Video memory is RAM memory that has been installed on a video adapter. RAM memory is Random Access Memory and is a volatile form of memory. Video memory first places an image in the sequence it may be running into a frame buffer, which is a form of bitmap. The image is then shown on the screen as we see it either in picture form or film form.

The amount of video memory available on the video adapter is an important factor to how the image is viewed by the user. This is what determines the maximum resolution and color depth of the film. Once this is known, it is easy to see how video cards have evolved from the simple colors into an array of available colors in varying resolution. If the amount of memory stored on the adapter is small, then the resolution and color depth of the resulting image will be low upon viewing. If high resolution is desired by the person using video memory, then a higher amount of it memory is needed on the adapter.

There are a few types of video memory. Just as RAM has varying forms of memory, so does the video. Some of the more common types include VRAM (Video Random Access Memory), WRAM (Windows Random Access Memory), RDRAM (Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory), and SGRAM (Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory).

Windows Random Access Memory supports two ports that enable it to retrieve memory at the same time that it is receiving it. This makes it faster than VRAM and comes with a lesser price tag. Most of the cost difference comes in the fact that WRAM supports large blocks or windows of video data.

Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory has a transfer rate of up to 800 MHz. This is faster than the average SDRAM. For this reason, RDRAM began replacing VRAM in many products in 1997. This type of video memory is often found in the Pentium processors in computers.

Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory is used in graphic accelerators. It can synchronize with the CPU bus clocks up to 100 MHz using one port with the ability to open two memory pages simultaneously. It also uses other techniques to increase bandwidth for images.

With video memory your needs depend upon the amount you use the graphic accelerators and video adapters. For those with low usage, VRAM may be all that is necessary to achieve desired results. Graphic artists will most likely be concerned with the amount of bandwidth as well as speed, choosing to use SGRAM and RDRAM types as a solution. Requirements to get a job done will have an impact on the choices made and the cost involved in investing in such additional types. Upgrading is an option for those seeking more speed and bandwidth and can be achieved by simply changing the graphic accelerator and video adapter cards in the CPU. Switching to a more powerful processor may also be needed if upgrading for optimum performance.

A strong majority of people have seen a video wall or know what a video wall is, but just might not know how to describe it. Some of the other terms you might be more familiar with are seamless video walls, frameless video walls, video grids, plasma walls, etc. For the purpose of this article I will refer to them as plasma video walls as that is the most common industry term and the one most people will recognize.

What is a video wall?
A plasma video wall is a series of plasma screen monitors that arranged together to form one large screen. It might be easier to think of it as putting a bunch of TV's together to form one giant TV. The plasma monitors used to create a video wall however have very small borders or edges (often referred to as frameless). This allows each individual monitor that makes up a video wall to get very close to the other monitors and creates a more seamless picture. Typically when looking at a video wall you can notice where the individual plasma screens come together, although the overall impact on the video or picture being displayed is minor.

Video walls are a popular rental at trade shows, exhibitions and other business type conventions for drawing a crowd and presenting a 'larger than life' video experience. The individual plasmas can be configured in a variety of ways to create a horizontal, vertical, or grid like pattern depending on the intention. Since a video wall is made up of individual plasma monitors there really is no limit on the size of a video wall, although the most common seem to be 3x3 grids comprised of nine 42" plasma monitors. These monitors can display video independently or act as one giant monitor and display video across all the screens as if it were one monitor. Most of the time you will see a combination of different ways video is presented on them.

Electronics are vulnerable to dust or a strong impact, so choosing cases for them wisely is important. You can buy cases specifically designed for your digital camera, iPod, PDA, cell phone, and laptop computer. The key is to find the case best suited to the job.
Digital camera cases come in many different sizes. It only makes sense to buy the camera first and then get a case that will fit it. Mini camera cases are great for the smallest cameras, but digital camcorders require a large, boxy shaped case.

Special pockets are useful on camera cases for batteries, memory cards, and other accessories. The camcorders often have pockets for smaller digital cameras. A good, durable fabric for the cases is nylon twill. Some camera bags are water-resistant as well. Decide whether you want to carry the cases over your shoulder, in your hand, or around your waist. Some of them give you all three choices.

The advantage of having an iPod case is that you can carry the iPod around anywhere without danger of destroying it. These cases allow you to use the touch screen through a thin membrane. Yet, they are resistant to water, dirt, sand, and damage from dropping them on hard surfaces. Clear cases keep iPod looking the same as it did before.

PDA cases are really quite similar to iPod cases, although they are somewhat bigger. They, too, have the screen membrane that can be used to access the inner touch screen. These also have a screen cover that is hard and durable for when you are not using the PDA. These cases prevent damage just the same as the iPod cases do.

Many of the digital camera cases pull double duty as cell phone cases. However, iPhone cases are completely different. They are more akin to the iPod protectors. They have the ability to be used without taking off their thin protective covering over the screen. Check your iPhone case to be sure that it is water-resistant. Do not expect it to be water-proof entirely. Also, be sure that you are getting a case that will fit your model phone.

As far as laptop cases go, three good choices are the messenger bag, the backpack, and the roller backpack. Some people find the messenger bags a little harder to carry, with their long strap and bulky flap. However, they are more fashionable than some of the other bags.
The backpack laptop bags are the easiest to carry. Whether you are pulling a roller backpack along behind you or slinging a backpack over your shoulders, you do not have to worry about dropping the case. Even if you did, any of these cases would protect your laptop. They have padding and cradle the computer so that it is not so vulnerable to breaking.

With all your electronics stowed safely away, you can carry on your business and pleasure without a worry. Cases make traveling easier and staying around home more carefree. Choosing the right ones will keep your iPod, phone, digital camera, laptop, and PDA in perfect condition.

In this article I have tried to compile some tips which will help you finding the best disc replicating services. There are many sources which can help you in finding compact disc replication services. One of the most extensive sources is Internet. Nowadays every reputed company is launching their websites on the World Wide Web. Website includes all the information which is needed by the customer. You find a suitable website with the help of major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. All you have to do is to type keywords in the search bar. The websites and services can also be found through web directories. Directories are the websites which is classified into categories and sub-categories. You should go through a suitable category for finding the service or product you need.

After finding the website you should find more information about the services and product they are providing. Let's talk about the common services which are provided by the compact disc replication companies. Do you want to convert your VHS in to a DVD? This can be done very easily because there are many companies which are providing this service. The second common service which is provided by the online CD companies is replication and duplication.

After replicating or duplicating the compact discs you will need some services which can help you to marketing the compact discs. The discs can be marketed in many ways. You can take the help of color printing for creating covers for the discs.

Nowadays compact discs are being used in many ways for business promotion. A compact disc can be used as a business card. You can print all the important information on the disc ant it can be distributed among your potential clients.

There are many things which should be considered by a buyer when he is shopping online. Always remember that the website you are using is secure and authenticated. The payment methods which are being used by the website should be protected and certified. You should never forget to plan a budget in advance. Sometimes a budget can help you a lot in saving some money. You should know all the needs of the company before you order something online.

Find lots of information about the products or services you are going to buy. It is a good idea to spend some time with a professional before you order something. You can ask for the consultation from the company itself. A company consultant can help you a lot in the buying process.

Never forget to compare the prices of the services you are looking for. You can find a good price due to increasing competition among the companies. But never compromise with the quality of the service you are going to order.

One of the problems the filmmakers are facing is the rapid spread of pirated DVD and CD market. Thus it has become imperative to be cautious about the danger of producing, buying or using pirated products. Suppose you have bought a good looking, nice packed DVD, and when you come back home with it you find something disturbing. The cover, which is printed on the face of the DVD, is a cheap, ordinary looking one. Then you can be certain that the picture would be sub-standard and unclear.

Distributors generally would make good quality DVD cases for the packaging whereas a pirated DVD would be put in an ordinary DVD case.

All the DVDs are based on region codes. Most often the pirated DVDs contain non-existent codes which can be easily identified. You can play the supposedly region 1 DVD on any Region 4 player.

Another important problem you would witness is that the cover would not match the title and content of the DVD. The fonts used most of the time are blurry and are full of typographical errors. The original DVD should contain the DVD image that was given in the ad. Pirated DVDs seldom follow this and will have any picture on it.

One of the problems that the online sellers face is the selling of pirated DVDs through major online selling sites. The sites, which host the web selling, often do not have too much control over the merchandise. This leads to customer dissatisfaction over the sold product.

There are some precautions you can take while buying a DVD to check its originality. Find out the photos of the original DVD on the net. You can find it in other places also and can request it from the distributors or the reseller. If the reseller is genuine, then he can provide you with snapshots taken from different angles.

Do not forget to check the feedback of the seller from other customers. There might be a negative comment written on him. Some people have the habit of making comments before they go through the process of investigating the whole truth. Read the comments carefully as there might be some useful information shared in the small space.

Some sellers are there who try to make quick bucks by selling both original and pirated DVDs. They just mix the content and sell to unsuspecting consumers. As it is online, most customers do not take the pain to send the DVD back to the seller and ask for a refund.

Pirates, nowadays, have a full arsenal for creating pirated DVDs. They even have a factory to put a stamp on their own DVD and seal it. Most of the time, the seals are imitations of the original factory seal. This easily fools the buyer.

However, the reputed sellers do not indulge in any of these practices and you can rest assured that the product offered by them is 100% genuine.

We all know that some applications and plug-ins for our computers take a much higher speed of transfer than others. This is never been more true than in video application transfers that allow a more graphical sense to our creative computer world. The video captures and transference that is necessary from camcorder to computer simply cannot run at normal or low speeds and retain the level of quality that today's average computer owner expects in terms of performance.

The term fire wire first came into use after Apple developed the unique transference device wire that was intended to replace the Small Computer Systems Interface in order to handle faster transfers of audio and video material associated with camcorders and similar devices. It was to bridge the gap of low quality recordings and make even the amateur appear more professional in the pursuit of preserving home movies and sound tracks to capture memories forever. With its development, Sony created a version that eliminated power pins in reverence to a separate power supply. Over the years, this simple concept has developed beyond what was originally foreseen for it upon its conception.

The fire wire didn't just end up as a neat way to look professional for the average computer user. It has also been a useful tool for professionals who specialize in audio and video output and machine vision. In fact, the fire wire is preferred over the more standard USB. It has higher speed capacities for transferring with more power distribution capabilities than the standard USB. It also has the convenience of not requiring a computer host in order to be used, although it is often used on the computer. The fire wire utilizes all of the capabilities of the SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) and that creates a high sustained data transfer ratio. This ratio is one of the most important considerations for video and audio editors when creating their unique crafts.

Fire wires allow communication from peer-to-peer applications, such as a printer or scanner, without using any memory or a CPU, which can be important to those needing the advantages of it while using the device. The ability to support multiple hosts per bus and the ability to make use of plug and play as well as hot swapping makes the device even more attractive for professionals and amateurs alike.

The popularity of the fire wire can be witnessed in the corresponding manufacturer's response. Modern camcorders and other forms of recording and digital video devices including many models of cameras have included the connection for fire wire technology since 1995. With the advantages of speed and efficiency coupled with the obvious quality that is rendered due to the higher transfer rate, the fire wire has proved its value in the technological field. The simple device that appears to the naked eye of the novice to be a cable apparatus has become one of the must have for modern computer owners. Fire wires turn even the most novice of amateurs into professional videographers-even if it's only for the family.

"Oh sA wt?"

"busy am. Thirunarayanan"

Texting is becoming a way of life in modern societies for those who are young in order to stay in almost constant touch with their friends. Many who are young at heart have also taken to texting as a way of communicating with others. For parents and grandparents, texting offers a convenient way of staying in touch and communicating with their children and grandchildren. Digitally savvy and mobile children use language in abbreviated forms that would have been unthinkable and unacceptable in schools and society a few years ago.

However, texting language is now also beginning to find its way into school term papers and reports. IDK if this is tru, but I even vaguely recall reading somewhere that in the country of New Zealand, the use of texting lingo to answer questions on high school exit exams is now considered acceptable practice. My initial reaction when I came across this information was 'SAL' and 'YYSSW."

In a few years, texting will certainly become more widespread that it is now. As the practice of texting spreads to other areas of human activities, and IMO it will spread, many currently literate people will probably have to train themselves to be literate in the new lingo. Those who have mastered texting lingo will, in the future, be the new literates and will be 'lol'ing their way to successful careers and lives. Others will probably be left behind and will have to train themselves in the new lingo before they can BRB to claim their rightful places in society.

Imagine doctors sending you information about test results and instructions for taking medications in texting lingo. Imagine a judge rendering his or her opinion in texting lingo. Imagine the constitution being translated into texting lingo. Imagine a sacred document such as the national anthem of this country being translated into texting lingo. BION, I did just that. What you see below is the US national anthem translated into texting lingo.

(NOTE: The following text was translated from "english to lingo" on August 6, 2008, using the "transL8it!" service available at: http://www.transl8it.com/cgi-win/index.pl?convertPL)

Oh, sA cn U c,

By d dawns earlE lite,

wot so proudly we hailed

@ d twilight's lst gleaming,

whuz broad stripes & brite **,

Thru d perilous fite,

Oer d ramparts we watchD

wer so gallantly streaming?

& d rockets' red glare,

d bombs bursting n air,

Gave proof Thru d nyt

dat our flag wz stil ther.

O, sA, duz dat

Star-Spangled banR yt wAv

Oer d land of d frE

& d om of d brave?

Imagine listening to the texting version of the US or any other country's national anthem being played during the Olympic Games every time someone from that country wins a gold medal. Will athletes still be as proud as they now are, to represent their countries? Will they still cry when they hear a texting version of their country's national anthem is played?

Here is the original version of the national anthem of the United States:

"Oh, say can you see,

By the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed

At the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars,

Through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched

Were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare,

The bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night

That our flag was still there.

O, say, does that

Star-Spangled Banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free

And the home of the brave?"

(NOTE: The original text was retrieved from the Web on August 6, 2008: http://www.whitehouse.gov/national-anthem/usa-full.html)

(NOTE: I referred to the book "TOtlTxt: The Big Bk of Ltle Txt Msgs" published in 2002 by Castle Books, Edison, New Jersey, to find out what some of the abbreviations that I use in this article, such as 'SAL' mean.)

What will it be like if people start talking to each other in texting lingo? Can all the words that currently exist in different languages be translated into texting lingo? Will texting lingo allow human beings to express the broad range of emotions that we are capable of expressing? How about being able to convey profound thoughts and knowledge in various disciplines using texting lingo?

Is texting an evolutionary, revolutionary, or devolutionary trend? You be the judge.

The "area range" command is a Cisco IOS "Router" configuration command; that is used to consolidate and summarize routes at an OSPF area boundary.

Another way of explaining is, the "area range" command is a Cisco IOS "Router" configuration command; that is performed (used) only on OSPF Area Border Routers or (ABRs), so the ABRs can perform "route summarization" for an OSPF area.

Now, just in case you're new to the concept of an ABR performing "Route Summarization"; ABR "Route Summarization" is the process in which an OSPF Area Border Router (ABR) advertises a single summarized route to another External ABR; and the single summarized route that is advertised by the ABR, represents the address range of the particular OSPF area(s) that the advertising ABR belong too.

Here's an example of the command prompt and the correct syntax for the command:

Router(config-router)#area area-id range ipv6-prefix /prefix-length [advertise | not-advertise] [cost cost]

Now, in order to remove the specified area from the software configuration on an ABR, use the no area area-id command (with no other keywords). Like you see in the example below:

Router(config-router)#no area 1

Remember, when using the no area area-id command, the command removes all area options, such as area default-cost, area nssa, area range, area stub, and area virtual-link.

The "area range" command Keywords and Arguments Explained

area-id - This argument is an identifier of the area for which routes are to be summarized. The identifier can be specified as either a decimal value or an IPv6 prefix.

ipv6-prefix -This argument is (represents) the IPv6 prefix.

/prefix-length - This argument is (represents) the IPv6 prefix length.

advertise - This optional keyword sets the address range status to advertise and generates a Type 3 summary link-state advertisement (LSA).

not-advertise - This optional keyword sets the address range status to Do Not Advertise. This means the Type 3 summary LSA is suppressed, and the component networks remain hidden from other networks.

cost - This optional keyword represents the metric or cost for the summary route, which is used during OSPF SPF calculation to determine the shortest paths to the destination. The value can be 0 to 16777215.

I hope this article was very informative and helped you quickly understand the usage, keywords, and arguments of the "area range" command. If you need to learn more about the command; I suggest you visit my website, were you'll find the latest information regarding Cisco IPv6 Design and Implementation Techniques.

Curling up with a good laptop just can't compare to curling up with a good book. But the internet offers a benefit that a book can never live up to - moment by moment updates of fresh information. Usborne Books offer an ingenious solution by offering Internet-linked books!

Are books becoming obsolete? With TV becoming more interactive and the internet reigning supreme as the source of information and entertainment, the old-school encyclopedia sets may be collecting dust. But nothing compares to the wonder of a book, vibrant illustrations in printed form, and the ability to pick it up over and over again. Yes, we love books and nothing can take their place!

While books are wonderful, no one can dispute the unlimited resources that can be found online. Children must learn how to use computers and the internet in order to keep up and surpass the current technology! We also are acquainted with the dangers of allowing our children to surf unrestricted. Who knows on what they may stumble and filters only do so much.

So where can we turn to give our children the best resources for learning? Books or computers? As with many "or" questions, the answer is "yes!" Internet-linked books offer all the benefits of a book. After all, it is indeed a book! But by offering quick-links on each page, information can be kept current and concepts can be reinforced through online activities.

Beyond just a web address printed in a book, Usborne quicklinks direct the reader to a website maintained by Usborne with links sorted by book title and page number. Every link is monitored for content and appropriate material so that children can navigate the site safely. Imagine devouring a book on sharks and following one of the Usborne quicklinks to a live webcam of sharks in Monterey Bay! Thanks to Usborne, books have entered the 21st century.

Help instill a love for books and reading that will stay with your children for a lifetime. Enhance their educational experience and encourage them to be computer savvy. Check out internet-linked books and how they can benefit your family.

COBOL has been around for quite a number of years. Its use and popularity has given way to some of the newer languages. COBOL's utilization is further enhanced by employing sub programming techniques that rely on the Linkage Section of COBOL.

COBOL source code generation is easily accomplished by using a symbolic stream generator with keyword replacements. To accomplish the COBOL source code generation first create an error free COBOL sub program containing the desired COBOL functionality. As an example we would have a COBOL program to operate on fixed length 80 column images. This technique is also known as Physical Sequential File Access. We then highlight various key portions of the COBOL source code so that they may be tokenized and marked for replacement by and intermediate code processor.

Typically the COBOL sub program would accommodate input as well as output thus allowing for one set of code to be used for both input and output of information.

The "RECORD CONTAINS 80 CHARACTERS" clause is changed to read "RECORD CONTAINS <#LRECL> CHARACTERS". The "<#LRECL>" phrase becomes the token and by replacing it with the desired record length of 121 yields a source code program that will operate on logical records with a fixed length of 121 characters.

The FD name of the file description could be tokenized as <#FDNAME> and could be replaced with a desired descriptive name. This process is repeated for as many of the key elements of the COBOL sub program as required that yields the desired code flexibility.

Simply read the skeleton source code into memory and make the necessary replacements of the identified tokens and then save the updated source code to a unique file specification. Afterwards simply compile and link the newly created COBOL source code to yield the newly defined COBOL source code which meets the desired specifications. If the compiler resides on a remote computer simply File Transfer Protocol the source code to the target platform then proceed with the compile and link step. The majority of development is accomplished on the PC and the results are then uploaded to the mainframe for subsequent utilization.

Any processor or environment with the ability or change and replace the identified tokens can be used as the code generator.

Pascal my programming language of choice so much of the code generation work is performed on the windows platform then uploaded to the IBM Mainframe platform. Please keep in mind that I do have access to several PC based COBOL compilers.

There are several known malicious programs that camouflage like a legal print spooler subsystem. Nothing can be printed without it if you work under Windows operating system. Printing stops working when you have print spooler service failure. Unfortunately, as a rule spooler subsystem app failure happens in most unsuitable moments.

This subsystem is basically used to manage printing tasks from different applications and users. It's critical for printer spooler subsystem app files to be intact. If you experience problems with printer spooler, first of all check if spoolsv.exe is running. If spooler service not runs, printing is not possible. Trying to run print service may result in failure, if spooler files are corrupted.

The main sign of the printer subsystem crash is an error window, displaying every time you try to print something. Some users even can't add or remove printer drivers when spooler subsystem app service is corrupted. Spoolsu.exe is one of the most famous trojans that cause spooler susbsystem error. Watch if the spoolsv is working, if you have problems with printing. If spoolsv.exe service does not run, it may be the result of spoolsv0.exe malware's activity.

Spoolso.exe is one the issues which is responsible for spooler subsystem errors. Installing printer driver which contains errors or is incompatible with already installed drivers will also cause spool sv service to stop. If you have SP00LSV.EXE virus, check your computer with the most recent anti-virus or anti-spyware or even both. Clear printer's job queue before you try to fix up spooler subsystem problem. Please remember, that not every anti-virus can help you to solve printer spooler malfunction.

Be careful when trying to redeem printer spooler subsystem app failure via printer drivers reinstallation. It is not recommended to trying to relieve printer spooler error manually. If you try to save from spooler subsystem malfunction manually, things may get even worse. Asking a specialist to relieve you printer spooler error would be a more wise idea rather than fixing it by yourself. Reinstalling printer drivers sometimes can also lead to total inoperability of printer spooler subsystem.

No doubt, you've heard of the semantic Web and semantic technology in general. But have you heard about semantic integration?

Stephen Lahanas, a principal consultant and co-founder of Semantech Inc., offered this explanation of semantic integration at Semantic Report:

"Semantic Integration represents a specialized field of practice dedicated to using Semantic Design Principles, Methodologies and technology as a facilitating mechanism (often alongside SOA) to help solve enterprise-level problems for IT."

Obviously, this is an emerging field. Lahanas admits this, cautioning that while it uses the same principles as the semantic Web, it is not the same thing.

Semantic integration is still a pretty obscure topic, at least in integration circles. But I'm starting to hear a bit more about it lately. Lahanas now even writes a blog devoted to the topic.

But much of the information is focused on semantic integration as a niche. I've had a hard time locating anything that really puts semantic technology or semantic integration into the broader business technology perspective.

Finally, this month, Baseline Magazine took it on as part of its broader "Understanding Semantic Web Technologies coverage".

Baseline is one of my favorite technology publications, and this article is a great example of why. First, it does a good job of explaining why we need semantic technology, with a mindful eye on the maturity of the products. Unfortunately, it only briefly mentions semantic integration, but the piece is still helpful to IT and knowledge workers trying to get a handle on this emerging field.

The article confirms what I had expected - even though semantic technology has been around for a long, long time, it's still far from mature. But it's not as immature and bleeding edge as you might think; in fact, Gartner believes it will emerge as one of the 10 most disruptive technologies in the next four years.

If Gartner's right, then within the next four years, semantics could move from something most people barely understand to changing the way we search information, store data and, of course, approach data integration.

It's a feature article, and therefore covers a lot of ground. However, here are the main points I think are most useful if you're trying to assess how and if it matters to you:

* If you're a drug research company or work in the life sciences, then look into semantics. As the article explains, these companies could most benefit from semantics, because data hidden in obscure surveys - often in archives - can lead to major breakthroughs in your work.
* Law firms, the banking industry and other companies dealing with massive amounts of court or government documents or intelligence information are candidates for early adoption. Fraud detection firms are also embracing semantic technology, because it can help find connections that ordinary search would miss.


Even if you think you don't need semantics now, start familiarizing yourself with the terms and structure that comprise semantics. At some point, this is something you'll want because it's so much closer to the way we want to find information.

First thing to know: Semantics is all about ontology. According to the Semantic Integration blog ontology is the level above taxonomy. It includes vocabulary and taxonomy and "represents a structure that expresses both a hierarchy and a set of relationships between vocabulary 'elements' within that hierarchy." If you think creating a taxonomy is pain in the neck, brace yourself.

So your tired of your computer starting up slow and you want to know how to speed up vista startup on your machine. Trust me we have all been there at some point in time. It can be extremely frustrating when your computer takes longer to get up and running in the morning than you do! Unfortunately if you have owned your computer for any length of time then it has no doubt become much slower than it was when you bought it. Its ok though, there are several simple ways to speed up the vista startup time on your computer and actually make it run faster than the day it came out of the box!

The two primary causes of your vista startup slowing down over time are corruptions in the registry of your computer and excess programs running during your startup. If you want to speed up vista startup on your computer then these are the problems to address first. The registry controls your computers operations with a set of keys or codes that correspond with each operation.

If your registry becomes corrupt and the keys no longer match up with the operations then your computer has to work that much harder to do what it needs to do and this leads to your slow startup time. The other issue is with the programs you are running during your computers startup. If there are an excess of applications and programs running while your computer tries to start up then it takes your computer a lot longer to startup. You may be surprised at how many programs are starting up with your computer that you have no need for and are not necessary for your computers performance.

When Dell came into the market it was a high threat of substitute products or service for Sun Microsystems. Dell on the other hand had a low threat because not many other companies came out with customizable personal computers. It was easy for Dell to enter the market because it was one of the first companies to provide those products. So there was a high threat of new entrants, but now that many companies are providing customizable computers it will be more difficult for new companies to enter the market. There is a high rivalry among existing competitors in the computer market because you can only sell so many computers. Each company is after the same customer and they need to compete to get the customer's attention.

I think that Dell had a similar impact on other computer vendors in the same server market because Dell was on of the first to come up with customizable computers so all the other vendors were hit just as hard as Sun Microsystems. Sun's supply chain now very closely mirror's that of Dell Computers. Both are shorter. I think it is wise to mimic a competitor relatively closely, at least in the computer field. If both companies have a shorter supply chain and can lower costs than in the eyes of the consumer quality and price are the elements being compared. This makes the competitiveness and playing field fairer. Blockbuster is now doing the same with Netflix. A customer is able to get a movie sent to the house and keep if for as long as they want with no late fees. The convenience appeals to people. Customers feel less rushed and are not throwing away hard earned money on late fees. Sun's collection of software can be an integrated interface. The collection integrates information, provides one suite of applications, and cuts the supply chain shorter. Organizations have to be very organized in the process of getting different vendors to talk to each other. By knowing which vendors do the best work they can order from specific vendors and keep the chain running smoothly.

Sun now does customizable personal computers. They have increased efficiency in the supply chain so that the product is delivered to customers within the promised time 95 percent of the time. This greatly helps with competitive advantage because it is very difficult for companies to guarantee a delivery time. The manufacturers tap into Sun's order-processing system and generate a customer invoice and shipping order for the customer. They also assemble, configure, and test your system before sending it directly to you. The delivery time has made the company become much more efficient. This created an information partnership with its supplier manufacturers.

Customer relationship management uses information about customers to gain insights into their needs, wants, and behaviors in order to serve them better. The Principal's efforts are a great example because it gathers information such as age, marital status and family status, salary, and benefits about their customers. This information helps the company to advice customers on how to control their money. Information technology within Principal is both top and bottom line. The IT support fast turnaround times for transactions and is used to find information about customers. So for top line to reach new customers and offer new products that will relate those customers, and bottom like to optimize manufacturing processes and successfully process almost 1 million online transactions per day. Principal's focus is to grow and increase market reach, product and service offerings, and expand market share. Principal's strategy would be focus because it does so much research on its customers to offer products and services to a particular market segment. Principal focuses on customers in need of financial advice mostly for retirement and the specific advice to fit those customers.

Principal could use an ERP system just for software to organize and make their award wining information technology more efficient. I think as service offerings become more and more popular, there might be a need for a service version of ERP so the companies that do not have physical products can still gain from resource planning. If I was considering the financial services needs of a customer, I would want to know job history, real estate, education after college, driver history, and general interests.