"I genuinely believe that if I was to give people a choice that the take-up would be 99 per cent in favour of Apple," says CIO Matt Peers.
Image: Google
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the launch of Apple's iPhone. During the past decade, the device and its associated operating system iOS have moved from consumer innovation to business standard. Apple devices and their Android adversaries now dominate the global smart phone market. But which operating system is best for business? Five CIOs give their views to ZDNet.
1. Openness is a key benefit of Android
Neil Moore, head of ICT at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, says his organisation's recommended platform is Android. The vast majority of employees in the organisation use this mobile operating system.
Part of the focus on Android relates to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Platform (ESMCP), which is the next-generation communication platform for UK public bodies and a replacement for the current Airwave system. Moore says that, although the programme requires delivery across all platforms, Android is the clear lead system for ESMCP.
Other issues are important, too -- particularly integration and support. "Openness is certainly a key issue for us," says Moore. "We've found in the past that there's been more issues integrating systems due to the proprietary nature of iOS."
The organisation does allow some employees to use iOS if there is a specific need. Moore and his team provide limited support for Apple devices. "But the line we take is that Android is our preferred operating system," he says. "Our standard equipment runs on that operating system."
2. Familiarity is the key to the popularity of Apple devices
Matt Peers joined global law firm Linklaters as CIO in May 2015. Prior to his arrival, the firm was a heavy user of BlackBerry devices. Linklaters is now more wedded to Apple devices and iOS. Everyone who works for the firm -- from the back-office to the chief executive -- receives a corporate-supplied smartphone.
"I genuinely believe that if I was to give people a choice that the take-up would be 99 per cent in favour of Apple," he says. The firm saw about 185 iPhone 7s join its network on the day the device launched earlier this year.
Peers says the firm selected Apple over Android due to user preferences. He cites three key reason why Apple is more popular: familiarity with iOS from a domestic setting; ease of use when compared to other platforms; and compatibility with the firm's existing security products.
Android or iOS is one of the biggest decisions you'll make for your company, especially regarding security. Here are the latest security updates from both ecosystems.
Peers, however, remains open to new ideas, particularly when it comes to user preferences around mobile devices and operating system. "I constantly listen to what people are telling me in the firm," he says. "If we start to get a ground swell of opinion that we need to be offering other devices, then we will."
3. Work experience means Google is ready for business
Mark Ridley, group technology officer at venture builder Blenheim Chalcot Accelerate, is a big fan of Android but until recently he would have said iOS represented the slightly better choice for business. He says recent developments have changed his mind, suggesting the latest Android devices -- such as Google Pixel -- are highly secure and business-ready.
"These modern devices have the capability to do biometric authentication, so I'd be pretty happy from a security point of view using most of the recent Android devices in business," he says. "I'm still a huge fan of Google." However, Ridley recognises that iOS and Android have their respective plus points.
"The user experience with both is incredible," he says. "The power that lies within the operating system on iOS and Android devices is amazing. It's nothing like the early days of mobility, where you were wedded to a particular operating system and all the platforms had their faults."
Ridley, though, retains a strong bond with Android. "I feel like you can have a really great work experience in a pure Google world," he says. "Being able to simply give workers a device to log-on to and work from makes a real difference to productivity. It also commoditises technology."
4. Compatibility and usability are Apple plus points
Toby Clarke, interim head of IT at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says he does not have a preference when it comes to the best mobile operating system for the business. The explanation for that sentiment is related to the current focus of his work.
"At Moorfields, I've been focused on other areas of IT provision rather than mobility during the past couple of years," he says. Clarke, who was previously IT director at finance specialist Abbey Protection Group for more than a decade, has spent has time at Moorfields focusing on standards, infrastructure, and skills.
He does, however, have a personal take. After many years of BlackBerry use, Clarke switched to iOS, rather than Android. He cites compatibility and usability concerns as key, particularly when it comes to connections to some of his devices and services.
"BlackBerry lost its traction because people stopped making apps -- and if you can't get great software, you'll drop the system," he says. "I love the iPhone but I think both iOS and Android will co-exist in the enterprise of the future."
5. Let your people decide which device is right
Graham Benson, CIO at Rentalcars.com, says mobility at his firm is all about giving power to the user. His organisation gives people the choice of Android or iOS. The firm also supports both Mac OS and Windows for PC.
"The selection of your operating system only becomes an issue if you choose to make it a concern," he says. "Technical workers, especially, understand devices and platforms and they will have certain preferences."
For Benson the appropriateness of an operating system for work is directly related to the type of task being completed. Workers can bring their own devices to work to help fulfil tasks. The firm runs a separate system called Rentalcars Guest that allows people to connect their own devices securely to the network.
The key to choosing the right mobile operating system, says Benson, is staff satisfaction. "I don't have a problem with people making their own choices," he says. "It's much more important to keep your people happy at work."
Are you a beginner who wants to learn hacking but don’t know where to start? If so you are at the right place. Since most of the books and free resources on the Internet are only meant for those who already have a considerable amount of knowledge on the subject, they fail to teach hacking for beginners. Therefore, I have decided to come up with this post that gives useful tips for beginners on how to kick start their journey to becoming a hacker.
What is the Best Way to Learn Hacking for Beginners?
Consider the following steps:
Step-1: Begin with the Basics
For beginners who have little or no previous knowledge of hacking, it is always better to start off from the basics. Instead of directly learning how to hack, you can begin exploring more about topics such as computer networks, network ports, firewalls, common network protocols like IP address, HTTP, FTP, DNS, SMTP etc. along with how each of those stuffs work.
You can also begin to learn more about alternate operating systems Linux whose knowledge becomes very much essential in the field of hacking. The more you learn about the basics, the more easy it is to find vulnerabilities and device exploits. Once you develop a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts, you will be in a position to easily understand various hacking techniques that are in practice.
Step-2: Find a Good Source to Start Learning
If one has a fair amount of experience in the field of hacking, there exists so many books and websites that give out technical information on latest vulnerabilities along with possible ways to exploit them. However, for beginners it is hard to find sources that teach hacking right from the basics in a simple and easy to follow manner.
So, I decided to put together all my 10+ years of experience in the field and come up with a book for beginners called Hacking Secrets Exposed which demands no prior knowledge of the topic and is easy for the readers to follow and understand at every step. This book also comes packed with all the necessary fundamental concepts (as mentioned in the step-1) so that readers can find them all at one place. Therefore, I recommend this book for all those beginners who have a dream to start off their journey to becoming a hacker. This is an excellent source of knowledge for all those who have a little or no prior background of hacking. For more information on this book, you can visit the official website from the following link: howtohack.gohacking.com.
Step-3: Learn Programming (Optional)
If you want to take your hacking skills one step ahead, programming is something that you can’t skip down. Although you can easily find a lot of ready made tools and programs that let you hack with ease, it is always better to have some basic knowledge of programming languages like PHP and JavsScript so that you will be in a position to develop your own tools and exploit codes. However, if you do not wish to learn programming you can skip this step and still be a good hacker.
How Long does it Take to Master the Skills of Hacking?
Since hacking is not something that can be mastered overnight, you should never be in a hurry to get going. It requires knowledge, skills, creativity, dedication and of course the time. Depending upon the amount of effort and dedication you put, it can take up anywhere between a few months to few years to develop all the the necessary skills. Everyone can become a hacker provided they learn it from the basics and build a solid foundation. So, if you want to be a hacker all you need is passion to learn, a good source of knowledge that will guide you through the basics and some perseverance.
Amazon has launched its "Sell as Individual" service in India, allowing users to sell their used goods. The pilot program is currently operational in Bangalore.
Though still in the early phase, the move should worry Ebay, Quikr and Olx, some popular platforms in the space that allow individuals to sell their used products.
On its website, Amazon explains that people in Bangalore can list the products they want to sell and the company would handle the packaging and delivery of the product.
The products will be listed on the website, and when someone places an order for it, a representative from Amazon India would visit the seller and collect the product from their doorstep at their preferred time.
IMAGE: SCREENGRAB / AMAZON INDIA
Amazon says it will charge the sellers Rs 10 (15 cents) for every item they sell below Rs 1,000 ($15), Rs 50 (75 cents) for every item, sold between 1,000 to Rs 5,000 ($75), and Rs 100 ($1.5) if the item sold costs more than Rs 5,000.
Amazon has been experimenting in the space of old goods for quite some time. In June 2015, its Junglee website had launched a pilot service to allow users to sell their old products. Amazon launched Junglee in 2012 with an aim to help customers find and discover products from online and offline shops.
For Amazon, having individuals sell their old products could be a big market opportunity, and yet another way to differentiate from Flipkart, its arch rival in the country.
Limited Time Offer: Sign up for one of the financial courses from Udemy listed below using coupon code MONEYCRASHERS75 to get 75% off the price (expires November 30, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT).
Imagine a future where you have 24-7 worldwide access to an unlimited team of personal tutors, each an expert in their field. These “experts” explain their subjects in simple, practical language; they are incredibly patient, willing to repeat lessons without complaint; and their advice is free or comes at a minimal cost. That future is here – in the guise of a new instructional platform pioneered by Internet firms like Udemy.
Their efforts, and those of other education entrepreneurs, are revolutionizing traditional learning paradigms by replacing classroom instruction and fixed curricula with self-paced, online instruction from subject experts around the world. They are also “democratizing” sources of knowledge by recognizing expertise wherever it may be found. In other words, anyone can be an expert.
Udemy Background Information
Amazon turned the book publishing world topsy-turvy with its Kindle eReader and its direct publishing subsidiary (KDP). Udemy, a California-based company with $48 million in funding to date, intends to do the same to the traditional instructional industry. Udemy has created a technological platform that allows novice instructors to plan, design, and produce video how-to instructions for almost any subject.
Its mission is to “help anybody learn anything online.” Its vision of the world is one in which everyone can teach and share what they know. As a publisher and promoter of video how-to instruction courses, Udemy targets to several different, though related, markets: The instructor who creates the course, the student who takes the course, and organizations that might utilize Udemy technology to create specialized courses as a branded product or for internal employee use.
Udemy may be the largest educational “how-to” video producer out there. It currently offers 20,000 publicly available video instruction courses in categories ranging from “Lifestyle” to “Test Preparation.” With more than 10,000 instructors globally, over 1,000 new courses are added each month. The rapidly growing student base – currently four million – views more than 80,000 lectures daily, available in 10 different languages and 190 countries.
Many of the courses are free, and the majority are priced at less than $200. However, prices ranges all the way up to $999 for courses like “The $400k Crowdfunding Launch Formula” and “How to Trade Stock Options: Profiting in Up and Down Markets.” While many courses offer a certificate of completion (and a very select number provide continuing education credits), these have little academic or professional value since there is no independent verification of course subject matter. The real value of a Udemy course is securing the practical knowledge of a subject and applying that knowledge to one’s life and work.
The company aggressively seeks potential course creators by sharing with them any tuition fees received from students. This is similar to the strategy used by Amazon, which distributes a royalty ranging from 35% to 70% of the sales price for e-books published by its KDL subsidiary and retailed on the Amazon website.
Udemy does not require specialized expertise or credentials to create and sell a course. It relies upon the marketplace to separate the wheat from the chaff. Course creators are primarily responsible for publicizing and marketing their courses, just as self-published authors must promote their books on Amazon if they want to have commercial success.
Key Features of Udemy Courses
Individual courses share a number of common characteristics:
Wide Range of Course Offerings. Udemy currently offers 15 major categories of courses ranging from software development to music, with up to 15 subcategories under each main category. For example, in the “Instruments” subcategory of “Music,” there are at least 30 separate courses for piano students, a similar number for guitar players, 5 courses for beginners who want to play the harmonica, and multiple courses on how to play the drums, saxophone, flute, banjo, and autoharp.
No Prequalification Necessary to Take Any Course. Students can take any course that might interest them.
Viewable on All Internet-Connected Devices. Courses can be viewed on desktop and portable computers, as well as tablets and smartphones.
Free or Low-Cost Tuition. An estimated 10% of courses offered by Udemy are free, while the remainder are generally priced under $200. There are exceptions, with some courses costing up to $1,000, but these are relatively rare.
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee. If students determine that they do not wish to pursue a course for any reason during the first 30 days following enrollment, Udemy returns 100% of the tuition fees.
Immediate Access. Upon enrollment, students have instant access to the courses they have chosen, since all course materials – PDFs, financial templates, guidelines, and checklists – are prerecorded and electronically available for easy download to any electronic device.
Lifetime Access to the Enrolled Course. Courses, or any portion of a course, can be retaken or reviewed a limitless number of times without additional cost. This access ensures that students have every opportunity to master the material regardless of their personal schedules or interruptions.
Self-Paced. Each course consists of video lectures in lengths ranging from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. When watching the lectures, students can stop and replay all or part as many times as they want. Courses generally include a series of interim quizzes so that students can gauge their mastery of the materials.
Access to Prior Student Reviews and Ratings. Potential purchasers of any course can easily read past student reviews and ratings for a hopefully unbiased opinion of its value. In addition, many courses feature previews of their lessons so you can evaluate the style and quality of each instructor.
Instructors Have Practical, Professional Knowledge. Instructors are generally business people with actual experience in the subjects they teach, rather than academics. They have “been there and done that,” and are able to impart lessons from their time in the field. For the most part, lessons are presented in simple English with easily understood examples and applications in actual business environments.
Certificate of Completion. Many courses award certificates of completion. Since there is no independent verification of subject mastery, it’s important to note that the value of a certificate may be questioned by people unfamiliar with you or Udemy. While some courses have been approved for professional continuing education credits, interested students should verify the status of such credits before purchasing a course.
Aggressive Revenue Sharing of Tuition Fees. Instructors set the retail price of each course and typically receive revenues from two sources: sales to new Udemy customers made by the instructor earn 100% of the tuition fee, and sales to the existing Udemy customer base earn 50% of the tuition fee.
Creator Pricing Control. Course creators set the market price for the courses they offer. Udemy recommends $10 to $30 per hour of content. For example, a four-hour course would sell between $40 and $120 under this formula.
Proprietary Technology for Publishing. Udemy offers a one-stop shop for potential instructors to plan, create, publish, and promote their course offerings. A series of videos provides step-by-step instruction to create a course for any subject. Support is provided 24-7 with a full library of informational articles and examples. All Udemy services are provided free to potential instructors.
Opt-In Participation in Special Udemy Marketing Promotions. From time to time, Udemy runs special promotional programs designed to attract new customers. The option to participate is decided solely by the instructor.
Access to an Established Customer Base. All of Udemy’s four million users are potential purchasers of any course. However, course creators must be prepared to pursue an aggressive marketing strategy with their own contacts to ensure sales success, not unlike self-published authors who must create “buzz” for their literary works.
Brand Building and Tie-Ins. Experts can use their Udemy courses to promote the sale of other services or products, thus building the value of their brand. For example, Angela R. Loeb, a “self-development consultant,” offers a free course titled “Your Job Search Is a Spiritual Journey.” It is likely that some of the course’s 3,471 enrollees have sought to engage Ms. Loeb for additional services. Every student of a course is a potential customer of the instructor’s.
For Students
A potential Udemy student can benefit from the following features:
Discounts and Low-Cost Courses. Udemy estimates that a significant number of its courses are free, though the majority are priced between $29 and $99. The company aggressively seeks to build its customer base with widely distributed discount coupons and promotional periods where students can try courses for free or for 50% or more off the listed price.
Extensive Course Offerings Dwarf Competition. There are more than 100 categories and subcategories of courses on Udemy, ranging from web development to photography to foreign languages. Udemy’s library of courses dwarfs any of its video learning competitors.
Instructor and Student Feedback. Courses generally have an accompanying discussion board that allows students to post comments, questions, or problems where the instructor and other students can see and respond to them directly online.
Tie-Ins With Instructors’ External Services. Many course creators use their instructional videos to promote proprietary products like books or consulting services. In many cases, enrollment in a course may entitle students to special promotions and price discounts.
Ability to Test-Drive. Not only do many courses offer a free preview of one lesson, but if students wish to “return” purchased courses for any reason within 30 days, they may do so, no questions asked. This makes it easier to try one or more courses risk-free if you’re not entirely sure they will suit you.
Disadvantages
For Instructors and Course Creators
In selecting Udemy as their publisher, course creators should consider the following disadvantages:
Competitive Instructional Video Publishers. A number of startups, such as lynda.com, SchoolKeep, Fedora, and Skilljar, have entered the video how-to market. Competitors may develop dominant positions in a particular subject category, creating a disadvantage for Udemy course creators.
Competitive Course Offerings Within Udemy. Course creators are at the mercy of the “tombstone” – each course’s viewing position on the Udemy website. Udemy controls the placement and appearance of each tombstone through proprietary logarithms, meaning your competitors may have a leg up simply because they appear before you.
Uncertain Quality of Udemy Classes. Udemy requires certain technical standards, such as a course outline with at least five lectures, each under 20 minutes long, as well as minimum audio and video standards. Despite this, there is limited review of the completeness, accuracy, conclusions, or recommendations of the course creator. As a consequence, course offerings vary significantly in quality. One rotten apple can spoil the barrel just as a poorly designed and presented course reflects badly on the Udemy library as a whole, potentially damaging your brand.
Lenient Return Policies. If, for any reason, purchasers request their money back within 30 days of purchase, refunds are guaranteed. As a consequence, course creators bear the risk that a student would complete and use the course within 30 days, yet still ask for a refund. At a minimum, royalty payments for the courses to the instructor are deferred until the guarantee period is over.
Reliance on Personal Marketing Efforts. With the disintermediation of traditional marketing relationships, the burden of product promotion falls heavily upon the shoulders of the course creator, whether publishing with Udemy or one of its competitors. While Udemy provides limited marketing assistance, the bulk of promotion is dependent upon the creator. Promotional activities can be very expensive, even when limited solely to social media. Course creators must be prepared to undertake marketing and promotional roles for their courses.
For Students
Lack of Academic Credit. Unlike accredited MOOC courses offered by universities and colleges, the majority of Udemy courses do not include any certificate of proficiency that would be recognized by an employer or other educational institution. Udemy courses are generally not intended for academic credit, but the transfer of practical knowledge from instructor to student. Students should be aware that mastery of a subject is up to them.
Variability of Production Values. Courses generally consist of talking heads, slide show presentations, computer screen shots, and limited pupil-to-pupil or pupil-to-lecturer interaction. Even though the information presented is basic, easily understood, and generally complete, the videos tend to be unexciting, even boring, so that maintaining attention over an extended period can be difficult. In addition, the production values between different courses can vary enormously. Some courses are plain and simple; others are technological aggregations of professional presenters, computer graphics, and stunning design. While each course has to meet minimum video and audio standards, the quality of presentation can affect attention and retention. For example, the heavy accent of a nonnative English speaker may jar students in the U.S., just as a Texan’s tongue-lazy pronunciation of Español is likely to detract from a course’s value to native Spanish speakers.
Lack of Course Mastery Validation. With few exceptions, Udemy courses are targeted to beginners with little or no experience in a particular field of study. Students should recognize that completing a course may be the first step in mastering the subject, not the end point.
Overlapping Course Content. A recent search for Udemy courses about “business plans” provided more than 800 entries in the English language. While 115 courses were free, the remaining had fees, starting at $15 (“The Business Plan”) and ranging to $749 (“Grow Your Own Tarot Business”). The plethora of courses covers similar materials in different degrees. Students looking for specific information or instruction might have difficulty finding the course that fits their requirements.
Questionable Expertise and Experience of Some Course Creators. Expertise is often in the eye of the beholder. Udemy’s business plan presumes that every person can be an expert in some subject or field and that others wish to benefit from that knowledge. Rather than censor or evaluate the credentials of course creators or the value of their instruction, Udemy relies upon the open market to identify winners and losers. This open-door, nondiscriminatory strategy ensures a vibrant flow of course offerings and, currently being pursued by ebook publishers, has changed the publishing industry. Udemy hopes to do the same in the packaged video instruction space.
A Sample of Beginner Finance Courses
Each of the following courses consists of approximately 30 to 34 video lectures averaging about eight minutes in length. They generally include self-administered exams, allowing students to test their understanding of the subject matter as they progress, and downloadable PDFs, slide shows, and financial models (Microsoft Excel) to simplify and explain course concepts. The majority provide a certificate of completion, but there is no independent verification of subject mastery. A few courses have more rigorous requirements and may qualify for professional continuing education credits, such as the financial modeling course by edu CBA.
Project Finance Modeling for Beginners
“Project Finance Modeling for Beginners” is a $99 course that teaches the details of project finance modeling, as differentiated from the broader corporate finance modeling at an enterprise level. It includes simple explanations for estimating costs, verifying feasibility, mitigating risk, and project modeling with samples of appropriate financial statements and management reports. The course was developed by edu CBA, a global online investment banking training firm that offers 41 different finance courses through Udemy. While more than 1,900 students have enrolled in the course, only 11 student reviews have been posted to date, the majority of which have rated the curricula four or five stars.
While designated a beginner course, the instructors presume that students have experience with Excel spreadsheets and a working knowledge of financial terms, accounting statements, and their relationship to one another, as well as financial ratios. The video lectures generally average five to eight minutes in length with the longest about 15 minutes. While a certificate of completion is provided to those who watch the entire course, there is no independent verification that the information has been assimilated by the student or can be applied in a work environment.
Lean Finance for Startups
“Lean Finance for Startups” is a $197 course developed by Lili Balfour, founder of Silicon Valley consulting firm Atelier Advisors, which works to raise capital for entrepreneurial ventures. As such, the course is part of the firm’s marketing outreach, since completion includes a 50-minute personal telephone session with Balfour on strategy, finding capital, or modeling. The course includes 34 video lectures, self-administered quizzes, downloadable PDFs, slides, and models, as well as a list of potential investors and a “Popexpert Session” valued by Atelier Advisers at $300.
It is an excellent introduction to the intricacies of raising capital for a new company as well as the potential pitfalls for inexperienced entrepreneurs. Especially interesting sections include methods of evaluation from a potential investor’s perspective and a step-by-step process to build and exploit a personal network for capital.
Financial Modeling
The $139 course, “Financial Modeling,” also by edu CBA, has almost 9,000 enrolled students and 47 student reviews, the majority of which are five-star. While the 159 lectures are aimed at beginners, there is a presumption of basic accounting and finance, and familiarity with Microsoft Excel. Course-provided templates do, however, help facilitate understanding. This course is also approved by the CFA Institute and qualifies for 20 hours of continuing education.
Since the course includes forecasting, scenario analysis, data tables, goal-seeking, and advanced charting and is relatively sophisticated with case studies and valuation models, it is probably beyond the capability of an untrained pupil without basic business knowledge and experience.
Basics of Business Finance
With more than 4,200 enrollees in the $29 “Basics of Business Finance” course, Binny Matthews – course designer and instructor and former investment banker with an M.S. in computer science – teaches a basic introductory finance course consisting of 24 video lectures and 23 self-administered quizzes. The course is built around the three basic financial statements – income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet – and utilizes real company examples to explain the basics and interconnected relationships of each. It should be suitable for anyone with at least a high school diploma who seeks a basic literacy in finance and accounting.
Finance Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs
Lili Balfour, creator and instructor of “Lean Finance for Startups,” mentioned above, is the sponsor for “Finance Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs,” which is directed more to entrepreneurs who are ready for, or in the process of seeking investment funding. Like her other course, those who complete this one are entitled to a “Popexpert Session” with Ms. Balfour.
Her subject ranges from formulating a realistic valuation and a model to justify that value to developing a “pitchbook” to identify potential investors. Ms. Balfour provides real life examples and practical advice to prepare entrepreneurs for the difficult, often unsuccessful task of raising capital. A particularly useful lesson is the explanation of capital dilution, a consequence of taking in outside investors.
More than 1,300 students have enrolled in the course, but only 7 have completed a formal review. Potential purchasers should be aware that the 30-day period outlined by Ms. Balfour to accomplish funding is most likely optimistic. With that exception, the course paints a realistic picture of the venture capital process including likely obstacles to success. Nevertheless, awareness of this information is critical to every aspiring entrepreneur.
Finance and Accounting for Startups
“Finance and Accounting for Startups” is a well-developed, logical progression through corporate accounting and finance. The instructor, Chris Benjamin, an MBA and contract CFO for over 100 startup companies, combines 75 video lectures in seven hours of content. Mr. Benjamin uses slides as well as actual examples of public companies’ financial statements to make his points. The course has fewer than 400 students enrolled with only six student reviews (three to five stars).
The last three lessons are dedicated to raising capital, understanding investor exit strategies, and the mechanics of an initial public offering. This is a down-to-earth, basic course with critical knowledge for anyone starting or growing a company.
Final Word
While lifetime learning is critical to maintaining an employee’s position in the workplace, formal classes are often unavailable, too expensive, or too theoretical to deliver knowledge that actually benefits students in their professions. Udemy is an interesting and evolving entry into the field of education providers. It turns the traditional view of the educational process on its head, focusing on the transfer of knowledge, rather than the attainment of a diploma.
It is likely that, as self-paced, online instruction becomes more common, validation of mastery will appear through independent testing agencies in many subjects. At the same time, developing and implementing new and enhanced skills in the workplace is certain to benefit both employee and employer. Udemy is a company with a concept whose time has come. While competitors are sure to appear, the company is likely to maintain its lead in the online video instruction industry.
Verdict
The online education realm is still in its infancy, but Udemy is one of the more mature players in the field. Its 10,000 instructors make for a great number of subjects covered – and plenty of teaching styles, as well. With that high volume of content, some courses are going to be better than others, but a system in which creators must market their own courses, and students have the ability to evaluate them, helps ensure that the cream rises to the top.
Score
4.3 out of 5 stars: The sheer magnitude of course offerings makes Udemy a strong option for online education. However, lack of accreditation makes it generally a better choice for students looking for personal enrichment or pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors.
Limited Time Offer: Sign up for one of the financial courses from Udemy listed above using coupon code MONEYCRASHERS75 to get 75% off the price (expires November 30, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT).
There's a rush that you get when you press the power button for the first time on a new computer. The quiet blow of the fans, the reassuring beeps, and the glow of a monitor all signal the completion of a successful build. That feeling of anticipation is one of the driving forces for computer enthusiasts, and building your own computer is the perfect entry point. You can also save money by building your own PC.
Part1
Gathering Your Components
1
Determine the function of the computer. If you’re building a computer to use in the home office for word processing and emails, you’ll have much different requirements than if you’re building a computer for high-end gaming. The role of your computer will heavily dictate the components that you will need. Regardless of the final function of your computer, every computer needs the same basic components.
Keep your budget in mind, too. If your computer will be mostly for office work, you could probably get away with a budget of $500. If your computer will be a basic gaming build capable of playing most games with an acceptable frame-rate and decent settings then a budget of around $800 (or more depending on if you want a bit more extra power) should be fine. If you want a very high-end gaming build that can max out new triple A titles then you should have a budget of $1100 and above. Remember to assign money in the budget for the OS, monitor, mouse, headphones, microphone, webcam, and any other needed peripherals.
2
Find a processor (CPU). This is the brain of your computer. Almost all processors are multi-core, meaning they are essentially multiple processors in one. Compare specs and find a processor that is up to date, not one that may sound right but could be an old model. They change, becoming out of date and unsupported by the manufacturers and software makers. Choose one with the speed that you will need to run the programs you want. Also take into account power usage and the type of and ease of cooling. Inadequate cooling is a killer for the processor. Avoid the Pentium series as most of those CPUs are outdated.
3
Get a motherboard that fits your processor. If the processor is the brain, then the motherboard is the torso. The motherboard is what connects all of the internal components of your computer. The processor you purchase will determine the type of motherboard you will need. Different processors have different “socket” sizes, and only work with motherboards that support that socket. Your choice here will depend on what processor you have, how much memory you want, the size of your case, and how many drives you want to connect to it.
Motherboards come in many form-factors, but the most common are ATX and MicroATX. ATX is the standard full-size motherboard. If you are building a typical tower computer, look for ATX motherboards. µATX boards are smaller than the standard ATX board, and are better if you want a smaller case and have no need for more than four expansion slots.
Make sure that your motherboard supports all of the other components that you wish to install. If you are planning on installing a high-end graphics card, the motherboard will need to support the PCI Express interface. If you want to install lots of RAM, your motherboard will need to be able to hold at least 4 sticks.
Sometimes you can get the processor and the motherboard as a combo package, which could end up saving you a bit of money. Just make sure you're not settling for a model of processor or motherboard that you don't want just to save a few bucks.
Always do heavy research on the exact specs of your motherboard on the manufacturer's website. If you are unsure if your CPU and motherboard socket sizes match just check what socket the specs say, if your CPU and motherboard both say LGA 1150 then it will match. There are many different socket sizes that exist but in reality you won't need to worry since only a few of those are not outdated.
4
Find memory (RAM) that is compatible with your new motherboard and CPU. RAM (Random Access Memory) is where programs store information that they are using. If you don’t have enough RAM, your programs will run much slower than they should. The RAM you can purchase is dictated by the motherboard that you choose. The speed of the RAM that you install must be supported by the motherboard.[1] You can check the manufacturer's websites for both components to check.
RAM should always be installed in matching pairs of sticks. All the RAM in the system should be the same speed, and preferably the same make and model. For example, if you want 8 GB of RAM, you can install two matching 4 GB sticks or four matching 2 GB sticks.
If you intend to use more than 4 GB of RAM, you will need to install a 64-bit operating system. 32-bit operating systems do not recognize more than 4 GB of RAM, even if more is installed. However two matching 4 GB sticks will offer the best performance due to a feature called "Dual-Channel".
5
Get a hard drive big enough to store all of your data. Your hard drive stores your operating system, installed programs, and all of your data. Make sure you choose a good manufacturer when choosing your hard drive because nothing is worse than a dead hard drive.
Hard drives come in many speeds, the most common being 5400, 7200, or 10000 RPM. The regular speed you should choose is 7200 RPM. There are also solid state drives, which don't have any moving parts, and allow for faster speeds. The cons are that they're quite expensive and have limited storage space compared to similarly-priced traditional drives. Solid state drives are best used for your operating system and essential programs. Put your games, music and movies on a separate HDD. That way you'll have a PC that can boot quickly, run quickly and have a lot of space. Solid state drives should be in SATA 6gb/s form or M.2, the latter being faster but more expensive and requiring M.2 compatible motherboards.
6
Purchase a video card for games and HD movies. A dedicated graphics card is essential for playing the latest games, but not a major issue for an office computer. Intel motherboards have integrated graphics, so you don’t need a dedicated card if you’re planning to use the computer for office work, web browsing and emails. If you watch a lot of HD video or play a lot of games, you'll want a dedicated video card. If you are building a PC for gaming purposes, then a graphic processor unit card (GPU), external graphic card (meaning one not built in to the motherboard) is extremely important and its selection depends on your budget and your requirements. The GPU with more CUDA parallel computing are at better costs.
Make sure you choose a GPU from an up-to-date line such as Nvidia's Pascal line with GPUs named GTX followed by any number that is 1000 or more such as the GTX 1080 which is a very powerful but expensive GPU which should be reserved for very high-end gaming builds.
7
Pick up a case that is both functional and easy on the eyes. The case is what houses your computer components. Many cases come with a power supply included, but if you are making a gaming build then getting a separate power supply is recommended, as the power supplies that come with cases are often not very high quality. The size of the case will be based on how many drives bays and card slots it has, as well as the size/type of your motherboard which also can support more or fewer drives and cards. Cases range from cheap and functional to flashy, bought for their appearance and expensive.[2] Select one that allows for optimal airflow, and install extra fans if necessary. If you intend to run a lot of high-end components, you will be dealing with a lot more heat output than slower components.
8
Make sure your power supply can handle the load. The power supply powers all of your components in your computer. Some cases come with a power supply already installed, but others require you to provide your own. The power supply should be powerful enough to charge all of your components; don't worry about it being so powerful that you waste electricity by powering more than you need, as it will only output as much watts as you use and the number on its wattage is only its max capacity. Don't skimp on this part, as picking a faulty power supply can damage all of your parts.
Always choose a reliable manufacturer for this component. If your build will be for gaming as well then a separate power supply as opposed to one that comes with a case is recommended to avoid damaging components.
9
Research every component you intend to purchase. Read magazines and online consumer review sites for more information. Online forums like AnandTech are also very helpful when specific information is needed. Remember, this is one of the most important steps, because everything will depend on your hardware. There are many guides and reviews available from online magazines and consumer review websites.
Don't pick solely based on reviews but good reviews usually mean that there is nothing wrong with the part.
Remember, this is one of the most important steps, because everything will depend on your hardware so do not rush this part as it is not only important but also very fun. Also never be afraid to change things in your parts list, it is an important part of making a good parts list that will work for you.
10
Choose a retailer to buy from. Once you know what to buy, you need to decide where to buy it from. Here's what to consider:
Knowing the credibility of a retailer. Choose a trusted and popular retailer so you don't get scammed.
Knowing where they ship to. Make sure your selected retailer ships to your country.
Knowing the price of the component and shipping fees. Make sure you choose the retailer (who is credible) with the best prices on your components. Remember that international and national shipping rates are often very different in pricing and also vary from each retailer to the next.
Buying from more than one retailer. You can buy from multiple retailers to get the best prices for each components but keep in mind you may end up paying more in shipping if some of your components are shipped separately from the rest.
Part2
Building Your Computer
1
Open the case. You might want to wear anti-static gloves or some sort of hand protection, as the inside of the case does not have ground down metal and could be very sharp in some cases.
2
Install the power supply. Some cases come with the power supply already installed, while others will require you to purchase the power supply separately and install it yourself. Make sure that the power supply is installed in the correct orientation, and that nothing is blocking the power supply's fan.
Make sure that your power supply is powerful enough to handle all of your components. This is especially important in high-end gaming computers, as dedicated graphics cards can draw a significant amount of power.
3
Ground yourself. Use an antistatic wrist-strap cable to prevent Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) which can be deadly to computer electronics. If you can't get an antistatic wrist-strap cable, plug your grounded power supply unit to an outlet (but don't turn it on), and keep your hand on the grounded unit whenever you touch any ESD-sensitive items.
Part3
Installing the Motherboard
1
Remove the motherboard from its packaging. Place it on top of its box. DO NOT place it on top of the anti-static bag as the outside is conductive. You will be adding components to the motherboard before installing it in the case, as it is easier to access the motherboard before installing it.
2
Remove the processor from its packaging. Observe the missing pins in the processor and match these with the socket on the motherboard. On many processors there will be a little gold arrow in the corner that you can use to orient the processor properly.
3
Insert the processor in the motherboard. Open the CPU socket and carefully insert the processor (no force needed). If it doesn't slip right in, or it feels like you have to push, it is probably misaligned. Close the socket and ensure the CPU is secure. Some sockets have small arms while others have complex assemblies to open and close the socket.[3]
4
Apply good thermal paste to the CPU. Put only a dot of thermal paste on the CPU. Adding too much thermal paste will create a mess, such as getting paste into the motherboard socket, which may short circuit components, and decrease the motherboard's value if you plan to sell it later.
Some processors that come with heatsinks do not need thermal paste because the heat sink already has thermal paste applied by the factory. Check the bottom of the heatsink unit before applying paste to the processor.[4]
5
Attach the heat sink. This varies from heat sink to heat sink, so read the instructions. Most stock coolers attach directly over the processor and clip into the motherboard. Aftermarket heatsinks may have brackets that need to be attached underneath the motherboard. Refer to your heat sink’s documentation for exact instructions.
6
Install the RAM. Place the RAM in the proper slots by opening the latches and pushing the RAM in until the little handles can lock it into position. Note how the RAM and slots are keyed--line them up so they will fit in properly. When pushing, press both sides of the RAM module with equal force. If RAM sockets have two colors, this may indicate the priority slots in case if you are not using all available slots.
Make sure that you install the RAM in the appropriate matching slots. Check your motherboard’s documentation to ensure that you are installing the RAM in the correct location.
7
Install the I/O backplate on the back of your case. Many modern cases do not have a pre installed backplate, but your motherboard should come with its own backplate. Some older cases have pre-instlalled I/O back plates, but it is unlikely that the case will have an appropriate backplate for your motherboard.
Removing the existing backplate may take a bit of force. Sometimes they have screws to hold them in place, but most are held in only by friction. Pop it out by pressing on the bracket from the rear side of the case.
8
Knock out any tabs covering I/O components up on the motherboard's backplate. Push the new backplate into place in the back of the case. Make sure to install it the correct direction.[5]
9
Install the standoffs in the correct positions. Almost all cases come with a little baggie that has standoffs in it. Standoffs raise the motherboard off of the case, and allow screws to be inserted into them.
Your case most likely has more holes available than your motherboard supports. The number of spacers required will be determined by the number of shielded holes in the motherboard. Position the motherboard to discover where to screw in the standoffs.
10
Secure the motherboard. Once the standoffs are installed, place the motherboard in the case and push it up against the I/O backplate. All of the back ports should fit into the holes in the I/O backplate. Use the screws provided to secure the motherboard to the standoffs through the shielded screw holes on the motherboard.
11
Plug in the case connectors. These tend to be located together on the motherboard near the front of the case. The order in which these are connected will depend on which is easiest. Make sure that you connect the USB ports, the Power and Reset switches, the LED power and hard drive lights, and the audio cable (HDAudio or AC97). Your motherboard’s documentation will show you where on your motherboard these connectors attach.
There is typically only one way that these connectors can attach to the motherboard. Don’t try to force anything to fit.
Part4
Installing a Graphics Card
1
Remove the back panel covers that line up with the PCI-E slot. Almost all modern graphics cards use PCI-E. Some will require you to remove two of the protective plates as opposed to just one. You may have to punch the plates out of the case.
2
Insert the graphics card. You may have to bend a tab on the slot to allow the graphics card to be inserted. The tab will help lock the graphics card in place (this is more important for bulkier, high-end cards). Apply light, even force until the card is seated uniformly, and the back panel lines up.
3
Secure the card. Once you have inserted the card, use a screw to secure it to the back panel of the case. If you don’t secure your card, you could end up damaging it in the long run.
4
Install any other PCI cards. If you have any other PCI cards that you are going to add, such as a dedicated sound card, the installation process is the same as the video card process.
Part5
Adding the Drives
1
Remove any front panel covers for the drives you are inserting. Most cases have panels in the front that protect the drive bays. Remove the panels for the locations that you want to install you optical drives. You do not need to remove any panels for hard drives.
2
Insert the optical drives in from the front of the case. Almost all cases have cages built in that allow the drive to rest and fit snugly. Once the drive is lined up with the front panel of the computer, secure it with screws on each side of the drive.
3
Install the hard disk. Slide the hard drive into the appropriate 3.5” bay in the inside of the case. Some cases have removable brackets that you can install on the hard drive first before sliding it in. Once the drive has been inserted into the cage, secure it on both sides with screws.
4
Connect the SATA cables. All modern drives use SATA cables to connect the drive to the motherboard. Connect the cable to the SATA port on the drive, and then connect the other end to a SATA port on the motherboard. Hard drives use the same cables as optical drives.[6]
For easier troubleshooting, connect your hard drive to the first SATA port on the motherboard, and then connect your other drives to subsequent SATA ports. Avoid plugging your drives into random SATA ports.
SATA cables have the same connector on both sides. You can install the cable in either direction.
Part6
Wiring the Computer
1
Connect the power supply to the motherboard. Most modern motherboards have a 24-pin connector and a 6- or 8-pin connector. Both of these need to be connected for your motherboard to function. Power supply cables only fit into the slots that they are designed for. Push the connectors all the way in until the latch clicks.
The 24-pin connector is the largest connector on the power supply.
2
Connect the power supply to the video card. If you have a dedicated video card, chances are it needs to be powered as well. Some require one connector, while others require two. The port is usually on the top of the video card.
3
Connect the power supply to the drives. All of your drives need to be connected to the power supply using SATA power connectors. These power connectors are the same for optical and hard drives.
4
Adjust your wire placement. One of the keys to good airflow is placing your wires out of the way. Trying to effectively wire the inside of the case can be a frustrating experience, especially if you are building a smaller tower. Use zip ties to bundle cables together and place them in unused drive bays. Make sure that the cables will not get in the way of any fans.
Part7
Installing More Fans
1
Connect your case fans. Almost all cases come installed with one or two fans. These fans need to be attached to the motherboard in order to function.
2
Install new fans. If you are running lots of high-end components, you will likely need extra cooling. 120mm fans are typically fairly quiet and significantly increase airflow through your computer.
3
Optimize your fan setup. Intake fans that suck air into the computer should be mounted in the lower front, bottom, and sides (a side fan is typically used to directly cool a specific component). Exhaust fans that blow air out of the computer should be mounted on the top and upper back of the computer as the hot air naturally rises through the inside. This keeps a good flow of fresh, cool air moving over your motherboard. You can see which direction the fan will blow by inspecting the top of the fan housing. Almost all fans have small arrows printed which shows which direction they blow.
Part8
Booting it Up
1
Put the case back together. It is highly recommended that you don’t run your computer with the case open. Cases are designed to maximize air flow, and when a case is open the airflow is not as effective. Make sure that everything is screwed close. Most cases use thumbscrews so that you don’t need tools to open and close the case.
2
Plug in your computer. Attach a monitor to the computer, either through the graphics card or through a port on the back of the motherboard plate. Attach a keyboard and mouse to the USB ports in either the front or back of the computer.
Avoid plugging in any other devices until after you have finished setting up the operating system.
3
Power on your computer. You won’t be able to do much since you don’t have an operating system installed, but you can check to see that all of your fans are working and that the computer completes its POST (Power On Self Test) successfully.
4
Run MemTest86+. This program is available to download for free and can be booted from a CD or USB drive without an operating system installed. This will let you test your memory sticks before you proceed to install the operating system. Memory sticks have a higher rate of failure than most computer components, especially if they are budget-priced, so it is wise to test them first.
You may have to set your computer to boot from CD or USB first, instead of booting from the hard drive. Enter your BIOS settings when you first start the computer, and then navigate to the Boot menu. Select the appropriate drive that you want to boot from.
5
Install your operating system. Home-built computers can install either Microsoft Windows or a Linux distribution. Windows costs money, but benefits from having compatibility with nearly every program and piece of hardware. Linux is free and supported by a community of developers, but cannot run many programs designed for Windows. Some proprietary hardware does not work properly either.
6
Install your drivers. Once your operating system is installed, you will need to install your drivers. Almost all of the hardware that you purchased should come with discs that contain the driver software needed for the hardware to work. Modern versions of Windows and Linux will install most drivers automatically when connected to the internet.
