ASAP IT Technology Blog

Modern digital devices are multimedia, meaning that they record data in multiple formats, such as both audio and video. With a wide range of devices including cameras, capture cards, microphones, and more utilizing multimedia data storage and transmission and being used by both home and business-oriented PCs, it is important to understand how these devices work.
 
Webcams are simple digital cameras that can take video or still images and transmit them over the Internet. Unlike digital cameras, webcams have no storage capacity. Most plug into a USB port, but some also use IEEE 1394 or parallel ports. Webcams are typically used in live chat situations, or face-to-face video calling, and offer resolutions ranging from sub-VGA to up to 2 million pixels. Some offer autofocus and zoom features to improve image quality, and have built-in microphones.
 
Digital cameras have largely replaced conventional film cameras for both amateur and professional photography. These cameras use CMOS or CCD sensors to record images onto internal or card-based flash memory form factors such as compact flash, SD, memory sticks, xD-picture cards, and smart media. These images can be transferred to computers for emailing, printing, or storage via flash memory card readers or direct USB port connections.
 
Musical instrument digital interface, or MIDI music is created from digitized samples of musical instruments that are stored in the ROM or RAM of a MIDI device such as a sound card, and played under the command of a MIDI sequencer. MIDI sequences are then stored as files for future playback, and can be transferred between sound cards and MIDI-enabled devices such as keyboards via the MIDI port.
 
Sound cards are typically used to record and play back analog audio, but are also used to play back digital audio sources as well. When recording analog sources such as CDs, sound cards digitize the audio at varying sample rates and store files in uncompressed forms like WAV, or compressed forms like WMA and MP3. Most cards support 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound audio.
 
Video capture cards are used to capture live video from sources like analog camcorders, TV, and more. Most recent capture cards with video capture capabilities are multi-purpose cards that include other functions like TV tuner and video capture functions, graphics cards with video-in/video-out S-video or composite video ports, and USB devices. Videos are stored in a variety of formats, such as MPEG, AVI, and more.
 
At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the multimedia devices and parts, paired with an unrivaled supply chain network that delivers some of the fastest shipping in the industry. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the computer hardware parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.

Generally speaking, computer memory is classified as either internal or external memory. Internal memory, sometimes called main or primary memory, is memory that stores small amounts of data while the computer is running. External memory, or secondary memory, refers to an external device that stores and retains data. Some examples of external memory are hard disks, compact discs, or USB flash drives.
 
The two types of internal memory are ROM and RAM. ROM, a non-volatile memory (meaning it can retain data without power) stands for read-only memory. The main function of this type of memory is to start/boot a computer. Upon boot-up, the computer then primarily uses RAM, or random-access memory. This type of memory stores data while the central processing unit is enacting other commands. The more RAM a computer has, the less the CPU has to read data from secondary storage devices. This allows the computer to run much faster.
 
RAM is very prevalent in any operating system. The two common types of RAM are called DRAM and SRAM. DRAM is used as the computer’s main source of memory. The individual memory cells are made up of a transistor and capacitor with an integrated circuit. Transistors leak and capacitors slowly discharge, meaning DRAM has to receive a refreshed electronic charge every few seconds in order to retain data. The other type of RAM, SRAM, retains data as long as power is supplied to the system. The main difference between SRAM and DRAM is that SRAM does not need to be refreshed. This means SRAM is much faster, but far more costly as well.

ASAP IT Technology is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor and has access to an unrivaled supply chain network. This allows us to promise parts with short lead times at competitive prices. We can help you find all the computer memory parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.

Did you know that 40% of small businesses believe that without the use of a printer they would be rendered inoperable? That is an astounding figure, and though the remaining 60% could survive, the lack of a printer would undoubtedly hinder their business’ performance. This is why finding the perfect printer for your business a crucial, though sometimes forgotten, task. What follows is five important things to consider before purchasing a business printer.

Given that high-quality printers can cost a pretty penny, you want to buy a printer that will allow your office to work just as efficiently in two or three years as it does now. Growth and change is a natural part of any new business, and increase in printing needs will inevitably appear as a result of that. Additionally, it’s important to consider how many employees will be using each printer. If you purchase too few printers, the printer will be overworked and slowly break down and malfunction over time. However, buying too many printers will leave many unused, becoming a bad investment. Current and potential company size are both important factors to be aware of before buying printers.

Two important factors to consider before choosing a printer are your average print volume and expected spikes in printer use. Average volume is the number of pages your printer would print in a normal day. You want a printer that will not only meet that number, but exceed it to account for variations in daily printing. Expected spikes refers to the times of year when printing volume will be higher than usual due to big projects or other factors. Printers with higher print volume are ideal for handling these surges without performance issues. 

There are several economic factors to consider beyond the price of the printer itself. Cost of printer parts, ink/toner, maintenance fees, and monthly utility costs like energy usage are all important considerations that need to be made. These costs can vary greatly depending on the size or type of printer you purchase.

Print quality requirements are not always easy to determine because you need to find a printer of reasonable quality that can also put up with the significant needs of an average office. It’s important to consider your print quality expectations and ask yourself if you need professional/print-shop quality. If that’s the case, you might consider outsourcing your printing to another company (though this only makes sense financially if your large print jobs are rare).

Printers become more and more like computers with each new model. It’s just as important to protect your printer’s hard drive as your PC’s. Be aware that printers with internet connections are vulnerable to hacking and should be protected like any other sensitive material.

At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the unique parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the IT hardware parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at 1-714-705-4780.

Purchasing a PC can be a major investment, one that requires serious research and consideration on the part of the buyer. In this blog, we’ll break down some of the most important factors to keep in mind while purchasing a new computer.
 
For some, the computer manufacturer brand is what matters the most. Some are reliable and trusted providers of hardware, while others offer better warranties, or have unique proprietary software that you might be interested in. Acer computers, for example, are relatively cheap, but still have high hard drive and memory capacities.
 
Size can be a serious concern when purchasing a PC, especially if it is a laptop. Some consumers prefer larger monitors, while others want portability and low weight above all else. For desktop users, they may want a larger case to allow for better ventilation, while others may want to save space with a smaller tower. The home destination is always a major consideration; if it’s going into a large room, you should feel free to go as large as you’d like.
 
Price and usability are obvious factors as well, and depend largely on what the PC’s end-use will be. Dedicated users like hardcore gamers, video editors, and 3D software users will all have higher requirements for their PCs, and will need to spend more accordingly to get that performance. Most users, however, use computers for browsing the Internet, and light office and school tasks. Unless you are a dedicated user, you should probably avoid more expensive rigs.
 
Tying into this is hardware. Components like the hard drive, processor, and RAM are all serious concerns, with the more demanding applications requiring more powerful components. Make sure you have a clear idea of what you will be using your PC for when purchasing.
 
Another concern is the operating system. Most Windows OS systems are sold in different types, with the more expensive editions offering more features. Windows 10, for instance, comes in Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education, each with varying programs and abilities. Windows 10 Home, for instance, doesn’t have a disk encryption feature like Bitlocker, so if hard drive security is something you are concerned about, you may want to consider other options.
 
Peripherals like DVD readers and optical drives are also something to consider. These add functionality to a device, but will also make it bulkier and more expensive, and are becoming somewhat redundant in an age of streaming and digital downloads. Still, for applications like video and audio editing, they can be critical to have.
 
Lastly, the warranty of the PC is something to think about. Most new purchases come with a yearlong manufacturer warranty, but some retailers will extend it by several years if you are willing to pay. Warranty extensions can depend on both the product and the seller, so be sure to compare retailers. Some warranties are also vaguely worded, so be sure you fully understand the terms and conditions before paying for it.
 
At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the hard drives, RAM cards, and processors for the PC hardware industry. We’re always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7-365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.

Having a few media converters in your toolbox can increase your flexibility while decreasing stress on the job. In this article, we will be covering the basis of media converters and their most popular uses.
               
Now, what is a media converter? It essentially acts as the glue for networks. It helps connect networks made up of different signal types, network protocols, data rates, connectors, or cabling types through on transceiver. A media converter is versatile because it converts light waves into electrical waves and electrical waves into light waves. Some types include copper to fiber, coax to fiber, fiber to fiber, and single mode to multi-mode.
 
There are a few factors that make media converters the superior and smarter choice to use. Older equipment, or legacy equipment, is the cheaper and easier solution to a new computer. The same thought goes into older buildings or complexes, or legacy buildings, where the rewiring of a whole structure is just not feasible or practical. These situations are ideal to utilize a media converter to drive costs down and productivity up. Cutting down on cost has made the media converter steadily more popular over the years.
 
 With the ever-changing technology of our world, the need for media converters increases. Fibers that are located outside, WANs and LANS, remote management with monitoring capabilities, and enhanced bandwidth that allows signals to go in 2 directions are a few reasons why these devices are selling in mass quantities recently.
 
There are several types of converters that can meet any need. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing. Firstly, ask yourself what kind of network it will need to support? What cable or connector type do you use? What type of cables are you connecting? Finally, you need to ask yourself what kind of tasks you will need the media converter for, managed or unmanaged capabilities?
 
Here are some recommendations for media converters depending on how you answered the questions above. Ethernet converters connect different types of network media to allow them to connect, no matter their individual data rates. Some models can rate switch anywhere from 10/100 to 10/100/1000. A fiber media converter can switch between multi and single mode. The two types, optical and coaxial, transmit signals in either a form of light or a form of electricity, respectively.
 
The main goal of media converters is to decrease the amount of money spent to keep ethernet strong and increase the speed of all devices to run an overall smoother business in any setting.
 
 At ASAP IT Technology, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you find all the media converters for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we’re always available and ready to help you find all the computer parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sale@asap-ittechnology.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.