Stumbled on this through a Google.com landing page link... almost missed it.
This is FUN... and a very coolbeans idea!
The Home Page Video is a really good one to see too. Check it out and see who is talking about it.
When you are done with the introduction experience, try some of the links to the many other similar tutorials. These are fun, and educational.
Promote Computer Science
Enjoy!
:-)
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Know Your UOM - (Unit of Measure)
While reading the Wikipedia bit about the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, I was reminded of an event I frequently think of and cite as an example of why it is important to know (and display) your unit of measure.
Google: Mars Climate Orbiter Mission Fails Due To Unit of Measure Error
Distance is a good example. Say you are telling someone how to get somewhere and you say: "Go 3 and turn Left." Ummm, OK... 3 what? Blocks? Miles? Light-years? There is a difference. Liquid is a good example too. "It takes 10 to get that done." 10 ounces? 10 gallons? 10 Acre Feet? ... Again, big differences.
Just a quick thought.
Have Fun!
:-)
Google: Mars Climate Orbiter Mission Fails Due To Unit of Measure Error
Distance is a good example. Say you are telling someone how to get somewhere and you say: "Go 3 and turn Left." Ummm, OK... 3 what? Blocks? Miles? Light-years? There is a difference. Liquid is a good example too. "It takes 10 to get that done." 10 ounces? 10 gallons? 10 Acre Feet? ... Again, big differences.
Just a quick thought.
Have Fun!
:-)
Apollo 11 Computer vs IBM XT PC
Be sure to check out the following article...
... Published on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
I've often wondered about how the computers of today, especially "Smart Phones" and "Tablet PC's", would compare to the equipment used by the early US Astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo programs. According to the above article, there is no comparison really... to get a useful comparison you need to go back to the IBM XT PC, which was released in March of 1983, which by today's tech standards is a whopping 14 years after Neil Armstrong's July-1969 Moonwalk.
So even a simple cell phone that a lot of folks (like me) still use today has a LOT more computing power than the early astronauts used for their missions. Think about that a bit... especially the next time your cell / smart phone acts up, or fails completely. Would you want to fly to the moon and back dependent on a computer as advanced as your phone?
:-)
How powerful was the Apollo 11 computer?
by Grant Robertson on July 20, 2009... Published on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
I've often wondered about how the computers of today, especially "Smart Phones" and "Tablet PC's", would compare to the equipment used by the early US Astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo programs. According to the above article, there is no comparison really... to get a useful comparison you need to go back to the IBM XT PC, which was released in March of 1983, which by today's tech standards is a whopping 14 years after Neil Armstrong's July-1969 Moonwalk.
So even a simple cell phone that a lot of folks (like me) still use today has a LOT more computing power than the early astronauts used for their missions. Think about that a bit... especially the next time your cell / smart phone acts up, or fails completely. Would you want to fly to the moon and back dependent on a computer as advanced as your phone?
:-)
Monday, November 11, 2013
Amaya (web editor) ... by W3C
Amaya (web editor)
W3C's Web Editor
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/
Getting the Binary Distribution
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/User/BinDist.html
Read the "Amaya User Manual"
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Distribution/manual.pdf
This is a locally installed program (similar to your Browser).
The opening blurb (on the 1st run after installing) reads as follows:
"Amaya is a Web client that acts both as a browser and as an authoring tool. It has been designed by W3C and INRIA with the primary purpose of demonstrating new Web technologies and helping users to generate valid Web pages. Thanks to the European (FP6) Palette project, Amaya 11 is much easier to use, through its new user interface and its innovative templating system.
With Amaya, you can manipulate rich Web pages containing forms, tables, and the most advanced features from XHTML. You can create and edit complex mathematical expressions and graphics within Web pages. You can style your documents using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). "
Some User Info... "About" pages... etc.
Notes on the Amaya HTML Editor
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/~matloff/amaya.html
<this page is exceptionally basic... but that makes it a fairly decent introduction>
Try searching the web for more information. There are a number of references like vids on YouTube that may be useful.
:-)
Another program to consider, if you have not tried it already, is KompoZer ... which is produced by Mozilla (the makers of Firefox and Thunderbird), and is another Open Source project.
:-)
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/
Getting the Binary Distribution
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/User/BinDist.html
Read the "Amaya User Manual"
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Distribution/manual.pdf
This is a locally installed program (similar to your Browser).
The opening blurb (on the 1st run after installing) reads as follows:
"Amaya is a Web client that acts both as a browser and as an authoring tool. It has been designed by W3C and INRIA with the primary purpose of demonstrating new Web technologies and helping users to generate valid Web pages. Thanks to the European (FP6) Palette project, Amaya 11 is much easier to use, through its new user interface and its innovative templating system.
With Amaya, you can manipulate rich Web pages containing forms, tables, and the most advanced features from XHTML. You can create and edit complex mathematical expressions and graphics within Web pages. You can style your documents using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). "
Some User Info... "About" pages... etc.
Notes on the Amaya HTML Editor
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/~matloff/amaya.html
<this page is exceptionally basic... but that makes it a fairly decent introduction>
Try searching the web for more information. There are a number of references like vids on YouTube that may be useful.
:-)
Another program to consider, if you have not tried it already, is KompoZer ... which is produced by Mozilla (the makers of Firefox and Thunderbird), and is another Open Source project.
:-)
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Weird Cylinders on Computer Cables... What are they for?
RF Signal Attenuation
The short story is that they are Ferrite Beads or Ferrite Chokes. They are made of a material that will reduce (dampen, or attenuate in tech-speak) the effects of radio signals in electronic equipment cables. If the cable only has one of these, it is best to install that end (such as with VGA cables) closest to the Computer, since that device is most likely to create (or be affected by) EMI (electromagnetic interference) and/or RFI (radio-frequency interference).
Additionally... The cable itself can act as an Antenna... picking up RF (radio-frequency) signals, and "broadcasting" it to your equipment, causing interference, flaky operation, "noise", etc.
Almost any Hi-Tech device can create EMI and RFI however. So you may need to experiment a bit. You can also buy these chokes and install them yourself. They are not very expensive.
Google: Ferrite Bead or Choke for Computer Cables
Check out these articles...
Gizmodo
What Do Those Mysterious Lumps on Your Cables Do?
http://gizmodo.com/5871162/what-do-those-mysterious-lumps-on-your-cables-do
"The arrangement acts as an EMI blocker. And the block is most effective when close to the source."
How Stuff Works
What are the bumps at the end of computer cables?
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question352.htm
"These "bumps" are called ferrite beads or sometimes ferrite chokes. Their goal in life is to reduce EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio-frequency interference)"
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite_bead
:-D
The short story is that they are Ferrite Beads or Ferrite Chokes. They are made of a material that will reduce (dampen, or attenuate in tech-speak) the effects of radio signals in electronic equipment cables. If the cable only has one of these, it is best to install that end (such as with VGA cables) closest to the Computer, since that device is most likely to create (or be affected by) EMI (electromagnetic interference) and/or RFI (radio-frequency interference).
Additionally... The cable itself can act as an Antenna... picking up RF (radio-frequency) signals, and "broadcasting" it to your equipment, causing interference, flaky operation, "noise", etc.
Almost any Hi-Tech device can create EMI and RFI however. So you may need to experiment a bit. You can also buy these chokes and install them yourself. They are not very expensive.
Google: Ferrite Bead or Choke for Computer Cables
Check out these articles...
Gizmodo
What Do Those Mysterious Lumps on Your Cables Do?
http://gizmodo.com/5871162/what-do-those-mysterious-lumps-on-your-cables-do
"The arrangement acts as an EMI blocker. And the block is most effective when close to the source."
What are the bumps at the end of computer cables?
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question352.htm
"These "bumps" are called ferrite beads or sometimes ferrite chokes. Their goal in life is to reduce EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio-frequency interference)"
See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite_bead
:-D
Monday, October 7, 2013
Buying a New PC (Notebook?)
My preference is for a Desktop PC. But I seldom need the portability. A desktop PC is typically easier (and a lot cheaper) to repair and upgrade. But eh convenience of a notebook or laptop is easy to understand.
For this post, I will mostly discuss Notebook Personal Computers (PC's).
If you want a Windows OS (operating system) Personal Computer, Then I'd suggest Windows 7. If you cannot find one in a store, they are easy enough to find on-line. (See examples below.) MS Windows is a real dog IMHO, but sometimes you gotta have it. But if not, consider Linux.
There are a few things about Win-7 that are making me crazy at times now, but it is probably mostly my lack of familiarity with it (which is rapidly changing, as am now coming in contact with more of them). All-in-all, based on what I've heard, and what I've experienced, I'd be inclined to say that Win-7 may be the best release of the Win-OS to date. On it's initial release, it got a fair amount of praise in reviews, which is not very common with Microsoft products.
Win-8 has generally gotten lousy reviews in general, in fact less than is typical for a Win OS release, which sounds pretty bad. The main complaint I've seen is basically that they tried too hard to make it look like the interface of a hand-held device (like a mobile phone, or a "Tablet PC"). I've not used it yet, but it sounds really awkward to me, and likely will be a difficult transition for a lot of folks.
Something you have to understand is that the Software is what drives the Computer Industry... and it is what forces you to have to upgrade to a new PC eventually. Buying a PC with really robust "Hardware Resources" will allow that machine to operate at a decent speed for a longer period of time... before it needs an upgrade, or all-out replacement.
RAM (random access memory) is the biggest deciding factor here (on speed vs. longevity). The more RAM you get, the longer the PC will last (assuming no failures anywhere). I'm guessing that for most folks, with Win-7, 4GB RAM will be fine... but 8GB won't hurt. Sales people will try and sell you a 2GB RAM PC... but they want you to come back in 2 years to buy another one too.
Again... Notebooks are nice for the portability, but they are expensive and difficult (if not impossible) to upgrade (as well as repair), so when it gets too slow to use (or fails), it is often easier to replace them (as they get older). Not very "Green"... but there it is.
So with this in mind... by spending a bit more now, any PC (even a desktop) will be more likely to "live longer" (in terms of the hardware not getting outdistanced by the software, and getting painfully slow too soon).
Another option is to just get what you can (or want to) afford... use it for as long as you can... and then load Linux on it, and get a few more years use out of the machine (assuming there are no hardware failures). Helps with the "Green" issue. And there are plenty of Lightweight Linux Distributions out there, that can run very well on older hardware (you still need to look at the spec's though). This would be somewhat similar to getting a "Chromebook" now. (See below.)
So... here are two examples of Win-7 PC's... and why...
... these are BOTH "64-bit" machines...
$730 ... Tiger Direct
Win-7 Pro - 8GB RAM - Dual Core Intel i5 2.6GHz CPU
- 17.3" Display - DVD-RW - 7# (weight) - 4hr battery
- This comes pre-loaded with Win-7... and has Win-8 in the box, to install later if you want.
- Notice the RAM. This is a bit of a "Powerhouse" now... but this PC will likely run fast for you for a long time.
- This has a nice, big display... but it is heavier too.
- This is a very feature-rich machine. and will do just about anything you want.
- This is a "Business Class" machine.
- It is a very good deal... the $100 Instant Savings is an added bonus. This instant savings offer is a good thing to look for at Tiger. They are usually exceptional deals.
$350 (w/ free shipping) ... Amazon.com
Win-7 Home Premium - 4 GB RAM - Dual Core Intel Celeron 1.5 GHz CPU
- 11.6" Display - 3.3# - 6.5hr battery
!!! No DVD or CD (optical) drive... but has build-in card reader (plus it will accept USB flash drives, which are very easy).
- Look at the reviews... this looks like a very nice PC.
- Again... notice the RAM. I'm guessing it will be fine "as is" though, for most folks. But you can upgrade to 8GB RAM (see user Q&A), but this would only be efficient if you can order it that way.
- If you have "Amazon Prime", this product qualifies, and I find that to be a bonus (because they tend to be more reliable products/sellers).
- If you want to compare performance... the Antec PC in the front office is a Win-7 Pro OS running on 4GB RAM.
Again... either of the above PC's could be converted to a Linux PC if they "get too slow" in a few years, which could extend the life of the hardware another couple of years or more.
Don't forget to consider the size... if you already have any accessories like a carry case, etc. No point in buying all that stuff all over again, if you don't have to.
However...
If you use your notebook mostly for Internet use... especially if mostly on Gmail and Google Drive, etc... then you may want to consider a...
$250 - 11.6" Screen - 2.4# - 6.5hr battery
... they start at $200 ... more info
Chromebook at Tiger Direct (they have a recycle program)
- Acer C710-2487 Chromebook
- All Current Choices at Tiger
I would urge you to seriously consider a Chromebook (I'd suggest an Acer, but I have had really good experience with Samsung products too)... especially if you are concerned about costs... and if your computing needs are not very "resource intensive" (such as HD [video] streaming, editing video, heavy-duty multitasking, etc.).
Chromebooks are based on the Linux OS.
They are intended to be "Cloud" machines (strictly for Internet use)... but they have enough "local apps" so that you can stay busy off-line as well. The thing is, these days it is very easy to be on-line constantly, and reliably.
Be aware that you can ONLY use Google developed apps on this machine. It is NOT a traditional Linux PC, that will run any Linux app you can download off the web. This is not much of an issue though, as Google Apps covers a WIDE range of tasks... and many of them are "free".
Chromebooks are probably better than just about anything commonly on the market right now, in terms of the software not outdistancing the hardware too soon... ensuring a longer life for your money.
Have fun!
:-)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Google Glass
"What?".... That was my first reaction to the first time I heard the term "Google Glass". What might make more sense to most folks is if they called it/them "Google Glasses".
Google Glass is a "wearable computer", which incorporates an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) with voice and touch commands, and a "Bone Conduction Transducer" for sound. A camera for stills and video is incorporated into the frame, which can give real-time photo and video (with audio) records of the wearer's point-of-view and experience. Other terms for this "Wearable Technology" include "Augmented Reality (AR)".
The device is based on the Android OS. Third-party developers are creating "Glassware" applications for the device. Common tasks (apps) will be for e-mail, mapping, web searches, language translation, social networking connections, news & media, etc. But basically, as the below TechRadar.com article put it, "The sky's the limit."
Initially, consumer release of Google Glass was scheduled for 2013, but very significant privacy issues are largely responsible for delaying its release to the general public (in 2014?). I have a feeling though, that the Genie is out of the bottle on this one, and it is going to be hard to get it back inside. Like so many other new technologies, this is coming, whether you like it or not.
Sources to check out:
:-)
Google Glass is a "wearable computer", which incorporates an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) with voice and touch commands, and a "Bone Conduction Transducer" for sound. A camera for stills and video is incorporated into the frame, which can give real-time photo and video (with audio) records of the wearer's point-of-view and experience. Other terms for this "Wearable Technology" include "Augmented Reality (AR)".
The device is based on the Android OS. Third-party developers are creating "Glassware" applications for the device. Common tasks (apps) will be for e-mail, mapping, web searches, language translation, social networking connections, news & media, etc. But basically, as the below TechRadar.com article put it, "The sky's the limit."
Initially, consumer release of Google Glass was scheduled for 2013, but very significant privacy issues are largely responsible for delaying its release to the general public (in 2014?). I have a feeling though, that the Genie is out of the bottle on this one, and it is going to be hard to get it back inside. Like so many other new technologies, this is coming, whether you like it or not.
Sources to check out:
- Google Search: Google Glass
- Google Glass on Wikipedia
- Google Glass: What You Need to Know ... on TechRadar.com
- Google Glass Home Site
:-)
Microsoft Anti-Trust Case... 5 Years Later
This broadcast is now over 8 years old, but there is still a lot of truth to it... and the visibility of Google and Linux is much more prominent now as well, confirming and reinforcing predictions.
This broadcast is brief, yet is sums up very well my views of Microsoft and some of the competitive products they deal with.
Microsoft, Five Years after the Anti-Trust Case
May 21, 2005
NPR Transcript and Broadcast
... Saturday Weekend Edition
:-)
This broadcast is brief, yet is sums up very well my views of Microsoft and some of the competitive products they deal with.
Microsoft, Five Years after the Anti-Trust Case
May 21, 2005
NPR Transcript and Broadcast
... Saturday Weekend Edition
:-)
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Linux Distros for Older PC's
Here is a way to revitalize an older PC. Breathe some new life into it... and possibly keep it out of a scrap heap (or landfill) for just a little bit longer.
What happens, especially with Microsoft Windows Operating System (MSW-OS) based PC's, is that the software gets ahead of the hardware. Eventually the "resource" demands of updated software outstrips the hardware resources (such as RAM, and CPU power) to a point where the machine can literally grind to a halt. The problem is not the machine hardware... the problem is the software. Too often, the "Old Clunker" PC is still a perfectly good computer, it simply just cannot handle the new software.
Top 5 Lightweight Linux Distros @ "The Linux Site"
Using less resource hungry software is a very viable solution for getting more life out an older (and/or less expensive) PC that seems to be stuck in the mud. There are some very resource friendly ("lightweight") versions of Linux around that usually will run quite well on a basic PC intended to run MS Windows. A good Google Search will yield a number of hits like the one above, and provide a number of choices for a "Free" alternative to buying yet another MSW based PC... and adding yet more (potentially toxic) discarded tech stuff to closets, garages, landfills, etc.
If your computer and internet use can best be described as: "I mostly surf the web and do e-mail, with some occasional 'Office App' stuff" (like Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tasks)"... then a Lightweight Linux Distro (distribution) may just be the thing for you (and Planet Earth). ;-)
Most basic computer operations can be done "On the Cloud" these days, so all you need really is a browser and an Internet connection (along with the hardware and OS to get you there). An old PC with Puppy Linux for example, can get you where you need to go in most cases. For example, with a Google ID (i.e. an e-mail account), you can have free access to a number of very sophisticated "Products", including "Home & Office" apps like Google Drive.
If you need or want to run various applications locally, odds are pretty good that you can find what you need ... still, for free. Ubuntu-based distributions of Linux are very popular right now, so anything in that family of OS software is likely to have a healthy list of available apps to choose from. A quick Web Search will let you know which direction you may want to go, in deciding on a Slim Linux Distro for an old PC.
What makes Linux "Free"?
Linux, and most of the apps written for it, are known as "Open Source Projects". What this means is that there is a small army of developers out there, who collaborate as volunteers to create and improve these software applications. Open Source applies to the fact that the "Source Code" for the software is open for all to see, and modify as they see fit. To avoid total chaos, there is typically a controlling entity to coordinate the final release... but in general, these are all "grassroots" projects, which are developed and maintained by some very dedicated folks, who want to see the World of Computing be a better place for everyone. It is a very "coolbeans" idea, and it seems to be working very well.
How Do I get Linux onto my PC?
This is a pretty big question for a single blog post, but a few clever Web Searches will yield lots of tips and detailed instructions regarding how to get the task done. The good news is that in most cases, you can still keep your MS Windows OS on your PC, with Linux running alongside it. You won't necessarily run them both simultaneously, but you can easily have the option of running one or the other. In this case, you typically want to have MSW loaded first (which is typically how it works anyway).
Another option is to reformat the HDD (hard disk drive) and load Linux as the primary OS. This is not a bad choice, especially if you are fed-up with Windows and Microsoft in general.
In any case, you will need to figure out "How To Burn an ISO File" to a CD or DVD. The resulting disk will be a "bootable" disk, which will allow you to load the OS on your HDD, BEFORE MSW boots up. All you need to be sure of is that you have enough "free space" on your HDD to accommodate the Linux installation.
You may already have a CD/DVD Burner software package on your MSW-PC. If not, or if you are not sure, there are a number of free choices out there to get you on your way. I suggest using CDBurnerXP... it is free, does an excellent job, and has an easy to select option ("Burn ISO Image") for getting your Linux ISO download onto a CD or DVD (usually a CD is just fine for these Slim Distros of Linux). This an other CD Burner Choices can be found at places like Download.com - Free CD Burners ... (a C-Net.com site, which I find to be fairly reliable).
The important thing is to be patient. The best advice I ever got was to, "Load it, try it till it breaks, and try it again." It is a very satisfying feeling when you get it right, and you will be amazed at the speed of that "Old Clunker PC" that you wanted to toss out the window on numerous occasions.
You can also be proud of the fact that you will doing yourself, the Open Source Project world, and the Planet Earth a huge favor. And don't forget: Have Fun with It!
:-)
- Is your PC grinding to a halt every time you try to use it?
- Did you buy a "low cost" PC over 5 years ago?
What happens, especially with Microsoft Windows Operating System (MSW-OS) based PC's, is that the software gets ahead of the hardware. Eventually the "resource" demands of updated software outstrips the hardware resources (such as RAM, and CPU power) to a point where the machine can literally grind to a halt. The problem is not the machine hardware... the problem is the software. Too often, the "Old Clunker" PC is still a perfectly good computer, it simply just cannot handle the new software.
Top 5 Lightweight Linux Distros @ "The Linux Site"
Using less resource hungry software is a very viable solution for getting more life out an older (and/or less expensive) PC that seems to be stuck in the mud. There are some very resource friendly ("lightweight") versions of Linux around that usually will run quite well on a basic PC intended to run MS Windows. A good Google Search will yield a number of hits like the one above, and provide a number of choices for a "Free" alternative to buying yet another MSW based PC... and adding yet more (potentially toxic) discarded tech stuff to closets, garages, landfills, etc.
If your computer and internet use can best be described as: "I mostly surf the web and do e-mail, with some occasional 'Office App' stuff" (like Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tasks)"... then a Lightweight Linux Distro (distribution) may just be the thing for you (and Planet Earth). ;-)
Most basic computer operations can be done "On the Cloud" these days, so all you need really is a browser and an Internet connection (along with the hardware and OS to get you there). An old PC with Puppy Linux for example, can get you where you need to go in most cases. For example, with a Google ID (i.e. an e-mail account), you can have free access to a number of very sophisticated "Products", including "Home & Office" apps like Google Drive.
If you need or want to run various applications locally, odds are pretty good that you can find what you need ... still, for free. Ubuntu-based distributions of Linux are very popular right now, so anything in that family of OS software is likely to have a healthy list of available apps to choose from. A quick Web Search will let you know which direction you may want to go, in deciding on a Slim Linux Distro for an old PC.
What makes Linux "Free"?
Linux, and most of the apps written for it, are known as "Open Source Projects". What this means is that there is a small army of developers out there, who collaborate as volunteers to create and improve these software applications. Open Source applies to the fact that the "Source Code" for the software is open for all to see, and modify as they see fit. To avoid total chaos, there is typically a controlling entity to coordinate the final release... but in general, these are all "grassroots" projects, which are developed and maintained by some very dedicated folks, who want to see the World of Computing be a better place for everyone. It is a very "coolbeans" idea, and it seems to be working very well.
How Do I get Linux onto my PC?
This is a pretty big question for a single blog post, but a few clever Web Searches will yield lots of tips and detailed instructions regarding how to get the task done. The good news is that in most cases, you can still keep your MS Windows OS on your PC, with Linux running alongside it. You won't necessarily run them both simultaneously, but you can easily have the option of running one or the other. In this case, you typically want to have MSW loaded first (which is typically how it works anyway).
Another option is to reformat the HDD (hard disk drive) and load Linux as the primary OS. This is not a bad choice, especially if you are fed-up with Windows and Microsoft in general.
In any case, you will need to figure out "How To Burn an ISO File" to a CD or DVD. The resulting disk will be a "bootable" disk, which will allow you to load the OS on your HDD, BEFORE MSW boots up. All you need to be sure of is that you have enough "free space" on your HDD to accommodate the Linux installation.
You may already have a CD/DVD Burner software package on your MSW-PC. If not, or if you are not sure, there are a number of free choices out there to get you on your way. I suggest using CDBurnerXP... it is free, does an excellent job, and has an easy to select option ("Burn ISO Image") for getting your Linux ISO download onto a CD or DVD (usually a CD is just fine for these Slim Distros of Linux). This an other CD Burner Choices can be found at places like Download.com - Free CD Burners ... (a C-Net.com site, which I find to be fairly reliable).
The important thing is to be patient. The best advice I ever got was to, "Load it, try it till it breaks, and try it again." It is a very satisfying feeling when you get it right, and you will be amazed at the speed of that "Old Clunker PC" that you wanted to toss out the window on numerous occasions.
You can also be proud of the fact that you will doing yourself, the Open Source Project world, and the Planet Earth a huge favor. And don't forget: Have Fun with It!
:-)
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Managing WiFi Networks and Connections
Wi-Fi (wireless) computer networks are convenient but they add a significant layer of complexity and instability in the connection, and they add a far greater amount of a security risk... as opposed to a more traditional "Wired" LAN" (Local Area Network) style computer network.
Both systems central focus is a "Router". Most common Wi-Fi routers have 4 "RJ-45" LAN cable ports on them, so they can be used as a wired network as well... they just add the antenna(s) and circuitry for the radio broadcast (Wi-Fi) part.
Unfortunately, when you radio broadcast your data (or anything for that matter), it means that anyone in range can intercept it, and possibly decrypt it. A number of folks don't even have "secured" Wi-Fi networks.
It is a good idea to do your homework, and know and understand something about Wi-Fi security, before you try and connect to and use a Wi-Fi network.
You should at least be able to identify if you are connecting wirelessly. It is entirely possible to be connected both through a wired and wireless connection at the same time, so simply connecting your PC to a router with a cable does not necessarily mean that you are disconnected from the Wi-Fi part... and if the Wi Fi is not secure (or even if it is), there is a possibility that you are broadcasting sensitive information.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wireless+network+security+protocols
The two most popular Wi-Fi Security Protocols in use today (Feb-2013) are:
WEP
WPA2-PSK (which has several different variations)
Try reading:
The Differences Between WEP and WPA
... while the publication date is old, it is still a very easy to read article, which pretty clearly explains the differences here. One significant nugget here is:
Even the most secure household Wi-Fi Computer Networking are not necessarily all that secure. Some major problems in using an unsecured network include:
So... A word to the wise... Again...
Do your homework... and know how to test that your WI-Fi network is secure.
Another good topic to followup on is:
Have fun!
===================================================
Both systems central focus is a "Router". Most common Wi-Fi routers have 4 "RJ-45" LAN cable ports on them, so they can be used as a wired network as well... they just add the antenna(s) and circuitry for the radio broadcast (Wi-Fi) part.
Unfortunately, when you radio broadcast your data (or anything for that matter), it means that anyone in range can intercept it, and possibly decrypt it. A number of folks don't even have "secured" Wi-Fi networks.
It is a good idea to do your homework, and know and understand something about Wi-Fi security, before you try and connect to and use a Wi-Fi network.
You should at least be able to identify if you are connecting wirelessly. It is entirely possible to be connected both through a wired and wireless connection at the same time, so simply connecting your PC to a router with a cable does not necessarily mean that you are disconnected from the Wi-Fi part... and if the Wi Fi is not secure (or even if it is), there is a possibility that you are broadcasting sensitive information.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wireless+network+security+protocols
The two most popular Wi-Fi Security Protocols in use today (Feb-2013) are:
WEP
WPA2-PSK (which has several different variations)
Try reading:
The Differences Between WEP and WPA
... while the publication date is old, it is still a very easy to read article, which pretty clearly explains the differences here. One significant nugget here is:
"Researchers in the computer science department of a German university recently demonstrated the capability to compromise a WEP-protected network very quickly. After spending less than a minute intercepting data (fewer than 100,000 packets in all) they were able to compromise a WEP key in just three seconds."https://www.google.com/search?q=how+secure+is+a+wireless+computer+network
Even the most secure household Wi-Fi Computer Networking are not necessarily all that secure. Some major problems in using an unsecured network include:
- Unauthorized use of your Network by neighbors, of people on the street or in parking lots.
- Ability of intruders on your network to access your files, data, and possibly even "secure" website connections (e-mail, banking, etc.) where you "saved" the log-in info to your browser.
- Allowing intruders to use your unsecured (or poorly secured) PC Network to upload illegal materials to the Internet, which can be traced back to you... and could bring an agency such as the FBI knocking at your door.
So... A word to the wise... Again...
Do your homework... and know how to test that your WI-Fi network is secure.
Another good topic to followup on is:
Have fun!
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