The last blog for 510. Instructions: What did you learn?

There are too many tangents I could go on to list everything that I have learned in 510 and upon completing and publishing this entry I am sure I will think of a few more.

So I will try to limit it to mentioning a few things that were most impressive to me:

Operating systems:

I was ecstatic when I learned of the different operating systems that I could download for free. My old “Compaq” will have new life. I can’t wait to have the time to play around with “Ubuntu” and “Linux Mint”. I may partition the hard drive to use both. I now refer to that computer as “Lazarus”, that is, back from the dead. I had heard of different operating systems, like OS 2 Warp from years ago (from IBM?), but never tried to learn anymore about them since I didn’t know enough or whom to ask. Now, I don’t have to ask anyone. Knowledge is liberating, indeed!

Hardware:

Tearing apart my old computer from ’94 was therapeutic as well as educating. I looked at the CPU with its built in fan and “heat-sink” design and it brought back some lessons learned from taking Physical Chemistry and working at a company that dealt in “heat transfer” years ago. A great deal of heat is generated from current running through millions of transistors. It is an enemy of the productivity and efficiency of the CPU.

I have got to take another look at the RAM assignment that a colleague presented (and do a little of my own research). I want know what I am talking about, as well as, buy the most effective upgrade for my current computer or my next computer.

I now know to look for the correct type of DVDs for my DVD RW+ drive before purchasing. I didn’t know there was a difference between RW+ and RW +/- prior to this class.

Security:

I have more of an understanding of Malware. I used to be cynical about buying anti-virus software when some can be found for free. The features, efficiency and thoroughness of the software is definitely an issue here. I was excited to read independent reviews and find the software package that I will be purchasing. In researching the security assignment, I now know the steps to take and in what order to make my system and network safe.

In closing, I have also learned the correct usage and meaning of many terms/jargon used in techie talk, once again, it feels liberating!

Computer Security and Optimization

I am always leery of my two kids using my computer. Their ages are 22 and 19 so I don't have my computer set up to block specific sites. If I were to be in charge of setting up a network at school, I can't imagine where I would start to try to block all of the sites that kids are capable of visiting. I think I am relatively safe with the sites that I visit, but I have some e-mails sent to me that some of my friends get carried away with. It gives me some sense of security when whatever software in charge states "no virus" detected before I am allowed access to a download, but I am not entirely convinced they are free of malicious activity. Remembering the "I love you" e-mail from years ago that infected so many computers. Who would not be intrigued with that as the subject line? Sent to me, I have to open it!

I do have a free antivirus program that I run. It is called "Avast" for non-commercial purposes. I do recall loading it on my old HP tower which has since passed and it felt great the 1st time I ran it and it found some viruses and quarantined or expunged them. I am all about the free bees but they do give me some grief in worrying are they working as well as something I would pay for.

I do try to manage my files somewhat and rid my hard drive of files that I haven't used in a long time. I could do a better job of this, but the hard drive has so much memory that it doesn't seem necessary or important enough to do all that often. I do have my hard drive scheduled to defrag at regular intervals.