Make your PC Vista perfect

With Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system now in stores around the world, lots of PC users are wondering whether their machines are up to the task of running it.

One way to find out is to read the “minimum requirements” notes on the side of the Windows Vista box. But few take this seriously. So what do you really need in your computer to be a happy Windows Vista user?

Microsoft says that your PC should have at least a 1 gigahertz (GHz) processor, 512 megabytes of system memory (RAM) for Home Basic and 1 GB for other editions, at least 15 GB of free hard drive space and a graphics card that supports DirectX 9 and has 128 MB of onboard RAM.

Few who have used Vista for any length of time, however, would consider running it for long on such a bare-bones machine. The result would be intolerable delays, constant disk swapping resulting in more delays, and a virtual inability to do any serious multitasking.

Here's a quick rundown of the major system components that an ideal Windows Vista system should contain.

Users can get by with 1 GB of memory (RAM) in Vista, but if one has to do much of multitasking, you'll want 2 GB. RAM is so inexpensive these days that there's little reason not to start out right away with 2 GB, unless you're working on a machine that won't accept 2 GB.

But beware. The 32-bit version of Vista, which most of us will want to run, can “see” only up to 4 GB of memory. Even machines with 4 GB of RAM will not have the full 4 GB available for programmes because Vista reserves some memory for system processes.

If you want more than 4 GB of RAM, you'll need to install the 64-bit version of Vista, which comes standard along with the 32-bit version in many editions of the operating system.

Just remember that you'll run into more issues with compatibility with the 64-bit version, as not all applications and drivers have been updated to work with 64-bit Vista.
Vista runs well on virtually every processor commonly sold in desktop and notebook computer today. That includes single, dual, and quad-core chips.

All editions of Vista support multiple core processors, but only Vista Business, Ultimate and Enterprise editions have built-in support for more than one physical processor in the same machine.

But remember that multiple core processors sandwich two or more processors on one chip. However, there are computers available that employ two separate processing chips, regardless of whether they're single, dual, or quad core.

Only Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise support the latter systems. When it comes to which processor to buy for Vista, faster the better.

Vista thrives on machines with speedy hard drives. That's why you need to ensure that the hard drive you have in your Vista machine spins at a minimum of 7,200 revolutions per minute (rpm).

On the horizon are hybrid hard drives that incorporate large amounts of flash memory. These drives can significantly lower boot times and other disk-intensive activities that serve to slow a Vista computer.


You'll want to be sure any graphics card you have in a computer designed to run Vista has at least 128 MB of video RAM.

Without that amount, you'll likely not be able to run the Aero interface -- the slick, semi-transparent look that is appealing to many. Beyond the minimum video RAM requirement, look for graphics cards outfitted with recent chipsets.

Be aware that many graphics cards are outfitted with small fans to keep the high-powered chipset cool. Those tiny fans can be the loudest component in your system. There are, however, fanless graphics cards that do not compromise much on performance.

Being happy with Vista means giving it the hardware that it craves for. Spend the time -- and money -- on quality hardware up front and you'll spend many happy hours with Microsoft's latest iteration of Windows.

Your LCD can hurt you

GERMANY: LCD monitors might be pretty, but computer users should still admire them from a distance.

Just as they do with the old-fashioned cathode ray tube monitors, users should be sure to sit at least 50-80 cm from the monitor. Sitting closer means users run the risk of wearing out their eye muscles.

Older monitors, work just like older televisions, took up so much desk space that workers were often left with no choice but to sit close to the monitor, says Windel. But that's not a problem with the newer liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.

“Newer LCD monitors are becoming more common in offices,” says Armin Windel of the German Federal Institute for Work Safety and Work Medicine (BAUA) in Dortmund. They are popular because they take up less desk space and offer more image stability and clarity.

Experts say they are not perfect. LCD monitors have problems with contrast and colour quality, making them less than perfect for graphics or computer aided design (CAD).
However, they are fine for basic tasks like word processing.

When replacing a cathode ray monitor with an LCD monitor, make sure that the computer's graphic card will support the more modern monitor otherwise you risk problems with image quality.

LCD monitors are usually delivered with a base that can be adjusted to a variety of heights and angles. Computer users should take advantage of this to make sure that the monitor is set at the angle that best suits them.

When working at a computer, a user should sit with his head slightly bowed forward. The monitor should be able to turn without a problem and be able to be adjusted forward by five degrees and backward by 20 degrees.

The size of the monitor also affects work quality. “The bigger the screen, the bigger you can make images,” says Windel. Seventeen inches is the standard size for LCD monitors. If a computer user is sitting 50 cm away, characters should be at least 2.9 mm tall.

At 60 cm that should go up to 3.9 mm and at 70 cm distance, the character size should reach 4.5 mm.

Contrast is another important factor to watch. Dark characters on a light background are recommended because they mimic the images we are used to seeing on paper and are easier on the eyes.

Many smaller companies are still using old computers that rely on a negative contrast -- light letters on a dark background -- but that's considered a poor alternative.

Mobile Phone Users Cautioned About Cancer

Mobile phone has become an indispensable gadget in our day-to-day lives. But frequent mobile phone buffs -Be wary of the deadly links your mobile has with cancer!


Research conducted by Tel Aviv University of Israel point out to the strong link between salivary gland cancer and mobile phone overuse.

Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, a cancer specialist at Tel Aviv University headed the study. This contradicted with the early research findings, which said that there is no apparent link between mobile phone usage and cancer.

Nearly 500 Israelis were diagnosed with salivary tumor gland. Chances of developing salivary gland tumors are more in those who used phone against one side of their head for several hours a day.

The fact that cell phones of rural area has to emit more signals to locate between two antennas placed the people of rural areas under more risk.

Though the reliability of the result of study is still open to questions, optimum use of mobile phone, usage of speakerphones and hand-free devices etc will definitely put the mobile users on the safer side in the long run.

'Microsoft to replace Yahoo board'

Microsoft Corp is getting ready to take its bid for Yahoo right to the Web portal's shareholders, even as analysts wait for a higher offer.

Woman raped near Haryana Raj Bhavan

CHANDIGARH: A 35-year-old woman returning home from work was raped by two persons, at a stone's throw from the Haryana Raj Bhavan, late on Wednesday night. One of the suspected rapists is a security guard at the official residence of Haryana Governor A R Kidwai.

Police arrested constable Dinesh Kumar and also picked up another cop, Vijender Singh, an accomplice in the crime. They were in hot pursuit of a third accomplice. Chandigarh Sector 3 police station’s SHO Ram Gopal said a medical examination of the victim confirmed rape.

The two cops have been suspended and sent to one-day police custody. The third man involved in the rape has been identified as Shitto. A resident of Rohtak, he was spending the night with a relative in Chandigarh, also a Haryana cop, the SHO said.

The woman, who worked with a catering firm, was returning home in an autorickshaw with a colleague when an inebriated Shitto stopped them and asked for light at a roundabout near the Raj Bhavan. He later turned abusive and mandhandled them, she said in a complaint lodged with the police.

As the auto driver fled from the spot, Shitto called his colleagues and together they dragged the woman to their official quarters inside the Haryana Armed Police company headquarters complex.

"I was kept inside a room where two persons (Dinesh and Shitto) raped me repeatedly. Somehow, I managed to break free and pleaded with Vijender to let me go," the victim said.

Vijender took her to her home in Phase VI of Mohali. Talking to TOI, R K Sharma, the general manager of catering firm, said he rushed to the spot after he was told about the incident and informed the police.