The image above is an internet map. Basically, every dot on this map is an IP address! Every internet connection, modem, server, and gateway has it’s own IP address. A great analogy to understand it is this:

• An address is to a singular house.
• A phone number is to a singular phone line.
• An IP Address is to an internet connection.

In essence, and IP Address is a way of recognising and identifying a portal or node on the internet. Every time your home internet modem connects to the telephone exchange, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) servers loan your connection a new IP Address. This is called a Dynamic IP as it is ever changing each time you connect.

The flip side is a Static IP – common in VPN situations, corporate setups, high-traffic servers, and secure setups. With a static IP, your address is always the same – you always know what address to use when connecting to or referencing your home connection.

For those interested, IP stands for Internet Protocol.

So why should you care about IP Addresses? If you desire to connect to your home network remotely, for example to print, get files, or work while on the go, you need a static IP. Perhaps you run a business utilising two or more site offices/shops – you can use the one “network” (VPN) to synchronise your data and operations. Cool huh?

For more information, email admin@computerlessons.com.au or comment below!

Apple and Microsoft are always arguing about patents, copyright, and trademarking. Comment and tell us if you really think Microsoft is copying Apple, or if they are simply creating software which plays to the current market?

Watch this short video from Microsoft for more information about Windows 8.

You can download either the 32bit or 64bit version (with developer tools) from the Microsoft Developer Network over here.

Option 1 – Mac or PC?

The eternal computer battle (that will probably never go away!). Some people love Apple Mac, and others love PC and Windows.

Mac is certainly more geared towards the amateur user, with easy to learn features, a beautiful interface, and fantastic support for multimedia and web browsing. But, Windows is perfect for more advanced users, such as coders, or those wanting to easily connect to a pre-existing windows network. Luckily, most hardware is compatible with both Operating Systems these days.

A word of warning; Mac is much more expensive. and does have some of the classic “Apple Blocks” – locked down features to prevent  certain functions.

Option 2 – Build or Buy?

For most people out there, is simple and instant answer is BUY! That’s not a problem, but if you are technically minded, I definitely recommend looking into building your own. Building a computer from scratch saves a lot of money, and you customise to the exact specs you want. But, it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing; hardware incompatibilities, overheating (do you really want to burn your new $200 processor?), and lack of support in case of a problem.

Oops – I Broke Something

So you’ve got this awesome new computer! Then, oh no; it crashes, and nothing works. OK, we can just take it back to the shop, right? Maybe not!

Some retailers do not provide support, but simply pass you onto the manafacturer, which would take much longer. Make sure you know what kind of support is provided before you pay for anything.

If you built the computer yourself, well you’re on your own. If you can’t figure it out, you’ll probably have to hire a computer repair technician, who can provide the parts, skills, and knowledge required (at a price, of course).

Option 3 – Performance or Price?

What is the main factor? Do you want to have a super-fast, super-reliable computer? Or just something urgent to get you along until the money comes in? A balance, perhaps?

Make sure you consider this before you purchase, and before you speak to any salesmen; they can easily tempt you into something else!

A word of warning – Set a budget before you start; a preferred budget, and an absolute maximum. With the nature of computing as it is these days, you can easily let the machine specs run away from you; as well as their associated costs. These days, you can easily go anywhere from $600, up to about $3500.

It’s time for another quiz! We’d love for you guys to tell us which is your favourite web browser? Do you use the trusty (arguable) old Internet Explorer? You might be a Firefox fanatic? Or maybe you’re hip and use Chrome?

Comment and let’s find out which browser Australia loves to use the most!

That is, until you get TweetDeck.

Most People Have Some Connection To Twitter These Days

I personally used to manage my own personal twitter (@scottrnugent) and my business twitter (@ScottNugentWeb) in different browsers, but I’d still find it confusing. But I  was recommended to look at TweetDeck by a client and it was love at first site. TweetDeck allows me to streamline all my twitter (and other social media accounts as well!) into a single desktop, phone, or browser based application. From here, I can monitor all my feeds, my direct messages, post updates to whatever account combinations I want, and even monitor Twitter activity for re-tweets and mentions.

My TweetDeck dashboard (DM blurred for privacy)

There are tons of other great features including timed updates, auto-url shortening, video/photo attaching, webcam integration, location information, language translation, and recent hashtag memory. It’s even smart enough to split and display my most popular tweets, and my friends most popular tweets. The user interface is also completely customisable, based on a “columns” layout.

I strongly recommend this software to ANYONE using twitter; multiple accounts or not. It really is an all inclusive social media dashboard!

See http://www.tweetdeck.com/ for more information about TweetDeck and to download the software!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Computer-Lessons-Australia/247461941938802?v=wall

(25 likes and something special happens )

Keep an eye on all our social media, including facebook and YouTube (www.youtube.com/computerlessonsau).

We’re wondering, how important is social media when it comes to businesses and organisations? Is it an imperative marketing tool? Is it just an annoying time waster?

Comment now; we’d love to hear your opinion here!

Option 1 – Get A Designer

This is obviously the easiest method for creating your new online site. OK, it might be cheating, but it’s the fastest and will have the best quality result.

The best way to find a designer is ask around! Word of mouth is the best way to know if you should go with a certain company/individual. Look at forums, chats, speak to friends, email people, call people; whatever. Just make sure you have some solid recommendation before going ahead!

Advantages

• Quality product
• High speed
• Support for the long term

Disadvantages

• High cost
• Possible legal restrictions
• Need to be clear with requirements/brief

Option 2 – Get Taught

The next option is being taught; taking lessons, tutorials, classes, courses, etc. Your local TAFE or community college should offer something like this.

This is a good way to have a professional individual who knows the industry teach you everything. You might even learn some tips for if you want to further your design for profit.

Advantages

• Solid foundation
• Ask questions you want to ask
• Someone to always bounce ideas off

Disadvantages

• High cost
• Long process
• Might not get taught what you want to

Option 3 – Teach Yourself

HTML and CSS (and design in general) are relatively easy to learn. Take as many online courses and tutorial as possible. Borrow as many books from the local library as allowed. Watch as many youtube videos as your ISP quota permits!

But design can’t just be learnt from books and theory; take a look at some other sites, play around (you won’t break anything or get embarassed by yourself)

Advantages

• Free!
• Learn at own pace
• Can choose what you want to learn – customised learning
• Eternal support and opportunity to retrain

Disadvantages

• Slow process
• Might not be learning 100% correct information/techniques

We hope you learnt something here! If you have questions or comments, feel free to leave us a comment or send an email! Also, keep tuned for our upcoming “The Coding Series – HTML” video; you might learn something that will help!

Unfortunately most large PHP applications eventuate in messy code, bad structuring, lack of object-orientation, hard to follow logic, and errors. Wouldn’t it be great if there was some time of framework available that gave you all the basic libraries and helpers you need to start that hard project? Well luckily, there is CodeIgniter.

CodeIgniter is an amazing PHP Framework which aims to provide quickly composed applications and pages, while maintaining a strict MVC structure.

MVC – Model, View, Controller

he MVC theory helps to split up the data structures, data processing, and data rendering of a web application.

• Model – Connects and interfaces with databases, for example MySQL.
• View – Takes data from controller and creates a HTML render of your layout; inserting PHP values into the HTML easily.
• Controller – Controls model loading, view interfacing, and processing. This is where the main “work” of the site is done.