How to add or delete user account

First, Go to START
Second, Control Panel
Third, User account
Fourth, select account you want to edit or delete
Fifth, add some restrictions to the account
Sixth, then click OK

that's it. . . .
note: restart or log off your PC to test your newly created aacount

How to remove program from your PC

First, Go to START
Second, Control Panel
Third, Add/Remove Program
Fourth, Select a program you want to remove
Fifth, then click change/Remove

that's it. . . .
note: some application required to restart your PC to effectively remove the program.

Free xml sitemap generator

WINDOW SYSTEM REGISTRY

REGISTRY is one of the important configurations to set-up the Microsoft Windows Operating system. Some viruses modify the normal sequence flow of the system and some of them will delete important registry files and windows will not work properly. When fixing a registry back to the default, it takes time to find the exact files. There’s an efficient solution for that.

Just follow my instruction.

First, open a notepad

Second, copy the code below and paste it to the notepad

[Version]

Signature="$Chicago$"

Provider=Symantec

[DefaultInstall]

AddReg=UnhookRegKey

[UnhookRegKey]

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\batfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\comfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\piffile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\regfile\shell\open\command,,,"regedit.exe ""%1"""

HKLM, Software\CLASSES\scrfile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"

HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System,DisableRegistryTools,0x00000020,0

Third, save the notepad to your desktop and name it UnhookRegKey.inf, close the notepad.exe

Forth, go to your desktop and locate the UnhookRegKey.inf, just right click on it and choose install.

Lastly, congrats, you’ve done it, don’t worry everything’s fine, your system will reload and your registry is now already set to default.

Just leave me a comment. Good luck.

Thanks

Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet

Point To Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE)

The working standard for the PPPoE protocol was published by the IETF in 1999. The IETF specification for PPPoE is RFC 2516. PPPoE expands the original capability of PPP by allowing a virtual point to point connection over a multipoint Ethernet network architecture. PPPoE is a protocol that is widely used by ISPs to provision digital subscriber line (DSL) high speed Internet services, of which the most popular service is ADSL. The similarity between PPPoE and PPP has led to the widespread adoption of PPPoE as the preferred protocol for implementing high speed Internet access. Service providers can use the same authentication server for both PPP and PPPoE sessions, resulting in a cost savings. PPPoE uses standard methods of encryption, authentication, and compression specified by PPP.

PPPoE is configured as a point to point connection between two Ethernet ports. As a tunneling protocol, PPPoE is used as an effective foundation for the transport of IP packets at the network layer. IP is overlaid over a PPP connection and uses PPP as a virtual dial up connection between points on the network. From the user's perspective, a PPPoE session is initiated by using connection software on the client machine or router. PPPoE session initiation involves the identification of the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the remote device. This process, also known as PPPoE discovery, involves the following steps:

Initiation - The client software sends a PPPoE Active Discovery Initiation (PADI) packet to the server to intitiate the session.

1. Offer - The server responds with a PPPoE Active Discovery Offer (PADO) packet.
2. Request - Upon receipt of the PADO packet, the client responds by sending a PPPoE Active Discovery Request (PADR) packet to the server.
3. Confirmation - Upon receipt of the PADR packet, the server responds by generating a unique ID for the PPP session and sends it in a PPPoE Active Discovery Session (PADS) confirmation packet to the client.

When a PPPoE session is initiated, the destination IP address is only used when the session is active. The IP address is released after the session is closed, allowing for efficient re-use of IP addresses.

iMAC Design and Memory

Skeptics have already pointed out that the new iPod-influenced iMac is hardly a new concept, even from Apple. The 20th Anniversary Mac was a computer in a screen too, and while it was curved and black rather than flat and white, the overall concept is the same: put everything in the screen.

The screen itself is amazing. We ordered the 20-inch model, and it's sharp, bright and colorful. At a native resolution of 1680 x 1050, you have a very large work area - large enough to display two browser windows side-by-side and happily read both at the same time. Those of us with failing eyesight might find small text sometimes a little hard to read, but both our testers found the pixel size comfortable.

We're also impressed with the quality of the image when set to magnified resolutions, although we see little general need for them. Previously, we've found LCD displays don't look so good when you use other resolutions, but though there's some softening of high-contrast elements, the various other image sizes are still very useable in the iMac G5, offering a choice between letter-boxed and stretched formats in several cases.

This iMac has finally convinced us that CRT monitors will go the way of the dinosaur. Previously we'd found the price difference too high and some visual artifacts unappealing, and while price remains a concern, the remarkable quality of this screen made us want to throw out all our CRTs. The image on this LCD is bright and colorful, and the small footprint reclaimed much workspace. And if that is not enough, a widescreen display just seems to work better with applications like Final Cut Pro, Motion, and so on. We used to think that the solution was to have two monitors side-by-side, but a widescreen display is much easier to work with.

In addition to its size and aspect ratio (ideal for many applications with multiple tool windows) the iMac G5's screen is incredibly bright. Neither of the CRTs could hold a candle to it, in terms of brightness. Color reproduction seemed very good. Comparing photographic images on multiple monitors, the iMac always looked brighter and more colorful.

Using a Calibrate Your Monitor page, we attempted to compare the LCD with the CRTs. While this is a limited test, it provides a simple way to see any major problems in monitor calibration. We could distinguish the shades of gray, and the color swatches were similarly displayed (on both the LCD and the CRT, the yellow swatches blended at about the 70% level).

Finally, by going into Displays and dropping the brightness down considerably we were able to get a similar display to the CRTs we were comparing it to. This screen is bright.

Of course, we've so far omitted any mention of the heart of the beast, a G5 processor running at 1.8 GHz. Just a year ago we reviewed one of the first G5 Power Macs - the middle-of-the-line 1.8GHz model at that time. In the tests we performed for this review (see Benchmarks) the iMac G5 performed almost identically to that Power Mac, which is a fast computer, indeed. If you don't need the expandability of the big Power Mac (or the dual processors of the current model) the iMac G5 can handle the same workloads with aplomb.

One caveat: the basic configuration includes only 256 MBytes of memory. While this might be acceptable for a few people, it hobbles the computer in typical applications, and we strongly recommend that you at least install a second 256-MByte memory module, which only costs about $55. The computer performs better with matched pairs of memory, as Apple documents and our benchmarks demonstrated.

iMAC Accesibility and Services

Apple has created a new support web site for the iMac that includes a Troubleshooting Assistant that takes you through a series of questions and will link to tech notes, as well as offer to provide an online connection to a tech support person. It requires you to enter your computer's serial number to chat with an agent. If you quit the web browser, it even attempts to restart from where you were the next time you return to the site.

With the iMac G5, Apple has written a new chapter in computer accessibility. You simply lay it face-down on a flat surface covered with a cotton cloth, unscrew three captive Phillips-head screws, and tilt off the back with its integral stand. You then have complete, unfettered access to the entire computer, and it's very easy to add an AirPort card or upgrade memory. The hard drive is right there, too, along with the rest of the components. Apple seems to be setting up a new service system that encourages customers to do many of their own repairs

Retrieving files using other computer

How to locate files from the other hard disk using your PC?

When your PC is down due to a motherboard defection or whatever problem it is, there are few steps to retrieve important files and data from your hard disk.

First, open you computer, locate your hard disk and pull-off the IDE cable from the motherboard
Second, go to your working personal computer with the hard disk you pulled-off earlier
Third, open your PC casing and attach the hard disk to the secondary ports of your motherboard
note: when you open your PC or working some stuff with the hardware, make it sure that the PC is shut down
Fourth, when all is done, open your PC, go to My Computer, as you notice new hard drive found in your system
note: make it sure to log in as administrator so that you have the rigth to view all folders from the other accounts
Fifth, to locate some of your file,

• go to My computer
• then the local disk of the newly attached hard disk
• documents and settings
• select the account folder where your data are store
• if you are looking the My Documents, it is located at the user account folder of the newly attached drive.
• then copy your files to your back-up or do everything what you want with your files

that's it .......Good luck!

please leave a comment.

VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY

What is virtualization?

Virtualization is a unique technology which uses Virtual machine -is a software implementation of a machine that's execute like a real machine. It is a software technology which uses a physical resource such as a server and divides it up into virtual resources called virtual machines (VM's). Virtualization allows users to consolidate physical resources, simplify deployment and administration, and reduce power and cooling requirements. While virtualization technology is most popular in the server world, virtualization technology is also being used in data storage such as Storage Area Networks, and inside of operating systems such as Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V.

Advantages

• Server consolidation
• Reduced power and cooling
• Green computing
• Ease of deployment and administration
• High availability and disaster recovery

Famous virtualization products

• VMware
• Microsoft Hyper-V
• Virtual Iron
• Xen

Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset

Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset

Creative has included its X-Fi software, which apparently can simulate 3D sound through two channels.

After an extended test, playing Far Cry 2 non-stop for a day, it was clear that this is 2.5D sound. Occasionally it works very well, but sometimes everything sounded muffled.

If you've already got a decent sound card and a moderate headset, the Fatalwonties aren't worth it. But if you're running onboard sound with cheapo headphones, these cans are nigh-on essential.

source: http://techradar.com

Asus Xonar DS 7.1 sound card

Asus Xonar DS 7.1

Although this is most definitely a budget card, the processor means it rarely shows any signs of being so.

Full 7.1 support is one of the obvious selling points, and Vista users will relish the DS3D GX drivers – the Asus equivalent of Creative's ALchemy – which translate EAX 3D sound into something Microsoft's audio-challenged OS can handle with aplomb.

For those who appreciate fantastic fidelity (and don't mind the lack of Dolby Digital processing), the Xonar is a real low-cost gem.

source: http://techradar.com

CoolIT Domino ALC

CoolIT Domino ALC


If the Jules Verne-esque multitude of pumps and pipes normally required to water-cool your system has put you off before, you need fret no longer with CoolIT's all-in-one solution.

There's no fan on the heatsink itself, so you're effectively getting two fans for the price of one, and a much quieter PC as part of the bargain.

source: http://techradar.com

CoolerMaster CMStorm Sniper Chassis

CoolerMaster CMStorm Sniper Chassis

The Sniper is the first case from CoolerMaster's new CMStorm sub-brand. It's precisely laser-targeted at gamers, ready to explode their heads in a burst of airflow excitement.

It does a lot of things we like. The giant knob on the front adjusts fan speeds, and lighting can be turned off, so watching a movie on your PC is no longer like sitting in the engine room on a long-distance ferry trip.

source: http://techradar.com

Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 1,600MHz RAM

Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 1,600MHz

Core i7 brings with it triple-channel memory, and while 4GB is better than 2, 6GB is, of course, even better. So long as you can afford it.

The Dominator runs at 1,600MHz, so there are no problems with running at full speed.

If money's no object then this Dominator kit is without doubt the finest triple-channel offering.

source: http://techradar.com

MSI X58 Pro Motherboard

MSI X58 Pro

MSI's X58 Pro is proof that, as predicted, the X58 chipset price drop continues unabated.

The motherboard stayed very cool when we were testing it, and it all seems to work.

In addition MSI has included its GreenPower software, which lets you overclock and underclock every element of the board from within Windows.

source: http://techradar.com

Western Digital Velociraptor WD3000HLFS

Western Digital Velociraptor WD3000HLFS

Western Digital's Velociraptor WD3000HLFS drive is a calculated riposte to SSDs, constituting a ground-up reworking of the Raptor drives that have sat pretty at the top of the HDD pile for years now.

Its peak read times aren't far behind the Intel X25, but it canes the X25 for write times – it's comfortably the fastest drive in our real-world 9GB file copy test.

source: http://techradar.com

ZOTAC GTX 295 INFINITY VIDEO CARD

Zotac GTX 295 Infinity

Zotac's latest Infinity edition takes the doubled up PCB of a GeForce GTX 295 and wraps it neatly around a copper cooling block.

You provide the water cooling pump and hey presto, you pretty much reach the limits of your CPU for in-game frame rates.

Despite that, though, we're not really knocking points off the score for value for money. We're well into the realms of 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'.

source: http://techradar.com

INTEL CORE i7

Intel Core i7

In the multi-threaded benchmarks, the Core i7 beat the Core 2 Duo to a bloody, whimpering pulp. It's around 60 per cent quicker in the X264 video encode test than the best Core 2 processor, for example. That's almost silly.

It's a ridiculously impressive new processor, so it's well worth getting to grips with all the new technology.

We have everything from technical analysis so hardcore it will make your brain boil to benchmarks of a literally record-breaking machine based on the fastest Core i7 chip of all.

source:http://techradar.com

TOUCHSCREEN RUBIK'S CUBE

World's First Touchscreen Rubik's Cube

The TouchCube works just like its more antiquated brethren, but instead of grinding the actual spinning cogs (manual labor is for suckers!), a simple swipe of the finger in a straight line or an 'L' shape (for rotations) does the trick. There's an accelerometer built in that ensures only the upwards-facing surfaces respond to your touch, so you can still hold the thing.

Features:

• TouchCube can solve itself as you watch, and even teach you, step by step, how to do it.
• Built-in memory will also save your cube's state if you need to take a break.
• Touchscreen cube

source: http://digg.com/

New iPOD NANO by Apple

Here come's the most awaited! ..

nano shoot video..

The new iPod nano. Now rocking a video camera, a polished anod ized aluminum finish, and a larger screen. Also making its debut: FM radio with Live Pause.







iPod nano now comes with a built-in video camera that lets you spontaneously shoot video wherever you are. Yet it’s still the same ultraportable size and The new built-in FM tuner has two amazing features — iTunes Tagging and Live Pause — that make listening to the radio nothing like listening to the radio.

KAIZER internet viruses remover

KAIZER killer

Here is the solution of your sicking problem.

click here to download

Good luck!.

WINDOWS 7

This FAQ has been created by the staff of Windows 7 News to provide visitors with information about the Windows 7 operating system. A full review of Windows 7 can be found here, as well as the latest Windows 7 News, Windows 7 Screenshots and Windows 7 Videos. There are also Windows 7 Wallpapers and a Windows 7 Theme you can download for your PC.

WELCOME to WINDOWS 7

Windows 7 is the latest version of Microsoft's Operating System release; it is the combination of Windows Vista display and most likely a Windows XP over all function.

Below are the Windows 7 Compatibility, Minimum Requirements & Specifications required to install or upgrade, (Although it is recommended that you do increase this as it you will find the operating system quite slow, and lacking in space.).

These are the Microsoft minimum hardware recommendations for systems that will be running the Windows 7. These recommendations are specific to the beta release and are subject to change:

• Processor: 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• Memory: 1 GB of system memory
• Hard drive: 16 GB of available disk space
• Video card: Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
• Drive: DVD-R/W drive
• Internet connection (to download the Beta and get updates)

For more updates, news, tips and guides, click here.

INTEL ATOM Overview

The Intel® Atom™ processor is Intel's smallest processor, built with the world's smallest transistors and manufactured on Intel's industry-leading 45nm Hi-k Metal Gate technology. The Intel Atom processor was purpose-built for simple, affordable, netbooks and nettops.

Intel Atom processor-based netbooks and nettops offer both an easy-to-use mobile device with simple interfaces and targeted performance for a good online experience. They are rugged and compact in design, and offer the freedom and flexibility of wireless connectivity¹.

Great for Internet, these devices are an affordable option for education, photo and video viewing, social networking, voice over IP, e-mail, messaging, browsing, and numerous other Internet activities and basic applications.

source: http://www.intel.com/products/processor/atom/index.htm

INTEL ATOM

As Intel's smallest and lowest power processor², the Intel® Atom™ processor enables the latest Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), and another new category of devices for the internet called netbooks and nettops.

Newly designed from the ground up, 45nm Intel® Atom™ processors pack an astounding 47 million transistors on a single chip measuring less than 26mm², making them Intel's smallest and lowest power processors.¹ All this while delivering the power and performance you need for full Internet capabilities.+

• Get a new range of power-efficient devices with excellent performance enabled by all new hafnium-infused 45nm high-k silicon technology
• Increase energy efficiency in smaller more compact designs with a thermal design power specification ranging from less than 1W to 2.5 watts for mobile devices
• Extend battery life in select devices with an incredibly low idle and average power allowing the device to stay powered on while also conserving energy

Based on an entirely new microarchitecture, the Intel® Atom™ processor was developed specifically for targeted performance and low power while maintaining full Intel® Core™ microarchitecture instruction set compatibility. Intel® Atom™ processors also feature multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness.

RFID

How the Radio Frequency Identification works?

Imagine going to the grocery store, filling up your cart and walking right out the door. No longer will you have to wait as someone rings up each item in your cart one at a time. Instead, these RFID tags will communicate with an electronic reader that will detect every item in the cart and ring each up almost instantly. The reader will be connected to a large network that will send information on your products to the retailer and product manufacturers. Your bank will then be notified and the amount of the bill will be deducted from your account. No lines, no waiting.

Long checkout lines at the grocery store are one of the biggest complaints about the shopping experience. Soon, these lines could disappear when the ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code is replaced by smart labels, also called radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID tags are intelligent bar codes that can talk to a networked system to track every product that you put in your shopping cart.

RFID tags, a technology once limited to tracking cattle, are tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart.

TABLETOP PC

Here is the amazing interface technology I've ever seen. an all in one really friendly user PC.
Watch the video below and amaze the next-generation technology PC.



Microsoft has chosen what it sees as the next-generation in PC form factors -- a computer the size and shape of a coffee table with a flat, touchscreen display -- as the third major product it has designed and is branding for the consumer electronics market.

iMAC G5 Performance

We attempted to reproduce the same benchmarks we ran on the Power Mac G5 last year, upgrading the Power Mac operating system from 10.2 to 10.3.5. We did not run SpeedRun because it is no longer being updated, and we used a newer version of Cinebench, optimized for the G5 processor. While we were interested in seeing how the iMac compared to our previous tests, we were most interested in comparing the iMac G5 to the Power Mac G5/1.8GHz.

These tests (iMac G5 Benchmarks) revealed that the iMac G5/1.8GHz performed on par with the single-processor Power Mac G5/1.8GHz system, which is very well indeed. While there were a few minor differences, some of these were actually in the iMac's favor.
From a hardware perspective, the Power Mac's most significant difference to the iMac is that it has a higher bus speed (900 versus 600 MHz), but none of the benchmarks, or even our real world tests, showed a major difference, as a result.

We also noted that About This Mac describes the iMac G5's chip as a "PowerPC G5 (3.0)", while the Power Mac G5's is a "PowerPC 970 (2.2)." Obviously there must be differences in the motherboard and firmware, as well, that could be responsible for minor differences.
The iMac G5 uses Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra graphics hardware with 64 MBytes of video memory, just like the Power Mac G5, and it shows comparable graphics performance.
The Power Mac G5 came with a Sony DVD RW DW-U10A SuperDrive, while the iMac G5 has a Matshita DVD-R UJ-825 mechanism.The speed of these drives is comparable, though current Power Mac G5s ship with faster drives.

There were fractional differences in performance for all tests, but not significant enough to be noticeable in real-world tasks. The one exception was the effect of processor mode: running in the Auto mode, video compression took substantially longer on the iMac G5, yet the speed was practically identical if the Power Mac and iMac were both set to "Highest" mode.

iMAC G5 Software

Mac OS X 10.3.5 is installed on the iMac G5, and Apple's new Setup Assistant runs when you turn on the computer the first time, offering you the option to migrate the files from another Mac that supports FireWire Disk Target mode. The source computer must have a FireWire port and be running an appropriate version of Mac OS X. Alternatively, you can connect a FireWire drive containing a clone of your old system and use that instead.

We didn't go through this process when we first started the computer, but later did launch the Setup Assistant and copied the files from a Power Mac G5 across to the iMac G5.

This went very easily - just hook up the cable, restart the source computer while holding down the 'T' key, and select what you want to copy. You can choose to copy a selected users files, as well as the contents of the Applications folder, network settings and desktop files. This is easy to use, but you can't choose individual folders or files. It took us about three hours to transfer 100 GB of data.

Classic was not installed by default on our machine (as it isn't on many machines Apple is now shipping.) Classic is included on the "Additional Software and Apple Hardware Test" disc. Apple's "Install Mac OS 9 to use Classic applications" Knowledge Base article describes the process.

Installation was simple enough, although the first time we ran a Mac OS 9 application, Mac OS X said that it could not locate an installation of Classic. Using the Classic control panel, it was easy enough to locate the Classic System folder, and then we were set. We had to repeat this process in each user account we had set up. We also discovered that we had two copies of Classic installed; the other having been transferred from the Power Mac G5.

Setup Assistant doesn't handle all types of files, and some software from your old system may not work on the new system without being re-installed. In our case, we found both PGP and Kensington trackball features failed. Repairing permissions had no effect. These applications rely on "kernel extensions" (.kext), which Setup Assistant apparently avoids transferring for fear of creating low-level incompatibilities.

We also tried booting the iMac G5 from an external FireWire drive with clone of Mac OS X 10.3.5 from a Power Mac G4 installed. This booted successfully, but we found a critical feature missing: Energy Saver's Processor Performance option.

The iMac comes with a larger collection of software than our Power Mac G5 of a year ago. Along with programs like Safari, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and iTunes that we have come to expect, GarageBand is included, along with Quicken 2004 (QuickBooks came with the Power Mac), World Book 2004 Edition, the game Marble Blast Gold, and AppleWorks 6. Interestingly, we had erased the drive and reinstalled the software from CD-ROM after the iMac arrived, and AppleWorks was not installed by default. We had to run the Install Bundled Software application, go into Customize and select the English-language version of AppleWorks we wanted to install.

Inside the iMAC G5 Package

When you plan to purchase iMAC G5, get rid with the package and please read below to familiarize what’s inside the box.

The iMac G5 arrived in an almost rectangular, but not very deep, box, 22 x 24 x 9.5 inches. There's a plastic handle on the top of the box, but it's surprisingly heavy to move around. Inside, the cables, mouse, keyboard and documentation are on the top of the Styrofoam insert, the computer sitting underneath. (The iMac G5 came with the same white single-button mouse and keyboard as the Power Mac G5 we bought a year ago.)

Lifting the computer from the box reveals the first surprise: there's no obvious place to grab it. There's no handle, and the surface is surprisingly slippery. Combined with its weight, you really have to be careful how you carry it. Apple provides a technote, that recommends "grasping both sides of the computer".

The next thing you notice about the new iMac is that it's not really like an iPod at all, despite Apple marketing their design similarities. Sure, it's white and has an LCD screen, but the iPod has beveled edges, while the iMac's edges are straight. The iMac is also encased in a layer of clear plastic. You can actually see 1/8 of an inch of clear plastic all around its edge.

There's been some talk about too much white space underneath the screen and whether this makes it difficult for shorter users to position the computer. While we can't authoritatively answer this question, the iMac doesn't seem objectionable when compared with other large screens.

Our older Nokia 20" CRT monitor has 3 1/2" of controls and molding under the screen compared to the iMac's 4 1/2". While the diagonal measurement for both screens is identical, with its smaller edges at the sides and top, the iMac box physically seems smaller, yet its screen seems larger. (Of course, it's difficult to directly compare a 4:3 format screen with a 16:10 one.) A final note: the bottom edge of the visible portion of both screens was the same height from the desktop.

The iMac sits on a pedestal that lets it tilt forward and back. The screen does not rotate; you have to rotate the base. The computer will tilt about 5 degrees past vertical when tilted forward, and about 30 degrees from vertical when tilted back. We believe this should make it usable in most situations.

Like the earlier Power Mac G5, the new iMac's power cable features a collar that must be pushed firmly into the body of the computer. It is surprisingly easy to think you have it in correctly yet not have a connection. The plug is in the back center of the computer, and the cable can go through a hole in the pedestal. Underneath that is a security slot for connecting a lock and cable.

Also on the back are all of the I/O plugs: audio line in, sound out, video out, three USB 2.0 ports, two Firewire 400 ports, modem and Ethernet (10/100 Base-T).

There are also two USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard, although one of those will probably be used for the mouse. So, once your keyboard and mouse are installed, you still have two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 1.1 port left.

At the bottom, below those inputs, is the power button. This means you have to reach around behind the screen to push the power button. Though it's fairly easy to find by feel, one might prefer it to be on the front, especially as the iMac already has a light on the front that comes on in sleep mode.

The USB 2.0 ports also work with USB 1.1 devices and support both low-speed, full-speed and high-speed data transfers at maximum rates of 1.5 Mbit/sec., 12 Mbit/sec., and 480 Mbit/sec. respectively. The USB 2.0 interface is now common on PC peripherals, and its speed is similar to FireWire's (apparently without some of the reliability problems that have plagued FireWire devices). It's far superior to USB 1.1 for hard drives, digital cameras, scanners, etc., and the iMac G5's support gives you better choices when buying peripherals.

On the other hand, the lack of support for Firewire 800 is curious. Admittedly, if you're using the FireWire port with an iPod, or to transfer video from a DV camcorder, then the lack of FW800 support isn't significant. But for those who might want to add faster hard drives, we wonder why there's no FW800 port. There are reports that the G5 has performance problems with FW800, but perhaps it's a marketing issue. Apple hasn't explained the choice.

The SuperDrive drive is on the right side of the computer and it's a slot-loaded design: You push the CD into the slot, and when it's almost completely in, the computer sucks it in the rest of the way. We found that we had to look at the side of the computer to align the disc correctly; blindly trying to find the slot didn't really work.

Our iMac G5 came with a Matshita DVD-R UJ-825 optical drive, which will write DVD-R and CD-R formats. According to Apple's site, it writes DVD-R discs at up to 4x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 16x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 8x speed and reads CDs at up to 24x speed. Power Macs currently ship with a SuperDrive that writes DVDs at 8x and reads them at 10x.

Introduction of iMAC G5

A new iMac, a new design, and once again everyone focus on the enclosure, ignoring the operating system or even the capabilities of the hardware inside it. You need look no further to understand that Apple is a hardware company first, and a software company second.

This is the second generation of iMacs to be built around an LCD screen rather than a CRT. The previous iMac, which more closely resembled an office lamp, was greeted with similar excitement, but for a variety of reasons didn't sell as well as expected. Whether it was because of the economy, the increased price of the LCD screen, or the comparative value and flexibility of iBooks and PowerBooks, we're sure that Apple is hoping this new iMac will be a bigger success.

Taken on its own, the new iMac is an impressive piece of equipment. It combines the speed of last year's Power Mac model with a gorgeous screen in a very pleasant-looking box with the best access we've ever seen to internal components.