A desktop computer is now almost a mainstay in every household. It is essential for working at home, surfing the internet, playing video games or watching movies – all in the comfort of your home. When looking at the different brands and models of desktop computers, the most important considerations (after the budget, of course) would be the hardware and software included with your purchase. The right hardware and software for your needs will ensure that you get the most out of the desktop computer – and that you get the most value out of your money.
Upon deciding what the desktop computer will be used for (personal or professional purposes), you can now start shopping around! Check if the motherboard is compatible for the type of use (or abuse!) you will subject the computer to. The same goes when checking the CPU – go for dual processors for better performance. The hard drive should be at least 120GB (more, depending on your needs); if you don’t plan on making any regular upgrades, it would be better to get a hard drive with bigger capacity. If you plan on using a number of programs or applications at the same time, make sure that the RAM chips are enough for your needs as well.
When looking for software installed in a desktop computer, make sure that everything you need is covered. If you will need just the basics, word-processing software would cover your requirements. However, desktop publishing software might be the best option for you if you plan on transforming your documents into professionally-printed material. Last but not the least – you should check if the desktop computer is installed with anti-virus software. This would protect your computer (and your documents/files) from being accessed without your permission by outside sources. If the software is not yet installed, ask around for the best one that would fit your budget – and invest on it.
When your desktop computer has all the hardware and software features that you need, the possibilities are endless for both personal and professional purposes. You can do virtually everything that you want to – right in the comfort of your own home or office.
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When I first got my hands on the Nokia N8 ($550 unlocked; price as of 10/3/2010) back in June, I was impressed with its hardware and multimedia features, but had the feeling that the software was stale and outdated. After spending more time with the N8, I haven't changed my opinion very much. If anything, I am even more impressed with the attractive hardware and the fantastic camera--which makes the dated OS even more frustrating.
It started with an accidental posting on Microsoft's Dutch website saying Windows 8 was two years away from hitting the market. Then there were a few slides at the recent Microsoft Professional Developers Conference suggesting the next release of the Windows Server OS, which typically arrives just after a desktop edition debuts, was due in 2012. To add to the titillation, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, when interviewed at the Gartner Symposium, said the next version of the Windows desktop would be "Microsoft's riskiest upcoming product."
Only Microsoft knows how the next version of its Windows operating system will look and what it will be called, but big changes could be ahead for the OS that observers refer to as "Windows 8." 
As for Microsoft's goal of "instant on" computing, blogger Manan Kakkar spotted a Microsoft patent for using a hypervisor-another virtualization method-to split the operating system into a general-purpose OS and a number of appliancelike applications, such as for TVs and tablets. Those uses, Kakkar says, could switch on instantly even if the core OS took 30 seconds to start up. 
Microsoft clearly wants to create an operating system that scales between devices. ARM support provides the foundation, and cloud services could be a major building block. The challenge for Microsoft will be to leave the core Windows experience and legacy compatibility intact while also pursuing its lofty ambitions. 
Just as you were getting comfortable with Windows 7, it looks like Windows 8 is coming in the next two years. In a post celebrating the one-year anniversary of Windows 7 -- the fastest selling OS in history -- Microsoft's Dutch Web site briefly mentioned the construction and release of its successor:
Reports from last year suggested Microsoft was building a 128-bit version of its OS, which could very likely be Windows 8. More recently, Network World acquired more than 15 confidential slide decks detailing possible additions, including body-sensing features similar to the Xbox Kindest, a desktop app store like Apple's forthcoming Mac App Store, near-instant CPU booting, and a focus on powering tablets.
Green, blue, red, with silver tolerance band: 56 x 100 = 5.6 kohms, with a tolerance of 10%
Brown, black, orange, gold tolerance band: 10 x 1000 = 10000 ohms (or 10K ohms), with a tolerance of 5%
Red, red, brown, silver tolerance band: 22 x 10 = 220 ohms (220 ohms), with a tolerance of 10%
Blue, brown, white, brown, red tolerance band: 619 x 10 = 6190 ohms (6.19K ohms), with a tolerance of 2%
Red, red, brown, black, with a brown tolerance band: 221 x 1 = 221 ohms, with a tolerance of 1%
Brown, black, black, red, with a brown tolerance band: 100 x 100 = 10000 ohms (10.0K), with a tolerance of 1% 
