Archive for November, 2008

used golf balls

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Used Golf Balls

Writen by Josh Riverside

Used golf balls are also called recycled golf balls, experienced golf balls, reclaimed golf balls, or discount golf balls. The benefit of a used golf ball is of course, its price. They are usually found at a savings of sixty to eighty percent off the retail price. There are different types of used golf balls that are graded according to the usage of the golf ball.

The mint-quality used golf balls have the experience and feel of a ball that has been hit only once. This type of used golf ball is commonly known as a one hitter or one-hit wonder. These balls have a consistent color and glossy shine and perform as they would right out of the box. Next is the grade-A quality used golf ball; these are balls that just missed mint status, but still look like a new golf ball. These balls are perfect for any handicap level golfer as they perform just like you would expect from the golf brand of choice. There may be small player pen marks and very, very minor surface scratches on the golf ball. The next grade is the grade-B used golf balls that are shiny white with a small mark or fading in the printing and minor scuffing from the first owner. The balls are near perfect for play and are best for the high handicap or beginning golfer or for a golf course that has lots of hazards.

Next in line is the grade-C used golf ball that is great for practice or for that long shot over the water hazard. There may be moderate-sized play pen marks and small to moderate scuffs or scratches on them. However, they are clean and playable with signs of usage. There are also golf ball companies that supply refinished golf balls that are processed by stripping, stamping, painting, or clear-coating the golf ball. Like used golf balls, these golf balls are not endorsed by the original manufacturer, and so are not in their warranty. There are also premium used golf balls for those who enjoy driving the golf ball out of range. These are usually called range golf balls.

Golf Balls provides detailed information on Golf Balls, Used Golf Balls, Golf Ball Logos, Golf Ball Reviews and more. Golf Balls is affiliated with Discount Golf Clubs.

video cards is agp dead

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Video Cards: Is AGP Dead?

Writen by Nathan Holsing

If you’ve been looking to upgrade your computer video card you’ve probably heard a great deal about PCI Express and SLI. Don’t run out and buy a new computer just yet and take that AGP motherboard you just threw away out of the trash. The truth is you can probably make some simple upgrades to your current computer to get a couple more years of gaming out of it. Of course if you have an extremely slow processor and/or less than an 8x AGP motherboard, you will need to do more than upgrade your graphics card. However, in most cases people’s computers are only a couple of years old and really have plenty of processing power.

The three things to look at are your memory, motherboard, and video card. To get the most out of the more recent games you want to have at least 1GB of RAM. This is a very simple upgrade and only takes a couple of minutes. For more information on upgrading your memory you can visit my website. Second, check to be sure your AGP slot on your current motherboard is 8x. If your memory and motherboard meet these standards you’re in luck. A new video card will probably float you for at least another year, likely two if you get a top of the line card. The thing to remember is that PCI Express is new technology and not nearly as widespread as AGP is. Game companies want to make as much money as possible from each game. For this reason, they will try to make the games play well on the widest array of platforms. When you think about it like this, it is easy to see how AGP will be useful for a while longer. For more information on AGP video cards visit the Video Card review section of my website.

If your motherboard isn’t up to par or your processor is outdated it is time for an upgrade. If you are a do-it-yourselfer like I am, you should look into building your own computer. It’s not as difficult as you might think and can save you a good deal of money.

Nathan Holsing is the editor of Gaming-Computers.net a website about building and upgrading computers.

time and attendance tracking

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Time And Attendance Tracking

Writen by Jimmy Sturo

Time and attendance tracking, a non-payment value-added application, is an essential part of every project management process. It is essential for a company which has more than hundred employees in one location or thousands of workers in different locations. Tracking is used to determine job completion and to maintain the records of job types and working hours. It lowers administrative costs and improves productivity through paperless real-time inventory control, job dispatches, and timely invoicing. For capturing time, there are a number of computer-based time and attendance tracking software and mechanical time clocks.

Time and attendance tracking is necessary for any organization which is wishing to track the actual time spent on different projects or employing hourly workers. It is adopted by the organizations and companies to perform necessary functions such as project management and budgeting, resource allocation, candidate tracking and invoicing, expense reporting, and timesheet reporting. It allows project managers to monitor their resources and projects, define the various tasks, and evaluate estimated time with the real time reports.

Time and attendance tracking provides many benefits such as decrease of labor effort managing timesheets, increase in revenue, elimination of unnecessary data entry, and more accurate expense and time reporting. Also, it offers detailed reports of expenses and hours; and historical information on the attendance patterns. By using time and attendance tracking, the companies can manage the problems such as overtime, costs of lost productivity, and the hiring of temporary workers.

Today, there are many tools designed specifically to control time and attendance tracking. That includes biometric devices, mobile or portable devices, stationary devices, and soft devices. The most convenient method for time and attendance tracking is the use of software. Most software allows organizations to take notes; enter absences, sick, and personal days; see balances for vacation; and run dozens of reports. Main features of time and attendance tracking tools include, it can facilitate project tracking, time tracking, job tracking, and leave tracking.

Time And Attendance provides detailed information on Time And Attendance, Time Attendance Equipment, Time And Attendance System, Time And Attendance Tracking and more. Time And Attendance is affiliated with Time Tracking Programs.

ultrasonic nebulizers

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

Ultrasonic Nebulizers

Writen by Kent Pinkerton

Ultrasonic Nebulizers are devices that use ultrasonic sound waves to convert liquid medication into fine mist that can be inhaled directly into the lungs through a facemask or mouthpiece. These are generally used by asthmatic patients and other individuals suffering from allergies. They are also preferred due to their ability to perform quickly and quietly.

Ultrasonic Nebulizers are different from compressed air Nebulizers that use pumped air to atomize the medication. They provide the energy source required for converting liquid medication into vapor for inhalation therapy. The quality of the medication is retained, as heat is not used to convert the liquid medication into mist.

These devices generate high frequency sound vibrations that touch the surface of the liquid medication and convert them into micron sized sub particles. This process automatically increases the effectiveness of aerosol therapy as it enables even distribution of sub particles. Ultrasonic medical nebulizers available in the market are portable devices that are easy to use, lightweight, quick, and easy to clean. Some of these have automatic shut off function, forty-five degree operable angle, and limited warranty period.

Ultrasonic nebulizers can also be used to humidify a room or area in domestic households or large industrial plants. Humidifying ultrasonic nebulizers are usually large machines that use ultrasonic sound waves to convert water into a fine mist and heavy-duty fans to circulate the created mist in the surrounding areas. Different models of ultrasonic humidifying nebulizers available in the market perform one basic function of circulating moisture through the air.

The benefits offered by ultrasonic nebulizers is being debated as some studies have pointed out that nebulizers can lead to the dispersal of microorganisms and other fine particles that may not be suitable for the patient or other individuals. Usage and care instructions provided with the nebulizers should be followed to avoid potential risks associated with their use.

Ultrasonic provides detailed information on Ultrasonic, Ultrasonic Transducers, Ultrasonic Cleaners, Ultrasonic Nebulizers and more. Ultrasonic is affiliated with Electronic Test Equipment.

software as a service

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Software as a Service

Writen by Phil Morettini

How should Software be delivered to users? Via traditional licenses? As “free” services supported by advertising? Or using a rental model referred to under several different labels such as Hosted, ASP, On Demand or SaaS. This has been very much in debate over the last few years. Back in the dot-com boom, the selling of software licenses was proclaimed to be dead. Everything was to be a service on the Internet, and much of it was going to be advertising-supported instead of paid for by the user. We all know how that turned out!

Of course, while that model failed at that time, that doesn’t mean that it eventually won’t happen. Hype has a way of getting in the way of reality. Hype can lead to retardation of the market for great ideas, when the inevitable disappointment in the early stage of a technology sets in. But there have been some very notable major successes that came out of the dot- com era. Search Engines are the most notable, and have actually succeeded while staying true to the advertising-supported model. Search engines are nothing more than hosted software, delivered “free” for use by end-usersand supported primarily by advertising revenue from services like AdWords and Overture (recently renamed Yahoo Search Marketing). The search engine companies are arguably the hottest segment of the software industry at this point. But while they broke through in a major way, thousands of companies (and billions in Venture Capital) went down the drain attempting to follow essentially the same model.

On the ASP side, there have also been successes as well. The most notable today is salesforce.com, which has gone along way toward transforming the way CRM is delivered to companies. Salesforce.com and its direct competitors have delivered great benefits in this space, and have gone a long way toward legitimatizing the ASP model for business customers. Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s CEO, is very visible and colorful. He has made a big splash by proclaiming traditional software licensing to be dead, that the era of On Demand software is upon us. Is this trueor bluster?

Like anything else, I think it’s a bit of bothbut mostly bluster at this point. My take on this issue is one of market segmentation: there are customers who will embrace the ASP model for concrete business reasons as well as their psychographic profile, and on the other end of the spectrum there are conservative clients who will profess to never embrace it. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of the ASP model vs. Traditional licensing:

Traditional Licensing

Pros
– Customer owns a perpetual license to the software–positive for many reasons
– Data resides within the companydon’t rely on outside vendor for mission-critical data
– Somewhat protected if SW vendor goes out of business
– Greater ability to integrate with other third party and in-house applications

Cons
– Must support the software internally
– Keeping up to date on releases and rolling them out can be a complex headache
– IT is constantly overworked and unavailable for support, costing users productivity
– Increased hardware budget and systems complexity
– Cost of software must be capitalized

ASP Model

Pros
– Back office support is offloaded to ASP
– Less hardware to buy and maintain
– Cost of software can be expensed
– Software updates are transparent and automatic
– Great for independent operations and branch offices
– Familiar Browser interface reduces training costs
– Appeals to users who don’t have huge capital budgets or are more comfortable with smaller bets

Cons
– If something goes wrong, less ability to fix it quickly internallyyou’re at the whim of an outside vendor
– Mission-Critical data is in the hands of a supplier, which scares a lot of people
– More susceptible to price increases by the vendor
– Less integration potential and control by the customer, particularly with in-house apps.

One of the most important factors, cost, really can’t be put in the favor of either model. There is no inherent cost advantage to either modelthe lowest cost solution will be determined by the relative efficiencies of the customer’s IT department vs. the ASP, and the pricing aggressiveness of the ASP and traditional software vendor.

So what will happen in the software market? Will everything quickly be converted to an ASP model, or is this a fad that is going to quickly pass once again? I believe that for a very long time both models will be important, with a slow shift toward the ASP model. The early shifts will take place in the apps where it is most compelling. CRM fits into this category because the desirability to have it available to people in the field anywhere via a browser far exceeds any negatives. Accounting Software? Engineering Software? I don’t believe that the case is very compelling at the moment in these categories. After an initial shift toward the ASP model, it’s my forecast that for a long time these two delivery schemes will co-exist, as different market segments based upon unique business needs and psychographic preference within the software user community.

So what to do if you’re the VP-Marketing or CEO of a software company looking at this issue? Don’t just look at it on the surface and embrace the ASP model as the wave of the future or simply reject it as a fad. Analyze your particular market to see if this new model makes sense for your product family. In many cases it will make sense to offer both an ASP delivery option and traditional licensing. If it is practical to offer both, you will most likely maximize the financial return on the IP of your company using this strategy. That’s my viewI’d like to hear yours.

Phil Morettini is the Author and President of PJM Consulting, a Managment Consultancy to Software and High Tech Companies. PJM Consulting executes special, strategic projects and can also supply interim senior management in General Management (CEO, COO, Division Manager), Product Marketing, M&A, Distribution Channels and Business Development. You can contact Phil on the PJM Consulting Website (http://www.pjmconsult.com) or via email at info@pjmconsult.com.

hackers and hoaxes and spyware oh my

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Hackers And Hoaxes And Spyware, Oh My!

Writen by Trina Schiller

Everyone who has an ISP, understands, or at least knows about how hackers use viruses, Trojans and other web nasties, to infect and mess up your computer. No headline news there. (Unfortunately, we still don’t understand why they do it, or at least I don’t.) But hackers don’t have to write malicious code or hijack your browser to do some serious damage to your system. Oh no… A well written email with no attachments, can do the trick. They only have to start a rumor. Hackers can easily manipulate you into trashing your own computer. All they have to do is begin a hoax.

What do I mean by that? Let me explain.

Have you ever gotten emails from people you know that say something like: Scan your hard drive for such and such a file! If you find it delete it immediately! Pass this on. Warn everyone you know!

These emails are originally generated by a hacker and spread throughout the Internet to get you to delete files you need, thus creating havoc for your system. They are hoaxes.

Hoaxes work incredibly well for getting average people to cause their own computers to malfunction. the hacker doesn’t have to spend any time creating malicious code and a method of distribution, all they have to do is play on the human tendency for hysteria; send out a warning that something evil is spreading, and if you find it on your computer, get rid of it!

Recently I was tracking a thread on a forum, where the moderator warned everyone about a file that he found on his system that was a keylogger. (A keylogger is a malicious program designed to track your every move through monitoring your keystrokes.) He warned everyone to search for a file, ans2000.ini and, “delete the booger.”

I scan my system every day, with several different virus/ spyware programs, and I never picked up this file with any of them, so I decided to do a Windows Explorer search for it. Sure enough, I found it on my hard drive. Oh My God!

Before hitting the delete key though, I looked it up on the web. I Googled the specific file and found quite a bit of information on it. The file ans2000.ini is used in the keylogger program known as ProBot SE. However, it is also used in many other legitimate programs as well. Ok, so now what do I do?

Well, I contacted my go-to guy, Jim Gray, owner of Quikonnex, and asked him what his thoughts were. He told me to open the ini file, in Notepad, and read it. Sure enough, this file did have an association to another program on my system. It is part of ActivEbook Compiler. It was right there in print, at the top of the file.

Now had I just freaked out when I found the file, and deleted the booger, I would’ve trashed my ebook compiler, making it useless to me. Two points for the hacker who started the hoax!

Hoaxes are just as dangerous as live viruses, because they inspire you to destroy your own programs. I am sure they are a particular kick for the one starting the hoax, as they are getting you to do bad things to your own system. Fear is a powerful motivator, and hoaxes, by design, are created to cause panic and fear in the less experienced Internet traveler.

So, before going and deleting files from your hard drive, go check them out. Do a search for them and read the information you find. Don’t just go deleting things without learning about them first, or you just may end up cutting your own throat. And, NEVER forward these types of warning emails to others until you know for a fact that the information is correct, or you’re likely to have your friends and family after you for misinforming them.

Resources for validating virus/ hoax information:

http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp
http://www.vmyths.com/
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://www.f-secure.com/virus-info/hoax/

Copyright © 2005
The Trii-Zine Ezine
www.ezines1.com

Trina L.C. Schiller is a professional network marketer, the publisher of the Internet marketing ezine, “Trii-Zine” and owner of TLC Promotions, as well as a founding publisher at Quikonnex.com, and President of AdsOnQ.com, the Internet’s first syndicated advertising agency.

She has also authored the following ebooks:

“Your Beginner’s Guide To Syndication” http://www.ads-on-q.com/booksales.html

RSS, Blogs and Syndication… The Facts vs The guruese” http://www.ads-on-q.com/RSS.html

buying a video card

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Buying a Video Card

Writen by Jared Strop

Stunning visuals don’t have to cost an arm and a leg with cheap graphics cards (aka video cards). Unless you are a hardcore gamer, you don’t need to have the best of the best and a cheap graphics card will do you just fine. Now I’m not saying you should skimp on getting a good video card, but find one that fits your needs.

For example, a work computer should just have integrated graphics on the motherboard. Integrated graphics means that it’s already built into the motherboard without having to get anything extra so it’s perfect for workstations. On the other hand, a serious gamer needs to get a good video card that can handle anything a game can throw at it.

Heh, I’m guessing you aren’t here because you need a cheap graphics card for your work computer. You are looking for a good video card, right? Well, you have two options: an expensive card could let you play all the games with all the settings on high or you could get a decent one that can handle games on the low or medium settings.

I’d probably go with the second option since you get more bang for your buck. Buying a top-of-the-line video card will run you over $400 while a decent one will be around $200. Now, if you need the best of the best, go for it, but you can get a cheap graphics card that is almost as good for half the price.

AGP vs. PCI Express? What’s the difference? Well, the newer cards are coming out for PCI express slots because they are much faster than AGP. What does that mean? The bottom line is better performance so make sure to get a motherboard with PCI express slots that can handle the new video cards.

Now if you are on a budget and want to save some money or your motherboard doesn’t have a PCI express slot, get an AGP. I will warn you that AGP video cards might be totally replaced so make sure to upgrade later.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Cheap graphics cards need to be upgraded much more often than other parts of the computer. Since so many games push the limit of what a computer can do(Halflife 2, Battlefield 2), video cards need to be made better and better.

So if you want to keep current in gaming, go to http://www.gaming-computers-authority.com/Computer-Discount-Deals.html and look out for a great deal on a sweet new video card in the future.

Jared Strop is a devoted gamer, works with computers on a daily basis, and is now a webmaster of http://www.gaming-computers-authority.com.

do it yourself 10 different hewlett packard printer problems with 10 different printer solutions

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Do It Yourself – 10 Different Hewlett Packard Printer Problems with 10 Different Printer Solutions

Writen by Joseph Mercado

How many of you know that when you printing documents and running those reams of paper through your printer, one of them is going to get tangled up. If your print sessions are valuable to you, then you should check this article out.

Below are 10 HP LaserJet printer problems with 10 HP LaserJet printer solutions to help you with your printing nightmares.

1. Paper jams: (Don’t you just love when your printer jams)

Among the most common problems with any make of printer are paper jams.

A printer will jam for any number of reasons: It’s dirty, the wrong paper type is being used, or the rollers on the printer that feed the paper through its pathway are worn down.

While cleaning the printer periodically and using the correct paper type are easy fixes, roller replacement can be a difficult job depending on the model of HP printer.

For some HP printers, the rollers are easily accessible, but you’ll need to completely tear down other models to remove the rollers.

Regardless of the cause, when removing a paper jam, always pull the paper in the direction of the paper path, because pulling it backwards can severely damage the printer.

Certain HP printers are more susceptible to paper jams than others.

In my experience, any printer that holds the paper vertically and then pulls it down through the printer invariably ends up having paper jam problems.

These models aren’t designed for heavy use, but many organizations make use of them on individual systems and should be aware of this flaw.

In addition, some people have trouble with the newer HP 4000 series printers’ paper pickup rollerswhich is odd, because the older 4000 and 5000 series HP printers are considered rock solid and don’t seem to have any trouble with their pickup rollers.

2. Some or all of the printing on the page is faded:

A faded print image is normally the result of one of three conditions: The printer is getting low on toner, the print density is set too low, or Economode printing is turned on.

For the last two settings, a printer self-test (typically a separate button on the printer) will show what the current settings are.

If Economode is on, and users are complaining about how light the print is, turn it off and/or set the print density higher.

If the toner is low, simply removing the cartridge and shaking it to redistribute the toner more evenly can temporarily resolve the problem until you can replace the cartridge.

3. Ghosting:

Ghosting is a condition where the image prints properly, but a much lighter copy of the image also prints elsewhere. This can be due to a problem with the power outlet that is supplying power to the printer.

Check the power outlet by plugging in a different printer to see if the same results occur. Ghosting can also be caused when consumable printer parts (such as the drum or imaging kit) are near the end of their life.

All of the consumable parts in a printer are rated for a certain number of pages. Once a printer gets near that magic number, you’ll need to replace those parts to eliminate ghosting.

4. Toner smears or does not stay on the paper

If words and images come off the paper when a hand is run across them, there are a few possible problems.

First, the fuser assembly may be damaged or at the end of its life. The solution is to replace the fuser assembly.

Repairing a fuser assembly is generally not recommended because the fuser is considered a consumable printer part and not worth the time or effort to fix.

Second, the toner cartridge may be defective and letting too much toner out at one time.

In a black-and-white laser printer, the solution is to replace the toner cartridge. In a color laser printer, only replace the cartridge that is exhibiting the problem.

Third, some toner may have spilled in the printer. If so, you’ll need to clean it out.

5. Printer is displaying a 50.4 error message:

A 50.4 error message on some of the newer HP LaserJet printers indicates a problem with the power supply.

If the printer is connected to a UPS, disconnect it, or disconnect it from a power strip and plug it directly into a wall outlet.

A laser printer should never be plugged into a UPS, because the UPS can be damaged by the surges of power required by a printer to keep the fuser assembly warm.

If that doesn’t work, make sure that all of the components in the printer are seated properly.

6. Can’t find a driver for a particular operating system:

As new operating systems are released, new drivers will need to be loaded for your existing printers. Not all printers have a driver for every OS (operating system).

In these cases, it’s best to consult the printer manual and find out what printers the drivers will emulate. While not all of the functionality of the printer will be available under this emulation, at least basic printing will work.

For example, most HP printers will print with the HP LaserJet II driver installed, although specific options, such as duplexing, will not work.

7. Printer is not printing from the expected paper tray:

You can check in two places to correct this particular error.

First, look on the printing PC, and second, on the printer.

If the application is set to print to the wrong paper tray, correct it within the application by clicking on Printer Properties and finding the Tray Selection source.

On the printer, make sure that the paper sizes in the control panel match what is actually in the paper trays.

8. Printer picks up all the paper from the manual feed tray rather than one sheet:

The pad that is responsible for separating the paper has likely worn out and needs to be replaced. You can order and install a new pad without sending the printer out for repair.

It is also possible that the paper is wet due to humidity. Make sure the paper is properly stored and that it is fanned before putting it into the printer.

9. Printer is displaying a 79 error:

A 79 error can be the result of a problem with the network print server that services the printer. When troubleshooting a 79 error, first open the Printer folder from the Start menu on the Print server to make sure there are no jobs pending.

A 79 error can also indicate a failure of a printer add-on component, such as an MIO (modular input/output) card or a RAM (random access memory) module.

All add-ons should be removed and then added back to the printer one by one to determine which module may be at fault.

10. Trouble printing onto envelopes:

Envelopes can cause many problems for laser printers. Choose envelopes that are close to 20-lb paper in weight and thickness.

Also, make sure that the adhesive on the envelope is capable of withstanding the heat that the fuser puts out to keep the printing on the page. If you don’t, the envelopes will come out of the printer already sealed.

If envelopes are coming out of the printer wrinkled, they may be too stiff for the paper path. Open the rear of the printer and let them exit at that location instead.

HP printers are considered to be among the most reliable in the industry. But just as any other piece of IT equipment, they are vulnerable to failure. And it seems the newer printers can’t withstand the same amount of abuse that the older models could.

So if you work on newer-model HP printers in a paper-intensive environment, expect more troubleshooting calls involving the problems recently described.

No matter what the age of your HP printer, this guide to common printing problems will help you diagnose and fix the problem quickly.

As a result of this content of information, you are now geared for the next problem you encounter. This time you will have an answer, making you the best “Solution Provider” that you can possibly be.

In description of, Joseph Mercado is known as The Internet Marketing Tyrant. He specializes in the consumable market involving studies on inkjet cartridges; http://www.YourHpRep.com

absolute references vs relative references in microsoft excel

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Absolute References Vs Relative References in Microsoft Excel

Writen by Chris Le Roy

Microsoft Excel is built on a regime of Columns and Rows with the intersection of these two elements giving us our cells. The cells in Microsoft Excel are always named Columns and then Rows, so a typical cell address would look something like – AB256. This particular cell is found on column AB and in row 256. The reference I wrote there is very important as it tells me something significant, that is, it tells me the cell address is a relative cell address. So what does this mean? Well there are two types of references used in Microsoft Excel which is an Absolute Reference and a Relative Reference. On a day-to-day basis, the relative and absolute reference doesn’t really affect the operations of your spreadsheet. Where it does become a noticeable issue is when you start copying formulas from one cell to another.

Lets investigate the difference between the two

A Relative Reference is one that when copied from one position to another will adjust the formula cell address to suit the position it is in. For example if you have a formula in cell address C4 that was =B4*C1 and then copied the formula into say C5 what you will notice is that the cell addresses of the formula will change to =B5 * C2. The reason this has occurred is that the cell addresses are in fact relative addresses. That is the cell address is relative to its current position.

To change a cell address from being relative to being absolute we simply add dollars signs to the cell address in this way – $C$5. What this address is now saying to us is that we must absolutely refer to column C and absolutely refer to Row 5. This means that if we apply the dollar symbols to our previous formula in cell C4 which is =$B$4 * $C$4 and then copy our formula to cell address C5 you will notice this time round that the cell addresses didn’t change. The reason is that by adding the $ symbols to the cell address we are telling the formula that regardless of where you place the formula you must absolutely refer to Column B and Row four thus we have $B$4.

There are many reasons why you may use Relative References over Absolute references and vice versa. One of the most common one for using absolute references is when you have a specific value you want to refer to in a formula. For example, lets say you are building a mortgage calculator and you need to refer to an Interest Rate. To ensure you are always referring to the right cell that has the interest rate value you may set an absolute value.

In Microsoft Excel there is also a reference called a mixed reference. Essentially what this means is that only either the Column or the Row has the dollar symbol, for example $C3. What this is telling us is that in the formula you must absolutely refer to column C but the value in the row is relative to the position of the formula.

There are a number of ways that you can enter Relative and Absolute values into a formula. One technique is that you can simply type the $ symbols next to the Row or the Column. However there is an alternative. Once you have typed in the Cell address like C4 you can move back into the cell address and then use the F4 key to toggle the cell reference from Relative to Absolute to a Mixed References.

Absolute and relative references are extremely important in Microsoft Excel and they ensure that the formulas you are creating actually refer to the correct cells. Remember one simple rule, if the cell addresses have a $ symbol next to it, it means you must absolutely refer to either the column or the row.

Chris Le Roy has available Microsoft Excel Shortcuts to help you with Microsoft Excel. To learn more about the IF Function or to get a Certificate in using Microsoft Excel in just 16 hours, simply check out Chris’s correspondence course where you can earn yourself Microsoft Excel Certificates issued by his company without evening leaving home – Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Training

Tips on Microsoft Excel are also Available.

flat panel monitors top 7 reasons why they are better than crt

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Flat Panel Monitors: Top 7 Reasons Why They Are Better Than CRT

Writen by Ellis Pullman

Here are the top 7 reasons why flat panel monitors are better than cathode ray tube displays. It’s important to note that this list only represents a fraction of the benefits that flat panel monitors could offer to various people.

1. They offer better sharpness and color balance.

2. They offer space-saving features

3. The produce less radiation than a cathode ray tube monitor

4. Less flicker. You will experience less eye strain and fatigue as a result of using the monitor for prolonged periods of time.

5. They are not prone to magnetic distortion. I.e. like what happens when you place two cathode ray tube monitors side by side, the picture output may become distorted.

6. The picture output doesn’t get displaced when you bump into the monitor.

7. Offers more viewable space for comparably sized (i.e. 15 inches, 17 inches, etc) cathode ray monitors in better clarity.

So there you have it, the 7 top reasons why flat panel monitors are better. It’s up to you to decide whether the initial greater investment in flat panel monitors is worth it or if you feel you can use a cathode ray tube monitor in the short term.

If you have heavy duty applications that you need to run, then cathode ray tubes generally offer better results for you.

Plasma televisions affiliated offerings and value-added services are available at the author’s site.

http://www.flatpanelmonitorzone.com