If you are in need of a wireless router and is shopping for one but have no idea which is the best wireless router for you, then you have come to the right place as I give you some of the things that you should consider before buying a wireless router. In the today’s market, wireless routers with varying prices and varying designs and speculations exist, and finding out which one best fits your needs may be the best way to get the best value for your money.
With the advent of various wireless devices, it can be confusing for a consumer to look for a wireless router. To make sure you are buying the right wireless device, make sure that it manages your internet connection for different devices without all the wires entangled and attached to them. A wireless router basically makes an invisible connection or network of all your devices and connects them to the internet. It uses a WAP technology or wireless access point and Ethernet router and switch. Look for words such as LAN or local area network and Ethernet when buying wireless routers.
The kinds of wireless routers may be confusing at first with all the letters attached to the number 802.11. These letters include B, G, A and N. They represent the kind of wireless router protocol supported by your wireless router. The letters show you how the wireless router connects with the other wireless devices. The most common wireless router protocol is B and G. Both B and G work on a 2.4 GHz frequency, which is also the same frequency used by other household appliances, making wireless routers with B and G protocols more prone to interference. The G protocol transmits up to 54 Mbps or megabytes per second whereas the B protocol transmits only up to 11 mbps. Another kind of wireless router protocol is the A protocol. It operates on 5 GHz frequency, thus making 802.11a wireless routers less prone to outside interferences. Unfortunately, there are less wireless devices that operate under the A network thus you must first check with your wireless device provider if they are compatible. The A protocol transmits up to 54 Mbps, thereby making it as fast as the G protocol. The newest technology in wireless routers today is the N wireless router protocol. It transmits up to 600 Mbps and has extended signals due to the new technology (Multiple Input, Multiple Output). The problem is, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has not yet certified the N protocol and it may need some more maintenance than other protocols.
In selecting the appropriate protocol, take into account your internet connection. The fastest internet connection is up to 5 to 6 Mbps only. The 802.11b wireless router, even if it is the slowest from all the others, is still faster than the average internet connection. If you are not looking to transfer large files from one wireless device to another, I’d say the average B or G wireless router will do. Otherwise, why not try the new N protocol. Also look for wireless routers that have built in firewalls and are protected by Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or WPA2. Before buying, also consider the range you want you wireless router to have. The usual range is from 120 to 150 feet but there are other wireless routers with longer range.
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Needless to say, computer keyboards could come and go; and if you are exceptionally sloppy with yours, it is best to let the keyboards go, especially if it has served its time. If you have been fiddling mindlessly with your keyboard, removing the screws at the back and actually taking a peek into what has accumulated between the gaps, you just may have to stomach something not worth seeing before any meal. If dust bunnies have not yet mutated into the inner workings of your keyboard, you just may be surprised as to what else you might find in there: like food bits, animal hair, termites, enough DNA sampler to get you into the most wanted database…
Now there are several reasons why some people prefer to keep the keyboards they are currently using.
For one thing, most laptops do not have detachable keyboards. So unless you are willing to dig deep into your pockets for another expensive machine, it would be best to keep the one you are using and just learn how to clean it without damaging anything. Secondly, if you are one of those techie freaks out to get the latest high-end piece of hardware possible, replacing your keyboard with something more high-end may become very, very painful both on your pocket and your self-esteem. So here are a couple of tips on how to clean your computer keyboard the safest way possible.
But wait! When we say safest, we mean that you use prudent measures with a lot of rational thinking behind it. Sure, there are tips on how to use the dishwasher to clean your keyboards… and in some instances it may work. We just want to point out that most of these so-called dishwasher safe keyboards look cheap and about 2 minutes away from the rubbish heap. This is actually a great excuse to buy a new set of keyboards especially when the dishwasher ruins it. Besides, who in their right minds would put the entire laptop into the dishwasher?
So the equation goes: keyboard + dishwasher = heck, no. We hope that is clear.
For cleaning you keyboards, laptop of otherwise, you would need: a can of compressed air, several pieces of cotton buds, and a soft clean cloth dampened with a little moisture. You can buy the can of compressed air in most electronics stores. And yes, there is a difference between compressed air and WD40. Soft tipped cotton buds should be pliant enough to get into tricky gaps and corners. And lastly, use any soft cloth for wiping down. A chamois should work great because it does not leave any fibers behind.
First step is to give your keyboard some slight dusting with the compressed air. Use the dry cotton tipped buds gently to get to the gaps between keys, and use as many cotton tips necessary. Do not force the keys apart though. Once you are satisfied, give the keyboard a more thorough blasting of the compressed air. Once that is done, use the cloth (ever so slightly damp) and give the keyboard a wiping down.
Apple’s iMac personal computer has been a huge success so far for the company. By incorporating Intel processors, and having the capability to run Windows operating system, Apple has achieved a near perfect blend of functionality, versatility and let’s not forget, high style (after all, it is still an Apple).
PC Magazine is reporting that Apple is about to update the popular line, rolling out several new versions of the iMac featuring Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and standard 2 GB onboard memory. The new iMacs will also feature the most advanced graphics card available so far in the line, with NVIDEA GeForce 8800 GS graphics, which will be available on some models.
With a beginning price around $1200, the new iMacs boast a 24 inch high-definition screen, and a variety of innovative features including built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and Ethernet support. In addition, the new iMacs will include USB 2.0 support, both FireWire 400 and 800 ports, and the built-in Apple iSight video camera.
The all-in-one design of the iMac has been incredibly popular. As well as taking up less space at home or in the office, the sleek aluminum and glass design of the iMac is as beautiful as it is functional. The minimalist, Scandinavian-like design of the iMac also makes it easy to move around.
Moving a Windows PC from your home office into the living room can be a cumbersome affair, with lots of chords to detach and reattach, and extra peripherals to move and plug-in. But moving an iMac from one room to another is a simple as unplugging it — carrying it to its new location — and simply plugging it back in.
This simplicity is one of the most attractive features of the iMac, and it is helping Apple win over new users at an astonishing rate. And there is also the widespread perception that Apple computers are more reliable than Windows PCs, and that Macs are not nearly as likely to be vulnerable to computer viruses, spyware and other malicious software.
Theoretically, Macs — including the iMac — can be infected with computer viruses and other malware. In reality though, it is extremely rare for a Mac user to experience this issue, as there are very few computer viruses designed to infect the Mac operating system. The same is true of Trojans, spyware and other Web “nasties.” It’s not that a Mac computer is impervious to these things — but simply that there aren’t very many of them that target the Mac operating system.
All of these benefits, combined with Apple’s ongoing research and development, suggest that the company will continue to gain market share over Microsoft. The new and more powerful iMacs are definitely a step in the right direction, and are sure to help Apple to keep the pressure on Microsoft.
Notebook computer manufacturers can’t seem to make up their minds which way the market is going. Apple has recently introduced the MacBook “Air” light-weight and wafer-thin laptop — a computer so small it will fit inside a standard A4 envelope. But over on the PC side of things, some manufacturers are going to the other extreme, creating the computer equivalent of rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Dell has just introduced the Latitude XFR D630, a thick and rugged “all-terrain” notebook computer, built to withstand moisture, extreme temperatures, and even accidental falls from desk height. The newest Latitude, the XFR D630 is surrounded by what Dell calls “full body armor,” and made to withstand the rigors of life on the road.
While there have been “tough book” computers around for years, Dell is aiming to produce a tougher, more resilient notebook at a lower price point. The closest competition at the moment is the Panasonic CF-30, which is priced slightly higher than the $3,899 starting point for the new Dell XFR.
Dell’s profits have taken a hit lately, and recent earning reports indicate the company has been in something of a slump over the past year. They’re hoping that the new rugged notebook computers — along with a new marketing strategy — can improve the company’s bottom line in 2008.
Rather than trying to compete in the “thinner, lighter and more chic” marketplace, Dell is attempting to carve out the niche for themselves with a new “laptop on steroids” marketing strategy, which is designed to appeal to road warriors and larger businesses looking for more reliable notebook computer solutions.
In particular, Dell is going for the “IT department” market, by providing a tough and road-worthy laptop that is simplified in many aspects, easy to upgrade, and uses standard batteries, software and power adapters. The idea is to create a sturdy and solid laptop that is simplicity itself to operate and upgrade, and bypasses the usual bells and whistles found in modern multimedia notebook computers, in favor of a rugged, work-anywhere aesthetic.
While critics may argue that the new XFR is boring, and doesn’t include the kind of entertainment-oriented extras the public has come to expect from laptop computers, that isn’t really the point. The new line is aimed squarely at business users (you’re not likely to see many college students carrying around a thick, heavy, no-frills XFR notebook).
Whether this new strategy can bring life to Dell’s lackluster earnings reports remains to be seen, but at least the company has carved out a specific niche for themselves, and is throwing the full weight of their research and development team toward creating a “tougher toughbook.”
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The MacWorld trade show introduced a new Apple personal computer that is less than 1 inch thick. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the new MacBook Air notebook computer, which is the company’s first ultra-thin laptop, featuring a multi-touch track-pad and an internal 80 GB hard drive.
The new MacBook Air is only .76″ thick, and will fit comfortably inside a standard A4 envelope. The new notebook does not come within an inbuilt disk drive, but does have extensive wireless capabilities and can stream both CDs and DVDs from another Mac, as well as initiate live data backups to the Apple Time Capsule, the company’s new wireless hard drive.
Jobs claims that the “Air” is the world’s thinnest notebook computer, and weighing in at approximately 3 pounds, it will have the smallest “footprint” of any Mac or Windows PC laptop.
The price of the new MacBook Air, however, is anything but small. The notebook will go on sale later this month at a retail price of $1799. And though the new notebook does not include a CD or DVD player, Jobs is convinced that users “won’t miss it.” The concept of the “Air” is to be a wireless device which bridges the gap between personal devices such as the iPhone, and more fully featured desktop and laptop computers.
With that in mind, the new notebook won’t be able to play standard DVDs, but it will have easy access to online movie rentals via Apple’s iTunes store. iTunes has recently partnered with all of the major film studios, including 20th Century Fox, Sony, Paramount, Universal, MGM and others to offer instant download movie rentals from the iTunes web site.
Prices for the downloadable movie rentals are reasonable: $2.99 for older films, or $3.99 for new releases. High-definition downloads will also be available for many films for an extra dollar. Apple says that by the end of February more than 1000 different film titles will be available.
And though Apple has been quite successful at teaming up with film studios, they’ve had a bit more difficulty getting network television companies on board. For example, NBC recently pulled out of an agreement with iTunes after a lengthy dispute over program pricing.
20th Century Fox also pulled television programming from the iTunes site, and both NBC and 20th Century Fox have opted to license their programs to start up digital media distributor “Hulu,” a would be contender to iTunes online media throne.
Despite the release of the new MacBook Air and the addition of a new film studios to the iTunes catalog, Wall Street remained unimpressed with the new Apple offerings. Shares of Apple Inc. fell by more than 6% following the MacWorld trade show.
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Forget everything you think you know about laptop computers. Taiwanese company Asus has just released a new laptop that breaks every rule in the book — and then some.
The new Asus Eee PC is a rebel notebook computer designed to shake up the conventional wisdom. For example, conventional wisdom says that a laptop computer must have a hard drive– the Eee PC uses only a flash memory, for quicker access speeds and greater reliability.
Conventional wisdom also says that you can’t sell a fully featured laptop for $400, but that is exactly the price points set for the Asus Eee. Overall, the Eee is a powerfully featured 2 pound notebook computer with a staggering array of standard features at this price point.
The Eee doesn’t run Windows, but instead it uses a custom version of Linux. And while some may see this as a disadvantage, in reality the tiny Linux operating system ensurers that the laptop boots up extremely fast (try 10 times faster than a standard Windows laptop), and contains advanced features like an inbuilt WiFi chip and web cam that is preconfigured for Skype, which comes preloaded with the Eee.
There are also plenty of USB and FireWire ports, and it is also possible to install Windows, though after using the standard Linux version, you might rethink the necessity of cluttering up your new $400 laptop with bulky Windows software.
The Eee comes preloaded with the Firefox web browser, and the complete Open Office Suite, which effectively replaces Microsoft office, and is in fact much easier to use and configure. The laptop also comes preconfigured to use Google Documents for online document editing and sharing, and links to Yahoo Email, AOL messenger and Google’s Gchat.
Have I mentioned that there is an inbuilt DVD player? Or that you get all the usual media software you’d expect from modern laptop? In short you get all the functionality of a bloated, overweight Windows laptop in one compact 2 pound, $400 notebook that boasts a battery time of approximately 3.5 hours.
What the Asus Eee PC seeks is nothing less than to break all the rules about what a laptop has to be and do. By thumbing their nose at conventional wisdom, Asus has produced an amazingly functional and lightweight laptop that is in many respects far superior to traditional notebook PCs.
And although some people worry that they would miss running Windows sooner or later, in practical use, most people love the simpler and faster loading Linux operating system. Asus has definitely thought outside the box on this one and produced a compact, lightweight and inexpensive laptop that is a breath of fresh air when compared with the new slow and underperforming Windows Vista machines.
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The notebook computer market has been healthy for the past few years, and lately manufacturers have branched out into so-called “specialty notebooks,” including gaming notebooks, ultra light-weight business notebooks, and now Lenovo is introducing a dedicated “entertainment notebook.”
InformationWeek.com is reporting that Lenovo officially introduced three new notebook computers this week which are designed specifically for home theater and entertainment purposes. The Lenovo ThinkPad U110, for example, is powered by a dual core Centrino processor, and features a 1.3 megapixel camera embedded into the screen chassis, as well as a frameless screen and a sleek, home theater-type design.
More and more, manufacturers have been edging away from business laptops and toward the entertainment market. Lenovo latest offering takes this trend a step further by including Dolby home theater surround sound, integrated WiFi, and a high-end DVD recorder/player combo.
The new Lenovo notebooks contain four top mounted speakers and a hidden sub woofer on the bottom of the unit. The notebooks also ship with Lenovo’s multimedia control center software, and allows one touch DVD viewing.
MP3 and music support is also a big part of the new entertainment notebooks, and users can access their music collection from a single button above the keyboard. Likewise, photo viewing can be accessed just as easily, and the notebooks have touch sensitive controls that allow the user to choose multimedia files, while setting volume and equalization controls with one click.
The flagship of the new line is the Y710, which features a 17 inch widescreen display, 2 GB of standard memory and a 500 GB hard drive. Optionally, the notebooks can be outfitted with a second hard drive which is “hot swappable” to transfer movies, music and other data easily.
Other manufacturers are also jumping on the “entertainment notebook” bandwagon. Dell, for example, is producing no less than six new notebooks which are aimed squarely at into attainment users, with advanced DVD and music player functionality.
The popularity of portable MP3 players has also pushed many laptop manufacturers to include fully-featured music and media players that can be operated independently of the computer itself. For example, Lenovo’s new entertainment notebooks feature a one touch media select button to access music and movies without going through the usual Windows start up.
As more and more mobile phones begin featuring advanced multimedia players, the pressure is on to make notebook computers lighter, slimmer, and with increased functionality for playing media files.
Although companies like Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard and Dell are on the forefront of this trend, over the next few years it is likely the notebook computer itself will evolve into an all-in-one multimedia machine, similar to the trend we now see in mobile phones.
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With so many information and entertainment now available online, it’s quite hard to delete those information in our hard drives once we reach their maximum capacity. We used to be content with 20GB of hard disk capacity and we even used to brag that we have a 40GB hard disk capacity. But now, 40GB is almost nothing if you’re a movie, music or TV buff. Although you can burn all your favorite shows on your CDs, it’s still better to have them all in your computer.
If you’re still clinging to your 20GB laptop or have just bought that cool ASUS EEE PC with less than 10GB hard disk capacity, you might want to purchase a hard disk enclosure and a hard disk drive to upgrade the storage capacity.
Hard disk enclosures are small boxes big enough for one hard disk. Sitting outside the computer or a laptop, it has the capacity to read the hard disk in your computer. Connecting this gadget to the computer or laptop is really easy since it uses USB 2.0. Depending on your budget there are different types of enclosures to choose from. The only common thing about these gadgets is that it connects to computers via USB and it can store files.
The basic form of enclosures allows you to store files only. That’s the most bareback of all products. Although some may come in fancy design, it’s just another storage device. But there are those models that upgrade a hard disk to the next level. Instead of reading the contents of the hard disk, the enclosure comes with complete connectors to your television. The result is, you have a media player that reads hard disks. Last but not the least is your ultimate mobile hard disk players. This type of enclosure comes with a screen that lets you watch movies and even listen to music. Some sell this as a photobank, but it is much, much more.
Before you can go out and buy an enclosure online or in your local computer store, always remember these tips:
- Check the capacity of the enclosure. Unfortunately, a hard disk enclosure will always have a limit. Don’t just buy something online if they do not indicate its capacity. Usually their capacity could be from 80GB up to 600GB or even more. The higher the price, the bigger its capacity.
- Format your hard disk – visit a computer technician so that he/she could format your hard disk as a storage device. If they are not properly formatted, computer will have trouble reading or transferring the information to your hard disk.
- If possible, purchase an enclosure with a built-in hard disk – although this is rare, it certainly beats the trouble of inserting the hard disk inside your enclosure. You don’t even have to worry about format since usually they are already formatted to be read.
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USB (Universal Serial Bus) was introduced way back in 1995. This was supported by big names of the computer world, including Microsoft and Intel. Soon enough, USB devices started to be created but the development was rather slow. But since version 2.0 was invented in year 2000 and was introduced to the public the next year, almost all peripheral devices including memory devices, mouse, keyboards and printers have been based on USB.
Aside from the mouse, keyboards and printers, there are other USB enabled devices that you can plug into your computer. Think of it as upgrading your computers performance may it be on productivity or entertainment. Here are the six devices by which you can give your computer a little kick.
1. USB Hubs – unfortunately a regular computer only has five USB ports. We don’t want to be too greedy but if you want to have so many USB based devices, you need to have more ports. That could be answered by purchasing USB hubs. A USB hub is not only an extension for one USB port, but also can be an extension for four additional USB ports.
2. USB TV Dongle – if you can’t get out of your computer but don’t want to miss their favorite shows, the USB TV Dongle is the perfect gadget for them. Just insert the device in the USB port and connect the cable connection on the other end. Your computer now becomes your cable TV. These devices usually come with a remote control and an installer where you can record the shows as you wish.
3. USB IrDA – instead of connecting mobile phones and infrared enabled devices to your laptops, the USB IrDA will convert your laptop or computer into an infrared enabled device. You can virtually connect to other infrared enabled devices usually within a meter range.
4. USB Gamepad – if you don’t have the latest PlayStation or Xbox, it doesn’t mean you can enjoy games using a gamepad. Download and install games that are gamepad enabled and use this device like you’re playing in a regular PlayStation or Xbox. Although the titles are not the same, you can still have the same enjoyment with this gamepad.
5. PlayStation 2 to USB Cable – if you have a PlayStation 2 and would like to transfer you gaming experience to your laptop, no need to purchase another controller. This device will convert your PlayStation 2 controller into a USB enable gamepad. Prepare to pay a little bit higher if you want to have a USB device that can cater to two PlayStation 2 controllers.
6. USB Modem – for faster internet connection, connect your computer directly to a modem. This will ensure that you don’t have to connect through LAN for an internet connection.
Remember that these devices usually run in Windows 98 or Higher. For Vista, check if the devices are already upgraded to work with Microsoft Corporation’s latest OS.
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It seems that buying a new laptop computer gets more complicated every year. Portable PCs have come a long, long way, there’s no doubt about that. An average laptop today is hundreds of times more powerful than even the most high-end of desktop PCs a scant 10 years ago.
To make things even more complicated, in the old days the only real choice was to buy a Windows laptop. Mac laptops were considered the domain of tech geeks and graphic designers; but with Apple gaining market share rapidly, and the introduction of the Intel Mac, buying an Apple laptop is now a real possibility for many average consumers.
Additionally Apple’s technical support is considered superior, and their computers are known to be far less susceptible to computer viruses and other malware, making them an attractive buy to even first-time laptop owners.
Among Windows laptops, both Dell and Gateway have decent customer service and offer custom configurations of both laptops and desktops. In fact, the ability to customize a Windows PC is the one selling point Apple can never compete with. Many Windows laptop owners report choosing a Windows machine because of the wide range of software available, and the ability to customize their laptop to their exact specifications.
But whether you buy a custom laptop or an off-the-shelf model, the chances are your laptop will have speed to spare to run most any program or even 3-D games. Processor speeds have increased to the point where even modest laptops offer more than enough speed to handle multiple programs with ease. In fact, processors speed is less important today than ever before in the history of laptop computers.
So rather than focusing on the fastest processor, many consumers are opting for greater memory configurations. A typical modern laptop will perform much better with doubled memory capacity, but see only slight performance improvements from increasing the processor speed. So if you should choose to have a laptop custom-made, you’re better off putting your money into more memory, rather than the latest, greatest processor.
The ergonomics of the machine make a great deal of difference as well. Opting for a slightly tilted keyboard, with solid keys and touch pad buttons will minimize the effects of “laptop burnout.” And if you’ll be using your laptop for extended periods of time, a wide glossy screen with an antireflective coating can reduce eyestrain, while maintaining a bright, clear display.
Now that laptop processor speeds have finally caught up with desktop models, and even the most average of new machines has memory and power to spare, the real concerns in buying a new laptop are user comfort and ergonomics.
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