HOME

Computer – some unknown facts

Most people now a days when buying new computers use Windows as OS. Some of them are even unaware that there are dozens of other operating systems. For example, Apple’s Macintosh, IBM OS/2, Linux etc. These are for PCs. For main frames there are AS/400, Windows NT, Unix etc. It’s not that Windows is the best of all, but it is really the most popular. Windows graphical user interface is not at all intimidating. In fact, it is the Microsoft’s business strategy, which has made Windows #1 OS. Back in the seventies, Microsoft & IBM jointly developed DOS. At that time Microsoft envisages that computer industry will revolve around PCs rather than main frames as thought by IBM. So, in an attempt to dominate PC market Microsoft launched Windows. And it was a quick success. However, Microsoft is not the pioneer in developing GUI. Apple Macintosh developed a GUI OS longer ago when people were using DOS 3.0! Experts believe that MacOS is still superior to Windows. But, Apple made a blunder by trying to say customers what they offer than to listening what they want. Very recently, Apple is selling their most advanced PC without a floppy drive! They have included a CD writer instead. They argue that floppy disk backdated. I think that most potential buyer will stay aside form the product. Another wrong step of Apple’s was that they patented their programs as well as their design. But IBM did not. When you buy an IBM compatible computer from market, IBM does not get any royalty. This is perhaps one major reason behind such widespread success of selling PCs. Among all OS Windows is perhaps the most forgiving. The IBM OS/2 may be more powerful than Windows, but it won’t run if there is a slightest discrepancy in you computer’s hardware.

Another accusation of software companies is about piracy. They allege that they loose billions of dollars every year because of illegal copying of software. But how are they justified? Most people would not have used the software if they were compelled to buy original programs. Though it is true that companies spend thousands of rupees and hours of working on developing software; still their pricing of software is not justified. To pursue people buying licensed software, they should lower software price at par with pirated versions. Experts argue that is impossible. But they try to hide the fact that many well-known companies sell high-end programs at very low price or even free at times. Software piracy is a universal phenomenon. Even in USA and Europe, people often copy programs. NASSCOM claims that, during last few years, software piracy rate has been reduced from 87% to 60% in India. However, they did not disclose that this figure stands for corporate users (e.g. offices, institutions etc.) only. Nearly all PC users are actually using copied programs. In USA there are 350 computers for every 1000 people compared to India meagerly 1.5 PC per 1000 people. Even this "1.5" figure had not been reached if people were forced to buy programs worth thousands of rupees.

Now let’s talk on programming. It is a fact that most people are frightened about programming. So much ready-made programs are now available some people even raise necessity of programming as well! A decade ago, there was little difference between programmers and users. At that time users were as knowledgeable as programmers. But with the advent of graphical user interface programs the division between programmers and users has become wide. Modern programmers treat their users as sophisticated idiots! But this is sometimes really necessary because most computer users skill seldom goes beyond word processing (statistics shows an average computer user spends 70% of his/her total computing in mere word processing!) or some fancy drawings. They often become confused even with common concepts of filename extension, path and batch files etc. Until Windows 3.1 Microsoft used to display filename extensions in File Manager. But they figured out it creates more trouble than usefulness. Many people goofed it up like changing .DBF manually to .DOC and then trying to load in through Word (and then wondered where’s the problem)! So from Windows 95 you didn’t see file name extensions unless you tell your computer to display it explicitly.

When computer was first invented in 1960s and 70s, they were exclusively used for performing gigantic calculations, which would otherwise take years to perform manually. But look what it does now; everything from video game playing, audio/video CD playing to drafting a mere 5-line letter. System monitor is a program that comes with Windows 98. It shows how much processor power is being used at a particular time. If you run it you will see that most of the time only 5-10% of processor power is in use which rises to 100% only when you load a new application and during real large calculations. Remember that computer gives you power to search millions of data instantly but at the same time it enables you to destroy the all data with just click of a single key! To be a learned computer user you must realize its limitations also. I often find it so annoying that people’s unwillingness to go through programs’ help files before asking somebody to show them how to perform a simple task. India now has second most computer professionals in the world (after USA). Then ever did you wonder that why our daily programs that we normally use like Windows, Office, AutoCAD etc. are all US made? Well the answer is quite interesting! India’s software developing skill is mainly aimed at producing custom products for USA and Europe chiefly. Whereas US companies like Microsoft, Lotus, IBM, Autodesk etc. concentrate on developing everyday use programs in a global marketing strategy. Their programs have market all over the world as well as in their home country.

Are you excited over the CDs that come with many computer magazines nowadays? Wait, if you think logically, you will find that these CDs don’t actually contain any real useful programs. (Of course usefulness of a thing varies from person to persons) You will never get high-end programs like Office 97 or AutoCAD R14 in these CDs. What you get are the shareware, demo versions of programs (to tempt you to buy their actual versions), programs developed by small firms or individuals (to make you know their presence in the market) and some freeware which are often thrash! What is more irritating is that some programs will refuse to run after their evaluation period expires. (Usually after 30-45 days) Even after reinstalling them won’t do any good for most programs unless you reinstall everything in your hard disk! These magazines are not cheap in any way either. They cost around Rs90-100 per copy. These magazines’ publishers make double profit; in one way they are paid by software vendors for circulating their program advertisements and in other way they get money form buyers.

How much crazy should you be about Internet? If you know nothing about it don’t consider yourself blockhead. Even a person with average intelligent can learn to use it in an hour or two. Internet still is quite costly in India. To get yourself connected to the net you will need to spend on Internet account charge as well as telephone call charge. Unlike USA and many other countries local call is not free in India. So, ultimate expense on Internet goes on sky rocketing. Then again don’t expect any real help from Internet; other than sending/receiving E-mails. Longer you remain online higher you pay. Except a few, most web sites don’t offer any information without which you can’t live. Before you tempt to send somebody e-mail, check how often he/she opens his/her mailbox. I know many people who open e-mail accounts in hotmail (or elsewhere) and don’t check for mails even monthly! Never flaunt your e-mail address to untrustworthy persons. You may get junk mails to fill up your storage space and thus prevent your useful mail coming.

File name extension guide

Comment on file name extensions:

• By default Windows 95/98 does not display file name extensions
• Conversion between same file types is possible by appropriate programs. For e.g. 123 to XLS, DOC to RTF etc. Some data might be lost.
• Version "Yes" means that file created by higher version program can not be opened by lower version of the same program.
• You should never change file name extensions by yourself.
• Use RTF (Rich Text Format) for word processing files while exchanging file with other people who do not use same word processors as yours.
• Sometimes, different programs use same extension. E.g. SCR, DAT etc.
• Viruses can affect files of following formats only: EXE, COM, SYS, BIN, OCX, DLL, DOC, DOT, XLS, XLA, HTML

Suggested format for Internet file transactions:

JPG, MPG and MP3 are themselves compressed format. You can not compress them any more. These formats are very good for interchange between computers.

Comparison between file sizes in various programs

For same document saved in various formats. In lower versions, files were saved without any data loss.

Word processing document (without graphics)

Microsoft Word 97 doc 40.5 KB

Microsoft Word 95 doc 20.1 KB

Lotus Word Pro 97 lwp 32.2 KB

Lotus Amipro 3 sam 19.2 KB

Rich Text Format rtf 20.6 KB

Plain Text (ASCII) txt 7.86 KB

HTML htm 10.9 KB

Spreadsheet file

Microsoft Excel 97 xls 39 KB

Microsoft Excel 95 xls 37 KB

Lotus 123 R5 wk4 22 KB

Lotus 123 R97 123 24 KB

Sound

Microsoft Wave wav 44.4 KB

MP3 format mp3 1.01 KB

FAX sending time: 60 seconds for an A4/Letter size page document.

SCAN image size: approximately 100 KB for an A4/Letter size image in TIFF format.