Recap after Mid Term

It's been a great semester. I cannot say that I am 100% confident that I am ready to take the A+ Certification exam, but I will say that I am going to attempt it. That is, as soon as we get the voucher issue worked out with the school. As I attempted to submit this blog and assignment, I was faced with yet another IT dilema. My deadline was last night, but for some reason, my internet kept failing me. Everytime I tried to click on any of my icons, they never loaded. At first I thought I was having issues with my Norton 360 software again, but I soon realized that it was more drastic. Here I am trying to sum up and recap everything that we discussed in the past weeks. After troubleshooting and researching, I finally figured out my problem...Can you believe my cookies were disabled!!! Now, I tried to find a way to blame it on my son but I had to retrace my steps. I remember a class that Dr. Jackson taught regarding optimizing your computer and using the existing equipment and software to achieve better performance with your system. I know I went in on ALL of my computers, including my son's, deleting internet files and cookies as one of the ways to reach better optimization. Doing too much, I must have inadvertently clicked on the wrong setting and disabled ALL of my cookies. I kept checking my security settings, the Privacy and even the Connection tabs. I checked my internet settings and all this time, I had no idea that I had minimal, to now NO access all due to a simple mistake I made. I've vented. Im able to move on now...LOL

Ok, so I corrected the issue. Im now on the internet and I am FINALLY able to turn in my final assignment, and I learned such a valuable IT related, classroom related lesson.

Laptops and the difference between Laptops and Desktops was an intriguing topic. We covered this for about a week and a half because we all, especially me, had so many questions related to this subject. I was completely shocked and suprised to know that the amount of money we spend to be able to carry around a piece of computer equipment with ease, has no relation to the type of computer we have. For example, the main differences between laptops and desktops are: expandability, cost, and functionality. I always assumed that even though I was paying extra for the portability benefit in my laptop, I still had the same capabilities and capacities as my desktop. That is completely false. Yes, we are going to spend more money because the component suppliers have to "shrink" the average size of their products, ex. desktop harddrive is 3.5", a laptop harddrive is 2.5",but I thought it would still have the same speed, the same processor size, and it doesn't. Laptops tend to overheat a whole lot faster than desktops, because their processors are working too fast. A while ago some manufacturers even made some of the beginner laptops with desktop processors, and the processors blew out the motherboards, because the motherboard couldn't handle the power. I wouldn't trade the benefits of my laptop for nothing in the world, but I know going forward that I need to pay close attention to all the things that are foregone, that wouldn't be in a desktop. Finally, laptops only use two types of memory: SoDIMM which is the most common type and MicroDIMM which is the newest model, and is what the new Apple I-Pad uses.

We discussed the OSI model to some degree. We didn't to deep into that because Dr. Jackson taught a Networking + class and some of my classmates, if not ALL of my classmates took that with him. I froze on the final exam about the OSI model but I do remember some key things, and now the good this is I can look in my book!! I kept concentrating on the steps or process for installing an operating system, or replacing an operating sytem, and I couldn't get that out of my head at finals, but all I needed to do was remember one key word: "LAYER"...duh. I kept thinking process, but I knew the Application Layer, the Presentation Layer, and a couple others. Now, I dont remember what each of them do, so I will go to the book for that.
in the order of top to bottom, the layers are:
7. Application Layer - allows users access to the network services. File and Print services operate on this level.
6. Presentation Layer - checks the layout of the data. Data compression, data translation, and encryption is handled at this level
5. Session Layer - controls session applications.
4. Transport Layer - handles the transporting of all packets using TCP/IP
3. Network Layer - data is organized in packets, or chucks of data.
2. Data Link Layer - arranges data into chuncks called frames. I remember hearing of frame relay and read to learn if the two were related. They were.
1. Physical Layer - describes/decides how data is transmitted.

We talked about real word, senario, problem solving examples like, "Computer is running really slow, but it wasn't a couple of months ago", discussing some possible solutions are: toolbars clogging up the memory, too many start up application, etc...

Understanding Printer Types and their processes was covered at length too. Even thought the book didn't really cover trouble shooting printer issues and malfunctions, it did give you a general understanding of the different types. We discussed impact printer, which are printers that use some kind of impact style like an inked ribbon to make an imprint on paper. Daisy wheel being one of the first impact printers. The book also covered Dot-Matrix printers and Bubble Jet printers. The laser printer was covered in great detail and the steps that it goes through: Cleaning, Charging, Writing, Developing, Transferring and finally Fusing.

Power Supply information was covered, helping us all understand how the computer gets its power and what are the standard requirements for the power that's being used. All computers, in the United States, uses power that provided by the power supply. The power supply converts 110V(used in the U.S.) or 220V(used in other countries) from AC (Alternating Current) to DC (Direct Current) voltages. The voltages used for a computer or between: +3.3VDC (Volts Direct Current, +5VDC, -5VDC, +12VDC, -12VDC. Power supplies are rated in watts, which are units of power. We also discussed the old and new different types of power connectors from the P8 and P9 to the Sata power connector.

Overall, I learned a lot in this class, even though I, as well as most others, felt that it should have been a part 1 and part 2...its was a lot of information to learn in 16 weeks. I look forward to taking Network + after this course and EVENTUALLY taking my A+ certification exam, and passing!!!