At worst, used computers, as sold on to you, have minor blemishes, scratches, dents or wear. This is always just cosmetic and does not affect either performance or value of computers in any way. What you receive is a fully-working computer, same working condition as new, but at a price well below that of new. You can often pick up recent high-specification models second-hand and save hundreds of pounds. Of course there are lots of bargains to be had whatever model or type you decide to purchase but note you will sometimes find it difficult to get anything as stock can go very quickly some weeks.

2. Unused Computers

The other main categories of computers are overstock, surplus, liquidated, superceded, discontinued, open box or end-of-line stock. These are all basically same in that they are all UNUSED computers. So these are not what you would really classify as second-hand, ie they have not personally been owned and used by any business, college, individual etc. They will often be in their original packaging.

The reasons why these computers come on to market are because:

- a manufacturer has brought out new models and wants to get rid of 'old' superceded stock in his warehouse

- a store wants to raise some urgently needed cash and sell his unsold stock

- a factory or store becomes bankrupt and computer stock is sold

In most of these cases, stock gets sold to specialist dealers who buy in bulk and who then sell it on to public, businesses etc. They then either provide a new warranty themselves for equipment, or ensure there is a full warranty from original manufacturer. You'll often find Toshiba, HP, Compaq and other brand name computers offered with a 12-month warranty from original manufacturer. Note that sometimes suppliers refer to open box as meaning refurbished - they will usually state in description what they mean.

So that's it. Two main categories of computers, quite different from each other but both offering great deals on branded equipment. Either way you will save money and still get a peace-of-mind guarantee on your computer purchase.

One last point. Make sure you check what you are getting for your money. Sometimes computer may come without Windows installed or without a monitor. Don't assume - check. This will ensure you are happy with your savings AND your purchase.

BIG Squid RFID uses an integrated microchip and antenna that reads information. The combination of chip and antenna is called an RFID tag. There are two types of tags, and therefore two types of systems, active and passive. In passive systems, which are most common, an RFID reader transmits an energy field that "wakes up" tag and provides power for tag to operate. In active systems, a battery in tag is used to boost effective operating range of tag and to offer additional features over passive tags, such as temperature sensing. The radio waves that are sent back and forth between tag and transmitter contain data in tag, and this data is then converted by reader and transferred into a computer system.

Companies are focusing on passive UHF tags, which costs less than 50 cents today in volumes of 1 million tags or more. Their read range isn't as far -- typically less than 20 feet vs. 100 feet or more for active tags -- but they are far less expensive than active tags and can be disposed of with product packaging. (More info http://www.bigsquid.org)

The Key Components to an RFID System are a number of components including tags of different sizes catering different industrial needs, RFID readers and system software.

An RFID reader, usually connected to a Personal Computer, serves same purpose as a barcode scanner. It can also be battery-powered to allow mobile transactions with RFID tags. The RFID reader handles communication between Information System and RFID tag.

The BIGSquid RFID Software collects, permutes and stores data collected from tag in a back end like MySQL, SQL Server etc. This is usually similar to any other data collection software.

In Brief BIGSquid RFID is a technology company exclusively into Radio Frequency Identification Solutions. Our aim is to bring out high end RFID products that will help business needs of various segments.

Our Team consists of experienced people from industry with several years of R & D expertise in field. To know more about our team write to team@bigsquid.org

Team lead Satheesh G Nair has over 14 years of engineering management experience in networking systems, computer systems and applications. He has been working on middleware technologies right from 1994. This exposure and understanding is basis on which BIGSquid is built.

Satheesh is also Co - founder of TrueBlue Technologies, where he built a enterprise mobile application technology company from scratch and managed entire development process from product conceptualization to first customer ship. Products developed here are in commercial service in service provider networks around globe. His background in building intelligent networking was particularly relevant to TrueBlue's future proof architectural model for next-generation mobile service and application delivery services model.

Prior to founding TrueBlue, Satheesh led a number of engineering development teams. These included systems team for GISTROLON AG (a 51:49 Joint venture between ROMAG AG and SWISSTELECOM) in Switzerland and innovative intelligent network management system for ECHELON'S LON based networks at Swiss telecom named Lontree. Satheesh holds Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Technology from University of Bangalore.

Please visit http://www.bigsquid.org to get more information on related topics. Contact us http://www.bigsquid.org/Contactus.html or you can mail us at sales@bigsquid.org