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Microsoft first introduced the Xbox on November 15, 2001. This was Microsoft’s first entry into the gaming arena after having trying to incorporate the CE windows operating system into the Sega Dreamcast system.

Everyone knows that Bill Gates is the richest man in the world and when he sets his mind and his massive financial muscle to new software or hardware it is sure to be the best.

The Xbox has drawn literally hundreds of thousands of fans with titles such as Halo, Dead or Alive three and the ever-popular sports titles such as the Madden football series.

One of the amazing features of the Xbox is the fact it is built around computer hardware that currently exists. Did you know for instance that the processor speed in the Xbox is clocked at over seven hundred megahertz and that it comes with sixty-four megabytes of random access memory and a 10/100 Ethernet card?

A primary goal of the Xbox was to capitalize on the growing number of online gamers. This is a key reason for including a broadband card already built in. Microsoft has been offering subscription services for its Xbox owners that will allow multiple people to play a game either as a team or against each other. It is Microsoft’s goal not only to bring the Xbox to the masses but also to gain another valuable revenue stream by providing monthly services with their Xbox live subscription based service.

One of the downsides of the Xbox games live service is that it is only compatible with a broadband connection - meaning no one on dialup can participate. Even with this limitation, Microsoft claims that as of late 2004 they have signed up over one million users. This fact raises the eyebrows of some people in the gaming industry as public filings show the Xbox division of Microsoft has not made a profit in the first three years of operation. Microsoft tried in vain to add additional features such as music and the ability to play DVD’s. However, it seems the big brass at MS had reconsidered as they will be releasing an Xbox replacement for Christmas in 2005.

The Granddaddy of the first videogame was Pong. Pong was developed by a gentleman named William Higinbotham while working for a US nuclear lab in NY. Pong was a simple tennis game controlled by two dials. Come on - we all played Pong at least once! Called Tennis for Two by the creators, Pong debuted in 1958 a Brookhaven gymnasium. The outright fun of the game and the curiosity factor helped start the video game industry.

The second Major development in Video gaming came when in 1961 a group of students from M.I.T. developed a game called spacewar. The group went on to develop spacewars into the first interactive video game. Who remembers the game Space Invaders? You know - the game where you shoot the downward moving aliens. Well, do you know it was based on Spacewars? Spacewars was a huge hit with the faculty at colleges and universities around the country. These universities used a little know technology to transfer and share the program called ARPAnet, which would soon be referred to as the Internet. No one could have envisions 40s years laters video games such as Xbox and Playstation 2 would be in the majority of livings rooms in the United States.

The major downside of the Spacewars game was that it took a computer the size of a large refrigerator and a cost of over one hundred and twenty thousand dollars to run it. This would change over the next decade as prices on hardware reduced substantially.

Pong would again later in history play a major part in the adoption of video games and consoles when in 1974 when Atari employees Harold Lee and Bob Brown come up with the idea of a home based system for pong. The idea took a while to sell but in 1975 they finally convinced Sears to purchase one hundred and fifty thousand units. The Pong game and control panel is labeled under the Sears “telegames” label and is a massive success. The video game was finally in the consumers’ hands and it could be easily hooked up to any current day television with ease.

Today popular video games include Xbox and playstation 2. Video gaming sales have surpassed one billion in sales, we can’t wait to see what the next ten years hold.

The Playstation was first developed as an agreement between Nintendo and Sony in 1988. Due to technical problems with the Playstation storage format called the Super Disk the project was modified and Sony decided to go solo and released the Play station in 1991.

Sony decided to drop the Nintendo based cartridge system and focused on only CD Rom based games. These various upgrades caused a few delays in final release and it was not until the end of 2004 that the newly designed Playstation X was released first in Japan. In the following year the Playstation was released both in the United States and Europe.

Due to the increase in DVD sales worldwide the general buying public accepted the revised version and the Playstation quickly became the number one game system available.

Sony built in some cutting edge technology which included a three hundred mhz processor which outperformed many of its higher speed competitors, and one hundred and fifty mhz graphics card with four megabytes of video random access memory, and to make sure the games processed fast Sony included thirty two megabytes of processing random access memory.

In an attempt to capture more of the overall computer market Sony wisely included a fire wire plug and also two Universal Serial Bus plugs which allowed people to use updated faster controller devices versus the older serial port-based joysticks and controllers.

Playstation Two has also included some of the cooler features for gamers. One in particular is the force feedback feature which gives the actual controller that a person uses the ability to shake and sway side to side. This is accomplished with two electric motors in the controller unit itself. Sony continues to look for innovative ways to improve the Playstation Two and we all look forward to their newest technological advances in gaming.

The first attempt at mass-producing the PDA was in the early 1980’s when the Psion Corporation released their small handheld Psion 1. The product was the size of an average cigarette pack and had address and organizer capabilities. The Psion 1 was innovative for the time but, due to cost and the fact it lacked any catchy or unique features, people continued to use their traditional paper and pen address books.

Over the next decade as technology raced forward, and prices went down dramatically, the demand for the PDA grew greatly.

The first Personal Data Assistant designed for the mass market was by Apple computer in 1993. Apple’s first product was called the Newton Message Pad. The Newton was the first personal data assistant to incorporate handwriting recognition software. The number one selling point for the Newton was its touch sensitive screen.

The Newton caught on and soon other companies started to develop personal data assistants.

The largest leap forward was made when Palm Computing released the Palm Pilot in 1996. The Palm Pilot was unique in that it allowed you to write on the small screen. The PDA would then convert your handwriting into text. This feature is called Graffiti. Another fantastic feature of the Palm Pilot was that you could download, or synchronize, your data with your home personal computer or laptop. These abilities are major factors in the popularity of PDA’s, as we know them today.

As the PDA gained in popularity, increases in processor speed and memory capabilities drove the PDA to a quasi-mini computer capacity. In the last five years the processor speeds have grown to over 300 megahertz and the available amount of random access memory has increased to over sixty-four megabytes. With the addition of available Internet access, color displays, and various software options the PDA is quickly becoming a cost effective portable computer.

Throughout time business has show that it can evolve its marketing departments to every type of media that is invented. It all began with blacksmith's offering their skill in the first newspapers to online computer stores offering sales via e-commerce. The 'electronic' or 'e' in e-commerce refers to the technology/systems; the 'commerce' refers to be traditional business models. E-commerce is as the complete set of processes that support commercial/business activities on a network (the internet). Online computer stores compete in numerous ways to get business to their site. Some companies will buy time for some advertising on cable stations. These online computer stores will also put ads in papers like the original advertisers. The reason Online computer stores sell their product online is because According to a Forrester Research (as cited in Kessler, 2003), electronic commerce in the United States generated sales worth US $12.2 billion as of 2003, which was higher than the previous years number of $11.1 billion. It is no wonder why Online Computer stores market product on the internet.

The internet not only offers access from local areas but anyone can access the internet worldwide. To add to the online computer stores popularity is the availability of shipping services which helps with delivering a computer to almost anyone throughout the entire world. Online computer stores often offer special deals when a customer purchases a computer from their site. Sometimes these online computer stores will offer rebates on the total purchase of a computer or a free upgrade to certain parts of the computer for buy a specific brand or model. Great amounts of these stores offer the ability to go through a selection process where you can pick every piece that would be included into your computer this allows complete customization of any personal computer. As the internet continues to grow along with the human population it is obvious that the internet is an important area of media that could lead to great earning potential.

In both the academic and computer worlds there has been debate concerning who created the first laptop. Many historians and computer scientists consider the Englishman William Moggridge the first person to have developed a portable computer.

In 1979 while Moggridge was working for the company he founded, Grid System, he first considered the idea of a portable computer for the space industry. Moggridge developed the computer called the Grid Compass. The Grid compass weighed about twenty percent of the closest competitor and was placed in a magnesium case. It came standard with a collapsible graphics display case. NASA used the Grid Compass in the early 1980’s on the space shuttle. Although still rather heavy, the 340-byte computer was a foreshadowing of the many technological developments to come.

The next evolution of the laptop came when in 1983 Manny Fernandez founded a corporation called Gavilan computers. With Manny’s introduction of the Gavilan, the race for a lightweight portable computer had truly begun. In fact some historians consider Manny the father of the modern laptop. Manny’s overall vision was to create a laptop the average business executive could both afford and carry.

There has been debate among historians that the true father of the laptop was actually Adam Osborne. In 1981 Adam created the twenty-four-pound Osborne 1. The laptop came with a five- and-a-quarter floppy drive, a five inch view screen and was bundled with a large group of software - another first for its time. Due to the high cost of over seventeen hundred dollars, and the weight, the Osborne 1 never became successful.

Variety and pricing vary greatly. As of this writing you can purchase used lower-end laptops in the 300-1.0 ghz range for as little as two hundred dollars. On the upper end of the spectrum you can purchase a laptop which is equal to some of the most powerful desktops, which are over 3 GHz.

One thing is for sure - we all owe William, Manny and Adam a great debt of gratitude. If it weren’t for revolutionary minds such as theirs, today’s 3ghz + laptops would not exist.

Buying a computer can be very expensive. This is even quantified when the buyer doesn't have any previous computer experience and do not know the general computer jargon. With the added aggravation the buyer usually always has that feeling of being had when buying from a giant computer store. An option that some might want to explore is the possibility of acquiring discount computer parts from the internet. If someone has someone that they know who possesses some computer knowledge this can be easily done and you or the consumer can save themselves some money. Discount computer parts are usually refurbished parts that have been broken but have been repaired and tested to ensure quality. These parts also come with a guarantee for a short while after the purchase date to make the buyer know that the part will work. Discount Computer parts cost way less then a brand new brand name computer part and will work just as well as the expensive brand.

This way of purchasing parts can save someone the money and the aggravation of dealing with store employees. The draw back to this is that no one is there to personally help you unless you have an acquaintance that can help you find the correct discount computer parts for your personal computer. When purchasing discount computer parts, make sure that you have a reputable dealer that offers a warranty and a sort of return possibility just incase of a minor defect which sometimes happens. Discount computer parts can help save money if the person making the purchase makes sure that they have the information that they need to purchase the items. Discount computer parts are great for recycling as well, this keeps non-biodegradable pieces out of dumps and landfills which help keep the land clean and the animals safe from toxic substances in their habitat.

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The first computers were made for solving mathematical equations and now have grown to suit a number of different needs. One of these needs is the need to access the internet. In fact, all computers will see time connected to the internet. In a bit of irony this internet access allows the computer access the means to buy computer parts online. Usually buying a computer from a large company encompasses ordering a computer with all factory parts. These factory parts are mass produced and are usually of lesser quality then an after-market part made with the intent of that specific piece being the best that it can be. Buying computer parts online enable one to purchase pieces that more tailors to the users needs. Like in the instance of buying computer parts online for the purpose of using that computer for gaming one would want to purchase an excellent video card to make that game and the computer perform at its highest ability.

Another area where computers get enhanced is the addition of a new processor, this can help how the computer can handle various different tasks. If multiple tasks are going to run simultaneously this would be a great help to your computer. Another piece that would help improve your computer is a RAM, random access memory, which helps boot up programs and makes them run faster and more efficiently. Buying computer parts online can be easy as well. All one usually has to know if the model number of the owned computer and then can search for parts that are compatible with your Computer. Or buying computer parts online just look to see the specifications and usually this will list a number of compatible computer types that would work with that specific piece. Buying computer parts online can be easy painless and can save you money if you know how to piece a computer together and know what pieces specifically that you want and/or need.

Buying a computer in today's age can be very confusing to a typical consumer without any computer experience. There is so many parts that do so many things that a normal consumer can't buy a computer without looking at a sort of Computer Buying Guide for information on what certain specifications mean to them. A computer buying guide can be found on the net or a computer specialty store will often sell a computer buying guide or a clerk can help the consumer with any questions that they might have and these workers are very highly trained and can be considered a walking, talking computer buying guide. When buying a computer it is very important to specify what the computer you are purchasing is going to be used for, for example if the computer is going to be used to play video games, networking, if the computer is going to act as a server for some websites or if the computer is going to be used strictly as a work use only computer. All of these different uses can utilize different areas of specialization, like for the video game computer RAM and a video card are important and with a networking computer the ability to be accessed easily by many other users a faster processor is needed to handle that traffic and to handle the number of processes that will be used during this.

But as all ways check with your computer buying to see what exactly you will need. Another alternative is with the use of a computer buying guide is the use of the internet to find a computer that will fit your needs and if not you may find a computer for a fairly low price that you may purchase and then find upgrade parts on the internet or buy them singularly. This can help you customize your computer save you money and in the end make you happy.

With this ability to create a mass number of computer parts, people in the personal sector were given access to cheap computer parts. In more recent times with the addition of internet marketing, cheap computer parts can now be bought over the web from a various amount of web sites. Cheap computer parts can save someone money if they are piecing together their own personal computer. Refurbished computer piece are a good source to buy cheap computer parts for your custom personal computer. Just make sure on what is compatible with your computer's mother board because not all cheap computer parts are made to go with all other parts and therefore must be check for compatibility. Cheap computer parts marked a new revolution in the computer world once where computers could only be utilized by the government and the wealthy of the nation are now available to all mainly in part by the manufacturing of cheap computer parts being made and easily accessed.

What on earth did we do before them? Like the microwave and other new small appliances, we have quickly learned to re-configure our lives and behaviors around the fact that we have them. Like all such phenomena, of course, they have their downside. While it is undoubtedly convenient, and in some cases even life-saving, to be able to reach someone else from wherever we are (such as broken down by the side of the road or lost in the wilderness!) it can be decidedly inconvenient for people to be able to reach US whenever they want to. Cell phones have made it more difficult to “get away from it all. Another downside is that if you aren't careful of using cell phones without a handsfree kit while driving you are more prone to be in an accident.

And the things they can do! A partial list of functions available with the new models must include the ability to: Play games, plug in other devices such as Personal Digital Assistants to keep you on track and on time, make use of a built-in calculator and store all your addresses and phone numbers. Most phones let your download ringtones to them. We hear that the newest ones allow us to watch TV on them!

The use of the word “phone” may actually be deceiving for anyone trying to understand how this gadget works. A cell phone works on the same principle as a radio except that instead of a big transmitter, the use of smaller “cells” (you’ve seen the towers) means that they can work on much lower frequencies and so the number of channels increases by hundreds. This enables many people to use the same frequencies at one time.

For some reason, mobile phones and accessories became popular in Europe and Asia earlier than they did in the United States and there are still far fewer in this country than overseas. But we are catching up fast, especially with the younger generation. Cell phone use among teenagers is currently at least at 20% of the population range and gaining quickly. Part of the reason for this is that while the kids think of them as means to connect with one another, parents who are working like the idea of being able to keep in touch and do some long-range supervising of the kids.

In any case, they are here to stay, and with so many cell phone models available everyone can find one they like!

This day and age a home without a personal computer, or PC, is far and few in between. Computers are used for everything these days, the mail is used primarily to deliver paper bills. That is, if one hasn't replaced them with automated statements emailed, for your convenience. Friends don't communicate through hand written letters anymore, email is all the rage. We send and store all our precious pictures on our computers. All our music is acquired through download programs on our PC's and easily transferred to our MP3 players or Ipod's. We can communicate with our loved ones across the globe through web-cams and instant messaging. With these factors in mind, it is very important to research long and hard before buying a new computer. Buying a computer can turn out to be a very complicated process, first thing to be considered is what your primary use for the computer is. For some it could be gaming, there are some systems made specifically for gamers. These computers usually have very high graphics quality, displaying the best picture and sound. A gaming system would also keep better than other PC's when playing online video games.

Of course gamers are not the only ones catered to in the computer world. An artist, such as a photographer, could be looking for the highest quality printing devices. Printing devices also need to be considered when buying a new computer. If one is more familiar with the different PC options it is more likely that they will look to purchase the system online. Of course those who are not blessed with the computer knowledge are most wisely advised to visit their nearest computer store to get information on best options for their own PC needs. If you are able to take the time to walk yourself through the research on buying a new computer online, it is always the best way to go. Buying a new computer online can give you the best price on your new PC. You can find PC's online for as inexpensive as, a couple hundred dollars, but also the more expensive needs going up to thousands of dollars.

Each year it is crucial to some computer owners to examine the latest computer technology to keep their PC's up to date. There are an immense amount of options to look into each new year. The important part is to research as much as possible. Make sure you know exactly what is necessary and what is not. One might not even have to go out and buy a brand spanking new system it could just be as simple as upgrading your current system with the latest computer technology. With internet shopping on the rise you don't even need to leave your home to find the latest computer technology. Just search for it on the internet, depending on the type of latest computer technology you are looking for depends on where you can find it. In some cases the upgrade could be as simple as a free download available on a specific website. Such examples of easy downloadable computer technology are Adobe Acrobat, different types of Instant Messaging programs, and a variety of music downloading programs are available for free online. These music programs involve different users from all over the globe who download and share music, this program is not only available as a free download online but in some cases the actual music download is free! This has caused a great deal of controversy in the past. Napster, a free music downloading program, caused a heated debate a couple years back. The United States bred Metal Band, Metallica, decided to sue Napster for the proceeds connected to their music. In their minds Napster was stealing money away from them.

The latest computer technology is not always downloadable from the internet. Sometimes you actually have to add hardware to your computer and install it with a CD-rom. This hardware can be bought either in the convenience of your own home on the internet or a visit to your nearest computer store. Some of the latest computer technology involving the installation of hardware are these little devices known as the digital cameras. The digital camera could be something such as a web-cam, recently known for its contribution to the porn industry. The Web-cam is basically a small video camera, most often attached to the side of the computer monitor, which captures your image and activity. This video recording can be used to communicate with family and friends across the globe or even posted on a website, often at a price. Nonetheless, the latest computer technology is always right at your fingertips!