Monthly column that appears in
several auto newsletters monthly. Monthly column that appears in
several auto newsletters monthly.
November 1996
In the Women's point of view column in this issue, Sandi clarified some of the
terms that are used in the rodding vocabulary to bring the women up to speed
on how the macho set communicate with one another. Well, maybe it wouldn't be
a bad idea to do the same thing here in the online section so we can clarify
some of the terms used in the computer world. I know that many of you have computers
and this is old hat to you but the majority of the readers are probably just
starting out so this may be of help to them. Besides it will give you experts
a chance to pick out the mistakes I make and have a laugh or two.
First of all is the PC, or personal computer. This is basically a box with all
the components of the computer are placed and it usually has the monitor, or
screen as a separate unit that sits beside or on top. Some units have the monitor
built in and are usually call portables. Newer to the scene are laptop computers
which are small, collapsible, and light computers that will do just about anything
that the desktop bound computers will doand are indeed more portable than the
what used to be called portable. Certain additional components called peripherals
(Ihope that is spelled right) are usually added inside the main computer or
as a outside stand-alone unit. The main addition is usually a hard drive, which
is basically a filing cabinet for all the things you create on a computer. This
is like your garage, the bigger the better. (the bigger the better will be a
recurring message throughout the computer experience) The function of the hard
drive is stated as ROM (read only memory). Buried within the computer are some
chips that arealled RAM (Random Access Memory). This memory is the immediate
brain and action center of what is happening in the computer right now. cThe
bigger the better because the more RAM the less the brain will have to wait
for info to be brought to it, it will have it right there to use. Compare it
to cubic inches. woof,woof,woof! more power. 8 to 16 megabytes is usually neccesary
to survive nowadays. (I currently have 80 because I do graphics which use lots
of memory).
To enter the world of the Internet, you need a modem. A modem connects to the
phone line coming into your house and over these phone lines is the outside
world of the internet. Modems are relatively inexpensive and you should get
the fastest you can buy, because it will save you money in time and connect
charges in the long run. Modems are measured by Baud rate and the minimum you
should buy new would be 14,400.
As to what kind of computer to buy, it really ìs a toss up because technologies
are becoming more and more compatible as time goes on. My computer is a Macintosh
Power Mac (woof,woof,) and I like it because it is much easier to use and is
the accepted standard for graphics. I would strongly recommend you consider
it in your choice.
Getting back to those of you that are on the cutting edge of technology and
may be surfing the net already, our Hot Rods Online should be up and running
by the time this makes print.
We welcome you to come in, take a look. and offer any suggestions that you may
have to help us improve. We remind you that this is a work in progress.
We have a variety of sections and some great likes to other areas and hot rodders
throughout the world. Go into the Old Days Memory Lane and you can like up with
the homepage of Norm (WooWoo) Grabowski of Kookie T fame. There are pictures
of the original Kookie T, his 27 T-tub, and Kookie II. Yes, even "Big Daddy"Roth
has found the computer age. The Henry Ford Museum, and many others will be available
for your cruising pleasure.
See ya next month......
