An ISO file is an image that contains all the data files and file system metadata (i.e. boot code, structures, and attributes) of a CD/DVD. In order to mount an ISO image, a disk image emulator that will allow the content of a CD/DVD to be read from an ISO image via a virtual drive is needed. Depending on the Operating System being used, the user can open built-in disk image emulators or download and install free software from the Internet. How to Mount an ISO Image under Microsoft Windows Read More

Firmware refers to the microprograms present on ROM (Read Only Memory) modules, which contain low-level (e.g., hexadecimal, machine code) software. They enable the device on which they are present to take stock of its capabilities and to render those capabilities functional. The information loaded onto the ROM is non-volatile meaning that it is not lost when power is switched off. The most basic example of firmware would be the BIOS that comes with the motherboard of your PC. The firmware also coordinates the activities of the hardware during normal operation Read More

Random-access memory is a type of data storage for computers. Commonly known as the acronym RAM or simply memory, random-access memory details the speed in which data that is stored can be accessed at random. This means that the strength of the RAM determines, at random, how fast a piece of data can be pulled and returned. Regardless of where the data is on a drive or whether it is at all related to any previous bit of data is irrelevant; RAM pulls it back at a constant time. RAM Read More

PROM stands for Programmable Read-Only Memory. It was invented by Wen Tsing Chow in 1956. Unlike a ROM chip, a PROM chip comes from the manufacturers devoid of any programming. Programming is done by the end user or the makers of electronic devices which require a permanent data storage device. Since it is cheaper than a ROM chip, it is also useful for making experimental programming test runs. Successful programming can later on be applied to a ROM chip at manufacture. A PROM chip can only be programmed with the Read More

Flops are a special acronym that describes a unit of measurement known as "FLoating point Operations Per Second". This measurement is extremely important in determining the amount of operations which could be handled by computer technologies. In today's computing, gigaflops of data can be handled by different hardware options. A gigaflop is a measurement in terms of one billion floating point operations per second. This is useful for modern day computers because they tend to process so many operations in a given second. The fastest modern supercomputers are capable of performing at the petaflop level, Read More

Copying DVD contents such as a movie, music album, or data can be done in few simple steps. Copying DVD contents is quite easy as the data merely has to be copied and pasted as is normally done with files. However, copying original audio or video DVDs when a security algorithm protects them can be a little more complicated. There is a solution for the latter part too. DVD Copying Programs There are many software on the market that can easily copy the contents of a DVD (regardless of format). Read More

Quantum computer technology involves the use of the quantum particle as a replacement for the bit of today’s computers. The theory for quantum computers began over 20 years ago with Paul Benioff, a physicist at the Argonne National Laboratory, who used the concept of the Turing machine as a model for the quantum computer. A Turing machine is composed of a tape of indefinite length that can be divided into evenly sized squares. A device capable of reading the blanks and symbols in the tape is used to give instructions Read More

High performance computers have been around for a little longer than two decades but it wasn't until the early 1990s that the international community decided that they needed a new way of assessing and measuring supercomputers. In 1993, a benchmark test and subsequent list known as the Top500 was born. The Top500 is responsible for categorizing the power and capabilities of the top 500 high performance computers in the world. The majority of this article will list the manufacturers of the top 10 supercomputers of that list and describe the Read More

A laptop is a essentially a personal computer with a slim form factor and a battery, which makes it possible to carry it around and use it on the go, even when you don’t have a power outlet near you. Traditionally, its slim form factor meant certain hardware limitations because of space constraints and heat issues. In simple terms, less can be fit into them, and they tend to produce more heat. Advances in technology have largely reduced these limitations with the advent of ever more powerful chips with ever Read More

The Media Center PC combines the functions of the desktop computer and the home entertainment system. As a desktop computer, it can surf the web, make documents, download programs, movies and mp3s, and use applications. As a home entertainment center, a Media Center PC user can watch and record TV shows, listen to music via surround sound, and watch movies. Furthermore, it has a progressive scan DVD player and over-the-air high-definition TV support. This type of application for a desktop computer can be seen through some of the newest products Read More