FIFO and LIFO differences

LIFO and FIFO are terms commonly used in inventory control, in cost accounting and in computer science. They all stand for literally the same phrases, but it means something different in each application.

In inventory control, they simply mean how you handle your merchandise. Do you restock the shelves by pushing the old items back to make room for new items of the same kind? Then the last items stocked will be the first items sold, or LIFO. This would be a typical stocking method for items that have no 'sell-by' date associated with them, or at least one that is in the distant future, such as canned good. Perishable items such as milk and eggs are restocked from the back, so that the old items are pushed to the front and are the first selected by shoppers; this is a FIFO restocking method. This is why most convenience stores have walk-in coolers behind their cold displays, so that they can stock from the rear.


Obviously, you can handle some merchandise LIFO and some FIFO, depending on what it is and how fast you have to move it.

In accounting, LIFO and FIFO mean two different ways of setting a value on your existing inventory and calculating your profit. Some retailers stock an individual type of item only once and then when it has sold out, they no longer carry it; ephemeral fads and fashions are examples of stock-once items. So they pay the same price for each unit of that particular item, and have no decision to make when valuing their inventory. Most retailers, however, stock a particular item for some time, replenishing their supply as they run low. The price on the item fluctuates with time, usually going up, alas. So the newest items you purchase may cost more (or less) than the ones you have had for awhile.

Of course you may adjust your selling price on the item, but what does the increase in unit cost do to the value of your existing inventory? If you had to replace it all, you would now have to pay the higher price (or rarely, get to pay the lower price). Is your inventory system sophisticated enough to be able to determine which purchase lot each unit in stock was a part of? If not, you have to select an inventory evaluation method, either FIFO or LIFO.

The choice between LIFO and FIFO can have a significant effect your P/L (Profit/Loss) statements. It is probably wise to pick a particular method and stick to it so there are not wild fluctuations in your numbers. Also note that some evaluation methods are not allowed for tax purposes. You should obviously not make a decision to use LIFO or FIFO cost accounting and inventory valuation without first consulting with an accountant and/or a tax attorney.

In computer science - LIFO and FIFO refer to how requests or intermediate results are stored and dealt with. If requests are handled on a first-come-first-served basis, the date store is called a 'queue'. If requests are handled Last-In-First-Out, the structure is called a 'stack'. Different operations require different data handling. The LIFO-FIFO terminology, originating in business and adopted by the computer industry, led to the addition of a third term for data storage; to wit: GIGO. Garbage in, garbage out.
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What is the Difference Between GSM and CDMA?

In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Cellular carriers including Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, Verizon and T-Mobile use one or the other. Understanding the difference between GSM and CDMA will allow you to choose a carrier that uses the preferable network technology for your needs.

The GSM Association is an international organization founded in 1987, dedicated to providing, developing, and overseeing the worldwide wireless standard of GSM. CDMA, a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United States, has been the dominant network standard for North America and parts of Asia. However, GSM networks continue to make inroads in the United States, as CDMA networks make progress in other parts of the world. There are camps on both sides that firmly believe either GSM or CDMA architecture is superior to the other. That said, to the non-invested consumer who simply wants bottom line information to make a choice, the following considerations may be helpful.


Coverage: The most important factor is getting service in the areas you will be using your phone. Upon viewing competitors' coverage maps you may discover that only GSM or CDMA carriers offer cellular service in your area. If so, there is no decision to be made, but most people will find that they do have a choice.

Data Transfer Speed: With the advent of cellular phones doing double and triple duty as streaming video devices, podcast receivers and email devices, speed is important to those who use the phone for more than making calls. CDMA has been traditionally faster than GSM, though both technologies continue to rapidly leapfrog along this path. Both boast "3G" standards, or 3rd generation technologies.

EVDO, also known as CDMA2000, is CDMA's answer to the need for speed with a downstream rate of about 2 megabits per second, though some reports suggest real world speeds are closer to 300-700 kilobits per second (kbps). This is comparable to basic DSL. As of fall 2005, EVDO is in the process of being deployed. It is not available everywhere and requires a phone that is CDMA2000 ready.

GSM's answer is EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which boasts data rates of up to 384 kbps with real world speeds reported closer to 70-140 kbps. With added technologies still in the works that include UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Standard) and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), speeds reportedly increase to about 275—380 kbps. This technology is also known as W-CDMA, but is incompatible with CDMA networks. An EDGE-ready phone is required.

In the case of EVDO, theoretical high traffic can degrade speed and performance, while the EDGE network is more susceptible to interference. Both require being within close range of a cell to get the best speeds, while performance decreases with distance.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards: In the United States only GSM phones use SIM cards. The removable SIM card allows phones to be instantly activated, interchanged, swapped out and upgraded, all without carrier intervention. The SIM itself is tied to the network, rather than the actual phone. Phones that are card-enabled can be used with any GSM carrier.

The CDMA equivalent, a R-UIM card, is only available in parts of Asia but remains on the horizon for the U.S. market. CDMA carriers in the U.S. require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only and are not card-enabled. To upgrade a CDMA phone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone becomes useless.

Roaming: For the most part, both networks have fairly concentrated coverage in major cities and along major highways. GSM carriers, however, have roaming contracts with other GSM carriers, allowing wider coverage of more rural areas, generally speaking, often without roaming charges to the customer. CDMA networks may not cover rural areas as well as GSM carriers, and though they may contract with GSM cells for roaming in more rural areas, the charge to the customer will generally be significantly higher.

International Roaming: If you need to make calls to other countries, a GSM carrier can offer international roaming, as GSM networks dominate the world market. If you travel to other countries you can even use your GSM cell phone abroad, providing it is a quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). By purchasing a SIM card with minutes and a local number in the country you are visiting, you can make calls against the card to save yourself international roaming charges from your carrier back home. CDMA phones that are not card-enabled do not have this capability, however there are several countries that use CDMA networks. Check with your CDMA provider for your specific requirements.

According CDG.org, CDMA networks support over 270 million subscribers worldwide, while GSM.org tallies up their score at over 1 billion. As CDMA phones become R-UIM enabled and roaming contracts between networks improve, integration of the standards might eventually make differences all but transparent to the consumer.

The chief GSM carriers in the United States are Cingular Wireless, recently merged with AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile USA. Major CDMA carriers are Sprint PCS, Verizon and Virgin Mobile. There are also several smaller cellular companies on both networks.


source: wisegeek.com
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Advantages of a LCD TV

LCD TV's (liquid crystal display) are on of the most popular types of HDTV's on the market today. LCD technology has been in use for several years. Many of us remember the days of CRT computer monitors but most people have moved on to LCD computer monitors. The technology used for computer monitors has evolved to high definition televisions and they are growing fast.

LCD HDTV's main competition is plasma television. Up until recently, plasma was shockingly more expensive tha LCD but with advances in technology, their prices are becoming more similar. So if pricing is pretty similar, then which TV is the better option? Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For now, we will be focusing on the advantages of LCD televisions.


Advantage 1: Screen Glare. Plasma TV's have a reflective, glass looking screen. LCD screens have more of a matte finish. Because of this, you don't have to worry as much about having too much light in your room. LCD TV's are a great option for theater rooms, kitchens, living rooms and just about anywhere else. You don't have to be stuffed in a cave to see the picture.

Advantage 2: Energy Use. LCD TV's use much less energy than plasma TV's. Running a plasma TV could cost you several hundred dollars more per year just to own. With the recent "green" movement, you will be helping the environment by avoiding plasma.

Advantage 3: Size. LCD is available in a very wide size range. You can get LCD screens anywhere from 5 inches to 65 inches or higher. Plasma screens are usually only available in the 40 inch or greater range.

Advantage 4: Price. Even though plasma's are getting cheaper, you will still save a few bucks by going with a LCD. Most people can't even tell the difference between LCD and plasma so save a few bucks and go LCD. With our current economy, who doesn't want to save money?

Advantage 5: Wall Mounting. You can wall mount most LCD or plasma HDTV's. Wall mounting is a great option for several reasons. First, it looks very styling and modern. Second, it frees up space in small or cluttered living rooms. Lastly, you can mount them with a swing arm so you can position the TV in any direction that you want.

These are some of the most common advantages listed for LCD TV's over other types of high definition TV's. Each has its pro's and con's but these advantages may persuade you to buy LCD.

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Apple MacBook Air Review

If you are looking for a very small, very fragile, very light laptop, then Apple MacBook Air is for you. A slight tap on the screen will close the system down completely.

Apple MacBook, being the lightest MacBook in its category, sets in in the spotlight, surpassing other MacBook. The depth from the back (at .76 inches) tapering towards the front bezel (at .16 inches), makes this the slimmest.


The curved design of the Apple MacBook Air makes it stand out in the crowd. Other laptops have look thicker due to a flat level of thickness all around, where as Apple MacBook Air has a thickness of .04 centimeters at most parts, and is curved.

Absence of connectivity ports and an optical drive contributes to the limitations of this laptop. There are many innovative features, such as standard voltage processing parts and a full size keyboard, that make up for all limitations. The utility of an optical drive is reduced by having an internet connection.

Apple MacBook Air does have pre installed software, including Mac OS Xv10.5 Leopard operating system, Safari, Time Machine, iTunes, Xcode, iMovie, and many more.

Apple has always been an active participant in environmental group Greenpeace in recent years. Apple has enclosed its MacBook Air to suit all environmental concerns. This laptop sports a completely recyclable aluminum case. All circuit boards are BFR and PVC free. Apple has been the first to have a mercury-free display with arsenic-free glass. The retail packaging uses fifty-six percent less packaging material than MacBook packaging. Apple MacBook Air is Energy Star 4.0-certified and EPEAT silver-compliant.

If you are in the market for cheap laptops or dell laptops ,visit www.laptopbrokers.com. they are a business that prides themselves on quality and value.

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Data Center Build and Manage IT In House vs Outsourcing

Too Big for a Small Business As businesses began to increase their focus on having reliable and available data centers, data centers began to grow in size and complexity. No longer a single room housing a comparatively simple computer system, businesses now required very large Internet data centers. These large data centers are expensive to run, expensive to maintain, and expensive to staff.

These huge data facilities were out of the reach of many small businesses. These smaller organizations also needed managed services like high speed Internet connectivity and high availability of data, but they did not have the resources to build such physically large and expense data centers. Even the equipment required for such an endeavor was often out of the financial reach of a small business.

The Adventage of Data Center Outsourcing Private data centers became the go-to solution for small to medium business information technology needs. Data center outsourcing grew in popularity, largely because it was a practical and financially more viable solution to the problems created by huge, on-site data centers.

Not only are outsourced data centers more affordable, they also lift much of the heavy responsibility from the business. Disaster recovery, adhering to industry standards, ensuring a secure and hospitable environment for information storage and management, and many other practical concerns can make in-house data centers a logistical nightmare. When organizations place their trust in an off-site data center, they do not need to shoulder this burden alone.

What to Look For in Outsourcing Data Storage When you outsource your data center responsibilities, you want to be selective in your choice of a data storage partner. Every moment that you network is not up and running, your business is being affected. A high availability data center will place a great deal of emphasis on the following:


- Skilled IT Professionals: A data center is only as good as its staff. Security and networking teams need to be well-trained, skilled, and experienced. Network technicians need to be trained to the highest industry standards. - Proper Environment: The environment of a data center is of the utmost importance. There must be an uninterruptible power supply or backup generator, a highly sensitive HVAC system to filter air, a fire suppression system, and proper installation of equipment. - High Level of Security: Your data needs to be protected, and the first level of defense is the physical security of the building. There should be controlled access, video surveillance, and extensive employee background checks. - Top of the Line Equipment: Network infrastructure is one of the most important aspects of data center planning. When selecting a data center, make sure equipment selection and infrastructure set-up receive the emphasis they deserve. - Strict Adherence to Standards: Industry standards are around for a reason. They help make sure data centers provide high quality service, maximum availability, and top-shelf security measures.

The Advantage of Outsourcing In house data centers simply cannot offer the same kind of reliability and economic viability as off-site data centers. An organization must allow its focus to remain on the health of its business operations, rather than getting bogged down in the details of managing data. Outsourcing your data center allows you to keep your focus where it should be: on your own organization.

The complicated and expensive nature of today's data center needs make it impractical for a company to expend huge amounts of resources on an in-house data center. It just doesn't make good financial sense. Instead, outsourcing your data center allows you to put those resources back into your company, further strengthening your organization.

SAS 70 certified Data Centre in Toronto provides businesses with solutions for managed hosting, business continuity services, managed security, disaster recovery.
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Why You Should and How to Use Proxy?

Nowadays Internet is becoming one of the major needs of this contemporary world. Almost every work can be done online and it is preferred by people because it is time and cost efficient. It is one of the greatest blessings of technology.

However, there are a lot of online web sites, which are not safe to your computer, your personal info could be hijacked through them. Therefore, in order to save your personal info you can use a proxy. So do you have the right knowledge of how to use a proxy server?

Using a proxy server to surf online safely can be very simple and everybody can avail its benefits in a convenient way. For a novice user it is much easier to understand how to use a proxy.

Proxies are very essential as they help in visiting the online websites safely. Anybody can easily protect his or her personal information by using a proxy. Proxies are used to hide your IP address, operating system, and other personal information. When you visit any of the online sites, it is seen that all the traffic is surfacing from the proxy server and your computer's identity and location remains hidden. Therefore, before visiting any of the online sites it is essential that you know how to use a proxy.


The process of using a proxy is easy and convenient. Neither you have to install any software nor have you to download anything when you use a web proxy. Make some configurations to your browser and you all set to use the proxy configured.

Then all you have to do is type the URL addresses of any web proxy site in your browser. After you typed the address, the connections will be redirected via the proxy thus revealing that all the transfer is coming from the proxy server as filtering firewall traces only the proxy server. You can easily download any files, or you can play games or even download them, you can do chatting, sharing videos and so many things more when you know how to use a proxy.

However, if you want to avail different facilities of internet safety, what you have to do is to learn how to use a proxy. It is important as it helps in hiding your personal information and avoids personal information in getting into the wrong hands.

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