The future of Apple

For many years apple has been known, as the company that always comes out with the new big thing that puts everything that the competitor has to offer seem like nothing. So why is it that such a well-known and successful company, is lacking when it comes to Apple dominating the market share for personal computers and MacBook’s. Apple Inc. is not a dominant provider of the computer market share for personal computers and MacBook’s since they only sell their software with their own computers. This then prevents the company from expanding their market to other major companies it will be much harder for their market share to expand. The fact that they have yet to license their product to major manufactures plays a big role to why they only own 21% of the overall market share when it comes to personal computers. The reason for why they own 66% of the market share for computers that cost over $1000 is because almost all of their personal computers and laptops costs over $1000. Making it very expensive for a lot of potential customers. So for the people that can afford it, they will most likely invest in a Mac over a windows computer if they are spending that much money. If Apple does decide to one day license and potentially drop the costs of there devices to a more affordable price, they may have an increase in market share since the devices will then be built at different price ranges. Apples decision to start using Intel processors for their personal computer devices was a very wise decision. Since not only they are using a powerful CPU for their computers but they are also allowing their computers to run both Microsoft Windows Operating systems as well as there very own IOSX. The reason for why this is a good decision is because this will allow users of apple devices to have the flexibility and freedom to use and run software from the best of both worlds, instead of making the user spend more money and have to buy from both companies just so they can run everything. By doing so this can actually help increase the market share of their products that are being sold. Apple can soon dominate the market share for computers and MacBook’s if they decide to drop the price of their product or if they decide to license their software so they can have other major companies produce devices using the OSX operating system.

Networks

Last week we learned about different types of networks used when networking computers. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. What is Ring Topology? In Ring Topology, all the nodes are connected to each-other in such a way that they make a closed loop. Each workstation is connected to two other components on either side, and it communicates with these two adjacent neighbors. Data travels around the network, in one direction. Sending and receiving of data takes place by the help of TOKEN. source :http://www.ianswer4u.com/2011/05/ring-topology-advantages-and.html#ixzz2Cixe5yMa

What is Bus topology? Bus Topology is the simplest of network topologies. In this type of topology, all the nodes (computers as well as servers) are connected to the single cable (called bus), by the help of interface connectors. This central cable is the backbone of the network and is known as Bus (thus the name). Every workstation communicates with the other device through this Bus. A signal from the source is broadcasted and it travels to all workstations connected to bus cable. Although the message is broadcasted but only the intended recipient, whose MAC address or IP address matches, accepts it. If the MAC /IP address of machine doesn’t match with the intended address, machine discards the signal. A terminator is added at ends of the central cable, to prevent bouncing of signals. A barrel connector can be used to extend it. Below I have given a basic diagram of a bus topology and then have discussed advantages and disadvantages of Bus Network Topology

SSDs and HDDs

Last lecture we learned about parts inside the mechanical hard drives. I was wondering what a solid state hard drive would be made up of since it doesn't have a actual disk spinning inside of it. After a simple google search....

This is for the mechanical hard drive. They all share a basic structure and are made up of the same physical features. Compared to SSDs, they are much cheaper but slower in accessing files.


This is an HDD (on top) and a SSD (on bottom). Note that the solid state drive is made up completely out of circuit board and access files much quicker than HDDs. They are much more expensive than HDDs. Below is a Video showing the diffrence betwen the two.

Introduction

First post!

So far CSC 104 has been very informative. I have learned a ton about the history of computers, the binary number system and a bit of coding in DrRacket. I also have thought of an easier way to convert from decimal to binary.

Here's how.

Example A.

234 to Binary.

Looking at the powers of 2, the number 234 is sitting in between 256 and 128. We want to use this to subtract the power of 2 less than our number from the number we wish to convert.

Subtraction                             Binary ( 1 if if subtract-able without becoming negative, 0 if negative)
234 - 128 = 106                        1
106 - 64 = 42                            1        (Now our number is 106, the next lowest power of 2 is 64)
42-32 = 10                                1
10-16 = NEGATIVE                    0
10-8 = 2                                    1
2-4 = NEGATIVE                        0
2-2 = 0                                      1
0-1 = NEGATIVE                        0

We continue this till we have subtracted 2^0 (this helps determine even/odd numbers).

234 in binary is therefore 11101010.

That's it for this week!