Tech Conniption

Most of the important data are stored in electronic versions because they are secured and require minimum efforts to retrieve. Not only office, the computers have taken a center stage at home also. The data are stored in the local machines, hard drives or into an external drives like CD, flash drives or other external drives. It is this place, where PC support plays an important role in today’s life.

The PC support or Business it support play an integral role in any business’s IT infrastructure. There is a large number of companies which provide Business IT support solutions for your organization which includes PC support and Network support. They provide maintenance and support to the company’s PC as well as its network. They not only provide a customized solution for your business dedicated IT support environment by scheduling periodic maintenance of the network and equipments, but also provide Online PC support through internet or through dedicated 24X7 customer service line. You just need to Google to find out the details of these companies.

In addition to providing Computer Support, the companies also provide you some services such as Backup solutions or data storage, which enables you to create a back up for your server and store them in a remote location. This PC support is very helpful in uncertainties such as fire, natural disaster or any kind of technical failure with IT infrastructure in your organization.

The data transferred to the remote server are compressed and encrypted; therefore, it is highly secured. The data can be decrypted with a secured password. The disaster recovery services offered by these companies help you to ensure that you are not loosing your data incase of any accidental deletion of files, or during any virus attacks. Not only this, they can also retrieve the data from any damaged hard disk or broken systems or even corrupted files.

The network support is highly beneficial in those situations, where Network is the backbone of your business. Several IT and ITES companies, Call centers in western as well as South Asian countries depend mainly on network to run their business, if there is any problem with the network, the Network support personnel can always help them to rectify the issues.

The Computer Support companies play a crucial role in the smooth running of your business. They do not charge exorbitant fees from their clients; therefore, you need to invest a very small amount for the PC support. They are required for the continuous running of your business and to serve your customers better. With the continuous Business IT support, you can expect minimal congestion in the network or your IT infrastructure. By this, you can keep your customers happy for ever.

By: Smit

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Fore More Details related to PC Support, Business it support, Network Support, Please Visit :-swiftcomputers.com.au/pc_support_online_pc_support_business_itsupport_network_support_computer_support.html

Data, or information stored on your computer, can either be held on fixed disk drives inside the computer or on removable media such as CD’s that can be inserted and removed. Removable media can be used to transfer files between computers or to backup the data already existing on fixed disk drives. There are three types of removable media: Magnetic, Optical and Flash.

Magnetic Storage

Magnetic Storage: Hard disks, floppy disks and digital audiotape are examples of Magnetic storage. They operate through a read/write head, which creates and reads magnetic impressions on the disk.

The downside…

• The magnetic impression only lasts for around five years
• The capacity of most removable magnetic disks is too low for many types of files

Optical storage

Optical Storage holds information in digital form that is written and read by a laser. All CD and DVD devices are examples of this.

The upside…

• Increased capacity: one Optical disc can store the same amount of data as over 500 diskettes
• Durability: they last up to seven times as long as Magnetic forms of storage

Flash Memory (Solid-State Removable Storage)

Solid-state memory (or Flash memory) is a high-performance plug-and-play storage device that contains no moving parts. It is found in digital cameras, video game consoles and digital audio players. You can use it in the form of USB Flash Drives to transfer or backup data. Flash memory is small, light and fast.

Backup

Backup is the copying of files onto portable media so that if your computer crashes, data won’t be lost in oblivion. Backup is usually routine in large businesses but is often neglected by individual users. Some suggest backing up data files and duplicating your hard drive weekly. It takes around 45 minutes to backup a 500-megabyte hard disk.

There are two options- Local or Internet backup. The following is a list of Local backup options. Most of these also double as devices used to transfer data between computers.
• Diskettes
• Zip Drives
• CD’s
• DVD’s
• Flash Drive

Internet Backup

Another backup option is sending your files to an Internet site for safekeeping. If your computer crashes you can simply download them from the site. Here are a few examples of such sites:

Backup Defender- www.backupdefender.co.nz
My Backup- www.mybackup.co.nz

N.B. The author does not recommend or endorse any of the above service providers.

Diskettes and Zip Drives

Diskette

A Diskette is a 3.5-inch removable magnetic disk. The older version, the floppy disk, is 5.25 inches square and flexible. Copying to a diskette is quick and economical.

Ideal for…

• Those who use their PC for personal finance – the diskette enables you to retrieve checkbook balances etc.
• Projects that need to be continuously backed up such as a film script, as it is a cheap alternative.

Not so good for…

• Some newer computer and laptop models that do not have a diskette or floppy drive installed.
• Large amounts of data as diskettes don’t have a great storage capacity

Zip Drives

A Zip drive is a small, square shaped magnetic disk that is ideal for backing up your PC. The 100-megabyte size holds the equivalent of 70 floppy diskettes. They also come in a 250-megabyte size

Ideal for…

• Duplicating your entire disc drive
• Archiving
• Storing graphic images or other large files
• Transferring large files
• Keeping certain data separate from files on your hard disk

The downside…

• They seem to be a fleeting technology – most computers do not have a Zip Disc drive installed and opinion varies on how long they will be around for.

Compact Disks

There are different standards of CD’s that have different capabilities. Just to confuse us they are recognized by seemingly similar acronyms; CD-R, CD-RW, CD+RW, DDCD and E-CD.

CD-R

CD-R (Compact Disc – Recordable) is a CD that can be recorded to only once. It usually holds 74 minutes of audio or 650 MB of data, although newer versions hold up to 80 minutes of audio (700 MB of data). If your PC has CD burning software and a compatible CD-R or CD-RW drive, the CD-R can be used in the same way as a diskette. However unlike a diskette it cannot be deleted or overwritten. Look out for CD-Rs that have an additional protective layer which make them less susceptible to damage caused through scratching.
Ideal for…

• Making music CD’s
• Storing photos
• Storing permanent data

Not so good for…

• Transferring files as they can only be used once

CD-RW/CD+RW

A CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable) and CD+RW can be recorded onto as many times as desired. Data can be overwritten and erased. Other than this, the CD-RW is identical to the CD-R. If it wasn’t for their finite durability CD-RW’s and CD+RW’s could be reused endlessly.

Ideal for…

• Transferring files
• Holding temporary data

Not so good for…

• Holding important permanent files-in case they are accidentally deleted

Double Density CD (DDCD)
This disc has a much greater storage capacity than an average CD-R or CD-RW.

Ideal for…
• Backing up
• Storing archival data

Enhanced CD
Enhanced CD (E-CD) is an audio CD with CD-ROM data added. CD-ROM data is added in the space not taken by audio. Recording artists can use this to include videos, lyrics, interviews or promo material. The E-CD can be played on a CD player but to view additional material you need access to a multimedia-capable device, such as a CD-i player, DVD-ROM, or CD-ROM drive.

Bridge Disks
A CD-Bridge disc holds extra information on a CD-ROM XA track. The disc can be played on either a CD-i player attached to a television, or a CD-ROM XA drive attached to a computer. Software such as Photo or a Karaoke CD player can provide lots of fun with the Bridge Disk.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disk): More than movies

Although DVD’s have become more associated with video, they can also hold audio and computer data; hence their name Digital Versatile Disk. Like the CD, a DVD is a 120-mm by 1.2mm thick disk. However the DVD has more tracks than a CD so holds far more data. CD’s have an unvarying storage capacity of 750MB, whereas DVD’s store up to 17GB.

A range of acronyms is also used to distinguish between the different types and capabilities of DVD’s available. These include DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-Audio.
DVD-ROM

DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc – Read Only Memory) is similar to a movie DVD, but is designed for computers. The DVD-ROM stores data in the same way that the CD-ROM does and is used in the DVD-ROM drive of your PC.

The upside…

• Larger storage space – hold more data than a CD
• Can be filled with nearly everything; video, music or computer specific data
• A base speed of 1.32 megabytes/sec

The downside…

• Many older computers do not have a DVD-Rom drive installed
• Can be recorded on only once

DVD-Audio

DVD-Audio (DVD-A) is designed for audio data and high-quality music. Its storage capacity is seven times that of a CD and provides at least twice the sound quality. Like the Enhanced CD, DVD-A can contain other data, providing the listener with extra information such as lyrics or images. DVD-A is predicted by many to replace the standard audio CD in the music industry.

DVD-R

Like the CD-R, the DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc-Recordable) can be recorded on once.

The upside…

• A DVD-R can contain an assortment of information; video, text, audio and computer data

• A DVD-R can be played on your normal DVD video player but remember, if you have additional data not of the same format e.g. video and audio together, you will need a DVD-ROM or Multimedia player of some kind

• A DVD-R is read at the same speed as commercially made DVD’s

DVD-RW and DVD+RW
Similar to the CD-RW, a DVD-RW or DVD+RW (Digital Versatile Disc – Rewritable) can be recorded on, rewritten and erased multiple times. Other than this they are identical to the DVD-R.
DVD minus and plus are just different versions with the same functionality.

The Future of CD/DVD Storage

The majority of the technology industry predicts that soon DVD’s, with their larger storage capacity and faster access time, will replace CD’s. DVD-ROM drives are likely to be sold with new computer systems in the way that CD-ROM drives once were. However we are always on the cusp of newer technologies, such as the HD-ROM.

HD-ROM (High Density-Read Only Memory)

HD-ROM uses a more precise particle beam to write data. This enables information to be written on more durable materials such as metal so storage is virtually permanent. HD-ROM has hundreds of times the storage capacity of the CD-ROM.

Flash Drives

A Flash drive is a small portable memory stick that holds anywhere from 1Mb to 1GB of data. It is surprisingly lightweight and is often worn around the neck or carried as a funky key chain. They are compatible with any PC that has USB port and with Mac OS 9 and OS X, Windows 2000 and XP or Linux 2.4.17.

The upside…

• Durable – more so than CD’s or DVD’s
• No need for batteries or a separate power source
• Convenient – your computer should recognize the additional drive as soon as you insert it into the USB port
• Ideal for backup
• Larger storage capacity then many other portable devices
• More portable than ZIP drives, CD’s and Diskettes
• Quick transfer rate (approx. 1Mb/sec)
• Edit, rewrite, delete as many times as desired
• Help desk personnel can use Flash Drives as a portable toolkit that includes system updates and recovery tools.

The downside…

• More expensive than other portable devices
• Viruses – The portability and compatibility of the Flash Drive increases the chance of spreading viruses. In many cases viruses carried by a Flash Drive will not be detected as most antivirus software is reactive and only recognizes known viruses
• Theft – a Flash Drive can make it easier for data to be stolen from an unlocked PC
• Little Security – the size and weight of the Flash drive makes it very easy to misplace. Most have little or no security features and data is accessed easily. Some Flash Drives do have built in security; either a password or in some cases a finger print system – but this comes at a price.

If you backup, you are one step away from a disaster. If you backup often, make it several steps. Learn how often to backup and how to make your own backup schedule.

Surely, one can backup to whatever backup medium he wants, but if one does not stick to a backup schedule, most of the efforts, aimed at storing or securing the important information will be spent in vain.

First, we need to figure out what we are backing up, as the backup schedule largely depends on the size of the backup data:

- small amounts of data (important work documents) can be backed up often, hourly, daily and at least weekly

- medium amounts of files (e-mail messages, project documents and work documents) can be backed up daily, weekly or monthly (at least)

- large amounts of data (e-mail messages, project documents, data files, settings files, etc) can be backed up weekly or monthly

- huge amounts of data (all of the above plus images, audios – mp3s and videos – mpegs) can be backed up monthly or yearly

- total backup (a backup of all the data on the computer) can be backed up weekly, monthly or yearly.

Which backup schedule to choose is up to you, but you will also need to choose a backup software to do that and set up the time when to perform a scheduled backup.

First of all, the backup software needs to support the backup medium you want to backup (CD, DVD, FTP, LAN, external USB or flash drive, etc). Next, you select the files you want to backup, choose the time you want to backup and leave it there. Some programs can run as a service and don’t need to be launched, but some need to be running when you want the backup to be run. At any case, the computer has to be on at the time of your backup schedule.

Think the time of a backup schedule doesn’t matter? What if it runs during your work day and slows down your work computer for an hour or two? To keep working _and_ to stick to the backup schedule, simply set the backup to run a couple of hours before or after your working time. This way you won’t be interrupted with a scheduled backup.

Information is what powers business trips. It’s one of your most precious assets and you should take every step to keep it safe.

Take it from someone who has left his office without synchronsing his laptop and PC, who has wiped out days worth of work because he neglected to install a backup system and who even has lost clients because he ignored the importance of good, reliable information.

Don’t make the same mistakes I have. Here’s what a career on the road has taught me about computer data:

5 Tips for Travels

• Start every trip with a synch

Making sure your PDA and PC are both up-to-date is pretty easy. Generally, you just slip the handheld into its cradle and the computer does the rest. Synchronising one PC with another isn’t as straightforward. I’ve tested every conceivable tool, including the one that came with my computer operating system, and they can be tricky. But it’s definitely worth learning, because once you leave the office, I guarantee you’ll be glad you updated your laptop.

• Don’t trust your computer

Memory sticks that plug into your laptop are essential to the integrity of your data. And with some units now carrying up to 5 gigabytes of data (which equates to an awful lot of documents), you can fit all your essential files onto one small stick. Andrew Steele, a media consultant to charities and non-profits in Great Britain, routinely does a double backup. It recently saved his trip. “I had a laptop power supply fail,” Steele recalls. “So even when the battery was finally exhausted, I could carry on without embarrassment on borrowed computers.”

•
Stay in touch with the office

There are several useful applications that let you connect to your computer or network from afar, including Microsoft’s own Remote Desktop Connection. I like these options because you can catch up on any information that you may have forgotten to synch up before you left. My biggest gripe with these programs is that they tend to be slow — particularly with a dial-up connection — making large data downloads impractical. But if you couldn’t synch up before your trip, they can be a real lifesaver.

•
Collect information — and back it up

Normally, small business travellers are good at collecting business cards, sales leads and receipts. But this valuable information doesn’t always make it back to the office. My record keeping was so inadequate when I started travelling on business that I missed numerous charge-card payments. I ended up losing money because I couldn’t get reimbursed.

•
When in doubt, switch to paper

This is obvious advice, but it’s so obvious that we sometimes forget it’s an option. We’ve become so dependent on our technology that we don’t remember that we could just write the information down. My partner used to make fun of me when I printed out the names and addresses of people before leaving on a business trip. Why do that when everything was on the computer? Well, there are still some things paper can do that a PC can’t. Like operate without batteries. So when my laptop ran out of juice and I switched to paper, I didn’t look like a fool.

Unix signals are initiated either by running programs, computer administrators, or operators. One example of a signal is the SIGHUP signal, which is sent to the internet to instruct the Internet Daemon, also known as inetd, to repeat reading the Daemon’s configuration file.

To interrupt the Daemon’s currently running process (ID, or PID), key in the command kill -SIGHUP 4140.

It is also possible to use signals to terminate a currently running process. To end the inetd process entirely, key in the following command: kill 4140. This command will, by default, send a SIGTERM signal. If this command fails, then the SIGKILL command is entered to end this process: kill -9 4140. Since this command cannot be controlled, it is usually not a good idea to utilize it to stop a process. This command does not permit a process to clean up or to end gracefully.

How are Unix Signals Managed?

Every Unix signal results in a default range of effects when used with a Unix program. Computer programmers can opt to code their own applications for a customized response upon the receipt of most signals. The term used to describe these individually designed strings of code is “signal handlers”.

Signal handlers are unable to redefine two unique signals. In every situation, SIGKILL is used to end a process. Similarly, SIGSTOP always sends a running application to the background when it is in the foreground.

What is Spyware?

I have lost count of the number of times that we have been called out to repair a personal computer and found that the system was damaged by “Spyware”. Spyware is Internet jargon for Advertising Supported software (Adware).

Advertising Spyware is software that is installed alongside other software or via ActiveX controls on the internet, often without the user’s knowledge, or without full disclosure that it will be used for gathering personal information and/or showing the user ads. Advertising Spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history, online buying habits, the computer’s hardware and software configuration, the name, age, sex, etc of the user.

In addition to privacy and security concerns, resource-hogging Adware and Spyware can cause system and browser instability and slowness.

Here are a couple of scenarios indicating a Spyware “infection”.

– Scenario 1:

Your search engine is New: Google. You visit the Google website and do your search. All of a sudden you have advertisements popping up all over your screen. Annoying right? The Google web site does not use pop-ups! It is against their company philosophy (another reason why I love Google). So where are the pop-ups coming from? There is software (Spyware) on your PC monitoring your key strokes and hard drive contents and sending the information to a third party on the Internet which then presents advertising pop-ups to you based on your search interests or the web sites you have been visiting.

This scenario illustrates how Spyware can be extremely annoying. But worse, consider the security and privacy issues that are highlighted by this type monitoring. How secure are your passwords that you use locally or online? Is this information being sent back to a server along with other personal or business information scanned from your hard drive? Maybe, maybe not. It is not worth taking a chance. We will discuss how to identify and prevent Spyware from “infecting” your system a little later.

- Scenario 2:

You start your computer in the morning. The PC was never the fastest on the block to boot up and be ready to work but it was never as slow as it is now. Now the computer’s hard drive’s light stays on continuously and you can hear the hard drive thrashing away in your computer. This abnormal disk activity is a clue that there may be Spyware scanning your hard drive and sending the results to a third party which in turn is using it to aim advertising at you based on your interests.

The second scenario illustrates not only the privacy and security issues mentioned in scenario one, but also the resources that the Spyware appropriates for it’s own use. The most noticeable resource degradation is that of the PC itself. Valuable RAM, CPU cycles, and hard disk reads are being used by the Spyware for it’s own use. On a slower PC this resource use is very noticeable creating an unusable and unstable PC for periods of time. User productivity is sure to suffer because of this. Network and Internet bandwidth is also being used by the Spyware which results in slower access for legitimate network communications and can result in reduced productivity and higher costs of network ownership.

How to Identify a Spyware “Infestation”

There are some clues that indicate spyware could be installed on a computer.
You are bombarded with pop-up ads every time you use the web browser.
The PC is showing sluggishness and increased disk activity is noticed.
The PC becomes increasingly unstable and more prone to crashes and blue screens.
Icons appear in the taskbar tray that weren’t there before.
Network activity is observed when the computer is not being used.
An increase in the amount and frequency of email spam is observed.

There are many freeware titles available that install Spyware on your system. One of the most identifiable types of Spyware is from a company called Gator Advertising(http://www.gator.com/). Their Spyware is installed alongside free programs such as Precision Time, Date Manager, and Offer Companion. You may have seen one or more of these programs after they magically appear in your Taskbar Tray (where your computer clock is displayed). See figure 2-1 and 2-2. Ever wondered how they got there? You’re about to find out.
Date Manager tray icon

Precision Time tray icon

How Spyware is Installed

Some Internet websites utilize additional software to enable special features available on the site. One of the most common sites using this technology is the Microsoft Windows Update site. Before installing updates, you are required to accept the installation of a small piece of software called an ActiveX control. Shockwave enhanced sites also require the acceptance of additional software. It is okay to accept this software. Provided that your Web Browser security settings are enabled you will be shown a screen asking permission to install the software. See figure 2-3 and 2-4

Now this is where it gets confusing. Have a look at the figure 2-5 and 2-6 below. Not much difference from the Shockwave and Windows Update Security Warnings shown above. These usually popup when you are first entering a website which gives the impression that they are required in order to view the site. Not so. That’s where they get you. Most users will assume they need to install the software, they click and the Spyware payload is downloaded to their PC. Other forms of spyware infection are a result of saying OK to offers like the ones shown in Figure 2-7 and figure 2-8.

How to Prevent Spyware “Infection”

The chance of keeping a PC free of Spyware infection is greatly increased by following a few simple rules.
Ensure that your internet browser settings are set to at least default levels. Internet Explorer security settings are accessible by going to the Internet Explorer Tools menu and choosing Internet Options. Go to the Security tab to view or modify the settings.
Read all security warnings before hitting the Yes button. If you are unsure, choose No. If it turns out the webpage to be viewed requires the download, hit the Refresh button on the web browser or use the F5 key to refresh the screen.
Avoid using peer-to-peer file sharing services such as Kazaa. They are notorious for packaging Spyware with their programs.
Check your start menu, desktop, and Add/Remove Programs module for unknown installed applications.
Regularly clean out the internet browsers temporary files and cookie cache. This can be performed from Internet Explorers Internet Options on the General tab.
Whenever possible, close advertising pop-ups using the Close “X” in the top right corner of the window. If there appears to be no way of closing the window without clicking a button within the window, don’t. Press the Alt and F4 key at the same time. This will close the window in focus.
Use a firewall product that monitors and prevents unauthorized applications and data from both entering and leaving the PC.
Use Spyware cleaning software such as New: AdAware from New: Lavasoft. Scan for Spyware regularly.
In a corporate environment it is good practice to disable a users ability to install software on the PC.
Educate yourself and other users about what Spyware is and how it can be prevented.
Have your computer examined by a qualified computer technician who can access vulnerabilities and suggest ways of increasing your computer’s security.

In Conclusion

There are millions of useful websites on the Internet that survive exclusively due to their use of various forms of advertising. Internet advertising has evolved to the point where it is possible to aim advertising to a very precise target audience. This capability has brought with it a hornet’s nest of privacy and security issues.

A lot of the targeted advertising is possible because of Spyware software. Spyware is a tool that provides advertisers with data about a target computer and user. It is often installed accidentally or without the users knowledge. Spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history, online buying habits, the computer’s hardware and software configuration, the name, age, sex, etc of the user, and sends this information to a third party on the Internet, usually an advertiser.

Advertising pop-ups, system instability, sluggishness, and increased hard drive and network activity are all symptoms of a Spyware “infestation”.

To prevent Spyware “infestations” there are some simple rules that a user should follow. They include such things as ensuring that Internet settings are set to at least default settings. The use of a good firewall, which monitors activity both in and out of your computer, can assist in identifying and preventing Spyware. Avoid installing peer-to-peer file sharing software and offers to install software that may pop-up on your screen. Educate yourself about Spyware and how it can be prevented.

For a thorough examination of your system and its vulnerabilities contact a qualified computer technician. They will be able to identify areas of concern and suggest ways to increase your computers security.

Glossary

ActiveX Control – A control using ActiveX technologies. An ActiveX control can be automatically downloaded and executed by a Web browser. ActiveX is not a programming language, but rather a set of rules for how applications should share information. ActiveX controls have full access to the Windows operating system. With this power comes a certain risk that the applet may damage software or data on your machine. To control this risk, Microsoft developed a registration system so that browsers can identify and authenticate an ActiveX control before downloading it.

Cookie – A message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server. The main purpose of cookies is to identify users and possibly prepare customized Web pages for them. When you enter a Web site using cookies, you may be asked to fill out a form providing such information as your name and interests. This information is packaged into a cookie and sent to your Web browser which stores it for later use. The next time you go to the same Web site, your browser will send the cookie to the Web server. The server can use this information to present you with custom Web pages. So, for example, instead of seeing just a generic welcome page you might see a welcome page with your name on it.

Shockwave – A technology developed by Macromedia, Inc. that enables Web pages to include multimedia objects.

Spyware – Also called adware , spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

For the Full Figured article: click here – Spyware: Protect Your Privacy from ONE IT computer consulting, computer service, networking and network security

Windows Vista is Microsoft’s first new operating system in more than five years and the successor to Windows XP. However, it is not worth rushing out to purchase. If you desperately need to buy a new PC (if your old one died or you’ve been waiting and waiting for Vista to be released), then by all means do so; there’s nothing wrong with Windows Vista. But there’s no one compelling feature within Windows Vista that cries out to switch over, neither the enhanced graphic capabilities (Aero) nor the improved system performance features (truthfully, our Windows XP doesn’t crash). As for security, Microsoft’s biggest improvements in Windows Vista are within the Enterprise or 64-bit editions, editions most home users will not be running. Windows Vista is not the Apple Mac OS X 10.4 killer one hoped for (or feared). Nor are there specific big-name software packages written exclusively for Windows Vista–most software available today is compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. But the extensive tie-ins to Microsoft.com and Live.com, and the many, many interdependences upon Internet Explorer 7 left us desperately wanting more (and often best-of-breed) alternatives. Hard core Microsofties who live and breathe within the MSN, Live.com, and Microsoft desktop software ecosystem will rejoice with the release of Windows Vista, but for the rest of us who are product agnostic, who use Firefox, Google Desktop, ZoneAlarm, GMail, and Corel WordPerfect, Windows XP SP2 will suffice nicely until some killer program necessitates that we all upgrade to Windows Vista.

There are six major editions of Windows Vista; we’re reviewing four. We chose not to review Windows Vista Enterprise (available only to volume license customers) and Windows Vista Starter (available only outside the United States). Windows Vista Ultimate includes everything, and this is the edition getting the most promotion from Microsoft. It is not the edition most people will find packaged on their shiny new PCs or will end up with after an upgrade of existing hardware. See our feature comparison chart to know which edition is right for your specific needs, and check the following individual reviews for more details:

Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Home Basic

Setup and installation
The Windows Vista DVD disc includes a Windows Imaging (WIM) format of the code, so whether you buy the Home Basic edition or the Ultimate edition, the code remains the same; only the product key unlocks your specific set of features. This means users who opt for the lesser editions can always upgrade (assuming they have the proper hardware) by downloading some additional code and securing a new product key online. However, all features–even if you paid for them–are dependent on specific hardware configurations being present; if you don’t have the proper graphics hardware, for example, you’ll simply never see the Aero graphic effects on that old Dell computer in your basement.

Hardware requirements for Windows Vista should not be taken lightly. In a controversial move to garner positive reviews, Microsoft sent hundreds of bloggers (not including CNET) free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate; Microsoft did not send boxed copies, rather the software giant sent top-of-the-line Acer Ferrari laptops with the operating system preinstalled. So even Microsoft seems to admit that the best performance is only available on top-of-the-line machines manufactured within the last year or so.

That said, many people will still want to upgrade their current Windows XP SP2. This will keep all your current data and applications, importing them directly into the new operating system. To see which edition(s) of Windows Vista your current computer can handle, visit the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to find specific hardware recommendations so you don’t buy the wrong edition. Most people will find either Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium to be their best choice. While Windows Vista does make a backup of your previous operating system before installing, it is always recommended that you backup your current Windows XP system yourself, just in case.

Rather than upgrade, we recommend you perform a clean installation. With a clean installation, you keep all your current on the Windows XP drive and install only the data and applications you want to run on Windows Vista. A clean install can be accomplished by buying a new PC with Windows Vista already installed, partitioning an existing Windows XP machine to dual-boot into Windows Vista, or adding a new hard drive to an existing Windows XP machine.

Our clean installations took anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the hardware in the system. It’s pretty much an automated process, with the installer first copying the WIM image onto the new hard drive or partition then expanding that image. Once again, we experienced an uncomfortably long plateau at “Expanding: 27 percent”; as with previous builds, we waited between two and five minutes before the expansion continued. About halfway through, the installer reboots and continues the installation in Windows Vista.

During the installation, Windows Vista will load the drivers included within the installation image, but it will also download additional drivers from a much larger database at Microsoft. This assumes, however, that one has an always-on Internet connection; dial-up users may find that upon completion of the installation process some drivers are missing.

Once fully installed, Windows Vista first asks for your country or region, then time and currency, and, finally, the desired keyboard layout. Next, you’ll choose a username, a user icon, and a password. Then select your desktop wallpaper and security settings: Automatic, Install Important Updates Only, or Ask Me Later. After reviewing the computer’s time and date settings, there’s one more message: “Please wait while Windows checks your computer’s performance.” Here, Microsoft grades your computer on a five-point scale, with the overall rating based on your system’s lowest score (in our case, that was for the video card).

Windows Vista includes new musical tones written by veteran musician Robert Fripp. Compared to the familiar start-up tones of Windows XP, Windows Vista’s are lighter, almost spritely. The sounds for User Account Control and Log Off are also perkier than those found in similar security warnings within Windows XP.

New on the Windows Vista desktop is a Welcome Center which contains links to frequently asked questions such as, “How do you configure your printer?” and “How do you connect to your Internet service?” There is also room for some sales opportunities, either with manufacturer specials or online offers from Microsoft, such as the Windows Live OneCare service. Frankly, we think it is better for you to look beyond the Windows ecosystem for e-mail, Internet browsers, and security applications.

After closing the Welcome Center, you’ll notice to the far right there is a shaded sidebar populated with three example Gadgets (“widgets” to everyone else), tiny desktop applets that display content, such as RSS feeds. In one Gadget, a slide show of images from the sample photo library display; in the next, the current time; finally, there’s a Gadget for subscribed RSS feeds. We downloaded and installed Firefox 2, made Firefox our default browser, and quickly set up a few RSS feed subscriptions. Guess what? The Windows Vista Gadget was unresponsive to our efforts, displaying only the default MSN feeds from Microsoft. Microsoft says the default RSS Gadget feeds off a common store of RSS feeds within Windows Vista, and firefox hasn’t yet adopted the API for that store. You have to use Internet Explorer 7 or choose a Firefox-friendly Gadget instead. By clicking the + symbol atop the sidebar, you’ll see a panel of available Gadgets, with a link out to the Web to find even more. The Gadgets are not fixed to the sidebar; they can be dragged across the desktop. And even the sidebar itself can be disabled to allow for a full desktop view. An icon located within the taskbar will restore the sidebar at any time.

The familiar Start menu features some cosmetic changes for Windows Vista. Aside from the distinctive rounded icon, the Start menu now includes a built-in Search function. We would have preferred to have access to Search directly from the desktop rather than digging down a level or two. The All Programs list now displays as an expandable/collapsible directory tree, something Windows should have offered years ago. The new Start menu is divided in half, with access to documents, pictures, music, games, recent items, My Computer, network, Control Panel, default programs, and Help along the right-hand side.

Also new within Start is an Instant Off button. This button caches all your open files and processes, allowing you to turn off your laptop or desktop quickly without all the “cleaning up files” messages you see in previous versions. We like the feature, but on our Acer Travelmate 8200, Instant Off and closing the lid to hibernate sometimes produced limbo states where the laptop simply wouldn’t wake up again, forcing us to reboot.

In Windows Vista, files become unmoored from the traditional directory tree structure–kind of. The more ambitious plan of including a whole new file system was scrapped early on; instead, Windows Vista relies on metatags, which are keywords linked to files to make them searchable. With metatags, you can create virtual file folders based on a variety of search terms. Say you’re doing a report on mountains, any file that is keyword-enabled to include “mountains” will be grouped into a virtual folder without physically dragging that file to a new location. The downside is that older files (say you upgraded your system from Windows XP or imported data from an earlier version of Windows) will have to be retroactively metataged in order to be searched. Also different is the file path displayed within Windows Explorer. Gone are the backslashes, replaced with arrows that offer drop-down menus of alternative folders. We liked this efficient feature.

Finally, there’s a compatibility wizard buried deep within Windows Vista. Most Windows XP applications we loaded performed just fine. Operating under the hood, Windows Vista convinces native Windows XP applications that they’re running on Windows XP. Should you need to run an older application, say from Windows 95, the compatibility wizard allows you to tweak the display resolution and emulate Windows 95 for that program. For example, we were able to run a Windows 95-optimized game demo on our Windows Vista test system.

Features
There are too many individual features within Windows Vista Ultimate Edition to call out–seriously. However, our gut feeling is that most of the significant bells and whistles are designed for the Enterprise-level customers, not the home user. Having a large number of features should not be confused with actually providing significant value to all users across the board. We would have preferred fewer features executed extremely well rather than an uneven mix of this and that, a one-size-fits-all operating system. And we disagree with Microsoft’s seemingly arbitrary division of features within individual editions.

Common to all editions of Windows Vista are ad hoc backup and recovery, instant Search, Internet Explorer 7 browser, Windows Media Player 11, Windows Mail e-mail client, Windows Calendar, Windows Photo Gallery, performance tuning and self-diagnostics, Internet protocol IPv6 and IPv4 support, Windows ReadyDrive, a maximum of 4GB RAM support on 32-bit editions (up to 128GB RAM on some 64-bit editions), Windows Sync Center for mobile devices, Windows Mobility Center for presentations on the road, User Account Control security protection, Windows Security Center, Windows Defender antispyware, Windows Firewall, Windows Meeting Space for ad hoc wireless meetings, Remote Desktop for working from home, XPS document support for PDF-like files, improved peer-to-peer networking, improved VPN support, and improved power management. Included within certain editions (and thus also included within the Ultimate edition) are Windows Media Center, Windows Tablet PC, Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker, Parental Controls, Windows SideShow for remote gadgets, domain join for Windows Small Business Server, Group Policy support, Client-side file caching, Roaming User Profiles for remote server access, Windows Fax and Scan, Windows ShadowCopy to create file backups, Windows Rights Management Services to protect documents, Windows BitLocker hard drive encryption, integrated smart card management, and various Windows Ultimate Extras to be named later. Despite many feature changes within Windows Vista, Microsoft has held onto its original marketing promise of providing users with Clear, Confident, and Connected solutions.

For Clear, Microsoft cites its new Aero graphics. Aero is part of the Windows Presentation Foundation, a subgroup of the .Net Foundation Framework, an underlying foundation for developers to build new applications. One applet is the New York Times Times Reader, the first of many products written exclusively for Windows Vista but hardly a compelling reason by itself to upgrade. Though video playback and, yes, even the tiny icons on Windows Vista are now crisp and colorful with Aero, unless you watch YouTube videos all day, you won’t really need Aero, nor will you miss the tiny preview windows enabled on your desktop display. Also new is Microsoft’s Adobe PDF-like file format called XPS (Extensible Page System); however, any Windows XP SP2 machine can view XPS-created pages with downloads of the .Net 3 Framework Foundation and the Internet Explorer 7 browser.

For Confident, Microsoft touts new security enhancements within Windows Vista. You shouldn’t encounter User Account Control (UAC) except when changing system configurations or installing new software, and even then, wouldn’t you–in this age of downloadable spyware–prefer to know when an executable file is about to run? While UAC notifies you of pending system changes, it doesn’t always require a password. Microsoft’s more controversial method to lock down the system kernel, PatchGuard, is only available in the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista; most home users will not run these editions. Another celebrated security feature works only within Windows Mail, which most people are unlikely to use. And finally, the jury is still out on whether Internet Explorer 7 is more secure than, say, Firefox 2. Windows Vista also includes a built-in but limited two-way firewall and free Windows Defender antispyware, which ranked poor in competitive testing done by Download.com.

For Connected, Microsoft points to the new peer-to-peer possibilities, some of which are the result of its acquisition of Groove several years ago. From within Windows Explorer (which displays different toolbar options for exploring documents, photos, or music) you can move any file into a Public Folder and then mark the file or folder for sharing on a network. Within the Business and Ultimate editions you can further mark individual files for remote access.

Performance
Upon installation, Windows Vista rates each system’s overall hardware performance, with the final score reflecting your system’s lowest individual score. This is handy. For example, if you suspect that everything’s running a little slow, you might find that your hard drive is returning the lowest score. Windows Vista will then recommend a faster hard drive or a drive with larger compatibility. Mostly, though, the video card will be the sore spot for most users. There’s also an event log viewer to show, for example, after a specific software install your system performance started to degrade, and that uninstalling the software may restore your overall performance.

Under the hood, Microsoft has moved device drivers for DVD burners and printers out of the system kernel; Microsoft says that a majority of system crashes can be traced to improperly installed third-party device drivers. Thus Windows Vista hopes to vanquish the dreaded Blue Screen of Death common to earlier releases of Windows. Indeed, after testing several early builds, we found Windows Vista to be remarkably stable and robust.

Support
Along with the performance monitors, Microsoft has improved the Help section considerably. There is a static FAQ, but it also links to Microsoft online and allows outreach to other users for help, either via a forum or direct PC-to-PC help. Of these, we really like a feature available on some, not all, FAQs that allows you to automate the solution by executing a script. This method doesn’t teach you how to do it in the future, but it will accomplish the task at hand. For example, if you choose to update a device driver, Windows Vista will darken the desktop; highlight and open the Start menu, the Control Panel, and the Device Manager; then pause to ask you what device you want to update. It’s like having a technician at your desktop, walking you though the process. There’s an increasing reliance on user-generated support forums, which leads us to believe that Microsoft is shying away from its own live technical support. At press time, Microsoft’s final support policy was unavailable.

Conclusion
Perhaps we’re spoiled, but after more than five years of development, there’s a definite “Is that all?” feeling about Windows Vista. Like cramming an info-dump into a book report the night before it’s due, there certainly are a lot of individual features within the operating system, but the real value lies in their execution–how the user experiences (or doesn’t experience) these–and like the info-dump, we came away shaking our heads, disappointed. Compared with Mac OS X 10.4, Windows Vista feels clunky and not very intuitive, almost as though it’s still based on DOS (or at least the internal logic that made up DOS). Despite the addition of a system-wide, built-in Search, and various efforts to break away from staidly old directory trees, you still need to drill down one level to even access Search. And there are far too many dependencies on Microsoft products; this is not a very objective operating system, as preference is always given to Microsoft products (of which there are many), from MSN Search to RSS feeds only from Internet Explorer. But is Windows Vista a bad operating system? No. It’s just a disappointment for PC users who hoped that Microsoft would deliver something truly exciting to finally leapfrog ahead of Apple. They failed. But stick around; this is just Windows Vista 1.0. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is due out sometime before the end of the year. Windows Vista SP1 promises to fix what’s known to be wrong within Windows Vista and should offer a few concrete reasons to switch.

If you are like most people with laptops you know that they are only as portable as the nearest outlet. The companies advertise like their laptop batteries make these machines so that they can go anywhere with you and there will be no problem but there is a problem. You only have a couple hours max of normal word processing type use and then you are toast unless you either have a backup battery or you can plug in somewhere and recharge. The other problem is that lots of places that you go and that you would love to use a laptop at aren’t able to supply outlets to everyone and so you are up a creek as they say.

So my main question for this piece is why are laptop batteries so bad? To answer this question I am going to do a quick search on the internet and try to quickly glean as much information as I can in the next few minutes and then I will proceed to pack it in to the next 2 paragraphs or so. Here I go….

Well we will start with what most batteries are made of and that is Lithium Ion cells (older laptop batteries were made of nickel cadmium). These batteries have several advantages including no memory and no scheduled cycling (That does not mean however that it is a good idea to repeatedly run your battery dead). These batteries are therefore low maintenance. However because their cell oxidation can not be reversed through cycling there is a definite and short lifespan for these batteries. This turns out to be around two to three years and is not necessarily lengthened by not using as oxidation goes on in the form of self discharge even when stored.

Now it is recommended that one stores the battery at about 40% capacity and in a cool place. The 40% capacity gives it the ability to self discharge slowly without going all the way dead (which is bad for these laptop batteries, if you recall). These batteries will oxidize more slowly in cooler temperatures which prolongs the life. These power cells are not meant for long term storage as already mentioned because the self discharge will drain it sometimes to the point of no return.

The reason why these new laptop batteries are so much more expensive than they used to be is because they require an internal circuit that prevents it from overcharging. Overcharging can cause the battery to heat up and actually burst into flames.

Being wait-listed is tough, and you need the right set of keys to open the door to your dream program. The truth is that even with these keys, it’s still not guaranteed that the lock will work. But this keychain has the critical pieces of metal you’ll need to turn that lock.

First, a word of introduction: Realize that receiving a wait-list letter means you qualify for admission. You pass. You are probably on the wait-list (and not admitted) because they have already admitted applicants with your profile and want diversity in the class. Or they find your qualifications impressive, but find someone else’s even more so.
Now let’s examine that keychain. has become an essential prerequisite for any efficient modern-day business as it allows employees to truly work as a team by sharing information, accessing the same database and staying in touch constantly. For a computer network to give the best results, a lot of detailed planning and foresight is required before installation.

Firstly, an organisation needs to clearly define its requirements – how many people would use the network, how many would use it locally (within the office) and how many might require remote access (from a different location), how many computers and other devices (servers, printers, scanners) would be connected to the network, what are the needs of the various departments and who would be in charge of running/managing the network. It also helps if one can anticipate the direction the company would take in the near future so potential growth can be factored in during computer network installation.

The technology issues should also be ironed out in advance – hardware, software, servers, switches, back-up devices, cables and network operating systems. Make sure you have the required licenses to run the software on all your machines before installing a computer network. Alongside computer network installation should proceed ,the building of a dedicated technical support staff, either within your own organisation or outside consultants. Delegate responsibility clearly for network management. Before installing the network, you also need to choose the security mechanism to protect corporate data and keep viruses at bay.

The transition to a new or upgraded computer network can bring some teething problems. To minimise chances of confusion, the company might need to train its staff to make them familiar with the new system. Careful planning will to a large extent prevent crises like system downtime and network crashes.

If you don’t know how to use a computer at all, it’s a good idea to get a computer lesson and get started. Even just having a basic working knowledge of how to use a computer and how to use the internet will drastically increase the amount of things you can do and open a lot of doors that would otherwise be shut for you.

Indeed, if you are still working or looking for employment (i.e.; not yet retired) knowing how to use a computer will allow you to do a world of different jobs you never would have been able to before.

You are extremely limited in the kind of work you can do without any knowledge of computers, so it is well worth whatever the fees are for a computer lesson or two.

Of course, if you are reading this you probably already have at least a basic knowledge of computers because you are online right now. Even if you already know the basic skills to use the internet and some simple programs like word processors or spread sheet programs, an additional computer lesson or two can still be very valuable.

Most programs have loads of features above and beyond the more obvious ones. Word for Windows and Excel, for example, may seem pretty self-explanatory initially, but with a couple of computer lesson you can do things you never would have even dreamed before with even such standard programs.

Even operating systems, like Windows XP or the Mac OS series have loads of features and nuances that a few computer lessons can expose for you.

I took some night school classes held at a local high school on the beast of a program that is Adobe Photoshop a while back, and the computer lessons were invaluable to me. I have just begun to crack the surface of that particular program and yet I can do things with photos I never would have imagined before.

Live classes are probably the most effective way to get a computer lesson, but another thing I recommend is buying computer courses in the form of interactive CD-ROMs or DVDs to be played on your computer.

These can be done at your own convenience, in the comfort of your home, and are generally less expensive. One I recommend is ‘Video Professor’. His commercials are kind of annoying, but they are very affordable computer lessons and cover the basics for most programs you’d ever use.