London IT Support Companies Offer The Best Services

If you are looking to outsource your IT support needs in the UK and especially in London, you need to find an IT support company that has the right services for your business and can cater for your growing needs. Whether you are looking for remote desktop support or on-site support by a professional IT support engineer, finding the right IT company, could be one of the most important decisions you make.

London has become the IT hub in the last decade and it is growing very fast and therefore in this part of the world, many IT support service providers have surfaced and some of these IT companies are able to provide essential IT services at a very reasonable cost.

London is one of the main attractions of Europe and people from almost all ethnic groups visit here in search of jobs and to make their livelihood. It is situated in the center of the Europe and therefore it is one of the most suitable places for conducting a business. Many multinational business houses prefer it after New York and have offices in this beautiful capital city of UK.

Technical people from Asia, places such as India and China, are readily available here in London and therefore some of the best technical people in the world from Asia as well as America are helping the IT support industry in London.

The support area of Information Technology (IT) is very wide and it covers support services in networking and desktop support, software support, IT training, system architecture, remote access, database administration, IT helpdesk, network and system administration and various other related support services and in London you will get support services staff and executives at a reasonable cost.

If you are new to IT and have no prior experience of using IT for your business, you can make contact with executives of IT support services in London and you will get all the information on IT and its benefit for your business.

If you are looking for all options to use IT in your business, you can also get the help of an IT consultant, who will guide you in the best direction for your specific business. Even if you need well-qualified administrators to run your specific databases or you need a team of experienced network professionals to run LAN in your office, you will get all the related IT support in London.

So, London is not only a beautiful city on the bank of the Thames, it is one of the fasted growing hubs of Information Technology (IT) in Europe. You will not only get the best qualified core IT professionals here, but you will be amazed to see a large number of IT support staff ready to help you twenty four (24) hours a day, throughout the year. If you have a plan to start your IT business in London or want to outsource your support requirements, you should go ahead as you will get the best professionals here in London

7 Mistakes That Small and Medium IT Consulting Companies Make Regarding Their Employment Immigration

With our extensive experience dealing with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS), Department of Labor (DOL) and other immigration entities, we have noticed few common mistakes that most small IT companies make. Such mistakes result in lengthy Request for Further Evidence (RFE) or even denials.

As such we have tried to compile in this short release the most common mistakes. Note that the list is non-exhaustive but it only includes the common mistakes that our own office have noticed after the filing of more than 300 cases. We are sure that there are many other mistakes that can easily be corrected. This list is also limited to issues pertaining H1Bs new cases and transfers. We will compile another list for Labor Certifications and I-140 soon. H1B issues (New and Transfers)

1. Location
It is a fact that many IT consulting companies operate from small units or even from home. Although those are genuine companies, and most of their candidates work off-site, the USCIS has been asking for more information on the locations. Those include but are not limited to pictures of the inside and outside of the buildings, the occupants of the buildings; the pictures of the interior with the desk and other working materials; site plan, and so on. Companies should know that you the USCIS is looking whether it is a genuine business or just operating to defraud immigration to allow aliens to enter. Note that you will need to also comply with the LCA. Any new location for the candidate requires a new LCA. Possible Solution: Make sure that you are operating from an actual location that is not your house. Also make sure that the place have enough workstations to accommodate your candidate when they are not on site.

2. Inability to pay
When any new H1B petition is filed, the Employer must prove that the employer should be able to pay this employee. This applies even if the employee is on the bench. Possible Solution: Make sure that the company has enough money in the bank or as asset to pay the employee. Alternatively show that there are end clients to provide work for such and employee.

3. Always pay for employee
There is a misconception that if the employee is on the bench, this employee does not have to be paid. Make sure that they are being paid the amount stated on the LCA. Also you should comply with all the rules on the I9 forms. Solution: Always pay your employees. There are only few exceptions to this rule. Contact us on 510 7425887, we will assess your case on a case by case basis.

4. Have good Website, brochures and flyers to prove the genuineness of your business
Although most IT companies do have a website, they do not always have brochures and flyers to show that the business is genuine. If your business is only to assist immigrant to come to the US, you should stop. Solution: A good website, brochures, publications, and so on.

5. Always inform the USCIS if an H1B employee is leaving
Many IT consulting firms by negligence fail to inform the USCIS that the beneficiary of the H1B is leaving your company. Failure to do so might result in very dire consequences for your company. Solution: Correspond with the USCIS frequently.

6. Refer to an experienced immigration attorney when you are not sure about something
It is common that many IT consulting companies will process their own H1Bs due mainly to cost. This is not recommended because the forms involved require a lot of attention to details. A single mistake can cost more than hiring a regular law firm to assist in the procedure. Note that you stay away from Immigration Consultants. They are not licensed and are not allowed to give any legal opinion. Also if you cannot communicate with your attorney, you should think of changing the attorney. Solution: Hire a real attorney (licensed) before moving forward on any case.

7. Maintain good accounting including all H1B receipts
It is sometimes hard when you have many consultants on your list to maintain a record of each. However, it is imperative to maintain such a list. Very often the USCIS will require to keep the records of all the approval notices. You should also keep a good record of all the wages paid to the employees. Solution: Have a good accountant to maintain all your records competently.

Computer Home Jobs Increase By the Dozens

With gas prices peeking over the summer, is your job worth driving to? If you could work at home and make the same money, or even have the potential to make more money, would you do it?

With the Internet readily available to most of us, what is stopping us from looking for work-at-home computer jobs? Think about this: Almost every time that you find a good deal on eBay, it is being sold by a private company or an individual working out of their home.

The market for work-at-home computer jobs is growing everyday and is only hindered by the imagination of the person who is doing the work. With a $400.00 desktop computer and the most basic of computer skills you can open your own business or find work-at-home computer jobs that pay just like regular work, and sometimes even more. Most of these jobs can be full time or part time.

It does not matter if you are looking to work for yourself or if you want to work for someone else, there are companies waiting to help you fulfill your dreams. Finding work-at-home computer jobs is a choice that people two generations ago did not have. Over the last 20 years or so, with the development and improvement of the home computer, many companies have found that departments that are not revenue producing, like human resources, can be outsourced for less than the company is able to staff the department with its own employees.

Jobs like data entry are also easily contracted outside of the company, thanks in part to the home computer and its enterprising owners. Today, working from your home computer, you are able to keep the accounts of companies that are not even in your home town, you can program computers or repair software without even having to touch the computer, and all of this opens the door for work-at-home computer jobs.

But what if clerical work is not what you do? What about those of us who have the most basic computer knowledge but still would like to work at home, what else is there? Well, as mentioned before, you could sell items on eBay or sites like it. There are many books and other reference materials to guide you through the selling process. They cover everything from setting up your account to how to market items you have for sale. All of this is done at your convenience and in your own home using your home computer.

Are you are a person who is interested in crafts, or are you mechanically inclined and like to work with your hands? There are jobs available through your computer that allow you to work at home assembling items for companies. You can get work assembling or creating jewelry for other companies and be paid by the piece. Working for a piece rate allows you to make as much or as little as you want.

There is always the envelope stuffing jobs that most people these days know about. This is where you fill or stuff envelopes of companies with sale flyers or whatever offers they have and wish to mass market.

No matter what work-at-home computer job you chose to accept or how you go about working from your home using your computer, there is one thing that must be remembered. You must make the time to work. While work-at-home computer jobs may sound easy, or may sound like the perfect job, you must be able to have enough quiet time to do quality work. It does not matter if you are stuffing envelopes or balancing the books for a major company, if you write the wrong address or forget to carry the 2, you will soon be finding yourself without work.

Also, take the time to research the companies that you will be working for. Before you send monies for materials or clients, make sure that you are in full understanding of what is required of you and what you are to be looking forward to.

The home computer has revolutionized the work place. It has made it possible for people like yourself to have a work-at-home computer job and earn a good living, all from the comfort of your own home. Take full advantage of this growing market and remember that the only limits to your earning potential are your drive and imagination.

Computer Rental Company

Rentfusion is one of the biggest rental services providers of the computer, laptop & plasma rentals services. We offers many types of equipment ranges from desktops, lcd displays, servers, projectors, kiosks, audio visual, printers, office equipment, networking & storage backups on rental basis.

We offers top quality equipment from the major manufacturers such as apple, canon Cisco, Compaq, Dell, IBM, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba and more. Rentfusion is a leader in providing computer and audiovisual rental services to corporate America, delivering professional services from offices in Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, New York and New Jersey.

Our equipment arrive on time and we configured to suit to your requirements. We have vast experience in computer rental services & offers complete customized configuration of all computer equipment.

BENEFITS OF RENTING

1) Availability of all the required equipments
2) Uniquely customized to meet your requirements
3) Trained professionals for maintenance & service
4) Low capital investments
5) Zero maintenance costs
6) Less Hassle

Why rent a computer?
Outright purchase of computer equipments for short tem projects is expensive. Renting fulfills your requirement at a fraction of the cost.

Training Sessions, Seminars
Rental companies set up entire hardware required for computer training program and various other seminars.

Conferences
Rental companies handle installation of hardware which is required for conferences to go properly. From sound systems to projectors rental companies take care of all the requirements you required.

Temporary Offices
Rental companies setup offices according to the company's specifications. From printers, computers, copiers, to fax machines rentfusion manages all.

Traveling Employees
Traveling employees won't have to carry computers or other requirements through airports or other public transportation facilities. A rental company gives executives the edge of having pre-configured the requirements at their final destinations.

Special Projects
Special requirements of projects where printers, copiers are extra required. Computer rental companies come in handy to provide to fulfill the business objective.

Experience
RentFusion with a rich industry experience has provided wide range of computer related rental services. Major corporate companies have relied on us for their short-term rental requirements for various events like Meetings, Tradeshows, Conventions Seminars, Training and Special Projects.

The state-of-art warehouses are strategically located nationwide to provide distribution.

Transportation
Rent companies have extensive fleet of trucks and in conjunction with other transportation carriers that provides same or next day delivery, locally or anywhere in the United States.

Services
Computers for Rent
Cheap Computer Rentals
Projector Rental
AV Rentals
NEC Plasma Rentals
AV Rental
Best Computer Rentals
Business Computer Rentals
Classroom Computer Rental
Computer Lease
Convention Center Computer Rentals
Convention Rentals
Daily Computer Rental
Event Computer Rental
Exhibitor Booth Rentals
Fax Machine Rentals
IBM AS400 Rental
LED Wall Rentals
Meeting Computer Rental
Monitor Rentals
Office Computer Rentals
Office Equipment Rentals
PA System Rentals
Rent IBM AS400
Rent Powerbook
Training Computer Rental
Video Wall Rentals
Weekly Computer Rentals
Windows Computer Rental
Wireless Microphone Mic Rentals
XP Computer Rental

Most companies are confused whether rent or buy computer equipment. Often, clients purchase equipment thinking it will help the company immensely. This is true for some companies but for the most of them renting is the most beneficial alternative. For any temporary purposes renting is the best option. A renting is lower as oppose to capital purchase.

Corporate events
Whether you're launching a training program or hosting conference for special purpose rental companies provides services to meet your corporate technological needs.

Following steps need to be taken to ensure your corporate success.

1) Consult with your rental companies for your specific technological needs.
2) Get installation with your staff.
3) Get technician and engineer available for the duration of corporate projects.

6 Tips To Best Computer Buy

Buying a new computer can become a tedious task these days as many of us tend to get confused or simply don't know how to choose the best computer from the wide range available. Here are 6 tips to best computer buy:

1. The first and logical thing to do is determine exactly where you will be using your computer from. Do you plan to use it at home, or do you travel with business often? After you answer this question you know if you want a desktop computer or a notebook.

2. The next thing to do is determine your budget. There is a wide range of both desktop and notebook computers to choose from so they can cover any budget. Desktop computers can cost anywhere between $500 and $2000 (Note that many sites don't list the monitor in the cost, so read carefully before clicking the checkout button), while notebooks between $800 - $2000+. Decide on how much money are you willing to spend and continue to the next step.

3. Now it's time to determine what will you be using the computer for. Are you buying it for your kid to play video games, watch movies or do you plan to use it for work or internet surfing? Of course you can buy a computer and use it for all of those things but for example if you plan to use it just for business then you needn't buy a computer with the best video card on the market.

4. Are you going to store photos, Microsoft Office documents, mp3 files, video files etc.? You need to think about this to determine what hard drive your computer needs. If you'll be using it to store photos and Office files then you need something in the range of 60GB but no more. If you plan to store many video and audio files then a 220GB hard drive would be more appropriate.

5. Another very important thing to consider, which many people overlook, is how often do you replace your computer? This is very important because most new computers come with a special OEM license for Microsoft software. As this license cannot be used on any other computers, if you change your computer often then it would be a waste of money to buy each end every one of them with the software and pay for it every time. If you change your computer often it would be wise to purchase a retail copy of the Microsoft software and save money.

6. Buy a ready made computer or create your new computer by selecting all the parts yourself? In my opinion, if you're a person who changes their computer often then buying a ready made one is the perfect choice for you. If you don't plan on changing the computer then it would be wise to create it yourself at a local store or even on some sites on the internet. This is because all the big computer companies use proprietary components and if you buy a ready made one it is usually harder to upgrade later

The Growing Need for Computer Financing

Computers and Information Technologies are as ubiquitous in our lives today as the air we breathe. Computers have led to a third information revolution taking its place alongside agricultural and industrial revolutions. We see computers everywhere, in Desktop PC's, PDA's, cars, washing machines, ATM's - everywhere. The resulting multiplication of humankind's intellectual strength has affected our daily lives and also changed the way in which we search for new knowledge and resources. At a steady rate of around 11%, the last decade has seen an unprecedented boom in the computer industry - and nearly everyone is being affected by the phenomenon. This unprecedented growth rate has led to amazing technological progress since the inception of electronic computing in late 1940's. By way of comparison, had the transport industry kept pace with the computer industry, today we could travel from coast to coast in about few seconds for roughly few pennies. Of course in almost any case, growth can lead to growing pains. In the case of the computer industry, the expectation that nearly everyone has a computer leads to the need for nearly everyone to own a computer.

The Internet as a Computer Sales Driver

The advent of the internet has certainly spurred on the success of the computer industry. The increase in the number of internet users worldwide has grown from 274 million in 1999 to 605 million in 2002 with a staggering growth of 119 percent. In the US alone, the number of Internet users has increased by 53 million (16 percent) with a penetration of 52 percent. The percentage of total population in the world with internet access has increased from 7 percent 1999 to 9 percent in 2002.

Explosive Growth In Computer System Sales

During the past 5-6 years, there has been explosive growth in the number of PC buyers - not only in developed countries like the United States and Europe but also in the Asia Pacific and other regions of the world. In fact, the Chinese computer industry grew a whopping 38 percent in 2004 almost dwarfing our growth rates of the United States , which has been 35.2 percent over the period of 1990-2000. Worldwide growth in the sales of Personal Computers has increased from 394 million in 1999 to 550 million in 2002. Total numbers of PC's in US are 178 million which accounts for 62 percent penetration in US households. As an example, in the United States 625 people have PC per 1000 inhabitants. This high ratio is in contrast to the percentage of the total world population where only 9% of people have a personal computer. However this has been a radical increase from 1999 when only 5 percent of the world population had personal computers. Because of this explosive growth, the market competitors, in anticipation to tap this highly growing market are keeping their prices at rock bottom and producing in huge volumes thus effectively maintaining their profit levels despite of low margins.

Computer Financing to the Rescue

While this unparalleled growth is a benefit, there are unintended consequences. One unexpected effect of this explosion in technology is that with the expansion of the availability of computers, the individual need for a computer system is also increased. In a world where it is assumed that everyone has access to a computer and an internet connection, it is becoming increasing difficult to succeed without these resources. As this need increases and computer prices decrease, the only missing component is a catalyst to push computer ownership to the "tipping point". Enter computer financing; now with very little cash and low monthly payments, many individuals can purchase a very powerful computer system and level the playing field for themselves in the workforce. With this increasing demand for cheap computers that are actually cutting-edge high-performance machines, a computer loan can bridge the gap between needing and having a computer. Companies like My Computer Club offer computer financing for those with bad credit thus enabling those who would normally not be able to purchase a computer to have a powerful computer system.

Computer Network Solutions

What is a Computer Network?

A computer network refers to an interconnected group of computers. The networks may be classified according to the network layer at which they function depending upon the basic reference models. The reference models may differ from industry to industry, just like the five-layer Internet Protocol Suite model. Computer Networks are classified on the basis of various factors like scale, connection method, network relationships and protocol.

Type of Computer Networking: The common types of computer networks are:






* Personal Area Network (PAN)





* Local Area Network (LAN)





* Campus Area Network (CAN)





* Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)





* Wide Area Network (WAN)





* Global Area Network (GAN)





* Internet work - intranet, extranet and internet






Importance of Computer Network Solutions in Organizations:

With the boom of technology and e-commerce, most of the small and large businesses today are driven by the use of internet. The Internet and the influence that it has on e-commerce and business has in more than one ways become the "great equalizer" of small business and the larger corporate giants.

Especially in the case of small business, it is very important to maintain their computer network solutions so as to keep working properly and efficiently. A whole package of computer networking solutions complete with routine maintenance, regular updates, upgrades and support can help an organization ensure that its investment is well protected and that it can survive and thrive online.

Here are some of the important computer network solutions and services that can help your organization runs smoothly and efficiently:




* Updating and upgrading software – This helps in ensuring the longevity and integrity of the online portion of your business. By installing regular software updates, you can ensure that you have the newest, safest and most efficient software for your organization’s needs.









* Maintenance of systems using computer network support - It is advisable to find a trusted technician in your area whom you can call in to save valuable time in the event of an unexpected technical problem.











* Routine maintenance - This helps in protecting your computers and networks from viruses and spy ware. Installing an effective virus protection software program in your system can ensure the longevity of your computer network by helping to keep it free from dangerous viruses that can threaten your information and software. Moreover the spy ware prevention software can also help keep unwanted hackers out of your systems to ensure that your sensitive information is kept secure.






E -Computer Network Solutions Providers:

There are many organizations that provide online computer network solutions for small, medium and large organizations. They provide cost effective and high performance computer networking solutions to build Local Area Network, Wide Area Network and Wireless LAN to access internet and share data between the computers. Some of the companies providing computer Networking Solutions online are:






* CSS Infotech Ltd.





* JMPro Networking Solutions





* VIP PowerNet





* The Computer Company

Archiving the Sap Information

Today in this developing world, most of the enterprises are interested in using SAP R/3 as a platform for their business integration. The SAP R/3 is used in the huge amount by the business enterprises is stored. Data are updated with the old data in SAP enterprises. When data are updated, the old and unwanted data cannot be removed. To avoid problems such as data overflow, longer transaction processing times and performance degradation, SAP data archiving is introduced. It removes the unwanted and old data from the SAP database. The data/information is known as archived data and the archived data is stored in the offline location. It not only removes the data from the database, but also ensures the availability for business requirement.

Features of Data Archiving

The data Archiving provides the protection layer to the SAP database and solves the problem caused by large volume of data. The SAP users keep the minimum data to work efficient with database and servers. It ensures that SAP database contain only appropriate and current data to meet the requirement. It uses hardware components such as hard disk and memory to make efficient with the minimum disk space. Data Archiving reduces the maintenance cost and it also contains various procedures of SAP database like backup, recovery, and upgrade. It complies with statutory data retention rules and implemented in two ways.

Basic components

SAP enterprise system uses the SAP data archiving as a supporting tool and it also enables the user to control the size of the enterprise database. The capacity of the data archiving is provided in all modules by a centralized component. These components will deal with SAP data in the form of special object known as Archiving Objects.

Archiving Objects

The Archiving object is the important factor which is defined as the logical unit and obtains data from SAP data objects. The archived is done after when data object is combined. It initiates SAP Archiving to get the right tables and specifies the R/3 business objects. It defines different modules of sap system. Some of the Archiving objects are SAP Data Archiving, Archive Development Kit (ADK) and Archive Link.

Archiving Procedure

Archiving involves more procedures strategy. The SAP data archiving is the right recovery strategy. It finds the appropriate data for archiving and has knowledge regarding the business process involved in the enterprise. It identifies the database growth and simplifies the identified process. Data Archiving comprises three phase Archiving process. Data archiving will creates archive files, removes the archives data from the database and transfer the archived files to location outside of the SAP database.

Supportive Tools

SAP data archiving has supportive tools like SARA (SAP Archive Administration), DART (Data Retention Tool) and SARI (SAP Archive Information System). SAP archive administration (SARA) provides complete administration of the archiving schedules and manages the archiving sessions. It streamlines and simplifies the process through the Central command of archiving administration.

DART (Data Retention Tool) retains the enterprise information for a long period. It provides the functionality and it is capable of extracting the data. SAP archive information system provides retrieval capabilities against previous archived data. SARI requires the archive files to be loaded in new tables and in database. It is a standard tool delivered by SAP to facilitate the customized access of the archived data.

A General Idea on Sap Master Data Management

Working across Sap heterogeneous forums systems at multiple places, SAP Master Data Management leverages accessible IT assets in business-critical data, delivering greatly reduced data repairs charges and very useful for sap business jobs. Moreover, by ensuring cross-system data consistency, SAP Master Data Management speed ups the implementation of business processes for jobs. SAP MDM is a key enabler of SAP Enterprise Service-Oriented Architecture forums.

SAP is at present on its second iteration of MDM software. Facing restricted acceptance of its primary release, SAP changed path and in 2004 purchased a small vendor in the PIM space known as A2i. This code has happen to the basis for the presently shipping SAP MDM 5.5, and for itself, most analysts believe SAP MDM to be more of a PIM than a broad MDM product at this time.

The components & tools of SAP NetWeaver master data management integrates business courses across the comprehensive value chain, delivering features and functions to help:
Master data consolidation, Synchronization and distribution of master data , Centralized management of master data, Administration of master data, Management of internal content, Catalog search, Print catalog customization , Multichannel syndication of product catalog content, Business process support and Business analytics and reporting.

There are five normal execution scenarios:

Content Consolidation, Central Master Data Management, Master Data Harmonization,
Rich Product Content and Global Data Synchronization
With the SAP (MDM), you can:

1. Control customer relationships efficiently through streamlined visibility across various systems
2. Simply allocate master data to assigned systems through automated distribute and subscribe models
3. Lessen the number of part masters maintained worldwide by removing duplicates
4. Analyze and statement on spending by part, supplier, or other master data
5. Negotiate superior sourcing contracts based on analytical insights
6. Lessen supply chain charges by ensuring exact exchange of data involving manufacturers and dispensers or dealers.
SAP Master Data Management is the basis for harmonized, reliable information that can be offered to client applications across the enterprise. It offers you a great way to attain information steadiness across your business or jobs and IT landscape. It enables improved decision-making, translating chance charges into gains, and reducing the charge of IT maintenance.
SAP Master Data Management allows you to go with information across myriad applications and topographies , whether that details resides in SAP, non-SAP, or legacy applications. Therefore, you can lessen costs, develop decision-making, and attain business goals on jobs. The sap news says that SAP (MDM) increases the sap jobs search and by training this sap certified course education module, it supports and gives more vacancies for permanent sap jobs for all developers or trainers worldwide.

what is linux

Linux – the operating system for a GNU (pronounced Gnew) generation. It has been dubbed the alternative to Microsoft, the solution to all life’s problems and many other things that may or may not be true. But what is Linux, and should you care?

To answer the first question, it’s a free operating system that looks and acts very much like Unix. You can download it off the Net for free, or you can copy it legally from a friend – although this might take all the fun out of using that CD-Writer you’ve got and never use for anything, except to brag about it to your friends.

Alternatively, you can buy it nicely packaged from an Internet store and get it delivered with a book about Linux, (Linux Unleashed).

Distributors charge not for the operating system itself, but for their time in packaging and presenting it. Two popular flavors of Linux are Free BSD and Ubuntu. These offer the same basic systems with a few slight differences that can lead to long and entertaining godly wars between supporters of each.

If you’re getting into Linux for the first time, Ubuntu is a good bet. You can either go for Ubuntu Desktop which comes with a GUI, or you can opt for Ubuntu Server if you planning to host websites of your own. The server edition has no GUI, but you can install KDE or Gnome to make your life easier. Most of your configuration will be done via the Terminal and you will have to learn a lot of Linux commands.

Linux is more complicated, and it depends on the kind of person you are. If you’re the type of computer user who wants every application to run straight out of the box and your system to just do what it’s told and run your games, then stick with Windows. But if you’re a pioneering soul who wants to find out more about your system and tweak it to perform to the max, then Linux is definitely worth a try.

If you want rock-solid Internet access, if you want to support the development of free software and more efficient solutions, or if you’re just the type of person who needs control over every aspect of your life including how your machine performs, then you’re definitely a Linux candidate. Linux is perfectly suited to students, developers and just about anyone who wants to try something other than the norm. Newcomers will find support straight off the Internet from thousands of kindred spirits.

It’s worth a try – maybe you’ll discover a Whole New World of fun and adventure. Or maybe you’ll just take it straight off your machine and go back to Windows. However, if you planning to try it out, then load it on that old machine that’s just lying around in the basement. You don’t need powerful processors and hardware – the most important component is memory. If you have 512mb and a 20gig hard drive then you should be OK. You should be able to run all your applications including your websites with ease. Remember, you will need a permanent connection to the Internet if you going to host your own websites. The best part is that you don’t need any antivirus and antispyware software if you’re running Linux. Every would-be-virus-writer out there has only one target in mind – Microsoft Windows.

Whether you stick with Linux or not, you’ll have come out of your safety zone and taken a trip to the cutting edge of computer technology.

10 Most Common Reasons for Computer Failure in Business and Industry

Computers are performing more and more tasks in the office and workplace than they ever have before. Computers can conduct many tasks more efficiently than human workers but the more we rely on them the more vulnerable we find ourselves when the machines fail.

Each year, companies have an average of 501 hours of computer downtime, costing them millions in annual productivity and revenue and according to a recent study; computer downtime is responsible for the loss of 3.6% of annual revenue. Which is almost has high as the revenue loss by employee absence (6 %)!

The average life of an office PC is 3-4 years yet a computer’s life can be cut down to a fraction of that amount if the machine is expected to work in less than perfect conditions.

Yet the majority of causes for a computer failure can be prevented by adhering to some simple steps:

1. User errors – Any tool is only as good as the workman who uses it and computers are no different. Actions such as not powering down properly, skipping scan disks or continual button pushing while a computer is processing can damage a computer’s hardware, particularly drives and processors. Always follow the correct guidance in using a computer machine.

2. Faulty manufacture –It seems there are an almost infinite number of manufacturers and assemblers making computers and while some have vast experience and resources, others are no more than two guys in a garage so it is not surprising that an increasing number of computer systems are faulty when bought.

3. Bad upgrades - It is not just computers themselves that are victims of bad workmanship, upgrades by inexperienced computer fitters can cause horrendous problems. Faulty add-ons such as RAM can kill a processor instantly, also attempting to ‘overclock’ or interfere with a processor can often lead to a fatal melt-down.

4. USB Device Mishaps. It seems everything can be plugged into a USB these days. However, it maybe that your USB device is not suited to the operating system you use or it may be faulty leading to a fatal short circuit.

5. Power problems - Power surges or unexpected power cuts can not only cause instant loss of data but can fry a processor. It is not just power from the grid that causes problems either - lightning can surge through cables (even phone wires) frazzling your system and so can static.

6. Dirt/Dust. A dusty environment will clog a computer and block cooling vents causing a computer to overheat. Dust can also contain conductive material and particles can stick to circuit boards and cause a short circuit. A cloud of dust can also explode if it comes into contact with a source of ignition (like a computer). Even home computers if not properly cleaned can succumb to problems caused by too much dust.

7. Water/fluids. Of course computers are electrical and with all electrical equipment, computers and water do not mix, just one spilt cup of coffee could see the end of your PC.

8. Heat. Processors can run exceptionally hot and if a computers cooling system is inadequate (because the machine has been upgraded, overclocked or just clogged up with dust and grime) it will only be a matter of time before it packs up for good.

9. Cold. Just as with heat, computers don’t enjoy the cold too much either. Processors will not operate at all if the operating temperature is too cold as condensation inside the machine can freeze and expand damaging the processor and electronics.

10. Knocks/bangs. Computers are sensitive machines, simply moving a PC to another room can cause havoc, disrupting the delicate circuitry and hard drives. Dropping a computer or severe knocks and bangs will permanently damage the circuits and processors or dislodge wiring.

The easiest way to protect a PC in business applications from uncontrollable hazards such as heat, dust or vibrations is to use an industrial computer enclosure. These industrial PC enclosures allow a conventional PC to be used whilst housed in a protective cocoon which can be dust, water and even explosive proof.

Contemporary Dual-Core Processors Shootout

Any views, even if they are based on your life experience, should be revised from time to time. Especially since technological progress as well as certain companies’ engineering and marketing efforts may seriously affect these views with the time. Even if you are not checking out computer hardware price-lists and news on a regular basis, you still understand, how unstable the situation in the computer market actually is and how frequently it changes. That is why we believe it is essential to perform large comparative test sessions for different hardware components every now and then, because results of these tests may be very helpful in painting the complete picture of the current market situation at a given moment of time.

Today we would like to offer you a material like that. Our article will discuss the current situation in the processor market, which has changed dramatically over the first few weeks of 2008. It is really high time we questioned the ability of AMD processors to still offer attractive price-to-performance features despite constant pressure from the Intel solutions. This January Intel managed not only to launch new dual-core CPUs based on 45nm cores and featuring larger L2 cache, higher clock frequencies and SSE4 instructions support. Besides, they have also supplied faster CPU on 65nm cores – Pentium E2200 and Celeron E1200, which may also seriously affect the situation in the CPU market together with the Core 2 Duo E4600 processor launched last October. However, AMD didn’t keep its hands in pockets either. They dropped the price of their dual-core solutions again, changing the situation in the market a lot.

In other words, it definitely makes a lot of sense to compare the currently available processors against one another from multiple aspects. This time we are going to focus on dual-core CPUs that have already taken over the biggest part of the market these days. They are available in all price ranges with only exception of High-End. Their prices range from $60 to $270, which determines their use in majority of today’s computer systems. For example, CPU-Z statistics claims that more than 50% of today’s computer systems feature dual-core CPUs and this situation will hardly change in favor of processor with more cores any time soon.

In order to single out all dual-core processors worth checking out today, we looked through official company price-lists and removed all not very attractive offers that are currently being sold out and discontinued as soon as possible. As a result, the list of currently available AMD and Intel dual-core solutions was reduced to the following:

Note that Core 2 Duo E6000 CPUs are no longer among the contemporary offerings. They have been evolutionary replaced with Core 2 Duo E8000 selling at the same prices.

As for the overall picture, Intel processors cover a much broader price range than AMD processors, as you may see. However, I have to say in AMD’s defense that in Q2 2008 their product lineup will be significantly enlarged with dual-core and triple-core CPUs with Phenom micro-architecture. In the meanwhile, AMD doesn’t even aim at the top of the mainstream CPU market targeting all their solutions at less expensive systems. Intel, however, still sticks to very pleasing fixed price level even after the launch of new processor models, despite the fact that there is practically no competition at this time in $180+ part of the CPU market.

AMD Phenom Changes Stepping to B3

I don’t think that you will consider our recent reviews of quad-core AMD Phenom processors optimistic in any way. Unfortunately, the micro-architectural improvements didn’t help AMD achieve any parity with the competitor’s solutions. That is why the AMD Phenom processors that have been in the market until this day were defeated by Intel Core 2 Quad in terms of performance as well as heat dissipation. Moreover, AMD Phenom didn’t hit competitive working frequencies, too. However, the most frustrating drawback of the new quad-core AMD processors was the so-called “TLB-bug”, which software fix affected the systems performance quite noticeably. And even though this bug didn’t really show that often in desktop platforms, it still had a negative effect on the overall Phenom image. Especially, since it did flowing in the server market forcing AMD to even temporarily stop shipping their quad-core Opteron processors aka Barcelona.

That is why all the engineering effort was thrown to fix the notorious TBL-bus on the hardware level as soon as possible. And the resolution didn’t keep us waiting for too long. Today AMD officially launched Phenom processors based on new B3 stepping that is free from this TLB issue. The core doesn’t have any other improvements as of yet, but nevertheless, this announcement allows AMD to improve the consumer attractiveness of their solutions. Besides, the clock speeds get a little higher and the prices drop a little lower. As a result, refreshed Phenom processors now look much better and more attractive than before.

The new Phenom processor family on B3 stepping includes four models: 9550, 9650, 9750 and 9850 Black Edition. The youngest models replace Phenom 9500 and Phenom 9600, while the two top models push the clock frequency to 2.4 and 2.5GHz respectively. Note that the last two digits – “50” – in the CPU marking stand for the new processor stepping that doesn’t have the TLB-bug anymore. Nevertheless, new Phenom processors shouldn’t be any different from practical standpoint from the old ones working at the same clock frequency and with software TLB fix disabled. The advantage of the new processor stepping is mainly no need to use the patch that aggravates the performance. Especially since its enabling or disabling may require certain effort and qualifications. While most mainboard manufacturers made it possible to activate or deactivate the patch from their BIOS Setup, Windows Vista SP1 that also has a fix for this bug doesn’t offer this flexibility and enables bus fix automatically, no matter what the user actually wants. In this case the only way for the owners of processors on old B2 stepping to avoid performance drop even at the expense of some system stability is to use special utilities such as AMD Overdrive, for instance.

Besides, AMD also officially announced their triple-core processors known as Toliman. At this time they will only be distributed among AMD OEM partners and will not get into retail, so we will have to postpone our review of these CPUs for a little while. Especially since at first they will still be using B2 processor stepping. However, we had to mention triple-core Phenom processors here, because AMD has once again changed their CPU marking strategy a little bit. Quad-core Phenom CPUs will now be called Phenom X4, triple-core – Phenom X3 and dual-core processors will remain Athlon X2.

Core 2 Duo E7200

I don’t think anyone will argue that the transition to 45nm production process allowed Intel to significantly improve their processors on Core micro-architecture. It seems that the new CPUs from Penryn family didn’t get any revolutionary improvements compared with the older Conroe CPUs. However nevertheless, they boast a number of advantages that may seem insignificant at first glance, but combined altogether ensured a tremendous step forward, so that these new processors proved totally praiseworthy.

True, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors manufactured with 45nm process can boast higher performance, lower heat dissipation as well as better frequency and overclocking potential than their predecessors. It was possible to improve the consumer features of these processors thanks to new smaller and more economical transistors using metal gate and hafnium based dielectric. However, you should also take into account micro-architectural improvements including larger cache-memory, introduction of new SSE4.1 instructions and changes of some functional units’ operational algorithms. As a result, Penryn processors turned out pretty successful, so that there will hardly be anyone these days to deny it and insist on the superiority of older CPUs manufactured with 65nm process.

However, despite everything we have just said, previous generation processors continue to enjoy steady demand. The reason for this not very logical situation is quite common actually: far not all the users can afford 45nm Intel CPUs. There are currently two problems that prevent new processors from getting widely spread. Firstly, they are quite expensive: the youngest dual-core CPU model with a 45nm core, Core 2 Duo E8200, is currently priced at $163 in the official Intel’s price-list. Secondly, there is a real shortage of new processors in the market today. They are available far not in all large stores, and those retailers who sell them, push their prices way up.

Luckily, not only the end users but also Intel themselves are unhappy about this situation. Within this quarter Intel is going to significantly increase the supplies of 45nm desktop processors and ensure that they are in fact widely available to consumers. At the same time, the company is preparing new Core 2 Duo processor models that will be targeted for less expensive computer systems. In the next few days we should see the new dual-core Core 2 Duo E7200 processor with slightly more modest specifications than those of Core 2 Duo E8200. However, nevertheless, it will have the same core manufactured with 45nm process. Its official price is promised to be $133.

The new processor will become the first representative of the new E7000 line-up that will keep expanding with new inexpensive solutions ousting old 65nm models from the Core 2 Duo E4000 family. In fact, the new Core 2 Duo E7200 is none other but a more up-to-date alternative to the 65nm Core 2 Duo E4700, which doesn’t look convincing at all against the background of the youngest models in the Core 2 Duo E8000 family. The new 45nm core and democratic price point make Core 2 Duo E7200 a pretty intriguing new solution for mainstream computer systems.

Three Cores vs. Two: AMD Phenom X3 8750

AMD’s situation in the processor market these days can hardly be called enviable. AMD fans pinned a lot of hopes upon new K10 micro-architecture, however in reality it didn’t help the company create worthy rivals to Intel’s solutions, even though this micro-architecture is indeed innovative and efficient. Evident strengths of this micro-architecture, such as native quad-core design and L3 cache shared between all cores, remained in the shade because of technological issues that prevented AMD from getting to produce processors with frequencies beyond 2.5GHz. As a result, quad-ore Phenom X4 processors that are already available today turn out unable to compete not only against new 45nm Penryn CPUs, but also against the old 65nm Intel processors.

Moreover, the performance gap between Phenom X4 and Core 2 Quad is so dramatic that even the possibility of performance parity between the two is pretty vague. It is evident that 65nm production technology currently used by AMD will not allow them to increase significantly the working frequencies of their Phenom processors. As for the transition to a more advanced 45nm production process, it is scheduled to take place in Q4 2008. However, 45nm Deneb processors that should come to replace 65nm Phenom will be able to hit only 3.0-3.2GHz frequencies right from the start. And it seems to be not enough to successfully compete against the top quad-core Intel CPUs, so AMD will have to put up with the fate of an inexpensive processor supplier for another while.

AMD does understand the situation very well and tries to introduce the platform concept that will help promote not just bare CPUs but complete kits including a processor, a mainboard and a graphics card. This approach may allow the GPU to make up for insufficient processor performance, which AMD marketing people are trying to stress. However, these kits may be of interest primarily to OEMs and system integrators rather than end users, who are used to putting their systems together from individual components selected basing on their own specific preferences. That is why it is not surprising that neither AMD Spider platform with discrete ATI Radeon HD graphics, nor Cartwheel with the integrated AMD 780G chipset caused any significant stir among computer enthusiasts.

In this situation AMD has to look for other ways to win consumers’ hearts. Their main strategy in attaining this goal has become aggressive pricing policy. Together with the launch of Phenom X4 9X50 processors using the new core revision free from the “TLB bug”, they also lowered the prices of their quad-core processors proportionally to their performance in reference to that of the competitor solutions. As a result, AMD is currently offering the most affordable quad-core solutions in the market. That will certainly find their way into some users’ systems with strategic positioning like that. The same things are happening to the dual-core Athlon 64 X2 processor family that loses to contemporary Core 2 Duo processors in every test. Therefore, retail prices of Athlon 64 X2 dropped so greatly that now these CPUs are regarded only as budget solutions.

Price drop is a good way to maintain proper sales volumes. However, in this case the forefront of the computer community loses interest to AMD solutions and the company is no longer regarded as a technology leader. So, AMD had to find another unique way of warming the public up to their processors. And today’s announcement of the unique Phenom X3 processor family with triple-core configuration is exactly a measure like that. Of course, one of the reasons for these processors to appear is direct economical benefit for the manufacturer, as they got the opportunity to use up “defective” dies for quad-core Phenom processors by disabling one of the cores. But on the other hand, the launch of Phenom X3 may also be regarded as another attempt to compete with Core 2 Duo that are superior to dual-core Athlon 64 X2 from all standpoints. Triple-core Phenom processors are positioned as intermediate solutions between Athlon 64 X2 and Phenom X4, and their price will make them direct competitors to Intel’s mainstream dual-core processors.

5 Tools Needed When Building or Working on Your Pc

Hello fellow computer builders. I’d like to send a special welcome to all newcomers. I am under the impression that we are all here, because we are ready to start building our computers from scratch. If that’s correct, then let’s get started.

If you’ve read my other articles, you’ve come to realize that you first need a plan. This is essential for any venture you set out to do, if you plan on doing it as efficiently as possible. In building computers, you need a plan if you intend on getting compatible parts at a competitive price.

You’ve developed a plan and purchased the compatible parts that you want and need at a competitive price. Now, it’s time to put those parts together. Before we get started, let’s take an inventory of the tools needed, as a minimum to build our computers. If you are not a tool person, do not worry. The tools needed to build a computer are pretty inexpensive. Below is a list of the 5 tools needed when building a computer:

SCREWDRIVER: Ensure that you have a Phillips and a flat head screwdriver. You will be using these items to mount components inside the case.

FLASHLIGHT: Your room may be well-lit, but sometimes it’s difficult to see in small spaces inside the computer case, especially after you begin mounting components. I actually purchased a screwdriver with removable bits and a flashlight all together. It ran me around $10.

ANTISTATIC WRIST STRAP: These devices are used to safely discharge static build up. When getting one, look for the packaging to mention 1-megaohm resistor for added safety, to you.

MULTIMETER: You do not necessarily need this to ,built your computer but you may need it when troubleshooting a possible defective part. This is a good to have tool.

TWEEZERS: You will drop a screw into your computer. Sometimes they drop on the surface of your motherboard, behind the video card. This makes it difficult for you to reach your fingers in there to retrieve it. That’s when the tweezers come in to play.

Of course, there are other tools that you may need. A power supply tester is always nice to have. Compressed Air in a can is another tool you may want to invest in. One other thing that you will need is a clean work space. You need some room when building a computer, so don’t try and put it together on your kitchen counter, while your spouse is cooking. I use a 3’ x 6’ fold out table. This is my work station and on it I keep a monitor, keyboard and mouse, a tool-kit and a cup for screws.

Hp Tablet Pc Tx2000

HP’s tx2000 series with latest mobile computing technologies and new entertainment features with the ease of handwriting detection and ultra portability. The next-generation touch screen is more advance and responsive to your touch. In a small portable design featuring the new Imprint Finish and a newly designed keyboard gives great looks.

HP tablet PC features

· Weight 4.3 lbs easy to carry any where

· Easily swing screen up to 180

· Mini Remote control to navigate and play audio video files.

· Improve productivity with the power Intel Processors.

· Run multiple applications simultaneously with a speedy, powerful, dual-core processor and advanced graphic card

· High capacity hard disk to store all large files, music, videos and photos.

· High-resolution screen.

· Faster internet browsing with Gigabit Ethernet.

· Touch the screen with your finger to control your computer

· Protection with fingerprint reader.

HP Tablet PC Specs:

• AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual Core processor TL-66 2.3GHz




• Up to 4GB DDR2 RAM (review unit had 2GB)




• Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 graphics




• Hard drive options of 120GB, 160GB or 250GB




• 12.1" WXGA touch screen display with built in digitizer (1280x800 resolution)




• Light Scribe Super Multi or Super Multi 8X DVD+/-R/RW




• Windows Vista Home, Business or Ultimate OS




• Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet




• 802.11a/b/g/n with Bluetooth




• Express Card Slot




• 3 x USB ports




• 2 x headphone out and one microphone-in




• VGA-15 pin




• TV-Out S-video




• RJ-11 and RJ-45




• Notebook Expansion port 3




• 2 x Consumer IR




• Battery: 4-cell or 6-cell Lithium-Ion




• Weight: 4.3 pounds with weight saver and 4-cell battery




• Dimensions: 8.82"(L) x 12.05"(W) x 1.23"(H)

Dell Latitude D820 – Good Laptop for Professionals

Dell latitude D820 offers good performance, study build quality with plethora of options makes it ideal companion for any business professionals.

It offer 1680x1050 widescreen display with lot of working space on desktop you can work on multiple documents at the same time.

Dell Latitude Quick Overview

Pros

• Sturdy build quality




• Work well computer intensive tasks




• Good heat solution




• Dual mouse options




• WiFi catcher and battery life LEDs




• Price (relative to other corporate notebooks)

Cons

• monotonous screen




• little noisy optical drive




• graphics performance can be better plus no option for a better card

In corporate or companies this laptop can easily be used as training computers.

Features Overview

Dell Latitude D820 configuration with the following major options:

Processor: Intel Core Duo T2500 2GHz 667MHz FSB & 2MB Smart L2 cache

Memory (standard & maximum): Standard - 2GB DDR2 667MHz (2GB x 1 Module); Maximum - 4GB

Hard Disk: 100GB 7200RPM SATA Drive

Graphics: 512MB NVidia Quadro NVS 120M Turbocache

Display: 1680 x 1050 WSXGA+ Resolution; 15.4 inch Wide Screen Display 16:10 Wide Aspect ratio

CD/DVD ROM: 8x DVD+/-RW with Roxio Creator DVD

Ethernet: Gigabit NIC

Wireless: A/G & Bluetooth

PC Slots: type 1 or II & 54mm Express Card Slot

Modem: 56K v.92 Integrated

Battery: 6 Cell 56 w/Hr battery

Audio: High Definition Audio Codec with Stereo Speakers

Operating System: Win XP Pro

Weight: 6 Lbs

Dimensions: (W x H x D) Inches 14.2W x 1.39H x 10.34D inches

Rentfusion a nationwide computer rental company offers Dell latitude D820 for trade shows, convention centers rentals on weekly and monthly basis.

bios & cmos ram

Some people confuse BIOS with the CMOS RAM in a system. This confusion is aided by the fact that the Setup program in the BIOS is used to set and store the configuration settings in the CMOS RAM. They are, in fact, two totally separate components.


The BIOS on the motherboard is stored in a fixed ROM chip. Also on the motherboard is a chip called the RTC/NVRAM chip, which stands for real-time clock/nonvolatile memory. This is where the BIOS Setup information is stored, and it is actually a digital clock chip with a few extra bytes of memory thrown in. It is usually called the CMOS chip because it is made using CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology.
The first example of this ever used in a PC was the Motorola MC146818 chip, which had 64 bytes of storage, of which 10 bytes were dedicated to the clock function. Although it is called nonvolatile, it is actually volatile, meaning that without power, the time/date settings and the data in the RAM portion will in fact be erased. It is called nonvolatile because it is designed using CMOS technology, which results in a chip that runs on very little power. A battery in the system, rather than the AC wall current, provides that power. This is also why most people call this chip the CMOS RAM chip; although not technically accurate (almost all modern chips use a form of CMOS technology), that is easier to say than the RTC/NVRAM chip. Most RTC/NVRAM chips run on as little as 1 microamp (millionth of an amp), so they use very little battery power to run. Most lithium coin cell batteries can last up to 5 years or more before the battery runs out and the information stored (as well as the date and time) is lost. Some systems use special versions of these chips made by Dallas Semiconductor, Benchmarq, or Odin (such as the DS12885 and DS12887) that include both the RTC/NVRAM chip and the battery in a single component.
When you enter your BIOS Setup, configure your hard disk parameters or other BIOS Setup settings, and save them, these settings are written to the storage area in the RTC/NVRAM (otherwise called CMOS RAM) chip. Every time your system boots up, it reads the parameters stored in the CMOS RAM chip to determine how the system should be configured. A relationship exists between the BIOS and CMOS RAM, but they are two distinctly different parts of the system

bios

It is often difficult for people to understand the difference between hardware and software in a PC system. The differences can be difficult because they are both very much intertwined in the system design, construction, and operation. Understanding these differences is essential to understanding the role of the BIOS in the system.BIOS is a term that stands for basic input/output system , which at the most basic level consists of low-level software that controls the system hardware. BIOS is essentially the link between hardware and software in a system. Most people know the term BIOS by another name— device drivers, or just drivers . BIOS is a single term that describes all the drivers (low-level hardware control programs) in a system working together to act as an interface between the hardware and the operating system software.What can be confusing is that some of the BIOS code is burned or flashed into a ROM chip that is both nonvolatile (it doesn’t get erased when the power is turned off) and read-only. This is a core part of the BIOS, but not all of it. The BIOS also includes ROM chips installed on adapter cards, as well as all the additional drivers loaded when your system boots up. The combination of the motherboard BIOS, adapter card BIOS, and device drivers loaded from disk contribute to the BIOS as a whole. The portion of the BIOS contained in ROM chips both on the motherboard and in some adapter cards is sometimes called firmware , which is a name given to software stored in chips rather than on disk. This causes some people to incorrectly think of the BIOS as a hardware component. A PC system can be described as a series of layers—some hardware and some software—that interface with each other. In the most basic sense, you can break a PC down into four primary layers, each of which can be broken down further into subsets The purpose of the layered design is to enable a given operating system and applications to run on different hardware. different machines with different hardware can each use different drivers (BIOS) to interface the unique hardware to a common operating system and applications. Thus, two machines with different processors, storage media, video display units, and so on can run the same application software. In this layered architecture, the application software programs talk to the operating system via what is called an Application Program Interface (API). The API varies according to the operating system you are using and consists of the various commands and functions the operating system can perform for an application. For example, an application can call on the operating system to load or save a file. This prevents the application itself from having to know how to read the disk, send data to a printer,or perform any other of the many functions the operating system can provide. Because the application is completely insulated from the hardware, you can essentially run the same applications on different machines; the application is designed to talk to the operating system rather than the hardware. The operating system then interfaces with or talks to the BIOS or driver layer. The BIOS consists of all the individual driver programs that operate between the operating system and the actual hardware. Assuch, the operating system never talks to the hardware directly; instead, it must always go through the appropriate drivers. This provides a consistent way to talk to the hardware. It is usually the responsibility of the hardware manufacturer to provide drivers for its hardware. Because the drivers must act between both the hardware and the operating system, the drivers typically are operating system specific. Thus, the hardware manufacturer must offer different drivers so that its hardware works under DOS, Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000, OS/2, Linux, and so on. Because many operating systems use the same internal interfaces, some drivers can work under multiple operating systems. For example, a driver that works under Windows Me often also works under Windows 98 and 95, and a driver that works under Windows XP also often works under Windows 2000 and NT. This is because Windows 95, 98, and Me are essentially variations on the same OS, as are Windows NT, 2000,and XP.Because the BIOS layer looks the same to the operating system no matter what hardware is above it(or underneath, depending on your point of view), the same operating system can run on a variety of systems. For example, you can run Windows XP on two systems with different processors, hard disks, video adapters, and so on, yet Windows XP will look and feel pretty much the same on both of them.This is because the drivers provide the same basic functions no matter which specific hardware is used.