VISUAL NEWSLETTER – JAN 2001
Just as we have run out of digits to describe computers
in megahertz, the Pentium IV has arrived to usher in the era of the Gigahertz PC
(i.e. 1000+ Megahertz). Dell, as usual, was first out of the gate with these
new Intel based high-speed computers rated at 1.2 to 1.5
Gigahertz.
This increase in processing speed has seen the original
PC using an 8086 processor running at 4.6 Megahertz run thru the 286, 386, 486,
Pentium I, II, III & now IV series with clock speeds increasing over 300
times. A brief historical table also illustrates the typical changes in
standard computer specifications over the same period.
Most systems evolved over time so the statistics relate
to typical initial versions of each processor.
Processor
8086 4.6
Mhz 256k Floppy
80286 6 Mhz 640k 20
Mb
80386 16 Mhz 1 Mb 70
Mb
80486 25 Mhz 4 Mb 120
Mb
Pentium I 60 Mhz 16 Mb 500
Mb
Pentium II 233 Mhz 32 Mb 2 Gb
Pentium III 450 Mhz 64 Mb 8 Gb
Pentium IV 1.2 Ghz 128 Mb 20 Gb
Increases in Processor speed as well as Ram, Bus &
Hard Drive speeds have made computers considerably faster than their earlier
ancestors.
Unfortunately the continuing evolution of Microsoft
Windows 95, 98 & Millennium Edition as well as Windows NT & 2000
Professional have done their best to negate a good deal of the advantages that Intel & others have
provided.
Nonetheless, today’s computers can do much more out of the
box for far less money than any of their predecessors. Most come with a broad
selection of productivity & utility software as well as built in networking
and internet capabilities and that makes them excellent value for the money.
In recent years the distinction between what you could
do on your computer and what you did during your time off has blurred somewhat.
You can now surf the net, e-mail friends, play games, listen to music or watch
a movie on your computer. Various digital technologies are making these things
a reality at amazing speed. Where this affects business primarily is in the
area of non-productive computerized alternatives to work.
For some time now, we have had the ability to play CD’s
on our computers while we work. To some extent this might even have been deemed
a productivity benefit while employees toiled on long projects after hours.
Similarly the Internet and e-mail have provided productivity gains in some
areas. Unfortunately, like most things that people get their hands on, many
employees have used these computer tools to do things other than what was
intended for them by their employers.
For many companies the unauthorized use of Games, the
Internet and E-mail has become a significant problem. In the past if an
employee was seen typing away at their computer you were fairly sure that they
were doing some sort of work. Nowadays they might be checking out the Survivor
Web Site, swapping jokes via e-mail, playing solitaire or even watching a DVD
movie.
On at least one occasion I had to recover files from a
person’s computer that during two weeks of employment contained no less than
500 personal e-mails from an assortment of friends who were doing the same
thing at their place of work. Now it might be argued that the occasional
personal e-mail, like the occasional personal phone call, is not a big problem,
but these things are by nature far more difficult to police, and more and more
companies are placing serious restrictions on their use. Some even employ
programs to monitor Internet activities of users.
Visual Accounting – (905) 458-6650