Geeks2U | June Newsletter

courtesy of www.memx.com

Nanotechnology - When Size Does Matter

Nanotechnology is the latest buzzword among the elite of the geek world. It could cure global poverty, re-forest the earth, eliminate carbon emissions, all while giving you some really cool toys to play with.

So what is it you might ask... Nanotechnology literally means the technology of really, really small things. In its modern context, it's basically the science of precisely re-arranging atoms to form new materials. Everything you see around you is made of atoms, and the way in which they are arranged dictates the substance that they form. Once we master the art and science of manipulating atoms as we see fit, we will be able to create literally anything from scratch, simply by rearranging substances at a molecular level. As you can imagine, the implications for society given this kind of technology would be tremendous we would no longer rely on any traditional means to obtain things like food, fuel, clothing or anything else.

The current commercial applications for this technology are limited to relatively boring things like sunscreen and canned waterproofing spray, but the interesting stuff is coming very shortly. Be prepared to see some dramatic advances in this industry within the next few years.

For example, Canadian researchers have recently announced that they have developed a device that holds 500,000 gigabytes of data (or about 6000 times the storage capacity of your home computer) on a chip about 2cm square. Imagine an music player the size of a twenty cent coin that holds (literally) over one hundred million songs! There won't be a need to imagine for much longer, as this kind of gear is expected to hit the shelves within a couple of years.

Other applications in the near future which are currently in early stages of research will include microscopic robots that hunt down disease, devices that can turn dirt into food by re-arranging their molecular structure, and even work androids capable of self-replication. Let's just hope that the armies of the future don't consist entirely of cyborg Arnold Schwarzenegger clones... Argh!!

Purchasing a Digital Camera

If you're seriously considering buying a digital camera, you've probably already come to one conclusion, that you don't want a film camera... but why? That Pentax SLR you bought in 1977 took fantastic pictures, in fact it's probably getting dusty in a cupboard somewhere in your house. So let's assess why it doesn't get much use these days:

The number one reason would probably be that it's inconvenient and expensive to buy film and have it developed. Not to mention the ability to resize, manipulate and print photos from the comfort of your home.

Once you're ready to take the plunge into digital photography (if you haven't already!), the first term you'll likely be acquainted with while shopping for a digital camera is 'megapixel'. Digital camera resolution is measured in megapixels (or MP), and a higher number is often a major selling point on the latest cameras... However, don't be deceived! A higher resolution doesn't necessarily mean better pictures. At 5MP , a photo will print to A4 size at its highest quality, even at a measly 1.3MP a photo will still take up your entire computer screen. Today's camera's generally run at around 8MP , and the main practical advantage for a resolution that high comes when you want to manipulate the image after its been taken for example, if you take a picture of a room with a bucket in it, at 8mp you'll be able to isolate the bucket as a high quality photo of its own.

Zoom is another important feature. Many camera's advertise 'digital zoom' this type of zoom is a gimmick and should be completely ignored, as it works by cropping the photograph and decreasing the image quality. Optical zoom is dictated by the lens and is the only type of zoom you'll need. Obviously the more the merrier, but large zoom often equals large lens, and it's often not practical to carry an enormous camera everywhere you go.. Which is why most people are quite happy with 3x, 6x or 10x zoom.

Another important decision to make is the type of camera you want. Digital SLR, compact, budget... It really depends on what your needs are. Compact cameras may conveniently fit in your pocket or handbag, but may lack some features such as high zoom and manual override settings. Digital SLR's are large and cumbersome, but are the only serious option for the discriminating photographer who needs extensive manual settings, interchangeable lenses, and versatile focusing algorithms. Budget cameras are designed to be cheap and to take decent photos, but lack advanced features.

The idea of playing games on a computer can be a little intimidating for many users. Even Nintendo freaks, Playstation junkies and Xbox fanatics will quickly slink back to the comfort of their living rooms when faced with the seemingly complex task of home PC gaming.

Battered by an a negative stigma that brings to mind slimy teenagers with greasy long hair and anti-social tendencies sitting in dark rooms frantically clicking and tapping away in a self-induced frenzy of suburban angst, PC gaming has long been classified as a pretty daggy thing to be in to. Along with this image problem, PC gaming suffers from a technological barrier that removes it from mainstream accessibility.

Talk to any PC gaming enthusiast, and the first thing you'll realise is that they're probably not the greasy ball of angst you imagined. The next thing you'll notice is that while you're digesting the possibility that a normal person might actually play computer games, you'll have just been slammed by a barrage of incomprehensible technical jargon. Hardcore PC gaming requires all sorts of little bits and pieces that your ordinary computer probably doesn't have, and it's for this reason that many gamers are up to scratch on their techno vocab'.

Despite all this, PC gaming is remarkably accessible once you've gotten over the initial hurdles. There's really only one thing you need a really good computer. For a really fantastic gaming experience, you'll want a high-end graphics card, a good dedicated sound card, lots of memory, and one heck of a processor. Although it's important to be up to scratch on the latest parts when you're into PC gaming, you don't necessarily need all of these things â?? or at least not the latest â?? to have fun with it.

Video cards are really the most important aspect of computer gaming hardware. Gaming video cards hit their plateau about 2 years ago when PCI-Express became the accepted socket type â?? or in regular talk all video cards you can buy these days plug in to the exact same place, and are generally compatible with every computer of the same vintage.

You might say I don't understand all this video card talk I have a screen and I can see everything on my computer just fine - that may be so, and you're probably using something called 'integrated graphics' which is like a video card built into your motherboard. It's fine for browsing the internet and reading your email, but try playing even an older 3d game on one of those it's not going to be very happy with you.

On the other hand, if you'd like to play games and not be bothered with knowing the details, just give us a call and we'll be happy to help you out with an upgrade, or maybe even just a recommendation.

Gadget of the Month

Canon PSA580 Digital Camera

Technician of the Month

David Jeffries

David Jeffries, a new addition to Geeks2U's Perth division, has been keenly interested in computers for twenty-six years, beginning with Technology being part of his high school studies.  He went on to college, receiving a National diploma in Business and Computer Studies.  Recently, David added basic web design and desktop publishing to his educational portfolio.

Professionally his experience began twenty-one years ago as an Office Administrator and IT Consultant for an Architects practice.  His responsibilities included overseeing the installation of all hardware and software packages for the company's computers, as well as installation and updating CAD software.  In addition, he wrote and maintained an accounts program with QuickBasic.

Later, David became a Computer Programmer, writing programs to suit customers' needs, setting up networks and running the help desk, followed by a position as an Installation Engineer.  Here, he built computers and installed various pieces of software, tested all hardware before issuing it to customers and assisted with help desk calls.  In addition, he assisted with installing peripheral devices and setting up networks.

David has been a Computer Technical Engineer, where his main role involved Microsoft OS problem solving.  He has also held the position of Network Engineer/IT Consultant, working closely with clients and developing their existing IT infrastructure, advising and implementing new security measures/upgrades for both hardware and software, and problem solving by remote access or onsite support.

With a strong background in helpdesk and onsite support, David has learned how to get information across to the everyday computer user without bogging them down with technical jargon. He is an excellent addition to the Geeks2U Perth team.

His IT skills include, but are not limited to: