Notebook items fill the space this week
I have several things on my mind, none of which will fill a whole column but let’s see what’s in my notebook this week.---Is any software perhaps more annoying than Real Player? You take special care to install it with the least invasive options and it still takes over all of the settings it wants to and installs this annoying popup box that, this morning, told me there was a hurricane in the Gulf. (I think I had heard a rumor of same many days earlier). Real for years has been the annoying uncle of audio and video players; today I solved it by deleting the software after unsuccessfully trying to find a preference to turn off the popups.
---Apple has released a pretty huge security patch for its laptops and desktops. Users should run Software Updates if you don’t get them automatically.
---Speaking of Apple, there’s a new version of Itunes out as well; this one seems to work much better on the Windows platform than previous versions. I have had issues with many previous versions of Itunes on Windows, mostly with the Itunes Music Store being sluggish to respond. This one (5.0.x) is much better.
---Steve’s Gibson’s security web site (www.grc.com) remains one of the better overall sites out there and his free “Shields Up!” testing program remains my favorite tool to test firewalls and the overall security of your network and PC.
---In response to several questions, Microsoft has not released the official system requirements for the next version of Windows (called Vista) but if you have 512 megs of system RAM, 128 megs of video RAM (maybe 64 if you’re lucky) and a decent, current processor, then you should be able to run Vista. Microsoft has not released pricing for an upgrade, but I would guess $129 as a probable starting point. As always, the best way to get the new Windows (assuming you need it) is to get a new PC.
---If anyone has successfully found a wireless print server that actually works reliably and can install without bloodshed, please let me know. I know I have personally tried three or four brands and none have worked well. Many won’t install, period.
---Ditto these “range expanders” sold by Linksys for wireless routers. Never could get any to work correctly and the box never quite explains they only work with certain routers with certain firmware levels and that even if you do get them to work, there is a significant speed drop off.
---Don’t buy a flat panel monitor today without digital video input (DVI). There are lots of cheap monitors out there that offer only “analog” input. That’s fine assuming you have no intention of ever upgrading but DVI is the way to go if you ever plan to get another PC. One with DVI should not cost much more.
---Printer companies who sell printers without USB cables are jerks.
---Computer companies who give away printers with PC purchases yet sell $2 cables for $25 are jerks.
---Make sure you are running Windows Update if you own a Windows PC. If you have a dial-up connection it may take all night but you need to keep a Windows machine up to date, now more than ever.
---If you do not have an anti-virus product, get one. If you don’t want to buy one, get the free AVG from (free.grisoft.com). Install it, update it and keep it up to date. With several companies willing to give it away for free, there’s no excuse.
WEEKLY WEB WONDER: See who the latest blogger is at Blogger.com. There are tens of thousands out there.
James Derk is co-owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm, and computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His email address is jim@cyberdads.com
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