As you know Google has recently announced a new operating system - Google Chrome OS. So I went to google and downloaded it. After performing all steps from the installation manual i burned OS image to USB flash stick and rebooted computer. In 7 (!) seconds Chrome browser appeared. Can you imagine?! Just 7 seconds - that's awesome. So, in 7 seconds a picture appeared on the screen. But here is the point where good news end. It was just a browser. There were options to connect WiFi and to set up Proxy server, but I was not able to. They were not working. Of course, it was just an alpha version. But we can already see main concept. Chrome OS - is just a browser - and thats it. 

I believe, that Chrome OS will definitely occupy it's own cell in the market.

WiMAX becomes more and more popular every day. In general we can describe this technology as combination of GSM and WiFi technologies. It inhabits cellular structure from GSM and modificated data transfer protocols from WiFi.

WiMAX is a wireless digital communications system, also known as IEEE 802.16, that is intended for wireless "metropolitan area networks". WiMAX can provide broadband wireless access (BWA) up to 30 miles (50 km) for fixed stations, and 3 - 10 miles (5 - 15 km) for mobile stations. In contrast, the WiFi/802.11 wireless local area network standard is limited in most cases to only 100 - 300 feet (30 - 100m).

With WiMAX, WiFi-like data rates are easily supported, but the issue of interference is lessened. WiMAX operates on both licensed and non-licensed frequencies, providing a regulated environment and viable economic model for wireless carriers.

WiMAX can be used for wireless networking in much the same way as the more common WiFi protocol. WiMAX is a second-generation protocol that allows for more efficient bandwidth use, interference avoidance, and is intended to allow higher data rates over longer distances.

The IEEE 802.16 standard defines the technical features of the communications protocol. The WiMAX Forum offers a means of testing manufacturer's equipment for compatibility, as well as an industry group dedicated to fostering the development and commercialization of the technology.

WiMax.com provides a focal point for consumers, service providers, manufacturers, analysts, and researchers who are interested in WiMAX technology, services, and products. Soon, WiMAX will be a very well recognized term to describe wireless Internet access throughout the world.

The single most visible change in Windows 7 is the new “dock style” taskbar, which shows icons instead of buttons, with all application windows combined within a single button.

This is what the new taskbar looks like:

Changing the Windows 7 Taskbar to XP/Vista Style

To revert back to the older style, the first thing you’ll need to do is right-click on any open area of the taskbar and choose Properties from the menu.

From the Taskbar buttons drop-down menu, you’ll want to choose “Never combine”, which will make every window show up as a separate button on the taskbar, or you could choose “Combine when taskbar is full”, which does just like it says.

Now you should see the buttons show up with text labels like you are probably used to… but in the Windows 7 style.

If you chose the “Use small icons” checkbox in the properties screen, the taskbar will actually shrink down to look very similar to Vista.

The only problem is that the “pinned” icons are still sitting on the taskbar, which isn’t the same as Vista or XP, but you can easily remove all of them by right-clicking and choosing “Unpin this program from taskbar”.

Also you can choose the “Windows Classic” theme under the Desktop \ Personalize section:

Initial Problem:

When buying a computer, there are so many little details to worry about, it's usually easier to think about the basics first. The three main options are choosing between buying a bunch of parts, buying a generic preassembled model, and buying a brand name preassembled model.

Solution:

Buying all the required parts has its advantages and disadvantages. You can get exactly what you want, sticking more power where you need it without wasting money on options you don't need, and you can control the costs very well by choosing the make and model of every single componant that goes in to your system. Of course, walking away from a computer store with bags of parts is not for the faint of heart. In the best case, it's merely intimidating. For the average PC, there are many settings that may require optimization, like fans for cooling, overclocking settings, motherboard pins, and device drivers, along with the very real possibility of forgetting to buy a needed part half way into your assembly job. In the worst case, you can easily bend componant pins or otherwise break something and waste a chunk of your investment. Still, the effort is often worthwhile, since the costs can be controlled - most home assembled systems cost less than buying a comparable generic pc in the store.

Generic PCs can be found at every corner computer store, so availability is certainly in their favor. These systems come already assembled and tested, with no money wasted on paying for name brand, and overall reliability pretty close to par with the more expensive brands. The problem is usually selection - you may not get all that you actually want or need and often end up picking up a package deal that appeals to your wallet with little to no swapping of options between the "low end", "medium end" and "high end" systems. Of course, any currently unused options may be something you will use later, and the fact that these PCs are by nature generic means that later upgrades and modifications are fairly easy, making these middle-of-the-road in terms of price, but popular choices.

Brand name PCs put the ring into "you get what you pay for". These systems also come already assembled and tested, but tag on guarantees on the parts and performance with extended warantee options available as well, although the reliability of the parts is only contentiously a little higher than generic parts. You may not get all that you actually want or need, and often end up picking up a package deal that appeals to your wallet, however, there are usually options available to upgrade almost every system feature, from RAM to hard drives to CPU speed to additional cables. This means that prices can quickly baloon while choices get presented that you didn't even know existed - important because later modifications may be more difficult with the proprietary parts.

This will at least set your feet in the right direction and prepare you to begin searching for the right computer in the best store, or on the best website.