CPU

Alternatively referred to as a processor or microprocessor, the CPU was first developed by Intel in 1974 and is short for Central Processing Unit. The computer CPU is responsible for handling all instructions it receives from hardware components and software programs running on the computer. Below is a graphic example of what the original Intel Pentium processor looks like.

Today, there are several different manufactures of computer processors. However, Intel and AMD are the leaders in the PC market.

• Computer CPU help and support.
• Additional information with installing a computer processor and other hardware.

Many new computer users may improperly call their computer and even sometimes their monitor a CPU. When referring to your computer or monitor it is proper to refer to them as either computer or monitor and not CPU.

Hardware

Hardware is best described as a device that is physically connected to your computer or something that can be physically touched. Most hardware will contain a circuit board, ICs, and other electronics. A perfect example of hardware is a computer monitor, which is anoutput device that lets you see what you're doing on the computer. Without any hardware, your computer would not exist, and software would not be able to run. In the image to the right, is a webcam and an example of an external hardware peripheral that allows users to make videos or pictures and transmit them over the Internet.

Top 10 Internet tips and tricks

You don't need the http:// portion of a web page

When typing an Internet address you do not need to type http:// or even www. in the address. For example, if you wanted to visit Computer Hope you could just type computerhope.com and press enter. To make things even quicker, if you're visiting a .com address you can type computerhope and then press Ctrl + Enter to type out the full http://www.computerhope.com address.

Quickly move between the fields of a web page

If you're filling out an online form, e-mail, or other text field you can quickly move between each of the fields by pressing the Tab key or Shift + Tab to move back a field. For example, if you're filling out your name and the next field is your e-mail address you can press the Tab key to switch to the e-mail field.

Tip: This tip also applies to the buttons, if you press tab and the web developer has designed correctly the button should be selected and will allow you to press the space bar or enter to push the button.

Tip: If you have a drop-down box that lists every country or every state you can click that box and then press the letter of the state or country you're looking for. For example, is a drop-down box of States in the United States you could press u on the keyboard to quickly scroll to Utah.

Use Internet search engines to their full potential

Make sure to get the most out of every search result. If you're not finding what you want try surrounding the text in quotes. For example, if you were searching for 'computer help' this actually searches for pages that contain both computer and help and not necessarily pages that have computer and help next to each other. If you search for "computer help" with the quotes around the search query this will only return pages that actually have computer and help next to each other.

Tip: Many new computer users also don't realize that in every search box you can press enter instead of having to move the mouse button over to the Search button.

• Top 10 unknown Google tricks

Protect yourself and avoid bad web sites

• How can I protect myself while online?
• Avoid Internet phishing.
• Protecting children from harmful material and people on the Internet.

Know your Internet browser shortcuts

There are dozens of different shortcut keys that can be used with Internet browsers. Below are a few of our top suggested Internet browser shortcuts.

- Pressing Alt + D in any major Internet browser will move the cursor into the address bar. This is a great way to quickly enter an Internet address without having to click the mouse cursor in the address bar.
- Hold down the Ctrl key and press the + or - to increase and decrease the size of text.
- Press the backspace key or hold down the Alt key + left arrow to go back a page.
- Press F5 to refresh or reload a web page.
- Press F11 to make the Internet browser screen full screen. Press F11 again to return back to the normal view.
- Press Ctrl + B to open your Internet bookmarks.
- Press Ctrl + F to open the find box in the browser to search for text within the web page you're looking at.

• Full listing of Internet Explorer shortcut keys.
• Full listing of Mozilla Firefox shortcut keys.

Take advantage of tabbed browsing

Take full advantage of tabbed browsing in all Internet browsers today. While reading any web page if you come across a link you may be interested in open that link in a new tab so it can be viewed later. A new tab can be opened by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking the link or if you have a mouse with a wheel click the link with the middle mouse button.

Try alternative browsers

Most computer users use the default browser that comes included with the computer, with Microsoft Windows this is Internet Explorer. There are several great alternative browsers that are all free to download and use and may have features your current browser does not include. Below are a few of our favorites, try one or try them all.

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Opera

Install plugins and add-ons

Each of the above alternative browsers also have a large community of volunteers who develop add-ons and plugins that can be added into the browser. Each of these browsers have hundreds of thousands of these add-ons that can do such things as giving you live weather in your browser window, changing its color, and adding additional functionality.

• Top 10 Firefox add-ons

Make sure your browser and its plugins are up-to-date

Each Internet browser can have several additional plugins that give it additional functionality. For example,Adobe Flash is a great way to bring movies and other animated content to the Internet. Keeping these plugins up-to-date is vital for your computer stability and also security. Using the below tool you can quickly verify if your plugins are up-to-date and get links to where to download the latest updates.

• Computer Hope system information tool

Use online services

There are hundreds of free online services that can help make using your computer easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. See our top 10 online services for a listing of our favorites.

Snap Vanish Card Trick

This is an easy to perform snap vanish card trick which can be performed with a playing card or a coin. The card appears to mysteriously vanish into nowhere when you bring your hand over it.

Find out the easy method to let you perform this amazing card trick by watching the magic instruction video on this page.

Don't forget though that you should practice this card trick until you are confident performing it before trying it in front of your friends or an audience. Great easy to do card sleight.

Magic In A Glass Card Trick

The magician takes a long-stemmed glass and announces that he's going to perform a card trick. The amazing thing about this card trick is that he wont be able to touch the cards, because they'll be inside the glass the whole time!

Placing the pack, face out in the glass, the magician states that he's going to find all four aces using special " Locator Cards ". He reaches into the glass and pulls out a red number card ( we'll use the Ten of Hearts for the example ) and puts it in front of the rest of the cards in the deck so that the ten of hearts is the card the spectator now sees looking at them through the glass.

The magician then states that he will let that red 10 find a red ace . Holding the glass by the stem, the magician passes a cloth napkin over the glass, quickly. When the napkin has completed it's quick pass, the red 10 has been replaced by a red ace ! The magician then takes the red ace and puts it in back of the deck and passes the napkin again.

This time, the red 10 is replaced by the other red ace ! Now the magician gets a black number card (say, 6 of spades) for the " Locator " and puts it in front of the red 10. A quick napkin pass, and there's a black ace!

The magician takes the ace and puts it in back of the deck. Another pass, and there's the last black ace! Now pull out the pack and put it back in the case, smiling as you take your bow.

All of this magic occurs in the glass, so there's apparently no way that you could've manipulated the cards! People will fall down at your feet and worship your incredible abilities.

Method: A slight amount of preparation work is required, but this is worth it. First, find a wine or any other long-stemmed glass that will allow you to set at least half a deck of cards in it.

There can be no design on the glass or stem!!! Next, take the two red aces and glue them back to back. Make sure you make them look as much like one card as possible!

Do the same with the two black aces. Now get two identical number cards - one black and one red - from an identical deck. Glue one red and one black back to back. Don't do this with the other ones. Finally, get a cloth napkin that is big enough and dark enough to completely cover the glass.

With this prep, you're set!

Set up the deck like this: The black 6 card face up on top of the face-down deck. Now, set the double-sided black ace on top of it. Now place the double-sided " red 10 /black 6" card with the red 10 face-up. Next, comes the double-sided red aces. And finally, the last red 10 FACE DOWN on the face-down deck.

The rest is showmanship. Place the deck in the glass with the bottom card facing your spectator. Announce that you're going to do the trick using a red locator card. Pull the red 10 off the top of the deck and put it on the bottom, facing the spectator.

You should now be looking at a red ace . Holding the glass by the stem, you pass the napkin over the glass and spin it around so that the ace is now facing the spectator.

It helps if you hold the glass with you fingers rigid and the stem in the first bend of your finger. When you spin the glass, your thumb does the work and your fingers look pretty much the same. Now take the ace and put it on top of the deck.

You should now be looking at the other red ace . Perform the pass/spin again, and your spectator sees the other red ace . Now say that you need a black locator card. Take the red/black card off the top with the 6 facing.

When you get to the black aces, if you stick the Ace of Spades on top so that it's the first ace you'll show, you can ask the spectator to name a black ace. Nine out of ten times, they'll say the Ace of Spades!

You then make it appear for them. If they happen to mention the Ace of Clubs, just say "So that leaves the Ace of Spades," and make it appear

MOBILE TRICKSS

O-k, quick question: the heat is on -- it's a dire emergency and all you have with you is your cell phone! What are you gonna do? Make a phone call for help, right? Maybe that was a no-brainer, but you're cell phone CAN be used for a more than you ever imagined when you absolutely, positively need to some help and no one is around.

Check out the things that you can do with your cell phone:

1) The emergency number worldwide for a mobile phone is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly enough, you can even dial (112) if the keypad for your cell phone is locked. Try it out. I have, and I tell you -- it works!

2) Have you ever locked your keys in the car? I know I have. Does your car have a remote keyless entry? At least one of my cars does. The following may come in handy someday - and it's reason enough to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and your spare remote is at home or with your spouse, call that person on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person on the other end (the one with the spare remote) press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Believe it or not, your car will unlock. I'd have never believed it if I hadn't tried it myself. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you, and distance is no object (but let me clarify -- if you're in Tokyo and for some reason the other remote is in Toronto, then unfortunately you ARE screwed). But if you are hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

3) Now imagine your cell phone cell battery is very low. To activate your phone and tap into the phone's hidden battery power, press the keys * 3 3 7 0 #. Your cell phone miraculously will restart with this reserve power and the cell phone will register a 50% increase in battery charge. This reserve power will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.

4) How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your cell phone ever gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. Nothing better than sweet revenge on the SOB who pilfered your cell phone. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use or sell it either. Come to think of it, if everybody did this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

And last but certainly not least....

5) Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for each 411 information call we make. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:

(800) FREE 411

or

(800) 373-3411

If you dial these numbers you will not incur any charge at all. Program this number into your cell phone now. This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.

Cell phones aren't getting any cheaper but every now and then you CAN outwit the phone service provider at their own game. I know I did and I have never regretted it!

MOBILE TRICKSS

O-k, quick question: the heat is on -- it's a dire emergency and all you have with you is your cell phone! What are you gonna do? Make a phone call for help, right? Maybe that was a no-brainer, but you're cell phone CAN be used for a more than you ever imagined when you absolutely, positively need to some help and no one is around.

Check out the things that you can do with your cell phone:

1) The emergency number worldwide for a mobile phone is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly enough, you can even dial (112) if the keypad for your cell phone is locked. Try it out. I have, and I tell you -- it works!

2) Have you ever locked your keys in the car? I know I have. Does your car have a remote keyless entry? At least one of my cars does. The following may come in handy someday - and it's reason enough to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and your spare remote is at home or with your spouse, call that person on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person on the other end (the one with the spare remote) press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Believe it or not, your car will unlock. I'd have never believed it if I hadn't tried it myself. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you, and distance is no object (but let me clarify -- if you're in Tokyo and for some reason the other remote is in Toronto, then unfortunately you ARE screwed). But if you are hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

3) Now imagine your cell phone cell battery is very low. To activate your phone and tap into the phone's hidden battery power, press the keys * 3 3 7 0 #. Your cell phone miraculously will restart with this reserve power and the cell phone will register a 50% increase in battery charge. This reserve power will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.

4) How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your cell phone ever gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. Nothing better than sweet revenge on the SOB who pilfered your cell phone. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use or sell it either. Come to think of it, if everybody did this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

And last but certainly not least....

5) Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for each 411 information call we make. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:

(800) FREE 411

or

(800) 373-3411

If you dial these numbers you will not incur any charge at all. Program this number into your cell phone now. This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.

Cell phones aren't getting any cheaper but every now and then you CAN outwit the phone service provider at their own game. I know I did and I have never regretted it!