With so many wireless routers on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which one will best fit your home network's needs. The decision can be overwhelming, but these tips will help you narrow down your choices until you find the hardware that will work the best for you.
When you go shopping, consider these factors.
Compatibility
The wireless router that you buy should work with the wireless adaptors in your computers. Make sure that they all operate on the same frequency: otherwise, you'll have big problems.
Number of Connections
How many computers do you want to connect to the wireless network? Make sure that whatever router you buy can support at least that many computers. Many people have found that they later want to add another computer or two. A child in the family gets a PC in the bedroom, maybe, or somebody gets married and the new spouse moves in with another computer. Think about the possibility of adding more computers when you shop.
Wireless Versus Wired
The main computer – the one that is directly connected to your Internet Service Provider's modem – is probably a wired connection. You might have other hard-wired connections in the house as well. Make sure that the router you buy can handle all of these computers in addition to the wireless connections that the other computers will use. You should also remember that you might sometimes transfer between a wireless and a wired connection. Make sure that your router has enough space to do that when needed.
Signal Strength
Before you go shopping, get an idea of how far the wireless signal must travel in your house. Your router needs to push the signal at least that far. Another helpful feature is the adjustable antennae. Being able to move them around to improve the wireless signal is infinitely helpful when you're having problems.
Security Features
Make sure that your router will let you enable the basic security features. You should be able to hide your network name, for example, and use a network key to grant access to authorized computers. Otherwise, your network is wide open: anybody who can acquire a signal can get online through your account.
Setup Procedure
Many routers are very easy to setup. Just pop the CD-ROM into the drive and follow the instructions. Others are not so easy. Find the router that you are most comfortable setting up. There's no need to do things the hard way if you aren't interested in that particular challenge.
Be sure to comparison shop and ask any questions that you might have before you buy the router. Many stores charge a restocking fee if you return something that is not broken or defective, so save yourself that money by knowing what you want and need before you buy.
Your source for informative technology.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
And the winner is Sony's Blu-Ray
Toshiba is expected to announce it will get out of the HD DVD business.
With recent events and market changes such as major distributors and studios moving to support only Sony's Blu-Ray disc format, Toshiba seems to have lost the standards race for the next generation.
With recent events and market changes such as major distributors and studios moving to support only Sony's Blu-Ray disc format, Toshiba seems to have lost the standards race for the next generation.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Buy or Build, which is best for you?
Building a Computer -- Is it Right for You?
The parameters used to be a little more clear. You could easily save money by building your own computer. All you needed was the basic know-how, the time and initiative, and wah-la! You had a good computer at a better price than you could buy new.
But things have changed over time. As technology improved and prices dropped, suddenly the the savings benefit seemingly dwindled away. However, that is not always the case and there are still many excellent reasons for building your own computer!
Customize to Your Needs
By building your own computer, you can customize it exactly to your needs. Whether you're into gaming, video production, audio recording, autocad, or just general word processing and internet surfing, you can build a computer specifically suited to your task.
Easier Upgrades
By using non-proprietary, quality parts, your new home-built computer will be much more easy to upgrade than its store-bought counterpart. Many retail computers have proprietary components that are tied together in such a way as to make part replacement or upgrade difficult. Your customized computer should be easy to work on, repair, and upgrade for a good while.
Learning Experience
Building a computer is a great learning experience. You get to see firsthand just what all the parts do and how they work together. Not only is it educational, but it's great fun too! And you get the satisfaction and pride of having a tangible result of your labor at the end of your project.
Drawbacks of a Retail Computer
There are a number of reasons why most store-purchased computers today are inferior to a custom-built machine. Retail computers often come with bundled software packages that are average at best. The quality level of much of the software is quite low, and most of it is probably unnecessary. It's often poorly-written proprietary software (specifically written for that computer manufacturer) and is usually infesting every nook and cranny of the computer, slowing down performance and taking up storage space.
Much of the brand-name software included in these bundles are basic versions and even trial versions. If you need quality software (and who doesn't), you're most likely going to have to buy it separately anyway.
Many of the computer components are also proprietary, making repairs and upgrades difficult. Sometimes off-the-shelf components just won't work well or at all with a retail computer. And they are often not designed for much room to expand or upgrade.
Warranties
One argument for purchasing a computer from a retailer is to obtain a good warranty. This has some merit, but keep in mind that redeeming warranties is usually not a walk in the park! You may also be without your machine for a while during the time it is being repaired or replaced.
Individually-purchased components most likely also come with a warranty, so if one fails there may be recourse for replacement. The warranty issue probably is about equal with either method you choose.
Partial Upgrade vs. Replacement
An alternative to building a computer from stratch is to perform a major upgrade. This should be cheaper compared to total replacement, and can still give you an excellent machine well-suited to your needs. You must already have an upgradeable computer though, and it needs to have a few key components which you can build around. Perform a cost/benefit analysis and determine which method would best serve you.
A Personal Experience
In the late '90's, my Win95 Pentium 100 (retail purchased) desktop computer was getting pretty inadequate. It was virtually non-upgradeable, there was no room for expansion and key components (motherboard, case) were getting obsolete. So I purchased a custom built computer (tower only, no monitor or peripherals) from an experienced friend, and it served me well for a number of years.
Several years later I got into audio recording and upgraded to larger hard drives. I also purchased a larger monitor.
Last year I made significant upgrades, specifically centered around my needs for audio recording. I purchased a new case and motherboard while utilizing my existing hard drives and all peripherals. Down the road I'll upgrade further to more hard drives (the new motherboard is SATA compatible) and a new flat panel monitor.
You can see that over the years I kept my computer system relatively current and meeting my needs for less than I would have spent in complete replacement for a comparable machine. I've had fun and learned a lot in the process, too.
Not only that, but I took the case and motherboard I replaced, bought some used large hard drives from a friend, and turned my old computer into a backup machine. You can see how much flexibility custom computer building can give.
What's Right for You?
That's something only you can decide. But if you have the interest, a willingness to learn, a need for customization, and the desire for a solid, quality system, I believe you're a perfect candidate to build your own computer!
The parameters used to be a little more clear. You could easily save money by building your own computer. All you needed was the basic know-how, the time and initiative, and wah-la! You had a good computer at a better price than you could buy new.
But things have changed over time. As technology improved and prices dropped, suddenly the the savings benefit seemingly dwindled away. However, that is not always the case and there are still many excellent reasons for building your own computer!
Customize to Your Needs
By building your own computer, you can customize it exactly to your needs. Whether you're into gaming, video production, audio recording, autocad, or just general word processing and internet surfing, you can build a computer specifically suited to your task.
Easier Upgrades
By using non-proprietary, quality parts, your new home-built computer will be much more easy to upgrade than its store-bought counterpart. Many retail computers have proprietary components that are tied together in such a way as to make part replacement or upgrade difficult. Your customized computer should be easy to work on, repair, and upgrade for a good while.
Learning Experience
Building a computer is a great learning experience. You get to see firsthand just what all the parts do and how they work together. Not only is it educational, but it's great fun too! And you get the satisfaction and pride of having a tangible result of your labor at the end of your project.
Drawbacks of a Retail Computer
There are a number of reasons why most store-purchased computers today are inferior to a custom-built machine. Retail computers often come with bundled software packages that are average at best. The quality level of much of the software is quite low, and most of it is probably unnecessary. It's often poorly-written proprietary software (specifically written for that computer manufacturer) and is usually infesting every nook and cranny of the computer, slowing down performance and taking up storage space.
Much of the brand-name software included in these bundles are basic versions and even trial versions. If you need quality software (and who doesn't), you're most likely going to have to buy it separately anyway.
Many of the computer components are also proprietary, making repairs and upgrades difficult. Sometimes off-the-shelf components just won't work well or at all with a retail computer. And they are often not designed for much room to expand or upgrade.
Warranties
One argument for purchasing a computer from a retailer is to obtain a good warranty. This has some merit, but keep in mind that redeeming warranties is usually not a walk in the park! You may also be without your machine for a while during the time it is being repaired or replaced.
Individually-purchased components most likely also come with a warranty, so if one fails there may be recourse for replacement. The warranty issue probably is about equal with either method you choose.
Partial Upgrade vs. Replacement
An alternative to building a computer from stratch is to perform a major upgrade. This should be cheaper compared to total replacement, and can still give you an excellent machine well-suited to your needs. You must already have an upgradeable computer though, and it needs to have a few key components which you can build around. Perform a cost/benefit analysis and determine which method would best serve you.
A Personal Experience
In the late '90's, my Win95 Pentium 100 (retail purchased) desktop computer was getting pretty inadequate. It was virtually non-upgradeable, there was no room for expansion and key components (motherboard, case) were getting obsolete. So I purchased a custom built computer (tower only, no monitor or peripherals) from an experienced friend, and it served me well for a number of years.
Several years later I got into audio recording and upgraded to larger hard drives. I also purchased a larger monitor.
Last year I made significant upgrades, specifically centered around my needs for audio recording. I purchased a new case and motherboard while utilizing my existing hard drives and all peripherals. Down the road I'll upgrade further to more hard drives (the new motherboard is SATA compatible) and a new flat panel monitor.
You can see that over the years I kept my computer system relatively current and meeting my needs for less than I would have spent in complete replacement for a comparable machine. I've had fun and learned a lot in the process, too.
Not only that, but I took the case and motherboard I replaced, bought some used large hard drives from a friend, and turned my old computer into a backup machine. You can see how much flexibility custom computer building can give.
What's Right for You?
That's something only you can decide. But if you have the interest, a willingness to learn, a need for customization, and the desire for a solid, quality system, I believe you're a perfect candidate to build your own computer!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Future Proof your Computer
Technology is constantly changing. You can go down to your local computer store and purchase a brand new computer. Within a week to three months your brand new computer will be worth at least half of what you paid for it. Not to mention, it will be old and outdated. So stop buying computers and start building! Building your own computer will give you the ‘know-how’ on how to future proof your computer. Most of the best future proofing hardware and software is not sold to retailers.
Keeping your computer up to date can be an uphill battle; especially if you purchase one from a local retailer. It is these retailers that are the culprits in why your computer is outdated shortly after you bring it home. They sacrifice flexibility and customization for a trade off of cheap parts and cheap prices. While it may seem like great savings, the only thing you’re saving on is the trouble of purchasing and putting one together yourself. Building your own computer is actually rather easy.
There are many places over the net that go into great detail on how to do it. All the documentation you get from each piece of hardware will give you plenty of documentation to assemble it successfully.
In order to future proof your computer, you have to get familiar with the new and upcoming technologies. As of now there are several things that are changing the way computers operate. The first and foremost is the new version of Microsoft Windows is about to be release, sometime in December. The new operating system offers two different types of ‘run modes’. The first is for people that do not have a suitable computer but still wish to use the new version. You will not see the additions or benefits from it if you computer isn’t equipped to run it the way it is meant to be run. One of the major things it will require is a graphics card that is capable of rendering DirectX 9 or higher.
Most store bought computers come with on-board graphics, which is barely good enough to play WinMine. The new operating system is going to be so graphics intense that you will undoubtedly have to update your graphics card. If you open up your computer case you may or may not see a slot to add a graphics card. If you do, good luck finding one good enough for the new operating system that will fit in it. Since many retailers skimp on almost all parts of the system, you may not have the room or capability to upgrade.
Let’s face it, technology changes so quickly that it is almost impossible to keep up with. In fact, it would be ridiculous to even attempt to do so with your computer.
But simply because we can’t all afford to have the most up to date equipment, doesn’t mean we have to be stuck with an outdated piece of machinery. The key to all upgrading flexibility is the motherboard. If you motherboard is capable of supporting the current newest technology then you should be fine, even if you decide
not to buy into the newer technology at this time. All motherboards are made with an ideal CPU in mind. They CPU’s are placed in sockets on the motherboard.
Thankfully, CPU technology has slowed way down over the past few years. CPU manufacturers are utilizing the same socket for a longer period of time. In today’s current state, when a new CPU is released that requires a new socket type, you are usually good for at least 3 months. New CPU will come out but 9 times out of 10, for at least 3 months they will stick to using the new socket type before changing it. Keep this in mind while shopping for motherboards.
The socket type is not the only thing to take into consideration when choosing a motherboard. You also have to be concerned about what type of PCI lanes it has.
To father future proof your computer you will want a motherboard that supports PCI or PCI-Express graphics cards. AGP graphics cards used to be the going norm but are quickly being phased out. But I wouldn’t doubt it if the $400 computer you can buy at Wal-Mart sells computers that still support only the AGP graphics cards. So before you buy, ask!
The last and most important thing you need to look at is the type of RAM the motherboard will support. RAM has gone though some recent changes. The common type, known as DDR, is going to be replaced by better RAM; DDR2. It’s faster and operates smoother. Once again, before you buy, ask!
Keeping ahead of technology is a loosing battle. But by following the above guidelines and staying in touch with technology changes, your computer can last you a lot longer. You can extend the life of your computer by at least 3-6 months before ever having to worry about getting upgrades. So keep these things in mind before you buy!
Keeping your computer up to date can be an uphill battle; especially if you purchase one from a local retailer. It is these retailers that are the culprits in why your computer is outdated shortly after you bring it home. They sacrifice flexibility and customization for a trade off of cheap parts and cheap prices. While it may seem like great savings, the only thing you’re saving on is the trouble of purchasing and putting one together yourself. Building your own computer is actually rather easy.
There are many places over the net that go into great detail on how to do it. All the documentation you get from each piece of hardware will give you plenty of documentation to assemble it successfully.
In order to future proof your computer, you have to get familiar with the new and upcoming technologies. As of now there are several things that are changing the way computers operate. The first and foremost is the new version of Microsoft Windows is about to be release, sometime in December. The new operating system offers two different types of ‘run modes’. The first is for people that do not have a suitable computer but still wish to use the new version. You will not see the additions or benefits from it if you computer isn’t equipped to run it the way it is meant to be run. One of the major things it will require is a graphics card that is capable of rendering DirectX 9 or higher.
Most store bought computers come with on-board graphics, which is barely good enough to play WinMine. The new operating system is going to be so graphics intense that you will undoubtedly have to update your graphics card. If you open up your computer case you may or may not see a slot to add a graphics card. If you do, good luck finding one good enough for the new operating system that will fit in it. Since many retailers skimp on almost all parts of the system, you may not have the room or capability to upgrade.
Let’s face it, technology changes so quickly that it is almost impossible to keep up with. In fact, it would be ridiculous to even attempt to do so with your computer.
But simply because we can’t all afford to have the most up to date equipment, doesn’t mean we have to be stuck with an outdated piece of machinery. The key to all upgrading flexibility is the motherboard. If you motherboard is capable of supporting the current newest technology then you should be fine, even if you decide
not to buy into the newer technology at this time. All motherboards are made with an ideal CPU in mind. They CPU’s are placed in sockets on the motherboard.
Thankfully, CPU technology has slowed way down over the past few years. CPU manufacturers are utilizing the same socket for a longer period of time. In today’s current state, when a new CPU is released that requires a new socket type, you are usually good for at least 3 months. New CPU will come out but 9 times out of 10, for at least 3 months they will stick to using the new socket type before changing it. Keep this in mind while shopping for motherboards.
The socket type is not the only thing to take into consideration when choosing a motherboard. You also have to be concerned about what type of PCI lanes it has.
To father future proof your computer you will want a motherboard that supports PCI or PCI-Express graphics cards. AGP graphics cards used to be the going norm but are quickly being phased out. But I wouldn’t doubt it if the $400 computer you can buy at Wal-Mart sells computers that still support only the AGP graphics cards. So before you buy, ask!
The last and most important thing you need to look at is the type of RAM the motherboard will support. RAM has gone though some recent changes. The common type, known as DDR, is going to be replaced by better RAM; DDR2. It’s faster and operates smoother. Once again, before you buy, ask!
Keeping ahead of technology is a loosing battle. But by following the above guidelines and staying in touch with technology changes, your computer can last you a lot longer. You can extend the life of your computer by at least 3-6 months before ever having to worry about getting upgrades. So keep these things in mind before you buy!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Vista Security at Work
This article looks into the improved security features of Windows Vista, the most secure Windows ever. Most of these features are new to Windows; however, there are some features included in the previous version of Windows, with some modifications.
1.User Account Control (UAC)
This new feature of Windows Vista tracks the user activities, and prompts when a significant system level activity is about to be performed. Vista allows no free user intervention to tasks that require administrative privileges, such as new software or hardware installation, uninstallation, editing system settings, etc. Vista presents a dialog with information as to the impact of the task in the offing, asking user credentials to proceed. Limited users have to enter administrator password, and administrators have to click on the ‘continue’ button presented.
This feature is great since it doesn’t allow any accidental modification to the system due to ignorance or inexperience of the user. Also, the system can be fully managed securely from a standard limited account (tasks requiring elevation may be done by entering the administrator password). It can however be a nuisance since the prompts may come for even very simple tasks, such as changing desktop background, resolution, etc.
2.Bitlocker Drive Encryption
This security feature is used to encrypt the entire system drive (usually the C:\ drive). This is in effect similar to the EFS (Encrypted File System) in XP, but here the entire drive is encrypted. Vista always checks if the system is starting safely and that any of the system files has not been modified. If any malpractice is detected, it will lock the entire system drive and require an encryption password from the user.
3.Address Space Layout Randomizer (ASLR)
In the older versions of Windows, the system files were loaded to a designated memory segment. This actually facilitated the attacks of such systems, since the attackers always knew where the system files reside in the memory. ASLR randomizes the memory location where system files are loaded every time Vista boots up, thus minimizing the possibility of such an attack.
4.Windows Security Center
The first time we saw the Windows Security Center was with XP SP2. In Vista, the Security Center not only monitors the firewall, Auto updates, and antivirus as in XP, it can monitor and control almost all the security features of Vista, such as the UAC, Windows Defender, etc. It works from the tray and pops up whenever a user intervention is required.
5.Windows Defender
Windows Defender, renamed from Windows Antispyware, is not just an antispyware application. It has deeper coverage than that. Windows Defender detects changes to IE settings, installation of add-ons, ActiveX controls, auto-start programs, or system configuration that may be caused by spywares. Defender, however, currently doesn’t give any protection against viruses, Trojans, or worms.
6.Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall, first shipped with XP SP2, incorporates major changes with Vista. The firewall mainly gives the inbound protection and a limited outbound protection, supporting packet filtering, IPv6 connection filtering, and configuration rules.
7.IE7 Protected Mode
Internet Explorer, with the brand new looks and tabbed browsing, which may be an afterthought of Mozilla Firefox’s success, is one of the best browsers out there.
The protected mode of IE7 lets it run with limited control, and thus prevents advanced tasks when browsing the Internet. Any malicious software trying to exploit IE to attack the system will not be successful due to its limited privileges. However, this feature is not available for the standalone IE7 browser supplied for the XP systems.
The protected mode, just like UAC mentioned above, may be an annoyance in the long term, since it blocks you from tasks, such as saving cookies from the sites you trust.
8.Phishing Filter
Phishing is a form of attack in which the attacker presents you a website that masquerades a genuine one. The phishing websites, which look exactly like the original website, might ask you to provide such information as user login, password, email address, credit card numbers, etc. If you provide any such information, the attacker gets them. Such attacks usually start with an email, claiming to be from the genuine party, with a link to the phishing website.
Vista phishing filter links to online database of millions of phishing websites. The feature checks the site status and warns the user if the site is found to be a phishing website.
9.Parental Controls
Parental Controls, which is introduced for the first time in Windows, lets the users control their children’s activities on the system. The parent can specify which of the programs, websites, or games the child has access to, and set time limit for using the system.
10.USB Device Lock Down
Using this feature, administrators can block the users from connecting USB devices, such as iPods, handhelds, cameras, storage devices, etc., to Vista. The corporate customers take advantage of this feature, as the company system administrators can restrict employees, access to the USB devices. This will make the company systems a lot more secure.
11.x64 Features
These features, available only on the 64-bit versions of Vista, are these: PatchGuard (protection from the modifications to the Vista kernel) protects kernel modifications. Digitally Signed Drivers ensures all the drivers in Vista are digitally signed. The removal of 16-bit subsystem (DOS) makes the system simpler and more user friendly, since all the tasks will now be completed through Windows GUI; however, this will reduce the compatibility of older applications in Vista.
1.User Account Control (UAC)
This new feature of Windows Vista tracks the user activities, and prompts when a significant system level activity is about to be performed. Vista allows no free user intervention to tasks that require administrative privileges, such as new software or hardware installation, uninstallation, editing system settings, etc. Vista presents a dialog with information as to the impact of the task in the offing, asking user credentials to proceed. Limited users have to enter administrator password, and administrators have to click on the ‘continue’ button presented.
This feature is great since it doesn’t allow any accidental modification to the system due to ignorance or inexperience of the user. Also, the system can be fully managed securely from a standard limited account (tasks requiring elevation may be done by entering the administrator password). It can however be a nuisance since the prompts may come for even very simple tasks, such as changing desktop background, resolution, etc.
2.Bitlocker Drive Encryption
This security feature is used to encrypt the entire system drive (usually the C:\ drive). This is in effect similar to the EFS (Encrypted File System) in XP, but here the entire drive is encrypted. Vista always checks if the system is starting safely and that any of the system files has not been modified. If any malpractice is detected, it will lock the entire system drive and require an encryption password from the user.
3.Address Space Layout Randomizer (ASLR)
In the older versions of Windows, the system files were loaded to a designated memory segment. This actually facilitated the attacks of such systems, since the attackers always knew where the system files reside in the memory. ASLR randomizes the memory location where system files are loaded every time Vista boots up, thus minimizing the possibility of such an attack.
4.Windows Security Center
The first time we saw the Windows Security Center was with XP SP2. In Vista, the Security Center not only monitors the firewall, Auto updates, and antivirus as in XP, it can monitor and control almost all the security features of Vista, such as the UAC, Windows Defender, etc. It works from the tray and pops up whenever a user intervention is required.
5.Windows Defender
Windows Defender, renamed from Windows Antispyware, is not just an antispyware application. It has deeper coverage than that. Windows Defender detects changes to IE settings, installation of add-ons, ActiveX controls, auto-start programs, or system configuration that may be caused by spywares. Defender, however, currently doesn’t give any protection against viruses, Trojans, or worms.
6.Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall, first shipped with XP SP2, incorporates major changes with Vista. The firewall mainly gives the inbound protection and a limited outbound protection, supporting packet filtering, IPv6 connection filtering, and configuration rules.
7.IE7 Protected Mode
Internet Explorer, with the brand new looks and tabbed browsing, which may be an afterthought of Mozilla Firefox’s success, is one of the best browsers out there.
The protected mode of IE7 lets it run with limited control, and thus prevents advanced tasks when browsing the Internet. Any malicious software trying to exploit IE to attack the system will not be successful due to its limited privileges. However, this feature is not available for the standalone IE7 browser supplied for the XP systems.
The protected mode, just like UAC mentioned above, may be an annoyance in the long term, since it blocks you from tasks, such as saving cookies from the sites you trust.
8.Phishing Filter
Phishing is a form of attack in which the attacker presents you a website that masquerades a genuine one. The phishing websites, which look exactly like the original website, might ask you to provide such information as user login, password, email address, credit card numbers, etc. If you provide any such information, the attacker gets them. Such attacks usually start with an email, claiming to be from the genuine party, with a link to the phishing website.
Vista phishing filter links to online database of millions of phishing websites. The feature checks the site status and warns the user if the site is found to be a phishing website.
9.Parental Controls
Parental Controls, which is introduced for the first time in Windows, lets the users control their children’s activities on the system. The parent can specify which of the programs, websites, or games the child has access to, and set time limit for using the system.
10.USB Device Lock Down
Using this feature, administrators can block the users from connecting USB devices, such as iPods, handhelds, cameras, storage devices, etc., to Vista. The corporate customers take advantage of this feature, as the company system administrators can restrict employees, access to the USB devices. This will make the company systems a lot more secure.
11.x64 Features
These features, available only on the 64-bit versions of Vista, are these: PatchGuard (protection from the modifications to the Vista kernel) protects kernel modifications. Digitally Signed Drivers ensures all the drivers in Vista are digitally signed. The removal of 16-bit subsystem (DOS) makes the system simpler and more user friendly, since all the tasks will now be completed through Windows GUI; however, this will reduce the compatibility of older applications in Vista.
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