In 1984 ink jet printers and printer cartridges were introduced. Printing documents was now easier and so was changing printer cartridges. After years of changing ribbons, adding toner ink to reservoirs within computer.

The dot matrix method used a ribbon. The industry found new ways to make printing easier and more convenient. There is drop on demand method where ink squirts onto paper through tiny nozzles. The amount of ink dropped page is controlled by software driver that controls which nozzle fires and when.

By 1990 ink jet print cartridges was widely accepted. Printer cartridges can now print in color as well as in black and white for document. Inkjet printer cartridges can print on just about any sized paper, on fabric and on film. Ink jet printers are used in a variety of settings worldwide and is a popular choice for printing.

Each brand of printer uses a specific type of cartridge. Ink jet cartridges are given an identification number and models that can use this particular cartridge, is listed. There are a wide variety of cartridges available and you should check your printer's manual to see exactly what cartridges are available to you.

If you are trying to save money, you can purchase refill kits that allow you to fill cartridges yourself. Not everyone is a fan of these kits however, quality of printing isn't as good, and in some cases cartridges when re-installed can fail to operate.

You can get reconditioned and refilled cartridges from some retailers and sometimes from manufacturer. Compatible cartridges are cartridges that are made according to exact specs of original manufacturer. The drawback here is that not every cartridge has a compatible one.

Once you are sure what you need one for, get cracking. Here is a basic guide to get you started.

Do note: while all potential buyers will benefit from this piece, it is mainly targeted at individuals opting for an assembled PC. Embedded: http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-3.html

An indicative price list at end will help you budget accordingly.

Motherboard

The large circuit board into which Central Processing Unit, memory boards and peripheral cards are plugged is referred to as motherboard.

It is most vital part of any computer as it holds and connects all your peripherals and add-ons to give you upgrade options and support for future technologies.

What you must know:

Check whether it comes with all necessary options, support for upgradeability and extra slots for memory and other add-on cards. Processor

Processor chips are primarily available in two brands -- INTEL and AMD.

The Intel chips range from very basic Celeron chip to Pentium series to advanced Centrino processor. Print and Fax: http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-4.html

AMD has a chip called Athlon, which is slightly cheaper than higher end Intel chips.

Most users prefer Intel Pentium chips to Athlon as latter heats up soon and isn't as efficient as a Pentium 4 chip. Also, Athlon chip based systems need extra fans to cool system.

The most preferred chip is Pentium 4 2.4 GHz.

You might want to consider Athlon chip with motherboard would cost you about Rs 3,000 less than its INTEL counterpart. Movie Maker: http://www.hardwaresoftwarearticles.com/archive/index.php/f-5.html

What you must know:

Though processor speed plays a crucial role, you need not have latest and fastest one available. If a processor with a slightly lesser core speed can do just as well for your demands, go for it. Make sure chips are box packed with a serial number to ensure they are original. Random Access Memory

RAM is amount of memory available for use by programmes on a computer.

The RAM chip comes in capacities of 128, 256, 512 MB, even 1 GB. Most computers function efficiently with 256 MB RAM, though a 512 MB RAM does offer you an edge.

As a thumb rule, always go in for a minimum of 256 MB RAM.