Home > Technobuddy > Archives > 2007 > September
September 2007
A little life insurance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m selling life insurance today. So I don’t blame you if you throw down the newspaper and run.
But that would be a mistake. This is life insurance for your computer. It comes at a cost in both money and time, but I promise you it’s a bargain.
My insurance policy consists of a few key preventative measures that can stave off future computer ills:
Buy a surge protector: At the very least, install and use a good surge protector. If you can afford it, a UPS - uninterruptable power supply - is even better. I don’t usually mention brands but I’ve been very pleased with the APS brand surge protectors which seem to be available at almost every consumer electronics or computer store.
Most often you’ll find a rating on the UPS package that is hard for consumers to understand. These systems are rated in an electrical measure called volt amps. You’ll see that on the package as VA. Look for a system that offers at least 450 VAs and 650 is even better.
With surge protectors look for a UL (Underwriter Laboratory) rating of 1449. Depending on how the surge protector is described on the package, buy one that offers a surge current protection of 54,000 amperes or more. You may see a rating in joules; I recommend 800 joules or higher.
Install anti-virus software: This is such an obvious bit of preventive medicine that I considered leaving it off my list. But, just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean that everyone uses a good anti-virus program. I like Norton Anti-Virus when it comes to commercial programs and Grisoft AVG among free ones. Whatever you use, make sure you keep it updated.
Practice self-control: A self control isn’t some fancy new gadget, it’s a state of mind. Avoid cluttering up the innards of your computer with every free program you find on the Internet. Many contain spyware or adware that slow down your computer. Some are nastier than that.
Before downloading and installing a free program, do a Web search and read user reviews. In most cases, if a program has bugs - intentional ones or otherwise - you’ll see that mentioned. When I do a search like that I first look just using the name of the free program. Then I do a second search that includes the words spyware and adware, just to be sure that I’m not missing something.
Get over power problems: Many computers, especially inexpensive ones or older models, have power supplies that are just adequate for the equipment installed. Adding accessory cards and other devices that get their power from your computer can burn out the power supply.
So check the manual or the manufacturer’s Web site to see how much power the machine draws. Then check the size of the power supply. If the machine’s power consumption is anywhere close to the size of the power supply, avoid adding new devices or consider replacing the power supply.
Fight adware and spyware: Another obvious tool in preventive maintenance, but an important one. Consider installing Windows Defender, SpyBot Search and Destroy or the free version of Adaware. Just Google on each to find their home sites.
Once you’ve installed them - just as is true with anti-virus programs - keep them up-to-date. The leading cause of a slow computer is adware and spyware.
That’s it for today. I hope you bought my computer insurance. I wish I could offer you a free calendar as a way of thanking you. But I can give you something even better: I promise not to telephone you tonight to see if you’ve considered my sales pitch.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: Columns
Is your computer a zombie?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More and home home computers are zombies - the term techies use for a computer that has been captured by a hacker.
The zombie machine may be used to send out spam, or it may be used for denial of service attacks.
This isn’t something new but - since I end up getting e-mail from readers around the U.S. - I know that it is more common these days.
You can click here to read proof of that.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Crime
HDTV buying guide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you’ve postponed purchasing an HDTV in the hope that the prices would go down and the quality goes up, you’re in luck. All that happened.
That problem has passed but there’s still an ironic roadblock … there are so many decent to good sets out there that it’s difficult to chose.
I’m linking to a review - just click here - that offers some solid critiques.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: HDTV
My favorite ‘new’ technology isn’t what you might expect
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A friend at work asks, “So what’s new in the gadget world?” almost every time I bump into him.
He’s expecting word of some new computer that can read minds, or a GPS that not only finds the restaurant but orders for you. Truth is, most gadgets are evolutionary, not revolutionary. Computers get faster and multiple processors are crammed on a single chip. Cellular phones get more sophisticated and add features. But there’s little truly new there.
Here are some advances that are really important. There’s very little glitz and dazzle here: but this is stuff you use everyday, for better and worse. This is my list of what’s new in technology, both good and bad.
Good: Computers are more dependable than ever. That may not seem true when your PC or Mac is acting like a demented house cat. But anyone who’s been home computing for a while can vouch for the fact. The personal computer is now a mature technology. Most of the worst kinks are fixed - a huge deal since the most important attribute of a computer is dependability, not speed.
Bad: Lots of interesting medical technologies show results. I have talked to an Atlanta physician who implants a tiny sensor in the brain, allowing a person to literally “think” a computer cursor around the screen. Imagine what this kind of research can mean to those who do not have the ability to move their limbs. So why did I put this in the bad category? Research and technology like this doesn’t get the recognition or funding it needs. The iPhone is front page news, yet technologies that can change lives often are not. There are plenty of other examples of promising research that can let the blind see, the deaf hear. This needs the sort of government backing that NASA gets (and I’m a big fan of NASA).
Good: The Internet has turned into one of life’s most important tools. It was more fun when I started messing with it, but much less useful. Need to find a movie? Looking for directions to a restaurant? Need quick information for work? Using the Internet has become second nature. Most of us would part with our telephones before the Internet connection.
Bad: The Internet has turned into one of life’s most important tools. Yes, I just said this was a good thing, but it’s also bad. Here are several reasons why. E-mail seems to encourage rudeness. People who know how to spell and use grammar often abandon it when sending e-mail or posting to an online blog. People spend too much time in the online world’s sheltered coves and too little in the real world. I know you could make the same argument with TV, or even books. But I’ll rely on you to see the differences.
Good: Lets finish with something good: Prices continue to fall in the gadget and computing world. Imagine how great life would be if that was true at the grocery store, or the auto dealer. Pick a technology and see how true this is. HDTV prices were near $10,000 and above when that technology hit the market. With computing, the price you pay may stay around the same amount but the power you get for your money has increased dramatically. Digital camera, printers, MP3 players … you name the category, prices consistently go down, not up.
Got your own ideas on the good and bad of technology? Post your thoughts. That way, when my friend stops me in the hall and asks “what’s new in the gadget world,” I’ll have a new answer for him.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Columns
Those slow-witted cell users
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, here’s confirmation of what I’ve always thought - a new study shows that frequent cellphone users have slowed brain function. That’s the same sort of thing that physcians see with Alzheimer’s - but not nearly as severe.
So I now finally understand why the people at work who are always talking on the cellphone even on a short elevator ride seem a little, uh, different.
Stories like this are fun and I have my tongue at least partially in cheek. The survey had just 300 subjects and, truth is, if you look hard enough you can find studies that prove just about anything.
However, it would be interesting to see more research. And I also hope that researchers continue to study any possible link between brain cancer and heavy cellphone use.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: General
Apple’s big chance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I like computers - Mac and PC. But as regular readers know I’ve recommended Macs more often lately. That doesn’t mean I have abandoned PCs … in fact I use both. It just is an acknowledgement that (1) Macs are less likely to have problems with viruses and other malware (2) many readers are fed up with dealing with those problems and (3) Apple has gone a long way to make new machines that do a fine job with programs intended for the Mac and an adequate job with programs intended for the PC.
I’ll probably always be a PC guy at heart - even though I use both machines and, at work, spend most of my time on a Mac. But that’s based on the fact that I like to tinker with hardware and PCs are more, uh, tinkerable. Also, I waste a lot of time playing computer games and PCs are the right choice for gamers. However, my honest opinion is that either machine can do a fine job and that PCs still offer more power for the buck.
But what a great opportunity Apple had to increase its marketshare. The article linked here, you can click to read, goes into great detail.
The introduction of Vista - and the fact that it’s hardware hungry as well as the fact that some older devices just don’t work with it - was a great opportunity for Apple.
But to have a chance of increasing marketshare, Apple needs more retail outlets. The linked article talks about how Apple missed the boat. Whether you’re an Apple fan, or prefer PCs, or are interested in marketing … it’s a fine read.
How to stay safe on the Net
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Although I am practically an international sophisticate now, I grew up in a small Arkansas town where the only con men were the guys selling cattle at the weekly animal auction.
So when I first moved to the city, I thought the fellow in the alley was being helpful when he offered to sell me a nice watch for $10. My wrist turned green shortly before the watch stopped forever.
The con men have moved to the Internet these days. For those of you who haven’t lived and breathed the Net, it’s very much like moving to the big city from the farm. Today, we’ll talk some about the most popular scams on the Internet. Maybe I can save you both money and embarrassment.
Phishing for suckers
It’s been around for a while, but phishing (pronouncing fishing for obvious reasons) is still the way most home users lose money and privacy.
For those few who haven’t heard of phishing, it goes like this. You get an official looking e-mail from your bank, or a business like eBay or Amazon.com. The mail offers various reasons for you to go to the company’s Web page and fill out a form that usually includes your e-mail address, password and sometimes banking information.
To make things easy, you are provided with a link - just click on it and you’re taken to the Web site. When you get there everything looks right. If you’re foolish you provide the information. Depending on the scam, that could results in crooks cleaning out your bank account, or making charges to your credit cards, or stealing your identity and using it to get a loan.
Protecting yourself is easy. Never follow the directions on any e-mail like that. In 99.9 percent of the cases, the e-mail are fake. If you worry that it isn’t, look up the telephone number for the business and call and ask if the mail was real.
It’s free
You see a Web site offering a free item or software program. All you need to do is provide some personal information.
According to a recent story about this sort of offer, people who fell for it did get the free item. But the information they furnished provided a great list for spammers.
The frustration here is that everything was legal. The Web site said that it would use the e-mail addresses for marketing. What it didn’t mention was that the list of names, mailing and e-mail addresses, and other information was posted openly on the Web for anyone to see.
That was one expensive “free” gift. Please look all gift horses in the mouth. Then run, don’t walk, away from them.
Another free offer
Some of the most messed up computers I’ve seen are those where the owners have downloaded programs that claim to making searching the Web easier.
Google and Yahoo do great jobs and both their search engines and add-ons can be trusted. But when you go very far beyond that you’re taking a big risk with spyware and adware.
My opinion: Stop searching beyond the big two.
Ordering from questionable online stores
If you need Viagra or prescription pain killer, get them from the doctor. If you don’t, you are taking a chance with your wallet and your life.
Some of these online firms aren’t selling the real thing. Taking these drugs can kill you. For another thing, giving your credit card information to folks who are dealing on the edge - or beyond the edge - of what is legal just doesn’t make sense.
That’s it for today. Unless you have time to take a look at a great Rolex watch I have for sale at $25.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Columns
An HDTV just right for sports
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As I keep trying to explain to my wife, an HDTV that is fine for watching something unimportant - like a movie - may not be perfect for watching something important, like sports.
Finally I’m getting some reinforcements. Cnet has a complete section on tech for sports — you can find information on gadgets used to help you workout, tips for online fantasy leagues, even the best way to equip yourself for jogging.
But, it also includes reviews of the best HDTVs for watching sports … what a deal.
You can click here to take a look at the complete package.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: HDTV
Here’s your complete spy kit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’d make a terrible spy - I can’t keep a secret.
But if you would like to check out the latest in spy gadgets just click this link.
Buy this stuff and you can hear boring conversations from 100 yards away, wear an ugly tie that serves as a camera or get a spy watch that looks like it might glow in the dark.
Permalink | | Categories: General
Good news for a fine free program
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now this is interesting in a nerdish sort of way. OpenOffice.org is a pretty good suite of tools: word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program.
That’s the same basic selection of programs you get with Microsoft Office. The only differences: Microsoft Office is a bit better, OpenOffice.org is very much freer. It’s a free collection of programs that many of my readers really like. And my acquaintance Clark Howard endorses and uses OpenOffice.org (no surprise there since it’s free).
Anyway, you can click on this link to read a story saying that IBM has decided to start helping OpenOffice.org. It will dedicate 35 of its programmers to help as well as use some of the code itself.
That should really give OpenOffice.org a boost and - hey - I guess IBM wouldn’t be broken hearted if that put a dent in the sales of Microsoft’s Office suite of programs.
If OpenOffice.org interests you, you can use this link to download the free group of programs.
Permalink | | Categories: General
Don’t get mad, get even
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What makes you mad?
Whoa, now. Don’t tell me about traffic, taxes and dogs that bark late at night. Let’s narrow this down to technology: the things that push you beyond the point of annoyance and into real anger when it comes to gadgets.
It’s always fun to vent, but the real benefit is that maybe I can provide a big platform for your complaints. If enough of us holler, it’s possible that, together, we can make a dent in the worst problems.
No promises, of course. But I think it’s worth a try.
To get the ball rolling, I’ll offer some areas that often pop up when readers pop off to me by e-mail, letter or phone.
The No. 1 offender: customer service and tech support. Most of you think - and I agree - that service would have to improve just to reach the crummy level.
Anyone who has ever tried to get help for a specific problem knows that, with rare and wonderful exceptions, the manufacturer abandons you as soon as your money is in hand.
Next on my list would be needless complexity. Part of the fault is yours, I’m afraid. Consumers seem to reward devices that can perform a lot of tasks.
Case in point: the cellphone. Nowadays, these phones include a camera, an MP3 player, and the ability to connect to the Internet. They can even serve as a very bad video camera.
I couldn’t help but laugh at reviews for the Apple iPhone. It got great marks for handling the Web and e-mail, and its MP3 player is one of the best around. The only problem area was that the phone isn’t all that great. Honest. Cruise the reviews.
When you try to cram dozens of features into a single gadget, you can almost bet that some of the features won’t work that well, the device will be complicated, and the price will be higher than it needs to be.
The third item on my list of technology peeves: the time needed to do maintenance and security tasks on a home computer. You need to install anti-virus software and then keep it up to date. You need to make sure you have a firewall. Another program is needed to filter out spam e-mail. Still another for adware/spyware. Then you must be sure that any wireless system you have is secure. The list goes on.
The day will come when some smart company delivers a secure and safe connection to the Internet. I pay someone to take care of my yard. I’d be glad to pay extra for someone to keep the weeds out of my computing.
I’ll list one more of my gripes, then I’m going to turn this thing over to you. Why can’t all of our gadgets get along? The examples are endless here, but I’ll use the bottom left drawer of my desk at home to explain.
It’s filled with wall warts: the transformers that plug into the wall and bring down the voltage for your printers, cellphone chargers, MP3 players and digital camera batteries. Would it be too much to ask to come up with a universal standard for these things so that one serves most devices?
Or in the same vein, how about one universal-sized cellular phone battery? Or a system of digital audio files that would let me use a tune I bought in any player? That’s it for me. Now it’s your turn. E-mail me at bhusted@ajc.com or post here. I’ll pick the best responses for a future column.
Don’t get mad, get even.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Columns
Send a robot to work instead of going yourself
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every so often I spend a day working from home - in fact that’s what I’m doing today. But when I do that I miss (well not very much) going to meetings, hanging out with my co-workers and the really terrible coffee in the newsroom.
A guy in Canada solved that problem this way: He sends a robot in to work to take his place on days he telecommutes.
You can read about it by clicking this link.
I’m not sure what the robot does about the coffee at work.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: General
It’s a scam and it’s legal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The most dangerous security threat in most homes isn’t a virus, it’s not spyware, nor is it some flaw in your computer’s operating system that opens the door to hackers. It’s you.
An example of this can be found at the link here.
To make things worse, this scam is at least arguable legal (there are parts of it that are illegal - but the main tool used in the scam is legal … you can read the story to see what I mean).
Here’s how it works. The Web page offered something free - it could even deliver on the promise - in return for personal data. So you’d fill in your name, e-mail address, maybe even your mailing address. And true to the promise you get the free item and the Web site operators got your information. So there’s no deception here.
In return for your ‘free’ gift the Web site operators have information that - at best - can be sold to spammers. At worst, gosh knows what will be done with it. But it’s valuable information - hey, it’s a list of guilible people. What a gold mine.
To add insult to injury, the information the scammers collected was posted on a public Web site for anyone to see.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Crime
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