalc came along.[24][25]

By the end of the 1970s, Apple had a staff of computer designers and a production line. The Apple II was succeeded by the Apple III in May 1980 as the company competed with IBM and Microsoft in the business and corporate computing market.[26]

Jobs and several Apple employees including Jef Raskin visited Xerox PARC in December 1979 to see the Xerox Alto. Xerox granted Apple engineers three days of access to the PARC facilities in return for $1 million in pre-IPO Apple stock.[27] Jobs was immediately convinced that all future computers would use a GUI, and development of a GUI began for the Apple Lisa.[28]

1981–1985: Lisa and Macintosh
Steve Jobs began working on the Apple Lisa in 1978 but in 1982 he was pushed from the Lisa team due to infighting, and took over Jef Raskin's low-cost-computer project, the Macintosh. A turf war broke out between Lisa's "corporate shirts" and Jobs' "pirates" over which product would ship first and save Apple. Lisa won the race in 1983 and became the first personal computer sold to the public with a GUI, but was a commercial failure due to its high price tag and limited software titles.
Steve Jobs began working on the Apple Lisa in 1978 but in 1982 he was pushed from the Lisa team due to infighting, and took over Jef Raskin's low-cost-computer project, the Macintosh. A turf war broke out between Lisa's "corporate shirts" and Jobs' "pirates" over which product would ship first and save Apple. Lisa won the race in 1983 and became the first personal computer sold to the public with a GUI, but was a commercial failure due to its high price tag and limited software titles.

Computer science

Computer science
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Computer science (or computing science) is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems.[1][2][3] It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that describe and transform information; the fundamental question underlying computer science is, "What can be (efficiently) automated?"[4] Computer science has many sub-fields; some, such as computer graphics, emphasize the computation of specific results, while others, such as computational complexity theory, study the properties of computational problems. Still others focus on the challenges in implementing computations. For example, programming language theory studies approaches to describing computations, while computer programming applies specific programming languages to solve specific computational problems, and human-computer interaction focuses on the challenges in making computers and computations useful, usable, and universally accessible to people.

The general public sometimes confuses computer science with vocational areas that deal with computers (such as information technology), or think that it relates to their own experience of computers, which typically involves activities such as gaming, web-browsing, and word-processing. However, the focus of computer science is more on understanding the properties of the programs used to implement software such as games and web-browsers, and using that understanding to create new programs or improve existing ones.[5]
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
* 2 Major achievements
* 3 Fields of computer science
o 3.1 Theory of computation
+ 3.1.1 Theoretical computer science
o 3.2 Algorithms and data structures
o 3.3 Programming methodology and languages
o 3.4 Computer elements and architecture
o 3.5 Numerical and symbolic computation
o 3.6 Applications
* 4 Relationship with other fields
* 5 Computer science education
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links
o 9.1 Webcasts

[edit] History
Main article: History of computer science

The early foundations of what would become computer science predate the invention of the modern digital computer. Machines for calculating fixed numerical tasks, such as the abacus, have existed since antiquity. Wilhelm Schickard built the first mechanical calculator in 1623.[6] Charles Babbage designed a difference engine in Victorian times[7] helped by Ada Lovelace.[8] Around 1900, punch-card machines[9] were introduced. However, all of these machines were constrained to perform a single task, or at best some subset of all possible tasks.

During the 1940s, as newer and more powerful computing machines were developed, the term computer came to refer to the machines rather than their human predecessors. As it became clear that computers could be used for more than just mathematical calculations, the field of computer science broadened to study computation in general. Computer science began to be established as a distinct academic discipline in the 1960s, with the creation of the first computer science departments and degree programs.[4] Since practical computers became available, many applications of computing have become distinct areas of study in their own right.

Although many initially believed it impossible that computers themselves could actually be a scientific field of study, in the late fifties it gradually became accepted among the greater academic population.[10] It is the now well-known IBM brand that formed part of the computer science revolution during this time. IBM (short for International Business Machines) released the IBM 704 and later the IBM 709 computers, which were widely used during the exploration period of such devices. "Still, working with the IBM [computer] was frustrating...if you had misplaced as much as one letter in one instruction, the program would crash, and you would have to start the whole process over again".[10] During the late 1950s, the computer science discipline was very much in its developmental stages, and such issues were commonplace.

Time has seen significant improvements in the usability and effectiveness of computer science technology. Modern society has seen a significant shift from computers being used solely by experts or professionals to a more widespread user base.

[edit] Major achievements
This section requires expansion.
German military used the Enigma machine during World War II for communication they thought to be secret. The large-scale decryption of Enigma traffic at Bletchley Park was an important factor that contributed to Allied victory in WWII.[11]

Despite its relatively short history as a formal academic discipline, computer science has made a number of fundamental contributions to science and society. These include:

* Started the "digital revolution", which led to the current Information Age and the Internet.[12]
* A formal definition of computation and computability, and proof that there are computationally unsolvable and intractable problems.[13]
* The concept of a programming language, a tool for the precise expression of methodological information at various levels of abstraction.[14]
* In cryptography, breaking the Enigma machine was an important factor contributing to the Allied victory in World War II.[11]
* Scientific computing enabled advanced study of the mind, and mapping the human genome became possible with Human Genome Project.[12] Distributed computing projects such as Folding@home explore protein folding.
* Algorithmic trading has increased the efficiency and liquidity of financial markets by using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other statistical and numerical techniques on a large scale.[15]

[edit] Fields of computer science

As a discipline, computer science spans a range of topics from theoretical studies of algorithms and the limits of computation to the practical issues of implementing computing systems in hardware and software.[16][17] The Computer Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB) – which is made up of representatives of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society, and the Association for Information Systems – identifies four areas that it considers crucial to the discipline of computer science: theory of computation, algorithms and data structures, programming methodology and languages, and computer elements and architecture. In addition to these four areas, CSAB also identifies fields such as software engineering, artificial intelligence, computer networking and communication, database systems, parallel computation, distributed computation, computer-human interaction, computer graphics, operating systems, and numerical and symbolic computation as being important areas of computer science.[16]

[edit] Theory of computation

The study of the theory of computation is focused on answering fundamental questions about what can be computed, and what amount of resources are required to perform those computations. In an effort to answer the first question, computability theory examines which computational problems are solvable on various theoretical models of computation. The second question is addressed by computational complexity theory, which studies the time and space costs associated with different approaches to solving a computational problem.

The famous "P=NP?" problem, one of the Millennium Prize Problems,[18] is an open problem in the theory of computation.

P = NP ?
Computability theory Computational complexity theory

[edit] Theoretical computer science

The broader field of theoretical computer science encompasses both the classical theory of computation and a wide range of other topics that focus on the more abstract, logical, and mathematical aspects of computing.

P \rightarrow Q \, \Gamma\vdash x : Int
Mathematical logic Automata theory Number theory Graph theory Type theory Category theory Computational geometry Quantum computing theory

[edit] Algorithms and data structures

O(n2)
Analysis of algorithms Algorithms Data structures

[edit] Programming methodology and languages

Compilers Programming languages

[edit] Computer elements and architecture

Digital logic Microarchitecture Multiprocessing

[edit] Numerical and symbolic computation

y = sin(x) + c
Bioinformatics Cognitive Science Computational chemistry Computational neuroscience Computational physics Numerical algorithms Symbolic mathematics

[edit] Applications

The following disciplines are often studied from a more theoretical, computer science viewpoint, as well as from a more practical, engineering perspective.

Operating systems Computer networks Computer graphics Computer vision Databases
Computer security Artificial intelligence Robotics Human-computer interaction Ubiquitous computing

[edit] Relationship with other fields

Despite its name, a significant amount of computer science does not involve the study of computers themselves. Because of this, several alternative names have been proposed. Certain departments of major universities prefer the term computing science, to emphasize precisely that difference. Danish scientist Peter Naur suggested the term datalogy, to reflect the fact that the scientific discipline revolves around data and data treatment, while not necessarily involving computers. The first scientific institution to use the term was the Department of Datalogy at the University of Copenhagen, founded in 1969, with Peter Naur being the first professor in datalogy. The term is used mainly in the Scandinavian countries. Also, in the early days of computing, a number of terms for the practitioners of the field of computing were suggested in the Communications of the ACM – turingineer, turologist, flow-charts-man, applied meta-mathematician, and applied epistemologist.[19] Three months later in the same journal, comptologist was suggested, followed next year by hypologist.[20] The term computics has also been suggested.[21] Informatik was a term used in Europe with more frequency.

The renowned computer scientist Edsger Dijkstra stated, "Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes." The design and deployment of computers and computer systems is generally considered the province of disciplines other than computer science. For example, the study of computer hardware is usually considered part of computer engineering, while the study of commercial computer systems and their deployment is often called information technology or information systems. However, there has been much cross-fertilization of ideas between the various computer-related disciplines. Computer science research has also often crossed into other disciplines, such as cognitive science, economics, mathematics, physics (see quantum computing), and linguistics.

Computer science is considered by some to have a much closer relationship with mathematics than many scientific disciplines, with some observers saying that computing is a mathematical science.[4] Early computer science was strongly influenced by the work of mathematicians such as Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing, and there continues to be a useful interchange of ideas between the two fields in areas such as mathematical logic, category theory, domain theory, and algebra.

The relationship between computer science and software engineering is a contentious issue, which is further muddied by disputes over what the term "software engineering" means, and how computer science is defined. David Parnas, taking a cue from the relationship between other engineering and science disciplines, has claimed that the principal focus of computer science is studying the properties of computation in general, while the principal focus of software engineering is the design of specific computations to achieve practical goals, making the two separate but complementary disciplines.[22]

The academic, political, and funding aspects of computer science tend to depend on whether a department formed with a mathematical emphasis or with an engineering emphasis. Computer science departments with a mathematics emphasis and with a numerical orientation consider alignment computational science. Both types of departments tend to make efforts to bridge the field educationally if not across all research.

[edit] Computer science education

Some universities teach computer science as a theoretical study of computation and algorithmic reasoning. These programs often feature the theory of computation, analysis of algorithms, formal methods, concurrency theory, databases, computer graphics and systems analysis, among others. They typically also teach computer programming, but treat it as a vessel for the support of other fields of computer science rather than a central focus of high-level study.

Other colleges and universities, as well as secondary schools and vocational programs that teach computer science, emphasize the practice of advanced programming rather than the theory of algorithms and computation in their computer science curricula. Such curricula tend to focus on those skills that are important to workers entering the software industry. The practical aspects of computer programming are often referred to as software engineering. However, there is a lot of disagreement over the meaning of the term, and whether or not it is the same thing as programming.

[edit] See also
Computer science portal
Computer networking portal
Information technology portal

* Career domains in computer science
* Computer scientist
* Computing
* English in computer science
* Informatics
* List of academic computer science departments
* List of computer science conferences
* List of computer scientists
* List of open problems in computer science
* List of publications in computer science
* List of pioneers in computer science
* List of software engineering topics
* Software engineering
* Women in computing

[edit] References

1. ^ "Computer science is the study of information" New Jersey Institute of Technology, Gutenberg Information Technologies
2. ^ "Computer science is the study of computation." Computer Science Department, College of Saint Benedict, Saint John's University
3. ^ "Computer Science is the study of all aspects of computer systems, from the theoretical foundations to the very practical aspects of managing large software projects." Massey University
4. ^ a b c Denning, P.J. (2000). "Computer Science: The Discipline" (PDF). Encyclopedia of Computer Science. http://web.archive.org/web/20060525195404/http://www.idi.ntnu.no/emner/dif8916/denning.pdf.
5. ^ "Common myths and preconceptions about Cambridge Computer Science" Computer Science Department, University of Cambridge
6. ^ Nigel Tout (2006). "Calculator Timeline". Vintage Calculator Web Museum. http://www.vintagecalculators.com/html/calculator_time-line.html.
7. ^ "Science Museum - Introduction to Babbage". http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/babbage/index.asp. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
8. ^ "A Selection and Adaptation From Ada's Notes found in "Ada, The Enchantress of Numbers," by Betty Alexandra Toole Ed.D. Strawberry Press, Mill Valley, CA". http://www.scottlan.edu/Lriddle/women/ada-love.htm. Retrieved on 2006-05-04.
9. ^ "IBM Punch Cards in the U.S. Army". http://www.pattonhq.com/ibm.html. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
10. ^ a b Levy, Steven (1984). Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-19195-2.
11. ^ a b David Kahn, The Codebreakers, 1967, ISBN 0-684-83130-9.
12. ^ a b http://www.cis.cornell.edu/Dean/Presentations/Slides/bgu.pdf
13. ^ Constable, R.L. (March 2000) (PDF). Computer Science: Achievements and Challenges circa 2000. http://www.cs.cornell.edu/cis-dean/bgu.pdf.
14. ^ Abelson, H.; G.J. Sussman with J.Sussman (1996). Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (2nd Ed. ed.). MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-01153-0. "The computer revolution is a revolution in the way we think and in the way we express what we think. The essence of this change is the emergence of what might best be called procedural epistemology — the study of the structure of knowledge from an imperative point of view, as opposed to the more declarative point of view taken by classical mathematical subjects."
15. ^ Black box traders are on the march The Telegraph, August 26, 2006
16. ^ a b Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (28 May 1997). "Computer Science as a Profession". http://www.csab.org/comp_sci_profession.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-01.
17. ^ Committee on the Fundamentals of Computer Science: Challenges and Opportunities, National Research Council (2004). Computer Science: Reflections on the Field, Reflections from the Field. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-09301-9. http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11106#toc.
18. ^ Clay Mathematics Institute P=NP
19. ^ Communications of the ACM 1(4):p.6
20. ^ Communications of the ACM 2(1):p.4
21. ^ IEEE Computer 28(12):p.136
22. ^ Parnas, David L. (1998). "Software Engineering Programmes are not Computer Science Programmes". Annals of Software Engineering 6: 19–37. doi:10.1023/A:1018949113292. , p. 19: "Rather than treat software engineering as a subfield of computer science, I treat it as an element of the set, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, .."

[edit] Further reading

* Association for Computing Machinery. 1998 ACM Computing Classification System. 1998.
* IEEE Computer Society and the Association for Computing Machinery. Computing Curricula 2001: Computer Science. December 15, 2001.
* Peter J. Denning. Is computer science science?, Communications of the ACM, April 2005.
* Donald E. Knuth. Selected Papers on Computer Science, CSLI Publications, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996.
* Peter J. Denning, Great principles in computing curricula, Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, 2004.

[edit] External links
Sister project Wikibooks has more on the topic of
Computer science
Sister project Wikiversity has learning materials about Portal:Computer Science

* Computer science at the Open Directory Project
* Directory of free university lectures in Computer Science
* bibliography/ Collection of Computer Science Bibliographies
* CS Directory and resources
* Photographs of computer scientists (Bertrand Meyer's gallery)

[edit] Webcasts

* UCLA Computer Science 1 Freshman Computer Science Seminar Section 1
* Berkeley Introduction to Computers

[hide]
v • d • e
Major fields of computer science
Theory of computation
Automata · Computability · Computational complexity · Quantum Computing
Algorithms and data structures
Analysis of algorithms · Algorithm design · Computational geometry · Interface
Programming languages
Theory · Compilers / Parsers / Interpreters · Programming paradigms (Declarative · Imperative · Logic · Procedural) · SDLC · Software Distribution
Types of Computation
Cloud computing · Cluster Computing · Distributed computing · Grid computing · Parallel computing
System architecture
Computer architecture · Computer organization · Operating systems · Management information system · Information systems
Telecomm & Networking
Broadcasting · Network topology · OSI model · Cryptography · World Wide Web · Semantic Web · Internetworking · PSTN / SONET · IEEE 802
Security
Intelligence · Encryption · Protocols · Spam · VPN · Online predator · Identity theft · Internet privacy · Trusted Computing · Advertising Ethics · Computer forensics · Computer surveillance · DoD
Databases
Database theory · Data mining · Data modeling · OLAP · Geographic information system
Computer graphics
CGI · Visualization · Image processing
Scientific computing
Artificial life · Bioinformatics · Cognitive Science · Computational chemistry · Computational neuroscience · Computational physics · Numerical algorithms · Symbolic mathematics
Artificial intelligence
Automated reasoning · Computational linguistics · Computer vision · Evolutionary computation · Machine learning · Natural language processing · Robotics · Cybernetics
BCI / HCI / MMI
Computer accessibility · User interfaces · Wearable computing · Ubiquitous computing · Mixed reality
NOTE: Computer science can also be split up into different topics or fields according to the ACM Computing Classification System.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_science

Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers running x86 and IA-64 processors, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. The name "XP" is short for "experience".[3] Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me, and is the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel and architecture. Windows XP was first released on 25 October 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst.[4] It is succeeded by Windows Vista, which was released to volume license customers on 8 November 2006, and worldwide to the general public on 30 January 2007. Direct OEM and retail sales of Windows XP ceased on 30 June 2008, although it is still possible to obtain Windows XP from System Builders[5] (smaller OEMs who sell assembled computers) until 31 July 2009 or by purchasing Windows Vista Ultimate or Business and then downgrading to Windows XP.[6][7]

The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which offers additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is targeted at power users, business and enterprise clients. Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch TV shows, view DVD movies, and listen to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run stylus applications built using the Tablet PC platform. Windows XP was eventually released for two additional architectures, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64. There is also Windows XP Embedded, a componentized version of the Windows XP Professional, and editions for specific markets such as Windows XP Starter Edition.

Windows XP is known for its improved stability and efficiency over the 9x versions of Microsoft Windows.[8][9] It presents a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user-friendly than previous versions of Windows. A new software management facility called Side-by-Side Assembly was introduced to avoid the "DLL hell" that plagued older consumer-oriented 9x versions of Windows.[10][11] It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat illegal copying, a restriction that did not sit well with some users and privacy advocates. Windows XP has also been criticized by some users for security vulnerabilities, tight integration of applications such as Internet Explorer 6 and Windows Media Player, and for aspects of its default user interface. Later versions with Service Pack 2, and Internet Explorer 7 addressed some of these concerns.

About Apple

It's high time we unloaded on the high-and-mighty Mac maker.
Narasu Rebbapragada and Alan Stafford, PC World

The company formerly known as Apple Computer and now called simply Apple, Inc. is unique in many ways--including in its ability to drive even folks who admire it positively batty. It makes great products (usually), yet its secretiveness about them borders on paranoia, and its adoring fans can be incredibly irritating. Of course, its fans have to put up with some irritations, too: Simply being a member of the club still means you must endure unending jabs from the other side of the socio-political-techno aisle. But do they have to wear their suffering as a badge of honor?

Today, we--that's us, Narasu and Alan, veteran Mac users both--are going to get some stuff off our chests. We've enumerated ten things we hate about Apple (or its followers, or simply about the experience of using its products). But in the interest of fair play (not to be confused with FairPlay, Apple's DRM technology) we're also publishing another list--Ten Things We Love About Apple.

Use the Comment link at the end of this article to add your own gripes about Apple--or to defend it.

And so, with protective helmets in place, off we go:

1: Free Speech, Anyone?
Even if you're no Apple fan, this particular issue might not rise to the top of your own personal gripe list--but hey, we're journalists. So sue us.

Er, that's probably not the right turn of phrase to use, considering that in December 2004, Apple filed a lawsuit against the AppleInsider, O'Grady's PowerPage, and Think Secret Web sites for posting information about upcoming technologies that Apple had shared with outsiders under nondisclosure agreements. In the case of O'Grady, the news was of a FireWire interface for GarageBand. In the words of O'Grady himself: "yawn."

Apple pressured the sites to reveal their sources, and even worse, pressured the sites' ISPs. In May 2006, a California court said no way, ruling that online journalists enjoy the same First Amendment rights as "legitimate" offline journalists. Seems silly in today's world, doesn't it? Recently, the court ordered Apple to pay the sites' legal fees--about $700,000.

2. More Secretive Than Homeland Security
Those feds are secretive, but they're no match for Apple reps' infuriating stock answer: "We don't comment on future product plans." Being an Apple adherent means never knowing for sure if the shiny new MacBook or iPod you just bought is about to be rendered obsolete by a Steve Jobs keynote.

Of course, Apple is merely the most famous secretive Silicon Valley company, not the only hush-mouthed one. And tight lips make for explosive buzz when the company does decide to drop a bombshell. But contrast Apple's secrecy with Microsoft's lack thereof--Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and company love to talk about their company's upcoming products, and they still get their fair share of buzz. Even though many of those plans have a tendency to not actually come true.

3. Ain't Too Proud to Blame
When Apple shipped iPods containing a worm last year, instead of issuing a humble mea culpa, Apple took a swipe at Microsoft, saying, "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it." As you can imagine, that didn't fly with security experts. How about an apology to the folks who were unlucky enough to buy the infected iPods, period?
4. iHate iAnything
Apple first floated the idea of product names with a leading lowercase letter in 1994 with eWorld, an ill-conceived online service that went belly-up after a year and a half. But when it introduced the original iMac in 1998, it hit on a phenomenal success--and prompted hundreds of third-party manufacturers to follow with sickeningly cute Bondi Blue products with names that also began with a lowercase "i." Now dozens of Apple and third-party product names begins with "i." Their manufacturers are all jumping on the bandwagon, hoping that a single letter will sway us to buy their stuff. Meanwhile, you can't even start sentences with the products' names.

Is it any wonder that we're inclined to like Apple TV in part because it turned out not to be iTV? Or that we're kind of sorry that Apple was able to strike a deal with Cisco to share the name iPhone?

source:http://computer-news-article.blogspot.com/2007/05/10-things-we-hate-about-apple.html

Wireless Connections

Ed Dickson

Yesterday, I wrote about how the FBI is warning us that personal details can be stolen (i-jacked) when using public computers. This occurs using crimeware, previously installed on a public computer, logs the keys you are stroking and sends the information (electronically) to criminals.

It can be dangerous to look at any of your online financial information on these (public access) machines.

When writing about this phenomenon, I remembered that even using your personal computer at a public place with a wireless connection can expose a person's personal and sometimes, financial details.

Just the other day, Martin Bosworth, over at Consumer Affairs, wrote an excellent piece covering this danger, where he stated:

Sending unencrypted information over any unfamiliar network can turn your computer into an open book -- with pages full of your personal information.

Many of these connections are appear to be legitimate connections because they are spoofed (camouflaged to appear as if they are a trusted connection).

Spoofing a connection, or site isn't very hard to do. They simply copy and transpose pictures and statements (words) from legitimate sites to their own. The Artists Against website has a portal, where you can see fake websites that are up and running on the Internet, here.

Martin's article contains some excellent tips on how to navigate the murky waters of public hot spots, safely.

They can be viewed, here.

Interestingly enough, wireless technology, isn't only used to compromise individuals. In the recent TJX data breach, where some are saying 200 million records were stolen since 2003, reports are saying the data was stolen, using wireless technology.

It's being reported that this was accomplished from a car with a laptop. Driving around with a laptop, using other people's wireless connections, is sometimes referred to as "war-driving," which is my new word for the day.

Joseph Pereira (Wall Street Journal) wrote about this (courtesy of the Northwest Florida Daily News), here.

source:http://computer-news-article.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-to-avoid-getting-your-information.html