Free Essays on iMac

For years, Macs and PCs have been competing for home users. Apple has recently released the new iMac, and the notebook version of the iMac – the iBook. Even though several years ago, Macs were better than PCs, now, PCs are better than Macs for home users in terms of performance and expansion options. To some consumers, performance is often the most important factor in buying a computer. Performance doesn’t necessarily mean how well the computer performs potentially, but only on specific tasks. Both iBook and iMac are designed for home users, most of whom neither care about number of floating-point operations per second, nor know what it means. Very few home users will pay $500 for Photoshop 5.0 to edit photos on their PC. The more likely uses for home computers are: word processing, browsing the Internet, and 3-D gaming. Since the most popular word processor is developed by Microsoft and allegedly optimized for Windows, it would be unfair to compare the Mac version of M S Word with the Windows version. However, comparing the performance in 3-D games and the Internet is fair. Even though PC Magazine specializes in PCs, it reviewed the iBook as soon as it came out. The article focused on performance of the iBook and compared it to a similar IBM-compatible notebook. Since there are no new IBM-compatible notebooks that match iBook’s specifications, PC Magazine decided to use the notebook they believed to be closest to iBook – the IBM ThinkPad iSeries 1480. They have very few similarities: the both notebooks are available in different colors, and neither notebook has the fastest processor from its platform. Apple claims that its notebooks are â€Å"up to twice as fast as comparable Microsoft Windows-based portables† (qtd. in Hill 53). This statement is very vague – it doesn’t say how they compared the portables, and what Apple meant by â€Å"comparable†. Since similar statements have been made about iMac, speed will be discussed in ... Free Essays on iMac Free Essays on iMac For years, Macs and PCs have been competing for home users. Apple has recently released the new iMac, and the notebook version of the iMac – the iBook. Even though several years ago, Macs were better than PCs, now, PCs are better than Macs for home users in terms of performance and expansion options. To some consumers, performance is often the most important factor in buying a computer. Performance doesn’t necessarily mean how well the computer performs potentially, but only on specific tasks. Both iBook and iMac are designed for home users, most of whom neither care about number of floating-point operations per second, nor know what it means. Very few home users will pay $500 for Photoshop 5.0 to edit photos on their PC. The more likely uses for home computers are: word processing, browsing the Internet, and 3-D gaming. Since the most popular word processor is developed by Microsoft and allegedly optimized for Windows, it would be unfair to compare the Mac version of M S Word with the Windows version. However, comparing the performance in 3-D games and the Internet is fair. Even though PC Magazine specializes in PCs, it reviewed the iBook as soon as it came out. The article focused on performance of the iBook and compared it to a similar IBM-compatible notebook. Since there are no new IBM-compatible notebooks that match iBook’s specifications, PC Magazine decided to use the notebook they believed to be closest to iBook – the IBM ThinkPad iSeries 1480. They have very few similarities: the both notebooks are available in different colors, and neither notebook has the fastest processor from its platform. Apple claims that its notebooks are â€Å"up to twice as fast as comparable Microsoft Windows-based portables† (qtd. in Hill 53). This statement is very vague – it doesn’t say how they compared the portables, and what Apple meant by â€Å"comparable†. Since similar statements have been made about iMac, speed will be discussed in ...

Major General Benjamin Grierson in the Civil War

Major General Benjamin Grierson in the Civil War Benjamin Grierson - Early Life Career: Born July 8, 1826 in Pittsburgh, PA, Benjamin Grierson was the youngest child of Robert and Mary Grierson. Moving to Youngstown, OH at a young age, Grierson was educated locally. At the age of eight, he was badly injured when he was kicked by a horse. This incident scarred the young boy and left him afraid of riding. A gifted musician, Grierson began leading a local band at age thirteen and later pursued a career as a music teacher. Traveling west, he found employment as a teacher and band leader in Jacksonville, IL during the early 1850s. Making a home for himself, he married Alice Kirk on September 24, 1854. The following year, Grierson became a partner in a mercantile business in nearby Meredosia and later became involved in Republican politics. Benjamin Grierson - The Civil War Begins: By 1861, Griersons business was failing as the nation descended into the Civil War. With the outbreak of hostilities, he joined the Union Army as an aide to Brigadier General Benjamin Prentiss. Promoted to major on October 24, 1861, Grierson overcame his fear of horses and joined the 6th Illinois Cavalry. Serving with the regiment through the winter and into 1862, he was promoted to colonel on April 13. Part of the Union advance into Tennessee, Grierson led his regiment on numerous raids against Confederate railroads and military facilities while also scouting for the army. Displaying skill in the field, he was elevated to command a cavalry brigade in Major General Ulysses S. Grants Army of the Tennessee in November. Moving into Mississippi, Grant sought to capture the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. Seizing the town was a vital step towards securing the Mississippi River for the Union and cutting the Confederacy in two. In November and December, Grant began advancing along the Mississippi Central Railroad toward Vicksburg. This effort was cut short when Confederate cavalry under Major General Earl Van Dorn attacked his main supply depot at Holly Springs, MS. As the Confederate cavalry withdrew, Griersons brigade was among the forces that mounted an unsuccessful pursuit. In the spring of 1863, Grant began planning a new campaign which would see his forces move down the river and cross below Vicksburg in conjunction with efforts by Rear Admiral David D. Porters gunboats. Benjamin Grierson - Griersons Raid: To support this effort, Grant ordered Grierson to take a force of 1,700 men and raid through central Mississippi. The goal of the raid was to tie down enemy forces while also hampering the Confederates ability to reinforce Vicksburg by destroying railroads and bridges. Departing La Grange, TN on April 17, Griersons command included the 6th and 7th Illinois as wells as 2nd Iowa Cavalry regiments. Crossing the Tallahatchie River the next day, the Union troops enduring heavy rains but met little resistance. Eager to maintain a fast pace, Grierson sent 175 of his slowest, least effective men back to La Grange on April 20. Learning of the Union raiders, the commander at Vicksburg, Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, ordered local cavalry forces to intercept them and directed part of his command to guard the railroads. Over the next several days, Grierson used a variety of ruses to throw off his pursuers as his men began disrupting the railroads of central Mississippi. Attacking Confederate installations and burning bridges and rolling stock, Griersons men created havoc and kept the enemy off balance. Repeatedly skirmishing with the enemy, Grierson led his men south towards Baton Rouge, LA. Arriving on May 2, his raid had been a stunning success and saw his command only lose three killed, seven wounded, and nine missing. More importantly, Griersons efforts effectively distracted Pembertons attention while Grant moved down the west bank of the Mississippi. Crossing the river on April 29-30, he embarked on a campaign that led to Vicksburgs capture on July 4. Benjamin Grierson - Later War: After recovering from the raid, Grierson was promoted to brigadier general and ordered to join Major General Nathaniel Banks XIX Corps at the Siege of Port Hudson. Given command of the corps cavalry, he repeatedly skirmished with Confederate forces led by Colonel John Logan. The city finally fell to Banks on July 9. Returning to action the following spring, Grierson led a cavalry division during Major General William T. Shermans abortive Meridian Campaign. That June, his division was part of Brigadier General Samuel Sturgis command when it was routed by Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest at the Battle of Brices Crossroads. Following the defeat, Grierson was directed to take command of Union cavalry in the District of West Tennessee. In this role, he took part in the Battle of Tupelo with Major General Andrew J. Smiths XVI Corps. Engaging Forrest on July 14-15, Union troops inflicted a defeat on the daring Confederate commander. On December 21, Grierson led a raiding force of two cavalry brigades out against the Mobile Ohio Railroad. Attacking a dismounted part of Forrests command at Verona, MS on December 25, he succeeded in taking a large number of prisoners. Three days later, Grierson captured another 500 men when he attacked a train near Egypt Station, MS. Returning on January 5, 1865, Grierson received a brevet promotion to major general. Later that spring, Grierson joined Major General Edward Canby for the campaign against Mobile, AL which fell on April 12. Benjamin Grierson - Later Career: With the end of the Civil War, Grierson elected to remain in the US Army. Though penalized for not being a West Point graduate, he was accepted into the regular service with the rank of colonel in recognition for his wartime achievements. In 1866, Grierson organized the new 10th Cavalry Regiment. Composed of African-American soldiers with white officers, the 10th was one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments. A firm believer in his mens fighting ability, Grierson was ostracized by many other officers who doubted the African Americans skills as soldiers. After commanding Forts Riley and Gibson between 1867 and 1869, he selected the site for Fort Sill. Overseeing the new posts construction, Grierson led the garrison from 1869 to 1872. During his tenure at Fort Sill, Griersons support of the peace policy on the Kiowa-Comanche Reservation angered many settlers on the frontier. Over the next several years, he oversaw various posts along the western frontier and repeatedly skirmished with raiding Native Americans. During the 1880s, Grierson commanded the Departments of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. As in the past, he was relatively sympathetic to the plight of Native Americans living on the reservations. On April 5, 1890, Grierson was promoted to brigadier general. Retiring that July, he split his time between Jacksonville, IL and a ranch near Fort Concho, TX. Suffering a severe stroke in 1907, Grierson clung to life until finally dying at Omena, MI on August 31, 1911. His remains were later buried in Jacksonville. Selected Sources HistoryNet: The Grierson RaidTSHA: Benjamin H. Grierson Hard Party: Benjamin Grierson

Acheiving Global Competitive Advantage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Acheiving Global Competitive Advantage - Essay Example The organization employs more than 320,808 people in 160 countries (Toyota Motor Corporation, Annual Report, 2009). TMC is a multinational company. It is a very popular auto company. It designs environment-friendly and superior technology cars. The company was established in the year 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda. However, the company gained global eminence in the year 1952. The company started advancing in leaps and bounds. North American was the first country to import the cars of Toyota (Source: Toyota Motor Corporation, Annual Report, 2008). TMC and Toyota Motor Sales joined forces in the year 1982 to augment the international presence of the company. There are 522 subsidiaries of the company. In 2008 the company had achieved the status of â€Å"The biggest automobile-manufacturer†, but the financial crisis of 2007 saw the fall in revenue generation of TMC. Its current global standing is number three. The company is based in Toyota City, Aichi in Japan (Toyota, Overview, 2011). The company took over General Motors in 2008. The company is proficient in designing and manufacturing an array of products. The main line of production ranges from luxury and sports vehicles. It also manufactures buses, minivans, trucks, and SUVs. These vehicles are manufactured using either hybrid or combustion engines (like Prius). The subsidiaries of Toyota (like Daihatsu Motor) are also proficient in auto manufacturing. Hino Motors (another subsidiary) manufactures buses and trucks. TMC also produces automotive parts. These are used in the vehicles made by TMC, as well as sold to other automobile manufacturers. The most popular Toyota models are Tundra Truck, Lexus Line, Land Cruiser, Corolla, and Camry. Toyota vehicles are very popular in Asia, which contributes to 40 percent of its sales (Toyota, Products and Services, 2011). TMC has expertise in not only car-manufacturing but also many other fields like e-Toyota business, afforestation,

A Rose for Emily by William Falkner Research Paper

A Rose for Emily by William Falkner - Research Paper Example He also won the Pulitzer Prize for â€Å"Fable† and â€Å"The Reivers†. Faulkner started writing for material gains as he did not belong to a wealthy family he struggled his way through hard work and voracious reading. Skills of writing can be learnt but ways to pore your thoughts into words can be a gift from God. Faulkner depicted the social and moral connections between present and past. Most of his stories have an element of southern culture or link themselves to ethical aspects. As he was a survivor, witness and victim of world war, he portrayed his stories with the background of civil war and slavery. His books always had a flare of southern element in them. Faulkner’s stories contained the tragic part more sturdily than the adequate ending. He was a firm believer of southern values. Due to change in socio economical conditions people began to adapt them. Faulkner however wasn’t convinced to see the fall of those values exchanged by the new ones. The passion and never ending energy through which Faulkner wrote without financial security in the era of depressing war, his series of achievements contain As I lay dying, Light in August, Absalom, Absalom.(John) A rose for Emily, written by William Faulkner, tells the life story of a woman who had gone through complicated phases of life which she had to endure.(William) She showed acceptance in her youth to accept norms and customs taught by his father but after maturity she practiced the same values showing none flexible attitude to change and to accept change as large. Emily represented the resistance of decayingold southern values. The story mainly revolves around one character Emily Grierson, a young lady who lived all her life with her father. Her father was a proud man who believed that he was higher in status and superior to all the people in town, endowing the same beliefs to his daughter. The world of Emily revolved around her father and she was shattered when he died and sh e went into solitude. The town’s people felt sorry for her after the death of her father. They were curious about her way of living and they kept a close watch on Emily. â€Å"When Miss Emily Grierson died, our whole town went to her funeral: the men through a sort of respectful affection for a fallen monument, the women mostly out of curiosity to see the inside of her house, which no one save an old man-servant—a combined gardener and cook—had seen in at least ten years.†(Faulkner.) She again suffered a major blow when she got close to a newcomer in town known as Homer Borron who refused to marry her. But she found out her own way to deal with the situation and poisoned him and kept his body with her for thirty years. This was discovered in the end when she died and his body was found in her house. This shows her psychologically disturbed inclination towards past and the dead. Even if her father’s overpowering control over her beliefs and ideology or her isolation after his death causes this inclination, it was clearly a pathological scenario. The story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† presents Emily as a very stubborn lady who lives her life in her own way and finds her own ways to deal with situations. She constructs her own modes and methods to lead her life and does not care about the restrictions of society. This can be seen when Emily refuses to pay the taxes â€Å"

Classical music Essay Example for Free

Classical music Essay It is Saturday March 1 2008 and I have woken with an excited feeling in my stomach. Today, I am being treated to something I have never experienced before and I am looking forward to what is in store. My father, is taking me to a classical concert. I am 18 years old and big band music is not really my style, I appreciate music but of the modern variety rather than the old school kind. My father loves classical music and plays it constantly in his study. His favourite composer is Leonard Bernstein so it is today, with great animation, he is taking me to encounter his love of this music. We are attending the Waukegan Concert Chorus which is at 624 Douglas Ave, Illinois, the concert is a tribute to Bernstein Williams; namely, In Remembrance of Bernstein Williams. My father assures me that although my liking of music may not be to his taste, I will go away from the concert feeling uplifted and appreciative of what I have heard. Our journey takes us to Waukegan during the early evening and as we approach the venue I can feel a buzz in the air. Other attendees are heading towards the seating area and as my father and I locate where we are sitting, I am somewhat satisfied that we have seats near to the front. My father explained in the car, on the way, even though it is the music you are listening to, it is also just as important to watch the performance. Before me is a huge orchestra; perhaps the biggest I have ever seen, not that I have seen many. There is a plethora of various noises coming from the ensemble and as each musician tunes in their instrument and plays small excerpts from their music stand, it is perhaps unbelievable that any kind of harmony will occur at all. However, the moment the conductor enters the room, there is an eerie silence, almost as if someone had turned the musicians off by a control button. The conductor is a gentleman who turns to his audience and bows his head, turning and repeating this gesture to his orchestra. As the first piece of music is played I feel myself vibrating with the enormity of the noise. For many years I have heard my father’s classical records being played from behind the study door but to be present at a live performance was truly exhilarating. One of my favourites in terms of familiarity was West Side Story. The introduction sounded amazing; upbeat and vibrant, the instruments seemed almost alive. Even closing my eyes, which I actually did, I could hear each piece of equipment as it was used. The brass and woodwind instrumentalists brought intrigue and manoeuvre to the story of the piece being played whilst the drums added the extra element of spirit in the arrangement. Despite the variety of instruments played and the different roles they played within the piece, the unity came together with such an intensity, I was taken aback by its impact. The formation and structure of the concert allowed me to lose myself within the music, it was almost as if I were watching the musical itself. This perhaps was the purpose of the concert itself, it worked with an effortless outcome. As the flutes and violins played ‘I Feel Pretty’, I felt almost compelled to stand up and sing as the notes poured through the air. The tempo was light in places and amplified in others; the exaggeration of drama was as apparent as the subtlety of tenderness applied to the nature of the story. Its volume was deafening yet tolerable as each instrument alerted itself naturally within the composition. On occasion I did look around at other spectators, like moths to a flame, transfixed faces and total satisfaction and appreciation of what was before and around them. I did relate to this. As the concert came to an end, I did feel somewhat saddened that it was all over. The climax of the music was a crescendo of brilliance and I am pleased to say, my father’s original prediction of how I would feel, was absolutely correct. I felt euphoric and inspired by such a performance. I had attended the concert with an open mind and allowed myself to absorb the instruments intentions; I felt all the raw emotions of West Side Story and even the pieces of music played I had heard for the first time, still brought me a sense of appreciation.

Lycidas: Poetry and Death Essay -- Milton Lycidas Essays

Lycidas: Poetry and Death  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Living in a period of important religious and cultural flux, John Milton's poetry reflects the many influences he found both in history and in the contemporary world. With a vast knowledge of literature from the classical world of Greek and Roman culture, Milton often looked back to more ancient times as a means of enriching his works. At other times, however, he relies on his strong Christian beliefs for creating spiritually compelling themes and deeply religious imagery. Despite the seemingly conflicting nature of these two polarized sources of inspiration, Milton somehow found a way of bridging the gap between a pagan and a Christian world, often weaving them together into one overpowering story. The pastoral elegy Lycidas, written after the death of a fellow student at Cambridge, exemplifies this mastery over ancient and contemporary traditions in its transition from a pagan to a Christian context. Opening the poem in a setting rich with mythological figures and scen ery, then deliberately moving into a distinctly Christian setting, Milton touches upon two personally relevant issues: poetry and Christian redemption. In this way, Lycidas both addresses the subject of being a poet in a life doomed by death and at the same time shows the triumphant glory of a Christian life, one in which even the demise of the poet himself holds brighter promises of eternal heavenly joy. Confronted with the drowning of contemporary Cambridge student and fellow poet Edward King in 1637, John Milton faced the daunting subject of making sense of an existence that inevitably culminates in the ultimate destruction of human life. As M. H. Abrams states in his prefatory notes to Lycidas, Milton took part... ...hes, David. "A Study of Literature." Milton's Lycidas: The Tradition and the Poem. Ed. C. A. Patrides. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1983. 92-110. Hanford, James H. "The Pastoral Elegy and Milton's Lycidas." Milton's Lycidas: The Tradition and the Poem. Ed. C. A. Patrides. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1983. 31-59. MacCaffrey, Isabel G. "Lycidas: The Poet in a Landscape." Milton's Lycidas: The Tradition and the Poem. Ed. C. A. Patrides. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1983. 246-66. Milton, John. "Lycidas." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M. H. Abrams. 6th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996. 646-51. Tayler, Edward W. "Lycidas in Christian Time." Milton's Lycidas: The Tradition and the Poem. Ed. C. A. Patrides. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1983. 303-18.

Philip Larkin Here

He can see everyday life during his journey, â€Å"traffic†, â€Å"workmen at dawn†. He also describes his runner into hull by the use Of the widening Of the river Hummer, which runs through Hull. It shows that he started his journey where the river was thin and at its source and has followed the winding path to its mouth. At the end of the first stanza, Larkin uses a mixture of impressions to describe the nature around him, â€Å"gold clouds† and â€Å"shining gull marked mud†.Larkin is using this mixture of positive words to describe a negative scene to portray a kind of beauty, Larkin tells the reader how it is, he is an observer. In the second stanza, Larkin describes the town, which shows that Larkin is near the ND of his journey. Larkin begins his portrayal of the town by using a list of descriptive words such as â€Å"scattered streets†, â€Å"barge filled waters, â€Å"spires and cranes†. These different descriptive words show the ac tivity of the port and portray a sense of confusion (scattered and crowded).Hull is a very busy port town and used in exporting lots of goods and has been like that for many years, which is why Larkin is able to use the historic nature of the town in his poem, † slave museum†, â€Å"residents of raw estates† (the word raw here suggests new, which shows how the port has probably been regenerated after the destruction caused in the war and the increase in demand for houses). Larkin is also telling the reader the time period in which he is writing in, â€Å"grim head-scarred wives†, generally worn by working class women; however the word grim puts a more depressing look on things.The time period is also portrayed in the description of the buses, â€Å"flat faced trolleys†, the new style of bus, with a flat face instead of curved. Also the list of different items t the end of stanza 2 show the boom in Britain after the Second World War with new technolog ies and the explosion of materialism. In stanza 3, the first line Larkin says â€Å"urban yet simple†, this can either be interpreted in a negative way or a positive way. It could show how Larkin looks down on them and feels as though he is better than them which is negative, however, it could be portrayed as though Larkin is admiring their lifestyle in a nicer, positive way.Larkin describes the port as â€Å"fishy-smelling pastoral Of ships† the word pastoral is a strange word to use however it is a link to the country side (pastoral farming) and is also a possible reference to how the port has hanged over the years and got bigger and more used and so that is why it is â€Å"fishy-smelling'. Thee city does not define Larkin, he is not part of a â€Å"cut- priced crowd† or want â€Å"mortgaged half-built houses†, in fact, most of what the city is representing is the opposite of what Larkin actually wants, which is why the last stanza is all about an isol ate place.In the last stanza of the poem, we start to understand how Larrikin preferable state isolation/loneliness â€Å"loneliness clarifies† which shows that Larkin is saying that you only really know who you are when you are alone. In the fourth stanza is where we find the first full stop of the poem which can be indicated as the train Larkin has been on has come to a halt. The caesuras in the first two lines of stanza four also help to emphasis the quietness and loneliness of the area where Larkin lived the rest of his life.We get other indications of loneliness and isolation in the poem â€Å"Mr. Balance', where a man used to live in a flat by himself with only the bare essentials in it. â€Å"Here silence stands† the alliteration of the â€Å"s† sound and the caesura help to emphasis the stillness and how the poem now comes more static compared to the movement of the previous three stanzas. The rhythm is changed by these caesuras which create a longer se ntence which also makes the poem feel slower and more static.Beyond the main madness of the town, Larkin is able to find more description of beauty which would normally be missed because he has no distractions in this isolate place â€Å"Hidden weeds flower, neglected. By the end of the last stanza, Larkin has moved from his new home to the beach where he stands, looking out over the water â€Å"ends the land†, â€Å"facing the sun† which indicates owe Larkin is now at peace, away from normal everyday madness, he is one with the elements and has no fear in facing the sun like he does with other commitments.This is also emphasizes with the soft alliteration sounds used to describe the area he is in â€Å"shapes and shingle†, â€Å"air ascends†. Larkin uses very clever use of language in the last stanza as he almost tries to paint a big picture on his canvas for his readers to see which is clearly indicated in the line â€Å"bluish neutral distance† , he tries to describe colors to clearly show the natural beauty. And the final line of the poem, really sums up Larrikin love of isolation and loneliness with the phase â€Å"initiative, out of reach† which are very unsociable words, however that perfectly describes Larrikin personality.The last stanza is different to the previous stanzas because Larkin talks about cosmically and elemental objects rather than the materialistic objects by describing the sea, sun, flowers instead of plate glassed doors and flat faced trellises. There is a rhyming scheme used throughout this poem which is very subtle and consist of very few perfect rhymes and more half rhymes.