A Traveler's Guide to Laptop Security
By John Gontowicz
The facts:
" More than 1,700 laptops are lost or stolen every day. That is more than 620,050 a year.
" 97% of them are never recovered, according to the FBI.
" Data stored on the devices – customer lists, financial data, and correspondence – is critical.
" The equipment itself — laptops, Blackberry's, PDAs, LCD monitors, cell phones – are prime items for theft and they are expensive to replace.
" Professional thieves are not interested in the laptop, only its resale value.
Below are the top fifteen tips for protecting your laptop:
1. When you are travelling with a laptop please carry the laptop with you. Many incidences have happened where laptops were stolen from baggage checked in at airports because the traveler did not want to carry the extra weight.
2. Do not leave your laptop or carrying case in plain view when travelling by car.
3. Protect your laptop from the environment. A sudden change in temperature can crack the display.
4. When using a carrying case pick a bag that does not look like a computer bag. I always see fashionable business people carrying laptops in expensive cases. Those cases say – "Laptop! Laptop! Steal me!" Please watch your computer bag at all times.
5. An unsecured laptop computer is very susceptible to data theft, especially if you use it in wireless locations.
6. Passwords are needed for laptop computers.
7. Laptops are pretty attractive for thieves. A number of companies sell software that silently phones home when it's eventually reconnected to a network after the unit is stolen.
8. Turn off the boot (start-up) sequence on the laptop and have it start using the hard drive.
9. Lock up the laptop. This is pretty obvious, but it is so often overlooked.
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to secure your mobile PC is to use a security cable or lock to attach your laptop to a stationary object. If you must leave your unlocked laptop behind while you are at a hotel, put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door.
10. Make sure that you use Internet Security, spyware prevention, and anti-virus software.
11. Make sure you backup all of your data onto a CD, external drive, another PC, or an Internet service.
12. Security experts claim that you should engrave your name on a laptop because it would be harder for a thief to fence it.
13. You might want to consider buying insurance for your laptop. Many homeowners' insurance policies don't cover computers.
14. Never leave access numbers or passwords in your carrying case. Keeping your password with your laptop is like keeping the keys in your car.
15. Use a screen guard. These guards help prevent people from peaking over your shoulder as you work on sensitive information in a public place.
If you follow these basic guidelines and some common sense, you don't have to give up yours.
Author: toddjir
Within windows, you can use a feature that is pretty powerful to increase your productivity. This is the windows multiple monitor feature. Imagine having a document on your computer that you need to see while you type another document. This is what the double monitor feature allows you to do.
This feature is supported nicely in Windows XP. You can have a smaller monitor off to the right while you type your document on your main monitor.
To use this feature, you will need to buy a video card that supports multiple monitors. ATI manufactures a great video card called the VGA All In Wonder. You can pick this card up at your local computer super store for around $100.00.
If all you want to do is use the two monitor feature and are not big into games or multi tasking many programs at once, then this is all you will need. However, if you like to play high graphic games, then you will want to get a video card with a good amount of memory. Just ask the sales person at the store to help you. Make sure they understand what it is exactly, you are trying to do.
Once you purchase the video card, if you can install it yourself then great. If not, then see if the store can do it for you or find a knowledgeable friend to help you out. Just having a friend install the card, can save you anywhere from $50.00 to $100.00.
After the video card is installed, it's time to hook up your second monitor to number two VGA output of the video card.
All you will really need is a cheap monitor for your 2nd monitor. Look in your local phone book for used computer dealers or on the internet. Just go to Google and type in "used computer monitors" and your location. This should allow you to find somewhere close to your home.
Using the multiple monitor feature in Windows.
Once you have everything set up with both monitors in place. Turn on the other monitor in Windows. You do this by clicking on your main desktop and selecting properties from the pop up menu. Next you need to click on the setting tab. Here you will see the numbers 1 and 2 in bold white letters. Click the number 2 and you should see two little check boxes off to the left. Click on the one that reads, extend myWindows desktop onto this monitor. If you other monitor was off and the light was just blinking, then doing this should turn it on.
Once the 2nd monitor is turned on, all you have to do is open whatever application you want and resize it to half screen. Then, just drag it all the way to the other screen. You should now be able to move your mouse and applications freely between both monitors.
Meet the new boss — you.
If you're like most of us, you hate your boss even if they're a nice person and good boss. At heart we're still rebellious kids with "oppositional defiant disorder" who don't want any surrogate mothers or fathers.
And just as most people do eventually become mothers and fathers of their own children, to get rich as a techie you must get over your own rebelliousness and learn to at least be open to becoming the boss over other people.
I know it can be hard. I myself have seen at least four people who decided to take voluntary demotions and go from supervisor back to technical jobs.
But let's face it — management is the most common and obvious way for techies to step up the career ladder to greater money and achievement.
I have a friend who has a cousin who is a bigshot at Sun Microsystems, the creators of the Java computer language. She told me once that he makes $600,000 a year. "I don't know what he does, but he's very good at it."
I can guarantee you, he does a lot more than "code in peace."
Bill Gates is not the richest computer programmer in the world because he's the greatest programmer in the world. He is the wealthiest programmer in the world precisely because he hasn't written a line of code in over two decades.
My point is, take responsibility for your career. That does mean getting emotionally comfortable with the idea of giving orders, delegating work instead of performing it yourself, teaching others, giving negative evaluations when they don't perform well, refereeing employee disputes, giving presentations, attending meetings, etc.
You don't want to become the old joke, the great techie who is promoted to being a lousy supervisor.
So prepare now. Read management books. Take classes in management. Attend seminars on management (yes, at your own expense).
Ask your supervisor for help. If they are smart, they want a subordinate ready and willing to take over their job, so they can be promoted.
If your boss is not that smart, find a mentor in the company who is willing to help and guide you.
Practice taking responsibility. Of course, for your own work. In your mind, for your co-workers. If you were Frank's boss and he was 3 days late with a report, what would you do? What would you do about your team's failure to meet the monthly goals? What would you say to them to motivate
them to work harder?
Practice saying it to yourself.
As a society, we've rapidly moved from wired to wireless. Whether it's a laptop, cell phone, BlackBerry, or digital camera, most people are carrying one-or all of these things at any given time. All of those wonderful gadgets require battery powered fuel. There are few things more frustrating than when one of these practically essential gadgets loses power unexpectedly. In this article, we'll focus on 3 ways to increase the battery lifespan on some of today's most popular battery powered devices.
Laptop batteries:
Laptop batteries can be frustrating, to say the least. They almost seem to know when you're right in the middle of something important and choose that time to lose power. If your laptop battery has less than an hour's worth of life, it's probably time for a new one.
However, through a process called conditioning, you can "train" your new laptop battery to last longer. This is done by charging a new battery to full capacity, and then allowing it to drain completely of power before recharging again. By doing this, you condition youlaptop battery to "remember" the amount of electrical charge it can hold.
Cell phones and BlackBerrys:
When you first get your new cell phone or BlackBerry, you'll want to fully charge the battery and then completely discharge the battery for about 3 cycles. However, you won't want to get into the habit of completely depleting the battery. The rechargeable lithium ion batteries in cell phones and BlackBerrys can be damaged by excessive deep discharges.
Instead, get into a routine of plugging in your phone overnight and letting it continue charging even after the icon reads that the battery is full. Cell phones and BlackBerrys should last an entire day without losing charge. If you can't make it through the day without recharging, it's probably time for another cell phone battery or BlackBerry battery.
Digital Camera:
The digital camera has become a must-have gadget. Digital cameras have made taking pictures so much more fun and economical than ever before-except in the way of batteries. These little cameras can really soak up the battery power. Many digital cameras operate with AA or AAA batteries and feeding your camera a steady diet of alkaline batteries can add up quickly.
If you haven't already, invest in a rechargeable battery kit. Every other techno-gadget uses rechargeable lithium ion batteries and your camera can too. The cost of 4 AA batteries is usually between $17 and $24, but well worth the cost as they can be recharged hundreds of times. This way, you can keep enough recharged batteries in your camera case to drop in if your batteries do run out, then recharge the old and use them as spares.
All lithium batteries perform best when they are topped off regularly. Don't feel like you need to wait until the juice is running low like with the car gas tank. Instead, plug them in for a charge whenever you have the opportunity. Batteries may not seem glamorous, but they're the powerhouse that allows us to enjoy all of the electronic devices we now wonder what we ever did without.
We've all heard the commercials where GPS technology is used to help stranded motorists in difficult situations from a heart attack to locking the keys in the car. Just hearing the term GPS may cause rejoicing or confusion depending on your familiarity with the device.
The applications for GPS units run from simple personal use to complex wartime data. These devices may seem intimidating, but they are opening a whole new world that is being explored in many new and awesome ways. The good news is this portable technology is routinely used to save lives, time and money.
Imagine a woman has been critically injured in a remote location a dozen miles from the nearest town. Park Rangers find her, but they're going to need some help. They call for an air ambulance; however they bypass the need to give detailed instructions on how to find them. Instead, they simply provide GPS coordinates and the helicopter arrives in time to save the life of the injured woman.
A bus operator takes a nasty spill and will not be able to drive for awhile. This might present a problem if someone else does not know the route. However, route training time could be eliminated in public transit with the use of GPStechnology . Policies could be adopted that would map each route using a GPS. While the bus driver would be missed, the route would not suffer a delay in service.
We've all had moments when we sat with a stubborn vehicle on the side of the road. If you own a GPS unit it can be used to pinpoint your location for a tow truck.
Imagine a time when missed directions in critical situations become a thing of the past. Many police and ambulance personnel are now dispatched using GPStechnology. Lives may be saved, hostile incidents curtailed and even pizza may have a better on time delivery record.
Firefighters are now using GPS units to help guide helicopters providing support to multiple water drop points. By using these small handheld devices, fire crews can maximize the effectiveness of fire control efforts that can save both lives and personal property.
Wilderness excursions can be less problematic when a GPS unit is linked to compatible walkie talkies. This technology will allow people to keep in contact and help them find each other if you get separated.
Should rescue workers be required to find a location in the dark it is good to know that GPS units have no problem pinpointing a location – even on a moonless night.
Outdoor enthusiasts use GPS units to assist them in keeping track of how far they have gone and can help track a route to either avoid or try again.
Admittedly, sophisticated GPS devices have been used by governments during wartime and peace, but savvy consumers have found many ways to utilize thistechnology to help provide peace of mind in uncertain circumstances.
More uses for GPS technology will be discovered in the days to come and the implementation of that technology will assist the public in ways they may never realize. Then again, when something is this good, bragging isn't required.
The proper use of technology can revolutionize the way you do business. With the right mix of technological tools and systems, your franchise can rise to the top of your business field and keep you there. This move will also save you a lot of time and increase your efficiency as well as profits. After all, opportunity cost is incurred when you spend more time than you have to at doing tedious and routine administrative duties. By using the available technology in your franchise business, you can save a lot of time which can then be used for more productive endeavors.
In the franchising industry particularly, the right use of technology can drastically improve the support systems in place. This would get rid of repetitive and redundant tasks that the franchisees have had to put up with. With an impregnable and highly efficient support system in place, a franchise could quickly get ahead of the pack.
So, how do you go about implementing technology inspired changes in your own franchise business? First of all, research available technology that you may find useful in your franchise business. You do not have to buy a fax just because everyone has it. Use email instead. Better yet, make use of the revolutionary voip tools already in the market today. You have to remain informed on the better and newer ways of keeping the communication lines between you and your franchisees open.
One other very important change that you can implement in your business is introducing software that automates and integrates all tasks that could directly be accomplished by computers. It would be better if your franchise incorporates the use of software that integrates accounting functions with inventory and sales tracking. It would be even better if your business software also assimilate payroll and personnel tracking applications. And to make everything automated, make sure that your system does not require tedious and manual updating. To illustrate, the cash registers can automatically update your database, thereby getting rid of the need to manually transfer information from paper to computers. Reducing the number of people in your information chain has the added benefit of reducing human error.
Finally, include continuous technology training in your franchise packages. Your technological improvements will be in vain if your franchisees do not know how to properly use them. Impress on your franchisees the importance of technology in a successful franchise.
Author: Bethoveen
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Opera started out as a research project in Norway’s largest telecom company, Telenor, in 1994, and branched out into an independent development company named Opera Software ASA in 1995. Opera Software develops the Opera Web browser, a high-quality, multi-platform product for a wide range of platforms, operating systems and embedded Internet products.
Opera is known as the fastest and smallest full-featured browser, a first choice for people using older PCs and Windows 95 and a brilliant alternative to the default IE from Microsoft. Opera, first of all, is client World Wide Web, that is the program for extraction of the information from WWW as the documents created with help HyperText Markup Language (language of a marking of hypertext HTML).
Low requirements to resources of system. Opera will work even on 386 computer about 6 MB of operative memory. MDI the interface. You can open without special expenses of memory any quantity of windows inside one working window, having chosen thus a tabulared or cascade mode.
Source: articlesbase.com
Author: Gen Wright
The technology world is a fun and ever changing world. Today, there are literally thousands of products in the marketplace. We are simply swarmed by the sheer number of products that we can choose from. And these are not big ticket items. They could be just small little gadgets like a mobile phone, a portable printer, or a digital camera.
Of course, if you have the budget, a seemingly small item may end up costing you a small fortune. When making a buying decision, you need to be discerning enough to strike a balance between the price and your own needs and wants. One way to achieve this balance, is to rely on technology news to help you come to a better decision.
How technology news can help you.
Make a quick visit to any technology news website. There are a plethora of tech sites out there on the Internet. Some are well established websites (think CNET), and others are run by small publishers. Both have their merits.
A big publisher usually releases tons of tech related news on all sorts of products. The problem is, due to the huge scope of coverage, the focus is usually diluted. You will find different types of content – reviews, product releases, specifications, etc. Some of these content are written by paid tech writers, so there is a commercial element involved. Perhaps some writers are more inclined to write positive things about the products? Maybe.
Smaller publishers tend to be more focused, and they usually release news on hand picked products only. Being small, they can't possibly cover everything under the sun. So it's a wise strategy to adopt. Often, you find articles that are much more in depth. The owners are also more likely to be very passionate about the tech products they are writing about.
When buying a tech gadget, you usually pay more for newer technology. The important here is to remember that everything new comes with a much heftier price tag. The technology may not be necessarily better (e.g. buggy since it's new), but you still end up paying substantially more for the product anyway.
If you want to save some money, just be patient. Keep browsing the tech news to keep yourself abreast of the changes. For instance, how is the technology improving? What are others saying about the brand new gadget? If you read nothing but great reviews on the product, that is a good sign.
You may need to suppress your own desire a little, so that you don't end up rushing to be the first in line to buy that new camcorder, new television, or new mobile phone. Just wait a little. The price will come down soon enough as soon as the masses start to adopt the new technology. That way, you get a more stable device, at a much lower price.
Source: articlesbase.com
Category: Health News
Created: 6/24/2009
Last Editorial Review: 6/24/2009
Category: Health News
Created: 6/24/2009
Last Editorial Review: 6/24/2009