UNIT 2: COMPUTER SYSTEMS Assignment 1

UNIT 2: COMPUTER SYSTEMS

The Best Solution

P1

Components	What is it for?	Where to find it
Central Processing Unit (CPU) http://www.bjorn3d.com/Material/revimages/ cpu/Core_I7_965/New_Core_I7.jpg	Does the actual computing (calculating). Information is processed there.	Under the heat sink on the motherboard
The Internal (RAM) Memory http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/kingston-technology-triple.jpg	Volatile memory is used by the system to store data for processing by a computer's (CPU). RAM stores the data in memory cells that are arranged in grids from which data, in the binary form of 1's and 0's, can be accessed and transferred at random to the processor for processing by the system's software. When you shut down the computer nothing stays on the RAM.	Next to the heat sink fan on the right and it’s on the motherboard
Hard Drive http://files.cyberciti.biz/uploads/tips/2008/10/seagate-barracuda-15tb-hard-drive.jpg	Where programs and documents are stored permanently, for a longer time.	You can find it in the HHD cage
Motherboard http://www.legitreviews.com/images/ reviews/418/gigabyte_ds3_labeled.jpg	Creates internally links between all physical components of the computer. It regulates the flow of information inside the computer.	It’s the main plaque you can find it inside the computer case and most of the other components are on it
Graphics card http://images.anandtech.com/doci/5795/GeForce_GTX_690_3qtr.jpg	Creates the image you see on screen and better graphics when you play games	Graphics card is on the motherboard and its inserted in the PCI slot normally under the heat sink
Sound card http://www.gbeelectronics.com /gbe/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image /product/226543A81JB.jpg	A sound card's basic functions are to convert digital data into analog information and to convert analog information into digital data. It generates sound, that you can hear by usually using some low-quality 3,5 mm-stereo jack speakers or headphones. The sound can be music or special effects of films or games.	Sound card sometimes is on board on the mother or you can put an internal one throw the PCI  slots
Network card http://www.celtnet.org.uk/images/ethernet.jpg	A network card works by connecting the computer to the Internet via an Ethernet cord connected to a modem or a router. As the data is transmitted to the network card in the form of electrical impulses, those impulses are converted back into data that the OS translates into user-friendly content. translates the data coming from the cable into bytes so that the computer's CPU can read it.	The network card is built on the motherboard or you can you an external one that you put it in the PCI  slot

 

P2

An operating system is the framework that allows you to communicate with computer hardware in an interactive way. Without this, you would not be able to tell the computer to do anything and it would have any instructions to follow. This is why it is important for a computer to have an operating system.

Operating system is a vital component of the system software in computer system. The operating system interacts with a computer's hardware on a basic level, transmitting your commands into language the hardware can interpret. The OS acts as a platform for all other applications on your machine. Without it, your computer would just be a box without nothing working. It takes input in the form of zeros and ones - bits - and channels them through various circuits and processors.

1.     It manages the hardware and software resources of the system. In a desktop computer, these resources include such things as the processor, memory, disk space, etc.

2.     It provides a stable, consistent way for applications to deal with the hardware without having to know all the details of the hardware.

3.     The most important program that runs on a computer.

4.     Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

5.     For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other.

6.     The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system.

Operating systems can be classified as follows:

·         Multi-user: Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.

·         Multiprocessing: Supports running a program on more than one CPU.

·         Multitasking: Allows more than one program to run concurrently.

·         Multithreading: Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.

·         Real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time.

Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such as Linux.

A device driver is the name for a piece of computer software that allows computer programs and operating systems to interact with various pieces of hardware. For example, if you install a new printer, a device driver is what will enable various programs like Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop to send information to the device and have it printed out. Without device drivers, hardware and software could not exist.

The Operating system provides a safe place for a person applications and also interacts with the applications this is why some applications aren't compatible with other operating systems this is because the code is written to communicate with a certain operating system or multiple operating systems

The operating system also can be used to provide a user interface (GUI this is so a computer can be used by an average person without this user interface the user would have to input commands to be able to access files and would have to remember a lot of code

M1

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Windows XP PRO	It offers good GUI as compared to older versions. Windows XP offers universal plug and play features The availability of this is very high. Windows XP is user friendly as compared to other OS in market. many applications are developed for windows only	Security loopholes exist in it hence it is easily affected by virus and spyware. No file encryption facility in XP. Comes with single user license so it cant be loaded on multiple PCs. It has no inbuilt chipset drivers making the install time consuming.
Windows 7	faster than its predecessors, both in terms of installation and boot up time. It also supports advanced touch and handwriting recognition. Windows 7  is faster than Vista, and in most cases, faster than XP. Windows 7 has a lot of new and very nice features that aren't in other versions. It detects all your drivers automatically	Some of the users are not satisfied with the new features, because, they need to buy out additional resources such as RAM, etc to make use of them. It is expensive than the previous Microsoft operating systems. Some of the features like Start Menu user interface, Windows Ultimate Extras, InkBall, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Calendar Windows Mail called Windows Live Essentials were included in Vista are removed in Windows 7.
Ubuntu Linux	Less viruses, no crashes, free software, runs on old machines, easy to install,	takes time to learn how to use not all hardware is compatible its open source Incompatibility  issue, smaller selection of peripheral hardware

Features of Windows XP	Description	Benefits
Built on the Windows Engine	Windows XP Professional is built on the proven code base of Windows NT® and Windows 2000, which features a 32-bit computing architecture and a fully protected memory model.	Windows XP Professional will provide a dependable computing experience for all business users.
Enhanced Device Driver Verifier	Building on the device driver verifier found with Windows 2000, the Windows XP Professional version will provide even greater stress tests for device drivers.	Device drivers that pass these tests will be the most robust drivers available, which will ensure maximum system stability.
Windows File Protection	Protects core system files from being overwritten by application installations. If a file is overwritten, Windows File Protection will restore the correct version.	By safeguarding system files, Windows XP Professional mitigates many of the most common system failures encountered in earlier versions of Windows.
Windows Installer	A system service that helps users install, configure, track, upgrade, and remove software programs correctly.	Will help minimize user downtime and increase system stability.
Enhanced Software Restriction Policies	Provide administrators a policy-driven mechanism to identify software running in their environment and control its ability to execute. This facility can be used in virus and trojan horse prevention and software lockdown.	Can contribute to improved system integrity, manageability, and, ultimately, lower cost of ownership of the PC.
Preemptive Multitasking Architecture	Designed to allow multiple applications to run simultaneously, while ensuring great system response and stability.	Run your most demanding applications while still experiencing impressive system response time.
Scalable Memory and Processor Support	Supports up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and up to two symmetric multiprocessors.	Users who need the highest level of performance will be able to work with the latest hardware.
Encrypting File System (EFS) with Multi-user Support	Encrypts each file with a randomly generated key. The encryption and decryption processes are transparent to the user. In Windows XP Professional, EFS can allow multiple users acccess to an encrypted document.	The highest level of protection from hackers and data theft.
IP Security (IPSec)	Helps protect data transmitted across a network. IPSec is an important part of providing security for virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow organizations to transmit data securely over the Internet.	IT administrators will be able to build secure virtual private networks quickly and easily.
Troubleshooters	Help users and administrators configure, optimize, and troubleshoot numerous Windows XP Professional functions.	Enable users to be more self-sufficient, resulting in greater productivity, fewer help desk calls, and better customer service.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457058.aspx

Functions of Windows XP

Features of Windows XP:

1.    Windows XP has very fast start and hibernation sequences.

2.    Windows XP also supports many different DSL modems and other connections of Wireless networking as well as networking over the Bluetooth and FireWire.

3.    This operating system offers more user-friendly interfaces that are consisted on Microsoft .Net frameworks for improved themes for the desktop environments.

4.    Fast user switching is also a greatest way that helps you to save the existing states and other open applications for their user desktop.

5.    Remote desktop functions of Windows XP are useful functions that facilitates to connect the running Windows XP Pro of your computer from across a network or also the internet.

Windows 7 Features

Jump Lists:  Items pinned to the taskbar will be listed on the

jump list.  Jump list contains pinned and recent files.  Easy way

to open files, documents and pictures from the taskbar.

·         Right click on program icon from the taskbar & select file

under pinned or recent to open

·         To move a file from the recent to pinned group:  right

click on file name and click on push pin icon

·         Note:  Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer also have

Jump Lists.

Peek:  Take a quick look at open files  (helpful when you have

several minimized files open in one program)

·         Preview Programs/Files

·         Point to the taskbar to display a thumbnail preview of the program (a

thumbnail appears for each file/window)

·         Point to the thumbnail to preview full screen of the program or click to

select

·         Display your desktop without minimizing any windows:

·         Point to or click on the show desktop button (bottom right corner/small

vertical bar) to view desktop

Sticky Notes:  application that lets you post sticky notes to your

desktop:

·         Click on Start / type sticky / press enter

·         Type your message on the note

·         To add notes:  click on the +

·         Note:  Since this is an app, when you close the program, the notes are not visible. 

The app must be open to see the notes.

http://www.providence.edu/it/Documents/Windows7.pdf

Windows 7 Functions

Aero Peek Functions

Windows 7 also comes with the functions of AeroPeek that helps you to view different types of thumbnails of opened windows. You can also take a peek of desktop when your mouse lingers on the right-bottom corner of your computer’s screen. AeroPeek function of Windows 7 highlight the active window and also make the other windows so beautiful and apparent. If you want to achieve all these effects, you can easily use a combination of AeroPeek utilities and Visual Task Tips as well. For downloading ad installation, all the applications of AeroPeek require .NET Framework 3.5.

AeroSnap Functions

AeroSnap functions of Windows 7 also used to resize the windows to the half size of screen automatically. This function is also used to snap the size of window to the other side when you drag the window to the both sides of right or left. If you drag the window to top of the screen, then the window maximizes to the full screen automatically. You can run AeroSnap with the usage of start menu. For checking it, you can drag your windows to the side, release it and also see it incredibly resize and snap itself to the side. It is very difficult procedure to display all the effects of AeroSnap in screenshots.

AeroShak Functions

AeroShak is also an amazing function in Windows 7. There is no need to install it in your computer for working it, just launch it and use. This function of Windows 7 is used to minimize all your windows, excluding the active one by shaking the window with your mouse. If you want to run AeroShak applications on your computer, you can run it by simply double clicking on it.

Ubuntu Linux Features

Linux Kernel 3.4

Linux creator Linus Torvalds released version 3.4 of the Linux kernel last month, and it's now been incorporated into Ubuntu 12.10. Particularly notable highlights of the new Linux 3.4 are driver support for several new graphics cards as well as a new security module and key updates to the Btrfs file system.

2. A Single 800MB Image

Also new with Ubuntu 12.10 is that the CD and DVD Ubuntu desktop images have been consolidated into a single 800MB image usable on either USB or DVD, according to the technical overview of the Alpha 1 software.

3. A New Look for Update Manager

Not much detail has been provided about this so far, but Ubuntu Linux 12.10 will feature “a slightly new look” for its Update Manager, the overview notes intriguingly. “More to come in the future,” the developers add.

4. GNOME Updates

Though GNOME 3.4 is the current version, some pieces of GNOME 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 have already arrived in Quantal Quetzal, “with more to follow,” the developers note. GNOME 3.6 is expected to be what's ultimately included in the final version of Ubuntu 12.10.

5. Firefox and Thunderbird

Also included in Ubuntu 12.10 Alpha 1 are the newly released Firefox 13 and Thunderbird 13.

6. No More Migration Assistant

Because of the many bug reports that have been associated with it, the installer in Ubuntu 12.10 no longer offers the migration assistant that used to help migrate documents and settings from other operating systems. “The installer team felt that it was not worth the resources to bring it up to a level of quality sufficient to continue including it,” the developers explain.

7. GCC 4.7

Whereas Ubuntu 12.04 LTS included version 4.6 of GCC, or the GNU Compiler Collection, Quantal Quetzal's Alpha 1 upgrades that to version 4.7.

8. Python 3.0

Last but not least, Ubuntu 12.10's desktop image will ultimately ship with only Python 3; Python 2 won't be included, the developers say. “Alpha-1 begins this process, with the installer and some other applications ported to Python 3,” they note. “There are still quite a few packages left to port, and so Python 2 and 3 are both installed for the time being.” Python 2 will continue to be available as the “python” package for the foreseeable future, however.

·         Free - All code can be seen, and edited, and recomplied, which allows the community at large to help the main developers fix bugs

·         Little or No Viruses. Yes, there are viruses for Linux, but only 2 ever got out in to the wild, and they were years ago, and exploited very old holes in very old kernels. The Other viruses were lab experiments. Also, Linux is completely immune to all known spy-ware and malware.

·         Totally Secure. Linuxes base model invokes a true unix-like multi-user environment. You are always signed in as a user, unless you choose to sign in as root, and a user cannot install software without first going through the process of giving themselves access to the root account, which will typically involve knowing the root password. Anything that installs in the user account cannot affect the wider system, and can be eliminated by simply erasing the users home directory. This is why viruses are, at best, ineffective.

·         Completely customisable. Linux can be modified to your hearts content, there are numerous window managers and desktop environments for it, and each one of them is infinitely themeable. You can change *everything* about the way the OS interacts with you.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/257231/eight_new_features_in_ubuntu_linux_12_10_quantal_quetzal_alpha_1.html

Functions of Linux

Linux is both a operating system and a kernel. Linux can do many of the things that windows can do, running a GUI and a desktop environment such as KDE or GNOME. Most of the primary apps that people require when they move to Linux are already available for free.

Linux is also very flexible, much more than Windows. It is almost exclusively used on home routers, and supercomputers; and is very popular for server: Google and Yahoo use Linux almost/totally exclusively to host their web sites.

Linux, and most of its software, is free software and open source. This doesn't necessarily mean it is free of charge (although it usually is) but means that you can legally:

* Run the program, for any purpose

* Study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish. You have access to the source code.

* Redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor.

* Improve the program, and release your improvements (and modified versions in general) to the public, so that the whole community benefits.

Because the source is available Linux fixes bugs quicker, better, and faster. Drivers are also more stable and the system can work faster.

There are many distributions (distros) of Linux, communities and companies that collect large amounts of free software together so that it is easy and secure to install software, and so there is only 1 program that updates your applications. Distros also make sure that the whole system works together.

P4

Purpose	Managing Director	System Administrator	Programmers	Server(s)
Quantity	1	1	3	1
CPU speed	Intel core i3 3.0ghz	Intel core i5 2.9ghz	Intel core i7 3.5ghz Quad Core	Intel Xeon E7
RAM size	3gb	4gb	6gb	8gb
Disk space	160gb	1Tb	750gb	2tb RAID- (redundant array of inexpensive disks) is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, I/O (input/output) operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increases the mean time between failures (MTBF), storing data redundantly also increases fault tolerance.
Interfaces	Mouse, keyboard, screen	Mouse, keyboard, screen	Mouse, keyboard, pen pad, screen	Screen, Mouse, keyboard
Operating systems	Windows 7 Professional	Windows 7 Professional	Windows 7 Professional	Windows Server 20 VMware ESX server 08 R2
Application software	Office	Exchange Server Managing Active Directory	Microsoft visual studio	exchange server
Total price for each system	£350	£550	£900	£1850
Why I chose this system	Good value for money and does the job required	Because I think this one is more suitable for its purpose	More professional equipment is needed	Because it needs to be very efficient. Reliable

M2

Recommending a computer system for a given Business Purpose

There are many operating systems that are able to run Microsoft Office. The most common operating system is Windows.  Microsoft office and Linux are not usually compatible with each other, they are seen as oil and water, and they just do not mix. Now that technology has developed there are programs that can be downloaded on to the operating system that will enable Microsoft Office to work. This can be a hassle as the software will need to be downloaded and programs will need to be installed and to do all of this a technician may be required. This is why I prefer and recommend, Windows.  There are many versions of Windows operating system. The most common version at the moment is Windows 7. According to Windows, these are the top ten reasons why I should chose to use Windows 7:

A better desktop. Windows 7 gets you around your PC faster than ever. The taskbar has bigger buttons and full-sized previews—and you can pin programs to it for one-click access. Jump Lists provide shortcuts to files, folders, and websites. And Snap, Peek, and Shake give you easy (and fun) new ways to juggle all those open windows.

Smarter search. Type in the Start menu search box, and you'll see results instantly, grouped by category—documents, pictures, music, e‑mail, and programs. Search in a folder or library, and you can fine-tune your search with filters like date or file type—and use the preview pane to peek at the contents of your results.

Easy sharing with HomeGroup. Sharing files and printers on your home network should be simple. With HomeGroup, it finally is. Connect two or more PCs running Windows 7, and with a minimum of fuss you can start sharing music, pictures, videos, and documents with other people in your home.

Built for speed. Windows 7 has key performance improvements to take up less memory and run background services only when you need them. It's designed to run your programs faster and to sleep, resume, and reconnect to wireless networks quicker. And with 64-bit support, you can take full advantage of the latest in powerful 64-bit PCs.

Better wireless networking. Connecting to wireless networks on your laptop—formerly a bit of a hassle—now takes just a couple of clicks. Choose from the list of available networks in the taskbar, click one, and then connect. Once you've connected to a network, Windows will remember it so you can connect again later automatically.

Windows Touch. Use your fingers to browse the web, flip through photos, and open files and folders on a touchscreen PC—for the first time, Windows includes true multitouch technology. With gestures for zooming, rotating, and even right-clicking, it's a whole new way to work with your PC.

Plays well with devices. Device Stage, a new feature in Windows 7, works like a home page for things like portable music players, smartphones, and printers. When you plug a compatible device into your PC, you'll see a menu with information and popular tasks like battery life, how many photos are ready to be downloaded and printing options.

Watch, listen, and stream.‌ Internet TV, part of Windows Media Center, gathers programming from sites all over the Internet—shows, sports highlights, video podcasts, and more. Add a TV tuner, and your PC becomes a digital video recorder you can use to watch, pause, and record live TV. And with new features in Windows Media Player 12, you can enjoy your media library around the house—or around town.

Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Live.‌ Windows 7 unleashes the full power of Internet Explorer 9, from its stunning hardware-accelerated graphics to the ability to launch favorite websites right from your taskbar. You'll also get the many possibilities of Windows Live, free: create photo albums and movies, chat in HD, and share your stuff anytime, anywhere.

Nag-free notifications. Action Center, new in Windows 7, puts you in control of maintenance and security messages. You can turn notifications on or off for things like Windows Defender or User Account Control. If Windows needs your attention, you'll see a notification on the far right of the taskbar. Click it and you'll get suggested fixes for any problems.

http://khanscomputers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/p4-m2.html

P3

Utility is another word for TOOLS

A software utility is system software where it helps to analyse and configure to maintain the computer. Software utilities are an important key factor of a basic PC . It ensures the PC to work in a smooth way. There are various types of software utilities. Some of them are mentioned below

·         Performance Monitors - available for checking, and issuing warnings about, system components, including memory, CPU speed, cooling systems, hard drives, transfer speeds etc.

·         Disk tools - partition makers, deleted/damaged file recovery tools, physical error formatters

·         Virus removers - small utility programs for removing specific viruses (once found with a scanner).

·         Disk Defragmenter can detect computer  files whose contents are broken across several locations on the hard disk, and move the fragments to one location to increase efficiency this makes your computer more efficient.

·         Registry cleaners clean and optimize the Windows registry by removing old registry keys that are no longer in use.

·         Disk space analyzers for the visualization of disk space usage by getting the size for each folder (including sub folders) & files in folder or drive. showing the distribution of the used space.

·         - Virus Protection- The main purpose of virus protection is to safe guard the computer from harmful viruses. It is always vital to have a protection so that all the important data are safe. It does this by scanning thoroughly downloads or attachments for viruses and by running in the background when a user is browsing the internet. Whenever the user access any suspicious website unwillingly, the program will warn the user and give options for getting rid of it before it starts destroying the computer.

·         A fast format (sometimes called quick format) only recreates the necessary table structures for the file system. The files aren't actually deleted, but when the table structures are reset to it's initial state they will be overwritten in time. This is because the system marked those positions as 'writable'.

·         A normal format recreates the table structures and clears out every block on the hard drive.

D1

For example you can buy a program called Ccleaner that puts your computer in order so it works more quickly. CCleaner supports the cleaning of temporary or potentially unwanted files left by certain programs. The program also includes a registry cleaner to locate and correct problems in the Windows registry, such as missing references to shared DLLs, unused registration entries for file extensions, and missing references application paths.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCleaner

Computers systems are an essential piece of equipment in many people’s everyday lives they have to deal with a lot of processes of information and be able to go on the internet where there is a risk of getting viruses and bugs. This is why computer systems have to be equipped with the right software utilities to ensure that they are working at their best at all times. There are many different types of software utilities available for a computer system

Firewalls

Most if not all businesses, schools and big companies regularly use computer systems and go on the internet they usually have many computer systems networked together that get used for important information and keep their companies running. This is why they install firewalls on their systems. Without firewalls there is the risk of malicious viruses getting through, infecting the system and sometimes taking it down completely. The firewall acts as a communications filter which stops those malicious communications from reaching the computer system. Firewalls can also be programmed to only visit certain sites this will make sure that there is no chance of a virus. Firewalls definitely improve the performance of computer systems.

Disk defragmenters

Over the time of using a computer system it will start to slow down this is because of the software that gets installed and deleted off the hard disk. When you install software on to a computer system the information gets put into sectors of the hard disk. when you run it a little arm moves to the sector that has the information and then it loads but overtime when the disk gets full of information it takes longer for the little arm to get to the place with all the information also because of software that is deleted there are spaces scattered all over the hard disk making information even longer to locate this is where disk.

Task manager

The task manager also gives users the ability to terminate any processes they see fit. Sometimes background utilities are installed without a user's knowledge during the installation of other programs, and can be easily disabled using the task manager.

CCleaner

D2

Standard Computer System

Hardware:

- Model- Compaq EVO D150

- 15 inch flat screen LCD monitor

- CD Drive

- Floppy drive

- 20Gb/40Gb hard drive

- Intel GL Graphics computer (48 Mb)

- 6 USB Ports

- Printer- Canon P2600 with appropiate software

Software:

- Windows XP Pro

- Windows Defender (anti virus)

- Open Office (free word processing, spreadsheet, database etc.)

- Adaware

- The first thing would be to make sure as much memory as possible on the computer was free. The hard drive is comparatively small to what many people are used to, so having as much free memory will mean the computer will be able to run as efficiently as possible. If it is economically viable, it may be possible to get a better hard drive with more memory for the same cost. This would future proof the computer more, and hopefully save money in the long term.

- Deleting unused files would also be useful in saving memory. Another option would be to Defragment the computer. This sorts all the files saved on the computer into a better order, which means the computer will need to put less effort looking for and saving files on the hard drive, and more power making the system run smoothly. Deleting temporary internet files will also free up memory. All of these are free methods of making the computer run smoother.

- Secondly, I recommend updating any essential pieces of software, if possible. Downloading the latest version of the flash player, antivirus etc. will allow the computer to work more efficiently. Updating software is generally free to do. However, the Operating System, Windows XP is very outdated. Updates from Microsoft have ceased, and support will run only untill 2014. In a few years time the OS will be obsolete. It would be a good idea to update to Vista or 7, to future proof the computer.

Continuing with looking at software, the specifications show that the only anti-virus software is Windows Defender. I would recommend downloading another piece of free antivirus software, such as AVG. Having two anti-virus kits would be more effective than one, at no extra cost.

- I would also recommend having a look at the external hardware. The monitor is an LCD, which is fairly economical when using electricity, and is also fairly cheap. However, the current monitor is fairly small, at 15 inches. If a person is using a computer for the first time, a larger monitor would be more ideal. The problem is working out the best balance between size and cost.

The printer is also an issue. If it is an outdated model, it may not be so efficent with its ink leading to unnecessary costs getting new cartridges. If the printer is too old, it would be more economical to get a newer, more expensive model.

- Unless the specification sheet is missing out information, there is no Mouse or Keyboard included. I would recommend buying a wired mouse and keyboard- paying for batteries every other month for wireless models would be a waste of money with a limited budget, and wouldn't be worth it for a slightly easier use.