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•WIFI Stretching the Wireless Connection
How To Get A Rock-Solid Wireless Internet Connection
As a computer tech with over 35 years in the business, I've seen a lot of Internet connection problems. That’s especially true with WIFI.
The most common problem is in establishing a ‘good’ connection between the remote computer and the wireless router. Many people don’t realize that just because you’re receiving a signal from your wireless router, (AP) you still may not be able to log onto the Internet. Here’s the problem.
A weak or noisy...
•Wireless Mice and Keyboards How Did We Live Without Them
One of the things most often taken for granted is the keyboard and mouse we use with our computers. These are two of the most important devices you can own. They can make the difference between enjoying your computer and fighting just to get information into and out of it.
One of my favorite keyboards was produced by IBM back in the days when the IBM AT was first introduced (1984). The keyboard had a great feel to it. It also had a tactile click that let you know when the key was depressed....
•Stealing Internet From Your Neighbor is Easier Than You Think But Don t Do It
I've been a computer technician for over 35 years. When WIFI first came out I thought, This is what I've been waiting for…now I can connect to my laptop from anywhere in the house. I was right! Unfortunately, so could lots of other people!
Actually, I was probably the first one to connect to my wireless router from one of my neighbors. I'd taken my laptop over to his house to help him design an Excel spreadsheet and while I was working, I noticed that my laptop was 'on-line.' Even though I was...
•Simple Computer Maintenance Can Save You a Lot of Money
As a computer tech with over 35 years of experience, I like to stress the fact of just how important simple computer maintenance can be. This can range from something as easy as cleaning your monitor’s display screen, to checking your surge suppressor to be sure it’s still working.
So, what is the best thing to use when cleaning your monitor’s screen? That’s easy. Water and a soft, lent free cloth. Most CRT monitors have an anti-reflection coating applied to the screen’s surface that can be...
•Virtual Museums You Can Visit on Your Computer
One day last month while meandering around Evansville, Indiana, I ended up at the Evansville Museum. I hadn't been there in at least 20 years so I thought it might be fun to check things out. What a great idea that turned out to be. When I got back home, I decided to check on the Internet to see what it had to offer in the way of museums. I wasn't disappointed. The museum in Evansville can be found at http://www.emuseum.org
If you'd like to visit other museums from all over the world, the best...
•Cybercrime And Why it Works
For the last several days I’ve been investigating reports on where a lot of our virus and “phishing” problems are coming from. Would you believe, Brazil? Most of Brazil is poor, with an average wage of less than $500 per month. Even so, many Brazilian cities provide free, wireless high-speed connections for those who have access to a computer.
This is a double edge sword. It’s great for entrepreneurs interested in starting new Internet businesses, and it allows programmers the opportunity to...
•The Coming Singularity When Computers Become Sentient
This article is about one of my favorite subjects…AI, artificial intelligence. I believe that we are on the verge of something that will change the face of the entire world. Even though I don’t see this happening in the next few years, the technological developments occurring today are bringing it ever closer to fruition.
I’ve often heard the term, “singularity” mentioned in astrophysics. It’s used to describe a ‘black hole.’ An object of almost infinite mass and gravity that only a few years...
•Texas Hold em Poker Can You Beat a Bot
When I first started to learn the game of chess, I bought a cheap chess playing computer from Radio Shack. I was pretty good at the novice level, but when I moved the setting up a notch or two, I soon realized just how poorly I really played. I never won a game. That was 30 years ago. Computers have come a long way since then.
I mention this because it ties in with an article I recently read about a poker playing Bot. (A poker bot is computer program written to play online poker.) Before I get...
•Karaoke on the Internet Sing On line Or on Your Computer
I’ve had an absolute blast playing with karaoke tracks. Karaoke tracks are instrumental versions of popular songs minus the lead vocals. In other words, just the music…you add the vocals!
Karaoke has been around for years. Almost every electronics outlet carries at least one karaoke machine and karaoke tapes and CDs can be found in record stores everywhere. Unfortunately, this can get expensive fast.
What I have in mind is a little different. I use my computer as a karaoke machine. And it’s...
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