Gizmo
October 21st 2010 06:13
Welcome to your October gizmo guide.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey last month and for your feedback on the gizmo guide. We've listened to your comments and have taken on board many of your suggestions. We hope you like the improved update which now features tips and tricks, answers to your questions, product and service reviews and the very latest in what's happening in techland.
Social media is now a way of life for many of us. We are pleased to announce that we have launched our very own Facebook & Twitter pages! So, be sure to check us out and recommend your friends. Keep up-to-date with what's new, our latest special offers and of course, ask us anything, anytime!
What's the difference between the C Drive and the D Drive?
The 'C' Drive, is your primary drive which holds all your essential computer programs such as your operating system (e.g. Windows). The 'D' Drive, can either be your 'Optical Drive' (CD/DVD Rom) or an additional storage centre. When installing new programs, it's a good idea to keep them together on the C drive. When saving documents and other files, consider storing them on the D drive, not only to free up space on the C drive, but it can make them easier to manage so you won't lose them.
Comparing 3G and 4G technology
Technology changes fast, we have always known this. With most of us using 3G technology everyday, and with 4G technology right around the corner for us Australians, here is a run down on what to expect and the differences between the two.
Firstly, what is 3G? It's the 3rd generation in wireless technology providing high-speed internet access. Most of us would be using this technology today via our mobile phones, for general internet use. You often hear the term 'network' used in place of 'technology' when people refer to 3G, so we'll use this same reference for the rest of this article.
Speed - This is often the key in a network upgrade and there is definitely a difference here. 3G network speeds currently connect at a maximum rate of 14Mbps downlink (how fast you can download) and 5.8Mbps uplink (how fast you can upload). This will vary based on location and what you are using the connection for. In comparison, 4G networks are said to gain speeds of up to 100Mbps for someone on the move, and if you remain stationary you can expect speeds of 1Gbps! That's huge as these speeds have only been available for wired users in the past. So to put it simply, it's faster. Much faster! Again, location does come into play and signal has been a major issue in the past. This brings us to the next advantage.
Signal strength - Signal strength varies with 3G technology. 4G networks use a different sort of antenna system called 'Spatial Multiplexing'. This technology involves deploying multiple antennas to transmit and receive data, which allows for a better signal. So more antennas equal a better signal right? Unfortunately this is not always the case; certain 4G devices have suffered from severe signal loss which is due to the network carrier rather than the technology. The choice of who provides your 4G network connection, when it becomes available will be important.
Circuit switching - A 3G network uses circuit switches to connect your communication session. It uses resources to both send and receive data, which ties up the network. 4G networks will use a different type of switch called 'packet switching'. This will connect your communication session totally wirelessly (the first generation to do this), and resources' are only used when sending data.
In a nutshell, 4G is soooo much faster. So do you make the change? Well, when it is available, it all really comes down to what you use your Internet and mobile phone for. Are you a web browser and social network user? Do you like to stream media from home or straight off the Internet? Perhaps you're a gamer and you need the best speed possible to keep up with your challengers. But overall, why wouldn't you want to be able to access things faster and easier? Stay tuned.
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