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TopClicks
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Computing
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Computers
Amiga - So the World May Know - Whether you already own an Amiga and are looking for sources of support and new software (there are Web browsers for Amiga users) or you are just interested in keeping track of what's happening, drop in on this site regularly. New in 1999 is a feature on how to tell if your computer is Y2K compliant.
Apple Computer - This is the computer "for the rest of us" that launched the mouse, the Graphical User Interface, and the networked laser printer into the consumer mainstream. Apple's home page has product information to help you choose a system and a technical support area to help answer questions. You'll also find downloadable upgrades to Apple software and information on the "cool Apple technologies" that Apple is working on to improve their products for the future.
Apple II Forever! - Although Apple Computer discontinued the Apple II line years ago, many of these workhorses are still in use in homes and schools everywhere. Here's a collection of Apple II links and FTP sites chock-full of programs and information. You can even load emulator programs that let you run old Apple software under Windows (!), Macintosh PowerPC, and Linux, among others. Once the corporate slogan for Apple Computer, "Apple II Forever!" seems to be a fact of life for the dedicated bunch of folks you'll find here.
Artificial Intelligence - Alan Turing ) was a British computer scientist who believed that one day a machine would be designed that would be "intelligent" enough to fool a human into thinking he was talking to another person. The Turing Test is only one part of this very informative site on A-life, AI, or artificial intelligence. How far have we come? Where are we going? This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest competition.
Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions - The Atari 8-bit computer was a natural outgrowth of the company's phenomenally popular game cartridge machine. In fact, all of these machines, whether the 400, 800, or any of the XL or XE series, had a port or two for popping in game or program cartridges. Plenty of folks are still getting lots of mileage out of them, and this site is a great starting point if you're wondering what you can do with the one you just bought at a garage sale.
Computer Museum - Robots Gallery - If you were going to build your own robot to explore Mars, or maybe creep into a live volcano, or perhaps entertain humans at a party, what would you need to consider in your design? You'd need to figure out how it gets power, how it moves around, and of course, how it looks. This Shockwave simulation allows you to try out various choices in a robot lab and get feedback on your choices.
Computers for Learning - The federal government uses lots of computers in its offices all over the U.S. When they upgrade to new systems, sometimes the old computers become available for schools (yes, even home schools) and other educational or nonprofit purposes. Find out if your organization qualifies, and maybe you can get some free recycled computers!
Dave's Guide to Buying a Home Computer - How do you figure out which computer is the right one for you? What size and speed of microprocessor do you need? You don't want to waste your allowance money on a computer that is more than you need, but you do want a system that will be usable for a number of years. Read these guides for tips and suggestions on purchasing and installing a PC. Find out what to ask the store salesperson and what to look for in features. The opinions expressed here are just that--opinions--but you'll find some valuable information. (Hint: Click on the names of the guides in the frame on the left.)
Dell Computer Corporation - According to their Web site, "Dell is the fastest growing among all major computer-systems companies worldwide. The company is the No. 2 computer systems manufacturer in the U.S., where it is a leading supplier of PCs to corporate customers, government agencies and educational institutions." Dell computers are cropping up in more and more K-12 classrooms, and here's the best place to see the latest and greatest.
Gateway.com - Did you know Gateway computers are shipped in boxes that look like they are part dairy cow? What's with those cows, anyway? Ted Waitt's family had been in the cattle business for many generations. When he created a new computer company, he brought some of his heritage with him. Find out what's new down on the Gateway farm right here.
IBM Corporation - Here's where the personal computer (PC) all started. IBM introduced the PC in 1983. Before the PC, and even now, IBM's stronghold has been with big-business computers that run governments, corporations, banks, and other institutions. Explore this Web site to see what this computer giant is up to these days.
MacFixIt - Eventually, every Macintosh computer owner will run across a problem and will need some kind of support. We like the info at this site, which is constantly being kept up-to-date. If you have a bizarre problem you just can't seem to troubleshoot, search here on keywords describing the situation. You may strike gold!
Obsolete Computer Museum - You're digging around in the basement one day and come across this big box full of old keyboards, disk drives, and computer hardware of unknown origin. "Hey Mom," you say, "what's this stuff?" She says that is a box of old computer parts she used long ago and doesn't even remember how to put them together anymore. Now there is hope. Not only does this resource show you old computers (outside and inside), but there's a help line to assist you in finding usable boot disks, cables, and replacement parts! Lots of these machines still have a lot of life in them--see how to bring them back.
The Computer Museum - In an old building on Museum Wharf in Boston sits a walk-through computer. The trackball is as big as your sofa. The keyboard is as big as your school bus. And you ought to see the size of that motherboard. Welcome to the Computer Museum! You can visit its Web page and get a taste of the exhibits. Click on Computer History. This time line lets you surf through the history of computing from 1945 to 1990. Each year you'll find illustrated entries about significant advances made in hardware, software, and commercial applications. You'll also find biographical info on some of the famous computing pioneers, such as Admiral Grace Hopper, who in 1945 discovered the first computer "bug." Here's a twist: When you enter this site, you can put in a name (any name will do), and you can put in the name of your country or your ZIP code if you are in the U.S. This Web page keeps track of all connected users, and when you select Who's Out There? you will get a world map with all current users--if you have a Java-enabled browser. You can click on Paolo from Brazil or Geoff from Australia or Sarah from the U.K. and send a message. Then you can explore the galleries together!
The Ultimate Macintosh - Hundreds of Macintosh-related links are piled on this one page, making it possible to conduct a search using your browser's Find command (on Lynx, use the command). The best thing about this page is the What's HOT! section, which provides up-to-the-minute news and links to the latest information (including promotions from Apple and major vendors) and software updates. Not all links have been viewed.
The Virtual Museum of Computing - The world's largest museum devoted to computers is appropriately located in Downtown Hyperspace. Don't worry about putting coins in the parking meter. Just stroll around and check out the ever-growing collection. You'll find galleries featuring local virtual exhibits, corporate histories, and entire wings with histories of computing organizations and societies, plus general computer history. Special exit doors will take you to a couple of dozen other online computing museums. While there is no virtual snack bar here yet, you can drop in on an assortment of selected computer-oriented newsgroups to chat about what you've seen. You'll even find a gallery of mousepads old and new. Parental advisory: This is a large site with many links, and they have not all been checked.
ThinkQuest - Would you like to win thousands of dollars in scholarship money? Do you have a great idea for a new Web resource? You might be a fabulous C++ programmer, but you can't write interesting English prose very well. Or maybe you're terrific at graphics but can't code. Maybe you're not a computer nut at all, but you really know how to research a topic. There is a place for all of you at ThinkQuest. First, you have to create a team to work on your project. Advertise your skills and your ideas at the Team Maker part of the site. Typically, teams are formed with two or three kids from all over the world; they have usually never met, and they usually come from schools or homeschools with widely varying levels of technology. You also need a coach or three, usually teachers or parents, but it could be someone else. You decide how to tackle the project, and then spend many months building your Web resource on the server space provided by ThinkQuest. You and your team members use chat rooms to discuss the project as well as e-mail and other forms of communication. Eventually the contest deadline rolls around, and your project is frozen in time so that the judges can take a look. If your site is chosen as a finalist, you and your team (and your coaches) are flown (all expenses paid) to the site of the finals. Your site is inspected by the finals judges. You and your team are interviewed, and at long last, winners are chosen and placements are made. The winning team members each get $25,000 scholarships, and many of the finalist teams who place lower get substantial scholarships as well. ThinkQuest gives away over $1 million in scholarship money EVERY YEAR. There are several contests: one for elementary grades, called ThinkQuest Junior, and the original one for older kids. There's also a new contest for teachers. At this site you can explore past winners' sites and get information about the latest ThinkQuest competition schedule.
Xavier the Robot - Where in the world is Xavier the Robot? Exploring the classrooms and halls of Carnegie Mellon University, of course! Check in at this Web site and find out where he is, plus see what he's "seeing" as he wanders around. You can even control his movements if you visit during certain times (check the schedule). See if you can think up some new jokes for him to tell when he encounters people; the ones on the list right now are real groaners: "I'm a screen Xavier."
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