Another Day With My PC

One of the reasons why I hate cleaning my desktop is because of the multitude of wires attached to it. Looking at the back of my PC’s casing reminds me of Rapunzel’s golden locks. If my memory serves me right, around 5 wires or cables entangle each other for accommodation at the various port sockets. Aggravating this eyesore are their lengths which could definitely strangle your patience when the time to clean and untangle them arrives.

Haircut

While you couldn’t dispense with the wire that connects your PC to the power outlet, there is one that you could do away with – the DSL cable. Ever since laptops started threatening the existence of desktops, wireless routers sprouted like mushrooms. Indeed, the very essence of mobile PCs would be defeated if it is nailed to the table next to where the DSL cable is. By setting up a wireless router in your home or at the office, you could unshackle your notebooks and other electronic gadgets that can connect to the Internet.

Share the Wealth

It’s not only laptops that catapulted the wireless router to the pedestal of Internet connectivity. High speed DSL connection also made wireless access viable. Take note that a router’s main task is to enable multiple users to share one common Internet source or access. Sharing a 10mbps connection is a must. I mean, what do you need the extra 9MB for? However, if you’re still stuck in dial-up, then sharing that 56kbps that your ISP is giving you is like sharing a single spaghetti strand with just one meatball on it.

You don’t need a Computer Science degree at Princeton or NYU in order to be able to set up a wireless network right at your own home. Most of the routers that are available in the market today are like RTWs. In case you haven’t noticed, the user’s part in installing a PC peripheral is usually just confined to connecting the power or the USB cable on the component.

Before Buying a Router…

There are a few things that you have to consider before opting to blanket your house with wireless Internet. First and foremost is security. If you don’t intend on sharing your wireless Internet with your neighbor, then I suggest that you buy a router with a limited range. Of course, you could always secure your network by using passwords, but it’s better to nip the problem in the bud.

Another thing that you have to consider is viability. You may have a fast Internet connection, but if you have a dozen family members living under one roof, then your generosity might just frustrate you in the end. Before setting up a wireless network, consider the number of people who would be using it. If they’re many, or a few but would be downloading megabytes or gigabytes of files, then I suggest that you upgrade your DSL plan first before even trying to share the blessing.

There are many risks in connecting to the Internet. Make sure that you have the necessary system and security tools, such as a registry cleaner and an antivirus, before warping into cyberspace.

Before you attribute slow browsing to a virus or spyware, there are a couple of things that you have to consider first. It’s very easy to blame it all on malware. However, you might be wasting your time scanning your entire hard drive for something that may not even be there.

Your ISP may claim that it’s making a 1mbps room for you, but more often than not, their claims are not exactly a hundred percent true or accurate. There are a number of reasons why this is so. First, your ISP may actually be cheating on you. Second, your DSL cable or modem may not be of a good kind. Third, your PC or software may already be obsolete and cannot recognize the new innovations that your ISP is using in providing you with high speed Internet access.

There are many tools or software that you could easily download on the Internet in order to determine the actual bandwidth that you’re receiving from your ISP. Check www.cnet.com for one.

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