HOW CAN...?!?

The MacBook Air-Dell Adamo Deathmatch

2009-04-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

Two laptops: One's a Mac, one's a PC. Which is better? PC World takes both notebooks and stages a computer kumite to make a few quick calls

The Tale of the Tape

You know all about the on-again, off-again PC-Mac turf war, of course. Which is better? One thing we can tell you is that PC makers sure are taking note of Apple's awesome design work. And that's the setup for the welterweight matchup we have going on today.

In this corner (pictured at right), the MacBook Air, the sleek standard-bearer for how Apple does computing. In the other, the Dell Adamo, the spunky up-and-comer that packs on ports…and takes some not-so-subtle jabs at the big "A."

Neither company really positions its ultraslim ultraportable as a high-performance hot rod. Heck, both of them eschew optical drives to stay lean and mean. But they're both expensive--very, very expensive. We figured it was time to find out if either the Air or the Adamo has what it takes to win.

Now before these two palookas start mixing it up, let's look at what they each bring to tonight's fight. The MacBook Air is the cagey vet. Since it first showed up on the scene, it has improved its game by providing better processors and an honest-to-goodness graphics card, nVidia's GeForce 9400M. That means it can actually play some games--not many, but some.

The Air we last reviewed offered a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and 2GB of RAM, and scored a 78 in WorldBench 6. In our battery-life tests, the Air survived for about 2.5 hours before sputtering out. It can accommodate a 120GB hard disk (our more-expensive model came with a 128GB solid-state drive). But then, of course, there's also the dreaded "Apple Tax": These machines range in price from $1799 to $2499.

The Dell Adamo, on the other hand, offers lesser parts and…charges…more? Really? Let's go over this. Dell's high-style PCs cost between $1999 and $2699. The Adamo maxes out at a 1.4GHz CPU but compensates with 4GB of RAM to handle a 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium. Supposedly its battery will last 5 hours in tests, if we're to believe promotional materials. Will it get slapped around in our WorldBench 6 suite? Stay tuned; we'll update this story as soon as we receive results from our labs. For now, though, buckle up for a feature-by-feature smackdown.

Hey, you two silicon status symbols: Are you ready to rumble? FIGHT!

Hard disk drive

2009-04-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

Technology

HDDs record data by magnetizing ferromagnetic material directionally, to represent either a 0 or a 1 binary digit. They read the data back by detecting the magnetization of the material. A typical HDD design consists of a spindle which holds one or more flat circular disks called platters, onto which the data are recorded. The platters are made from a non-magnetic material, usually aluminum alloy or glass, and are coated with a thin layer of magnetic material. Older disks used iron(III) oxide as the magnetic material, but current disks use a cobalt-based alloy.^{[citation needed]}

A cross section of the magnetic surface in action. In this case the binary data is encoded using frequency modulation.

The platters are spun at very high speeds. Information is written to a platter as it rotates past devices called read-and-write heads that operate very close (tens of nanometers in new drives) over the magnetic surface. The read-and-write head is used to detect and modify the magnetization of the material immediately under it. There is one head for each magnetic platter surface on the spindle, mounted on a common arm. An actuator arm (or access arm) moves the heads on an arc (roughly radially) across the platters as they spin, allowing each head to access almost the entire surface of the platter as it spins. The arm is moved using a voice coil actuator or in some older designs a stepper motor.

Older drives read the data on the platter by sensing the rate of change of the magnetism in the head; these heads had small coils, and worked (in principle) much like magnetic-tape playback heads, although not in contact with the recording surface. As data density increased, read heads using magnetoresistance (MR) came into use; the electrical resistance of the head changed according to the strength of the magnetism from the platter. Later development made use of spintronics; in these heads, the magnetoresistive effect was much greater than in earlier types, and was dubbed "giant" magnetoresistance (GMR). This refers to the degree of effect, not the physical size, of the head — the heads themselves are extremely tiny, and are too small to be seen without a microscope. GMR read heads are now commonplace.^{[citation needed]}

HD heads are kept from contacting the platter surface by the air that is extremely close to the platter; that air moves at, or close to, the platter speed.^{[citation needed]} The record and playback head are mounted on a block called a slider, and the surface next to the platter is shaped to keep it just barely out of contact. It's a type of air bearing.

The magnetic surface of each platter is conceptually divided into many small sub-micrometre-sized magnetic regions, each of which is used to encode a single binary unit of information. In today's HDDs, each of these magnetic regions is composed of a few hundred magnetic grains. Each magnetic region forms a magnetic dipole which generates a highly localized magnetic field nearby. The write head magnetizes a region by generating a strong local magnetic field. Early HDDs used an electromagnet both to generate this field and to read the data by using electromagnetic induction. Later versions of inductive heads included metal in Gap (MIG) heads and thin film heads. In today's heads, the read and write elements are separate, but in close proximity, on the head portion of an actuator arm. The read element is typically magneto-resistive while the write element is typically thin-film inductive.^[6]

In modern drives, the small size of the magnetic regions creates the danger that their magnetic state might be lost because of thermal effects. To counter this, the platters are coated with two parallel magnetic layers, separated by a 3-atom-thick layer of the non-magnetic element ruthenium, and the two layers are magnetized in opposite orientation, thus reinforcing each other.^[7] Another technology used to overcome thermal effects to allow greater recording densities is perpendicular recording, first shipped in 2005,^[8] as of 2007 the technology was used in many HDDs.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Modern drives also make extensive use of Error Correcting Codes (ECCs), particularly Reed–Solomon error correction. These techniques store extra bits for each block of data that are determined by mathematical formulas. The extra bits allow many errors to be fixed. While these extra bits take up space on the hard drive, they allow higher recording densities to be employed, resulting in much larger storage capacity for user data. ^[12]

See File System for how operating systems access data on HDDs and other storage devices.

[edit] Architecture

A hard disk drive with the platters and spindle motor hub removed showing the copper colored stator coils surrounding a bearing at the center of the spindle motor. The orange stripe along the side of the arm is a thin printed-circuit cable. The spindle bearing is in the center.

A typical hard drive has two electric motors, one to spin the disks and one to position the read/write head assembly. The disk motor has an external rotor attached to the platters; the stator windings are fixed in place. The actuator has a read-write head under the tip of its very end (near center); a thin printed-circuit cable connects the read-write head to the hub of the actuator. A flexible, somewhat 'U'-shaped, ribbon cable, seen edge-on below and to the left of the actuator arm in the first image and more clearly in the second, continues the connection from the head to the controller board on the opposite side.

The head support arm is very light, but also rigid; in modern drives, acceleration at the head reaches 250 Gs.

Opened hard drive with top magnet removed, showing copper head actuator coil (top right).

The silver-colored structure at the upper left of the first image is the top plate of the permanent-magnet and moving coil motor that swings the heads to the desired position (it is shown removed in the second image). The plate supports a thin neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) high-flux magnet. Beneath this plate is the moving coil, often referred to as the voice coil by analogy to the coil in loudspeakers, which is attached to the actuator hub, and beneath that is a second NIB magnet, mounted on the bottom plate of the motor (some drives only have one magnet).

The voice coil, itself, is shaped rather like an arrowhead, and made of doubly-coated copper magnet wire. The inner layer is insulation, and the outer is thermoplastic, which bonds the coil together after it's wound on a form, making it self-supporting. The portions of the coil along the two sides of the arrowhead (which point to the actuator bearing center) interact with the magnetic field, developing a tangential force that rotates the actuator. Current flowing radially outward along one side of the arrowhead, and radially inward on the other produces the tangential force. (See magnetic field#Force on a charged particle.) If the magnetic field were uniform, each side would generate opposing forces that would cancel each other out. Therefore the surface of the magnet is half N pole, half S pole, with the radial dividing line in the middle, causing the two sides of the coil to see opposite magnetic fields and produce forces that add instead of canceling. Currents along the top and bottom of the coil produce radial forces that do not rotate the head.

The iPhone's Untapped Potential

2009-03-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Apple is known for its innovative gadget design, and with the release of the iPhone, it continues to live up to its hype. But while people are fawning over features like the smart, multitouch screen and the advanced Web browser, there is important technology under the hood that will likely go underappreciated. The iPhone has tiny, powerful sensors--an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, and an infrared sensor--that are able to pick up cues from the environment and adjust the phone's functions accordingly. Apple has decided to use these sensors for detecting when to convert the screen view from portrait to landscape, for adjusting the brightness of the screen based on the brightness of the environment, and for disabling the touch screen when a person holds the phone to her ear.

Of course, Apple isn't the first to put sensors such as accelerometers in phones. Nokia, for example, has a sports phone (called the 5500) that uses an accelerometer as a pedometer. When a person takes the phone jogging, the accelerometer logs the rate of vibrations and sends that data to software that determines speed and distance. The 5500 also offers an accelerometer-based game in which a user tilts the device to navigate a ball through a maze. In addition, Nokia offers a developers' kit so that people can make their own accelerometer-based games, potentially mimicking the style of those played with Nintendo's popular Wii controller.

These functions, while useful and entertaining, are still pretty mundane, a research scientist at MIT. "These are trivial uses for what has the potential to provide a whole slew of new features and functionality," he says. Separate research taking place at MIT, Intel, and other companies suggests that, with the right software, built-in hardware such as accelerometers, light sensors, a GPS, and the phone's own microphone could provide contextual clues about people's activities and behaviors. A sensor-enabled phone could feasibly help monitor your exercise habits, keep track of an elderly relative's activities, and let your friends and family know if you're available for a call or instant-messaging conversation. It could even provide insight into social networks.

"If you get access to [a phone's] accelerometer data, you can get a variety of contextual clues about how the user is living their life," Eagle says--for instance, whether or not a user is riding a bike, taking the subway, walking up stairs, or sitting for a long period of time. The data can be used to let workers know if they need to take a break or if a person is meeting exercise goals, he says. Eagle and professor of media arts and sciences at MIT, have used Nokia phones equipped with sensors to study the behavior of people in groups and even predict their actions to a certain extent.

To explore other possibilities, researchers at Intel use a small gadget, about the size of a pager, that amasses data from seven sensors: an accelerometer, a barometer, a humidity sensor, a thermometer, a light sensor, a digital compass, and a microphone, a researcher . Most of the sensors are used to determine location and activity, but the microphone can provide interesting insight into social networks, she says, such as whether a person is having a business conversation or a social chat. Aware of privacy concerns, the researchers designed the microphone data to be immediately processed so that all words are removed, and only information about tone, pitch, and volume is recorded. Recently, Intel researchers equipped a first-year class of University of Washington graduate students with these sorts of sensors and, based on their interactions, were able to watch social networks develop over time.

Citroën C5 2.7 HDI V6

2009-03-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

The mention of the name "C5" in a vehicular context is unlikely to prompt thoughts of sumptuous ease in anyone who is over 35. Instead, the image that will almost certainly spring to mind is of the Sinclair C5, the 80s electric tricycle that became a comic byword for bad design.

Rest assured, that C5 did not have a back massager, though anyone foolhardy enough to squeeze into one could have done with a little muscular manipulation.

The Citroën C5, by contrast, does have a back massager, as well as heated seats. I didn't realise this on my first drive. Running late to meet a friend, I didn't at first take much notice of the pleasurable warmth around my bottom. Nor did I immediately appreciate the undulating sensation in the small of my back. But gradually I became aware of the rhythmic movement, as it crept up on me like Górecki's Third Symphony or a furtive masseuse. After a while I began to wonder what that dull pressure was on my spine and why my bum was so hot.

Was this it? Was I finally experiencing the nervous breakdown I've spent years working towards? If so, then it was not unpleasant. Indeed, if you were thinking of having a nervous breakdown, I'd recommend the C5 as an ideal venue to ameliorate the harsher physical manifestations of personal crisis.

In fact, once you get used to the slightly odd automatic gear stick, I'd wager that it would be a stiff challenge to crack up in this C5. OK, you've made a mess of your private life, but just feel that smooth leather. Your career is going nowhere. Too bad, but check out the leg room. No one likes you - know that feeling, still, that pneumatic suspension is a joy to behold.

While Francophiles have plenty to choose from among hatchbacks and smaller cars, it's been a while since Citroën produced a classy larger model of any repute. And you'd have to go back all the way to the DS, with its distinctive, long bonnet, to a time when Citroën led the field.

The C5 is a self-conscious attempt to loosen the forearm nelson in which the German motor industry has the higher-end saloon market so effectively locked. Citroën even boasts of its "Teutonic-like levels of quality", which amounts to a public acknowledgment of what the public already believes - that the Germans do it better.

But in this case the French have produced something that in comfort, if perhaps not performance, rivals an Audi or BMW. While it may not possess the iconic appeal of the DS, the C5 is undoubtedly handsome. If that doesn't massage the ego, then just feel what it can do for your back.

Citroën C5 2.7 HDI V6

Price £24,395
Top speed 139mph
Acceleration 0-62 in 9.6 seconds
Average consumption 33.6mpg
CO2 emissions 223g/km
Eco rating 5/10
At the wheel Sebastian Faulks
Bound for The Dordogne
In a word Teutonique

Tough task: Designing a game about your 'first time'

2009-03-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO, California-- In an industry dominated by men, leave it to women to come up with the winning idea in a contest to create a concept for a video game about losing one's virginity.

Two women won a contest this week to create a concept for a video game about losing one's virginity.

On Wednesday, at the Game Developers Conference here, the two-woman team of Heather Kelley and Erin Robinson won the Game Design Challenge with just 36 hours of preparation, while their competitors had weeks to come up with concepts for a game about "your first time."

This was the sixth straight year of the design challenge, hosted annually by New York-based game developer Eric Zimmerman. The contestants are generally top-tier game designers like two-time winner and Spore and The Sims creator Will Wright, Deus Ex lead designer Harvey Smith, or 2008 winner and Leather Goddesses of Phobos creator Steve Meretzsky.

The contestants are generally given several weeks to come up with a concept for a game based on some sort of unusual challenge posed by Zimmerman. Past themes have included a game about love, a game based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson, and a game that could win the Nobel Peace Prize.

"We are in a medium that is just incredibly plastic," Zimmerman said. "We can put anything up on the screen...Still, we find every year that most of the money being put into games is put into a relatively narrow (set of) genres" that tends to include monsters, dragons, and the like.

Zimmerman added that the purpose of the challenge is "to think about how we can create games that really break away" from what's been done so many times before.

Don't Miss Sex and autobiography have been constant themes in literature, film, and theater, Zimmerman argued, pointing to "Lolita," the work of Henry Miller, Chaim Potok's novel, "My name is Asher Lev," and the films of Fellini and Woody Allen.

But while Zimmerman touted the widespread historical acceptance of the theme of autobiographical sex, he noted with some dismay that veteran game designer Kim Swift, who works for Valve and who created the award-winning Portal, had originally been slated to be among the contestants but had eventually been pressured by Valve to withdraw due to the theme.

"I'm saying this as a fan of Valve," Zimmerman said, "but I do find it frustrating and disturbing that Kim would be pulled from the panel."

Still, he said, after word got around about Swift's withdrawal, Lapis designer Kelley and independent developer Robinson volunteered to step up and compete.

The two ended up facing off against Meretzsky, on hand to defend his crown, and Habbo Hotel lead designer Sulka Haro.

And in the end, while all three submissions were well-received, the duo of Kelley and Robinson were judged by the audience to have very closely beaten out Meretzsky.

The two women came up with a concept for "Our first times," and presented it as a two-level game, one level for Kelley's experience and the other for Robinson's. They imagined a series of mini games that could be played on Nintendo's Wii, or possibly on Apple's iPhone.

Kelley began by explaining that her game would commence with the player having to pick an outfit for a date that was intended to conclude with their deflowering. It would have to be the least complicated outfit possible, she said, nothing with zippers that get stuck, or too many buttons or ties.

Then, there would be a mini game in which players would have to shave their legs, making especially sure not to miss the all-important spot "by the knees." Next up, dinner, and making sure to remove all the garlic from the meals, something the main character--clearly a female, since the game was presented from a woman's perspective--would have to do because of the general cluelessness of the boyfriend in question.

The next mini game would revolve around choosing the proper mood music from a selection of LPs--yes, records, since the game would be set in the timeframe of Kelley's first time. And clearly, she said, Miles Davis would have to be the choice.

The penultimate mini game would task the player with "not falling off the top bunk" in a college dorm room," while the final task would involve flicking off the smirking roommate.

The Robinson level also involved a series of mini games that commenced with "driving home from ultimate-Frisbee practice" and setting the radio station in a car--perhaps using the Wiimote dial, she said--to anything except country music. Next would be a stop at a drug store to buy a brand of condoms that doesn't terrify you, and then going "back to his place," and grappling with adjusting the tracking on his "antiquated" VCR.

Being a game concept presented from the woman's perspective, the next mini game would revolve around "making the first move. Poor guy."

And then, afterward, calling the best friend to tell the tale.

"But you have to be careful," Robinson said, "because she's next to mom and grandma on the speed dial."

Perhaps given their short notice, the mini-game concepts created by Kelley and Robinson weren't very fleshed out, something that was a shame since they seemed to be onto something. But the crowd appreciated how much effort they had put into the storyboards they'd created, and forgave the rudimentary fleshing out of the details.

Meretzsky's concept--which came in a very close second--ended up revolving around the idea of moving beyond the awkwardness of fumbling high school attempts at romance. But before explaining his final design, he talked at length about the challenges of coming up with a game idea when every possible title was too overtly sexual. He said he tried out "Where's dildo," but discarded it because "it had nothing to do with my autobiography."

And then, he thought "about the almost too obvious genre of first-person shooters."

He also threw away "Call of Booty"--because it would have "problems that would keep it off the shelf at Wal-Mart"--and then almost settled on a beat-matching idea called "Hump Hump Revolution."

And, playing off the title of Swift's hit game, as well as a popular 2008 film, he said he nearly ended up with "Zack & Miri make a Portal," but "my business people tell me paying licenses for two different (intellectual properties) is a non-starter."

In the end, he said, he came up with a three-act structure for a game based in the virtual world, Second Life, where act one involves the awkward era of high school, the second act is the more promising college years and finally, act three, happiness in the form of a series of vignettes including dates, a wedding, and then, home life.

The game, he said, would be called, "Wait, time passes."

"No matter how picked on you are," Meretzsky said, "this too shall pass. Your time will come, and you will find happiness and your place in the world."

Of the six Game Design Challenges, this year's felt the most wanting for detail and working game mechanics. That may have been because the contestants' task of building something autobiographical didn't meld well with game design. Still, the crowd, which was heavy with game designers, appreciated the efforts and shouted out their support for all three contestants.

After all, in the end, the point was to take a particularly challenging game design topic and create something that could plausibly be a working title. And who would know better the difficulties of doing so than a room full of game designers?

Study: Technology can overwhelm even 20-somethings

2009-03-27T19:26:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (AP) — They are comfortable with gadgets, yet shudder sometimes as the cell phone rings.

This group — primarily male and in their late 20s — is called the "Ambivalent Networkers" in a study released Wednesday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Pew found this group notable because its members have lived with the Internet and other technologies for much of their lives.

In the study, Pew examined American adults' gadgets and services, their activities and their attitudes toward technology. About 60 percent of the overall respondents didn't have significant attachments to mobile devices, either because they didn't have such gadgets or because they were fine with desktop PCs.

But nearly 40 percent did say they were glued to their mobile devices. And the Ambivalent Networkers make up a fifth of that group.

"They're the most active on social networks and using mobile devices for a range of activities, yet they think it's a good idea to take a break," said John Horrigan, Pew's associate director for research. "They are not thrilled about all that's available."

These people aren't willing to go off the grid, either, said Lee Rainie, Pew's director. Their friends, family and co-workers are all connected by technology, and they fear they'd miss out if they check out.

Technology, to them, "feels like an obligation," Rainie said.

Another one-fifth of the mobile-attached users feel quite differently. These people, according to Pew, are the "Digital Collaborators." They not only are comfortable with technology, but they also are enthusiastic. They also tend to be male, but in their late 30s.

Horrigan said Digital Collaborators more likely have elevated into jobs that require collaboration across distance.

"The live a professional lifestyle that draws them to digital resources," he said. "They are lunging ahead with less fear and hesitation."

The Pew analysis was based on surveys taken in late 2007 of 3,553 adult Americans. The surveys have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

The multi-touch controls familiar to Apple iPhone users will be built-in to Microsoft's Windows 7.

2009-03-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Windows Touch will be a "first class way to interact with your PC alongside mouse and keyboard," said the firm.

Microsoft believes multi-touch PCs will become popular in retail, public spaces, on laptops and "kitchen PCs".

Some Windows machines already feature rudimentary touch input and Apple is also reportedly adding touch for displays in its Snow Leopard OS update.

A small number of multi-touch PCs are already on the market, including the HP TouchSmart and the Dell Latitude XT, and Microsoft hopes Windows 7 will create a new ecosystem of devices that take advantage of touch.

The latest generation of Apple's laptops also feature a glass trackpad that supports multi-touch gestures.

Microsoft has launched a Windows Touch Logo program, which will help consumers understand if a machine has been optimised for the new control system.

Windows Touch will features controls such as tap and double tap, drag, scroll, zoom, flick and rotate.

In a posting on the Windows 7 engineering blog, the team leading Touch developments said: "Quite a few folks have been a little sceptical of touch, often commenting about having fingerprints on their monitor or something along those lines.

Lessons learned

"We think touch will become broadly available as the hardware evolves."

Windows Touch is incorporating many of the lessons learned from the development of Microsoft's Surface table computer.

Microsoft shows off Windows Touch

Microsoft user interface evangelist Chris Bernard told BBC News: "Windows 7 will help take touch into the mainstream.

"While Surface and machines running Windows 7 are different devices we have evolved a common vocabulary of touch.

"Gesture and touch are the two biggest changes to how we interact with our computers since the launch of the first Graphical User Interface, and the use of the keyboard and mouse."

Microsoft says Windows Touch will be much more than just a "touch shell" for Windows.

"We made sure you are getting the full Windows 7 experience," the blog post said.

While some applications will be optimised for touch, such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Centre, programs which are "touch unaware" will also have some level of touch control.

"For example, if someone tries touch scrolling over a window that is touch unaware, we can detect the presence of various types of scrollbars and scroll them," the engineers said.

To help optimise the different ways of touching and gesturing Microsoft said it analysed data from "thousands of samples from hundreds of people".

Windows 7 is expected to be released at the start of 2010. A "release candidate" for users to try out will be available at the end of May.

Shuttle Discovery undocks from space station

2009-03-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - After eight days together, space shuttle Discovery pulled away from the international space station Wednesday, beaming down stunning photos of the orbiting outpost, finally balanced and boasting all its solar wings.

NASA was thrilled to see the space station with its new glistening pair of solar wings — the final ones that will boost electrical power and science research. The shuttle took a victory lap around the station, primarily for picture-taking, and then put itself on a course for a Saturday touchdown.

"The $100 billion photograph," flight director Kwatsi Alibaruho said, showing off one of the snapshots. He noted that was the space station price tag cited by senators during President Barack Obama's call to the astronauts the day before. NASA disputes that amount, "so that's a little joke we've got in Mission Control," he said.

With the installation last week of the last set of solar wings, the space station finally resembles the artist renderings from years past, balanced with four wings on both sides.

"You always saw it in the pictures and you just wondered if you're really ever going to get there," said Dan Hartman, a space station manager who's worked on the project for 15 years. He took "an extreme amount of pride and joy" in seeing the images sent down.

NASA expects the extra electrical power to drastically increase the amount of research in the various labs that make up the 220-mile-high outpost.

"You made the space station much better than it was before," Fincke told the shuttle astronauts just before their departure. "You gave us more power, symmetry — which is not to be underrated — and you gave us a new crew member."

That new member, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, remained behind on the space station with Fincke and a Russian cosmonaut.

Sandra Magnus, whom Wakata replaced, kept waving as she disappeared down the hatch and floated into Discovery. Wednesday marked her 131st day in space; she moved into the space station in mid-November.

"All of you guys, this is the toughest part of the mission, at least for me," Fincke said. "On one hand, it's a moment of triumph ... and yet on the other hand, we're going to really be missing you."

The two crews embraced as they said goodbye and closed the hatches. The actual undocking occurred a few hours later, as the spacecraft soared over the Indian Ocean.

"Godspeed," called out Fincke. He added: "Come again."

Fincke and his crew will be getting company again in just a few days. A Russian Soyuz rocket is set to lift off Thursday with two new station crewmates and a billionaire tourist along for the ride; they'll arrive this weekend. Fincke then will return to Earth with Microsoft Word and Excel developer Charles Simonyi and cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov.

Discovery is bringing back five months of experiments from the space station. The 80 to 90 vials of blood, urine and saliva samples were stuffed into the shuttle freezer or wrapped in ice packs.

Discovery also is returning four to five liters of recycled water made from the astronauts' urine and sweat. NASA wants to make sure the water is safe before space station astronauts start drinking it there; test results are expected in about a month.

HP COMPAQ CQ40-104AX

2009-03-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Processor AMD Turion X2 RM-70 (2.0GHz;1MB L2 Cache)

Memory 1GB DDR2 667MHz

Graphics Card

ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB

Display 14.1" Widescreen LCD Display

Audio Stereo Speakers

Hard Drive 160GB HDD SATA

Optical Drive DVD+RW DL Support

Connectivity WiFi 802.11g; 10/100 LAN; 56k Modem; Bluetooth

I/O Ports 5-In-1 Card Reader; Integrated Compaq WEBCAM; HP Quick Play

Others :

Carrying Case

Operating System

FREE DOS :

Chassis & Weight

Black Chassis; Weight 2,29kg

Box Includes = Complete Charger; CD Recovery or Driver Built-in; Manual Book

Warranty = 1-Year Warranty HP Indonesia

PRICE Rp 7.000.000,-

DELL INSPIRON 1410-J267J

2009-03-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

Processor Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 (2.0Ghz;2MB;800MHz)

Memory 2GB DDR2 667MHz

Graphics Card intel GMA X3100 256 MB (shared)

Display 14.1" WXGA TrueLife LCD Display

Audio Stereo Speakers

Hard Drive 120GB HDD SATA

Optical Drive DVDRW Drive

Connectivity WiFi 802.11g; 10/100 Ethernet LAN; Bluetooth; 56k Modem

I/O Ports USB 2.0; VGA Port; IEEE 1394a; Headphone; Mic; ExpressCard 54mm; Card Reader

Others

Carrying Case

Operating System

Linux Ubuntu

Chassis & Weight Red Ruby Chassis;Weight 2,35kg

Box Includes Complete Charger; CD Recovery or Driver Built-in; Manual Book

Warranty 1-Year Warranty DELL Indonesia

PRICE US$ 634

ASUS N10; Newest Sophisticated Laptop, Logon Quickly Wear Face!

2009-03-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

ASUS will launch series of notebook newest of him, N Series at, Wednesday, 12 November 2008, in Jakarta Convention Centre, Cendrawasih Hall - Area of C03, just with Indocomtech 2008. Maiden launching of this N Series will start with launching of N10 to is step by step followed by series of N other.
ASUS N10: Didesain untuk mobilitas maksimal

This Laptop of didesain for user with high mobility. Supported by of screen/sail monitor 10.2”, N10 give marvellous experience for pentameter of indra with graphical card of NVIDIA Geforce 9300M and Intel Atom prosesor. In course of N Series notebook desain, ASUS use most recent technology, specially for the usage of technology of In-Mold Roller yielding panel anti incising which remain to maintain the him of even after sufficient usage. Notebook N Series also give performa of studded with special eksterior of pattern like metal which is modern style inspiration of art-deco.

Super Smart Technology of Hybrid Engine
ASUS comprehend that one of especial attention of have computing to use notebook is battery endurance. As respon requirement of efficiency of energi the betterness, ASUS N Series notebook use Super fitur of Hybrid Engine ( SHE) which consist of application of Power4 Gear Hybrid and of Energy Processing Unit ( EPU).

Power4 Gear Hybrid spreading facility and usage of adapted for energy is consumer choice referring to specific work is what wish to be done, whereas EPU in accurate figure detect requirement of consumer energy and specify adjustment of needed energy. Combination effect thrift of energy of SHE yield extention of battery endurance till 35%*.

Bootup in 8 Second and of Konektivitas Internet which Quickly with Express Gate
Notebook N Series also lessen time of booting by isn't it by using ASUS Express Gate. conducive Express Gate of consumer to do/conduct bootup only in 8 second*, giving to access instan to operating system of built-in running most applications was often used, like Skype™, pemutar of music, enamel of client, and Internet browser

Logon Quickly through To identify Face.

Continuing tradition of to push in tradition, ASUS introduce a new way for the consumer of for login to their computer, that is with recognition of face. System of Smartlogon detect consumer face and give to access login without any intervention from consumer. This system is designed to study variation of of[is parts of consumer face, and can [do/conduct] to detect in so many condition of illumination.(heri)

Specification Model N10

Prosesor - Prosesor Intel® Atom® N270
Memory of Cache - Chipset Mobile Intel® 945GSE Express
Operating System - Windows® Original XP Home of Especial
Memory - DDR2 667 MHZ till 2,048 MB Display - 10.2"
Hard Disk Drive - SATA 160 GB
Drive Optic * ( opsional) - Super of Multi Eksternal
Camera Video - Camera of Built-In 1.3 M Pixel Fax / modem/ LAN / wlan - Built-In Bluetooth™ V2.0+Edr - 802.11
Dimension a/b/g/n and Weight - 27.6 cm ( X L) 19.5 cm ( X P) 2.99–3.71 cm ( T) - 1.60 singk ( with battery 6 cell)

Shatterproof Laptop Only Rp3 millions

2009-03-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA, Thursday- One after another cheap laptop step into Indonesia market. After Asus Eee PC merilis, Intel also launch Classmate PC. Besides the price of reached, Classmate PC do not leave endurance. More than anything else, because initially special didesain for the children of, this product is made by strength and hold up collision. Depositor media of using drive flash, is not hardisk, so that more peaceful if lambasted.

" Become if involuntary fall or collided never mind," Aryan word of Sanjaya, World Ahead Business Development Manager, Intel Indonesia, in performed news conference in Mal Garden Orchid, Jakarta, Thursday, ( 21 / 2).

Besides, the laptop equiped by conducive system of old fellow and teacher monitor and control any kind of website which have and may be opened by pupil or his child. equipment base on network support the form of school community base on technology. Children which still difficulty use keyboard to type can use digitally of pen.

According To Country Manager Intel Indonesia, Kindness Apocalipse Teak;Core, Classmate PC making to assist process learn to teach education world and introduce technology early on to children. Even though, this product can be used by all of old age levels and work.

Intel Indonesia have holded mutually Zyrex and of Axioo to distribute Classmate PC. Zyrex Him have the of by the name of Anoa.(Div)

Specification of Intel Classmate PC:

* Casing: Mini Customized of Chassis 245X196X44
* Prosesor: Intel Mobile Processor ULV 900 MHZ, Zero L2 cache, 400 MHZ FSB
* Chipset: Intel 915GMS + ICH6-M
* Memory: DDR-II 256M, 512M SO-DIMM
* Screen: LCD 7 inch 800 x 480, LVDS Interface, LED B / l
* Depositor media: 1GB Linux for, 2 GB Windows XP Pros for of NAND Flash
* Audio: Stereo 2 Channel Audio, Built-In Speakers Microphone and, External Jack For of Output And Microphone Input
* LAN / wan : 10 / 100M Ethernet + WLAN 802.11 b / w g / Antenna
* Keyboard/Touch Pad: Water-Resistant Integrated Keyboard Hot Keys Cycle Touch Pad Left Right Buttonsdigital Pen and with with ( optional) : Digital Wireless of Pen
* Power Supply: Battery Adapter-6 Cells, approximately 4 hours
* Operating System: Windows XP Pros / linux.

newest hendphone x1

2009-03-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

If you have an X1 Support Card in your box, you have access to a dedicated network for X1 users, helping you get the most out of your X1.

The personal touch: call the X1 support number and your call will be fast-tracked directly to one of our specialist teams. This is your mobile manual, where you can learn about all the functions on your X1 and solve any issues you have - an extra helping hand in addition to your operator and retailer contacts.

Web support: keep up to speed with a full user guide, tips and tricks, FAQs and the latest news on software updates. Access to all the information you need at your fingertips.

Travellers service: when abroad, you have access to our new support service for the first 12
months of your warranty period. Just call the local support line and our support agents will help
you in the local language or in English. If your X1 stops functioning completely, in most areas we
can deliver a replacement X1 to you with our fast courier service. All you need is your X1
Support Card - your passport to peace of mind when away from home.

Worldwide X1 Support phone numbers

To benefit from this unique service, keep your support card with you and write your 15-digit
IMEI number on the signature strip. You can find your 15-digit IMEI number:

On a label on the side of your X1 box
Under the battery inside your X1
By typing #06# on your X1 keypad

2009-03-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

D-One is Merk of handphone newest which have separate excess. This D-One have specifikasi as follows:
Network : GSM 900 / 1800 Mhz, CDMA 800 Mhz
Dimension : 113 x 48 x 16 mm
Display : TFT, 65 K colors touchscreen
Size Display : 176 x 220 pixels
Phonebook : 500 entries (Phone) + 2 SIM CARD
Memory : MicroSD
Camera : Yes, 1,3 MP + Video Recorder
Feature : Offline Mode
Multimedia player
Support Firewall
Web Cam
Battery : 1000 mAh

besides display of can touchscreen, This D-One also have two card slot of GSM & CDMA so that both can be used concurrently. Still many again the excellences of D-One the other and him of still quite a few....

CONCEPT AUTODIDACT

2009-02-09T20:51:00.000-08:00

What Style Learn That?

Learn in formal area do not always please. More than anything else if You have to learn forced . For example, You have to learn because that is single way to pass, to getting work or even promotion. Follow the example of the differ from perforced to is if/when You take a fancy to to learn in class with lecturer tuition, while You perforced to learning in Open University ( UT) having system learn long distance.

Facing perforced to to learn matter clearly not pleasant. Will not easy for someone for have concentration to learn if he feels perforced to. Therefore, You need to look for road;street how to be learning to become pleasant matter, or although remain to perforced to, but can become effective and easier.

All experts in educational try to develop theory concerning style learn as mode to look for road;street so that learning to become pleasant and easy matter. As us know, learn to require concentration. Situation and condition for have concentration to very style learn You. If You recognize style learn You, hence You earn to manage at what condition, where, when and how do you can maximize to learn You. What style learn that?

Environmental Influence Learn

Environment influence ability of You in have concentration to learn. You will be able to maximize ability of Your concentration, if You know factor any kind of having an effect on to concentration. If You earn to maximize concentration, You can use ability of You at the time of and correct atmosphere. Thereby You earn to economize energi. Try to conceive if You of is including people which like learnt silent in place calm and, whereas Your friend invite learnt at home him at the same time install music hardly. Can You is have concentration to maximally?

Environmental factor which influence concentration learn is voice, illumination, temperature, and desain learn.

a. voice

Every body have different reaction to voice. There is taking a fancy to to learn at the same time listen hard music, soft music, and or see TV. There is also which like learnt crowded in place, with friend. But there is also which is concentration cannot if many people around him. Even for selected people, any voice or music will bother concentration learn them. They choose to learn without music or in place which they assume peace noiselessly. But, some selected people do not feel annoyed good there is voice and or do not. They remain to earn to have concentration learn in a state of any.

b. Illumination

Illumination is factor which the was influence of less was felt to be compared to influence of voice. Probably because relative easy to arrange illumination matching with the one which You require.

c. Temperature

Influence of temperature to concentration learn in general nor too take as problem by is people. But, You shall have knowledge that reaction every body to temperature differ. There is choosing to learn was in place chilled, or cold; while other people choose warm place.

d. Desain Learn

If You is reading, writing, or summarize module requiring concentration, try paid attention, do You feel balmier to do so at the same time sit easy going in chair, sofa, bed, mat, karpet or sit easy going in floor? If one of the the way is way making You easier have concentration to learn, hence possibly You is the including people requiring informal desain or way of learning easy going informal.

If You of is including type requiring formal desain, hence possibly easier You have concentration to if learning with desk and chair learn. Equiped place learn You with positive sentences, photo, picture, or schedule learn able to improve the spirit of learning You. important, corresponding to Your type, ad for informal type and formal type.

You have known factors in environment able to influence concentration learn. Thus, maximizing the the environment to maximize concentration learn You.

Concept Autodidact

Autodidact is not mean to self-study. Oftentimes people misinterpret autodidact as self-studying the. the misapprehension happened because in general them which is learning in UT tend to to self-study without friend or tutor of learning. Autodidact mean to learn by have initiative, and or under own team, in learning.

As self-supporting student, You do not have to know all the things. You nor expected to become students of jenius which do not require others aid. One of the autodidact principle are You can know when You require other party support or aid. understanding is including knowing when You need to come in contact with other student, group learn, official member of administration in UPBJJ, , or even neighbour which is learning in other university. support can in the form of activity each other motivating to learn, for example, chating with neighbour which is learning in other university, oftentimes our self-motivation can to be impetous learn. support earn also mean dictionary, supporter literature book, case of newspaper, news of television or radio, library, information concerning schedule of tutorial, and something else which do not relate to people.

all important is You can identify the source oves information. Identify the source of this information is required for the facilitating of process learn You at the time of You require support or aid.

Media Learn

One of the especial characteristic learn long distance is usage of media learn. Media learn especial in UT is teaching materials print the known as module module. Each media have insuffiency and excess. You earn to choose which media appropriate to support to learn You. Click Learn Effective with Media to know farther regarding media learn. At topic, You'D obtain;get procedural information maximize usage of media for the sake of learning.

Usage of media for the sake of learning this also is one of the strategy form learn. For example, audio media will very assist for people owning style learn “ auditorial”. Further explanation hit style learn you Can obtain;get at topic Recognize Style Learn.

Usage of media to learn is often assumed bizzare because ordinary habit do not for the man who accustomed learn to look in the face. At process learn long distance, usage of media is not bizzare something that. As student of UT how if You try to recognize medias learn which provided by UT? Who knows You'D feel easier to learn to to through supporter media? Who knows also, the supporter media can become strategy learn the effectiveness for You?

Strategy Learn Effectively

Existence of distance by physical between student and instructor, making some instructor functions do not share, like for example instructor function in giving items teach at the time of instructor function or lecturing in punishing student to follow lecturing. Instructor function a kind of that is which do not is on system of BJJ, so that have to interrogate by xself by student of BJJ pass strategy learn. For example, You have to clever schedule for to read teaching materials, passing other media or module, as one of the way communicate with instructor. Teaching items represent instructor because teaching items is result of idea of instructor. You also have to interrogate ownself for have discipline to to execute schedule you Which have make. If student in general discipline have to go to learning, hence You earn to plan a number of is]same times to be weared to to read module. You is Iucky exactly because can learn wherever. You Which must do is to have discipline to determine when moment learn.

Planning strategy learn is special skill which require to be developed by student of BJJ. As student of BJJ, You cannot use habit learn to look in the face if we like to succeed. If You bring habit learn to look in the face to learn at system of BJJ, hence You'D experience of difficulties. For example, You possibly too so that forget to learn. You also can be trapped at activity of routine at home like managing child, meeting of RT; so that You is not skillful to interrogate Your studying time. In course of learning long distance, nobody ( teacher ) assisting You to remind or order You learn besides yourself by xself. Only yourself able to trigger and race process learn You.

Habit learn to look in the face do not is easy to changed off hand. Therefore, student of BJJ require to learn to hit special skill able to assist You to learn to to hit how to learning. studied various special skill in learning this, hence You will be able to interrogate to learn in system of BJJ, like Open University.

For just life of hard them, more than anything else go to school

2009-01-26T05:29:00.000-08:00

Still many people which not yet education. Because they less can to fulfill education expense. Though that is education very necessary for someone future as hold of life to experience sophisticated all life. Service of education till now not yet flattened to entire/all society element. Like fisherman, economic farmer weaken, ad for minority, and them who live in purilieus. So also the things of with maisonette citizen of school of moslem is problem of social, economic, and law, for example public road child, worker of child and also people which have returned to correct road;street.

In UU RI Year 2003 concerning Sisdiknas section 26 is article 3 expressed, one of the set of education at education of is non to education of equivalence? above Problem relating to, less society can to fulfill education expense, governmental carry out activity of education of equivalence for example in unionizing to learn package of A, B, and C and also more flexible education service ( multifarious and easy of manner) and more orient at efficiency of life.

Result of education of non-formal needn't be hesitated again because have equivalent with formal education program result after passing equivalent assessment process by showed by institute [is] local government or government relateed at national standard of pendidikan.Gagne and of Brigss ( 1979) emu, result learn can be grouped into five category that is intellectual skill, cognate strategy, information of verbal, ability of motorik, and attitude? While according to Romizowski ( 1981),result learn to be obtained in the form of and knowledge of keterampilan.Pengetahuan pokkan dikelom become 4 (four) categorize that is fact, concept, procedure, and principle. Result is ability. After learning someone will have knowledge, skill, and attitude. Knowledge show at on file information in mind, while skill is a[n behaviour or action capable to be showed someone as sign that the people have him. Hereinafter, attitude is ability accept or refuse object pursuant to assessment to object. To reach all that someones claimed to learn. To considering background life of educative by participant [of] equivalence education program come from economic society weaken, they have to partake to assist the old fellow of earning life. So that time to learn to to look in the face with tutor do not counted which obtained by children which learn in formal education. Maka,with Specifics Policy of Ditjen Diklusepora, arranged by meeting schedule lah with executed to tutor minimize 3 ( three) multiply one week and their rest of autodidact at home. To support efficacy of education using autodidact method at home by needed by educative to be participant of him a study media. upon which and medium of study to reach the target of learn. Study media of vital importance because loading message, items or content learn. availablely by media him study of them can experience of, involving, processing, expressing, concluding, and , applying what is studied.

One of the study media form is Self-Supporting Spread Sheet ( LKM). Self-Supporting Spread Sheet is medium learn containing complement of items summary and a couple problems which must be finished self-supportingly and team. LKM is practice for educative participant to learn self-supportingly without tutor tuition so that "LKM" do not be instructed to be done at the time of looking in the face with tutor is but done at the time of autodidact ( alone). Self-Supporting Spread Sheet able to support study process is LKM loading items which do not difficult to comprehend, do not the too brief of decomposition of items of was and also supported by materials learn / adequate physic appliance and supported by condition learn which is condusif.
Of media study the One of form Self-Supporting Spread Sheet is ( LKM). Self-Supporting Spread Sheet medium is of learn team and self-supportingly finished be must which problems couple a and summary items of complement containing. Is tutor without self-supportingly learn to participant educative for ajang practice LKM of tuition LKM note do that so of be tutor with face the in looking of time the at done be to instructed of is autodidact of time the at done but alone. Self-Supporting Spread Sheet LKM note do which items loading is process study support to able of difficult comprehend to, note do of the learn materials by supported also and was of items of decomposition of brief too / condusif is which learn condition by supported and appliance physic adequate.

at target of intruksional which have been specified. Third, awakening motivation learn educative participant to be can learn self-supportingly. Hereinafter, guiding for autodidact. In LKM shall be mentioned by solution example [of] a problem so that educative participant can follow workmanship stages;steps for problem hereinafter. Fifth, as practice and experience of field for educative participant to be accustomed do problems so that facilitate when final exam. Sixth, difficult and easy. LKM the goodness load easy problems and difficult to motivate and improve ability of educative participant, and seventh, reality. compiled LKM comprise problems pursuant to fact, is not fantasy.Hereinafter, LKM have marking that is autodidact. LKM have to earn to be studied self-supportingly. For that need the existence of guide of usage of LKM. Both, paying attention difference of ability of educative participant individual in doing problem. Third, educative participant participate actively, and last of assessment strategy learn complete mean educative participant have to obtain;get completely of result learn before moving to next discussion fundamental. Later;Then LKM load elements as follows items sheet contain the breakdown of items specifics, spread sheet that is problems which consist of some practices, and assessment sheet that is assessment of result learn educative participant With existence of media of LKM this was expected by limitation of studying time in learn can fufilled learnt self-supportingly..

bibliography

BP-PLSP Regional I. 2004 Self-Supporting Model Spread Sheet

Directorate Education of Society. 2004. Complete Reference Learn Education Of Equivalence. Jakarta: Your Rajimmy

Law Republic Of Indonesia Number 20 Year 2003 concerning System Education Of National. Jakarta: Medya Duta

System Development Of Autodidact Base on E-Learning

2009-01-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

Study these days face 2 challenge. First challenge come from the existence of change of perception concerning learning. second challenge and itself coming from the existence of information technology and telecommunications showing remarkable growth. constructivisme basically have replied first challenge by re-definition learn as constructive process where information turned into by knowledge pass interpretation process, correspondence, representation, and elaboration.

Meanwhile, progress of information technology and communications which is fast so which offer various new amenities in conducive study the happening of friction of orientation learn from outside-guided become self-guided and from knowledge-as-possesion become knowledge-as-construction. More than that, this technology in the reality partake also play important role in innovating study conception which initialy focus at study as solely an presentation various knowledge become study as an tuition to be can do social eksplorasi of rich culture of knowledge

Renewal of theory learn to pass constructivisme notion and frictions that happened caused by progress of information technology and communications is two matter very and each other strengthening. constructivisme and computer technology, separately and together have offered new opportunities in course of study, either in class room, learn long distance and autodidact. One of the article ( Tam. M, Educational Technology, Volume 3 Number 2, 2000) please report that computer earn is effectively used to develop skills thinking higher-order which consist of ability define problem, assessing ( judging) an information, solving problem and concluding the relevantness.

Peripheral base on other technology which expected can be used in the effort developing environment learn more productive is video of discs, multimedia / hypermedia, and e-mail of internet, beside soft apparatus ofComputer Assisted Instruction / Computer Assisted Instruction intelligent ( CAI / icai) the availableness in the form of CD ROM ( Prakoso, 2005).

meaningless AUTODIDACT
Autodidact self-study. all important matter in course of autodidact is the make-up of willingness and skill of student / educative participant in course of learning under own team, so that in the end student / educative participant [do] not depend on teacher / instructor, counsellor, friend, or others in learning. In student autodidact / educative participant will go it alone ahead to comprehend read Iesson content or seen by him [pass/through] visual audio media. If getting difficulty then enquire or discuss him with friend, teacher / others or instructor. Student / self-supporting educative participant will be able to look for source learn which is him requiring.

Autodidact process give opportunity of educative participant to digest items teach meagrely teacher aid. They follow activity learn with teaching items which have been designed special so that the problem of or difficulty learn have anticipated before all. Model this autodidact is very useful, because assumed supple, ad for and also train student independence in order not to hinge of items description or attendance teach from teacher. Pursuant to supple idea and independence this is autodidact have ber’metamorfosis’ in such a manner, among others become system learn open opened and learn long distance. The change is also influenced by other sciences and fact in field.

Autodidact system claim the existence of special designed teaching items for that. According to Prawiradilaga ( 2004 : 194) Some conditions which must fulfill by items teach this is:

1). Clarity of formula of[is target of learning ( public and special).

2). Teaching items developed by phase for the shake of phase, tidy follow path of desain message, like balance message of verbal and visual.

3). Teaching items are complete study system, that is there is formula of is target of learning, teaching items, following the example of / is not example of, evaluate domination of items, guide learn and reading reference.

4). Teaching items can be sent to student pass media print, or computerize like CBT, CD-ROM, or audio program / video.

5). Items teach that sent with post service, or use sophisticated technology with internet ( selected situs) and e-mail; or by other which assumed easy to and reached by educative participant.

6). Forwarding of teaching items earn is also accompanied by program of tutorial, carried out pursuant to selected location and schedule or as according to agreement with.

WHAT THAT E-Learning?
E-Learning is a[n information technology which is new relatif in Indonesia. E-Learning consist of two shares, that is ‘ e’ is abbreviation of ‘ electronic’ and ‘ learning’ meaning ‘ study’. Become e-learning mean study by using aid service peripheral of electronics, specially peripheral of computer. In consequence, hence e-learning is often referred as also by ‘ online course’. In so many literature, e-learning defined as following :

E-learning is a generic term for all technologically supported learning using an array of teaching and learning tools as phone bridging, audio and videotapes, teleconferencing, satellite transmissions, and the more recognized web-based training or computer aided instruction also commonly referred to as online courses (Soekartawi, 2003)

Thereby hence study or e-learning pass online is study which the was him of supported by technological service like telephone, audio, videotape, satellite transmission or computer.

In his him, computer weared as a means of assist study, is in consequence recognized with term of computer learning based ( CBL) or of computer learning assisted ( CAL). Moment first time computer start to be introduced specially for study, hence computer become popular among protege. This matter can understand by because various variation of technique teach can be made constructively computer. Hence afterwards study technology continue to expand and isn't it become two that is :
1). Technology-based learning
2). Technology-based Web-learning
this Based-Learning Technology in principle consist of two, that is audio of information technologies ( tape audio, radio, mail voice, telephone ) and video of information technologies ( tape video, text nideo, video of messaging). While web-learning based technology basically is data of information technologies ( board bulletin, internet, enamel, tele-collaboration).

In execution of everyday study, which is often met by is combination of written down technology above ( audio / data, video / data, audio / video). Technological this also is often weared at education of long distance, meant communications to between teacher and pupil can happened with excellence of technology of e-learning this. While interaction between pupil and teacher can be executed to through direct way ( synchronous) or indirectly, for example message recorded ahead before used. This way is recognized by the name of e-synchronous.

CHARACTERISTIC of E-Learning
characteristic of E-Learning for example is:

1). Exploiting technological service of electronic; where student and teacher, student humanity and student or teacher and teacher humanity can communicate with relative easy to without limited by things which is protokelor;

2). Using teaching materials have the character of self-supportingly ( materials learning self) kept by in computer of sehinga can be accessed by student and teacher any time and just where pertinent ; and

3). Exploiting study schedule, curriculum, result of progress learn and things related to education administration can be seen by each;every moment in computer.

EXCESS AND INSUFFIENCY of E-Learning
Realizing that through internet can be found various information able to be accessed easy to, any time and just where, hence exploiting of internet become a[n requirement. Is not just that, consumer of internet can communicate with other party by very easy pass technique of e-moderating the availableness of diinternet. From various experience as well as from various available information in literature, showing promise concerning benefit usage of internet, specially open education da-lam and long distance, for example can be mentioned as follows:

1). The available of facility of e-moderating where pupil and teacher can communicate easily pass facility of internet by regular or any time activity communicate that conducted without limited by distance, place, and time.

2). Teacher and student can isn't it materials teach or guide learn which is schedule and structure pass internet, so that both can each other assessing until how much/many far teaching materials studied.

3). Student can learn or materials me-review teach each;every moment and just where when needed remember on file teaching materials is computer.

4). When student need information addition related to materials which is studying of him, he earns access in internet.

5). Whether student and teacher can execute discussion pass internet able to follow with participants amount which many, so that add broader knowledge and sciences.

6). Changing of it role of student from which is passive to usually become actively .

7). Relative more efficient. For example for which they remain far from conventional school or college, for the man who stir worked , for them commisioned in overseas etcetera.

Even though exploiting of internet for the study of or of e-learning nor quit of various insuffiency. Various criticism for example can be mentioned as following :

1). Lack of interaction among student and teacher even itself an
tar-siswa. Lack of this interaction can slow down the form of values in course of teaching and learning.

2). Tendency disregard aspect of academic social aspect or conversely push the growing of business aspect.

3). Process learn and teach him tend to toward training than education.

4). Changing of it role of teacher and which initialy master conventional study technique, nowadays was also claimed knew study technique using ICT;

5). Student which don't have motivation learn the highness tend to failure

6). Do not all available places [of] facility of internet ( possible [of] this matter relate to available by problem of electrics him, telephone, and or computer).

7). Lack of domination of computer.

CONCLUSION
E-Learning is application of internet able to connect among educative participant and educator in a room learn onlinely. E-Learning created to overcome limitation among educative participant and educator, especially in the case of room and time. With e-learning hence educative participant and educator Do not have to stay in one room dimension and time. Education process can walk any time neglectfully both the things. E-Learning of exploited or do not very how consumer look into or assess the e-learning. But is generally used by technological him of tergatung from:
1). Do that technology it is true have is requirement;

2). Is supporter facility of have adequate;

3). Do supported by adequate fund; and

4). What is there is support of maker of policy..

bibliography

Hartanto, A.A and of Ono W. Purbo. 2002. Technology of E-Learning Base on PHP and of Mysql. Elex Media of Komputindo: Jakarta.

Miarso, Yusuf Hadi. 2004. Planting Technological Seed of Education. Gold: Jakarta.

Prakoso, kukuh Setyo. 2005. Developing E-Learning with Moodle. Publisher of Andi: Yogyakarta.

Prawiradilaga,Dewi S and of Eveline Siregar. 2004. Technological Mosaic of Education. Prenata Media: Jakarta..

Soekartawi. 1999. Device of Instructional. Rajawali Press: Jakarta.

Soekartawi. 2003. E-Learning in Indonesia and the Prospect of in Period To Come. Handing out submitted at national seminar in University of Petra, Surabaya, 3 Februari 2003.

Tam, M. Constructivism, Instructional Design, and Technology: Implication for Transforming Distance Learning. Educational Technology, Volume 3 Number 2. 2000.