The Value Of CompTIA Certification

Despite all of the issues that people are having with finding jobs, one of the growing areas of opportunity in the workplace is in computer and technical jobs. While getting a degree in computer science or a related field can take years, one way that people can quickly show or develop their technical acumen is by getting CompTIA certification. Certifications from CompTIA are recognized in the industry as proof of knowledge and training in a number of computer and technology based competencies.

Types of Certifications Available

CompTIA provides certification for a wide variety of computer and technology subjects. In addition to providing certifications for Windows systems and programs, CompTIA also provides certifications for Linux based operating systems and software. They also certify people who are experienced in dealing with networking, security, VOIP and multimedia support and even green technologies.

Additionally, they offer different levels of certification, including basic, specialty, professional and mastery ranks. Basic certification indicates that someone will do well in a computer and technology based company, and professional and mastery certifications indicate high levels of competency in advanced disciplines.

The reason that CompTIA certification is taken seriously in the business and computing world is due to the thoroughness of the tests that they administer for people to achieve certification. The majority of their tests are 100 questions or more and require in depth knowledge of the subject for people to pass.

Certification Training and Classes

Despite the fact that their certifications are rigorous, many people are able to successfully achieve certification by going through CompTIA's training system. They offer both online and physical classroom courses, and their training system is geared to not only allow people to pass their certification tests but to also develop knowledge and skill of the subject matter. CompTIA certifications remain a benchmark for the technical industry because they train people to be able to succeed in a real world environment.

CompTIA also provides a wide range of online study materials and test exams to prepare students for taking the certification test. This ensures that students are ready for the exam and also understand the materials that are being presented to them.

Benefits of CompTIA Certifications

Even if someone is currently employed, ongoing education and certification can help them along their career path. For people looking to branch out or considering pursuing a career in the IT field, this is an excellent way for them to start. Since CompTIA offers different levels of training and certification, even relative novices can succeed.

Additionally, many schools and workplaces are in partnership with CompTIA. There are a number of universities that allow people to take CompTIA classes through the school and receive college credit for their completing their coursework. Many schools also provide discount vouchers for certification exams to students who pass these classes. There are also a number of employers that will pay for their employees to take and pass certification exams. This improves the overall expertise of a workplace while also allowing employees to move into higher paying positions within the company.

Why Choose Compatible Ink Cartridges?

Sometimes its cheaper to buy a new printer instead of replacing your ink cartridges

Is it better to buy a set of new ink cartridges or a new printer? This is not a question you should be asking yourself. It seems ridiculous to be paying more for ink than a printer and it is. Luckily there is another option, compatible ink cartridges. Perhaps you've seen these and pay little attention because they seem too cheap, or assumed they are nothing like the real thing. You might be surprised to find that they more similar than you think.

How are compatible cartridges different

What is a compatible cartridge? Compatible ink cartridges are brand new from top to bottom and are manufactured to the same standard and specifications as their genuine counterparts. There may be a slight difference in the tank shape but they will fit your printer all anyway. The amount of ink you get is the same or above the level in genuine cartridges and for the average user the results are very comparable to a genuine cartridge. When you consider the price of a set of four compatibles is far less than the price of one genuine there's really no harm in trying them for yourself.

What's the Catch?

Now you might be thinking, is their really no harm in trying? Can't they damage my printer? The simple answer to this is no. Manufactures of original cartridges try to make it seem like a bad idea but the truth is good quality compatible cartridges are a safe and reliable alternative. Some companies warn that the use of compatibles will void your warranty but a little research and you will find that it is illegal for them to do this under the fair trade act.

Electronic Chips

A feature relatively new to ink cartridges is a built in electronic chip. These keep an eye on ink levels but are primarily a device to try to keep consumers buying name brand cartridges. It used to be that you would need to transfer and reset these chip to use compatibles, however a large number of compatible cartridge manufactures are incorporating these in to their cartridges now and they work just as well.

Thousands of people all over the world have realized that there is huge money to be saved with compatible ink cartridges and are enjoying the benefits of low cost printing.

Can Compatible Cartridges Damage My Printer?

The Same, but Different
There is concern over whether compatible cartridges can damage your printer. In fact there is very little that can go wrong with compatibles that can't with an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cartridge. Most compatible cartridges are manufactured according to the OEM specifications. This means that you can use them exactly the same way as OEM products. Because they are technically the same, the same precautions need to be taken when installing, storing or replacing the cartridge.

The Dangers of Printing
Some common faults are caused by incorrect use of the printer such as powering down your printer at the wall socket, leaving you printer off for weeks at a time, storing your used printer without cartridges inserted or incorrect installation of cartridges. All modern printers have a cleaning cycle option and this should be done after any lengthy storage or time without use. Possibly the most common problem is due to blocked ink heads, caused by ink drying inside the mechanism. Regardless as to whether you are using compatible or OEM products the same problems are possible and the method for fixing these issues should be carried out as per the manufactures instructions.

Ink Absorber Pads
Another issue (and again this goes for either compatible or OEM) is the waste ink absorber pads becoming full. These pads are built into your printer. Excess ink is directed into these pads to avoid it ending up messing up your print job. When the pad gets full the printer or your computer will display an error message and stop printing. Unfortunately the easiest option when this happens is to buy a new printer. This is not a manufacturing defect and is unlikely to be covered by your warranty. You could send your printer away to have the pads replaced, but the cost to do so would heavily outweigh the cost of a new printer. Alternatively you can try searching online for how to clean them yourself, however this is not recommended.

Better Safe Than Sorry
There are many suppliers of compatible ink cartridges and not all are the same. Before you buy you can check that your ink cartridges are manufactured to ISO-9001 standard. This is an internationally recognized organization of quality control and is used by both OEM and compatible cartridge manufactures. Also when buying online, most distributors will have a comments/feedback section of some description where you can view the results other people have been getting.

3D Printing Jewelry

3D printing has touched upon quite a few industries across the globe. Some of these industries include the consumer world, electronics, medical, architectural, engineering, and various product development worlds. This technology is going to inadvertently touch upon almost every industry that exists if it involves any form of manufacturing. Through 3D printing, various shapes, curves, and parts can be manufactured, while other forms of manufacturing can't compete in some situations. The possibilities of this technology are endless, and I want to tell you how.

First off, to understand how this technology is significant, you must know the basics about 3D printing. Prior to anything happening at all through this technology, a computer image must be created. An artist, designers, or engineer - whatever you'd like to call it - will have to create a model that will be used in the 3D printing process. This model will be developed in one of various softwares, and sent to a 3D printer. This printer will use a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system to manufacture the model. This CAM system involves the computer within the printer telling the extruders, jets, lights, or various tools, where to shoot material. Shooting material? In 3D printing, products are made layer by layer. Through various methods, layers of material much smaller than the diameter of a human hair will be laid down in accordance to the blueprint, or 3D model.

One interesting aspect to 3D printing and the 3D models used as blueprints - almost anything can be made. Due to the layer by layer process, various shapes can be created which can't be made through other forms of manufacturing. This means that various curves, hollow spaces, organic shapes, and functional parts can be manufactured through 3D printing. Crazy feats such as a ball within a ball can be made through 3D printing due to the possibility of hollow spaces. If it can be designed on a computer by an artist or engineer, it can likely be manufactured through 3D printing.

Tons of possibilities come through this technology. Just think about this - almost anything can be manufactured through 3D printing. If it can be designed on a computer, it can likely be created. This means that we have access to some seriously intricate models!

Artists are creating beautiful works through the design capabilities. One industry I want to highlight on would be the jewelry industry. Quite a few possibilities in the jewelry world are coming into existence. Due to the various materials jumping into the 3D world such as stainless steel, Inconel, gold, silver, and platinum - some cool jewelry is coming about! In order for a jewelry piece to be made in precious metals through 3D printing, a design must be mocked up. This manufacturing technology will involve the creation of a wax piece. This piece will resemble the model 1:1. This wax piece will then be used for casting purposes. Molten material of gold, silver, or platinum will run into the wax piece, and will take the shape. The wax will burn out, leaving a model of silver, gold, or platinum! That's it!

Getting to Know the Popular Smartphone Brands

People nowadays prefer their mobile phones to be the latest and most updated of the bunch. That is why you see the emergence of newer and sleeker phones being carried around by people. BlackBerry, HTC, iPhone, Nokia and Samsung are just some of the brands that people are going gaga over. Gone are the days when mobile phones are only for receiving and making calls because now, playing music, watching a movie, taking a picture and playing games are just some of the added features that it has. So, who buys smartphones? It is not just the blue-collared office worker that companies are targeting to purchase their products but everyone as it has become a necessity in today's modern life.

Let's talk about some of the more popular brands of smartphones that are currently available on the market. The most popular among the bunch is of course the iPhone, which is manufactured by Apple. This brand is touted to have started it all for smartphones. It has become the trendsetter when it comes to phone features and functionality and applications. Having a solid fan base for its computers, Apple did not have any problems at all when it introduced the very first version of the iPhone some years ago. The latest model, which is the iPhone 4S, is still so popular among the crowd that people lined up at the stores where it would be available early on in order to have first dibs on this newest model. This smartphone's most popular feature might as well be Siri, which has become everyone's phone assistant. Of course, there are tons of applications that you can download from the App Store depending on what you need, be it games, photography or productivity software.

Another brand that is challenging Apple's position of being number one in the market is Samsung. This Korean brand came in a bit late in developing its line of smartphones. However, this did not deter them as its products are starting to challenge the iPhone. It has established itself as a solid smartphone brand with the release of the Galaxy S series. Their phones are thin, lightweight, and have a huge screen that has high definition capabilities making watching and recording HD videos possible. Their processors are so powerful that some people call them mini-computers in the body of a mobile phone. Aside from the Koreans who buy smartphones manufactured by Samsung, many Asians, and now, even Americans, are starting to consider Samsung phones.

For the working class, Blackberry phones have long been a favorite because of their features. The Blackberry software has enabled this phone to become a workhorse that could keep up with the demands of a mobile office worker. It could send and receive email and sync it without any problems with your office laptop including contacts, and appointments in your calendar.

If you decide to switch phones, you would not have any problems when you have any of these brands. There are people who are willing to snap up deals from people who sell broken smartphones of these brands and it's even better if the phone is in good working condition. Smartphones have become a commodity that people cannot live without nowadays.