Another Day With My PC

Don’t you just hate it whenever you’re being informed that the software you’re planning to download is only valid for 60 days unless you pay for it after the said period? Sure, there are lots of freeware on the Internet, but not surprisingly, many of them are not worth the extra megabytes on any hard drive.

The ploy of software manufacturers in teasing users with 30 or 60-day trial periods is not actually reprehensible. In fact, it benefits users who may want to try out the program first before deciding to make his wallet a few centimeters leaner. However, you can’t help but detest this scheme, especially if you already became dependent on it.

If you think that the software that you’re trying out is worth the extra bucks, then I suggest that you purchase it. Don’t whine about the fact that it isn’t free or that it should be free. Programmers have to earn a living, you know. Learn to appreciate this set up. 30-60 days of free use is still a good bargain.

If you have separation anxiety every time you part with your money, then I suggest that you try installing shareware. However, be careful when relying on free software for your PC’s security. While there are many decent freeware on the Internet, they’re usually not as efficient as those which are being offered for a price. If you do find a security application that works as efficiently as those which bear price tags on them, chances are is that it won’t stay for free for too long :)

Unless you’re living in Tibet, it’s very obvious that the society we’re living in is highly commercialized. Just look around and you’ll see that almost every square inch of space in your town is littered with advertisements. Don’t be surprised if one day your mailbox might already be sponsored by Marlboro or McDonald’s.

Surprisingly though, there are more freebies today than there were several decades ago. However, costless products or services always have a catch. The drawbacks are sometimes negligible, but they should be a cause for concern just the same.

Dangerously Free

I’m sure you’re all aware by now of the efforts by businesses and governments in providing free wireless Internet access to citizens, patrons, or any person who might sojourn in their area. This costly (and costless) advertisement is a hit among those who treat their laptop as their office. Many coffee shops that banner “free wi-fi” signs on their doors are always full to the brim. It would thus seem that it’s a win-win situation for both the shop owner and the customer. But is it?

The cost of maintaining or providing free wireless Internet access is not cheap. Business establishments spend a lot in subscribing for the service, as well as for the maintenance of the transmitters in their area. Naturally, they would do whatever it takes to bring the operating costs down. Guess what’s the first one on their list that they’ll cross out in order to keep subscription and maintenance expenses down?

Not Secured

When network analysts first exposed the vulnerable condition of wireless networks as far as security is concerned, many weren’t that surprised anymore. It’s already common knowledge that adding and maintaining security features on networks cost money. Hence, it could be fairly expected that free Wi-Fi access is not bulletproof. If stringent measures would be provided to keep the network safe from hackers, then offering the access for free may not be feasible anymore.

It’s Not Only About the Money

Don’t think that Starbucks is that hesitant in shelling out a few hundred or thousands of bucks just so that you’ll be able to check your e-mail without ending up exposing it to someone who shouldn’t be looking at or reading it in the first place. I’m sure business establishments have the means or extra resources in order to enhance the security of their wireless Internet access system. However, doing so might actually turn off customers than entice them to have a cup while enjoying the free service.

Setting up a secured network would mean putting up too many checkpoints for the user. Barbed-wired Internet access systems require users to submit to numerous verification procedures. By the time they’re through with the process, they’re coffee might already need some reheating.

Free Wi-Fi access is great. However, as with all things that are free, there are certainly some hitches. A security lapse is certainly not a negligible trade off. However, this shouldn’t deter you from enjoying the free offer. Just make sure that you have a fairly good security suite and system tools installed in your PC, such as a registry cleaner. Avoid processing sensitive data while connected on an unsecured network, too. By undertaking these precautionary measures, there’s no reason why you should not be able to enjoy your cup of coffee while opening your e-mail or browsing through the latest NBA or NFL scores on the Internet.

A decade ago, accessing the Internet was a task that not everybody could do. Not all PCs were equipped with a modem jack, and even if they were, there weren’t many Internet Service Providers at that time which could make that PC slot useful.

Things have definitely changed since then. Before the century turned, the demand for Internet connectivity went up astronomically. ISPs sprouted like mushrooms on a rainy day, even on areas where providing the service was deemed unprofitable or a missionary’s undertaking.

Going Mobile

One of the things or developments in the IT industry which revolutionized Internet connectivity was the emergence of mobile PCs, such as notebooks, PDAs, or palm tops. Office tasks and business transactions are gradually being taken out of the offices or the conference rooms. Many have realized that time is too precious to be spent inside the workplace.

PC manufacturers immediately took note of this need and trend. Whole design teams were given tasks to come up with notebooks or portable PCs which could rival or even outmatch desktops. After just a few years working on the drawing board, many computer companies have succeeded in threatening the very existence of bulky PCs which adored many desks since the computer became personal.

The notebook’s portability is not the main feature which makes it very popular among students and office slaves today, though. While desktops could bring the user into cyberspace through any of the mode available at present, still it cannot give the user that degree of mobility or freedom that only laptops or PDAs could give.

Wi-Fi

Before the advent of wireless Internet, the only means of connecting to the Internet was either through dial up, cable, or DSL. All these require that the PC be leashed to that yellow cable or phone wire that transports the user to cyberspace. This is one of the reasons why notebooks were not yet very popular 4-5 years ago. Laptops were not exactly portable during those years as far as connecting to the Internet is concerned.

High-speed Internet access made another revolutionary turn when wireless access increasingly became available. Many were enticed by the thought that they could be at their workplace even if they’re blocks away sipping a delicious brew at their favorite coffee shop. Many local governments realized the benefits that municipal-wide wireless Internet access could do to their economy. Hence, cities started to install Wi-Fi transmitters all over their area or jurisdiction.

Potent Advertisement

Local governments and business establishments saw the limitless potential of wireless Internet as far as enticing people or customers is concerned. Hence, efforts were made to make Wi-Fi free. Many cities and establishments around the United States, and even in the other parts of the globe, are already offering free wireless Internet access for their citizens or patrons. The race towards blanketing whole towns or cities with Wi-Fi signals peaked during the last two years when bills calling for the installation of wireless Internet access transmitters swamped various legislative bodies, including the national congress.

To be continued…

Whoa! Either that keyboard doubles as an ashtray or the latest version of Typing Tutor is so difficult that it practically tests the warranty of your PC’s primary input device.

PC care is not only restricted to defragging your hard drive or streamlining the start up process. First and foremost, computer maintenance involves cleaning and maintaining the hardware. You can’t buy software for this task. You have to personally see to it that your PC’s monitor, keyboard, printer, and other components are free from dirt and dust.

Having the latest registry cleaner and security suite won’t really matter if your unit is threatened physically by abuse or misuse. All the antivirus or anti-spyware software in the world won’t save your PC from liquid spills or heavy dust accumulation. You can’t take on a laissez faire approach when it comes to component maintenance. Don’t downplay the human factor or role in PC care. Not everything is virtual or electronic, you know.

After spending a fortune on Windows Vista, you might think that your wallet may not be able to churn out a few bucks for other applications anymore. You may brag all you like on having the latest operating system, but it would practically mean nothing if you don’t have other programs. PCs can’t live on OS alone, you know?

While it may seem unlikely to others, there are many Vista freebies on the Internet. While the quantity and quality may not be as good as those available for XP, Vista apps are fast catching up with software made for its predecessor.

While many of you might be rummaging through the Web for free Vista games or media players, bespectacled techie persons, such as yours truly, are usually scouring for system tools and other utilities that could help us go around the new OS.

One such application that almost made me shout, Eureka!, is TweakVista. This free (trial) software allows you to go through and around Vista without a sweat. This tool from Stardock allows you to do a myriad of things, such as monitor system resources, optimize memory usage and CPU performance, and conduct benchmarking tasks.

While it may not be as sophisticated as Norton’s Systemworks, it has enough features that could help you get out of the forest if you ever (and you most probably will) get lost navigating around Vista. Of course, as PCs don’t live on Vista alone, it could not function reliably and efficiently without other system maintenance tools, such as registry cleaners. Security suites are also must-haves, too.

There are other free system tools available for Vista on the Web. Finding them might be tricky, but it will get a lot easier over time as software makers are doubling their efforts in complementing the new OS with their products.

We know what’s best for you.

It would seem that this is Microsoft’s justification for the unauthorized updates that it has conducted on its latest and previous operating systems. Windows XP and Vista users have recently complained that Windows update has modified some of their system files without warning them about it.

Windows Update (WU) is a feature in XP and Vista which automatically downloads and installs patches and updates to the operating systems. Users are given the option to either let WU get the files automatically or prompt them before downloading the necessary files. While many have taken the laissez faire approach, a good number still wants to be warned whenever patches would be installed in their systems.

So the next time you see your PC’s DSL and hard drive lamps blink like crazy, don’t sound the alarm and raise your antivirus and anti-spyware security level to “high.” Chances are, it’s just Bill Gates trying to rearrange your operating system’s files. If you’re using OS X though, then you might want to immediately cut the yellow cable.

Need a laugh?

I’m sure I’ll be getting tons of nods from that query of mine. Laughter is indeed the best medicine, especially if that illness is caused by your boss or by undesirable correspondences from your credit card company.

Before the advent of the Internet, I used to get my weekly dozes of chuckles from Reader’s Digest’s “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” The topic of the jokes varied widely, but there weren’t any about computers back in the 80s. If there were, only a handful of people understood them.

At present, I don’t rely on weekly periodicals anymore to tickle my funny bone. As with almost anything, jokes can easily be fished out on the Web. In YouTube, the videos that are mostly viewed are those that could mimic the effect of nitrous oxide. Needless to say, Web sites, such as www.engrish.com, get thousands of clicks everyday.

Be careful when accessing Web sites or downloading videos on the Net, though. Some Web sites contain worms which could damage your system by simply entering it or if you click any of the links therein. The worms or malware may infect your registry or corrupt your files. Be sure that you have a registry cleaner and an antivirus installed in your PC.

What does it take to create your very own computer virus?

Back in the 80s when the PC was just starting to make its way into ordinary people’s homes, computer viruses were often mistaken as also the ones that make us sneeze or induce us to cough. Some were not even aware of its existence. If a program crashes due to a virus infection, many just thought that the software expired or just naturally got corrupted. Needless to say, antivirus programs were also not fashionable during the time when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the reigning kings of the NBA.

Coke-Bottle Glasses a Prerequisite

Programmers or software authors were thought to be computer science majors or math geeks who have too much grudge on the world. Everything about the computer back then was esoteric. Many harbored the belief that one has to have an IQ of 500 in order to make one simple program. You might think that such a thought is an exaggeration, but in a way, they were partly right.

The programming language that software authors preferred at that time was the Assembly Language. Purists explain that it’s the language that computers speak since it mainly deals with numbers, the only characters that PCs understand. Only seasoned programmers could create applications using that language. This difficulty warded off many aspiring virus authors. While there are a significant number of people who wants to know what it’s like to wreak havoc to other people’s systems, only a few have the persistence and the talent to pursue such a pernicious goal.

Breeding Snakes

In a bid to spur interest in computer programming, software makers released programming languages that are more user-friendly. Since then, the number of persons who knows how to create applications has increased astronomically. While many of them are not that knowledgeable enough to create spyware, viruses, and other malicious applications, the few who does are enough to cause global headaches.

Most of the novices who attempt to create malicious applications end up seeing their creations crushed by antivirus and anti-spyware applications. Virus and spyware authors have to create a more cunning design in order to camouflage their malware from PC sentinels.

One Stop Shop

At present, one does not need to read programming books as thick as the white pages in order to create something that could make your hard drive spin like crazy. A programming kit is currently circulating around the Web that allows a person to exploit holes and weaknesses in Windows, WinZip, QuickTime, and Web pages. The destructive kit could easily be used by ordinary persons. Of course, this tool is not available on e-Bay or on any online store. It’s sold in cyberspace’s black market, with the price tag pegged at $400. The application works by identifying holes or weaknesses in Web sites. It then exploits gaps by allowing the user to control or take over the vulnerable pages. He could then modify the site so that it may control the PCs that log on or visit the page.

It would seem that every Web site could be a potential booby trap. Don’t allow your system to fall victim, or worse, be a host to malicious programs. Invest on an antivirus, registry cleaner, and other system tools. As the saying goes, a megabyte of prevention is better than a gigabyte of cure

Have you noticed Apple’s fast ascendancy in various fields?

While it hasn’t beaten Nokia and Motorola just yet in the mobile phone industry, it has definitely won the ears of millions of people around the world with the iPod. Its notebook is still considered as a novelty items by many, but it’s fast gaining ground in its attempt to unseat heavyweights, such as IBM, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Acer as the most wanted brand in portable computing.

I wonder if Apple’s OS would soon end Windows reign. Many doubt it, especially since the OS X has yet to reach a number of countries outside the United States. While I also share the same sentiment, I’m not totally closing the door on Apple. When the iPod was released a few years ago, I thought that the hype was just a fad. I was wrong. It totally shook the music industry and rearranged the order of things, with Apple on top of course.

Many expect the same kind of support for the iPhone. Unfortunately, a few technical, as well as business limitations, may have watered down the market potential of the gadget. But I’m sure Apple will think of something in order to entice people into dropping their N95 or Razr for the iPhone. The same thing is true for the OS X. It’s just a matter of time when Apple will start concentrating on its OS and make a bid for the distinction as the widely used operating system in the world.

Have you read PC World’s take on the various external hard drives in the market? It featured ten of the best, ranking them based on speed, price, and reliability.

External hard drives are great devices for back ups. In fact, it seems that it had already pushed the tape drive on the brink of extinction. If manufacturers would further improve on the peripheral’s reliability and portability, it might send many external back up products or solutions to the museum!

It’s still not a good alternative to the internal hard drive as far as using it as a primary storage device is concerned, though. Some are even questioning its practicability as a back up option. Many users are using DVD disks as secondary repositories of their data. While DVDs pale in comparison to external hard drives in terms of size, the former is believed to be more reliable in maintaining the integrity of the files burned to it. It is also more practical since many of the data files that are saved on back up devices are not that big, even collectively. Applications need not be saved since they can be reinstalled using the set up disks.

Despite the doubts that are being cast upon it, external hard drives are still great storage or back up devices. While it would seem too impractical to use it to create a mirror image of your primary storage device, such a move would definitely be very rewarding when the internal hard disk crashes due to viruses or problems with the system registry. While others would be spending a day reformatting and reinstalling programs after a crash, those who took a snapshot of their primary hard drive using their external hard drive could continue on with their tasks as if nothing had happened.