Computer Software

What is open source software?       

Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is available in source code form for which the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits anyone to study for any purposes.

In your opinion, why people prefer open source software over proprietary alternatives nowadays?

In my opinion, people prefer open source software over proprietary alternatives nowadays because of open source software are mostly free. Proprietary alternative software like Microsoft Office is costly. Besides that, it is always legal to use open source software in any way. Proprietary alternative software is tend to be cracked and illegally used. Furthermore, open source software will continue to develop as the people contribute. Proprietary alternative software are closed source software and will not continue to develop if the company that makes the closed source software are down.

Name top (fives) 5 most popular open source software and compare them with similar proprietary software

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE VS NORMAL SOFTWARE	COMPARISON
Wordpress vs Blogger	Wordpress is free blog that have premium upgrades but for Blogger, there are no upgrades. Wordpress has a variety of customization options compared to Blogger.
Audacity vs Logic Studio	The most obvious difference is the cost they come with. We can get Audacity for free but to have Logic Studio, we have to spend $499. Audacity can support audio formats like AAC, AAIF,FLAC and more but the Logic Studio cannot support these kind of audio formats.
PDFCreator vs Adobe Acrobat	PDFCreator can create PDFs from any program that is able to print but not Adobe Acrobat. PDFCreator can also create other files besides PDF such as PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP and more but Adobe can only create PDF files.
GIMP vs Adobe Photoshop	GIMP will run on any hardware, and is compatible with OS X, Windows, and even Unix. GIMP also provides a portable version which fits on a thumb-drive so that you can use it on any computer. Photoshop has more training options. Photoshop offers Pantone colours which standardizes print and digital colours which is not provided in GIMP.
Google Chrome vs Internet Explorer	Google chrome is faster in web browsing. Google chrome also has a nice and simpler layout which makes it easier to understand. Internet explorer is very slow and very old but Microsoft made and released a new one called Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 which is faster than the other ones before. But still, Internet Explorer has not yet reached the satisfaction of the users.

Discuss different types of threats and malicious program (malware) that can damage a computer, mobile device or disrupt any system.   Search for information on current known malware program. Based on the information that you have found, create a table to list different types of malware, what it does, and how it can be repaired or removed. These information is useful for you to prevent any malware from damage your computer system

Malware	What it does?	How to repair or remove?
Spyware ·         Example : Keylogger	Monitors your movements on the Internet. Send information back to a central computer that then targets you with advertising. Computer slows down to a useless state. Lots of lagging during browsing.	Install anti-spyware software like SUPERAntiSpyware
Trojan Horse ·         Example : Stuxnet	Trojans can delete data, compromise security, relay spam or porn and otherwise infect your computer. Copies itself into external storages and network and change the folders to shortcut.	Download and run shortcut virus remover
Virus ·         Example such as Sality.AA	Taking control over some or all of its function like files with EXE and SCR extensions. The virus destroys data or looks for things like passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data. The information is often sent to another computer.	Download and run Win32: Sality Removal Tool
Worm ·         Example such as Brontok.A	Worms often arrive via email, peruse your address book, and then send a copy of themselves to others in your address book, masquerading the message as though it is from you. Worms are used to deliver viruses, or the worm itself might be a virus	Download and run Brontok Removal Tool
Rootkit	Types of malicious software designed to remotely access or control a computer without being detected by users or security programs.	manual methods such as monitoring computer behavior for irregular activity, signature scanning, and storage dump regularly patching vulnerabilities in software, applications, and operating systems, updating virus definitions, avoiding suspicious downloads, and performing static analysis scans.analysis.

OPERATING SYSTEMS AND FILE MANAGEMENT

      1. List down all the operating system used in a desktop/laptop today and find good descriptions of how operating systems work? Hence, state their advantages and disadvantages.

Operating systems used in laptop and computer nowadays:

• Microsoft Windows 
• Ubuntu 
• Mac OSX 
• Linux Mint
• Fedora

How operating systems work?

An operating system is the application that controls every aspect of a computer. The most common operating systems are Windows, UNIX and Macintosh. To put it simply, an operating system carries out two basic functions it serves as a manger for the hardware and software resources held in the system and it deals with hardware without the applications having to know every aspect along the way. The duties of the operating system fall into six different categories processor management, memory management, device management, storage management, application interface and user interface. 

First, your computer's operating system coordinates the demands that the computer's software makes on its hardware, especially the central processing unit. Each piece of software running on your computer ideally would like to have the undivided attention of its hardware. It's the operating system's job to make sure that each application gets its fair share of your computer's finite resources in the most efficient way possible. 

Second, the operating system provides a consistent set of rules for applications to use in order to be able to interface with your computer's hardware. The system's application program interface lets developers create software that will run on computers of the same type even if the hardware is different or open to change.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Operating system:

Operating Systems (Windows)
Advantages	Disadvantages
User friendly	Costly
Make the usage of computer easier	Vulnerable to viruses
Consumer integrated	Closed source
Supported by most software	Tightly integrated
Windows series are big	Windows series are buggy

2. Nowadays, even smart phones have their own unique operating systems. Draw a table of comparison between the two most popular OS in smart phones, which are Android and Windows 8.

Android	Comparison	Windows 8
·         Open source	Type of software	Close source
·         Jelly Bean 4.2	Latest version	·     Windows 8.1
·         High	Security	·         Low
·         User friendly	User interface	·         Tiles and easy to use
·         Variety of skins, wallpapers, themes	Customization	·         Sizes are adjustable.
·         Available (Google Now)	Voice assistant	·         Not available
·         650,000	Number of Applications	·         125,000
·         Google Chrome	Browser	·         Internet Explorer
·         Dual/Quad/Octa	Type of processor	·         Dual
·         More	Battery power consumption	·         Less
·         Can be view at the home screen	Notifications	·         Can be view when the smart phone is locked
·         No	Paid	·         Yes

Our Ideal Desktop Hardware Specifications

1.    List your ideal desktop or laptop hardware specification as in slide 22-Figure 2.17 and explain why.

After discussing with all group members in this work, we have agreed to have these as our ideal desktop hardware specifications.

Mainly, our ideal desktop hardware specifications are as follows:

1. Intel Xeon E5-2687W 3.10GHz LGA2011 processor

2. Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 (rev. 1.x)

3. CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM 16GB DDR3 2400MHz RAM

4. Samsung 840 Evo 1TB SSD drive

5. Asus GeForce GTXTITAN-6GD5 6GB GDDR5

6. LG GGW-H20L BD-RW Drive

But anyway, we also put the reasons why we chose these specifications.

1. PROCESSOR (CPU)

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is responsible for interpreting and executing most of the commands from the computer's hardware and software. The CPU could be considered the "brain” of the computer. Without a CPU, a computer system cannot run at all.

Intel Xeon E5-2687W @ 3.10GHz

We chose to use this processor because it has 8 cores and it was the top CPU in http://www.cpubenchmark.net , a popular CPU benchmarking website (last checked was on 22/07/2013). The specifications of this processor, of course, a high-end one, is surely great because it was the top processor in that CPU Benchmark website after all. It was quite expensive though, but absolutely, we will be satisfied with its performance. Let’s read the performance of this CPU below.

THE SPECIFICATIONS OF Intel Xeon E5-2687W

Source : http://ark.intel.com/products/64582/

2. MOTHERBOARD

The motherboard serves to connect all of the parts of a computer together. The CPU, memory, hard drives, optical drives, video card, sound card and other ports and expansion cards all connect to the motherboard directly or via cables. The motherboard can be thought of as the "back bone" of the computer.

Motherboards vary greatly in respect to the types of components they support. For example, each motherboard supports a single type of CPU and a short list of memory types. Additionally, some video cards, hard drives and other peripherals may not be compatible. The motherboard manufacturer should provide clear guidance on component compatibilities.

Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 (rev. 1.x)

This design and model of motherboard was chosen because it can support the processor we mentioned above. Let’s read the specifications of this motherboard.

Specifications of Gigabyte GA-X79-UP4 (rev. 1.x) motherboard

Source : http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4288#sp

3. MEMORY (RAM)

RAM, alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, or system memory, Random Access Memory (RAM) is a computer storage location that allows information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations within DRAM on a memory module. Because information is accessed randomly instead of sequentially like a CD or hard drive the computer is able to access the data much faster than it would if it was only reading the hard drive. However, unlike ROM and the hard drive RAM is a volatile memory and requires power in order to keep the data accessible, if power is lost all data contained in memory lost.

CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM 16GB DDR3 2400MHz (CMD16GX3M2A2400C10)

We chose this type and model of RAM because it was the latest type of Ram and my motherboard we chose before only support this type of RAM, which is DDR3. Besides that, this RAM has heat sink attached on it and it will cool the RAM fast enough. Besides that, this RAM clock speed is 2400MHz, which was faster than any RAM available for sale on market right now. Let’s read more specifications of this RAM below.

Source : http://www.lelong.com.my/corsair-dominator-platinum-16gb-ddr3-2400mhz-cmd16gx3m2a2400c10-chocobozz-I1325594-2007-01-Sale-I.htm

4. STORAGE DEVICE

Alternatively referred to as storage, storage media, or storage medium, a storage device is a hardware device capable of holding information. There are two storage devices used in computers; a primary storage device such as computer RAM and a secondary storage device such as a computer hard drive. The secondary storage could be a removable, internal, or external storage. Without a storage device, you and your computer would not be able to save any settings or information and would be considered a dumb terminal.

Samsung 840 Evo 1TB SSD drive

We chose this type and model of storage device because it is a solid state drive (SSD), which can transfers data up to 10 times faster than hard disk drive (HDD). Let’s read more specifications of this SSD drive.

Specifications of Samsung 840 Evo 1TB SSD drive

5. GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

A Graphics card is responsible for delivering the image you see on your PC monitor. Its GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) processes the data and changes it into a signal to the monitor. There are many factors to a graphics card. Choosing one can be a tricky business these days as there is so much technology that is different in each new graphics card release.

Asus GeForce GTXTITAN-6GD5

We chose this type and model of graphics card because it uses NVidia GeForce chipset which was one of the best chipset nowadays. Besides that, it has 6GB GDDR5 which was one of the fastest one nowadays. Anyway, let’s read the specifications of this graphics card.

Specifications of Asus GeForce GTXTITAN-6GD5

6. OPTICAL DRIVE

An optical drive is a disk drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic waves within or near the visible light spectrum as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from optical discs. Some drives can only read from discs, but recent drives are commonly both readers and recorders, also called burners or writers. Compact discs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are common types of optical media which can be read and recorded by such drives. Optical drive is the generic name; drives are usually described as "CD" "DVD", or "Blu-ray", followed by "drive", "writer", etc. Optical drives retrieve and/or store data on optical discs like CDs, DVDs, and BDs (Blu-ray discs) which hold much more information than classic portable media options like the floppy disk.

LG GGW-H20L BD-RW Drive

We chose this type of optical drive because it can read and write Blu Ray discs. Blu Ray discs are new type of disc that can store up to 25GB of data, which is a lot more than DVD. Besides that, it can also read and write any other types of disc like DVD and CD. Let’s read the other specifications of this optical drive.

Specifications of LG GGW-H20L BD-RW Drive