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Dressing Up Your ComputerYou have on your favorite blouse or shirt and you need to dress it up, what can you do? If you are a female, putting on a nice necklace would be just right. If you are a male, finding that tie that has that perfect color, add some cufflinks and you're all set. Your nice outfit is complete - because you've added the accessories.Similiar to when you choose to dress up that nice outfit, depending upon your needs, your computer may need to be dressed up too. There are many nice accessories, you may hear of them as being called gadgets, add-ons, devices, etc. - they're all basically the same thing. These accessories make your computer look good, sound good and they add to the enjoyment of having your computer depending on what they can do. Let's take a look at a few of them. You may think of these or others.
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If you have a desktop, having speakers is optional, however if you like sounds and music, it's a must-have. Getting speakers with a sub-woofer, for added bass and power is also nice. If you have a laptop, it already has built-in speakers. If you still need more sound, you can connect speakers to it. However, if you plan on moving your laptop around, you will have to unplug the speakers, then replug them again. 
The USB Flash drive is a small external (outside your computer) drive where you can you can store important data or information that you have on your computer. This includes documents and pictures.
The USB drive is plugged in the back of your desktop or laptop in the USB (Universial Serial Bus) port or outlet. This is the back of my laptop. You will notice that there are two usb ports and my usb flash drive is inserted in the bottom port:
Accessories that are made to be used in a USB port has become quite popular and it's also very easy. Most USB accessories such a mouse are now Plug & Play - meaning just that, you plug in the accessory in your USB port and you're ready to play or use that device. If you are still using Windows 98 or ME (that's ok, I know many folks who still are)you may to have to install the software drivers for the USB accessory which usually comes with the accessory when you purchase it. For Windows 2000, XP, Vista, etc. you should not have to worry about installing the software drivers for the USB accessory. Interestingly, mouse, keyboards, printers (see below) and other computer accessories are now USB compatible. While this is a useful idea, you want to make sure that your computer has enough USB ports where you can connect all of your USB devices.
Printers are also accessories that are now using USB ports. If you ever had a printer, you will remember when you needed to make sure you had the special 9-pin printer cable where one end would plug in the back of your desktop and other end would be plugged in back of the computer.
You don't have to worry about that anymore-:) With different makes and models of printers that are being made now, software drivers would still need to be installed on your computer for communication to exist between the computer and the printer. With some printers, using the printer cable that came with the printer may still be an option for you - whatever is easier for you. There are also printers that made with multi-function features such as a printer, copier, scanner and fax. These are called all-in-one printers. 
I Can See You!
Webcams are small cameras that sit on top of your monitor or LCD screen where images can be viewed using the Web or a computer video program. It like having a video security system in your home. Newer laptops are made with built-in webcams. People use webcams for different reasons: a parent keeping an eye her child and making sure her home is safe, a person in India with a webcam on his computer can see a person in California who also has a webcam on their computer.
There is a computer program called Skype that allows you make phone calls while using your webcam.
Wireless Is The Way To Go What does wireless mean? Let's break up the word: less wire - got it? I can't explain it any simplier than that - it's not meant to be hard for you to understand. No cables, wires or other cords to trip over - wireless connections has taken over. Every one of us is affected (whether we realize it or not) by some sort of wireless connection.
Satellite television, GPS (Global Positioning System) in your automobile are other examples of wireless communication. Instead of hard wires, signals are transmitted by electromagnetic waves, thus you have wireless communication.
Last week, I went to a local bagel shop that just reopened because of recent renovations and I noticed that they're now offering free wireless (WiFi) connection. I can get something to eat and drink and connect to the internet with my laptop at no extra charge. Many businesses are offering a similiar service to attract more customers - and it's working. Wireless connections are available in hotels, airport terminals, small restaurants and similar places. Why pay for wireless connection when you can get it for free by going to one of these public places? I'll answer that in a second. First, let's go over a wireless network that you may want for your home. Let's cover the desktop first.
Do you remember the basic desktop setup? If your desktop does not already have a wireless card installed, you now have the option of upgrading your desktop with a wireless card or you can purchase a wireless router - which actually is cheaper. Once you connect the wireless router, install the necessary drivers, follow the directions to configure the router with your desktop (which are included)and you're all set.
If the laptop does not have a pre-installed wirless card inside, again, you can go the cheaper and easy route and purchase a external wireless card - one that will be outside the laptop but still connected to your laptop. There are different types of wireless cards: ones that fit in your USB port (looks identical to a USB Flash drive)and others that fit in the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card) slot, usually located on the side of the laptop. A PC card actually looks like a credit card. A PCMCIA wireless card would be identical to this PCMCIA network card below:
Your desktop setup with your new wireless router is in one room and now with your laptop, you can move to another room in your home while being able to connect to the internet via your wireless connection!
Some computer accessories that we went over are also going wireless: mouse, keyboard, printer. Remember to break up the word wireless - and it makes sense-:)
I mentioned before about going to a place that offers WiFi connection outside your home and yes, it's nice to go to your local bagel shop, sip on your favorite cup of coffee while connecting to the internet for free. But free can also bring on privacy issues. You are taking a chance connecting through someone's else's wireless connection and this can leave your laptop open to having YOUR information left out in the open. How would you feel if you came home and you found your windows exposed when you know you pulled the shade dowwn before you left that day? It can be the same thing when using someone else's wireless connection, especially in a public place. You stand the chance of having your laptop exposed to someone else. Be careful if you decide to use any free wireless connection of a restaurant, bagel/coffee shop or the like. Make sure to ask the owner, manager or employee if their wireless network is secure.
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Do you have a cordless phone in your house? You can walk around your home not having to drag along a phone cord, right? This is a form of wireless communication. Do you have a cell phone? - Ok, nowadays the question is 'who doesn't have a cell phone? This is another example of wireless communication.
