Guide to New pcs, Now Offering Users More Multimedia Toys
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- EXERCISES
- Give antonyms
- Abbreviations, acronyms, portmanteau words
- Baud Bit Rates
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- What is …
A Guide to New PCs, Now Offering Users More Multimedia ToysBy WALTER S. MOSSBERG Autumn is in the air. So, it's time for my annual fall buyer's guide to desktop computers. Over the past year, the biggest change in the PC market has been that computer makers are adding features that better handle photos, music and video. Some hardware makers have begun offering built-in slots to handle the memory cards used in cameras, music players and PDAs. And many are now offering high-end Media Center models featuring built-in TV tuners. This guide is designed to help buyers of Windows PCs wade through the confusing array of models and configurations on the market. Apple's Macintosh computers are also excellent choices. I'll discuss the Macs next week. As always, my advice is aimed at mainstream users doing common tasks such as word processing, Web surfing and e-mail, personal finance, simple home photo and video editing, digital music and basic games. Hard-core gamers or folks doing massive video production need bigger, faster PCs than those specified here. You should be able to get a bare-bones Windows computer at a low price. Brand-name Windows models with more ample features tend to cost a bit more. Media Center models start at higher prices. Memory: Memory, or RAM is the most important factor in computer performance. I recommend at least 256 megabytes, and 512 MB if you can afford it. If you buy an inexpensive PC with only 128 MB of built-in memory, add extra memory right away. Ask whether the PC's main memory is shared with the video system. If the memory is shared, you'll have less main memory for general use and should buy extra. Hard disk: A 100-gigabyte hard disk is plenty for most folks, but you can get more for a little extra money. Top models now have at least 200 GB. Processor speed: For mainstream computing tasks, the slowest processor on the shelf will usually be fine. Intel Celerons and AMD processors are just as good as Pentiums for most common tasks. Don't pay extra for a very fast processor; you may never notice the difference. Security: Digital criminals and vandals have been exploiting Microsoft's numerous security flaws with increasing frequency. So, security is now a bigger factor in PC purchasing. You should turn on the built-in Windows firewall, which keeps hackers out, or buy a better firewall, such as ZoneAlarm. Most PCs come with a trial version of antivirus software, but pay for the full version when the trial runs out. Digital connectors: Insist on the new USB 2.0 connectors, also known as Hi-Speed USB. To connect a video camera, you'll need a different high-speed port called 1394, FireWire or I-link. Memory-card slots: Some PCs now come with built-in slots that accept the various types of memory cards used by digital cameras and music players. Hewlett-Packard has been building these slots into most models in its Pavilion line, and placing them right on the front of the PC, along with USB and FireWire ports. Dell's sleek Dimension 4600C can be optionally equipped with memory-card slots. 
H-P's Pavilion card reader- High-speed Internet: If you hope one day to use a cable modem or a DSL (= Digital Subscriber Line) modem, or a home network, get a PC with a built-in Ethernet networking connection. Video system: Get at least 32 megabytes of video memory. Cheaper PCs use something called "integrated video." It's OK, but if you spend much of your time tinkering with photos and home movies, or playing games, invest in a PC with a separate video card. Audio system: If you're an MP3 addict, spend extra for a subwoofer and good loudspeakers. Monitor: Avoid the old CRT monitors. Superior flat-panel screens keep getting cheaper. The 15-inch flat panels now cost well below $200. Larger 17-inch and 19-inch models can be had for a bit more. Mass storage: Look for a PC with a built-in CD-RW drive that lets you record your own CDs for playing music or for backing up or exchanging files. If you do a lot of home video, you may want to invest in a DVD recording drive. Media Centers: A new type of desktop PC, called a Media Center PC, is being offered by Hewlett-Packard, Gateway and others. It has a built-in TV, lots of memory and huge hard-disk capacity. And it uses a special version of Windows XP that can be operated with a remote control from across the room for playing music and videos, viewing photos, and watching TV. They start at around $1,000, without monitor. Gateway offers a Media Center model that looks like a flat-panel TV, with the computer hidden in the back. Brands: All Windows PCs are similar, but unless you're a techie, stick with names like Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, eMachines and Gateway. It's fine to buy at a retail store, but it's easier to customize a model, and sometimes get better prices, on the Web. If you value the opportunity to customize a PC, Dell is the best choice. EXERCISESGive synonymsto buy =
fast (3) = a feature = autumn (GB) = (US) folks (US) = (GB) a lot of = enormous = brand = to start = to personalise = (US) personalised = (GB) to expire = below = a technology addict = Give antonymsretailer better worst hardware next week less to increase (2) to buy to turn on to switch on always low-speed low-end on the front of cheap below Abbreviations, acronyms, portmanteau wordsPC = DSL = MB =
PDA = DVD = WAN = MAN = LAN = PAN = CRT = LCD = TFT = LED = IR = B = b = bps = Baud & Bit RatesThe baud rate is a measure of the number of symbols (characters) transmitted per unit of time. Each symbol will normally consist of a number of bits, so the baud rate will only be the same as the bit rate when there is one bit per symbol. The term originated as a measure for the transmission of telegraph characters. It has little application today except in terms of modem operation. It is recommended that all data rates are referred to in bps (= bit per second), rather than baud (which is easy to misunderstand). Additionally, baud rate cannot be equated to bandwidth unless the number of bits per symbol is known. The bit rate is the rate at which binary digits (bits) are transmitted. The bit rate is measured in bits per second (bps). Translateun mordu des jeux vidéo = un ordinateur de base = utilisateur de base = intégré = monter (vidéo) = une faille = une période d’essai = un haut-parleur = traitement de texte = tableur (2) = navigateur = fabricant d'ordinateur = documents partagés = passer (l'intro) = What is …a firewall = a 1394 port = a Media Center = Give at least 8 examples of -ware compounds and translate them1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Translate 1. Il est grand temps que tu t'achètes un nouvel ordinateur. 2. Il n’est pas nécessaire d’acheter un PC haut de gamme si tu ne fais que du traitement de texte. 3. Mes conseils sont destinés aux utilisateurs de base. 4. Si tu es un mordu des jeux vidéo, tu dois t’acheter un ordinateur plus puissant et plus rapide. 5. Les ordinateurs de marque sont toujours plus chers. 6. La mémoire vive est l’élément principal dans la performance d’un ordinateur. 7. Un disque dur de 40 giga octets est amplement suffisant pour la plupart des gens. 8. N’achetez pas un processeur très rapide, il se peut que vous ne voyez jamais la différence. 9. Branchez votre pare-feu, vous empêcherez ainsi les pirates informatiques de pénétrer dans votre système. 10. Lorsque la période d’essai est terminée, acheter immédiatement la version complète. 11. Cet ordinateur haut de gamme peut être équipé d’espaces mémoire supplémentaires. 12. Si vous pensez un jour installer votre propre réseau à la maison, achetez un PC avec une connexion réseau Ethernet intégrée. 13. Si vous faites beaucoup de montage vidéo, il est important d’investir dans une carte vidéo séparée. 14. Si vous êtes un fana du MP3, achetez des hauts-parleurs haut de gamme. 15. Si j’étais vous, j’achèterais un écran plat de 17 pouces. 16. Si j’étais vous, j’éviterais le vieux tube cathodique. 17. Un graveur de CD vous permet de copier vos propres CD musicaux ou de sauvegarder vos fichiers de données. 18. Je suis désolé mais je n'en ai pas les moyens. 19. Si vous voulez obtenir un meilleur prix, il est intéressant de configurer votre portable en ligne. 20. Pour connecter une camera vidéo, vous avez besoin d'un port haute vitesse appelé 1394. Directory: english -> documents english -> 1. 2 Extraction of exposure and others parameters english -> 【Education&Working Experience】 english -> Tourist Areas Haiti, another discovery english -> Active Vocabulary documents -> Find the meanings of the following words. Use your smart phone documents -> Permanent council of the oea/Ser. G organization of american states cp/csh/SA. 62/99 cor documents -> Ch. 1, Inventing the Pretty Typewriter documents -> Inventory of confidence- and security-building measures applied by members states of the documents -> I. Introduction (Answers to Key Questions and Follow-up on the prc’s Recommendations) English Department Key Questions Download 64.37 Kb. Share with your friends:
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