Technology

Cell Phone as Modem

March 21, 2005

Most cell phones can be used as portable modems, allowing you to access the Internet from your laptop. You will need a connection kit (usually a data cable and software such as those sold by Gomadic ), ISP login details, and a data plan to pay for your usage. Although most cell carriers only offer [...]

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High-Tech Gadgets

February 28, 2005

For geeks that love high-tech gadgets, here are a few must read sites. Woot! is known for great pricing, but only sells one item per day. Head over early, because the best toys sell out quickly. For personal technology reviews, try Engadget, Gizmodo or Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal.

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Internet Infrastructure

December 13, 2004

With high-speed, always-on Internet connections, it’s easy to take all this connectivity for granted. But the Internet is a pretty complex collection of computers and wires. Learn more about Internet infrastructure at How Stuff Works and Internet: The Big Picture.

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Home Networking Help

December 17, 2003

Are you installing a home network this holiday season? Here are three key definitions to get you started. A hub is a simple, unintelligent device that sends incoming signals out to ports. A switch is more selective, and only sends incoming traffic to specific ports. A router is the most intelligent, and can be programmed [...]

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Wi-Fi Wireless Networking

October 7, 2003

Short for “Wi-reless Fi-delity,” Wi-Fi is a brand name for a wireless network that uses radio signals. Wi-Fi can be used to distribute Internet access throughout a small area such as a house or a caf�, and will soon be used to connect household gadgets such as television sets and DVD players. To learn more, [...]

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Internet Faxing

August 19, 2003

There are many ways to send and receive faxes over the Internet. Interpage allows you to send free text faxes from your web browser as a demo of their paid service. eFax is another paid service that allows you to send and receive faxes via e-mail. For reviews and user ratings of over a dozen [...]

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Convert VHS to DVD

April 22, 2003

If your new DVD burner has you thinking about converting your archive of family video tapes, here are a few sites to get you started: DVDR Help Newbies Guide, PC World: Convert Analog Video to Digital, and Lockergnome’s Guide to Converting VHS to DVD ($5).

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PC Power Button

February 5, 2003

Today’s PCs are designed to be turned on with the power button that sits on the case, but turned off via the Windows shut down menu option. If your computer freezes, and you can’t get to the software shut down, do not unplug the computer. Rather you should hold the power button down for at [...]

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Choosing Batteries

January 21, 2003

For techies on the move with high-tech gadgets, battery life can be a major source of frustration. To learn more about choosing the right batteries visit these three sites: TechTV Battle of the Batteries Redux, Choosing Batteries and Chargers and How to Choose the Very Best Battery.

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Do I Have USB 2.0?

November 30, -0001

Because the slower USB 1.x and faster USB 2.0 ports look identical, it is difficult to tell them apart. Your Windows configuration, however, will know if you have a USB 2.0 port, and here’s how you can find out. Click Right-Click My Computer, Click Properties, Hardware, Device Manager, and scroll down to Universal Serial Bus [...]

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