Journalists are issued with laptops when they start working at a magazine publishing company - NSC Information Technology - Question 2 - 2021 - Paper 2

A suitable example of a free operating system the company could install is Linux, specifically distributions such as Ubuntu or Fedora.

1. Lack of formal support: Users may struggle to find help or troubleshooting for issues.
2. Possible security vulnerabilities: Open-source software may not be regularly updated or audited, leading to potential risks.

Defragmentation is the process of reorganizing fragmented data on a hard disk drive (HDD) so that the files are stored in contiguous sections. This improves the speed of data access and can enhance the overall performance of the drive.

Solid State Drive.

An SSD accesses data faster than an HDD because it uses flash memory with no moving mechanical parts. This eliminates the seek time associated with moving read/write heads in HDDs, allowing for quicker data retrieval.

Virtualisation refers to the creation of a virtual version of a device or resource, which can include operating systems, servers, storage devices, and networks, allowing them to exist independently of the underlying physical hardware.

1. Minimal setup required: SaaS applications can be used with just an internet connection, reducing installation and maintenance efforts on local machines.
2. Scalability: Users can easily adjust their usage according to their needs without physical infrastructure changes.

In the SaaS model, users typically pay a subscription fee to access and use the software services over the internet. This often includes regular updates, cloud storage, and customer support during the subscription period.

An incremental backup strategy involves creating a full backup initially, followed by regular backups that only include changes made since the last backup. This optimizes storage space and reduces the time needed to perform backups.

A biometric reader enhances data security by requiring unique biological traits (like fingerprints or iris scans) for access, making it difficult for unauthorized users to gain entry to sensitive information.

An Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) can be used to provide backup power during outages and protect devices from sudden power surges.

If the USB ports are damaged, the user could use a docking station that connects via other available ports or use wireless connections such as Bluetooth to connect peripherals.

Yes, these journalists can be classified as SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) users since they primarily use their laptops for work-related tasks in a personal or small office environment.

Multithreading in a word processor allows multiple tasks to be executed simultaneously, such as spell checking, auto-saving, and formatting text, leading to more efficient performance and a smoother user experience.

Installing more RAM allows the computer to store and access more data quickly compared to relying on slower disk storage. This leads to faster application launches and smoother multitasking capabilities.