Apple Computers

In 1976, three enterprising young men founded Apple Computers, Inc, with the intention of creating and distributing personal computers.  Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne began with a dream of making super computers smaller and available to the public.  They built their computers in Jobs’ parent’s garage and debuted the Apple I personal computer kit the year they founded Apple.  Eventually, 200 of these computers would be built.

Jobs approached a local computer store, The Byte Shop, which ordered fifty units and paid $500 for each unit after much persuasion from Jobs. Jobs then ordered components from Cramer Electronics, a national electronic parts distributor. Using a variety of methods, including borrowing space from friends and family and selling various items including a Volkswagen Type 2 bus, Jobs managed to secure the parts needed while Wozniak and Ronald Wayne assembled the Apple I.

Alternative Operating Systems

Even though most personal computers are sold today with Windows pre-loaded, there are alternative operating systems that you can choose to install yourself.  Advances are constantly being made in computer programming that allows computer users to choose what operating system they want to use.

Of course, Windows is one of the easiest operating systems to have.  It is loaded on most computer systems, so you can use other systems besides your own with ease and without having to learn a new program.  Windows is designed to be user-friendly with point and click technology that allows nearly anyone to easily become a computer expert.

64-Bit Operating System

The 64-bit operating system is one that is capable of storing information in memory that is at least 64 bits or 8 bytes wide.  They are also based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that same size.  A bus is a subsystem that transfers data or power between computer components inside a computer or between computers.  The bus is controlled by a device driver similar to those that control outside peripherals like a mouse or printer.

64-bit CPUs have existed in super computers since the 1960’s and work stations and servers since the 1990’s.  While this architecture has been around for awhile, 64-bit operating systems are relatively new concepts in the computer world.  Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X Tiger are all 64-bit operating systems.

The advantages to 64-bit operating systems are far-reaching.  They are more powerful and more reliable than the 32-bit systems.  The 64-bit operating system can address more memory directly without using complex indexing or register-addressing schemes. Because internal memory is several orders of magnitude faster than storage, combining a 64-bit processing architecture with more RAM lets a processor pull more data into memory and operate on it directly, increasing performance manifold.
A 64-bit file system also can improve disk management. Rather than having to take a large disk, such as a 9 GB storage module, and segmenting it into 32-bit addressable chunks (2 GB each), you can address the entire disk. That can help, for example, both in database performance and the performance of the operating system itself.
64-bit operating systems are great for user who need to access very large data stores.  The system is valuable in industries such as CAD (computer aided drafting), science and engineering, human resources, and financial modeling.  Users working with these computer-intensive applications will probably see immediate improvement with 64-bit machines over 32-bit machines running at the same clock rate and with similar memory configurations.

There is a simple analogy that can help explain the difference between a 32-bit operating system and a 64-bit operating system.  A 32-bit addressing environment can keep track of the name and address of every person who has lived in the United States since 1997.  A 64-bit environment can keep track of the name and address of every person who has every lived in the world from the beginning of time.  That’s a powerful system!

The advent of the 64-bit operating system is technology that has been sorely needed for some time.  Users notice a marked improvement in performance, storage, and much more with these new, powerful 64-bit operating systems.

The Journey 2: The Mysterious Island co-stars began dating after they met on set, but never confirmed the relationship and subsequently separated.

They appeared alongside each other for a joint interview on Australia's Today show last week (ends15Jan12) to promote their new movie, but the pair was left squirming in their seats when the male host asked, "How long have you two been going out?"

After a moment of nervous silence, Hutcherson says, "We're not... We were at one point, but she broke my heart - no, just kidding. That was a while ago. We're just really good friends now."

Hudgens is now reportedly dating actor Austin Butler.


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The Piranha 3D star launched her modelling career aged 16 and for a short while she posed semi-naked in the pages of a tabloid before deciding to cover up for more tasteful shoots.

Although Brook is grateful her early career moves helped her get her foot on the showbiz ladder, she now admits it was a controversial path to fame.

She tells Stella magazine, "Of course I look back on it and think there was something about it that was... I was very young. It was good money but, yes, to have someone of that age posing like that... I think that's probably not great... I don't think I (felt that way at the time), but I didn't do it for very long anyway."


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Rimes sporting new tattoo

The Blue hitmaker uploaded a picture of the ankle-to-toes inking - which contains the words "the only one that matters" - on her Twitter.com page.

Rimes, who has other pieces of body art, told fans the phrase was inspired by Cibrian.

She explains, "I'm addicted to words & sayings that mean something special to me. Eddie said to me 'You're the only one that matters so....'

"I was surprised that it was not painful at all. Maybe when you really want something it doesn't hurt as bad."


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The hitmaker's popular tune was used in a smear campaign against Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and it was posted online last week (begs09Jan12) without Lauper's permission.

In a post on her Twitter.com account on Thursday (12Jan12), she fumed, "Got a phone call saying my version of True Colors was used in commercial trashing Romney... I wouldn't have wanted that song to be used in that way."

The singer's management officials were said to be investigating the matter and now the advert has been taken down and replaced with a banner notice which reads, "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by SME (Sony Music Entertainment)."

Lauper also updated fans about the removal of the ad, revealing she saw the clip on U.S. chat show The View but couldn't find pal and host Whoopi Goldberg's phone number in time to address the wrongful song use.

In a tweet she added, "Too bad Whoopi's number was in my lost phone. Would have called her."


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Fans of the Cat On A Hot Tin Roof icon were surprised when the troubled Mean Girls star was named as one of the frontrunners to play her in the Lifetime network biopic, which will focus on Taylor's love affair with Richard Burton.

Now executive producer Larry Thompson has revealed he has also been in talks with Fox about the sought-after part.

He tells E! News, "I've been talking to Lindsay Lohan directly, and with her reps, and have been in conversations with other actresses, including Megan Fox.

"It's a very serious selection. It's like casting for Hollywood royalty."


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The Buffy The Vampire Slayer star attended the Hollywood awards ceremony wearing a strapless, blue and white gown and she revealed she shunned professional help in favour of advice from her toddler, Charlotte.

She tells People.com, "It's funny - I didn't try on that many dresses. My two year old walked in, walked up to this dress and said, 'Mama, wear this!' So I put it on and said, 'OK!'

"She really went for it. She chose the bag and shoes. I let her pick all of it."


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The soul star, who has written about her love life in her chart-topping songs, has mainly stayed single since splitting from her last partner in 2009, but is thought to have put her heartache behind her after finding love with charity boss Simon Konecki.

They enjoyed a vacation in Florida together over New Year, and they were photographed attending a party in London earlier this month (Jan12).

However, it seems the 23-year-old singer's love life remains complicated as a new report suggests Konecki, 14 years her senior, is going through a divorce.

He married fashion stylist Clary Fisher, the mother of his five-year-old daughter, in 2004 and they separated in 2010 after growing apart, according to Dailymail.co.uk.


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The actress was feted for her portrayal of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, while Fassbender scooped the We're Wilde About You Rising Star of the Year prize for his performance as a sex addict in Shame.

The Unsung Film of the year trophy went to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's cancer comedy 50/50, while in the TV categories, American Horror Story and Modern Family both received prizes.

Pop superstar Lady Gaga was another winner, landing the TV Musical Program of the Year prize for Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour. She tied with TV hit Glee.

Veteran actress Betty White was given the Timeless Star award when the winners were announced on Monday (16Jan12).


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Lette's dad dies

The funnywoman's beloved dad Merv, a former rugby player, was taken to hospital for an emergency operation last week (ends15Jan12), and Lette shared her agony with followers on her Twitter.com page.

In a series of posts, she wrote, "Just rushed my dear dad to hospital 4 (sic) emergency surgery. My older sister is being a rock. I am a mere pebble. Worried sick. He may lose leg. My dad's called Merv... Hard 2 c (see) him so vulnerable.

"Thank u all for so many electronic hugs. We r (are) in intensive care now, about to talk to surgeon. But your words have been so comforting."

She later added, "Surgery unsussessful (sic). A cruel irony 2 think of dad, once the fastest front row forward in oz (Australian) history when playing 4 Bulldogs (team), losing his leg."

Merv lost his fight for life on Tuesday, and Lette told fans: "Our darling Dad died peacefully today showered in love from his devoted family. We are broken hearted."

Dannii Minogue reached out to her pal on the microblogging site after hearing the sad news, declaring, "My love goes out to Kathy Lette and her family Merv RIP."


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Beyonce: 'Jay-Z is a hands-on father'

The superstar couple became first-time parents earlier this month (Jan12) when the singer gave birth to their little girl at a hospital in New York.

Beyonce has now spoken out about the new arrival, revealing her partner was by her side for the birth and will be an "inspirational" father.

According to Star magazine, she says, "He would not have missed it (the birth) for anything. He is a very protective and loyal guy by nature. He is a very protective husband, and since we found out I was pregnant I have seen the protective father in him. He is not only an inspirational artist, he is an inspirational husband. I know the next step on his journey is going to be being an inspirational father."

The Irreplaceable hitmaker also admits her husband wants to be fully involved in the day-to-day duties as they raise their daughter.

She adds, "He will change diapers, of course he will. He is going to be a very hands-on father. He has already said publicly that providing isn't love. Love is being there. Love is doing the little things for your child."


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