Laptop or Desktop - Which Computer to Choose?

Traditionally, laptop computers were bought by people who had to be able to take their computer with them when they left the office, such as the salesman visiting a customer. It always used to be the case that buying portability meant a trade-off in terms of power and functionality, so desktop machines were the preferred option for those who didnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have to travel.

Is this still a genuine trade-off, however? Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs time to re-examine the assumptions to see if they are still true.

Laptops are more expensive than desktops
While this is still true, the price differential is less than it once was, and may not be an overriding factor any longer. On the other hand, if you require a docking station, monitor, keyboard and mouse for use when youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre in the office, the extra cost will be substantial.

Laptops have smaller, low definition screens
Once upon a time the laptop user had to be content with peering at a small screen, with poor resolution, and which was only visible when viewed straight on. Todayรขโ�ฌโ�ขs high resolution TFT displays are easily the equivalent of CRTs, to the extent that more and more desktop users are choosing them because they take up so little desk space. Furthermore, a 15" laptop screen has the equivalent real-estate of a 17" monitor.

Laptop users must struggle with small keyboards, and a joystick or touchpad instead of a mouse.
To some extent this is still true, although modern touchpad systems are so easy to use compared to those of a few years ago. With a docking station, you can use a full sized keyboard and a normal mouse when you are in the office, and get the best of both worlds.

Laptop memory and disk sizes are limited
While itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs still true that laptops have smaller disks and memory than desktops, the incredible advance in miniaturisation means that even the smallest laptop has disk and memory much larger than the best equipped desktop of a few years ago. Unless you expect to store a lot of photographs, or do video editing, any laptop will have more than sufficient space.

Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs hard to expand laptop hardware
This is still true, but paradoxically it doesnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt matter! Once upon a time, adding a new device or peripheral often meant opening up your computer to install an expansion card. Nowadays, technologies such as USB and Firewire mean that all that is required is to plug your new device in. In this respect, desktops have lost their advantage.

Laptops are difficult to upgrade.
This is true. In order to pack a lot of power into a small space, manufacturers use proprietary hardware and custom connectors. If you expect to want to upgrade your disk, add extra memory, or even replace the motherboard, a desktop is still the best choice. Many users, however, would never do these things, so for them the distinction is unimportant.

Laptop data doesnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt get backed up
Because laptops are typically taken home at night, they are not connected to the office network, so it is impossible for the IT department to include them in overnight backups. It is important that proper procedures are put in place to ensure that important data is replicated onto a server at regular intervals.

Laptops are easier to steal
Unfortunately this will always be true, a portable device, removed from the security of the office, is an easy target for thieves.

In conclusion, the distinction between desktop and laptop is still there, but it is not so important as it once was. If mobility and flexibility are important for you, it is no longer necessary to sacrifice functionality and ease of use.

Simon Johnson is both a laptop and a desktop user! He is also a freelance journalist and webmaster for http://www.better-laptops.info

Laptop Travel Tips

Travel laptops require more consideration on top of the usual factors involved in buying a laptop, such as performance, price and warranty. Getting a system that is light is critical. With widescreen models becoming more popular, whilst great for viewing, it just adds weight to the system. If you are not into watching movies or complex graphics, a smaller screen should be fine.

While the price of laptops compared to desktops has shrunk recently, you will still pay slightly more for a laptop. With laptops reasonably difficult to expand or upgrade, itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs a good idea to add more memory or get a bigger hard drive at the time of purchase. Your system should have at least two USB 2.0 ports, as this will be the main way of connecting to external devices.

If you are a frequent traveler and want to use your laptop while flying, there are some other design issues you might want to consider. Widescreen laptops can be a hassle if you are in the coach section, as there is hardly enough room to open the machine. A system with external controls for volume and Wi-Fi can also be good, to avoid annoying other passengers or interfering with the aircrafts navigational system. For really long flights, a second battery is probably the most cost effective way of keeping your system powered up.

As laptops are more likely to be damaged or stolen while on the road, it is a good idea to have a backup plan. Do a regular backup so if something bad does happen, you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt lose too much data. The easiest way to do this is to buy a laptop with a built in DVD burner. One DVD disc should be more than enough to store your work data. You could also use a CD burner, but you would probably need to carry multiple discs. If you only have a small amount of files you need to backup, a USB flash drive would also do the job.

Laptops that are on the road regularly are more likely to break down. So invest in a good quality carry case to limit any potential damage in transit, and always keep your backups up to date.

Most warranties these days are only twelve months, so if there is a extended warranty available, it may be worth taking up if you are constantly on the road.

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3 Benefits to Owning a Refurbished Laptop

If you like having the latest and greatest, then refurbished is not for you. However, if you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt mind minor cosmetic damage, and the fact that someone else has used your laptop, then you may want to consider purchasing a refurbished laptop. But why would anyone want to purchase a refurbished laptop as opposed to a brand new one? In this article, I will tackle this very issue, and give 3 reasons why you should own a refurbished laptop.

The first reason why purchasing a refurbished laptop may be a good idea is that they are a lot less expensive than their newer cousins. Of course, refurbished implies that it has seen prior usage, so refurbished laptops are generally older models, and you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt always know how their previous owners took care of them. But refurbished also implies that someone has taken the time to fix, and often times replace, any broken components. Do some research and only buy from reputable sources.

The second reason why you may want to purchase a refurbished laptop is that, because of their low cost, they are more expendable than new models, and make a great second laptop. As I explained above, refurbished laptops are generally a lot cheaper than a new laptop so if something should happen to it, youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre only out maybe a few hundreds dollars as opposed to a new laptop which could cost you thousands.

The third reason why you may want to consider purchasing a refurbished laptop is that since youรขโ�ฌโ�ขll be spending a lot less money on the computer itself, you can afford to spend more upgrading it with newer, and better components. For example, you can add memory to speed it up, or upgrade to a larger hard drive. You should, of course, make sure that your computer can support these upgrades before you even purchase it. If it canรขโ�ฌโ�ขt, then look for one that can before making your final decision.

I've discussed three benefits to owning a refurbished laptop. They are low in cost, make a great second laptop, and you can spend more on upgrading the components. Make sure to do your research before you buy, and owning one will be a pleasant experience.

Erick Charles is an IT professional who is eager to share his expertise, and love of computers and techonology with others. Visit his website at http://thetechboy to find out more.

iPod Shortages During Holidays

Even though the holiday season is still a little ways off, retailers are already reporting that shortages of Appleรขโ�ฌโ�ขs uber popular iPod mp3 player are very likely. As has been a problem with iPodรขโ�ฌโ�ขs, especially with the popular iPod Nano being released and the video enabled iPod hitting shelves, is that there simply arenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt enough of them. Apple canรขโ�ฌโ�ขt make them fast enough to meet the ridiculously high demand.

As Businessweek reports, ""All iPods are in very tight supply, and Apple isn't filling 100% of its orders from us by any means," says Charlie Tebele, president of Manhattan-based RCS Experience. And Crutchfield's Anderson says Apple typically ships less than 30% of what the retailer requests each week. The Charlottesville (Va.)-based company put in an order for $3 million worth of iPod nanos after the product was released, and the order still hasn't been nearly filled. It currently has $4 million of all iPod models on order."

The question of where there will be shortages isnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt really a question at all, predict most analysts. Shortages are practically guaranteed. The only question at this point is how bad the shortages will be. No one knows how many stores will sell out and have barren shelves when shoppers walk in looking for an iPod to buy as a gift for the holidays. Needless to say, it would be well advised to head out and buy that gift as soon as possible rather than wait until the holiday rush.

http://www.ukmp3.co.uk provides free support and advice on all the latest mp3 players. We offer a free monthly newsletter, with prizes for all subscribers

Buying Gaming Laptops

Laptops are designed keeping a target user in mind. The different parameters to consider while designing a laptop are battery life, processor speed, graphics, weight of laptop and cost. Gaming laptops come installed with the fastest processors, cutting edge graphics cards. A hefty battery pack, huge heat sink, special ventilation ducts, and several cooling fans and can give the same performance as that of high-end tower PCs. These laptops provide thrilling 3D gaming experience and mobility to gamers, be it LAN game parties or while traveling.

Gaming performance is closely connected with the quality of the graphics card. ATI and NVIDIA have mobile versions of their fast cutting edge graphics cards, complete with 128MB or even 256MB of video memory. Try looking for laptops with ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 or NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 graphics processor. They are currently the hottest in market!

Another criterion to select a laptop is the processor. If weight of up to 13 pounds is not an issue then you could consider Intel's 3.8-GHz Pentium 4 or the Athlon 64 FX CPU processors. For lower weight laptops go with the fastest available in the category: Intel Core Duo or AMD Turion 64 CPU.

Apart from selecting a laptop with hard disk capacity of over 80 GB, consider the speed of the hard disk. Conventional 5,400-rpm drives work fine for most desktop and entertainment PCs but you would need a 7,200-rpm hard drive to play 3D games without jitters, pauses and long loading game time.

The minimum screen size of your screen should be at least 15.4 inches. Anything less and you will limit the visual graphics detail of your games, as well as your shooting accuracy. Gaming laptops are now available in different hot designs. Manufacturer Alienware has its famous glowing alien head, and other vendors like Falcon Northwest, Hypersonic, and Vodoo PC offer automotive class custom paint jobs. Dell XPS systems come with customizable LED lights.

Now, regarding the cost. When you are talking about gaming laptops, it's all about the best cutting edge technology available in laptop segment. Depending on what configuration you go for prices could range anywhere from $2500 to $4242 for a Vodoo brand laptop?

Jerry Baker makes computers and laptops easy to understand. As a successful publisher of laptops-plus.info, he opens the world of motherboards, laptop batteries and memory, and even buying gaming laptops.

On Reconditioned or Refurbished Notebooks

What exactly is a reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer? Depending on where you are buying, it normally should be a used - or possibly a returned notebook - that has been factory rebuilt. A refurbished notebook computer is basically a cheap, used (maybe) and renovated computer that satisfies all your performance and portability needs and provides all the advantages you would get on buying a new notebook - such as warranty and technical support. This is critical - do not buy a so-called reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer if it does not have the same warranty or guarantee as a new machine.

I'm writing this article right now on a factory reconditioned notebook that I purchased well over two years ago at a very substantial savings over the same machine "new". It came with a full factory warranty and it has performed like a champ. Granted, I was nervous when I first bought it, but I'm now convinced that if you can find a reconditioned or refurbished notebook that has the features you're looking for, you'd be foolish to pay full price -- the discounts are incredible, and the products are functionally identical.

If you just need a computer that is portable, one that you can use to perform simple computing tasks, why spend a fortune in buying a new notebook from some well-known brand? Look for a refurbished notebook computer instead. You will get a notebook that will give you the required performance at a much lower price - and it will still be covered by a warranty.

There is normally a difference between "refurbished" and "reconditioned" (or factory reconditioned). Refurbished usually means that this is an older notebook that has been used and then reconditioned - often by a third party. Depending on the warranty being offered by the refurbisher, this could be an excellent deal. As always, it depends on whether the refurbished notebook meets your specifications. If so, and the price - and guarantee - are good, then you have nothing to lose.

Reconditioned machines, when you find them in a retail outlet, usually are returns that had some problem, went back to the manufacturer, were fixed and now are available at a very substantial discount but have the full 'new' machine factory/manufacturer guarantee. This can be a huge savings and an incredible deal. Often these reconditioned notebooks sell at a discount of 50% or more - and they may even be current models.

Maybe I've just been lucky, but my experience with factory reconditioned notebooks has convinced me that it's foolish to dump a bunch of dollars into a new machine if an equally capable refurbished notebook is available. After all, every reconditioned notebook was once a new notebook that had some kind of problem causing its return. If the factory did its job, then the reconditioned notebook is less likely to have a problem than a new model. And if it does have a problem, you will still have the warranty that new notebooks have.

Students, and of course their parents, who are on the look out for a low-priced notebook to meet school needs, should definitely consider buying a refurbished notebook computer. Education is expensive enough without throwing away money by paying top dollar for a notebook when an equivalent refurbished or reconditioned notebook would serve as well. Check out the computer shops in the local area - or even check online sites like Amazon.com that may showcase a good refurbished notebook computer on sale.

So before you spend - possibly waste - a lot of money buying a brand new notebook that might have features you will never need and accessories you never asked for, look into the possibilities of a suitable and low-priced reconditioned or refurbished notebook computer.

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

Richard, a computer professional and writer, has a strong interest in software and computer hardware. Visit Completely Notebooks at http://Completely-Notebooks.net to learn more about all kinds of notebook computers and accessories.

Wireless Access Point Scanning Software

Wireless access point scanning software can mean one or two Things. first it could mean that you are trying to find wireless access points on a LAN to find their IP address. This can be used when you start a new job and you want to get a quick handle on if any one has wireless access points on the LAN and to find their IP addresses. You can down load wireless access point scanning software from the wireless APรขโ�ฌโ�ขs manufacture or generic versions off the internet. As a wireless administrator you really want to have you wireless access points with static IP addresses so you can find them when you need them.

The second kind of wireless access point scanning software is for discovering the actual wireless signal radiating from the AP. Now this is often referred to as war driving software.

Examples of Wireless access point scanning software are:

Netstumbler: Netstumbler will scan for radio beacons from wireless access points and tell you their names, MAC address, SSID and if they are locked or not. This type of software is very easy to use. All this software will do is tell you the above information and signal strength

Kismet and Airsnort รขโ�ฌโ�� These fall into the wireless "sniffers" category, which are used to collect packets from wireless transmissions. If enough packets are colleted then a hacker can eventually crack the encryption key. The collection of packets is a very time consuming process, which could take days or even months. After all the packets are collected then encryption cracking software will take over and start the cracking process.

Wireless access point scanning software falls into those two categories LAN and wireless discovery. If you wish for your wireless network to be protected you can also use these same programs as an IDS ( Intrusion Detection System). The most secure wireless network is the one nobody knows about.

Hey how good are your wireless networking skills? Come train with the wirelessninja today and learn from the master young grasshopper http://www.wirelessninja.com

How The Advancements In Wireless Technology Have Totally Changed Our Lives

Wireless technology has literally changed our lives. This up and coming method of communication has literally changed the way we live. Many of us cannot imagine a day without using a wireless device. In fact, we use them so much, that we barely recognize them as wireless anymore.

Telephone lines were originally designed to send news reports. Ever heard of getting something over the wire? Journalists still refer to their Associated Press reports as coming over the AP wire, though they most likely travel through the air like all other pieces of information. The invention of the radio demolished the idea of news sent over a wire. In fact, it completely destroyed the concept of the telegraph and eventually the landline telephone.

Computer networking works in a similar manner. Who would choose an immobile stationary system over a wireless one? Why would you choose to actually be chained to a desk when you could move freely about, accessing the internet and other files on a network from the comfort of a couch, a recliner, or a coffee shop. Additionally, while many believe that wireless costs more, this price too is going down, and soon anyone will be able to afford a wireless connection.

WiMAX, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is steadily making its way unto the wireless market. Its biggest advantage lies in the distance that it spans. Instead of a wireless connection reaching a few meters, it will reach kilometers. Currently some of the strongest WiMAX network reach over 30 miles. It literally spans the length of metropolitan areas, and thus with WiMax, you'll no longer have to search for hot spot sign. Check out wimax.weblongsinc.com for more information about this up and coming form of wireless technology.

Bluetooth has become a mysterious wireless term to non-geeks, but its quickly becoming a household word thanks to its technology in cellular phones. Bluetooth basically is a way to connect hardware. The hope is that instead of seeing a mass of cords behind your television, you'll just have the necessary blue tooth hardware, a wireless connection that connects your DVD player to your television. Everyone hates those mass of wires, or any mass of wires that threatens to ruin the aesthetics of a room, and Bluetooth has the potential to improve the look of just about any system.

Eventually wireless technology will make life simpler. We'll be able to do things in places that we never imagined before. After all, who would think that you could contact a person from across the globe while sitting in a cafe across town, with no cost to either of you. Grandparents in California can talk to their grandkids in Florida while soaking in the rays on the beach. I predict that not only will wireless make life simpler in the future, but that we'll function with it so smoothly, that we wonรขโ�ฌโ�ขt even notice the wireless technology.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as high speed internet at http://www.wirelessandhighspeedinternet.com

Laptop Security

As an administrator, and ultimately the person responsible for the information and laptop security within your organization, "Stolen Laptop" is the last two words you want to hear. Unfortunately, statically this is going to happen and if you have not put into place a laptop security policy you will wish that you had.

Laptop Security Cables are the number one purchased laptop security devices. People often do not have a clear understanding of what level of security, laptop cables provide. A laptop security cable will not work if it is not used. A laptop security policy that requires that they be used is necessary to achieve the protection the home office is looking to achieve. The small plastic security slot where they attach offers minimal protection and additionally the cables really arenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt that difficult to cut. So, why are they the number one solution? They provide a visual theft deterrent. We have found that visual laptop computer security solutions are very effective and when it comes down to it economically they are most effective.

Products like the STOP (Stop Theft of Office Property, Inc www.StopTheft.com) security plates provide an effective visual deterrent solution as well and are the second most commonly used laptop security theft deterrent. The STOP Plate is probably the least expensive solution and takes us one step toward laptop recovery as well. If your laptop has a STOP Security Plate, placed visibly on the top of the laptop, you gain big strides in the possibility of getting your laptop computer and the information on your laptop back. If you put both or either of these two products into your laptop security policy you will have followed in the steps of some of the largest corporations and government agencies in this country.

With laptop theft deterrent solutions in place we want to look at recovery and data protection commonly provided by using some form of laptop security software. Products like Stealth Signals (www.Xtool.com) X-Tool services and Advanced Systems International (www.Advansysperu.com) USB Lock AP or RP offer a comfort zone that many laptop security administrators aim to achieve. Stealth Signal offers the ability to track and recover a stolen laptop, asset management, encrypted virtual hard drive, remote information back-up and remote delete features, a major portion of the computer security control a Computer or Network Administrator is looking to achieve. Another important control needed is to control the use of the USB ports. Computer security professionals know the damage potential a small USB memory device presents. These memory sticks, iPods or MP3 devices can hold unbelievable large amounts of information. How easy is it to connect one of these to your network allowing the ability to remove valuable proprietary information. Advanced Systems Internationalรขโ�ฌโ�ขs USB Lock RP provides simple server remote control over the computers within your care. If you're looking for individual control for the laptops in the field there is the USB Lock AP that offers the added benefit of a simple to use file lock.

Ultimately when it comes to laptop security there really arenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt that many effective solutions. Putting a security policy together that addresses deterring the laptop theft helps to protect your property and your information. By utilizing a few additional laptop security software tools you help insure greater protection of your companyรขโ�ฌโ�ขs data.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Thomas Goll is a recognized authority on the subject of laptop security. His website, http://www.LaptopSecuritySolutions.com provides a valuable resource on everything you'll need.

Connect to the Internet Through Wifi

Wifi known as Wireless Fidelity allows a user to connect to the internet without using network cabling. Whether itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs from your bedroom, couch, indoors or outdoors data can be sent and received within the range of a wireless base station. Wifi uses 802.11a or 802.11b technologies to provide a very reliable connection that is also fast and secure.

Wifi is available to every type of internet user and allows multiple users to connect to each other, other devices and the internet. However, your connecting device will need to have a Wifi certified card (PC Card or PCMCIA card) and it will connect to other certified products such as a base station or access point. It also saves on the cost and distance limitations of using cables, not to mention the unsightly look of running cables throughout an area.

These networks are very useful in the business and sales industry as they allow salespeople and travelers to connect to the network with ease and not be confined to one location to access applications such as email and databases. They allow business networks to easily expand and grow making a Wifi network a very useful technology in the business world. Businesses no longer need to abandon current network infrastructures and start over, they can simply use this wireless technology to easily change the network and allow for rapid growth.

Wifi networks work at the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands and possible speeds of 11 or 54 Mbps. Their speeds are very comparable to 10baseT networks and allow for easy network access. A Wifi network is essentially plug and play as you can turn on a certified device and connect to the wireless network providing you have the proper authentication and security credentials.

Wifi networks have security in the form of WEP (Wired Equivalent Protocol) that can provide the same level of security as that of a wired LAN. Wireless networks that are transmitted over radio waves are more susceptible to security problems, but WEP aims to provide security by encrypting the data sent over the radio waves.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at http://www.wifi-central.info

Need a Second Computer? Buy Refurbished Laptop

Are you looking for a cheap yet reliable second laptop for your business or for your studies? Consider buying refurbished laptop. These are reconditioned or recertified laptops that were usually earlier sold and returned by consumers for a variety of reasons. They are sent back by the store to the manufacturer and then refurbished so they can look and work just as good as brand new laptop computers.

Compared to a new and feature-laden desktop or laptop computer, a refurbished laptop is a lot more budget-friendly. Especially if you are on tight budget, buying a refurbished laptop would be a great help.

The benefits of a portable computer are endless. A laptops is more practical since its portable and more convenient to use compared to desktop computers. Its extra light, durable, powerful, handy and technically advanced. You can bring them anywhere, either to a sales pitch, a lecture or a business meeting or to any room in your house and so you can work with utmost comfort and convenience.

Imagine working on a report while on a perfect island vacation, attending a video conference while at home or preparing a homework while stargazing on verandathese are luxuries you cannot enjoy using a bulky desktop computer. All these are possible only with a laptop. Now add more savings to those benefits and thats what you get if you buy a refurbished laptop.

Apart from its very affordable value, you can also expect refurbished laptops to give you excellent performance. Many refurbished laptops work just as good as new ones; they got the most up-to-date features since they are just a few months old. They also come with different specifications so you have a choice whether to buy a high-specification refurbished laptop or a low-specification laptop, depending on your need.

If you are in need of a second computer, which you are going to use for only a few applications and which you may need to bring outside your office, you can get by with a low-spec refurbished laptop. They are offered at a much lower price since they have slower processors, old version operating system, smaller memory and lesser features. However, they work just as efficient as a low-spec brand new computer since they have already been reconditioned.

Specifications that you need to be particular about in buying a refurbished laptop include the processor speed, the memory, and the hard drive. If you want your computer to run faster and execute commands quickly, you should get laptop with higher processor speed, say 2.0GHz. This is especially important if you usually connect to the internet and upload or download large files.

Also, it would be better to have bigger system memory so that it would be faster for the applications to load. The memory holds the data that are in use so if you want to use the latest operating system, you would need a bigger memory, at least 256mb.

The hard drive is also a very important specification to consider in buying a refurbished laptop. As your second computer, you may not be saving too much information in your refurbished laptop, so you may get a hard drive with 10GB storage space. If you need to save much information on that computer, a 40GB hard drive could already give you sufficient space.

For more fresh information on Laptop, visit us at Laptop.InfoRevealed.info.

Is Your Wireless Network Secure?

Networking professionals are encouraging people to think twice about wireless network security. You might be thinking I use WEP-128 bit encryption with MAC address filtering, Iรขโ�ฌโ�ขm safe. Or you may be youรขโ�ฌโ�ขve never even heard of WEP, if this is the case you might want to unplug your wireless access point immediately. But then again look at the bright side at least you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have the false sense of security that your network is secure. Perhaps you are the smart guy who knows how insecure wireless networks are. You too are at just an equal risk!

Your computer consultant might be partially right when they say WEP will protect your network. It will protect your network from casual snooping but that is about it. Last year the FBI was able to crack a WEP protected network in less than 3 minutes with tools widely available on the internet. Since then itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs been downhill for WEP.

At this point you might be thinking, "Oh well, someone gets on my network and uses the internet". This is completely false. If someone has gone through the process of getting on your network chances are the only thing they want is not internet access. Any computer security professional will tell you that physical access to the network is 95% of the security battle. Once this has been accomplished you can consider all of your data compromised. Customer invoices, customer data, credit card numbers and passwords to financial institutions will all be in the hands of a hacker.

One in many methods can be used to gain access to your personal data, whether itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs through Key loggers, Trojans, or just by sniffing your plaintext network traffic.

Maybe, just maybe, I have not convinced you of the insecurities of wireless networks. Let me tell you about another attack that hackers can use to gain access to your network. Letรขโ�ฌโ�ขs say your access points are completely locked down, to your knowledge. A user from your network goes and flips on their laptop while sitting in an airport terminal waiting for a plane. They see an available insecure wireless network so they click on it and connect. None of us have ever done this before right, itching to check their email one last time before heading out of town? Unbeknownst to them they have just clicked on a fake honeypot wireless network, set up by a rogue hacker that before they can even realize their machine is already being scanned. Picture for a moment that user could be anywhere, even sitting at a desk in your network. Just as long as the rogue access point is stronger than your APรขโ�ฌโ�ขs radio signal youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre security is done.

May be you fall into the category of never setting up wireless networks because you read about their insecurities.

How then can you be at risk? Just consider for a moment that a user in your organization fires up his wireless card.

Seeรขโ�ฌโ�ขs a wireless network that is named XYZCorp after your company. So they connect to it and immediately a script is hammering their machine for security vulnerabilities. Once again they connected to a rogue access point setup by a hacker. Now you might be thinking. "Cรขโ�ฌโ�ขmon you must have to be a computer genius to find and run these tools." Think again, thanks to the kind people over at remote-exploit.org all these tools can be downloaded in one big happy ISO file.

Burned to a CD as an image and bang youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre done, ready to take a drive to the nearest business and start sniffing credit card numbers. Everything wrapped into a nice package just waiting for the next script kiddy to start running the programs. You may be thinking ok this is a major problem so what should I do? Give up my organizations ability to use wireless networks? This isnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt exactly what we are saying. A newer wireless security technology has taken over in 2004 called WPA. It is more secure than WEP. And so far tools are not as readily available to hack your network. But consider the following. WEP was ratified in the late 1990รขโ�ฌโ�ขs less than six years later it was exploited. This is typical of almost every computer technology. It is only a matter of time before technologies are exploited. Just always remember Security is a multi-tiered companywide responsibility. From providing physical security to web site security all matters should be considered serious and not taken lightly. So before you grab a wireless access point and slap it in your network, I urge you to think twice.

You may think you are in a sinking boat because you are a small organization not able to implement the latest technologies and afford the newest access points. Or maybe you cannot afford to pay an IT staff over 100k-200k a year to maintain your medium size network. Executives at N2 Network Solutions say you should consider IT outsourcing or IT consulting. You can get Industry certified engineers on a project by project basis. Contractual relationships are also available to dump the responsibility of your network into their hands for a fraction of the price. To keep your small to medium size network performing like a Fortune 500 machine invest the capital and secure your assets.

Jeremy Whittaker is a Senior Consultant for N2 Network Solutions, a leader in Phoenix IT Outsourcing, providing computer services and Phoenix IT Consulting.

Handheld Computers Guide - What to Know When Purchasing Your New PDA

Handheld computer devices, also known as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) are quickly becoming a necessity for millions of people around the globe. The ability to replace your address book, calendar, calculator, and even some functions of their home computers, can be absolutely priceless.

What other item can serve so many functions, and yet, fit in your pocket? Cell phones are now integrating them, there are even handheld gps units becoming available.

More and more handheld computers are integrating wireless technology, blue tooth, all kinds of memory cards, and many more technologies, making them extremely versatile and more useful every day.

The handheld computer revolution is dominating the mobile work force, and it's only a matter of time before they're as common as personal computers, and laptops. There are even schools that are now using them in the classroom, allowing them to do school work on.

Handheld Computers are the future of mobile computing

When Handheld Computers were first introduced, it was the mobile work force that took them as gold. An address book, calendar, notebook, word processor, and much more, all rolled into a tiny device that can fit into your pocket. How could they pass it up? It was exactly what they had been waiting for.

They no longer had to carry around their bulky laptops just to see what was on their calendar, or to simply jot a couple notes in a word processor. Now, there is an application for just about anything you could possibly want to do on a handheld computer. They can seamlessly integrate into personal computers, synchronizing data, swapping dates and files, making the hard working mobile workers job that much easier.

Now with the addition of pda phones, handheld computers have become even more useful, by retrieving your email, accessing the internet, watching movies, the possibilities are limitless. These PDA's are still rather expensive, but that will change in the next few years, like all other computer devices.

With the cost of a handheld computer being slashed at every turn, they're no longer only for the deep pocketed or the mobile business man or woman, just about anyone can afford a handheld computer in some shape or form.

There are some things to watch for when purchasing a handheld though, just like any other computer.

Things to look for when purchasing a handheld computer

Processor Speed - Just like any computer, it's important to know how fast your handheld computer is. Since the applications and operating systems are much less intensive, they don't need as much processing power to run, but it's still an important factor to consider.

Memory (RAM) - Also the same as desktop computers, how much resident memory your handheld has is important, depending on what kind of applications you intend to run on it.

Memory (ROM) - Basically, how much hard drive space it has built in. As long as it has a card reader slot of some kind though, this can easily be upgraded, as the price of memory cards has dropped considerably, but the more it has built in, the less you'll have to purchase later.

Display Size and Resolution - While not crucial, if you want a good sized, clean and crisp display on your handheld computer, you'll want to note the size and resolution of the display.

Card Slots - This can be very important if you want your handheld computer to sport a lot of accessories like wireless network cards, and memory sticks. You'll want to make sure it has the card reader slots you need.

Operating System - There are two basic operating systems on handheld computers right now, Windows based, and PalmOS based. If you're going to be purchasing or downloading applications and games for your handheld computer, you'll want to know what kind of operating system it uses.

Accessories - It's always good to know what accessories your handheld computer will come with, but it's also good to know what kind of accessories are available for it. If there is a particular accessory you need, you should first make sure it will even be available for the pda you plan to purchase.

This article taken from Computer Discounts Guide - Handheld Computer Guide. View the website for more helpful guides.

Donny Duncan, the author of Computer Discounts Guide has been in the computer field for over thirteen years.

MP3 Player Sales to Soar

Think the iPod and mp3 players are the big craze now? Analysts predict that the current massive numbers of mp3 player sales are merely a fraction of what they will be in four years. Although it is hard to think that these little gems could sell in even larger numbers, the fact is that mp3 players will soon be the primary way of listening to music no matter where you live in the world.

Worldwide in 2004, a total of 26.4 million mp3 players were sold. However, led by Appleรขโ�ฌโ�ขs uber popular iPod mp3 player, those numbers are expected to jump over 370 percent. For those without incredible math skills, that means over 125 million mp3 players are expected to be sold in the year 2009 alone. Staggering numbers indeed and it appears as if it is only the dawn of the mp3 era.

The apparent rise in popularity and demand will be due to the growing video capabilities of these players. No longer will they only play music, but players are now handling video as well. Video capabilities of mp3 players are rising quickly, especially with the drop of the price of flash memory and the increased memory capacity in the small sticks, and this has made them highly sought after alternatives to other types of players.

Needless to say, the age of the mp3 is only beginning to emerge. Many bright, fun new advances and features are on the brink of being in hands worldwide.

http://www.ukmp3.co.uk provides free support and advice on all the latest mp3 players. We offer a free monthly newsletter, with prizes for all subscribers

UMPC - For People Who Look For the Best

Nobody wants to stay away from the best, then how can you? Let me introduce you to the latest gadget in the tech industry, Ultra Mobile PC commonly known as UMPC. In simpler terms it is a complete PC with ultra mobility.

It combines the power of Windows XP with mobile-ready technologies. There are various benefits attached with it, ranging from anytime connectivity, it does not matter in which part of the world you are in, you can check your e-mails, can chat and stay connected with the world all the time.

It uses a built-in wireless connectivity which gives Internet access anytime and from anywhere. The device weighs approximately 2 pounds and has an integrated touch panel with bluetooth facility. UMPC is handy and easy to use. You can use it simply by touching its screen with your finger or the stylus.

Enjoy the comfort and ease of shopping for Ultra Mobile PC from the comfort of your home or office with Internet. Browse through various online sellers website and you will get the best deal. Make sure to do a bit of research before making any decision. The increasing number of online Ultra Mobile PC seller has opened up an opportunity for you to get the desired Ultra Mobile PC at a price that fits perfectly to your pocket.

Comfort, mobility and complete entertainment are the words that match perfectly with the UMPC. It wonรขโ�ฌโ�ขt be wrong to say, that UMPC reflects technology at its best.

Sally Thompson has spent most of her life in the field of finance. She has done her Masters in Finance and expertise in writing articles on Financial as well as Credit products.

Wireless Broadband Access - Making the Virtual Office Possible

Do you remember when home wireless networking burst into our lives? Suddenly we could work from any where in the house. Have you ever wanted to do the same when you are out on the road?

With WiMax, now you can!

WiMax is a wireless network access program that offers its subscribers citywide high-speed broadband access to the internet. You can be up to 31 miles from an antenna and still get online.

Although, the further you are from the antenna the slower your connection.

Here is how it works.

A broadband provider sets up several cells to support a certain geographical area. While the theoretical range of WiMax is 31 miles, most cells will only support an area from three to 10 miles.

Within this range, special cards based on the 802.16 wireless standards will allow mobile devices to surf the internet at high speed.

This cell system is similar to how digital cell phones work now.

Where this technology really shines is for mobile business computing. Imagine you are a busy sales executive. You just finished a presentation to a major client.

The presentation went well, but they asked for some revisions. Normally, you would have to rush back to the office and have the revisions made.

With WiMax, you could connect via your VPN. Mail the changes to your office, which would make the revisions and send them back. All in a matter of minutes.

Can you imagine the level of perceived customer service your clients will have? You just told them that they are important, so important you dropped everything to handle their requests.

In just minutes you emailed the changes to your boss, she reviewed and approved them and emailed the updated paperwork directly to you. Another three minutes to print them out on your portable printer and get the clients to sign! Contract closed!

How could they not be impressed!

Typical download speeds are in the range of 400 รขโ�ฌโ�� 700 kilo bytes per second (kbps).

That is slightly faster than many cable companies allow for their cable modems. It is much faster than DSL connectivity.

Astonishingly, this technology is capable of speed bursts of up to 2 megabytes per second (mbps)!

How can you integrate WiMax into your current business? How about setting up a wireless mobile office that is always connected to your home office?

Start with getting a good laptop computer and add as much memory as it will hold. Purchase your WiMax wireless network card to get access to the broadband system.

Now, think about accessories. Will you need a portable printer to print presentations and contracts for your customers?

What about telephone service? Do you want to transfer your office phone to your cell? It could eat up your minutes, costing you extra money.

Have you thought about Voice-over-Internet Protocol or VoIP? Another name for VoIP is Internet Phone.

You could setup your office phone with a VoIP provider and take the module to the field with you. All it needs is an active internet connection to work.

Another option is to use your VoIP with a software phone program. This way you could use your laptop as a telephone.

There you have it, a complete mobile office. How great would it be to make plans with your clients in real time? Could your competitors even try to compete with you at this level?

Most likely, they could not!

In short, wireless broadband access may be the best key to increasing your competitiveness.

The freedom to engage customers, on their turf, while maintaining connectivity to your office will allow you to respond to rapidly changing situations.

Can you think of a better way to impress your clients than by being able respond immediately to their needs?

Parrott Writing Services, a San Antonio Texas company specializing in web content, ghostwriting, website optimization, online/offline ad copy and technical writing to small businesses.

http://www.rickparrott.com

Send an email to: EBOOK@sasecure.net for a FREE electronic copy of my eBook on Computer Security!

Remote Access

The term Remote Access refers to the ability to get access to a computer or a network from a remote location. This technology is largely used in big corporate houses, where the people in faraway places can easily access the computerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs network.

Remote Internet Access works on a similar technology. Through Remote Internet Access to an Internet service provider, a home user gets to use the Internet in the convenience and comfort of his home. Not only the home users, but also big corporate houses and Internet cafร�ยฉs, get access to the Internet from the remote internet service provider.

The most common method of Remote Access is a dialup connection through a desktop PC, laptop, or a notebook, using regular telephone lines, where data is transferred from the host server to the remote PC through these lines. Another possible way to provide remote Internet access is by using a dedicated fixed line between the computer or remote local area network to the main corporate local area network. Though a dedicated line comes out to be more expensive and less flexible than the dial up connection, the speed of data transfer through a dedicated line is much faster than the latter. Other various technologies used for providing Remote Internet Access with faster data rates are: Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), wireless, cable modem, and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL).

The Remote Access server that provides Internet connectivity comprises of a computer and associated software that is set up to provide remote Internet connections. Also known as a communication server, the Remote Access server includes a firewall to ensure the safe transfer of data and information from one end to another.

Remote Access provides detailed information about remote access, remote PC access, secure remote access, remote internet access and more. Remote Access is the sister site of FTP Site Hosting.

Laptop Computers-Find The Perfect Fit!

Features And Functions Of Laptop Computers

Take a look at several laptop computers to see if their features and functions match your lifestyle and your needs. There are a plethora of laptop computers on the market today, so if you are in the market for one, you should take the time to do some pre-purchasing research. By doing such research on laptop computers, you will be guaranteed to make a wise decision.

Are Laptops Reasonably Priced?

The first thing that you need to consider is price. A laptop (or notebook) computer may cost about twice as much as a desktop computer of the same capabilities and features. There are basic computers, and then there are those full of extras, such as memory, graphic capabilities, etc. You will find a wide range of prices for laptops, so go online or to different computer stores to cost compare.

Features To Look For:

Wireless Internet Connection

Laptop computers are a great tool for people who need computers, but are always on the go. Wi-Fi, or wireless internet connections, are very important to such people. Many laptop computers come already equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, which means you can use your laptop in special areas (library, coffee shop, book store) that offer Wi-Fi access. Other laptop computers have a unique space for you to insert a Wi-Fi card that you can purchase at most computer or cellular phone stores.

Speed And Memory

Some laptop computers are actually slower than their desktop counterparts. In general, the type of internet connection and memory space you have on your laptop is what will determine your speed. If a fast speed concerns you, you should use a wireless connection and purchase extra memory for your hard drive. Lower priced laptops usually come with a 20 to 40 GB hard drive, but you can purchase a laptop with an 80. You should also look for something with greater than 128 MB of memory so that you can run all of the current software and applications.

Portability

Most people who use laptop computers need them for their portability, ability to be carried from place to place. Laptop computers may weigh a lot, over eight pounds, so it is recommended to go to different stores to lift the different types, styles, and models from different manufacturers.

By Margarette Tustle. Learn more information about laptops and laptop computers from dnalaptop.com.

Wireless Access Points: Thin vs Fat

Wireless LAN Switches: The Best Solution

There are two types of wireless access points Intelligent (Fat) and Thin wireless Access points. A fat wireless access point has everything it needs to handle wireless clients. A Thin wireless access point is basically a radio and antenna that is controlled by a wireless switch. If you deploy several Fat wireless access points they need to be configured individually. With thin wireless access points the entire configuration takes place at the switch saving you time and money.

Wireless LAN Switches provide many benefits:

Wireless Mobility รขโ�ฌโ�� Intelligent access arenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt managed in a central location which means there is no third party monitoring the movement of a user. If a user moves to another work area traditional wireless access points have a hard time passing off the user to the new access point. Thin wireless access points are controlled be the wireless LAN switch who will manage the users movement.

Security- Using the wireless LAN switch the administrator can check logs, configure is security settings, make group polices for wireless users all in one spot. Also built in to many wireless LAN switches are RADIUS servers which will give another layer of security on top of your encryption policies. In enterprise wireless networks the administrators biggest fear is rogue wireless access points. Wireless LAN switches can detect when a new wireless access point comes into the area and decide if it is a trusted or non-trusted device.

Placement รขโ�ฌโ�� Power over Ethernet is another great feature of wireless LAN Switches. Power over Ethernet eliminates the need for an power outlet to be near the wireless access point. This saves your company money by not having to install new power outlets. Also this improves security by not having the wireless access points within easy reach of passerbyรขโ�ฌโ�ขs.

If you are deploying a wireless LAN for a company I would be scared if you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt utilize wireless LAN switches and wireless thin access points. The upfront costs of these products are more but your total cost of ownership will be less than having to administer each wireless access point separately. To sum it up home owners should stick with Fat access points and businesses should use thin.

Simple and secure wireless networking is the name of the game an http://www.wirelessninja.com We will save you money and prevent you from getting a wireless administrator's headache.

E-mail Privacy Mythology

Many people believe that e-mail privacy is inherent and guaranteed, psychologically equating it with the postal system. E-mail systems were a crucial tool in creating the Internet, and actually predate the Internet in existence. While the ability to access your personal e-mail messages is secured with a password, this is insufficient to guarantee legitimate security. There are additional security considerations when using laptops to access e-mail systems.

Businesses are increasingly relying on electronic mail to correspond with clients and colleagues. As more people find the need to transmit sensitive information through the internet, the need for e-mail privacy becomes more apparent.

The e-mail message is perpetually exposed to unauthorized access as it travels along this unprotected Internet from the composer to the reader. If routers between the source and destination of an e-mail message are compromised, potentially any e-mail message passing through that router could be accessed.

Unencrypted e-mails should be regarded as postcard, in that anyone who receives it can read it. Intelligence agencies screen unencrypted e-mails with ease and conduct these screens regularly.

Some e-mail you may send and receive could be considered company property. It is unwise to associate personal e-mails of any kind with a company address.

When using laptop notebooks to send and receive e-mail, you may often be using someone elseรขโ�ฌโ�ขs network. You must be aware if using a wireless network if the network is encrypted. If the network is not properly encrypted any e-mail you send or receive is accessible to any skilled person within the wireless signal range. Even when using secure networks, everything you send and receive is going through their system. It is imperative that one uses TLS encryption when sending mail, and to use a send mail server other than the foreign network. When reading e-mail on someone elseรขโ�ฌโ�ขs network, you must make sure your mail server supports SSL and use the encrypted access only.

If you delete an e-mail you must not have the misconception that the existence of the e-mail is gone forever. This is not the case as most electronic documents are backed up and recoverable, and most e-mails are backed up on a remote server at some point in time.

For more information about Laptop Security visit Security4Laptops.com.

Security4Laptops.com is your definitive guide to using mobile devices with the privacy and security necessary in this modern work-a-day on-the-go world.