3D Printing: Why I believe it could change the world

3D printing or additive manufacturing is the process of printing three dimensional objects from designs made on a computer. It has been around since the 1980s but only used for prototyping in large scale companies. Now a revolution is under way. With 3D printers available for less than £2000 they are quickly appearing in the domestic market. MakerBot being a notable example.

You can print more or less any shape / object using a variety of materials, metal, plastic, paper and even food substances! The uses for 3D printing are seemingly endless! As someone who enjoys tinkering with my car on a daily basis the ability to print out spare parts would save endless trips to the main dealer or frequent eBay searches. Already thousands of free designs are available on the Internet, take a look at Thingiverse for some of the great offerings.

So how can 3D printing change the world? As I see it the world economy is driven by the classic model of supply and demand. Objects like diamonds are scarce (i.e. there is low supply) therefore the price is high. Although 3D printers can't make diamonds yet they can make a lot of other things (even guns) and no longer will you need to pop to the shops for a lot of things. Imagine the handle of your favourite coffee mug snaps off, no problem! Just print another one off. And why stop at a single mug, why not print 12 off?

3D printing will increase supply of goods (i.e. making them less scarce) and therefore price will have to fall. I believe supply could be so great that prices will fall to zero! I haven't even got to the best bit yet about all this. Currently a 3D printer can print approximately 70% of its own components, in the coming years this will inevitably become 100%. Some progress has already been made by The University of Bath: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project - This means you won't need to go to PC World or wherever to buy another one if it breaks. You simply ask a friend or neighbour to print a 3D printer for you on their 3D printer! You could have one in every room of your house.

The potential applications for 3D printing are huge, I see it being particularly useful in many impoverished places of the world. The ability to print out spare parts for generators, water pumps and even medical applications. If 3D printing is able to give us all the things we want at the touch of a button will there be any need for money? Will humanity move from a monetary based economy to a resource based one?

Windows 8: First Impressions

I've used many different computers and operating systems over the years, everything from an Amstrad to your latest generation Samsung Galaxy tablet, Windows 3.1 to Mac OS X 10.7. Without doubt, the best of these operating systems is Windows XP. It is beautifully, simple and easy to use, above all it's quick! Even on systems I would consider to be under powered it still performed admirably.

Earlier this month I had to setup a new Asus X501A that a customer had recently purchased. An aesthetically pleasing laptop, with an Intel i3 processor and 4GB RAM, excellent value for money at around £350. The one drawback however was that it came installed Windows 8 as its operating system. I've recommend many similar spec Asus laptops to customers in the past, all of which have run Windows 7. I was amazed at how much slower 8 appeared to be than 7. Everything took five times longer than normal and it was full of superfluous menus and warning messages.

I should say at this point that this was not the first time I had used Windows 8. An evaluation copy has been freely available online from Microsoft for some time now. The first thing I immediately took a dislike to was the new Metro interface. I recommend you read the Wikipedia article for more information on Metro: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_(design_language). It seems totally unnecessary on a desktop or laptop computer. I'm certain it works brilliantly on a tablet though. The traditional desktop environment is still lurking underneath the Metro interface but the Start button is no more.

In conclusion, I see no reason to upgrade from Windows 7 to 8. In fact if you're considering buying a new PC or laptop I recommend you do whatever you can to ensure it's supplied with 7. If you're interested in an alternative operating system to both Windows and Mac OS take a look at Ubuntu. A free operating system used by over 20 million users: http://www.ubuntu.com/

3 Year Warranty on all new PCs

I am delighted to announce that all new PCs supplied by First 4 Computers will have a three (3) year warranty as standard.

The industry standard is typically only one (1) year with some retailers offering two (2).

A three (3) year warranty gives you added confidence in the product you are buying and the knowledge that you are getting great value for money.

Please visit http://www.first4computers.com/range.htm to see the current range of PCs.

All PCs can be customised to your requirements. Alternatively I can build a bespoke machine from scratch to suit your budget.

Wireless Networking

Recently it has come to my attention that a lot of people are having problems with their wireless networking setup. It is often the case that the wireless router (often provided by their Internet Service Provider) is of poor quality.

Consequently, users experience slow Internet speeds, connection drop outs and poor wireless reception. The solution is simple, buying a high quality router built by a trusted manufacturer. High quality doesn't mean high cost either, most routers First4Computers supply start from just £65 including installation and setup. A high quality router will ensure, greater security, faster Internet, greater reliability and far improved wireless reception.

First4Computers can supply wireless routers for Cable or ADSL Internet connections. Setup takes approximately one hour.

So call on 0117 922 0686 or e-mail today for more information.

Apple iPhone 3G/3GS + iTouch Repairs Now Available!

First4Computers is please to announce that we can now offer repairs for the iPhone (3G/3GS) and iTouch.

Currently we are only doing glass screen repairs, but a greater range of services are soon to follow. Please feel free to get in contact if you have a problem with your Apple device and we will advise on the best course of action. We offer some of the most competitive rates in the area and pride ourselves on delivering excellet customer service and satisfaction.

In the meantime, keep checking the iPhone repairs page at: www.first4computers.com/iphone_repair.htm for updates.

Thank you.

Laptop Repair Now Available

First4Computers is pleased to announce that we can now offer laptop repair as part of our wide range of services.

Our rates are very competitive and repairs can be done onsite or in our workshop.

Please click this link for a list of rates and services, www.first4computers.com/laptops.htm

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at First4Computers!

New Media Centre PC Announced! Perfect Gift For Christmas!

First4Computers.com is proud to unveil its new Media Centre PC, the perfect gift for Christmas!

Presented in an elegant, slimline case, the MediaLite has everything you need for a computer in your living room. It includes a powerful yet low wattage AMD dual core processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory, a large 500GB hard drive and a Blu-Ray reader with DVD-Rewriter. Best of all it includes a Hauppauge Dual DVB-T Freeview receiver. This means you can record one channel while watching another.

It is supplied with Mircosoft's latest operating system, Windows 7 (Home Premium). With this in your living room you can watch HD films, use it as a PVR (personal video recorder), browse the web and view all your photos and home videos thanks to a front bay card reader with USB and Firewire ports. Rear connectivity includes HDMI, DVI and VGA outputs. As well as RJ45 network ports, 4 USB2.0 ports and 6 channel sound capability.

First4Computers uses only the best quality components to ensure your computer runs cool and quiet (near silent in most cases).

All this for £770 including V.A.T. and delivery. Supplied with a twelve (12) month return-to-base warranty parts and labour. As with all our PCs, components can be added or removed as per your specifications. Visit our website for more information or go direct to the media centre page.

Alternatively you can e-mail or call 0117 922 0686